Journal Entries
Amy P's NaJoPoMo 2012--November 11
Posted Nov 12, 2012
Today is, of course, Veterans' Day (the federal holiday is tomorrow, but of course today is the real day). The major difference between 11/11 here in the US and in the UK is that, in the US, living veterans are honored as well as ones that have fallen, either in conflict or later, at home. Ironically enough, some of the veterans in my family that come to mind first *would* actually be remembered on Rememberence Day in the UK. Grandpa Hopper (Dad's dad) passed away last year. He was in the Navy during WWII, in the Pacific Theater. For years, all I really knew was that he'd been in a Japanese POW camp, in a tiger cage, and that's why he had arthritis on his spine. A few years ago, Grandpa sent me a copy of a magazine article for which he'd been interviewed--he'd been in one of the last airstrikes of the war. I don't remember many details--we were still in Sacramento at the time, which means it was at least 7 years ago that I read it. I still have it, but we've moved several times since then, so I'm not sure exactly where it is. His memorial included a lovely ceremony remembering POWs and MIAs, which Tom still hasn't had a chance to see--Notepad was raising an awful fuss (she fell asleep soon after) and he took her to the far end of the property so that the rest of us could appreciate the ceremony (I did tape it). My stepdad (who I called Daddy Bob) volunteered at 17, but was too young for WWII (he was 19 years older than Mom, and he passed away in 2004--4 years after Mom). He was a Marine corpsman, acting as a medic for the Navy, and was in China when Mao came into power.
I also have veterans in my family who are still alive. My Uncle Tom broke the trend of my Dad's family by joining the Army instead of the Navy--he sleepwalked, y'see
He was a tunnel rat during Vietnam--Mom said that, for awhile after he came back, you had to be careful waking him from a nap. My Aunt Laura was in the WAVES.
If I were to list all my friends, past and present, who are veterans or currently serving, it would basically be a list of names (or, more likely, initials, except for those that have h2g2 names) with even less info than Aunt Laura's. So I'm not going to make that list. But I am thankful for what they have done, and continue to do.
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Latest reply: Nov 12, 2012
Amy P's NaJoPoMo 2012--November 10
Posted Nov 11, 2012
Had a pleasant, if food-centered, day today. We went to a monthly breakfast at the church of some friends (we know the pastor and his wife, and their son is one of our neighbors--the girls and the dog adore him, and PaperKid enjoys tormenting him (and borrowing his tablet to play Angry Birds). We got there rather late, because of some errands we had to run beforehand (and because Notepad would not get dressed/let anyone else dress her) but there was still stuff left I could eat (I'll talk about diet some other day, probably on a Wibble morning, since that's when I normally weigh myself, unless it turns out that the batteries need recharging) and plenty of 
and such for the girls to gorge on.
When we came home, I got the laundry going, and Tom went to see if he and Mr. W (the afore-mentioned neighbor) could fix the rear brakes on the Ford F250. I don't know how far they progressed, because I didn't ask. All I know is that they were out there for hours, with trips (I presume) to the auto parts store, and their hands were solid black up past the wrists when they came in to clean up. After all, it was starting to get dark, and we had a dinner invitation to get to.
We went to Northwoods, which is one of the closest places we have to fine dining here (quote from PaperKid--"Mom, why do I have 2 forks?"). Most of the menu items are about the price I'm used to seeing on a check for Tom and I dining together. Our host paid for everyone, but I still couldn't get past the knee-jerk reaction of ordering from amongst the cheapest entrees--then again, the Guinness fish and chips were really good, and something I may have ended up ordering anyway, without looking at the prices. Whenever we go out as a family to a real restaurant (as opposed to fast food), we tend to just get an extra plate for Notepad, and share--I knew she'd eat the fries. Notepad did fairly well, especially considering that she's only 3, and we were there for 2 1/2 hours! But that's what happens when you get Tom, Pastor W, Mr. W (though he left a little earlier than everyone else), and B all together
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Latest reply: Nov 11, 2012
Amy P's NaJoPoMo 2012--November 9
Posted Nov 10, 2012
Mm, a 3 day weekend. Sodit* is Veteran's Day, so Faith and I get to stay home. That week is also Parent Conference week at Faith's school, so she gets to get out at noon Wimpy through Poets (well, that's normal for a Poets, which makes much more sense than the public/state schools letting out early on Sodit each week. The next week, we each only have 2 days in school--we're getting the day before Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving itself (of course) and the day after--a 5 day weekend
And the first day of that 5 day weekend is Tom's birthday, which I've pointed out a few times.
