Brave New World

We've always been pretty conservative about the kids and the computer.  The older boys, however, are old enough to have facebook accounts (with the stipulation that "mom" be their friend).  I check our histories and all that stuff on a regular basis. 

Honestly, we've had no significant problems.  But ... how in the world to instill in the kids that every single thing they post online is there forever?  If you're 16, you have no concept of being 26 or 36 or rilly, rilly old and really needing a job.  Who wants to be haunted by the stoopid things they thought were funny or interesting or important when they were teens?  For instance, tonight, I jumped on Danny for a Facebook post where he "liked" an opinion I found exceptionally vulgar and ugly.  His response was to unfriend me.  Once unfriended, I explained that he must be my friend or lose the computer.   Yes, technically, Dan's an adult, but until he's paying his own way, house rules win. We're friends again.  But ... There's nothing to stop him from making a new account with a new email.  I know this.  He knows I know this. 

For now, there's nothing any of the boys are doing that is awful or worrisome, but still - the long term ramifications of what they do/say/publish online are frightening.  Back in the 80's we could do stoopid stuff and it remained within a small group of people and the horrification soon ended - heck, sometimes it never happened because the person with the camera lost the film or never developed it.  In the 10's, does it ever end?  It's all there.  It's all instant.  It's all permanent. 

My heart broke today when I read about a Rutgers freshman who killed himself after his roommate used a Webcam to invade his privacy and send live broadcasts of his encounters.  I'm so sad for this young man's family and friends.  I'm also sad for the two imbeciles who thought this was a good idea.  Their lives, too, will be changed forever.  They are learning a hard, hard lesson about being young and stoopid and mean. 

You guys with older kids already know we live in a Brave New World.  Those of you with younger kids, here's a heads up!  To most of us here (you all reading right now), the internet is a thing of marvel - we grew up with 4 channels and rotary phones.  For our kids, it's simple life.  (Andy spent more time moping about having to use an actual dictionary today than it took for him to use the stoopid thing!)  They accept instant access to people they'll never meet, to ideas that would never have occurred to them and to language they could never, ever use at home. 

It's a fine line in the sand, I guess.  What are your thoughts?  I'm really interested in what you all think on this subject.

Gah!

I am so unmotivated and pessimistic lately.  I hate it.  I'm not like that but, then again, maybe I am. I never was before - really.  More and more I find myself so overwhelmed by daily life and the stoopid details and, mostly, worrying about what's next that I've kind of just shut down.  And that is insane given that I have a perfectly nice daily life and none of the big details have changed.

We're still stretched for money every month, but we've still got plenty to cut from the budget if it comes to that. And, since we've had kids, we've been stretched and we've always managed. I don't know what is wrong with me.  I've added this to my to-do list under "things to fix."  

Once again, I've turned off the news because I think the 24-hour stream of 'whatever' is just too much.  It's a mess. The mess is the fault of a lot of people. (It's like dealing with my kids when they were much younger.  The mess is the mess and I don't care who made it, you're all covered in mustard, corn flakes, mayo and vaseline - you're all going to clean it up. It can be as easy or as hard as you want to make it. I'm here all day.) 

And, I'm secretly tempted to run for Congress so I can take a 6 week vacation. (Are these people for real?)  The kids and I could travel and see all kinds of things - especially because I'd have that nice congressional salary coming in whether I was there or not.  Sweet deal.  (Really, do any of you have the option of just saying, "I'll be back in six weeks to resume my job."? Can you even imagine?) I'd even suck up the campaign nonsense and my opponent airing all my ugly laundry to the masses.  I can't be worse than a lot of people, right?  In fact, I think if I had been worse in my younger days, it might seal more votes. (Now I'm cracking myself up.)  I could be the Joan Jett of Congress, only I look more like Olivia Newton John in Grease - you know, because I'm pale and blond.  Either way, I'd be there for you, except when I was taking my vacations.  But, really, I'd be there.

OK.  That's out of my system for now.  I'll be sticking to my audio books and whatever comes from Netflix (even if they think I'm stoopid).  

I'm hoping these changes will improve my attitude and my mood.  My family is close to sacrificing animals in the hopes that this works. I've been mean and grumpy lately. This mood cannot continue. (slapping myself a la Cher in Moonlighting - "Self, snap out of it!" Whew! I continually surprise myself.)

I am working on some positive things - the garden for the fall; soap, lots and lots of delicious soap; school for the boys and lots of reading and talking; you know, all the stuff that is real and that matters.  Stick with me while I detox a bit.  I know "nice Amy" is hiding in here somewhere.  Really.  I'm sure she is.

Memory Lane

As Dan was heading out to a Judo class this morning,  he popped his head back into the house to shout "I see a baby!"  We've all been dying to see the neighbors' just-born twins.  But, like the mom-next-door, I had c-sections and visitors were not the first thing on my agenda during the first weeks of any of my babies' lives.

Lucky for us, our next-door-neighbor's husband is a new dad.  I could just cry at how proud of his beautiful wee girls he is.  He came out to get the mail with Zoe(y) (still not sure on the spelling) cradled in his arm and he was more than happy to let my whole family ogle and goo and marvel at the newborn little girl.  I'd forgotten how hypnotizing new babies are.  We talked about how things went but I could not take my attention away from her tiny little fingers and toes that stretched and waved every now and then.  Really, it was just breathtaking.

About 20 minutes later, next-door-neighbor-dad shows up with Miss Lily.  She could not be more different from her twin sister.  They absolutely look like sisters and I'm sure strangers will pronounce "I can't tell them apart," but they are VERY distinct little people.  Again, I was mesmerized and I was nearly weepy watching this new father.  He was so proud and so happy and just so wonderful and excited.  We talked and watched Lily, who was dead asleep on her dad's arm, for a long time.  Andy, Tim, Mike, Ian and I all gasped in awe and wonder whenever Lily made a noise or moved her tiny body. 

Really, there's absolutely NOTHING to compare with a newborn baby (or two) to make you happy and to make you appreciate how miraculous we all are.

Happy Fall!

We're finally finding a semi-rhythm to our days.  To be honest, it's been a painful transition from vacation to end-of-summer to fall.  As much as we all enjoy flopping around and doing our own thing, we all get a lot more done when we have a schedule, even a very loose schedule. 

It's strange having Andy on his own most days.  I find myself back in panic mode.  "Oh NO!!!!!  It only took us 3 hours to finish the official school stuff!!!!"  (And, to be honest, most days it's closer to 2 1/2 hours.)  I find myself flailing in a well of self-doubt.  "All the other kids are in school for 6-7 hours."  "He's missing out."  If you homeschool, you know the drill.  If you don't, you can skip this paragraph or just stick with me for a minute.  With just one (instead of three and chasing one), it's pretty easy.  Most days, Andy understands his lessons pretty quickly and gets through the ensuing work just as quickly.  Even on bad days, the days where he wakes up and math is a BRAND NEW subject, it doesn't take too long to get back on track. 

The older boys are enjoying their college and virtual classes well-enough.  They've all worked out study/reading/work plans that suit their lives and personalities.  I'm doing my best to stay out of their way and let them figure things out.  (This is hard for me.)  It's funny to me to deal with their various teachers/professors.  The boys are all taking a Marine Biology course and a Sociology course together.  While I don't think they look a thing alike, they apparently have their teachers confused.  Weird.  They're not even the same size.  Oh well, I'm trying to make it their problem, not mine.  The boys just think it's insanely funny. 

All of Dan's USNA paperwork has been submitted.  If anyone feels like praying for one of FL's senators to recommend him to the academy, I'd be grateful.  Dan's been working and schooling and paperworking and running (literally) his non-existent butt off for the past three months and there will be no letting up in the near future.  I admire his drive and I hope it pays off - I'm sure it will in one form or another, but like all moms, I'd like for him to get what he really wants the first time around.  Not the praying sort?  Do you mind crossing your fingers? Anything? 

