Truck vs Miata = Disaster

It started off as a Good Day. By Mid-Day, it started to be the slippery slope of Not So Good. Then it descended to Real Bad. Then it was a page from the book :

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

But it finally ended on a good note as we went out to dinner to the Veggie Grill with our company. The End.

Wait! The audience wants to know! How come it was a T,H,NG,VBD?????

Ahhh...Let me explain. 

Slept in a bit. Got up and ate some WAFFLES FROM HEAVEN. YUM YUM and Schnausage (faux sausage) (Our company had left early to go kayaking) Then DH helped me frost my hair, yup, pulled strands through the funny looking cap. He seemed somewhat quizzical as to what the heck I was wearing on my head. I tried to convince him I was communicating with aliens, which for some reason he didn't question. It was to be a "run the errands" kind of day and a movie. It didn't quite pan out that way. We decided to take the Miata (DH's baby) out for a spin. It was kind of a Miata day. (plus easy to park) We were taking a large package to the post office, so it was up front under my feet. So a birthday gift consisting of a six pack of brewski was put in the trunk. PO, check. Friend's house for his birthday, check. Off to the movie, check. Until....we were getting onto the bridge from a very long ramp of cars. On this particular ramp, you have to really lean over and look to the right to see if there is a break in the cars so you can get onto the bridge. Being a small car, as is the Miata, it is tough to gauge cars coming, but with me riding shotgun, I could see better than hubby. He creeps out and then stops, as cars come fast and furious (not the movie, and not the Mexican gun running sting) and then BOOM, hit from behind by a truck. DH get out and then indicates he would pull over at the top of the ramp so as to not impact cars behind. Poor little Miata: It is fiberglass. It does not do well against steel bumpers. It was completely cracked, everything pushed in, and the trunk cannot be opened. Info exchanged, we are on our way, and here's where it gets really bad: We were 15 minutes late for the movie...but dang it, we had driven clear across town for this (it is a second run movie and not playing anywhere near us) I HATE being late for a movie. But what the heck...

Now here's where Pollyanna-look-on-the-bright-side-glad game comes in: We had already delivered the beer, which had been in our trunk only a few minutes earlier, and now we couldn't open the trunk AND had the beer still been in the trunk, it might have busted open and they might have decided we were drinking and driving. (I mean if you smelled beer and saw broken bottles in a car, isn't that what YOU would think? ) Whew! Dodged that bullet! And let me just say about this fellow's insurance company: USAA: It was started by the military in 1922 for returning Vets as they were considered a high risk group for auto insurance and has since branched out to other types of insurance. We were totally unfamiliar with the company, but we were sold. By the time the movie ended, they already had the info, directed us to an auto body shop near us, and lined up a rental car. Very impressive. What could have ended on a sour note, was a pleasant surprise. Then off to dinner...and let me also give a shout out to the Veggie Grill. It is vegan so I don't have to question whether a product has dairy. It just doesn't have any at all.  It gets 5 stars on my YUM scale. 

Best part of the day? Watching my dear sweet hubby who never ever gets flustered calmly take care of business. He who gets rear-ended, was glad handing the poor guy who did it. He was practically his best bud by the time we left. He was kind, considerate, unflappable. You just gotta love this man. Plus my hair looks frickin' awesome! Thanks babe. He can remodel a bathroom AND frost his wife's hair. Too cool. Women want him, Men wanna be him. And I Got Him. Nanner-Nanner-Nanner. (wow, I am breath taking in my maturity level!)

