And Just Like That

Eldest is a high school graduate and also in possession of an Associate's degree in Biblical Studies. He has eschewed walking (which would have been down at Liberty U today), although he has promised that he will walk in four years with his two Bachelor's degrees. I'm holding him to that.

We now enter the ticking time-bomb that is the summer between high school and college. I'm tempted to measure the space in hours, but I don't actually think that would be healthy for either of us. As it is, I'm trying to cram as much family fun as he'll allow into it (read: not all that much because he wants to hang with his friends. Totally legit. But annoying. And yet still legit.) Some of which may be season passes to the amusement park, as we can all go together and just say hi as we pass on our way to different rides. I believe some of his friends are also getting passes, so it kills all the birds with the same, not actually all that expensive, stone.

And we begin to transition the younger boy into taking on the chores that have, heretofore, fallen to the elder boy. He's not excited to have their bathroom now become his sole responsibility, but as it's for his sole use, it feels legit to do.

That tempus, it does fugit.

Well, would you look at that?

Seems the VA Supreme Court actually upheld the law.

Raise your hand if you didn't think that was actually going to happen. (Because a lot of the VA SC are there because of Democrat Governors. So I figured they'd be like, "It's fine. What chu talkin' bout Willis?")

Of course, the VA Gerrymanderers are yelling about taking it to SCOTUS, because why should laws apply to democrats, after all? And the idiots on Faceplant are whining about "They took away my vote!" Yeah, the vote you shouldn't have had b/c they didn't follow the law to give it to you? That vote? Plus the fans of "Well Republicans do it in other states."

And you know what? They shouldn't be able to. NO ONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GERRYMANDER.

Period.

End of sentence.

Now, I suspect everyone has different visions of what gerrymandering actually is, so it's something states need to figure out what their population feels and make some rules (no, the federal government should not do this. The federal government is too big already. They need to just get over themselves.)

While we're at it, can we go back to Senators being elected by the state legislatures? Please?

Anyway. A small win. Possibly a temporary one. But it was a teensy ray of hope.

Paging Dr. Mandering, Dr. Gerry Mandering.

Whelp. It comes as no surprise to my pessimistic little self that the People's Republic of Northern Virginia managed to browbeat the rest of the state into disenfranchising 90% of the state in the name of "fairness."

Yes, folks, that's right, going from a rough split of 6 - 5 to 10 - 1 is obviously more fair.

I guess I should choose a child and make sure they get 90% of everything and the other only 10% and just remind them that that's what fair means now.

Freaking ridiculous.

My uncle (who was staying with us until this morning) asked if he thought it would be appealed. I'm not sure that's a do-able thing since it's a vote not just a law that got passed. I suppose I could google the idea and see, but really, I don't have any faith that it would succeed if it did since prior D presidents have packed the courts with judges who don't seem to understand being unbiased, merit, or any of those "justice-based" ideas.

Besides, this was all in the name of fairness!

And it's temporary!

Because the government is totally in the habit of grabbing power temporarily and then giving it back. Yeah. That'll happen.

My hope, at this point, though it does me personally no good, is that the disenfranchised counties all along the WVa and KY border will figure out a way to go join WVa (my understanding is that for at least some of them this is a possibility, and maybe WVa would take pity on the rest. Of course, that implies that the White Witch* allows it to happen.) At least then they'd actually have a voice and, bonus, could strengthen the voice of a state that seems to be a tad more sane than whatever the hell Virginia is these days. (Insane doesn't feel strong enough.)

Freaking ridiculous.

*Props to Robbo for the nickname.

April Showers Bring...Company?

For the first time in...ever, really, we are getting an influx of visitors this month. I place the blame solely on Dad now living with us. (I kid, I kid. Except kind of not.)

Friends of ours who PCSed to Newport News had a three-weekend back-to-back need to be up in this area, and we are always happy to host them. (So they are not on my Dad's ticket. Though they enjoy him.) The wife thereof ended up staying all of last week as her son (friend of eldest) wanted to be near his girlfriend a little longer and her hubby was TDY all week. So it made sense. And as I adore spending time with her, it was no issue a'tall to have her here.

They toddled home on Saturday afternoon.

This afternoon, my aunt and uncle (Dad's youngest brother and his wife) will arrive for a couple of nights. They've been up in PA where he had his first pulpit. It'll be fun to have them visit, not least of all because they are pretty laid back and I know I won't have to do a ton of "entertaining."

Then, next week, the next youngest of Dad's brothers and his wife will be here for a few nights (two? three? In that range.) That again should be pleasant and relatively laid back. I know they're hoping to meet up with my cousin who lives nearish - and to that I say, good luck! She's been in the area for ...many years now. I think we've managed to get together twice? Maybe three times. Some is that life is busy for both of us. And the rest is probably just that I have never been as close to my cousins as hubby is to his. (I'd say it's because I grew up far away from them, but hubby did as well and somehow they manage to keep a relationship. It's fine, honestly. I enjoy it when I get to see them, but I don't think any of us feel like we're desperately missing out when we don't.)

