Aurora Borealis

Bill Bennett and Dennis Prager both broadcast their radio shows live today, having people call in to memorialize loved ones who died in service of this country.  Very moving.  Those sorts of things always have been moving to me. We are very blessed to have so many who have been willing to stand up and fight for this country and for freedom.  Neither Mr. Tldz nor I would be able to do that sort of fighting, though we believe it’s worth doing; and we are so grateful for those who do it.  But now that I look at my own little boy, the losses these folks share hit me so much more deeply.

I would be proud if Agent Murphy decides to serve in the military, but I also shudder to think what that decision might one day bring.  As he gets older, we really need to find some meaningful ways to mark Memorial Day and Veterans Day so he can understand the price of freedom.  And learn to remember.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them.

Okay, our kitchen cabinet is repaired.  Our shower head has started leaking, but seems to be reasonably under control and can wait for further attention until our return.  Have lots of little tasks to get finished packing and get the house in order before our departure in the morning.  Hopefully we’ll have some showings while we’re away, and a new shower pan and bathroom floor will greet us on our return.

Agent Murphy had his 18-month portraits today, but he wasn’t a very happy camper.  (He’s happy now, though, to have his pots and pans drawer back.)  They still got some cute shots, and we had time to do an outfit change so we have a dressy outfit and a casual one.  That’s good, because there will never be time around his annual portrait to do that.  With a November birthday, we do that sitting in the rush of everyone getting their pictures done for Christmas cards.

Memorial Day Weekend always seems to mark the official start of summer, and for us this year it marks the start of our vacation.  We were supposed to kick it off with the children’s choir concert at IHM Friday night, but The Dog decided to bolt, so we had to stay close to home in case someone called about her.  Fortunately, she meandered back on her own, but by that time it was too late to pull ourselves together for the concert.  (Lucky for her, Agent Murphy saw her in the car port and let out a squeal, so Mr. Tldz opened the door and let her in.) Besides, our being home worked out well so RW could swing by after work and pick up a set of keys, as he has kindly agreed to keep an eye on the place, bring in our mail, etc. while we’re away.

Yesterday got off to a bit of a lazy start, and then we got the house in shape for an afternoon showing, but the people were no-shows.  (As I’m writing this, two different people have pulled up in front of the house to take sale fliers, so hopefully we’ll see more activity.) The guys who worked on fixing our kitchen cabinets came out to make adjustments to what they’ve done, and things are almost right. We’re supposed to see them again today for the final tweaks.  It will be good to have our drawer back!

Yesterday afternoon we all went for haircuts.  Agent Murphy got his first official hair cut, not counting the snipping at the back I’ve done a couple of times.  He fussed a little at first, but really he did quite well.  And he looks very handsome.  I need to get pictures off the camera before we leave, so maybe I’ll put up his before and after shots.  He’s such a big boy!  He had his 18-month checkup on Wednesday and weighed in at 28 pounds and 35.75″ — right on the growth curve he’s been on all along.  They are concerned that he’s not saying any words yet, so we have a hearing evaluation scheduled for June 3 and a speech evaluation for June 10.  Apparently they won’t do any speech therapy until he’s had a hearing screening, but it seems pretty silly, because he obviously hears us and comprehends what we’re saying.  In the last couple of days he’s given us a couple of really clear examples I can relay at his screenings.  I think our boy just likes to do things at his own pace, when he has it all figured out, like he’s done with everything else.  Of course, that’s not a great strategy for learning to talk, so maybe they’ll have some good tips on jump starting him.  For now, our pediatrician says just keep talking to him and read out loud to him — not just his stories, but anything I’m reading.

We slept in a bit today, too, and had a lovely morning, so we’ll be going to Mass this evening.  I’ve gotten a fair bit of our trip packing done, and Mr. Tldz has been working on laundry. Agent Murphy has decided he likes cole slaw.  Tomorrow we take the freshly coiffed Agent for his 18-month portraits and finish our preparations to go visit Grandma.

