[summer break in 80 days] day 60

8:40 Andy is sad. Andy can't find his recorder. Andy misplaced it sometime last night between 8:20 and 8:50 pm in one of 3 rooms. Unfortunately, those 3 rooms are the boys domain. In other words, it's scary over there and I try to limit my visits.

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9:20 It's moist outside. I am sitting out here while Andy does his quick bike ride up to County Line then back and around Allegro. I highlighted the areas on a map and it's in his map pocket on his bike bag. Ryan didn't want to go out this morning.

My dad will be coming down earlier this year. I think he is tired of living alone especially when he can't do a lot to keep himself busy. The one thing that really bugs me when he is down is the computer. He puts his on the kitchen table where it sits all week. His bills and papers collect until there is barely any room to eat. I am guilty of this as well. This isn't what really bugs me. It's having the curtains closed all day so he can see the computer. I need the light.

I can think of 2 solutions. One is to get new shades that block a lot of light and glare but still leave some view. These aren't cheap and I think the last time I priced them out they were about $1000. (oh Andy is back! Time to go into the a/c... ah.) Or I could get a portable computer cart. One he could use anywhere, maybe even using the easy chair. These range from cheap to pricey but still about half the cost of new shades. But would he be offended by the cart and think I don't want him?

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10:25 Recorder has been found. I had Andy pick up books in the playroom which he did, but... The stacks were haphazardly set on shelves and the desk and any other surface other than the floor. There is still lots of stuff on the floor but no recorder. I went into Andy's bedroom and picked up 2 things and found the recorder. Since I found it, I get to keep it for an hour. Andy doesn't understand this is a punishment. He is only happy that it is found and he can get it back in an hour.

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6:43 Day is almost over.

Andy asked to play the piano. First time in weeks. He talked to poppa which sparked the interest. He is recording bits on his recorder.

I did make another card with more stitching. Each card gets less stitching until I finally learn and quit for a few months.

Incredible afternoon nap. So hard to wake up. It's this evil chair.

[summer break in 80 days] day 59

10:22 Oops! I slept through gardening. Well, sleet might be too generous. It was more like dozing in between Ryan playing the harmonica and dropping wood blocks on the table. Then the phone rang and I finally came out of the haze, the boys left the room and it's quiet. Sigh.

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1:39 I froze the chocolate chip cookies. One dozen fit in a quart bag so I filled two bags. That left 8 sitting there tempting me. I have eaten 3 of them. The crispy edges are gone.

I made a sympathy card for my aunt. My uncle died last Sunday. Sympathy cards are hard. There isn't much out there except maybe a few stamps. And what embellishments do you use? I chose to sew a flower which probably took an hour to do and looks like I only spent 5 minutes on. Yeah, my mom is laughing in her grave at the thought of me sewing.

I have a headache now. From the sewing? Or is another front coming through?

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4:37 Weird. Ibuprofen didn't didn't stop the headache but making another card did. And I even did more sewing. Oy!



The first box of donuts is gone. And only two cookies remain. We have no will power in this house.

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[summer break in 80 days] day 58

Well pooh! The month is over and I did nothing as far as scrapbooking goes.

Last fall, I decided to make a whole body/home/life change. I started eating better, I started cleaning the house and I made a list of projects to tackle each month. Ten months later, I have lost 50 pounds, the house is presentable (please don't go near the boys' rooms) and, well, I have failed at the rest.

I find it difficult to undertake projects when my dad is here. I worry that he will question me and then I will question myself. Or worse that he will take over. So I neglected the kitchen and bedroom projects I had planned.

July was supposed to be used to tackle my scrapbook projects; finish those layouts for the family and put away all the finished pages into albums. I did get the photo pages printed for the family but only because there was a sale at Mpix. I totally spaced about putting away my layouts.

Well, instead if whining about it and putting in on next year's soon to be forgotten list, I will try to tackle some of it each week. Really, I'll try.

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9:28 Double pooh! I was spraying round-up through out the yard (yes, I know it's bad stuff and this is the last bottle I will buy!) and noticed a few things.

