Watching Isaac

Spaghetti Model for Isaac

All eyes are on Isaac.  Time to hit the stores for supplies before Isaac gets any closer.  All the talk is centering on the Republican National Convention, hope the locals are paying attention.  We've already had record rainfall.  We've been through so much dry/drought weather in the last 10 years I hate to ever complain about rain, but the ground is saturated.  The next few days will be interesting.

Lying is Bad for Your Health

When I was in Charlotte Saturday, using my brother's house as a hotel, my sister-in-law told me about a study correlating truthfulness and health.  Seems like a no-brainer to me.  Doing the right thing relieves stress.  She was amazed that Americans tell an average of 11 lies per week.  (Study finds that avoiding lies can improve your health)  I am amazed at how often people lie and how people who otherwise pride themselves on their moral and/or ethical behavior have no problem with the 'little lie.'  Someone I know, a mother, a regular church goer, a devoted volunteer, someone who strives to raise her children with Christian values recently published on Facebook that she lied about her child's age.  First, that she would do that so blatantly in front of her children, and second, that she would publicize the fact supports the idea that lying about 'little things' is not seen as really wrong.  Lying about children's ages, especially for discounted prices, is a very common phenomenon, and appears to be socially acceptable.  I also hear people who routinely lie on their tax returns, as if who you lie to changes whether it's right or wrong.  I worked as a consultant (i.e. self-employed) making really very little money.  I've remarked that it's almost not worth it, as such a high percentage of what I make goes to taxes, and people tell me I shouldn't report that income.  Huh?  Someone once told me about a cashier's error.  The error was in the costumer's favor.  I asked if they went back to the store and paid the amount they owed.  "It was the cashier's fault.  It's her problem now."  Again, huh?  When the Imp was in high school she found a $20 in the hallway.  She took it to the office.  The office staff was amazed that she turned it in and didn't just pocket it.  After a week, no one came looking for it so I guess the person who lost the money figured the chances of someone turning in found money was non-existent.  So, if you find yourself telling 'little white lies' remember it's bad for your health.

My Summer Vacation

Here's what I did on my summer 'vacation'

1.)  We went to the "Strike Out ALS" Rays baseball game on July 3.  The Rays won.  Always a good thing.

2.) Then when celebrated Father's Day.  (I know Father's Day is in June, but neither of the girls were home then, so we celebrated on July 4)

3.) I made minion cupcakes (from the characters on Despicable ME)

)

4.) Got new tires for the van.

5.) Filled out paperwork and paid deposits for the Imp's college.

6.) Helped the Imp set up a budget sheet so she wouldn't spend all the money she earned at Aeropostale.  She became the resident 'jean-ius' knowing all about their different jeans.

7.) I sewed clothes for the girls.  

       a) A dress and skirt for the Singer (who has to dress for her new job as FOCUS missionary)

b) 2 nightshirts for the college dorm for the Imp

     

I'm finishing my vacation by shopping for the girls and helping them pack.  Then I get to drive to Jacksonville, Florida and 3 days later, drive to South Orange, NJ (Seton Hall).  

I can't wait for vacation to be over!

[My husband always told me summer is a mom's busiest time.  I believe him.]

US Rowing Team to Wear Made in USA Uniforms

Good news.  The US Olympic Rowing Team will compete in uniforms made in the USA.  

Chick-Fil-A

My heart is heavy and my hope for our country dwindles.  While I personally agree with Mr. Cathy about the institution of marriage, that is not why I will be eating at Chick-Fil-A on August 1.  Mr. Cathy made a statement to a religious publication about his personal belief on marriage.  That people (individuals and private organizations) wanted to organize boycotts of his establishment because of his beliefs did not bother me.  That's call capitalism at it's finest.  But, when government officials (i.e. mayors) want to ban Mr. Cathy from conducting business in their cities because of his BELIEFS, not any discriminatory PRACTICES and those officials get kudos, there is a big problem.  Can, then, a conservative mayor ban businesses owned by people believing in gay rights?  If not, what is the difference?  I will be eating at Chick-Fil-A on August 1 to support Mr. Cathy's right to believe what he wants and to operate his business without the government trying to punish his business for his beliefs.

