Life has been busy this week!
I have forwarded in that application for the CNA class and paid the application fee. I got a call back yesterday to expect a letter confirming the orientation date and the kids have been briefed on protocol while I finish this class. Big Box Mart was pretty accomodating so all is a go. I filled out my FAFSA and of course am not eligible for a shred of aid but I knew I wouldn't be. As the FAFSA does not take into account things like mortgages and medical bills, I'll be writing a letter to the college financial aid dept explaining special circumstances.
To celebrate stable scans, I took the kids out to their favorite Chinese restaurant and allowed Kris to drive. We then went shopping at the health food store and Barnes and Noble for the novels they are reading this year. Kris will be reading "THe Catcher in the RYe" and "The Great Gatsby", two I really enjoyed. I majored in Psychology and English in college and read LOTS of books. I found that when real life hit, I couldn't read as much. Two years ago, my New Years resolution was to read more. I won an auction on EBAY for 40 Oprah Book Club selections and have been slowly working my way through the pile. "Fall on Your Knees", "She's Come Undone", and "Songs in Ordinary Time" were excellent. I would also recommend "God of Animals". As an aside, my daughter recommended the "Twilight" series. As my daughter never reads, the fact that she would recommend anything was a big surprise. I finished Twilight in 24 hours and fail to see what the fuss is about. I couldn't stand, Bella, the protagonist and Edward was too perfect. Maybe books about spoiled, bratty teenagers aren't high on my list especially when the novel had no discernable plot, was predictable as the day is long, and flowed like a rocky stream. Nevertheless, I read "New Moon" and made it 3/4 of the way through "Eclipse" before I put the book down. When I wished Bella would get eaten by the baddy vampiress, Victoria, I knew that it was a lost cause. Please Edward, get killed by the Volturi and spare us the agony of having to read this drivel. Join Anna Karenina by throwing yourself in front of that train! I am good about keeping my opinion to myself when giggling teenage girls bring those Twilight posters, books, pins and tee shirts through my checkout line. I am currently reading a book called "Drowning Ruth" ....MUCH MUCH better!
Saturday night was Homecoming and both kids decided to go stag. Kris decided he'd have much more fun with his friends and Cass went with her friend Angela and Angela's boyfriend. While they were out dancing, my brother and I went out for dinner and then downtown to see a friends band play at a dive bar in Chicago. This bar is what one envisions when the words "dive bar" are strung together in the same sentence. The bar stools were so old, the seats slanted and I had to prop myself up by putting both legs on another bar stool. The woman's bathroom had no lock. The door handle was broken and swinging loosely. Someone had installed a hook but, there was no ring installed so the hook was essentially useless. I tried to use the bathroom, I really did but I just couldn't do it. I went back to my slanty bar stool and opted not to drink anymore fluids while hoping the bladder would hold out until we got home. I can only laugh at the experience and smile that my brothers friend is a different person when jamming on his guitar.
On Thursday night, the children pulled two kittens from our front bushes. A mama cat had a litter of 4 kittens that she has been moving from house to house in her little territory. Last week, we rescued one of the kittens from the woodpile across the street and my neighbor, gave the kitten a home. Mama had been in the process of moving the litter and my bushes served to be a home to her last week. The children were able to get two of the remaining three. Mama cat grabbed the little calico and ran with her and in my basement right now is an orange tabby with white feet and a white cat with dark gray spots, one female, one male about 6 weeks old. We had originally thought to drop them off at a shelter but none of the shelters are taking kittens or any cats at all. Sooo, they have made themselves quite comfortable in the spare room. The first day or so, they hid but it's amazing what a bonding experience food can be. Now, they have names. The orange tabby is Lizzie and her brother is Louie. Lizzie is the sweetest most affectionate little kitten and just loves to sit on laps and be petted. Louie is all over the place and both are separated from the other three cats who aren't always welcoming. My son is upset with himself for bringing them in because it's obvious that they are now our cats and as I'm financially challenged, he was concerned about the added expense. As the wind is howling outside and the temperature has dropped about 30 degrees in two days, I told him he did a good thing and the kittens will be cared for and won't be outside having more kittens. Lizzie thanked Kris by crawling on his lap, cuddling in and purring. We are suckers all the way around. They had their first trip to the vet yesterday for deworming and an exam for Feline Leukemia and Feline Aids. Lizzie had stopped eating Sunday night and needed fluids. Both are in good shape.
That is all the news.
Today is my birthday and I will spend it working both my jobs. Emily is obsessed with my age for some reason and asks constantly how old I am. Last year, I told her I was 22. As Emily thinks anything older than 10 is ancient, so she bought the story hook, line, and sinker and tells all the neighbors mom is 22 years old. I love it :) The kids and I plan to have a birthday celebration the weekend before Halloween as it's the only weekend, we don't have plans already. That's all for this "my mundane life" update.