first day of school

I have always loved the first day of school. I loved being in school at least through 8th grade. High school was another matter. I loved the structure and rules of school, the clear expectations. School sports was even better with plays and specific ways to interact with your teammates.



I think that is why my boys love school too. They know what to do and how to act. They know what is expected of them. They know will/should happen for a large portion of their day.

I have never been one of those moms to cry when my kids started school. I thought I would be especially when they started at such young ages, Andy was 4 and Ryan was 3. Perhaps I was being brave so they would be brave. No, it was because so much was going on at home and I knew they needed the help and I needed the break.

Seeing that bus drive away with my kids lets me relax for a few hours knowing some one else is reponsible for them and looking out for them. And I have been so fortunate that they have been treated kindly and never in danger.



So today starts another year. And I am starting to worry how they will interact with their peers. Will they make friends? Will Ryan want to hold hands with a girl? No, I don't worry about the grades. Ryan does very well and Andy, well, he just doesn't care. He is smart but doing well just isn't his thing. He would rather make music and I appreciate that. Heck, if I had his talent, I would be playing the tunes every day.



So today I gain some freedom for a few hours. Time to shop without worrying if someone has wandered off. Time to walk and get some exercise. Time to be quiet, whole house quiet, if I wish.

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Dropped Andy off. He ran into the office instead to his classroom. I told the principal who was standing there.





Then Ryan and I went to Starbucks where the wifi would not connect. Ugh.

Dropping Ryan off without a problem.

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Errands: Office Depot for padded envelopes; Publix for fruit where I weighed 9 peaches just under 2 pounds = $5; and Target for the grocery items I can get cheaper there.

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11:37 Home again.

Groceries are put away (mostly), laundry is going and I (sort of) cleaned out the car. If I never see another french fry, it will be too soon. I think I will take it for a car wash tomorrow.

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Caffeine shakes...

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2:51 At the bustop. I have no idea what time to expect Andy's bus. Could be anytime between now and 3:30 is my best guess. Hmm... I just saw Ryan's bus go by but it must be on another run since Ryan's school doesn't get out until 3:35. I am not even sure if the bus will stop here or on Eagle Station. It is safe on ES but...

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I edited some photos and listened to Auntie Vera. I have 239 podcasts to catch up on. The photos of Andy did not come out well but The ones I shot of Ryan using the flash did. Go figure.

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2:56. It's hot!

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3:31 Still no bus and I am really sweating now. Another bus came but I think it was for the local school. But why do some kids walk home?

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3:39 Still here. No bus. No one is answering the phone at bus depot but I just saw the bus go by. Where they go next, I have no idea. This really sucks for impatient people like me. I can imagine Andy might be upset if he saw me as they went past.

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3:48 Still here, no bus. I have tea but the cup is leaking down my shirt.

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4:00 Home. The bus showed up at 3:51 and we walked home.

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4:25 Round 2. Waiting at home for Ryan's bus. Sitting outside because the lawn workers are making so much noise and I wouldn't be able to hear the bus coming. This is late and Ryan probably will not be happy.

I am also going through the papers sent home with Andy. I am going to try to stay on top of things this year. Wonder how long I will last?

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4:54 Ryan is home. He is hanging out in my bedroom. Andy went to ride his bike.

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5:13 Finally cooling off a bit. I'd been outside for almost 2 1/2 hours. That's just wrong in Florida in August.

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9:07 This day has flown by. I feel like I didn't get much chance ti sit and relax, ie waste time, but that's good. Tomorrow shouldn't be as busy but I will try to fill the day with productivity.

peaches & herb

Last week I went to the grocery store. I wondered what fruit was peaking. I'd had honeydew for 2 weeks straight and was ready for something else. The first thing I see are peaches. Seems early but then I recall that Michigan peaches are ripe in September. Nine years in Florida and I still think I am up north.

OK back to the peaches. They looked good and smelled good. They were firm but not hard. I got 6, one for each day. Yeah, I know, that was nearly enough as they are all gone 3 days later.

They recommend eating 5 servings of fruit & vegetables each day each day. Dr Weil recommends 4-5 servings of vegetables and 3-4 servings of fruit each day. I am somewhere in between.