Bye-Bye Debby

Debby has 'landed' in the northern part of Florida this morning and is headed for the Atlantic.  Prayers now that it continues east and doesn't hand a left and head toward the eastern seaboard.
We're still experiencing some small bands of wind and rain from Debby, but tomorrow promises more normal weather...afternoon thunderstorms.
I still can't believe I'm facing the empty nest experience come August.  My feelings are all over the place.  I'll be sad to have both my girls gone and will miss hearing their daily joys and sorrows.  But on the other hand, this is what parenting is all about....prepare your children to make it on their own.  While I'm sure both girls will make mistakes, some larger than others, I'm not really worried about either of them.  They are both well grounded in their faith and have an ample amount of common sense, including the sense to ask for help when needed.  Hubby and I will have to adjust to creating our own schedule, no longer relying on the activities of the Imp to determine when we eat, when Hubby goes to work, etc.  It will be freeing in one sense, but the house will seem quiet and empty in another.
The Singer arrives home from FOCUS training on Sunday night, and then will leave 6 weeks later.  The Imp leaves 3 days later.  We're planning a few family events, like the ALS Awareness baseball game on July 3.  We have plans to see "Brave" together. And of course, one of our favorite family pass times, Super Mario Bros on the Wii. (Mario Kart is also lots of fun and bowling and golf on Sports, too).

Tropical Storm Debby

Bayshore Blvd, Tampa FL.  

Bayshore Blvd.  A block away from the Imp's voice teacher's apartment.

In a subdivision a few miles north of us.

Familiar sight in many, many neighborhoods.

Our local post office.  Out of the picture, but to the immediate right of where the picture is taken from is our library.  Haven't seen or heard if it flooded. 

After being in drought conditions for so long and praying feverishly for months for ample rain, it seems wrong somehow to pray for the rain to cease now.  But really, we had 9 inches of rain in less than 24 hours Sunday and 3-4 on Saturday and another 2-3 yesterday.  More is called for today.  Fortunately, I live in a new neighborhood (17 years old) with excellent drainage and trees that are just now big enough to be pose any real threat during a storm.  Our house is the highest in the neighborhood, too.  I think we're 8 ft above sea level.  Don't snicker, that's high for Florida (my girls think overpasses are hills), and makes a huge difference between being dry and having your house flooded.
Sunday was actually a fun day, 'trapped' inside with it raining and blowing outside.  We played a few family games and enjoyed the time together.
The Singer comes home next Sunday (7/1).  I'm soo excited.  I've really missed her.  She celebrated her birthday, yesterday, for the first time away from home.  I sent her chocolate cookie dough cupcakes and a singing card and I think that helped her, but still....
Best news yesterday was my parents' house in under contract now.  Prayers of thanksgiving.  Their house has been on the market for a lonnnnnngggggggggg time.

May. Busy, Busy, Busy

The Imp and her boyfriend: high school graduation

The Imp and Hubby

The Singer and the Imp: Sisters!

The Imp's cake.   I was so happy with Publix' bakery in decorating this just the way I wanted.

The Singer with Grandma and Grandpa. (Notice the Princess crown on her mortar board)

The Singer with her Charlotte Family: Brian (my brother), and his family

The Singer: Graduation, Belmont Abbey Magna Cum Laude

Sisters....always the same.

Mom and daughter.  I'm so proud.

My girls with me on my birthday.

Varsity Girls 8.

April ended with UNF orientation and States for crew the next day.  The picture is the girls after their races.  The Imp is kissing Megan, her Stroke on the girls 8.  The coxswain (the Imp) and the Stroke sit face-to-face in the boat, so they become pretty close.  Megan is a junior and is going to miss the Imp tremendously next year.  The Imp is going to miss Megan, too, but is not doing crew in college.

