This past Sunday was Number Five. But before we get to Sunday, I must address the topic of....
Stress.
Scott generally handles stress very well, and he should. He has had very high-stress jobs: working as a news videographer for WISTV-10, he has seen his fair share of BAD news: the Susan Smith trial, tornados, plane crashes -- just to name a few. He has also had other stressful work, such as shooting for numerous athletic events, editing a season-ending video over one weekend.....just to name a few. And this stress will sometimes manifest itself through an unusual, hysterical behavior -- sleep talking.
This past week, in the middle of the night, I am awakened by "hey! Hey! HEY!" and he's sitting up in the bed. He gestures with his hands, and says, "does the bulletin go this way, or this way?" He is sleep talking about how to lay out and publish the church bulletin. My general reaction is to laugh and to try and wake him up to tell him how funny he is, but I learned that you just have to answer the question so he'll go back to sleep.
"This way." I gestured back with my hands in some Helen Kellerish fashion that pleased him, and with an "okay" he laid back down........humming some kind of hymn-ish tune, and fell back asleep.
A while back I told my Mom about Scott's sleep talking. This was around a time that he was editing a football or baseball video for the University on a contract basis. Meaning: this was not his full-time job. It was extra. She knows he is a hard worker, and admires that in him a great deal. So as I try to relay my worry and concern (and probably irritation) that he is working way too much -- so much that he's "working" in his sleep, all she can say is "great, maybe he can get paid for it!"
No sympathy.
Today Scott visited a family from Heath Chapel whose granddaughter was having surgery at Richland. He stopped by on his way to the Lowman Home, and chatted and had a prayer. The little girl did well. Scott did well too.
This past Sunday was Number Five. Kate and I left in the morning, and met up with Daddy at church. She enjoyed Sunday School a little more this second time, and was warmly welcomed by the class. Her teacher, Miss Mary, is a dear....and one of her Washington Street UMC teacher's is also a Miss Mary. Heck, Jesus' Mom was Mary......I see a pattern here.
We sat in the same place for worship, but knew to slide down more to allow the Fords to sit on the front row. They were married at Shandon Baptist in Columbia over 60 years ago, when that church was actually IN Shandon, on Woodrow Street I believe. They are precious! I was able to hold Kate at bay during church until the final hymn, when she wanted to join her Daddy. Barefoot. Again. He was a tad flustered during the service since he had to pinch hit as the acolyte on a moment's notice, but even I didn't realize it.
After church, we had lunch at Wendy's with some church folks, and visited until 2 pm. We bought The Mimi a Mexican blanket there too. You see, it's a one-stop shop, that Hess Truck Stop: Wendy's, Dairy Queen, and the truck stop all in one. Mexican blankets: $7.99. Kate chose one with hot pink in it, and The Mimi was thrilled.
This past Wednesday, we all drove up for a Wednesday Night Supper.
Menu: BBQ chicken, potatoes, green beans, broccoli salad, rolls, and strawberry shortcake. Tea. Delicious! I sat with Jimmy and Susan, and Charles and Sara, and we talked about the University, and how Jimmy got his job at Tulane in the ChemE department, which he also ended up studying there as well, for a master's I think. Maybe a PhD, but I cannot be certain.
We ate, we visited, and although tired, we had fun. Wednesday Night Suppers ARE fun, and for $3, there's no way you could eat any better. A storm came up, and we were stuck, so we visited some more, until the rain petered away and we could run over to the parsonage. Kate took a shower there, put on PJs, and Scott did some CPE work in his church office a.k.a. The Pastor's Study. We left before he did, and as we drove back to Columbia, Kate read her visual dictionary the entire way back. A peace-filled night.
PS. Oh yeah, and BTW, Scott still does not have his car back.....July 3 to July 24. You do the math.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
This past weekend was taxing, trying. It all begins with Friday.......not necessarily a Good Friday.
So Scott was going to pick up Kate after his chaplaincy work at the Lowman Home, but first he has to go to the seminary to pick up forms that were signed that he needs to apply for his Methodist scholarships of which the deadline has passed because the ONE woman who can sign them is never there, and of course, they were not left for him to pick up, despite a call that they were. After that, he heads to the Richland County Public Library (RCPL) downtown to drop off a book.....goes in, drops it off, comes back out, and The Mimi's car is dead. The Mimi -- is my mom. It's Kate's name for her, dropping the The.
