Tax season is in full swing and I don't know if I will ever again see the light of day, but this was too cute not to share...
This past week Conor has been learning about sugar and how it affects your teeth. He was asking Tom if various foods contained sugar - the last one he asked was banana. Tom responded that bananas have fructose, which is a form of sugar. Well, this started a whole new set of questions about foods containing fructose and sucrose. The next day, Conor comes home and starts asking if different foods contain, no not sugar, but fructose or sucrose. He now also knows lactose...
I want to be the fly on the wall when he is in the lunch line and asks the lunch lady, "Does this have fructose, sucrose or lactose in it?"
We are in soooo much trouble!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Saturday, November 3, 2007
An Interesting Visit to the Doctor...
I went to see my doctor Friday morning for a follow up visit and he told me the following story. I thought it was so funny, I had to share…
Dr Nowell had taken vacations to the beach before, but always to the gulf coast of Florida where the sand is white and fluffy and easy to play with. This year he, his family, and his parents decided to go to Hilton Head, which is on the east coast, where the sand is hard packed and brown, which is more difficult to play with. This is a very good upstanding family who are rather conservative and his parents own a large pharmacy just outside of Knoxville. Dr Nowell and his father are both pharmacists, and Dr Nowell later went back to school to become an osteopathic physician, (he is licensed and practices like an MD though their training has a bit different approach and focus to health and wellness).
They weren’t expecting the difference in the sand, so didn’t have shovels and buckets that would work. So, early Monday morning his parents went to Home Depot to get two heavy duty shovels, which were appropriate for digging a garden, but overkill for the beach. They would lug the shovels down to the beach and back, keeping them in the corner next to the door of their room.
They had a wonderful day on the beach and about 3:00 they were back in their room getting ready to go to dinner at a restaurant where they had to do more than knock the sand off their shoes. As everyone knows, hotels have to have the handicap bars in the showers, and the top support of the bar is about eye level to someone just under 6 feet tall. So, Dr Nowell was in the shower, when he shook his head to get the water off his face, when he hit the top edge of the handicap bar support just above his eyebrow and put a gash a little over an inch long in his forehead that went all the way to the bone. As is rather common for a facial cut, he couldn’t get it to stop bleeding, and because it was mixed with the water in the shower, it looked like there was much more blood than there really was.
His family was handing him towel after towel and everything else they could think of to stop the bleeding, which they finally did, but not before there was blood all over the place. The thought going through Dr Nowell’s mind is “great, now I have to go to the ER, just what I wanted to do“, when he remembers a buddy of his that interned with him has recently moved to the area, so he calls him. Dr Nowell asks him if he can bring a suture kit to the hotel, and invites him to bring his family to dinner:
“Um, Walker, I am a Cardiologist, I don’t know how to do sutures…”
“That’s okay, I’ll teach you…”
So his buddy brings a suture kit and his family to the hotel. The gather every moveable light in the room around a chair in front of a mirror and start exchanging light bulbs so they have the brightest ones in the lights around the mirror. They send everyone else to the restaurant to wait on a table and say they will join them as soon as they can get his head sutured.
They start the process and about half way through, they hit another little vein, and blood spurts all over the mirror, which his buddy goes to clean up in the middle of the procedure:
“Noooo, you’re sterile, we’ll clean it up afterwards!”
So they keep suturing. They get the last suture almost finished and the phone rings – their table is ready and they have to get down there now. They finish and put a bandage on it, and go to dinner.
When they come back to the room, there are about a half a dozen people in their room:
“Ummm, can we help you – you are in our room?”
About this time they realize that the people in the room are from housekeeping, security and management, when they look around and realize what the room looks like…
Blood (mixed with water) everywhere, all over towels and the mirror, a chair with all the lights around it in front of the mirror with lightbulbs laying on the counters, and two shovels in the corner with sand all over them… Needless to say, the maid was a bit concerned when she walked in to turn down the beds!
