Live from Tormville!

Fiddler on the Run

At Tuesday's fiddle lesson, Neil and Mark were having a conversation that led Mark to sharing, "That just made me imagine a fiddler jumping over hurdles"
I immediately texted Al, our oldest, and said...Do you think you could draw a fiddler jumping a hurdle?
He didn't respond.
Until today...I got this piece in an email.
Mark could not believe it. Could. Not.
Me: Was this like what you were imagining?
Mark, still in disbelief: Well. I wasn't really picturing him having a mullet.

It's definitely getting hung in his new room.

2020!!

This is, by far, the most delayed New Year blog post that I've ever done, but you know what - I was really Really enjoying my holiday break. I had sixteen full days that were the perfect blend of family, friends, outdoors, exercise, creating, organizing, journaling and more. My laptop came back from the shop (not even a year old, it died dramatically in the beginning of December) a few days before break was over, but I wasn't even able to pretend I was interested in plugging it back in. Mostly because 1. I wasn't feeling confident that it was fixed (and I'm still not) and 2. I had to wipe out everything before I sent it in, as per their instructions, in case they had to send me a new one. I have yet to reinstall everything.

So. 

Our break was lovely. 

Yesterday was our first day back to the grind, and our calendar is packed. 

2020

Happenings

• Archery. Archery season began in full force last evening. We have nine Saturday tournaments in a row, beginning this weekend in Portage. Brian shot with his glasses on for the first time last night - he said he did alright. In Brian speak, he did good. 
• Citizen's Academy. I had so much fun with the first Citizen's Academy, that Greg just signed up for the second session - beginning in March. 
• Minnesota. Our Wendy moved to Minnesota on Saturday, something that all rather fell into place the beginning of December. How long will she be there, only time will tell. She has quickly lined up some job prospects, and has her first appointment lined up for this afternoon. 
• Swim Team. We hope. We are still waiting to hear if there is a middle school swim coach this year. Mark is asking daily. 
• Soccer. More Mark. 
• Fiddle. Mark also. 
• Band. Both boys, with Brian in jazz band as well. 
• New York. Brian and I are headed to New York as part of the April band trip. I'm using my vacation days to chaperone high schoolers, and I'm excited. I'll be pondering which lens to bring right up until the last minute. 
• Florida. At least, that's the hope. 
• BACKPACKING. It still stings that I never got out last year. I'm itching to hit the trail and hang my hammock off the grid. 
• Petoskey. I have a two night getaway the end of this month. I'm praying for good traveling, and packing my snowshoes. 
• Confirmation. It's Brian's confirmation year. I'll still be working during his first week of confirmation, but I'll worry about that when the time comes. I'm already missing having another driver in the home. 
• Passenger. LOTS of time in the passenger seat as Brian works towards building those driving hours. 
• Basketball. I love basketball season. Game TONIGHT! 
• Projects: With Wendy moved out, and Mark moved into her room - that alone created a few projects that I'm excited about. The first one will be to dust off the sewing machine and make some new curtains. 

Goals

• 5K. I'm hoping to add one more this year, to make nine total. I signed up for a new one already. I enjoyed my first trail run last year, so added another one this year. In June. Usually my 5K binge starts in August, so I'm excited to get an earlier start. 
• New. I'm passionate about trying new things, but it can sometimes be an effort to arrange. I'm not sure yet what I want to try, but I'll come up with something. 
• Kayak. We didn't get out nearly as much as I wanted to last year. I have a goal to get out more. Now that my shoulder seems to be where it should be, I should be able to heft those kayaks onto the top of the van again. 
• Photographs. I have a few photography goals this year. Basically just shots I want to work on capturing or perfecting. I enjoy a challenge. 
• Basement. I put this on my goal list every year. I loathe the crawl space, but is in desperate need of some time commitment and organization. 
• Miles. I signed up, again, for the 2020 Run the Year challenge. I use all my steps. Last night I was walking circles around the house trying to meet my daily goal before falling into bed. Last year I came up short. This year, I'm already at 43 miles in six days. When Allan was home for Christmas, he was good for getting me out for running. He got me off on the right foot to start the new year. 
• PR. I always have new PR goals. 
• Writing. 

