Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD is not reserved for those in Northern climes. Down here in Texas, most of us get it in the Summer. When winter comes we can play outside in the fresh air and mild temperatures, but in the Summer we have to scurry into air conditioning to avoid sunburn, skin cancer and plain old heat prostration. The result is a region full of sluggish, negative and generally depressed women.

Throw in the stress of work, home, back to school and the great gaping endless abyss of strip malls, multiplexes and chain restaurants that is suburbia, and it’s no wonder my husband isn’t getting any everyone around me is frustrated and cranky. For this reason, I am finding it harder and harder to blog. It seems my sunny bloggy disposition is in storage until the heat breaks.

Therefore, I’ve decided not to fight it and just go with what is really on my puny little mind these days. If you’ve ever wondered what I’m thinking about when I just stare that blank stare in between signaling for more Margaritas, it’s this.

What is up with the recent rash of mispronunciations of  words with the uhl sound as in fealty? Am I in the midst of some sort of country-with-a-k conspiracy?  Take these words for example:

• Jewelry pronounced joo-loo-ree. It’s  ju-uhl-ree. Please flush the loo.
• Those ads that keep nagging me to contact a Real Tor. What is the deal? Did they have a grump session at their last convention about Realtor getting misspelled with an -er? I won’t be calling a Fake Tor any time soon, so y’all can start saying ree-uhl-ter again.

Every time I hear an otherwise educated person speak like she just fell off the hay wagon, I want to scream. Oh and you pretentious pundits with your “whether it be”  grammatical nightmare? You are next on my list for a Sr. Mary Caroline rap on the knuckles. Watch it.

Also? Bunny needs to go into braces. I love that her ortho advised us to wait until her mouth had grown more but what a shame she missed the thrill of braces in grade school.  Was she denied the camaraderie of her tinsel toothed peers? Did  she miss out on that grown up feeling of comparing orthodontic apparatus with the other twelve year olds?

Did we deprive her of the joys of using her tongue to shoot orthodontic rubber bands at  Sr. Caroline Marie when she turned to face the blackboard? Was her mother truly the most evil kid in seventh grade? Was her mother really the reason Sr. Caroline Marie quit her teaching post and left her order to become a bank teller in Wisconsin?

Uno otro Margarita por favor. I do believe the heat is getting to me.

Ack! Ack! Ack!

First day of High School!

First Day of College!

Paperwork! Paperwork! Paperwork!

Bills! Bills! Bills!

Sighs! Sulks!

One lost in the hallways! One lost in the city!

Two parents stressed.

One house that has fallen apart.

Papers! Papers! Papers everywhere!

Laundry! Laundry! Laundry!

And then…

Two smiling kids.

A smiling dad.

A mom who can finally catch her breath to blog again.

And smile.

The trip to the High School for Bunnie’s schedule went well. She saw a friend and felt much better. I won’t say she relaxed, but she did feel much better. When I came home from work, she was even able to chat about it a little. Big improvement. Then it happened.

She and her brother turned on the tele to watch a re-run of the George Lopez Show. The episode was about his 14 year old daughter being bullied in her first year of High School by mean girls and having scary encounters with boys following her into the girl’s bathroom. Awesome. It took me about an hour to talk her down.

Hopefully, when the resources staff returns, I can set up an appointment for Bunnie to go up there to talk  with them about her fears and do a practice run or two for finding her classrooms. This transition is without a doubt ten times worse than Junior High, and I thought that was a beast. Ugh.

Personally, I’m girding my loins for dealing with the same freaking counselor who dropped the ball for her brother. To say she’s out of touch is an understatement. At least this time around, I know  how to contact the teachers and resource people myself rather than wasting time going to her.

And! Lest ye think that I am a hovering mother, I want you to know that I am very proud of myself. Bear sent me a text from college saying he was having some trouble. I typed back “Do you want me to come up there?”

Then I erased my reply and just wrote “HUGS”.

Man, it is hard to back off, especially when I’m still a helicopter parent at heart.

Yesterday I was out of the office with a stomach thing. Needless to say, it was a pretty quiet day. Yesterday evening though, I went to see a wonderful film at the uber-hip Magnolia courtesy of the mah peeps at Autism Speaks.

The movie is called Adam and I posted a review with the official trailer here. I briefly toyed with putting a disclaimer in the review because the tickets were free, but since they didn’t come from marketers and they were provided because I’m a walker, not for review purposes, I decided it’s irrelevant.

Anyway, it was a gorgeous evening for driving with the top down and seeing a good movie with the beautiful people. Tonight it’s turkey tacos and laundry. Some come-down. I think there’s something profound in there somewhere, but I’m not sure where.

Tomorrow I take Bunnie to get her High School schedule. She is totally overwhelmed and shut down already just thinking about it. I believe the morning is going to require plenty of pancakes and patience. Wish us luck.

I went to see Julie & Julia on Saturday with my mother. Over lunch afterward we couldn’t stop raving about the Julia Child scenes. I won’t write a review, but just know that I was glad I saw it on the big screen in spite of the Julie Powell storyline and her repugnant on-screen husband. Really, I had to look away every time he ate, and he carried a man bag! Revolting. On the other hand, I wanted to scoop up Meryl Streep’s Julia Child and company and take them all home with me. Sublime.