This weekend we wrapped up our Mend a Heart Campaign fundraiser at church, benefitting Post Abortion Treatment and Healing (PATH).  We’ll be lucky to get back a third of the containers we distributed.  But hopefully the donations will be enough to have made it worth doing, and I think we’ve at least raised awareness of PATH.  And as far as being a pilot project, I think it was a good one.  I have ideas I need to write down about making the program better, and hopefully the folks at PATH can find another couple of parishes to run this program for them using the containers we didn’t give out.

This weekend was also the committee’s last meeting for a couple of months, as we’ll break for June and July.  I’ve decided that in the next couple of weeks I need to inform our pastor of my intention to step down as chair.  I’d hoped to have an offer on the house, a move date, etc. to make it a “clean break.”  We’re still hoping we’ll be moved by the end of the summer, but even if we’re not, it could come sometime in the fall.  And I don’t think it’s right for me to lead the start of the new program year and then just drop it on someone else.  (And, honestly, I’m a bit burned out.  I’ve been chair for 5 1/2 years, and that’s enough banging my head against a wall in that particular venue.)

…Happy birthday to me, Happy birthday to me-ee, oh boy am I old!

Oh well, better than the alternative, right?

The Tldz family had a lovely brunch at Pub 71 yesterday to mark the occasion.  There are gifts I have to wait until tonight to open.

Yesterday Agent Murphy managed to do some serious damage to the drawer front of our pots and pans drawer.  Don’t know how he got that done.  Maybe it was just getting to that point and he was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.  Anyway, we had it propped up in place so it looked normal for the showing today, and I’ve managed to keep him away from his favorite “toy box” today, but I had to go in there a minute ago for a pot, and it gave up the ghost…  Drawer front now propped up on the floor in front of the cabinet.  I hope the handy man I left a message for calls back soon.  And I hope he’s good.  It’d be really, well, handy to have a handy man on call.

In more relaxing news, I’m re-reading The Shack at a slower pace this time.  It really is a soul-touching story, and in some ways I really need right now.  Unfortunately, I won’t be able to go to the IHM Moms Group book club because they moved the date to when we’re out of town.  Too bad, because who knows when I’ll think another of their selections looks to be worth reading, but oh well.  I do need to get better about getting Agent Murphy to play group, though.

Had a showing of the house this morning.  First one in weeks.  We’ll see if anything comes of it.  We’ll at least take the activity as a good sign.  To get ourselves out of the way, Agent Murphy and I went and picked out new tile for our bathroom floor during the time the showing was supposed to happen.  (Our shower pan has sprung a leak, so since we have to get that fixed anyway, we’re going to re-do the floor, too.  Both bathrooms really could stand to be gutted and re-done completely, but we have no interest in putting that much money into this place at this point.  I have to decide if I want to put in a shower door or go with a rod and curtain – we currently have a folding partition thing that is definitely showing its age.)  So now I have a trunk full of tile and grout.  Don’t know where we’re going to keep it until the shower pan man comes to do the work after Memorial Day, while we’re in Chicago…

But still lots to go… It’s seems like maybe I’ve been to Michigan, but obviously if I have been it wasn’t very memorable.  I’d like to go to New Mexico to watch the hot air balloon festival, and take the American Orient Express trip through the Rockies.  Yeah, well, it’s nice to dream, anyway.

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Lest there be any undue concern, I will muddle through this downturn in my mood.  I always do.  I usually try to wait to post until I have something happier to say.  That one slipped through.  Sorry to worry you guys.

I’m actually feeling a little better today, except now I feel physically bad.  Have had a headache all day that I can’t shake.  Agent Murphy is “napping” now (he’s actually screaming at the top of his lungs at the moment, but I expect he’ll settle down soon), so I can get a few things done.

I hate it.  Mine in particular.  More accurately, myself in particular.  That is all.