1 year ago
Sunday, September 6, 2009
A photo that will haunt him forever
Yesterday we went to Sue's lake house for a great Labor Day weekend outing. The kids started out in their swimsuits and then got dressed when we thought they were done in the water. Of course after dinner they all decided to go back in the water. Hannah put her suit back on but Jake decided to just take off his shorts and t-shirt.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Legal documents make my brain hurt
For the past two years Lincoln has been working for a small business that we own. It's a telecommunications business that has been doing fairly well despite the crappy economy and right now we're getting ready to take that business to the next level. Unfortunately that means a lot of legal and financial documents - two things that I absolutely hate. Our life is becoming a constant whirl of financial advisers, accountants, legal advisers, and insurance people.
Years ago there was a website, which probably still exists, where you could type something in English and have it translated into pretty much any language you wanted. There was a bit of an uproar at the time because students were using it to do their Spanish or French homework. You could also type something in a foreign language and have it translated into English for you. Well I've decided this world really needs a website where you could type in a legal clause and have it translated into plain everyday English.
For example: "all subject to the overall control and supervision of the Manager; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, to the extent that any matter requires agreement."
I just have to keep telling myself that dealing with all these legal and financial documents is a good thing and it means the business is doing well.
It still makes my brain hurt though.
Years ago there was a website, which probably still exists, where you could type something in English and have it translated into pretty much any language you wanted. There was a bit of an uproar at the time because students were using it to do their Spanish or French homework. You could also type something in a foreign language and have it translated into English for you. Well I've decided this world really needs a website where you could type in a legal clause and have it translated into plain everyday English.
For example: "all subject to the overall control and supervision of the Manager; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, to the extent that any matter requires agreement."
I just have to keep telling myself that dealing with all these legal and financial documents is a good thing and it means the business is doing well.
It still makes my brain hurt though.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
In a rut
This morning I was doing a bunch of stuff for the PTO while also helping Lincoln get the kids ready for school. On Thursdays and Fridays we actually have a little extra time in the morning since Jake doesn't need to be dropped off until 8:45 and Hannah until 9:00 a.m. (as opposed to Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays when Hannah has to be at Grandma and Grandpa's no later than 8:15 a.m. to catch the bus.)
Lincoln left the house with the kids shortly before 8:45 a.m. and I wrapped up what I was working on before racing up to take a shower and head into work. This of course meant I didn't have time to dry my hair. Here is where the "in a rut" part comes into play.
It's not uncommon for me to run out of the house with a head of wet hair. I must say most mornings I'm running out of the house at the last minute. Luckily I know that if I leave the house with wet hair that by the time I get to work it will be dry enough to pull back into a pony tail. Along those same lines I know which lights I'm likely to hit that will be red. I can stop at one and put product in my hair and know that by the next red light it will be ready to pull back.
As I was doing this routine this morning it occurred to me that I have been doing this commute for seven years. SEVEN YEARS! It's no wonder that I have it down to a science. I knew by the fact that I reached my exit at 9:48 a.m. I would be exactly three minutes late to work. And I was! I arrived at exactly 10:03 a.m. I know which lights are likely to be red and which ones I can usually time to be green. I know that from the exit to work there is no way to make it in less than 15 minutes no matter what I do. I know which lanes to be in and that Thursday is garbage pick-up day on Charlesbank Road, a tight windy road that is not enjoyable on Thursdays. I know how the light cycles on the stop lights work and can usually guess when the light is going to turn judging by when people gun their engines as it turns yellow to get through a particular intersection with a long light cycle.
I really need to find a new way to work.
Lincoln left the house with the kids shortly before 8:45 a.m. and I wrapped up what I was working on before racing up to take a shower and head into work. This of course meant I didn't have time to dry my hair. Here is where the "in a rut" part comes into play.
It's not uncommon for me to run out of the house with a head of wet hair. I must say most mornings I'm running out of the house at the last minute. Luckily I know that if I leave the house with wet hair that by the time I get to work it will be dry enough to pull back into a pony tail. Along those same lines I know which lights I'm likely to hit that will be red. I can stop at one and put product in my hair and know that by the next red light it will be ready to pull back.
As I was doing this routine this morning it occurred to me that I have been doing this commute for seven years. SEVEN YEARS! It's no wonder that I have it down to a science. I knew by the fact that I reached my exit at 9:48 a.m. I would be exactly three minutes late to work. And I was! I arrived at exactly 10:03 a.m. I know which lights are likely to be red and which ones I can usually time to be green. I know that from the exit to work there is no way to make it in less than 15 minutes no matter what I do. I know which lanes to be in and that Thursday is garbage pick-up day on Charlesbank Road, a tight windy road that is not enjoyable on Thursdays. I know how the light cycles on the stop lights work and can usually guess when the light is going to turn judging by when people gun their engines as it turns yellow to get through a particular intersection with a long light cycle.
