Here we go Again!

Sometimes when I have way to much time on my hands (not at my work, of course!), I come up with grand ideas. I know that to regular readers of this blog, this will probably not come as any surprise...plays, cub mobiles, parades, over the top reunions...but I digress. So as I was sitting at my desk one day, before Thanksgiving and I started thinking about all the family that was coming home for Christmas this year. Then the usual wheels start turning and I think, maybe I could host a Christmas Eve party, just like Grandma Whiting used to have. But the logical part of my brain remembers a not pleasant experience involving Christmas Eve a few years ago, and all the therapy and xanax it required to get over it.

So I suppressed my Christmas Eve idea, although I did confide in both my sister and Scott about it. After a bunch of other stuff going on, I decided I simply didn't have the energy to pull it off, so I shelved the idea and planned to move on. Then Nancy called and pretty much talked me into it, she promised to help and so I sent out the invitations.

Here it is three days till Christmas Eve, and now I think..."Allison, the next time you have one of these great ideas, walk out of the lab, walk over to the big main power line that feeds the plant, take a pair of bolt cutters and soon that idea will be out of your head!"

Oh, I have lots of help, Allie and Nancy are going to help with the food, Jake is taking care of the Nativity play, Scott and I are home this week to get ready, and yet already I am stressing. When will I learn??? Today, Mom, Nancy, Emily, Allie, Janna, Lucyann and I all went out to eat at Red Lobster (Thanks Harriet) and when someone said something about a crazy person Allie said, "Oh, yeah, you're crazy!" Well, at least it's an illness my whole family recognizes. And to make sure I'm truly crazy, we are having a cookie decorating party on Thursday for all the kids.

I hope my children remember fondly the good memories that I tried to give them...you know, before I went away to my special hospital!

End of the Semester!!!!!

Although it has been a few years...ok more than a few! I still can remember the feeling of walking out of my last final, in my last semester, in the last year of college. It was a grass tax class, and I had the best feeling walking out of that class. Well, fast forward a few years, and now I have been back in school hell!

Emily (and her parents) got caught up in the whole AP/Honors curriculum idea. Unfortunately, the school has now recognized a couple things 1) Sophomores are probably not good candidates for AP Bio, especially since this is the first bio class she has had 2) Honors Comp Lit in conjunction with any other AP/Honors program is really not a good idea (this from multiple AP teachers) and 3) Who believes that any 15 year old should take AP Statistics? OK, the last one was mine, fortunately she did drop that one in the first week of classes. Now, after missing a week because of pneumonia, a suspension for fighting (oh we are so proud, who knew three years of Judo would pay off like that?), and a whole lot of other stuff you won't get me to blog about, we have actually finished this semester with some pretty damn decent grades!!!

I was just going to be glad if we were all still alive by December 18th. But this child has seriously worked her butt off! We gave up a social life, church activities, and family movie nights, and it paid off big time. However, we have learned from our experiences and next semester, we told Emily that we didn't care if she took underwater basket weaving. She just looked at us with that blond look and said, "That doesn't make any sense!" This from the girl that had to learn to recognize aldehyde's and alcohol chemical structures in less than a night for bio. Anyway, next semester is going to be considerably less stressful. Hopefully we won't have regular 60 hours of homework a week.

Yes, I didn't think after walking out of that final that I would ever have that feeling again, but on Friday, December 17th, at 1:30 I had it again! And I wasn't even at the school.

Secret...

OK, don't let anyone know, but I'm secretly a sci-fi reader. I have loved reading science fiction for about 23 years now. You would think, since I'm married to the computer guy, that he is to, but sadly, no. However, early indications of my children's book choices indicate that they are following more in my footsteps than their father. If they had picked technical manuals, that would be more like Scott.

Anyway, I was so excited this morning while I was wasting time at Sam's Club that I discovered the 13th installment of my Wheel of Time series book!

YEAH!!!

You see, Robert Jordan died before he finished this series. Brandon Sanderson was selected by the author's family to finish the last book, which has turned into three. It is only 843 pages, if only it had been released last week, my recuperation time would have had a purpose. But no worries, my family, house, animals, work, will all be abandoned for a few days while I immerse myself back into this world!

Just leave it...