Growing up, we were more like 3-5 servings of fresh fruit or vegetables a week. With 5 kids, 3 of them boys, fruit was not cheap and it was easier and quicker to have canned fruit & vegetables. Fruit was mainly apples, bananas and grapes. Peaches, cherries and melons were seasonal and expensive and considered a treat.

I like apples but I have a hard time eating them everyday. I was eating bananas everyday but then they weren't tasting as good and were getting brown too quickly. So I have switched to the seasonal produce, at least for fruit. It sure does taste better that way. But I need to be honest with myself and know than one peach a day is not enough.

I need to research some farmer's markets around here. Our season usually starts in October and runs through May.

[summer break in 80 days] day 80

7:33 Later start this morning. I got up at 6 but came straight to the computer. I cleaned up some email and then worked on photos. I am behind still. Yesterday's post has pictures from Wednesday and Thursday. Hopefully, I will get to yesterday's photos today. Confused? Must be time for breakfast.

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8:30 Showered. Dressed. Eaten. Peaches are very good right. Not very juicy but very sweet & tender.

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12:39 Upgrading computer software. I was 2 updates behind now I am just one behind. I used to just click OK anytime an update came. But I have had some bad things happen so now I am more cautious. I let others be rhe guinea pigs and post on twitter.

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2:24 The upgrade seems to have gone well. But I didn't stick around to play. I went and made a card.

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Rainy day.

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OK, technically this isn't the last day. We were a few weeks into the count when we realized it was off by one day. But I wasn't about to change all the posts I had done. And ... in 80 days sounds better. Thanks for joining me this summer. I don't know if I will continue the daily posting. I mean, I will actually have time to myself to something productive. ;)

[summer break in 80 days] day 79

6:25 Making bagels.

Another crap night of sleep. Is it the tree frogs waking me up with their near constant croaks?

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11:10 Barnes & Noble.

I edited photos but my eyes were so heavy... I sat in that chair then it was 9:40 and time to get ready for our Wiregrass Walk.

Ryan is a grump. I am trying to keep calm. I have a tea latté to hopefully help... It started at the beginning of our walk. We parked on the parking garage and the first elevator we tried was not working. The other two did work but it was too late for Ryan. He grumbled and moped and my headache got worse. We went to Dillards and he grudgingly went up the escalator but would not use the elevator. He complained about everything and would not go into any stores. I wanted him to try on some shoes and I thought he was going to actually do it but he wouldn't help so we left. Poor Andy. He was being so good.

Ahh... the tea is good. The cashier was not sure they could make this but the barista did and he did a fine job and even offered the vanilla syrup. And it was $1.50 less than Starbucks!

Ryan has a new atlas and is better, mostly. But he still won't use the elevators.

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Don't ask your son to sit with your purse while you got look at magazines.

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The free wifi at Barnes & Noble keeps dropping me. But the tea is helping a lot.

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12:05 Wendy's

We left B&N and the grump returned. By the time we got to the car, I'd had enough. I told Ryan he had ruined our walk with his attitude. That he can't control the elevator and not to let it bother him. D'oh! I had let his attitude affect me. Is that the same thing? Sort of. Where I can walk away from a broken elevator, I cannot walk away from my son who won't stop grumbling and wanted to world to go away. Even though I really want to.

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Bumper sticker: Autism: Be Aware. Be Understanding.

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12:18 Chick Fil A.

The drive thru is long and people are inconsiderate of others and blocking the path for other drivers. This, Ryan's attitude, car woes, and PMS make me...

Car woes? As we were driving home Wednesday, Service Traction System light came on. Annoying but not critical and I don't need it. Then yesterday on the way home, the cruise control wouldn't work. It wouldn't work earlier today when I tried but did this afternoon. Weird. I use my cruise all the time. One less thing I have to concentrate on.

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12:50 Home.

Ryan seems better. Perhaps he was just tired of going out everyday.

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7:27

I finally got through yesterday's photos. Not too many good ones. Today's weren't much better. Is it me?

I installed a plugin from Timothy Armes that lets you export photos directly to your blog. It's a little odd but I'll get used to it and it'll save me time in the long run.

PMS is in full force. I would love to each the last 9 chocolate crackle cookies. Ugh.

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I need to read this weekend and figure out the health care debate. I know for sure we need reform. Other than that...

