To the Rescue!

The other night I found myself praying alot. Prayers I didn't think I would be uttering at this stage in my life "Oh Lord, Please let him go to sleep!!!" No we did not have a new baby in the house, but a new dog. A three year old lab named Rocky. This was a dog that was not only trained to sit, shake and roll over, but we were told he was crate trained. The rescue group was told he was crate trained. He was NOT crate trained. Lots of crying, wimpering, barking and scratching the first night making it....welll....Rocky.

Since we moved here our kids have rather relentlessly been wanting us to get another dog. Slowly, they wore us down and unbeknownest to them we have secretly been visiting Petco looking at the dogs for adoptions every Saturday. We have been waiting for one that seemed to fit our family. Rocky seemed to fit the bill - young but not too young; good size; liked to play; trained and cute.

Last night we had our first full night sleep since Saturday. Everyone's getting more exercise walking him. And I have to admit, especially since all the kids are older now, its nice to come home and have someone excited about it.

Go Chargers!

All I can say is that I'm really exhausted from the emotions of the Charger game yesterday. I started out very tired (more on that in another blog) and was emotionally limp by games end. It was great to watch (which is rarity in Houston - the west coast does NOT exist when it comes to sports) especially as they gathered resolve and won as a team. Lots of cheering in Houston. Way to not give up Chargers.

But here's my complaint. We're all stoked and excited at the end of the game. Waiting for the post-game show, only to hear not how well the Chargers played - but how poorly the Colts did. It seemed more talked about how Indianapolis lost than how San Diego won. People talk of the "stunning upset" - come on. The Chargers are a great team. Give them their due. But that is the way the media talks about any San Diego team - as if they are a fluke if they do well. So Chargers - show them what you're made of next week. Play your hearts out and silence the skeptics.

Like Riding a Bike

If you looked at the floor at the end of our kitchen table, you would see odd brownish/grey fragments scattered about the floor. If you could have observed us the past few nights you would realize that this is where algebra homework has been done, and redone, and redone, until exasperation hit. (I guess you would also realize I forgot to dust mop the floor for a few days).

At first when I was asked in a very pleading and desperate voice "Mom, can you help me?" I truly didn't think I had it in me. I mean it has been over 30 years (dang I'm old) since I had been in a math class. I pulled up a chair and side-by-side we began tackling the problems together. At first I added my own erasure bits to our floor, but soon a little light bulb when on. I remembered how to do it! Sure I had no idea what she was talking about when she said "slope interecept blah, blah, blah", but I actually solved a problem together with her. Better yet, the light bulb passed on to the daughter. She eventually completed all 30 problems and understoood most of it.

My other children were also duly impressed by mom. My son says "so how far in math did you go in high school?" I shared that I had done trigonometry and pre-calculus - without calculators (they cost over $100 then). He walked away with a look of dismay. I only pray when they reach these math pinnacles they will be able to understand it on their own.

Oh and the postscript....when my conquering daughter turned in her homework, the teacher told the class she would give full credit if you were only able to complete three problems. Okay that was a little defeating.

The Gift of Forgetfulness

The New Year started out at a very leisurely pace in our household. Slowly putting Christmas items away. Robert was up early off to the gym; then off to work.

Then came the phone call. "I'm coming home, I'm still on vacation." Yes, he had forgotten exactly how long his vacation was. He had the rest of the week off! Many times forgetting something is a bad thing - this time a reward of a few more days off.

It struck me as a vivid contrast of years past. When vacations were clearly marked on our calendar. We counted the days until they arrived. We aimed and held on for the time off. It took a few days to finally relax and enjoy the time off; I could sense when the end of vacation was coming by the change in mood. It was like I could see all the issues and problems coming and resting on his shoulders again. What a wonderful place in life we are now that vacations days and work days move seamlessly with no dread or distraction.

Life is good.....and now we have a few more days to enjoy!