Friday Fragments June 7

It's the end of the week and we are invited to unload our fragmented thoughts at Half-past Kissing Time. Please visit Mrs. 4444 and see who else is fragmenting today.

*****

It's the last day of school for the children today, which is a happy day for them, a sad day for me.  My month of having the house to myself for 6 hours a day is sadly over. My university semester ended May 3 and it has been a wonderful time of sleeping in late!

*****

I do have one big fragment this week, and it's a bit scary.  We live in a small town and have little crime beyond running red lights.  However, Tuesday someone was resisting arrest and ran from the police, and approached and crossed school property.  The police called for a school lockdown, just in case.  This was scary for my children because they knew it was not a drill, and they did not know what was going on.  It's a good thing actually I did not know this was happening because I would have shown up at their school and just gotten in the way.

How scary that they have to get in the corner, or behind desks that offer little protection.  The police did catch their man, the lockdown was lifted and eventually everyone came home.  The Girl was quite scared and hugged Mom tightly.  Second Son played it tough.  First Son did not seem perturbed at all.

*****

We leave Wednesday next week for a grand trip out west - Grand Canyon, Colorado, Wyoming and Yellowstone.  Wish us luck, all crammed inside a mommy van!

Viridian
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Friday Fragments May 31

I am back after a very long hiatus. I frag in the summer only - way too busy on Friday mornings during the academic year to get on the computer and prepare my post.  But I do read some of the blogs,and rarely, comment.

Last academic year: very busy, and I admire Wayne at Touristic for keeping up!  I taught an overload (extra courses, no extra pay) both semesters.  I really did not like teaching a class of 100 students in a room ill-designed for teaching during Fall semester.

Now; off for a couple of weeks, sleeping in, kids still at school - glorious.

Memorial Day weekend: a family get together, at a state campground, which was great, but rather cool weather, which was not.  A relative brought a DVD of the first season of Gomer Pyle.  I have decided I do not like Gomer Pyle.

I run a meme called Sunday Stamps on my other blog - Viridian's Postcard blog.  But I forgot to set up my post early and schedule it to open Sunday AM.  And, whoops, no computer at the family get-together.  I felt awful.  I have some steady contributors to this meme who put up posts and had no place to link them.  Better planning next time!

See other fragmenters at Half-Past Kissing time!

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E is for Expectation

Well, Day 5 of the A to Z challenge, and yes, it is a challenge.
E is for expectation. (I am thinking of anticipation but today is "E" day!)
It is Friday and I am expecting the weekend.
We are having a cold Spring but the weather is getting warmer.  I am expecting a big bud-out and bloom this weekend.  How wonderful it will be! 
I am expecting some free time this weekend (I can hope) to get some of my quilting done.

If you are interested, I am on Facebook, as Viridian61

I am also linking up with Friday Fragments at Half Past Kissing Time.

Viridian

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Friday Fragments Oct. 5

In which we fragment away our week with Mrs. 4444 - see who else is participating.

I am coming back after a few weeks, because I have been very busy at work. No time for me to compose a post on Friday morning.

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So I am here today because it is mid term break - a measly 2 days off, Thursday and Friday.  I guess it's better than nothing.  I had plans for yesterday but ended up sleeping in most of the morning.  Well, maybe I needed the sleep.  But that meant less time quilting (my main activity for myself).

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I did take time to vote yesterday - our state has early voting.  I will be away at a conference on that famous Tuesday.

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A nice little surprise this AM:  my daughter knocked on my door and said  - Mom can I show you something?  I came downstairs and she had prepared toast for breakfast for me!  I thanked her and asked why breakfast, why today.  I don't know she said - there has been a lot of shouting among our family this week.  And that part is true.

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Eldest Son does tease the other two to get them to respond.  And oh they do.

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I attended an IEP for Eldest Son yesterday afternoon.  It's his first one at the high school.  I think he has a good intervention specialist - what she must do during the day with him and the other teens!  He has made the transition to high school but still exhibits babyish behaviors - like the teasing and name calling.  The school psychologist is working on these too, plus properly naming his emotions and how to be a good friend.

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I don't know about other parents, but I feel like a rotten parent after these meetings.  Aren't these things we are supposed to be doing - teaching about emotions, friendships, and so on? Even things like counting money, which they are doing too at school?

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Agricultural report: One red tomato rotted on the vine.  One is reddening up on my kitchen windowsill.  There is another red one on the vine which I hope is not rotten.  And a few more green ones.