Hopes

• My big hope for this year is that both Allan and Wendy find jobs wherein they are both happy and challenged. 
• To keep the balance. 

Here's to a goal-oriented and joy-filled 2020! 

 

 

December

December is kicking my butt. 

Every single year I think I'm going to be more on the ball and better prepared for December, and every year at about this time I wonder what happened and why I'm not on the ball. Again. 

I'll try again next year. Meanwhile, the cards have been sitting here for several weeks now, still waiting to be addressed. The kids wrote their wish lists, but I've not bought a single thing. I quit sugar on November 1st, so I've been nixing all talk of baking.  BUT - we did sync schedules yesterday and the tree is up, so there is that! Tree shopping happened at 9am, with dad completely oblivious of tree farm etiquette (an annual tradition) and the siblings cracking jokes that only siblings can get away with. 

It took me three hours to warm up after that quick outing. I'm pretty sure I'm battling a sinus infection. I'll keep working on battling it myself for a few more days before I head to Redicare. This morning I woke up because my head was splitting so badly I could no longer sleep. I don't have time for this. I need my sleep. 

I almost skipped the parade last night due to the headache, but I didn't.  I couldn't. It's just too fun. We have to be at lineup just after 4pm for a 6pm parade start, so I stayed in the truck for as long as possible to stay warm. Even with three warmers, wool socks, long jons, flannel-lined jeans and more layers - it still took me ages to warm up once I finally got back home. 

I'm glad I went. The crowds and atmosphere are incredible! 

I've also been practicing some sports photography, and made it to the girl's season opener. (more pictures here)  I try and fill as many nights as possible this time of the year otherwise the early darkness gets to me and the walls start closing in. 

I think I've been pretty successful at filling the nights. 

Laundry? Not so much. 

Mark's winter concert was this past week also. Brian's is this coming week. 

I had a moment in November when I realized that I needed to sign Brian up for driver's ed NOW, or wait until June, so we've added that to our December schedule as well. He had his first drive time on Friday.  I was amused that our thrill seeker's heart was beating faster after his first drive than after any of the extreme roller coasters he's been on. His next drive time is Wednesday. Third kid in, and it's not any easier. 

As for right now - I should take advantage of the Dayquil and the afternoon, get some Christmas cards written and figure out how to go about tackling the next seven days. 

Be good! 

 

this, that, the other and snow

Greg's jack-0-lantern has made me smile every day this past week. Everyday his underbite grew more pronounced. 

I was hoping to get a picture of it with the 7+ inches of newly fallen snow but, sigh, he went out with this morning's yard waste. Sad face. 

Other stuffs: 

• I'm going to New York! 
  I signed up to chaperone the high school band trip coming next April, and due to the lottery system and freshman parents being on the bottom of the draw - I wasn't sure I'd get picked, but I did! And I'm honestly excited to be using my vacation days to feel like I'm working. ha. Seriously tho, I'm excited. The itinerary is pretty cool.  
• An update on Wendy:  Her managers were extremely apologetic, and a Google search learned us that she's not the first one that this has happened to. Others weren't as fortunate and did end up spending the whole night.  
  She did also put in her notice, but they are feeling badly enough that they are negotiating an offer to try and get her to stay through the holidays. 
• My mom and I had planned to go to IKEA tonight after rescheduling due to the three volleyball games last week. Today's snowstorm didn't fall in line with our plans. 
• One of my primary jobs as clerk is attendance. 
  Today, no lie, I did attendance constantly until 3pm - then a ten minute pause before entering all the early dismissals. 
  Once that early dismissal notice went out for the secondary schools went out, it was game over for me getting anything else done. But I do love it. I am never bored. 
• I stayed late, as it was closer to drive to Wendy's work from my work then to go there from home and with the roads like they were, I wanted to follow her home. I took the back roads to Target and they were horrid, even with my snow tires.  (Greg got the snow tires put back on on Saturday). We took Grand River home. It wasn't horrid, but it wasn't great. 
• I left work at 5:15 - and after doing that rounder to get Wendy - got home at about 6:20. The gas light came on just as I was pulling in the driveway. 
• Greg got home at 7:20. 
  Me: Hey honey - I was so worried about the roads and Wendy, that I failed to notice that I needed gas. Can we put the lawn mower gas into my van? 
  Honey: I'll go out and get gas. I already put that gas into the snowblower. 
• I have the best Honey.
• Speaking of volleyball - some of you know that I've been enjoying taking pictures of school events. My Saturday morning project this week was to create a separate Instagram account just for those events: https://www.instagram.com/howelltormanen/
• Also, speaking of events, I was having some serious lens envy at those games and may have been convinced to take advantage of a pre-Black Friday sale. 
• Brian made the high school archery team! More events!
• He's also doing jazz band this year. Thanks for picking him up from tomorrow's practice, mom. 
• Greg is busy getting ready for his second annual hunting trip. He did combine his gas running trip tonight with a food run to buy his share of the groceries. Winter camping. brrrr. Better him than me. 

