Pandemics and time away and stuff.

So M is in 7th grade and G in 10th.  We are in the middle of the coronavirus business, so that's fun.  

First, the reason I am writing after all this time, is not the corona stuff but a human growth project for love girl where she needed basically, all of her information from being pregnant with her to age 11.  I had talked her through everything I could remember (not much, my brain), and at dinner, B brought up this blog, and since I had forgotten, pulled it up and read some of it, as it pertained of her.  It was lovely, some sad and pretty cool.  It made me want to write a bit, so here I am.

Alrighty!  So (yes, I know that I am supposed to do one space after a period or ending thing, but I am old and I am still clinging to my double space after a period), it's spring in Texas.  Kind of a weird spring because, well, this pandemic thing.

So what has been happening since I last wrote?  Pretty sure I covered this back in 2016 or 2017 but we elected an unqualified guy for president who leads by bullying and pitting folks against each other.  Oh, and by watching Fox news and by twitter.  So it hasn't gone well and the country is sort of splitting apart.  Why do I bring this up?  

Late 2019, this novel (brand new, never before seen before, nothing to fight it, this one is bad folks) coronavirus pops up in China and with world travel, is everywhere pretty darn quick.  I think I even had it and gave it to my family back in January, when I had a couple of Seattle overnights (large hotel by the airport with air crews from around the world.  The crews from Asia have always been interesting as they seem like the rockettes- same age, same hair, same weight, and same outfits).  After the second overnight, I got really sick.  I mean like the flu on steroids sick.  I went to the doctor after about three days and immediately tested positive for type A flu.  I passed out and threw up at the doctors office and B had to come pick me up.  Oh yea.  I had a lovely cough that lasted about three weeks.  Anyway, I didn't know anything about any virus floating around at that time.

So I worked more in February, full flights.  I started to hear more about the virus, and things started to get weird.  I will stop on my story and get to the kids, but just know that I am pretty sure I had it, I couldn't get a test to save my life, and now, I would love to find an antibody test (donate plasma!) but can't find that either.  Not a FDA approved one anyway.  So that is that.

What is this thing?  A bad virus that spreads somehow (lots of ways apparently, so many ways), the whole world is supposed to be social distancing (except some followers of the current president, see above for the crazy), and we are all just hanging out with our immediate family, only.  Just us, nobody else.  It's going ok.  

I had been worried about G this year, as he quit band (I fully support that one, though I miss for him the structure of having people to interact with), but it turns out that he was in training for the quarantine, and it doing ok with it.  Not great, but he is doing his school stuff (pass/fail this semester now) and playing his games still with three friends, so he is interacting more then ever and with everyone locked down, it seems pretty ok.  He promises me that when (and seriously, when could be whenever...) he goes back, he will join the robotics club and interact with humans.

M is having a bit of a harder time with missing her friends, and missing her extended family.  She loved the structure of school, and without it, it's been hard.  She has a group of friends who she connects with but pretty much, it's been challenging.

I will stop, cause why?  Why go on about what is kind of scary, and weird and seems to be affecting all of humanity in different ways.  Some are hunkered down and scared to pieces (and if you are already immune comprimised, well, yea).  Some are chomping at the bit to be free and are chafing at all things distanced.  I miss travel something fiercely but I have taken leave from work (they offered and about 5,000 of us took it) as I was nervous to work.  So the pickle.  

Kids are hanging in there.  B and I are hanging in there (B is doing the best of all of us, he has been working for a company from NYC, but working from home, here, and is super busy every day).  The environment is getting better, so that's cool.  It will take the quarantine forever to erase our damage but so far, it's the only really nice thing happening.  Wow, that was kind of dark, and not completely true.  There is good.  This is just weird, so damn weird, and then the bonus of a president who is crazy and paranoid, and tells folks to drink bleach to treat the virus (and yea, don't do that).

New Schools, New Adjustments

So here we are, one week into school.  G is in high school, and M is in her first year of middle school.  That I have a freshman in high school is just about the weirdest thing, ever.  I have not adjusted well, though he seems to have adjusted just fine.

