Hi All. I decided to do a TGIF post for today. I do miss the Thur Free Chats so we’ll see how this goes. If you guys like it or not.
I got my new glasses on Monday and I’m really happy with both pair. This is the first time in 5 years that everything with both pairs have been right. Thank you so much to the heavens above for that. Last year I got so frustrated with them that I asked for my money back and didn’t get new ones. I think they worked extra hard for me this time which I told them I highly appreciated. Last year my lens’s got put in backwards. I mean REALLY, how does that kind of thing happen???
Whew. We’ve had a lot of birthdays. We only have Jason and Sue left in the next few weeks and then we’re done for a while. We have sooooo many in July and August. We were down at Toby and Sue’s tonight for Trinity’s birthday cake and that was fun. It’s always good to see everyone.
This is the first weekend in a long, LONG time that we have no plans. There is a craft fair in Buffalo that I may go to on Sat morning and meet Nikki there. It depends on how hot and humid it is. I love craft fairs and it’s not far from here. We do have to get over to the cabin too and mow the lawn. It is supposed to heat up so the lake is a good place to be.
So, what’s your week been like and do you have weekend plans?
Us Girls..Our Views 
It all sounds great Joy! Sounds like a fun time with all the birthdays going on. I’ve been enjoying the pictures.
I miss the Thursday posts too! However, a little change is good! I simply learned to save my brain dumps for Sunday nights.
So what’s happening . . . still out gallavanting most evenings, then back home to work at night. Today we closed another big project so it was nice to close that file. I also handed off almost all the remaining work for a nonprofit board I recently resigned from. Today also I finally bought our family membership at the rec center, and the girls and I went swimming again. I love how confident the girls are in the water. At least, I think that’s a good thing, LOL. I tried teaching them to dog paddle today. Miss E is pretty close to swimming, but she is too lazy to kick her legs much. Miss A was a bit nervous today because they had turned on all the obnoxious sprinklers. Oh well, time is on our side.
I’m glad to hear you liked your glasses. I can’t believe they put your lenses in backwards last year. That reminds me of what I have just been dealing with. My kids had picture day at school (nobody bothered to tell me in advance, of course) and one of the photos was really cute. It was the two girls sitting with their arms around each other, and the photo really captured their personalities, right down to their individualized shoelaces. Included with the proofs was a note that they were offering a “new” product – photo gift items via internet purchase. I ordered a few overpriced items for the grandparents, etc. When I got the shipment, every item was completely unusable. Heads cut off, parts of other people’s photos at the left & right, etc. Obviously nobody bothered to look at the items before they went into the box. So I called to complain (something I almost never do). I mean, this was really expensive stuff and there was no way I could give it to anyone. So the company was all apologetic and promised to work with the supplier to get it right. Yesterday I received the second box. Two of the items were OK, but the mugs – they were simply unacceptable. I honestly don’t even want them in my own house, they are that bad. I am now going to get my money back, but isn’t it sad that some companies just don’t bother to try? I felt bad for the photo company because the supplier was so careless, but they really need to ensure quality control. (I think I was the first customer who tried the gifts, so I guess I was the guinea pig.)
I had the parent meeting with the vision therapy people. Not surprisingly, they recommended therapy and I signed her up. However, I was left with an uncomfortable feeling. They are implying that my kid’s high level of astigmatism is caused by her doing “close work” at school. I know that’s not true since she had most of the astigmatism before she started preschool, but is “seatwork” making it worse? That is what they do at her preschool; I can’t see telling them to make Miss A go do something else during that time. The other thing is the glasses I just bought. This dude says he is probably going to prescribe a pair with a weaker prescription in order to encourage her eyes to develop better eyesight. So, which prescription is really better for her? And third, I have no way of knowing how much this therapy stuff is really going to help. I assume the doc was just trying not to “overpromise,” but I really wanted him to say “you’ve come to the right place! Your kid will be totally fine by KG.” Finally, now that I have a diagnosis, my friend says I’m negligent if I don’t have her thoroughly tested for neurological problems. I feel that’s a little overboard. Anyhoo, a lot to think about. At least I feel like I’m doing “something.”