Viridian


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Friday Fragments Sept. 14

Hey it's Friday again! Why do these weeks go by so fast?
Please visit Mrs. 4444 at her blog Half Past Kissin Time, and see how lots of fun people are doing this week.

******
I wish I were on sabbatical. Instead I am teaching an overload, 3 classes instead of 2. I prep ahead and feel pretty good about it, then bam, a day goes by and I am behind again.

******
Second Son is very happy because he has a new bicycle!  It is full sized, 21 speeds (!!! not needed in our flat area, but hey why not) and in cool colors. He loves it.  His old bicycle, a 10 speed that is still very servicable, will be fixed with new tires and inner tubes at our local bike shop, and will go to The Girl.  She is OK with the fact that it is a boy's bike, and blue - she is ready to give up her pink and purple with glitter little girl bike.

******
Weight loss: I had actually lost a little until a family weekend over Labor Day, with classic American picnic foods and too much chocolate cake and ice cream.  I am back to being careful and I am maintaining.

******
Agricultural report:  We now have 10 tomatoes in various sizes, some large enough to weigh down the plants.  They are all still green, but this is progress.

******
A busy start to the week has me humming Just another Manic Monday in my head.  Most of the time.

I'm on facebook If you'd like notices of when I post (and very little else really).  Go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/Viridian61/347674418583948?ref=hl  and Like me.

Viridian

Friday Fragments Sept. 7

This is an entry for Friday Fragments sponsored by Mrs. 4444 at Half-past kissing time.  Click on the link and see who else is fragmenting!

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My first appearance at Friday Fragments in 3 weeks.  Yes people, school (University) has started for me and I feel like I've been in a boxing ring, random punches coming in from all over.  Or like the Red Queen from Alice in Wonderland, running as fast as she can, just to stay in one place.

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First a big shout out to my mom, who flew in and looked after my children, even driving the huge van to take them to their friend's house when necessary.  Why? Because my University started 1.5 weeks before my children's school.

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Mom and I did get to have some time together - mostly buying clothes for me.  My old wardrobe had gotten a bit worn and I was not buying new items.  Thank you mom for buying most of a great new wardrobe for me.

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Early in the semester I assign an exercise where students 'invest' pretend money in natural resource stocks or in gold, silver, platinum.  They have to follow the rules of the assignment to get full credit.  It surprises me every year to have several American students who have NO CLUE how the stock market works.  "What is a share?" asked asked one student the other day.

**********
School started Tuesday for my 3 children.  Yes I was sad and nervous that first day, esp. for #1 Son, who was going to the high school for the first time.  How are they doing?  They assure me all is well though I am certainly not getting any details!

Viridian

Friday Fragments Aug. 17

Time to fragment with Mrs. 4444. She is apparently serving up a buffet today.

******
I am up at an ungodly hour this morning.  #1 Son is up and needs supervision.  It's good practice too for when school starts next Wednesday.  Wednesday!  I need to get my syllabi ready!

******
I am NOT serving up red kool aid (or its generic equivalent) or cranberry juice anytime soon.  Sunday night in a rare moment of clumsiness, The Girl spilled fruit punch kool aid on the carpet in the dining room.   Then, on Monday night, she was fooling around with Second Son and spilled cranberry juice on the carpet.  Argh.  As my mom predicted, the kool aid is harder to get out.

******
Call me a bad mommy if you must, but I took all three kids to see The Hunger Games this week.   I had read the book a few weeks ago and wanted to see it myself.  It's scary in parts, but we all found it to be a good movie.

******
Otherwise, a quiet week - mom doing work on her computer, kids sleeping in or watching TV, visiting friends, or riding bikes.

Viridian

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Friday Fragments August 10

 

 It's Friday and time to fragment! see Mrs. 4444's blog for more fragments.

******
Alert readers will notice that I have taken down my weight loss ticker.  That is because now is not the time to for me to lose weight.  In fact lately I have been gaining my weight back - almost all of it.  So the ticker was a bit of a joke.  Life is stressful here for a variety of reasons.  To have the expectations (mostly self-imposed) I have AND lose weight - it's too much.  So my flabby midwest self will try not to GAIN anymore.  And try to eat healthy.

*******
Last Friday, long after finishing my Friday fragments, I received a letter from The Girl at camp.  There were sad faces all over the envelope, which was a clue as to its contents.
"Dear Mom:
Pick me up early PLEASE!  I hate it here!  Nobody likes me!  I've been stung by bees!"  Etc. Etc.

