FamilyMatters

Mike Rocks the House @ St. Matthew's

Here is Mike's world premiere of Bach's Toccata in D Minor -- a small preview of his first organ recital on May 30th at 5pm Oh, yeah, I'm a proud mom!!

This is the Day! The Day for Squid Dissection!

A couple of weeks ago, Mike woke me up with a great big

"This is the Day mom!"

"the Day?"

"this is the Day we dissect a squid!"

Wow my kid is interested in squid dissection! horses, organ, choir and squid dissections! woo hoo. And he had so much fun, he talked Pete into getting whole squid at the Ranch 99 Asian market and while I was gone at a panel session one sunday, they dissected squid in the kitchen with exacto knives.

Thank God I was not home.

Back When the Big Bang Happened

My son is becoming a regular comedian.

Today, in a lull in the rain, Liam, Mike and I walked downtown to do errands.

As we're walking down the hill, Mike is chatting in a serious of non-sequitors.

"Mom. Does it snow a lot in London?"

"Mike, you know I'm not sure, I know it snows in the Countryside...I'm not sure about the City."

"But Mom, you lived there....why don't you know?"

Let's be clear. I lived just south of London when I was in First Form (Grade) when my father was at Guys Hospital -- then a big deal, but that's another story.

"Mike that was a long time ago...I don't remember."

"Oh yeahhhhhh. That was like a LOOOOONNNNNNNGGGGGGG time ago. That was like back when the Big Bang happened."

Wisely, Mike ran away from me....and I could hear his maniacal laughter for a few more blocks. Or at least I thought I could hear him...my hearing aid was on low.

I Hurt My Back in the Dentist Chair

A few weeks ago I was having two of my old silver fillings replaced and the Dentist knew i was coming in and prepared extra numbing for my right jaw because I have deep deep deep roots on that side.

I got in the chair, the dentist drilled in the novacaine and the whole jaw got numb and he went in.

And hit a nerve.

And I levitated out of chair, arching my back, and threw it out -- my back that is.

And it hurts.

This was complicated by some sort of nerve issue with my arm. So I emailed my doctor who ordered the MRI.

And I go to the MRI and they put me on the machine for a 20 minute scan. The two technicians -- very nice guys -- put down the cage over my head to hold it straight and put me in slowly. And as the table moves in my hair gets stuck.

I squeeze the ball and the techs come over the speaker.

"Are you ok?"

"I need you to take me out."

And out I come. And one of the techs goes "you're not going to get all claustro on us are you?"

"Well I might, but first I need you to move my hair, bc it's all caught in the cage."

and they do that and back in I go, eyes closed.

One of them comes over the speaker, "ok Lee this will take about 20 minutes."

And I open my eyes as the noise starts and I'M IN A COFFIN the walls are so close, and the ceiling of this machine is about a centimeter from my nose.

I close my eyes and breathe deeply.

20 minutes later, ish, who can tell -- my right elbow starts to get hot. I think I can bear it. But the MRI keeps going and my elbow gets hotter and hotter. So i squeeze the ball again -- convince that these guys have gone to the bathroom or gone to get coffee -- but no, they answer thank God. And out i go again, they put a blanket behind my elbow and back in I go.

And I'm there for another 45 minutes.

Have i mentioned that I'm in deep pain the whole time? Yeah. It was fun.

Just to find out at the Dr.'s appointment that they only took the film of the Cspine and NOT the lumbar. AAAAAAAAA

So I get referred to the Spine specialist, whose receptionist I basically need to beat to a pulp to see me in the next week.

So I stay quite still, take slow walks, avoiod lifting and bending. But am thwarted on Monday morning when I stepped into the shower -- not looking at the tub at all -- and slip and fall on my butt. I'm down there, happy that I can move it all, and I realize that the tub has a blue film on it, a blue film that smells like Pete's shaving gel.

MIKE HAD TAKEN A BATH the night before and had DECIDED THAT IT WAS A GOOD TIME TO SHAVE, and he did'nt wash out the tub. Did I mention that Mike is 10?

Did I mention that I hurt my back in the dentist chair?

