Back to School for Senior Year

Back to school time means things are really busy here at the Referee's house.  My baby is starting his senior year of high school.  Hard to believe he can be 17 going on 18 already!  He says he hates school, but he gets straight A's so I can't complain.  I think the problem is that it doesn't challenge him.  This year he's taking a web design class, which I hope will keep him interested and maybe end up being a career opportunity, since computers seem to be what he is interested in.  Well, computers as they relate to Xbox and YouTube!

The first game of the soccer season is tomorrow, and we average 3-5 games a week through September. We're all going to be exhausted by October.  I'm not wishing the time away, though, since this is his last season.  

Daughter raced a week ago today, and hopes to have one more race mid-September before parking the racecar for the season.  She learned a lot this year, and finished 9th in points at her regular track.  I'm proud of her for chasing her dreams.  

I'm planning to visit my parents sometime this week, in between soccer games or maybe on the weekend. My brother called yesterday to tell me he had a bunch of fluid drained from his knee and is off work (again) for at least two weeks.  I'm sure my parents are feeling the pressure from that, and they shouldn't have to.

We visited my father-in-law today at the nursing home.  He was completely out, and it took hubby 45 minutes to wake him.  He had missed lunch so they brought that to him once we had him awake, but then we spent the next hour watching him eat.  I was happy to see he had an appetite, but it wasn't one of our better visits. Then we went to my mother-in-law's and helped her with a couple things.  We were there longer than I had hoped, and I was feeling resentful on the drive home.  I know I shouldn't.  I'm just stressed with so many other things that I wanted to be home doing things I want or need to do.  

Work has been really stressful, worrying about what my department may or may not do to replace my officemate, who is retiring September 30th.  This week, there were several meetings with discussions of the situation.  At first, the word was that they would temporarily reassign faculty.  As of Friday, the word was that they will bring in a temporary worker, which I hope means they will be eventually hiring a permanent replacement.  But so far nobody has actually said that.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  

Tonight, with thoughts of some good friends, I offer up prayers of hope and healing. 

Vacation Signals Summer's End

The last couple of weeks have been crazy busy, but in different ways.  

Two weeks ago, I was frantically trying to get all my work caught up before leaving on vacation.  I failed to get it all done, but it will be there when I go back to work on Monday.  Too bad I don't have a work fairy to take care of it for me!  

I'm also very stressed because my office mate of 12 years will be retiring September 16.  Only three more weeks to work with her, then she's taking two weeks of vacation.  The office will not be the same without her, and I am especially concerned about how I will keep up with an additional faculty member.  We've had no official word yet, but suspect they will be divvying up her faculty among the remaining secretaries.  With budget cuts, it's only going to get worse, I'm afraid.  My job is more than just a job to me, but I will need to learn to leave work at work when it's time to go home.  If I can't do that, I will drive myself nuts.  Wish me luck!

Vacation started a week ago Friday at 3 PM.  We spent the evening watching Daughter race, and it took me most of the evening to relax.  Hubby and I went hiking on Saturday and Sunday, which we enjoy. Monday I went shopping for hubby's birthday - I hate shopping for him because he doesn't need anything, and isn't a fan of fun things that I would choose for other family members.  Ah well...he gets what he gets when he doesn't give me a list!  Tuesday we took Son to Turkey Run and hiked there. The suspension bridge across the river was closed, so we hiked around, making it a very long day.  But we all made it safely, thankfully, and said a prayer for the lady who broke her ankle out on the trail. Wednesday was another day off, relaxing at home and grocery shopping.  Thursday we took Son and a friend to Kings Island in Cincinnati, Ohio.  The boys had a blast, and that's what we were hoping for.  Friday was hubby's birthday - he golfed with good friends and shared memories of his shared birthday with a friend no longer on this earth. It was good for him to have that time with them.  Then we watched Daughter race Friday night.  Today we hiked again, and tomorrow we are tackling the state fair.  

I need to win the lotto so I can take a permanent vacation and not have to return to work!

Sending prayers out to my sister-in-law, who is in the hospital trying to hold off going into labor.  She's only 25 weeks and they are really concerned about her and the baby.  She said she feels like she's in jail, but she does have bathroom and shower privileges. We plan to visit her Monday evening.  

Hard to believe the summer is almost over. School registration is this week, and then school starts next week.  Time is really flying by...