Is it OK to laugh and have your heart break at the same time?  Because that is what happened.  The letter was mailed on Monday, and took its sweet time in traveling 60 miles.  Well our plans were to pick up The Girl and Second Son on Friday anyway so no early pickup.  I got a big hug from the Girl when I arrived (in front of other kids even!).  And the news that yes, things did get better, though camp this week wasn't as fun as last week.

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With all three kids back at home this week the fighting, insults, and yelling has increased.  See note about stress levels above.  Only 23 days until they go back to school.

*******
Only 12 more days until I have to go back to work at the local university.  Do you see a problem here? No way I am leaving a developmentally delayed 15 year old, a 14 year old and a crabby 12 year old alone at home.  So we are flying my mom in from the Northeast for a 9 day working visit.

*******
I am running a contest on my Postcard blog.  I am giving away 3 chances to make your own postcards, courtesy of MOO.  So far only 11 people have entered, so the odds could be in your favor.  Please see THIS POST and leave a comment for a chance.  Contest closes Aug. 14.

Well that is probably enough fragments for now.
Still no tomatoes,
Viridian

Friday Fragments August 3

It's been a lazy week at house of Viridian so there is not much to tell.  See who else is fragmenting at Half-Past Kissin' Time.

So lazy that I didn't even participate last week as there wasn't much to say.  Now let's catch up with 2 week's worth of fragments.

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I am running a contest on my postcard and stamp blog.  I'm giving away three chances to make a set of postcards of your own design or photograph, courtesy of MOO.  Check it out HERE.

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The Girl and Second Son are off at sleep-away church camp, far away in the wilds of our state.  Raccoons have been supposedly sighted near the cabins, and The Girl claims to have heard coyotes wailing in the far distance.  Somehow, the activities, pool time, and new friends make up for it.

They went for 5 days, came home for 2 days, then went back again for 5 days more.  I miss them more this week.

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#1 Son cannot go to camp because of his developmental delays.  He needs constant watching, and must be reminded to go to the bathroom.  Plus we don't think he could handle being away so many nights.  One or two yes, but not more.  It's so hard to see him left behind.

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Agricultural report: the tomato plant are both flowering, but no little tomatoes.  My mother in law has plenty of cherry tomatoes.  The yard is being watered frequently, though the drought in this part of the state is not so bad as other areas, and other states.

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TV report:  too hot to sit outside in the evening, so we are inside watching Undercover Boss and the Mentalist.  Love Patrick Jane's smile!

Viridian

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Friday Fragments July 20

It's been a lazy week at house of Viridian so there is not much to tell.  See who else is fragmenting at Half-Past Kissin' Time.

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 We finally got some rain yesterday, hurrah! We are in a low level of drought but not nearly as bad as many places in the USA.

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I have spent much of my time this week being a cook, bottle washer, chauffeur, and referee.  I did manage to get in some quilting time though.

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The local farm has their sweet corn in and we had some the other day.  Yum!  Time to get some more.

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In other agricultural news, my mother in law has ripe cherry tomatoes on her plants, and plenty of green regular tomatoes.  Us?  The big plant has finally bloomed.  The little plant has a few buds.

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I am berating myself for not working enough.  I should just let go.  It is vacation time after all.

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I am almost done rereading an excellent book about what you didn't learn about the settling of America, by Tony Horwitz.  It is called a Voyage Long and Strange.  He visits places like St. Augustine and Jamestown now, and talks to many interesting (and sometimes a bit crazy) people.  How much I did not know about the early days of the Spanish!

Viridian

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Friday Fragments July13

Gosh it's Friday again. I think I say this every week. Time to fragment with Mrs. 4444.

The best news of all this week is that I am writing to you on a brand new MacBook Pro.  No I did not win the lottery, it is a replacement by my place of employment  for a 4 year old Mac.  But it is indeed  wonderful.  I am still getting used to it - certain things are not quite like my old HP.  I will still do much University work on the HP because it has most of my files.

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I spent more time with second Son this week.  He gets overlooked a bit, with developmentally delayed #1 son demanding attention, and the Girl who thinks the world revolves around her.  So we went out for ice cream which was not good for the waistline but good for getting to know him more.

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And it's been cooler this week, hurrah.

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I go to the same grocery store every week and I know the plan of that store in my head.  It's easy just to slide in and get milk and say chocolate chips for cookies.  But guess what?  This week they have started a 'reset' of the store and now everything will move and I will wander disoriented down the aisles for hours.  I made a quick trip yesterday and it is partially torn up now.  Just one of those little things, but yes it does affect your day.

