I usually believe in myself when it comes to directing and teaching.
But I am having a low day today.
My class sessions are going well BUT
I have a large percentage of students who aren't doing the work.
Just
Aren't
Doing
The
Work.
Now why does this make me doubt myself?
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
tired, tired, tired
Today I am substitute teaching at the school where Dear Husband K works as an administrator. I floated to several different classrooms as I subbed for different teachers as they attended several IEP meetings.
I am tired because I am still suffering from Saturday night's sleep deficit staying up all night cleaning up after Jasper's poo.
I went to bed at a relatively early hour on Sunday night and on Monday night- but was up early both mornings to take K to work (or both of us today).
It takes soooo much longer to catch up on sleep these days.
At my off moments I've worked on the reading that is prep for my class.
Captured lots of quotes.
Called my mom- today I called her before she called me- a plus!
I think she really misses us, even though she is happy to be home.
I am tired because I am still suffering from Saturday night's sleep deficit staying up all night cleaning up after Jasper's poo.
I went to bed at a relatively early hour on Sunday night and on Monday night- but was up early both mornings to take K to work (or both of us today).
It takes soooo much longer to catch up on sleep these days.
At my off moments I've worked on the reading that is prep for my class.
Captured lots of quotes.
Called my mom- today I called her before she called me- a plus!
I think she really misses us, even though she is happy to be home.
Monday, January 30, 2012
classes and asses
I taught today. Two classes - both went pretty well.
Then, stopped at the grocery store in Oak Park that has a kosher butcher and bought chicken and beef for the house.
It was cold enough today so the groceries would keep in the trunk of the car.
I've never used my Kroger rewards points for gas before, but I was told the points expire at the end of the month, and I had enough for 40 cents per gallon discount. AND I was almost on fumes- so I had enough gas to get to a Kroger gas station, waited in line and save over $4 because- well, I said I was on fumes.
Then I went to get Dear Husband K from work. We went home to the dogs-
and Jasper had made poop soup all over the floor.
*sigh*
Tomorrow is supposed to be warm enough that Jasper can spend the day outside. AND he will.
Then, stopped at the grocery store in Oak Park that has a kosher butcher and bought chicken and beef for the house.
It was cold enough today so the groceries would keep in the trunk of the car.
I've never used my Kroger rewards points for gas before, but I was told the points expire at the end of the month, and I had enough for 40 cents per gallon discount. AND I was almost on fumes- so I had enough gas to get to a Kroger gas station, waited in line and save over $4 because- well, I said I was on fumes.
Then I went to get Dear Husband K from work. We went home to the dogs-
and Jasper had made poop soup all over the floor.
*sigh*
Tomorrow is supposed to be warm enough that Jasper can spend the day outside. AND he will.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
goal setting: meta (not just blogs)
Okay, putting it out there:
Goal for 2012: Making Lisa Hodge Kander a regular, substantive unified presence across blog, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and/or the equivalent/improved platforms.
There, I said it.
Goal for 2012: Making Lisa Hodge Kander a regular, substantive unified presence across blog, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and/or the equivalent/improved platforms.
There, I said it.
goal setting for blogs
I just noticed that if I make ONE more post, I will have posted an average of once every other day on this blog!
AND, if I post 4 (or 5) more times, I will match (or exceed) in one month my ANNUAL total of posts in the blogs first year!
Hence this relatively mundane posting.
AND, if I post 4 (or 5) more times, I will match (or exceed) in one month my ANNUAL total of posts in the blogs first year!
Hence this relatively mundane posting.
a mixed day
Yesterday, we had a full day planned.
We went to Detroit and saw two shows. We saw Cyrano de Bergerac at the Hilberry Theater in the afternoon and then saw Alfred de Musset's Fantasio in the renovated Studio Theater in the evening. The drive into Detroit had some snow covered and slippery roads, but Dear Husband K managed just fine.
The Cyrano was missing some spark- somehow the direction allowed it to be both somewhat slow moving and also managed to rush over/miss some of the moment to moment nuance and comedy. Still, it was a competent production.
I am turning over in my mind the showing of Fantasio. Several of my students were in the production. I think show was again competent; I would have to read the script, which I am not certain that I like, to see how well the director captured- or did not- the style of the play.
