Friday Fragments

Link up here if you're fragmenting with Mrs. 4444 today!

☼

 

Is anyone else shocked it's May already? For Heaven's sake, our pool will be open in 3 weeks already! I can't believe how fast the time is flying. We are so busy all of the time, it's almost hard to keep up with flipping the calendar pages, I swear. Man. I wish I could clap my hands and stop time temporarily, and just... breathe.

☼

I haven't been here in a few weeks, again, because of our packed schedule. Aside from our usual nutso routines, we've had a billion and one doctors' appointment, and Rob's had an accident that has kept me occupied carting him to those, work, and everywhere else, so... I am off my blog routine again. But! I am here now, and that's what counts, amiriiight?

☼

 

If you've ever thought about visiting my town, Virginia Beach, I just wrote this sponsored blog post about many of my favorite places and things to do here. Check it out if you're interested!

☼

I love this cute picture of Jack eating wings during a mystery shop a couple of days ago.  With the watch and everything, he looks so grown up! For a nine-year-old shrimp, that is. I've been doing lots of mystery shopping again lately to make some much-needed extra fundage. It's fun, but man, all the reports! Ugh.

☼

I swear, Virginia must be the vanity plate capital of the world. They're so cheap here, after all. Even I have one! I'm going to start taking pictures of the ones that amuse or interest me and posting them as part of my Fragments posts each week (or month, as it were). Can you see this one that I snapped today? It says "RR M8T." Arggghh, Matey! Hee. Do you have vanity plates?

☼

On Wednesday, the kids took part in the coolest thing. We drove up to the Mariners' Museum in Newport News, VA, to attend a special event: a ham radio chat - which NASA said couldn't be done - with International Space Station Astronaut Donald Pettit! Here, the kids first learned about the early age of exploration, in the times before, during and after Columbus' life, so they could later relate that Age of Exploration to the current Space Exploration.

Then, we migrated over to the closed studio, where we connected with three classes (in New York, Michigan, and Louisiana) and the astronaut in outer space, about 400 km above Earth, over Italy. Selected students were able to ask questions and hear Pettit's answers in real time, and we learned a lot about living aboard the ISS. Did you know it only takes eight minutes to get up there, but two days to transfer into the space station? Wow. I would kill to have that opportunity. Maybe one day they'll take an old fart like me and see what they can do with me. I'll be like the female John Glenn. Anyway, it was really cool, and my kids - especially Jack up there - got a lot out of the experience. Way cool!

☼

I took Rob in for his Neuro follow-up today, after his mini-stroke scares and subsequent finding of a benign brain tumor back in November. I was hoping for a more thorough check-up than the five minute "How are you? Fine? See you in six months" that he got, but I guess no news is good news. He hasn't had any weird things going on like he did six months ago, even after his accident, so I suppose all is well for now. He'll go back in another six months.

☼

Also today, I went in for a my regular dental check-up, fully expecting to have two new cavities. My teeth have been ultra-sensitive lately, especially in two places, so I thought fillings were going to be the order of the day, if not a full root canal or some badness. But the diagnosis was surprising: I grind and clench my jaw and teeth so much that it's causing my gums to recede, and my enamel to wear, which is causing the pain and discomfort. The dentist said he'd be happy to sell me a $600 mouth guard, or I can go pick one up at any drug or sporting goods store for five or ten bucks and try that. Hmm. Tough choice. But yay for no new cavities!

☼

Stay tuned for a post about our train trip up to Richmond last week; we had so much fun in our two short days. I'm so glad MIL suggested it!

☼

Aren't these newsprint nails so cool?! I am totes going to do this as soon as I find where I put the rubbing alcohol. Hopefully that'll work, since Rob drank all the vodka and stuff. Kidding. There's probably not even a beer in this house. I love this manicure, though. Trés cool.

☼

And finally, my 10½-year-old, Chloë, has a "boyfriend," S. Yeah. We've reached that stage. They're mad about each other. I even had to go on a ride with them to make sure they didn't kiss!!! WHAT?! She's TEN, FPS. I'm keeping a tight rein on this one and don't let them hold hands or anything, but S did recently give her a necklace in her favorite color, with hearts on it... oh, my word. I'm not ready for this part!

Since Chloë had a photo shoot for her acting and modeling "career" recently, my friend Saritah - S's mom - was joking about, "Great, my son is dating a model. That'll go to his head..." but yeah. He is. Hee.

☼

Well, I hope you all have a great weekend, and I'll be back in a bit with my Aloha Friday question & some more updates from our latest travels and adventures. Ciao for now!

Fin.

Comments

[Smellyann]

How fun, Tami! :)
 
Melanie

[Smellyann]

Sure, that'd be fun! :)
 
Melanie Odette
Jafra Cosmetics International                                
Truly the BEST skin care for men and women - contact me
today!
MSPA Gold Certified
 

[Smellyann]

Thank you, Nancy! I think she's lovely, too. :D I'd get the dentist's thingy, but it's just not in the budget right now. I'll have to get the cheapy for now! Thanks for stopping by; have a great weekend!

 
Melanie Odette
Jafra Cosmetics International                                
Truly the BEST skin care for men and women - contact me today!

[Nancy]

I have the same problem with grinding....but I would suggest investing in the dentist form of bite plate because even having that, I have to get mine adjusted fairly often. Grinding will do a number on your teeth and your jaw! I almost swallowed all my teeth when I had to get one but they last a long time (unless, like me, you grind through them) I've really only had two in about 12 years.

Your daughter is so pretty!

[Wayne]

I had the chance to go to Virginia Beach this summer for a conference but it didn't work well with the rest of my travel plans. It is on the agenda however.

[Keetha]

I've never seen anything like those nails before.

[Heather ~ Acting Balanced Mom]

I'm putting together a 'travelling with kids' event at the end of the month and into June and I'm looking for guest posts - would you be interested in doing one on V. Beach? It's your top 3-5 things to do with kids in your area...

[Tami Miller]

You have to check out my blog friend, Ina: http://ina-offret.blogspot.com/ She has photographed many interesting license plates over the years.

[Karen and Gerard]

I know what you mean about the follow-up visit for the brain tumor thing; I feel the same way about my follow-ups with my surgeon for the breast cancer removal. He just takes my blood pressure, feels around and says "see you in six months again." No news is good news!

Boyfriend at 10, scary!