Kaylee made it back to school, and cried when she got there and found out tomorrow would be May 1st. She doesn't want to graduate from Kindergarten and go elsewhere for Elementary School-she'd rather stay in Kindergarten "forever" and always have her current teacher. Of course she said the same thing after her first year of preschool, when she didn't want to leave Mrs. Clouds, too. :)
Steve and I flew the C-172RG, well, actually HE flew it, I mostly went along for the ride. It was warm and pretty today, but man have I been dragging anyway.
I made up a little ad to use for Kaylee's ballet recital program, for Glenndale. She had ballet today, played with Grandma and Grandpa, and I got some work done. Very exciting day, eh?
I need to catch up again on emails and mail. Maybe tomorrow. :)
Monday, April 30, 2007
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Weekend II
What a great weekend. It's nice to be able to be with friends, accomplish some things, and get to have a blast while you're at it. Good company, good food, good planes, good memories.
Kaylee spent the day running around on her scooter, and alternating playing and fighting with Jamie & Gwenie. Day 1 everybody (the kids) had a blast all evening. Day 2 everybody had fun until they got tired at the end. Day 3, I think they were all wiped out and a little annoyed at each other. But they made it with very little blood, so all is well. ;)
We took breakfast out to the hangars, and had McDonald's and Hardees stuff. Did a little clean-up from the Bonanza Society event, put some stuff back together, and then moved the RG out of the way, the Cheyenne out of the way, and pulled out the Twin Beech. Nathan and I climbed in, and he started and ran up the engines for awhile to make sure all was well. Shut them down, we got out, he checked the oil, etc., and then a few minutes later we took it up for the first flight. It's
hard to explain, it feels like you're transported back in time, sitting in there. The giant radial twin engines, the tail wheel, the oil, the rumble, the view, the feel of the plane. Sticking your arm out the big open window, a little "Casablanca"... little bit country and a little bit rock and roll. ;) It just lumbers down the runway, lumbers in the air. Nathan did a low pass over Glenndale, and I got to fly it around quite awhile. We came back in, did a low pass over Kokomo, brought it in for a landing. We all cleaned up the oil from Nate's hangar, had some food, and relaxed for awhile. The kids kept playing, and finally after we were all about ready for a nap, we woke up by going flying one more time. Chuck left us, but Charlie Brier, Nathan and the kids, and Steve and Kaylee and I all went up one last time in the Beech 18. I did a semi-low pass over Sheridan. Being rather new at that aircraft and having both our families on board, it seemed like a good plan to keep it up just a tad. ;) We flew over Kevin's house, flew over Nathan's house, just looked around a bit. Finally the kids were bored and Kaylee was claiming to feel ill, so we headed back to Kokomo. After landing, I knew it would probably be my last time in the plane, so I sniffed it and patted it and enjoyed it for a moment before disembarking.
I put up two pages of photos. Day One is the Mustang, Day Two is the Twin Beech. I doubt many of my friends are very interested in it, but then again, this is as much for my own posterity as it is for anybody's actual interest. ;) I really feel fortunate, it's something not too many pilots will ever get to do... I really enjoy hanging out at Glenndale and/or Kokomo with good friends and fellow pilots; it's a terrific community, and over the last couple of years I've gotten to know some good people that I'm proud to call friends.
After we flew, it was time to head home. Kaylee was exhausted, Jamie had homework, Steve had yard work to catch up on, and it was time to get ready for Monday. So we put all the planes back, closed up the hangars, cleaned up the toys and food, and called it a weekend!
I can't remember if I mentioned that Kaylee lost her second upper middle tooth yesterday. She was just eating a donut, and pop, out it came. Last night we were both too tired to remember to put her tooth under the pillow for the Tooth Fairy, but tonight we remembered, so I have to sneak in there and stick some money in before I go to bed and hopefully she'll be so exhausted she won't wake up on me and I won't have to let her keep another tooth. ;)
p.s. I got Mustang oil on my white Baron shirt, and I can't get it off. Normally it wouldn't please me much to ruin a good shirt, but at least when I look at it, I'll know where it came from!
Kaylee spent the day running around on her scooter, and alternating playing and fighting with Jamie & Gwenie. Day 1 everybody (the kids) had a blast all evening. Day 2 everybody had fun until they got tired at the end. Day 3, I think they were all wiped out and a little annoyed at each other. But they made it with very little blood, so all is well. ;)
We took breakfast out to the hangars, and had McDonald's and Hardees stuff. Did a little clean-up from the Bonanza Society event, put some stuff back together, and then moved the RG out of the way, the Cheyenne out of the way, and pulled out the Twin Beech. Nathan and I climbed in, and he started and ran up the engines for awhile to make sure all was well. Shut them down, we got out, he checked the oil, etc., and then a few minutes later we took it up for the first flight. It's
hard to explain, it feels like you're transported back in time, sitting in there. The giant radial twin engines, the tail wheel, the oil, the rumble, the view, the feel of the plane. Sticking your arm out the big open window, a little "Casablanca"... little bit country and a little bit rock and roll. ;) It just lumbers down the runway, lumbers in the air. Nathan did a low pass over Glenndale, and I got to fly it around quite awhile. We came back in, did a low pass over Kokomo, brought it in for a landing. We all cleaned up the oil from Nate's hangar, had some food, and relaxed for awhile. The kids kept playing, and finally after we were all about ready for a nap, we woke up by going flying one more time. Chuck left us, but Charlie Brier, Nathan and the kids, and Steve and Kaylee and I all went up one last time in the Beech 18. I did a semi-low pass over Sheridan. Being rather new at that aircraft and having both our families on board, it seemed like a good plan to keep it up just a tad. ;) We flew over Kevin's house, flew over Nathan's house, just looked around a bit. Finally the kids were bored and Kaylee was claiming to feel ill, so we headed back to Kokomo. After landing, I knew it would probably be my last time in the plane, so I sniffed it and patted it and enjoyed it for a moment before disembarking.I put up two pages of photos. Day One is the Mustang, Day Two is the Twin Beech. I doubt many of my friends are very interested in it, but then again, this is as much for my own posterity as it is for anybody's actual interest. ;) I really feel fortunate, it's something not too many pilots will ever get to do... I really enjoy hanging out at Glenndale and/or Kokomo with good friends and fellow pilots; it's a terrific community, and over the last couple of years I've gotten to know some good people that I'm proud to call friends.
After we flew, it was time to head home. Kaylee was exhausted, Jamie had homework, Steve had yard work to catch up on, and it was time to get ready for Monday. So we put all the planes back, closed up the hangars, cleaned up the toys and food, and called it a weekend!
I can't remember if I mentioned that Kaylee lost her second upper middle tooth yesterday. She was just eating a donut, and pop, out it came. Last night we were both too tired to remember to put her tooth under the pillow for the Tooth Fairy, but tonight we remembered, so I have to sneak in there and stick some money in before I go to bed and hopefully she'll be so exhausted she won't wake up on me and I won't have to let her keep another tooth. ;)
p.s. I got Mustang oil on my white Baron shirt, and I can't get it off. Normally it wouldn't please me much to ruin a good shirt, but at least when I look at it, I'll know where it came from!
Saturday, April 28, 2007
My weekend
You know, there's probably lots to say. But first I have to get one thing out of the way. Excuse me for a moment: 
Thank you. Now where was I.
Oh yes! The weekend. Friday was busy, as always. That evening after work, we packed up and went to the airport, and Kaylee hung out with Jamie, and I brought in pizza, and a group of us had an evening. The weather was no good, so mostly people just got ready for Saturday. Kaylee was exhausted, and fell asleep in bed with her dress on.
Steve got up early, and headed out to Kokomo on Saturday, and the guys prepared for a Bonanza Society Formation Flying group that came in. I waited until 8:15, and finally went in and woke up Kaylee and got her ready, and we headed out as well. Kaylee spent the day playing again, riding around on her Razor scooter with Jamie, eating junk food (like the rest of us) and occasionally stopping to watch TV. But mostly playing. Justin was grill-master, Chuck was still recuperating from a medicine reaction from last week, Nathan was host, and the rest of us just tried to help where we could or stay out of the way. After lunch, I went up in the Bellanca for the first time in...many many months. Don't even remember the last time. Did three TOLS in it. By the time we got back down, the winds had picked up to 27 knot gusts. Then Steve hopped in the Bellanca with me and he did one Take off and Landing, and we called it a day. Turbulent and bumpy. Steve and Nathan flew the 172RG for a few TOLS, and I was going to go up in the 172SP, but it was being cleaned all day, and I do mean all day! It is now a very pretty looking airplane. It ended up being too windy to mess with the Twin Beech today, but the chargers are on it for the dead batteries, and a little chair flying did locate all the switches and gauges. :)
Nathan did get out the Mustang, and fire it up and run it up for the first time in six months. I bent down to pull the chocks out from under his wheels, and felt my pants rip. No problem, except the material was so thin and worn, that the next time I moved, I felt my pants rip ALL THE WAY. My long t-shirt couldn't even cover the giant tear in my pants. So I ran over to Dawn's trailer and begged a pair of sweats off of her, and fortunately she had some, or I'd have had to sit in one spot the rest of the evening, or go home! My pants tore all the way down my leg! Unreal.
Right around dusk, Nathan decided to run up the Mustang one more time, but this time he offered to let me start it up and run it a bit, and I didn't have to be asked twice! My legs are JUST long enough to fully depress and hold the brakes, but they get the job done. I'm trying to figure out what to say about it, and I can't, so...here are the photos! Really, the few times I've found myself speechless have been related to the Mustang.
After we put the planes away, and closed up the hangars, we sat around a campfire with a few beverages, and relaxed until it was time to come home, sometime around 10:30 pm.
Now this was quite a good day. :)
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Thursday
I let Steve take Kaylee to school today, and I just worked at home for an extra couple of hours. When I picked Kaylee up, we hit Applebees for lunch, then ran to Dunham's to pick up a Razor scooter for Kaylee, Staples to pick up brochure paper, on to Sam's Club for some things the airport needed, off to the Post Office, and then home. Kaylee played with Grandma & Grandpa for a couple of hours, and then we headed to gymnastics. Done with gymnastics, a bit more play time next door, and it was time to come home and call it a day. It was another cold, rainy, stormy, gray day.
I started a new Blog, in honor of the SMA children who have passed away. I've also linked it to the left under "blogs I visit" as "Angel Blog". It's going to take a very long time to get all the children I've known or known of up on that site, but somehow it feels like something that should be done. I wish no other children would ever lose their lives to this, but the reality is that some will, and they will be added to the top of the page. Our-sma-angels.com was the start, for each family to have a site for their child, and a listing of names to sites. The blog is my way of showing the world all the faces of just the children who have died from SMA. So many...
I started a new Blog, in honor of the SMA children who have passed away. I've also linked it to the left under "blogs I visit" as "Angel Blog". It's going to take a very long time to get all the children I've known or known of up on that site, but somehow it feels like something that should be done. I wish no other children would ever lose their lives to this, but the reality is that some will, and they will be added to the top of the page. Our-sma-angels.com was the start, for each family to have a site for their child, and a listing of names to sites. The blog is my way of showing the world all the faces of just the children who have died from SMA. So many...
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
The Day
It was a rainy, dreary day. I got a lot of stuff done, but none of it would interest anybody. Or maybe I just don't feel like typing it all out. :) Steve's Jeep won't start, but luckily my Oldsmobile was out at Glenndale so he had a ride home anyway. Kaylee had Awanas, we got broadband internet out at Nathan's hangar, and I picked up passport applications for our family. I've never had a passport, but I'd like to get one. I'm not planning anything, but it would be nice to be prepared just in case.
When I picked her up from school, Kaylee started crying from the moment she got in the car, through two errands, all the way home, and for 15 minutes after we got home. Finally I just laid down on the couch, pulled her with me, and just held her for awhile. She cried and said "I just don't know why I'm crying, Mommy." She obviously needed a hug. Shortly after that, I gave her a snack and put her in the bathtub to play quietly by herself for awhile, and when she got out she was much more calm. Overstimulated I guess.
Just saw on the news that Kokomo has a group of six teens who are jumping out of a van and attacking people. I guess there have been five attacks since Sunday, mostly against other teens so far. Different areas of town, different races of people, etc. That's a downright crime spree for Kokomo...
When I picked her up from school, Kaylee started crying from the moment she got in the car, through two errands, all the way home, and for 15 minutes after we got home. Finally I just laid down on the couch, pulled her with me, and just held her for awhile. She cried and said "I just don't know why I'm crying, Mommy." She obviously needed a hug. Shortly after that, I gave her a snack and put her in the bathtub to play quietly by herself for awhile, and when she got out she was much more calm. Overstimulated I guess.
Just saw on the news that Kokomo has a group of six teens who are jumping out of a van and attacking people. I guess there have been five attacks since Sunday, mostly against other teens so far. Different areas of town, different races of people, etc. That's a downright crime spree for Kokomo...
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Today
I spent today at Kokomo airport. I got there around 9 a.m., and went to the new 172's hangar to take photos of it for the website. I got my photos, got ready to get back in my car...and couldn't get in. My doors were all locked and my car was running. Apparently I'd accidentally hit the button on my way out of the car. So I stood outside for I don't know, 30-40 minutes, while Steve and his student drove over to Kokomo to let me back in my car. I couldn't get into Nathan's hangar, couldn't get in my car, couldn't get anywhere, so I stood outside the whole time...and I burned a lot of gas sitting there too. Steve was thrilled to mess up his lesson and drive across town to let me in my car, but until now I have studiously avoided mentioning the trips I have taken to Sheridan, without complaint might I add, to unlock His car for him, once with a kid throwing up in a plastic bag in the back seat. ;) I don't know how I hit the door lock button, but obviously I did. *sigh* Anyway. Finally I got in the hangar, got ready for the broadband guys to show up to set up Nathan's hangar with internet access...only they didn't show. To make a long story short, they got there at about 20 minutes to 2 pm. I did take a quick run to Wendy's and to Kaylee's school to pick her up, but other than that 30 minutes, I was at the hangar. Kaylee had a fun day, running around barefoot, riding a scooter, watching cartoons now and then out there, etc. Nathan got the Mustang's tires, struts and brakes done, and it's all together and ready to go! Whenever he gets a good day to take it out, it'll be its first running since November! I love airshow season...I can feel my pulse increasing already. :)
Tonight we had a little birthday dinner for Richard. Steaks, veggies, bread, and instead of a cake, we did little cupcakes and ice cream. Kaylee insisted on those blowing party favors, and she sang a few songs and did a couple of dances for her grandparents. She's happy to have them "home". :) Happy Birthday Richard!
Kaylee had a Spelling Test today. We were supposed to study for it last night I guess. We didn't. There wasn't anything in her folder last night, so though her teacher had said "spelling test tomorrow!" yesterday, I didn't remember, and with nothing in her backpack... Well, this morning Mrs. R. said "Are you ready for your spelling test? Did you study?" Kaylee says "No." Mrs. R. says "Oh, sure." and I said, "No, really. Um, nope." Mrs. R. says "Don't worry, you're a smart girl, you won't have any problems." Fortunately for both Kaylee and me, it was only like 7 words, and she did already know them all. On Friday is another spelling test, so I'll be sure to go over them this time. Kaylee said to me "I didn't have to study mom." Um, that's not the foundation I wish to lay for future tests!
