Today was day two of classic Portland style rain, and it was kind of a nice break from the monotony of lovely weather. (See? I’m a true Oregonian!) There was no pressure to be out hiking, biking or otherwise participating in outdoor activities.
The perfect excuse to cozy up in my “shopaholic” flannel pajamas and indulge in a bit of a sleeping in.
I did get my act in gear in time to walk my son over to The Bagdad Theater for a 2:00 o’ clock matinee of Aliens in the Attic, which was actually pretty funny and certainly worth the $4 for the two of us.
We strolled over to the Hawthorne Fred Meyer on our way home and partook of some tasty samples of English cheeses, chocolate truffles, chocolate soy milk and cookies. I found 51 cents and we bought the ingredients for my son’s homemade soda, (apple juice concentrate, seltzer water, two limes and a lemon.)
We somehow escaped the rain in both directions and arrived home to a blissfully quiet house, as band practice had ended and my older son had gone over to a friend’s house. My younger son spent some time making paper crafts while I got our once a month garbage pick-up organized.
I know that once the kids are back in school, I will start working on some projects that I have let sit on the back burner throughout the summer months. I have a speech to prepare for, a couple of guest columns to write, interview questions to answer and other grown up responsibilities that will require my attention.
I want to find a web designer to work with who can help me turn The Non-Consumer Advocate into an interactive website with discussion areas and other features. I also will be including advertising, as I spend hours every day working on the blog and so far have done it as a labor of love. Fear not, my loyal readers. I will continue to write a daily blog column on the same issues of frugality, sustainability and simple living. I just feel there’s room for advertisers who support these values.
I look forward to focusing on these tasks, but I also am saddened by the boys’ imminent return to school. They are such good company. I am aware that these completely lassez-faire days are about to end.
Tomorrow will be our last day together before the start of the new school year. I think we’ll sleep in and pamper ourselves silly.
Are your children heading back to school this week? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
This might seem like a strange comment, but I’m so happy to hear that not all kids go back to school in the beginning or middle of August, which is still summer! I think it’s a terrible trend.
Labor Day will always mark the end of summer for me, and not a day sooner. I’m glad you got to enjoy all of August with your boys, and I’m glad for them too!
We’ve done a few days worth of school so far, but that’s because starting on Saturday, we’ll be on vacation for two weeks, and I thought we should squeeze in a little bit of school before then.
Angela, I agree about the school year. Here the kids didn’t get out until mid-June, and they went back something like August 22nd. I feel so sad for them!
We start after the public schools, have longer Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter breaks, finish earlier in the year, and still manage to get through more material than most public schools do. I LOVE how efficient homeschooling is.
Today is our last day before school starts, too. Although I have to admit, I am looking forward to the more predictable schedule of the new year, I am also sad to see the end of camping weeks or weekends, impromptu picnics, bikerides and late night movies.
I’d love to design your website.
We had a lot of beautiful rain here in Seattle, too. My son and I enjoyed the way the sky looked when the sun broke through a little and the amazing cloud formations that followed. Nature is cheap entertainment at its best! I love this kind of day, I get really bored when it’s blue sky and sun all the time. Luckily, that doesn’t happen much in this part of the world.
As for school, this is our first September as homeschoolers. (Last September was my son’s last month in school, actually, as I pulled him out of 2nd grade on October 1st.) So I do get to enjoy his company still. I find it heartening that despite your sons’ advancing ages, they still enjoy being with you. Maybe it’s only the crazy consumer teens who refuse to be seen with their uncool parents past a certain age! Keep up the good work, you’re obviously doing well with your boys.
I want my kids back! Not much chance of that, however-They are 44, 43, 42 and 41.
OK, I get it, one must let go. Grandchildren are fun, too.
Oh dear — I’m sorry to read that you plan to introduce advertising. I was one of the strongly “against” voices when you floated the question a while back. Could you advance your goals by charging a small subscription fee instead? I would much prefer to pay for something I know I value — this blog — than be subjected to advertising on your site — even if it’s “good” advertising.