Instructions Not Included

It's crazy how so many people want children without actually knowing what they are getting into.  Most often times when making large purchases, we will pick up items, read the box, compare to other items prior to investing money in the item.  We will surf the net, do the research, compare and contrast what is available and make an informed decision.  Interestingly enough, people just jump right out there and have children without any research at all. (P.S. They are WAAAAYYY more expensive than any huge flat screen television or high performance car you may consider).

It's "time".  "My clock is ticking". "But all my friends are having kids..." These are phrases heard when the decision is made to start a family.  No logic involved.  You don't have to have a license  or a permit or even show proof of income.

It sounds good at the time.  You spend 9 months preparing for the birth of the unknown.  Boy or girl?  Red head or blond?  Tall? Short? Healthy?  You just never know what you are going to wind up with but we dive in and embrace it.

When they are born, you are caught up in the newness of parenthood.  You don't seem to mind the puking pooping mess that seems to constantly spew from the little one.  Some people even respond to it by saying, "Awwww... Isn't he/she cute?"  All of the firsts begin to happen.  Rolling over, crawling, walking, first words, etc.  We are hooked.  Then.... the challenges begin...

Toddlers can be extremely willful.  I believe some of this stems from genetics but the rest is just a child's innate desire to test their parents (or any adult) every chance they get.  "NO!" Becomes their word of choice.  It is the start of the never ending battle for independence.  If you didn't have patience by this time, you best start getting some).

School starts, another first.  We are all happy and teary-eyed watching them get out of the car and go into the school for the first time.  They stop wanting hugs and kisses goodbye. Mine went so far as to tell me I had to do it before we reached the school because he didn't want anyone to see if I absolutely had to do it.  They really begin to fine tune their personality at this point. Even at this young age, the kids begin falling into their cliques. You have the social, social and smart, jocks, kids that just get by, the attractive, unattractive, and so on.  Some things never change from generation to generation.

Middle school fuels the division between the groups.  They still need you but only when they are in trouble or need money.  The migrate from one group of friends to another.  It sometimes happens so fast that you miss entire groups altogether.  They begin having girl/boyfriends.  A social life.  And, without the ability to drive, your role changes to that of chauffeur.  Parents become nothing but the personal taxi of their offspring.  The kids will join clubs, sports teams, etc.  You spend a lot of time in your car, waiting outside of the school, outside of a friend's house, picking up other children going the same way.  You find yourself leaving work early, going in late, to accommodate their schedules.  Before you know it,  you are doing your weekend chores during the week because you have just been informed your weekend will be spent sitting on bleachers, or in a field for some marathon sporting event. AND, you have been designated to bring water, snacks, etc. for the entire team.

Tangent.  Some facts about sports in middle school....
-Practices are generally held after school. (This is good).  However, they seldom last long enough for you to transition from work to the school for a timely pick up. (This is bad).  You need to leave work early on practice days.... (This is also bad).
-Many middle school sporting events are held during the week (This is good). Some of them begin early, almost right after school causing you to leave work early yet again if you are going to watch (this is bad).
-Coaches will often call you about transportation for other team members whose parents are unable or unwilling to attend. (this is neutral).  But, if the parents never show up at the event, you can be stuck taking them home (this is BAD.  At least where I live.  Only three middle schools in the county so trekking across a county can take a considerable amount of fuel and time).  My advice is to by a car that will only hold you and your offspring.  "Sorry coach, no room".

Okay, back to middle school..  This is where you really wish there was an instruction manual.  The things you witness or hear about that go on at this age, you cannot seem to remember ever happening when you were in school.  They begin having sex, (at least a few of them), they talk about it, etc.  You can only remember maybe some intense kissing at this stage..  They go on group dates.  They meet at the movies (no mom you can't stay and watch one, even if it is in another theater).  So, you have to keep yourself occupied until the appropriate pick up time.  They make weekend plans by Wednesday so you make your own plans, just to find out Friday night they have changed several times since then and therefore have ruined the ones you have made.  The constant request for money begins.  It began with the obligatory funding for participation in sports, clubs, field trips, etc.  It begins to blossom out into spending money.  For a kid who can't drive, they ask for quite a bit of it.  (This intensifies by the way.  See high school).  You begin to doubt whether or not you are cut out for parenting, long for periods of time where your kiddo is staying with a friend so you can slow down and breathe, and dread whatever is coming next.

We eventually survive and make it to high school.  This is where you really want the manual.  Decisions you make, can set precedent.  It's worse than the supreme court.  Kids have a fantastic memory for what you say when it is what they want to hear or if it was something you okay'd in the past but now think you should have handled differently.  When the situation arises again, going against a former decision is noted, called out and argued until you break.  You begin to believe your child would make a great lawyer.  Funny thing is, they DON'T remember to do what you asked five minutes ago.  "Would you please bring up your laundry?"  Child says, "Can it wait until a commercial?"  You agree.  5 hours later, no laundry and a "I forgot" when you ask again. (This is coupled with a look telling you that you are a pain in the ass).  Money flies out of your bank account.  Money for sports, class ring year books, school fees, dances, entertainment, orthodontics, cars, insurance, gas, clothes. Shoes for basketball, wrestling, running, etc. It never seems to end.  I also spend a large amount of income on food.  There is 5-6 teenage boys in this house at any given time and they eat nonstop.  CC calls them a plague of locusts.  Apparently no one else's parents bother to feed them.  They all eat here.  I need to begin charging a cover at the door...