1. My drawf pampas grass looks horrid. The center is rotting away! I have had this for 6 years without a care. Larry pruned it this spring and may have caused it's demise. I planted the pampas to hide the cable and electrical boxes. It doesn't hide them completely. Maybe a hibiscus would look better there?

2. The front lawn is not looking so good. I think I need some lawn treatments. The area around the mailbox is the worst.

3. It's going to take a lot to clean up the south corner. So many weeds and the area just kind of scares me. What if there are snakes?!

4. There is so much water in the backyard. I stepped in a puddle and got wet up to my ankle. I hope my shoe will dry out by tomorrow.

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Eight years ago today, Gail died. He has now been dead longer than we were together. We were together for just under 7 years. We were married for just over 4. I still think of him as my husband.

And now I wish I could have gotten something nicer than the granite looking box for his ashes. You know, something like this.

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2:07 I have 2 cards done and photographed. I also took some shots for photo of the day. This week has been extreme close-ups and it's been fun. I love finding cool images from everyday stuff.

Storms are heading in early today.

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4:02 Mostly noise and not much rain.

I made chocolate chip cookie with Heath toffee bits. I should have added more toffee bits. I froze half the batter so I wouldn't be tempted to eat all the cookies. Now I am just tempted to eat half.

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8:37 One in bed and the other one is renewing his interest in Dr Suess. Specifically The Sneetches.

I am going to freeze the baked cookies tomorrow and see how it goes. I should have made cookie balls before freezing the dough but didn't think about it.

Last night's blackberries are making a lot of noise. I am eating sweet red cherries tonight. I do prefer them over Rainier cherries.

[summer break in 80 days] day 57

8:30 Woke up too early and didn't get back to sleep until late. Just now making my breakfast.

Ryan stopped eating cookies. Yesterday he a bagel and a few chips. Ugh.

Did you know that nipples don't sweat? They are the only part of me not sweating at the moment. Excuse me while I go eat some hot oatmeal.

9:46 Oh I made a mess of this morning. The boys got in the car with their usual selfishness not thinking of towels or anything but themselves. Today, it made me angry and I yelled at them. Andy got out of the car and dropped his iPod. So I yelled more. Now Andy is upset and trying hard not to cry. I forgot my camera card. There is the backup xD card but that only allows 110 shots. Then I realized that I forgot to switch out the battery. No photos today. (OK, I took a few.)

Really cute boys with the skinny, pretty mom at the park makes me feel like I gained 50 pounds instead of losing it. Did I tell you I reached the 50 pound mark? I have been flirting with it for over a week and I think it's real now. So I treated myself to Topaz Labs Suite. With the NAPP discount, it was just over $100!

I am having a good hair day. Too bad I have to get in the pool.


(Ryan has taken to licking his lips now they are red and chapped and it looks like he has a juice mustache all the time. On the plus side, it has made me learn how to use the clone tool in photoshop.)

11:03 Out of the pool. Andy & I did water aerobics. My neck and shoulders are too tight. When the boys are in school, I will schedule a massage with Paula. I have never had one before. (No massage until dad comes down. Paula only does massages from 3-6 pm and I think Andy will get home soon after 3.)

1:48 Home.

Expensive day at Publix. I got some sweet dark cherries. They were $1.99 a pound but the bag was over 3 pounds. Oops, I need to pay more attention. I also got some black berries. I am not sure I have ever had them before but they are sweet and yummy.

The boys are getting good and helping with the groceries. I don't even have to ask. I may miss them helping when school starts.

Ryan got some donuts today. Entemenn's Poppems. He opened them we got home.

I have had no luck finding sanding sugar at the grocery stores. Both Target and Publix have colored sugars but I want the plain or white. I can find it online but shipping costs more than the sugar!

We had a big storm go through. Ryan was on my lap but he kept looking up to see the rain go sideways. I was trying to distract him by reading Why Do Men Have Nipples? Hundreds of Questions You'd Only Ask a Doctor After Your Third Martini. It's all I have on my iPod that is somewhat OK for him to read. I did skip Chapter 3, Everything You (N)ever Wanted to Know About Sex.

