End of an era

So – it’s over.  At 2:45 this afternoon, Jake finished high school.

He left this morning with camera in tow insisting there would be pictures.  I tried all day to text chat him wondering how the day went.  He never responded.  I figured he was mad at me because I reinforced the idea that he ask this girl he has an insane crush on to the movies.  What could he lose?

Finally at 3:00, fifteen minutes after the moment came and went, I called him.

I found out the reason he didn’t text was that his phone was close to dead (and we’re talking on it???) and it was a busy day.  Day went well.  There were some tear inducing moments.  He took 30 pictures.  The school paper misspelled his name and has him going to the wrong college.

And the girl?  Just as he worked the nerve to ask her the alarm went off for a fire drill.  (How sad!)  He thinks he might text her later.

Then he asked if he could hang up and get back to his basketball game.

The ceremony is tomorrow night.  I think it will be a recap of his day…take a few pictures.  Probably a few things misspelled (hopefully not the diploma!).  Maybe a date with the crush girl (not at the ceremony of course).  And a few tear inducing moments (especially for Mama).

Back from the Land of the Dead

I am happy to say I’m back from the dead.  Or at least it felt like I had died.  At least a dozen times.

A week ago yesterday I started the day stressed – alot of drama over The Beast (Jake’s car).  I was pretty much angry at everyone.  But noon, my skin on my neck and scalp started to tingle.  Then it started to burn.  It wasn’t just any burn.  It felt like a legion of fire ants marching under my skin x 10.  The muscles in my neck started to ache.  Then, as I tried to eat my lunch it took two swallows to get my yogurt down.

Thinking I was having an allergic reaction to something (even though I’m not allergic to anything), I made an immediate appointment to see my doctor.  By the time I got to the doctor I could add dizzy to the list of symptoms.  Fortunately it wasn’t an allergic reaction.

It was shingles.

I wouldn’t wish shingles on my worst enemy.

I was given three prescriptions – an antibiotic, meds for chicken pox (which shingles are but the adult version), and prednisone.  I nearly passed out at the store as I waited at the pharmacy for over an hour to get my medication.  Then it was home and off to bed…or at least as close to off to bed as a wife and mother of three gets.  I attempted to go to work the next day and was sent promptly home partially due to fear of catching what I had (I wasn’t contagious) – and partially because I looked something close to death warmed over.

At it’s worst I fought with chills and fever all at the same time.  My muscles ached.  I was constantly tired.  It took three days before I could swallow normal.  And until just a day or two ago it felt as if a low level electric current was running through my muscles.

 My family, who were  some of the causes of my stress, have been angels.  They’ve cooked, they’ve cleaned, they’ve given extra hugs and kisses and cuddles (even when it hurt to cuddle – but it’s the thought that counts!).  The hubby has gotten the car for me, taken chairs to track meets so I can rest and kept the house in line.  He’s been the best.

I still have muscle aches and am unnormally tired.  But it’s nice to feel alive again. 🙂

Girls Night!

Last night the boys were at a track meet (new personal bests for both!!  Jake threw 129’2″ and Jon shave his 400 low hurdle by a second to a new time of 1:12 – very happy proud mom here!) and Brian had to work.  It left Sissy and I to our own devices.

First we dutifully went to track practice.  I felt bad I had to drag her along.  But then I realized that she has come to love practice.  She was very excited to go.  She even asked that she starts practice throwing the eight pound shot since it makes the six pound shot feel lighter.  That’s my he-girl!

Then…we snuck off to Parlor City for ice cream and funnel cakes to celebrate a great practice, the brosephs (Alex’s term for her brothers) new PRs and well…girls night!

Then we went home to continue the celebration with bowls of maccaroni and cheese, some WWE (yes, we girls love WWE) and a few rounds of…

She beat me twice.  I now understand why her brothers won’t play her anymore.  Chutes and Ladders shark is what she is.

We were glad to see the guys when they got home.  But it was nice to have a night just my girl and me.

