The basement flooded–again.

Yes, after a Pennsylvania monsoon yesterday, the boys innocently went into the basement to play basketball. “MOM! There’s water down here!”   The kids and I sprang into action, picking up rugs, toys, books, and everything else that wasn’t waterproof.  The good doctor was speaking at Lock Haven, so he didn’t get home until about 8:00.  Poor man. He wasn’t even in the door before the children decended upon him with cries of “It’s flooded! There’s water EVERYWHERE!”  It was true. From the few spots here and there from three hours earlier, the basement had at least an inch or more of water all over it. 

Furious hardly does justice to the emotions of my poor husband. But, when faced with the calm influence of his loving wife (who pointed out that we couldn’t do a blessed thing about it), he went to bed and worked on Suduko puzzles.

The boys and I have worked for about two hours today sucking bucket after bucket of water with the rug scrubber.  We don’t have a pump, and all our attempts to figure out how to hook up a hose to the rug scrubber bucket so we didn’t have to haul each and every load of water out the basement window and dump it into a bucket (to be hauled far away from the house to be dumped), but we are stumped.

 It takes 60 seconds for the bucket to be filled, carried, dumped, and reassembled. I believe the scrubber’s bucket holds 1.5 gallons of water. So, 90 minutes of constant work equals 90 buckets which equals 135 gallons of water. Woo.  There’s still a lot more to go, but we no longer slosh when we walk through the basement.

On a happier note, I am almost caught up with AP work, saw Pride and Prejudice again on Monday (thanks to my dear friend Valerie with whom I had a delightful visit), and tomorrow is December.

Why would I be so excited about December? Well, in the chaos of our fall, I decided that December would be event-free. There is hardly anything on the calendar, so we should have many days and evenings of just lying around and doing nothing. Plus, I have Inkspell on tape–eighteen hours of listening pleasure for our read aloud time. Since I am not reading, I can work on crafts or other things and enjoy myself immensely. (Inkspell by Cornelia Funke is the sequel to Inkheart, a book we all loved.)

I’m trying out a new series, the Mr. and Mrs. Darcy mysteries. I’ll report on how it is. I’ll hopefully be diving in tonight!  (Pun intended, sort of.)

Here’s the family today at Thanksgiving. (Note the snow out the window, LoeschDogg.) It’s the Sellers with Grammy Peep (in orange, my mom), PapaJohn (with Michael, my step dad), and Grammy Norris (in blue, my mom’s mom).  We had a festive and fun day with enough food to feed everyone reading this blog and then some.   After we ate, the womenfolk played games and the menfolk watched football.

Yesterday, as you all well know, was my thirty-sixth birthday.  What a wonderful day it was! I don’t think I’ve had a better birthday since my twenty-fourth birthday, and I don’t even remember why that one was so good.

I could list all the lovely things that happened, but they don’t sum up the glorious feeling I had all day that so many people loved me and wished me well.  I truly felt special. Thank you!

My birthday fun actually began Monday evening when the Ulmer family arrived from Ohio on their way to Connecticut to visit Linda’s parents.  It was just like old times with the fun, fellowship, and holding a baby Ulmer.  The kids played well, the adults played well, and we all had a lovely time.  I just wish they could have stayed a week longer!  Linda gave me terrifically birthday presents–a Yankee Candle, two Bath and Body Works hand soaps (Vanilla and Raspberry), BBWorks bubble bath (Warm Vanilla Sugar), and delicious Swiss chocolate. 

After they left Tuesday night, I ran a hot bath. (Gee, what a surprise.) I used some of my new bubble bath, as I had never had BBWorks bubble bath before. I can see why people pay money for it! It was amazing. After an hour in the tub, I still had bubbles, and I smelled so good. 

Birthday morning dawned late, as I slept in.  For breakfast, I had one of my favorite blueberry muffins (those crunchy sugar-topped ones from the box mix) with a candle in the top. I made my all-important birthday wish as the family sang. Then, James presented me with my present–a book embosser!  I have wanted one for a long time. Now, when you borrow a book from me, it will have a lovely embossed circle with “From the library of Mary L. Sellers” on the front page.  The kids presented me with their present next. They all gave $5 so that James and I could go out to see Pride and Prejudice which premiered Wednesday in State College.  James left for a meeting at work, but we planned to meet at Panera for a late lunch.