May 12, the Singer graduated, with honors, from Belmont Abbey College.  My sister-in-law, Tracy, graciously offered her house up for the party afterwards.  (Brian, my brother, should get some credit, too for being so hospitable).  My brother, Kevin and his daughter, Lauren made it in from VA and my parents drove up from SC.  It was a beautiful outdoor ceremony in the morning.  The keynote speaker, Fr. Robert Spitzer was inspiring, and the class president was very entertaining.  I guess it's quite a milestone, graduating from college.  Normally, the graduate enters the 'real world workforce' and leaves behind the truly unique experience of campus life.  Well, the Singer will postpone her entry to the workforce, per se, as her work will be ministering to college students through FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students).
[Time is short and I have to go, but will publish this because I promised my mom some pictures.  More on the actual happenings of May tomorrow]

UNF Orientation

Drove to Jacksonville last night so we could be at UNF bright and early this morning for an all-day orientation.  I have to say, having orientation for the Honors College a week and a half before AP exams seems contradictory to me.  Registration is scheduled for tomorrow.  As the Imp has States Regatta tomorrow in Sarasota, she can't make it.  Originally they said she'd have to go to register on May 1.  That really makes no sense.  Asking an Honors student to miss 2 days of school right before finals and AP exams?  She got an 'exception' and was suppose to register today.  Alas, the computer system had not been reset to allow that action (the original date was tomorrow).  Bureaucracy at its best.  Overall, it was a good day for the Imp.  Hubby and I found it too long with the speakers allowing too many personal questions.  The Honors College freshmen Colloquium sounds fabulous.  Hubby and I want to take it.  The professor talk to both groups (parents and students) and we were all impressed.  The Honors college also offers many opportunities for Study Abroad, from 5-day long weekend trips, to 10-day over Spring Break trips, to a 6-week course in Greece (led and taught by the Colloquium professor), to a whole semester abroad.
The hard news to take was how much college tuition has gone up in just 3 years.  Tuition for Fall 2012 is 40% higher than is was in Fall 2009.  Florida started an awesome program in the 80s when they began the lottery.  Students who earned a 3.5 unweighted GPA and a 1270 on SAT got 100% of tuition paid at a state university.  The idea was to keep the best and brightest in FL (many were going out of state for college).  The Bright Future's no longer pays 100% tuition (although through a semantics game, they say they do).  They pay a flat fee per credit hour that has remained the same the last 3 years.  So, whereas, the Singer and the Imp are receiving the same 'scholarship', the Singer paid no tuition, but the Imp will be required to pay about 50% of her tuition.  Ouch.  Can't complain too much.  She won't need to take out student loans (barring unreasonable rate increases in the next 3 years).  Still it was not fun to see the real numbers today.
Tomorrow we head to Sarasota for States Regatta.  Gotta be there by 7 am for the coxswain meeting.  A good show by the Women's Varsity 8 and we'll stay overnight and race in the finals Sunday.  I'll need next week to recover from these 4 days.

Beans

The best looking bean plants I've ever grown are producing ample beans for Hubby and me (and the Singer when she gets home).  The Imp doesn't eat green beans (or many other foods that are green).
She's enjoying Spring Break, even though she has crew practice every morning at 8 am.  She'd much rather sleep in, but she's been napping in the afternoon.  She has a few projects to finish for school.  I think seniors are down to 19 school days (then exams).  Incredible.  I remember when we moved into this house she had just turned 2.  While she is still impish, that was when I started called her such.  She adds so much to our very serious-minded family of concrete-sequential people.  Abstract-random is such a good description of her.  But don't let that fool you into thinking she doesn't have a plan or goal, she just might not be able to draw it out in 287 steps the way her sister would be compelled to.
The Imp and her boyfriend are making dinner for us tonight.  I'm looking forward to it.  They're using my green beans.  Yea!  She made him a birthday cake, loosely based on a picture my sister-in-law (my brother's wife's sister) published on her blog.  Modifications were made, mainly that the cake is not cake but is actually brownies.  Looking at the cake, the word SUGAR jumps out at you, and good black coffee as a compliment to the richness becomes a must.  I'm thinking a sliver will set your blood-sugar sky-high.  I'm sure the Imp and her boyfriend will eat much more than that and promptly burn it off as a factor of being 18 (and the fact they're both on the crew team helps too).
I'll have to post a picture tomorrow.

