Amazed

Holy Cow!  First off, let me say I’m amazed.  Two really awesome Facebook groups linked to posts of mine and, well, my Facebook page more than DOUBLED our followers/”likers” in less than 24 hours!  I’m still stunned.  J

I’m also amazed, in a different way, at how fast this summer is going by.  In a little over a week, DD#1 will be back home from her 3 weeks in FL with her bio-dad.  My other 3 DD’s are all back from their week at summer camp.  Oh, and DD#1 forwarded me an email discussing her college orientation (one month from yesterday.)  How did this happen?  Weren’t we just scheduling DD#1’s high school senior portraits?  And now we’re packing her up to move… and scheduling DD#2’s high school senior portrait session and finding time to buy all the back to school stuff needed before school starts again on August 21^st.  Is there a “slow motion” button I can hit, so these next 4 weeks slow down to an absolute crawl?  I want more time with my kids.  We haven’t even been to the beach (granted, it’s been raining and/or in the low 70s for an obscene amount of time this summer) or had one of our annual outdoor picnics yet this year.  DD’s #3 & 4 haven’t had a lemonade stand yet. 

I’m also amazed (in a bad way) at how much I’ve spent on my car this summer.  Without going into too much detail, what started off as needing new wheel bearings lead to needing a new (rebuilt) transmission which lead to needing a new (rebuilt) engine.  I’m so sick of feeling like we’re hemorrhaging cash. 

And now I’m amazed that tonight is the first night of DD#3’s cheerleading practices for the fall season.  Whoa!  There go my weeknights for the next month and my weekends until October.  I love that she loves doing it, and that DD#2 is her squad’s junior advisor, but it does take up a bit of time and it’s yet another reminder that school is starting in 3 weeks… and DD#1 moves away to college in 4 weeks… and that I’m getting older.

*sigh*

I should be happy, as I LOVE early fall.  It’s my favorite time of the year.  Seriously.  I love when it starts getting chilly enough to wear a sweater and I can pull tights and my favorite boots out of the closet.  When I can make a huge batch of beef stew or chili and it won’t cause the A/C to kick on in the house.  When I don’t have to shave my legs every damned day.  (Hey, just being honest!) 

Oh well, life goes on.  Gotta learn to relax and enjoy.  And now I’m off to cheerleading.  Catch you all later!

I've Turned Into George Banks (and I'm Pretty Sure That's Not a Good Thing)

When did everything get so expensive?  I'm serious here.  DH & I make a decent living, we don't live beyond our means, I don't have flashy jewelry or buy only designer clothing, DH doesn't have expensive hobbies... but it seems everything is so expensive nowadays.  We were wondering what we could afford to do this summer as a "last family vacation" before DD#1 leaves for college and OMG.  Everything's outrageously priced.  And that got me thinking.  $14k for 9 months in a dorm.  $800 for a 2 night stay (midweek) at Cedar Point.  Being excited when I saw gas was under $3.60 a gallon.  When did all this obsessing over the cost of things happen?  And then it dawned on me...

I've become the female equivalent of George Banks from the remake of the "Father of the Bride" movies.

While I'd normally be flattered to have anyone say I'm the female Steve Martin, I'm not sure this is the character or persona with which I want to be compared.  I mean, George is funny, loves his family, and really means well but he's also overly neurotic and a tightwad.  Actually, while I'm thinking of it, when did I become obsessed with how much I spend?  There was a time (before children) when I thought nothing of paying more than $200 a pair of shoes.  (Don't ask me how much my Christian Dior black suede pumps cost.  I'm still having nightmares about that one, even though I got over 15 years of wear out of them.)  Then... children came along.  And all my disposable income went towards stuff for them.  Musical instruments, cheerleading uniforms, soccer cleats, new eyeglasses, summer camp, school fundraisers, and more.  It's amazing how quick these little expenditures add up!

I swear I was on the verge of re-enacting the "hot dogs and hot dog buns" scene from "FotB" (you know, where George flips out about having to buy a package of 12 hot dog buns for 8 hot dogs and that he's not going to pay for one extra thing he doesn't need) when looking at potential vacation spots.  Why do I have to pay for a ride ticket for me at Cedar Point when there's no chance I'm going on any rides (thanks to the stupid pinched nerve in my back)?  Why can't I just get a pass to allow me to stay in the hotel and have access to walk around the park, watching my kids go on rides?  Why do I have to pay for ONE MORE THING I DON'T NEED?

Man, if I'm freaking out about this stuff now, what will I be like when the girls start getting married?  Will I be arguing about an Armani "nuffy-blue tuxado" the morning of?  Will I be offering to build a grandstand at the church for throngs of people to watch but steadfastly refuse to allow more than 150 guests at the reception?  I can only hope I wouldn't be tacky and rude enough to snoop through their future in-laws' desks, then break a mirror in their bathroom.  But, then again, I'm pretty sure George Banks wasn't intending to do that either.

Maybe I should just go to sleep and forget about vacations, money, Steve Martin movies from the '90s.  Perhaps I should be grateful I'm not turning into Freddy from "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels."  Of course, this could all just be a sign that I need to drive to Pittsburgh on July 1st to see Steve perform with Edie Brickell and The Steep Canyon Rangers at Heinz Hall.

C'est la vie.