Today, I'm tired. It's been a very long week for we at the Huelsman home. (I tried to think of something clever, like Huelsman Chateau, or farm or mansion or...something. Nothing sounded right...)
anyway...I'm tired.
Kev and I have spent almost every free second working on the chicken mansion. But, last weekend, we had "the PROM" and we both had to work and I had shooting sports. Monday night, we worked, but Tuesday night, we had to stay in Dodge because there was an "Employee Appreciation Banquet" at the college. (Imagine, some businesses have such a thing as an "Employee Appreciation Banquet" I can tell you that CCC NEVER recognized anything we employees did. In twenty years, I once got a chocolate bar for working there 15 years or so...but every single employee got a chocolate bar that day too, it certainly wasn't a banquet! I digress...)
At the banquet, I had to present an award for my one employee for her 10 years of service to the school. I felt pretty awkward doing so, because, after all, I've only worked there 5 months! (again, I digress...) So, we got home from the banquet around 8:30, too late to do anything other than yell at the kids for not feeding their animals and for not cleaning up the kitchen.
Wednesday, I went to a conference in Wichita. I came home today. Conferences are not relaxing, meetings, driving in downtown Wichita, traffic, lots and lots of people, hotels, rain, meal tickets, taking notes, networking, sleeping alone, in a strange...Not relaxing at all. I did ok, and I needed to go, but I hate going because my family seems to fall apart without me...or maybe I'm so controlling that I just think things fall apart without me.
But, Andy had some Academic Olympics on Wednesday...and a Field Trip on Thursday...and a Track Meet today. Miss Kat had youth group on Wednesday, and Gymnastics on Thursday and today, she and her dad had to figure out how to get her to school since Andy had to be at the school at the Ungodly hour of 4:30 a.m. this morning, and Kev had an early patient, so he also had to leave early.
Kev's just had work this week, but he did have to juggle this morning, which he HATES having to do! And I hate not being here to "supervise" and make sure everyone gets where they need to be when they need to be there. But, really, that's always been MY role. I'm the calender keeper, the schedule keeper, the master of all the strings.
They did fine, but I know that my being gone made them all...step up.
So, now it's Friday. I get to slow down for a while. But, with it being the end of the school year, the kids are going to keep busy, which means, Kev and I will still be busy, but this week has just felt like overload.
(Oh, I might get to slow down, but as we speak, Kev is turkey hunting with a couple of buddies, Kat and I are planning on going shopping tomorrow with my Mom...so it really hasn't slowed down much.) Sigh.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Overheard
This is what I got to listen to last night from, oh, about 8:19 until 10:30...
"YEAH!"
"Woo Hoo!"
"Good Job guys."
"Come on, come on, play smart."
"Dang-it guys."
"Woo Hoo! YES!"
Guyyyyyyssssss. Come ON."
"I can't talk to you, it's not even Half Time yet!"
"GRRRRR."
"you idiots are going to lose this, COME ON GUYS."
Then, finally...
"What are you doing? Guys, come ON."
"Play smart, play smart. Oh, oh, oh, oooo, YES, WHOO HOO, OVERTIME BABY!"
"Play smart, YES! We're up 3...Keep it up."
"YES! Whoo Hoo, we're gonna win the c-h-a-m-p-i-o-n-s-h-i-p!"
"YEAH, GO HAWKS! WE WON! YEAH, ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK!"
Then the phone rang, and I heard my husband sing to his mother on the phone...
"We are the champions my friend..."
Then, he went outside and screamed.
"YEAH!"
"Woo Hoo!"
"Good Job guys."
"Come on, come on, play smart."
"Dang-it guys."
"Woo Hoo! YES!"
Guyyyyyyssssss. Come ON."
"I can't talk to you, it's not even Half Time yet!"
"GRRRRR."
"you idiots are going to lose this, COME ON GUYS."
Then, finally...
"What are you doing? Guys, come ON."
"Play smart, play smart. Oh, oh, oh, oooo, YES, WHOO HOO, OVERTIME BABY!"
"Play smart, YES! We're up 3...Keep it up."
"YES! Whoo Hoo, we're gonna win the c-h-a-m-p-i-o-n-s-h-i-p!"
"YEAH, GO HAWKS! WE WON! YEAH, ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK!"
Then the phone rang, and I heard my husband sing to his mother on the phone...
"We are the champions my friend..."
