teenage life

just curious, brenda, where will you send carter next yr.

For a good while corinne was resistant to even discussing

private school.

Now she seems open to 'just looking'.

I'm sure we can find a way to send her to private

school....just cannot imagine her in those uniforms!!

(st Agnes...think those candy-striper style jumpers in pale

yellow, light blue, and pale pink!!! on teenagers!!!!

Last wed. she went to school in her volleyball jersey( they do it for team spirit),

black skirt and her boots!!

Keith's cousin posted a pic of her 8th grade daughter in a Peter-pan collar!!!

I think this is coming from the fact that a few people have changed schools to accommodate their parents'work arrangements.

I like the network of friends she has. they are more my speed than

the private school bunch that I know that seem $$ conscious.

Parents too.

Oh boy do I sound like a snob.

Corinne goes to 2 different youth groups on sunday nights, she picks the one

she wants to go to. anyway, our church youth group is planning a mission trip to

Chicago!! $$$$$600.00

Whoa, I do not think mission work should cost me so much!!

A Little More From Hurricane Irene

Just thought I'd share this with y'all
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/ns/nightly_news/#44394241

This is my dear friend Jodi on the deck of her ex-husband's house (it used to be hers and lots of her stuff was in it).

Then the chef who was at Verde for three years and his wife at their new restaurant.

Blog Secure

I set the blog up so only those I invite can read and only those I mark as authors can contribute (one in the same in this case). I'm not a computer expert, but that is the way it is supposed to be. I'm sure someone could hack it, but why would anyone want to or even find our blog? Anyway, I think it's safe so blog away!

Julie, I had no idea about the flooding in your area. I did know there are a lot of insurance claims on the east coast but didn't realize they went up that far north. It is odd how we get tuned out to everything except what is around ourselves. Of course that is because I never watch the news. I click on some news websites now and then, but not often enough I guess. I probably should stay more "in the know".

This sinus thing is still kicking my butt. I'm going on three weeks now and have an enough. Headed to Tampa on Thursday for my annual girls weekend. Guess I'll find out why you're not supposed to fly when you are having sinus problems. Hope my head doesn't explode or anything.

Carole, sorry to hear about Keith's job. It sounds like you guys are working everything out. I know you must be excited about the house renovations. Hopefully they won't take long and all goes smoothly. (Does that EVER happen)? I have given up on Jim finding anything (here anyway). The Fed Ex thing sounds like the biggest farce ever. His friends are trying to "pick" his resume from the online job application but they have to look for it just at the right time before it goes through certain HR software that kicks them out based on key words etc. Apparently all the stars and planets have to be perfectly aligned at one time every three months for this to work or something. It is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. So I will "just keep on keepin on" to quote our favorite Barney commercial.

Jim found Carter a gig accompanying a choir (homeschool high schoolers). They went last Friday and it sounds like a go. He is working on the first two songs to hopefully be somewhat ready this Friday. It will be good for him. We're trying to show him there is more to just taking piano lessons. His piano teacher was pretty excited for him. He said it is always hard to find accompanists and if it is something he keeps up he could make some money at it. I bet he would like that better than cutting grass in the summer like he's done the past two summers. They are practicing for a Christmas program so hopefully it will be enough time for him to become proficient. The guy running it used to work with Jim 15 years ago when we first moved here. Talk about a small world!!

Went to noon Mass at SFA today. I've never been to Mass before. There was more to it than I thought there would be. Too bad the priest was hard to understand. We've been church shopping lately. Doubt Jim and I will ever agree on anything though.

Brenda

And It's Supposed to Rain More...

So, I have considered boycotting this blog until Cari stops being a voyeur and actually posts something...

Come on girl, the others may talk to you, but I don't.  I'd love to know how your life is.  Brenda, is it true no one else can see this blog (please..).  So it's just like a Monday playgroup.  Don't be scared...

