Recently in Colby Category
Yesterday was an attempt to finish the last little piece of baseboard that needed painting and the small window frame. A trip to Lowe's was needed for a couple little things. NOTHING went as planned yesterday.
Nothing.
Colby had a tire blow out yesterday. She was on a busy 8 lane highway. Thank heavens she was in the far right lane when it happened. The truck tire blew out and threw her into the curb. Hitting the curb peeled 1/4th of the rim away from the rim body.
Cell phone photo.
She called me crying and not knowing what to do. She was not hurt. That is the good news.
The bad news she was too far away to limp into a service center.
I called a tow truck.
I got her to the tire center.
The back tire and rim, shot. The rim and the front tire is too damaged to use as well from slamming into the curb.
2 rims + 2 new tires = Entire first paycheck.
What a rude welcome to the real world of adult life.
Yesterday was Colby's second day as a working girl. She had departmental orientation for most of the morning. After she had to be custom fitted for a duck billed mask as protection when working with tuberculosis patients.
So everything is fine. The mask is going well. The person fitting her for the mask sprays her with a saccarine mist to test the integrity of the mask.
Within 5 minutes Colby's face has begun to swell. Her neck, and cheeks are covered in rising welts and her eyes are watering and swelling shut.
She had an allergic reaction to the mist.
She spent the rest of the afternoon being shuttled to and from associate wellness centers, pharmacies and her working department being treated for the acute allergic reaction.
She was then sent home with Benedryl and prescription cremes.
She slept three hours yesterday late afternoon and early evening.
This morning the swelling is gone. The blotches are barely visible.
My little girl has been at her first grown-up job since 6:30 am.
She loves it.
Saturday night we went to a corporate 'holiday' party. Yes, I know it is January. It seems MANY companies have their holiday parties in January in D.C. It must be easier to rent the ballrooms AFTER the holidays in question because nearly every nice hotel was crawling with party goers.
Saturday morning I went out looking for a pair of black heels. I haven't worn heels since before I got pregnant with Steven. I ended up at Payless of all places and found a simple pair of black heels. Everything I own is opened toed and I really thought a closed toe was better with the outfit I was wearing.
Palllazo pants with side split and new black heels.
I wore a red blouse/jacket type thing that I bought myself before Christmas as a gift to me. I popped in the shop after finally getting a pair of shoes yesterday and found the silver/grey similar styled blouse on clearance and then 40% off that price so I picked it up and brought it home too. I have no idea when I will ever get to wear it.
I find this to be a very elegant red.
The only thing I have to show for the incredible night view of the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial is this shot of the back of Steve's head. The flash would not turn off! so you can guess I nearly blinded him while he drove us along I-395.
If only you could see the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial.
I did get a photo of the second tunnel on I-395 before we got lost and ended up on New York Avenue down SW way. Holy Moly.
Second tunnel on I-395.
We were not the only party goers with poor directions. Many people said the directions issued with the invites sucked. But evenutally we found ourselves where we were supposed to be somewhere along New Jersey Ave. in a hotel ballroom.
The employees were given $125k in poker chips. Each $25k was worth one raffle ticket. We ended up with $625k in chips at the end of the night. We planned blackjacked and nothing else.
Lots of drinks and lots of food. It all flowed freely. The DJ man looked like Jerry springers long lost brother. The games was a large screen TV. People danced. Several women looked to be one drink away from hugging the porcelain throne.
It was a fun night. I enjoyed meeting everyone.
However ...
How do so many very skinny and pretty young 20-something women end up with cellulite clear down to their ankles? Who never taught them that strapless dresses do require undergarments because small saggy breasts make your dresses look cheap. Why do they not comb their hair? I mean seriously when did a hot mess become fashionable?
Aside from critisizing their appearance I met several very sweet young women.
I also learned that my 'sweet gentlman' husband has been charming these women into submission. They gush over him. They smile so sweetly and offer to get him drinks. They stand behind him and watch him play blackjack. One had a complete startled look when she found out I was his wife.
It would be so easy to get upset over this behavior but I know why they fawn over him. He uses his manners while talking to them. I witnessed much less-than-polite behavior from others toward these young girls/women.
Steve and his other wife, Angie. Jennifer is not pictured. :-/
One thing that will never die from this night out - our first nice night out in over two years - Steven introduced me as "Jennifer" - as in "This is my wife Jennifer" as I shook the hand of a nice young woman.
This was about the 6th or 7th time he was introducing me to someone new. Each time he did suavely and with perfection. This time - ummm not so suave.
I shook her hand and said, "Hi, I am Angie, Steve's other wife."
Hahahaha!
Enough about us.
Look who is working.
Colby before work.
Look who is climbing.
Fuzzy photo as I quickly shot, put down the camera and rescued him from himself.
CLIMBING.
If you have your wisdom teeth removed these are some things to have your mother make for you to eat for the next couple days.