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[summer break in 80 days] day 78

6:33 Trouble sleeping last night. And a busy day today. Hmm...

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I noticed a calm come over Ryan yesterday while we were walking through school. He said "This is good."

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9:34 At the playground.

Bother! My camera was not working, focusing, and I didn't realize it. It wasn't set wrong but it wasn't focusing or even trying. I took off the lens and put it back on and it's fine. Meanwhile, I missed some good shots of Ryan on the monkey rings.

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10:45 The pool was closed so we went to MP III. They have such a nicer atmosphere, friendlier. They use chlorine in the pool instead of salt. It bothers my eyes. Andy did miss aerobics but he got over it.

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During the drive here, I realized that we never got Andy a school ID. We will have to take care of that on Monday. I will have to call or find out at the open house. oops (I found out that we didn't miss it. They do the photo IDs the same time as class pictures.)

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Ryan wouldn't use the outside bathrooms. Huh? Oh... they stink! Gross!

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There is a character at this pool. Gregarious and a bit loud. He is from New Jersey. Does that explain it? It that a stereotype? He fits it though he doesn't have the accent his friends have.

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11:22 At Wendy's. It's slow today.

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1:29 Home.

When we get home, the boys help with the groceries and then Ryan heads into my bedroom and shuts the door. Decompression? Andy bounces around like a puppy unleashed.

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6:30 At the middle school waiting for the open house to start. Andy is excited.

Ryan didn't want to come because it was going to storm. But we managed to skirt the storm and it rained while we were in the gym.

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8:10 Home.

I had never been to an open house. Ever. And I wasn't sure what to expect. I was thinking it would be like a regular open house where people come and go throughout. But this was structured. For 20 minutes, we sat in the gym and tried to listen to what was being said. Then we were told to follow the class schedule and report to those classrooms. Andy's first class is homeroom with Ms Jessica. Then Andy, S and G go to art. This is a 9 week course then they move on to something else. When we met in the spring, I told Ms Jessica about Andy's preference for music and she said she would put him in that but... Next we went to the gym where we tried to listen to one of the coaches give his spiel. Our kids will be separated, working on special olympic events. They will not need to change in the locker room. Whew! Our last stop was back to Ms Jessica's. G's mom kept asking questions so we had to wait to see about Andy's bus situation. We did hear back from transportation who said we will need a change in his IEP for curb to curb. Ms Jessica took care of that and will fax it tomorrow. (more on this tomorrow)

We left and when we got to the car noticed that Andy's umbrella was missing. (He dropped it in the class so it is not lost.)

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I didn't get to the photos to post POTD. Oh well.

[summer break in 80 days] day 77

6:50 Up early again and Ryan questioning me but Andy happily digging into the bagels as soon as they are ready. My back is sore from standing in queue for almost an hour yesterday.

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(I saw these vultures as we were driving past the school which is close to our house but the boys don't go there. I grabbed my camera and starting shooting. There was another pole with more vultures. There was road kill in between the lanes to the vultures had to be patient. When we came back, the road kill was moved over to the median and almost gone.)

11:06. Ryan's meet the teacher day went much faster. There was some confusion about whether the bus was picking him up at home or at the regular stop. Supposedly they will be combining regular and ESE kids. They have to have bands on their back packs for 3 weeks to make sure they are getting on the right bus and off at the right stop.



Ryan is in another Pod this year, the Panthers. The idea was that kids stayed in the same pod for 3 years but this hasn't happened with Ryan.

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I stopped at Starbucks on the way home. Glad I was at home when I discovered that they forgot the sugar. sigh

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2:08 I was sitting here after lunch think it was nice I didn't have anything that needed to be done right now. So I dozed off. I just woke up with the phone and realized I need to make a birthday card and cookies before tomorrow. Oops!

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3:22 Another oops! I am making the card and I realize I didn't pull out the butter. I go and do that but don't want to wait for the hour or so for it to soften. Google! I decide to grate it and the first 1/3 is fine but then it gets too soft and slippery. It is not like grating cheese. I need shortening but I don't use that. You can substitute melted and cooled butter. I melted the butter and put it in the fridge. It didn't cool completely by the time I needed it. Hmm... I know Martha calls these Giant Chocolate Sugar Cookies and she means business. A batch will yield 8 cookies! I don't plan on making then the size of CDs so I will get more. But with using my large scoop, you can only get a few on each cookie sheet. (I got 30 decent sized cookies.)

