=D Hodge-podgey contentment

BEAUTIFUL weather got Charissa and me out of the house and into the yard. What was even better was that our neighbors did the same and before we knew it, we were doing less work and more catching up.

Mrs. Wiglesworth, when she's healthy, always comes out when she sees Charissa out and about and today she made her way over to the front yard just in time to see C do a nose-dive off her Clifford riding toy. We talked about Charissa and the sale and the (ahem) neighbors next door, then she had to return to the house to wait for her sister's arrival. Then, after we checked on the brownies and the under-the-weather brother (Brennan had his wisdom teeth cut out Tuesday), we strolled over to Marvin and Mabel's to see them for about 15 minutes or so. This was their first trip to the porch since early last fall and it was great to see them again. Marvin has finally, sadly, been declared legally blind (at 91) and Mabel, at 89, doesn't look so spry herself--but she never has been in the nearly 10 years we've known them. (For the record, they've been married a shorter time than we!)

After Charissa's nap, we returned to visiting after we saw Debbie and Hannah in the yard with Robyn. As we talked, Marvin and his cane made it to the end of his driveway to pick up his garbage can. Guess he couldn't stay inside on such a day as this.

Brian got home at about 3:30 and he hit the yard, too; then he hit the hedge in the back. Both look much better now.

Here I am, now, sitting at the computer at 11:16 when I wanted to be in bed by about 9:30. I don't really have to be up early--unless C decides I need to be...

Just relishing some freedom here. =D

'Nuff said

http://richbishop.blogspot.com/2006/03/long-chapter-closes.html

http://carolynreid.blogspot.com/2006/02/other-side.html

Talk about ups and downs

I've spent much of the day worrying about the Schoonover family. I've rarely seen one family hit by so many different bombs in such a short period of time. Unbelievable.

But...well, not to be insensitive...Brian just came back from our tax preparer's. Wow. Wow. Wow. That little girl may be little, but she's mighty!

Call Command, cont., and a bit about Louisville

After a bit of investigation, the office found that while our kids were being put on detention, courtesy of Call Command, using Billie Jo's voice, a county in Ohio was being sent for cover from an imaginary tornado, courtesy of Call Command, using another poor sap's voice, I'm sure. Unless we are notified otherwise, we consider BJ to be exonerated from all charges.

Tune in for the next exciting Call Command adventure.

Meanwhile, Louisville was not torn up this weekend, for once. I had a ball. Went to The Pub where an Aussie waited on us. I told Rich and Shane that he just stepped off the boat. Talk about fun. We browsed Borders, went to TGIFriday's on 4th Street (and later I found the doorman there has a book in Borders and he's working on number 2; the subject is his lost dream of Broadway Stardom, but if they'd done a Broadway show about Col. Sanders, he would have been a shoe-in), ate breakfast in the pedway Conservatory and watched it rain on the river, and went to some great sessions.

Then I had to come home. Another story...

Headed out in a bit for Louisville again. I hope the rain settles down. It was a mess this morning!

Call Command: An New Instrument of (In)Efficiency from Pendleton County

Saturday, the entire school system (students included) received a phone call about this week's tournament, courtesy of the school secretary and Call Command--our new automated phone system. BJ has received some flack for that.

But TONIGHT! Tonight may cause the system to be disconnected. Allow me to share the conversation that I had with my brother, starting with the first call that I received this evening:

Carolyn says:
I just got a call command (#2 for the evening) saying that Brennan has detention tomorrow.

Rich says:
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Carolyn says:
When I asked him about it, he looked at me like I was nuts. I didn't go off because I knew I had received nothing in the way of notification and I figured it was a mistake. Until I hear differently, I'm saying it is.

Rich says:
We'll see

Carolyn says:
Since we received nothing in the mail and no teacher has come to me (and he barely makes a peep), I think it was a call command boo-boo...

Then I decided to write an e-mail, just to be sure. I shared with Rich:

Carolyn says:

Billie Jo,
I just received a call a few minutes ago that said that Brennan (I assume, unless something finally caught up with Brett) has detention Thursday. He swears it's a fluke and I know I received no notification except for the call. Am I to assume it was a mistake or is there something I missed?

Rich says:
I would assume it is a mistake

Carolyn says:
I am. I just want to be sure. The minute I assume...

Rich says:
Yep...we all know what that means

The phone rings again...

Carolyn says:
3rd call from PCHS, BJ.

After listening to part of the message:

Carolyn says:
OH! LOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!

Rich says:
So are all parents of children who do or do not have detention getting these calls?

Carolyn says (close paraphrase of the call):
"Within the past 30 minutes, all students of PCHS received a phone call stating they had detention. This was made in error. Please disregard that phone call and we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused."

Rich says:
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL...I was being facetious!!!

Rich says:
Gotta love Call Command and its infinite possibilities

Carolyn says:
This is becoming the best entertainment this county has seen since maybe the Courtneys.

Rich says:
900 sets of parents...

And so passes another day in Pendleton County and its wonderful, up-to-date technology.

It's just a shame that we have so darned much trouble using it! ;-)

What a week this has been

Every once in a while, I believe our building has lost it. This while was a while; almost felt it was a wile, too.

This week saw the district tourney, eighth grade parent night, scheduling, school-based council, Read Across America, and Philip Sharp Day where PS didn't show, but BS sure did! Most of this occurred on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. Teachers always look stressed, but this week was exceptional. It's a shame, too. It didn't have to happen.

I missed today because Charissa was sick. I needed it. I briefly considered calling in today, anyway, earlier this week (something I have never done), but after I was shut down for three days, I thought better of it. Had to think again after she woke up this morning.

I'll leave Thursday for my beloved (not) Louisville, where I'll stay until at least Saturday, if not Sunday, between KTLC and Governor's Cup state scoring. I feel as though I'm taking the chicken's way out of the sale. No. I know I did. But at the same time I look at this conference--the one I swore I'd go to this year because I desperately needed hours--as a gift. And Louisville may be more beloved when all this is behind me.