Where HAVE I been?

MIA. Or maybe MII - missing in inaction?

Time files, no matter what we do. August 2009 was long ago... It's March 2011. Already.

Thinking back to August 2009, here are the big events that come to mind:

Sons started and finished their junior year of high school. Both got their provisional driver's licenses, and exchanged them a year later for their regular licenses.

I traded in my beloved Mustang convertible for a used Explorer and a new Focus. The week they got their provisional licenses. sigh. oh - and two car payments, though one is a 0% loan.

Daughter started a real job April 1, 2010.

I was laid off May 4, 2010.

Daughter's roommate moved in with us for six weeks while they found an apartment. It was nice having them here; it was nice having them move ~30 mins away!

The reality that my sons were starting their final year of high school hit like a ton of bricks. OUCH. Suddenly I was morphing into 'one of those' moms: the tears; the fears; the drama; the changes! they'll be g-o-n-e..... in another year, lady. Get a GRIP.

After several attempts to get a grip failed, I decided I needed something to help me cope.

Project Life to the rescue! Love this product. I have written a moment from each day and taken a photo or gathered receipts or menus or something for SIX MONTHS already! Never thought that would happen. With only 4" x 3" to fill, it's easy. And I'm capturing all those last time we'll.... moments and those seniors-only events. Did you know they order caps and gowns in OCTOBER?? No advance warning. Geez, does Josten's want some high school kid's parent(s) to have heart attacks?

So I plan to become a more faithful blogger.
Really. Check back later this week.

... and the storm rolled in

DH said "The Weather Channel is showing storms headed this way" and less than five minutes later the wind kicked up and the windows rattled and wow - the storm blew in.
The lights flickered once, twice, three times - and the fourth time was the final time. Out. No power.

After the novelty wore off, after we sat on the porch until the mosquitos threatened to carry DH and DS2 away, boredom threatened. Battery powered laptop to the rescue! DH and the kiddos watched some Babylon 5 episodes, all cozy on the coach with the laptop on the coffee table.
Heaven forbid they should talk or play cards or do something without noise and motion.
Luckily the battery lasted; the power was out for about two hours.

My daughter called to remind me...

... that my driver's license was expired.

Duh. It's been a frequent discussion topic. It expired May 31. We have not one but TWO teens with permits. Every time I tag along as the licensed driver, SOMEONE mentions the expired status of my license.

So... DD called last night. She said, "Hey Mom. I just got pulled over by a cop. He told me to remind you that your driver's license is expired."

She swears she was going 29 in a 25 - on a road notorious for the frequent presence of police officers. I don't even speed on that road; that means I keep it at 30 or less. So I believe her.

The officer approached the car, and said, "This is your mother's car, isn't it?" [yes] "Well, tell your mother her license is expired."

um, thankyouverymuch officer.

Yes, I renewed my license today. It took about 20 minutes to gather the required 6 points of acceptable identification AND a proper proof of address. I grabbed my Mustang registration form, due this month - it was sent by the state government in the last six months. Well, they assumed I was taking care of that too -- so, one line, two transactions! woohoo.

Now I have to remember to get the car inspected in August. Wish me luck. A few years ago, I thought I was getting it inspected two months late. Um, no - it was fourteen months overdue. I like skipping a year - but it does make it harder to remember when inspections are due!

I've got Stealth Technology!

A friend just got a speeding ticket on her way to work; day six of a new job. Hearing this made me stop and think.

I have a sparkling shiny clean record. Really. Laugh if you wish, but this habitual speeder has a pristine record.

I have an invisibility shield!Really.How else do you explain driving a Mustang or a flame red SUV w/o getting stopped??

I have not been pulled over in more than TEN YEARS.(that's a l-o-n-g time, says the woman whose two youngest JUST got their permits....)

I didn't get a ticket either of the last two times I was stopped. Most recently [ha! 1998] I got a ticket for 'failing to promptly show registration on request' - after HE rushed away.

Duh, that was the ploy so if I had a clean record, he didn't have to write me up for speeding. Not that I cared too much - out of state, no reciprocal agreement and all that jazz. But the fine was lower - low enough I didn't have to report it at work...

{That photo up there? That's the view through my Mustang's dirty windshield.}