I also chafe every time I read the apologia of a note on the "PhD Student Series". This blurb has been implemented since I have graduated from the program and basically boils down to advising (warning? reassuring?) the theater goer that these are PhD student directors, under the careful supervision and guidance of the faculty - you can almost hear the subtext "no undergrad actors were harmed in the making of this show."
In my experience, there have been several Studio PhD shows that were as well directed, acted and/or designed as any of the shows upstairs- with a lot less money and time invested in them.
ANYWAY
We drove home- and the roads were fine.
Then we found that one of the dogs had shit in the bedroom where they had spent the day. (which one? DH K thought it was Jackson, because he'd seen Jasper poop outside before we left; I was pretty sure based on the poop's appearance that it was Jasper).
Now, we have left the dogs home alone for this long or longer with no such accident.
GRRR.... DH K took the dogs outside, and I cleaned up the poop, washed the floor, sprayed odor neutralizing spray, burned a candle- in short, everything was as it should be when DH K came back upstairs with the dogs.
So we curled up and watched Jimmy Fallon host SNL - a rerun, but with some good moments. Off to bed.
Then at about 1:30 a.m. I woke to dogs pacing and a HORRIBLE stench. DH K did not wake. I grumbled and turned on lights.
DH K did not wake up.
I kicked out both dogs.
I cleaned up the poop soup from the floor on DH K's side of the room, on my hands and knees, an operation using two toilet flushes, a bag full of paper towels.
DH K did not wake up.
I got out the mop and mopped all of that floor. I sprayed odor neutralizer. I lit another candle.
DH K did not wake up.
I stripped naked, took a shower, washed my hair, changed my pajamas, let in the dogs.
DH K did not wake up.
I grumbled (loudly, I thought): I can't BELIEVE you are sleeping through all this!
DH K did not wake up.
I continued to grumble, If this happens AGAIN, I swear, I am leaving it for you to clean and moving into another room to sleep!
DH K did not wake up.
I read for another hour, since I couldn't go back to sleep.
DH K did not wake up.
So, finally, around 3:00 A.M. I go to sleep.
I wake up around 4:00 A.M. hearing a dog pacing. I LEAP out of bed.
This time DH K awakes as I turn on the light, and rush the dogs outside. In time. I notice the dance Jasper is doing, and that once outside, it is Jasper who does the poop crouch while Jackson dashes off to seek bunnies to tear apart.
As I come upstairs, I grumble, You are really lucky I got them out in time. I can't believe you slept through it the first time.
What? says DH K.
I can't believe you slept through it! The dog shit all over the floor! Horrible stink! Your side of the room! I cleaned, I mopped, I showered! I can't believe you slept through it!
I'm sorry, says DH K.
I say, well, you can let them in. And if it happens again, I am TOTALLY going in the other bedroom.
So DH K brings in the dogs, I go to sleep.
Around 5:00 A.M. I awake to a horrible stench.
That better be a fart, I declare. I turn on the light.
DH K wakes up.
I scout. There it is, poop-sprayed floor on DH K's side of the room. DAMN IT!
DH K (because he likes being married to me) says, I will clean it.
He takes the dogs outside for the rest of the night-morning, and starts cleaning but I CANNOT BREATH and it is too hot under the covers so I light a scented candle and I still CANNOT BREATH and so I get up and move to another bedroom for the remainder of the night-morning.
Let's hope we've gotten all the shit out of the way for today- or for the week- or the month-
We went to Detroit and saw two shows. We saw Cyrano de Bergerac at the Hilberry Theater in the afternoon and then saw Alfred de Musset's Fantasio in the renovated Studio Theater in the evening. The drive into Detroit had some snow covered and slippery roads, but Dear Husband K managed just fine.
The Cyrano was missing some spark- somehow the direction allowed it to be both somewhat slow moving and also managed to rush over/miss some of the moment to moment nuance and comedy. Still, it was a competent production.
I am turning over in my mind the showing of Fantasio. Several of my students were in the production. I think show was again competent; I would have to read the script, which I am not certain that I like, to see how well the director captured- or did not- the style of the play.