They know EVERYTHING!   Nothing you have to say is right.  You are stupid.  ANYONE can tell them something but not you.  They will insult you, hurt your feelings, treat you like a servant and then turn around and ask you for a favor.  The entire world revolves around them and you are just lucky to be in it.  Now they have girlfriends, have sex, drink etc.  Stuff they don't tell you about but you know is happening.  Kids nowadays ask parents to buy alcohol and let them have a party where everyone stays the night.  NO!  Not here. Not this mother.  I'm sure all the other parents are buying their kids Hummers and Porsches for their first cars too but not here.  Really?  How stupid do I look?

At times it looks as if I will never survive.  I also look at the son and wonder if he will ever mature enough to take care of himself.  The whole thing is wearing me out...

Crescent City Coolers are Fabulous!

Well, we finally got to take our New Orleans trip!  Our planning took place in June.  About time huh?  CC was able to cover our trip well in his blog.  Feel free to read up and get the details there.  :)

This was my first trip to New Orleans.  I had such a wonderful time!  The traveling by train was fantastic!  I wish we had a better rail system. I would like to travel by train more often...

Train Depot

CC in our sleeper

The weekend weather was great!  The humidity was relatively low until Monday so it wasn't too bad walking around seeing the sights.  We stayed at a bed and breakfast called Avenue Inn.  It was on St. Charles and the streetcar ran right in front so it was easy getting to and from the Quarter.

Avenue Inn

Labor Day weekend is a great weekend for travel as you don't have to take as many vacation days from work.  However, you should always check the city where you are going for any festivals and activities that may be occurring during your visit.  We found out after our planning that Labor Day weekend was also the weekend for Southern Decadence (Gay Mardi Gras).  We got some sights we did not expect!

That is no kilt!

Christmas ornaments for sale

St. Louis Cathedral from across
Jackson Square

We visited St. Louis Cemetery Number One.  We saw St. Louis Cathedral and many of the old buildings in the Quarter were something to behold.

St. Louis Cemetery

One of the beautiful buildings in the Quarter

We ate wonderful food as well!  Cafe Pontalba had a wonderful breakfast.  It is right in Jackson Square with a great view of the cathedral.  Red Fish Grill was an excellent choice CC made for lunch.  It was a good place to enjoy great food and get out of the rain shower!  We had a Ferdi at Mother's Restaurant for supper the day we arrived.  It was excellent!   Cafe du Monde was another excellent breakfast choice.  Who can deny themselves those wonderful donuts?  Muffalettas could not be had at Central Grocery as they were closed for the holiday.  We settled for the Muffalettas at Frank's next door.  It was very good although CC says not near as good as the ones at Central Grocery.  We went to a place called Snug Harbor for dinner and some jazz music.  The food was good and the music was great!  CC describes the happenings during the show in his blog.  Needless to say, it had the potential to be a highly entertaining show!

Waiting for the music at Snug Harbor

Our big night out was Monday night, our last night in the Big Easy.  We went to dinner at Commander's Palace.  It was one of the most memorable dining experiences I will probably ever have.  The service was impeccable.  The food was out of this world!  We opted for the Chef's Playground with the wine/cocktail pairing.  Basically, we sat down and they just brought us food and drink of their choice and we ate and drank!  Again, CC covers this well in his blog.  I finally was served an oyster that I liked!  I have to say that I have been trying to like oysters for many years.  I have tried them every way I can find.  Crispy Oyster Meuniere is the ticket!  I must say that they had a cocktail that was out of this world!  A Crescent City Cooler.  I liked it so much, I had to ask for the recipe.  It has Cruzan Guava Rum in it.  Who knew rum came in guava?

Before we knew it, it was time to go home.  Like our other vacations, we have such a good time that it seems like it flies by.  CC was getting sick a bit come Monday so I suppose it was a good thing it was time to go home.  We didn't have to like it though...

At the NOLA airport.  Going home,
BOO!!!!!

It was a wonderful vacation spent with my favorite person on the planet!  Trouble is, we have not planned our next one.  We need to get on that!

CC is almost better from his cold.  It really wiped him out!  He has been down all of the week following our trip.  He is almost better now so for that I am happy.  :)

I Can Barely Contain Myself!

It's that time again. VACATION TIME!  I love to go places and I especially love traveling with CC.  He is such a good travel partner.  Well, actually he is a good everything partner but I digress.

It is finally time for us to take our New Orleans vacation via Chicago by train.  It is going to be a bit of an adventure!  They say that the train ride is approximately 19.5 hours.  We leave Chicago at 8:00 pm and will arrive at 3:30 pm the following day.  It's a good thing we enjoy each other's company so much because that is a long time to be in a small area with just one person.  Of course, I can't think of anyone else I would want to be confined with so it all works out!!  :)

The weather here in the Ville is awesome.  Sunny and high 70's.  A nice break from the 90-100 degree stuff we have had to endure all summer.  According to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, (NOAA), beginning in June, Louisville spent the most days of any city in the country with above normal temperatures: a total of 73 for June, July and up thru August 17th. The city normally sees summer highs ranging from 83 degrees in June to 87 degrees in July. This year we logged nearly all of June and July above normal, and spent every day in August, up thru August 17th, above normal - way above normal. Our actual temp hovered between 98-101 with heat indexes around 110 or better.

I'm hoping our weather in NOLA is nicer than the summer was here.  Because of the slight chance of rain everyday, I have packed an umbrella.  Usually packing an umbrella means you won't need it.  I hope that is the case this weekend.  It should be a great time!

And So It Goes...

I know this is a topic that continues on and on but I am so worried.  I worry about CC's happiness.  My house is grand central station.  He is used to peace and quiet.  I have a smart mouth teenager who has been spoiled.  I know it is difficult to watch.  He is further north.  No job yet and when he does have one, it more than likely will not be one he wants.  His life is all upside down and it is all my fault.  I don't know what to do to make it better.