At this point, I am laughing so hard that I don’t remember the rest, but since he is not sitting in a jail cell, I assume they were able to explain what happened to the hotel’s satisfaction…
Dr Nowell had taken vacations to the beach before, but always to the gulf coast of Florida where the sand is white and fluffy and easy to play with. This year he, his family, and his parents decided to go to Hilton Head, which is on the east coast, where the sand is hard packed and brown, which is more difficult to play with. This is a very good upstanding family who are rather conservative and his parents own a large pharmacy just outside of Knoxville. Dr Nowell and his father are both pharmacists, and Dr Nowell later went back to school to become an osteopathic physician, (he is licensed and practices like an MD though their training has a bit different approach and focus to health and wellness).
They weren’t expecting the difference in the sand, so didn’t have shovels and buckets that would work. So, early Monday morning his parents went to Home Depot to get two heavy duty shovels, which were appropriate for digging a garden, but overkill for the beach. They would lug the shovels down to the beach and back, keeping them in the corner next to the door of their room.
They had a wonderful day on the beach and about 3:00 they were back in their room getting ready to go to dinner at a restaurant where they had to do more than knock the sand off their shoes. As everyone knows, hotels have to have the handicap bars in the showers, and the top support of the bar is about eye level to someone just under 6 feet tall. So, Dr Nowell was in the shower, when he shook his head to get the water off his face, when he hit the top edge of the handicap bar support just above his eyebrow and put a gash a little over an inch long in his forehead that went all the way to the bone. As is rather common for a facial cut, he couldn’t get it to stop bleeding, and because it was mixed with the water in the shower, it looked like there was much more blood than there really was.
His family was handing him towel after towel and everything else they could think of to stop the bleeding, which they finally did, but not before there was blood all over the place. The thought going through Dr Nowell’s mind is “great, now I have to go to the ER, just what I wanted to do“, when he remembers a buddy of his that interned with him has recently moved to the area, so he calls him. Dr Nowell asks him if he can bring a suture kit to the hotel, and invites him to bring his family to dinner:
“Um, Walker, I am a Cardiologist, I don’t know how to do sutures…”
“That’s okay, I’ll teach you…”
So his buddy brings a suture kit and his family to the hotel. The gather every moveable light in the room around a chair in front of a mirror and start exchanging light bulbs so they have the brightest ones in the lights around the mirror. They send everyone else to the restaurant to wait on a table and say they will join them as soon as they can get his head sutured.
They start the process and about half way through, they hit another little vein, and blood spurts all over the mirror, which his buddy goes to clean up in the middle of the procedure:
“Noooo, you’re sterile, we’ll clean it up afterwards!”
So they keep suturing. They get the last suture almost finished and the phone rings – their table is ready and they have to get down there now. They finish and put a bandage on it, and go to dinner.
When they come back to the room, there are about a half a dozen people in their room:
“Ummm, can we help you – you are in our room?”
About this time they realize that the people in the room are from housekeeping, security and management, when they look around and realize what the room looks like…
Blood (mixed with water) everywhere, all over towels and the mirror, a chair with all the lights around it in front of the mirror with lightbulbs laying on the counters, and two shovels in the corner with sand all over them… Needless to say, the maid was a bit concerned when she walked in to turn down the beds!
At this point, I am laughing so hard that I don’t remember the rest, but since he is not sitting in a jail cell, I assume they were able to explain what happened to the hotel’s satisfaction…
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Conor's New Bed
We bought Conor a new bed this weekend... or at least that's what he thought it was last night... he had gotten really quiet when we went looking for him... here's where we found him (the pics aren't that great, but you get the idea):
Okay, maybe its not really his new bed... it's our new car! We have been researching vehicles for a few months now, and it has been a rather trying process at times. Tom may only be 6'2", but he has short legs and a long torso - a torso that measures the same as the average 6'5" - 6'8" person. Cars that he can sit comfortably in and that don't get the gas mileage equivalent of an M1 A1 Abrams Tank are few and far between, but we finally found one. And, we new it was the right one because the car we are trading in on it has a full tank of gas (every time we trade a car for a new one or when it finally becomes undriveable it has a full tank of gas).