My thoughts are with Chuck's daughter, who is recovering from a procedure today in the hospital. And I've tried to find a way to say it all day, and there is nothing but just to say it. Kalair passed away at 3 a.m., at home, with her mom and grandma. I got the call while I was out at the hangar. I don't really know what to say right now. Kalair is our third loss in such a short time, and one of the kids I just never thought we'd lose. Not really. She's beaten so many odds over so many years. She's overcome so many obstacles. She was seven years old...one of 'ours'. One of mine. There has been such an outpouring of hope and love for her on the guestbook. Her mom & grandma could really use your prayers as they deal with letting go of the girl they've held onto and fought for, for so long. I don't know what to say, I just don't...here is a picture of us in 2003.
Tonight we had a little birthday dinner for Richard. Steaks, veggies, bread, and instead of a cake, we did little cupcakes and ice cream. Kaylee insisted on those blowing party favors, and she sang a few songs and did a couple of dances for her grandparents. She's happy to have them "home". :) Happy Birthday Richard!
Kaylee had a Spelling Test today. We were supposed to study for it last night I guess. We didn't. There wasn't anything in her folder last night, so though her teacher had said "spelling test tomorrow!" yesterday, I didn't remember, and with nothing in her backpack... Well, this morning Mrs. R. said "Are you ready for your spelling test? Did you study?" Kaylee says "No." Mrs. R. says "Oh, sure." and I said, "No, really. Um, nope." Mrs. R. says "Don't worry, you're a smart girl, you won't have any problems." Fortunately for both Kaylee and me, it was only like 7 words, and she did already know them all. On Friday is another spelling test, so I'll be sure to go over them this time. Kaylee said to me "I didn't have to study mom." Um, that's not the foundation I wish to lay for future tests!
My thoughts are with Chuck's daughter, who is recovering from a procedure today in the hospital. And I've tried to find a way to say it all day, and there is nothing but just to say it. Kalair passed away at 3 a.m., at home, with her mom and grandma. I got the call while I was out at the hangar. I don't really know what to say right now. Kalair is our third loss in such a short time, and one of the kids I just never thought we'd lose. Not really. She's beaten so many odds over so many years. She's overcome so many obstacles. She was seven years old...one of 'ours'. One of mine. There has been such an outpouring of hope and love for her on the guestbook. Her mom & grandma could really use your prayers as they deal with letting go of the girl they've held onto and fought for, for so long. I don't know what to say, I just don't...here is a picture of us in 2003.
Monday, April 23, 2007
One more Monday
Kaylee didn't want to get out of bed this morning-Mondays are always hard for her. I don't blame her, except that she's happy to get up early on the weekends, just not week days. :)
I headed out for my errands after dropping her off. It was too windy to fly (comfortably and for fun anyway), so I took my laptop out to Glenndale where I hoped to get some work done. I didn't. Well, not much anyway. After I picked up Kaylee, we hit Staples for some binders, then came back here and visited with Grandma & Grandpa for awhile, then we headed to Ballet.
I finally got through my mail tonight. Well, I didn't get ALL done, but I did toss out a huge stack of papers, get the Dollar Campaign updated, and a lot of things sorted. I still have a lot to do from the mail stack, but at least it's somewhat reduced and much better organized. It still amazes me how fast things pile up.
Tonight, for those of you who pray, I have a family who could use those prayers. There's a little girl with SMA, her name is Kalair. She is Type 1 and seven years old, one of the pioneers of the movement of children who have survived well past the lifespan they were given of 8 months to a year, and I've known her since she was a baby. I got to meet her a couple of times, and I even got to hold her once-she wasn't too sure about that at the time, but she let me. I think she was three at the time. She's in a lot of trouble right now-unresponsive. The prayers are for her family, who have fought so hard for her for years, and are now facing their nightmare.
Thanks...
I headed out for my errands after dropping her off. It was too windy to fly (comfortably and for fun anyway), so I took my laptop out to Glenndale where I hoped to get some work done. I didn't. Well, not much anyway. After I picked up Kaylee, we hit Staples for some binders, then came back here and visited with Grandma & Grandpa for awhile, then we headed to Ballet.
I finally got through my mail tonight. Well, I didn't get ALL done, but I did toss out a huge stack of papers, get the Dollar Campaign updated, and a lot of things sorted. I still have a lot to do from the mail stack, but at least it's somewhat reduced and much better organized. It still amazes me how fast things pile up.
Tonight, for those of you who pray, I have a family who could use those prayers. There's a little girl with SMA, her name is Kalair. She is Type 1 and seven years old, one of the pioneers of the movement of children who have survived well past the lifespan they were given of 8 months to a year, and I've known her since she was a baby. I got to meet her a couple of times, and I even got to hold her once-she wasn't too sure about that at the time, but she let me. I think she was three at the time. She's in a lot of trouble right now-unresponsive. The prayers are for her family, who have fought so hard for her for years, and are now facing their nightmare.
Thanks...
Sunday, April 22, 2007
The Return of the Stants Family
We woke up this morning, Kaylee and I, and she came in and snuggled up with me for awhile. She was excited that her Daddy and Grandma & Grandpa were all going to be home today! We had a nice morning-went out and ran a few errands, and then I headed to Kokomo to update the Avidyne. It wouldn't go. It kept failing. I ended up not going flying, because Kaylee didn't want to. Did a load of rags/towels in the washer/dryer out in Nate's hanger, and Kaylee asked if she could sit in the Mustang. So, I put her up there, and she looked around, started asking questions about the various buttons and switches. Finally I had to make her come out, because I was tired of standing on a tilt on the wing. She was most interested in the guns. lol We're on our way home, when I get a page from Nathan that says "I assume the Baron made it to MIE okay Friday". I sat there for about 10 seconds with a brain flat-line, before it hit me. Actually "hit" me is a fairly accurate word for how I felt when it occurred to me what happened. I was supposed to take the Baron to MIE on Friday for the WAAS upgrade. DOH. Totally spaced it. I paged him back a one-word answer that basically said "nope". Nathan, Chuck & Steve were in Cape Girardeau, MO dropping off Nate's aunts, and from there they called MIE and arranged for them to pull in the Baron today. So Kaylee and I turn around, head back to Kokomo, take out the Baron, and head to Muncie. It was kind of a comedy of errors. The APU was hooked up from the update attempts, the tug was in the other hanger, yadda yadda yadda. Finally we got on our way--and it was BUMPY. We got tossed around like popcorn kernels in a kettle. Kaylee handled it just fine, thankfully. We weren't in Muncie for long before the Cheyenne came pulling up. Have I ever mentioned what a good-looking plane that is? ;) They left the engines running and opened the back door and Kaylee and I just ran inside. It was my first ride in the back of the Cheyenne. Very comfortable, actually! It's a little odd facing backwards and shooting up at 3000' per minute, I admit! It was bumpy on the way home too, though it went a little better in the bigger plane.
I personally think it's funny that they came from Florida, to Missouri, and over to Muncie in about the same time it took me to get from my house, to lunch, to the airport, and over to Muncie. They got to Muncie from Missouri in not much of a different time frame than I got to Muncie from Kokomo! Which means nothing to you if you're not from here, but Muncie is a 20 minute trip in the Baron at most. :)
We got back, and headed to Applebees for a late lunch. Then home. We were here for a couple of hours, and up pulled Grandma & Grandpa. Excellent timing! :) So they are home safe from Florida and settling in tonight.
I didn't get my mail or Kaylee's clothes done, but that's okay-I'll do it another day. In the meantime, the weekend is past, everybody's home safe, I have a plan to unroll the next roll of TP, and tomorrow is the typical busy day!
I personally think it's funny that they came from Florida, to Missouri, and over to Muncie in about the same time it took me to get from my house, to lunch, to the airport, and over to Muncie. They got to Muncie from Missouri in not much of a different time frame than I got to Muncie from Kokomo! Which means nothing to you if you're not from here, but Muncie is a 20 minute trip in the Baron at most. :)
We got back, and headed to Applebees for a late lunch. Then home. We were here for a couple of hours, and up pulled Grandma & Grandpa. Excellent timing! :) So they are home safe from Florida and settling in tonight.
I didn't get my mail or Kaylee's clothes done, but that's okay-I'll do it another day. In the meantime, the weekend is past, everybody's home safe, I have a plan to unroll the next roll of TP, and tomorrow is the typical busy day!
Saturday, April 21, 2007
And the Rest of the Day
In a much more cheerful venue. :)
Today I was going to go out to Kokomo, update the Avidyne, and fly the Baron. Instead, I stayed in sweat pants and a t-shirt in my house, no make-up on, and cleaned. The cats had left me some throw-up to take care of, the floors were in bad shape. Laundry and clutter and dishes and counters. Kaylee cleaned her room too, except for her hang-up clothes. She fixed her books, her stuffed animals, her pajamas and socks and underpants and gymnastics/ballet things, she put all her toys away, and she put clean dishes away. She actually volunteered to put the dishes away for me. :) I got the dining room, front living room, kitchen and one bathroom done. Her clothes, my room, and my mail in the back living room is all that's left. I'll try to work on my mail tonight, her room tomorrow, and my room...nah. It's not bad. :) It took most of the day, but at least most of the house looks and feels respectable again.
Kaylee read to me today. She pulled out one of her books from her bookshelf, a mouse book, and read it to me. Then she pulled out the Velveteen Rabbit, and read the first and last page. I had to help with some of the words, but she read a lot more than I helped her with. After having read the first book, she got tired after 1 page of the V.R., but I really love sitting there listening to her read. She's becoming such a big girl...
Tonight she went to bed-and actually passed out right away! That never happens any more. She usually plays in her room for about an hour, or lies there wide awake if I don't let her play but make her stay in bed. It doesn't matter, she usually can not fall asleep fast. Neither can I though, so I can't blame her. Late last night, it was about 1 a.m., I was propped up in my bed reading a "Chicken Soup for the Mothers/Daughters' Soul" book, and I heard my door open soooo quietly. I didn't move, but used peripheral vision, and I saw her stand there, peek at me, realize I was awake, and sneak back to her own room. I didn't see her again until early this morning when she crawled in bed with me and cuddled up to get warm.
Her notes to me are getting better too. It wasn't that long ago that they required a lot of deciphering. This is her note to me today:
"To Mommy
Fram Kaylee
Wil You Ples call Nacl or wil you pla with me ples"
Or if it's still too hard to read, "To Mommy From Kaylee. Will you please call Nicole or will you play with me please". And "Nacl" isn't too far off for the name that sounds like Na-cole. I can almost always figure out what she's saying these days without her having to tell me.
We made cinnamon rolls today, and she loved that. She loves to cook. She also played outside a lot today. I was proud of her, she saw bees and didn't even panic. I haven't gotten her to play in our yard for a long time because of her bee paranoia. Until today. She came inside once, and said to me "There are bees out here. You said if I hold still they won't bug me. Right Mommy?" I said "Right-if you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone." And she went back outside to play. And I thought "Oh please don't let anything sting her now!"
Yesterday at the park, she came running up to me, pointed out two little girls, and said "They're my friends mom! One is Emily. The other one has a really complicated name." Her hands waving all teenager-ish when she said it. That kind of made me laugh-and wonder what exactly this complicated name was.
Well, I guess I'd best end this fascinating blog entry, and work on my mail pile and a litter box. Ah, the fascination, right world? :)
Today I was going to go out to Kokomo, update the Avidyne, and fly the Baron. Instead, I stayed in sweat pants and a t-shirt in my house, no make-up on, and cleaned. The cats had left me some throw-up to take care of, the floors were in bad shape. Laundry and clutter and dishes and counters. Kaylee cleaned her room too, except for her hang-up clothes. She fixed her books, her stuffed animals, her pajamas and socks and underpants and gymnastics/ballet things, she put all her toys away, and she put clean dishes away. She actually volunteered to put the dishes away for me. :) I got the dining room, front living room, kitchen and one bathroom done. Her clothes, my room, and my mail in the back living room is all that's left. I'll try to work on my mail tonight, her room tomorrow, and my room...nah. It's not bad. :) It took most of the day, but at least most of the house looks and feels respectable again.
Kaylee read to me today. She pulled out one of her books from her bookshelf, a mouse book, and read it to me. Then she pulled out the Velveteen Rabbit, and read the first and last page. I had to help with some of the words, but she read a lot more than I helped her with. After having read the first book, she got tired after 1 page of the V.R., but I really love sitting there listening to her read. She's becoming such a big girl...
Tonight she went to bed-and actually passed out right away! That never happens any more. She usually plays in her room for about an hour, or lies there wide awake if I don't let her play but make her stay in bed. It doesn't matter, she usually can not fall asleep fast. Neither can I though, so I can't blame her. Late last night, it was about 1 a.m., I was propped up in my bed reading a "Chicken Soup for the Mothers/Daughters' Soul" book, and I heard my door open soooo quietly. I didn't move, but used peripheral vision, and I saw her stand there, peek at me, realize I was awake, and sneak back to her own room. I didn't see her again until early this morning when she crawled in bed with me and cuddled up to get warm.
Her notes to me are getting better too. It wasn't that long ago that they required a lot of deciphering. This is her note to me today:
"To Mommy
Fram Kaylee
Wil You Ples call Nacl or wil you pla with me ples"
Or if it's still too hard to read, "To Mommy From Kaylee. Will you please call Nicole or will you play with me please". And "Nacl" isn't too far off for the name that sounds like Na-cole. I can almost always figure out what she's saying these days without her having to tell me.
We made cinnamon rolls today, and she loved that. She loves to cook. She also played outside a lot today. I was proud of her, she saw bees and didn't even panic. I haven't gotten her to play in our yard for a long time because of her bee paranoia. Until today. She came inside once, and said to me "There are bees out here. You said if I hold still they won't bug me. Right Mommy?" I said "Right-if you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone." And she went back outside to play. And I thought "Oh please don't let anything sting her now!"
Yesterday at the park, she came running up to me, pointed out two little girls, and said "They're my friends mom! One is Emily. The other one has a really complicated name." Her hands waving all teenager-ish when she said it. That kind of made me laugh-and wonder what exactly this complicated name was.
Well, I guess I'd best end this fascinating blog entry, and work on my mail pile and a litter box. Ah, the fascination, right world? :)
Melancholy Warning.
You've been warned, so feel free to skip.
Kaylee started singing "You Are My Sunshine" to me. She paused after the first verse, said "That's all I can remember Mommy, but I know there's more." So I sang the second verse to her, we finished up with the chorus together, and she ran off happily to play outside in the sunshine. She's really starting to have a sweet, clear voice when she sings, and I love listening to her sing. For her, this is a cute little song, but it's hard for me to sing without associating it with the night Devon died. It was the song that I sang to him over and over during his life, and if he was upset or scared, it would calm him down. That night in the hospital, sitting in the rocking chair and holding him in my arms, I just kept singing that song over and over...even though I wasn't really singing it any more, even though it didn't really make it out of my mostly-closed-off throat, even though I ended up humming it all wobbly for awhile there. I don't know that he could even hear me at times, but I'll bet he felt the vibrations of my voice where he was lying next to my heart. I hear that song and I can see myself sitting there, knowing that there was nothing I could do, so trying to give him the only thing I could--a mother's calm and peace and love; trying to project it to him, and hoping that one silly song would make him not be afraid, would let him know that he was loved. I can hear myself singing it while I watch his numbers drop and feel his breathing slow down, and I just keep singing it with my mouth while my brain alternates between "please don't die!" and "please take him quickly!"
