As of now, I still haven't had a foster home placement. It has been six months. I am perfectly OK with this! There were a couple that I considered, but definitely not what I was interested or became licensed.
On Saturday, as a favor to one of my foster homes, I offered to do "respite" for two boys, 10 and 12. I have met the boys twice before. They came over at 6:00a.m. and left at 4:30p.m. Everyone got along well and the visit went fine. Of course, I can't say that I have really experienced foster parenting at this point. Just a long day of hanging out and free babysitting.
But nothing like sticking your toes in the brisk great lake and feeling how cold it is. Maybe some day I will warm up to the idea and dive right in...maybe.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Father Update
My father is officially back in Michigan. He and his wife flew into town on Friday night. He has an appointment ("eval") on Monday at the University of Michigan hospital where his wife hopes he takes up "residence". He will be out of his IV Primacor as of 5p.m. Monday, but his wife has "no worries". By moving up to Michigan, they ended Hospice's involvement.
As of now, they are staying in a hotel about 40 minutes away from UofM. Neither of them drive. As of yesterday, my father was unaware how he was getting to his appointment. They have a "hi" luncheon planned for this afternoon across the state. I had talked to T about going and decided that we wouldn't. Worked out well considering my car issues and the advisement to not drive to "Detroit or Chicago", my first "respite" foster child experience, and other obligations. Apparently they anticipate 40 people, but yet neither my father or his wife even considered that maybe they see their daughter or grandson outside of a mass gathering at an Applebees. So why should we drive 5.5 hours roundtrip for an hour lunch?
T received a birthday card and gift card in the mail on Friday. I talked with my father yesterday and told him T would be calling to thank him. T didn't (I can only nag so much!). So after the movie today I told T he had to call and give thanks. T wanted to shower first. NO.
I gave T Grandpa's cell phone number. He called from his room. His side of the conversation went like this, "Hi Grandma A, it is T. Grandma A it is T. Hello? Grandma A?" Then he said, "Well that went well. Grandma A hung up on me."
Seriously? So I use my son as "a pawn" and they don't even have the audacity to listen to him when he calls but hang up on him?
So I called from my phone and immediately my father answered. Not A. Not his wife. So clearly, she avoids MY calls at all expense, but another cell phone call (which is registered under MY name) she answers. Whatever. I tell my father that T just called and A hung up on him. That he will be calling back from his phone. My father said OK. No admittance of what had transpired. No apology. Whatever.
T called back and this time Grandpa answered the phone. They talked for about ten minutes.
Is this really FAMILY?
As of now, they are staying in a hotel about 40 minutes away from UofM. Neither of them drive. As of yesterday, my father was unaware how he was getting to his appointment. They have a "hi" luncheon planned for this afternoon across the state. I had talked to T about going and decided that we wouldn't. Worked out well considering my car issues and the advisement to not drive to "Detroit or Chicago", my first "respite" foster child experience, and other obligations. Apparently they anticipate 40 people, but yet neither my father or his wife even considered that maybe they see their daughter or grandson outside of a mass gathering at an Applebees. So why should we drive 5.5 hours roundtrip for an hour lunch?
T received a birthday card and gift card in the mail on Friday. I talked with my father yesterday and told him T would be calling to thank him. T didn't (I can only nag so much!). So after the movie today I told T he had to call and give thanks. T wanted to shower first. NO.
I gave T Grandpa's cell phone number. He called from his room. His side of the conversation went like this, "Hi Grandma A, it is T. Grandma A it is T. Hello? Grandma A?" Then he said, "Well that went well. Grandma A hung up on me."
Seriously? So I use my son as "a pawn" and they don't even have the audacity to listen to him when he calls but hang up on him?
So I called from my phone and immediately my father answered. Not A. Not his wife. So clearly, she avoids MY calls at all expense, but another cell phone call (which is registered under MY name) she answers. Whatever. I tell my father that T just called and A hung up on him. That he will be calling back from his phone. My father said OK. No admittance of what had transpired. No apology. Whatever.
T called back and this time Grandpa answered the phone. They talked for about ten minutes.
Is this really FAMILY?
Car & Vacation
As if right on cue, my car decided it is going to have some issues. Totally OK with it, because I suppose we all need some fine tuning every so often and afterall my car will be 10 years old this year!
T and I finalized our vacation plans. We had been kicking around some ideas after we saw the last minute availability of inventory of my timeshare. But with a last minute change of plans, MS and his son will not be going with us. I am still struggling somewhat with the decision to not have them go, but I know that it is for the best.
MS's son not only broke his collar bone a few weeks back after getting slammed into a locker by "a friend" and is in a sling, but he was suspended from school for five days for bringing a pocket knife to school. MS and I definitely have different parenting skills. When I first met him, after our second date I decided we shouldn't go out again as MS has his son full time. No other parent involvement. Zero. Zilch. Nada. I just don't do full time parenting, especially of someone elses child. So after the latest incident and not seeing MS very often, 10 days of road tripping and a vacation didn't seem like a good idea.
So T and I will be heading about 11.5 hours south, hopefully warmer. Somewhere we went four years ago that for the first time in a decade they saw snowflakes during April. Hopefully we won't have that experience this time!
With MS not going on vacation, that means that I am driving my car. I considered a rental, but knew regardless the latest thunking noise needed to be assessed. Good thing I took it in. Another tie rod replacement and both arm bushings. Could have been MUCH worse.
