Early Mother's Day

Wonderful Hubby shared with me today his gift to me for Mother's Day...a raised garden :-) He needed to tell me, so he could ask exactly where I wanted it placed in the yard. I'm pretty excited. I've started tomatoes, cucumbers, and beans. They are almost ready to be transplanted outside. To add to this wonderful news, I'm quitting my job. Friday is my last day. So next week I know what I'll be doing....planting my garden. I also have a number of herbs I'm growing, but I'll keep them in their pots inside so I have them readily available for cooking. I sorta feel like I'm 'playing house.' I hope my plants actually produce something edible, especially since I am travelling this summer and won't be here every day to make sure all is going well...I might even have to pay a neighbor kid to water my bed while I'm gone.

I really am super excited about my job ending. It has been a most trying experience. I guess I must have a charmed life because I have never been around someone so negative and, actually, mean. I drive myself crazy trying to figure her out. I keep having hope that tomorrow will be different. But, no, it's not. I think that's what actually caused me to quit was the fact that I felt there was no hope for the situation to change or improve. Since the job was for extra money, and I'm lucky enough to have a hard-working husband in the lucrative field of software development, it seemed silly to drive myself crazy everyday. I was worn out from biting my tongue and playing peacemaker between my boss and the teen-aged part time workers. No one wants to talk to the boss because she is short-tempered, impatient and gets defensive if you ask a question about anything she said or did...even if it's just for clarification. Ugh. I am sad for her, she cannot be happy or content.

I'm also excited about quitting, because I now get to start cooking for my daughters' graduation party. I'm making lots of appetizers that can be easily frozen and warmed the day of the party (May 18). I've had fun browsing the Internet looking for recipes and having the girls tell me their desires. I will, of course, stress about this in that I will constantly be trying to figure out how much food to have...since it's an Open House and lots of people have been invited, it will be difficult to judge. I don't want a freezer full of food left-over, but I'd be mortified if I ran out of food. Well, maybe not mortified but definitely embarrassed.

The Imp performed in the Music Man last week. She was absolutely fabulous. And it's not just because I'm her mom. A number of people went out of their way to tell me how well she did. She pulled off the attitude of Eulalie Mackengnie Shin flawlessly. She had loads of fun, too. Tomorrow she's off to Disney for the 8th grade field trip. Next weeks are final exams. Then by next Friday, other than the actual ceremony, she is done!

The Singer will be recognized, with the other seniors, for their volunteerism at church. I can't believe how grown up she has become. She makes me smile because she often exhibits classical behaviors of teenagers. She swings from sophisticated young woman to Disney Princess-loving little girl. She came home today with some honor cords she's to wear with her graduation gown. Initially she was very serious, and talking about the honor, etc. Then she says, "Don't you just love the color of this one? It's my favorite." With her voice going up an octave and her doing a little dance in place. I am so happy for her. I think she has had a true childhood and while I worry sometimes about how little she knows of the evil out in the world, I'm thrilled she hasn't experienced it first-hand.

Enjoying my two wonderful daughters is the way I'm going to celebrate my Mother's Day...every day.

Mother Theresa and Doing What We're Suppose To

The Imp and I had great conversations on our way home yesterday. Her class watched a video about Mother Theresa. They're studying about social justice and our call to implement/foster it. With all seriousness, and no disrespect, the Imp says "I'm not trying to be 'smart' or anything, Mom, but what's the big deal? Mother Theresa just did what we're suppose to do. I can't believe the kids in my class were so blown away by anyone doing what she did. I thought to myself...Have you not been in class the last 9 years when we were taught this stuff??" We then discussed the difference between simple and easy. God's call to us is simple..."Follow me." For individuals it might be...be a good mom....start a foundation to help someone with a certain disease...visit the sick or the old...teach....lobby Congress. All of these calls are simple but none are easy. The Imp really does have a big heart and she kept coming back to 'but it's what we're suppose to do.' I have to say I felt proud...I think I had something to do with that attitude. When then talked about Pope Benedict's visit. This morning's paper had a quote from Pope Benedict "Is it consistent to profess our beliefs in church on Sunday, and then, during the week, to promote business practices or medical procedures contrary to those beliefs?" The Imp said, "See...he knows...helping people is what you're suppose to do."