Hearing my daughter sing it to me, it's one of those 'full circle' things. I smile at her and sing it with her...and I can still see pieces of her brother in her. It's just a song...it's all in the context. I'm not going to make her all sad with my memories of the song-she deserves the silliness and fun of making her own goofy memories; at the same time, I'm not going to dismiss my memories either, of singing to our one year old boy during his last hours on earth.
He'd be 9 years old in about 3 weeks, and he would probably be mortified if I sang the song to him now!
Kaylee started singing "You Are My Sunshine" to me. She paused after the first verse, said "That's all I can remember Mommy, but I know there's more." So I sang the second verse to her, we finished up with the chorus together, and she ran off happily to play outside in the sunshine. She's really starting to have a sweet, clear voice when she sings, and I love listening to her sing. For her, this is a cute little song, but it's hard for me to sing without associating it with the night Devon died. It was the song that I sang to him over and over during his life, and if he was upset or scared, it would calm him down. That night in the hospital, sitting in the rocking chair and holding him in my arms, I just kept singing that song over and over...even though I wasn't really singing it any more, even though it didn't really make it out of my mostly-closed-off throat, even though I ended up humming it all wobbly for awhile there. I don't know that he could even hear me at times, but I'll bet he felt the vibrations of my voice where he was lying next to my heart. I hear that song and I can see myself sitting there, knowing that there was nothing I could do, so trying to give him the only thing I could--a mother's calm and peace and love; trying to project it to him, and hoping that one silly song would make him not be afraid, would let him know that he was loved. I can hear myself singing it while I watch his numbers drop and feel his breathing slow down, and I just keep singing it with my mouth while my brain alternates between "please don't die!" and "please take him quickly!"
Hearing my daughter sing it to me, it's one of those 'full circle' things. I smile at her and sing it with her...and I can still see pieces of her brother in her. It's just a song...it's all in the context. I'm not going to make her all sad with my memories of the song-she deserves the silliness and fun of making her own goofy memories; at the same time, I'm not going to dismiss my memories either, of singing to our one year old boy during his last hours on earth.
He'd be 9 years old in about 3 weeks, and he would probably be mortified if I sang the song to him now!
Friday, April 20, 2007
Quiet Friday
This morning, Steve left early to go with Nathan, Chuck, Ty, John D, Charlie & Dawn to head to Florida in the Cheyenne. I dropped Kaylee off at school, ran a few errands, then headed to Glenndale where I took the 
Citabria up again. It was a beautiful, calm morning, and I took a roll of toilet paper up with me. I'd heard of people releasing TP in the air and how it streamers down, and cutting the streamer with the wings. It is not illegal, by the way, nor dangerous, and TP is highly biodegradable. So I picked a deserted area, released the TP, dove back for it, and it was just gone. Hmmm, didn't work. I had brought my camera just in case I could get a decent shot, but no such luck. However, here is a view of Glenndale from 6,000'. It took me a long time to get up there in the Citabria, and I wouldn't be surprised if that was an altitude record in that plane. :D I went and practiced some take offs and landings at Kokomo, then headed back to Glenndale before people started showing up. :)
Citabria up again. It was a beautiful, calm morning, and I took a roll of toilet paper up with me. I'd heard of people releasing TP in the air and how it streamers down, and cutting the streamer with the wings. It is not illegal, by the way, nor dangerous, and TP is highly biodegradable. So I picked a deserted area, released the TP, dove back for it, and it was just gone. Hmmm, didn't work. I had brought my camera just in case I could get a decent shot, but no such luck. However, here is a view of Glenndale from 6,000'. It took me a long time to get up there in the Citabria, and I wouldn't be surprised if that was an altitude record in that plane. :D I went and practiced some take offs and landings at Kokomo, then headed back to Glenndale before people started showing up. :)The lunch crew slowly started straggling in. It was a quiet day because so many people were gone to Sun & Fun in Florida, but there were about 15 people there, which isn't bad for what weekend it is. Joe cooked hot dogs, I brought cookies and muffins, and someone brought fruit salad, chips, etc. We didn't have a ton of food, but we had enough! After it was all said and done and people wandered off, I decided to try the TP experiement one more time. I brought Justin with me this time. This time the TP roll dropped like a rock, I couldn't catch it, it didn't stream out as much as the first one, and I think the streamer is ripping off and the rest of the roll is just falling in a lump. So my next experiment is going to include starting the roll on an unwinding 'spin' when I drop it, and trying a looser, thicker roll of TP instead of the cheap, tightly wound, thin stuff. Why am I doing this immature thing, you may ask? Because I've never done it and I want to figure it out. Or in the words of Kaylee: "I don't know. I just want to." Hey, sometimes that's an actual answer. :)
I picked Kaylee up at 3 pm, and we headed out to Jackson-Morrow Park. I finished the new Jonathan Kellerman novel, which I enjoyed, and she played for a few hours, which she enjoyed. She had found a couple of little friends within 45 seconds flat. When they left, a group of boys came in, and she played with them just fine too. She adapts pretty well to boy play or girl play, and certainly has no trouble now days going up to kids and finding playmates. At one point I looked up and saw one boy on each of her arms, both of the boys bigger than she is, and they were pulling her somewhere, and she was resisting. I start to get up, and you can imagine what ran through my head. But then I heard what they were saying, and it was all a pretend thing. Then it occurred to me, if she was really resisting, everybody at that park would have known it. The girl has a set of lungs. ;) While I was sitting there, I watched kids come and go, and I thought it was mostly pretty funny. They'd arrive, and kids would run ahead of mom & dad or Grandma & Grandpa happy and yelling. When it was time to leave, you would hear wailing and complaining and they'd be dragging their feet behind them. I also saw one little boy shove and hit his grandmother repeatedly, which left a bad taste in my mouth...almost as much as the fact that she didn't seem to think anything about it. I finally got Kaylee home around 6:30pm. A little dinner, and I put her to bed early-ish because she's been exhausted and up too late for awhile.
Meanwhile, Steve is in Florida for the weekend. I'm sure he and 'the boys' are having a great time. Richard & Ann will be back in town on Sunday, and Steve will be home on Sunday too. So for the weekend, Kaylee and I are on our own. Tomorrow I'm going out to Kokomo to update the Avidyne and maybe fly the Baron, and hopefully I'll be motivated enough tomorrow to clean up the house. It needs it!
Thursday, April 19, 2007
School
Well, after I dropped Kaylee off at school, I took the Citabria up for a bit. It always does a nice job of relaxing a person. At least this person. :) And I needed it, because after I got Kaylee, we went to McDonald's Playland for hours. Got back from that and had 40 minutes to get ready for gymnastics. Was at gymnastics for an hour, ran home, changed clothes, and immediately drove to School #2 to check them out for their Open House for parents. Liked the room, liked the teacher, liked almost everything about the school. I've already got the paperwork filled out, and on Monday I'll take it in, and Kaylee will officially be enrolled at Redeemer Lutheran School. The other school would have been closer to my religious beliefs, and a much closer drive to get to each morning, but this school has...I can't explain it. It's just the better choice even if their doctrine is a little different than ours. I feel good about the choice, and I just wasn't feeling that same way about Choice #1, even though it seemed perfectly fine, is closer in location, is where her Awanas group meets, and is closer to our religous beliefs. I go with my instincts even if I can't explain them. I do feel good about the choice though. That was reinforced this afternoon when Kaylee's Kindergarten teacher pulled me aside and said she heard we were looking at that school. I said yes, and she responded that her daughter had gone there, and they all loved it, and she wishes she could still attend. I like this teacher, so if SHE likes the school, and *I* like the school, and Kaylee likes it even though it is 'new' and not familiar like the other one, then...I guess that's a "sale". It's also a little cheaper, which doesn't hurt either, though it's more than double what we are currently paying for Kindergarten. *sigh*
Then tonight I just tried to get some work done on the computer, do laundry so Steve could pack for his trip, etc. It was a day where we weren't home more than an hour at a time from the time I left the house at 8:30 am until the time we were done with the school Open House at 7 pm. Just one of those days! Good, but busy...
Then tonight I just tried to get some work done on the computer, do laundry so Steve could pack for his trip, etc. It was a day where we weren't home more than an hour at a time from the time I left the house at 8:30 am until the time we were done with the school Open House at 7 pm. Just one of those days! Good, but busy...
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Whee-Ha!
Today was a busy day! From 9 a.m. on, we were at Kokomo Airport giving presentations, rides, and tours for around 90 people. We had six pilots giving rides in five airplanes, and about six tables with 30 chairs set up in Nathan's hanger. Steve gave a "this is how airplanes fly" talk, Pam took photos, Charlie Brier, Chuck and Joe Morrow helped out on the ground operations. It was supposed to rain today-and yet it held off. I got the first sprinkles on my windshield at 3 pm when I was driving home. Thank you, heavens! It was a busy day, but a pretty good one! I had fun giving rides in the new-to-us C-172RG (retract gear), and I think about everybody had a good time and a good learning experience. I got the bug to fly at age seven. Who knows, maybe one or two of those kids will get the bug at age 6. :)
I took some photos, maybe I'll put them up on my site later....here's one of a few of the kids in front of Nathan's Mustang, and one of Kaylee with her friend from school, in the back of the plane when I gave them the first ride of the day. Well, it WOULD be if only I could get them to post. Hmmm, maybe I'll try later. I did try again later. No luck. So I put them up on a Web Page instead. :)
I took some photos, maybe I'll put them up on my site later....here's one of a few of the kids in front of Nathan's Mustang, and one of Kaylee with her friend from school, in the back of the plane when I gave them the first ride of the day. Well, it WOULD be if only I could get them to post. Hmmm, maybe I'll try later. I did try again later. No luck. So I put them up on a Web Page instead. :)
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Calm
It was a calm day, at least as far as the weather is concerned. Tuesdays are short days for Kaylee's school, so after I dropped her off, I headed to Glenndale and took up the Citabria for awhile. Mostly I just flew around and did a little of nothing but relax. Did a few take offs and landings too. Listened to music, did some 60 degree bank turns, and just...flew. It was the perfect morning for it.
After I grabbed Kaylee, I ran to a pet store for some supplies, hit Mike's Pizza with "the guys", did a bank deposit, then came home and got to work. I got some things done for Steve, and I got some things done for SMA. Cleaned out my inbox for the most part, and did my Things To Do list, well some of it. Kaylee played outside a lot today, and then her little friend Nicole from next door came over, and they played outside until 8:30 pm. Finally it was half an hour past Kaylee's bedtime, and she's been staying awake WAY too late, so I walked Nicole home and put the kiddo in bed. As of almost 10 pm, she was still awake in her room. *sigh*
Tomorrow is Aviation Day Round I. It's for Kaylee's school. If the weather holds out, we'll have between 40-50 kids tomorrow to give a 'presentation' about aviation to, and then rides. We have another person to be the photographer so I can help give rides, and Steve will be presenting in Nathan's place, and we have four planes and pilots going until all the rides are in. If it's a rain date, it's next Wednesday. Here's hoping for No Rain. We're all ready to go already! :)
After I grabbed Kaylee, I ran to a pet store for some supplies, hit Mike's Pizza with "the guys", did a bank deposit, then came home and got to work. I got some things done for Steve, and I got some things done for SMA. Cleaned out my inbox for the most part, and did my Things To Do list, well some of it. Kaylee played outside a lot today, and then her little friend Nicole from next door came over, and they played outside until 8:30 pm. Finally it was half an hour past Kaylee's bedtime, and she's been staying awake WAY too late, so I walked Nicole home and put the kiddo in bed. As of almost 10 pm, she was still awake in her room. *sigh*
Tomorrow is Aviation Day Round I. It's for Kaylee's school. If the weather holds out, we'll have between 40-50 kids tomorrow to give a 'presentation' about aviation to, and then rides. We have another person to be the photographer so I can help give rides, and Steve will be presenting in Nathan's place, and we have four planes and pilots going until all the rides are in. If it's a rain date, it's next Wednesday. Here's hoping for No Rain. We're all ready to go already! :)
Tuesday Top Ten: Ten Things I Keep Putting Off
HA! This is a good one for me. Do I have to stop at ten? *sigh* Procrastination is probably my biggest nemesis, and my own worst enemy. (In fact, I am procrastinating at writing this today. I need to do other things I already procrastinated on first...)
1. Kaylee's Room. It's what I am the worst at. She can't hang up all her own clothes, but I can't keep up with my own, let alone mine AND hers. I keep up for awhile, but then one or two loads of laundry get behind, and soon her clothes are a pile on the floor again. I hate hate hate hate hate this job and can't wait until she's big enough to be able to get her own clothes hung up. She can do her underpants, socks, pajamas, ballet & gymnastics stuff, and single-piece dresses, so those stay good, but the rest...UGH.
2. Getting back in shape. I can not motivate to do this. And I really, Really need to. I like my food too much, and my exercise too little.
3. Going through my mail. I have a really big stack of mail that I haven't gone through and taken care of. Again, just a few days and it all piles up really fast. If you dare take a few days and do Anything but a constant routine of the same stuff, it all goes to pot fast, and then it's depressingly hard to catch back up.
4. Studying for my ATP oral. I did get started on the written yesterday, and I did a practice flight and should be fine there, but that oral stuff...YUCK. It's boring and it's complicated. At least for the written I can memorize and regurgitate. And the flight I just have to, well, fly. But getting asked a bunch of questions over a bunch of stuff I don't need to know. Well, okay, so I just hate having someone ask me questions and look at me waiting for me to answer. I'm going to have to be forced into this checkride. I Hate these things and I haven't done one in about 12 years.
5. Doctors. Our dental appointment is past due. My eye appointment is past due. My 'other' doctor appointment is about 6 years past due. Kaylee's shots are past due. Two of them just need scheduled, but two of them require a lot more effort and problem solving, and I continue to put it off and put it off and put it off.
6. Websites. I've got quite a few websites that I Need To Work On. They're way behind. It's embarrassing. But I put out whatever fires are burning the brightest on a particular day, and these fires haven't lit me up yet. *sigh*
7. Declutter. I did great for awhile with FLYlady, but the clutter is back and I need it to go away. There's clutter everywhere and I need to do something about it. But for now I'm looking at it and saying "maybe later".
8. Finish Painting. We have our dining room painted, our one kitchen wall, and two living room walls. We have five more walls to paint, but I stalled out. It's time to at least work on the project some more. Really.
9. Accounting. I have a small problem with one of my accounts, and I can't find some money. It's driving me crazy. I spent hours on it once, and never did find it, and I went thoroughly through everything. Now I'm just putting it off again, because it was so innately frustrating last time. And yes, I do realize that isn't helping.
10. Letters. I owe some very special people some letters. It's been too long. I don't know why I can't get written correspondence done in a timely manner, but I have a horrid time with that. It's ridiculous. But another day passes and another and another, and it's still not done.
This is depressing. ;) Seriously, in a given day, what doesn't get done becomes this weight, and it gets harder to move out from under it, and in the meantime more stuff gets put on top of it. Argh...
1. Kaylee's Room. It's what I am the worst at. She can't hang up all her own clothes, but I can't keep up with my own, let alone mine AND hers. I keep up for awhile, but then one or two loads of laundry get behind, and soon her clothes are a pile on the floor again. I hate hate hate hate hate this job and can't wait until she's big enough to be able to get her own clothes hung up. She can do her underpants, socks, pajamas, ballet & gymnastics stuff, and single-piece dresses, so those stay good, but the rest...UGH.
2. Getting back in shape. I can not motivate to do this. And I really, Really need to. I like my food too much, and my exercise too little.
