My middle schooler is still up. It's 9:51 p.m. and she hasn't done her math homework yet.
Instead of making her stay home and get it done, I let her and her friend head to the store to buy things for their Halloween costumes. Of course they got back later than I anticipated. And now she's still up.
It's not that late, you say. Oh, yes, it is! Particularly if she has to be up at 5:45 to shower, dress, eat breakfast and actually make it to the bus stop on time! Nevermind that she's keeping me up, too-- and I also have to get up with her at 5:45 just to make sure she gets out the door.
Luckily, academics are fairly easy for her. Like her mother, she loves to be busy and is constantly signing up for activities she just doesn't have time for.
I don't remember having as much to do as she does, though.
I made it out of middle school and high school, and did OK. I'm sure she will, too. In the meantime, what is she still doing up?
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
As each miner in the little cartoon-like rescue capsule surfaced, cheers erupted and the world wept tears of joy... finally, some good news. It's amazing how starved we all are for good news. The miners' story had nothing to do with a global recession or global warming or greedy banks or intertribal strife or terrorism. Their story was one of incredible survival, of determination and discipline in the face of odds stacked so high against them you'd think giving up would have been the only option.
Yet, they persevered, and so did the people who worked so feverishly to get them out.
It's a story of human strength, faith and, yes, love.
As an aside, last night I turned to my usual news source in times of breaking developments: CNN, As the last miner emerged to the waiting arms of his family and the tear-y smiling face of his country's president, CNN allowed Larry King and his guest for the night-- the ever-cynical Michael Moore-- to continue talking... Michael Moore can't say anything good about anything good. It's not in his nature to concede that humans may actually be capable of coming together to work a seeming miracle... I had to change the channel, and may be off CNN for good.
Granted, the miners are victims of our ever-expanding demand for natural resources, supplied by an ever-greedier corporate culture that will cut corners, even those that put the lives of their workers at risk. But in that moment all that mattered was that somehow, some way, these 33 men survived in and emerged from hell-- and we're all better for it.
Yet, they persevered, and so did the people who worked so feverishly to get them out.
It's a story of human strength, faith and, yes, love.
As an aside, last night I turned to my usual news source in times of breaking developments: CNN, As the last miner emerged to the waiting arms of his family and the tear-y smiling face of his country's president, CNN allowed Larry King and his guest for the night-- the ever-cynical Michael Moore-- to continue talking... Michael Moore can't say anything good about anything good. It's not in his nature to concede that humans may actually be capable of coming together to work a seeming miracle... I had to change the channel, and may be off CNN for good.
Granted, the miners are victims of our ever-expanding demand for natural resources, supplied by an ever-greedier corporate culture that will cut corners, even those that put the lives of their workers at risk. But in that moment all that mattered was that somehow, some way, these 33 men survived in and emerged from hell-- and we're all better for it.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
I had one of those experiences yesterday that renews your faith in your fellow man...
After a great lunch with a friend and mentor, I headed out to run errands before meeting my kids at their bus. On my way to a neighboring town, I heard a "whoompf" coming from the rear of my car. Within a half mile, my right rear tire was completely flat and my mini-van was riding on the wheel's rim. Luckily, I was near a commercial intersection and was able to pull into a parking lot to get out of traffic.
I called our insurance company's roadside assistance, only to find out the car wasn't in the system (it should have been-- our insurance was up-to-date), and even if it was, it would be an hour before anyone could get to me. Across the street was a service station. I walked over and asked the guys working there if they could help. They told me to drive the car over and they'd see what they could do.
Within minutes, Chris, the guy in the oil-stained overalls, had my car jacked up and the wheel off the car. While he was doing that, I hit the car's owner's manual to see how to get out the spare. I pulled up the rug in the back seat of the van to release the spare which should have been screwed under the car, but there WAS NO SPARE. Chris politely reminded me that Toyota Siennas these days come with "run flat" tires, and that often there is no spare.
I felt like an idiot-- and then it all came back to me. Our 2008 mini-van needed new tires last winter, just 2 1/2 years after we bought it. Those fabulous "run flat" tires didn't last long, and the replacements were $1000. Too rich for our blood. So we opted for the less expensive, may-get-flat-if- punctured model. It never occurred to us that the car didn't come with a spare tire!