Then, he went outside and screamed.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Prom Night
Last night was Prom. Kev and I had volunteered to help prepare the meal and to serve the meal. We (I) wound up staying to clean up too.
Yesterday was a busy day. We both had to work, then had to be at the school by 4 to begin cooking the meal for the Juniors and Seniors. I'm not sure how many pounds of potato's we cut up, but I think it was 50 lbs. Two big pots of potatoes that were peeled by others and cut up by Kev and I. The menu consisted steaks (grilled by another dad); corn, salad, mashed potatoes with "make your own sundaes" for dessert.
I have to say, we parents cooking were all rather lost, there didn't seem to be anyone in charge, other than the Jr. Class sponsor, and she had to leave early to go home and get ready for the Prom. So, we muddled on. We did ok, except the potatoes took to long to cook, so the meal was slightly late getting served. Kev and I were so busy working on those potatoes that we didn't serve, but there were plenty of parents who did. After the meal, we helped clean up some, then I ran Kev home so he could watch THE GAME. (The KU/UNC game for those non-basketball people.)
I went back to watch the promenade. The promenade is where all the kids who attend Prom are announced and walk onto the stage and pose so the community can see the girls dresses and see basically how nicely they kids clean up. I didn't see any kid's unescorted, so apparently, all kids who attend prom here have dates.
(I would have been up a creek, because I never had a date--just my friend Ranae. We went "Stag" together. In fact, very few kids who went to my prom HAD dates.)
Andy looked very nice. His date's dress was very pretty. Seeing him, all dressed up in a tux made me very proud. And, a little sad. There was plenty of laughter at the promenade...one young man wore a tux that exactly matched his date's dress. Neon Orange. Complete with top had, tails and cane. Even his shoes were orange. You could say that he "stood out from the crowd." This young man's best friend dressed in contrast to his date's dress. This young man wore a baby blue tux, with tails, top hat and cane...but his date's dress was yellow. Another young man wore a white tux, but no top hat. Andy says that maybe next year, he'll look for a camouflage tux...we'll see!
After the promenade, I ran back to the kitchen and helped finish the clean up. The kids wasted a lot of food...I have a real problem wasting food and hated seeing all those potatoes--that Id made--wind up in the trash. I know there were over 30 steaks left over too. Fortunately, they weren't tossed, but given to the After-Prom group who were going to cut them up into strips and serve them as finger food.
I got home around 8:30. Andy got home around 3:45. No, I didn't stay up. I did hear him come in. He had a good time. Another milestone achieved. Another step towards his independence reached. Another step away from his parents and one closer to adulthood...
Yesterday was a busy day. We both had to work, then had to be at the school by 4 to begin cooking the meal for the Juniors and Seniors. I'm not sure how many pounds of potato's we cut up, but I think it was 50 lbs. Two big pots of potatoes that were peeled by others and cut up by Kev and I. The menu consisted steaks (grilled by another dad); corn, salad, mashed potatoes with "make your own sundaes" for dessert.
I have to say, we parents cooking were all rather lost, there didn't seem to be anyone in charge, other than the Jr. Class sponsor, and she had to leave early to go home and get ready for the Prom. So, we muddled on. We did ok, except the potatoes took to long to cook, so the meal was slightly late getting served. Kev and I were so busy working on those potatoes that we didn't serve, but there were plenty of parents who did. After the meal, we helped clean up some, then I ran Kev home so he could watch THE GAME. (The KU/UNC game for those non-basketball people.)
I went back to watch the promenade. The promenade is where all the kids who attend Prom are announced and walk onto the stage and pose so the community can see the girls dresses and see basically how nicely they kids clean up. I didn't see any kid's unescorted, so apparently, all kids who attend prom here have dates.
(I would have been up a creek, because I never had a date--just my friend Ranae. We went "Stag" together. In fact, very few kids who went to my prom HAD dates.)
Andy looked very nice. His date's dress was very pretty. Seeing him, all dressed up in a tux made me very proud. And, a little sad. There was plenty of laughter at the promenade...one young man wore a tux that exactly matched his date's dress. Neon Orange. Complete with top had, tails and cane. Even his shoes were orange. You could say that he "stood out from the crowd." This young man's best friend dressed in contrast to his date's dress. This young man wore a baby blue tux, with tails, top hat and cane...but his date's dress was yellow. Another young man wore a white tux, but no top hat. Andy says that maybe next year, he'll look for a camouflage tux...we'll see!
