I saw that; it's appalling.

It's pretty appalling. I also read one article that says a family member reported the boy ran to a nearby house for help -- he had to stop at *three* houses before someone would help, and that house made him lay down with his hands over his head first. I recognize my country a little less every day.

Prepped and ready to go to the college visit and then to Grandma's. Did not do the Goodwill run or mail the paper to my friend. :sigh: Next week???

Good morning! Today we're staying home from our exercise "Boot Camp" class and from fencing, as DH hurt his arm, then this afternoon DS has his first college visit to one of the local universities, and then DH will take me to my Grandma's for my overnight (they'll pick me up tomorrow/my sister will come and stay till my uncle comes back, then my aunt from out of state, then everyone thinks by then Grandma will be okay on her own). So, today: ...coffee ...check pantry for if I have everything I need for science for Monday ...if not, go to the store ...maybe go do the Goodwill run I skipped yesterday ...oh, also, mail a paper to a friend ...pack for my stay at Grandma's ...check some soup recipes and see if they are freezable or not (planning to make some soups to freeze in small portions for Grandma, in case she really can only eat liquids/can't chew with the neck brace) ...hit the grocery store for ingredients before we go ....nap before we go to the college thing ...maybe get some sewing in before I go? Have a great weekend!

Thank you! She's on a committee, so I'm sure they're circulating it far & wide, but the more responses from people who would buy one, the better, ya know? Feel free to share the link if you want! (they'll be having a meeting at the April NAC in St. Louis, for starters., too) I will pass the names to her, though, just in case; it's a great tip!

thank you! I really appreciate it!

Home from dropping off the kids, dinner's cooking, DH & I will have a relaxing evening and then I"ll sew some while he video games with the big kids. Should be lovely, and then we pick up the kids at 10 (leave at 9:30 to go get them).

My coach is on a committee for allies for female fencers (and other under-represented demographics of fencers), and the most recent issue that came up was the problem with chest protectors (for both male & female fencers, but especially for female fencers). I thought I'd share the article (which includes link to the survey, right up top) in case there are fencers here who might want to weigh in. If you, or your child, has fenced, does fence, has used a chest protector, etc. - would you consider popping over? They're trying to get a new shape chest protector made, similar to soccer chest protectors, and are trying to gather survey results to show manufacturers, etc., as they work on planning this. https://www.wfencing.org/post/the-problem-with-chest-protectors Thanks, all!

Okay, so, went to the store & got the corsage. DH decided let's stay home, b/c we have a busy weekend, so no board game night after all. Returned the jeans. Did not do the goodwill drop, b/c running out of time. DS is getting dressed - he never washed his shirt from last time; fortunately we found a spare that fits him. The gf is coming in about 15 mins so they have time to take pics and all before we take them.

Home from the birthday party - it was lovely! Did not stop at the stores b/c I miss-timed everything and the guys with me needed to get back to work on school, so will turn around and go back out later on when it's time.

salad? spinach/mixed greens, whatever fruit/veggie you have on hand (apple, strawberry, tomato, cucumber, carrot, etc.), have cheese on the side to top with if desired

found a recipe for game night tonight, printed that, will get the ingredients when I pick up the corsage for DS putting the jeans in my car so I can return them on the way home as well kids are awake, heading to work on my closet some until time to go

pasta salad is made & in the fridge no haircut for DS -- his guy is on vacation this week (oops); DS says that's fine (whew)

Good morning! Not ready, but dumping the list anyway... ....coffee ...make pasta salad for a bday party for a fellow teacher ...tutor???? not tutor??? Not sure ...go to the bday party ....pick up the corsage for DS's gf for their gala/prom tonight ...get DS his haircut?? ...return the jeans finally??? ...figure out something to make for board game night tonight ...make said something for board game night tonight ...any last minute cleaning/etc before DS's gf comes for pre-dance pics ....take the kids to their dance ....take the rest of us to board game night ...have fun, hopefully ....pick up the kids, take the gf home, come home, probably go to bed/maybe veg out some first In between all that, sew?? declutter the closet some more?? school with DS?? not really sure

Okay, DH says park at the Fannin South Park & Ride. The times and such should still apply; we're planning to arrive an hour ahead of start-time (we're going on Friday). If an hour turns out to be not enough, I'll try to remember to come back and update this sometime Saturday. Have fun!

*coming back to add -- will partly depend if you are going on Fri or Sat. (or Sun? is there a Sun date too?) I'd add extra extra time on Friday. Well, hmm. Or it will depend on construction....basically, even if you know the route, do not attempt w/o google maps, b/c on weekends there are often random road closures for construction. Yes, even weekends with huge events, b/c Houston doesn't think about that.

There are lots of parking lots at/around NRG if you're okay paying for them; you will maybe have to park and ride the Metro from the parking lot to the actual venue (or pay more for the super close parking) -- I can ask my DH which lot it is we usually park at and the details on that (where to park, which lot, which metro - that part is free and pretty organized, no big deal). What I'd do is put it in Google maps, check it around 5 pm on whichever day (google maps shows an hour right now) and add 30 mins to that for navigating the parking. Plan on getting there at least an hour early b/c of the lines to get into the arena and find your seats and stuff. More than that if you want time to hit the merchandise stands and all that, but NRG is pretty good at getting people in - depends how much security and such.

