Harley Thomas Buche

Our nephew Harley Thomas Buche was killed early this morning in an accident. He was 31 years old. May the Lord bless and keep him and comfort his family.

Off and Running...

The new school year is off to a good start.

Esme loves her new teacher and always has tons of things to say about her day in kindergarten. Her class is quickly working its way through the Zoo Phonics alphabet, a letter a day; they are doing the letter "I" today. This is all old news to Esme, who is now on her third trip through the Zoo Phonics alphabet, thanks to nice, thorough preschool programs. But she doesn't care a bit, it's still fun to her! One of the children in Esme's class speaks Chinese, which she thinks is all that. Though she doesn't mind the bus ride too much, it is a very long one - she spends about a total of an hour and a half a day on the bus - half the time she spends in school - and it wears her out. Every-day school is wearing her out, too - the slightest complication to her schedule and she collapses in a tear-stained heap of exhaustion. Her mother is hoping to get her to take a nap every day, but that might be wishful thinking as naps passed by the wayside almost two years ago for Esme.

Aidan is also quite pleased with his new teacher, though he has less to say about his day, which is typical. He's enjoying being in third grade and despite the fact that Mason isn't in his class this year, he is still liking working with his other friends. Tuesday he woke up with a sore throat, and was convinced to go to school anyway, but didn't feel much better during the day. Wednesday the sore throat was still around, but in addition he had a barky cough and a runny nose, so he stayed home and went to the doctor. He made it a whole six days through the school year before getting sick. Grrr. The doctor said he probably just has a cold, but because he is so prone to sinus infections, she gave us a prescription for an antibiotic which we can fill if he doesn't improve in a few days. Today he feels better and his symptoms have been reduced to just a runny nose.

So yesterday Aidan spent the day watching Star Wars cartoons and reading - he read the whole Mitt the Michigan Mouse book that he checked out of the library at school - and by the end of the day he felt well enough to go to AWANA. This year he is in the Truth & Training club (with Mason of course) and is feeling much more confident about learning the verses, as he already knows some of them from last year. Last night when I went to pick him up the boys' group was having a blast together - and their hall was ever so much louder than the girls' T & T hall!

Esme is SO happy to finally be in an AWANA club! She is in the Sparks club and has already earned her HangGlider book by memorizing John 3:16. She visited the Cubbies club a couple of times last year, but now that she's in kindergarten she is a real member.

I'm still glad that Esme is in just-mornings kindergarten, and I still think it's the best schedule. It took me a while to realize, though, that I would be waiting for the bus three times a day, five days a week, for the whole school year. We have to wait for the bus to pick the kids up, for the bus to drop Esme off in the middle of the day, and for the bus to drop Aidan off at the end of the day. Right now I'm spending about an hour a day just waiting. That time will get reduced as the bus schedule gets into its groove, but right now it varies a lot because of kids getting used to things.

AMAZING APRIL AUNTIE-NESS!!!

Super congrats to my lovely sister-in-law Catherine and her husband (yes, my brother) Scott, who are expecting another bundle of joy next April. Yeeee-ha!

My Brother Needs to Spread the Word...

Not saying more until he tells me!!!!

Did You Know Jim is a Songwriter?

Danke Schoen

Danke schoen
My airline, danke schoen
Thank you for all the travel pain
Picture shows on IFE, EUA for me
First row seat, cookie treat, pretty neat!

Danke schoen
My airline, danke schoen
Thank you for Newark delays in rain
Upgrades to first make my heart burst
Sleeping FAs, Ground delays, holidays are the worst

Danke schoen
My airline, danke schoen
On ExpressJet or flying main
line I knew what I had to do
If a pax from Y got in line by my side to use the loo

Danke schoen
My airline, danke schoen
Thank you for flying me again
Though it may be one of the last times
Still I'll try to check in on line
One last time
Danke schoen, auf weidersehn, danke schoen

Apologies to Wayne Newton

Chances Are

Chances are because the flight attendant
Addresses me by my name
Chances are I'm in the front of a CO plane
Just because I get a little smile
When my drink is brought to my seat
Chances are I may be Platinum Elite

In the middle of IFE at cruising altitude
Chances are the FA offers wine
With your meal (only when its meal time!)

I guess I feel CO could be
The only airline for me
If use my last name they would
Chances are their chances are awfully good

Apologies to Johnny Mathis

I Know a Baglady

I know a baglady who didn't buy Y.
I don't know why she didn't buy Y. Perhaps she'll fly.

I know a baglady who bought a cheaper fare.
It was less expensive to get in the air.
She bought a fare cheaper than a full Y.
I don't know why she didn't buy Y. Perhaps she'll fly.

I know a baglady who changed her mind.
While online, she changed her mind.
She changed her mind and bought a cheaper fare.
It was less expensive to get in the air.
She bought a fare cheaper than a full Y.
I don't know why she didn't buy Y. Perhaps she'll fly.

I know a baglady whose plans then changed.
She's not deranged, her plans just changed.
She changed her plans after she changed her mind.
She changed her mind and bought a cheaper fare.
It was less expensive to get in the air.
She bought a fare cheaper than a full Y.
I don't know why she didn't buy Y. Perhaps she'll fly.

I know a baglady who paid a change fee.
Plus a difference in fare, which of course wasn't free.
She paid a change fee because her plans had changed.
She changed her plans after she changed her mind.
She changed her mind and bought a cheaper fare.
It was less expensive to get in the air.
She bought a fare cheaper than a full Y.
I don't know why she didn't buy Y. Perhaps she'll fly.