After the promenade, I ran back to the kitchen and helped finish the clean up. The kids wasted a lot of food...I have a real problem wasting food and hated seeing all those potatoes--that Id made--wind up in the trash. I know there were over 30 steaks left over too. Fortunately, they weren't tossed, but given to the After-Prom group who were going to cut them up into strips and serve them as finger food.
I got home around 8:30. Andy got home around 3:45. No, I didn't stay up. I did hear him come in. He had a good time. Another milestone achieved. Another step towards his independence reached. Another step away from his parents and one closer to adulthood...
Monday, March 31, 2008
Wedding receptions...expectations and surprises
[Announcement: coming soon, pictures and progress notes on the chicken mansion--as soon as I find the cable for the camera and as soon as I can yank the computer away from Miss Kat.]
Kev and I went to a wedding reception last night. It was a unique experience for both of us. Oh, we've been to lots of weddings and lots or receptions over the years. Not so many as a couple, because most of our friends and such married before we were a couple.
But as I was growing up, we went to lots of weddings and receptions. It was one of the obligations of being a part of a large extended family (Dad is the youngest of 7) and an obligation of living in a small community where "everyone knows your name." Most that I went to were Protestant, either Church of God, Christian Church, Presbyterian, and Methodist. The only Catholic wedding receptions we went to were of family, and they didn't have wedding dances, just the traditional cake, mints, punch, etc. There's a receiving line, you watched them cut the cake, maybe they would open the presents, maybe not, then ate, visited for a while, the wedding couple left first, we all threw wheat at them as they left, and then we went home.
Once I started College, most of my friends were Catholic, and since I went to college in a German community, they had wedding dances and lots and lots of alcohol--something new for me! But I learned to enjoy wedding suppers and dances and watching people drink tremendous amounts of beer... I was introduced to new customs and, while there were new customs, the basic premise was the same. I knew what to expect at a wedding reception.
Until yesterday.
We've never been to a reception on a Sunday. But, this couple were Mennonite, a conservative sect of Mennonites. They actually were married in Ohio, where the Bride is from. They were married on a Sunday, and I expect during the Church service on that Sunday morning. But, this reception was for friends, family, and co-workers here, where they will make their home. The Groom is from Greensburg, yes, the same Greensburg that was hit by the Tornado last spring.
Getting ready, I knew that I would probably be one of the few women wearing pants. Conservative Mennonite women always wear dresses with a little cap on their heads. So, I chose nice slacks and long sleeved shirt.
We were late arriving, (because Kev HAD to finish watching the KU ball game), and the parking lot was full. So, we headed to the doors of the church's fellowship hall...but only ladies setting tables were there, no wedding cake, no balloons, no streamers. We glanced into the main doors, leading to the sanctuary, and we saw what looked like a church service. A standing room only church service.
Ok. Were we at the right place? But, since the church was out in the middle of no where, and the directions from the Groom were followed...we had to be in the right place. So, we entered and joined the huge group standing at the back of the church.
Evidently, Conservative Mennonite women don't wear their little every day caps to church. Nope, instead they wear black headscarves. And, men sit on one side, women on the other. So on one half of the building, there was a sea of black headscarves. The other was a sea of men. Various men and women, teen girls and boys, moved to the front of the church and sang songs, one group after another. All A capella. Good singers, but the songs weren't introduced and all were gospel songs. We still weren't sure we were in the right place.
Finally, someone came up to us to point out a couple of chairs. Kev asked if this was for the wedding reception, and we were reassured it was. We chose to continue standing and waited to be told what to do!
Finally, the bride and groom walked back by the fellowship hall and they formed a short receiving line. The groom (who works with Kev) saw us and had his brother come get us. They had us join the only other co-worker attending. So, we got to bump up in line. We went through the receiving line, and the groom's brother escorted us to the food line, where we were handed a full plate of food and showed us where to sit. The co-worker (and her husband) who joined us was wearing jeans. I asked her where she sat, and she said "on the Men's side." She was probably the only women on that side! They had arrived on time, and noticed that the women entered in one door and the men entered the church from another door. Not knowing what to do, they entered together and sat together--on the Men's side. We ate our food and were joined by other members of the Church who were all very nice and welcoming. I'm sure they all knew we were a little uncomfortable, not having a clue how to act or what was going on.