Anyhoo...you may have heard about the flooding in Vermont from hurricane Irene.  It is really bad.  Like roads just collapsed all around us.  We have a friend who lost their house into the river, another who lost their road out twice (and will again if it rains as predicted).  It's pretty gruesome but in true Vermont fashion, everyone pulls together and plugs along.  I think it has been OK because people up here are used to inconvenience.  It isn't in any way an "instant" culture up here.  There is no pizza delivery, no all night grocery store or pharmacy, no Target or Walmart in a close vicinity.  So, we are all used to driving and waiting.  Also, we have lots of practice in this from severe winter storms. 

I think I can be so peaceful about it because we only lost power for about two hours total.  And that was well after the storm when they were working on power lines in our area.  The first damage was done on Sunday, then we had flash flooding again on Thursday washing out roads that had just been repaired.  But Parrish made it to school (half days Wed-Fri) and seems to like high school OK.  Belle has a back to school picnic on Tuesday and her first day is on Wednesday.  She is quite apprehensive, but I think she'll have a good year.

they did it

The lady Spartans did it!!!
They won the Volleyball tourny this weekend.
There were some tense moments but they prevailed.

Corinne looks much improved from last year.
we need to get her a game face, poker face or whatever.
She carries her emotions front and center on her face.

Her serves are graceful and the knees are bent.


Kevin has been hit with the back to school cold,
runny nose and just don't feel good. boo hoo.

bye,c

lookin for a truck

I mean it...as in I want a monster truck...or so she says.

Yep...Corinne is begging for a monster truck and Kevin wants a BMW.

He points out every one we pass, it gets kinda funny listening to them.

Volleyball is in full swing, serve, spike. Corinne starts but is

fairly timid. We keep telling her to go after them hard and fast.

Well old news is new to some of you.

Due to the city of Memphis over spending, over paying folks and

under collecting fines and other poor services Keith was laid off

as of june 30th.

We were telling people on a need to know basis b/c we were

considering many options.

Corinne and Kevin knew from the start. they have been o.k

Keith has run the range of feelings. he was home with K and C

they latter part of the summer. Mr Mom is not where he wants to be.

He contacted people in the northwest....a little drastic from my

perspective.

One of the guys in the office was nice enough

to work out having him finish the work on his desk as a contract laborer.

As this guy would be responsible for Keith's AND his own work.

He spoke with several people in Memphis that will use him as an engineer

when they need one.

He has formed his own company and now has several possible jobs...out of town.

I am working more and considering full time (32 hrs) for the insurance.

As you know brenda...private insurance is costly.

Our dining room is the office.

We are having the screen porch renovated and will use it for a bedroom.

Kevin will finally get our room!!!

With everyone at school/work,

Keith has the house all day, can run carpool and help out with driving for sports.

AND HE HAS A CELL PHONE...no texting pls!! but at least we can find him.

We have not told out of town family, yet. my dad has had knee surgery and

my mom is still dealing with her mother in a nursing home.

Keith's dad is much better after 'targeted therapy' for recurrent

non hodgkins lymphoma. his sister in Calif. is going through a divorce and

the brother in slidell is also...both kinda messy.

so life goes on....

c

Hi !!

Hey Ladies,

I've actually been sick the last few days. Cari will attest to my lack of a voice last Thursday. I got it back but started feeling bad over the weekend and ended up going to the Dr on Monday for the sinus cocktail shot (I don't know that it helped) and a round of penicillin. I usually snap back pretty fast from these sinus infections but this one beat me. I stayed home from work on Tuesday. Geez!!

I can't imagine Parrish not wanting to drive. I thought every kid couldn't wait to get his license and independence. Carter said he has started thinking about it. He said it used to scare him but I guess he's ready now. Between the golf cart and 4 wheeler he'll probably be ok. I imagine Jim will have him on the tractor soon. It does concern me that he will be on 65 mph roads on the way to school when he does start driving. Don't know if I'll let him have Emerson or not. That's a lot of responsibility for a 16 year old.

We're moving forward with braces for Carter. I will call tomorrow for the first appointment. May wait until his fall break so he doesn't miss school though. I'm sure no one else has thought of that, right?

Looking forward to Carter's first soccer game this Saturday. He has to be at school at 8 am. Least we won't be wasting the day in bed!! Hope he enjoys it.

Congrats to Corinne. Keep us posted. I'd like to go to a game sometime.

Brenda