First came band camp and oooh, that didn't go well.  I wasn't even sure what it was that wasn't going well, but it did not go well.  Everything didn't go well.  They marched in the mornings (8-12) and played music in the afternoons until 5.  Every day for two weeks, and then just the marching that last week.  Hate is too gentle and kind word for how he was doing.  He and I talked to the director about the marching and the good part is she took him out of being a person in the full on marching part and made him an alternate who stands in the back and just plays the music.  That helped a lot.

There are nice kids in band and while that has been great, what actually helped was real school starting.  This last week has gone just swell.  Not sure why, but I will take it and be glad for it.   I haven't even heard too much grief regarding band and that has been four extra sessions beyond school classroom time.  I should probably worry that school is going great and wonder why but for this moment, I am rolling with it.  The grades that came through the first week were all excellent, so I am hoping this is a good trend.

M is in middle school.  It seems to be going great, class wise and social wise.  I worry about girl business but so far, so good.  She has connected with Hill friends and with old Doss friends, and that has been swell.  Her lament is that she got a great hair cut just before school started and now that it is cut (and it is above her shoulders now), she is not happy with said cut and would like her old hair back please.  All righty!  This will work itself out soon enough...

I wasn't going to volunteer much this year but I saw something that I am pretty much tailor made for, and that is the front office at Murchison.  Once every two weeks, for two hours.  Piece of cake, and I start tomorrow.  The lead volunteer is hyper involved, so we shall see how this goes, but heck, if there is one thing I know, it's front office business of a school.

There is more stuff- lots more (we went to Disney last week!  There is a church issue with M and a friend which I need to deal with this evening, M starts swim tomorrow) but I need to go to bed and get ready for another week, so it will have to wait.

So, it's been awhile...

It's been a year.  I haven't kept up.  I am leaving in the morning for a trip with college friends, but I am going to make a quick effort.

Me.  I went back to flying full time, last August.  It was good, and it was hard physically (I am heavier then I used to be and older since I did this full time last, so I wasn't prepared for how physical the job was).  I also started up with yoga classes, which I have loved and definitely make me feel better.  The weight is another matter that I haven't addressed but should.

Things have slowed down some with said flying, so I am doing less of it this summer (and if there was ever a time to work less as a flight attendant, summer is it).  

B is good and working from home now for a company in South Dakota.  Lots of stress, lots of challenges, lots of things that come with starting a new job.  Mostly good things.  

Kids.  G has become addicted to playing our new Xbox that we got over the Christmas holidays.  I limited his time playing during the school year, but basically that has gone to hell over this summer.  I worry as he doesn't seem to read as much as he used to.  I worry as we don't see him as much as we used to.  He has had a growth spurt and is now practically my height (not quite but allllllmost).  His voice is deeper, and his anger/angst is slightly more pronounced.  I know my sugar bear is under there though, and I love him dearly.  He will be a freshman in high school this year, which is completely weird to me.  

M is also growing and changing.  She will be in middle school (which I had barely gotten used to for G, and now he is gone and she is in?  So weird) this next year.  This last school year (fifth grade at Hill Elementary) went SO much better then the fourth grade year.  A much more alpha class (similar to her third grade and how alpha they all were) but it turns out that the stronger the class, the better for her.  They all have their own drama and she is happy to not be a part of it.  It wasn't perfect but her teacher was awesome and she hung out with nice girls.

Both kids did summer league swim team and I am so happy they did.  I enjoyed this year so much, as I have done my time doing the heavy volunteer lifting and just did random jobs like heat ribbons and place ribbons this year.  It was swell.  M wants to do year round swimming again, but not sure I can convince G (did I mention that he is 14, almost 15?  yea, that).  He is doing high school band, and that conflicts with the Anderson swim team, so he doesn't want to do that.  I am hopeful that after the football season (which he could care less about but has to do because of band), he will want to do year round with his sister.  He had a swell summer league season and it makes him feel good to glide through the water.  It makes M really happy too.  I was concerned as the year round swims at 7am in the summer, but every time she gets out of the water, she is soooo happy and feels so good.