The tables all filled up, and I know there were more people still waiting to be seated. Most were the youth. One of the Mennonite gentlemen sitting with us said that the youth usually would go into Greensburg and eat together rather than to wait for all the tables to clear and then be reset. His wife mentioned that there would probably be two more sittings of people in order to get everyone fed.
TWO MORE SITTINGS! That's a lot of people! We really did get special treatment, being brought to the front of the line! I felt rather guilty, even when we left, as most of those still waiting were those we stood with in the back of the church.
I asked Kev to please tell his co-worker, AKA, the groom, that next time, to please give us an idea of what to expect. I was uncomfortable not knowing what to do. I wasn't uncomfortable with the Mennonites, just with the different customs. There wasn't a wedding cake, no punch or mints or nuts. Just a church service followed by a church fellowship.
I don't mind new experiences, I just like to KNOW that something will be different. I think if we'd known, we would have felt more confident. So, here's my warning to all my readers...all 10 of you...if you are invited to a wedding, or a reception of a friend who is of a different faith...ask what is expected of you. It might make the whole experience more predictible, and more relaxing.
Don't get me wrong, we had a great time, we just felt so...foreign! And I'm sure the Groom never gave it a second thought, after all, he's used to THIS kind of reception. He may never have been to any other kind of reception himself and might have felt as odd as we did at what I consider a typical wedding reception. But, we had a nice time and it was nice seeing the groom so happy. That was the important thing, the celebration of a new marriage and the start of a new family.
Kev and I went to a wedding reception last night. It was a unique experience for both of us. Oh, we've been to lots of weddings and lots or receptions over the years. Not so many as a couple, because most of our friends and such married before we were a couple.
But as I was growing up, we went to lots of weddings and receptions. It was one of the obligations of being a part of a large extended family (Dad is the youngest of 7) and an obligation of living in a small community where "everyone knows your name." Most that I went to were Protestant, either Church of God, Christian Church, Presbyterian, and Methodist. The only Catholic wedding receptions we went to were of family, and they didn't have wedding dances, just the traditional cake, mints, punch, etc. There's a receiving line, you watched them cut the cake, maybe they would open the presents, maybe not, then ate, visited for a while, the wedding couple left first, we all threw wheat at them as they left, and then we went home.
Once I started College, most of my friends were Catholic, and since I went to college in a German community, they had wedding dances and lots and lots of alcohol--something new for me! But I learned to enjoy wedding suppers and dances and watching people drink tremendous amounts of beer... I was introduced to new customs and, while there were new customs, the basic premise was the same. I knew what to expect at a wedding reception.
Until yesterday.
We've never been to a reception on a Sunday. But, this couple were Mennonite, a conservative sect of Mennonites. They actually were married in Ohio, where the Bride is from. They were married on a Sunday, and I expect during the Church service on that Sunday morning. But, this reception was for friends, family, and co-workers here, where they will make their home. The Groom is from Greensburg, yes, the same Greensburg that was hit by the Tornado last spring.
Getting ready, I knew that I would probably be one of the few women wearing pants. Conservative Mennonite women always wear dresses with a little cap on their heads. So, I chose nice slacks and long sleeved shirt.
We were late arriving, (because Kev HAD to finish watching the KU ball game), and the parking lot was full. So, we headed to the doors of the church's fellowship hall...but only ladies setting tables were there, no wedding cake, no balloons, no streamers. We glanced into the main doors, leading to the sanctuary, and we saw what looked like a church service. A standing room only church service.
Ok. Were we at the right place? But, since the church was out in the middle of no where, and the directions from the Groom were followed...we had to be in the right place. So, we entered and joined the huge group standing at the back of the church.
Evidently, Conservative Mennonite women don't wear their little every day caps to church. Nope, instead they wear black headscarves. And, men sit on one side, women on the other. So on one half of the building, there was a sea of black headscarves. The other was a sea of men. Various men and women, teen girls and boys, moved to the front of the church and sang songs, one group after another. All A capella. Good singers, but the songs weren't introduced and all were gospel songs. We still weren't sure we were in the right place.
Finally, someone came up to us to point out a couple of chairs. Kev asked if this was for the wedding reception, and we were reassured it was. We chose to continue standing and waited to be told what to do!