I spent the rest of my morning downloading pictures to CDs and making cool CD labels with the free label-making software I downloaded.  What fun it was! (really) I also enjoyed the phone calls, emails, and messages from my students to wish me happy birthday. Then, I headed up to Linda Wilson’s as she had a present for me: it was a gift certificate to the movie theater to see Pride and Prejudice and candy for the movie. (Swedish fish and Sour Patch Kids–what else?)

I loaded up the kids, went through the McDonald’s drive-through (why waste money on the kids at Panera when all they want is a $1.00 cheeseburger?), and headed downtown. We parked for free at the library because even though several of us were going to Panera, Nathan was staying at the library to read. We found a table right next to the couches, where David and Michael happily plopped themselves to read. I had broccoli cheese soup and a turkey sandwich and hot tea. Yum! I love Panera. It always makes me feel grown up.

Next on the agenda was to get my driver’s license renewed. Of course, I waited until the last minute as it expires today. Anticipating an hour or more wait, I drove to the DMV. When I arrived, there was one person in line in front of me. Three minutes later, I was at the desk and was told to go right over to get my picture taken.  No wait there, either!  I was out in about ten minutes.  Who could believe it? Gleeful in my good luck, I headed to Barnes and Noble to look for a travel mug. Right there, next to the front door, was the best parking spot. I counted it a birthday blessing. 

After a quick run to Wal-Mart for pumpkin pie and light bulbs, I headed home. James and I headed out the door for the 7:20 showing of Pride and Prejudice with the kids babysitting themselves.  We used our gift certificate, bought popcorn, and settled ourselves. As the movie began, I thought to myself, “It’s my birthday. I’m at the theater with my husband about to watch one of my favorite books brought to life on screen. I’m so HAPPY!”  The movie was excellent. 

Eat-n-Park for dessert and a vanilla steamed milk was our final destination of the marvelous birthday.  We arrived home, and I stuffed the turkey and listened to birthday phone messages from friends and former students and headed up to bed, thoroughly satisfied with the day and feeling beloved and special.

I know that I’ve neglected things, like the beautiful Nativity set my mother gave me today for my birthday and the cake pan with a lid Anne gave me (never had a cake pan with a lid) and the fun card and other things.  Life is good, and I’m glad you are a part of it!

What a nice day. What a bland word.

Today was work day at the church. Since James is in charge and Nathan
likes to go, we feel the Sellers are represented enough, so the rest of
us get to sleep in. After a leisurely morning, the rest of the clan
descended upon the church to do a bit of this and that.  Nathan
and David went to a Youth Group party (Ultimate Frisbee and pizza),
James went home with  Rachel, Michael went to the Wilsons to play
video games and rake leaves, Libby went to the neighbors to be Mother’s
Helper, and I went out by myself to shop.  I bought Christmas
presents, food for the upcoming visit with the Ulmer family on
Monday/Tuesday, and all the Thanksgiving fixings, which I will be
fixing.

I was thrilled to find a short line in Wal-Mart, so checking out only
took about ten minutes. The last time I was there, due to a price
check, it took forty. (I do not exaggerate in the least!) 

After I picked up the boys from the party, we went home and David,
James, and Michael went to the end-of-the-year football party. I stayed
home with the remaining children to put away groceries, sort laundry,
and catch up on some emails and blog replies. 

Now, this evening, if I’m not pre-empted by “a really good football
game,” perhaps the good doctor and I can watch the final episode
of  Horatio Hornblower.  But, I don’t know if he is ready for
tomorrow’s Sunday school class on Judges, so perhaps I’ll just revert
to my usual plan–a hot bath and a book.

I don’t care for the author I’m reading now. She’s one of the favorite
authors of an author I like a lot, but I don’t know that I’ll search
out any more of her books. I’m still plugging through the Chernow book
on Alexander Hamilton. It’s so interesting, but only in small
doses. 