It's a 2006 Mitsubishi Endeavor AWD with about 15K miles. It has plenty of room, lots of gadgets and gizmos (the only thing that I really wanted that it doesn't have is memory seats, but since its big enough for Tom, there won't be much adjusting anyway!), and very comfortable - even the back, as is evidenced by Conor above.
Better pictures of it, from the dealer's website:
Okay, maybe its not really his new bed... it's our new car! We have been researching vehicles for a few months now, and it has been a rather trying process at times. Tom may only be 6'2", but he has short legs and a long torso - a torso that measures the same as the average 6'5" - 6'8" person. Cars that he can sit comfortably in and that don't get the gas mileage equivalent of an M1 A1 Abrams Tank are few and far between, but we finally found one. And, we new it was the right one because the car we are trading in on it has a full tank of gas (every time we trade a car for a new one or when it finally becomes undriveable it has a full tank of gas).
It's a 2006 Mitsubishi Endeavor AWD with about 15K miles. It has plenty of room, lots of gadgets and gizmos (the only thing that I really wanted that it doesn't have is memory seats, but since its big enough for Tom, there won't be much adjusting anyway!), and very comfortable - even the back, as is evidenced by Conor above.
Better pictures of it, from the dealer's website:
I PASSED!!
Finally, the studying is over for now! I passed the third and final section of the EA exam. Well, now I have to pass a background check, which takes a couple months (hopefully they don't find anything that I don't know about?!), and then they tell me that I can speak to them about more clients' problems. And, just in time for tax season... Watch out IRS!
Anyway, the books were put away and the following day I started two days of training on the 2007 law (the exam was over 2006 law, and for 2007 they changed things that I just learned about - go figure!).
The CPA exam is next, though not for a little while - that will take much more studying and after being out of school since 1992, it may even take auditing a few classes at UTK.
Check out my next post (Conor's New Bed) to see how we celebrated this weekend...
Anyway, the books were put away and the following day I started two days of training on the 2007 law (the exam was over 2006 law, and for 2007 they changed things that I just learned about - go figure!).
The CPA exam is next, though not for a little while - that will take much more studying and after being out of school since 1992, it may even take auditing a few classes at UTK.
Check out my next post (Conor's New Bed) to see how we celebrated this weekend...
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Thirteen Days and Counting...
Conor is also starting a new phase in his life... Kindergarten! And, boy is he excited! We don't talk about it much because he wants to go to school now!
When Tom took Conor for immunizations, he wasn't going to let the nurse get close to him until Tom told him that he had to have the shots to be allowed to start school. He sat still for all four shots and only cried a little. How's that for being excited about starting school?!
Conor will be the first class of Kindergarteners in the brand new building at Cedar Bluff Primary. Next year, it will become Cedar Bluff Elementary when they will add 3rd through 5th grades. They have to tear down the current primary school to build the rest of the school, so K through 2nd grades will have the new school all to themselves the first year.
http://kcs2.knox.k12tn.net/kcs2/profiles/FMPro?-db=schoolprofiles.fp5&-format=main.htm&-lay=main&-sortfield=school&type=P&-max=100&-recid=115&-find=)
When Tom took Conor for immunizations, he wasn't going to let the nurse get close to him until Tom told him that he had to have the shots to be allowed to start school. He sat still for all four shots and only cried a little. How's that for being excited about starting school?!
Conor will be the first class of Kindergarteners in the brand new building at Cedar Bluff Primary. Next year, it will become Cedar Bluff Elementary when they will add 3rd through 5th grades. They have to tear down the current primary school to build the rest of the school, so K through 2nd grades will have the new school all to themselves the first year.
http://kcs2.knox.k12tn.net/kcs2/profiles/FMPro?-db=schoolprofiles.fp5&-format=main.htm&-lay=main&-sortfield=school&type=P&-max=100&-recid=115&-find=)
Instead of starting all of the kindergarteners at the same time, Knox County has "Staggered Days" the first two weeks where kindergarteners only go one day each week during the first two weeks of school in small groups of four or five per class. Conor's first two days of school are Monday, August 13th and Friday, August 17th, and then on Thursday, August 23rd, he starts going every day. Yes, I know it looks like he goes to school two days one week and then starts at the end of the next week, but since school starts on Thursday, the weeks go from Thursday to Wednesday, (don't ask me, it doesn't make a lot of sense to me to start school on Thursday, though I am sure there is some rationale for it).