That's all I've got. 

Stay warm! 

The Night My Daughter Was Locked Inside Target

At 10:41 pm last night, about 15 minutes after I had crawled into bed, my cell phone rang. 

Holding my phone as far from my aging eyeballs as I could, I was able to make out that it was Wendy calling. Swipe Right. 

I didn't even get out the full hello before I was reaching deep into my Keep Wendy Calm bag of practiced techniques. 

Mom
Wendy, take a breath
Mom
Wendy, I'm right here
Wendy, breathe and tell me what's wrong
Mom
They all left
Who left
Everyone!!!
And I'm locked inside and and and
Wendy. Stop. Breathe. 
There are foreign night custodians here that speak very little English and they told me I have to stay until 5am. 
MOM! I want to come home!  I work at 9!! I can't stay here!!! They told me everyone else left! WITHOUT ME!! 
Wendy. Stay calm. Let's talk this through. You are OK. 
Do you have any phone numbers for any of your bosses? Anybody? 
No
Is there a door that you can exit that won't set off alarms? How does the custodial leave? [some of the doors had the overnight barricades/locks preventing departure]
They don't. They stay until 5am when the morning manager lets them out. They said I can't leave and and and...
Wendy. Breathe. 
Ok. Is there an office that you can get to that has phone numbers in it? 
No
Ok. So there's no door that you can get out without setting off an alarm, and there are no phone numbers. 
MOM! I can't STAY here!!  And why did they all leave me?!!  They KNOW I'm new and this was my first time closing. They know! My car is the ONLY car in the parking lot! They shouldn't have left me here!!  I'm SO mad right now! How could they just forget that I'm here and I'm new?!?! Why are people so stupid?!!
Wendy. Breathe. 
OK. Well. Lets see. (Trying to come up with solutions while keeping her calm from 10.3 miles away, knowing that what Greg or I would have done is not Wendy's style, and walking alone to her car at night is another panic attack trigger) What we could do if you don't want to set off the alarms, is call 911. They can get you out, they'll be prepared to know why the alarms are going off, and they'll make sure you get get safely to your car. Do you want to call them, or do you want me to call them? 
Mom. I can't! They won't be able to make out what I'm saying! 
It's okay. I will call. 
With my landline on my right ear, and my cell phone on my left, I called 911 and if you could listen to my recording it would start with "This is going to sound really strange, but my daughter is locked inside of Target and I need someone to help get her out because she's on the edge of having a full on panic attack" 
Can you please hold? 
I'm a Citizen's Academy graduate. I know that I have to make room for life-threatening emergencies. 
Mom! Mom! These custodians seem really mad that we're calling the police. I think they must be illegals.  
Mom! They keep telling me No Police!
MOM! They're glaring at me. 
Wendy, it's okay. 
I'm trying to walk away from them and they are following me! They seem really mad! 
Ma'am. Your daughter is locked inside Target? 
Yes. She works there, but everyone left without her, and custodial is telling her she can't leave until 5am.  She needs to come home but is worried about setting off the alarms. 
Mom. Are they coming? 
She's in Target now?  
Yes. I'm on the phone with her working on keeping her calm. 
Left ear: Mom. Are they coming?! 
Right ear: Okay, have her go to the front of the store near the windows, but not touch any of the doors. We're sending someone out. 

