[summer break in 80 days] day 66

7:33 Well crud! I was doing some blog stuff and noticed the date, 8/8/09. 8/8... oh it's Katie's & John's anniversary! I didn't make them a card, crap! Why wasn't I notified? On my desktop, the date is correct. On my iPod the date is wrong. UGH! When will Apple learn how to sync correctly?!

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9:44 Hot & moist.
I decided I had too many bites to go back to the south bed so I worked on the east bed. Since I cleared up the jasmine the sun has been able to get to the grown and weeds have popped up. I weeded and raked half the bed today. At one point I sat to rest and watched all the lizards darting around looking for food. This would be a good place to set up the camera and watch.

I saw one lizard that flesh colored and his tail was a bit stubby. Was it an albino? I have never seen one like that before. It kind of creeped me out.

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Andy has taken a disliking towards shirt tags. Gap and Lands' End have moved towards printed info on the inside of the shirt but there are a few left with tags. Today's shirt is from Target, a halloween shirt I bought last year. It didn't bother him last fall. But reading about adolescents and autism, some sensory issues can increase because of all the hormones.

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10:58 I put on another shirt from LL Bean. This one is form fitting and fuschia. I don't know if I will ever be ready to wear something form fitting outside of the house.

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2:06 On Thursday, I saw a billboard stating that it was peek honeydew season and Publix had them. So I got 2 melons later than day. I finally sliced one up and they were correct, a delicious melon. I had to use two bowls to store it in. I grabbed the less full one to eat a few bites while reading some more Understanding Close-up Photography: Creative Close Encounters with or without a Macro Lens. I wasn't paying attention and ate the whole thing, about 4 cups full.

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6:24 One benefit to the headphones is that Ryan doesn't hear much of the storm that is coming through right now. He is under a quilt to hide him from the lightning. Oh that boom was louder but he is still on the couch and not on my lap.

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[summer break in 80 days] day 65

8:07 I got the old iPod fired up for Ryan. He is happy to walk around with it in his pocket. I only worry that the headphones he is using will make his ears stick out.

I started to go through the pictures from yesterday. Most of the ones from Ikea are crap. I never used to look at my photos at 1:1 and it's rather pathetic what that P&S does indoors.

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9:42 Done with gardening. I know I should probably say weeding since that's all I seem to be doing. But that would make me more depressed to admit to that. Three bags full and at least 2 ant bites. On my arm this time. There may be more behind my knees and thighs or it could have been grass rubbing and making me itch. (There are 6 behind my knees!)

The south bed is going to take me the rest of the break. Maybe longer. There is so much and I am limiting myself to 5-6 bags between trash pick ups. I found another elm tree in there. This one is about 7 feet tall. I don't know where it is growing from until I can clear more out. I am afraid it night too close to the back fence and it will have to come out.

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Andy has recorded all these sound bites of his favorite YouTube users saying Macy's. It's quite good considering he is doing it old school, recording from his computer to the digital recorder and just hitting the buttons at the right time.

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6:28 Ryan has listened to the iPod all day excrpt for the hour to charge at lunch time. Then Andy wanted to listen to mine but he doesn't like the controls.

[summer break in 80 days] day 64

9:12 Andy is out riding his bike. Ryan is putting away his clothes. I just finished my grocery list.

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9:39 At the playground. Andy is wearing his rash guard shirt. He likes the feel of it and the color. Ryan chose not to wear his. He says he will wear it on Monday. He likes to make up rules.

It feels cooler today. Just a bit and there is a breeze.

The boys are swinging now. Should I even try to get some shots? Oh well, by the time I typed this and looked up, they had stopped and moved on to something else.

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I downloaded Instapaper for my iPod. I can read web articles when I am not online. Cool! But I sometimes use Instapaper as a bookmark when I am on my laptop because I don't have Evernote on there. (I need to upgrade to Leopard for Evernote.). The free version of Instapaper only allows for 10 articles at a time. The Pro version allows for 250 articles. The Pro version is only $4.99.

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11:03 Our water aerobics leader was not here again. Renee led the group but she forgot some exercises. It was a small group and less than enthusiastic.