There is more, so much more but for now, I need to get ready to head to NYC in the morning.  As my dear husband reminds me, this is the third time this year (after not going since we left DE back in 2004).  First, with M on her birthday, then with lovely mom friend, now with college friends.  Tomorrow I go, with absolutely no plans (pretty sure that my super organized friend has that covered and doesn't want help, so I am along for the ride), and will be back on Sunday.

Oh, we left for Australia this same day last year.  Facebook reminded me today.  Ok, we went to LAX today, and Australia tomorrow but today was the day we left Austin.  Friends are still there and we miss them (though it was wonderful to see them a week or so ago when they came  here to visit).  Just realized my last post was when we got back.  Time is flying by.

A few pictures from the Gator/JCC meet from June, 2018.  Wish I had better of G but he doesn't pose anymore...

Exhausted but in a good way

So love girl and I went to Australia.  Yep, that is right, AUSTRALIA.  Like we go all the time.  Ha!  Not so much, but we did and it was lovely.

We stayed with dear friends and the key to life was M got to reconnect with her dear friend, A.  

Yes, the flight there sucked for air with a vomit master before we even took off, who hit people, the floor, and then destroyed a bathroom, all before take off.  This delayed our flight even more then the original 2 hours, to just over 3 hours late due to professional cleaners having to board and do damage control (and we never hit that particular bathroom during the flight, nope, no way).  Upon landing, the paramedics were called for another passenger (who was not near us, thank goodness, only the vomit master was near us). The flight home was better, but still less then pleasant due to sheer length of the flight (16 there, and just about 14 back).  That love girl threw up during the customs lines (3 of them) was an added bonus.  I don't think we will hit any flight over 10 hours anytime soon, as goodness, to get to Sydney and back was loooooong.

So you might think that took the wind out of our sails but NO!  We had the most wonderful visit.  I have a gazillion pictures which I haven't uploaded yet (phone is downstairs and I am still wiped out from jet leg, day two of coming home, so I am not getting it at the moment).  I took this out of shape body and we moved.  Weekends were spent with all of us having many adventures, and the week between the two weekends were spent with love girl and I heading over to the ferry and going to downtown Sydney for more solo adventures.  We made it over there (down there?) and by golly, we were going for all the gusto.  I intend to keep up the exercise now that we are back but dang, I still feel rough a day after getting back.

We saw animals, we saw blue mountains, we saw beaches and beautiful vistas overlooking the ocean.  We knitted, we laughed, we saw the craziest clowns ever at an old school theme park.  M's most favorite museum was a wax museum (you know, the ones that are all over the world?  Ha!  She loved it so much). I was mildly worried about an 11 day playdate but the girls did great.  Pretty sure that my girl is missing having her dear friend, both because she loves her so, and she also loved having a built in playmate 24/7.  They laughed a lot.

Pretty sure we won't ever go back (this truly was a once in a lifetime trip) but so glad we went.  So, so, so glad we went.

Now, I am trying really hard not to nap as I need to get back on Texas time (my nights and days are still messed up and I have had three spurts of sleeping 3 to 4 hours, since we left three days ago (or was it four.  Maybe four?).  Pictures will come later, promise.

Summer musings

School has been out for five weeks, and swim team season is almost over (three days left).  My nephew has gotten married (that is just crazy to me, as he is the first family member that I have known well, since he was born, who is now married to another).  Big party for him this weekend, along with final Champs swim meet, and then we are at loose ends for the rest of the summer.

G had tennis camp the first week, and M has one more day of her only camp-a cake camp, which she is enjoying and she should bring home a green (for real, a very green) nature cake decorated with a gecko and an apple tree on it.  It will be wonderful and amazing and we will enjoy every bite.  That is it for their camps.

Travel.  We did MN and WI for the wedding and it was wonderful and amazing on Madeline Island.  I had it in my head that maybe a beach vacation and maybe NYC and if luck would hold, maybe even an Australia vacation.  Well, the Australia is going to work out (my caveat was I would have to sit with M both ways, so that made non revving a bit of an issue)!!! The guys are not coming and we got to use B's credit card points plus a bit of funds.