I'm almost home when he calls me....I turn around, get Kate, and go to Scott. We try desperately to jump the car off, but no luck. That evening, Kate and I have a Bat Program at 8 pm at Sesqui Park that we had really been looking forward to attending.....we begin to strategize in the car: go to Chickfila to grab supper, head home, and see if we can call the tow truck in the morning. Go to the Bat Program. Get home, and I ask Mom about calling the tow truck in the morning (while I'm eating like the wind, and trying to get Kate to do the same....) and she agrees, and even says that Abbotts Auto doesn't know her car is coming, and they're closed now, etc. I had already told her on the phone while in the car, we could not get her car started.
About 10 minutes later, she asks me if the car is in the driveway......and I'm like, "no Mom, I told you, we could not get it started, and I asked you if we could call the tow truck in the morning...." and she asks, "where is my car?" I had already explained: IT'S AT THE LIBRARY DOWNTOWN, and all of the situation, more than once....so, it is decided that we call the tow truck that night because Mom is afraid someone downtown will come and steal her tires, and I tell her that we'll skip the Bat Program. Mom doesn't want Kate to miss the Bat Program, so Scott says we'll call the tow truck afterwards. Meanwhile: Scott is on call for Lowman Home, and in fine fashion, he is beeped, a patient is heading to Lexington and she's been on the decline and unresponsive. She could died. Not a far fetched thought at all. So, we live adventurously. Scott drops me and Kate off at Sesqui, and we hope he can pick us up, or else I would have to call someone for a ride home (I had already felt out a gal pal of mine about picking us up, who said, "should I stop drinking beer now?" And I say no, we'll only call if we're DESPERATE).
......we're at the Bat Program, and see two of Kate's pals from daycare, so I felt rather safe about having zero transportation. Ends up a colleague from campus, Linda, was there with her daughter as well. Kate struck out at the Bat Program, meaning, she acted up and wouldn't listen well, so three strikes, but overall, she did okay. I was probably a little too strong on the strikes, but she still did not get to wear her Hannah Montana shirt today (she can wear it each Monday).
So Linda and her daughter drive us to the front gate to wait for Scott after the program. Time: 9:30 pm. Scott picks us up. We're in the car, and he tries to call USAA towing, and because Mom has given him a card with her number on it that must be outdated, the policy number is wrong, and the woman gets ugly, and Scott hangs up.
Kate's thirsty. We head to Zaxby's, get drinks, and back in the car.......head to the library downtown. Always nice and sketchy there at night. While we were trying to jump his car off earlier, in broad daylight, a guy came by and rifled through the bushes, and pulled out a comforter and pillow, and walked off. Back to the car: we call again, actually, I CALL and get a nicer representative and a tow truck gets sent.....we hit Starbucks at Gervais, Kate is tired, and by the time the tow truck driver calls to say they're on their way, she's sound asleep. We head back to the RCPL, and wait for the truck. I make Scott back into a space so I can view anyone walking by. Here comes the guy with the comforter and pillow -- coming back to the bushes, but now we're parked right by his hiding place, so he's hesitant......but the tow truck comes, gets The Mimi's car towed, and as we pull out, the guy gets his pajamas out of the bushes. Okay, I don't know what he got out, but he obviously didn't feel safe with US around..... Home around 11 pm. Whew.
So Scott was going to pick up Kate after his chaplaincy work at the Lowman Home, but first he has to go to the seminary to pick up forms that were signed that he needs to apply for his Methodist scholarships of which the deadline has passed because the ONE woman who can sign them is never there, and of course, they were not left for him to pick up, despite a call that they were. After that, he heads to the Richland County Public Library (RCPL) downtown to drop off a book.....goes in, drops it off, comes back out, and The Mimi's car is dead. The Mimi -- is my mom. It's Kate's name for her, dropping the The.
