5 years ago today

On 8/27/03 I picked up the keys to this house. My first and only home purchase. Five years? Really? I had to go double check on my escrow papers!! Wow. You know what that means? In my adult life, I’ve lived in this house the longest. Since I was renting before, it was nearly impossible to stay anywhere longer than 2-3 years. No more. I remember when I was painting these walls the rather bold colors that I chose and was told that I’d have to repaint to more neutral tones when I sold the house. I replied that I didn’t intend to sell this house for 10-15-20 years so as far as I looked at it I could paint every wall with unicorns and rainbows 🙂 I didn’t quite do that. Instead I chose food colors (as one August mom put it when she came to visit). Butter, milk and dark chocolate, paprika, plum, & tangerine. Yes, just looking at my walls will make you gain weight – that’s why I have to work out so much 😉

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School – two days in and he’s still excited. Says he likes it. I am sure that will change in a month! The only homework has been in math which was to be expected since he is in 8th grade level honors algebra. They get started fast! He’s happy so far about his class assignments. One of the 8th graders in his math class is a boy we’ve known through baseball forever (was on his LL team the last two years) and who lives around the corner which will be a great resource for a study pal or backing up on assignments if needed. He got his first choice elective which is a video/film class that will be involved in documenting school activities and will keep him connected to the school community. After I walked him in the first day, he’s had to get himself out of the door on his own because I leave just after 7:30 to go to work and his first bell is not until 8:25 so he has to set an alarm to remind himself to get up and go. I do make sure his backpack is packed before I leave, but that is all I can do.

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Football – they had their last scrimmage yesterday against a team from up north with really big kids! And they did not do well. I’m not confident that this team will be as successful as prior years. I hope I am wrong, but there were holes yesterday on defense to be sure. Also, #55 was only in one series all night. I could see his frustration at that and while we were walking back to the car after he was fighting tears. It’s tougher this year! His coach properly got the best of the best at his level which means the 28 best kids in the draft which means no ‘minimum play’ kids. He started off by telling the kids they have to prove themselves every week to break into the starting lineup. So he is going to talk to coach today to find out just exactly what he needs to do and perhaps find out why he saw so little playing time yesterday. Their first game is Saturday – it is technically a pre-season game that will not count in the standings, but it will be a Real Game to the teams.

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The DNC – Naturally I am soaking up the convention coverage this week! Tuning into to MSNBC at home with Morning Joe when I get ready for work and then listening online while I work and then recording the evening coverage when I cannot watch it. I’ve only watched Monday night all the way through and I was very moved by Ted Kennedy showing up and talking and then by Michelle Obama’s speech. As all the pundits said though, it was little Sasha grabbing the mic to say “Hi daddy!” that was THE highlight. I’m following the communications from my blogging friends who are onsite in Denver and it sounds like a very well secured, organized event with some seriously good vibrations going on. They report that the energy in the main hall is pretty electric. I’t s pretty exciting to KNOW people who are there!! Shoot, on Morning Joe they did a spot on bloggers in the Big Tent and he interviewed one of the editors from DailyKos and she was great (no cheetos, not a Star Wars fan, and her mom doesn’t even *have* a basement for her to live in!).  Of course with all this intense coverage, the media has been grasping at anything to talk about all day. It’s so funny to watch the pundits not only throw up any idea that floats into their heads, but then also (at least on MSNBC) to start debating with each other very emphatically. I really think the only reason Rachel Maddow has NOT drop kicked Pat Buchanan is because she has a new show starting with them after the conventions! Otherwise, boy that was dangerous seating them next to each other 😉 OTOH, it is damn fine entertainment. Perhaps Rachel should make sure she has Pat on her show now and then to keep this debate going. Oh, and please don’t forget to keep FactCheck as a bookmarked site. Better than Snopes for checking up on political smears/claims/commercials. I actually had an email exchange with someone yesterday that just made me shake my head. It’s amazing to me how deeply people will believe something which is founded solely in rumors. Ooh, that may have been the opening of a debate on religion! Unintentional, but right after I wrote it, I realized the parallel. Hmmm…the only thing that can follow that is….cats!

Clean dishes must always be properly inspected before unloading.

No worries if you splatter a little water from the dispenser in the refrigerator door. The clean up crew will be there instantly to do their job.