Rays Sweep the Yankees

Rays sweep the Yanks!  Life is so very good! We're soooo glad Pena has returned home!  Rays 3-0, Yanks 0-3, Red Sox 0-3.  Life is very very good.  Now only 159 more games to go.  (And I'm thinking NY is going to want to beat up on Baltimore after losing to us.)

Happy Easter! Happy Spring!

Easter Sunday.  Wonderful.  Holy Week is my favorite week of the year.  Palm Sunday is always inspiring with the joyful welcoming of Jesus into Jerusalem.  Then the Chrism Mass (which I didn't make this year) with the priests of the diocese renewing their commitment to their vows.  Holy Thursday, after Easter Vigil, is the most powerful Mass.  Watching your pastor wash the feet of 12 'regular' parishioners gives a glimpse of what it would be like to watch Jesus wash his apostles' feet.   Then experiencing the entire Eucharistic Prayer with the Last Supper in mind, it's hard not to be emotionally moved.  Having the Mass not end, but instead having the Eucharist processed out of the church, and spending time in adoration before Tennebrae at 11:30 pm.  Good Friday service includes the veneration of the cross.  No musical accompaniment, the church bare of decorations, the baptismal font empty of water, the crucifix covered.  The starkness cannot be ignored.  Then the reading of the Passion.  That we know the end of the story, makes Good Friday very hope-filled, and the waiting between Good Friday and Easter Vigil truly feel like being in limbo.  Then the celebration of Easter at the Vigil Mass.  The senses are overpowered...by the lack of light into light.  The elaborately decorated church, the powerfully song Gloria, the incense.  Watching adults being baptized is very moving.  Last night we had a whole family entering.  There weren't many dry eyes.  Then Easter Sunday filled with family (and of course, chocolate).
Today has been very relaxing, doing nothing but preparing our feast.  A great day before our schedules start to get a little out of control.  I'm missing the Singer, who's spending the day at my brothers' with his lovely family.
The Imp is off this coming week, but has crew practice every morning at 8 am.  She's not real thrilled with that, but with Districts on the 21st and States on the 28th, they've got to practice.
From not 'till June, our schedule is full.
Friday I fly to Connecticut for my sister's wedding on Saturday.  The next weekend is Districts for crew. Wednesday the 26th we all drive to Jacksonville, for  the Imp's orientation at UNF for the Honors College.  Friday night (the 27th) we drive back home, to get up early Saturday, since we have to be in Sarasota for the 6:45 coxswain's meeting for States.  Finals for States are on Sunday.
And we hit May running.
I leave on the 10th for NC for the Singer's graduation from Belmont Abbey on the 12th, and drive home (with the van full of her stuff) on the 15th.  Hubby and the Imp drive up on the 11th after the Imp takes an exam.  They'll drive home (with a car full of stuff, too) on the 15th so that the Imp can take her AP test on Tuesday the 16th.
Hubby's brother and his wife arrive on the 17th (They're the Imp's godparents).  The 18th is my last day teaching for the homeschool group.  The 19th we're hosting an Open House for the Imp's graduation.  The Imp's godparents have to leave on Sunday the 20th since her godmother is an 8th grade teacher in charge of the annual trip to DC.  They leave early on the 21st.  The Imp actually graduates on the 22.
With school over for both girls, life should slow down, but it won't.
Memorial Day weekend is Nationals for crew, and there is a high probability that the Imp's team will be traveling to NJ (Princeton) for that.  The Singer takes off for Illinois and a 5-week training for her job with FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students).  
So maybe I can relax in June.

the Imp's Prom pictures: