Today was the day to pick up our rental van for the mission trip. St. Paul, (who is my partner in crime and co-leader for the trip) and I had a plan. I would drive down to his house at 9:00, pick him up, we'd go and get the van, and he'd drive home in it and I'd go on my merry way.
We were a little worried when we got close to the the car rental office, and didn't see a 12-passenger van in the parking lot, but not to worry, when we pulled into the lot we saw it behind the office, getting vacuumed. As the rental agent was getting ready to print out the forms for us to sign, she stopped and said "uh oh - we have an age problem." Uh oh? St. Paul and I are both well over 25, so what could the problem be? It turned out that the van had an age problem -- at 26,000 miles they weren't allowed to rent it to us. There was no way -- they simply couldn't do it!
"We're so sorry," we were told -- "we will call around to other Budget locations and get you another van. Why don't you go home and we'll call you when we get it. "
So we came back to my house, and I called every car rental place I could find. There were no 12-passenger vans available anywhere!
St. Paul and I decided that if Budget couldn't find us another 12 passenger, we'd just rent two mini-vans. We called Budget back, and no they hadn't found us another 12-passenger, so we went back up to the rental office to rent two mini-vans. Speed Raver dropped us off, as we would have to drive the two mini-vans back.
St. Paul asked the rental agent if she could give us the two mini-vans for the price of the 12-passenger. She said she couldn't do, and suddenly revealed that there was indeed another 12-passenger around (hallelujah!) -- but it was in King of Prussia. Someone could bring it to our rental office and it would arrive in about an hour We decided that we would give them an hour and a half. I walked over the the gym to work out, and St. Paul hitched a ride back to his house from one of the rental agents. Half-way home, she got a cell phone call - the mini van she was driving him home in was needed for a rental -- the folks who were renting it were waiting back in the office. So he had to walk the rest of the way home.
After the appointed 90 minutes, we reconvened at the rental office ( I was fresh from the gym, and rather badly needing a shower). The agent informed us that the 12-passenger van had not even left King of Prussia yet!
So we got in St. Paul's car, drove up to King of Prussia, and finally got the van!
It hadn't even been cleaned from the last rental, the windscreen was covered in bugs and we found the following inside: An umbrella, a completely unused Mad-Libs book, a dime, a large brown feather, which St. Paul identified as a turkey feather, a brown paper lunch bag and plenty of loose Cheerios and Kix. The time? 2:00 pm. Only took us five hours to get that van. But we got it.
So hopefully that was the hard part of the trip!
I'll be back with all the news on July 1.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Place Your Bets Update
Thursday
No cell phone
also: Going to the Dogs update
Puppy still there next door. He's not going anywhere!
No cell phone
also: Going to the Dogs update
Puppy still there next door. He's not going anywhere!
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Mission trip update: dress code
The organization that runs the site where we are going for our mission trip has a very strict dress code, which is directed mostly at the girls. It's pretty reasonable -- no short shorts, no midriff tops, no t-shirts with offensive words, or advertising for alcohol, cigarettes etc. The one restriction that I don't get is no tank tops. Gotta have those shoulders covered. Now, women wear sleeveless shirts and tank tops (the dressier sort) in my office in the summer. I never thought of them as being racy. Now I look at women who wear tank tops and think, "wow, look at her in that tank top -- she must be a hussy!" (Just kidding!)
First thing I'm going to do when we get home is put on a tank top and parade around in it. If my shoulders lead someone into temptation, so be it.
First thing I'm going to do when we get home is put on a tank top and parade around in it. If my shoulders lead someone into temptation, so be it.
Place your bets update
It's Tuesday. No cell phone yet. I called it today, and it went straight to voice-mail.
Is it in the mail?
Did the suspect turn it off because she was sick of Second Son's friends harassing her?
Did the phone battery run down, and the suspect not feel like investing in a charger?
We'll see, we'll see.
Is it in the mail?
Did the suspect turn it off because she was sick of Second Son's friends harassing her?
Did the phone battery run down, and the suspect not feel like investing in a charger?
We'll see, we'll see.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Mission trip
One week from today, Third Son and I will be in North Carolina on a mission trip with some of the youth from our church. Eight of us (six kids and two adults) will all pile into a van and head for a week of service and of learning about all kinds of people, different from the people we spend most of our time with.
We'll be in a rural county, and some of us will be doing work projects such as helping with home repairs or cleaning up playgrounds, and some will spend our days helping at a day program for local kids. For our kids, raised in an environment where they can easily catch "affluenza," meeting the people we will be helping to serve will be eye-opening. But even more eye-opening will be our fellow Christians. Our kids, raised in a "main-line" church, have not met many people whose approach to Christianity is, shall we say, more evangelical than ours. Even in church, we're pretty low-key about our faith. We'll be a pretty small group mixed in with some large groups from other churches. Also, I'm pretty sure our general political persuasion will be a little (or a lot) to the left of most of the other people there (although I could be wrong about that.) So we're headed for a learning experience for all.