Make sure you tell her thank you.
Roasted Potato Soup
Tomato and Basil Bisque
Broccoli and Cheddar Soup
Tapioca pudding
Chocolate pudding
Jello
Fruit and Yogurt
Lots of icey cold drinks
After eating these good things and realizing that you have to eat some things that need to be chewed so you can exercise your jaw you can then whine and be on the verge of tears about how mean and hateful your mother is.
When I was a teenager at the ripe old age of 15 I went down to the local Armory where the Georgia State Patrol had a tiny office and took the written portion of the driver's test and got my learner's permit.
During the school year I took a driver's ed class because I needed a class to fill a slot and I was really looking for a class I didn't have to do anything in that was remotely like real school work. Back in those days the gym coach(es) did the driver's ed and I can still spot one of those guys from a hundred paces.
The following summer when I turned 16 I went down and took the driver's test and got my license. So all told I have been driving for the past 25 years. (That is -25 years after my birthday on Sunday.)
When I drove a school bus the licensing was very similar to that of my 16 year old self. I had to drive a route, parallel park, back through cones, safely park on an incline, etc, etc.
Long gone are those days. Imagine my surprise when we moved to Virginia to find that in order to get a driver's license you had to go to an accredited driver's school course AND be approved by the circuit court. It was such a pain in the ass of jumping through hoops for a person who was homeschooled we just sort of let it ride.
Colby waited until she was 18 to get her learner's permit. It was far less of a hassel plus she was intimidated by the traffic up here. Driving in northern Virginia scared the beejesus out of her.
This summer she called around and got herself into a driver's school. What a freakin headache that turned out to be. Several school's did not ever bother to call back. We called so many places it is unbelievable. Finally one guy called back.
The guy was (and is) an arrogant, condescending asshole of gigantic proportions. He was (is) a loud mouth know it all. The minute I looked at him I told Colby I would bet just about anything he was or once was a high school gym coach who had to do driver's ed for the school as part of his contract.
After three lessons, and I mean lessons from hell, lessons where he would not return a phone call for a week and a half even though he had our money. Lessons where he was supposed to pick her up and drop her off but always found a reason or a way to get someone to meet him at some place nearby. Lessons where he was rude and down right nasty. Lessons where other parents were VERY upset with his verbal bashing of their kids but what can you do when the only way to get your kid a driver's license in this state is to complete the driving school and have the certificate approved and filed in the county circuit court. Lessons that really where NOT lessons because he did not teach the kids how to drive he monitored their skills and they only got drive about 30 minutes for maybe 7 'lessons'.
So anyway. Yesterday was Colby's lesson #3. He called me about 20 minutes into her driving and said "Colby is doing well. There is no need to continue on. Take her to the DMV and let her take the test. I think she will pass."
He did not sign off of her license. He seemed to want to wash his hands of having to come out this far for another 4 lessons. I did not think she drove nearly well enough to get her license. But I took her to the DMV anyway. On the way there she told me he made a comment about before he opened his own driving school he was a high school gym coach who had to teach driver's ed as part of his contract. Ha! I knew it!
She passed. (She didn't even have to parallel park!)
I have NEVER in my life been more worried about my child than I am at this very moment. People get killed in car accidents every single day. I will have no control over what happens when she is driving alone. I do not want her to drive alone. I am scared shitless someone will hurt my child because people up here drive like insane maniacs. People cause accidents because they are overly aggressive. I am scared to death for my child to be on the highway driving alone in this mess called traffic. Anyone who lives up this way can vouch for the insanity that is Metro D.C./Northern Virginia traffic. I have never seen anything like this traffic in any other place I have ever visited -not even check-in day at OBX.
I am going to need a prescription for valium to get me through this period in life where I have to let her go out on her own in car.
Maybe 2 prescriptions.
It is 2:17am. I am awake worrying about this right now.
My head hurts. So does my chest.
Happy Birthday, my sweet darling girl.
I love you, Colby.
Love,
Momma
Judy over at Just Ask Judy has been posting her sheetmusic collection. She posted one of my most favorites, Let Me Call You Sweetheart, a few days ago.
Many of these old tunes I sing to my babies in place of as lullabyes. Some bring water to my eyes, some leave me smiling and some I can't remember all the words and humm the tune while I rock my babies.
I do not have a nice singing voice. I wish I did. If there was ever a talent I wanted it was singing. My singing is so bad that Gracie would cry as an infant when I sang to her. As a toddler she would put her hand over my mouth and hush the words, "You no sing, Momma," she would say.
When Colby was little we sang together and often loudly. As a baby she hated riding in her carseat and would cry and scream. As she grew older and could sit in a forward facing carseat nothing much changed except the screaming was quieted but the struggle to keep her in the car seat was monumental. I would sing and ask her to help me sing and remember the words to keep her occupied until I got to where we were going.
