Oh, I See!

Who remembers this photo?! This used to be me for everything that was closer than, oh say, 5 feet from my face. What's the point of getting rid of your gray hair if you have to go around wearing granny glasses on a chain around your neck?! It was getting that bad. But I refused to go that far, so I lost them several times a day. If I put them in a really weird place I couldn't read anything, or hardly "work" at the computer until I found them. The latest place? On top of a pair of shoes in my closet. That pretty much sent me over the edge....

So it was time to get another year supply of contacts. And now I have new multi-focus contacts that are almost as amazing an invention as cell phones, the DVR, blogging, and disposable diapers (thank goodness we never had to deal with cloth diapers!) - Just to name a few that have really had a wonderful impact on my life!

I am able to read anything, (no more granny reading glasses - yay!) and I can wear them non-stop for 30 days. The only drawback is I had to give up a little in long distance. The doc says I'm 20-20, but I guess my vision had changed and I was enjoying a little long-sightedness, so it doesn't feel like perfect vision. But, it's alot better than having to find glasses so I can read, or blog I'll know in a couple days how my eyes adjust, and if I want to try another brand to see if I get better long distance vision I can do that, I just have to take 'em out once a week.

Yahoo! I am so happy. I think I knocked a good 10 years off my appearance. LOL!

Growing Boy, Et Al

Gib, guapo though he may be, has a new nickname he's proud of....Growing Boy! That's because he used to be Small Boy, as in "Small Boy! Run Fast! Get soda!" or "Small Boy! Take out trash!". We love him because he just laughed and good-naturedly did whatever we asked. But NOW that Gib is still growing 1/4" a pop, he needed a new nickname. And hey, GB isn't that far off of Gib, which if spelled backwards...well, one can only hope, that someday he can be called Big Gib. Of course then, it will all be "Big Gib, Move Furniture!" and "Big Gib, Dig 200 holes for Grammy!". Oh, that sounds like a plan. Grow, Gibbie, Grow!! (we've been saying that for years).

Tonight, Taryn and I went through the college brochures she picked up at the college fair last week when I was sick. Now we have some to investigate and somehow, we've got to figure out if Chemical Engineering, or some other kind of engineering, is T. I guess her chemistry class this year will be a big indicator. She asked her chemistry teacher his thoughts about her majoring in the field. He answered that she has the (weird) mind of an engineer because she's already asked him a couple questions for which he did not immediately know the answer or had never had a single student in his teaching career ask. T calls it her Random Thought Process. And she wants to blow things up, so chemical reactions really light her up. Ha-ha. It seemed like a big leap from photography which she expressed an interest in, and while she definitely likes photography, apparently the big draw was playing in the chemicals to develop the film. Ah, hah. All-righty then, T, I will start researching those chemical engineering universities for ya!

Indy and I have entered the beginning of other end of the college search spectrum - filling out applications. I've done all I can with name, address, social security number, activities, etc., for 6 colleges, and now she needs to finish those pesky essay questions in 150, 250 or 500 words or less depending on the school. She's not happy that Auburn who does things "old school" fashion, wants like 2,000 word essays on 3 or 4 topics. We are dithering around about adding a couple more to the application pool. It seems I am never satisfied with the strategizing.

Two more days, and Indy is offically an ADULT! Indy cannot believe what her mother has done! She finally figured out that all these cards with 18 things was set up and she immediately turned to me to point a finger. Who?! Me?! Nah, couldn't be! She is really enjoying the mail as it arrives a few pieces every day. It's so much fun to watch her open the cards! She thinks we're all pretty weird, fun, but weird! Kay's arrived today and really had her laughing!!

Mariah and Gib scavenged though the halloween costume box and came up with some costumes for this year. 'Cause their mom ain't sewing nothin'. Gib had on some hippie paraphernalia and Mariah is using a cape from one costume, some creepy jewelry from another, and all I have to get is a red & black shirt and vampire teeth for her. That, I can do. She even drew me a fashion-picture of what her costume would look like before she went down to the Man Cave to outfit herself! I see Fashion Designer in her future!!! Although she is still fond of the Animal Psychologist idea, and was perusing the college brochures with us looking for one. UAH actually has a class in it, but not a degree.

And that's a wrap. (hahah - man, I am really funny tonight! Or really tired, hard to say which).

Am I a Weird Mom?

I was SO happy when Taryn came home from today's soccer game and told me she was called for 2 penalties today! The best part was they played the same team as last week, the one we love to beat, and we won again 3-0 this time (and yes, I double checked that I heard the score correctly!). T played mid-center, and the first penalty happened when she kicked the ball and the runner tripped over it - oops! The second penalty was T's first body slam! Wow! Mike said it was the first time she ever took out another player. I'm so happy to hear T is playing aggressively and has lost that little bubble of space where the girls tend to stop before colliding! Boys play very differently, don't you think? So I go, "Am I the only mom who's happy to hear her child got called for penalties?" And Mike goes "YES!". C'mon, Dad, admit it, you liked it when she took out that other girl. Just a little bit?!