Winchester House-Frau

There has been a running joke that DH and I cannot stop remuddling, er, REMODELING. This is a rumor. We have stopped countless times to go eat and sleep, then we start up again. When D3 left the nest, it opened up real guest room possibilities for the first time in, well, ever. Since we are expecting company in about 24 hours from now, it was a good time to perk up the basement where our younger two daughters have slept for at least the last 11 years since D2 left the nest to get married. It was showing its wear. As was the bathroom. So, before the door swung shut on D3's Big Move, we had a new bed in her room to accomodate a couple (hers was a twin size, so while it is cozy, would not be all that comfy for two). So here is the timeline the last few days: Friday: Go shopping for new sink. The kids' bathroom is the only one with a tub, but when we originally remodeled that bathroom about 16 years ago, I put in a kitchen sink with a spray faucet. It was great for bathing babies, washing hair, etc. But its time was overdue and it was looking a bit rusty. We found a great sink/cabinet combo at Costco. As one can't be real choosy at Costco, they have ONE, and no other choices, we picked other cabinets based on the color of the vanity, which is a dark espresso color. It looks lovely, and the bonus is, it has a granite top and sink built in. Our Home away from Home (Depot that is) was next, for a mirror over the sink,paint, light fixtures, and floor tile. We had priced out a new floor and it seemed ridiculous, plus it might take weeks to put it in, so we decided to put in a self-stick tile floor that has ceramic qualities. It looks good, priced right, and most importantly, we can put it in, save thousands and do-it-ourselves quickly. Lowes was next for a storage cabinet to match the sink base. Saturday:We demo'd the bath in a matter of hours and set to putting it back together. I have just gotten over being extremely sick so didn't want to go anywhere, so hey, why not destroy the bathroom? We also went to the plumbing supply and picked out a new toilet. DH and I are in our element. Foolish idiots!
The first funny thing we did was when we picked out a paint, I grabbed three samples that I liked. Out of those, I immediately chose a very pleasing chocolate brown. When hubby came over to the paint department, I showed him the three choices. He grabs one, the same one I liked. (No, I did not influence him in any way) We laughed when we got home. It was the exact same color we had picked for our room a month before. Anyway, painting, laying the floor, staining moulding, hanging cabinets took the better part of two days...a LONG time in remodeling world for us. DH hurried and put up moulding last night behind toilet and sink, as the plumber was coming today.
Full disclosure: We tried to pull toilet and it just wouldn't give. I looked down, realizing it was still hooked to water lines. We laughed and laughed as we averted disaster, thinking what might have happened if those water lines had been pulled out of the wall. DH swore me to secrecy that we wouldn't tell anyone. The blog doesn't count, right? You won't tell anyone, right? Next crazy moment was this: We bought a three light fixture and a matching four light fixture for the larger wall. He had just wired in the base for what was to be the four-light, when I glanced at the box and saw he was installing the other one erroneously in its place. Another good laugh and happy it was caught quickly. Crisis averted. Obviously, we are getting tired and things are going to heck rapidly as we determine that we should not work past 1 AM on projects. We are getting too old for this, but we do love it. We work well together and enjoy the process. We both have similar ideas of design and complement each other well: I focus on design, he focuses on the implementation, although we crossover often into the other's territory. He will suggest a design, I will say "Hmmm..." then do it my way. I will try and install something, he re-does it to his high(er) standards. It is a win-win. I think I'm loving his (partial) retirement. It is so much fun working together to build something beautiful. Remodeling is like a relationship. You work hard at it, you shuffle things around until they fit better, you compromise, you try to see the other's vision, you give in, or you stand firm, but then when all is said and done: It works. Thanks babe. You are amazing...I love us together.
PS D3 texted me from her new home to say she missed us. Although that is so normal, I know it's good for her. She also said I am "mom-like". That made me feel deliriously happy. That made my entire week! ILY Bubby

and then there were two...ish.