BTW, Colby still finds it very funny when she remembers how Gracie would cry when I sang. The Hell?!? Kids aren't supposed to remember those things! I did not give permission!
With this baby boy I don't know if he likes my singing. When I sing and humm he gets very still and wants to nurse. Either the singing is comforting or he is trying to escape in any way possible and sleep is easier than learning to get up and run away.
For whatever reason the tunes come and go. Some long forgotten until a memory sets it off. That is exactly what happened the other day.
Susie over at the Underpaid Kept Woman headquarters posted her interview with Bill Thomas, the writer of music for the Captain Kangeroo show.
She noted a discussion with Mr. Thomas of runcible spoons (a pickle fork really) which made me think of The Owl and the Pussycat ... more specifically the first line:
I do love this tune. I sang it to my baby boy all day yesterday as he was having a bad day and finally he settled down and slept for a couple hours after we rocked and sang in the late afternoon.
Did I ever tell you that lullabyes make me cry? They do. No reason that I know of. Just emotion spills out all over the place int he form of tears slipping down my cheeks. I am tearing up just thinking of it.
I purchased the Jack Johnson cd, the Curious George Soundtrack, for Steven. I love his laid back voice. On a side note that has absolutely nothing to do with this post have any of you noticed that Jack Johnson looks like the little curious monkey named George? He does! If you go to his site, click films, bonus material and watch the Upside Down video. Love it! But these don't make me cry.
Sing me a lullabye, leaving the words in the comments - won't you please? Perhaps one you sang to your babies or one you remember from your own childhood. I am in the mood for lullabyes.
Updated to add: I found a website with the midi so you can get an idea of the tune to sing The Slumber Boat to your babies. The midi has a 1998 copyright. The song itself is public domain (as is most sheet music before 1923).
The Owl and the Pussy-Cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat ...
The Slumber Boat
Baby's boat's the silver moon, Sailing in the sky, Sailing o'er the sea of sleep, While the clouds float by. Sail, baby, sail, Out upon that sea, Only don't forget to sail Back again to me.
Baby's fishing for a dream, Fishing near and far, His line a silver moonbeam is, His bait a silver star. Sail, baby, sail, Out upon that sea, Only don't forget to sail Back again to me.
I had a bit of a meltdown last week. I was upset, crying and could not be consoled in any way, shape or form. You see, I was all set to tell you all about my Native American heritage while showing you some photos of my babies as newborns so that you can see that they do indeed favor me. However, as I looked for my photos from Colby's birth I became agitated. They were not to be found. Anywhere. I have come to the heartwrenching conclusion that when my Ex took some things from my house shortly after or during our divorce he managed to get those along with some papers, my engagement ring and some other small things I had saved and put away for my girls. What would seem bleak, the loss of the only birth photos of my child born almost 19 years ago, is not so bleak. I called my mother crying and upset. Like most mommas do she managed to calm me down and sooth my hurt. My mother has copies of all my photos and then some. All is not lost. She is sending me negatives and photos, the world has been set to rights and life is again good. In the aftermath this set me to another minor crisis. I began to obsess about the VHS tape I have of Colby as an infant. A tape that will date in just about 2 months as 19 years old. 19 years old! How long do VHS tapes and images last before they begin to breakdown, the images fade or the integrity of the tape itself falter and break? Exactly! I don't know either!! So I got all upset (again!) and began a misson Friday morning to hunt out and claim for myself the technology to preserve the only tape in existance of my child as an infant almost 19 years ago. Now you might suggest that I send this tape off or take it to a studio and have it copied. You might, and that would be good. But, knowing the only images of your first born is on that tape (and it is the only tape!) would you hand it off to strangers without being worried sick over something happening to it out of your control and all being lost for eternity? I thought not, too. After much research, talking to sales people, hunting down the product, I made this purchase. The set up was simple (almost too simple). In a matter of a few minutes, connecting an rca cable, and pressing a button, the only VHS tape of infant Colby was transferred to DVD. All VHS tapes will now be copied over to DVD. Everything will be archived, a copy placed in the safe deposit box and I will rest and get over this obsessive behavior. In other news, I am off to the pediatrician this morning. It is time for the baby to have his vaccination. Ugh! I hate the neccesary evil of immunizations. I am prepared with infant tylenol drops and hoping he won't have a rough time with it. Colby and Gracie would run a fever and be cranky for a couple days after their shots and I do dread that whiney fussiness and hope it doesn't inflict itself upon him. Meanwhile you get the anticipation of seeing him in his little sailor suit later. When he is bathed and dressed and ready to go I plan to photograph him in his going-to-the-doctor-dudds because this little man is far too cute not too. Do I sound like a doting mother? Because. I. Am.
Dear old golden rule days.
'Readin' and 'ritin' and 'rithmetic,
Taught to the tune of a hick'ry stick.
I was your queen in calico,
You were my bashful barefoot beau,
And I wrote on your slate,
'I love you, Joe,'
When we were a couple of kids.
