Conversations with Zach {Mailing a Money Order}

Since Zachary has moved to go to college, he has been asking questions with things he hasn't dealt with before. 

For example, Zachary had to mail a money order.  

**ring a ling**

ME: Hello

Z: Mom, a bank charges $5, $10 or 10% to send a money order.

(I have to give him credit for attempting to figure this out before he called me).

ME: Zach, it should only be a couple of dollars.

Z: I looked it up on the internet.

ME: Zach, I think you were looking at money markets.

Z: Isn't that the same thing.

ME: (Shaking my head) No honey, it's not.

Z: Oh.

ME: Go to the post office and get a money order there. It will cost $1.25

Z: Ok, how do you know?

ME: I looked it up on the internet.


**ring a ling**

ME:  Hello

Z: Mom, how do I fill this form out?

(like I can see the form thru the phone)

ME:  You have to put sending address and return address.

Z: Where?  Oh never mind, I see.

Z: Do I need an envelope?

ME: To mail it, yes.

Z: Do they have envelopes at the post office?

ME: Go to CVS and buy a box of envelopes.

Z: Ok

**ring a ling**

ME: Hello

Z: Does CVS sell stamps?

ME: You can ask the check out clerk for them.

Z: There isn't any other way?

ME:  Zach, you can't buy stamps off of a shelf.

**ring a ling**

ME: Hello

Z: Do I put the envelope in the mail box or give it to the guy behind the counter?

(Seriously?)

ME: Zach, it doesn't matter. Just as long as you have a stamp on the envelope.

Z: oh yeah, a stamp.


How will I survive his college years?

Longing for Spring

 Yes, I think Ellie Mae is tired of the piles and piles of snow we have gotten the winter.  

We are both looking forward to spring arriving soon!

~

New Job

Brandon has worked at the ice rink for three years as a Skate Guard.  

The rink is a half hour away and he doesn't earn enough money to pay for the gas.

 The hours Brandon works aren’t much because public skate is only open on the weekend and the shifts have to be coordinated around his hockey schedule. 

Brandon has decided he wants a car.  

The only way to get a car is to save money.  

The only way to save money is to earn money.  

The only way to earn money is to have a better job.

Having come to that conclusion, Brandon now officially works at a local pizza shop.

At the end of the Rainbow

ZACHARY

Zach got a 97 on his first math midterm.  I am proud that he is doing well with his first college course.  To tell you the truth, I was worried about a 19 year old living alone in his own apartment for the first time and the possibility of partying going on vs. studying.  

BRANDON 

Brandon is taking a "Photo and Design" class in high school.  The class was given a clay figure assignment.  Brandon is not happy about this assignment.  He doesn't know what making clay figures has to do with photography.  Quite honestly, I think he has a valid point.

 He made a turtle.  I think it turned out really cute!

MEDICAL

Brandon is able to move his arm around more and the pain in his shoulder has lessened.  He goes back to the doctors next week to get another x-ray to see if the ligaments are healing.  You can read HERE how Brandon got injured.

FOOD

Brandon likes to make scrambled eggs.  Yesterday he cracked open an egg and this is what came out.  Barf!

On that note….

~Have a wonderful Friday!~

Popping the Prom Question

Back when I was in high school (when Bon Jovi was considered 'hot')
 a boy simply asked a girl to the prom,
or if he was scared enough to actually face the girl he would write a note.

My son, being the creative genius like his mother that he is,
came up with a different idea to ask a girl to the prom.

Brandon: Mom can you help me make huge cut out letters? 

Me: Why?

Brandon: I want to ask her to the prom.

Me: With huge cut out letters??? 

Brandon: Yes. Like Poster size.

Being the wonderful Mom that I am, I bought poster board and cut out the letters and made a sign with her name. Note: It took me hours to draw and cut out the letters.

Me: What are you going to do with the letters?

Brandon: Ask her during the play off hockey game. 

This is when the creative juices start flowing.

Brandon recruited fellow teammates to hold up the signs. 

Brandon is to the right of her name (with the C on his jersey).

A friend recorded the event. =)

Courtney was in the stands (embarrassed) and said yes! 

He even bought her roses! (sniffle)

Zach's Crib

Zachary is all set up in his 'crib' (as he calls it).

Winter Park, FL is a very nice WARM area to live.  

It was nice to get a break from the mounds of snow back home.  

 I was impressed with the apartment complex.

The grounds are kept clean and his apartment is in good condition.

Let's go up the steps and through the front door.

I'll give you a tour!

The Master Bedroom is a nice size with two large closets.

We bought a queen size bed.

The comforter is from Target.  I put an end table on the side of the bed the next day.

 The master bedroom has it's own bathroom.

 (Shower curtain and towels are also from Target).

  Living Room with Xbox already hooked up.
(lamp, pillow and throw blanket from Target)

 Dinning area.
(Chairs are from *you guessed it* Target).

Kitchen

 The apartment even has it's own washer and dryer.

Zachary is ready to begin a new chapter in his life.  

From the baby crib to his college crib.

Hockey can be a pain!

All it took was a split second, checked at the wrong angle into the boards and SNAP, just like that, Brandon was injured.

I could tell something was wrong the minute he skated for the bench.  I could see him holding his shoulder. He tried to lift his arm and he couldn't.  The trainer went over to examine his shoulder.  It was at that moment I got up from the stands, ran around the rink to the players bench.  My heart was pounding, I was freaking out.  At first I was told we would have to take Brandon to the ER.  After removing his hockey gear, the trainer re-examend his shoulder and said he thought it was just a sprain and there was no need for the ER.

The next day I took Brandon to a Sports Medicine facility.  The doctor explained that Brandon has AC Shoulder Separation.

Photo Credit

There are different levels of separation:
Type 1 = stretching or small tear to the ligament
Type 2 = tear in the ligament
Type 3 = total joint separation

Brandon is between the 2 and 3.  He has a severe tear in the ACL, but his collarbone is not separated.

Right now Brandon is in a sling and taking Tylenol for the pain. He also has to put ice on his shoulder for 20 minutes every two hours.   I am taking him back to the doctors to get another opinion and find out how long it will take to heal.

As of now, he is out for the remainder of hockey season.  Including play offs and The Flyers Cup.

His high school varsity hockey team is in first place of their league and the play offs begin this week.   His team was also selected to participate in the Flyers Cup.  The Flyers Cup is a big deal for high school teams. It's like the NHL going for the Stanley Cup.

I am so bummed that he cannot play in any of these games.  He worked so hard all season only to have one check to the boards end it all.

Snowblower to the rescue

The last two major storms that hit our area were brutal.  

Especially when our snowblower wasn't working.  Shoveling sucks!

Another 12" is predicted to arrive soon.

This time we are ready for mother nature. Todd fixed the snowblower!

 And while Todd is using the snow blower, 

I will be cuddled up on the couch with a blankie and hot coca.

=)