Back in my day...

We're at the 54 day mark before eldest heads off to college and, as it's also Prime days at Amazon, Big Brother seems to know that they should inundate me with all the ads for college dorm necessities.

Boy, it's a lot.

And also...I'm so confused.

Back in my day (and yeah yeah, I'm old), I packed up my clothes, bedding, my shelf stereo with CD player AND cassette capability, my state of the art desktop computer running Windows 3.1 and I was good to go. Oh, and an answering machine. I really think that's all I took. There might have been a framed photo or two.

Now?

Everyone apparently neeeeeds a mattress topper. And the numbers and varieties that are available are mind numbing. Memory foam. Gel. Cooling. Cooper infused. Set up like a bottom sheet to elastic all the way around. Just a rectangle that sits on top. Down filled. Two inches. Four inches. 

Just...it's baffling.

Also suggested are rolling carts. Skinny drawer collections (some with casters, some without). All manner of over-the-door hanging organizing things. "Safes" that are lockable boxes, basically, that hook to your bed to also be a desk type thing. Fans. (Oh my word, the fans.) And Fan stands that hook to the bed. Charging stations. Rugs. Removable wallpaper.

Honestly, if you can think of something that could possibly go into a college dorm room, I guarantee there are at least sixteen people selling them as "essentials that you'll regret not having."

I've asked eldest which, if any, of these things he needs and/or wants and he just shrugs. Which...maybe that's good? But I suspect what will really happen is we'll get ready to pack the car and he'll realize that he doesn't have anything he actually needs and so we'll be trying to navigate WalMart or Target (or both) when we get down to school. (And I mean, fine. If that's what we gotta do, that's what we gotta do.) Of course, this is the same kid who, when I was reminding him to go in and reserve his move in time and talking about logistics, looked at me completely confused and said, "Wait. Why are you going to be there?"

So there's that.

(*To be fair, hubby's parents put him on a plane and said bon chance. So I know there are families that do that. But...I am not that mom. At least not for freshman year.)

Diving In

The newest adventure here in the Sleepy Demesne is the addition of a swimming pool.

It's been on the list since we moved here but what with one thing and another, we didn't get serious about it until we'd finalized all the plans for Dad's addition. In fact, originally, we'd planned that Dad's place would be done by Christmas and then the pool last spring. 

But the county bureaucracy had other plans. Dad's place took a full year beyond what we'd imagined, necessitating the pool getting bumped. Then the pool hit permit issues (because the county is stupid) and so they only just started on it.

Still, as it stands right now, we have a lovely big hole in the back yard full of rebar and gravel and pipes, awaiting, I believe, an inspection before the next step. (The next step, I believe, is the gunnite.)

What's been fascinating is finding out how long it takes to actually have a pool put in.

Much, much longer than I thought. In my little brain, it was dig a hole, fill with water. (basically)

As it stands right now, end of July/early August is the estimated inaugural swim. Ah well, given that it's our pool, we don't have to close it at Labor Day, so we should still have plenty of swimming this season. Although eldest is a little miffed that he'll get about two weeks with it before he leaves for college.

Speaking of eldest and the pool - we just finalized the interior coating color and tile and coping pavers etc and the boy has IDEAS. Honestly, I think he cares more about it than I do - which is relatively hilarious to me. Because of same, we actually drove out to Sterling yesterday to a showroom so we could put samples next to eachother and get a good idea of what they looked like in person vs. on a computer screen.

But now it's set, so there's that.

And some day soonish(?) I am looking forward to long, long floats in my pool.

Tales from the Mower

One of my little joys in life is mowing the lawn.

I realize this is weird and many view this as a chore, but I find it rather relaxing and enjoyable mostly. (Unless it's been raining for weeks on end and it's more knocking down a jungle than mowing. Or when it's ninety billion degrees and so humid it ought to be raining.)

Here in the demesne, most of what we have is forest (for which I am grateful. I don't think there's a person alive who would enjoy mowing 10 acres.) But we have a reasonably sized front and back yard, plus septic field that needs regular mowing. (And by regular, I mean every few weeks, not the regimented weekly demanded by an HOA. Because we have no HOA, and for that I am also grateful.)

Sometimes, I use our electric walk-behind mower. Sometimes I use the riding mower. It just depends on what I'm in the mood for. (And all the time, hubby says to me, "Why are you mowing? We have teenagers!" and I have to remind him that I enjoy it and I certainly would rather do it myself than try to coerce either of them to do it because they both hate it and it's an exercise in hard core parenting to make it happen. Just not worth it when I'm happy to do it myself.)

T'other day, after Noah finally launched his ark and the rains stopped, I decided it was beyond past time to do a run over the yard and, seeing how high it had gotten, opted for the rider. I was happily driving away, reveling in the sights and smells of fresh-cut grass and letting my mind be soothed by the steady back and forth, back and forth, when I heard a noise that seemed a little off. I stopped the mower and got off to look and...I had cut the Internet cable.

Because of course I did.

Since we moved here, it's always been an exercise in making sure we didn't cut it, because for whatever reason, it was only partially buried (or so I thought) - and it always popped up above ground near a front yard tree. I have deep thoughts about the choices made in running the cable, but we've lived her four years and never had an issue. So I thought I knew what I was about.

Turns out, all the rain and the scrabbling dogs and Murphy, I guess, all conspired to have the cable pop up a little more than usual in a different spot (or the new belt on the riding mower made better suction for the blades than I was used to) and *boom* cut cord.

Fan. Tastic.

It took very little time for the men of the house to boil out of the doors like angry ants to see what happened because they'd lost the Internet - life blood of the technology slaves.

I finished up what I was mowing and came in to call Verizon.

That went about as well as you'd imagine - calling an ISP is always such a joy - and they'd have someone right out...in two days. 

You would have thought I told the boys that we were moving to Walden Pond for the summer.

Still. We survived. And the Verizon guy came out and, looking at the cut wire, muttered "What the f* did they do." Then he turned scarlet and apologized profusely. But I was cool with it, because we've had similar thoughts about the partially buried cable.

Except it turns out it's not partially buried at all. It's completely un-buried. Just strung across the yard begging to be cut. We were all immediately amazed that we'd managed not to cut the thing in the four years we've lived here because it isn't just the tree area where it could have been accomplished. Regardless, he pulled it up, strung a new, temporary line, and we were back in business.

Cut to two weeks later, and on Saturday, they showed up to bury us a new line. This time, whoever they sent actually had a brain and, on consultation, went wide of the tree and its root system so it could be buried the whole way from street-side box to house connection. Imagine that! 

I believe, at this point, it's not actually connected as the temporary cable continues to live atop the lawn - hubby says there's a whole testing process that they'll do at some point this week to ensure that the switch over is seamless.

Since it resulted in a properly buried cable, I'm seeing it as a win. But my men folk are all still a little salty about the whole debacle anyway. Maybe I'll make them mow once or twice just to remind them that it could have been them wreaking havoc instead of me.

But probably not. Because I really do like to mow.

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.