Had Sears come the other day to try to sell us a roof. Say, how much do roofs cost in general? We’ve gotten a couple of very different quotes. And between us, there is disagreement as to how important it is to get the job done really well. (I think it’s pretty important!). We probably won’t go with Sears, but I’m not too comfortable just hiring the guy whom our maid recommended to us (he’s her boyfriend).
Weekend plans? None, really – other than work. I may just take the girls to the zoo on Saturday evening again. Might as well use that membership while I can.
SKL.
Saw your comment, especially, the part about Sears selling you a roof, and wondering what roofs cost in general…I’m a contractor living in the midwest. (Iowa) Just bid on a roofing job again yesterday and got it. There are several variables that can make quite a bit of difference in the final cost of a roof….typically, the labor is about 1/2 of the total cost of many construction projects. Secondly, do they need to remove the existing shingles? If there is only one layer on currently and there are no leaks, then it is fine to install a second layer w/o removing the old ones…that can save you 25 to 30% in the cost of the labor, plus where we live, to dispose of the old shingles, they have to go to a landfill which charges 4 to 5 cents a pound. There are other details to keep in mind…ie. the lowest bid is not always the one to go with….ask your friends and relatives if they have anyone they’ve done business with they would recommend because just because someone drives a pickup truck and wears a tape measure does not a roofer make. 🙂
(SKL, ignore this… I don’t want to be like those women who find out that you’re pregnant and then tell you all their birth horror stories. I hate that)
DM… Where in Iowa are you? Maybe I don’t want to know… I just hired roofers out of Cedar Rapids to do our roof, because I called (I’m not kidding) FIVE CONTRACTORS… One came out two days later to do a look over, and left an estimate in my hands when he left. A second one called me back, but didn’t show up for a week and a half, and STILL hasn’t sent me an estimate (it’s two months later, and I’ve called them multiple times), and the other three never gave me a callback, even after several inquiry calls from me – where I hit voice-mail every single time.
I had to go with the CR outfit by default. Hopefully, they’ll be good. They were recommended by a local contractor – he’s never used them, but has seen their work – so, fingers crossed.
DM, we’re planning on having the whole roof re-done, not another layer on top of the old one. The Sears dude says there are already 2 layers up there and it is leaking some. Frankly this project is way overdue.
What should we check into if we do consider using a small company? I’m thinking how long they’ve been in business, are there any bad reports out about them, etc. They have a Website that isn’t very functional and my friend says “see this, they sound really good.” Well, considering it’s THEIR Website, I am still not convinced. She wants to do it cheap because she doesn’t think the house is worth spending a lot. I say that a leaky roof is unacceptable no matter whether you’re humble or fancy and especially if you think you’re going to sell your house and upgrade. And I don’t want to have to do this again until I can make my kids pay for it.
From the perspective of a complete newbie – I’d check to make sure they’re bonded & insured. I’d check with the BBB. I’d also ask them for a list of references. Also, if you know someone who is a general contractor (someone local that you trust – I’m lucky to have a neighbor who fits that bill), you can ask him. The insiders know.
I’m sure DM will have other suggestions, as well.
smaller contractors are notorious for not carrying workers compensation on their co-workers…which if someone gets hurt on your project could potentially involve you..so I would make sure they do carry workers compensation and builders risk on their company. Don’t just take their word for it (especially if you don’t know them) If they are legit they won’t be offended…if on the other hand they cop an attitude if you ask them about workers compensation (that is a BIG RED FLAG) because it is illegal. and as Laura said quite accurately “insiders know” if you have a small town lumberyard in your town, I would ask the store manager if he would recommend anyone.. it is crazy how much estimates can vary…I bid on a small roofing job for just over $3000.00 the next highest bid was for $4500.00 and the top bid was over $7000.00 for the same project. That’s why I always tell people who ask me for a bid get three bids.. doesn’t mean you always go with the lowest # either.
SKL – THIS one’s for you!
Regarding your pictures – can you ask the photographer for the negative/.jpg of the pictures that they tried to have made into gifts? Perhaps you could take them somewhere else and have those same things made. Believe it or not, I’ve actually seen stuff done by our local Wal-mart that have come back really cute. Mugs, mouspads, that kind of stuff.
They actually offered to send me the e-photo and I just got it yesterday. So that is probably what I’ll do. It just amazes me that a company would produce a photo gift item with no concern whatsoever about how it looks. Isn’t it costing them a bunch of money to keep making and shipping stuff that they won’t get paid for?
You’d think… I mean, that’s just common sense. Oh…. wait….
My week has been great. Great news from the school district regarding my tests and interview; work at at the school is as great as I thought it would be; husband is very happy with his birthday presents! 😉 ; And the weather is great, so I am not complaining. This weekend will be a slow one, no much plans for now, other than going out for dinner tomorrow at the harbor, which is a special thing for us.
Lilah and I had a wonderful week though she seems to have forgotten what the word “NO” means. We’re working on it. No plans for the weekend unless Lilah and I decide to chase down the Obamas. I hope you have a great weekend. I went to get new glasses a few weeks ago and found out I don’t need them. I need cataract surgery. I’m just not in the mood for surgery right now.
This week was one of those “dothisdothisdothis” weeks… I have a to-do list that’s as long as my leg, and been trying to get it done. But I have “Chore A.D.D.” which means that I start one thing, then realize that something else needs to be done NOW, so I do that, and then THIS needs to be done, and then THAT, but in order to do THAT, I have to go back to finish chore #1, and the cycle starts over again, and nothing gets done.
I DID get my Career Counseling “homework” done, but that’s ironic, because that’s really always a work-in-progress, and is never done. But I’ve written stuff down and am prepared to discuss it, so there is that.
Josh starts school on Monday, which is a sigh of relief for me – that means that I have an actual schedule again. I’ve always prided myself on being a free-flowing, go-with-what-works kind of a girl, but I’m realizing that, when you have a husband who is disabled and a child who is active, you HAVE to be a schedule person, just so nothing falls through the cracks. And believe me, my freewheeling side is really feeling bridled and cramped!! But we’ll deal with it.
Sunday night, I’m supposed to be at school to help decorate. Josh’s school is awesome this way – we have a First Day of School Celebration – we start with a service lead by our Music Teacher and the school choir (sometimes Father participates, he doesn’t lead it), then the parents form a “bridge line” down the hallway… we stand facing each other and link our hands over the kids heads, creating a tunnel. The kids “run the gauntlet” on their way to class, and we parents make fools of ourselves, cheering them on. The kids absolutely LOVE it, especially the little ones. The older kids – middle schoolers – act all “too cool for this”, but you can see that they just can’t hide their smiles. It’s a lot of fun.
That does sound like fun. The first day of school is exciting, and it’s nice for parents to collectively let the kids know how important their endeavors are to us, and for schools to involve parents in those important moments.
One thing I wish my kids’ school would do better is communicate with parents. The other day I wanted to talk to the teacher about something and I asked both Teach and her boss to arrange for me to be able to have 10-15 mins with Teach the next morning. (This was my first such request and my kids have been attending for a year.) Boss lady looked at me like I was crazy, and my discussion with Teach had to take place in her classroom with her students running around undirected (interrupting, listening in, etc.). I really like my kids’ teacher but I can’t seem to get the communication thing down.
Another thing. I’m pretty much done getting the kids’ stuff up out of the basement (where it was shoved when Mr. VIP came over months ago). Man, they have a lot of stuff! Some of it is going to the little niece. (My poor sister probably makes a weekly run to the Goodwill with overflow from my kids.) Although the kids used to use the basement as a play area in inclement weather, those days are gone as it’s been taken over by Mr. Houseguest. He is not very neat (to put it politely) and he leaves the basement lights on every day when he goes to work. So when I go down there to turn the lights off, I bring a couple things up, clean them up, and put them away. Slowly but surely.
So since I’m in complaining mode about Mr. Houseguest, what do you say to someone who puts his used razor in your kids’ toothbrush holder?? Or am I just being intolerant? How about someone who won’t change the lightbulb leading to his own living quarters even though (a) he’s the only man in the house and (b) I put the ladder right there under the light fixture to make it easy for him? Ugh, I’d better quit while I’m behind.
I’m not the one to tell you how to tell someone something. I’m horrible at it. The razor in the toothbrush holder would really tick me off. I might “hide” that.
I’d probably go a little whacko on him about the razor in the toothbrush holder. Not only is that dangerous for little hands that aren’t very accurate with grabbing things… it’s just plain unsanitary. Eew.
The light on the way to his area? If he’s the only one who uses that hallway/area, let him walk around in the dark. sometimes you just have to let people wallow in their own stupidity for a while.
If the ‘leaving the light on’ thing is a problem… is there a way you can attach a timer? Many of the switches in my house are attached to outlets, to which I’ve plugged in a lamp. Attach a timer to the lamp – so it goes off at 9:00 every morning, and you’re good. Or tell him to start turning off the light, or his share of the electric bill is going up $10/month!!
Yes, sometimes a little hit to the pocketbook works wonders.
Our monthly cleaning ladies finally changed that light bulb. I wasn’t going to do it!! As for the lights, I already told one of the other homeowners that Mr. Houseguest had better get his driver’s license soon, because he’s gonna need it to drive to the hardware store and buy new flourescent bulbs when these ones blow out. Because I don’t think any of us should have to go to that trouble OR pay for that nonsense.
I am not sure about charging him because there’s a cultural thing going on. One of the co-owners is his aunt and where she comes from, young men are “boys” and need to be supported (and cleaned after by women) long after we Americans would get tired of that. I don’t know if he’s paying to live her and frankly, I don’t want to know. I just think he needs to learn how to think past his nose.
Who wants to place bets on when he gets his drivers’ license? He’s been in the US over 2 years and has been living in our house since before Christmas. It’s been on his list of things to do for months. Hey, why bother when you live in a house full of free chauffers?
This week has been okay. Long, but okay. I’m VERY glad it’s Friday and I only have one kid. Her older sister has been coming, because she can’t be responsible at home with her older sister. Shocker! A 7 and 14 yr old…not being 100% responsible?!
This evening Bailey is going to a sleep over, so Jason, my friend Sarah and I are taking our boat out and we’re going to do some much needed fishing. I am very excited to use my new fishing pole!!!! 🙂 It’s pink, does my mother in law know me or what?! We’ll have a few beers, and relax. I love being on the lake, nothing better than that!
I got a message this morning from a friends husband. She has been my friend for many years, but we had a huge falling out because I didn’t agree with who she was marrying, and I thought she was making a really big mistake. Didn’t help things that her new husband and I just butted heads bad. So we went a couple years without talking, and in the last year started talking again, her and I. We have met a few times for supper. So in this message he says, he wants to put the past behind us, he apologized for everything he said and did. He wants to surprise her with us going to their house for a BBQ. I should add, him and Jason also had problems. He talked to Jason also. I have to say I really admire him for taking that step. I miss her terribly, and I am looking forward to reconnecting in a more personal way, rather than meeting alone for supper a couple times a year. We do live in the same town! So that’s what we’re doing Saturday evening.
I hope it’s nice weather, and we can make it to the craft fair! I have never been to it!!
Well, I’ve had a pretty good week I guess. My oldest is now older and school is almost here! We got the school letter today and found out that my son and most of his friends are in the same class. I also learned today that Mr Ventura screwed us over when we bought our car, but I’m still not being screwed as badly as I could be. Way to long to type but after Ventura left office things went back to the way they use to be!
Mr Ventura also screwed up our schools.
Hope your having a fun week-end. I went to the Fair yestday. I really enjoyed looking at the flowers and the animals. I also went to the chiropracter yesterday so my back is still sore. I wish it would just get better. I’m tired of dealing with bad back. Not much fun, oh well hopfully it will be getting better soon. Another pretty day here not many plans today.