Fish Guts

Today was the last day of school!!!! YEAH!!! Ok, I am happier than my children. That is strange I know, last night I went up to check on Erik and found him very unhappy, lying in his bed. "What's wrong?" I asked. "It's just been such a great year, I don't want it to be over." he said. My first thought was: Who are you and what have you done with my son?

It has been a great year, but I love summers with my kids, we can stay up late, I don't have to worry about mockingbird essays and spelling words.

To celebrate the last day of school, I proposed taking the Cub Scouts fishing at Corn Lake. This wasn't a major outing, since the lake is right along the Colorado River, just off 32 Rd. So we had about 8 scouts there (that's pretty good on a Wednesday of the last day of school). We had one dad that was really good at snagging the fish and letting the various boys reel them in, and they caught some nice ones too. So being the woman that I am, I told the boys that if they were going to keep the fish, they had to clean them. They looked at me very concerned, so I got out my Dad's knife and started showing them how to clean out the guts and cut off the heads. We all got busy working when I looked up and saw no less than 3 Dads watching us and offering advice. Now I'm not one to relegate roles in life based on the X or Y chromosome, but something about this just seemed incredibly wrong. As I sit here a couple hours and a good shower later, I swear I can still smell fish guts.

19 Years

Wow! Who would have thought that guy would have put up with me for 19 years? My Dad sent me to Iceland with the advice of "I'm sending you to an island full of men that is dark six months of the year. If you can't find someone there, I don't know what to do with you." I was always an obedient daughter, so I came home engaged, after all we dated a whole week before he asked me to marry him.

I guess neither of us really knew the other, but we have definitely learned since then, and I've decided my Dad was truly inspired. I adore my husband, and think he is a wonderful father, friend, son-in-law, brother-in-law, uncle and more. What amazes me the most is how fast 19 years can fly, but I guess being married to your best friend helps. We still laugh, love to do things together, and manage to surprise each other.

So, happy anniversary to Scott and I, I hope the next 19 are just as fun!

Expensive Week!

I can't take to many more of these! You see, Erik started going to the orthodontist a little over two years ago. He had a cross bite that wouldn't wait. Not bad, or co-pay was a little over $500. Then about six months ago he came out of what I thought was a regular visit with braces, that was unexpected. Then a couple months later he came out with bottoms...hhmmm. I started thinking about Emily's braces, a little over a year ago and that price tag, co-pay $1500.

Maybe....I decided I wouldn't ask!

Then on Monday, at a regular appointment, they caught up with me. "Mrs. Dederick? Could you come in the office for a minute? We noticed that Erik has started his second phase and we forgot to get the contract with you." She gently slides the papers over the desk, sure enough. I'm not sure what the co-pay will end up being but the bottom line on the papers was $3575. Ouch.

On Tuesday, Emily and I had our visit to the hairdresser. Two colors, cuts and waxes will run you over $100 easily.

Wednesday came...a trip to the optometrist. Emily claims she is having trouble seeing the board at school. Turns out she's pretty blind. A trip to buy eyeglasses, did you know they aren't covered by most insurances?

So I just stayed home the rest of the week, to give my checkbook a break. On the plus side, Scott is very pleased. His 14 year old daughter has braces, will soon have glasses and plays chess. There is a significant decrease in boy appeal with all that going on! Oh we know eventually the braces will come off, she will either get lasiks or contacts and then we will worry more, but we will enjoy it while it lasts!

Internetless

Oh the horror! How in the world did we ever get along before the internet? First my work slams the lid on unauthorized internet use, then we exceed our download for our satellite internet at home and they shut us down! The disconnect...the loss on knowledge from the outside world...feeling so alone...

But all is better now!! The magic sliding scale of evil WildBlue satellite has suddenly slid in our favor. We will however, be getting something new this week. My sister Nancy (who has been on our network for a couple years now) gave up a few days ago and got a different wireless service, and we will soon be following. For over five years we have been paying the ridiculous price of $80 a month, but soon we will have faster service for a fraction of that.

I don't think of myself as much of a surfer, but all I needed was a week without it to appreciate how much I really use it. Life is better with the internet!