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I live in a political 'battleground' state and the TV ads have started.  What a tone they have! Viciously knocking down your opponent does NOT impress me.  This applies to both parties.  No other political comments from me, I promise.  I'll just say it's a long time until early Nov.

Viridian

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Friday Fragments July 6

It's Friday and time to fragment.  See Mrs. 4444's blog to see who else is participating.

Gosh, it's hot. Did everyone before me mention it's hot? Well it is. Predictions for today are a high of 99 to 101.

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Like many people in the Midwest we experienced the terrible winds and storms last Friday.  I was coming home with #1 son from the pool and it was so dark - in many years I've not see the sky get so dark so quickly, and the initial winds came down so fast.  I was looking at stuff blowing in the street, looking at trees bending over, checking for funnel clouds, and muttering, "I just want to get home... I just want to get home..."  We got home safely, and did not lose trees or power, thankfully.

******
Saturday afternoon followed with another hot day and a line of thunderstorms, with heavy winds also.  Was this going to become a daily pattern?  Luckily not, but now they are talking about approaching drought.

*******
A good Independence Day was had by the family, eating inside in the air conditioning.  We had chicken prepared in a marinade the children like, and all the usual fixings.  The ice cream sundaes were a hit.

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The Girl keeps harping on her 'need' for a cell phone.  For us, 12 is just too young for this.  Yes many of her friends do have one.  I guess I am getting old - I don't see the 'need' to text friends all the time.  And as recounted previously on my Friday Fragments, there was an issue with bullying texts sent using another girl's phone, and my daughter being involved.  So don't start planning anytime soon Missy.

Viridian


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Friday Fragments June 29

Yesterday in this corner of the Midwest it hit 100 deg F (that is 37.8 deg C)! Unheard of in June! Yet we are not supposed to say global warming. Don't get me started.....

Today I am joining in after a short absence with Mrs. 4444 at Half past Kissing time.  See who else is fragmenting today.

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We are back from a whirlwind family vacation.  I slept in beds in 4 different places.  After 12 days away I am glad to be in my own.  I think the kids are glad to be back too.

******
Stop one: Niagara Falls, both the American and Canadian sides.  Sure it's "just" a waterfall and parts are tacky but it's still amazing and great fun with children.  We loved the Maid of the Mist boat ride right up to the Horseshoe Falls.  It is more than amazing to look up (through water smeared glasses) and see 180 degrees from right to left of million of tons of water falling all around you.  We also took the Whirlpool Jet boat ride and that was very exciting!  Mom was more scared than the children, though really there is nothing to be scared of - these drivers and tour guides are experts!  I could go on but this is a fragments post, and I only blog about family stuff for Friday Fragments.

******
The main reason for the trip east was my brother's wedding, a non-traditional one on the beach in Maine.  The Girl was the flower girl and was excited and nervous ahead of time.  I reminded her that the bride was the star of the day, not her.
We waited at the dune line and my brother, best man, and the minister (a good friend) walked closer to the waves (not too close).  My brother drew a large heart in the sand.  The families walked in, then the flower girl, then the bride and her father.  The bride and groom stood at the top of the heart facing the families.  Poetry was read, songs were sung, and promises made.  It was wonderful.

Viridian

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Friday fragments June 8

Are you ready to fragment? See Mrs. 4444 for her fragmenting party. Click on the icon below.

I had thoughts on and off all week about FF - now that I'm sitting down at the computer on Friday morning they have evaporated, I guess.

******
#1 son's hair is growing back out, and he hasn't attempted to cut it again, so that is good.

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In bad news: I backed into a street sign (which promptly fell over) and I damaged a reflector near the bottom of the right hand side of the van.  OK, it's completely wrecked, but the bumper is not crushed, thank goodness.  Sometimes I just don't want to leave the house.

******
I exercised more this week, and I am feeling better.  Didn't lose any weight though. :-(

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We had a morning of room clean up, and a morning of clothes sorting.  Many clothes are going off to charity.  I must say that Second Son and the Girl did a great job, without a complaint.

Well that is all until next time.  I will be on the road on a family vacation next Friday and I may or may not be able to check in.

Viridian

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Friday Fragments June 1

Ready to fragment? Join Mrs. 4444 and see who else is fragmenting today.