I've been making soap.  How I've missed making soap!!  I'm working on the website and it should be up and running this weekend, though nothing will be ready to ship until early October.  I'm so pleased with the recipe I'm using and the scents, too.  We'll see what you all think once it's all launched.  Right now, my house smells like I imagine Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart and/or Clark Gable would have smelled.  Tweedy, clean, a hint of tobacco leaf and something "je ne sais quoi" tossed in.  Just like you'd think a house full of wholesome, handsome, clean men would smell.  Yep.  I made the man-soaps tonight. 

So, we're working things out - the car, the jobs, the college, the soaps, the applications, the girls, the angst, the crappy music and all the rest of it.  It's not always pretty or quiet, but it's mostly good.  Actually it's really good.  Despite the turmoil and stress and everything else, we are all getting along and having fun.

Mike and Andy have started in on rocket-making.  Between my orders for lye and Mike's orders for the chemicals needed to launch model rockets, I'm expecting Homeland Security any day now.  Should I plan lunch or just snacks for when they arrive?  I'm leaning to snack-y stuff as I'm thinking they're probably on the move all the time.  Anyway, Mike and Andy have their first mini-rocket made and ready to launch  this weekend.  It's pretty cool looking and I'll get lots of pictures when it finally goes up.  Mike's promised the rocket will be launched in an empty field far, far from the house and our neighbors so we can avoid a repeat of this. 

And, finally, in the GREAT news category, my neighbors (Glory and Jacob) had their baby girls (Lily and Zoe - not sure how you spell Zo-ee) on Tuesday and everyone is fine and healthy.  I'm dying to see them all.  As soon as I can stalk over there (in a neighborly way, mind you) I'll get pictures.  It's been years and years and years since I've been around wee babies.  Squee!

Happy Friday to all of you.

New Harry Potter trailer

In case you haven't seen it, here it is!  From what I've seen, I think they've done a good job with the first part of the book.  In case you're counting, only 56 more days!

Old National Geographic?

So, the old National Geographic magazines are new?  Does anyone else remember these pictures?  I remember being absolutely horrified and amazed when I was about six. 

Tonight, I ran across this thing.  I think I'll stick with making Mike hold my head up for a few hours while I relax and watch TV before I resort to this.  (I AM KIDDING! I make Mike and the boys take turns.)

Honestly, how weird is this thing?  I would be more alarmed by someone on an airplane pumping up their neck with this device than I would by someone trying to light their underwear on fire. 

That's all I've got tonight.  I'll pass on this one.

Let them own it . . .

In the 24 years Mike and I have been together, I've learned one thing for certain.  There are certain areas, no matter how ridiculous, where you have to let go and let it be "HIS" idea.  This kills me.  Always has, always will.  But, as I am constantly reminding myself with the kids, you have to choose the hills on which you're willing to die. I DO like to be right - even about bad stuff, even about stoopid stuff.  But, sometimes it's just not worth it.  You will find examples here and here.

Take for instance our current fridge.  It's eight years old.  On average I would say the doors are opened (each door) about 50 times a day and not gently.  I don't think appliances today are designed to be used quite so much.  The icemaker never worked properly and we've (meaning I've) sneaked around and had three repairmen look at it.  The freezer stopped working after months of warning (if you've ever seen the Wallace and Grommet shorts, the fridge would shake like the rocket they built in their basement in A Grand Day Off), the freezer simply stopped working during most of the day.  

Luckily, we have a big freezer and a fridge/freezer out in the garage.  We moved all the stuff from inside to the garage.  Mike has refused to believe me that the stupid freezer isn't working.  When he gets up at 4:30 am, there is ice.  When I get up (ahem) later, there is water in trays and a puddle under the icemaker.  FINALLY, Mike was home all weekend.  He saw first hand that I'm not making this up.  GAH!  It's so frustrating to have to let him wait and make the truth his own.  

So, now we face moving the outside, ugly fridge into the house and moving the inside fridge to the garage.  Woohoo.  The fun never stops here.  I'm just sooooooo grateful we have a spare to move into the house.  I don't care what it looks like for now.  