I gave 911 her phone number, and they showed up rather quickly. At that point Wendy switched over to the officer's call so he could walk her through directions on leaving the store. I waited up until she got home, and she came home MAD. 

Don't they count? Couldn't someone have called me on my walkie? Didn't they see my car?!  Can I quit?!  I don't like this job anymore!

Snuggled on the couch together: Wendy. It's okay. You're home. You're safe. You get to sleep in your own bed. 

And then....

Wendy, can I write about this? 

 

Job History

As the oldest is still looking for a job in his degree, and Wendy is working two jobs that together aren't quite equaling 40 hours - I got to thinking about my own job history. I've held quite a few and an interesting (in my opinion) variety that have taught me a lot along the way, and I'm thinking my kids aren't aware of even half of them. So..... 

• Like many in my generation, I began working while still in single digits. I babysat, worked at our family owned hardware and mowed lawns. Most of those jobs were, at that time, a dollar an hour.  I remember earning my first 10-speed bike this way, by way of a penciled accounting sheet and my dad's written tallies, paying off my first debt little by little. In my memory that bike was $98. That was a lot of diaper changing, floor sweeping and inventorying of nuts and bolts. 
• My first 'real' job, meaning the kind with a real paycheck, was at the McDonalds near 12 Oaks Mall. As hard as I tried for it to be anywhere other than fast food, jobs weren't easy to come by in the early 80's. I'm sure that I lacked a confidence, as well, but I definitely got a lot of practice in interviewing as I applied at well over 50 places (somewhere there is a list) and interviewed at many.  I stayed at McDonalds for about six months, if I remember correctly. I will never miss smelling like a french fry and vowed that I wouldn't work in fast food again. Ever. 
• The next job I had was in retail. I was a salesperson at a children's clothing store at 12 Oaks Mall. I can no longer remember the name of that store, but it was privately owned and went out of business sometime in the mid-80's. I feel like it had the word youth somewhere in the name. The clientele at that particular clothing store were the type that expected me to dress their children and pick the unwanted clothes off the floor when they were done. It was a lot for this 16 year old brought up in a Finnish household to process. It was in that job that I learned a lot about culture. 
• From there I went to Mothercare. I think I worked both jobs for awhile. The most uncomfortable thing about this job was measuring pregnant women and nursing mothers for bras when I hadn't even graduated from high school yet. It was here that I learned to fake confidence. It was also at that job that I was shocked to work with an adult that attempted (and failed) to encourage me to partake in partying and underage drinking. From her I learned that adults are not always right and are not to always be respected. 
• Still at 12 Oaks, and not really feeling in my niche with pregnant mothers, I moved upstairs to a poster/gift shop called Athena. I worked here as an Assistant Manager for awhile, and at this job I learned about different lifestyles as we had quite the diverse staff. It was here that I also learned that even if someone is living a life that is completely opposite of my own beliefs, that there is still common ground to be found and that we could agree to disagree but still show respect. 
  A funny memory from this job, that was in a time before cell phones, was when Joe was late for work and hadn't called in to explain why or if he was coming at all. About a half hour late he came in, and in his flamboyant way of sharing, created for us the visual of him being frozen into his car after the car wash, banging on his windows pleading for someone to notice him and be brave enough to approach and help open the door from the outside. Exhausted, he finally managed to pop open his sunroof and call for help. I laughed until I cried. 
• The timeline gets a little fuzzy now. I can't remember if I graduated high school when working at Athena, or if I had already moved on to A.J. Cheers downstairs. What happened though is that Athena closed their US stores, and several of us moved downstairs to A.J. Cheers. My time there was broken up a bit, but I did become a manager of that store. I put in a lot of hours, did hiring and firing, payroll, ordering, scheduling, and dealt with a lot of personalities and teenagers. All of it. Interesting fact - the boyfriend of my assistant manager at the time was the connection we used to get Greg his post Navy career job, and they still work together all these years later. 
  All my mall jobs, together, are what I still credit to my fast walking pace as it was what was necessary to get from one side of the mall to the other, during the busy seasons, to get a lunch and back to work within that 30 minute break. It's a learned skill that comes in handy when walking through the 655 students at school when the bell rings. 
• After I graduated and did not go to college (except for a few classes at OCC), it was determined that I should have a full time job with benefits. Excelling in the office type classes in high school (where we still learned on manual typewriters along with electric typewriters), I turned to the resources at hand and applied at a place called Delwal Corporation where I became the receptionist. It was here that I learned about job politics. I dreaded going to work each day, and couldn't wait to find something new. The work was fine. The people dynamics - not so much. This was my least favorite job of all, only because of the working atmosphere. 
• While working there, and in an effort to put enough away to allow time to job search, I continued working at the mall. I developed a knack for changing while driving (Kids - please do not do this. I think they've made it illegal now) pulling on my pants under my Delwal required skirt and changing while at the few red lights between jobs. 