While I am really excited and M is over the moon excited to see her beloved friend, I am also mildly concerned for the length of the flight.  I have been on a plane for 14 hours before, more then a few times.  Working.  That length of time is illegal due to weather or mechanical or other issues, and not on purpose. Pretty sure we will be getting up to walk around quite a bit.

All that said, pretty sure this will be the only time that I will ever go to Australia, so woohoo!  For all my flying, I don't get out of the country much (I should definitely do that more often though).  It will be enough if I get off the plane and watch folks drive on the wrong side of the road.  It is all new to me.  Oh, last thing that will be strange?  It is winter there.  Looks like Austin winter vs MN winter but still winter.  It is 99 today, here in Austin. We are going to relax and revel in being somewhere new.

Will NYC or the beach happen?  Not sure but doesn't look as likely.  However, there is a week and a half unscheduled before Australia and a week before school unscheduled as well.  I bet I could get us somewhere...

Conflicts

So my son and I have different versions of summer.  He thinks summer is the time to stop and do absolutely nothing.  Have no commitments, no obligations, nothing that has to be 'done'.  This includes no travel.  He is ok with the swim practice, and enjoys that but other then that, he wants to have life remain still and without interruption of things that he should or could do.

My version of summer is somewhat different. I love that the kids are out of school (though I would still really love to be on a year round schedule with multiple long breaks scattered throughout, but that is another argument for another day), and I generally love the heat.  What my son doesn't quite realize is that real life usually includes grocery runs, or other types of errands that need doing.  Then there is basic upkeep of the house, and the construction goes on (and on).  What would give me that feeling of no commitments, would be travel.  

Yes, I know that this should indicate that perhaps I need to scale back the things that need working on (less stuff, less stuff to deal with).  The contents of our closet and master bath have all been relocated to the bedroom, the dining room, and various closets upstairs.  At the moment, all the stuff is out and in the open to mock me, and mock me, it does. I think we are closer to getting real progress on the last bathroom, and hopefully in a couple of weeks, we will be much more finished and things put up and away.

So anyway, our summer is still a little stressful for me, and I want to get away.  G doesn't share this enthusiasm, nor does my dear spouse.  M and I are chomping at the bit.  All the places that I want to go to, I know that the guys would want to be there (after we made the effort to go), so I will figure something out.

How are we?  Hmmm.  Me.  I am not completely calm.  Wish I were, but this is one of those times in life where things just aren't that calm.  We went to Minnesota and onto the wedding on Madeline Island in WI, and it was wonderful and lovely.  My nephew is happy and his wife is so great.   I am really happy for both of them.  We had a great time though, save the influx of ticks which sort of creeped us out, but my goodness, such a slice of heaven up there.  I have never been near Lake Superior and is gorgeous and huge.  

Funny (but not at the exact time that it happened) was that when I went to rent the car in MN, it turned out that my license had expired.  I hadn't gotten a notice, and obviously, I am completely dependent on those darn notices, so I let it lapse.  We had gotten in the night before  and I was at the airport the next morning, letting my family sleep in.  I text B to tell him the good news that he needs to get up to the airport to rent the car (though I had his license with me to add him as a second driver).  I visit with the counter guy (no line behind me) and then think that maybe I should check B's license.  Oops.  His is expired too.  So we are in MN, with no way to rent a car, and needing to get about 260 miles some how to an island in WI.  It worked out, as I knew my sister was getting in that evening and then driving about half way there to Duluth, MN (which is definitely someplace I want to come back to, by the way).  So we spend the day at the Mall of America (it is a monster of a place and the theme park in the middle scared me and I like theme parks) and then meet them at the airport.  We first attempt to rent a monster size SUV but turns out that monster SUVs don't any luggage space.  For real.  There are layers of things wrong with selling a vehicle with seating for 8, and storage for three pieces of luggage.

Anyway.  I digress.  It ended up with two regular cars (late in the day and we got two upgrades to mid size SUVs anyway and they had tons of cargo room), instead of the beast, and the bonus was that I got to visit with my sister more then I normally do, as we rode together to Duluth.  

