Shaking Hands with a New Technology

I'm not quite ready to embrace it since I don't know much about it, but my kids helped me set up my own Facebook page. You see, I've been trying to find a friend of mine, Greg Hoffman, for several years now. We'd been in touch, and then, as is typical, I lost his info and couldn't find it anywhere. A few weeks ago, Maggie helped me search Facebook "just in case." Unfortunately, his name was common enough and I didn't know where he was currently living that I couldn't sort through the hundreds of profiles and question every person. So I made my own page today, and within 15 minutes, had found him! A few minutes later, Greg jumped online and then we were on the phone chatting away for a half hour or so.

This was an interesting experience. As Ian told me that I needed to put on a picture, I was faced with my high school fears. What picture would I choose? Did the picture make me look fat? Would people from high school look at it and know who I was, and if they did, would they say, "Wow, she hasn't changed at all!" or would it be, "Wow, she's really let herself go!" And since I'm new at this and wasn't sure what I was doing when I was setting my profile up, I was clicking on CB West fellow classmates left and right, not realizing that I was asking them to accept me as a friend. I expressed concern to Ian "what if they don't want me to be their friend?" and "Did I do anything back then that might make it so they would never want to hear from me again?" I haven't had this sort of anxiety for over 20 years when I was, um, oh yeah, in high school!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...part 2

Yes, today was the day moms wait for all over the valley. The kids were up and ready to go bright and early. Unfortunately for the little ones, they're school day doesn't start until 9:15 and they're not supposed to be there any earlier than 9 (unless they go for breakfast and then they can be there at 8:45), so to keep them from climbing the walls, we decided to go run some errands. I was in the office by 9:15 and was able to work until 12:45 uninterruped by any phone calls of, "Mom, Griffin just spilled his bowl of cereal on your bed," "Mom, there's a spider downstairs," "Mom, can all my friends come over to play while you're gone," etc. Everyone noticed the spring in my step and the song in my voice. The house was still clean when I got home and there were NO dishes in the sink. Ian got home at 1:30 (Monday is early-out day in the school district) and yelled, "I'm going to love this year!" Maggie was thrilled with friends that were in her classes, although she has already declared that one of her teachers is certifiable. Griffin and Ellie also had a great first day which is always good news. I do have to say that Ellie has probably the best teacher in the school, so this year should be spectacular. Griffin's resource teacher, Miss Becera, already has him scheduled in, so no repeat of last year when we had to repeat the testing so he could qualify for assistance. But he said he has some of his best friends in his class and that Miss Shumway was so awesome.

Ian, 12th grade, Mountain View High School

Maggie, 10th grade, Mountain View High School

Ellie, 5th grade, Westmore Elementary

Griffin, 3rd grade, Westmore Elementary

The only sad face in the house

I love this day!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...part 1

Today is the day our school district welcomes the new 7th graders to junior high and the 10th graders to high school. Since Maggie is a sophomore, and Ian is in student council, two of the four kids are at school today! (I feel like I need to give an acceptance speech like, "I'd like to thank the school district for giving me the opportunity to have a few minutes of peace and quiet; my house is grateful for the few minutes of order it might enjoy. . ."). It's just a half day for them with an assembly, tour of the school, and barbecue. Ian's been gone most of the week getting all these things set up and ready for today.

I can't believe that I have a graduating senior this year. He has worked so hard to be a part of student council, and when he lost both elections and then was appointed, it made his, well, life! I also reflect, though, on when Pat was a senior and I was a sophomore and I felt he was far too protective. I find myself hoping that Ian will be the same with Mags, although she has a much better head on her shoulders than I did at her age.

In case you were wondering, there are only 72 hours left until the other two go!