We are so excited, (though sad because it means he's not our little boy anymore) to see Conor start school - he is sooo ready to take on the new and exciting challenges of school!
Nine Days and Counting...
Liesel is starting a new phase in her life in 9 days... High School!
Liesel will be attending Karns high school (http://www.karns-hs.knox.k12tn.net/) and will be taking four classes each semester. She will start with World Geography, Accelerated Algebra I, Air Force Junior ROTC (AFJROTC), and English I. After Christmas break she will have Honors Biology I, Keyboarding/Keyboarding Applications, AFJROTC, and Latin I. She has enjoyed summer break, but told another teenager the other day that she likes school and is ready for it to start.
And, for those of you who are worried about her joining the military because she is taking AFJROTC, this is taken directly from the school's website:
"a curriculum designed to help each student achieve the following goals: (1) Develop habits of orderliness, precision, and respect for authority in our society, (2) Instill patriotism, (3) Develop a high degree of personal honor, self-reliance, individual discipline, and leadership, (4) Instill pride, self-respect, confidence, and a desire to do one's best in any endeavor, and (5) Promote a basic understanding of national security requirements and the role of the armed service in the national defense structure. ... Mission: “Develop citizens of character dedicated to serving their nation and community”. ... Cadets are not official members of the US military and incur no military commitment by participating in AFJROTC."
Liesel has long been fascinated with airplanes, and has a sincere interest in flight and aerospace studies. She is excited about the opportunity she has to learn about them in high school. We are excited for her to learn these things, as well as the five goals listed above. There are too many kids (and people in general) who don't truly understand what patriotism, honor, and discipline are, and who don't really understand the role of our armed forces. We are proud of her! At this point in her life, she would like to become a nurse, and, if she decides that she wants to combine her interest in nursing with serving our country in the military, we will support her 110 percent.
Liesel will be attending Karns high school (http://www.karns-hs.knox.k12tn.net/) and will be taking four classes each semester. She will start with World Geography, Accelerated Algebra I, Air Force Junior ROTC (AFJROTC), and English I. After Christmas break she will have Honors Biology I, Keyboarding/Keyboarding Applications, AFJROTC, and Latin I. She has enjoyed summer break, but told another teenager the other day that she likes school and is ready for it to start.
And, for those of you who are worried about her joining the military because she is taking AFJROTC, this is taken directly from the school's website:
"a curriculum designed to help each student achieve the following goals: (1) Develop habits of orderliness, precision, and respect for authority in our society, (2) Instill patriotism, (3) Develop a high degree of personal honor, self-reliance, individual discipline, and leadership, (4) Instill pride, self-respect, confidence, and a desire to do one's best in any endeavor, and (5) Promote a basic understanding of national security requirements and the role of the armed service in the national defense structure. ... Mission: “Develop citizens of character dedicated to serving their nation and community”. ... Cadets are not official members of the US military and incur no military commitment by participating in AFJROTC."
Liesel has long been fascinated with airplanes, and has a sincere interest in flight and aerospace studies. She is excited about the opportunity she has to learn about them in high school. We are excited for her to learn these things, as well as the five goals listed above. There are too many kids (and people in general) who don't truly understand what patriotism, honor, and discipline are, and who don't really understand the role of our armed forces. We are proud of her! At this point in her life, she would like to become a nurse, and, if she decides that she wants to combine her interest in nursing with serving our country in the military, we will support her 110 percent.
Conor's Subway Experience
The other day we went to Subway for dinner. This is one of their long and skinny restaurants, where the booths are all up front and the restrooms are in the back.
The employee (EE), who couldn't have been out of high school, asks Conor what he wants.
"I want bread," pointing to a picture of wheat bread that the employee can't see.
Me: "He wants a six inch wheat bread."
