Planning for Summer.......Now!

Well, I finally have that list on my kitchen counter whittled down to only a few items. For weeks now, I have had a running list of things I need to get scheduled! Here is a sample of what my list looked like;

Register and Pay for AP exams- high school (done)

Register for Youth Options- (college courses for high schoolers) (done)

Sign up for Summer Sports at Park and Rec (done)

-basketball

-track

-archery

Sign up for Summer activity classes (can't until 4/4/11)

Get National History Day sponsor (done)

Schedule vacations

-decide where (still undone)

Turn in teenagers work schedule for summer (done)

-(around our schedule)

Organize digital picture files (undone and there's more than 8,000 of them)

Invite friends to High School Spring Musical Performance (done)

Put important dates on family calendar (done)

-state solo ensemble, forensics, AP exams, National History Day performance

Check with relatives coming to visit (done)

-when?????

-who?????

Clean closets (done)

Submit Juried art show applications by 3/31/11 (done----show is in July).

As you can see, I have been busy and I will be busy! Living in a relatively small suburban/rural community, activities fill up fast. I have learned, through trial and error, that I need to plan our summer now......in March! Ugh! Sometimes, that is harder than it sounds. You need to realize this is more that just a list.....each item involves important decisions on the part of several family members, as well as, coordination of dates, times, and available transportation efforts. Sometimes, yes....I am being a mom here, I really have to push to get those decisions made!

But, I feel like I am finally getting through most of it! The list was daunting when I first made it but now, not so bad when I look at what's left. It's manageable! All this activity (and I really try not to over schedule) will keep my children busy and not bored over the summer months. I also try to squeeze in some school work a couple times a week to keep them up to speed for fall. Now, I can start looking for the workbooks for that..........although that is a job that I enjoy because it entails going to the bookstore!

Maybe, I'll get around to organizing my pictures soon, too. Probably not! Next week brings setting up a local display of my jewelry at a business, holding a meeting of a committee I chair, leading the garden club at our local elementary school (we are exploring worms), expecting company, and attending the high school musical! Someday, I'll get around to those 8,000 pictures! :) The picture I featured is of the snow that was still on the ground in northern Wisconsin this past weekend, from last week's storm!

Piled high, but with Blue Skies! There sure won't be sledding in the summer!

What's keeping you busy?

I'd love to hear! Thanks for stopping by!

Carol

The Rudeness Factor....Growing.

Well, it's only 7:30am in Western Wisconsin on a cold, gray Saturday morning and I have my shackles up! I am soooo tired of what I call the rudeness factor! This post about is what ticked me off this morning. Rudeness!

After dropping my high schooler off for a forensics tournament, I stopped by our local grocery store to get a pound of coffee (I've been out of my regular coffee for a few days) and figured I'd get some donuts. I was in a cheerful mood. I grabbed the coffee and went around to the self-serve donut display. Efficiently, I was selecting my donuts when a Mom and her son cam down the isle.

They stopped at the donut display, also. Now you've got to understand.....I was standing to the side of the display with one of four doors open. I was not blocking the donuts in any way. The mom started telling her (I'm guessing 8 or 9 year old) son which one to select for his father. A "Persian" located on the shelf below the frycakes that I was selecting. Well, I stood there with the door open, to the side, trying to let the boy know he could go ahead and get the donut his mother wanted him to. Then, I realized the door to the Persian wasn't open... and I laughed and said, "Oh, here I was thinking that I was holding the door for you and it's not even open!".

Nothing. No smile. No thanks for trying. Not anything! I closed my door and let the mother open the door to the Persian (it could have been open while my frycake door was open). Now, they stood there deciding what to get, while I couldn't get to any donuts. Basically, they moved in on me until I was pushed aside. No apologies, no I'm sorry we are in a hurry (which I would have understood), nothing. No common courtesy, at all.

You know, I just don't get this type of behavior! From adults, no less. What are they teaching their children?

One of the things we loved about moving to Wisconsin from New York over a decade ago was that people seemed nicer here. Life was less hurried, less stressful, there was more politeness and common courtesy. Unfortunately, as our community has grown, so has the rudeness factor. This is sad and unfortunate. It is also very irritating!

So, to all you rude people; yes, even in my Wisconsin hometown, please think of using your manners! Think of what you are teaching your children when you don't! It will help all of us have a better day!

Thanks for listening! Have a great Saturday! I'm off to have my donut and coffee!

~Carol~