Chris looked at the tire and told me he could fix it. He took it in the garage, plugged the hole, filled it with air, replaced it on the car... done. "How much do I owe you?," I asked, the former N.Y. City girl inside of me sure that I was about to seriously get ripped off. "$12," he replied.
My reaction was one of stunned and grateful silence as I took a $20 bill out of my wallet and gave it to him.
I head to my original destination, a gift store nearby. As I'm making my purchase, I converse with the owner and share my adventure. She immediately knew who I was talking about. She had had the same pleasant experience with Chris...
SO, if you have car trouble-- find Chris at Pen-Fair Service on the corner of Penfield and Five Mile Line roads. My husband always says, if you have something nice to say-- SAY IT!
After a great lunch with a friend and mentor, I headed out to run errands before meeting my kids at their bus. On my way to a neighboring town, I heard a "whoompf" coming from the rear of my car. Within a half mile, my right rear tire was completely flat and my mini-van was riding on the wheel's rim. Luckily, I was near a commercial intersection and was able to pull into a parking lot to get out of traffic.
I called our insurance company's roadside assistance, only to find out the car wasn't in the system (it should have been-- our insurance was up-to-date), and even if it was, it would be an hour before anyone could get to me. Across the street was a service station. I walked over and asked the guys working there if they could help. They told me to drive the car over and they'd see what they could do.
Within minutes, Chris, the guy in the oil-stained overalls, had my car jacked up and the wheel off the car. While he was doing that, I hit the car's owner's manual to see how to get out the spare. I pulled up the rug in the back seat of the van to release the spare which should have been screwed under the car, but there WAS NO SPARE. Chris politely reminded me that Toyota Siennas these days come with "run flat" tires, and that often there is no spare.
I felt like an idiot-- and then it all came back to me. Our 2008 mini-van needed new tires last winter, just 2 1/2 years after we bought it. Those fabulous "run flat" tires didn't last long, and the replacements were $1000. Too rich for our blood. So we opted for the less expensive, may-get-flat-if- punctured model. It never occurred to us that the car didn't come with a spare tire!
Chris looked at the tire and told me he could fix it. He took it in the garage, plugged the hole, filled it with air, replaced it on the car... done. "How much do I owe you?," I asked, the former N.Y. City girl inside of me sure that I was about to seriously get ripped off. "$12," he replied.
My reaction was one of stunned and grateful silence as I took a $20 bill out of my wallet and gave it to him.
I head to my original destination, a gift store nearby. As I'm making my purchase, I converse with the owner and share my adventure. She immediately knew who I was talking about. She had had the same pleasant experience with Chris...
SO, if you have car trouble-- find Chris at Pen-Fair Service on the corner of Penfield and Five Mile Line roads. My husband always says, if you have something nice to say-- SAY IT!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Rochester Fashion: Not an Oxymoron!
Rochester's first ever Fashion Week debuted last Thursday with a "Boutique Crawl." It was like a pub crawl but with sequins and stilettos instead of beer and wings.
I joined the "crawl" downtown at Eye Candy, a new-ish boutique for Rochester hipsters. While the clothes on the whole were lovely, what fasinated me most was the crowd. Old, young, male, female; gay, straight; pierced and tatooed artists along with Eastside housewives; people from every ethnicity and background-- they were all there to toast Rochester's young designers and creativity.
I've attended art openings, concerts and theater events, and have never seen a crowd quite like it!
Wrapped up as I am in the ebb and flow of my kids activities-- artistic, academic, athletic-- it was such a reminder to me that while Rochester is a small city, it is not homogenious. Here's hoping that future events bring together this same variety of Rochester's population!
I joined the "crawl" downtown at Eye Candy, a new-ish boutique for Rochester hipsters. While the clothes on the whole were lovely, what fasinated me most was the crowd. Old, young, male, female; gay, straight; pierced and tatooed artists along with Eastside housewives; people from every ethnicity and background-- they were all there to toast Rochester's young designers and creativity.
I've attended art openings, concerts and theater events, and have never seen a crowd quite like it!
Wrapped up as I am in the ebb and flow of my kids activities-- artistic, academic, athletic-- it was such a reminder to me that while Rochester is a small city, it is not homogenious. Here's hoping that future events bring together this same variety of Rochester's population!
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