Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Summer Learning... Having A Blast
So, I decided to register for a YouTube creator boot camp, and that's what I've been doing since Monday. It's fun! Here's a short video on set designing. Let me know what you think.
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Lights! Camera! Action!
Sorta, anyway. I recently registered to participate in a YouTube Production Skills boot camp event, and it begins tomorrow. So, I've been brainstorming... or more like brain-using... working on This Is Fifty With Lil YouTube channel set design for future vlog episodes.
School's out for Summer. School's out forever... at our house, anyway. So when I read a recent blog post suggesting that we purposefully commit 30 minutes of each day to learning something new over the Summer I went all in.
YouTube boot camp will be my assignment for two weeks. I'm excited and looking forward to learning how to improve my channel content.
Let's see how this goes... Lights! Camera! ACTION!*
So without further ado...
* Lighting will be so-so for a while; camera, it's just one of those point-and-shoot ones; and as for the action, I'll try my best.
School's out for Summer. School's out forever... at our house, anyway. So when I read a recent blog post suggesting that we purposefully commit 30 minutes of each day to learning something new over the Summer I went all in.
YouTube boot camp will be my assignment for two weeks. I'm excited and looking forward to learning how to improve my channel content.
Let's see how this goes... Lights! Camera! ACTION!*
So without further ado...
* Lighting will be so-so for a while; camera, it's just one of those point-and-shoot ones; and as for the action, I'll try my best.
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Happiness From My Fridge
While I sat at my computer just now, hoping to think up something to write about tonight, I remembered there are delicious leftovers in the fridge. So, if you will excuse me, this blog post is getting put on the back-burner so that I can get up to heat up some rice, beans, and shredded meat to make myself a burrito. Yay, me!
Monday, June 8, 2015
Rock... Hard Place...
Dammit, rock... hard place... CUT ME SOME SLACK ALL READY. Today's dilemma: One vehicle + brake problems + cost for parts + cheap mechanic w/ no prior experience in auto repair + one hands-off, disagreeable, husband = YOU DO NOT WISH TO SWITCH PLACES WITH ME TODAY. Or, pretty much, any day, really.
Made the call and asked my sister for phone number of reliable mechanic... her step-daughter who just became certified in auto repair in Spring. She's on her way over and should be here within 15 minutes. *whew*
Made the call and asked my sister for phone number of reliable mechanic... her step-daughter who just became certified in auto repair in Spring. She's on her way over and should be here within 15 minutes. *whew*
Sunday, June 7, 2015
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Early Start
Sunday mornings mean getting up early to arrive at mom's apartment as close to 7:00 am as possible. As her prescription medication manager, my job is to keep her health in check by making sure she's receiving optimal results from meds. Her last lab results, and subsequent bone scan, indicated osteoporosis - when bones become weak and brittle.
Osteoporosis is just one of those conditions that an elderly person must have treated to relieve pain and weakness. In mom's case, emergency room visits for sudden severe flu like symptoms, fever, shakiness and pain, did not offer any clues. A fracture from a fall would have been one way osteoporosis would have been clearly diagnosed, but we've been lucky mom hasn't taken a bad fall.
Sorting out what was causing mom discomfort hasn't been easy. A problem we have is poor communication, or more aptly, comprehension. Mom leaves out important details that would be helpful to my sister and me during the times that she needs medical attention, emergency or otherwise. It's until late night that she thinks is when she has no option but to call one of us to let us know she isn't feeling well, even though onset of symptoms occur hours, or even days, earlier. There is also the serious issue with mom not recognizing the importance of self-care and need to follow doctor's advice. Throw in her thinking she can treat whatever symptoms and ailments on her own, first, with a good ol' home remedy, and dear lord, wish us all luck.
So, this is how it's been for me with mom since returning to California. A process... and not an easy one. We've arrived at a point where we must be physically present to make sure she takes the majority of daily prescribed medications. She's on her own with AM meds that must be taken on an empty stomach, and again at night, when we know we can trust her to take her bedtime meds, because she obsesses about needing to take her anxiety pill. This all leaves me to arrive in time to dispense morning mealtime meds, then return to dole out lunchtime meds, and finally, either my sister or I will drive over to mom's place give her dinnertime meds and leave bedtime and AM doses... Every. Day. Of. The. Week.
Which leads us to Saturday night, when I usually stay up past midnight. Tonight I'm tired; it's been a tough day. I'm more than ready to hit the sack, but I still have pans from dinner to scrub. It's also been the first full week in trial run of this new protocol for managing mom's care. I also do majority of monthly grocery shopping for mom first week each month, so that's another thing on my must-do list. But, back to osteoporosis. Mom has begun treatment for it, so last Sunday was her first time taking new meds. Which for me, means an early start.
