The Crab Chronicles

Pinkeye Yuck

Friday, December 16, 2005

I was horrified to take Alesia to the doctor this morning and be told she HAS pinkeye. Her eye looked much better this morning. The doctor prescribed antibiotic eye drops, which was interesting. He also gave her some samples of a decongestant. We were out in less than an hour. I love a quick doctor. She couldn't go to school, though. I took her home to Granny.

For the holidays, we have a "goody" table set up at work. I took in the Apricot Brandy pound cake I had made, and lo and behold there were 2 other cakes there, from an expensive bakery. One of the new lawyers in our group brought them in. Everyone gobbled them up, and I came home with leftover cake. Mine was much better - even a gourmet bakery doesn't beat homemade. Mother was pleased but I was irritated.

I am pretty fed up with that place, with the petty backbiting and gossip. I am working with two lawyers who are ridiculously picky and won't sign things because I attach the wrong checklist, when it really doesn't matter. Plus I've taken some criticism for some ridiculous crap. Don't get me started. I will stay at least another year or so, so I can take FMLA leave with child #2, but I don't like it.

I came home and took Mother and Alesia to ride around and see Christmas lights. The more expensive neighborhoods and the more crappy neighborhoods do up a lot of lights. The middle class neighborhoods like mine are pretty subtle. We saw an 8 foot tall inflatable snowman in one yard that I would've found frightening if I were a child. Elena's family has enough lights in their yard to light up a Vegas floor show, plus nativity figures.

We finished watching Hello Dolly, and I told Alesia about singing in the chorus of that show at a local dinner theater my senior year in high school. It's been more than 25 years ago but I remember it as if it were yesterday. Lots of good memories.

After prayers tonight, I wanted Alesia to go to sleep, but she wanted to brush my hair. I used to love to brush my mother's hair, but I was always looking for the eyes she said she had in the back of her head. I let Alesia brush my hair. I told her not to hurt the eyes in the back of my head. She got a giggle fit. I really enjoyed passing along that lore to the next generation...

Holiday Blahs

Thursday, December 15, 2005

We had our departmental holiday party today at work. They served soft drinks and desserts from 3 until 4. There were some door prizes given away, but only about 6, in a department of over 100 people. It was a nice enough event, but last year we got to go home afterwards, and this year we had to return to work. This year we also got no bonus for Christmas – just a lousy 20% off coupon. The managers all got a bonus, but not us. It infuriates me.

My cube neighbor [and fellow paralegal] Shalida – who has been at the company 12 years - said they are getting ready to make the paralegals hourly, too. I cannot abide the idea of punching a time clock. It’s insulting. It will make it much harder for me to take off and go to the doctor, or do anything personal. I will probably look for another job. If I’m going to be treated like that I might as well go back to a firm and make decent money, at least.

Alesia tried to wear her suede shoes today in the pouring rain, and I had to scream at her twice to get her to change shoes. It made me so mad, I couldn’t kiss her goodbye this morning. I know it was petty of me and I felt bad later but I just couldn’t do it. Every day she acts like she only tolerates me giving her a little kiss on the forehead. Today when I didn’t kiss her she just shot me an angry lock and flung herself out of the car. Set the stage for a bad day for us both.

She was told by two of her teachers, in front of other students, that she has pink eye, and she shouldn’t be at school, and would give it to all the other kids. It embarrassed her. They should’ve sent her to the nurse, or spoken to her in private. I have to take her to the doctor first thing in the morning and get her cleared to go back. Her chest cold is about the same, and maybe it is pink eye [I doubt it] but they shouldn’t have embarrassed her. I was surprised to hear that Miss Kerivan was one of the teachers saying that to her.

At least the day ended on a happy note. We watched Hello Dolly on DVD. Brought back lots of nice memories for me, of when I was in the chorus of Dolly at the Westside Dinner Theater in 1980, my senior year in high school. Mother saw it on Broadway in the 60’s, and it was one of Dad’s favorite musicals. It’s sort of our family film favorite. Alesia enjoyed the dancing and seemed enthralled.

