Tuesday, June 21, 2011

No stitching, BUT...

Hello blogging buddies!

So much has been happening lately, but I haven't been able to get much stitching done. I had hoped to have a stitch day with Sonya last Friday, but...I woke up to some redness around one of my incision sites Friday morning. A quick call to the doctor's office and they put me back on antibiotics. *heavy sigh* I had to mail off my Mom's package, then pick up my prescription at the pharmacy. When I finally reached Sonya's it was time for lunch and then we only had 2 hours to stitch before I had to run home. DH and DS had bought tickets to the Orioles/Nationals baseball game in DC, and I wanted to take a nap before we left. The Orioles lost...what a disappointing day all the way around!! Oh well, we have to have those kinds of days sometimes so we can appreciate the good days...right?

It was a busy weekend, we celebrated Father's Day on Saturday because Sunday was DS's birthday! We surprised DS with a trip to summer tennis camp on the Naval Academy in Annapolis. He starts next week. He'll actually be staying right on the base for the week! Ah...a week of not hearing "I'm bored"! It's like music to my ears! DS and I got a game of Ladder ball for DH and we spent some time playing. I've never heard of it before, but DS had gone to a youth group party and they played there and had a blast, so of course he decided he had to get that for his Dad for Father's Day. It was a great idea, it really is fun to play! We also went to see the new Green Lantern movie in 3D. I thought it would probably be hokey, but in all honesty, it was pretty good! I'm surprised, all the comic book stories hitting the big screen, and the guys have wanted to see them all. I have to say, I'm in need of a good chick flick intervention...but I'm always outvoted on those. *sigh*

Monday was another run around day! DS is now the magic age to get a learner's permit to drive. I think I've been dreading this day since the day he was born...well, ok, maybe not that long, but for at least a year since he turned 15. That's all we've heard. So...it was my job to crawl out of bed at O dark thirty so we could make the 30 minute drive to Annapolis to the MVA so we could wait in line (in the rain) to get into the building at 8:30 AM, fill out the massive amount of paper work (and "WHY?" I ask you in this age of computer wizardry do you need to kill so many trees for the paper work for a learner's permit that is made from the remains of dead dinosaurs???) but I digress...LOL I have to say, the people at the MVA were pretty nice for an early rainy Monday morning! I learned a few important things...DS HAS to attend a driving school, and I can revoke/suspend his permit with a written letter to the DMV until he's 18! *happy dancing* I now have the upper hand with a punishment that will truly bring the child to his knees! I could have kissed the guy who gave DS a lecture on responsibility and respect for his parents and that driving is a privilege, not a right yada, yada, yada. DS looked at me after we left and said, "Did you call ahead with that lecture?" because it was almost verbatim what I've been spouting since he first asked to get his permit. LOL I said NO! But it was good for him to hear from another adult that I wasn't just spouting nonsense! I also learned that at 16, DS could register to vote in the great state of Maryland (he still can't vote until he turns 18, but they found they can catch them early for registration if they ask when they first get a learner's permit). AND...the nice guy I mentioned before THANKED DS for agreeing to be an organ donor. He nearly fell off his chair when DS pulled out his wallet and gave him the money for his permit. I wonder how many kids actually pay for their own permit? I had dreaded the day, but we were out of there in about 30 minutes! The huge smile on his face when he passed the written test will be burned in my memory forever! DS is now at the magical male age where it's not cool to show your emotions, so any change in countenance is welcome and memorable! LOL

From there we ran a ton of errands and finally ended up in a parking lot for a little instruction. I dragged out the errands as long as I could but it was finally time to face the music. I found out later that both of us were shaking in our shoes. How do you explain to someone that you GENTLY press the accelerator? GENTLY...GENTLY...
I couldn't say it loud enough, but still, his first attempt left a burned rubber patch about a foot long. Thankfully he has reflexes like a cat and stomped on the brake nearly as hard as he did the accelerator. I'm not kidding about the burned rubber...If I were a bobble head, I would still be bobbling a day later. I can see the doctor at the emergency room asking..."You have whiplash because...?" Now he's a bit gun shy, so we maneuvered around the parking lot getting used to the pedals for 30 minutes, I think I saw some snails moving faster than we were. LOL I see the wisdom of driving school now, they have that extra brake pedal installed on the passenger side. I truly need one of those! He told me last night that he needed a day off from driving after yesterday, it's harder than it looks. Whew, I think my heart could use a rest too! I think parents should be awarded a medal for getting in the passenger seat for the first time their kid gets behind the steering wheel of a car, don't you? I definitely felt like a brave battle worn soldier when the first lesson was finished! LOL Maybe this is a job for good ole Dad?

Sorry, no pictures today, though I do have some on my camera of the lilies that opened in my front yard...I'll save those for next time. Hope you have a great day! It's a bit cloudy/drizzly today, I'm hoping I can stay home and recuperate from yesterdays activities. Wish me luck!

4 comments:

Nancy said...

Sounds like you have a very responsible young man there! I refused to be the parent teaching my kids how to drive, too nerve racking for me!! My husband did the inital teaching and I would only be the passenger once they had a few lessons under their belts...still had some memorable moments even then!! Hope your son enjoys tennis camp and you a nice quiet home for a few days!

Gillie said...

I have arthritis in my right hand that I swear is from clutching the arm rest not once but three times! I taught them all to drive, the WT didn't have the necessary nerves! That is funny as he is the patient one in all other things, lol!

Mouse said...

heheh been there seen that .. apparently I was the better teacher ;) but I said lessons with a qualified teacher is a must ... and so they are and did .. one down and passed one to go :) love DS birthday present :) take care and happy stitching love mouse xxx

Tricia T said...

Oh, DJ! I feel for you!!! I taught all three of my children to drive in the past year. The girls waited until they were 18 - so no Driver's Ed for them... it was all up to me. My son had Driver's Ed which I was thankful for. I swear that my hair turned MUCH greyer last summer!!! I still can't ride with my husband, even, without hanging on and saying... "OK, slow down here!" LOL!! Hang in there!!!!