3. Going through my mail. I have a really big stack of mail that I haven't gone through and taken care of. Again, just a few days and it all piles up really fast. If you dare take a few days and do Anything but a constant routine of the same stuff, it all goes to pot fast, and then it's depressingly hard to catch back up.
4. Studying for my ATP oral. I did get started on the written yesterday, and I did a practice flight and should be fine there, but that oral stuff...YUCK. It's boring and it's complicated. At least for the written I can memorize and regurgitate. And the flight I just have to, well, fly. But getting asked a bunch of questions over a bunch of stuff I don't need to know. Well, okay, so I just hate having someone ask me questions and look at me waiting for me to answer. I'm going to have to be forced into this checkride. I Hate these things and I haven't done one in about 12 years.
5. Doctors. Our dental appointment is past due. My eye appointment is past due. My 'other' doctor appointment is about 6 years past due. Kaylee's shots are past due. Two of them just need scheduled, but two of them require a lot more effort and problem solving, and I continue to put it off and put it off and put it off.
6. Websites. I've got quite a few websites that I Need To Work On. They're way behind. It's embarrassing. But I put out whatever fires are burning the brightest on a particular day, and these fires haven't lit me up yet. *sigh*
7. Declutter. I did great for awhile with FLYlady, but the clutter is back and I need it to go away. There's clutter everywhere and I need to do something about it. But for now I'm looking at it and saying "maybe later".
8. Finish Painting. We have our dining room painted, our one kitchen wall, and two living room walls. We have five more walls to paint, but I stalled out. It's time to at least work on the project some more. Really.
9. Accounting. I have a small problem with one of my accounts, and I can't find some money. It's driving me crazy. I spent hours on it once, and never did find it, and I went thoroughly through everything. Now I'm just putting it off again, because it was so innately frustrating last time. And yes, I do realize that isn't helping.
10. Letters. I owe some very special people some letters. It's been too long. I don't know why I can't get written correspondence done in a timely manner, but I have a horrid time with that. It's ridiculous. But another day passes and another and another, and it's still not done.
This is depressing. ;) Seriously, in a given day, what doesn't get done becomes this weight, and it gets harder to move out from under it, and in the meantime more stuff gets put on top of it. Argh...
Monday, April 16, 2007
Monday Again
Kaylee went to school, then Chuck and I flew. It was still windy and gusty today, but at least it was blue skies! Flew the Baron to Sheridan to pick up logbooks, to Muncie to drop them off, and back to Kokomo to put up the plane. While we were at Muncie, we saw Ty there taking his CFII checkride (which he passed today, congrats Ty!)
Lunch at Culvers, a few errands, pick up Kaylee, ballet class, dinner, yadda yadda.
Oh, Kaylee's ballet costume came in for her recital. Holy Moly, that is SO CUTE. That's just adorable. I'm going to go nuts on photos on *that* one. :D
Speaking of photos, a guy at Glenndale took this photo. I thought it was just beautiful! It's the double rainbow from the other day- a new angle. Love it.
Lunch at Culvers, a few errands, pick up Kaylee, ballet class, dinner, yadda yadda.
Oh, Kaylee's ballet costume came in for her recital. Holy Moly, that is SO CUTE. That's just adorable. I'm going to go nuts on photos on *that* one. :D
Speaking of photos, a guy at Glenndale took this photo. I thought it was just beautiful! It's the double rainbow from the other day- a new angle. Love it.
Last night, Kaylee could Not Go To Sleep. That poor girl kept trying. At one point, when Steve went in to check on her, she said "Daddy, I just need another human." Finally, at 1 a.m. when *I* was going to bed, I broke my own rule, which I will probably pay for some day coming up, and I went into her room, where she was still lying wide awake, and I asked her if she wanted to come into my room. She jumped on the opportunity, we all laid down in my bed, and she curled up next to me and passed out within seconds. Poor thing was exhausted today, too. She went to bed tonight with almost no complaint. We've all had nights where we couldn't get to sleep-that was hers.
(And I can never remember the proper use of lay, lie, laid, etc., so if the above is wrong, just ignore it.)
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Random Thoughts
Dulcie is an interesting cat. Every time I sneeze, she wakes up, comes over, and climbs all over me. It is as though sneezing concerns her. I don't even sneeze that loudly-but it disturbs her ever time. It's not just sneezing. If I raise my voice to be heard across the house, Dulce will run up to me, rub up against me, and meow. Tonight Steve tested our house alarm. It's loud, lights flash, alarms squeal. Same thing. Odd little kitty!
We have a Caller ID ball that Chuck gave us awhile ago-we have it up and running now, and it's pretty neat! I'm enjoying it. It shows the time and date, and the name and number of anyone calling. We can see it sitting on the couch. Gotta like that! :) Thanks Chuck!
I forgot the rest of my random thoughts. So...never mind!
We have a Caller ID ball that Chuck gave us awhile ago-we have it up and running now, and it's pretty neat! I'm enjoying it. It shows the time and date, and the name and number of anyone calling. We can see it sitting on the couch. Gotta like that! :) Thanks Chuck!
I forgot the rest of my random thoughts. So...never mind!
Here Comes The Sun...
Whew, I'm so glad to see the sun again. It's been too long. Unfortunately, the Sun brought his friend the Wind along with it, and it's blowing like crazy. So Kaylee's freshly washed and neatly combed hair ended up being a joke! But that's okay, because her hair more often looks like a tornado hit it anyway. :)She got her Easter dress on, and I hid the eggs and basket outside in the garden/yard area. Then away she went. She got her basket first, and there was one clear winner for her. The Easter Bunny was smart enough to figure out that Miss Kaylee would enjoy more than anything else in her basket a Walking, Pooping Chicken. You pull off its head and put in egg-shaped gum pellets, wind up the chicken, and it walks and lays the eggs. Kaylee laughed and laughed and laughed about that. She's still laughing, in fact. Forget the chocolate and everything else, she likes her pooping chicken. That's my delicate girl, all right...
At one point, Miss Kaylee was tripping happily down the stone path, when she wiped out. She scraped up her knee again, and she cracked a bunch of the eggs she had dyed. She burst into tears, not about her leg, but about the eggs. I told her they still looked pretty and we were going to eat them up anyway, but she was fairly inconsolable for awhile. Finally I told her she looked so sad I was going to have to take a sad face photo of her. I tried, but she didn't like that idea and got annoyed at me, and as soon as she got annoyed she quit being sad, and we could finish finding the rest of her eggs. ;) The pictures are up on her site now, so you can check those out. Here are three from today.
Other than the fact I'm saying so here, history would never know that I waited a week to do it because the weather was so yucky all the previous week! Kaylee's happy, I'm happy, and I got a sunshiny Easter picture, not a snowy gray one. Works for us. ;)
Steve is outside working, my car is sitting in the driveway looking good, the cats want to go outside but would hate it once they got there because of the wind, I need to run to the store but don't feel like putting on makeup to do it, I've attacked a large pile of laundry, and so the day goes! Getting ready for tomorrow's busy day...
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Snowing...
And snowing and snowing. It's April 14th and it's snowing. Yuck.
Today was a quiet Saturday. I felt pretty ill most of the afternoon, so finally I laid down on the couch and passed out for awhile. Steve came home from work with a headache, so he laid down too. I finally took a shower and felt like a human again by 5:30 pm.
We got our audio equipment 'tower' put up today, and I got caught up on some computer work.
Sadly, we lost another little boy to SMA tonight. I can't do anything to make it better, or make it
'okay' when we lose another child, so sometimes it feels like I need to put it in writing; my way of honoring these kids that so many people will never know. His name is Christian Ward, and he's a sweetheart. We met him at our first SMA Support Gathering. He had a wheelchair collision with another little girl in her chair, and I saw a woman literally hurdle across a line of chairs to get to the kids. Everyone was okay, but it was scary for a minute there! Christian and his mom went on a plane ride with me too. He was so quiet and happy and sweet, and afterwards he sent me the sweetest little thank you. He was ill two days ago but holding his own.
Too many little ones...always too many...
Today was a quiet Saturday. I felt pretty ill most of the afternoon, so finally I laid down on the couch and passed out for awhile. Steve came home from work with a headache, so he laid down too. I finally took a shower and felt like a human again by 5:30 pm.
We got our audio equipment 'tower' put up today, and I got caught up on some computer work.
Sadly, we lost another little boy to SMA tonight. I can't do anything to make it better, or make it
'okay' when we lose another child, so sometimes it feels like I need to put it in writing; my way of honoring these kids that so many people will never know. His name is Christian Ward, and he's a sweetheart. We met him at our first SMA Support Gathering. He had a wheelchair collision with another little girl in her chair, and I saw a woman literally hurdle across a line of chairs to get to the kids. Everyone was okay, but it was scary for a minute there! Christian and his mom went on a plane ride with me too. He was so quiet and happy and sweet, and afterwards he sent me the sweetest little thank you. He was ill two days ago but holding his own.Too many little ones...always too many...
Tuesday Top Ten: Those Darn Kids
(A make-up Top Ten).
If I've said it once, I've said it 500 Times....
1. "Leave the cats alone." At six years old you would think it would have penetrated, but so far, she simply Can Not leave the cats alone. I don't know how many times per day I say it, I'm guessing 15 times a day. She loves them to death. She wants to hug them, chase them, play with them, rub their ears, cuddle with them, and play with them until they are mad at ME for taking them in to get their claws removed so they can't defend themselves. Her response is always "But they're so FUZZY!" or "But I LOVE them!"
2. "No." You know, I really think this encompasses "Things I've Said 500 Times" list numbers 2 through 10. No you can't have ice cream for breakfast. No you can't wear your gymnastics outfit to school. No you can't see if that will float in the toilet. No I don't want to come smell/touch/look at that.
3. "I love you." She's even told me I tell her this all the time. She said it in one of those "I'm being patient with you Mom" voices. I'm just glad she hears it so much. She's also a very affectionate child in return, and she tells her teachers, her classmates, and anyone she cares about how much she loves them. I worry about that, about when she'll get 'scorned' or 'burned' for it, but for now she is a loving, happy little girl with no problems expressing her emotions, and that's a gift. So she's going to have to keep hearing "I love you" from me whether she likes it or not! :)
4. "Turn that down/off!" Something tells me this one will not get any better as she gets older. Right now I'm listening to Saturday morning cartoons up at a high volume in the kitchen, and in the front living room, my keyboard is playing the same tune over and over and over (and over). I ask her to turn them down, and she does for awhile, until she forgets and gets excited. Right now she is dancing to that tune that I'm going to hear in my head for the next year. It's good exercise. That's the only reason I'm not insisting it go off. But I may head for my iPod or my room soon!
5. "It doesn't matter what they did..." Or as My mother used to put it, "Life isn't fair-don't expect it to be." Our girl is a rule-follower for the most part. She tells on herself if she breaks rules, and if someone else breaks rules she points the finger and tattles. We've been working on that part of it. Thus the "It doesn't matter what THEY did, you need to worry about what YOU should or should not do." And then try to incorporate that "line in the sand" of when it IS appropriate to worry about what someone else is doing. In school she's had to learn to mind her own beeswax too. It's kind of funny, really. But she's a good girl. :)
6. "Thank you". I'm always thanking her for her good manners, when she does a good job in a restaurant, when she behaves quietly in a work environment, when she gives me little kisses for no reason. She really tries to do the right thing, usually does a really good job, and I get to say it a lot.
7. "You're goofy!" Again, if I've said it once, I've said it 500 times. She's silly, goofy, occasionally weird and gross and funny. She will come up with the strangest goof-ball things. At home, she has been practicing burping words. Now how's that for a delicate girly activity?? At least so far we've managed to keep her from doing it in public...
8. "No, we are not going to crash/have a fire." I swear, 500 times. She's been convinced that our house is going to catch on fire ever since we had the first conversation about fire safety. And she's been convinced that we're going to crash our car every time I swerve or stop. Now I'm not an advocate of giving out false assurances, but after enough time has gone by, I've started saying "No, we are not going to have a fire" or "No, we aren't going to crash." I know it can happen, but if it does, I'll deal with it then, and in the meantime, hopefully she'll quit obsessing over it.
9. "Yes, of course I still love you." For some reason, every time one of us gets upset at her, she always says "You don't love me any more!" or "Do you still love me?" I can't count the number of times I've said "Me being upset at your behavior has nothing to do with me loving you. I will Always love you! I love you enough to want you to be a good person, which means you can't..." And always ends with "Yes, of course I still love you!"
10. "That's enough." This girl hasn't really learned the meaning of moderation yet, in much of anything. If it's food, she wants the whole bag. If it's a practical joke, she keeps doing it over and over until it's way past annoying. ;) If it's kitty kisses, she'll smother them. She's just an over-the-top kind of gal, which has its fun side and its dangers. She always leaves me saying "that's enough"; sometimes laughing, and sometimes not so much laughing. :)
I'm sure there are a lot more phrases I say over and over and over. But these are the first ten I thought of. Have a good weekend!
If I've said it once, I've said it 500 Times....
1. "Leave the cats alone." At six years old you would think it would have penetrated, but so far, she simply Can Not leave the cats alone. I don't know how many times per day I say it, I'm guessing 15 times a day. She loves them to death. She wants to hug them, chase them, play with them, rub their ears, cuddle with them, and play with them until they are mad at ME for taking them in to get their claws removed so they can't defend themselves. Her response is always "But they're so FUZZY!" or "But I LOVE them!"
2. "No." You know, I really think this encompasses "Things I've Said 500 Times" list numbers 2 through 10. No you can't have ice cream for breakfast. No you can't wear your gymnastics outfit to school. No you can't see if that will float in the toilet. No I don't want to come smell/touch/look at that.
3. "I love you." She's even told me I tell her this all the time. She said it in one of those "I'm being patient with you Mom" voices. I'm just glad she hears it so much. She's also a very affectionate child in return, and she tells her teachers, her classmates, and anyone she cares about how much she loves them. I worry about that, about when she'll get 'scorned' or 'burned' for it, but for now she is a loving, happy little girl with no problems expressing her emotions, and that's a gift. So she's going to have to keep hearing "I love you" from me whether she likes it or not! :)
4. "Turn that down/off!" Something tells me this one will not get any better as she gets older. Right now I'm listening to Saturday morning cartoons up at a high volume in the kitchen, and in the front living room, my keyboard is playing the same tune over and over and over (and over). I ask her to turn them down, and she does for awhile, until she forgets and gets excited. Right now she is dancing to that tune that I'm going to hear in my head for the next year. It's good exercise. That's the only reason I'm not insisting it go off. But I may head for my iPod or my room soon!
5. "It doesn't matter what they did..." Or as My mother used to put it, "Life isn't fair-don't expect it to be." Our girl is a rule-follower for the most part. She tells on herself if she breaks rules, and if someone else breaks rules she points the finger and tattles. We've been working on that part of it. Thus the "It doesn't matter what THEY did, you need to worry about what YOU should or should not do." And then try to incorporate that "line in the sand" of when it IS appropriate to worry about what someone else is doing. In school she's had to learn to mind her own beeswax too. It's kind of funny, really. But she's a good girl. :)
6. "Thank you". I'm always thanking her for her good manners, when she does a good job in a restaurant, when she behaves quietly in a work environment, when she gives me little kisses for no reason. She really tries to do the right thing, usually does a really good job, and I get to say it a lot.
7. "You're goofy!" Again, if I've said it once, I've said it 500 times. She's silly, goofy, occasionally weird and gross and funny. She will come up with the strangest goof-ball things. At home, she has been practicing burping words. Now how's that for a delicate girly activity?? At least so far we've managed to keep her from doing it in public...
