Stressing Out

 Overall this past weekend was nice. We did a day-trip down to visit Daughter, SIL and Doodad. Papaw even got quite a few hugs, as Doodad seemed to be coming out of her anti-Papaw stage. Back home late that evening, then off to the school to pick up Youngest from the band day trip. It was late getting to bed - after midnight. I didn't sleep well that night, and was up by 630ish for a couple hours before laying back down. Then I passed out until early afternoon. Youngest spent Sunday with his girlfriend and her family, so Wife and I did a little shopping and had an early dinner out at Denny's. Again, I did not sleep well last night, and have wasted most of this morning trying to get some sleep. All it seems I can do is nap for 15 minutes at a time.

I think most of it is that I am stressing out. Today I have a phone call with an attorney regarding the accident I was in over a year and a half ago. The one where I had a green arrow and this guy ran the light, hit me, flipped my vehicle over three lanes. Yeah. That one. Today's call is a pre-deposition call. Tomorrow morning is the actual deposition. I will go to the attorney's office (mine) to do it. I was sent a reminder email today, and I noticed it had many replies in the thread so was skimming it. Seems the other guy's attorney (the third one he has hired since the accident) has filed paperwork for a demand for jury trial. I don't know what this all means, but it worries me more. I don't understand why I am worried though, as I am not at fault through the events I remember. Unless the other guy lies... which who knows. I also see they have a police officer that is doing a deposition as well. I didn't have much interaction with any officer, except to give my license to one when requested, and informed them the registration and insurance was in the glove box.

I'm stressing and it is messing with my sleep, and who knows what else. My attorney friend says I have nothing to worry about ... but yet here I am worrying still.

PeacE

Update: Just got off the phone with my attorney for the pre-depo call. We didn't have to go over much. I explained how I was feeling a bit of anxiety/nervousness over this whole thing and she explained a few things that actually make me feel a bit better. Still have a few 'butterflies' going around though.... I asked about if she thought it would actually go to trial, and she said, that 96% of these cases end in settlement. She mentioned she is doing a depo on the other guy tomorrow afternoon as well, and this is just fact-finding for both attorneys to see if there is anything more than what we have already explained. Sigh. Just end this whole thing.....

When Events Collide

The past few days have been somewhat stress-filled at our house. Of course the Daughter's wedding is coming up (under three weeks now I believe), and that has caused enough other problems. But now another issue has risen. The oldest Son has the Jr/Sr prom that same night ... as the wedding.

I don't know who to blame for this extravagant error in planning said events both on the same day, but I do know that anger levels have been exceeded as of late.

Friday, I got a text message from the Daughter, about how it is my fault about allowing the Son to go to Prom, when he committed to the wedding and she has to have him there for some function of the wedding. For some reason, the Daughter has been going through some weird swearing phase, for way too long, and so it included some choice word usages. I called her back, and first told her to not start on me for something I obviously have no clue about. So I heard her tearful, and explicative filled version of some text conversation she has been having with the oldest Son.

Seems last Sunday night, while out to dinner, was the first I had heard that the Son had asked a girl to the prom. In my recollection, it was the first he even had said he wanted to go to prom. I also found out it was the same night as the wedding. I casually mentioned that it shouldn't be a problem. Of course, I was told the wedding was an afternoon/early evening event.

Being how it is my Life, and it never goes smoothly, turns out the wedding was changed to more of an evening affair, and of course, prom is like a 45+ minute drive, across the Valley. As parents of the Bride, I think it would be bad taste for one, or both, of us to leave the reception to take the Son to prom, so I said he would have to find a ride that we trust to take him from the wedding, to prom, and we would pick him up after the prom. If no ride could be found, he would not go to prom.

The Wife, I have no clue how/why she did this, but somehow ended up with a co-worker willing to drive the Son. At that point, I am just, figure out what you need to get the Daughter to compromise and get it all done. The compromise is something to do with dinner. It is tentatively scheduled to start about 7, with the toasts and all following ( I think - the way they keep changing things, I have no idea). Supposedly, one of his jobs as groomsman is to help pour/distribute the champagne.

I agree, he should give up the prom for the wedding. He is only a Junior, and there is always next year. But The Wife insists it is a big social event and he should be able to attend. Now I have two siblings fighting, a Wife, who is sided with the Son, and everyone yelling at me to fix it. I'm about ready to say no to prom, no to the wedding, and then move by myself to Alaska.

