I am thinking... About three successive strange dreams last night. First I was involved in a guerrilla war in a rainforest, then I caught a special 'green jasmine' blossom falling from a tree, which meant that I won a very important Girl Scout Award. As I held it in my hand, about 20 minivans surrounded me and all of the moms hopped out, completely pissed that I had won the award, and they tried to take it from me. So I ran. I ran to this sports complex, and got caught up in the midst of a running club that was about to begin their run. Somehow I got drafted to join their club. They meet on Wednesday nights and on Saturday mornings. Their called 'Ron's Group Mix' if you are interested in joining this fictitious club that appeared in my dream. They also like eating Taco Bell, because that was how we ended the 'meeting' - we ate Taco Bell burritos. Don't think there was actually any running involved at all. The good news is that the angry mob of minivan moms never found me, and I seemed to have escaped certain death in some distant rainforest. So why am I going into such boring detail about my dreams? Because I almost never dream anymore...
I am thankful... On this Memorial Day, I am thankful for all of the sacrifices that all service members have made for our nation. The traveling version of the Vietnam Wall is in our city this week, and the name of my dad's cousin is on there. I've seen it before, on the real wall in D.C. If I feel up to it later today, maybe I will take the kids over there to see it again.
From the Learning Rooms... Even though Jordan is on official break since he is gone for the next six weeks (week 1 has already passed), Rylan and Owen are not. We are in the home stretch, and there is a lot to finish before our annual term ends in July. We usually take off the last week in the month, but we already took off last week because of my surgery. So even though I am not feeling 100%, we will carry on. I also did some bookshelf pruning, deep cleaning and switching stuff around, because I am going to try workboxes!! I have always wanted to try this, and I think this will help my highly-distractable kids.
In the kitchen... I have been very blessed this past week with tons of help. My mom made a batch of Gazpacho for me, a friend delivered dinner on Friday night, and another friend delivered dinner on Saturday night. Dean has covered breakfast and lunch, and I chip in when I can. I am so very thankful for the thoughtfulness - it was a huge boost during a rather tough week.
I am wearing... Pj's and a robe.
I am creating... Workboxes! I have two wooden shelving units with twelve individual shelves (ideal for 8.5x11 papers) that I used during my teaching days for student mailboxes. I decided to reappropriate them for the use of workboxes. They are just big enough to be able to hold a textbook. Unfortunately I only have two. If it works well for the next couple of months, I'll invest in two more for Owen and Colin - that is if the local office supply store still carries a similar item.
I am going... To my mom's neighborhood pool to take the kids swimming. And maybe the memorial...
I am wondering... How long it will take for me to get my mobility back. Right now I'm like a one-armed T-Rex. My right arm is pinned to my side simply because I can't lift it more than 4-5 inches away from my body. I hope that this is normal for recovery, and that the surgeon didn't mess up. I fell on the garage steps the day before yesterday and by instinct I reached out my right hand to catch myself. It hurt so bad I cried. Hard. I'm sure that didn't help things.
I am reading... I still haven't picked up the Drums of Autumn again (yet), but I did get The Graveyard Book (the name of the author escapes me, but he also wrote Coraline) in the juvenile fiction section the other day at the library because my 'to read' list is growing ridiculously long. I have no idea where the recommendation came from. I should note that in my list for future 'must-reads'. I read it in a morning, and it was 'okay'. Sort of a page-turner, but it left quite a bit unexplained. It think it could have been developed a little bit more.
In the garden... My peas, turnips, carrots and lettuce are up. My spinach is ready to pick. I am still waiting on the parsnips, and I think the beets are a bust. I am debating about planting some tomatoes. They were a disaster last year. I also don't know if I will up for keeping up with too much this year. I do need to get a basil plant or two, yet.
I am hoping... For my shoulder to get a lot better this week. I am supposed to start physical therapy this coming Friday. At this point in time, when I can barely move my arm, I wonder how that is possible. Post-op appointment is on Thursday though, so I will get answers then.
I am looking forward to... Moving my shoulder again. Pain free. Is it normal to wince when I see people swinging their arms and do push-ups?
I am learning... This week I learned how to remove nail polish from couch cushions. Colin's latest 'painting project' involved an entire bottle of sparkly pink nail polish.
"Rylan!!!!!!!!!"
I am hearing... Ni Hao, Kai-lan. Second-most annoying show. Ever. (First place will always go to Dora)
Around the house... Dean is spraying for ants - they are a horrendous problem every spring. We have three more boxes of flooring that need to go in - maybe sometime this week.
I am pondering... About the pace of early summer. I think I am pretty happy with what the kids will be doing, just, as always, wishing it were less.
One of my favorite things... The birds in the morning. Our neighborhood is a mature one, so we have quite the spectrum of bird calls in the morning. I don't think I could ever move to a neighborhood with new construction - I would miss the birds too much.
A few plans for the rest of the week... Signing the little kids up for swim lessons, this will be Colin's first year, and he is very excited. Owen is about to burst open with excitement as well - it will be hard for him to wait a whole week. Rylan has formal dance pictures on Wednesday, for her ballet class. They will be doing a jazz piece for their recital in a couple of weeks. I have to have her all decked out in costume and makeup for the pictures. Luckily, all that is required for her hair is a simple ponytail. Unfortunately, that involves two-handed dexterity that I just don't possess at the current moment. My mom said she would help. I have a post-op appointment on Thursday, and I begin physical therapy at the orthopedic center on Friday.
Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...
This picture was taken on 5/16/13, when we took a Daisy field trip to a local small family farm.
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