New Shower Curtains

For anyone who knows me, my life is not complete without an updated shower curtain.  It had been a while since I actually purchased a new shower curtain.  Especially since I downsized and actually got rid of a few.  I have to admit I don't really change the shower curtain in the basement bathroom very often. Don't get me wrong, I have about six curtains down there that I rotate around, I just don't do it as much since I seldom use that bathroom.

When I purchased my set of golf clubs, I received a rebate for $50 at Menards.  My intention was to purchase a chain saw.  I mean what better purchase than a chain saw?  The last time I borrowed one, I managed to cut down a live tree, have it fall across a dozen wires and land on my garage!  I could only imagine what I could do with my very own chain saw!  So instead, I managed to buy two shower curtains and a bunch of other miscellaneous things instead.  Of course this one, I think I may put in the basement bathroom with the orange too!

 

 

Maybe some day I will find a new hobby or passion.  For now I like the instant change to the bathroom, the lack of storage room necessary to house my obsession and the low cost involved! :)

Outdoor House Updates

I finally decided to replace my garage roof.  I had a feeling if I waited much longer, the roof would have caved in completely.  I wasn't entirely thrilled with the price, but it was done in a day and I am glad to have it replaced!

Before

 

After

I haven't done much to the inside of the house.  I have been keeping busy painting at MS' house since he moved and really don't have much energy or desire to do much on my house.  Earlier this year I discontinued our DISH and switched to AT&T Uverse.  I decided I had had enough of the wires and cables in and around the house.  I didn't realize exactly how much I had from the various services over the years!



Cable/Phone Excess Wires

I also came back from vacation and found that I had a decent size hole in the cement in the driveway.  Apparently some rodent dug through the bottom of the window well and and caused the cement to cave in.  MS and I were able to repair the hole as well as a big chunk of the side door step that had broken off when moving in the new washing machine. 

Other than going through a refinance to lower my interest rate and reduce a couple years off the term, things on the housing front have been pretty calm (knock, knock).

Parenting a Fifteen Year Old...

T and I are...very alike.  Primarily, we are both very independent and very...anti-social.  Don't get me wrong.  Sure I can talk and I can mingle, but I prefer to stick with the known.  For work, I can easily spend hours engaging with new people, that is my job.  But, my personal life I am very different.  I am honest and loyal and struggle with trusting others.  I believe that T has all these same traits, and for that, I am sad. 

I wish that T was carefree.  I wish that he would meet and engage with others.  I don't know if it is a result of genetics or the back and forth homes of separated parents.  I tire trying to understand the why.  Maybe it is just kids these days.  They are tech savvy and communication with friends is through gaming or texting.  I didn't have those devices.  We met people and went out with friends.  We rode bikes and climbed trees.  We worked.

T and I have battled it out in our style, which is me with a semi-stern voice, about his lack of communication.  That I don't appreciate the one word responses that are oh so common with teens.  The vacation was good as the lack of computer and cell phone service for him, forced us to spend quality time together.  Of course the 40 plus hours in the car definitely added to that, although again T is like me.  If a passenger, he will sleep.

T completed his Freshman year with excellent grades.  He has decided to only play baseball, which I can admit I am disappointed for his sake.  Trust me I love not having to transport and observe!  His class schedule is incredibly hard, but being a teen, he waits until the last minute to complete his summer homework for his Advanced Placement class!  T took his AP test for college transfer credit last Spring and passed!  Of course we have no idea if it will actually count for anything if and when he goes to college.

T finally participated in Driver's Training. He has his Level I permit.  Driver's Education was a blast, not really.  But we survived the three week, four nights a week plus drive time and observation schedule.  We now are in the logging phase.  I don't have to insure him until he receives his actual driver's license, so I am beginning to think he will always have a permit!  Actually, State Farm has a program for youth under 25 that if  you complete a drivers log (20 drives in 60 days) you receive a discount.  They also have a discount for a student getting good grades!  Any savings will definitely help!

School baseball and community baseball wrapped up shortly after the 4th of July.  T was more than ready to be done - having felt that he had been practicing since Christmas!  I was glad for it to be done too! 

Earlier this week T started Phase II of his braces.  Twenty some odd months, with more than half of that time requiring intensive rubber band work.  I have to say, the pain has been more than miserable for him.  I only hope that the braces allow his back teeth to touch!