The other thing about this trip is that this is the first time we've gone without a minister from our church. At the end of the planned program everyday, we meet with "our kids" to debrief the day. I told the other leader who was going that I would lead those sessions, as he hates to do that kind of stuff. So if you're the kind of person who prays, pray that we'll all be open-minded (even me!) and pray that I will be able to respond as the kids need in our debrief times together....and if you're not the sort who prays, think kindly of us next week!
We'll be in a rural county, and some of us will be doing work projects such as helping with home repairs or cleaning up playgrounds, and some will spend our days helping at a day program for local kids. For our kids, raised in an environment where they can easily catch "affluenza," meeting the people we will be helping to serve will be eye-opening. But even more eye-opening will be our fellow Christians. Our kids, raised in a "main-line" church, have not met many people whose approach to Christianity is, shall we say, more evangelical than ours. Even in church, we're pretty low-key about our faith. We'll be a pretty small group mixed in with some large groups from other churches. Also, I'm pretty sure our general political persuasion will be a little (or a lot) to the left of most of the other people there (although I could be wrong about that.) So we're headed for a learning experience for all.
The other thing about this trip is that this is the first time we've gone without a minister from our church. At the end of the planned program everyday, we meet with "our kids" to debrief the day. I told the other leader who was going that I would lead those sessions, as he hates to do that kind of stuff. So if you're the kind of person who prays, pray that we'll all be open-minded (even me!) and pray that I will be able to respond as the kids need in our debrief times together....and if you're not the sort who prays, think kindly of us next week!
Friday, June 15, 2007
Place your bets
Last week, Second Son left his cell phone on the train. (Or least, that what he thought he did.) He checked with the Lost and Found a couple of days later, and of course it hadn't been turned in. I didn't call the cell phone carrier to have the service turned off because I cultivated a vague hope that he had really left it in his friend's car or some other nearby spot.
Yesterday, his friend Kelly called his number, and somebody answered and immediately hung up. So we knew the phone was still alive -- and had fallen into the hands of someone who was enjoying the free service!
Second Son sent a text message to the phone: "Mail my phone back to me, and I'll send you $20.00."
A few minutes later, he got a reply: "Where?"
Several text messages and phone calls later, he extracted an agreement from the perpetrator to get it sent back.
So place your bets: will it really come back? And if so, when? And if it does, should we supplement the promised $20 with the postage the perp will have to pay?
Yesterday, his friend Kelly called his number, and somebody answered and immediately hung up. So we knew the phone was still alive -- and had fallen into the hands of someone who was enjoying the free service!
Second Son sent a text message to the phone: "Mail my phone back to me, and I'll send you $20.00."
A few minutes later, he got a reply: "Where?"
Several text messages and phone calls later, he extracted an agreement from the perpetrator to get it sent back.
So place your bets: will it really come back? And if so, when? And if it does, should we supplement the promised $20 with the postage the perp will have to pay?
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Going to the dogs
There is a new puppy next door. Our neighbor says she is not going to keep him and that she is going to give him back. She says that every day. The next day, he is still there!
Pride Month
June is Pride Month, when the gay community observes the Stonewall Rebellion and celebrates sexual diversity. The day before yesterday, I had a chance to be proud of Second Son, who is an amazing person (even if I say so myself).
Big Company has several "affinity groups." There is one for African-American employees, one for Asian employees, one for Hispanic employees, one for women, and one for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered employees and "straight allies." I am a member of this last group, being (I guess) a "straight ally."
On Tuesday, we organized one of several Pride Month events, which was a panel discussion by members of PFLAG. Now I am not actually a member of PFLAG but I am a parent of a gay teenager (Second Son), and since I helped to organize the event, I also was a member of the panel. I invited Second Son to come and also be a member of the panel. Second Son was amazing (I know, I'm his mother, so I'm biased, but still...) He told his story of coming out in high school at Mom's work to a whole bunch of adults, most of whom he had never met before. He was eloquent and honest. I don' think I could have done such a thing, never mind discuss such a personal and difficult topic in public when I was 19. Really something to be proud of!
Big Company has several "affinity groups." There is one for African-American employees, one for Asian employees, one for Hispanic employees, one for women, and one for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered employees and "straight allies." I am a member of this last group, being (I guess) a "straight ally."