Good night.
Osteoporosis is just one of those conditions that an elderly person must have treated to relieve pain and weakness. In mom's case, emergency room visits for sudden severe flu like symptoms, fever, shakiness and pain, did not offer any clues. A fracture from a fall would have been one way osteoporosis would have been clearly diagnosed, but we've been lucky mom hasn't taken a bad fall.
Sorting out what was causing mom discomfort hasn't been easy. A problem we have is poor communication, or more aptly, comprehension. Mom leaves out important details that would be helpful to my sister and me during the times that she needs medical attention, emergency or otherwise. It's until late night that she thinks is when she has no option but to call one of us to let us know she isn't feeling well, even though onset of symptoms occur hours, or even days, earlier. There is also the serious issue with mom not recognizing the importance of self-care and need to follow doctor's advice. Throw in her thinking she can treat whatever symptoms and ailments on her own, first, with a good ol' home remedy, and dear lord, wish us all luck.
So, this is how it's been for me with mom since returning to California. A process... and not an easy one. We've arrived at a point where we must be physically present to make sure she takes the majority of daily prescribed medications. She's on her own with AM meds that must be taken on an empty stomach, and again at night, when we know we can trust her to take her bedtime meds, because she obsesses about needing to take her anxiety pill. This all leaves me to arrive in time to dispense morning mealtime meds, then return to dole out lunchtime meds, and finally, either my sister or I will drive over to mom's place give her dinnertime meds and leave bedtime and AM doses... Every. Day. Of. The. Week.
Which leads us to Saturday night, when I usually stay up past midnight. Tonight I'm tired; it's been a tough day. I'm more than ready to hit the sack, but I still have pans from dinner to scrub. It's also been the first full week in trial run of this new protocol for managing mom's care. I also do majority of monthly grocery shopping for mom first week each month, so that's another thing on my must-do list. But, back to osteoporosis. Mom has begun treatment for it, so last Sunday was her first time taking new meds. Which for me, means an early start.
Good night.
Friday, June 5, 2015
Done!
It is always a good week when it ends like this...
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| Chapter Closes Image by L. Carilo, June 2015 |
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Pomp & Circumstance
Today was Kid 3's high school graduation ceremony, but as I've mentioned on this blog, my Facebook and Twitter feeds, we decided to pass on attending the outdoor event. I'll take my daughter to pick up her diploma tomorrow morning, then maybe her sister, brother and I can go out for a nice celebratory lunch at one of her favorite restaurants; maybe Panera. We'll see.
So, now we have arrived at official college saving and monetary gift fundraising phase... on top of summer job hunting for Kid 2 & Kid 3. As well as continued efforts by Dad and Brother to find 2nd jobs. It's wonderful that our college girls received generous scholarships that make it possible for us to help them with small tuition balances. Our problem is that recent search for new rental requiring immediate move-in has left us with very little budget for anything else, the idea of becoming homeless again so soon was unsettling. We are now faced with having to make available nearly three weeks worth of my husband's pay to go toward monthly rent payments. Our household budget is beyond tight... must be able to afford monthly supply of prescription medications, so lots of .19 cents ramen noodle soups and cheap frozen burritos stock our shelves and refrigerator.
Summer break is officially on, and the crunch is on. Upcoming expenses include yearly salon haircuts for the girls, twice yearly haircut for Bookstore Boy. My girls need new computers and dorm essentials. Eye exams and new glasses are needed family-wide. Kid 2 currently has on her must-have list appropriate attire for when she begins student-teaching in the Fall. Kid 3's wish list has basic college apparel for when she lives in a much colder climate - we donated all our winter gear when we left Colorado. I'm stressed about how much of these needs may not be met. But hopeful yard sales may bring in a few dollars.
Kid 3 is hoping to sell some of her sketch work, and she's trying her hand at watercolors. Her sister is knitting scarves to try to sell, so we'll see how that goes. Time to start researching how to set up online store to put items up for sale.
This is a sample of type of artwork we hope to post on store:
If there is any interest please inquire via gmail (.) com account: thisisfiftywithlil
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
So, now we have arrived at official college saving and monetary gift fundraising phase... on top of summer job hunting for Kid 2 & Kid 3. As well as continued efforts by Dad and Brother to find 2nd jobs. It's wonderful that our college girls received generous scholarships that make it possible for us to help them with small tuition balances. Our problem is that recent search for new rental requiring immediate move-in has left us with very little budget for anything else, the idea of becoming homeless again so soon was unsettling. We are now faced with having to make available nearly three weeks worth of my husband's pay to go toward monthly rent payments. Our household budget is beyond tight... must be able to afford monthly supply of prescription medications, so lots of .19 cents ramen noodle soups and cheap frozen burritos stock our shelves and refrigerator.