I also chafe every time I read the apologia of a note on the "PhD Student Series". This blurb has been implemented since I have graduated from the program and basically boils down to advising (warning? reassuring?) the theater goer that these are PhD student directors, under the careful supervision and guidance of the faculty - you can almost hear the subtext "no undergrad actors were harmed in the making of this show."
In my experience, there have been several Studio PhD shows that were as well directed, acted and/or designed as any of the shows upstairs- with a lot less money and time invested in them.
ANYWAY
We drove home- and the roads were fine.
Then we found that one of the dogs had shit in the bedroom where they had spent the day. (which one? DH K thought it was Jackson, because he'd seen Jasper poop outside before we left; I was pretty sure based on the poop's appearance that it was Jasper).
Now, we have left the dogs home alone for this long or longer with no such accident.
GRRR.... DH K took the dogs outside, and I cleaned up the poop, washed the floor, sprayed odor neutralizing spray, burned a candle- in short, everything was as it should be when DH K came back upstairs with the dogs.
So we curled up and watched Jimmy Fallon host SNL - a rerun, but with some good moments. Off to bed.
Then at about 1:30 a.m. I woke to dogs pacing and a HORRIBLE stench. DH K did not wake. I grumbled and turned on lights.
DH K did not wake up.
I kicked out both dogs.
I cleaned up the poop soup from the floor on DH K's side of the room, on my hands and knees, an operation using two toilet flushes, a bag full of paper towels.
DH K did not wake up.
I got out the mop and mopped all of that floor. I sprayed odor neutralizer. I lit another candle.
DH K did not wake up.
I stripped naked, took a shower, washed my hair, changed my pajamas, let in the dogs.
DH K did not wake up.
I grumbled (loudly, I thought): I can't BELIEVE you are sleeping through all this!
DH K did not wake up.
I continued to grumble, If this happens AGAIN, I swear, I am leaving it for you to clean and moving into another room to sleep!
DH K did not wake up.
I read for another hour, since I couldn't go back to sleep.
DH K did not wake up.
So, finally, around 3:00 A.M. I go to sleep.
I wake up around 4:00 A.M. hearing a dog pacing. I LEAP out of bed.
This time DH K awakes as I turn on the light, and rush the dogs outside. In time. I notice the dance Jasper is doing, and that once outside, it is Jasper who does the poop crouch while Jackson dashes off to seek bunnies to tear apart.
As I come upstairs, I grumble, You are really lucky I got them out in time. I can't believe you slept through it the first time.
What? says DH K.
I can't believe you slept through it! The dog shit all over the floor! Horrible stink! Your side of the room! I cleaned, I mopped, I showered! I can't believe you slept through it!
I'm sorry, says DH K.
I say, well, you can let them in. And if it happens again, I am TOTALLY going in the other bedroom.
So DH K brings in the dogs, I go to sleep.
Around 5:00 A.M. I awake to a horrible stench.
That better be a fart, I declare. I turn on the light.
DH K wakes up.
I scout. There it is, poop-sprayed floor on DH K's side of the room. DAMN IT!
DH K (because he likes being married to me) says, I will clean it.
He takes the dogs outside for the rest of the night-morning, and starts cleaning but I CANNOT BREATH and it is too hot under the covers so I light a scented candle and I still CANNOT BREATH and so I get up and move to another bedroom for the remainder of the night-morning.
Let's hope we've gotten all the shit out of the way for today- or for the week- or the month-
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Google me, google you, have a google...
So I got my email yesterday about Google simplifying and uniting all the platforms under one privacy policy.
And what I hear on the news is that this will make access to personal data really easy.
And there is no way to opt out except by opting out of all your google platforms.
Your gmail, google+, and I-don't-know-what-all is affected.
Seriously, I don't know what all. How do I find out?
Should I be worried?
And what I hear on the news is that this will make access to personal data really easy.
And there is no way to opt out except by opting out of all your google platforms.
Your gmail, google+, and I-don't-know-what-all is affected.
Seriously, I don't know what all. How do I find out?
Should I be worried?
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
my mom
My mom has been living back in her own home now for almost two weeks. I call her or she calls me most days.
Her house is right on my path commuting back and forth from the university where I teach, so once or twice a week I swing by on my way home.