I mean, I completely agree with all of you, 1000%, but....family culture, ya know? When my cousin died, my grandma specifically reached out to my mom and told her about the funeral. Dad heard about it, and "forbade" my mom to go. Mom sent her condolences instead, and my aunt and grandma wondered why (and then understood when I explained it was b/c of dad). That's just how he is/how the family culture is about this.

I'm sorry to hear that about yours; mine are not usually together at all, but it is certainly awkward when they are. However, even my dad's current wife has coached him how to be reasonable and civil when around my mom. It's ridiculous.

*I should clarify -- Dad is out of state, as is my aunt. So, locally -- my mom lives 5 mins from my grandma. I live an hour from my grandma; my sister lives about an hour & a half from my grandma (but has no car, so my mom will go pick her up and bring her down). My in-state uncle lives about 2 hours away. My in-state adult cousin lives about 3.5 hrs away. My aunt is flying in for Mother's Day, and has volunteered to come sooner if needed; she's able to stay one week. It works best for everyone else's schedule for her to stick to Mother's Day for her week. My dad is out of state also, and no, not volunteering to come (although he can and does work remotely, so could). He gets veto power b/c everyone else said "ask your dad" -- he's the oldest sibling, and, well this is how he is, and so they defer to him on this issue. However unreasonable it very well may be. :sigh:

All the tidying is done, I'm going to have my snack and watch some recorded television We're having BBQ chicken in the crockpot, for sandwiches. Fish sounds good, though, Scout.

My parents divorced when I was 10 or so -- some 35+ years ago. My mom remains, has always remained, on very friendly terms with my grandma/her ex-MIL (and my grandma, likewise, is friendly with my mom). Everyone else in the family similarly remains, has always remained, on good terms with my mom as well. Except my dad. So now, my grandma needs someone to come stay with her 24/7 for a while, as she recovers from a fall that cracked a vertebrae in her neck. We have every day covered from now until Mother's Day, when my aunt flies in for a week, and again every day after that for however long, between me & my sister, and one out of town, but not out of state, uncle. Every day but ONE, which my mom has volunteered to cover. Everyone is okay with this. Except my dad. I am just angry that he's allowing his 35+ yr old grudge/anger towards my mom to cause everyone else to rearrange more things to cover the ONE single day/night when everyone else can't be there, to keep my mom/his ex from coming to care for his mom. My mom lives less than 5 mins from my grandma, doesn't work, and is more than happy to step in however needed. My uncle who will probably come back and cover that missing day lives 2 hrs away, has adult kids at home and is raising one of his grandkids as well, and will have to come down on a weekend day (when everyone is off work/school at his house) to come cover this day. Which he'll do gladly, b/c it's his mom, but still. The only reason he has to is b/c of my dad's lingering grudge. That is all. just needed to vent. (feel free to JAWM or to shed light on why my father is not as unreasonable as I think he is....either is fine) ETA: Dad (and my aunt) is out of state; mom is 5 mins from my grandma; I'm an hour away, my sister is 1.5 hrs away, the in-state uncle is 2 hrs away, my in-state adult cousin is 3.5 hrs away. Everyone but dad has volunteered to come. He would have to fly here, but works remotely so would not have to take off work, so he could come if he wanted. He gets veto power on this because.....? family culture? he's the oldest son? Not sure. But thank you all for agreeing he's unreasonable.

Whew. Done with school. Talked to my uncle, and my aunt, and we've got all but one day covered for "someone to stay with Grandma" between now and Mother's Day; my mom has volunteered (this is my dad's mom, but my mom and my grandma/her ex-MIL are on very good terms and live in the same town). My uncle said he's okay with it, check with my dad & aunt. My aunt said she's okay with it, check with my dad. I've texted; we'll see what he says. My grandma would be fine with it. If not, my uncle can come back down for that day I think. (update: Dad says NO to my mom being involved, so I'll let my uncle know and make sure he can come back that day) Making a plan for what all to do/prep for Grandma when there -- cook some soups, bring some button shirts, paper goods, straws that bend, etc. DH will be glad that other people, not me, are doing the bulk of this. I am struggling with that and trying to let them. A friend reminded me -- let the competent helpers, help, when you cannot be the one there. Other people can, in fact, sit with Grandma and make sure she's fed, etc. Other people cannot, in fact, come teach my class for me, be my kid's mom at his college visit, etc. I'm trying to remember that. Need to grab a snack and finish the tidying up before Oldest's people come over tonight; apparently even though one can't come till 7:30 he told the rest "any time after 6:00" - I'm hoping, as they all know the other guy can't get here till late, that they all come closer to the 7:30 time.....

I am sorry she's having a blah day, but I love that relaxing in bed and watching horror movies is what helps. And that you are the kind of parent that encourages/supports it.

home from the grocery store, started the crockpot, put groceries away, heading for a nap here shortly - need to make sure Middle is up first, and make a list of school stuff for DS