The guest room here is getting more use in the short years we've lived here than I think it did in the whole of the 20+ years we lived at the other house. It makes me happy. (And perhaps a little tired.)

After April, I think we'll get back to our usual lack of visitors, but it's a fun and funny little season.

Everything is Just a Little Overwhelming

Whelp. As someone who has read through the Bible more than once in her life, I feel like it's currently some very interesting times. Of course, whenever I get too wrapped up in that, I think of my mom telling me (I believe around the time the first Gulf War started and I was a senior in high school) that this happens and will keep happening. She then went on to tell me of the mania about Revelation when Israel was reestablished in the 50s.

It's a good grain of salt.

And I know, ultimately, God's in control whether or not this is the big end or just another series of steps in the gradual slide thereto.

But I can't say there haven't been some prolonged periods of reminding myself of that lately.

It doesn't help that eldest is a senior, and as we creep closer to the end of his school year (he has only 5 weeks left in his final classes) I want to pull him on my lap and pretend he's the three year old who loved to snuggle. (He is neither three (obviously) nor does he like to snuggle any more. In fact, if I can coerce him into allowing me to hug him once a week, I consider it a win.) (I don't coerce. I ask. Sometimes he says yes.) He's headed to what will be prom for him this weekend (a local Christian group that does dances) and just...all the feels. But I am excited about what lies ahead for him. So there's that, too.

Throw in that Dad is now firmly settled here and his old house is empty, buffed and polished, and officially on the market and it's all just a lot of change.

Change is fun? Or something.

But right now, I'm calling that the reason for the dearth of posts. Lots going on. Not a lot of time to ponder and process any of it, let alone blog about it. (Plus, I question if it's interesting to anyone other than me. Which, to be fair, hasn't stopped me in the past. But sometimes I think I should care more about that than I do.)

Saturday Sundries

With apologies to Robbo, because I believe he originated the title.

Today's exciting undertaking is the taxes. Whee. Mostly this involves me sitting in the same room as hubs while he swears and then occasionally giving him a number from one of my various writing income or expense sources. Then I stick around while he does the actual income and occasionally throw chocolate at him.

It's good times.

After we finish that, since it's shaping up to be a lovely day, I think we may start doing some of the landscaping that needs doing after all the construction for Dad's addon. (Right now, we have huge swaths of mud. We would like to have something other than mud there but prefer something that doesn't need mowing. So we bought some wildflower and low-grow ground cover seed and will see what we see.

Beyond that, we need to organize in the basement under the addon to find the things Dad's missing. And I'd like youngest to clean his room, which I think is actually going to need a full reset wherein we drag everything but his bed and dresser OUT of the room, go through it and get rid of probably 90% of it, and then carefully load back in only what he's actually currently interested in. ADHD man. I'm reasonably convinced that the show Hoarders is really only people with severe unmedicated ADHD who also don't have family members to help them before it's an issue.

And this is the level of fun and excitement that's usual around here, which is why the dearth of blogging.

And Papa Makes Five

Today marks the end of the "make it so Dad can live here" extravaganza. He is O-fficially moved in. (Well, there's a bit more stuff to bring from his other house tomorrow, but he's staying here tonight and his bedroom and living area are set up, so even he considers that he lives here now.)

And now, we begin the joy of getting the house prepped for sale and then, please Jesus, selling it quickly. (Not that we're in a rush, mind you, but selling a house has never been a fun or easy process in our family so I approach it with great gobs of dread. And also strange optimism that maybe this time it won't be worse than ...whatever the most horrible thing you can imagine is.)

In the last week, we have have filled 3 30-yard dumpsters with various and sundry crap from the basement. Donated at least 3, probably 4, minivan (with no middle row seats in) stuffed to the gunnels, and still the basement of the addition is going to be basically full. The long-term project will be to whittle that down to less overwhelming, but at least he fits in the space we built for him, which he obviously would not have if we hadn't done the winnowing.

Stress is the name of the game right now.

So tomorrow is the last bit of movers moving things.

Thursday we meet with the realtor in the morning and the flooring guy in the afternoon.

Friday the cleaners come to do the move out deep clean.

I have a call in with a handyman company that does painting as well as deck repairs (both needed), we need to schedule a power wash of the outside, get new faux shutters for the outside, get the gutters cleaned...all that jazz.

Good times. Good times.

I am, however, glad that at I am not the one moving this time. And honestly, Dad's rolling with it pretty well. So good on him. The boys are elated to have him here, as are the dogs. So all's well that ends.