8. "No, we are not going to crash/have a fire." I swear, 500 times. She's been convinced that our house is going to catch on fire ever since we had the first conversation about fire safety. And she's been convinced that we're going to crash our car every time I swerve or stop. Now I'm not an advocate of giving out false assurances, but after enough time has gone by, I've started saying "No, we are not going to have a fire" or "No, we aren't going to crash." I know it can happen, but if it does, I'll deal with it then, and in the meantime, hopefully she'll quit obsessing over it.
9. "Yes, of course I still love you." For some reason, every time one of us gets upset at her, she always says "You don't love me any more!" or "Do you still love me?" I can't count the number of times I've said "Me being upset at your behavior has nothing to do with me loving you. I will Always love you! I love you enough to want you to be a good person, which means you can't..." And always ends with "Yes, of course I still love you!"
10. "That's enough." This girl hasn't really learned the meaning of moderation yet, in much of anything. If it's food, she wants the whole bag. If it's a practical joke, she keeps doing it over and over until it's way past annoying. ;) If it's kitty kisses, she'll smother them. She's just an over-the-top kind of gal, which has its fun side and its dangers. She always leaves me saying "that's enough"; sometimes laughing, and sometimes not so much laughing. :)
I'm sure there are a lot more phrases I say over and over and over. But these are the first ten I thought of. Have a good weekend!
Friday, April 13, 2007
A Good Day-and it's Friday the 13th!
Four good things happened today:
1). A friend had a medical test that went well.
2). I got to drive my new car all day.
3). Chuck got his Multi-Engine Private Pilot Certificate today.
4). A waitress told me today that I looked like I was in my early 20's.
A few bad things happened today too, but mostly to Steve. I'll focus on the good stuff for today, because I'm in too good of a mood to do otherwise. ;)
It was almost like the old days-I woke up before my alarm even went off, even though it was at 6:15 a.m. I woke up wide awake, too. Got to Kokomo airport just after 7:30, and around 8 am Chuck and I took off in the Baron for Muncie for his checkride. When the door closed, I went to the restaurant there with a view of the runway and ramp, and had a really good waffle/bacon/coffee breakfast. I brought a book, but read amazingly little of it. The waitress kept coming by with coffee, and in about an hour I'd drank five cups of coffee. I could feel the caffeine buzz at that point. I finally saw Chuck walking out to the airplane, which meant the oral was over and the flight was beginning. The waitress was really bored as I was the only one there. So she came over and chatted with me. I have to admit, on about any other day, I'd be annoyed at a chatting waiter/waitress, and would much prefer to be left alone with my book. But she was asking me airplane questions, so I was happy to talk to her about it. :) Then she started asking me about myself, I told her why I was there, and she asked me how long I'd been an instructor. I answered her, and she was really surprised, and said "If you don't mind my asking, how old are you??" I told her 35, and she said "Oh! I would have sworn you were in your early 20's! Seriously!" Well, thank you very much-I know a great eye doctor I can recommend for your next glasses appointment. ;)
She next asked me how long a checkride should take. I told her, then mentioned that if they come back too soon, it's usually not a good sign. Those words had just left my mouth, when she said "Isn't that your guy?" I look up, and here comes the Baron in for a (nice) landing. I thought "uh-oh, it's only been 30 minutes!" As he was taxiing, up, I thought in my head "keep going, keep taxiing, don't park..." but they parked. But thankfully Chuck guessed I was staring at him through the window and he gave me a quick thumbs-up when he got out. I'm proud of him, can you tell? :) He got his freshly-typed certificate in his back pocket, and we left then did a victory low pass over the Glenndale lunch crew before putting the plane away, then headed for lunch.
I picked up Kaylee from school in our new car today, and she had her teachers come out and look at it. They admired 'her' new wheels. :) Went back out to Glenndale with Kaylee for awhile until it was time to pick up the Jeep, so I gave Steve his first real ride in "Kaylee's" car. :) The iPod hookup works quite well, by the way.
After that we headed to Ruby Tuesday's, where we had a celebratory dinner with Chuck & Judy, Nathan, Tre, Holly, Jamie & Gwenie. Next week is Jamie's birthday, so celebrated that too, with two cakes; one for Chuck and one for Jamie. P.S. My Camera phone STINKS!!
In other words, it was a good Friday the 13th, I'd say.
It'll be a better Saturday the 14th if a few airplane logbooks can be found, a few airplanes can get shuffled around where they need to be, repaired as they need, and if it doesn't really snow up to 2" like they claim. :)
1). A friend had a medical test that went well.
2). I got to drive my new car all day.
3). Chuck got his Multi-Engine Private Pilot Certificate today.
4). A waitress told me today that I looked like I was in my early 20's.
A few bad things happened today too, but mostly to Steve. I'll focus on the good stuff for today, because I'm in too good of a mood to do otherwise. ;)
It was almost like the old days-I woke up before my alarm even went off, even though it was at 6:15 a.m. I woke up wide awake, too. Got to Kokomo airport just after 7:30, and around 8 am Chuck and I took off in the Baron for Muncie for his checkride. When the door closed, I went to the restaurant there with a view of the runway and ramp, and had a really good waffle/bacon/coffee breakfast. I brought a book, but read amazingly little of it. The waitress kept coming by with coffee, and in about an hour I'd drank five cups of coffee. I could feel the caffeine buzz at that point. I finally saw Chuck walking out to the airplane, which meant the oral was over and the flight was beginning. The waitress was really bored as I was the only one there. So she came over and chatted with me. I have to admit, on about any other day, I'd be annoyed at a chatting waiter/waitress, and would much prefer to be left alone with my book. But she was asking me airplane questions, so I was happy to talk to her about it. :) Then she started asking me about myself, I told her why I was there, and she asked me how long I'd been an instructor. I answered her, and she was really surprised, and said "If you don't mind my asking, how old are you??" I told her 35, and she said "Oh! I would have sworn you were in your early 20's! Seriously!" Well, thank you very much-I know a great eye doctor I can recommend for your next glasses appointment. ;)
She next asked me how long a checkride should take. I told her, then mentioned that if they come back too soon, it's usually not a good sign. Those words had just left my mouth, when she said "Isn't that your guy?" I look up, and here comes the Baron in for a (nice) landing. I thought "uh-oh, it's only been 30 minutes!" As he was taxiing, up, I thought in my head "keep going, keep taxiing, don't park..." but they parked. But thankfully Chuck guessed I was staring at him through the window and he gave me a quick thumbs-up when he got out. I'm proud of him, can you tell? :) He got his freshly-typed certificate in his back pocket, and we left then did a victory low pass over the Glenndale lunch crew before putting the plane away, then headed for lunch.
I picked up Kaylee from school in our new car today, and she had her teachers come out and look at it. They admired 'her' new wheels. :) Went back out to Glenndale with Kaylee for awhile until it was time to pick up the Jeep, so I gave Steve his first real ride in "Kaylee's" car. :) The iPod hookup works quite well, by the way.
After that we headed to Ruby Tuesday's, where we had a celebratory dinner with Chuck & Judy, Nathan, Tre, Holly, Jamie & Gwenie. Next week is Jamie's birthday, so celebrated that too, with two cakes; one for Chuck and one for Jamie. P.S. My Camera phone STINKS!!In other words, it was a good Friday the 13th, I'd say.
It'll be a better Saturday the 14th if a few airplane logbooks can be found, a few airplanes can get shuffled around where they need to be, repaired as they need, and if it doesn't really snow up to 2" like they claim. :)
Thursday, April 12, 2007
"It's...A New Car!"
Can you hear Bob Barker's voice? :)
I woke up this morning, dropped
Kaylee off at school, and then headed to Logansport with Steve to the car dealership. I ended up walking out in less than an hour with a silver 2007 Chrysler 300. It's the first new car I've ever bought! It has a hook-up for my iPod, which I like a lot. It's also the first time I've had electric windows and a cd player.
And of course that "new car smell". So, I'm a pleased new car owner! These pictures aren't of my specific car, but it was cold and rainy today so I pulled these off the internet. That's what my car looks like though!
I woke up this morning, dropped
Kaylee off at school, and then headed to Logansport with Steve to the car dealership. I ended up walking out in less than an hour with a silver 2007 Chrysler 300. It's the first new car I've ever bought! It has a hook-up for my iPod, which I like a lot. It's also the first time I've had electric windows and a cd player.
And of course that "new car smell". So, I'm a pleased new car owner! These pictures aren't of my specific car, but it was cold and rainy today so I pulled these off the internet. That's what my car looks like though! I drove my car out to Glenndale and picked up Chuck and Joe, and drove to Applebees where I met Steve (who had picked up Kaylee after school while I finished up the car paperwork) and Nathan. We had a nice lunch; I ran errands, then came home, and Kaylee and I took our stuff out of the Oldsmobile and arranged it in the Chrysler. Then it was time to head to gymnastics. She's doing much better on her cartwheels by the way! We left there and headed home, then Steve came home and watched Kaylee while I went for a Girl's-Night-Out at Texas Roadhouse. We were there about three hours! It was a busy, but obviously good, day. :o)
One story I heard at dinner tonight-a six year old girl who was in our kids' playgroup with us came home talking about having a boyfriend and that she was even going to do the "S word" with him. Her mom asked her to explain, and SHE DID. She knew what went where and so on. The mom is now looking for another school or thinking of pursuing homeschooling. She's SIX YEARS OLD. That just horrifies me...
Our weather around here is so weird. Yesterday we had severe thunderstorms, and in fact had four tornadoes recorded as having touched down in central Indiana. Nobody hurt, and Kokomo wasn't hit. And then today we had sleet/snow. Tornadoes one day, snow the next. Ah, Indiana! Michaele took photos of the storm passing through, and of the double rainbow that came afterwards. They turned out pretty neat-let me see if I can put a couple here smallish but maybe you can still see them...
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Blah
We woke up this morning to rain, rain and more rain. So much for a friend's checkride! It was cold, windy, AND rainy...a horrid combination, and I'm pretty sick of it already. We also had tornado warnings, severe storms, and hail nearby. When I was driving out to Glenndale after dropping Kaylee off at Awanas, I about drove off the road. There was a huge, brilliant double rainbow. That's the second one I've seen out there like that, and it's just stunning. Seeing those rainbows always give me just a feeling of peace, and a smile.
After I got up and ready this morning, I was sitting on the couch, and I heard Roadie in the kitchen thudding around. I look up, and see something I've never seen before. A little gray cat, spinning in circles as fast as she can, trying to snag/catch a very long string. At first glance I thought it had gotten tied to her tail or something. But no. At the end of the very long string (almost a foot long), there was a clump of poo. She had eaten a balloon string, had tried to poop it out, and it was coming out her rear, but stuck. She was panicked, and finally it came off, but she had left a trail of poo along the kitchen floor. I'm going towards her to put her on the deck until she can clean off her rear end, but I'm not in time. She runs to my (white) living room carpet, and starts WIPING her bottom on the carpet like a dog! Then she runs away from me and does it again by the lamp. Finally I snag her and put her on the deck, clean up the carpeting, and then go beg Steve to help me with the kitchen. Yuck. But seeing her spinning in circles with a balloon string flying out of her rear with poo on the end of it...now That was a sight.
There's an Open House for another private school in town on April 19th, and I'm going to head to that, check it out, and then decide which of the two I think would be best for Kaylee for Elementary School. I can't believe my girl is heading to Elementary School. *sigh*
She had Awanas tonight, and it was "Bad Hair" night. So when I picked her up tonight, her hair was sticking up all over the place like she'd been hit by lightening. It was really funny looking. I smoothed it down before we got outside, but I'd have liked a photo of that.
I'm going to be looking at a car tomorrow, taking it for a test drive and all. Wish me luck. :)
After I got up and ready this morning, I was sitting on the couch, and I heard Roadie in the kitchen thudding around. I look up, and see something I've never seen before. A little gray cat, spinning in circles as fast as she can, trying to snag/catch a very long string. At first glance I thought it had gotten tied to her tail or something. But no. At the end of the very long string (almost a foot long), there was a clump of poo. She had eaten a balloon string, had tried to poop it out, and it was coming out her rear, but stuck. She was panicked, and finally it came off, but she had left a trail of poo along the kitchen floor. I'm going towards her to put her on the deck until she can clean off her rear end, but I'm not in time. She runs to my (white) living room carpet, and starts WIPING her bottom on the carpet like a dog! Then she runs away from me and does it again by the lamp. Finally I snag her and put her on the deck, clean up the carpeting, and then go beg Steve to help me with the kitchen. Yuck. But seeing her spinning in circles with a balloon string flying out of her rear with poo on the end of it...now That was a sight.
There's an Open House for another private school in town on April 19th, and I'm going to head to that, check it out, and then decide which of the two I think would be best for Kaylee for Elementary School. I can't believe my girl is heading to Elementary School. *sigh*
She had Awanas tonight, and it was "Bad Hair" night. So when I picked her up tonight, her hair was sticking up all over the place like she'd been hit by lightening. It was really funny looking. I smoothed it down before we got outside, but I'd have liked a photo of that.
I'm going to be looking at a car tomorrow, taking it for a test drive and all. Wish me luck. :)
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Ah, sunshine
Well, at least it was warmer and blue skies, but neither Kaylee nor I felt like doing much. She had school today, but she was up until 10 pm last night, so she was pretty pooped this morning. She was a good girl all day though. We went to Nathan's hangar, and he and Chuck were just getting ready to leave with a couple of other guys to go to St. Louis. I met up with Jeff to bring the Baron back 'home' after an oil change and a small maintenance fix, and for him to take the 172 back to fix the flaps. After a couple of hours, Kaylee and I ran home; I did some logbook updating and some paperwork stuff. We then headed back to Kokomo, and Chuck and I hit some Baron time on a finally fairly pretty evening while Kaylee stayed with Judy in the hanger. After we got everything put away, we all met up with Steve for dinner at Ruby Tuesdays. And now I'm home, reciting the bare facts of the day, and ready to Go To Bed. Tomorrow is an early and busy day! I need to do my Tuesday Top Ten and did I mention Go To Bed?! *Yawn*
It was a good day, even if I'm 'short' on my description. :)
It was a good day, even if I'm 'short' on my description. :)
Tuesday Top Ten: Ten Things I Never Thought I'd...
I can't do this with full honesty because of who all might read it! lol So somewhat lighter and much shorter than normal because I'm tired:
Ten Things I Never Thought I'd...
Do
1. Bury a child.
2. Fly in a Mustang.
3. Convince Steve to get a cat.
4. Speak in front of a TV audience and other large crowds.
5. Start and/or run an organization.
Say
6. "Because I said so."
7. "I'm sorry...there was an accident...he didn't make it."
Have
8. Children
Feel
9. Confidence
10. Peace
Maybe I'll expand on them later-or maybe they're just fine the way they are...
Ten Things I Never Thought I'd...
Do
1. Bury a child.
2. Fly in a Mustang.
3. Convince Steve to get a cat.
4. Speak in front of a TV audience and other large crowds.
5. Start and/or run an organization.
Say
6. "Because I said so."
7. "I'm sorry...there was an accident...he didn't make it."
Have
8. Children
Feel
9. Confidence
10. Peace
Maybe I'll expand on them later-or maybe they're just fine the way they are...
Monday, April 09, 2007
Busy Day!
