The New Blog Rules

Blogging has been cathartic for me over the years, but it's ballooned into a big thing. It's important, but I don't think I can sustain the rate I used to post at. I had to make an epic comeback this summer and now I'm a little burned out on the process! I'd like to spend some time trying to write fiction and there's only so much writing juice I have. 

Since I caught up, I feel fine redefining the rules (If I hadn't caught up, it would've felt like quitting!).

The new blog rules are as follows:

1. I'm going to run a week behind.

2. I'm going to post two or three times a week.

The goal would be to write one "Week in Review" type of post detailing everything that happens. By doing it a week later, I'll have the advantage of some hindsight to see how things thread together. 

The other post(s) could be anything. I've thought about writing some of my parenting philosophy. Maybe Shane can look back at in one day and say, "Ooooh! That's why!" (especially since he's not always Mr. Observant right now!). I'm hoping I won't screw raising Shane up too badly and maybe some of things will help him when he's a parent himself (I want grandkids! Lots!).

Or I've thought about doing an "Important People" post. There are a lot of important people who don't get a lot of post time. Most of my posts are Shane centered, but there's a lot more going on in the family other than cousins!

There could be other ideas, too. If I get inspired and write a bunch of posts one week, so be it! I like writing, so this is more about lowering my expectations/obligations when there are lots of other more important things going on. 

Fishing with Grandpa 2.0 - CANCELLED

Fishing with Grandpa got cancelled. The weather was bad and there was a small craft advisory for sailing. Shane didn't get to catch his flounder.

Instead, he spent a day in the VA Beach area with Grandpa. 

Timeline: 

• Carrie drove Shane down on Thursday. Shane left with Grandpa for the beach area. Carrie stayed and worked with Grandma all day. I worked on the blog and some house chores.
• Friday, Shane and Grandpa spent the day in VA Beach. At night, they went home and watched a lot of The Mandalorian with Grandma. I blogged. Carrie worked.
• Saturday, Carrie went to pick up Shane. He really thought he was going to Nana and Pop's Sunday...but that wasn't the plan! They had Matt and Renee's kids and we were scheduled for Monday.

I don't have a lot of pictures, because I don't. If Shane did bring home the flounder to eat, there would have been many!

I did get Shane to play a 2nd set of rounds of Spirit Island with me. I understand the way the game works much better now, but I don't think I'll manage to get him to play it again. He loves the theme and imaging things, but what he really wants is something really fast so that he can play Roblox games online and narrate his every thought to whoever he's on the phone with. (Usually a cousin and usually Slap Battles). 

Carrie's been re-evaluating all sorts of things. She was looking for something, so I started poking around some myself. I found a box of old photos in the garage I figured she'd find interesting.

She pulled out a bunch of photos and even handed me a few...including someone I knew! I meant to take Shane and catch up this summer, but it never happened.

Looking at these pictures, I'm realizing my first thought was wrong: These aren't all from after the fishing trip. The photos and Spirit Island were from before. I spent Thursday or Friday assembling the desk Carrie bought for me.

I spent a lot of time listening to an audiobook and cleaning (Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi). 

Aria came up to the house to visit me a couple of times. She seems pretty happy outside. Tsuki comes up to the house more asking to become a housecat again (Sorry, Tsukes! I was surprised Carrie was so quick to shift you outside, but I'm a-okay you're there!). 

I worked on weeding Friday (Audiobooks make menial labor better). We had a bag of peat moss sprout Japanese stiltgrass (Weeds! They grow everywhere!).

I drove to the new convenience center and cleared out a ton of recycling as well (It really is convenient!).

This was always supposed to be a catch up week for me, on the blog, on the house, just life in general.

Shane came back by Saturday afternoon. He played with Legos instead of packing.

I took him to the library to get some books for the car ride. He usually complains about going. Then we get there, and he plays with stray cats.

And when we get back home, he sits in the car reading. 

It gets hot fast. Sometimes, he'll be out there long enough I go back to make sure he didn't pass out.

Currently, Shane's working on the My Hero Academia manga. I'd prefer for him to read actual books, but comics are better than nothing. I picked up some volumes of Love is War (super goofy comedy) to show him something new, but he was so embarrassed "Love" was in the title. He didn't want to be seen returning them and asked if I'd do it for him ("Nope.")! 

Shane had to do some catch-up Duolingo since he didn't do any while at Grandpa and Grandma's. Honestly, he's plateaued. We haven't had any Sunny lessons for a little bit with all the traveling and summer plans (We need to sign up again). Shane hasn't pushed himself and mainly does it as an obligation. That's...fine. If he was motivated, he'd find ways and places to use it, but he's not. I'd prefer for him to watch anime in Japanese or show more interest, but it's at least a tool for building discipline. 

Carrie crashed on the couch early. She used to do that all the time, but it's been rare this year.

I let Shane take the phone and watch One Piece in his room to keep things quieter for her. 

Carrie woke up long enough to permit me to give Boomer hay. I had to promise to do no other work. She's been dead-set against me doing any work in the barn.

I got to see the resurrected rabbit and the barn cats while I was out. Shane still hasn't seen Hopkins! There was a close call where he saw "something that looked like Hopkins" when Carrie was backing out with him to go to Grandma's, but he didn't make the connection.