It’s my birthday on Wednesday (the 23rd), and since I know that you
won’t be actually purchasing me a present, you can tell me what present
you most think I would like to have. I’m always curious to see what
people think about what I am like. Then, I get to chortle over the
way-off wrong answers and be struck by the insightful ones.

I just want to see if I show up on the “Newly Updated” list at Xanga. It’s a test!

First there
are chills which grip to the center of my body. Paroxysms of shivering
hold me in their grip. Then, there is the headache, dancing around the
edges of my skull with tiny tap shoes. “I’m here! Don’t forget
me!”  The ache at the base of the neck and throat rouses its head,
impatient at being ignored.  “Swallowing? We might just try to make
it painful.”  The rest of my body turns traitor. Fatigue swallows
me like Jonah’s great fish.  My eyes burn and throb.

The good doctor is home, the cookie timer is going off, and I must fly. 

Well, it’s
over. Yes, the mighty Centre Bulldogs Pee Wee team lost this past
Saturday in Quakertown, PA.  I’ve never seen them play worse
(eight fumbles?), but the boys didn’t seem too crushed when the game
was all said and done.  I’ll miss the fun of competition and
seeing all the other families. I will not miss having my entire life
dictated by a sport’s schedule. 



So, now I can move on to the
post-football phase of my life. For example, today I proclaimed a true
day of rest for myself. All this fancy phrase means is that I’m not
doing any AP work today. (Okay, I did answer two student emails, but
that doesn’t count, right?)  The girls and I went to a combination
Pampered Chef/jewelry/Body Shop party this afternoon at my
neighbors.  It was relaxing and pleasant. Now, I’m just rambling
through a blog entry and will soon go upstairs to read and lie under
cozy covers.  Then, we’ll leave again to head to Lifelines, a
small group prayer time at church. 



I do miss hearing sermons.
With football season, I didn’t get to have much teaching. Now, I’m
teaching Children’s Church for the month of November, so I’m out of
hearing sermons then as well. I’ve really missed fellowshipping and
worshiping and being taught and challenged. I took it for granted when
I had every week to listen to sermons and sing in church!



It’s Thanksgiving next week?
Really? Did someone change the calendar?  I’ll be hostessing the
big meal. Thanksgiving has always been a beloved holiday for many
reasons. Turkey and all the trimmings is one of my favorite meals.
Also, Thanksgiving means my birthday is quite near, and I’ve always
enjoyed my birthday.  Thirty-six this year with crinkles forming
around my eyes when I laugh–why shouldn’t I celebrate? 



I wore a new outfit and new
boots to church today. I debated much about owning the boots. They are
black, knee-length, high-heel, and tight zipper.  I was afraid I’d
look like an extra from Pretty Woman (or Moulin Rouge or
pick-your-call-girl movie), but I thought it Nathan, David, and Michael
thought they were okay without my wheedling, then I’d be fine. They
thought nothing of them.  I struggle with wanting to look in style
without drawing too much attention to myself.  I seem to draw
enough attention to myself with my loudness anyhow!  I think that
modest clothing looks nice but doesn’t flaunt itself. Those boots
seemed borderline to me.



Oh, I failed to mention that
the hotel where we stayed this weekend had cookies–chocolate chip
cookies for free.  Mmmm.  I had two. I also had two
sodas.  Now, it’s back to Sugarlessville. Well, maybe not yet. I
think we might go to Dairy Queen after church… THEN it will be back
to Deprivation Land!  Really, I’m only doing this watch-what-I-eat
thing so that when December is here, I can eat an entire batch of
Thumbprint cookies with icing all by myself.

Ah, the bliss of another normal day! While I enjoy fun and excitement, there is truly little that is more comforting than overwhelmingly ordinary days.  I guess it’s just a matter of perspective.

I’ve been so pleased with Rachel’s school work lately. All my other children had a mother who taught them to read before their sixth birthday. Rachel was not so lucky, so she is just beginning real phonics instruction now.  I thought that the delayed start would cause her to pick up on things more quickly, but for the first two months of school, she struggled and struggled. Then, we hit that “snag” where she didn’t do her seatwork for two weeks due to all our traveling. This Monday, I sat down with her, dread in my heart, as we opened Explode the Code (her phonics book). To my surprise and delight, the two week break seems to have increased her reading skills instead of lessening them.  I am sure there is an educational principle buried in there, but I won’t wonder at it for too long.