Notes:
Danke Schoen was written to lament changes to Continental Airlines’ fee structure and OnePass frequent flyer program that made the airline, once one of the best in the industry for service, essentially the same as the other domestic carriers in the United States. As a result, many frequent flyers no longer see a reason to remain loyal to Continental.

Chances Are was written in response to a discussion on FlyerTalk’s Continental OnePass forum about how good it makes passengers feel when flight attendants address them by name when flying in the First Class cabin. Personal note: the author has never been addressed by name when flying in the First Class cabin on Continental Airlines.

I Know a Baglady was written in response to another frequent flyer’s lamentation that she bought a discounted coach ticket and ended up, after several itinerary changes, paying about twice as much in fees and fare changes than she would have if she had bought a full fare, refundable ticket in the first place.

Glossary
IFE = In flight entertainment; movies and music available to passengers on some flights
EUA = Elite upgrade automation; free upgrades to First Class for people who fly way too much
Newark = Newark, New Jersey airport; the East Coast hub airport for Continental Airlines
FA = flight attendant; formerly known as a steward, stewardess, or purser
Ground delay = delay caused by weather or the congestion of scheduling dozens of flights to take off at the same time despite restrictions that planes must take off 1-3 minutes apart
ExpressJet = regional carrier that does business in some markets as Continental Express
Pax = airline industry abbreviation for passenger or passengers
CO = aviation abbreviation for Continental Airlines
Platinum Elite = the top tier in Continental Airlines’ OnePass frequent flyer program. Reserved for people who fly way too much.
Baglady = handle for a frequent contributor to the FlyerTalk frequent flyer forum
Y = full fare, refundable coach ticket
Change fee = fee charged for changes to non-refundable tickets

Emily Elizabeth King!!!

Just about the time I was thinking about her impending arrival this morning, Emily Elizabeth King was born! My cousin Kristin's little baby girl arrived this morning 8 Sep 2008 at 10:40 am. She weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces and measured 20 1/2 inches long. Her grandma reports that Mom, Dad and Baby are all fine and will probably be home on Sunday.

Congratulations, Kristin and Brad!

Summer Booklist

I just realized I've read a lot this summer, even though I can't figure out when. My retention rate may not be terribly high, as I did most of that reading just before falling asleep at night, but I did read these books!

• The Other Side of the Sun by Madeleine L'Engle
• The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
• A Winter's Love by Madeleine L'Engle
• Love Letters by Madeleine L'Engle
• Iodine by Haven Kimmel
• Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana by Anne Rice

Actually, I've reread all of Madeleine L'Engle's books this summer - all the fiction prose ones, anyway. I haven't really delved into any of her poetry or nonfiction. The ones I listed above are just new to me - I had not read them before this summer. After I finish Love Letters, I think I might revisit some Diana Gabaldon.

Iodine was quite the freakfest. I know I need to reread it, now that I know how it ends...because I think I will have a different perspective during the story if I already know that the main character is insane.

Baby King?

Does anyone have news from my cousin Kristin, her husband Brad, and the new arrival Emily, who was supposed to be here Sunday? She might not even be here yet...I know how that feels...but drop me an email if you know!

The First Day(s) of School

Here's Aidan on his first day of third grade:

My two babies, going to school together...

On the first day, Aidan boarded the bus with Cody and Kyle, our new neighbors.

...and got off the bus at a run as usual! He said he had a good day, did actual work, saw Mason at recess, and brought half a playground's worth of mulch home in his shoes. Ahhh, gotta love that fresh layer of mulch.

Jim and I took Esme to school on the first day, as that is when our school does the kindergarten open house, so all the kids can get situated and all the parents know what to expect. We stayed for an hour, met Mrs. Morrell and Allie Alligator (who says "A! A! A!"), and made sure Esme could find her cubby and mailbox. So today is her real first day. She was super excited as usual.

Just like the big kids, she had a big pile of stuff to take to school - her gym shoes, her home folder, a box of Ziploc bags, and a snack for 25 kids.

While we were waiting for the bus, we discovered a praying mantis hanging out by our front door!

Esme crossed the street with the big boys and looked back at the last second. That, of course, is when I lost it. She and Aidan both smiley-waved to me as the bus went by, and I came back in the house. Wow, that was tougher than it was three years ago. I'll see her at lunchtime.

No Tuition!

For the first time in six years, we are not paying preschool tuition! It's kind of like throwing away the last diaper...something you're glad to wave goodbye to!

This morning went perfectly. I got up at 6:30 to shower and dress, and Aidan was already up, even though he didn't need to be. He had a bad headache last night, so he went to bed early; thus he was raring and ready to go early today. By the time I was fixing breakfast, Esme was up, too. They both "did the list" - a short list of the things they have to do to get ready in the morning that I have markered on their bathroom mirrors - and were ready way before it was time for the bus!

Aidan boarded the bus this morning, a full-fledged third grader. I'm looking forward to hearing how his day went - but likely he won't say much at first. Jim and I went to school with Esme for an hour this morning, so we could meet her teacher and she could get acquainted, find her cubby and mailbox, etc. Tomorrow she will ride the bus with her brother in the morning, and come home midday. It is clear to us that Esme is going to have a hard time with keeping her mouth shut to give other children in her class a chance to answer questions. She felt very smart - she knew the answer to every question, and also felt the need to answer them all loudly.

We also met our new across-the-street neighbors this morning - they have three sons, one who is in middle school, and Kyle (1st grade) and Cody (4th grade) who boarded the bus with Aidan. It is nice to finally have real people living in that house, instead of coping with the builder and agents all the time!