Kids are swell.  G is growing and M is growing and they seem good.  No drama, and that is quite nice.  I am bereft as their beloved pediatrician, whom has been G's since we moved here (7 or 8 months old) and M's since birth, well, he and his partner are retiring.  I love him dearly, and the kids love and trust him as well.  We went in today, and I completely choked up.  He saved G's life so long ago and there have been countless times that I have turned to him for help with the kids.   We will switch and it will be ok, but my goodness, I love that doctor.

Swim is actually almost over already, just a week and a half left.  I still love getting to visit with friends, and that the kids have something physical to do that they really enjoy (this evening while driving by the pool in Lakewood, the evening practice was being held and G actually wanted to go swim there too.  I said no.).  I am just itching to go somewhere.  The beach, or NYC or ?  Just go.  M and I are most hopeful to get to Australia in late July to go visit dear friends, and I so very much hope that will work out (there needs to be seats available and the kicker, is there needs to be seats together, which will be harder to do).  I found the missing passports (missing for two years), so more then half the battle is won!

This was a scattered post but most of mine are, so all good.

My feet hurt and other things

Wow, am I really this late on the posting game?  Ack.  Obviously, I need to get on ball and write more stuff down.

End of school is next week, and that has us all happy.  B is home now, and looking for opportunity.  Our bathroom is gutted due to much leaking and a desire to do the bathroom anyway.  Alas, we are having design issues, but we are hopeful.  Insurance is involved and so that is good news as half of the cost is covered.

G has been busy with wrap up of robotics, band stuff (he made the wind ensemble next year too, so that is good.  His practice records have left something to be desired), and swim season has started for summer league swim team.  He had his last piano recital with his piano teacher who is retiring (he only had her one year, and he last played first and second grade?  or second and third?).  He was amazing.  His teacher called him a confident performer.  They put the better kids to the end of the recital, and more advanced.  December, he was just past halfway.  Last week, he was 38 out of 40 kids.  It was beautiful.  I am so proud of him.  Something has really clicked for him and now he plays for enjoyment, pretty much every day.

M is swimming as well and having fun.  School has been a bit of a challenge again, due to another girl who is generally angry at M.  She says M is perfect, all the teachers love her, she is smart (and the kicker), she has a dad.  Ahem.  Therein lies part of the problem.  As much as I told M that this has way more to do with what is going on inside of said friend, this friend would generally yell at M and tell her how mean she was, and generally say M was lying about her, etc.  M said the teacher was helping, however, when M got in the car a little over a week ago, and said that this girl said M was crushing her dreams, I put my foot down.  I got the teachers, the counselors, the principal involved.  The poor girl is having some major issues but she is making my girl miserable in the mean time.  That is not going to cut it.  I spoke to the counselor and while I have communicated this to the teachers, I also asked the counselor to politely impart to the teachers to not single M out and say how great she is.  

For the record, my girl IS great.  So is every single other kid in fourth grade.  They are all loved, and they have value.  Not cool for the teachers to say stuff in front of others, because it did come back to bite my girl.  I am happy that the counselors got involved and are talking to both girls on a regular basis (every week, separately), to talk.  It seems to be better, mostly.  The girls are friends.  They are. Summer break is needed and pronto.

What I thought was the most gentle class is still gentle, and still swell, but dang.  It has been hard on my love girl, and I can promise that the other two girls (first one who was kind of obsessed, and second one who was so angry) have had a really hard time as well.  They are making their way through rough learning patches.  All girls involved are swell and lovely.

Swimming has started and today was much fun.  Last Saturday, not so much, as huge storm came about, and meet was called, only to be made up this past Thursday evening.  That meet was (evening one) not fun for me.  Crowded, at the other pool, and yet Gators were still hosts.  It was mild chaos.  Today was swell.  Kids are both waiting on results, as I think they both had personal bests all around, along with a few ribbons, so they are happy.

I am tired.  The bonus is that perhaps I am getting the exercise I need to shed a few pounds on the ready bench. I have been flying, and while it has been good, I am too large to be comfortable.  So any exercise is good exercise.

Looking forward to a Minnesota visit in two and a half weeks, and more travel after that.  C'mon summer!!!