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3:49 I may have overbaked the first batch. The original recipe calls for 18-20 minutes in the oven. Since I went smaller, I tried 14 minutes. The second batch I baked for 13 minutes before I could taste a cookie. They are good but crunchy. I reduced the third batch to 12 minutes. Oh these are good! Wish I had some vanilla ice cream.

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Yep, 12 minutes is better.

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4:55 My back really hates vacuuming.

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[summer break in 80 days] day 76

6:56 Showered dressed and starting the oatmeal. I have already made tea, cut up a melon, started the laundry and fed Andy. Only Ryan questioned me, "You're cooking early?" Meanwhile Andy was happily eating his sausage about 90 minutes earlier than usual.

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8:52 Andy lost his recorder this morning. We checked Poppa's room and the boys' room and then moved to the playroom. I had forgotten about making them clean it this week so I got each one started on a section. Ryan was picking up the dumped legos in the closet and proceeded to dump the box twice. Andy was picking up under his desk where all those thing fall when he sits down. It is the land of forgotten crap he picked up to fiddle with and then dropped when he lost interest. He was picking up one thing at a time instead of just sweeping the stuff out and then separating. Finally they were done with their tasks ans Ryan was asking for a quarter. sigh We had forgotten about the recorder but then Andy had it 10 minutes after finding it in my bedroom.

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Jenna's card is in the mail. I photographed the last 2 cards I made then played with the number clock. First I used a colorful vest as a backdrop then I moved on to quilts andAndy's rash guard shirt. I think the shirt looks the best since it is tie dyed and already abstract. I didn't try any paper since that might take all day.

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12:55 Home.

We went to Target to pick up the things we forgot. We were ready to leave and no Andy. We came in through the green doors so we went to the blue doors to check. Nope. Ryan waited in the car while I went in again and found him walking with Kathi, an employee. He has been good all summer and it was our last trip... sigh.

Next I got a black tea latté from Starbucks had to correct them 3 times as they kep saying chai. I don't want chai! sigh

Then filled the tank. Please tell me why they ask if you want a recipt and then say you have to go inside to get it?

Then off to Weightman. I think we went in the side door so missed the directions and such. Ryan stuck very close to me but Andy bounced around the gym. We were told that the bus will NOT be picking up Andy at the house but on CLR & Stetson. WTH?! So I have to walk him up there with Ryan then go back home for Ryan's bus. ugh! At least Andy's bus is scheduled to stop at 8:00 am.

We finally got done and walked to Andy's class. But the classroom was dark and locked. So we drove home and had grilled cheese for lunch.

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4:23 Andy finished cleaning his room and wanting to vacuum. He did a few passes but it was hard trying to keep his ears blocked at the same time. I think we need to invest in some headphones that airline workers use. Anyway, I ended up vacuuming his room and the hallway. It should make me feel better but it just shows me how stained the carpets are. Yuck!

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I weeded my photos down. The ones of the numbers clock are not as good as I would like. More experimenting! I took my camera to school but gym lighting is horrid! What a waste.

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6:17 Breakstone cottage cheese is gross.

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[summer break in 80 days] day 75

8:11 So much for getting up early this week in preparation for next week. Actually I did get up at 6 despite not setting the alarm, the problem is that I then went to the computer and time warped to 7:15 before I got up again. But at least I got the mosaic done and posted.

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11:40 In the car. Lianna and her kids were at the playground. She was meeting her über skinny friend and her 3 kids. Good grief! We all went swimming and Matthew and I had some great splash fights. He is tenancious and doesn't get upset when he loses.

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Swimming makes you hungry! Coletta said it is the water making your body temp which makes you hungry. I just thought it was because it's lunchtime.

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Oh! Nice motorcycle. Broadway? I have never heard of it. Then again my knowledge is limited as I call it a motorcycle and not a hog or a bike.

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1:25 Home. The lawn guys are here early. Oh they must be hot! The car temp showed 100 on the way home.

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After getting school supplies for 3 weeks, Ryan went that way in Target but we are done. Whew!

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5:43 I just learned how to whiten teeth in lightroom. Easier and better results than photoshop actions.