So looking forward to a repaired car and another vacation adventure with just T and me!
T and I finalized our vacation plans. We had been kicking around some ideas after we saw the last minute availability of inventory of my timeshare. But with a last minute change of plans, MS and his son will not be going with us. I am still struggling somewhat with the decision to not have them go, but I know that it is for the best.
MS's son not only broke his collar bone a few weeks back after getting slammed into a locker by "a friend" and is in a sling, but he was suspended from school for five days for bringing a pocket knife to school. MS and I definitely have different parenting skills. When I first met him, after our second date I decided we shouldn't go out again as MS has his son full time. No other parent involvement. Zero. Zilch. Nada. I just don't do full time parenting, especially of someone elses child. So after the latest incident and not seeing MS very often, 10 days of road tripping and a vacation didn't seem like a good idea.
So T and I will be heading about 11.5 hours south, hopefully warmer. Somewhere we went four years ago that for the first time in a decade they saw snowflakes during April. Hopefully we won't have that experience this time!
With MS not going on vacation, that means that I am driving my car. I considered a rental, but knew regardless the latest thunking noise needed to be assessed. Good thing I took it in. Another tie rod replacement and both arm bushings. Could have been MUCH worse.
So looking forward to a repaired car and another vacation adventure with just T and me!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Bedroom Redo
Over seven years ago, I repainted my bedroom. I didn't have a choice and it was actually a good thing since I had to cover over the random primer that had been painted by the ex. Since the ceiling needed to be painted, I had this great idea to paint it. Paint it the same color as the walls. And that painting of the ceiling and the ceiling fan were enough reasons to not repaint. But the seven year itch happened.
My room was purple. Initially I thought the color I purchased was brown, but after painting, it was purple. I learned how similar brown, purple and pink look depending on the lighting. I even tried to accent the past few years to pull out brown, but was primarily unsuccessful.
I had hoped to paint my room a milk chocolate. Then one day last week I woke up and decided I didn't want brown. I feared another purple/pink debacle. I feared that there isn't one true brown color and that what I painted would be completely different than comforters I was trying to match. I decided I wanted a pale blue but when I played around on Sherwin Williams with my room I was appalled at the new look. The next morning I woke and wanted a gold/bronze color that was shimmery and was told at the paint store that without doing a faux finish, not possible. I was trying to pull out the colors in the comforter. Then, I decided to go with the taupe. A darker grey/brown. I also picked up a couple pictures at Meijer with my 15% off, new linen color blinds on clearance and moved a picture from my living room into my bedroom to complete the room.
I am glad to have a color different than purple! It is definitely not what I had imagined for my room over the past couple years. The brown above with the flash is very close to what I had wanted initially. I like the color and am welcoming the change. While I despised painting the ceiling, I do like having a white ceiling again! Now if only the paint fumes would dissipate a little faster, all would be perfect!
My room was purple. Initially I thought the color I purchased was brown, but after painting, it was purple. I learned how similar brown, purple and pink look depending on the lighting. I even tried to accent the past few years to pull out brown, but was primarily unsuccessful.
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| THE BEFORE |
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| Brown- with the flash (not true color) |
 |
| Bedroom 3/2011 Without Flash |
I am glad to have a color different than purple! It is definitely not what I had imagined for my room over the past couple years. The brown above with the flash is very close to what I had wanted initially. I like the color and am welcoming the change. While I despised painting the ceiling, I do like having a white ceiling again! Now if only the paint fumes would dissipate a little faster, all would be perfect!
Bathroom Curtain Changes
I am beginning to realize that I really have an issue with my shower curtain purchasing. I had myself convinced that I was improving and moving beyond changing the curtains after adding the new bathroom, but I was in DENIAL.
Even T said tonight, "Mom, you have a serious problem with shower curtains."
I have purchased four shower curtains since mid-February. In three weeks, I have purchased four. Granted one of them was the clearance Valentine's Day curtain.
Tonight I switched out both bathroom shower curtains. I had initially put the safari curtain in the upstairs bath and realized that it didn't pull out any of the wall color and looked beyond ridiculous. So I moved it immediately into the basement bathroom where it matches much better. Of course it's hard to see the entire curtain in the shower and to maneuver to get a good picture in such a small space!
I moved the orange accents upstairs to go with this new striped shower curtain that will go in both bathrooms. I have to say that the photo doesn't do it justice.
I suppose I could have worse purchasing addictions than reduced shower curtains...right?
Even T said tonight, "Mom, you have a serious problem with shower curtains."
I have purchased four shower curtains since mid-February. In three weeks, I have purchased four. Granted one of them was the clearance Valentine's Day curtain.
Tonight I switched out both bathroom shower curtains. I had initially put the safari curtain in the upstairs bath and realized that it didn't pull out any of the wall color and looked beyond ridiculous. So I moved it immediately into the basement bathroom where it matches much better. Of course it's hard to see the entire curtain in the shower and to maneuver to get a good picture in such a small space!
 |
| Safari Curtain |
 |
| Stripes |
I moved the orange accents upstairs to go with this new striped shower curtain that will go in both bathrooms. I have to say that the photo doesn't do it justice.
I suppose I could have worse purchasing addictions than reduced shower curtains...right?
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