Friday Musing 07.23.10

Well, it's been a few days since I've blogged, mostly because I've been too busy doing other things - like farmville on facebook - and generally staying off the computer and vegging on the couch to watch television.

We just spent the last couple of days visiting friends of ours from out of town at their hotel. Wednesday night James and I went to visit them sans Carli. It was a lot of fun getting to be an adult with other adults, drinking and not having to worry about our 7 year old.

My father graciously watched her for us and I'm glad he did. They had a good time together, Carli is always so well-behaved for him, thank goodness! We had planned on only being with them for a couple of hours, but it turned out to be four hours instead, we were having such a great time with each other. After the free drink hour was over we went back to the hotel to discuss what to eat for dinner. None of us really wanted to go out so we headed up to the sports bar on the 4th floor, ordered another round of drinks - except for me, I had pop and an order of Nachos.

The nachos were delicious, btw...I'm so glad we did that! We went back down to their room and I managed to take some pictures of the four of us - that was a lot of fun trying to squeeze four adults onto a love seat!

I'm including all four pictures...please enjoy them.

Found out more information regarding Carli's new school

I called the school this morning just to check and make sure I understood the uniform requirements. I can buy polo shirts from the school if I want her to have the school logo and found out they're only $8.95 instead of $11.00! Cool. I like saving money whenever/wherever I can.

I think I'll still go ahead and buy two shirts (one navy and one green) and then purchase a couple more plain polo shirts when I buy her uniform bottoms. I asked Patience if it was ok if she wore pants, capris, skirts/skorts, shorts and jumpers. Those are all fine. She can even wear leggings or tights (black, white and navy). Awesome.

Now I just have to not go overboard buying skirts/skorts, shorts, pants, capris, leggings, tights, etc. I can't wait to shop for those items, however. And I'll more than likely have to do it online. Which is ok because it only takes a couple of days to get them. Walmart has a ship free to home (on eligible items, only, however), otherwise it'll cost 97 cents or have them shipped to the store also for free. That would be nice, provided I can get to the store when the items arrive, which I probably will be able to do.

I'd buy them online and have them shipped to the Tempe location, of course since it's closer. Having them shipped to the house would be ideal, but we'll see. 97 cents isn't all that bad and if I buy everything I need and have it sent all at once, that's cheap. Some items would be free which will be nice.

Anyway, I can't wait to start shopping for her uniforms. I might even get a few things from Target as well. I'll have to order those online too. No biggie. I'll be a pro at it in no time by the time I'm finished! I just want to make sure she has enough uniform bottoms to choose from and make washing less often (yeah, right).

0518 and I'm up and wide-awake. Can't sleep because hubby keeps jerking in his sleep. I'm supposed to get up an hour from now, so I'm hoping that I'll be able to stay awake and drive home ok. I think I will. I'll have my coffee and be fine.

I worry because I've not been getting up this early in a long time. I've obviously been enjoying my summer break too, which, in all honesty will never really end, as long as we can manage to stay afloat monetarily, that is.

Now I'm just waiting on the medical interview portion for my father, which is scheduled for 0800 on the 13th of July. We had the financial interview a couple of weeks ago and it went well. Harry is financially qualified for me to be his caregiver. I pray he will be medically too, at least part-time.

I am the logical person to be his caregiver, because I'm his only child. And, it will cost the state a lot less to pay me than to have him in some assisted living facility or in a nursing home - God forbid, he doesn't need to be in either one of those places! I can take care of him just fine. He's not that bad off and God willing, won't be for a long time to come, either.

So, here I sit, blogging...It's supposed to be 111 today. Sweltering, but rain is in the forecast. I just looked at what the temperature is outside right now at 0525 - 92 degrees already! Sheesh! I suppose I could conceivably go back to bed and try to go back to sleep, but nah, I think I'll go lie down on the couch. At least there I know I won't be jerked awake!

About me...

Full-time wife and mother to my loving husband and precocious 7 year old (ok, soon to be 8 year old) daughter. I live in sunny Arizona and recently had my father move in with us. I hope to be his professional caregiver soon - paperwork is in, just waiting on a medical interview next week).

I had been attending college online and had to drop out due to financial reasons so I'll just leave it at that, for now. My husband started attending college online, as he wants to be a math teacher for high school (perhaps middle school) children. I want to be a psychologist.