I am blessed to have a wonderful, healthy, happy, honest, humorous and smart young man (to name a few).  I am blessed each day.  As he inches closer to 16...I can only wait to see what the future holds for him.

The Call

Tonight as I sit here typing blog after blog, I do so out of avoidance.  Avoidance of the attempt to fall asleep.  I even have the television off, so I can avoid the background noise.  I would love to be able to sleep.  I really would.  I just don't think, regardless of how tired I am, that sleep will come easily. 

My step dad, who has been a great father and dad to me for over fifteen years, is ill.  A year ago, my dad and his wife were attempting to get my dad on the heart transplant list.  They were not successful.  My dad passed a year ago this month. There are times when I think of him and reminisce.  I even ask my brother about my dad's wife, almost half caring (honestly, I do care, as much as I would like to say I don't!).  Fast forward to a year later.  My step dad is ill. 

He was recently diagnosed with liver cancer.  He had the surgery to "zap" the cancer.  My mother and step dad are the exact opposite of my father and his wife.  While they faced emotional challenges with the medical process, my step dad was approved for a liver transplant.  He was "fifth" on the "list".  They were told to never be more than an hour away from the hospital, which meant my mom couldn't go to South Dakota with us. 

Tonight, weeks after he was accepted to the list, my mom received the call.  I am not sure how one emotionally, physically or mentally prepares for a transplant.  While you go through the training and preparations, like most things in life, you are never fully prepared for being in the moment.  They were told to arrive at the hospital a few hours later.  Testing is being done on the donor liver to see if the transplant will be possible.  The results should have been in a few hours ago.  Due to this late hour, my mom would never call or text me; however, she should know that I would be up.  Waiting.  Worrying.  Wondering.  My step dad is prepped.  They are at the hospital Waiting.  Worrying.  Wondering.  I am sure they are experiencing many more emotions, thoughts, fears and concerns than I can ever imagine.  I want to be there to support them, but mom said it isn't necessary.  The surgery may happen early in the morning.  I have a work event to attend in the early morning, which I would bail in a heartbeat!  But for now, I wait until I am wanted or needed.  I would rather be there.  I feel so helpless.

This is out of my hands.  It is in HIS hands...

Family Vacation - South Dakota

I am not sure how I forgot how my life was so impacted by K for those three months.  My life revolved around K and his needs and appointments while in the midst of baseball season for T.  Balancing was becoming a juggling act and I know that T and my needs were smoldering from the heat of the back burner.

So I was looking forward to the time when K was going to move to his new family.  June.  Summer would then be filled with going back to our routine lifestyle of baseball, baseball and more baseball.  T needed to get in driver's training and then of course planning some much needed vacations!

With T with his dad for two weeks, that allowed me to go to Aruba with MS.  It also allowed for me to plan a cross country vacation with T to South Dakota to visit my brother and family.  Initially the trip was my mom's idea; however, due to her husband's ailing health and acceptance to the list for a liver transplant, she needed to be home with my step dad.  Always wanting to see Mount Rushmore, I still planned the trip with just T.

T finished up driver's training just before his time with his dad and then our vacation.  He would be able to log in some serious driving hours from Michigan to South Dakota.  We took our time driving out to South Dakota, staying in Minnesota the first evening.  We arrived at my brother's house mid-day on a Tuesday.  I was excited to spend time with my brother and his family.  We see each other for holidays or during the summer, but have never spent significant amounts of time together.  I was eager to spend time with my two nephews (8 and 6) and my niece (almost 2). 

On Thursday, we drove across South Dakota en route to Mount Rushmore.  T and I drove separately as we didn't have a vehicle large enough for seven of us, which allowed us some much needed quiet time!  We stopped at Corn Palace, Wall Drug and the Badlands.  We visited Mount Rushmore and Sylvan Lake.  We were able to spend a day hiking the '76 trail and several trails nearby.  We also spent a day at a water park, went to a cowboy show, saw my oldest nephew's first football game and bonded with the kids! 

T and I had a great time.  There were many stories that could be told which I will keep them off the blog.  We loved Sylvan Lake and the picturesque views.  T loved that he could swim and climb rock formations.  Mount Rushmore was a bucket list success!  The entire trip was a success of bucket list adventures!  T and I shared many laughs which turned into tears strolling down my face!  So many wonderful memories to cherish!  By the drive home, T and I were both overly exhausted from driving.  He chose not to drive when given the option.  In less than a month, T has completed more than the required 30 hours of driving!  And fortunately, we didn't have any car issues!