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8:49 I called Bonnie to tell about my "new" skill in Lightroom. Then it was almost 8:00 and time for baths. I realized I never got around to reshooting the clock so I found another photo to work. I did get a card done for Lois and her birthday is in another week! It feels good to be ahead of schedule. I must remember this feeling. But then I remembered the things I forgot at Target and Andy failed to mention that he used up all the AAA batteries.

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I also got the mosaic done for fall 2006. They are rather fun.

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Oh and what with all the storms this afternoon? Yesterday they expected NO rain for today. This morning they said 30% which usually means no rain. But we got his which a bunch of small storms. Lots of noise.

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[summer break in 80 days] day 74

9:17 I thought it would nice to sit out front and catch up on twitter. I hadn't expected a steam bath. Actually there is the occassional breeze. But it is moist otherwise. The skies to the west are dark gray and there are some good storms out in the gulf. (Little did I know that there was a tropical storm out there!)

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I have 2 very basic compost barrels. Well, actually they are more like recycled plastic hoops with vent holes. I got them when I first started composting. I used the for just plant material until I had more room in the composter. I think I might set them up again in the back. It seems better than throwing it away in the trash.

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10:20 Ten more layouts done. Only 10 to go. That will be huge weight of guilt lifted off of me when they are done and sent.

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Hank was too busy to talk this morning. It sounded crowded. I was not sad to be missing it.

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11:03 I'd really never used my melon baller until the other day. I don't care about fancy shapes and thought it was easier and quicker to slice and dice. But it's messy and sticky especially when the melon is so juicy. So I tried it and found that it is just as easy and quick without a lot of mess. The only thing I don't like is the other side of the doible baller biting into my hand. Anyway, when I got done with a half, I saw what a cool pattern it made in the rind. I knew I wantes to photograph it. I put half in the fridge for later. That was 2 days ago.

This morning I was cutting up another melon, they were 2 for $5, and decided I would shoot after I was done with the melon. Must shoot everyday! I decided to see which rind had the best patterns. I took the older one out of the fridge and found that it had dried out a bit amd shrunk. Oops. Good thing I had another melon.

I did take some photos and I'll edit them later. I need to reshoot the numbers clock as I didn't like what I got from yesterday.

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11:42 All done! And a good thing too as my back is starting to protest. I will sort and package them later.

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01:46 Crap! I went to sort all the layouts and realize I only have 5 for Fall 2006 and Spring 2007. What happened? Did I do the layouts and mail them or lose them? Did I think I had done them? Either way, it means I have to put together some layouts for that time period. It also means going back to the photos done with my point & shoot. Yikes! (This was not fun. A lot of shots I thought were good are crap when looked at 1:1. Hopefully they will look OK when made smaller and put into a mosaic.)

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3:32 Mud. I looked outside and saw Ryan playing in the mud. Because I cleaned up the weeds, he had a perfect spot to muck around. I grabbed my camera and took some shots from inside. I thought he would quit if he saw me but he didn't. I went outside and it's a good thing I did because my camera settings were all wonky again. It was a bit tricky just using my 50mm but I made it work.



At one point, the little creep jumped and it splashed on me. I was on the other side of the short fence but I still got hit. And I was wearing my light tan shorts. Of course I was. I tried not to get too mad but then Ryan had the nerve to laugh. Still, I did keep my control.



I wanted to write "wash me" on his legs and use that for my photo of the day. He wouldn't let me. I tried to get him to write letters on the fence with mude but he couldn't make it work. Oh well, I got a lot of shots and I'm sure there is something I can use for this month's contest. Last month was numbers and I although I didn't win, I was one of the top 10 finalists.



I loved watching him play. As much as he liked the feeling of mud between his toes, he doesn't like to get dirty. H e was careful not to get his clothes muddy. And he had to really think about getting his hands in the mud.

I used these photos for Mosaic Monday.

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So... take a nap or shoot some pics for potd?

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9:03 I did start to edit then it was time for dinner so all I got done was the rating, weeding, renaming and keywording. Nothing has been processed. I had intended on going back after dinner but then I had my 2 chocolate crackles after the meal and I was in heaven and my short term memory just vanished until I saw the Mosaic Monday post in google reader. How was that for a run on and on, on and on sentence? Oh and after I cheated on using and old and processed photo for potd, two peas has been down so I couldn't post. Is this my penance? I thought the stained shorts were enough?