I'm almost home when he calls me....I turn around, get Kate, and go to Scott. We try desperately to jump the car off, but no luck. That evening, Kate and I have a Bat Program at 8 pm at Sesqui Park that we had really been looking forward to attending.....we begin to strategize in the car: go to Chickfila to grab supper, head home, and see if we can call the tow truck in the morning. Go to the Bat Program. Get home, and I ask Mom about calling the tow truck in the morning (while I'm eating like the wind, and trying to get Kate to do the same....) and she agrees, and even says that Abbotts Auto doesn't know her car is coming, and they're closed now, etc. I had already told her on the phone while in the car, we could not get her car started.
About 10 minutes later, she asks me if the car is in the driveway......and I'm like, "no Mom, I told you, we could not get it started, and I asked you if we could call the tow truck in the morning...." and she asks, "where is my car?" I had already explained: IT'S AT THE LIBRARY DOWNTOWN, and all of the situation, more than once....so, it is decided that we call the tow truck that night because Mom is afraid someone downtown will come and steal her tires, and I tell her that we'll skip the Bat Program. Mom doesn't want Kate to miss the Bat Program, so Scott says we'll call the tow truck afterwards. Meanwhile: Scott is on call for Lowman Home, and in fine fashion, he is beeped, a patient is heading to Lexington and she's been on the decline and unresponsive. She could died. Not a far fetched thought at all. So, we live adventurously. Scott drops me and Kate off at Sesqui, and we hope he can pick us up, or else I would have to call someone for a ride home (I had already felt out a gal pal of mine about picking us up, who said, "should I stop drinking beer now?" And I say no, we'll only call if we're DESPERATE).
......we're at the Bat Program, and see two of Kate's pals from daycare, so I felt rather safe about having zero transportation. Ends up a colleague from campus, Linda, was there with her daughter as well. Kate struck out at the Bat Program, meaning, she acted up and wouldn't listen well, so three strikes, but overall, she did okay. I was probably a little too strong on the strikes, but she still did not get to wear her Hannah Montana shirt today (she can wear it each Monday).
So Linda and her daughter drive us to the front gate to wait for Scott after the program. Time: 9:30 pm. Scott picks us up. We're in the car, and he tries to call USAA towing, and because Mom has given him a card with her number on it that must be outdated, the policy number is wrong, and the woman gets ugly, and Scott hangs up.
Kate's thirsty. We head to Zaxby's, get drinks, and back in the car.......head to the library downtown. Always nice and sketchy there at night. While we were trying to jump his car off earlier, in broad daylight, a guy came by and rifled through the bushes, and pulled out a comforter and pillow, and walked off. Back to the car: we call again, actually, I CALL and get a nicer representative and a tow truck gets sent.....we hit Starbucks at Gervais, Kate is tired, and by the time the tow truck driver calls to say they're on their way, she's sound asleep. We head back to the RCPL, and wait for the truck. I make Scott back into a space so I can view anyone walking by. Here comes the guy with the comforter and pillow -- coming back to the bushes, but now we're parked right by his hiding place, so he's hesitant......but the tow truck comes, gets The Mimi's car towed, and as we pull out, the guy gets his pajamas out of the bushes. Okay, I don't know what he got out, but he obviously didn't feel safe with US around..... Home around 11 pm. Whew.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
What's in a Name? Or a Nickname?
History of Town/City Nicknames from the SCIWay site:
http://www.sciway.net/ccr/sc-city-nicknames.html#g
Great Falls – Flopeye"Great Falls (now home of the Flopeye Fish Festival) was a thriving metropolis and a real boomtown in the early 1900's. It was founded on the old US 21 peddler's route from Charleston to the mountains of North Carolina and beyond, THE trade route of its time."After a hydroelectric plant was built and was powering the first of three cotton mills, the 'company sto' near the plant provided the workers with everything that they could possibly need ... at whatever price they felt like they could get, and simply deducted that from the workers' wages. Up the road, or 'down,' depending on your perspective, a merchant (who may have been named Andy Morrison) who had a lazy, or drooping, eyelid(s), would laze around his store, selling many of the same items at lower prices, of course. The Company tried to discourage its workers from trading with 'that old flopeyed man' down the road. However, people liked his prices, and seemed to genuinely like old 'Flopeye.' They built up a separate business area, and a surrounding village in the area around Flopeye."There were, and still are, two separate and distinct business areas in Great Falls. Downtown, where the Company Store was located, also has a bank (now gone), post office, theater ("The Falls," also gone), and many others. Flopeye, separated by a road winding past beautiful Republic Park, has a football stadium (home of the 1934 State Champs with noted Banks McFadden), churches, and the local school."Thanks to Barbara Lyles of Great Falls for sharing this amazing story.
