A moment of pause

I had such high hopes for this blog. When I started it, it was going to meet two needs I thought I had--one, to satisfy my "pleasure" writing, to talk about my life, my family, in a little of a journal-diary sort of way. No reason for anyone to see it but me, but don't really mind if others do, either.

The other was a little of trying to connect a little more with my Mom and Dad. My Dad "threatened" to get a computer for several years, and my brother and I finally decided to get a small netbook computer for them for Christmas, and get them hooked up to the internet world. With that occurring, I thought this would be ideal for me to sit down late at night, or early in the morning and update what is going on. (note--it's 11:30 p.m., and I was also up on the computer this morning at 4:15 a.m. Kinda weird hours, but that's the nature of my sleep habits).

In my fantasy world, Mom would sit at home, with the netbook on her lap, and read about her son and his family and tell her coffee ladies, or lunch bunch about things I failed to mention during our weekly telephone calls. I pictured Mom sending emails to me, Sue, and connecting with her niece, Sandy through the internet. I thought she would get more use than Dad.

Unfortunately, as we know, Mom passed away before realizing any of this. On January 20 of this year she left our world for a better one. I now she's keeping up with us and our busy life, but I'm still disappointed that the plans did not work out as I thought.

My gusto for writing these blogs has been severely dampened by her passing. It's strange--at first I wasn't going to tell anyone; just write for the sake of writing--much as I am doing now--and then I thought how wonderful it could be to let Mom in this way.

So much has happened this year. The kids are all getting older, as we all are, of course. Wonderful moments are occurring-Caitlin continues to make us proud with her desire to succeed in school, and her acceptance into nursing school with stellar grades. Andrew and Sarah are rounding out into a very fine young man and woman. Rachel and Collin continue to delight us with school, play, and their activities.

I would have loved to have talked to Mom about little things, too.

* Rachel cooking dinner for the family with her girl scout troop. Should've seen her with her apron with "Rachel" on it.

* Collin and his up and down soccer season. He played "up" a year this year, and there were some good moments, and some not so good.

* Andrew progressing with his grades getting better and better, and his ACT scores looking like they will get him in the college he wants. He has matured and grown and is eye to eye with his Dad now, a big change from the days when his sister Sarah towered over him.

* Sarah, with her work, her friends, her show choirs, and her wonderful grades and personality. She's a handful, but we love her.

And not all good newes. Times like Caitlin having relationship issues with her boyfriend of several years, Michael. Or maybe her past boyfriend. I haven't asked many questions, but she has been very upset for days, although she is getting better.

Life goes on, the saying goes, though, and so will the blog.

Next week will be a busy one. I have a statute of limitations running the week after next, but with the bad schedule, may have to try to sneak in some work on it. Tuesday I have all day meetings planned. Wednesday I teach, and will likely be driving to Memphis thereafter. Thursday I will be in Memphis all day and come back late at night. And Friday I will (probably) be moving Caitlin back into her dorm. She has nursing orientation Saturday morning, but somehow Alabama has told us that she cannot move in until Sunday. They have required orientation a day before she can move in? Where are people from out of state supposed to stay?

In addition to this blog, I have four "Tweeter" accounts set up--one for Kentucky Sports Report (www.twitter.com/MyKSR1), one for me (twitter.com/DarrellKSR), one for my law practice (twitter.com/CartLaw) and one for a joint venture I'm doing with a colleague (twitter.com/AlabamaLawyers). So now in addition to this blog, and the posting, and writing on Kentucky Sports Report, I have "tweets" to post on four different Twitter accounts.

Collin's soccer season is over, but he's playing in a 3v3 tournament in a week, and may continue with other tournaments this summer.

Rachel is involved in her first community theatre production, which will take us deep into June and July. It has a three-week run of 10 performances, so in addition to many weeks of rehearsals, dress rehearsals, tech week, etc., she'll have a lot of actual performances, too. It's "Beauty and the Beast." Rachel is a beauty, but in this play, which is in Leeds, Alabama (birthplace of Charles Barkley, about 30 minutes from our house), she's a villager and castle character/pepper shaker. She'll be good in it.

