Homecoming...

Well, the chaotic schedule is in full swing!

Chris, Mellisa and I spent a few lovely hours on Sunday hanging Christmas net lighting down at the football field. It hangs over this large span of girders between 2 brick buildings - and is the entryway to the field. The lights are about 15 nets across by 20 nets long. Anyhow, that took forever. Last night, I rec'd an email from the athletic director. Yea, the baseball coach was moving some batting stuff and accidentally tore them all down. Now, these things were obvious - hung very high - and we used super dooper strong zip ties (as in we had to use wire cutters to cut them). So - at what rate of speed was he driving to destroy my lights????????????? And - after the first few go - we kept driving??? They are completely ruined. They offered to buy more to replace but my week is booked with the rest of the decorating. I think they should have to hang them too! And honestly, where am I going to get that many nets this time of year? They are only just starting to put Christmas stuff out.

Tonight - the painting of the wood W's. Most have the finished coat on already but I have yet to add the name of the senior and the sport. We are blinging those up with silver Christmas balls. They were to hang under the lights - but I may have to come up with a plan B.

And - I have to finish up my award rosettes for the float contest. They are so cute. I found wonderful blue, red and white satin - and they are huge and bright. I will have to take pics. Last year, the person in charge of the contest spray painted a paper plate - it was horrible. At least these are totally ribbon like!! And displayable at the school - I would have just round-filed the ones from last year...

We have to move my giant W out of the school to my driveway where the hayrack has been sitting for the week. We just use a large furniture dolly and push it down the street. It is always entertaining for the neighborhood.

The Pillows

I thought it would be nice to finish Mellisa's volleyball season with a bang.

Intercity varsity volleyball tourney is this Saturday and West is hosting. It is tradition to have each team bring their own food for the day and decorate a couple of tables in their colors. Last year, I had balloons and lots of silver and black and confetti - basically, a whole lot of bling. Yes, it is a committee of one - and our colors are silver and black. This year - I had to go further.

I have a theme - I am creating a "Wildcat Den". I am bringing in our large camping food tent and lining the floor with mats that the cheerleaders use. I bought the cutest little eye masks for each of the girls and I am making a pillow for each of them. I have a zillion black or west logo blankets that I am dragging in for our Den.

Now - the pillows. I found an awesome website with super cheap pillow forms - so I ordered 12 of those and they were delivered super fast. The pillows are 12x12 - so perfect size for a little nap pillow. I went with a friend of mine to the fabric store and spent about an hour looking for the perfect fabrics. Diana has this lovely machine that does embroidery - so we are putting an ipod or cell phone pocket on each pillow. The pocket has a large "West" in black - and then their name is in silver in the corner.

I had to buy ribbon for a Homecoming project I am doing the next day (that's another blog) - and found an entirely different fabric that I just loved - so I will just have to come up with another project for the first fabric (maybe a large bolster for AJ's bed).

Anyway - the back of the pillows are a soft black. The front is white with black polka dots - with the pocket.

So - I am sewing like crazy. Then a couple of the girls at work thought - oh, you should make one for the coach. Tonite - off to find a pillow form. Diana already embroidered the same "West" logo - but added all of the girls' names on the pocket.

And more sewing...

AJ Update

For anyone that is following the AJ saga...

YES!!! He got the job!!! AJ started this past week - and gave his two weeks notice at Micheleo's. This does mean he is working two jobs for two weeks and it's about to kill him - but he is hanging in there...

Oh - he is driving senior citizens and disabled around to doctor's appointments and events, etc. So he has to handle wheel chairs and the bus lift and those types of things. He also drives one Sunday a month (rotation) and takes folks to church or work or wherever they need to be.

It is thru the YWCA - so there's one reason to support the United Way!!! I will have to take a pic of him with his bus...

I believe he is PERFECT for the job - he has a heart of gold and is so patient. AND - he drives the same speed as his passengers!!!

Fellow, Life Management Institute - slow but progressing...

WHEW....

First LOMA test is completed (Principles of Insurance: Life, Health, and Annuities). I not only Passed but I got a 95!!!! I know more about annuities & endowments & insurance than I ever wanted to know. You know - some of this would have been much more interesting if I could at least afford to own some of it!!!

I drove my family nutso with my studying but we did it! I am passing on taking a test in 4th quarter - so next test will be in March - Insurance Company Operations.

Tuesday...

AJ's best friend is getting married today. 4pm. I am sure there is some significance to the date - but have no idea what that might be.

So - today is a bit crazy. 4pm is early. I will pull the girls out of school early - run them home - change into their dresses (that alone is a new post) - and run over to the wedding. Chris is taking clothes to work - and then meeting us there.