This morning at 8 a.m., Chuck, Nathan and I headed out in the Cheyenne to Cape Girardeau, MO to pick up Nathan's two elderly aunts, to bring them to their sister (his mom) in Florida. Those are some funny, feisty ladies. The eldest is having issues with dementia, but she seemed to be doing pretty well to me today. One funny thing--the two aunts and I were crowded in the back seat of the rental car. Nathan hit a corner pretty quickly, and the eldest aunt started saying "Geez, Nathan, I've got these two tubbies back here squashing me! You turn like that and they crush me!" I started laughing, and the other aunt was yelling at her sister for being rude, then turned to me and said "She called us tubbies!" I told her that I was hanging on to the door so hopefully I wouldn't slide into her, and she said "Well thank you for hanging on! I'd be as flat as a pancake!" Okay, it sounds offensive or something when I type it, but man, I thought it was funny. I guess it's somebody just saying what they think without guile. Maybe it's her age, I don't know, but it was funny.
Anyway, we were just in Cape for a few minutes while we fueled up. Oh, and when we first met, one of the aunts asked if I was the flight attendant, to bring them snacks and drinks and such for the flight down. :D I said I could try! I liked those ladies, they're a hoot. They brought a giant bottle of wine with them, and the three sisters planned on having themselves a good time!
It was a really nice flight down. We had great winds helping us down, and made Stuart, Florida in 2 1/2 hours from Cape. Not Bad. I enjoy the view from 37,000' and as fast as 385 knots. It's a good place to be. Somewhere over Georgia I took off my sweatshirt, and when we landed in Florida it was warm and oh so nice. We ate, and picked up Nathan's daughter to bring her back to Kokomo. When we headed home, the wind that had helped us wasn't helping us so much. We took off in the rain. Up at 39,000', we were only getting 196 knot groundspeed, which is terrible in that airplane. We had about 100 knot headwinds at one point. Unreal. And turning just ten degrees to the west was like hitting speed breaks-we'd lose about 20 knots groundspeed. For awhile there, it felt like we were lost in the Bermuda Triangle, or the Twilight Zone. The GPS kept telling us we had 1 hour and 11 minutes to go...only it Never Moved. The speed kept dropping off just as much as the miles to destination ticked off, meaning we weren't getting anywhere fast. We stared at that GPS for a Very Long Time, waiting for it to get off of 1:11 and then waiting for it to break 1 hour. When it finally did, we almost wanted to pop the champagne or something. It was about 3 1/2 hours home, which is very good I know, but there was a while in there when everybody felt a little bit like we weren't actually going anywhere. We hit buttons and did calculations just to have something to do! Chuck broke out the peanut M&M's and a Diet Coke and saved the day. Though we were both afraid to drink anything lest we be halted in the sky for another 2 hours and have to deal with the Relief Tubes (potty things on the plane). :)
We landed, and Steve and Kaylee were waiting for us at Kokomo. We all went to Applebees for dinner, and were there until almost 10 pm.
It was a good day!
And now it's 11:35 pm, feels like 1:30 a.m., and I'm heading to bed! I got real tired all of a sudden...
Anyway, we were just in Cape for a few minutes while we fueled up. Oh, and when we first met, one of the aunts asked if I was the flight attendant, to bring them snacks and drinks and such for the flight down. :D I said I could try! I liked those ladies, they're a hoot. They brought a giant bottle of wine with them, and the three sisters planned on having themselves a good time!
It was a really nice flight down. We had great winds helping us down, and made Stuart, Florida in 2 1/2 hours from Cape. Not Bad. I enjoy the view from 37,000' and as fast as 385 knots. It's a good place to be. Somewhere over Georgia I took off my sweatshirt, and when we landed in Florida it was warm and oh so nice. We ate, and picked up Nathan's daughter to bring her back to Kokomo. When we headed home, the wind that had helped us wasn't helping us so much. We took off in the rain. Up at 39,000', we were only getting 196 knot groundspeed, which is terrible in that airplane. We had about 100 knot headwinds at one point. Unreal. And turning just ten degrees to the west was like hitting speed breaks-we'd lose about 20 knots groundspeed. For awhile there, it felt like we were lost in the Bermuda Triangle, or the Twilight Zone. The GPS kept telling us we had 1 hour and 11 minutes to go...only it Never Moved. The speed kept dropping off just as much as the miles to destination ticked off, meaning we weren't getting anywhere fast. We stared at that GPS for a Very Long Time, waiting for it to get off of 1:11 and then waiting for it to break 1 hour. When it finally did, we almost wanted to pop the champagne or something. It was about 3 1/2 hours home, which is very good I know, but there was a while in there when everybody felt a little bit like we weren't actually going anywhere. We hit buttons and did calculations just to have something to do! Chuck broke out the peanut M&M's and a Diet Coke and saved the day. Though we were both afraid to drink anything lest we be halted in the sky for another 2 hours and have to deal with the Relief Tubes (potty things on the plane). :)
We landed, and Steve and Kaylee were waiting for us at Kokomo. We all went to Applebees for dinner, and were there until almost 10 pm.
It was a good day!
And now it's 11:35 pm, feels like 1:30 a.m., and I'm heading to bed! I got real tired all of a sudden...
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Eggs
Yes, I have two things to say about eggs.
1). Mom told me she went to the store the other day and they had "pre-dyed eggs" for sale. Pre-dyed eggs?? What is wrong with people? What is the point of that? The fun of Easter Eggs is dyeing them, getting messy, picking the colors, decorating them and making them yours. Pre-dyed eggs?? Please...
2). I learned something last month from my friend who lives on a farm, and it happened to come up today and I knew the answer, thanks to her. You might think I'm an idiot for not previously knowing this, but just maybe someone else will learn something new today too. Angie told all of us C-ville girls that the yolk of an egg is not in fact a chick that didn't form, but was simply the sac within which a chick would grow IF the egg was fertilized. But that eggs produced at most...egg farms I guess...don't even have roosters there, so there's no chance of the egg becoming fertilized. All this time I half thought it was basically a dead little unformed chick in there-and I'm rather relieved to know that it is most definitely not the case. So today Kaylee asks me "Mommy, is the yellow part a dead chicken? Because I don't want to eat it." And today I knew the answer and could ease her mind. Now you know...the Rest of the Story. :)
1). Mom told me she went to the store the other day and they had "pre-dyed eggs" for sale. Pre-dyed eggs?? What is wrong with people? What is the point of that? The fun of Easter Eggs is dyeing them, getting messy, picking the colors, decorating them and making them yours. Pre-dyed eggs?? Please...
2). I learned something last month from my friend who lives on a farm, and it happened to come up today and I knew the answer, thanks to her. You might think I'm an idiot for not previously knowing this, but just maybe someone else will learn something new today too. Angie told all of us C-ville girls that the yolk of an egg is not in fact a chick that didn't form, but was simply the sac within which a chick would grow IF the egg was fertilized. But that eggs produced at most...egg farms I guess...don't even have roosters there, so there's no chance of the egg becoming fertilized. All this time I half thought it was basically a dead little unformed chick in there-and I'm rather relieved to know that it is most definitely not the case. So today Kaylee asks me "Mommy, is the yellow part a dead chicken? Because I don't want to eat it." And today I knew the answer and could ease her mind. Now you know...the Rest of the Story. :)
A Blessed Easter
Happy Easter to all. The day that for us signifies second chances, new life, a special gift, an amazing miracle, the defeat of death, a great love, and a promise.
The day for us does not really signify eggs and bunnies, but Spring certainly does! This afternoon Kaylee and I dyed our eggs, and we had quite the set-up. You know how the package always says "for vibrant eggs add vinegar, for traditional eggs add lemon juice, and for pastel
eggs add water"? Well, I couldn't do all three, but I did two batches-one "vibrant" with vinegar and one "pastel" with water. It actually was kind of neat. Some of the water colors were so light they looked washed out next to the vibrant ones, but I bet if you did them all in that color scheme it would be pretty. Kaylee wrote on some of them with a white crayon, and we dyed them in all the colors, and then we took this glitter paint in purple, yellow and green and painted over the top. They turned out pretty! She's a better artist than I, for sure. She wants to eat one now but I won't let her-I want to take photos of them in the sunshine, but...we have no sunshine. It's cold and gray, just like it has been all week, and just like it's supposed to be all this coming week. Except Monday. But I'll probably be gone to Florida on Monday. So. I'm not sure what I'm going to do about that, but make her wait. I'm not taking her pretty Easter dress photos indoors with the flash either! So the first pretty Spring Day I get, watch for the rest of the photos. But if you'd like to see her Egg-Dyeing Experience today, they are up and ready to view. :)
I had Kaylee take a little rest, and when she got up we did the
"Resurrection Eggs". It's an idea we've been doing every Easter for a few years now that has a dozen plastic eggs with something inside each egg that step by step tells the Easter story. A donkey that He rode in on, silver coins for Judas' betrayal, etc. The last egg is empty-empty as the tomb. There is a pamphlet that has a verse with each object, and a more in-depth discussion of each step. It's a nice tradition, a fun and informative way to discuss the Easter Story with even a young child who may not stay focused for long. :)
I have to admit, it doesn't really feel much like Easter for some reason-perhaps the 37 degree wintry cold gray weather day. But I hope each of you has a blessed Easter surrounded by those you love!
The day for us does not really signify eggs and bunnies, but Spring certainly does! This afternoon Kaylee and I dyed our eggs, and we had quite the set-up. You know how the package always says "for vibrant eggs add vinegar, for traditional eggs add lemon juice, and for pastel
eggs add water"? Well, I couldn't do all three, but I did two batches-one "vibrant" with vinegar and one "pastel" with water. It actually was kind of neat. Some of the water colors were so light they looked washed out next to the vibrant ones, but I bet if you did them all in that color scheme it would be pretty. Kaylee wrote on some of them with a white crayon, and we dyed them in all the colors, and then we took this glitter paint in purple, yellow and green and painted over the top. They turned out pretty! She's a better artist than I, for sure. She wants to eat one now but I won't let her-I want to take photos of them in the sunshine, but...we have no sunshine. It's cold and gray, just like it has been all week, and just like it's supposed to be all this coming week. Except Monday. But I'll probably be gone to Florida on Monday. So. I'm not sure what I'm going to do about that, but make her wait. I'm not taking her pretty Easter dress photos indoors with the flash either! So the first pretty Spring Day I get, watch for the rest of the photos. But if you'd like to see her Egg-Dyeing Experience today, they are up and ready to view. :)I had Kaylee take a little rest, and when she got up we did the
"Resurrection Eggs". It's an idea we've been doing every Easter for a few years now that has a dozen plastic eggs with something inside each egg that step by step tells the Easter story. A donkey that He rode in on, silver coins for Judas' betrayal, etc. The last egg is empty-empty as the tomb. There is a pamphlet that has a verse with each object, and a more in-depth discussion of each step. It's a nice tradition, a fun and informative way to discuss the Easter Story with even a young child who may not stay focused for long. :)I have to admit, it doesn't really feel much like Easter for some reason-perhaps the 37 degree wintry cold gray weather day. But I hope each of you has a blessed Easter surrounded by those you love!
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Saturday
Man, I might have to make my entries earlier-by the time I get to it, I'm too tired to do anything but recite the facts of the day.
This morning, Kaylee hung out with Steve at Nathan's hanger while Chuck and I flew the Baron for some checkride prep. Our blue sky clouded over and the winds picked up again, and it's still Really Cold. Will be so glad when Spring comes back to STAY.
When we landed, Steve had some Wendy's being delivered to the hanger for us, and we sat and chit-chatted with the crew. Nathan came out with Jamie and Gwennie, so Kaylee had some playmates for several hours. I flew the Baron to Sheridan to get some things on it worked on, and Steve came and got me in the Saratoga. The winds were blowing to high heaven by then. Actually, they were only around 30, but they were gusty and turbulent, which makes it seem like a lot more. And they were of course a decent crosswind for where we were going. I bounced around (in the air, not on my landings ;)) all the way there and all the way home. On the way home I was trying to mess with a GPS, and was getting tossed around so much I couldn't keep my fingers on the buttons. After that cold, windy, bumpy ride, I think we were all tired! Hung out for awhile at the hanger just relaxing and talking, and then left around 6 pm after being out there (for me & Kaylee) since 11 a.m. Hit Cracker Barrel for dinner with Chuck and Judy (because Chuck hadn't seen enough of us that day) and finally to home, catch up on a day's worth of emails and web stuff, and so on.
Kaylee's prayer tonight before bed included "And thank you for my mommy and daddy-thank you for letting me be born to them. I love them VERY much. They are very special to me." Awwww
She played barefoot all day in the hanger. Her little feet had grime and dust and powder and all manner of dirt caked onto them all the way up her ankles. So before bed I stuck her feet in the tub and scrubbed them off. Still not sure they are fully clean, but at least maybe she won't leave footprints on the carpet when she walks around. I remember being a kid and never wearing shoes. Don't you? :)
This morning, Kaylee hung out with Steve at Nathan's hanger while Chuck and I flew the Baron for some checkride prep. Our blue sky clouded over and the winds picked up again, and it's still Really Cold. Will be so glad when Spring comes back to STAY.
When we landed, Steve had some Wendy's being delivered to the hanger for us, and we sat and chit-chatted with the crew. Nathan came out with Jamie and Gwennie, so Kaylee had some playmates for several hours. I flew the Baron to Sheridan to get some things on it worked on, and Steve came and got me in the Saratoga. The winds were blowing to high heaven by then. Actually, they were only around 30, but they were gusty and turbulent, which makes it seem like a lot more. And they were of course a decent crosswind for where we were going. I bounced around (in the air, not on my landings ;)) all the way there and all the way home. On the way home I was trying to mess with a GPS, and was getting tossed around so much I couldn't keep my fingers on the buttons. After that cold, windy, bumpy ride, I think we were all tired! Hung out for awhile at the hanger just relaxing and talking, and then left around 6 pm after being out there (for me & Kaylee) since 11 a.m. Hit Cracker Barrel for dinner with Chuck and Judy (because Chuck hadn't seen enough of us that day) and finally to home, catch up on a day's worth of emails and web stuff, and so on.
Kaylee's prayer tonight before bed included "And thank you for my mommy and daddy-thank you for letting me be born to them. I love them VERY much. They are very special to me." Awwww
She played barefoot all day in the hanger. Her little feet had grime and dust and powder and all manner of dirt caked onto them all the way up her ankles. So before bed I stuck her feet in the tub and scrubbed them off. Still not sure they are fully clean, but at least maybe she won't leave footprints on the carpet when she walks around. I remember being a kid and never wearing shoes. Don't you? :)
Friday, April 06, 2007
Good Friday
I am not Catholic, but reading this (Once Upon A Time Ago) had several things I could relate to, agree with. I know it's long, for you skimmer readers, and I may just be tired (which I am) and that's why it's striking me, but I hope some of you find something in it to appreciate.
And A Happy Good Friday...
And A Happy Good Friday...
Friday Foibles
Well, only one foible, the rest is just Friday.
It's still cold here, high in the 30's. It was also a weird day with blue skies, then snow showers in lots of little pockets, then gray overcast, then blue skies again.
Kaylee and I went to the airport for our Friday Lunch. The chili was delicious today! And so were those homemade brownies. We had 32 or more people again today. It's getting pretty busy out there-I can't wait until it's warmer so some folks can comfortably sit outside and eat and everyone can have enough seats. It was standing room only for awhile today. Kaylee's friend Jamie was there today too, as they're both on Spring Break, and they played for 5 or 6 hours.
