Kari - We'll miss you

Goodbye for now.

http://www.karimasonfund.org/

EDIM9: Mothers Day Angst

I love mothers. Mine, my wife's, my kids, other peoples kids, those women who are mothers to those who aren't their children biologically etc. etc. etc.

Given that profound love and respect - I always struggle at this time of year. What could I do? What should I do? Is there a perfect gift out there for all of these mothers? Is there?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

When I asked my children what they wanted to give Mom this year - they looked at me with a blank expression for a few seconds and then said - uh whatever you buy for us to give her, just like every year.

And - La Reine has requested "a tree".

Double and - It's La Reine's birthday 5 days later...

Help a guy out?

- jake

And, because I loved it so much last year - I'm bringin' it back:

EDIM4-7? Not hardly. But here's 8 - Biology and the facts of life.

Okay - so no surprise that I've not met the challenge for posting something every day in May so far. But here's another post, and some of the titles of posts I've started and "may" yet finish.

"I wear my sunglasses - part 2"
"Friends turning 40"
"Mothers Day Angst"
"Rain Rain go away - I need my ticket to ride"

And "Biology and the facts of life" - appearing below

I recently posted about TK's graduation and even invited you all to be there, however the deep dark secret is that though he's on track to graduate with high honors (3.8+ gpa) he may not graduate at all... You see, way back in his sophomore year, TK wound up in a biology class which proved to be rather hard for him and he (gasp) failed a term.

Needless to say we weren't thrilled, but we didn't worry that we'd be able to work it all out well before graduation.

We just didn't realize that well before graduation meant 3 weeks before graduation.

A couple of months ago TK sought and got approval to do the necessary work via proctoring with a teacher at the school, because doing a packet would allow him to graduate just fine, but would not fulfill the requirements for NCAA eligibility. Every day since then La Reine has inquired as to his progress with the standard response being "mom, don't worry about it, I'll be fine." And now - here we are, the aforementioned 3 weeks before graduation, needing to complete the work and still get approval in a final, hopefully "pencil-whip through the process" appeal with the graduation board.

So this week TK is being forced to complete a term's worth of biology and then he'll go through the appeals process and all will be well, at least that's what we're telling ourselves. It's a mantra really.

- jake

EDIM3: Brushed off those Adobe Skills

Announcements from school sponsored vendor: $100.00 for 50
Do it yourself and print at costco: $30.00 for 100

Care to come?

- jake

P.S. - Thanks again Hey Jude and Cari for the most excellent example from last year!

EDIM2: I wear my sunglasses at night

Night before last, I came home from the church at about 9:30 after our fa-bu youth etiquette night.

(btw, cjane if you read this - can I hit you up to make some of your most excellent thank you cards? I think we need about 8 of them for all those who helped out the youth that night, if not, no worries...)

Anyway - walked in the door and running up the stairs was baby girl. "Daddy - would you please read me a story and tuck me in?" "Yes honey, give me a few minutes to change and I'll be right in." After I read her a quick story and began to pull up the blankets, BG sat up slightly in the bed, lifted her pillow, reached under and pulled out...

sunglasses.

"Cute new quirk" says my inner monologue. A quick besito, a flick of the light switch, and I'm on my way upstairs to see how the american idols do with Jon Bon.

About an hour later, La Reine went downstairs for something, and came back up with a huge smile and a comment of "you've got to see this". TK and I go downstairs, and sure enough - there's BG sound asleep still wearing her sunglasses. Of course TK snaps a photo with his phone and we all have a good chuckle.

Yesterday TK pulls out his phone, shows BG the picture of herself asleep wearing sunglasses. BG looks and states, "well, the lamp in my room is very bright, and if I don't wear sunglasses, then I get confused that it's not night time." We all laugh again.

The funny thing is - BG has a cute little lamp on her dresser. Normally I stock 15 watt light bulbs which we put in this lamp, and she keeps it on 24/7.

The last time the bulb died, guess what I didn't have? That's correct - 15 watt bulbs. So, since she asked so sweetly if I'd replace the bulb, I used what I had - which was a 60 watt-er. Needless to say she's fine with this, and I haven't worried overly much about getting a 15 watt bulb as yet - ergo, sunglasses.

And yes - she keeps the glasses under the pillow and wears them every single night, and apparently has been since I changed the bulb more than a month ago - how cute and sweet is that.

- jake

Every day in May

I've taken the challenge from a friend to post something on the blog every day this month.

What do you mean I already failed - doesn't April have 31 days? My watch says it's the first, so there.

So here's to a post a day. (clink noises)

Last night we had an etiquette dinner with the youth. It was truly amusing - though I think at the same time it was truly great. I believe we have etiquette dinners principally for the young men, and it's a good thing.

We had a couple in our ward provide the instruction, and my favorite part was as they were discussing the place-setting at a traditional table, the part when they began discussing the glasses, you know - water, red wine, white wine, etc. The look on the faces of the youth was priceless - most especially the look on CKs face as he gave me a knowing smirk, as though to say, "but you already knew all about that - didn't you dad?"

P.S. - cari? I owe you three glasses - so very sorry again for my over-exhuberant washing last night.

- jake