Smart Mouth Has Stopped for Now

My youngest has had a smart mouth this week. He is so ready to be out of school and move on to his next adventure that it is very difficult to get him to focus. This was TAKS week, which really irritates him, and therefore irritates me. He sees this week as a huge waste of his time. His irritation has come out as rants against just about anything I have asked him. I let it go for a couple of days, then I told him to cut it out.

The problem I have in dealing with him these days is that I do not have very many effective threats. He no longer goes on play dates, he has already been accepted into the school of his choice, he doesn't care if I take his computer away, television really does not matter to him, he has finished all his dvds, and he saves his money and buys his own "toys." I knew telling him to cut it out would not last.

A couple of days later he cut loose on me with some very smart remarks and I knew I had to stop it before it went any further. I used the only threat I could come up with: "Straighten up or I'm going to knock you to the ground, and don't think I can't. I may not be able to keep you down, but I can get you down once and then I can run." Of course, I knew his next remark would be ... "You can't run as fast as me." But I pre-empted it with ..."Once I knock you down I am going to strip while I run so that you won't want to catch me." Now he laughed at me, but the mouth did stop. I think he is afraid that I'm just crazy enough to do just what I threatened.

String Fever - History of Music

Family Dinner Hold the Table Kiosk

Tonight's family dinner was at Chili's. They have added those little kiosks on the table where you can play trivia games, look at specials, and pay your bill. The youngest and I did not like it there, it seems intrusive. It took up space and because my oldest has to examine every gadget I think it kept us from having our usual crazy conversation.

Our waiter was excellent before our food came, but when the food came out it was not all there. I corrected the order, but it seemed to take forever for the rest of the food to get to the table, and I wanted my missing item to go with my main dish so I could not start eating. I complained to the boys about how attentive the waiter was before the food came, but how he disappeared when there was a problem. In a matter of seconds he was right beside me trying to make things all better. He became extremely attentive again, and seemed to know each little thing I was irritated about, even though I had not said a word to him.

The boys and I came to the conclusion that those little kiosks have hidden microphones in them so the kitchen can hear your conversations at the table. They are Big Brother for the restaurant businesses. Of course, that just led us down a completely different path in our conversation.

We were wondering what they had done to our food due to our comments. Then we wondered if they found tables that were having interesting conversations and listened in on those only. Since my youngest is completely disgusted by certain commercial currently running on television, we went in that direction. If the kitchen is listening in, could they get so engrossed in a table discussing the new KY Warming Jelly or Love Rub that they would burn several orders at one time?

While it was very convenient when it came to paying, I would rather not have the little device on my table. If there had been four of us at the table it really would have been in the way. Plus, I kept making my oldest use Purell since he kept picking up the stylus and clicking around on it. I kept reminding him of the swine flu.

Suggested Illness

Ok, since the news started 30 minutes ago, I have developed aching joints, a stiff neck, and a sore throat. The same thing happens when I read a book that describes symptoms of an illness.

I don't consider myself to be a hypochondriac, it is more like I am highly empathetic.

Oh, oh, after another discussion of symptoms and an interview of someone with the swine flu, I now have a headache and feel dizzy.

I think that I need to avoid not only crowds, but news programs describing this health emergency.

Afternoon View from my Chair

This afternoon's view from my chair includes 2 doves sitting on the line, a red headed woodpecker eating out of the red feeder, a blue jay sitting on one of the shepherd's hook, and a rabbit drinking out of the swimming pool, all at the same time. I love looking out my window.

Exposed or Not, They Are Still Lies

I'm in a horrible situation right now.

I know that someone is lying. I also suspect that this person is working very hard to hide the lies.

I suspect the lies are being told because this person wants to be seen as a leader without flaws. I just wish this person would understand that the flaws are well known, but the respect and the love is still there, so the lies are not needed.

I have been asked straight out if I think lies have been told. I know they have, but there is no way I can prove it.

The whole situation is extremely tense, and the lies are keeping everyone from finding a solution to the problem that caused the lies to be told. It is the problem everyone should be focused on, as it must be solved and soon.

I personally do not understand the point of the lies. It is extremely disappointing to me, and certainly lowers my opinion of this person.

I am working very hard to find a solution to this problem, without having to bring the lies to the surface. It is hard because several people have discovered the lies, but no one wants to confront the situation.

I will probably not get over that the lies were told, even though to date, they have nothing to do with me, because I think the lies hurt the whole. Also, exposed or not, they are still lies.

Weekend Update

This has been a good weekend.

Yesterday the boys went to A&M Commerce so the youngest could compete with his computer science club in the regional UIL competition. The oldest is an aide to the group so that is why he was there. They won and will be going to the state competition in a couple of weeks. It is good to see the youngest involved in something like this for a change. He is resistant to group activities.

While they were in Commerce, BFF J and I went on a small quilt shop hop to Lewisville and Carrollton.

We started out with a very delicious and reasonably priced meal at the new Cheddar's in Allen. We both had the lunch trio and chose salad, soup, and 1/2 of a double decker club. Only difference in our orders was the salad dressing.

Our second stop was Quilt Country in Lewisville. It is a wonderful shop, but a little overwhelming due to its size and the amount of fabric available. I get lost in the colors and have trouble focusing. I find myself running from section to section oohing and ahhing, but not accomplishing anything. I finally had to make myself focus by looking at the pattern I am going to start next and using tunnel vision. I did find a piece of fabric I needed to finish the cat quilt back, a great stencil, and some lovely fat quarters.

Third stop was the Quilter's Workshop in Carrolton. BFF had promised me some fabric for my birthday and although I really didn't find the "birthday" fabric at Quilt Country, I found plenty of goodies in the Quilter's Workshop. I found a pattern I had been wanting for almost a year, some beautiful fat quarters, and some great advice. I should have gotten the woman's name there that helped us, but she was terrific, and very patient. The pattern I bought is for paper piecing and I have not tried that before, but she explained what I needed to do and told me that if I got stuck I could call or bring it in and they would help me. She also told me a few things I did not know about how to use the stencil I bought at Quilt Country. I so wish I lived closer to this store. They have terrific classes and are always so helpful. They do a lot of what I call "arty" stuff in that shop and I like that aspect of the craft.

After that it was home. I am very sure BFF wished she had driven yesterday since I don't take the freeways it was a long ride and my maps were not the best so there were a couple of places where I had to back track or guess. Of course I did not mind because it gave us more time to talk, and I think we both needed that yesterday.

Once home BFF left, and I went grocery shopping for the oldest because he was out of food and they were getting home so late from Commerce. He only needed four items and that was easy enough. I picked them up and came home to the sewing machine and worked on the cat quilt back while I waited for the boys to get back.

The boys arrived home after 9 and had not had supper, so we picked up a couple of pizzas, ate, and then the oldest and I played Quirkle before he went back to his apartment.

Today I went to church long enough to listen to the pre-school students sing, and then it was home to prepare to work on the quilt back again. I hope to finish it today. I have a couple of other items I would like to work on after that, but I might need a nap first.