Today I will go to her house on my way home and take her out to dinner and visit for a while, because Dear Husband K has a board meeting and will be staying late at his job.
I am delighted at my mom's healing and return to so much of herself. It's been a rough couple of years.
Today I made up the bed in the room where she was staying in my house, for the first time since she moved out. There is still some housekeeping to do in that room (and I am NOT a good housekeeper*), but for now the door can be open and it is tidy enough.
I am so glad my husband and I made the decision we did to bring Mom into our home. I wouldn't trade it for the world.
It's good to recognize the moments when we've got it right.
* I have just glanced through about 4 years of blogs and noted that nowhere do I have a confession/description of my inadequacy as a housekeeper. Looks like fuel for a future blog!
Her house is right on my path commuting back and forth from the university where I teach, so once or twice a week I swing by on my way home.
Today I will go to her house on my way home and take her out to dinner and visit for a while, because Dear Husband K has a board meeting and will be staying late at his job.
I am delighted at my mom's healing and return to so much of herself. It's been a rough couple of years.
Today I made up the bed in the room where she was staying in my house, for the first time since she moved out. There is still some housekeeping to do in that room (and I am NOT a good housekeeper*), but for now the door can be open and it is tidy enough.
I am so glad my husband and I made the decision we did to bring Mom into our home. I wouldn't trade it for the world.
It's good to recognize the moments when we've got it right.
* I have just glanced through about 4 years of blogs and noted that nowhere do I have a confession/description of my inadequacy as a housekeeper. Looks like fuel for a future blog!
Monday, January 23, 2012
two great classes
Today has been a pretty good day.
I taught Pioneers of Modern Drama. Students worked in small groups discussing what are factors pushing theater to change, what the changes should be, and how / whether the giant of modern theater Konstantin Stanislavski still has insights to offer.
Then students reflected back to the larger group. We cracked jokes, and poked fun, and dreamed and schemed and planned our artistic revolution.
Next I taught Development of Drama 2. We were talking about Ubu Roi by Alfred Jarry. We talked about pee, poop, shit, class warfare, Bugs Bunny, Saturday Night Live, not pooping on a date, masturbation, money, appetite.
We roared with laughter and blushed and interrupted one another.
And learned something about art.
Who knew?
And a PhD student wanted to know, did I think I might be teaching the seminar class in the fall? I answered that I'd love to, however I'm still adjunct and it's just one semester at a time for me.
When I came home, K and I went out to dinner- and it was yummy.
All in all, a nice day.
I taught Pioneers of Modern Drama. Students worked in small groups discussing what are factors pushing theater to change, what the changes should be, and how / whether the giant of modern theater Konstantin Stanislavski still has insights to offer.
Then students reflected back to the larger group. We cracked jokes, and poked fun, and dreamed and schemed and planned our artistic revolution.
Next I taught Development of Drama 2. We were talking about Ubu Roi by Alfred Jarry. We talked about pee, poop, shit, class warfare, Bugs Bunny, Saturday Night Live, not pooping on a date, masturbation, money, appetite.
We roared with laughter and blushed and interrupted one another.
And learned something about art.
Who knew?
And a PhD student wanted to know, did I think I might be teaching the seminar class in the fall? I answered that I'd love to, however I'm still adjunct and it's just one semester at a time for me.
When I came home, K and I went out to dinner- and it was yummy.
All in all, a nice day.
copy cat
I can't resist- I am going to be just a little bit of a copy cat.
I don't know that I have that specific of a goal- but, I think that charting the books I am reading might be good grist for the blog mill.
So, here are some that I have been up to lately:
Major Barbara by G. B. Shaw- This reminds me of how slippery my memory is. I was in this play as an undergrad, and while I remember the broad strokes of character and plot, the unfolding of the action is almost new to me. Shaw's dialectical dramedy anticipates the exposing of the military-industrial complex.
Major Barbara by G. B. Shaw- This reminds me of how slippery my memory is. I was in this play as an undergrad, and while I remember the broad strokes of character and plot, the unfolding of the action is almost new to me. Shaw's dialectical dramedy anticipates the exposing of the military-industrial complex.
A Dream Play by August Strindberg- This play really does capture the logical-illogical coherence of the dreamscape. It is eerie and strangely lovely. I cannot imagine how it was staged in 1907; as noted in my copy's preface, the play anticipates the quick visual montage of film.
Ubu Roi by Alfred Jarry- I had many times read about this play without actually having read it. Jarry is still jarring, and discussing this play sparked a wild and hilarious discussion of scatology and the challenges to the theater and theater artists of having a human body.
A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen- Whenever I read Ibsen, it seems, I am shocked. How can these ideas still be so timely?
Just finished: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. I have to have something that is not drama related to relax with! A memoir of loss of innocence in love that is chilling and engaging at once.
A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen- Whenever I read Ibsen, it seems, I am shocked. How can these ideas still be so timely?
Just finished: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. I have to have something that is not drama related to relax with! A memoir of loss of innocence in love that is chilling and engaging at once.
everywhere and nowhere
I've just been clicking through a website to find out where in the world the organization physically exists.
With the web, we are all immediate neighbors. We can peek in on each other from anywhere, anytime.
But.
This is not the first time I have had an interest in an organization, and wanted to find out a STREET ADDRESS, and was completely baffled by the website. It took me several pages of clicks to find out something called "Metro West" was located on the East Coast.
Really.
I understand keeping one's location vague if one is an individual- but an organization or business?
I don't get it. Why so hard?
I know, I know- how exhausting can it be to click through web pages? That's not the point, though- what if I wanted to volunteer? Or check out the facility to see if I wanted to write a check for mega millions?
Perhaps this is an indication of my age. Perhaps getting hung up on geographical location is SO 20th century of me.
With the web, we are all immediate neighbors. We can peek in on each other from anywhere, anytime.
But.
This is not the first time I have had an interest in an organization, and wanted to find out a STREET ADDRESS, and was completely baffled by the website. It took me several pages of clicks to find out something called "Metro West" was located on the East Coast.
Really.
I understand keeping one's location vague if one is an individual- but an organization or business?
I don't get it. Why so hard?
I know, I know- how exhausting can it be to click through web pages? That's not the point, though- what if I wanted to volunteer? Or check out the facility to see if I wanted to write a check for mega millions?
Perhaps this is an indication of my age. Perhaps getting hung up on geographical location is SO 20th century of me.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
sneaky
How do I get myself to write more often?
I've decided to make myself write the same blog entries I require of my students! HA HA! Tricked myself into more theater writing right there, right?
A new rite?
Am I right?
Writing!
(and silly)
(but winning!)
I've decided to make myself write the same blog entries I require of my students! HA HA! Tricked myself into more theater writing right there, right?
A new rite?
Am I right?
Writing!
(and silly)
(but winning!)
secret dreams
I have secret dreams for each of my children. I am holding them in my heart; I breathe these dreams into the ether.
I sing these dreams in my sleep.
Let there be joy and fulfillment and good work.
I sing these dreams in my sleep.
Let there be joy and fulfillment and good work.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Going back is going forward!
I will write more soon- but, the short version is:
My mom went to her neurosurgeon. And: She can drive, she is cleared to live on her own!
And I spent a good deal of time on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday getting her home ready for her to go back to her own home.
She is thrilled. I am thrilled also- and a little nervous- sort of like taking my kids off to college..
My mom went to her neurosurgeon. And: She can drive, she is cleared to live on her own!
And I spent a good deal of time on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday getting her home ready for her to go back to her own home.
She is thrilled. I am thrilled also- and a little nervous- sort of like taking my kids off to college..
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
solitude
Something I've discovered, as my mom's recovery has progressed and she is getting up in the morning when I do:
I need some solitude, some alone time, every day. I really enjoy a few minutes alone with my coffee and my thoughts.
I found that I enjoyed having a room to myself when I was in Moscow for a month.
I think I will refresh my basement bedroom/office to make it comfy for "me time".
I need some solitude, some alone time, every day. I really enjoy a few minutes alone with my coffee and my thoughts.
I found that I enjoyed having a room to myself when I was in Moscow for a month.
I think I will refresh my basement bedroom/office to make it comfy for "me time".
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
GREAT first day!
