Paranoid Parent

Noah is starting school and I want to get him a watch with GPS. Does this make me overprotective? Crazy?

I don't want to get him a phone with GPS, although that would be the cheapest option. Phones aren't allowed in school so he wouldn't be able to carry it around on his waist or in his pocket.

That leaves me with a watch or something else that attaches to Noah. Like the Chitter Chatter Phone from Hop-On. Unfortunately, it's not released yet. They are telling the public that it will only cost $50. You can call the watch anytime to get a GPS reading on where your kid is. They can also push the star button to alert you to a change in their location, or push one of the other picture buttons to call home, mom, dad or 911. I don't know if it would be allowed in school, it is a phone after all, but it doesn't have a ringer and he could hide it under long sleeves.

The chitter chatter phone which I would not oder in pink.

But, as I said, it's not available yet and who knows when or if it will be. That sucks, because it is cheaper than watches with only GPS, like the Wherify Watch at $179:


You actually lock this on your child's wrist. If someone tries to pry it off, it emits a LOUD alarm. There is also a panic button that calls 911 with the child's location. The monthly fee ranges from $20 - $45. It also gets pages, which is an option I'm not really interested in.

Other GPS watches that look like a normal watch start at $400.

Sigh. I don't know if I can realistically make this happen, unless I find a really good deal. I honestly don't know why this technology is so expensive. You can get a phone with GPS in it for $50. Why is plain old GPS four times that much?

If any technogeeks out there have other ideas, please let me know.

Rockin the playground.

Because image is everything, especially in kindergarten, I bought Noah this:

Skurvy Pirate Backpack from Small Paul.

Tell me he will not be the coolest kindergartener at Waite Park Elementary. I dare you.

Silly Keathly Boys

Noah's goatee is the awesome.

This is what Stan will look like when he's old.

The boy came home from a day at Como Zoo with Grandma transformed into a tiger. Grr!!!!

The coolest craft sale fundraiser in MPLS organized by Crafty Planet

Let's all go, shall we? A drink at Grumpy's and fabulous crafts to buy? I say AWESOME.

If you have something to contribute (pictures maybe, Jesse and Sarah?) that would be rockin' cool as well. I'm going to crochet up a baby sweater, hat and bootie set for the event. I'm couch-ridden anyhow, so I might as well make the most of it.

Here's the info:

The 35W bridge collapse has affected us all, personally and as a community. Although most of us can't do much to build the bridge back up, we can do something to support the families of those injured or lost.

In response to this tragedy, some of your local crafting friends will be hosting--

A Stitch In Time Saves Craft Sale

Grumpy's Downtown
1111 Washington Ave S.
September 6, 2007
6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

We hope you will be able to join us!

In case you're asking... How Can I Help?

(1) Are you a crafter or an artist? Do you know someone who is? Craft like crazy (make them craft like crazy) and drop off/send your donations to:

Crafty Planet
2318 Lowry Avenue NE Minneapolis, MN 55418

Please have your name/website/contact information along with pricing on your item(s). Donations should be received at Crafty Planet no later than September 1, 2007. (If you're not sure you'll make that deadline, please just give us a heads-up to know something's coming!)

(2) Are you a retailer, gallery, group leader, or part of a crafty community? Please put this notification in your next newsletter or send a special email to your contact list. Spread the word! Also, please consider donating to the show. (Talk to your tax person - you may be able to write it off!)

(3) SHOP, SHOP, SHOP!!! Please join us at Grumpy's Downtown on September 6. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. for crafty shopping goodness! All proceeds and donations will go to the Minnesota Helps - Bridge Disaster Fund.

Questions? More details? Just want to chat? Drop us a line at AStitchInTimeSaves@gmail.com.

Sick, sick, sick, sick.

Tuesday morning at 7:30 AM I was at my friend's house with Noah, bright tailed and bushy eyed, to babysit her kids for the day.

Ella is 4 and Ben is 2. Ella is my favorite, since she was the only one to wake up clean. Ben, on the other hand, not so much. Kid got the flu in the night and somehow, unbeknown to his parents, vomited, went back to sleep and rolled in it until I finally woke him up at 10:15. The kid is usually up by 9 at the latest, so I knew something was up. I just didn't know it would involve me cleaning up a superfund site.

First I washed the kid from head to toe attacking the cement like goo until he was finally clean. Then I had to strip the entire crib, clean the crib and the floor.

Then came the big D - twice.

By the time his mom was able to check her voice mail and call it was 12:30 and he had just been put down in a clean crib for a nap. I knew he would crash out for a long time, so I let her stay at her training.

Results: Last night Noah vomited three times in the night and is now having a party on the other side.

Karma. She is a true bitch.

Jesse's Kraken

Me. I bought it. He. He gets it.

Monday is bill paying day.

And yes, now that you mention it, there are better things I could be doing with my money.

Say it like it is.

Life changes.

My new job starts October 29th and is full time for almost two months while I'm in training. That means pulling the old 9-5 shift for awhile.

That also means Noah is now going to be in full day kindergarten. I was against it while we had the option of him coming home to me. Now having him in school from 9:10 to 3:25 every day will be a godsend. My late start date give us plenty of time to help Noah settle into his school routine with Momma at the ready if he needs help.