Like always, it's sorted out just fine.  Just a matter of picking your hill, I guess.

Kind of exciting and kind of sad . . .

Today, Mike took the boys to the beach early in the morning.  We're getting waves from whatever hurricane is set  to pound Jamaica tomorrow and they wanted to take advantage.  Much as I love, love, love the beach, sometimes I just need a break from "man world."  I opted to stay home, sleep in and ponder soap and other important things.

Isn't it weird how when you know you can sleep in, you don't?  I was up with the lazy birds at around 8:30 - highly unusual for me.  I made lists.  I took an Immodium AD and spent money we shouldn't really spend in the hopes of earning a return on that money.  I made more lists, started files and went to Walmart.  (We needed guinea pig food and I also needed some office supplies, milk, and eggs.)  

Upon my return from Walmart, I made some more lists - I love lists.  I think I'm going to go with "amysoap" for my new website.  I got started on that and I think I like it.  I studied my lists one more time and analyzed costs and had a couple of debates in my head about things like "Would I pay for that?"  This is a tough debate for someone as "frugal" as I am. We are no-frills to the point of sad around here most of the time. 

Mike and the boys came home sunburnt and exhausted around 5.  There is much to be said about five very tired men.  They're too quiet to argue, wrestle or moan about what's for dinner.  Overall, it was a great day.  It's been a long time since I've had a day to myself.  

This evening, I started making soap.  I put Harry Potter 6 in my little kitchen dvd player and set to work - everyone else was too tired to bother me.  I really enjoyed the whole process.  Tonight I made Malabar Pepper, Pink Sugar and an Almond soap.  They're resting and becoming soap right now, but they look pretty tasty.  I really have missed it.   I'm currently debating linking the blog to the website or just keeping them separate (can't spell that word to save my life!).  Pros and cons to both sides, I'll keep y'all posted!

And, I had a quick glimpse into my future this morning as I headed out of Walmart. I am entirely too dependent on having at least one kid with me to guide me around the outside world. I was pushing my cart out of the doors of the store (after being in the store, doing my shopping and fighting for my very soul for over an hour - no small feat, mind you) and I could not for my life remember which car I was driving.  Both of our cars are dark (navy and black) and big, so I figured I could narrow it down.  

But what to do in the middle of the WalMart parking lot when it's 95 degrees in full sun and you cannot figure out where the hell you parked or even specifically what you are driving???  It's hard to look confident and self-assured under these circumstances.  I hate looking like a total idiot, so I marched my cart with a purpose.  Up and down three lanes of the monster lot until I remembered I had the truck. I cannot imagine how bizarre I must have appeared. The mind is a terrible thing sometimes. 

I was soaked when I got everything loaded into the car and finally hit the road.  (This is just between us - I haven't mentioned this to Mike and the boys - okay?)  What's in my future?  I'm not too optimistic.  For now, I'll just start paying much closer attention to what I'm driving, where I am and all of that kind of stuff. 

At last!!! A decision . . .

Official whenever my orders arrive ... I'm making soap again.  I'll probably add a permanent page here so you all can see what's available.  Just soap.  Plain, olive oil/coconut milk soap, assorted fragrances (and unscented) with no colorants at all.  Boring, but kind of perfect too.  I'm going to keep it down to 12 soaps and they'll change every now and then, but I'm sticking to the classics.  Keep your eye out for the new page . . .

If I could turn back time . . .

I wouldn't.  But ... sheesh, will ya look at Cher?  She's 20 years older than me and that is a picture of her at some awards thing a few days ago.  Honestly? I wouldn't mind a flatter stomach or a perkier butt, but am I willing to move my belly button up 10" to achieve those things?  Nope.  I've been in a melancholy, mopey mood lately but, money aside, nothing as bad as that.  I wonder what her life is like when she's just home puttering around with no one to look at her (Cher that is).  I hope she's happy and okay with wearing something more comfortable than this get-up when she's at home.  It would suck to work that hard everyday on just how you look.

Mopey and melancholy are fairly accurate descriptions of my mood lately.  Nothing huge, I just cannot seem to find a focus or an interest lately.  It's weird and strange for me.  For the first time in about seven years, we actually had to BUY soap.  Gross industrial soap.  I just can't seem to decide whether I want to keep making soap - and, it's one of those things, if I'm going to make it, I'm going to make too much so I might as well sell it too.  

It's kind of the same with everything lately.  I know it won't last, but I hate feeling so stuck. For now I'm working on school with Andy, not killing the older boys (anyone else's kids eating a bowl of "Color Me Stoopid" every morning lately?) and reassuring Mike that I'm truly sane (ish).  

Looking forward, I'm getting excited about this year's NaNoWriMo event in November.  Ian has asked for his usual Christmas gift - attending the Magic Conference in Daytona Beach.  The conference is held the first weekend in November.  This year, however, it looks like it will be just me and Ian going.  Yep.  Ian off doing his magic thing 12 hours a day, break for dinner and more at night and me ALONE in a hotel room with no laundry, no meals, no cleaning and a laptop (hopefully - otherwise, I"ll have a legal notepad and a bunch of pens).  So, with each day that passes, I get excited about that.  The rest (inspiration, passion, something) will come back to me in some form or another, right?  

In the meantime, I have plenty to keep me busy.  

I'll post pictures tomorrow of the Egyptian boat Andy and I spent hours and hours building yesterday.  Thumbs up and down on the project.  It looked cool.  It looked extra cool when we added our Leonardo Davinci action figure to the helm.  Not quite so cool when it sank to the bottom of the tub.  Our engineering skills aren't quite there yet.  


More random stuff . . . went to the Friends of the Library bookstore this afternoon and picked up a few bundles of old magazines.  I don't know why, but I LOVE old magazines.  I love the ads, the text-heavy pages, the funky pictures.  I figure I have a few weeks of fun for $1.50.  The lady who rang up our purchases commented "You ladies with your magazines and your recipes and your cooking all the time . . ."  I just smiled.  Andy chimed in that "Oh she mostly reads about the cooking, my mom doesn't really make any of that stuff."  Nice, huh?  And I have no idea who was in ahead of me to give the nice volunteer lady such an attitude.

It's late.  I'm going to bed.  Hate to leave you all behind ... but I'll be back.  (Sorry, I wanted to work that picture in somehow!)



 

Home

Nothing too interesting here on our side of the fence.  The boys are adjusting and doing well in their college classes.  I'm kind of torn.  The classes are not as challenging as what we've been doing at home, but I think the trade off in exposure to other folks their age and learning to deal with professors is fair.  For my part, I'm trying to stay out of it as much as I can.  I guess we're all being schooled right now.  

Andy and I have been having fun (he might not call it flat-out-fun, but it's still pretty fun) with his school.  It's weird not to have so many interruptions, but we're getting a kick out of the extra time.  Our plans are to build an Egyptian boat on Monday - I love that he still gets a kick out that kind of project.  I know I always will.  

Talked to my neighbor the other day (the one who is having the twins).  She's 35++ weeks and good to go anytime.  I think she looks spectacular.  I know she and her husband are at that "iffy-what-the-hell-were-we-thinking" stage, but I know they'll be great parents.  Everyone cross your fingers, say a prayer or light a candle.  I'll let you know when their little girls arrive!  (I know, twin girls - Right. Next. Door. I'm trying to contain my insane neighbor tendencies, but it's going to be hard!)

In other neighborhood news, our other neighbors, who are in the process of adopting a five-year-old (my current favorite person on the planet - he's just a hoot), have a court date in the next week or so.  I'm so so so excited for them.  I'm excited for us too - we've been invited to attend the hearing and for a celebratory breakfast afterward.  I can only think of a very few life-moments that are so important and we're honored to be included in this one.  

Nothing to exciting or interesting but it's all really good stuff and what else do you need? 

Color me crazy . . .

I don't know what traffic laws and the police are like in your world, but here, hmmmm ... Mostly I'm grateful for the folks that go out and face the "crazy" everyday (ever notice how many episodes of Cops are filmed in Florida?).  But, sometimes I have to wonder.