Summer break is officially on, and the crunch is on. Upcoming expenses include yearly salon haircuts for the girls, twice yearly haircut for Bookstore Boy. My girls need new computers and dorm essentials. Eye exams and new glasses are needed family-wide. Kid 2 currently has on her must-have list appropriate attire for when she begins student-teaching in the Fall. Kid 3's wish list has basic college apparel for when she lives in a much colder climate - we donated all our winter gear when we left Colorado. I'm stressed about how much of these needs may not be met. But hopeful yard sales may bring in a few dollars.
Kid 3 is hoping to sell some of her sketch work, and she's trying her hand at watercolors. Her sister is knitting scarves to try to sell, so we'll see how that goes. Time to start researching how to set up online store to put items up for sale.
This is a sample of type of artwork we hope to post on store:
 |
| First Flowers watercolors by E. Carilo June 2015 |
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
My Last Day
Today is my last day of being a mom to school-age children. Tomorrow is graduation day for my youngest child and we are all in agreement to skip out on the ceremony part of it. If you lived where we do you'd understand - we live in the Southern California desert. If your kids have moved around (we've lived in four states - one in the middle of the Pacific Ocean - and returned to the state where all three kids were born) and changed schools as much as my kids have you'd know exactly where my youngest was coming from - all her closest schoolmates graduated a couple of weeks ago in Colorado. Sometimes, for some people, there are certain things or events where sentimentality is lost completely. Our girl held up her end of the bargain... did brilliantly, even under the worst of circumstance. She's worked diligently to get high marks in school and will be leaving home for college in the Fall. We could not be more thrilled for her. We are in awe at her ability to persevere, remain focused and determined to do her best in school. We, in turn, will honor her wishes and not force her to walk across a stage in a hundred degree temps. She'll pick up her diploma on Friday, we'll go out to dinner someplace special, just the five of us, and close the book on The School Years.
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| Image by L Carilo, 1998 Home School |
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Let's Go Summer 2015!
Go? Where! I'm not planning on going anywhere. Wait, I went to take an afternoon nap today; slept for just over five hours! Who does that!? Me, actually, but usually earlier in the day. Like, on a bad day health-wise, when I return home from driving people to school and work, I'll tuck back into my awaiting unmade bed. But, in all fairness, I have to be really sick to sleep five hours; normal is more like three hours, tops. That's right, sometimes my body needs a few hours in the morning to recover from sleep and early morning drives around town. It's the worst during summer.
Summer is all about get-togethers, and on social media these events come in the form of conventions. For example, BlogHer - a blogging network community where I share my blog posts - posted this NaBloPoMo prompt for June 2:
"Are you going to the BlogHer conference in July? What part are you most excited about? What are your fears?"
Yeah, no, I will not be going. But, it's in NYC, me! I'd love to visit NYC... but not in July. Also, I'm not much of a writer, much less a mover and a shaker in the blogging world. So, yes, I think it would be kinda cool to attend the BlogHer Conference, however, I fear, there is no budget for this type of travel. That said, I'd put going this Summer on my wish list.
More conferences I wish finances would allow me the chance to attend with my kids this Summer:
Summer is all about get-togethers, and on social media these events come in the form of conventions. For example, BlogHer - a blogging network community where I share my blog posts - posted this NaBloPoMo prompt for June 2:
"Are you going to the BlogHer conference in July? What part are you most excited about? What are your fears?"
Yeah, no, I will not be going. But, it's in NYC, me! I'd love to visit NYC... but not in July. Also, I'm not much of a writer, much less a mover and a shaker in the blogging world. So, yes, I think it would be kinda cool to attend the BlogHer Conference, however, I fear, there is no budget for this type of travel. That said, I'd put going this Summer on my wish list.
More conferences I wish finances would allow me the chance to attend with my kids this Summer:
- VidCon... yup. It's in July too, and I don't care if I'm an oldster among an ocean of youth-tubers, seeing some of my favorite YouTube creators would be pretty great.
- SDCC... San Diego Comic Con, for those living under a rock. Anywhere some nerd named Chris Hardwick can be found in the wild, actually.
- LeakyCon... which, I just discovered is now dubbed GeekyCon!? Whaaat?? This is a problem; I don't handle change well. Anyway, I love all things Harry Potter. So, duh, I'd want to go to this event.
I get tired just thinking about it. Nap time, anyone?
Monday, June 1, 2015
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