Scooter was heading off to Cincinnati today, something about sensitivity training or wasting taxpayer money, I'm not sure which. Anyway, last night as he was packing (I should mention my husband packs as if we will never see him again), he managed to not use the largest suitcase, that's good, since he is going to be home Thursday night. But after he had finished packing his suitcase he began looking for all his cords and accessories for his laptop. I casually suggested that maybe he should take a break from the computer and perhaps not take it with him. He looked at me with a mixture of confusion, disgust, bewilderment, and as if I had suddenly grown a couple extra heads.

Undaunted, I pressed on, "I was just thinking how much you have been working lately on all the laptop upgrades at work, you have been going non-stop, maybe you could just veg out for a couple nights. Take your iPod for the plane, but relax." He looked disoriented at this point, so I tried a new track, "Plus, this way you won't have to let those TSA guys near your new laptop." You could see the clouds begin to part, as he remembered a ***** airport screener guy in San Francisco frying a laptop back in 1998 (and that was when laptops were considerably more expensive, oh they payed for it). I could see I had a home run within my grasp, so finished him off with "who knows what these Grand Junction TSA guys are like" (They turned Scott down for a job when he first got out of the Air Force). Nothin' but net!! "I guess I could leave my laptop, I'll just take my iPod, that will be easier."

I really should learn to use my powers for good! Of course I'm taking a chance by exposing myself on the blog, but since he doesn't have his laptop with him tonight, he can't read it! MWAHAHAH!

I Just Can't!

So, I had a little girly surgery on Monday, and now I'm supposed to "take it easy" for a couple days. I'm not sure when I turned into an obsessive compulsive person, but I just can't! It is next to impossible for me to lay in bed and let things happen in my house without me. I know, I know, the world won't end if Erik doesn't finish his math homework, or Emily doesn't get into bed before 10.

I have been trying to cut down on the amount of time spent on things like scouts and other extra curricular activities, but it is so hard to step back and let others start doing things. It isn't that I don't trust others, I just feel bad asking them.

Everyone warns you before you have gastric bypass that you can have a transfer addiction, but I have never heard of anyone having a transfer addiction to doing to much. Poor Scott, he is a good sport but he just doesn't do things exactly like me, that isn't to say he does it wrong, it's just not how I do them. I'm trying to be more relaxed about things, the pain meds are helping today, eventually I will be able to say, "I can" and mean it.

Dear Scrapbook Room...

Dear Scrapbook Room,

I know I have been away for such a long time. It seems like forever since I spent time cutting, gluing, designing, stamping and layering in your comforting embrace. Our time apart has been so difficult on me, I think of you often and longingly, wondering if you miss me as much. While I know that I am responsible for our separation, I think that I am the one who suffers the most from it.

Do you miss me? Do you ever wonder where I am or who I am giving my time and attention to? So many things have pulled me away from you, demands I could never have imagined. I think I am only going to do one or two little things, then I will rush back to you...but before I know what has happened, months have gone by without us spending time together.

Soon my beloved, I will return to you. This I promise! I am trying so desperately to get back, trying to turn the tide. I only have a few more commitments to fulfill, then I will fly to your waiting silence. Your patience will be rewarded and we will be reunited again. Think of me often, dear friend, until we are together.

Love
Me

Tired...

I know, everyone is busy. I believe that is so true, everyone runs to much, does to much, and commits to way to much. Well, I am no exception. Yesterday, Scott and I hosted the second cubmobile race for our cubscout pack. It went smoother than last year, and had about the same turn out. We had a whole lot less crashes, the boys had a good time, and I even got a cousin from the East slope to bring her little Wolf scout over so he could race. Matt, my great-nephew from St. George, showed up to win the Tiger division, and second overall. Our Erik elected to just help this year, and let Matt and Sabin borrow his cubmobile for victorious runs. At the end of the race, Scott was challenged by another Dad, so he got his first ride in a cubmobile. Amazing since the guy has helped build well over a dozen of them. He was doing great, but wiped out about 20 feet from the finish line.

So today, I am exhausted. I went to bed around 8 last night, since sleep has not been my friend lately, it was a long night. Today I don't think I could find anything that doesn't ache. I realize that I have been doing way to much. My iron has fallen again, and I can't keep the pace like I have been doing. So, I know what you are thinking, "yeah, yeah, she thinks she's busy...she should have my life." Well, call me a whiner or a wimp, but today...I stayed in bed. Scott generously offered to take my Sunday School class, and I let him.

Today I have resolved to slow down, I'm sure that resolve will last at least through tomorrow, when things don't hurt as much and I come up with more things to do.