As Dan, Scout, me and our Suburban-full of assorted beach stuff drove home from our beach vacation, all seemed well.  Dan and I were listening to Stephen King's Duma Key. (fun book) I was driving in the far right lane as the 'burb doesn't do well much over 68 mph.  We were in no rush. 

We passed an interesting scene of three police cars and two other cars pulled WAY off to the side of the road.  In fact, we noticed them because in central Florida, the land of no hills, all of the cars were pulled way up on the grassy berm and kind of looked like they might tip over.

Less than 10 minutes later, we were being pursued by a police car with sirens and stuff.  It took me a minute to realize I was the target.  I pulled over.  A nice little round man greeted us and started telling us about a law I have never heard of (and upon coming home I learned it's not in any driver's ed literature either).  If you see a police car on a highway, you can either change lanes (nice try on I-95 in a car that can barely handle 70) or you slow down an extra 20 mph - again HUGE hazard on I-95. 

I've always made sure the boys give room to emergency folks and I always have as well - with a good dose of common sense tossed in.  Apparently, it doesn't matter if the emergency folks are 30 feet from the road or that I'd have to plan ahead and aim to hit them if my intent was to do bodily harm to anyone.  

I was polite to the officer.  Smiled,nodded, etc.  I could not find the little residue peel-off paper from our last registration.  The police officer shrugged, told me that his instructions that morning had been to go out and give tickets.  He let me know he was giving me a break by giving me a citation on the registration thing and NOT the pulling over or changing lane thing.  He gave Dan and I a long lecture on terrible things that have happened to emergency personnel in the past - I guess we looked like the sort of folks who would aim for roadside people and cars given the chance.  @@


I bit my tongue.  HARD.  The police have computers in their cars (even printers)and he knew full-well that my registration was ok.  (Not to mention that you cannot get a sticker for your license plate until you pay your registration.)  He printed (again - IN. HIS. CAR.) a citation (on which was duly noted that my registration was compliant)for not having proof of registration.  


REALLY?????????  I was so ticked off at having to be nice and smiley and stupid with the police officer, that I kind of blocked it all out.  Last night, I noticed that the ticket was coming due.  Talk about a racket - this registration information, which is totally in the state database already - was going to take 10-14 days for me to get a copy from my county.  THEN I noticed that the officer that pulled me over was from 2 counties away.  


Because we're rich and money is no issue, I went ahead and paid the $100 fine (rather than make a 5 hour round trip  in my tank to pay $20).  1) I did not have to show any registration to pay the fine online. Know why?  Because, it's already in the EFFING system!!!!!!!!!! 2) Are you kidding me????????  They're not even pretending it's 1982!!!!!!!  They simply know that those of us who abide by the rules will pay rather than make waves. 


How is this not stealing?  I'm okay with paying a fine for doing something wrong.  I didn't do anything wrong. I'm ok with my property taxes going to pay emergency folks. BUT!!!!!!! I paid a fine for nothing more than driving past a diligent police officer who was doing what he was told - write tickets.  There is something seriously wrong with that picture.


GAH!!!!!!!!  I'm one little person - how often is this happening around the country?   Is there a way to make it stop happening?  This is total insanity. I have not been pulled over since I was about 18-19.  I haven't been paying attention.  What else am I missing locally? 


Sorry, folks, just had to get that out of my system!

Oops . .

I've been meaning to write, but I just haven't.  No good excuse.  Dan turned 18 and went sky diving.  I'm including some pictures. I don't think we've ever hit on such a perfect birthday present! Dan is still running on the adrenaline. If one of the boys gets a break I'll have them upload the video so you can see why I was smiling AND nauseous when I watched it.

We're kind of finding a routine. Ian and Tim have adjusted really well to their college courses.  In fact, it all seems too easy right now. Dan is still scrambling with work, school and applying to the Naval Academy.  But, I figure if he's cut out for the Naval Academy he needs to be able to juggle regular life.  That does not mean it doesn't kill me to NOT step in and help him out, but I don't think my little helps will be big helps in the end.  Instead, I pick on Andy, do laundry and pace quite a bit. 