I really need to find a new way to work.
Her air guitar needs a LOT of work
When we went school shopping last weekend Hannah purchased two very similar shirts. One she wore yesterday for the 1st day of school and the other one she wore today. She obviously enjoyed her "rock star" self yesterday so she decided she wanted to do it again today - including the photo op by the apple tree. The two of us trekked down to the apple tree this morning and then started walking back up the driveway.
As we were walking up the driveway Hannah started doing this goofy little jog and then would randomly stop and say "Pose!". It was absolutely hilarious. Here are a few pictures that I took when I was walking up the driveway behind her. Then I decided to run ahead of her and take a video. It is absolutely priceless.
She is such a ham in front of the camera which is why Lincoln and I were both so surprised that she didn't want to be in the HBO special.
As we were walking up the driveway Hannah started doing this goofy little jog and then would randomly stop and say "Pose!". It was absolutely hilarious. Here are a few pictures that I took when I was walking up the driveway behind her. Then I decided to run ahead of her and take a video. It is absolutely priceless.She is such a ham in front of the camera which is why Lincoln and I were both so surprised that she didn't want to be in the HBO special.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Not a good start to the year (subtitled: THIS is why we call her scatterbrained)
This morning was the first day of school and Hannah had a lot of stuff to take with her in her backpack. On top of her usual school supplies she also needed to take a check for lunch tokens and a note for her teacher regarding her bus schedule.
Me: Okay, here is a check for lunch tokens. When you get to school you go directly to the cafeteria and then take them directly back to your backpack. You don't play with them. You don't show them to anyone. Got it?
[Side note: Hannah has lost her lunch tokens in the past because she gets distracted walking back to her classroom from the cafeteria.]
Hannah: Okay.
Me: And here is a note for your teacher. When you put the tokens in your backpack take the note out and give it to her. The check and the note are in the same pocket. The same pocket where you'll put your tokens.
Hannah: Okay.
Me: Here is your lunch box with your snacks in it. Because your bag is full of school supplies it won't fit in the backpack. Make sure when you get off the bus you have your lunch box AND your backpack. Don't forget!
Hannah: Okay.
Me: Because I know how you are. You're going to get excited when the other kids get on the bus and you'll be talking and gabbing and get all excited and you're going to walk off without it.
Hannah: I won't.
Me: Okay.
(We go over all of this about 2 or 3 more times in different versions of the same conversation before heading over to catch the bus at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Before we drive over we have a discussion whether or not she needs a sweater and SHE decides she doesn't want to wear one.)
Me: Okay, the bus will be here in a minute. What's the first thing you're going to do when you get off the bus?
Hannah: Make sure I have my sweater!
Me (exasperated): That would be great except you didn't take a sweater today.
This is not getting 3rd grade off to a good start.....
Me: Okay, here is a check for lunch tokens. When you get to school you go directly to the cafeteria and then take them directly back to your backpack. You don't play with them. You don't show them to anyone. Got it?
[Side note: Hannah has lost her lunch tokens in the past because she gets distracted walking back to her classroom from the cafeteria.]
Hannah: Okay.
Me: And here is a note for your teacher. When you put the tokens in your backpack take the note out and give it to her. The check and the note are in the same pocket. The same pocket where you'll put your tokens.
Hannah: Okay.
Me: Here is your lunch box with your snacks in it. Because your bag is full of school supplies it won't fit in the backpack. Make sure when you get off the bus you have your lunch box AND your backpack. Don't forget!
Hannah: Okay.
Me: Because I know how you are. You're going to get excited when the other kids get on the bus and you'll be talking and gabbing and get all excited and you're going to walk off without it.
Hannah: I won't.
Me: Okay.
(We go over all of this about 2 or 3 more times in different versions of the same conversation before heading over to catch the bus at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Before we drive over we have a discussion whether or not she needs a sweater and SHE decides she doesn't want to wear one.)
Me: Okay, the bus will be here in a minute. What's the first thing you're going to do when you get off the bus?
Hannah: Make sure I have my sweater!
Me (exasperated): That would be great except you didn't take a sweater today.
This is not getting 3rd grade off to a good start.....
3rd Grade
Hannah started 3rd grade today so of course we had to do the annual pictures in front of her apple tree that she planted when she started kindergarten. Unfortunately my camera must have been on the wrong setting or something because the color quality isn't the best.
Pictures include: The traditional first day of school outfit and backback in front of the apple tree, her "rock star" pose to go with her outfit, showing off her "old school" Converse sneakers, the apples on her apple tree (we haven't killed it yet!), and a picture taken waiting for the bus at Grandma and Grandpa Snow's.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
This time last year
Here is one of my favorite pictures taken last year on Hannah's first day of second grade. Tomorrow is the first day of third grade for Hannah. Pictures will of course be posted as soon as possible.
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