A bittersweet day as daughter #3 left the nest and flew off to start her new life; a new state, a new home,a new job. Sweet because it's time to spread her wings, bitter because we will miss her so much. Funny that...she was rarely home before, as a young adult (still is of course)in college,with her own friends etc, but this is the only home she clearly remembers; we've been here since she was 4. I reminded her through the tears, that home is always home and a new adventure awaits. Her grad party was great on Saturday and the graduation was fab on Sunday. The class of more than 6000 grads was the largest in the history of our state.and they Read.Every.Single.Name.(snooze lol)
 News on the Hubby front:It has been ascertained he is pre-diabetic, which may or may not have had anything to do with his stroke. No way to tell. However this diagnosis has seemingly LOTS of manifestations and interpretations. What his entails, is difficulty in processing insulin. I suspected as much, if he doesn't eat protein and small meals frequently, he gets a headache or lightheaded. The study they want to enroll him in can mean a placebo or the medication. It is a blind study so no one really knows. Until he gets all better and starts bench pressing 300 lbs easily, has the stamina of 5 men half his age and generally starts whooping it up. Or goes and takes a nap. Blind studies always make me a little crazy. You watch and wait: If he is ON the meds, does one notice a change? If it is the placebo, will you notice things are the same?
We first noticed a odd "blip" in one of his blood tests. No real worry, just a high "normal". His eye doctor mentioned it and wanted to explore it further. He did get another test, a glucose tolerance, a simple test: Fasting blood sugar than drink sweet yucky stuff and see where it spikes in an hour. (Ideally, he would have had a 3 hour test that gives a better picture) Again, no real definition, but a "Huh." So the stroke clinic's blood draw to see if he qualified for the study was much more comprehensive, sent to Yale (He had mentioned he had always wanted to attend Yale, this is apparently as close as he will get...and we don't have to pay! Yippee! He can now brag he has Ivy-League Blood running through his veins)
We kind of forgot about the blood draw in the middle of all the other stuff of life. When they called, I wasn't surprised really, just glad that if, indeed this is a Big Deal (and I'm guessing many many people are walking around with this and never know it, especially the ones that are healthy, not overweight, and no family history) that it was caught relatively early. Just a little shout-out to everyone who has checked in with us the past few days/weeks. Thank you all for caring about my DH. Without him, I am a crippled ship, floating aimlessly about in the sea of life, collecting barnacles, and generally creating havoc. Oh heck, I create havoc with him too! Love you!

All Quiet on the Western Front...for now.

The boyfriend is doing better, yay! Still planning on the flight up this week and the drive back in the moving truck next week. As a mom, I question the logic of doing this with several broken ribs, but as DH says  "Stay out of it." Right. As if.
Our cousins who were visiting, left last week headed back down south by going East first. As luck (?) would have it (although I am putting this into the miracle category) after heading East, they were heading back home via THE VERY SAME CITY where boyfriend was in the hospital. They were not only able to see him and visit with him, BUT able to give him a ride home from the hospital to his mom's house. Now, this would not necessarily be a world shaking event, HOWEVER, they had NEVER met him nor his family prior to this, yet went way above and beyond the call of duty to help alleviate our daughter's fears for his safety. They sent pictures via the web (oh I sing the praises of technology!) and it was just great to see him looking fairly intact (I know the pain was unbelievable, but he showed barely a grimace) and his sense of humor was also intact: He thought he had seen a ghost as DH and his cousin, born a few months apart, are in his words "So alike! Look alike, sound alike, act alike!" While I agree with most of the assessments, I think Cousin S looks more like Rudy Giuliani         http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudy_Giuliani, although a lot quieter and not nearly so bombastic. As per sounding/acting alike, there was one funny moment when I was trying to decide an appropriate gift to give the church for the use of the sanctuary and fellowship hall for Son's Eagle, Cousin S jokingly said "Yeah, give 'em 4 or 5 bucks."
I nearly bust a gut and spit out my drink: My DH had said EXACTLY the same thing, to the same dollar figure. (The really funny part is, I think my dad would have said exactly the same thing had he been in on the conversation) Anyway, it was extremely kind and thoughtful of them to take Boyfriend home, meet the family, and to offer parental advice. You rock.
While on the subject of kindnesses, I have been looking for ways to Pay It Forward. I am not going into any details, as do some, it feels too much like bragging here. But what I want to say is there is nothing too big nor too small to give someone a good feeling. It may be as small as a smile to someone who may be having a bad day. It might mean paying for someone's coffee behind you. It might be extravagant like paying for someone else's gasoline. (I have been struck by the number of people in front of me at the gas pump getting $5.00 worth, where is that going to take them? To the other gas station down the block?) I remember being with my dad once at a gas station, many years ago, when gas was probably a buck and change. He was filling up and he noticed a crying woman at the pump. He asked the attendant why she was crying. He replied that they would have to pump out her tank as her credit card was rejected. My dad in his usual way said "For crying out loud, I'll pay for her gas, don't touch it." I think the woman was shocked, the attendant was shocked, but I wasn't. It was normal to me to see my dad be generous. I learned it from him and I don't think there will be any more like him. But here's a challenge:
Prove me wrong...tell me something you or someone did that Paid It Forward in some form or fashion. Put it in the comments, I will print it, totally anonymously. I won't think you're bragging, I just want to know that goodness is alive and well. Ever since my husband had his stroke, we have been the recipients of many, many kindnesses, too many to count. I have tried to mention them in the blog, because I think it is important to acknowledge kindnesses received as is kindnesses given.
Was it a thank you note to someone that treated you well? Did you stand up to a bully on someone's behalf? Did you do the right thing when it would have been easy to look the other way and keep going? Did you pay for a military personnel's dinner? Or perhaps an elderly person's groceries? I really want to know!!! We all need uplifting now and again.