Five years of living on one solid income is over. We may be in debt, but we pulled off raising our kid outside of a daycare. He's more than worth all of the sacrifice.

I GOT THE JOB!!!

Woooo-Hooo!!

Whee!!!

Working through procrastination

This morning Noah and I cuddled up and watched hours of cartoons until he "felt better." I don't think he was really sick. I think he just needed some down time. Either way, it was nice.

I showered and was going to tackle some projects, but did different ones instead. Instead of finding the drill and installing the hook rack in the bathroom I bought months ago, I cleaned out the linen closet. Then we cleaned Noah's room. I realize he needs hangers, so we are off to Target.

When I was a kid, I was the housekeeper and cook. I even did the grocery shopping with the same metal laundry cart I used to bring the clothes to the laundry room in our apartment building. Now a days, I really do like things clean, neat and orderly. But I also want to give taking care of people a big "fuck you!" since my psyche is already overworked from my past job.

More counseling might help. Or a well paying job so I can hire someone to clean for me. That would be elevens.

Happy Birthday Jesse.

One day I will be wealthy enough to buy you this for your birthday - because nothing makes you glad to live another year like bacon.


Mmmmmm . . . . bacon.

Sometimes life is just that way.

Fine, the other ones didn't work, so here's a different comic for ya.

Noah's New School

Again, Noah's new school doesn't have glowing test scores. Minneapolis schools do not test well. They have a difficult population to deal with, but so does Columbia Heights and their test scores are at or near the top of the entire state.

One of the Waite Park parents made a good point about Waite Park vs. the two other local elementary schools. Wilshire has barely any minorities and the ones they do have are not ESL kids (they don't even have an ESL program) and are not from low income homes.

Observe:
Free Lunch Caucasian
Waite Park 56% 56%
Bel Air 42% 65%
Wilshire 14% 81%

So does Wilshire has the top scores because the families are mostly 2 parent, upper middle class white homes? They don't have special needs or ESL programs so their scores may be higher because of that as well. Does that equal a better school?

Here's the nitty gritty test scores (grade 3):
Math Reading
Waite Park 69% 70%
Bel Air 83% 84%
Wilshire 91% 84%

Another thing to ponder about Wilshire: The only kids I know who have gotten accepted into open enrollment have been minorities from good families who value education. Not ESL kids, not inner city kids, not low income kids. So Wilshire focuses on keeping a population that scores well and doesn't have special needs. I know that attracting kids and keeping enrollment high is good business for schools, but the way Wilshire goes about it rubs me the wrong way.

All of the parents of Waite Park students I have talked to love the school. I think Noah will do well there. The question of if he would do even better at Bel Air or Wilshire keeps nagging at me though. Have I done the best I can to get him into the school that will give him what he needs? It's a hard question that I am sure I will keep asking for years to come.

Creepiest crochet pattern ever

Never will I make this, unless I give it to someone as a harbinger of DOOM.

Little things are the cutest

I just crocheted a baby sweater using this pattern in olive green with black trim. It is so fucking adorable I want to make a baby just to have one to put in it. Alas, it is for Jeff and Angie's little bean sprout, so I won't get to put a Keathly nubbin in it, but I will get to see a baby inside it sometime in September.


I think I am going to make this hat in the same green as the sweater and some matching booties. I am tempted to make some monster slippers instead though, or some fashionable UGG look alikes. Just for funzies.

Love is still in the air.

They still love me. The spa director is out of town and won't be back for "several days" but will follow up with me when she gets back.

Wow, the waiting is still killing me. I won't rest easy until I'm filling out those new employee forms.

Updates

A friend of mine, with his 4 kids in the car, saw the bridge collapse in his review mirror. Chills I say, chills.

I just sent a follow up e-mail re. the job. Keep your appendages crossed.

35W Bridge Collapse

God? Buddha? Lucky the Leprechaun? Hells bells, someone or something kept us away from that bridge yesterday.

This shows an overview of the massive, 1,800 foot bridge that fell 70 feet.

Stan usually gets off around 5:30 PM and takes the bridge home. Yesterday he stayed home with a headache.

I was driving straight for the 35W entrance at 5:20 PM. I had planned not to take 35W due to the construction, which shut down the bridge to one lane, but was tempted when I approached the entrance because at this time of year there is construction everywhere. Trying to avoid it is almost impossible. Still, I had checked www.traffic.com and my new route seemed clear, so I took a chance and hit 94 instead.

When I heard the news and saw the pictures (at a client's house between massages) I got the chills, wanted to cry and was in a state of disbelief. This is as close to home a tragedy has ever been.

Kare11 has a video of the collapse caught on a security camera.

I'm just happy everyone I know is okay.

Listen to the sounds, of silence.

Friday will be two weeks since my technical interview. You know, the one where the person LOVED me and gave me nothing but kudos. The one where everyone so far said they loved me complete with exclamation points.

And all I have heard since has been the chirping of crickets and the screaming of children.

I am thinking of e-mailing the human resources contact tomorrow, just not sure what to say.

Dear XXXX,

Do you still love me and want to hire me? Because I, personally, am still smitten.

Hoping the answer is "yes!'

Lisa