I had a wonderful first day of classes! I had hugs from friends in faculty, and friends who were students, and I now have an office not only on the same floor as the theater department, but IN the theater department office!
It was so gratifying to be recognized and appreciated.
Both classes were fun and responsive to my stand-up comedy delivery of the syllabus... now to live up to the reputation!
It was so gratifying to be recognized and appreciated.
Both classes were fun and responsive to my stand-up comedy delivery of the syllabus... now to live up to the reputation!
Monday, January 9, 2012
EXCITED!
In a few minutes- after I print out the syllabi and blow dry my hair- I am OUT THE DOOR for the first day of class.
I am teaching TWO classes for upperclassmen and grad students in my MAJOR!
I was asked at the last minute.
I will be continuing prep all this week since my books did not arrive until last week!
And I am still underemployed and under paid- BUT!
I could not be more excited!
I am teaching TWO classes for upperclassmen and grad students in my MAJOR!
I was asked at the last minute.
I will be continuing prep all this week since my books did not arrive until last week!
And I am still underemployed and under paid- BUT!
I could not be more excited!
Friday, January 6, 2012
make it or break it.
I accepted a job for this summer. I am directing a musical! This is a first for me. I am definitely stepping out of my comfort zone.
I am directing for a youth group that is mainly homeschoolers. This is not a first for me.
It is also stepping outside of my comfort zone.
I've retired from "my" theater troupe of many years. "My" troupe was usually mostly homeschoolers, often far too conservative for my comfort. The balance of fun to frustration had tipped in a few instances, such as in a particularly poisonous experience with a comedy.
So, I am wondering why I've accepted a job with a far more conservative group?
Especially after today's meeting, when we dithered and dithered- well, *they* dithered and dithered- over the way to "handle" the kissing in the show *they* chose- The Music Man.
I'd talked over the issue- the issue of "fixing" an artistic work to make it more "comfortable"- as the one issue that I would have trouble with- at our first meeting. While there are some- minor- adaptations that might be made to this show or that, at some point, you have to make your artistic stand.
Because there will always be someone who wants push the adjustment and push and push until you finally are left with something that is bland and uninteresting and not theater and not the artistic work created by the playwright.
I thought that they had heard me. And here we are again, at the very next meeting, back at the same issue.
I am wondering if I made the right decision accepting this job.
One of two things will happen.
I'll help these folks learn to stand their ground on their theater artistry. After all, you can't make all the people happy. You can only stand on the work you believe in.
OR
I will be cured, once and for all, of this need to work with conservative groups.
On the one hand, life is too short to be forever fighting for your right to artistic integrity. As noted in a smart post, it's time to speak with my own voice.
On the other hand, how many young people or families have I introduced to a wider world than what they would have otherwise known?
I am directing for a youth group that is mainly homeschoolers. This is not a first for me.
It is also stepping outside of my comfort zone.
I've retired from "my" theater troupe of many years. "My" troupe was usually mostly homeschoolers, often far too conservative for my comfort. The balance of fun to frustration had tipped in a few instances, such as in a particularly poisonous experience with a comedy.
So, I am wondering why I've accepted a job with a far more conservative group?
Especially after today's meeting, when we dithered and dithered- well, *they* dithered and dithered- over the way to "handle" the kissing in the show *they* chose- The Music Man.
I'd talked over the issue- the issue of "fixing" an artistic work to make it more "comfortable"- as the one issue that I would have trouble with- at our first meeting. While there are some- minor- adaptations that might be made to this show or that, at some point, you have to make your artistic stand.
Because there will always be someone who wants push the adjustment and push and push until you finally are left with something that is bland and uninteresting and not theater and not the artistic work created by the playwright.
I thought that they had heard me. And here we are again, at the very next meeting, back at the same issue.
I am wondering if I made the right decision accepting this job.
One of two things will happen.
I'll help these folks learn to stand their ground on their theater artistry. After all, you can't make all the people happy. You can only stand on the work you believe in.
OR
I will be cured, once and for all, of this need to work with conservative groups.
On the one hand, life is too short to be forever fighting for your right to artistic integrity. As noted in a smart post, it's time to speak with my own voice.
On the other hand, how many young people or families have I introduced to a wider world than what they would have otherwise known?