http://www.sciway.net/ccr/sc-city-nicknames.html#g
Great Falls – Flopeye"Great Falls (now home of the Flopeye Fish Festival) was a thriving metropolis and a real boomtown in the early 1900's. It was founded on the old US 21 peddler's route from Charleston to the mountains of North Carolina and beyond, THE trade route of its time."After a hydroelectric plant was built and was powering the first of three cotton mills, the 'company sto' near the plant provided the workers with everything that they could possibly need ... at whatever price they felt like they could get, and simply deducted that from the workers' wages. Up the road, or 'down,' depending on your perspective, a merchant (who may have been named Andy Morrison) who had a lazy, or drooping, eyelid(s), would laze around his store, selling many of the same items at lower prices, of course. The Company tried to discourage its workers from trading with 'that old flopeyed man' down the road. However, people liked his prices, and seemed to genuinely like old 'Flopeye.' They built up a separate business area, and a surrounding village in the area around Flopeye."There were, and still are, two separate and distinct business areas in Great Falls. Downtown, where the Company Store was located, also has a bank (now gone), post office, theater ("The Falls," also gone), and many others. Flopeye, separated by a road winding past beautiful Republic Park, has a football stadium (home of the 1934 State Champs with noted Banks McFadden), churches, and the local school."Thanks to Barbara Lyles of Great Falls for sharing this amazing story.
Everyone knows it's Wendy's
Kate and I spent a beautiful weekend in Hilton Head, SC, compliments of our pals The Keefers: Kim and Robbie, and their kids, Adams and Victoria. The children played, jumped "big waves," swam in the pool, went to a children's museum-type place with Robbie while Kim and I shopped, and had an overall good mixed-family weekend. No injuries, good sharing of toys, and a few adult beverages consumed.
Meanwhile, Scott logged in Sunday Number Three in Great Falls, and after the Mt. Dearborn service, had lunch with two of the church families. He said they had a ball -- laughed, laughed, and laughed some more.....we like this. It's fun having folks you can laugh with. And they treated him to Wendy's.
It's a long drive (albeit quite worthit) from HHI, so Kate and I decided to take our time, and to eat at a restaurant instead of fast food. There's no question what I chose........pause....... What would you choose?
Cracker Barrel, no doubt would be your choice, as it was mine. Kate ordered the macaroni and cheese, a no-fail option for nutrition. In fact, when Robbie make them M&C at the beach, she ate three helpings of it. I ordered breakfast, and we split some bacon. She ate one slice of bacon, and just decided she could not eat her macaroni. After loads of cajoling, I got her to eat maybe three bites, but that's it. I tried not to show my frustration, but could not keep my eyes off the mound of macaroni left.
We paid, and I toted around the gift area three to-go cups of drinks (water and Sprite for Kate; water for me) since Kate said her cups were too cold. So I juggled these cold, sweaty beverages while Kate checked out the toys until I found that the classic Cracker Barrel table top checker board makes an excellent coaster, and I was able to put them down briefly (http://everythingelse.shop.ebay.com/items/Everything-Else__W0QQ_nkwZcrackerQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZQQ_mdoZEverythingQ2dElseQQ_sacatZ99 to view Cracker Barrel's unique coaster/checkboard game).
So, we left. And it wasn't far down the road I hear the dreaded words, "I'm hungry" shortly after we pass an exit with a Wendy's sign. Kate adores Wendy's chicken nuggets, and she decided she wanted some. And I BECAME frustrated at her not eating her M&C. So, I offered a compromise: She had to pay for her own nuggets. I knew she had a $5 bill in her purse (along with a ton of change -- and thank goodness! I had to borrow quarters from her for the toll road in HHI on the way down there).