Renee's grandsons, Jacob and Sean, were here too. They don't understand personal space and get way too close to my boys.

The new rafts are a hit with the boys.

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12:01 Wendy's is slow. Hopefully I wasn't overcharged.

Ryan wants my iPod in the car. What? i think he wants to listen to Geogre Carlin. (bad mommy!)

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3:09 Home.

Ikea was fun and I spent NO money. Lots of ideas and lots of photos (I just took my point & shoot). Ryan was happy to walk aound following the map and finding short cuts. Andy just wanted to ride the escalator and elevators. But they make it more of a one way thing. Once you are done, you have to leave the store. But if you have a map, you can back track and find a short cut back to the beginning.

I think I would like to get the boys loft beds and then put their desks underneath. They would each have their own room and Poppa could have the big room.

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6:17 The thrill is gone. Yep, before I even consider a second visit to Ikea, I have a new love. Actually, it's not a new love. I have been in love for over 20 years. But except for a couple of years in the early 90s, ours has been a long distance relationship. That is until I looked and saw that Crate & Barrel has opened in Tampa! Luckily, it's not too close but still close enough to go visit all those cool kitchen gadgets in person!

I read recently where some one called Ikea, "The Swedish Walmart." is it not so? Cheap prices in a big blue box. Furniture that is not meant to last a lifetime, sometimes called apartment furniture. Then I equate Crate & Barrel with Target. Well, no, the quality is better than that. But there are a lot of pieces that you assemble. But they are sturdier than the things you can buy at Ikea. I'd put Crate & Barrel between Ikea and Poverty Barn. And it's been so long since I have been in one that I can't wait! I love the look of the stores. Full of eye candy but not overwhelming.

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I looked into Andy's iPod. The headphone jack will probably have to be replaced. If I felt capable, I could try it myself for about $30-$40. Or I can use iResQ who will fix it in a day and charge $89 which includes shipping. I think this is a decent price since a new iPod Classic will cost $249, a new iPod Nano is $149. Still, it will have to wait a few more days, or weeks.

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KI Memories sent me some sample product from their new line. Unfortunately, it's Toy Box, not one of the lines I partitulatly like. I would have been much happier with Flourish. But I sure I can find some cards I need to make with free product.

[summer break in 80 days] day 63

9:42 Losing the motivation to garden. Could be I am tired, it's hot or that I have reached the south bed and it is really scary.

Andy comes out after I am done and waits for me to go in the house. He also checks on me when I am gardening. He likes to know where everyone is. Does he think I might wander away?

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Ryan said he wants to go to Ikea tomorrow. I am not going to buy anything! I am not going to buy anything! I am not going to buy anything! I am not going to buy any... unless the boys want something. I'll go back another time without them.

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11:24 I don't like these shirts from LL Bean. The fit is quite a bit smaller than the ones I have from Lands' End. The fit too closely for comfort. A few more pounds and I can wear them out of the house.

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A storm is coming. Ryan was on my lap. Andy asked to play the piano. Ryan left to watch. Does Andy play loud enough to drown out the thunder? Oh he's back.

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6:45 The storms this morning left little rain for us. It was moslty noise.

I "wasted" most of the afternoon talking to Bonnie. I did order Andy some shoes for school. His feet are now bigger than mine.

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Ant bites. Current count 4. One is on my neck.

[summer break in 80 days] day 62

7:38 Imagine how nice it would be with staff. Not the infection but prople who eorked for you. I could sit and edit more photos instead of getting up to get the boys breakfast, start the laundry and get dressed for gardening.

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Andy has gotten out his Dr. Seuss books and laid them out on my bed. Ryan is getting in the mix and making Andy upset. Andy is getting better at telling Ryan to leave. The problem is that Ryan won't listen.

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9:41 Some one please stop me from pruning any more jasmine. I had to get the dead vines out but they were so twisted and tangled that I had to cut back about 3 more feet. It was showing new growth which makes me sad but I know it will grow back.

I dug up a barely surviving indian hawthorn and cut down the cape plumbago. Weeds had grown through the middle of it. And as it was my last plumbago, it looks lonely and odd being the only blue flowering shrub.

