This week has been crazy already and its just Wednesday. I guess it must be the same for the rest of you since there are literally hundreds of hits to this site and not any comments.
Where are all of you?
Last week when I posted that I was doing so well with my decorations - I guess I was exaggerating because I'm still not done....but my life is a progress and I don't think I ever "get done," do I? I can say that I am closing in on being finished and may actually be able to put everything away by Friday afternoon. heck, I may be decorating Christmas Eve if the urge strikes me, LOL.
We had a slight detour of accomplishments with getting the electronics hooked up this week. We did get back to the holiday decorations yesterday though. We got the floodlights in the front yard done. I'll get the ones on the roof of the porch this afternoon when it gets closer to being dark. They illuminate the wreaths on the front windows of the house. What a maze of extension cords and timers and whatnot. I'll share pictures of the final product in a few days after I'm done with it all.
Our electronics are installed - including our flat screen TV, the amplifier, the 2 CD carousels holding over 360 Cd's, the DVD player, the C*omcast box and our Bose surround sound system. I was so proud for my hubby last night when he relaxed on our couch (in our clean and uncluttered den), flipped through channels and electronic equipment operated by his remotes and enjoyed a program in HDTV. I swear that it'll take a week to wipe the grin off his face. It has been since September coming - but it arrived and it was sweet to witness his joy.
A is up to her armpits in finals this week, God Bless Her. I spoke with her yesterday and the news was mixed. My heart goes out to her as she navigates this 'right of passage." Seems that during her first final - Philosophy - she drew a complete blank on all the material. First final jitters, I told her, because I'm sure that is exactly what it was. She knew the material inside and out and went into the final with a 96 in the class. She told me how she sat there and couldn't remember the answers to more than half of the questions and felt little of anything short of panic....even though she had studied and kept current the entire semester. She says the best that she can hope for now is that the average that she had going into the final will support the bombing on the final enough for her to keep a B. The final counts for 30% of the grade. Seventy % of her grade is a 96. Math is not my gift. How bad could she do and still keep an 85 in the class?
The good news is that the final that she had the next day (Tuesday) went remarkably well. She had that first one behind her and she said that she thinks she 'kicked-butt' on the History final. She felt confident. I felt relief. The French final is Thursday evening and she says that she is ready. If she finishes before 9PM, then she will come home Thursday evening. If it is later than 9, she'll wait till Friday morning before driving home.
I want to see her rewarded with good grades because she has worked hard this semester. She has done what she was supposed to as far as studying and preparing for class on a consistent basis. I want to see it pay off for her. I want to see her keep a B average so that she can keep the Hope Scholarship. I want to see her keep on having a positive experience with college. I want to see her succeed.
M has been staying with my parents this week instead of at the apartment with her dad. He's been in the hospital (again). He has issues with blood clots. He's had these issues since before I got pregnant with M in 1990. His body produces an extraordinary amount of Vitamin K which makes him more likely to develop deep vein thrombosis. He's been on best rest for the past month because he developed some more in his legs after having the accident at his work. Last week he was having severe shortness of breath and chest pains and was concerned (rightly so) that the clots had moved to his lungs.
He was right. A trip to the ER and a few days worth of test and lots of heparin....and he's on the mend. He also had a procedure where they place a filter in his groin artery to catch the clots before they move. I sure hope it works. Really, I do.
His health is getting worse and worse. Aside from the issues of financial stuff (like how he still owes us $8K and doesn't even have a job and how is he going to support M?) I'm growing more and more concerned about his "ability" to care for M properly. He's been out of work now for almost 3 months, drawing Worker's Comp, with little income. He's been on best rest for 5 weeks - not supposed to drive, engage in any physical activity, etc. How is he going to provide for and care for a very challenging 14 year old adolescent female? He is so skilled at drawing innocent others into caring for him....M doesn't need that in her life.
He's been in and out of the hospital the past 3 years, had his kidney removed because of renal carcinoma, he got fired from a stable job of 16 years with excellent income and benefits because he just didn't show up one day and didn't call, took work driving a tractor trailer to earn income, supposedly got involved in an accident with that job, has been drawing worker's comp for over 3 months, can't afford to make payment/pay the taxes/buy gasoline for his $45K vehicle, and his wife kicked him out of the home that he owneD.
There's an old saying, "What goes around, comes around" and I can't help but wonder if his karma is catching up with him.
And you know the ironic thing about all of this? I don't take any pleasure in seeing him like this...sinking deeper and deeper into the mire.
I feel the same as you on this. My ex had a bad ladder accident a couple weeks ago. Had surgery yesterday(Tues) to repair his nose. Last week it was surgery to put a plate in his wrist. He is going to be out of work for 3 months or more. I have the kids so that helps but now his new wife is trying to use the kids to pour guilt on me about his child support. I would consider things more if he were to step up and talk to me himself but he is a coward. Bad part is I need his money to take care of the kids...I hope all works out for your daughter
Posted by: Dee | December 14, 2005 at 07:50 AM
My hope is that your daughter will eventually see that her father's going nowhere. I wish the same for my Meagan, but I'm not holding my breath.
Posted by: Dale | December 14, 2005 at 08:23 AM
Well, not her father. Her mother. Yeah. That's what I meant. *grin*
Posted by: Dale | December 14, 2005 at 11:10 AM
I'm here! I missed quite a bit on my blog rounds and have been trying to catch up.
If your daughter went into the finals doing so well, she may have done better than she expects. If not, she can probably ask her teacher for a retest.
Posted by: Ahavah | December 14, 2005 at 01:44 PM
Re: the exams...I've been amazed through college and grad school how much more "cooperative" professors are with students who have really shown the effort during the semester, as opposed to being less cooperative with those who have slacked their way through. The work and grades should insure she'll do fine!
Re: the other issues...just praying here for all involved...our thoughts your way!
Posted by: Charlie Pharis | December 14, 2005 at 05:46 PM