After lunch, I headed to Sheridan with some of the Glenndale folks, and they dropped a gentleman named Sam and myself off so we could fly the 172 back to Kokomo. The one that had a nose strut problem and then a flaps problem. The winds are fairly gusty today, not over the top or anything, but it was bumpy. Anyway, Sam and I flew around quite a few little scattered snow showers, and then had to circle around Kokomo Airport while we waited for the 1 3/4 visibility and 100' clouds to move off the top of the airport. We got there, put the plane away, got in Sam's new plane (a nice Cherokee Challenger), and flew it back into Glenndale. Got to Glenndale, and one of the guys there said the nose strut on the 172 had compressed again when we fired up. Which means for the third time I need to take the plane back to Sheridan for repair. *sigh*
Steve, Kaylee and I left Glenndale and went to a church dinner fundraiser. Nobody does chicken & noodles and mashed potatoes, green beans and corn like country church ladies. We were there for over an hour, then headed home where Kaylee crashed and went to bed, Steve crashed and went to sleep in his chair, and I got my laptop out and started catching up on my mail. And now I'M ready to crash too. Being cold makes me tired.
Oh, I did take a few pictures of Kaylee, trying to get one where
you can see her missing front tooth. But she's funny, when she smiles fakely you only see her bottom teeth. When she tries to smile for real and show her upper teeth, her smile is scary looking. I finally got a couple I think where you could see. She would take the photo, then come back and look at it on the computer and say "Let's do another one Mommy, I look weird in this one!" Ha. Here's the photo she decided was acceptable. ;) Now isn't that a cute little gap? She had such perfect little pretty even teeth, it looks a little odd to me to see that big hole there. The tooth right next to it is loose too, but not very loose yet. You know, my red wall makes for a nice background for photos. ;)
It's still cold here, high in the 30's. It was also a weird day with blue skies, then snow showers in lots of little pockets, then gray overcast, then blue skies again.
Kaylee and I went to the airport for our Friday Lunch. The chili was delicious today! And so were those homemade brownies. We had 32 or more people again today. It's getting pretty busy out there-I can't wait until it's warmer so some folks can comfortably sit outside and eat and everyone can have enough seats. It was standing room only for awhile today. Kaylee's friend Jamie was there today too, as they're both on Spring Break, and they played for 5 or 6 hours.
After lunch, I headed to Sheridan with some of the Glenndale folks, and they dropped a gentleman named Sam and myself off so we could fly the 172 back to Kokomo. The one that had a nose strut problem and then a flaps problem. The winds are fairly gusty today, not over the top or anything, but it was bumpy. Anyway, Sam and I flew around quite a few little scattered snow showers, and then had to circle around Kokomo Airport while we waited for the 1 3/4 visibility and 100' clouds to move off the top of the airport. We got there, put the plane away, got in Sam's new plane (a nice Cherokee Challenger), and flew it back into Glenndale. Got to Glenndale, and one of the guys there said the nose strut on the 172 had compressed again when we fired up. Which means for the third time I need to take the plane back to Sheridan for repair. *sigh*
Steve, Kaylee and I left Glenndale and went to a church dinner fundraiser. Nobody does chicken & noodles and mashed potatoes, green beans and corn like country church ladies. We were there for over an hour, then headed home where Kaylee crashed and went to bed, Steve crashed and went to sleep in his chair, and I got my laptop out and started catching up on my mail. And now I'M ready to crash too. Being cold makes me tired.
Oh, I did take a few pictures of Kaylee, trying to get one where
you can see her missing front tooth. But she's funny, when she smiles fakely you only see her bottom teeth. When she tries to smile for real and show her upper teeth, her smile is scary looking. I finally got a couple I think where you could see. She would take the photo, then come back and look at it on the computer and say "Let's do another one Mommy, I look weird in this one!" Ha. Here's the photo she decided was acceptable. ;) Now isn't that a cute little gap? She had such perfect little pretty even teeth, it looks a little odd to me to see that big hole there. The tooth right next to it is loose too, but not very loose yet. You know, my red wall makes for a nice background for photos. ;)
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Brrrrr
Man it's cold and windy. I don't like cold and windy. Chuck and I flew the Baron today, and went over to Muncie to meet Steve and Ty (who were also out practicing) for lunch. Kaylee was with us, and she did a great job in the back seat. She's really been a good girl lately in the planes when she goes, keeping quiet even if she's tired or not feeling well. And it was Bumpy today, so she had plenty to complain about. When we got in the car, she said "Now I can complain, right Mommy?" I said "Okay, what do you want to complain about?" And she wailed "My Tummy Hurts! I'm Tired! I'm bored! I want to go home!" And then she stopped and said "That's better." It was really funny. :)
I had a grilled grouper sandwich and cottage cheese by the way, which is almost healthy, and was rather tasty.
When we landed and got everything put away, Kaylee and I ran to the post office and I went to the bulk mailing place to send off the airport bills, then we ran home and baked double chocolate chocolate chip cookies. Slightly undercooked, of course. Yum.
I remembered what I was going to say yesterday. In the car on the way to somewhere, Kaylee says to me "I know who I'm going to marry." I respond with "Oh, who is that?" "Well, Daddy is already married so I can't marry him, so I'm going to marry Jacob (not his real name)". "Really? Why do you want to marry Jacob?" "Because we are friends, and he treats me nicely, and I really like him and he likes me." We drive on for a few minutes and then she says "But he doesn't always like it when I hug him. Sometimes he says 'awwww', and he likes it then, but sometimes he doesn't like it." So I tell her that not everybody likes to be hugged and that it doesn't mean they don't like you, just that they aren't in the mood for hugs, and that she shouldn't force him to hug if he doesn't want to. She's fine with that, and then says "Well, one thing worries me." "What's that?" "He sometimes gets really bossy with me. He made me cry once." I asked her what she thought about that, and she said "Well, I still like him, but I don't want him to be bossy to me. I don't let him be too bossy to me."
There's my girl. :) I told her that she had Plenty of time to meet plenty of people, and that she wouldn't get married until she was a grown-up anyway, so she'd have time to make sure she met the right person for her.
Whew!
I've been doing laundry, trash, dishes, you know, domestic stuff today too. Speaking of which, I need to get the last load in the dryer...
Oh, I had to add this. Tonight Kaylee lost her first upper tooth, the middle left one, her third total tooth. Well, she didn't LOSE it, but she loosened it up enough that I could yank it with pliers. Which STILL creeps me out by the way, but not as much as it creeps out Steve. ;) This time even she was more nervous about it-she wasn't at all the last two times, she was brave and ready to go. This time she waffled on it and kept asking if it would hurt. After it was over, she said the first time didn't hurt at all, the second time surprised her but didn't hurt much, but she said this time hurt more. I think the more nervous she gets about it the more she thinks it hurts. She doesn't want to wait once it's wiggly, but she's nervous now too. It was funny-she got some enjoyment out of going and showing her father her bloody paper towel and grossing him out. :) This took me two tugs-the upper tooth was harder to grab onto than the lower ones were. But by george I got the thing, and she's lying in her bed fast asleep clutching her Tooth Fairy pillow in hopes of waking up and catching the Tooth Fairy mid-exchange. Let's hope she doesn't. ;)
I had a grilled grouper sandwich and cottage cheese by the way, which is almost healthy, and was rather tasty.
When we landed and got everything put away, Kaylee and I ran to the post office and I went to the bulk mailing place to send off the airport bills, then we ran home and baked double chocolate chocolate chip cookies. Slightly undercooked, of course. Yum.
I remembered what I was going to say yesterday. In the car on the way to somewhere, Kaylee says to me "I know who I'm going to marry." I respond with "Oh, who is that?" "Well, Daddy is already married so I can't marry him, so I'm going to marry Jacob (not his real name)". "Really? Why do you want to marry Jacob?" "Because we are friends, and he treats me nicely, and I really like him and he likes me." We drive on for a few minutes and then she says "But he doesn't always like it when I hug him. Sometimes he says 'awwww', and he likes it then, but sometimes he doesn't like it." So I tell her that not everybody likes to be hugged and that it doesn't mean they don't like you, just that they aren't in the mood for hugs, and that she shouldn't force him to hug if he doesn't want to. She's fine with that, and then says "Well, one thing worries me." "What's that?" "He sometimes gets really bossy with me. He made me cry once." I asked her what she thought about that, and she said "Well, I still like him, but I don't want him to be bossy to me. I don't let him be too bossy to me."
There's my girl. :) I told her that she had Plenty of time to meet plenty of people, and that she wouldn't get married until she was a grown-up anyway, so she'd have time to make sure she met the right person for her.
Whew!
I've been doing laundry, trash, dishes, you know, domestic stuff today too. Speaking of which, I need to get the last load in the dryer...
Oh, I had to add this. Tonight Kaylee lost her first upper tooth, the middle left one, her third total tooth. Well, she didn't LOSE it, but she loosened it up enough that I could yank it with pliers. Which STILL creeps me out by the way, but not as much as it creeps out Steve. ;) This time even she was more nervous about it-she wasn't at all the last two times, she was brave and ready to go. This time she waffled on it and kept asking if it would hurt. After it was over, she said the first time didn't hurt at all, the second time surprised her but didn't hurt much, but she said this time hurt more. I think the more nervous she gets about it the more she thinks it hurts. She doesn't want to wait once it's wiggly, but she's nervous now too. It was funny-she got some enjoyment out of going and showing her father her bloody paper towel and grossing him out. :) This took me two tugs-the upper tooth was harder to grab onto than the lower ones were. But by george I got the thing, and she's lying in her bed fast asleep clutching her Tooth Fairy pillow in hopes of waking up and catching the Tooth Fairy mid-exchange. Let's hope she doesn't. ;)
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Spring Break
Today we were supposed to go the park, but there was a high of 37 today, and we are getting blowing snow-blowing with gusts over 35 mph. Kaylee was pretty mad about it of course, but she spent a little time outside and it convinced her that it wouldn't make the best park day.
We were in the car today, and Kaylee heard a commercial on the radio that was talking about a Spa Day. She pipes up from the back seat and says "A Massage, Mom! I'm SO IN! Aren't you? I could use a massage today." Uhhhhh, okay! lol
We also made slime today. She thought that was pretty cool, and so did most of the adults out at the airport-except Steve who was just worried we'd end up with slime all over the floor. I couldn't find the main ingredient for real slime, so we did cornstarch, water, and food coloring. We did one rose colored, a green (to look like snot which she did just for her Grandma Chiles), a yellow and a blue. We used the entire box of cornstarch to do it, too. I kept it all in little plastic ziploc baggies. She got a kick out of it anyway.
I did get my SMA shipping done today. To Canada, Poland, and Oregon. Tonight I have to fold and stuff all the airport bills for the month of March, and work on some paperwork for the IRS for SMA Support.
Today was a lot of running around. We hit lunch with 'the crew', then went to the airport to pick up my SMA stuff, post office, Fed Ex, the grocery store, home to drop off groceries, the computer store, and back out to the airport. Kaylee didn't have Awanas tonight due to Spring Break. So we just came home and read The Velveteen Rabbit and had dinner and relaxed.
I'm forgetting one really funny Kaylee story from today, and it's driving me nuts. *sigh* That's why it's best to write them down as they happen. And Angie, I still have my nails, and now they are really pretty long!
We were in the car today, and Kaylee heard a commercial on the radio that was talking about a Spa Day. She pipes up from the back seat and says "A Massage, Mom! I'm SO IN! Aren't you? I could use a massage today." Uhhhhh, okay! lol
We also made slime today. She thought that was pretty cool, and so did most of the adults out at the airport-except Steve who was just worried we'd end up with slime all over the floor. I couldn't find the main ingredient for real slime, so we did cornstarch, water, and food coloring. We did one rose colored, a green (to look like snot which she did just for her Grandma Chiles), a yellow and a blue. We used the entire box of cornstarch to do it, too. I kept it all in little plastic ziploc baggies. She got a kick out of it anyway.
I did get my SMA shipping done today. To Canada, Poland, and Oregon. Tonight I have to fold and stuff all the airport bills for the month of March, and work on some paperwork for the IRS for SMA Support.
Today was a lot of running around. We hit lunch with 'the crew', then went to the airport to pick up my SMA stuff, post office, Fed Ex, the grocery store, home to drop off groceries, the computer store, and back out to the airport. Kaylee didn't have Awanas tonight due to Spring Break. So we just came home and read The Velveteen Rabbit and had dinner and relaxed.
I'm forgetting one really funny Kaylee story from today, and it's driving me nuts. *sigh* That's why it's best to write them down as they happen. And Angie, I still have my nails, and now they are really pretty long!
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Today
Kaylee slept so hard and fell asleep so fast last night that she fell asleep naked in her bed after her bath. I covered her up pretty thoroughly, and at some point in the middle of the night she woke up and got jammies on. I fell asleep hard and fast too. Usually it takes me almost an hour to go to sleep, but last night I conked pretty fast. And I did NOT want to get up this morning. A good night's sleep was had by all.
I took Kaylee to McDonald's PlayLand as I had promised, and we spent a couple of hours there. My next stop was to go to the office and pick up stuff to ship for SMA Support (Cough Assist, toe probes and Tolerex), but a line of storms came through, Kaylee was tired and kept complaining that she felt sick, and my car started leaking in the rain, so I headed to the post office for a quick pickup and then headed home.
Now my stomach is not agreeing with me so I think I'll sign off for the day!
I took Kaylee to McDonald's PlayLand as I had promised, and we spent a couple of hours there. My next stop was to go to the office and pick up stuff to ship for SMA Support (Cough Assist, toe probes and Tolerex), but a line of storms came through, Kaylee was tired and kept complaining that she felt sick, and my car started leaking in the rain, so I headed to the post office for a quick pickup and then headed home.
Now my stomach is not agreeing with me so I think I'll sign off for the day!
Tuesday Top Ten: Ten Things I Obsess About
A dissertation on the ways in which I am obsessive/compulsive and slightly (or largely) neurotic. Great, just what I need on the internet! But here you go anyway. :)
1. Photographs. I put them in order chronologically, and I write the names, locations, and dates of each photo on the back. I can't cut photographs (no scrapbooking for me), and I can't throw away photos, even bad ones. And I may take 150 photos in one weekend. Definitely an obsession by about any definition.
2. Bathtubs. I can't handle dirty bathtubs. Even hotel bathtubs, unless they are shiny and new. I can't sit in a bathtub. It's a long story, but I have a pretty strong dirty bathtub phobia. I look at bathtubs before I get in them and I often have to talk myself into stepping into them. My name is Laura, and I have a bathtub obsession.
3. Bad Grammar. I hear it and I cringe. I see it and I want to fix it. I am stopping myself from fixing the title of this post because that would make me too obsessive. But you notice I want you to know that I know that the title contains bad sentence structure, which still makes me obsessive.
4. Money. I keep some thing so messy, but with other things I'm, well, obsessive. Like my money. I keep my money in a very particular way. Largest bills in the back, in order by bill size, one dollar bills in front; and all money faces the same way and is lined up the same way. If I'm handed a wad of money, I immediately straighten it out, put it in order by size, unbend any bent corners, and turn it all the same way. I can not put it away in my wallet out of order.
5. Flying. (Duh). It's on my mind a lot. Either things I'm learning, or things about it I enjoy, or things in which I am keeping current. I'm usually reading something relating to flying, and I doubt a day goes by that I'm not planning or doing something aviation-related.
