A sixth sense

I was outside in the yard weeding this evening.  Jay was cutting the grass and Ben and his buddy Jacob were riding their bikes.  In the midst of dirt, worms, and clover, I stood up and looked around.  Where were the boys?  I had just heard them seconds earlier and now I didn't see or hear them anywhere.  I felt my heart beginning to race as I called their names.  In that one second I saw a flash of blood.  And then Ben came riding up to me and said that I needed to come quick; Jacob had taken a spill and was injured.  Thank goodness he was okay-a few lacerations that was all.  I wish with all my heart and soul that there was an option to cease any child from getting heart.  It eats at my heart strings whenever my son falls.  I know it is part of life, but it just sucks!!!!

painting and pictures

We spent today painting our dining room.  It was in desperate need of a coat of paint.  We chose a yellow beige and soft shaded coral for the accent wall.  Now it is art time.  Jay is on a mission to create art via photos for the accent wall.  Here are some of the shots we are considering.  

Our little inventors

Those crazy boys Big Show and The Z-Man made some pretty awesome creations at Camp Invention.  Ben created a metal detector with his headphones and meat tray.  Zach had so many creations that he could hardly fit them in his dad's car.  What an awesome, imaginative camp!!!

The Adventures of Big Show and the Zman

And so the adventures begin!!!  Ben and Zack have been in camp for the last several weeks.  Daddies Jay and Dave, you are in trouble!  I have been the driver of our precious cargo and have learned a lot about eight and nine year old boys.  Just today, sayings such as "Hi, Dorkos" and "This guy is cracking me up!" were flinging around in my car.  They were also making faces at every driver that was either next to or behind me.  I wonder what people think of me.

They are also enjoying their play time before and after camp together.  It is truly amazing to watch.  The both go into imagination mode together and what they come up with is a blast to watch.  I was afraid that Ben was moving away from this stage.  

I can't wait to see what they created at Camp Invention tomorrow.  It should be interesting.  Pictures to come....

photo fun

What do you think?  Jay and I are back at it.  We are having phun with photography.  We are trying to create just the right piece or pieces to put into our dining room.  I happen to love this one-I took it.  This was taken at Kensington Metro Park right after we had indulged in a multi-family picnic lunch.  My brother-in-law, Alan was so tired after all the yummy food that he took out a blanket and we all laid down with him.  While I was laying there I gazed upward towards the heavens and, voila, I saw this fabulous photo op.  Pretty green, huh?

Sunday Funday

Sundays in the summer just totally rock!  It is a day of leisure and fun things to do.  For the past several years we have hung out with my sister and her family and my cousin and his family.  We all belong to Lifetime fitness which has a pretty amazing outside pool.  Sunday is our day to converge upon the pool and enjoy summer.  Today was a bit windy and cool, so we decided to pack a picnic and go to Kensington Metro Park. Ben brought his 2 buddies Austin and Jacob and we ate, played and even went to the petting farm and milked a cow.  What a perfect day-loving life Weiss style!!

The hours

Have you ever had days at a time that just fly by?  Today was going to be my day to work on my class and organize.  I dropped Ben off at camp at 9:00 and went straight home.  I messed around until 10:50 or so and went downstairs to work on my continuing ed course.  I worked steadily until 1:15 and only got one session done. One session.  I COULD SCREAM!!!  My original goal was to be done with this class by next week.  I can tell you right now that is not going to happen.  I have to reset my over ambitious goal to completing this frick'in class by mid-July.   Then I won't disappoint myself.  This is such the teacher in me.  The actual deadline to complete this course isn't until August 18th.  My teacher persona feels the need to complete everything early-call it the goody two-shoes in me!  Oh well!  

Enough

Okay, folks.  I am done.  I can not bare to hear anymore bad news.  My good friend Cheryl lost her mom today.  Recently, she took a bad tumble and broke hip.  She made it through surgery but the surgery was too much for her body.  She passed away this morning at 11:00.  It is a sad day for my good friends the Arlows and they are in my thoughts and prayers.

I also found out that my grandmother's sister (my great aunt) Betty died earlier this week.  Her funeral is today.  Aunt Betty and my grandmother were not close in my life time.  In fact, she was very mean to my grandmother and her children.  I don't think I have seen her since my grandmother passed away 10 years ago.  Jay summed it up perfectly yesterday.  He said that what is sad is that one more connection to my grandmother is gone. (paraphrasing, of course).  Please bring peace to my cousins who I don't know and their parents as well.

