Still Alive

Where were we?

I need to get to my blogsphere but my realsphere seems to be taking over these days.

There was planing the Disney family vacation and the stress of all things Disney (funny they don't mention that in their advertisements). Things like the bizarre world of Disney pricing (I never, ever feel like I am getting a deal) to the dinner reservation dance of trying to eat not at 3pm or 11pm at night. 

We decided to pull the kids out of school a week early for vacation, which I have never supported in the past, and will never support again. Instead of a relaxing holiday, my two were continually working on homework and not making nearly the progress with ten times the distraction of being at their grandparents and generally not wanting to do work during Christmas. To top it off, DD in high school returned to a solid week of make up exams and twice the already back breaking homework load as several of her teachers did not give her the correct assignments to complete while she was gone. 

Back home from sunny Florida, and now past semester exams in high school (yeah high honor roll DD and DS), things are settling back to normal. As for that couponing stuff, 'fraid to say that I haven't been doing much at all for many months. It seems most of the great deals became either lousy or disappeared entirely as new rules came into play which zapped most of the best buys I'd found. Even a lot of my fav couponing website are crickets on deals these days. I'm still looking for a new marketing research job so if you know of any place you can hook me up, let me know.

Where were we?

Oh yes, after twenty years in marketing research, my entire department was let go last month. Wow. That wasn't fun.

I've taken a blog hiatus to catch up on twenty years of house cleaning, laundry and home decorating. Fun, exhausting, eye opening. What world is this that there is no one in Costco at 10 am on a Tuesday morning? Where are all the people??

O brave new world!

Stay tuned, for this ex professional lady, life is getting interesting....

Scoliosis update

We didn't have the best news at our check up last week. DD has been wearing the TLSO (Boston Brace) faithfully (24-7) as directed since February, but her thoracic curve continues to progress at a rate of 1 degree per month. The orthopedist has sent us back to the orthodist to see if we can adjust the brace, or potentially make a new TLSO brace, OR see if we need to use the dreaded Milwaukee brace to stop the thoracic curve. We have to stop it...the closer it gets to 40 the closer we get to spinal fusion surgery. 


We also have an appointment with the specialist at Children's to see what he recommends, and I am trying to move it up from the current end of August. Every month we continue to gain another degree in curve.

Portrait of persistence

Two hours a day, every day.

My little supa star

First chair violin II

Before each piece the children gave a short introduction.

No, this next video is not the Changing of the Guards. My arm was getting tired. This piece is Danza Africana which was William's favorite piece anyway. Try not to get sea sick watching it. Heck, you can't see William in it because he's blocked by a music stand, so just close your eyes and listen.

And then there were the advanced juniors. Kids who at age 9 and 10 had already been playing for 6 years.

Melting

I would like some ice cream. Now.

Dune Goon

By running up and down this enormous sand dune at Sleeping Bear Dunes park on the shores of lake Michigan, William officially became a Dune Goon. And for the next ten years we will be finding sand in his hair....