My hair has gotten too long (it's still short but I haven't had a cut since early June) and is getting in my face. I'll have to pull it back tomorrow.

I am still contemplating what to plant. Do I want flowers? Low maintenance shrubs? More jasmine? I would love some crotons but they failed in the front because of the cold winter winds. They would be protected in the back.

Only 3 more weeks of gardening during the week. Once the boys go back to school, I will be walking again. I will try to garden on the weekends but then I tend to get lazy.

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2:10 It's quiet except for the dryer, the air conditioner, the ceiling fan and the fake tapping of my typing on my iPod. I just did my work for the day, 2 orders that I got on Sunday. I am in a different mind set these days. I used to get sad when I out sold out of an item I was fond of. Now I am happy for it all to be sold and move out. Since I have come to the realization that retail will not make me a living, I want to move on. I want my living room space back. Not that I would use it as a living room but maybe move my office back and use the dining room as a studio? I had thought about using the living room as a studio but I think it might be too big. That is, the dining room is packed with my office stuff and maybe it would be better to move the office into the bigger space. Oh well, plenty of time to think things through.

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Every time I open the freezer to get ice, and I do this a lot as it is summer in Florida, I see the bagged chocolate chip cookies and my sweet tooth groans a bit.

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4:57 Andy is playing the piano. Since he talked to Poppa on Sunday, he has been asking to "practice." He tries to play the Raffi tunes by ear and does come close. Other times he picks a rhythm on the keybords that is close and makes the song his own. He especially likes playing the applause and saying "Thank you!"

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8:52 Andy picked up a track piece off the couch and set it in the train table. Good thing I was sitting down or I might have fainted. What? Oh let me start this again. I have been trying to pick up more often. I know it's easier to do a little everyday. But I also had trained my vision into ignoring a few items here and there until hazmat needed to be called in. So every evening, I pick up the stray bits off the floor and fix the cushions on the sofa. I had picked up the book and pencil but missed the track piece. A while later Andy saw it and knew it was out of place.

In the past, Ryan would put things away if he got them out or knew where they belonged. Andy has never been like that. Objects are left wherever he lost interest. Though if he knocked something down as he went by, he would put it back. Ryan still has problems with this.

I know the best teaching is by example. My mom was not the best example as putting her things away. (For years, her clothes never made it up from the basement after they were washed. She would go down each morning and pick her outfit as they hung on the water pipes.) Though I do put away a lot of things, I have never expected the boys to pick up there own stuff. It's never too late to learn.

[summer break in 80 days] day 61

8:59 I ordered a few shirts from LL Bean when I ordered new back packs for the boys. I got the same size I wear now. I have a problem with my shirts. I keep staining them. Apparently I need a bib when I eat. I washed the new shirts before I wore them. Yes, I was almost everything before I wear it. I hate the smell of new clothes. Anyway, the shirts seem quite a bit smaller than my Lands' End shirts.

Why do my boys flinch when I raise a knife or my hand?

I am so enjoying cherries this year. I love how easy they are to eat, just wash and go. OK there are the stems and seed to contend with but they are still easier than eating melon which needs to be cut up.

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9:41 At the playground. Ryan is whining because Andy is looking at him. sigh I snuck off to take some photos of something other than the playground. Of course the boys followed me a few minutes later.

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12:00 Andy's iPod is messed up. The headphones won't go in. i don't know if he stuck something in there or it broke during the last fall. I can't see anything. At least he has his recorder so is not too upset.

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1:28 Home again. $140 at Target. We got more school supplies. I had only planned on get what was on sale but we got more. Now I have 2 different lists and if Andy needs something Ryan wants it too. Luckily, Andy was wandering so he didn't ask for extra.

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8:06 Well pooh! I wanted to announce my zenfolio site for ordering prints and I may have broken my site. I posted a slide show and checked how it looked. It is too be for the sidebar so I went to move it and then I get the highload message. WTH?! Oh good everything is back. Annoying. So anyway, you can now buy prints at zenfolio, announcing slf photography

[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.