EE: "What do you want on your bread?"
Conor: "Butter."
EE: "Uummmm... we don't have butter, how about turkey, ham, cheese..."
Conor: "Okay."
Me: "Turkey, ham and cheese?"
Conor: "Yes."
EE: "Do you want anything else on it?"
Conor: "Yes, ketchup."
We decided to eat there so we took our food and sat in one of the booths at the very front of the restaurant. Conor needed to go potty, so Liesel took him to the back and waited for him. "Mr Independent" has to go into the restroom by himself, and since its a one-holer, we let him. He goes in and locks the lock on the door knob as well as the sliding lock above it, (the industrial looking ones that establishments put on the door when the regular lock breaks).
Conor finishes, washes his hands, unlocks the door knob lock and tries to open the door. The next thing I hear is Conor banging on the door as hard as he can and screaming at the top of his voice "Let go of the door!"
Everyone in the restaurant, including the employees, turns around and looks at me, at the same time I look at Liesel, who is standing in the hallway outside the door, cracking up but looking totally innocent.
Me: "Liesel, let go of that door and let him out!"
Liesel, backing up against the wall with her hands up as if someone had shoved a gun in her back: "I'm not touching the door!"
Everyone is still looking at me while Liesel is dying laughing trying to tell Conor between bangs and screams to unlock the top lock. He can't hear her and thinks she is still holding the door...
I go back to the restrooms, tell Liesel to go back up front, Conor is still screaming and banging, and now I am trying to tell him to calm down and unlock the top lock.
EE to the rescue... EE goes into women's room, removes ceiling panel, climbs into ceiling, and starts to remove ceiling panel over men's room, when Conor finally realizes the top lock is still locked.
Conor unlocks the top lock, opens door, walks out and calmly says, "I got it." EE replaces ceiling tile, climbs out of ceiling, replaces other ceiling tile, and goes back to work, laughing the entire time...
From now on, I think we are going to order our food To-Go...
The employee (EE), who couldn't have been out of high school, asks Conor what he wants.
"I want bread," pointing to a picture of wheat bread that the employee can't see.
Me: "He wants a six inch wheat bread."
EE: "What do you want on your bread?"
Conor: "Butter."
EE: "Uummmm... we don't have butter, how about turkey, ham, cheese..."
Conor: "Okay."
Me: "Turkey, ham and cheese?"
Conor: "Yes."
EE: "Do you want anything else on it?"
Conor: "Yes, ketchup."
We decided to eat there so we took our food and sat in one of the booths at the very front of the restaurant. Conor needed to go potty, so Liesel took him to the back and waited for him. "Mr Independent" has to go into the restroom by himself, and since its a one-holer, we let him. He goes in and locks the lock on the door knob as well as the sliding lock above it, (the industrial looking ones that establishments put on the door when the regular lock breaks).
Conor finishes, washes his hands, unlocks the door knob lock and tries to open the door. The next thing I hear is Conor banging on the door as hard as he can and screaming at the top of his voice "Let go of the door!"
Everyone in the restaurant, including the employees, turns around and looks at me, at the same time I look at Liesel, who is standing in the hallway outside the door, cracking up but looking totally innocent.
Me: "Liesel, let go of that door and let him out!"
Liesel, backing up against the wall with her hands up as if someone had shoved a gun in her back: "I'm not touching the door!"
Everyone is still looking at me while Liesel is dying laughing trying to tell Conor between bangs and screams to unlock the top lock. He can't hear her and thinks she is still holding the door...
I go back to the restrooms, tell Liesel to go back up front, Conor is still screaming and banging, and now I am trying to tell him to calm down and unlock the top lock.
EE to the rescue... EE goes into women's room, removes ceiling panel, climbs into ceiling, and starts to remove ceiling panel over men's room, when Conor finally realizes the top lock is still locked.
Conor unlocks the top lock, opens door, walks out and calmly says, "I got it." EE replaces ceiling tile, climbs out of ceiling, replaces other ceiling tile, and goes back to work, laughing the entire time...
From now on, I think we are going to order our food To-Go...
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