Crying ensued. "But I want to get back $5, not four." I said, "if you want nuggets, you have to pay for them, so you will get back four dollars, or else we won't stop." I'm feeling like a Mean Momma at this point, but liking it. I'm feeling a bit creative, like this idea could be a suggestion on that NPR show, The Parents Journal, that eeks into my brain at 6 am Saturday mornings. I can even hear the host, Bobbi Connor, saying "next we have a Parent Tip from Jan Smoak of Columbia, South Carolina. Jan, give us your tip to mealtime at your house."
"Bobbi, if my child wants to eat, I simply make her buy her own food. We see improved eating habits, and a great deal less waste. This week, we may even have her chip in on our gas bill."
I am also feeling somewhat justified.....I would have felt better handing over $3.29 to some homeless person rather than leave the mound of M&C on her plate at the Cracker Barrel.
So, we slid through the drive through.....she handed over the bill, and I floated her .06 so she could get back her four dollars. Once tears were wiped away, and she received her bag of nuggets (thrilled with having her own receipt!!!!), she felt satisfied. I felt satisfied. And many miles away, her daddy's trip to Wendy's left him satisfied too.
Meanwhile, Scott logged in Sunday Number Three in Great Falls, and after the Mt. Dearborn service, had lunch with two of the church families. He said they had a ball -- laughed, laughed, and laughed some more.....we like this. It's fun having folks you can laugh with. And they treated him to Wendy's.
It's a long drive (albeit quite worthit) from HHI, so Kate and I decided to take our time, and to eat at a restaurant instead of fast food. There's no question what I chose........pause....... What would you choose?
Cracker Barrel, no doubt would be your choice, as it was mine. Kate ordered the macaroni and cheese, a no-fail option for nutrition. In fact, when Robbie make them M&C at the beach, she ate three helpings of it. I ordered breakfast, and we split some bacon. She ate one slice of bacon, and just decided she could not eat her macaroni. After loads of cajoling, I got her to eat maybe three bites, but that's it. I tried not to show my frustration, but could not keep my eyes off the mound of macaroni left.
We paid, and I toted around the gift area three to-go cups of drinks (water and Sprite for Kate; water for me) since Kate said her cups were too cold. So I juggled these cold, sweaty beverages while Kate checked out the toys until I found that the classic Cracker Barrel table top checker board makes an excellent coaster, and I was able to put them down briefly (http://everythingelse.shop.ebay.com/items/Everything-Else__W0QQ_nkwZcrackerQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZQQ_mdoZEverythingQ2dElseQQ_sacatZ99 to view Cracker Barrel's unique coaster/checkboard game).
So, we left. And it wasn't far down the road I hear the dreaded words, "I'm hungry" shortly after we pass an exit with a Wendy's sign. Kate adores Wendy's chicken nuggets, and she decided she wanted some. And I BECAME frustrated at her not eating her M&C. So, I offered a compromise: She had to pay for her own nuggets. I knew she had a $5 bill in her purse (along with a ton of change -- and thank goodness! I had to borrow quarters from her for the toll road in HHI on the way down there).
Crying ensued. "But I want to get back $5, not four." I said, "if you want nuggets, you have to pay for them, so you will get back four dollars, or else we won't stop." I'm feeling like a Mean Momma at this point, but liking it. I'm feeling a bit creative, like this idea could be a suggestion on that NPR show, The Parents Journal, that eeks into my brain at 6 am Saturday mornings. I can even hear the host, Bobbi Connor, saying "next we have a Parent Tip from Jan Smoak of Columbia, South Carolina. Jan, give us your tip to mealtime at your house."
"Bobbi, if my child wants to eat, I simply make her buy her own food. We see improved eating habits, and a great deal less waste. This week, we may even have her chip in on our gas bill."
I am also feeling somewhat justified.....I would have felt better handing over $3.29 to some homeless person rather than leave the mound of M&C on her plate at the Cracker Barrel.
So, we slid through the drive through.....she handed over the bill, and I floated her .06 so she could get back her four dollars. Once tears were wiped away, and she received her bag of nuggets (thrilled with having her own receipt!!!!), she felt satisfied. I felt satisfied. And many miles away, her daddy's trip to Wendy's left him satisfied too.
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