I've given notice to my boss. My whole work experience has been...well...different. I've not written alot about it because I don't want to demean my boss. She and I will never see eye to eye on many things...whatever the setting. Additionally, I think she has little if any managerial skills and the fact that she shows little interest or effort in improving in that area, makes it very difficult for me to work with/for her. May 2 is my last day! Hurray!

I got braces today. My mouth is sore. I had braces when I was 12 and the work was excellent. I went from having a very pronounced overbite to looking "normal." I stopped wearing my retainers within 6 years of getting my braces off. My bottom teeth have been moving and becoming more crooked each year. In the last year the movement of my bottom teeth have put pressure on my top teeth and they're beginning to move. I went to the orthodontist basically asking for a retainer so my teeth don't more any more. She said with 6 months of braces my teeth would be straight and then she'd install a permanent bottom retainer. She said my mouth is so small that my teeth would never stay without help. Today, she again commented on the small size of my mouth...all dental workers do. Size of physical mouth is not related to amount of use or volume.

I went to a crop on Saturday. As I was listening to the chatter, I was amazed at how much weight and diet was discussed. As I continued to listen, it seemed to me that there are a lot of people using 'healthy diet' as a way to obsess about their weight and looks. I'm not saying diet isn't important and that limiting artificial ingredients wouldn't make us all healthier. But I just got the feeling that 'eating healthy' was something they did because it's fashionable. Eating healthy, has always seemed to me, is what you do to take care of the body God gave you.

Peeps, Candy Corn and Other "Ruined" Traditions

Did you know that there is Easter (or Spring)candy corn? Yep, it comes in pastel colors. And Peeps, once only seen at Easter is now available at just about every holiday. I don't like this. Knowing candy corn could only be had at Halloween (unless you were like my brother and kept your candy for 10 months after the holiday) gave it a specialness. Peeps at Easter were the same. When you sunk your teeth into that sticky, almost gag-inducing sweetness, you knew you couldn't do it again until next year. We've lost the art of delayed gratification and the traditions that gave meaning to our holidays. Now, I'm not trying to say that the makers of Peeps ruined everything. But when you have everything available anytime, what is there to look forward to? What is there to hope for? The new dress for Easter was thrilling and special (you probably hadn't had a new dress since Christmas). Waiting until your birthday to get that bike or basketball or doll or whatever made the getting it all the sweeter. No wonder parents have to rent limos for their children's 13th party...the kid literally already has everything else. The American Girl doll is now given just because "Suzie" wanted it. No wonder parents rent out GameWorks and invite 30+ kids. "Johnny" already has that 10-speed bike or Guitar Hero for their video system. We seemed to have lost a sense of anticipation. Christmas was so great partly because of that anticipation. The anticipation adds to the enjoyment of the holiday...it makes it begin in your mind earlier...you spend your days dreaming of all the possibilities, knowing most won't happen...but knowing something special will.
I have to admit at Christmas, when I saw Christmas tree Peeps, I was thrilled, since Peeps are the Imp's absolutely favorite treat (she likes to "blow them up" in the microwave...it almost turns them to taffy). And my first reaction was 'great, this will be neat to get these for her.' Then I saw the Spring candy corn and other 'out-of-season' treats. And now, call me scrooge, but I am boycotting any 'wrong' holiday treat or celebration.

Whirlwind Spring

March was a whirlwind of activity, especially with Easter and having to buy a new van. We love our 2008 Toyota Sienna (although it is A LOT larger than the 2000 Sienna). I feel like I'm driving a truck.