Just when you thought it was safe to take a breath...

Daughter #3 who is graduating soon (next week to be exact) and planning to move down south to be with her sweetie and his family shortly thereafter, got some bad news y'day. Her beau, who installs cable equipment fell from a ladder climbing down from a cell tower of some sort (details are sketchy). He hit his head, causing a concussion, broke three ribs, and bruised his lung. This exactly one week before he is supposed to fly up here, rent a truck, and move her down. We have no Plan B as of yet. Nothing is worse than being hundreds of miles away when your loved one is hurting. We feel completely helpless and have no idea what we can do to help. His mom and dad are there of course, but they are scheduled to drive up here next week as well. So, we wait. Our cousins who left here a few days ago are headed to his city now and may be able to see him in the hospital. We hope so, for everyone's sake! Argh. Whack-A-Mole is at it again! Whack! Whack! Whack! Make it stop!

The Eagle has indeed landed

WOW. What an incredible day we had yesterday as our son had his Eagle Court of Honor. This was the culmination of not just months of hard work, but really years of hard work. He had asked four people to speak that meant a lot to him:
JM: His former cubmaster from his cub scout pack (coincidentally now the mother of his girlfriend)
She gave a beautiful speech about how she had "met" him in different stages of life: Our kids had been together in preschool, then later on in Scouts, and now currently as her daughter's boyfriend. It was so sweet and poignant.
DR: His 6th grade teacher, whom my son still thinks of as his all-time "favorite teacher". His speech was amazing, it brought tears to my eyes. OK, full disclosure: I started crying at the invocation earlier.
Then I and DH spoke: more tears. We had been sitting in the front row and when we were on the podium we faced the audience for the first time and were astounded at how big the crowd was, a testament to my son's far-reaching effect on people, our loved ones, family, and the scouts.
RK: Not only a family friend of longstanding, some thirty years, but he works with the Scouts, so that was extra-special. He also mentioned in his speech, DH's dad and my dad, who are both gone now, but our son is named for them both. It was a beautiful speech,
MG: DH's eldest son, who is also an Eagle Scout; what made it so awesome is the fact he became an Eagle in this very troop in 1989. Honestly his speech was so heartfelt and he made mention of the fact that no matter were he lived, he always brought his Eagle medal. He also said that when people say to him "So, you were an Eagle Scout?" He replies, "No sir, I AM an Eagle Scout" Once an Eagle, always an Eagle!
Then, our son spoke. He made reference to the fact that when he was looking for a Boy Scout troop (as a Cub Scout, when they near completion, you go visit different troops to look for a good fit) he was almost swayed by a large troop that had a lot of amenities going for it, but when he realized his brother's troop was still active (after almost 60 years I'm told!) well, that sealed the deal.
I cannot possibly put into words what this day meant to DH and me. I cannot believe that 2 months ago, DH had his stroke and honestly, I was so fearful he would not see this day. Yet, here he was, greeting people, shaking hands, hugging people. That alone was worth the price of admission: To see my sweet DH healthy and standing with our son on this momentous day.
So many many friends and family helped out for the ceremony. It's amazing the amount of work it takes to set this all up. I am so grateful. From setting up tables/food. etc to taking it all down and cleaning up, there is no way we could have done this on our own (or I suppose we could have, if we had started last month :-) I cannot put into words what you all mean to me. RWG


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_Scout_(Boy_Scouts_of_America)