Monday, January 2, 2012
synchronicity
What timing. What synchronicity. My daughter, the phenomenal writer, has decided to embrace inconvenience.
At the very same time that I've been thinking of the picayune petty inconveniences in my life. I've just returned from a driving trip to Florida to officiate at the wedding of a friend (a sort of wedding- I'll elaborate at some point). It is of course ironic that once again I'm officiating at a wedding. Although, I'm getting pretty passionate about people being able to get married who want to get married.
Any way, the entire trip was inconvenient.
First, I had to write the service. I will go into how challenging that was at another time.
Next, and the greatest inconvenience of all, really, Dear Husband K and I had to arrange for someone to be at our home, at least late night and early morning, each of the days that we were gone.
This is because my mom is currently living with us as she recovers from several major surgeries. Just one factor that made last year a truly challenging year.
Now, thanks to her continuing recovery and great progress, it is not for my mom, so much, that we need housesitters. It's for the dogs. And it's not for my dogs, it's for her dogs, who are also living with us for the duration.
MY dogs could go to the kennel. They've done it before, many, many times.
HER dogs could no way go to the kennel. They haven't had shots. HER dogs have never even had collars on them- until KG and I fetched them from my mom's house to my house.
Now getting someone to stay at the house with my mom had proved a great inconvenience and source of frustration in the past- when the need was truly great for my mom's sake. It was almost worse now that Mom doesn't really need the care- she can go and stay at someone's home- it's just the dogs.
Because my mom can't do stairs, and the way for the dogs to go outside to our fenced in back yard is via the stairs into the basement.
That's the one sticking point.
Once again, dh K did the calling. And once again, my brother stepped up to organize, after friction with my sister.
So, the next inconvenience was driving the 20 hours it took to get to our friend in Florida. We drove a LONG way. Fortunately, dh K and I are just fine together on long car trips. Still, I was wishing for the Star Trek "Beam me up Scottie" machine before we were half-past Georgia.
Despite all the inconveniences:
I am glad I went to Florida.
I am glad I am taking care of my mom.
I am glad I have dogs.
(Most of the time.)
(I don't know if I am ready to embrace the inconvenience of my mom having dogs ...)
At the very same time that I've been thinking of the picayune petty inconveniences in my life. I've just returned from a driving trip to Florida to officiate at the wedding of a friend (a sort of wedding- I'll elaborate at some point). It is of course ironic that once again I'm officiating at a wedding. Although, I'm getting pretty passionate about people being able to get married who want to get married.
Any way, the entire trip was inconvenient.
First, I had to write the service. I will go into how challenging that was at another time.
Next, and the greatest inconvenience of all, really, Dear Husband K and I had to arrange for someone to be at our home, at least late night and early morning, each of the days that we were gone.
This is because my mom is currently living with us as she recovers from several major surgeries. Just one factor that made last year a truly challenging year.
Now, thanks to her continuing recovery and great progress, it is not for my mom, so much, that we need housesitters. It's for the dogs. And it's not for my dogs, it's for her dogs, who are also living with us for the duration.
MY dogs could go to the kennel. They've done it before, many, many times.
HER dogs could no way go to the kennel. They haven't had shots. HER dogs have never even had collars on them- until KG and I fetched them from my mom's house to my house.
Now getting someone to stay at the house with my mom had proved a great inconvenience and source of frustration in the past- when the need was truly great for my mom's sake. It was almost worse now that Mom doesn't really need the care- she can go and stay at someone's home- it's just the dogs.
Because my mom can't do stairs, and the way for the dogs to go outside to our fenced in back yard is via the stairs into the basement.
That's the one sticking point.
Once again, dh K did the calling. And once again, my brother stepped up to organize, after friction with my sister.
So, the next inconvenience was driving the 20 hours it took to get to our friend in Florida. We drove a LONG way. Fortunately, dh K and I are just fine together on long car trips. Still, I was wishing for the Star Trek "Beam me up Scottie" machine before we were half-past Georgia.
Despite all the inconveniences:
I am glad I went to Florida.
I am glad I am taking care of my mom.
I am glad I have dogs.
(Most of the time.)
(I don't know if I am ready to embrace the inconvenience of my mom having dogs ...)
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