A Weekend Visit

Carl and Marina were here for the weekend to visit.  We had't seen them since October when they came out to see everyone before they left for Florida.  Doug made lunch for them and my parents.  They talked a lot about their place in Lake Placid and seemed to really enjoy their winter there. After lunch they left to go back to the hotel.  Doug and I ran into school as I needed him to help me with a couple of items.  Meg met Jackie at Bethany.  They went to Culver's before coming back to Syracuse.  Cam spent the afternoon playing golf with my Dad.  He was pleased with his round.

Tonight we went to Oakwood for dinner.  It was a good choice after we found out that Antonio's was booked and Bella Vitale was closed.  The service was slow, but the food was pretty good.  We enjoyed listening to Jackie and Meg talk about life in high school.  After dinner Meg's friend Philip came over as well.  The three of them went ding dong ditching and sang karaoke.  Carl and Marina headed back to Brook Pointe Inn around 8:30.  Doug and I watched Gladiator.  I hadn't seen it all the way through in quite some time.  It was as good as I remembered.

FryDay

Today was a busy one for the Freshmen, Sophomores and Juniors of Bethany Christian High School. They spent the entire day getting ready for the fish fry.  Some had to work in the pie room while others breaded fish.  Meg and Jackie helped with the breading.  Meg took one t-shirt and they traded off when they were working.  That way only one shirt had to smell like fish.  Overall the breading part went better than I would have expected.  Meg said that the only bad part was how cold her hands became.

Because of the fish fry Cameron got out at 2:30.  He had plans to spend the night at Avery's.  He, Joey, Chip and Avery had organized a band and wanted to practice their debut song "Otherside" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.  Cam came home and packed for Avery's while I got ready to pick up my parents for the fish fry.  Cam needed to be there at 5:30 and pulled up just as Avery's family arrived.  Cam took off with his friends and Mom, Dad and I headed to the line to get into the gym.  We enjoyed reading the trivia questions along the way and caught up with Vicky, Jess and her children.

Dinner was delicious and we all had plenty to eat.  Both Meg and Jackie came over to say hello.  Doug was working hard to clear tables, but I did get to check in with him before I left the gym.  He and I were both impressed with how well the students worked and how organized the event was.  I had extra tickets so we picked up five orders to go on our way out.  Doug's Dad and Marina arrived after us.  That was a great idea as there was no line at that point in the evening.  He and Meg were also less busy, so they could visit with them longer.

Doug's feet were killing him when he got home, but he did enjoy helping at Bethany.  Meg went with the junior class to Culver's afterward.  I thought that was funny as she hates fish and refused to eat at the fish fry, but yet she went to a place famous for fish after it.  She was home by 11 p.m. and happy to announce that she was sleeping in tomorrow.

A Busy Day

Cam had another orthodontist appointment this afternoon.  We had to be there twenty minutes early because his spacer fell out.  That was no problem.  Instead of eating at school with the extra time Cam and I enjoyed Arby's instead.  The one part of getting braces that feels odd to me was that the parents had to sit in the room with their child while he or she was being treated along with all of the other parents and children.  It was awkward, but at least we got the information from his visit immediately.  Cam's teeth hurt today, but overall it wasn't too bad.  He goes back on the 30th of April to have his expander cemented in place.  Doug will take him to that appointment as I have a field trip that day.  Doug will also be the one who will be turning the expander, so it makes more sense for him to go.  That way they can show him the process.

After the orthodontist Cam and I stopped at Shoe Carnival.  He had texted me earlier in the day to tell me that he needed new Nikes.  He just couldn't get his Hyper Dunks to fit anymore.  I also needed a new pair of tennis shoes for walking this summer.  Thankfully, we both found something we liked and were able to use their buy one get one half off sale.  Cam was pleased to report that he had gone from an 8 and 1/2 to a 10!  From the shoe store we ran home to get his tennis racket for practice and a portable charger for Meg.  I dropped him off at school and then went grocery shopping.  I found a sheet cake for the fish fry tomorrow and several other items that we needed as well.  Meg had her make up match tonight.  She didn't have to work too hard to win, but she stayed focused and put her opponent away quickly.  Cam met us at the match.  His practice went well and he was happy to see that Meg wouldn't have one of her marathon matches insuring that we would all be home before dark.

Fish Fry Set Up

Meg did not have practice tonight as she had to set up for the junior class fish fry.  This is a huge  fundraiser for her class and a big commitment as well.  They have to sell $605 in tickets each or pay for half of the tickets that they do not sell.  We have to provide nine pies and a sheet cake for the event as well.

So far it has gone a lot better than we had first thought.  Meg has worked hard to sell tickets and it looks like we will only have to come up with $105.  Mr. Kauffman offered to order pies for parents from a local bakery at a reduced price.  We took him up on it, especially since they will even deliver the desserts on Fryday.  All we have left to do is buy one sheet cake and we will have fulfilled all of Meg's commitments.  I know that the day of the fish fry will be a lot of work, but I am confident that Meg will have fun along the way.

There's Always a Group

It is the same everywhere.  In every high school, small town, or workplace there is a group that makes it their business to know everyone else's.  It amazes me that they can find the time to even care what is going on in other's lives.  I can barely keep up with my own family let alone what is happening in anyone else's.  

In my opinion this group tends to not only be gossipy, but at times fake.  They seem to take people into their confidence only to use it against them later.  No secret is safe, and if at any time a person tries to differ from the group in action or make a new set of friends, there is no limit to their vengeance. In getting older it is a lot easier to ignore their nonsense and realize what it usually stems from - jealousy and insecurity.  I actually tend to feel sorry for those who spend their life trying to hurt others in the hope of feeling better themselves.  It never works.  The earlier they figure that out they better they will feel about their own lives.  Unfortunately, many never are able to do this and spend their entire life spouting hate on the outside while feeling miserable inside.  

A Forty Minute Match

Tonight Meg had a match at Mishawaka.  Doug and I both drove up to watch.  It was a chilly one, but they got it in without any weather changes.  Meg played very well beating her opponent in forty minutes with Meg winning at love in both sets.  Her team also did well winning each court on Varsity.  As they were down a few girls because of a choir commitment, it was a nice victory for Bethany.  Meg just keeps improving with each match.  Her consistency is impressive as is her ball placement this year.  She has started the season well.  It has been a lot of fun watching her.

A Day of Rest

Today was a great day to rest.  It had been a long week and we were all ready for a break.  Meg used the time to catch up on homework and hang out with friends.  Cam was glad to play some Fortnite.  I finished the laundry and did some schoolwork.  Doug was busy with work items as well.  Doug made a nice spaghetti dinner for everyone.  Afterward we watched "All the Money in the World" about the kidnapping of J. Paul Getty's grandson.  It was very good and a great way to end a relaxing day.