******
I am back after a few weeks away doing work related research. And I liked doing this research even though it meant tromping through the woods looking at rocks, surrounded by mosquitos. So I am a good fit for my job and my chosen research.

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When I was away in mid-May, #1 son decided to cut his own hair. Not once but twice. I don't think it was coincidence that Mommy was away. The first time he used the trimmer on his brother's electric razor (just received for a birthday present) to cut a stripe straight back on his head, sort of a reverse mohawk.  Then the next day, in a 15 minute window of time in which he was left unattended, he took scissors and chopped at his bangs.  I was told it looked dreadful, and so my sister in law picked him up from school and took him to the barber, where the only option really was to shave his head.

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When I got back, he looked dreadful.  Like an old bald man.  He of course denies that he cut his own hair, but has trouble explaining why he had to go to the barber. (reminder: he is developmentally delayed.)

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I went to the hospital yesterday for a seminar on weight loss surgery.  My BMI is high but not high enough to qualify me for the surgery.  But it is so depressing to lose some weight, only to gain it back.  I went looking for an option, which is not available unless I gain another 50 pounds.  Which I do not plan to do.

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The statistics they presented on weight loss without surgery were depressing too.  Of people who do lose weight through diet and exercise, 95% of them gain it back within 5 years.  Unless of course they keep exercising like a fiend.  Do I have to handcuff myself to the treadmill?  Do I have to consider 2 spoonfuls of low fat cottage cheese as a meal?  I hate this!

******
I am sorry to leave this entry on such a down note but the fact is I am in a low spot today.

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Friday Fragments May 11

It's Friday again, a perfectly beautiful sunny day in May.
Join Mrs. 4444 for more Friday Fragments.

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This was supposed to be my week of vacation - relaxation before summer work and teaching an on-line course begins.  In reality it was only two days, as various errands, meetings, and obligations crept up on me.

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#1 Son was confirmed on Sunday, and that was a special day.

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My contribution to our culture:  I discovered a better way to shave my armpits.  Instead of dragging the razor in an upwards motion, or in a downwards motion, I slid the razor sideways, resulting in a much closer shave and smooth armpits.  Oh yes, a new razor helps too.  Have I discovered something new or did you all know about this already???

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I'm on the road next week - heading to New England for work-related stuff.  I'll be able to visit my parents also.  However I will not be able to fragment on Friday.  See you in two weeks.

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this week's stamp from a Postcrosser:

Isn't this incredible?  It is from Thailand.  I think I am going to feature it this week in Sunday Stamps on my other blog, Viridianpostcard.blogspot.com.
Viridian
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Friday Fragments May 4

Friday Fragments for this week:*****
I don't have to count down how many more days of school there are - it's over!  My last final to give was yesterday and I just have some more correcting to do.  Yippee!

*****
I don't have to post marks until Tuesday morning.  In the interim comes the parade of college students, begging for a few extra points, saying they will lose their scholarship, whining that the final was too hard, etc.  I don't post my marks until the last minute to cut down on that parade.  I hate this part of the semester.

*******
#1 Son is back in school today because his suspension is over.  Let's hope he is having a good day.  With some careful and gentle questioning, my husband found out why he was collecting cigarette butts.  Son was pretending he was in NCIS and he was collecting "evidence."  Poor guy!  But state law says the school must take action.

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A pretty card I received from Postcrossing.  What is Postcrossing? "The goal of this project is to allow people to receive postcards from all over the world, for free. Well, almost free! The main idea is that: if you send a postcard, you will receive at least one back from a random Postcrosser from somewhere in the world."  This card came from the Netherlands.

Join Mrs. 4444 for more Friday Fragments!

You can follow me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Viridian61/347674418583948

Viridian

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Friday Fragments Apr. 13

I am waiting on my morning coffee - anxiously.....

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I don't think I have mentioned it before, but #1 son is developmentally delayed. (Oh V, tell it like it is, he is retarded.)  He is 15 but mentally about 7.  This brings various trials, some of which happened this week.
On Wednesday the Girl had asked and received permission to go to a ice cream store with her friends instead of coming home on the bus.  So when dad came home (he goes to work very early so that he can come home early to meet the bus) he wasn't surprised that Girl wasn't there - but he was surprised that #1 Son did not get off the bus.  You guessed it - #1 son decided to go to ice cream store too.  I suspected this, but still it was scary b/c we didn't know where he was.  When dad picked up the Girl at the prearranged time there was #1 son, so all worked out.  Sort of.