The cats were both friendly. As stated earlier, Aria seems to prefer the barn life. Tsuki wants to be a part timer at best.

Sunday was "Move up" day for the kid's programs. Shane got to welcome the new 6th grades to Youth Group! He was playing Switch when I came to collect him. There was a pool party later in the day, too!

I dropped Shane off right on time. He'd been "meh" when I first mentioned it, but was eager the day of (swimming + people = FUN! It was nice I didn't have to convince him this time).

I dropped by a coffee shop in Fluvanna a few miles down the road. The party was a couple of hours and it was almost half an hour home, so I stayed near by. I didn't think there'd be any drama, but it's less likely to happen when you're available (The Rule of Irony). I drove around a little to explore, but spent most of my time reading. 

It started to storm minutes before I picked Shane up! He came running out through the downpour, but he'd been in the pool anyway. He was proud, because everyone took shelter in the barn when they first heard thunder/lightning. He got to show off his horse knowledge when some girls mistook a mare for a gelding ("And then it started to pee!").

Shane was in a great mood when we got home. He'd gotten to be social all morning and he was looking forward to driving to SC on Monday! He sat down next to me with the Duoslime and told me all about it when I was trying to blog, heh.

I normally just let him talk. He's that social.

I'll throw up a pair of posts about our trip to SC next. I had so many pictures, I broke it in two.

The Cat Revolution

The Aria vs Pip situation hasn't improved.

He huddles on and around Carrie for protection whenever he's out of the bedroom.

He'll even drop by Shane! That might be because he likes food, though.

The only cat Pip isn't terrified of is Happy.

He annoyed Happy out of Carrie's lap and assumed her place much to Carrie's amusement here.

All the calming collar has done has raised Aria's appreciation of neck scritches. She still runs to me whenever I sit or lay down anywhere. 

She ran to the cat carrier when I brought it out Monday. 

She hissed as Carrie put her into it. On Genevieve's suggestion, Carrie took Aria to the vet to see if there was any sort of calming medicine for her (Cat Prozac!). 

Both vets she talked to said, "Sounds like a barn cat."

Aria was supposed to originally be a barn cat, but I was surprised by how quickly Carrie decided to go for it (Especially when they came inside, because she was worried about them being out there!). They're no longer kittens, so they're probably too big to be a hawk snack now.

It was a faster change than I expected and it caught me off guard, but it made sense. We'd broached the topic before.

And Aria seems to love it.

She runs up to Carrie whenever she's in the barn.

I made Shane go on a walk with the dogs and we when we came by the barn, Carrie was sitting there with Aria.

Aria wasn't thrilled the dogs were visiting, but she was all sorts of lovely to even Shane!

I've seen Aria in the door or roaming around while Carrie does morning chores. 

She even chased off Kila when Kila got too playful! Shane acts a little mopey that Aria "has to be in the barn," but by all accounts it looks like Aria loves it. She hasn't come on the deck or asked to come back in the house at all.

Tsuki, on the other hand, isn't so sure she wants to be outside.

Carrie keeps surprising me lately. Tsuki enjoyed being the house queen for a couple of days. 

Shane kept calling me over to show me how she burrowed here.

He wanted to make sure I got a picture!

With Aria gone, Tsuki started chasing Pip around instead. She'd chased him before, but usually stopped short of actually whacking him. Carrie and I were sitting at the table and talking and we both saw Tsuki put Pip in his place. It wasn't as violent as Aria, but Carrie said you're not supposed to have lone barn cats. They need another cat to be social with and suddenly we had two barn cats!

Tsuki started with Aria in the barn. They've always been okay with each other, but Tsuki is less sure she wants to be outside. She's come up on the porch and meowed. Shane, who doesn't want either cat outside, opened the door and let her in once to Carrie's displeasure.

Tsuki was super affectionate when I went out on the back porch. She rubbed all over me and I walked her down to the barn. She was still friendly, but gave a little hiss when Aria came out for some love, too. They're still figuring things out.

So we're down to two houses inside.

Pip started off unsure. He'd still camp behind the couch or near the bedroom door. He asks to get in constantly despite Carrie's prohibition.

He's adjusted since. He's always liked Happy, but now he won't leave her be!

He's ready to play at all times (no matter how clearly she says, "Knock it off!"

He runs right behind her wherever she goes.

And when she leaves...

...he follows!

He's lucky Happy is so tolerant! She's the most laid back cat I've ever seen.

Shane brought out Bunsen to try and start some trouble.

The rabbit pooped on the couch.

It was before Pip tried to wrestle him, but that probably didn't help.

I made Shane pick up the mess and return Bunsen to his cage after a little while. Pip wasn't trying to hurt Bunsen, but I can't imagine that was pleasant for the bun.

So Pip is a mainstay in the main area now. He gets around, but you still have to check behind you whenever you near the bedroom door. He'll dash in if you're not careful (and then he'll hide under the bed to make it hard to get him back out!).

So...lots of changes around here in a short time. We're down 2 cats and 1 rabbit in the house. I'll fight to keep the dogs, but, frankly, they could use a bath!