I made an apricot brandy pound cake to take to work tomorrow.

Language

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

It was a fairly uneventful day yesterday. Only one item worth posting on.

I did get an e-mail from Miss Kerivan, Alesia’s teacher, saying she had talked to her about her anger issues. Here is what she said:

We had multiple mini-discussions throughout last week with Alesia. She does get offended and becomes defensive about the possibility of making a mistake or not knowing how to do certain things. I had to give her a couple of examples when I myself misinterpreted people's messages or intentions although I understood every word that was being said. I even told her how ignorant and inferior I sometimes feel when I speak to my English-speaking peers. She was very surprised!

She has raised her little voice at me a couple of times when she was reprimanded for socializing during class, which she tries to do a lot. She does not accept disciplinary actions very well. She would not admit she was doing anything wrong, in fact she would talk back, "I am not talking." or "I am reading." And she is one of very few students that talk back to me. However, this is a "normal" teenage behavior, and she does not hold the grudge, get over little disagreements very quickly. My feeling is she is a good-hearted girl, kind, generous, good with kids. Just too sensitive to criticism, which is probably because she has been criticised a lot before and could not respond. Here in the US the home and schooling atmosphere in general is a lot more permissive. She will grow out of this.

Thank God for her. She can communicate with Alesia in Russian and express things so much more clearly than we can. I did reply that at hmoe we are not permissive, we are pretty strict with her.

Alesia still doesn’t understand things a lot, and it gets her angry and frustrated. I was trying to help Alesia with her science the other day and we looked up the word “suggestion” on the computer. She didn’t know that word. Every time I get too complacent about her English knowledge, she does something like that and I am reminded she is still on a steep learning curve.

Sunday

Sunday, December 11, 2005

We didn’t get everything done that I wanted to do, but we accomplished some things. We started Alesia’s science project [bought everything to start the experiment]. I fixed the breadbox. We prepared for gift wrapping by finding the wrap – always important – now we just have to find the scissors and tape, LOL.

After church, we went to Eatzi’s and picked up takeout food for lunch. Very yummy. I tried grape leaves stuffed with rice, tasted sort of vinegary, very nice. A Greek dish, I think. Also had my usual crab cakes. Alesia had pasta with shrimp and marinara sauce. Mother had boiled shrimp and chicken salad. We always have fun [and spend too much] in that place.

Alesia was in a good mood and was excellent all day. She only whined a bit when I asked her to clean up the kitchen. I pointed out that we all have chores, and I was helping Granny in the shower. When I came back a little while later the kitchen was spotless except for washing the pans. Just like Grandpa Tony. Funny how she reminds me of him.

No Bickering

Saturday, December 10, 2005

It was not a terribly interesting day. We went to lunch at a new place, bummed around a bit at a little store, came home. We went to Publix for groceries. Late this afternoon we all played monopoly.

It occurred to me just a minute ago that however ordinary a day it was, it was extraordinary in one respect. There was no bickering. I spoke sharply to Alesia once, but otherwise there was no bickering, no fighting. That's sort of remarkable. We are three incredibly strong-willed, opinionated women living in the same house, and we often clash. I realized it was inevitable shortly after we moved in. Alesia's a teenager. Mother is in pain a lot and thus cranky. I am trying to run interference between them a lot. Mother and I don't always agree on parenting styles. Alesia doesn't always understand what I tell her. Yet, we all get on remarkably well most of the time.

We watched Willow tonight. Excellent movie. One of my favorites. Last night we watched Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

Tomorrow's agenda: church, Christmas cards, some present wrapping, starting the science project.

Fans and Computers

Friday, December 9, 2005

I just reprimanded Alesia for putting her hand in a moving fan. I can’t believe she did that! I was standing in her room and she said I’m cold, so I reached up to turn the fan off, or at least down, and she grabbed the chain and pulled, then looked at it for a minute and stuck her hand up there. The blades had slowed considerably, but I was furious. I lost my temper and yelled at her. I have told her before to NEVER ever put your hands near a fan blade! Lord gussy that child is dense.

