I picked up Michael from his tennis lesson yesterday, as I happened to be driving by the courts when he got through. His coach said he’s doing really well. He just needs to practice serves and backhands. It’s so hard to find time for him to walk down to the courts, as the days are just chock full, between homework and sports, and whatever else we need to do.
When we got home and were getting out of the car, Michael said sadly, “Mom, I see now why you say Coco is fragile. She is hurt.” This is remarkably sensitive of him. Last year when he first came home, he was pretty shy of Coco and didn’t know what to make of her. She’s a loud, frenetic little dog a lot of times.
Coco wounded her own head, we discovered yesterday. We can only guess she might have done it to herself while walking under the furniture. She walks under the couch, the bed, anything low enough. She cannot get under the piano; that’s the only safe thing I can think of at the moment.
As soon as I dropped off Michael at school, I went back home for Mother and Coco. Getting Coco on the leash was a major thing, as she gets unbearably excited. She doesn’t get out much. The front yard is like Disneyworld, to her. She’s an indoor dog.
The vets love Coco because she is a medical oddity. Dogs rarely get Ehlers Danlos Syndrome – it’s mostly a human thing. It means her skin tears very easily. Dr. Roberts made a point of saying he had been wondering how she was doing, since we hadn’t been in the vet’s office in over a year. She is thriving, except for this nasty cut. So he gave her a shot of antibiotics – at our request, since it’s almost impossible to get Coco to take a pill. He said to clean it gently with peroxide every day or so. The wound seems to have stabilized. Coco is fine.
I saw a photo of Ree’s son, shirtless, on her website, and it got me tickled. My son likes to lounge around wearing nothing but his boxers, and belch a lot. He likes to take off his shoes and leave them in the family room. He likes to put salsa on everything. He loves hot wings. He knows some big words but he can’t spell them. Thus, he reminds me SO much of my father! It’s really ironic, since he’s adopted and never knew his grandfather. Mike was born one week after Dad died, and I took that as a sign I should adopt him. So there’s an interesting connection there between the two of them.
Alesia reminds me a lot of Memaw, my mother’s mother, whom she never met. Alesia is energetic, likes to clean house, likes pretty clothes, can figure out just about anything, loves to eat chicken, and laughs a lot. Memaw always had gum in her purse, and Alesia always has gum. Memaw loved to dance, and so does Alesia. Of course, Memaw liked to do The Charleston, and Alesia likes to wriggle around and do modern dances like The Worm, but it’s still a valid comparison…
I have put in place a list of tasks around the house that the kids can complete in order to earn Rewards Points. They can collect enough points and then “buy” things, like an outing to the roller skating rink, or a new computer game. It took me quite a while to come up with a comprehensive list of tasks. Some tasks are only Michael’s like vacuuming Granny’s room. Some tasks are only for Alesia, like hitting tennis balls with Michael. Some tasks either one of them can do. Michael asked me yesterday if I would tell him ways to earn points. I also put a note on the chart that any disobedience by a child could result in the revocation of earned points. I explained it to them tonight. I am going to try this and see if it will work. I have tried similar things with Alesia in the past and they worked, but only for a limited time.
When I got home tonight, Michael reviewed the Rewards Points chart with great excitement. I got him to clean off a poop from Granny's rug without complaint, and he got 2 points. He is already calculating how to earn enough points for a new Gameboy game. I told Mother we are going to get a lot of housework done, but it might have been cheaper to get a maid service! LOL Of course, I told the kids whatever extra jobs they do MUST pass inspection by either me or Granny. Mother could put the fear of God into the head maid at Buckingham Palace. When it comes to supervising staff, Granny has no equal. It's genetic.
I come from a long line of Southern Grande Dames, or Steel Magnolias. Mother is a proud standard bearer. I am not. I realized that not long ago, about the time I realized I would never put on pantyhose again as long as I live, unless someone held a gun to my head.
Michael ate a strawberry smoothie once at a neighbor’s house, so last night he got out the food processor and some strawberries and ground up ice and berries and called it a “smoothie.” I told him that smoothies usually contain other ingredients. I found this recipe which sounds good:
Ingredients:
4 large strawberries
1 tsp of sugar
1/2 cup of whole milk
1 cup of ice cubes
Directions:
Blend strawberries with
milk on low speed till well smooth, than add ice cubes and blend on
high. Add sugar and blend on high speed for about 1 minute. The texture
should be slushy and smooth.
I would enjoy strawberries except for one thing. They have seeds. I've had a crown on my front tooth since I was 8 and now I have other crowns in my mouth, and it's just not worth it...
Michael got his report card. The teacher gave him an “F” in English! That grade is
just insane. I am so ticked off. I fired off an email to the teacher
and copied the principal, asking her why on earth he got an “F.” I had a call from the ESL teacher last week and she said Michael legally doesn’t have to be held to the same standards as the other students, since he’s only been here a year and a half, and is entitled to ESL services. I am going to appeal that grade. I cannot believe they would do that, especially after last week’s meeting…
Alesia made two F's on her progress report, too, but they are not final grades for the semester, so she has a chance to pull them up. I was so discouraged that she did that. The therapist talked to her really hard about the importance of grades, and chided Alesia saying "I have never seen your mom so upset." Alesia promised to do better. I am going to have a How to Study tutorial with her on Sunday, at some point. I already told her verbally, but I am going to have to do a hands-on type of deal. I asked her what time period they are studying in World History and her reply was "A really long time ago." Yikes!
When I got home, I had a nice surprise. My brother had found me a gorgeous watch while on his R&R. I've been needing a decent watch. I tend to just buy cheap watches and wear them until they die, then toss 'em. This Seiko is a real beauty, and has a great band, that actually fits my wrist well. I would take a photo but I'm too tired.