I used to work as an English Language Learner Instructional Assistant (ELL-IA) at my daughter's school until this coming school year. I decided not to go back to work in order to pursue my education and take care of my father. It was not an easy choice to make, mind you, and I'm still not sure I made the right one. But, time will tell.

We also moved our daughter to a different school for the 2010-2011 school year. It was a personal one, and I think we made the right choice. She'll be attending a charter school nearby, I'll take her and drop her off and perhaps even, on occasion, be a homeroom mom and maybe even go on field trips, if possible.

This is going to be totally new for the two of us (my daughter and I, that is). And I'm looking forward to the journey.

You know you're from Arizona if...

You know you're from Arizona if.....

1. You buy salsa by the gallon.


2. Your Christmas decorations include a half a yard of sand and l00 paper bags.


3. You think a red light is merely a suggestion.


4. All of your out-of-state friends start to visit after October but clear out come the end of April.


5. You think someone driving wearing oven mitts is clever.


6. Most of the restaurants in town have the first name "El" or "Los".


7. You think 60 tons of crushed rock makes a beautiful yard.


8. You've signed so many petitions to recall governors that you can't remember the name of the incumbent.


9. You notice your car overheating before you drive it.


10. Your house is made of stucco and has a red clay tile roof.


11. You can say "Hohokam" and people don't think you're laughing funny.


12. You no longer associate bridges (or rivers) with water.


13. You see more irrigation water on the street than there is in the Salt River.


14. You know a swamp cooler is not a happy hour drink.


15. You can say 115 degrees without fainting.


16. Every other vehicle is a 4x4.


17. You can be in the snow, then drive for an hour and it will be over 100 degrees.


18. Vehicles with open windows have the right-of-way in the summer.


19. People break out coats when temperature drops below 70 degrees.


20. You discover, in July, it only takes two fingers to drive your car.


21. The pool can be warmer than you are.


22. You can make sun tea instantly.


23. You run your air conditioner in the middle of winter so you can use your fireplace.


24. Most homes have more firearms than people.


25. Kids will ask, "What's a mosquito?"


26. People who have black cars or black upholstery in their car are automatically assumed to be from out-of-state or nuts.


27. You notice the best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.


28. The A/C is on your list of best friends.


29. Monday Night Football starts at 7:00 instead of 6:00.


30. You realize that Valley Fever isn't a disco dance.


31. You can finish a Big Gulp in 10 minutes and go back for seconds.


32. The water from the cold water tap is the same temperature as the hot one.


33. You can (correctly) pronounce the words: "Saguaro", "Ocotillo", "Tempe", "Gila Bend", "San Xavier", "Canyon de Chelly", "Mogollon Rim", "Cholla", and "Ajo".


34. It's noon in July, kids are on summer vacation, and not one person is walking on the streets.


35. You experience third degree burns if you touch any metal part of your car.


36. You know better than to get into a car with leather seats if you're wearing shorts.


37. Announcements for Fourth of July events never end with "in case of rain......"


38. When someone asks how far you live from a location, it's always in terms of minutes, not miles.


39. Everyone's smiling and talking about the great weather on rainy days.


40. You have to explain to out-of-staters why there is no daylight savings time.

41. It's noon in July, kids are on summer vacation and yet all the streets are totally empty of both cars and people.

42. Sunscreen is sold year round and kept right at the checkout counter.

43. You put on fresh sunscreen just to go check the mail box.

44. You hear people say "but it's a dry heat!"

July 5th...more pictures of the beautiful fireworks from last night

Fourth of July 2010

Who doesn't love a digital camera? I do, I do! I'm only beginning to figure out my Canon Powershot A550. I want to take pictures of the fireworks tonight at our local park and just discovered that my camera has a setting for firework picture taking! Woo-hoo...Imagine my surprise and gratitude at finding this setting. I have to take my tripod - which is not a big deal and get it all set up before the fireworks start. I can't wait to share this adventure with everyone. I hope the pictures turn out. If not, oh well, I guess I won't share any!

Well, not only did they turn out amazingly (I think they did!) I had a lot of fun taking them as well. Setting up the tripod wasn't nearly as hectic as I thought it would be, especially since my husband stayed with us and set it up for me, since he's better at it than I am...I put the camera on there and did the rest. I had over 200 pictures, some of which I deleted and there are more to delete and the rest I will either crop or leave as is.

This is just one of the many I took that actually turned out. I had to share.