This is not a small affair. Wedding and reception are in one of the nicest hotels in town - sit down meal even. Then Josh & Alyssa are off on a 14-day transatlantic cruise.

Josh and AJ stopped by last night after the rehearsal. AJ and Josh have been friends forever it seems. I am so happy for him - and Alyssa seems so sweet. I was already crying. Josh is just the sweetest kid - and is like another one of my own. He just looked so nervous. AJ is just about petrified over the toast. I volunteered to do a toast after I had had a couple of toasts - but I was vetoed.

I wish them nothing but love....

God love Lou...

Well, we were in prime entertaining mode this weekend!

I had a couple of friends over on Saturday - Stacey and Russ. I don't think that they have spent much time with Lou. Stacey knew Lou when we lived in Clinton. Anyway, Lou was pretty good - just a few outbursts and bizarre internal conversations.

But Sunday? wow... Lou has developed some new personalities. There is some mentally challenged person that he talks with - and some Terminator android thing. Of course, I had to ask. I guess he is trying to cast out the different demons. And he has developed a new routine while he is eating. He tells himself to chew his food. He told me that this guy has a hard time chewing. The one good thing - 'this guy' eats like a horse! Lou actually looked like he had put on some weight. Oh - and he has a shaved head now too...

These are new developments for Lou. He has always talked to himself but never carried on different voice inflections and conversations.

I guess I will need to do some research and talk to his case worker...

What a day...

OK - maybe not as monumental as Aunt Janet's but geesh...

Next paragraph - not for the weak of tummy...
Alyx had to be picked up from school due to a stomach ache. She was fine until we had to take AJ to work. We aren't in the van 2 minutes before she decides she is going to be sick. Now, I was not prepared for this. I grabbed a to-go cup that was left from my morning soda and handed that back to her. Keep in mind, Alyx is my girly-girl. Everyone in this family is serious when it comes to vomiting. Not Alyx. She held this little cup - and everything went into it. She asked for a napkin - and she was done? What was that? How can anyone be delicate while vomiting????

Long day in Lincoln. Mellisa's volleyball team played there so I thought it would be fun to go down early and spend some time with Kiel. Kiel, Nequan and mom spent quality time shopping in Walmart for Guitar Hero. This was exactly how I pictured our time?!?!

Mellisa's team won - and Messie played great! Halfway thru the game - text from Chris. Kiel lost his phone - thinks it is in the car.

After the game (now 8:30), Messie and I find the phone (she opted out of the bus). But - Kiel is at practice. So we sit and wait. The Loyola coach was there to watch Kiel so I talked to him for a bit. He wants tape of Mellisa. We joked that it would be funny if both Turpin kids ended up at Loyola. Kiel would rather die first. Finally, Kiel comes out about 9:15ish during a break.

Mellisa gets a text - the team forgot the 'lucky' poster at the gym. Fantastic. Back to the gym. Managed to get in - custodians had just started cleaning. Messie is the team hero for the night...

Finally, stopped by McD's - and drove home. I think it was about 10:30. Yea - waaaaay past my bedtime...

The roomie

Kiel's roommate from Lincoln came home with him for the weekend since the school closed the dorms for the Labor Day weekend.

Poor Nequan - we are white. Can't get around that - pretty obvious - even the mixed kids are white! Second, this is Illinois. It's flat and full of corn. Can't help that either - we don't have the charm of trees and hills that he is used to in North Carolina.

He was a trooper though. He played video games with the girls, put up with Mellisa and even helped clean our nasty garage! He's a good guy.

I think he starved. Poor thing. I made pulled pork BBQ for Monday. He opened up the crock pot and asked - what is this??? He doesn't do pulled pork. I told him that he was in Illinois and he had better learn to eat strange meat. He ate another danish. I think he lived on danishes...

I also learned that Kiel has the social skills of a chunk of dirt. How can that be? I love to entertain - I look forward to events so I can plan and manipulate people!!! Kiel just sits around? Mellisa and I practically threw him out the door on Sunday night so he would take Nequan somewhere! They went bowling for two hours and were back home.

I really did like him - not sure if he will ever come back though.

Here we go again...

First night of concessions was last night. Every year on the first night, I forget my tennies. My feet are killing me - and my back. Four hours on a concrete floor is hard on my body! Not to mention four hours of being happy and chipper with my volunteers and customers!

Mellisa's team kicked butt. Hopefully - the link works! There are a couple pics of Messie if you click on the gallery. http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/article_038dc7a2-9841-11de-8bc3-001cc4c03286.html

They play Bloomington tonite. This is one of the intercity teams - which are always good battles. It is always very strange since Mellisa plays travel volleyball with these girls - and then they go to different high schools and become 'enemies'. It should be a great game!