It seems like ages since Mum and I have gone to lunch. It was wonderful to dump all my apron-string-cutting angst on her, and to have her dump the doin’s in her house on me. It was also pretty darn nice to just laugh with her one on one without any distractions, even if my driving does scare her (I’m pretty sure that red light was just a suggestion).

Saturday evening Spouse and I attended an intimate little cocktail party at Hug Bandit’s beautiful home. A beloved mutual friend was in town so a bunch of us girls got together to catch up and giggle and generally carry on. The gentlemen gave up on us and retired to another room to solve the world’s problems and set golf dates. A most satisfactory evening for all.

I suppose I should apologize to our hostess for eating too much, laughing too loud and staying too long, but if she will have such marvelous get-togethers, I do believe it is her own fault. Thank you, Leslie!

Too busy to blog? Yep. Posted something new on Monday. The ‘puter ate it. Decided I didn’t have the time to re-write from scratch.

I do have something fresh to read here.  Well, not exactly fresh since I posted it last weekend, but not quite wilting around the edges, yet.

There hasn’t been much time for blogging what with getting the kids ready for school and my obsession commitment to raising money for Autism Speaks.

*steps up on her soapbox*

Did you know that autism spectrum disorders cost this country over $35 BILLION a year and that number is expected to significantly rise in the next ten years?

Did you know that autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases?

Now, did you know that you can help a child with autism receive the services he needs and help fund the research to treat and maybe even prevent autism? Click here. *stepping down from soapbox…oooh! It’s Dove soap!*

Bear spent 8 hours at his new college trying to register. About half his time was spent sitting in a holding pen with the rest of the Freshmen waiting for his name to be called. The other half was spent in placement testing. Apparently, they only use the SAT for admission, they have their own tests for placement.

He has to go back next Thursday and attend an orientation before he can see an adviser  and register for his classes. The tuition of course has to be paid now. Is it just me, or does that sound backwards to you?

In preparation, for the Fall semester, he’s having a new audio system installed in his car for the commute. I’m glad he’s preparing for the rigors of college  life.

And Bunnie? Has been allowed to turn into some sort of nocturnal sloth for the summer. I think it’s normal and natural for teenagers in the summertime to turn their nights and days around and slack off. Especially since next summer she is GETTTING A JOB! Her Mama says so.

This Week’s Works For Me Wednesday roundup asks for a “Best Back To School Tip”.  Here’s one that often gets overlooked in the hustle and bustle of shopping for school supplies and clothing.

Check with your pediatrician or school nurse on what immunizations are required for your child. Now is the time to give your child the TLC he will need to get over the the pain, indignity and possible fever or adverse reaction he might have to school shots before the school year begins.

Many school districts have changed their immunization requirements from last year. You may be surprised to learn that your child is missing one of these newly required shots.

In addition, it may also be a good idea to ask your school nurse or local health department for information on immunization clinics offering free or reduced rates.  Don’t assume that your family income will be too high to qualify. Even the need-based programs usually have a sliding fee scale that covers all children.

You should know local immunization programs usually run out of funding and/or supplies after the school year begins. Get in now, and you can save hundreds of dollars over your pediatrician’s rates.

And with the cost of school shoes, who couldn’t use savings like that?

For more back to school tips, visit Works For Me Wednesday at We Are That Family.

Wahhh! I am not going to BlogHer Chicago this year. If I were going though, I know just what I would pack. Listen up girls, when it comes to packing, I know what I’m talking about. So here are my best tips that are good for conferences or family vacations:

• Pack separates in the same color palette. If you spill something on your top or skirt/slacks, you will have a variety of choices to swap out that one piece. Keep dresses to a minimum. If you tear or spill on a dress, it’s trashed for your entire trip and you will come up short on clothes.
• Do pack one pretty dress for every two nights you will be away. They are your impact pieces and give you the opportunity to break out of that same color palette.
• Pack no more than 3 shoes.

1 pair in your color palette suitable for walking

1 pair in your color palette that is dressier for evenings

1 pair evening shoes in a neutral color to match all of your dresses

If you must pack running shoes, consider leaving the evening shoes to match your separates at home.

• Mail ahead. Anything you can send ahead to general delivery or the hotel saves you packing weight and time. Items I’d send ahead include heavy items, gifts and items that do not qualify for airline carry on.
• Double check your toiletries against carry on regulations. I have a swell travel curling iron that has to stay at home when I fly because it runs on propane cartridges. Don’t forget the three ounce liquid rule and be sure all your liquids are in a ziploc bag in an outside pocket of your suitcase so it can be removed quickly for the Screeners.
• Speaking of TSA Screeners, Do not wear metallic items like underwire bras, hair barettes and jewelry when flying. Seriously. For that matter leave all valuable jewelry at home. I only wear costume when I travel. Why worry when you are on vacation?
• Finally, be sure to pack a soft duffel type bag for the trip home. While checked baggage is a hassle when arriving, it’s often helpful when heading back home. Just remember not to pack anything in your checked bags you aren’t willing to lose forever.

Hope you found these tips helpful. For excellent BlogHer specific tips, visit Poppy. She’s got the scoop. Here’s to safe easy summer travel!

For more tips visit Works For Me Wednesday at We Are That Family

Alli and Joie

Daisy brought her adorable little boo.

Ooh, I just wanted to eat those sweet little baby rolls up!

Katie I’m so glad I FINALLY got to meet you in real life!

So, did we have fun?

Why, yes.

Yes we did!