• Another fuzzy memory, but at some point I was working three jobs and I do believe it was when I was working at Delwal and the mall that I was also doing janitorial services as late as midnight, working for a company that cleaned the Highland Appliance office building in Plymouth. I shall always have respect for the janitorial crew. Highland Appliance hired a certain percentage of employees that came straight from a country where the squat toilet was the method of toileting. Knowing only this type of bathroom practice, it is what they stuck to when using the toilets at Highland Appliance. The amount of splashback on the walls of those stalls was something to behold.  More culture learning. To be fair, we worked a rotating schedule so nobody had to deal with that five nights a week. I had also moved into my first apartment by this time, so was working hard to make ends meet. 
• When my roommate and I went separate ways, I fell into a job as a live-in caretaker for a family friend. This provided me with room and board while I cared for her needs, and I still worked at the mall to be able to pay my other bills. In this job I learned more about physical handicaps, tending for personal needs, looking at the world from another's point of view and a whole lot of McGyver. 
• And then I went to Finland. 
  In Finland, I was an Au-pair to three children in two families. Again, before the time of cell phones and email, I excelled at journaling and letter writing. To have been there for a full year is a gift for which I'm forever grateful. I'm appreciative of the time I spent there, the friends I made, the family I met and that I was able to live emerged in the culture that all of my ancestors knew and carried bits of forward. 
• Back at home, and married just a short month later, Greg and I moved to Virginia Beach together where he was finishing up his Navy career. Knowing that we were just there a couple months, but we were so broke that we only had bean bags, sleeping bags and a card table for furniture - I knew I had to work, but I had no vehicle, and I couldn't share that my time there was short. I HAD to work. 
  Having applied at many places, but not getting any calls back - I ended up exactly where I said I'd never work again: McDonalds. 
  I was there for a day when Paper Factory called and hired me for part time. I turned in my apron and took the job at Paper Factory. Being that they could only offer me part time, I also took another job within the next few days at a place a bit further to walk to called T.A.P.S. which was a supply store for teachers. 
  Within weeks, they both promoted me to assistant manager and I was working 40 hours a week at each job. I remember that between us moving down there the beginning of October until us moving back home the beginning of February, I only had 2 days off: Christmas and Thanksgiving.  And it rained. A lot. I got very wet on those walks to work. It was character building. 
• And then we were back in Michigan and I was back at A.J.Cheers.  
• I don't remember why and when I left A.J.Cheers, it might have been when they closed up their US locations as well. It's pure coincidence that I'm a common denominator. From there I ended up working as an assistant Manager at Dress Barn in Farmington for a couple years until I became pregnant. 
• And then - during my baby raising time, I dabbled in home sales: Tupperware, Discovery Toys and Close to my Heart. I also worked as a designer in the scrapbook industry for Creative Memories, Technique Tuesday, Paper Posies and Scrapsupply while contributing to several books and articles, my favorite creative accomplishment being as a contributor for the book, Get it Scrapped.  
  I also did a lot of photography for hire during those baby-raising days - photographing seniors, families and weddings. I don't sit still well. 
  I'm trying to remember what other odd jobs I held. I do remember soliciting for a bit for a company that did wedding portraits and I did some scrapbooking for hire for local businesses for awhile. Oh, I almost forgot. I worked at Scrap Tales for a bit on the floor and teaching classes. I even went to New York on their dime to learn how to teach classes from E.K. Success. Funny - I almost forgot that one.
• The babies all in school, I never intended to go back into the work field. I was going to kayak, create and keep all the corners tidy. I wasn't home alone for long when my detail and order obsessiveness became overwhelming. I began twitching when the kids came home from school and moved the things I had just put in place. Having quickly gotten everything organized, I became reckless and wasn't doing a good job keeping myself on a schedule. I was wasting too much time, and I didn't like it. 
  At the convincing of Tina, the secretary at the kid's school, I agreed to apply for the position of substituting when the lunch aides needed a sub. Only two days a week, I said. I figured two days a week would be enough to help me be more scheduled on my other three off days. 
  I was subbing five days a week. 
• When I wasn't subbing five days a week, and sometimes even when I was, I began picking up a few hours at First Impressions, also walking distance from home. I enjoyed collating, sorting, stacking, labeling, and more - but it was back breaking work. I learned that my body is older than I sometimes admit.  Even tho, I did work on and off there for a few years when their needs and my schedule coincided. 
• The next year I decided to apply for an opening at the school, figuring if I was already subbing the five days a week, I may as well be earning the higher pay and benefits. 
  As a lunch/recess aide I learned that kids love attention, appreciate guidelines, say things as they are and know who they can turn to when they need help. 
  As a parapro I was called many colorful names, and while I never much took things personally anyway, I further developed that skill. As a parapro I learned that I had no control over if I would succeed or fail. The same tricks don't always work twice. I failed many times, but the successful moments made it one of my most rewarding positions. 
  As a teacher-aide I learned that some teachers utilize time and respect aides far better than others. 
  As a clerk?  Well - I'm still learning. Every day, and I love it. I'm never bored.
  I still don't sit still well and even working 6.5 hours a day, have added a few volunteer challenges to my off hour schedule. They keep my brain busy and I tend to get pacey and restless when the days get shorter, so I like having a way out when the walls get crowded. (smile) 

