Bringing in August

Good news, we here in South Texas have broken the record for most 100 degree days in one year. Yep. We are officially at 43 days and the forecast tonight shows that tomorrow (Sunday) will only be 98 - yahoo! The rest of the week is 101 as the high. Oh well, cold front tomorrow - better get out the sweater.
I am also glad to report that my car had no gross smells or issues this week. I enjoyed that. Today when Sy locked his door and wouldn't open it so I could put his seat belt on him, that I did not enjoy but it was corrected, quickly.
The sad news for this week, a co-worker's son was killed in Afghanistan at age 20. He was a Marine and followed in his father's and grandfather's footsteps. I never met him but his father is a good man. I am not sure why I took this so hard, I have thought about it many times in the last few days. I don't know if it's that I have my own child and cannot imagine going through this or the fact that like my co-worker and many dear friends, I have lost a child and with that all the hopes and dreams you have for them. Does it make it easier to never officially meet them or it is reassuring to know that you had time with them and are able to have memories? I stopped to say a prayer for him and his family for all of those in my life who have been through this same experience. May they never be forgotten as they were and are loved.
On a lighter side, I had a funny experience at JCPenney's. I went to buy Roy shorts - Levi's 550 shorts. They didn't have his size. The nice young man working in the men's department said he could order them for me and I could pick them up in the store. He got stuck on the "cash" or "credit card" and couldn't comprehend that I was going to pay with a check. I couldn't go there, so I just left. In a little bit of a huff and my poor son didn't understand and that turned into a whole other conversation on the way home. As I am a glutton for punishment, I went back to that same Penney's (it's the closest to our house and therefore convenient) to attempt to get shorts. I scanned my "assistance" options and went for the very nice "Grandma". (I say that with the most respect, I actually know people my age that are grandmas.) She was so sweet and guess what!?!?! She was a whiz at ordering those shorts from the website and had no problem with me paying by check. YES! Old women rule! I found it to be terribly funny that with all this fancy schmanzy technology, the person most would have said would not be able to help surpassed my customer service needs and left me with a huge smile on my face.
The ceiling tiles are in at Lowe's. They got there Wednesday. They think they called to tell us. News flash, they didn't. So Roy called tonight. They are waiting for us. I think we will be heading that way tomorrow, we both can't wait for that project to be done. Photos will be posted. I know you are just bursting with anticipation - me too!
I used CVS photo online to send photos to my dad for him to pick up at the store in T-town. It worked great - but warning if you decide to do this for those in your life that are anti-computer - you have to send a minimum of a $5.00 order to not be charged $1.50 service fee. Still worked out to be pretty inexpensive but I thought the charge was kind of crazy. Getting people in the store to purchase more than photos potentially should be the thought. I would love to talk to their online marketer to understand that charge.
Sy did very well at swimming today. At the end of the lesson, Ms. Patty had them swim the length of the pool. He did it! They all (5 of them) did it - but they are all 6 and he's 3. I was very happy. He is getting a little bored with his lessons. I'm not sure why. I am tending to lean toward the fact that we get up and go M-F and typically on Sat and Sun, we stay home. I think he's tired and it's starting to show so we are taking some time off. For the rest of August and September, we will be visiting the swimming hole at SeaWorld each weekend. He loves it there, keeps him familiar with the water, and helps us use those season passes we purchased. He's very excited about it. So if you are in the area, look us up. His favorite is the splashdown pool at the back of the swimming area. I'm looking forward to taking him down those really big slides they added last year right next to that pool. I hope he likes them.
As for lessons, they have two more sessions this year, if he's interested. If not, I am going to wait because when he turns four, I can sign him up for private lessons at the natatorium downtown after work. It's very reasonable and I think he will enjoy the one on one. I hope it's not hard to get a spot.
Roy is taking him to the sports skills class at The Little Gym. Sy says he likes that and wants to keep going. He has two more weeks of this session and then I need to get him signed up for the fall / winter session. It's a pretty cool class, they hit and kick balls into targets, do footwork and learn how to smash into big padded mats. Right up a 3 year-old's aisle.
I am off to dream land, Sy will have me up at 6:45 a.m. sharp. Why is it the only day,he wants to sleep in is Monday?