6. Clothing. I wear socks around the house, but slippers bug me. I can't wear hats. I can't wear turtlenecks. I can't wear helmets (unless I have no choice). I intensely dislike shoulder harnesses. I can't zip my coat even in the dead of winter. Coveralls or overalls, I hate the feeling of clothing under my clothing. I don't wear gloves unless I have to be outside for a long period of time. I can't wear tall boots. In fact I'm not that fond of shoes in general. I can't wear form-fitting shirts. I hate wearing tight pants, but if I do, they come off as soon as I get home. I can't handle clothing that isn't soft and loose. No scratchy lace or stiff jean material or icky feeling polyester. Anything that restrains or restricts gets obsessed about until I can get to a position where I can get it Off. I feel like I must be a total weirdo to be that obsessed about it, but there ya go. These things in general drive me crazy, and that is very inconvenient, because many of them are things you just have to suck it up and do even if you do feel obsessed and crazed. And sadly, my daughter has many of the same issues with clothing. She runs barefoot most of the time, hates pants in any form, and only wears soft dresses. Poor girl. She's obsessive too. *sigh*
7. Privacy. I really really really really really hate having my privacy invaded. Don't read my mail, don't read my emails, don't look over my shoulder, don't look at my laptop or computer screen to see what I'm doing. I can't even think when somebody is doing that. I am obsessive about my privacy. Since I are edumacated, I understand the word "irony", and the fact that putting my daily life on a blog on the internet is not private. This was actually a big step for me. But, you see, if I'm choosing what to put here, it is not an invasion of privacy, it is my choice to share what I wish. Should you pull out my diary and publish it online, now we are talking invasion of privacy. But I have a mostly mail-related obsession with privacy. Steve likes to touch all the mail, knowing full well it sends my obsession a-twitter...
8. Personal Space. I've said it before, I'll say it again, and in fact I'll keep saying it. When people step into my personal space, the only thing I hear in my head is something along the lines of "too close, too close, back up, step away". When I go to gymnastics or ballet class for Kaylee, and all the parents are lined up sitting on little metal folding chairs cheek to cheek, I pick the chair on the end of the row so I only have to be sandwiched up against one person. Or I put stuff in the chair next to mine and make sure I sit a chair away on the other side. On the rare occasion that I'm forced to sit between two people, I will *literally* move my chair up (or theirs to the side before they sit down) so that there is more space by my chair than any of the others. The fact that I have it figured out well enough to type out should tell you I'm obsessed about it.
9. Finishing a movie/book/show. Once I start a show, book or movie, I can't stand not finishing it. I have a lot of trouble when reading a novel in not getting it done in one sitting. Even if a movie is boring, I have to see it through to the end. I can't stand the incompleteness of not finishing it. I can't stand flipping from show to show on the TV. I need to pick one show and watch all of it. I used to not ever switch radio frequencies either, I'd listen to one station all the time, commercials and all. I finally got past that one, but it used to drive me nuts when my friends would wander around radio stations. I am obsessive about finishing what I started in this area. Not in all areas mind you, just this one! lol
10. The Phone. I really wish I did not have an obsession about this. I really dislike phones. I almost never initiate a phone call unless I am forced into it. I have to psyche myself up to make about any phone call. A ringing phone spikes my blood pressure. I say it fits in the 'obsessive' category because I don't make phone calls that I should, I don't take phone calls that I should, I don't return phone calls that I should, and then I dwell on the phone calls I haven't made that I should. In fact, I have one hanging over my head right now. And now I'm obsessing over it again. *sigh*
And there is a peek into the neurotic, obsessive side of Laura. Sorry, but you asked for it...
1. Photographs. I put them in order chronologically, and I write the names, locations, and dates of each photo on the back. I can't cut photographs (no scrapbooking for me), and I can't throw away photos, even bad ones. And I may take 150 photos in one weekend. Definitely an obsession by about any definition.
2. Bathtubs. I can't handle dirty bathtubs. Even hotel bathtubs, unless they are shiny and new. I can't sit in a bathtub. It's a long story, but I have a pretty strong dirty bathtub phobia. I look at bathtubs before I get in them and I often have to talk myself into stepping into them. My name is Laura, and I have a bathtub obsession.
3. Bad Grammar. I hear it and I cringe. I see it and I want to fix it. I am stopping myself from fixing the title of this post because that would make me too obsessive. But you notice I want you to know that I know that the title contains bad sentence structure, which still makes me obsessive.
4. Money. I keep some thing so messy, but with other things I'm, well, obsessive. Like my money. I keep my money in a very particular way. Largest bills in the back, in order by bill size, one dollar bills in front; and all money faces the same way and is lined up the same way. If I'm handed a wad of money, I immediately straighten it out, put it in order by size, unbend any bent corners, and turn it all the same way. I can not put it away in my wallet out of order.
5. Flying. (Duh). It's on my mind a lot. Either things I'm learning, or things about it I enjoy, or things in which I am keeping current. I'm usually reading something relating to flying, and I doubt a day goes by that I'm not planning or doing something aviation-related.
6. Clothing. I wear socks around the house, but slippers bug me. I can't wear hats. I can't wear turtlenecks. I can't wear helmets (unless I have no choice). I intensely dislike shoulder harnesses. I can't zip my coat even in the dead of winter. Coveralls or overalls, I hate the feeling of clothing under my clothing. I don't wear gloves unless I have to be outside for a long period of time. I can't wear tall boots. In fact I'm not that fond of shoes in general. I can't wear form-fitting shirts. I hate wearing tight pants, but if I do, they come off as soon as I get home. I can't handle clothing that isn't soft and loose. No scratchy lace or stiff jean material or icky feeling polyester. Anything that restrains or restricts gets obsessed about until I can get to a position where I can get it Off. I feel like I must be a total weirdo to be that obsessed about it, but there ya go. These things in general drive me crazy, and that is very inconvenient, because many of them are things you just have to suck it up and do even if you do feel obsessed and crazed. And sadly, my daughter has many of the same issues with clothing. She runs barefoot most of the time, hates pants in any form, and only wears soft dresses. Poor girl. She's obsessive too. *sigh*
7. Privacy. I really really really really really hate having my privacy invaded. Don't read my mail, don't read my emails, don't look over my shoulder, don't look at my laptop or computer screen to see what I'm doing. I can't even think when somebody is doing that. I am obsessive about my privacy. Since I are edumacated, I understand the word "irony", and the fact that putting my daily life on a blog on the internet is not private. This was actually a big step for me. But, you see, if I'm choosing what to put here, it is not an invasion of privacy, it is my choice to share what I wish. Should you pull out my diary and publish it online, now we are talking invasion of privacy. But I have a mostly mail-related obsession with privacy. Steve likes to touch all the mail, knowing full well it sends my obsession a-twitter...
8. Personal Space. I've said it before, I'll say it again, and in fact I'll keep saying it. When people step into my personal space, the only thing I hear in my head is something along the lines of "too close, too close, back up, step away". When I go to gymnastics or ballet class for Kaylee, and all the parents are lined up sitting on little metal folding chairs cheek to cheek, I pick the chair on the end of the row so I only have to be sandwiched up against one person. Or I put stuff in the chair next to mine and make sure I sit a chair away on the other side. On the rare occasion that I'm forced to sit between two people, I will *literally* move my chair up (or theirs to the side before they sit down) so that there is more space by my chair than any of the others. The fact that I have it figured out well enough to type out should tell you I'm obsessed about it.
9. Finishing a movie/book/show. Once I start a show, book or movie, I can't stand not finishing it. I have a lot of trouble when reading a novel in not getting it done in one sitting. Even if a movie is boring, I have to see it through to the end. I can't stand the incompleteness of not finishing it. I can't stand flipping from show to show on the TV. I need to pick one show and watch all of it. I used to not ever switch radio frequencies either, I'd listen to one station all the time, commercials and all. I finally got past that one, but it used to drive me nuts when my friends would wander around radio stations. I am obsessive about finishing what I started in this area. Not in all areas mind you, just this one! lol
10. The Phone. I really wish I did not have an obsession about this. I really dislike phones. I almost never initiate a phone call unless I am forced into it. I have to psyche myself up to make about any phone call. A ringing phone spikes my blood pressure. I say it fits in the 'obsessive' category because I don't make phone calls that I should, I don't take phone calls that I should, I don't return phone calls that I should, and then I dwell on the phone calls I haven't made that I should. In fact, I have one hanging over my head right now. And now I'm obsessing over it again. *sigh*
And there is a peek into the neurotic, obsessive side of Laura. Sorry, but you asked for it...
Monday, April 02, 2007
Pooped
I couldn't go to sleep last night to save my life. I saw 3 a.m. go by, and saw 4 a.m., and then I quit looking at the clock. I could have gotten up and worked on the computer, but I was trying to be good and actually get to sleep. So when Kaylee wanted me up at 8 a.m., I was probably less than friendly. I don't remember what time I actually got up this morning, it was either 8:30 or 9:30 a.m., but I was woken up a few times in there before I actually dragged myself up.
We spent the morning at the house, doing dishes, playing, a little computer work, and Kaylee played outside swinging on the swings. I love that it's Spring, did I mention that? ;)
Then Kaylee and I headed to Applebees to meet with Chuck, Steve and Nathan for lunch. And the rest of the day was spent flying. Not all overly productive flying, but flying none-the-less.
Nathan and I went in the Baron to Sheridan, doing a low pass at Glenndale (and being 'shot down' by Greg in his "Farmer Joe" get-up, as pictured here.
If you look closely you can see the smoke and fire on the two engines, added later by Greg, which I find pretty funny). and Nate dropped me off so I could pick up the new C-172. There was an AIRMET for turbulence, and the winds were fairly gusty. I brought the C-172 into Glenndale, but upon taxiing up, Steve noticed the nose strut had almost completely collapsed. So a short time later, Chuck and I flew the 172 back to Sheridan. Jeff pumped up the strut, and Chuck flew the 172 back to Glenndale and I flew the Warrior back to Glenndale because it needed to be there too. We float into Glenndale, and I'm waiting for a flight student who cancels at the last minute, so while Steve does some work, we watch the kids play and sit outside in the pretty day. Finally it's time for me to take the 172 to Kokomo, where it will be housed. Chuck and Justin are up in the Citabria, and I go to take off from Glenndale, and in my run-up I notice that my flaps aren't working. My flaps were working fine the last two times I flew it, but now I definitely have no flaps. So...one more trip back to Sheridan! I do a no-flap landing into Sheridan, but at least the winds were calmer by then. Chuck comes in and gets me in the Citabria, and takes me to Kokomo where my car has sat all day since I went there after lunch to fly the Baron to Sheridan the first time. Is this getting confusing to anybody by now?? Ha. Chuck offers to drive my car back to Glenndale so I can fly the Citabria for awhile, and I appreciated that. So I flew the Citabria back to Glenndale and did three take-offs and landings. It was just a beautiful evening at this point. Low winds, bright skies, that perfect Spring airport evening. I really enjoyed the flight around. And I had some gorgeous landings, too. What can I say, they were real greasers-ones that you wish you had an audience to appreciate them. lol After I did three TOLS, I took Justin up and and we flew around for a bit in the nice pre-evening day. Finally I was done for the day, and we pushed the Citabria away and called it a day. That makes four airplanes, three trips to Sheridan, two trips to Kokomo, and three trips to Glenndale. Well, I may not have gotten the 172 to Kokomo where it belongs, but at least we got some maintenance done that we didn't know needed done! And at least the flaps failed on me, and not a student pilot. And at least I got legally current in one plane and a little refresher course on three others.
Kaylee spent today having a Blast. She ran around at the airport all day long. The girl has got to be exhausted. She got to play with Grace and Noah a lot, and the rest of the time she ran around on a scooter, played on an old rusty roller that is being used to roll the runway, and generally made a giant mess of herself with dirt. She was quite pleased. When I got her home, I threw her in the tub even though it was way past her bedtime, because I couldn't subject her sheets to those feet, knees, well, and hands, legs, arms, face, etc. She was a walking dirt ball. I should have taken a picture. :) But how's that for a perfect Spring day? Playing in the dirt, playing with friends, playing in the sunshine.
And now I've hit the wall, it's taken me forever to write this post because I am So Tired. My lack of sleep the night before has finally caught up with me, and I am so ready to go to bed. On to tomorrow. :o)
We spent the morning at the house, doing dishes, playing, a little computer work, and Kaylee played outside swinging on the swings. I love that it's Spring, did I mention that? ;)
Then Kaylee and I headed to Applebees to meet with Chuck, Steve and Nathan for lunch. And the rest of the day was spent flying. Not all overly productive flying, but flying none-the-less.
Nathan and I went in the Baron to Sheridan, doing a low pass at Glenndale (and being 'shot down' by Greg in his "Farmer Joe" get-up, as pictured here.
If you look closely you can see the smoke and fire on the two engines, added later by Greg, which I find pretty funny). and Nate dropped me off so I could pick up the new C-172. There was an AIRMET for turbulence, and the winds were fairly gusty. I brought the C-172 into Glenndale, but upon taxiing up, Steve noticed the nose strut had almost completely collapsed. So a short time later, Chuck and I flew the 172 back to Sheridan. Jeff pumped up the strut, and Chuck flew the 172 back to Glenndale and I flew the Warrior back to Glenndale because it needed to be there too. We float into Glenndale, and I'm waiting for a flight student who cancels at the last minute, so while Steve does some work, we watch the kids play and sit outside in the pretty day. Finally it's time for me to take the 172 to Kokomo, where it will be housed. Chuck and Justin are up in the Citabria, and I go to take off from Glenndale, and in my run-up I notice that my flaps aren't working. My flaps were working fine the last two times I flew it, but now I definitely have no flaps. So...one more trip back to Sheridan! I do a no-flap landing into Sheridan, but at least the winds were calmer by then. Chuck comes in and gets me in the Citabria, and takes me to Kokomo where my car has sat all day since I went there after lunch to fly the Baron to Sheridan the first time. Is this getting confusing to anybody by now?? Ha. Chuck offers to drive my car back to Glenndale so I can fly the Citabria for awhile, and I appreciated that. So I flew the Citabria back to Glenndale and did three take-offs and landings. It was just a beautiful evening at this point. Low winds, bright skies, that perfect Spring airport evening. I really enjoyed the flight around. And I had some gorgeous landings, too. What can I say, they were real greasers-ones that you wish you had an audience to appreciate them. lol After I did three TOLS, I took Justin up and and we flew around for a bit in the nice pre-evening day. Finally I was done for the day, and we pushed the Citabria away and called it a day. That makes four airplanes, three trips to Sheridan, two trips to Kokomo, and three trips to Glenndale. Well, I may not have gotten the 172 to Kokomo where it belongs, but at least we got some maintenance done that we didn't know needed done! And at least the flaps failed on me, and not a student pilot. And at least I got legally current in one plane and a little refresher course on three others.Kaylee spent today having a Blast. She ran around at the airport all day long. The girl has got to be exhausted. She got to play with Grace and Noah a lot, and the rest of the time she ran around on a scooter, played on an old rusty roller that is being used to roll the runway, and generally made a giant mess of herself with dirt. She was quite pleased. When I got her home, I threw her in the tub even though it was way past her bedtime, because I couldn't subject her sheets to those feet, knees, well, and hands, legs, arms, face, etc. She was a walking dirt ball. I should have taken a picture. :) But how's that for a perfect Spring day? Playing in the dirt, playing with friends, playing in the sunshine.
And now I've hit the wall, it's taken me forever to write this post because I am So Tired. My lack of sleep the night before has finally caught up with me, and I am so ready to go to bed. On to tomorrow. :o)
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