Six Sick Hicks Nick Six Slick Bricks with Picks and Sticks

This past week has been crazy.  

1)  I've tried to finish getting up the Christmas decorations -- we opted to simplify a bit this year, since we will be pulling it all down promptly on the 26th.  We even got an early start on it -- Bill had the house lights hung more than a week prior to Thanksgiving, and we had the trees out of their boxes, erected, fluffed, and fixed (those pesky pre-lits that are a pain when you suddenly have a strand of lights go out) before turkey day as well.  But I've piecemealed the rest.  Here a little, there a little.  I think I'm calling it good.

2)  I've spent time working on Primary Singing Time {stuff} -- I hope I have this calling next year, since it will be cake once I have all the visuals done and filed away.  You can see what I've been doing here.  Posting on that blog is super quick -- I don't know why this one takes me so long.  Probably because it takes time to collect my thoughts (a LOT of time, since they are literally all over the place these days), then to share them in complete sentences, in a way that can be understood (I hope).

3)  Wedding stuff.  I'm telling you, it's never ending.  I can totally see why people who have experienced the wedding-planning process say, "Get it catered," and "Hire out."  Bill and I decided that, to be {fair} to each of our 5 children, we would give the same amount to each of them for their wedding expenses.  We determined an amount that we felt would provide a nice "hired out" wedding (not a "super sweet" one, just nice), but we also told our children that they could choose how they would like to spend their budget, with any remaining monies going into their own personal bank accounts to use however they would like.  I thought the idea was {brilliant}.  I have, however, discovered the flaw in the plan.  Both Tay and Britt OF COURSE want to have as much money at the end of their big events as possible.  That means that I am running myself silly spending countless hours online searching for bargains, printing endless craft store coupons, and running to the nearest Michaels and Hobby Lobby nearly every day.  And I'm out the money either way.  I might rethink/retool/revise this plan before the next three girls' big events.  I may, however, pay myself back by re-selling all the wedding crap stuff I've been working so hard to collect.  It's the perfect economic plan, don't you think?

4)  Shilo started her school swim season.  Her first meet was Wednesday, and she swam great.  I, on the other hand, had some issues.  Coach-related issues.  Like wondering why he pulled her from a relay that she's been talking about since last season.  The relay that they were less than 2 seconds away from a State-qual time in last year.  A relay that, had Shi been swimming instead of one of the two girls she out-swam all summer, would have very likely qualified for State on Wednesday.  A fast incoming freshman was added (rightfully so), and Shi was pulled.  They finished .08 seconds away from that State qual time.  The coach will not give Shi a chance to swim it at the next meet because "it wouldn't be fair" to not give that relay team "another chance" to qualify.  He also put her in the B relay of another event, when she has better times than two of the A-relay girls (the same two girls in that first relay I mentioned).  She out-swam one of them by over 6 seconds, for goodness sake.  It's been thought-consuming and frustrating, and I don't have time or energy for that.

I am excited that they have a great team this year, and know things will eventually work out.  Billy-my-hero is on it. He's agreed to be the keeper of the splits.  I'm all for fair... let the fastest girls swim in the fastest relays.

5)  I've had several anxiety attacks, which I attribute to PMDD (self-diagnosed, my specialty).  I just hope it doesn't flare up again a month from now, in the midst of Tay and Lynnea's wedding celebrations.

6)  In desperate need of a trim, I tried a new hairdresser yesterday.  A guy.  He told me I was pretty (seriously, I looked so haggard the comment was laughable).  That's why men hairdressers can charge the big bucks.  

I think I'll go back.