This morning we had another episode of Groucho Marx eyebrows, but I didn’t notice them until I stopped the car to drop her off at school. I told her tonight, if I ever see she’s drawn those brows on too dark, I will make her come inside and wash her face and wash off her eyebrows entirely. I’m kind of sorry I started the whole eyebrow drawing thing. She has the idea she should have dark heavy brows and they look bizarre.

After school she went to see the new Narnia Chronicles movie. I bought her The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe. I hope she will get interested in C.S. Lewis. I loved those books as a kid.

I was in Alesia’s room earlier tonight while she was at her friend’s house. I was looking for my scissors. She is always borrowing them and not returning them, which ticks me off because I always say to her you MUST return these to me, put them back on my desk. I found a paper just lying next to her bed that said at the top Computer 2005, then “Hi my name is Alesia Thompson….” Etc. etc. It read like a personal ad. At the end, she had put her name and address and phone number.

After I picked her up from Elena’s house and we got home, I confronted her about the paper. She said she just likes to write things like that. She claimed the word computer referred to her handheld computer-like translation device I bought last year. She has access to the internet at school and at friend’s houses. I don’t think she can use my computer because I have a password. I told her she must never put her name, address, and phone number on the internet. We had the whole mess last spring with her putting all that information on the internet and us having to change to unlisted phone numbers. I said, “Alesia, it’s OK to have a pen pal, or a friend online, but there are bad men who act like girls online, then meet up with girls and kidnap them and hurt them. I don’t want that to happen to you.” She is so unsophisticated. I told her if she ever did anything like that she would be punished.

She is still coughing and I fear she is getting sick, even though she was better this morning. I told her we were going to have a quiet weekend. The only definite plan is to get started on her science experiment project that’s due in mid January. Her paper is on The Effects of Acid Rain on plants. I found several little experiments on the internet.

That's Not Me

December 8, 2005

Alesia has gotten sick, somewhat. We keep waiting for it to turn into bronchitis. Some coughing. Some of "My nose, it is full!" very plaintively. She has been more affectionate tonight, which indicates she doesn't feel good. She refused ice cream after dinner - Russians believe cold things harm a sore throat, and you should drink hot tea when sick.

We shall see tomorrow how she feels. If she's not running fever, she goes to school, is my rule.

The weather has been cold and rainy and windy. Just yucko. I dressed wrong for work, and regretted it. It's cold in my cubicle now. I hate driving in this stuff.

Despite trying not to, I think about child #2 a lot. I spoke to a friend of mine yesterday who has a teenage daughter adopted from Russia, and just adopted a little boy from Kazakhstan last summer. I am thinking about a little boy in Kazakhstan and wanted to learn more about that country. It's different from Russia. The orphanages are better and the children are treated better. The coutry is more modern than Russia. The trips are longer - 2 weeks first trip, 1 week second trip. Suzan's son is doing well, despite having to have surgery for hip dysplasia, and resisting learning to write and read English. [Alesia resisted reading English, too, but is doing better now since being tutored at school.] I was heartened to hear Suzan's story. I am still praying a lot about the second child situation. It's all academic until I can manage the finances - that's what I keep reminding myself about.

Lobster Tales

Wednesday, December 7, 2005

I was just too tired to write last night, mea culpa. Alesia had dance class, and while there I had to run to Walmart and buy felt for her to make a hat in her Home Ec class. They don't call it Home Ec, but that's what it is. I asked her tonight if she had the hat and she said "No Mom! It take s a long time!"

I got my Christmas 2005 letter composed on my lunch hour, but it's not quite ready to send out. I need to tweak it some. I got a copy to Mother to send out to her folks, since she doens't type as much as I do.

We fixed a special dinner tonight, steak and lobster tails. [Publix had a good sale last weekend on lobster tails] Alesia walked by the pot and saw the lobster tails and said "What's THAT?!" with a look of horror. I said they were lobster tails. She peered into the pot, shuddered, said "Oooh, they look funny! And scary!" and hurried off to get her shower. Too funny.