I think I wrote this all down more for my kids than anything, and if you've read it all, well - hey there! I've had jobs that I didn't care for, jobs that didn't pay much, multiple jobs at one time, learned from each and every one of them and am grateful for all of them. Our kids have all heard me say these things in regards to jobs: Never quit one job before you find another, never burn your bridges, be on time, never be a no show and always put forth your very best no matter what the job is. 

Outtakes

Hello November! 

It's been a busy fall. Monday marked the first day of the new quarter, the Halloween amp up lasted all week and trick-or-treating was joined by our first snow of the season. 

Today I'm feeling the need to push back some piles that are building around the house, which is exactly what I had planned for last Saturday but my productivity on that day was less than impressive.  Seeing as how it's nearly 9am, there's no sunshine, I'm still in my recliner and using my blog as a way to procrastinate - the outlook is not real good, but I'm not ready to wave the white flag yet.  I am nursing a throat tickle and a headache though, so I do have my excuses lined up. 

For now - some outtakes from the week: 

-----------

Monday was the first day of the new quarter, so Mark and I had a conversation about his new schedule.
Me: So do you know anyone in your gym class?
Mark: Well, there is this one kid, but I can only describe him as, well, odd.
Me, thinking it's unlike Mark to label anyone, and at the ready with my reminder to be kind: Why do you describe him as odd?
Mark: Well, he constantly talks about how he likes the taste of blood.

A few days later.....
Mark: Hey mom, I found out that the blood loving kid hates Milk Duds, so I'm saving all my Milk Duds to bring to class for when I just need him to back off. 

----

Brian, yesterday evening, on how his half day of school experience went:  Hey dad, I learned how to play Poker in first hour! 