7:07 Dinner is done. I ate all the blackberries. My tummy is full.

Remember that woman at the pool who had the older son with autism? I think I know her daughter. OK, I knew her daughter. If she is who I think she is. The woman comes to the pool with her daughter. The girl is around Andy's age. We don't talk because the mom rarely gets in the water. Today she had gotten a new floating mesh chair and I asked her how she liked it. She said it was OK but thought she was buying a raft not a chair. Her voice was familiar and as we swam I realized who she is. I think her name is Kendra and her daughter was in Andy's playgroup with the MOMs club. I haven't seen her in 8 years and I didn't recognize her. Back then she wore her lightened blond, badly permed hair in a banana clip. Yes, I did type banana clip. Her hair is shorter and darker now but still badly permed. I sort of remember her mentioning that she had a relative with autism. At the time, Andy had a diagnosis of PDD-NOS and I was trying to stay away from the autism label.

I did not ask the woman if she is Kendra. I am shy. And thinking about it now, does it matter? I did keep in touch with the other women in the group (at least for a few years) but not with Kendra. Once we got through how we have been, there would be nothing much left to talk about.

[summer break in 80 days] day 56

11:41 Lots of gurgling from my tummy. Must be close to lunch time!

I was setting up my zenfolio site and I realized I need to upgrade. The level I have will bring me no money. No point in that!

12:05 I just realized I forgot to put out the boxes to be mailed. I blame Bonnie for calling me this morning and throwing off my whole day!

6:46 I have been trying to eat starchy carbs at dinner just once a week, usually on the weekend. But I had a craving for spaghetti tonight. I used whole wheat spaghetti and it was so good.

[summer break in 80 days] day 55

9:34 Only a short gardening session today. I weeded the front beds. All that stooping and bending has left me more dizzy than usual. The aphids have taken over the crape myrtles. It's my only complaint (OK, there are more but my only one today). I should have realized it when I saw the few yellow leaves two weeks ago and sprayed. Now the trees are covered with sooty mold and the wasps are happy. I have to remember not leave anything under the trees as they get sticky real fast.









Laundry, meal prep, editing photos and pulling 3 orders. Not very exciting today. But I did get inspired to take some more macro shots. I have been thinking about those photographers who do a series or study of something. Dozen of shots of the same subject with different angles, lighting, etc. I am not sure I can focus for that long.










8:01 Bath time! Well, no. We are skipping it tonight because a thunderstorm has popped up. I have had Ryan on my lap for most of the evening. It wasn't bad, just long lasting.

[summer break in 80 days] day 54

7:28 Add this to strange kitchen items disappearing, I am missing a set of measuring spoons. So odd!

9:36 At the park.

Always check your camera settings! (Unless you are one those really lazy people who never take it off auto.) i just realized that my camera was on manual focus while taking those rainbow shots. I may be OK because they were so far away, then again. UGH. (edited to add: They are OK. Not great, but OK.)

Hazy day with high humidity. The only thing saving us is the realtively low temp of 81 degrees.

I made more photo templates this morning but didn't get them posted.



12:40 Bother! BB&B did not have any airbake pans.

1:45 Home. Target had the two pack of the airbake pans, medium & small. So I got one. Then I get home and there is another coupon from BB&B. I now have 3 and nothing I really need.



6:59 I spent much of the afternoon uploading photo templates, editing photos and making a mosaic of our trolley ride so I could post it for Mosaic Monday. I also started setting up a zenfolio site to try and sell some photos. I'll post the link when it is live. Eggs for dinner, yum.

[summer break in 80 days] day 53

8:24 Breakfast is done. Andy recorded the meal. I hope I didn't say anything self-incrimminating.

I had meant to turn on the sprinklers last night but forgot. So I turned them on this morning. We haven't had any significant rain since last Monday. (edited to add: we got lots of rain today!)

9:27 I finished reading The Girls from Ames: A Story of Women and a Forty-Year Friendship. It was an interesting book. I expected more of a novel but it has a journalistic narrative. (Who am I kidding but myself. Journalistic narrative? I have no idea what I am talking about. I am not an lit major, not even close.)