Finally, the bride and groom walked back by the fellowship hall and they formed a short receiving line. The groom (who works with Kev) saw us and had his brother come get us. They had us join the only other co-worker attending. So, we got to bump up in line. We went through the receiving line, and the groom's brother escorted us to the food line, where we were handed a full plate of food and showed us where to sit. The co-worker (and her husband) who joined us was wearing jeans. I asked her where she sat, and she said "on the Men's side." She was probably the only women on that side! They had arrived on time, and noticed that the women entered in one door and the men entered the church from another door. Not knowing what to do, they entered together and sat together--on the Men's side. We ate our food and were joined by other members of the Church who were all very nice and welcoming. I'm sure they all knew we were a little uncomfortable, not having a clue how to act or what was going on.
The tables all filled up, and I know there were more people still waiting to be seated. Most were the youth. One of the Mennonite gentlemen sitting with us said that the youth usually would go into Greensburg and eat together rather than to wait for all the tables to clear and then be reset. His wife mentioned that there would probably be two more sittings of people in order to get everyone fed.
TWO MORE SITTINGS! That's a lot of people! We really did get special treatment, being brought to the front of the line! I felt rather guilty, even when we left, as most of those still waiting were those we stood with in the back of the church.
I asked Kev to please tell his co-worker, AKA, the groom, that next time, to please give us an idea of what to expect. I was uncomfortable not knowing what to do. I wasn't uncomfortable with the Mennonites, just with the different customs. There wasn't a wedding cake, no punch or mints or nuts. Just a church service followed by a church fellowship.
I don't mind new experiences, I just like to KNOW that something will be different. I think if we'd known, we would have felt more confident. So, here's my warning to all my readers...all 10 of you...if you are invited to a wedding, or a reception of a friend who is of a different faith...ask what is expected of you. It might make the whole experience more predictible, and more relaxing.
Don't get me wrong, we had a great time, we just felt so...foreign! And I'm sure the Groom never gave it a second thought, after all, he's used to THIS kind of reception. He may never have been to any other kind of reception himself and might have felt as odd as we did at what I consider a typical wedding reception. But, we had a nice time and it was nice seeing the groom so happy. That was the important thing, the celebration of a new marriage and the start of a new family.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Trace and Sam and Sean
We watched the finale of Celebrity Apprentice last night. We've never watched the show, and have never watched any Apprentice show...but Country Singer, Trace Atkins was a finalist, and well, I like Trace, so we watched, just to see how he did.
Hubba Hubba. Trace made my little old heart go pitter-patter. Then he opened his mouth and I melted. I swear, I got all tingly and the pitter-patter got faster. That man's voice. Hubba Hubba...
I've always told Kev that I'd never leave him for any other man...well, ok, other than Sean Connery and Sam Elliott. Sean, cause he's sexy. I like the Scottish accent, and I like his face. I like the character lines, the white hair...I think he's one man who has gotten better looking the older he's gotten.
I like Sam Elliott's voice. I love deep, bass, voices. He could look like some drunken bum--a homeless drunken bum, but as long as I could shut my eyes and he could just talk...oh my. Again, Hubba Hubba. And then put Sam on a horse with that deep voice, and I'm lost. If he put me on the horse with him, and he whispered in my ear...well, I just can't think about that right now...
But last night, I told Kev that he'd have to add Trace to the list. He's tall, good looking, looks excellent in his hat, and he has that deep voice that just gives me a shiver all over. The very minute he knocks on my door, I'm gone.
But until one of these guys does knock on my door, well, then I'll stay happy and content with Kev.
Hubba Hubba. Trace made my little old heart go pitter-patter. Then he opened his mouth and I melted. I swear, I got all tingly and the pitter-patter got faster. That man's voice. Hubba Hubba...
I've always told Kev that I'd never leave him for any other man...well, ok, other than Sean Connery and Sam Elliott. Sean, cause he's sexy. I like the Scottish accent, and I like his face. I like the character lines, the white hair...I think he's one man who has gotten better looking the older he's gotten.
I like Sam Elliott's voice. I love deep, bass, voices. He could look like some drunken bum--a homeless drunken bum, but as long as I could shut my eyes and he could just talk...oh my. Again, Hubba Hubba. And then put Sam on a horse with that deep voice, and I'm lost. If he put me on the horse with him, and he whispered in my ear...well, I just can't think about that right now...
But last night, I told Kev that he'd have to add Trace to the list. He's tall, good looking, looks excellent in his hat, and he has that deep voice that just gives me a shiver all over. The very minute he knocks on my door, I'm gone.
But until one of these guys does knock on my door, well, then I'll stay happy and content with Kev.
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