Mike and I have been actively working on what our life will be when the "bigs" are gone.  Interesting stuff. I think it will mostly be fun and my back up plan is to have a secret apartment. 

I caught part of a radio talk show last week where the topic was "family vacations - are they all they're cracked up to be or would the money and time be better spent on mom and dad getting away together?"  I guess in an ideal world, you could do the Oliver Twist and have both.  I have loved and will always treasure our family vacations.  I don't know that they were altogether relaxing, but I wouldn't change a thing.  Mike and I have managed a couple of little getaways and they've been great too.  I figure we have the next 20-30 years to figure those out. 

My mom, along with Danny, had a birthday this weekend.  I was lucky to spend the afternoon with her that day while Ian and my dad golfed.  She's considering skydiving with Ian and Tim in 2 years when they turn 18!  I'll keep you posted.  

Finally, if you are the praying/good thought type, please keep the Flory family in mind. My parents went to high school, got married, had families alongside the Flory's.  My first friends and playmates were the Flory's sons.  The family suffered a great loss (son, father, brother, uncle, cousin, friend) yesterday.  Even when things are bad, you can't ever really be prepared for the end.  Robert (though, I will always think of you as Bobby), I hope you are finally at peace.   

New storage boxes . . . almost done

As I mentioned in my last post, I've been salvaging and making new storage boxes for our entertainment center (honestly, there has to be a better pair of words to describe a tv bookshelf!).  

While I love knick knacks in other people's houses, I'm a lazy housekeeper and with the equivalent of four great dane puppies living here, it's just not worth my time.  Still . . . I don't want to live in an empty, sterile house.  These dumb old banker boxes (pack of 10 at Costco for about $15) are great when painted.  They hold up to about 2 years of hard use and they look nice too.  

When I first did our banker boxes, I went multi-colored and used all kinds of patterns.  This time around, as you can see, I went with black, adorned by a single black and white photo (photo on copy paper and stuck on with a mixture of Elmer's and water).  I'm really pleased with the result.  

Here is a close-up of one of the boxes.  As you can see, I aged some of the pictures and tore some of them as well so it gives a more "real" feel to the project.  Your mileage may vary.  

Whew!

School is up and running smoothly for everyone.  Even Andy and I are finding a routine where we're not making each other insane.  I finished my part of Dan's application to the Naval Academy.  It was truthful and I think showed him in a good light.  

To be honest, it was interesting going back over the past years and seeing what we've accomplished.  I am confident in saying that Dan LIKES to learn new things.  He's not shy about asking for help or questioning something that doesn't make sense (in this regard he is light years ahead of where I was at his age).  He knows how to find information and how to keep looking to verify that his information is, in fact, good.  This was our intent when we started homeschooling and, to that end, I think we've done our job.  What the Naval Academy thinks is another story, but we'll wait and see.

In other news, we have Andy's school worked out and we're doing really well on our own.  I'm sure we'll have ups and downs, but overall I think it's going to work and he and I won't be clawing each other's faces off anytime soon.  Cross your fingers.  


In my everlasting quest to contain our stuff and keep mess down to a minimum, I've refurbished and/or replaced our school boxes.  I think you can see the boxes here.

I repainted the boxes that could be salvaged with black matte spray paint.  On the front of each box, I decoupaged a black/white photo that means something to us.  The whole entertainment center looks kind of cool.  I initially did seven boxes.  Tonight I made another three and tomorrow I'll do another set of 3-4.  Storage, decoration, no dust bunnies . . . I love these boxes!  

So here I sit.  Laundry done.  House clean.  Paperwork done for everyone.  New boxes (I'm waiting for paint to dry so I can stick the pictures on before bed). Meals planned for September.  HUGE surprise present for Danny's birthday (this Saturday) taken care of.  Yep.  I've pretty much guaranteed a disaster on the horizon.  In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy the feeling of being "done."  

(Sorry, you'll have to wait for pictures of my new boxes until tomorrow.)