[summer break in 80 days] day 73

7:06 I love iTunes but every so often I lose music. And the sad thing is that I don't it's missing until I am reminded of it. See, I have a lot of music. You don't even want to know how much. OK you probably do want to know but I don't want to tell you.

Anyway, back to my point. I was going through Google Reader and there were a post about Talking Heads This Must be The Place and 3 versions of the song. First off, I had to buy the Shawn Colvin album Cover Girl. Then I went looking for the original Talking Heads version. I could find no Talking Heads at all in my library. Huh? I went to the EHD where my music is stored and didn't see the folder either. WTH?! It's not a big loss since I do have the original CDs but still... I finally did a spotlight search and found the errant folder. How did it get there?!

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7:50 No gardening today. I think I strained my back yesterday. Ironic that all summer I have been gardening with the bending and such and no back problems. Yesterday I was sitting and strained something to make my hip hurt today.

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8:28 When we first got the piano (electric keyboard), we set it up in the family room so I could make sure was not abusing it. He had to ask to play since he couldn't be trusted to make sure no one alseep or on the phone. Eventually, I moved it into his bedroom because I needed the space for more scrapbook inventory. Andy continued to ask to play even though he was told he didn't need to ask. (He still asks to go potty despite my efforts...) But since last week's call with Poppa, Andy doesn't really ask. He will say somerhing that I don't quite catch and then, "I'll practice now." and waits for me to OK it. So silly.

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9:54 I would really love a black tea lattè from Starbucks. If I thought Ryan would say yes, I would ask him to go for a ride just so I could get one. I ate a cookie instead but that has not stopped the craving. And now I want more cookies and the lattè.

I know there are places I could apply for respite care. But I don't feel the need to take advantage of the system. See if my kids were neural typical there would be no respite benefits. My kids are different but not difficult. I can hire a babysitter like any other single mom. I just hate spending the money just for some me time. Only 9 days until I get my time paid for by my taxes.

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10:11 I found a forsythia bloom on the floor. 1) It's wait too late in the season for them to bloom. 2) They don't grow down here in Florida. Therefore... It must be from my silk branches at the front door. I called Andy over asked him if he took it. He said yes so I had to explain that any flowers in the house are off limits. They aren't real and they won't grow back. Odd that it took him so many years before he even tried to eat one.

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12:55 Whoa! I just scrapbooked! And... I made 10 layouts in less than an hour. OK, get your jaws off the floor. First off, they are 8x8 size so they don't count as much as 12x12. Second, they are a hybrid digi scrap where I did the photo mosaics and had them printed. So all I had to do was find a cardstock which was the hardest part because my stash has dwindled so. Then I trimmed to 8x10 photo to 7.5x7.5 and mounted that onto 8x8 cardstock. So Summer Break 2008 is done. There are 4 more layouts x 10 so it might take me a while. Then again, the photos have been sitting here for over 2 weeks.

I have to give away 8 of these to aunts and uncles. I made an extra thinking I would give an album to dad. And I guess the last one is for me. But then I got thinking that dad doesn't need an album since I have been making him the photo books. Perhaps the boys will like albums of their own? So I grabbed what colors I had of 8x8 albums and had the boys choose one. Andy chose the yellow with dots, yellow is his favorite color! And Ryan chose the more masculine brown with dots called earth. I had expected him to choose the blue one.

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1:50 Ten more layouts are done. I stand when I do the trimming as I can see better and hold the straight edge firmer. Tgis makes my back a bit sore and makes me wish I had a standing desk. Oh well.

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I grabbed an envelope to keep track of the cardstock I take from the store. It was something from school regarding Ryan. I opened it figuring it was a survey I forgot to take. But it was his FCAT scores. He did OK in reading and writing and had a perfect score in math! Well done little booger!

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5:41 It's probably too late for a nap now. Oh well. I did get some things accomplished: a birthday card, an order pulled, 30 layouts done, photo of the day for today and tomorrow and the ever regenerating laundry.

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7:14 We had a big storm come through this evening. Ryan his on the cough while Andy ran around happy as could be. Lots of water in the back yard.

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9:27 I ate a lot of melon today. I peed a lot. Time for bed.