On Tuesday, we organized one of several Pride Month events, which was a panel discussion by members of PFLAG. Now I am not actually a member of PFLAG but I am a parent of a gay teenager (Second Son), and since I helped to organize the event, I also was a member of the panel. I invited Second Son to come and also be a member of the panel. Second Son was amazing (I know, I'm his mother, so I'm biased, but still...) He told his story of coming out in high school at Mom's work to a whole bunch of adults, most of whom he had never met before. He was eloquent and honest. I don' think I could have done such a thing, never mind discuss such a personal and difficult topic in public when I was 19. Really something to be proud of!
Monday, June 11, 2007
The sad case of Flea
The case of Flea has had me thinking about anonymous blogging, especially as it relates to professional life. Flea was undoubtedly foolish to blog about his malpractice trial, which makes me wonder why such an apparently intelligent and thoughtful person would do something so personally and professionally dangerous. Is the catharsis of blogging so addictive that one could lose sight of common sense -- or can an anonymous blogger feel so secure in his or her anonymity that an appropriate sense of risky behavior no longer exists?
Another favorite of mine, Fat Doctor, briefly shut down her blog after being "outed" to her boss. Fat Doctor is thankfully back blogging (and soon starting a new job), but her situation has made me determined that my blog will never contain anything that I wouldn't want my boss (or Speed Racer, or my kids) to see. And I still won't blog about work, until I know that Big Company has really figured what their approach to employee blogging will be. I am not a doctor, so I don't have to worry about patient confidentiality, but I am privy to confidential company information, and while I love Big Company (they really are a great company to work for for), I couldn't be unfailingly uncritical. So maybe not as much catharsis for me, but perhaps a little more peace of mind. I do reserve the right to comment on our industry in general!
When Second Son first had a blog, he left it up on the computer one day. I noted the URL and read it every now and then. He was furious with me -- I think he thought it was like I had been reading his diary. But he published it on the internet -- in full view of the whole world -- including his mother! So maybe I was a little sneaky for noting that URL. Sorry sweetie!
As for anonymity, I not ready to blog using my real name -- or to share my e-mail. Maybe someday, when all the spammers have realized the error of their ways...but in the mean time, although I am being at least semi-anonymous, I will write as though any reader will be able to figure out who I am.
All of this of course is basically flattering myself that anyone (other than Speed Racer and ccpdppr read this anyway!)
Another favorite of mine, Fat Doctor, briefly shut down her blog after being "outed" to her boss. Fat Doctor is thankfully back blogging (and soon starting a new job), but her situation has made me determined that my blog will never contain anything that I wouldn't want my boss (or Speed Racer, or my kids) to see. And I still won't blog about work, until I know that Big Company has really figured what their approach to employee blogging will be. I am not a doctor, so I don't have to worry about patient confidentiality, but I am privy to confidential company information, and while I love Big Company (they really are a great company to work for for), I couldn't be unfailingly uncritical. So maybe not as much catharsis for me, but perhaps a little more peace of mind. I do reserve the right to comment on our industry in general!
When Second Son first had a blog, he left it up on the computer one day. I noted the URL and read it every now and then. He was furious with me -- I think he thought it was like I had been reading his diary. But he published it on the internet -- in full view of the whole world -- including his mother! So maybe I was a little sneaky for noting that URL. Sorry sweetie!
As for anonymity, I not ready to blog using my real name -- or to share my e-mail. Maybe someday, when all the spammers have realized the error of their ways...but in the mean time, although I am being at least semi-anonymous, I will write as though any reader will be able to figure out who I am.
All of this of course is basically flattering myself that anyone (other than Speed Racer and ccpdppr read this anyway!)
School is over!
School is over (for Third Son) . He had his last two final today, and then to celebrate, had his last two baby teeth pulled. Pretty soon he will get together with his buddies, and at a ceremonial bonfire they will burn all the papers from 10th grade that they don't need to keep (which is most of them.) I will not have to hurry in the shower in the morning (for some reason, he likes to use our bathroom), and my evenings will not be spent nagging him about homework. He is going to find a job (hopefully one that he can start after we get back from our youth group trip to North Carolina), and take Brazilian Jujitsu.
I dimly remember the sheer bliss of starting summer vacation -- a sense of freedom that has never been duplicated by grown-up one-week vacations. I envy him!
I dimly remember the sheer bliss of starting summer vacation -- a sense of freedom that has never been duplicated by grown-up one-week vacations. I envy him!
Thursday, June 7, 2007
A good deal
Third Son sent me an e-mail today. It said, "Can I work out some kind of a deal with you so I can get an iPod?"
I think he thought that I would say something like "yes, sweetie, just take out the garbage for a week and I'll get you an iPod."
I e-mailed him back that I had thought of a good deal -- he could get a job, and then he could buy his own iPod.
So tonight I had to drive him to Arby's so he could fill out an application.
It always ends up with me driving someone somewhere!
I think he thought that I would say something like "yes, sweetie, just take out the garbage for a week and I'll get you an iPod."
I e-mailed him back that I had thought of a good deal -- he could get a job, and then he could buy his own iPod.