I just finished Pirates by Celia Rees last night. I enjoyed it quite a bit. It’s the story of a 1700s teen who runs off to be a pirate. Despite the fact that the plot sounds cheesy, it’s quite an entertaining and well-written Young Adult novel. I’m beginning to really enjoy YA novels. They have the excitement and good plot of an adult novel without the sex, swearing, and violence.

Tomorrow (Friday), we pack up and head to Quakertown. James is taking the day off so he can stay home in the morning to be a useful sort of husband. Of course, he is always a useful sort but particularly so when the troops need rallying to work and stay on task. David seems to be recovering from his knee, finger, and shoulder injuries, but they did harm his status on the team. While he is still a key player, he’s been taken off the kickoff team and the kickoff return team.  I know he is upset about it, but when you are hurt and it hurts to play, the coach will keep you out of the game.  I do like David’s coach, Jay Urie. He seems like a sensible, reasonable man who loves football, but still challenges the kids to do their best.

James is really looking forward to the trip, the hotel sardine game (seven of us in one $98 room!), and the game itself.  I am looking forward to it because I heard the hotel has homemade, hot cookies in the afternoon. 

Yes, I am in a serious cookie crave right now. This week has been a quasi-diet sort of week. When I diet, it means I can eat what I want, but just not cookies, candy, or soda. Basically, I cut half of my calories out and increase my cravings tenfold.  I am drooling over the thought of one of my (or Libby’s) homemade chocolate chip cookies.  Mmmm… But, I must resist! I will resist…until Friday, the day I have given myself leave to end my time of sugared famine.  I’m going to have cookies and soda and all sorts of yummy things. Then, I’ll start again on Monday with self-control until I have finally dispensed with the few pounds that are still lingering from our Texas/Ohio trip this past summer.  The way I see it, if I don’t pay attention when it’s just three pounds, before I know it, it will be thirty pounds. Then, what will I do?  (Probably buy bigger clothes.)

I thought that everyone might enjoy a short entry, and since there
isn’t much at present to report, I shall strive to be brief–sort of.

Eliza Doolittle at the racetrack? I like it!  (comment by The
Godfather to my new picture). Actually, it’s me at the game last
Saturday on the phone with James. I love my hats. I have four of them
in three different colors.

Today we are going to go to the polling place to hand out stickers for
our neighbor’s write-in campaign for tax collector.  I have always
wanted to do something like this!  Since she’s running unopposed,
there isn’t much drama involved. Plus, it is a gorgeous fall day, and
the park is right next to the voting place, so children who are bored
can run off and play.

Libby is doing her homeschool testing in Altoona today. In PA,
homeschoolers must take a standardized test in third, fifth, and eighth
grades.  Judy Bourne, who always seems to have one or two in the
above grades, usually takes my child(ren) to test with hers in Altoona.
It’s a nice arrangement for me. 

I’m excited to go to the library tonight while David is at football
practice. I hope to pick up the last novel by Shannon Hale, whose books
I like quite a bit. They are young adult novels, retold/made up fairy
tales with a strong, but likeable, female lead and some romance tossed
in for good measure.  Also, Cornelia Funke’s Inkspell
has finally come in, and I’m quite excited. However, the library also
has it on tape, and I am in the queue for it as well, so I might just
wait and listen with the children. Maybe not! If you’ve not read her
novels before, I recommend them. Dragon Rider was not my favorite, but The Theif Lord and Inkheart were wonderful older-children novels.

I am fast straying from being brief.  The good doctor has a
deacon’s meeting tonight, so I’m on my own.  Of course, I’ll be
sitting in this computer chair grading, so it’s not any different than
if he were home, I guess.

It’s time for another chapter in the ongoing saga of the Sellers. Are we more interesting than this season of Lost? 