Coming to a Conclusion

Being a fledging author (along with mom/wife/employee/coach/etc, etc, etc) I’ve been studying the trends that work for other top selling authors.  The two trends I have been noticing for indie authors like me?  One is podcasts.  Right now with the end of the high school track season – and of course more than that the impending graduation at the end of next month – beginning podcasting isn’t a great idea.  Table that idea for summer…maybe the end of club season.

The other trend I have noticed?  Blogging portions of the novel for others to read as I have already done with Woodcutter.  I was sold on this idea with Woodcutter so…I am going to do it again!

On the other blog I have, http://insidethiswritersmind.wordpress.com/, I am going to post my new novel as a serial novel.  I hope all my friends who visit this blog will stop by and take a gander at my new story!

The Holy Grail of Shoes

As normal, my weekend will be chaotic

Tomorrow starts with volleyball at 10:00 following with Alex’s fashion show at 2:00.  She is a model in an American Girl Fashion Show being held as a fund-raiser for the children’s museum.  Unfortunately the museum and the fashion show are about 40 minutes away from our house.  And since she informed me after practice last week that she was all sweaty we have to squeeze a bath in there somewhere.  And add in picking up Grandmas.  Yep…chaos.

The boys are loving every minute of it.  They love their baby sister but for them attending this fashion show would be a fate worse than death.  We aren’t mean enough parents – we’re allowing them to stay home.  Since they have worked their tails off at track it’s probably good for them to have a day to recover.

Anyway I digress…

I went out for my lunch to find Alex a pair of white sandals.  It’s the only part of the outfit the children’s museum doesn’t provide.  And with Easter only a couple of weeks white sandals should be in abundance, right?

Wrong!

I guess the “in” color this year is silver. 

Granted I only had the chance to look at one store but it’s one of those stores you would guess would have them.  My outlook at finding them tonight looks bleak, especially with club track this evening that I really can’t miss.  With the “second job” taking a momentary downswing I was hoping for a night to relax.  I have a copy of Catching Fire on the bookshelf begging me to read it – no better night than tonight to start.

Well, as they say…no rest for the wicked.

A Busy Day in Our House

It’s Saturday and I’m up and sitting in a gymnasium.  Alex is back in volleyball and happy as a lark.
Brian and the boys are…guess where??…at a track meet.  Jake throws.  Brian and Jon are helping since it’s our school’s meet.
Then it’s time for our walk.  I am wearing my “Senior Mom” football t-shirt since our throwing t-shirts haven’t arrived (that was a fiasco! ).  At noon we walk across the track for Senior Day.
Along with the day job, publishing my books, track and field, MORE track and field and just being a mom I’m trying to remember to get graduation things done.  It’s not been easy.  Fortunately the surly 18 year old keeps reminding me.  Good thing too…

I Soooo Want One of These!

I love being a track coach.  I have never enjoyed doing something so much in my life (other than being a wife, mother and writer).  But it can get really hot in the summer, especially being a throwing coach in the middle of an empty field with no tent.

So when I saw this on Bucket List Publications blog – I soooo want one!!

http://lesleycarter.wordpress.com/2012/03/18/lightspeed-quick-draw-sun-shelter-giveaway/

I wonder if the club would let me expense one…

 

….doubtful but I could wish!

It’s that time of year again

With spring just around the corner (thank goodness!  I am not a winter girl!) it’s just about time for track season. 

The fellas have already started practicing for high school – with a senior and freshman I am looking for a good used cloning machine.

But soon club track will start.  The whole family gets involved.  The kids compete, I (and starting this year Jake) coach and Brian plays sports parent.

This year started with a trip to St. Louis so Jake could take his USATF Level 1 Course.  He  dutifully spent three days in a classroom.  The rest of us played.

We went to Budweiser to see horses, the manufacturing process and free samples of beer.

Jake was able to escape…so we all went to the City Museum.

Where, of course, my kids get into the ball pit and start a dodgeball fight. *insert exasperated sigh*

Then Sunday we visited Union Station – a historical site/hotel/mall.

Other driving through a massive snowstorm to get there and another to get back home we had a great time. 

And Jake passed his test!…just in time to get handed his coaching duties for the year.