With the Singer graduating HS and the Imp graduation Middle School, from now until the end of May is packed with activities.

The Imp is in the Music Man and is the mayor's wife, Eulalie Mackenzie Shin. She informed me Monday (after being off of school for 10 days, and both she and I having time) that I needed to procure her costumes. As the mayor's wife, she has the most costume changes. After all, the mayor's wife would not wear the same thing twice. In addition, she needs an "Indian" costume (as part of the city's July 4 celebration) and a Statue of Liberty costume. I have 3 weeks! She had all this information 2 1/2 weeks ago. I'll be sewing some, visiting Goodwill and stressing over this more than she will. She has total faith that MOM will have all her costumes ready for dress rehearsal.

The Singer is off for 2 days to the state Spanish competition. Senior-itis seems to have hit hard...ugh. She's practiced hard for the competition (something she wants to do) but has done little else for school lately. AP exams are around the corner. I'd hate to see 3 quarters worth of work thrown away because of senior-itis. In the long run, she'll be happy to get the college credits and regretful if she has to sit through a class she has essentially already taken. Last night she comes to me and says she needs money for meals for this trip. It's 10:00pm. I had about 5 dollars in my purse. I told her, lack of planning on her part did not constitute an emergency on mine. I gave her the few bucks I had and told her she had to come up with the rest...I don't carry lots of cash...cash cards work almost everywhere, and I wasn't going out to get cash at 10:00pm, especially since I'd asked her on Tuesday if she had everything she needed for the trip since she leaves from school today. She won't starve and she'll face the consequence for her lack of planning. This is the perfect example of senior-itis hitting. She has been a planner since 5th grade and is normally very on top of things. Is this regression part of the push-pull of growing up and getting ready for college? It's driving me batty.

We've got our NYC trip planned, and tickets purchased. We are all so excited to be going in early June. None of us has ever really been to NY and we should have lots of fun. We're doing a package thing...going on the Ground Zero tour, walking Manhattan, seeing Wicked on Broadway, and so on. I can't wait. I told the girls they better start walking daily 'cause we're going to walk and walk and walk in NY and I'm not dealing with whining about how tired their legs/feet/whatever are. They better keep up. The joy of travelling now is that I don't have to deal with toddlers and worry about naps, or strollers, or any of that stuff.

We also got our airline tickets for our Lake Powell trip in August. I'm not sure which trip I'm looking forward to most. I love taking vacations with just my immediate family (we've only done it a few times, but it's fun), but I also love being with my brothers and sisters and their families. I can't wait to experience the hustle and bustle of NYC and see the sites and be immersed in American history. How cool! Yet Lake Powell offers a different kind of history...history of God's creation and power. And the relaxing pace of the great outdoors and not having 12 tours and not having to be anywhere at any particular time is extremely appealing. In between the two 'big' trips, the Singer will go to St. Leo's to help run a youth retreat for a week, and the Imp will attend a week-long youth retreat there (not the same week). The Singer will attend Music Ministry Alive again this year in MN. The Imp is off to see her Godmother for a week. Her Godmother, Anita, has two grown sons and is looking forward to a week of "girl-time." Anita was here over Easter and the two of them have planned what shopping centers to hit on which days and Anita is going to teach the Imp how to make a real Italian meal (Anita's parents came to the USA as teens/young adults from Italy) including making pasta from scratch. They should have a blast.

I've given notice at my job. I'll work until the beginning of June. This has really been a challenge. A big part of the problem is that my boss and I have basic personality differences. I recognized it from the start. And I've tried to work around that. I've wondered about (and prayed about) if I was suppose to be setting some kind of example. The tension in the office is often palpable. Her response to anything done differently than she would is that it is wrong. I feel I've done alot for the office, both from an organizational point of view and from setting procedures of how to handle things. I told Hubby that I was like Mary Poppins, I'd taught what I could and now it was time to move on.

Speaking of work..gotta go get ready.