So tonight I had to drive him to Arby's so he could fill out an application.
It always ends up with me driving someone somewhere!
Another mouth to feed
While dinner was cooking tonight, Speed Racer and I entertained ourselves by feeding the fish. I was standing on the deck, looking down at the pond, and thinking that one of the goldfish had really grown a lot. The goldfish have doubled in size (if not tripled) since we first put them in the pond last summer. Speed Racer told me that I was extremely unobservant -- and had been for a couple of days. Turns out, he had bought another koi and added it to the pond. It is that red goldfish color, with a white face.
The other koi has been playing "Jaws." When Speed Racer throws a cube of dried tubifex worms into the pond, he hums the "Jaws" theme, and the koi, on cue, rises from the depths, and grabs the cube with a flourish and an audible snap of its jaws. It even does that sort of twisting on it's back thing that the sharks do on the Discovery channel. The worm cube never fights back!
The other koi has been playing "Jaws." When Speed Racer throws a cube of dried tubifex worms into the pond, he hums the "Jaws" theme, and the koi, on cue, rises from the depths, and grabs the cube with a flourish and an audible snap of its jaws. It even does that sort of twisting on it's back thing that the sharks do on the Discovery channel. The worm cube never fights back!
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Books
The three books I am trying to finish:
The third book in Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series: Grave Peril (I started reading the books after watching the TV series on Sci Fi). Fun, but three is enough for me.
Two really interesting books by Gina Kolata, the science writer for the NY Times: Rethinking Thin The New Science of Weight Loss--and the Myths and Realities of Dieting, and Ultimate Fitness: The Quest for Truth About Exercise and Health, which give really interesting insights into the myths and realities of the diet and exercise industry and the "obesity epidemic." Everyone involved in nutrition and/or fitness should read these two books.
Next up: Cell by Stephen King. (A Christmas present from Speed Racer that I haven't gotten too yet.)
The third book in Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series: Grave Peril (I started reading the books after watching the TV series on Sci Fi). Fun, but three is enough for me.
Two really interesting books by Gina Kolata, the science writer for the NY Times: Rethinking Thin The New Science of Weight Loss--and the Myths and Realities of Dieting, and Ultimate Fitness: The Quest for Truth About Exercise and Health, which give really interesting insights into the myths and realities of the diet and exercise industry and the "obesity epidemic." Everyone involved in nutrition and/or fitness should read these two books.
Next up: Cell by Stephen King. (A Christmas present from Speed Racer that I haven't gotten too yet.)
I miss Lost
It's been two weeks now since the season finale of Lost, and I am lost. (Boy, does that sound pathetic.). Somehow, I will make it through till next February when we will get Season Four. There is plenty of real life to distract me, between family and work. But still, the thought of a Wednesday night with Lost is a little depressing.
I steady myself with the thought that not only did I survive David Duchovny leaving the X-Files, I even survived his return and the ultimate horrible death of that show. Why, going back to the days of my childhood, I survived the end of Star Trek (yes, the ORIGINAL Star Trek) and the end of the Partridge Family, and the end of Knight Rider. So I can do it! I can make it to February! I'm tough, I can read fan fic (well I can read some fan fic-- some even I can't bring myself to read) and I can watch my Season One and Season Two DVDs. I can check Amazon and see if I can pre-order Season Three DVDs. I can do it and I will!
I steady myself with the thought that not only did I survive David Duchovny leaving the X-Files, I even survived his return and the ultimate horrible death of that show. Why, going back to the days of my childhood, I survived the end of Star Trek (yes, the ORIGINAL Star Trek) and the end of the Partridge Family, and the end of Knight Rider. So I can do it! I can make it to February! I'm tough, I can read fan fic (well I can read some fan fic-- some even I can't bring myself to read) and I can watch my Season One and Season Two DVDs. I can check Amazon and see if I can pre-order Season Three DVDs. I can do it and I will!
Sunday, June 3, 2007
I don't watch a lot of TV
For several years, I have maintained the fiction that I don't watch a lot of TV. I have made this claim in public, and no-one has ever questioned my veracity. Well, for someone who doesn't watch a lot of TV, I sure have a lot of shows to DVR when I go away. And I always turn the TV on in my bedroom first thing in the morning, and if I am by myself in a hotel room, I always have the TV on.
So this time of year, when most of the networks have wrapped up for the season (except for SciFi), I have to live the life of someone who really doesn't watch a lot of TV. It's hard to live the truth!
Maybe, I'll even finish the 3 books I've been reading off and on.
So this time of year, when most of the networks have wrapped up for the season (except for SciFi), I have to live the life of someone who really doesn't watch a lot of TV. It's hard to live the truth!
Maybe, I'll even finish the 3 books I've been reading off and on.
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