Me, ever the school employee: Please tell me they weren't playing for money. 

They weren't

Me, always the mom:  POKER?!?!

----

A text from Wendy yesterday:  The hot guy in front of me (in line) gave me this ($30 Kohls Cash) I basically have a sugar daddy! 

---

I wagered my way into a state semi-final soccer game for free using my all-event photo pass on a cold rainy night - only to soon find out that our team wasn't even on the field. 
I like to think they enjoyed the chuckle in the ticket booth. 

----

Both of the boys trick-or treated. They ran the block, then walked the most well-lit path to grandma's while I drove there and sat waiting while sipping my hot cup of tea. 

We had 46 beggars this year - the weather definitely factored into us have a number that was half our usual. Yes. We count. Tally marks are everything. 

---

As for November: 

• Archery Tryouts
• Greg is busy getting ready for his 2nd annual hunting adventure
• I'll find out if my name gets picked to chaperone the April band trip to New York
• Basketball season begins! 
• Two 5K's
• Call and schedule my pneumonia shot.

Now it's time for me to get up and moving. 
See....I do sit sometimes.  

Be good. 

A Table Full

For a full week, my one goal for Saturday was to keep it empty of obligations. I had high hopes of catching up on a few things around the home. 

I didn't get caught up on everything I intended to, but we did enjoy having Allan home for a couple nights, and having him around the table as we carved this years jack-o-lanterns. 

I also made it to Kohls before my Kohls cash expired (which, for me, is huge), got a couple walls scrubbed, did the ironing and the boys got a lot of the leaves bagged before the rain started. 

As for Friday - everything was scheduled for the same night and time, and I wanted to be at all of them. 

What I chose was the last home football game of the season. We didn't win, but it was a gorgeous evening. 

I'm a sucker for this kind of stuff. 

As for today: 

• Church
• Writing out the weekly goals for the week
• Attempt a Christmas card photo before Allan heads out
• Bike or walk my daily mileage goal
• Pay the bills/Balance the checkbook
• Carve my pumpkin

October Lovin'

Last week was full. 
Besides both of the boys having their fall concerts on separate nights, we also had Wendy's 19th birthday. 
Poor kid had to make her own birthday brownies, and we had our obnoxious singing and gift giving scheduled for 9pm when everyone would be home from their various activities. 

She's been keeping busy. She's working two jobs now, and now - on her own time and at her pace - is researching colleges and working to find her passion. This week we will schedule a tour at Western. 

Yesterday at church I got asked, "Did I see you out on the field at the Howell/Brighton game taking pictures?"  
Yeah. I was there. 
"Are you doing work for the Press & Argus now?"
Nope. Even better. After YEARS of pestering, Tom (known to my kids as the snow day guy) finally caved and gave me a pass to take pictures for our district's communication department. Now I'll be seen wherever this pass will get me, whenever I'm avoiding housework. 
When I was a kid, my dream was to take pictures for Time or Life magazine. That never happened, but - this makes me happy.  
I'm also the only one in this home that enjoys watching sports, so this works out as a way for me to go without having to try and find a partner to sit with. 
I'm most excited to take pictures of the Unified Basketball Team, Wrestling, Rugby and Lacrosse, and and and..... 

...even football pictures are fun! 

Oh. And I'm already lens shopping for next year. 

Eloise was Saturday afternoon, and the Headless Horseman 5K was Saturday evening. My fifth 5K of the season - and now a little break (I may actually start training) before the next one on Thanksgiving Day. I debated about doing another one this next Saturday but I'm really really really really trying to keep Saturday empty just to tend to the homestead. There is major tending that needs to happen. 

Meanwhile, this guy had his first archery tournament of the season on Saturday AND (I'm so fired up for him, I could do cartwheels) he got a new personal best AND earned his Varsity letter!  I love seeing him pumped up. 

The whole weekend was spectacular weather-wise. 

Sunday afternoon we headed to Kensington as a way to get out and enjoy the colors and sunshine. 

Happy Sigh. 

