How I Spent My Birthday

The first day of being 50 started just like any other, but this was a special day.  Not just because it was my birthday, but because I had to go to another school to help with Kindergarten Screenings.  This is a time of year the Speech Pathologists (SLPs) actually look forward to because we get to spend a whole day with at least one other person with the same professional background.  It's also a nice break from the same ol', same ol'.  It's a time to catch up with each other between screening; there's some griping, but there's always some laughing.  Today was no different, especially when this one little guy came in.  I screened him, and I don't remember what he said that was so funny, but I got tickled and then he started laughing.  He had one of the most infectious laughs I've ever heard!  The other SLPs in the room started laughing, too, which just made him laugh more.  You've gotta love kids like that!

After I got home, I spent an uninterrupted hour or two with my flute.  I'm so glad that I decided to go ahead and buy it.  Then, I ran over to my see my beautician so she could get a look at what my hair's doing.  I'm going to someone new, and she hasn't quite learned how my hair curls and waves.  I think she was afraid to cut my hair too short, but I made sure she knew that she couldn't cut it too short (well, technically she could, but I know she wouldn't!).  She cut this one section of hair shorter to get rid of the hair bump, matched the other side, then shaped up my cut.

For birthdays, our family usually goes out to dinner as a family, but since YS had guard, MS had to work (so I thought, anyway), and OS is coming in on Saturday, we decided just to wait and do our family dinner on Sat.  CH & I went out for Chinese after he surprised me with a new charm:

Just in case you can't tell what it is:  it's a cell phone.  Of course there's a story behind it, and of course I'm going to tell you!  MS & I both were due for phone updates, and CH had gone by the cell store to see what kind of deal he could get.  They had a BOGO sale going on, and, after checking out the phones online, MS found a smartphone for free.  So, the original plan was that he would get that phone, and YS & I would split the BOGO.  We hit a snafu when we went into the store to get them, and found out that you had to use 2 upgrades for the BOGO, and YS isn't anywhere near to being eligible for one.  CH wanted YS to have a phone so that all of the boys would have Latitude and we can tell where they are.  So, MS & YS got the BOGO (YS used my upgrade), and I got CH's old droid (the first one that came out).  Did I play martyr?  Of course I did!  It's actually fine; I mainly wanted a smartphone for the navigation.  It's not the prettiest phone, but it is very functional!  So, he ended up getting a new cell phone (the charm).  He thinks he's funny that way.

And then CH had another surprise for me:

He did good, for sure.  I kept telling him I didn't want anything, but it sure made me happy!

I got the traditional phone call from my parents:  they sing "Happy Birthday".  You need to know this about my daddy:  He can't carry a tune.  Seriously.  It was a source of embarrassment when we were little, and I actually think it embarrassed him, too, but he's learned to embrace it and doesn't hold back during Mass.  It just makes it more special that he sucks it up and sings to us at least once a year!

I switched my shoes over from my winter shoes to spring/summer, and came across a box that has some memorabilia in it.  In the bottom was this:  One year  for Christmas, one of my sisters asked everybody to write something about each of our siblings and send them to here.  She compiled them all together, and each of us got a sheet with what our siblings said about us.  Our parents were included, too.  I had tears in my eyes as I read what my siblings thought of me.  A lot of my siblings (and both parents) mentioned my flute playing.  (I don't remember the year this was done, but all 3 of my boys had been born.)  After reading the sheet, I thought about how you just don't know what an impact you can have on someone else's life by just being you.  Both of my younger brothers mentioned something about me and how that helped them grow.  I think we all need to be reminded of that every now and then.  I need to remember to get that out every once in a while. 

All in all, not a bad way to start my 50's!  Oh!!!   I guess you're wondering about my Birthday Bandit!!!  For a finale, I got an Amazon giftcard, and they revealed who they were:  My oldest brother and his wife!  They knew what a tough time I had when I turned 40 (but that's a whole different story!), and wanted to "soften the blow" of turning 50!  I got my AARP invitation in the mail the other day, so I'm ready to get started on that!  Turning 50 does have its advantages!

Fragmented Friday

~  TGIF!  It's been a busy week, which is good because it made the week go back fast!

~  I've gone 5 days with just a "smidgen" of sugar.  I already feel better. 

~  Our tickets for "The Hunger Games" have been bought!  We're having to wait until Sunday since YS has a WinterGuard/Drumline competition on Saturday, and there's no way I'm going to see it opening day.  Our "twin city" has a brand spanking new theater that just opened last week.

~  MS has been on spring break this week, and has spent the week working on campus.  He knew better than to even think about asking us if he could go anywhere this year!

~  There was an amazing sunrise on the way to work this morning, but I didn't stop to get a picture.  It was still dark, but you could see the sun just starting to rise on the other side of the mountain.  The sky was an amazing pink color.

~  This is going to sound crazy, but our gerbils are being "potty trained".  We got a couple of metal lids, put a little bit of sand in them, and put them in the cages where they appeared to do their business the most.  They don't always go in the lid, but they're doing a pretty good job!

~  1 week down, 8 to go!!!

Springing into Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. The first day of spring is here...do you enjoy working in the yard? Weeding, raking, mowing, planting-your favorite springtime garden chore? How about your least favorite?

Nope.  Never have enjoyed in and I don't think I ever will.

 

2. What puts a spring in your step?

A good song, my boys doing well, a student making the /r/ sound.  I'm pretty easy to please!

 

3. Describe a time when you had to spring into action?

Gosh, with kids there are so many times you have to do that!  There was the time when OS had a seizure due to a spiked fever, or the time he pretended to be a vacuum cleaner and sucked up a grape into his windpipe.  We're still having to spring into action from time to time with MS.  YS has been our "easy child" so far:  I don't remember a time when I had to spring into action with him.  There was a time when he poked a pencil in his eye, but I was playing church volleyball when it happened, so CH was the one who had to spring into action.

 

4. We're having carrots for dinner...would you prefer yours raw or cooked?

Raw.  I'd much rather eat my veggies raw...except for potatoes.

 

5. Do you take the shampoos and other sundries from your hotel room when its time to check out?

Not usually.  It is nice to have  a couple of things, "just in case".

 

6. What's the most enjoyable team or club you've belonged to and what was it that made it so?

When we lived in SC, I had a great group of ladies that I played tennis with.  It was all for the love of the game.  I don't remember a whole lot of bickering...it was just ladies getting together and playing in the hot SC sun!

In my school days, I would say being a little sister to a fraternity is right up there with being in the band.  Oh my!  What good times we had!

 

7. Is cloning a sign of progress?

Cloning is a very scary thing.  I think we're messing with God.

 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

My "Birthday Bandit" has really made this birthday a special one!  I can't wait to see who it is.  Whoever she is, I hope she knows just how special she has made this birthday for me!