Thursday night, Nathan and James went to a shooting presentation
sponsored by Nathan’s 4-H shooting league. Most of his class was not
there; it was just the official club. The Army Guy (some recruiter) and
a local fellow who has gone to the Olympics in air rifle were the main
presenters of the evening. After they talked for a long time, the
Olympic Guy said, “Hey, I have three door prizes. Let’s have a 
shoot off to see who wins them.”   Of course, this got the
interest of all eleven kids in the room. 

Now, Nathan has been shooting BB gun, not air rifle, but that night,
they pulled out all air rifles (which have a different-sized target as
well).  Nathan put his borrowed gun to his unadorned shoulder
while down the line the 4-H members pulled out their arm-stiffening
costumes, gun rests, and more. The advisor whispered to Nathan that the
boy shooting next to him had over $4000 worth of equipment of his
own!  (Yes, that was $4000!) 

The shoot off was held thus: in the first round, everyone needed to
shoot a six or better.  Nathan qualified with a six out of
ten.  The second round, you needed to shoot an eight or better.
Nathan nailed a ten.  The third round, a score of nine was needed.
Nathan nailed another ten.   At this point, the shoot off was
over since there were only three kids left. Due to his poor first shot,
Nathan came in third place and scored a t-shirt. 

After the shooting, James noticed the two 4-H advisors in the corner
“giggling like kids at Christmas.” They called James over and said,
“That kid is a *** **** good shot!” James had to unbutton his shirt to
accommodate his swelled-with-pride chest.  Considering Nathan had
never shot an air rifle of this type before and had no “extras” to
improve his shooting, to come in third of eleven was great!

But, I bet you are all on tenterhooks about the weekend.  Friday
at noon, the Sellers and Wilsons left for New Jersey. (James and Rachel
stayed for the CBF retreat where James was a speaker.)  First, of
course, we had to make a one-hour layover in Harrisburg to get David’s
birth certificate. It was a painless process, and we were on our way to
New Jersey, the land of no decent restaurants.  We arrived at our
hotel around  7:00 and tried to find a place to eat.  There
are few, if any, “name brand” restaurants in NJ (above the level
of  McDonald’s), so we were stumped. Fortunately, our new
neighbors in PA lived in the area we were in for 17 years. A quick call
to them gave us a place to go for supper. While The American Diner was
cute, none of us really liked what we ordered. (Rare roast beef
sandwich, salad loaded with green peppers, etc.)  We headed back
to the hotel to meet the kids who rode the bus, watched the kids swim
in the indoor pool, and loaded everyone off to bed.

Saturday morning was a debacle where I threw a fit and refused to pay
for the children’s breakfasts at the extremely expensive hotel
restaurant. Kids 12 and under were to eat free with an adult purchase.
I asked twice to confirm it and the price of the adult meal
($10).  But, since we were with a group, kids had to pay $7.95
each.  I threw a fit!  (But politely) “Do you think I would
have come to this restaurant to pay $7.95 for my kids to eat a bowl of
Fruit Loops?  I would have gone to McDonald’s! etc…” Suffice it
to say, I did not pay for the younger set, although my banana sat heavy
in my stomach for a few hours after.

The day was gorgeous for football, and the snack bar actually had good
food. David was an emotional wreck and cried for about two hours off
and on before the game started. He didn’t even know why he was so
upset. But, thanks to a wise coach who put him in the game and had him
carry the ball the first two plays, David was soon right as rain and
smiling.  He scored two extra points and one touchdown and had
some good passes and rushes.  The Bulldogs won 28 to 6, which
means we get to do the whole thing again this weekend!

We’ve booked our hotel with a free continental breakfast and indoor
pool, James can come with us, and we are planning to have a great
family time with the whole family together in Quakertown, PA.  We
are only three wins away from having to spend December 4-10th in
Orlando, which sounds nice until you have to pay for it. 

I am so far behind in my AP work it doesn’t bear thinking of.
Fortunately, when I take the car to the mechanic today (CD player fix,
oil change, etc.), I’ll have an hour or so of cozy time with the laptop
and some comparison/contrast essays.  I do seem to be on top of
things in other ways, though, as I actually have scheduled my kids’
Christmas pictures already.  I usually put it off until about
mid-January.