On deck for this week: 

• eye appointment for Brian
• fiddle
• archery
• info meeting for the band trip to New York
• football
• fall cleaning
• creating
• picture day
• help Mark narrow down his between class play list

Goals: 

• keep the balance
• stay home Saturday, stay home Saturday, stay home Saturday......

Happy Monday!!

 

Eloise

Yesterday morning I texted my mom and asked, do you really want to do that Eloise tour? And, how does next Saturday look? 
Great, she said. So I bought tickets. 
I then quickly realized that I'd bought them for this Saturday. 

I had a moment of AAAAAAAAH! Delete! Refund! Who do I call?! 
But then, realizing that the day worked for me - we'd just have to get ready quickly - I called her and hoped the day worked for her as well. As luck would have it - it did, and in the end - we're glad we went yesterday instead of next week. 

I recommend this tour. I really do. There is SO much history, mixed in with that bit of 'are there really ghosts', and both my mom and I know people who lived on the premises as employees.  And, because times were different back then, Eloise was to my mom what Northville and Newbury were to me - that place you got taken to if you were crazy, and part of the stories that you told at sleepovers when you knew someone who knew someone that had been taken there. 

History. 

I'm sure that all the tour guides are fabulous, but we lucked out in that we got the owner of the place (who bought it for a dollar - and will be turning it into a paranormal themed hotel) as he was covering for someone else. He was able to share stories of the condition it was in when he bought it, some of the activity he's witnessed, and his plans for the future. This is the last year they will be doing tours. Click here for more information. 

One thing I really enjoyed about this tour, besides the history, was that he gave us free reign to explore. He told us we could stay near him and hear his narrative, or we could wander about - poking in and out of rooms. He wanted us to really feel and learn the building. I tried to stay within earshot - but I was so drawn by the experience that I wandered off more than once, and found myself alone several times. I had a good mix of stories and exploring, and my mom caught me up on some of the stories that I'd missed during my wanderings. I would actually pay to go again to hear a  bit and explore even more. 

Another reason that I was glad we went yesterday, was that it was a gorgeous day.  T-shirt weather, actually. But in this building? I wore a t-shirt, hoodie and my winter jacket - and I was still cold. There is no electricity, no heat, and we brought flashlights (as recommended) to see in the dark spots.  I say we lucked out. It would really be cold on a colder day or in the evening. 

I also say we lucked out because I remember trying to book this tour last year and it had sold out. 

I should add that while we had free reign to wander about each floor, we all stayed on the same floor. 

Any guesses? 
It's a bed pan disposal unit. 

Cool, huh? 

One guy on our tour wore a mask. 
I'm thinking he might have been the smart one. By the time we were at the end of our tour, I was feeling it in my chest and was glad to get back outside for the coughing that had begun. 

One part of the narrative that I missed was the story about a book. I don't think it was this one - but a similar sized book in another room on the floor. As the story goes, John had been showing someone around the building and the book was open. They shut the book, and fifteen minutes later when they came back through - the book was open again, to the same page.  (insert Twilight Zone music here) 

We were told at the beginning of the tour that the 3rd floor holds the most activity, and that we'd sense a change on that floor. 

Whether it was knowing this, or not - I have to say that I did feel a change. It's hard to explain, but it was light a tightness in my chest and head, but yet it wasn't physical, and I never felt nervous or creeped out - it was just an odd pressure.  The only other time that I felt it was when I was walking up the stairs to the fifth floor. When I arrived on that floor, John was telling a story about a more unsettling experience that that particular floor held. 

Interesting. 

John also shared that when he bought the building, just recently, there were still filing cabinets full of patient files and many x-rays. He bought in a shredding company to shred them all. It's mind-boggling to me that so many files were just left. Clearly the laws have changed since then. 

The strategically placed hydrotherapy tub. Placed so that multiple employees could stand around to keep the patient submerged. 

Now we're down in the basement, and this find amused me. If it's not the same dishwasher we had in our Farmington church, it's similar. I remember when we had someone out to look at the dishwasher at church and he said he'd never seen one so old still so clean and in working condition (I think I've got that story right). I wonder if this one still runs.