*Yes, I'm a Thingite A516647 Long live Sodit, Wimpy, Wibble, Thing, Poets, Doobry, and Dontbry!
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Latest reply: Nov 10, 2012
Amy P's NaJoPoMo 2012--November 8
Posted Nov 9, 2012
As Tom has said, Notepad has only (at "t'ree-a'ha'f" (three-and-a-half)) started entering the "Terrible Twos". Don't get me wrong--she's always been more strong-willed than PaperKid was at the same age (PaperKid being a child that would simply fall apart in tears when told, "No," and would argue that she *was* in trouble when told she wasn't--Notepad just tells the naysayer that they are bad, and keeps doing whatever), but she *would* listen, sort of. Now she deliberately does mischievious/naughty things
Including deliberately stating that she's going to hit/throw something/kick/bite someone, generally her big sister. Now, I'm not saying she's a bad kid, just a bit out of control. Yes, I know a large part stems from reactions from all of us bigger people, but PaperKid was *so* much easier. It's kind of a trick, having the first be easier--you think you know what you're doing, then the more difficult child comes along
I know that *some* of this is perception as opposed to reality--after all, when PaperKid was this age, while I *was* working with kids that needed extra help in school, the majority of them just needed academic support, not behavioral. The majority were in regular classes, and just came for help in specific academic areas for a half-hour or so a day. Now, I'm in a special education class where, while everyone needs some sort of academic support, behavior is a major issue. And after 3.5 hours working with several children that either don't listen or don't follow directions or both (and do so deliberately--darn *blank* has the sweetest smile while flagrantly ignoring my directions), some of them consistently, I can come home with my store of patience already exhausted. On really bad days, such as yesterday (we had a sub (I don't know whether he's done much special ed, which means I feel more responsibility for the students' behavior than I do when Mr. C, the regular teacher, or one of the subs I know work well in special ed, is in charge), extra-wild students, and a student who decided, 10 minutes before the school day ended, that it was time to go get on the bus that hadn't even arrived yet, so I had to take off after and make sure that the student didn't leave the school and try to talk the student back in (didn't work, and I hadn't had a chance to grab my jacket before heading outside, since it was on the other side of the room), I'll warn PaperKid that I've had a bad day. While that student had a much longer, much more violent (almost hit another student with a thrown handful of crayons, *did* hit another student in the arm with a thrown-hard-enough-to-blur-on-camera (I was filming on the class iPad by the request of the teacher) American football (almost regulation-sized--*not* a Nerf ball type) and other things, including spitting) I came home much more relaxed, because *I* wasn't the one in charge. But, after a difficult day, it's hard to be patient with yet another person who isn't listening or following directions.
I think I had a point when I started, but I think I lost it somewhere...
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Latest reply: Nov 9, 2012
Amy P's NaJoPoMo 2012--November 7
Posted Nov 8, 2012
My laptop's been acting up, and I can't remember the last time I did basic maintenance
So, while I may get around to being able to be online before midnight, work was rough and I'll likely be vegging with Tom watching a movie after the girls go to bed.
So, yes, basically just technically a journal entry for today.
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Latest reply: Nov 8, 2012
Amy Pawloski, aka 'paper lady'--'Mufflewhump'?!? click here to find out... (ACE)
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