Last night we think we finally got it all settled. I told the Wife to contact the Daughter and explain the Son will need to leave shortly after/during the dinner. No other compromise. He will be there for his part in the ceremony, pictures, and up to the dinner. I have not heard any responses as of yet, but I expect the Wife to be back home shortly from running the other boys to school, etc, and will see if she has heard back.

Makes me wonder why we had kids ... oh, the procreation part was fun.

PeacE

Less Stress Is Good

The bee problem has been resolved finally. Thursday evening when I got home, the Wife informed me that the swarm was now gone. Which was good, because on that day, we also received a notice from the County that within 48 hours we were to contact the inspector to come out and verify that the problem had been handled. I called them Friday morning, explaining all was done, bees gone, and that afternoon the inspector called to set up that he would be by on Monday to check. At least I don't have to be home, though the Wife does have a few days off next week ... as do the kids for Spring Break. I wish I had some time off. But not until May.

So that problem is done and over pretty much. I was stressing about the issue.

This morning was sort of wasted. Arose at 5:30 as I had to drive out to the shop (Mesa - about a 30-45 minute drive) as I had missed a part for last night's run. I was able to get it, get it to the tech, all by 7am. Then the tech calls me about 20 minutes later, asking if I had gotten the part yet. I told him it was in his truck. He says, well, he doesn't need it now because the customer rescheduled their appointment to next week. SO I got up, wasted time and gas, and then they don't .... GRRRR! I mean I needed to be up somewhat early, but not that early. Either way, was going to run the truck through emissions, but then found out they don't open until 8, so met up with the guy I give the scrap metal from parts to. Afterwards, headed for emissions and passed. The diesel testing is so fast.

Back home by 8:30, and find everyone else still asleep. Just me and the middle son, who went with me today, are up, so going to get some game time in on the computer.

PeacE

Dragging Knuckles

Remember comic strips, and even cartoons, that always showed the big thugs looking like gorillas, arms so hairy, big and long that they looked almost like they were dragging their knuckles on the ground? I almost feel like that this morning. I have been stressing the past couple of days about my oldest son's grades. I tell myself that it isn't my problem, that he is the one that has to correct the problem, and it will affect him more than myself. The problem is trying to believe that statement.

As a parent, I know there are areas that I just extremely suck at, when it comes to setting an example. I am not sure where I would be considering to excel at, either, but that is a different matter. Granted, my kids weren't around when I was in high school, nor when their mother was in college - well, the boys anyways - to see how doing one's homework was a requirement to get through the class with a passing grade. I'm trying to get that into my son's head, without beating the living crap out of him.

The past two days I have told him to check with his teacher(s) to find out what the missing assignments that they are allowing to be made up. Yes, I emphasized that he will be working on them every night after school until they are done. He is down to just under four weeks of school left, and he needs to get his grades up. Both nights he has come home (without his schoolbooks) with an excuse as to why there was not time to talk to ONE teacher about it. He conveniently 'forgot' to ask at least one other teacher (who has indicated he is missing work).

I don't know what to do at this point. I am debating sending an email to the teachers explaining that due to 'classroom activities' (as my son says) he hasn't the time, so would they feel free to send the list to me, and I would be able to be sure he completes all work. I have threatened this to him, but it seems to make no difference. The Wife and I have tried to sit down with him and explain how this will make a difference if he even makes it to 9th grade, let alone setting up a good habit for when he is in high school - where they won't allow one to make up missing assignments. All I get is 'I don't know' and the whole careless attitude about the whole thing.

I have nothing to "ground him" from.... he has never been one to be very social. He's still 'opening up' to that. Short of time on the computer, where he plays video games, I can't think of much else.

I know these past two years, the two classes he seems to be missing the work from are both advanced classes (English and Math). He has mentioned time and again that in high school, they would probably be too hard for him. I don't think so. He is very intelligent, just is lazy. The Wife and I were talking last night, and I mentioned I was already saying he was taking regular Eng. and Math in HS. Mainly because I don't want to have to go through this crap again. But he doesn't know that yet. Think it would make a difference now?

Am I stressing over this too much? I don't want him to be held back a year just because he is lazy, and the possible (and in my head very much imagined) ridicule he will receive from classmates.

Sigh. I just don't know what to do at this point.

I think I will write his teachers tomorrow though, if he doesn't bring home the list of assignments today.

On a good note - I lost another 3 pounds this week. I am now at a new high for total weight lost.

PeacE