I finally had a chance to talk to my cousin Lesleigh. She didn't join the family for Thanksgiving in Florida, and I'm not sure what she did; seemed to be a sore subject so I didn't ask. Victor [her live-in boyfriend] has a new job and is doing well, so that's a plus. We are going to the movie Sunday, so we can visit beforehand and catch up.

I need to get to bed early because I've got to start getting up earlier. By the time I scrape off my windshield I'm late leaving and Alesia needs to get to school by 8 for her math tutoring. I wish we could get the garage cleaned out enough to get my car in there. Maybe this weekend...

Christmas Comes Early

Monday, December 5, 2005

Weird day, weather-wise. It was warm and rainy this morning, then got colder as the day wore on. By the time I came home it was freezing. Lows are supposed to be in the 20’s tonight.

Alesia informed me at breakfast that she is down to 2 pairs of long pants that fit. So I went to Old Navy on my lunch hour, and for $109 I got her 2 pairs of dress pants, 2 pairs of jeans, and a sweatsuit. Not bad. Everything fit, thank goodness. She has gone from a size 1 to a size 2 in a few months. She Was delighted to get the clothes. I told her it was part of her Christmas.

Alesia and I ordered her matching comforters and shams for her 2 beds [the full size and twin] in her room, and they came today. Granny paid for those. They are a beautiful paisley print, very pretty in her room. She was thrilled with them, too.

We finished watching The King and I tonight. Alesia was enthralled. I watched some of it. Boy, Yul Brynner was a sexy thing when he was young!

Mother is plagued by a weird attack of hay fever. She will have to make a run to CVS for Kleenex in the morning. I hope when the weather changes again it will clear up…

Planting Bulbs

Sunday, December 4, 2005

It’s been a long and tiring day. We got a lot done, however.

We got bulbs planted around 12:30. Alesia was not enthusiastic at first. We planted daffodils around the base of a tree stump out back, and the soil was difficult. Then we planted a lot of tulips out front in the pinestraw bed, and the soil was much easier. It should be beautiful in the spring, if the voles don’t eat our bulbs…

We have had the bulbs for weeks, just haven’t had time to get them planted. Really, we waited for the perfect day. There was rain all night so the soil was soft and easy to work. More rain tonight to water them. The weather today was very mild – in the 60’s.

When we had finished planting and we were walking out of the front yard a little rabbit darted past us. Alesia was so excited to see him. We have several rabbits that live nearby and we see them sometimes. We were afraid a hawk had eaten them.

Alesia and I then went to the store, and then picked up some lunch at Captain D’s. We unloaded the groceries and ate. We rested a while, then we went back out, to Wolf Camera, to get copies of some photos for the Christmas card.

Alesia didn’t listen when Granny told her not to touch anything in Wolf Camera. Mother got really mad and had to leave the store. I was oblivious because I was trying to figure out what to do about getting copies of the photos. When we were in the car going home, Mother said she had told Alesia 3 times to not touch anything.

I had a long talk with Alesia about her behavior, about lying, about doing what Granny says. I showed her the chart from last week, which had a lot of points marked off. I hope it worked. I also said that even though Granny and I get mad at her and she does things we don’t like, we still love her. I said in families, people get mad at each other all the time, but still love each other.

We had homemade vegetable soup for dinner. I finished decorating the tree while Alesia and Mother cooked.

We found the Santa Claus collection and set it up. Our mantel looks very festive now. We still have to find the creche, but it will turn up.

Alesia made a cake, from a mix, but it was very good. She bought canned frosting, and it was actually pretty good. Mother showed her how to frost the cake.

After dinner we watched the first part of The King and I. Alesia liked it a lot. Last night we watched another favorite, Murphy’s Romance. Both are Mother’s movies.

I am so very tired. I feel like Christmas is well under way, though, and that’s a good feeling. The house feels more and more like home.