I think I would have made a better rugby parent. That's why I don't go to many soccer games, well that, and the tag team parenting style we have - I get two and Mike takes two. When I go to soccer, I am just a tad too bloodthirsty and competitive. You don't hear too many parents yelling "Take her out T! Hey! Don't let her push you around like that! Take her OUT!!!!". It kills me to keep all that bottled up. It's better for me to stay home and plan Mike's demise on Fantasy Football and get Mariah to Volleyball.

SDSU Fight Song

Fight on and on ye Aztec men
Sons of Montezuma
We will win again
Keep your spirits high
Never bow a knee
We will fight till victory

Fight on and on ye Aztec men
Proudly raise your banners high
For it's the Red and Black
Hail to our team
San Diego Aztecs fight!

What's War Eagle?

Around here, you see signs of Auburn as much as (dare I say more?!) than Will sees BYU stuff. And, since he asked, and it's kind of fun to read about...

The mascot of Auburn is the Tiger, but "War Eagle" is the battle cry and symbol of Auburn University. There are several stories about the battle cry, but the most popular myth was originally published in 1960 in the Auburn Plainsman and was conceived by then-Editor Jim Phillips. Phillips told the story of the first time Auburn met Georgia on the football field in 1892 and centered the story around a fictional spectator who was a veteran of the Civil War.

In the stands with him that day was a golden eagle the old soldier had found on a battlefield during the war. He had kept it as a pet for almost 30 years. According to the story, the eagle suddenly broke free and began majestically circling the playing field. As the eagle soared, Auburn began a steady march toward the Georgia end zone for a thrilling victory. Elated at their team's play and taking the bird's presence as an omen of success, Auburn students and fans began to yell "War Eagle" to spur on their team ("war eagle" was once the common term for golden eagles). At the game's end, the eagle took a sudden dive, crashed into the ground, and died, giving his spirit to the Auburn fans. The battle cry "War Eagle" lived on to become a symbol of the proud Auburn spirit.

The 1914 contest with the Carlisle Indians provides another story. The toughest player on the Indians' team was a tackle named Bald Eagle. Trying to tire the big man, Auburn began to run play after play at his position. Without even huddling, the Auburn quarterback would yell "Bald Eagle," letting the rest of the team know that the play would be run at the imposing defensive man. Spectators, however, thought the quarterback was saying "War Eagle," and in unison, they began to chant the resounding cry.

War Eagle Lyrics
War Eagle, fly down the field

Ever to conquer, never to yield

War Eagle, fearless and true,

Fight on you orange and blue

Go! Go! Go!

On to vict'ry, strike up the band

Give 'em hell, Give 'em hell,

Stand up and yell, Hey!

War Eagle, win for Auburn,

Power of Dixie Land!

Gib is a STAR!

It was kind of dark at the 'ol barn for the Court of Honor, but here is Gib (far left) with the other Scouts who achieved Star Ranking. He's done well to achieve the rank as early as he has and we're proud of him! When he got home, Grammy sewed on his Star Rank and Order of the Arrow patches and 6 other new merit badge patches on his sash. Great job Gib! Isn't he a fine looking Scout?!

A Funny Thing Happened

Taryn had an ortho appt this afternoon. Her dad had to take her because Indy needed to stay for last period and I am still sequestered with my germy self. Anyway, as Mike is getting ready to leave, I remember that hockey season started and the ortho always has this raffle drawing where the kids can get an entry for an award or accomplishment they've received. So I tell Mike to grab T's trophy from Drivers Edge. I'm pretty sure he thought I was loopy for suggesting it, but he went along with it when I explained the trophy could sit in the car if they didn't have the drawing going or if T didn't want to do it. So, it turns out that Taryn took it in and because it was the first week of the drawing, nobody else had entered so she was the automatic winner! She is doubly stoked because now she gets out of the ACT prep class to go to the hockey game! Indy hopes to get out of work early enough to go with T, her friend and Gib. Mike is the replacement person should one of the others not make it. Too bad I'm still too sick - I thought of it!!! But, they will enjoy it!

Another funny thing: Tonight there was a college fair so Mike took Taryn to pick up brochures and stuff. They found a few colleges worth looking into for engineering majors. But the funny thing was that when they got there, T realized she was wearing the Auburn hoodie we got last week. Some of the college rep's gave her funny looks, some made comments (social faux pas anyone?!), but when she approached the Auburn booth, she was quite warmly welcomed! War Eagle!! They ran into a bunch of people we know but haven't seen in a long time. A friend from the old 'hood who T used to hang out with is also looking into engineering. Funny coincidence.

Hey, do funny things happen in three's???