****
#1 Son ended up in his room and lost privileges.  The tough part was, he insisted he wasn't in trouble and I think he really didn't know what he did wrong.  He wanted to go so he did.  Dad picked him up so it was OK.  He kept trying to get out of his room.  He kept saying "I not in trouble!" Not even my sister in law, who is close to him, could convince him otherwise.  She was confused and troubled by this.  "Welcome to our world," answered my husband.

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My sons received for Christmas a set of walkie talkies - real ones, not kid toy ones.  I think they have a range of a mile or two.  They have fooled around with them a little bit, but this week (yesterday) the 2 boys were using them and discovered that someone else was using the same channel -- and they talked to this stranger.  This happened when both Dad and I were working late and no adults were home.  I am indebted to the Girl for this information.  Second son gave one of the walkie talkies to a friend and only had one when dad came home.  It is gone now needless to say.  Second son was angry and defensive when we talked to him last night.  And he was furious with the Girl for "tattling."  I hugged the Girl and told her she did the right thing.  Good Lord this could have ended up much worse.  You understand why Dad and I rarely work late and go over our schedules beforehand to check on 'coverage.'  Yes, I realize things happen even with 'coverage' but we feel better if one of us is at home.

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Well that is enough for one week.  Let's hope Friday is calmer. See more Fragments at Half-past Kissin time.

Viridian

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Friday Fragments April 6

Time to de-fragment!

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I was ready to defragment on Wednesday, my last day of school before our longish Easter Break.  It felt like Friday too!  I went to Mrs. 4444's blog to find her Friday Fragments, but it wasn't there!  THEN I remembered it was only Wednesday.

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What I did find was Mrs. 4444's entry on Anna's blog at an Inch of Gray.  I have been reading Anna's blog even before that terrible accident.  Anna's blog entry made me tear up - again- and resolve to do more with people I know who are grieving.  Especially months afterwards.

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Anna's blog postings make me hug my own children tighter, and more often, much to their dismay.

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Earlier this week, I was burning my Febreze candle to get the chili smell out of the kitchen. (Chili is great but the smell lingers!)  My second son said, "Mommy, may I burn my candle?" (His candle is the one I bought from him to support the choir fundraiser.) "Of course, dear," I said, thrilled that at 13 he used 'mommy', and reaching for the matches.  "I can light it myself," second son reminded me.  Of course, former boy scout, and 13, you can.

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The Girl however is sure that we are the worst parents in the world.  She is 11, almost 12, and we would not let her go to see The Hunger Games with her friend!  Horrible parents!  And yesterday I washed her bed sheets and did not put the bottom sheet back on.  Bad mommy - you disturbed the 50 stuffed animals and pillows on her bed!  And now she has to put the bottom sheet back on herself!
I found her this AM in a ball, wrapped in a blanket, on top of the mattress pad, sheets still on the floor.  A sign of fun times to come in the next few years.

Viridian

I'm on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Viridian61/347674418583948 if you would like to follow me.

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Friday Fragments March 23

Time for the data dump for the week.

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The biggest news of all: My brother is getting married!!!!!! My younger brother, my only brother. He is in his mid-forties and living with his wonderful girlfriend for about 10 years, but this June they are going to get hitched. It will be a small mellow ceremony in a nature preserve and planning is still in progress. We will be there!!!

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Warm temperatures this week in the midwest that has me a little freaked out. Late June weather in March??? Yes I do worry about global warming.

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A sign of Spring: the goldfinches are back! And yesterday they circled my empty thistle seed feeder, loudly complaining. I'll have to get some seed at the store this weekend. I like all birds but goldfinches are one of my favorites. I have one of those feeders where the birds hang upside down to get at the thistle seed. It's so fun to watch the goldfinches eat this way, and the purple finches can't do it and fall off.

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The Girl has a wonderful science teacher this year, and she has become interested in marine biology. So I looked up on the internet marine biology summer camps. Some are sailing cruises and offer scuba training too. The price will give you sticker shock! Yet it's understandable: these camps need a qualified staff and upkeep and overhead must be much more than a tent camp in the woods of the Midwest.

We are going to wait a few years - she is a bit too young we think right now. And see if her interests continue, or perhaps switch. Maybe she would like an art and music camp in the future. The tiger mom and dad in us also would like this kind of experience to be during high school, so it can be part of her college application. Oh yes, and we do have to save some more money!

You can follow other fragmenters at Half Past Kissin' Time.

Viridian

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