Yours in scouting.

Nothing makes one feel old like trying to explain to your son how exactly you managed, in the past, to drive to new and unfamiliar places without using Google maps. Today Vince took the car to Rockville Town Square and to the Giant. I had to then explain to him about parking validation and the bonus card use at the grocery store and to not forget the recyclable bags.

Jeremy is not sleeping well, it’s T minus one week until they leave for New Mexico for Philmont. He got up at 3 am flustered about the things that needed to get done. He started writing emails to parents, but decided it was too creepy to have an email sent at 3:30 am and so he scheduled to send them out at 8 am. Problems are cropping up and he’s hitting them down like those pesky moles in the whack-a-mole machine. Problems like 1) a previously undisclosed peanut allergy which means not only epi pens and benadryl, but also needing to replace all the hiking food that the camp usually provides for this kid because what else is eaten on the trail besides peanuts and peanut butter? 2) his own medical form which involves getting his own physical (whoops, he was busy collecting everyone else’s and forgot his own) and 3) a balance of $5,000 or so of fees.

Jeremy, reluctantly, in his scouting uniform. This is the first time I’ve seen him wear it.

New driver.

Vince got his driver’s license today. He failed a few weeks ago because there was a stop sign behind a tree that he missed and ran through it (the sign, not the tree). This time, he told me, the stop sign was so completely obscured by the foliage that the tester said – hey, there is a stop sign behind that tree. He was nervous today, much more nervous than a few weeks ago when he was much more cocky and irritatingly talking smack. This time he said as he got into the car to drive to the DMV, let’s not talk, I’m going to listen to my music to calm myself down.

Pre-test at the DMV

After he passed, he promptly asked to borrow the car for the afternoon. He said he was going to Walgreen’s to buy ring pops and drop them off at his friends’ houses. I said sure, no problem, just also go to the grocery store and pick up some hamburger buns and tater tots for dinner. And then he said – I’ll do that if you pay for the ring pops too. I was like – dude, our insurance just doubled, you sure you want to bargain about this now? And then he laughed and we ate ramen to celebrate.

About to enjoy ramen.

Another Northern Tier video: (I will say this kind of embodies Vince’s talent that will be completely buried in the college application process which I think will serve him well. Jeremy & I both were saying that neither of us, under absolutely no circumstances would we sing and dance to Hooked on a Feeling in front of people who are essentially strangers that we were going to spend the next 7 days with and have only been with them for 24 hours.)

Come on people. Let’s dance!

Back to minding the house.

Jeremy got up very early this morning to bike to work. I could see his little icon on Google maps get closer and closer to his office. As soon as he pulled into work, I call him. Hey – I need you to be free on Aug 2nd to drive Vince to Pittsburg. Tom wants a meeting with us either Friday or Sat – are you free in the afternoons? And then we need to plan to make 180 meals on Friday August 23rd, are you free to take off work then? Jeremy’s like – omg, it’s only been hours since everyone is back home and really? are we doing this now? please Doris, I haven’t eaten anything, I just got to work. I walk over to Vince’s room to talk to him about various things that need to get done this summer. Vince is snoring in bed. I’m like – people it is already 10am, let’s get our act together, time’s a-wastin’. There are things to be done, lists to be written and to-do items to be crossed off… lol.

A northern tier video for your entertainment.

Shibu Inu, quilting & passports.

We are all back in the house together. Wonderful! You can feel the house expand with chaos and extra laundry, but that is OK. I’ll take it. On Saturday, Edda and I went to see Toy Story 4. I cried. Edda did not cry. I think she might have napped. She certainly slapped someone else’s Coke for a long time and totally bent their straw before I took notice.

We went to a sensory showing at the Rockville Regal which I vastly prefer over any regular showing of any movie. They keep the lights on low and, most importantly, the sound is not as tremendously loud. As it usually is. And somehow the AC was broken which was fine too, because the theater is underground, it never gets very hot and when the AC is working, the theater temperature is too too cold. And I never have to worry about Edda making too much noise because the whole theater is filled with noise-making people.

We also happened by a Shibu Inu adoption event. I momentarially thought that we should get one of these dogs.

Super cute.

I spent a long time on Saturday quilting. Edda watched TV and napped. I listened to podcasts and am trying to catch up with the world. The Ezra Klein podcast – esp the one with Leana Wen who is now the head of Planned Parenthood. I would love to work for her. I’m working through the Cory Booker interview as well. He uses the word “love” a lot for a guy. Sometimes I listened to millenial women/dating podcasts. Fascinating. I’m not sure I could be a young person today.

Almost ready to be sent out to be quilted.

Passport photos for everyone. No one can travel out of the country until everything gets renewed. Although we have no immediate travel plans, I do like being able to leave the country at any time. Like 3pm today! Let’s go somewhere. Oh no! I can’t. I’m getting my mammogram. No international travel for me today.