11:19 Cookie dough is made and chilling in the fridge. Unsulpured molasses smells horrid!



I edited a few more aquarium photos and posted them in my blog. I think I am done with the aquarium, shooting fish is hard! Not enough light and the little buggers keep moving.

1:57 OK so I starting reading a new book, Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum: A Parent's Guide to the Cognitive, Social, Physical, and Transition Needs ofTeenagers with Autism Spectrum Disorders, and I dozed off. Ryan told me to wake up. Why? Wake up! Why? Do you need something? It. What? That. ... Wake up!

Now I am attempting to bake the molasses cookies. They are sticky and smell bad. I can only roll a few before they are too sticky and back to fridge the batter goes. And the are big. (Martha loves her cookies big!) I can only fit 4 on a smaller pan. And each batch takes 17 minutes to bake. I might be at this a while. I think I need to go to Bed Bath & Beyond and get some bigger sheets. (No, I have not located the missing cookies sheets.)

2:13 Thought I was being smart by rolling extra and putting then on a sheet of parchment paper. But as they warm, they spread and don't come off of the paper easily. Damn you Martha! You make it look so easy.

2:24 The cookies are VERY good.




3:53 Last batch is in the oven. The recipe said 2 dozen cookies and I got 31.

7:10 I looked up to see a beautiful rainbow outside. I rushed to get my CF card, my camera and change the lens before it disappeared. I really have not seen many rainbows since we moved down here. It was sprinkling but I didn't care. I only wish I had a wider angle lens so I could have gotten the whole thing. I came in to tell the boys and got no response. I made Ryan come out and you would have thought I was leading him to slaughter! He ran back in as soon as I let go.

[summer break in 80 days] day 52

9:26 Feels like another lazy day. No gardening. I should be making a card. That was my excuse. That and I am weary of all the bug bits. Need to let these heal before I go get more.



10:51 Finally made a card for Bonnie. Only two birthdays in July and I can't seem to get them done on time. I got her box ready and put it out on the bench. Then I noticed my crossandra are wilting. I haven't been out the front door in a while since Andy has been getting the mail. I have to stop being so lazy.



2:53 Bonnie called so I got some more photos processed and finally posted to my blog. The post was done last night but I always like to add a photo, or eight.



I am almost done with card for RC. Just waiting for the glue to dry.



Andy likes to turn on the washer and dryer. I have to call him to do it and he doesn't always hear me. It would be easier to turn them on myself but I like to see him happy.



6:43 Dinner is done and I have eaten my one cookie for the day. Being good is hard work.



9:38 I just realized that I never changed the Saturday Sales at the store. I just deleted the note from last week's sale. Saturday Sales are not generating business, no need to continue them.

[summer break in 80 days] day 51

12:26 Finished lunch, doing laundry, baking cookies, eating cherries and trying to catch up on tweets. Did I mention I took a two hour nap this morning. Good grief!

1:16 Cookies are done. I broke down and had one. I immediately had another cherry so I wouldn't want another cookie. And speaking of cherries, I have never had rainier cherries before. I grew up in Michigan and we have dark sweet cherries. When I saw the rainier in the store, the looked odd and I was thinking they might be tart. But decided to get some this week and they are buy one get one free at the Publix. I am really liking them.





2:38 shaved today with a new razor. Cut myself but I never felt a thing.

Rainier cherries are not sitting so well. My stomach feels too acidic.

I keep thinking it is Saturday.





5:00 Snacking on granola. Yum.

The boys want to listen to same audiobook. The problem is that they like to bounce around and listen to some parts over and over again and skip others. Ryan was listening in the bedroom on Andy's iPod. Andy made him stop. Ryan asked if he could listen on my computer. OK. But now Andy is upset that Ryan gets to listen to it on my computer. He wants to be the one to listen to it on my computer.

And because it's from audible.com, I can't just put it on each computer. It has to go through iTunes and each comptuer has to be authorized. You can even use iTunes sharing, the books don't show up.



10:07 Off to bed.

So what do you think about having photos not related to the text inserted at random?