We've been fighting with Sarah's school about a computer class they want her to take, and we don't want her to take, because it will bump either one of her two choir electives, or her 4th year of Spanish. So we've worked out a solution where she'll go to college this summer, take a college level computer course, get college credit for it, and get credit for the high school class.

We also were told earlier this week that neither Sarah nor Andrew would be allowed to take AP English--a decision that we do not agree with, as they have met all prerequisites, including teacher approval--and the principal advises they are working on a solution. We'll see.

And Sue, bless her heart, continues to make it all work somehow. Our house is a madhouse--literally. The schedules are one that would make a railroad train conductor dizzy. I have my G1 phone with all of its applications, and my Palm PDA, with its calendaring, and my Google calendar, and I sync everything daily (or almost so)--and somehow, I still miss things she just remembers. I don't know how she does it, but she does.

So there's a lengthy return to the blog--it's 11:55 now, a 25 minute blog, which is a very long one for me--and I'd really rather get back to more frequent, less wordy, but for now, we'll take what we can get.

Corridor "X"

Have made the trip to/from Memphis a couple of times now, and I can't decide whether I like the trip or dislike it.

It's on business, which requires me usually to arise around 4-4:30 a.m., drive 250+ miles to Memphis, spend all day looking at documents, and then drive back, usually getting back home between 9 pm-11 pm. Glamorous life of a lawyer, huh?

But Corridor "X" is the predecessor to what eventually will be I-22. It's a fine start for an interstate system, the road is great, and until you arrive just outside Memphis--if then--the traffic is very limited. So it's an easy trip.

But there's almost no scenery to speak of. And when you get on Corridor X outside of Jasper, be prepared to drive. And drive. And drive. Make sure your car is filled up with gas, you have eaten or have food supplies, and don't expect any bathroom breaks, as there just isn't anything at all for about 100-150 miles or more. Now, while I like to get on the road and get going, I also like the security of knowing there's a gas station/convenience store/restroom available in case either the car or I need refueling, or a pit stop. I intentionally refrain from drinking my general two large mugs of coffee in the morning, limiting it to sipping on one for many miles for fear of generating the need for a pit stop.

I don't know how long it will take for gas stations and convenience stores to be constructed along that highway, or what is needed to make it a full-fledged interstate. The two may be related. But for now, it's just a nice, easy, but kinda long drive due to the lack of conveniences along the way.

I think my next scheduled trip is May 26. I may see if we can do an overnight trip this time--drive up, start at a reasonable 10 a.m., work til 7 or 8 p.m., spend the night, and begin the next morning at 8 a.m. Seems more productive than making multiple trips....and if we spend the night, I know I can find rest rooms when I need them after I'm there.

May we never slow down

Weekend roared in and roared out.  Collin had his First Communion today, which was a special event.  It occurred while there were tornado sirens going on outside the church, with weather forecasts showing the church potentially in the path.  Fortunately, we were spared all but the excitement.

Have finished editing/copying DVDs for How to Eat Like a Child and Dear Edwina, Jr. and will get them to the professional video place Thursday.  

Rachel found out this weekend that she was cast in Leed's "Beauty and the Beast," and is floating on cloud 9.  With tomorrow her 10th birthday, it was a nice birthday present.  

Sarah's end-of-year show choir performance is tomorrow night at 6.  I give a final exam from 5-7 pm tomorrow, but I managed to give a take-home Final so I think I'll be able to leave by about 5:30.  

Tuesday I will be getting up at 4 a.m. to drive to Memphis.   And the best part is, I will return Tuesday as well--nice, full day.

Wednesday is the read-through, or opening meeting for the cast of Beauty and the Beast.

Friday we may go to Tuscaloosa and help Caitlin pack up some things.  Or at least we'll be going Saturday to load her up as she has to move out.  Of course, her summer session begins May 29, so we'll be moving her back into a dorm then.  And then we'll have to move her out of the dorm when the summer session ends.  And then we'll have to move her into her apartment when she goes back for the Fall.  More than a little ridiculous, if you ask me.

End of school things are happening, dance recitals for Sarah and Rachel, Collin's soccer through the rest of May with practices, matches, and tournaments, new play rehearsals for Rachel, and moving Caitlin home--and back again.  

May we never slow down.  Just don't spin fast enough that I fall off.