Quiet thoughts

I am just sitting here petting Mickey.  It has been almost a week since we said our goodbyes to Maxi.  I have calmed down a little.  I still think about her and catch myself calling to her or looking for her when I walk in the door.  Mickey is adjusting.  He has continued his quest to bark at every living thing on this earth.  He is getting use to eating whenever he wants to-he can grab a quick nibble from his bowl and not fear the rest of the food will gone when he returns for more.  He is playing again.  He still needs to be near any of us.  

Life goes on.

Our vet, Dr. Byron sent us a very kind card.  It brought tears to my eyes when I read it.  The line that I will remember forever goes like this, "She has left her pawprints on your hearts."  That she has.  

Jay

With the awful week we have, Father's Day seemed to go by unnoticed.  I want to spend a few seconds on Jay.  My dear loving husband, you are an awesome Dad to our Benny.  You are fun, kind, loving,  patient and yet firm when the need is there.  You know him like the back of your hand and you know what makes him tick.  He is lucky to have you.  I watch you and I am in awe every day of how you parent.  You should be proud of who you are.  We love you so much.

Ben and Carol

Maxi

It has been a very difficult week for us.  Our beautiful and sometimes very naughty Maxi puppy was put to sleep on Thursday.  I awoke early Thursday am to her cries of pain.  When I went down to check on her, she couldn't stand herself up and she was lying in her own urine and feces.  I awoke Jay and we both knew it was her time.   I stayed up with the whole night sitting by her side making sure she was as comfortable as possible.  I wrote this poem while doing this:

6-12-08

Dearest Maxi:

This one is for you, my dear-

I will always remember your wisdom and intelligence-hugs for food (which was then stolen from plates), unlocking doors and even your crate.

I will always remember how safe I felt when I was all alone.  With your menacing bark, no one would dare invade my home.  (You taught this habit to Mickey as well!)

I will always remember your sweet, gentle ways.  You would never hurt a soul.  I can still see Ben climbing all over you and even eating food from your bowl-and you just looked at us as if to say, it's okay-this too will pass.

I will always remember your beautiful face with a smile looking out our window.  You were probably thinking, Where have you been?  You sure have been gone awhile.

So many memories, so many wonderful times.

I will try not to remember the last year-watching  you suffer and living in fear that heaven is calling to you.  I will miss you so much, Miss Maxi

Your pain has been great and you fought a valiant battle.

Peace, my puppy love, Peace.

an OMG moment

Life is so complex at times.  My sister, in her infinite wisdom, is a newspaper reader.  She even reads the obits.  Not only does she read the obits, she has found several people that we know in them.  Yesterday she called me up and asked me if an old acquaintance of mine had a nephew named Jason.  My answer was yes-then she told me that his obit was in the paper.  He was 21  years old.  

Since the paper did not give out much info,  I went to the funeral home's website and got the rest of the info-there wasn't much there.  However, there was a phone # so I decided to take the risk and call it.  The mother of the deceased answered and was oddly almost cheery (must have been heavily medicated).  She informed me that her son had killed himself-attempting on Friday but he lasted until Sunday.  This was most upsetting to me.  Even in my most desperate times, I could never, ever take me own life.  

Well, anyways, our conversation continued and she then informed me about my friend from the past.  Let me preface this by adding a little bit about my friendship with this woman.  We have always been like night and day-she is blond and petite; I am a big-boned brunette.  She loves sports; I could take them or leave them, ect.  We were great friends thru college and even into the earlier years of my marriage.  She listened to me cry as I struggled with fertility issues.  But time past and we grew apart.  I finally had a child and he consumed everything in my life.  Our friendship waned and we drifted apart.  I finally started to get re-acquainted with her thru a mutual religious affiliation, but even that changed.  I had not heard or seen her in several years.  In fact, the last time we were together was at the funeral of Cantor Dubov-the religious leader of Chaye Olam.  

So when I asked about Renea I was pleasantly surprised to hear that she found her happy ending finally.   She had just recently gotten married and was pregnant due late this summer.  I am so so happy for her.   I did call her and we talked for a few minutes.  She said she had friends over and she would call me back.   I hope she does.  We went thru so much together and I really want to hear about her new life.  So OMG for both these events.  I hope Renea and I can reconnect-the balls in her court now-hit it Renea