I'm Going To Spill the Milk Today

Michael -- you may know -- plays the pipe organ. He LOVES the organ. Pete takes him to practice at church 4 times a week -- practicing the organ is a major incentive for Mike - no homework? no organ practice? Laundry not done? No organ practice.

In fourth grade he music teacher at school had him play a recessional from chapel one day. He told no one. The teachers and headmaster told no one -- just in case he opted out. He did a great job (i was in new york unfortunately) -- and the next day Mr. McKee told the school what he had done and everyone applauded -- and some kids stood up -- a great day.

This year, Mrs. Carleton encouraged Mike to share the news that he was going to play in a chapel with his class mates BEFORE he played. Mike wasn't so sure. But apparently after thinking about it, relented.

He said to Mrs. Carleton "Mrs. Carleton I'm ready to spill the milk!"

"Spill the milk?!"

""Yeah, you know, about playing the organ in chapel."

"That's great Mike! ...... But I think you mean "Spill the BEANS"!

Mike Breaks into Baking - with a recipe no less!

Mike's interest in all things culinary continues to grow.

The other day when he was home from school for middle school parent -teacher conferences, I had to work, and couldn't provide a whole lot of guidance or entertainment for the day.

Pete of course gave him a long list of chores to do:

- put away the hose

- find your shoes

- put away your laundry.

etc etc etc (as the King of Siam would say)

He of course wanted to do anything BUT that list. But the perfect incentive....

"Mom, can I bake some bread?"

"Have you done your list?"

"Not yet."

"Do your list, find a recipe, then you can bake some bread."

Voila! List done!

And Mike FOLLOWED THE RECIPE (major accomplishment) and baked his first loaves of honey french bread! It was yummy.

"Even Your Mom Wouldn't Do That, Mike."

I'm not sure if I've sunk to a new low or a new high, but tonight Michael made dinner (thanks Mike, pasta, some meat sauce and sliced cucumbers). I heard him chop, chop, chopping away and didn't think much of it.....

until....

I heard Pete say, "Mike, even you mom wouldn't do that."

"What?!" asked Mike

"Leave the cucumber peels on the floor."

Is this a compliment? I don't think so!

"Oh, I have a lot more."

This Summer Mike attended the RSCM summer course in Tulsa -- yes Tulsa. Pete drove him to Tulsa and dropped him off and we didn't hear from the camp all week so we assumed all was well. (We found out later that the first 4 days were tough but by day 5 he had settled in -- Thank God!)

On Saturday, when we arrived for the talent show and dinner, Mike was excited to see us, and ready to show us all about the dining hall conveyor belts that magically took the dirty dishes away.

I asked him how his test for the RSCM bronze medal went and he said "Mom, I was way overprepared."

(Thank you Dr. Matthews!)

"Well, better over prepared than underprepared," I said. 

Mike introduced me to his accompaniest for the exam, Paul Watkins, and his examiner Garmon Ashby. I mentioned that Mike had said he was "overprepared" and that I found that hard to believe.

They both laughed. "Well, Mrs. Caraher, I said 'Thank you very much Michael, your test is done' and Michael said 'But I have much more to tell you!' And we weren't going anywhere until we heard it all!" They were so encouraging and accommodating.

Well Saturday Mike was awarded his bronze medal during Evensong -- which ended up being a big deal (who knew!?). Yeah Mike!

Back It Up!

Abby may be thousands of miles away but recently she's been making her presence felt -- every day, all day.

If you've never seen her "Back it Up" -- e.g. dance? move? going backward with attitude while saying "back it up, back it up" -- really ask her to send you a video -- hell, Abby send me a video and I'll put it right HERE!

Recently -- this is how the kids are starting their days -- backing it up from breakfast to brushing their teeth -- backing it up from the bathroom to their bedrooms -- BACKING IT UP (loudly proclaiming their actions) from their rooms to the car...

So this is so funny

But SLOW becuase they don't come equipped with rear view mirrors and they keep bumping into walls!

The First Dance Continued

Thank God the dance was "so much fun mom, I'm going to go to all of them!"

I can't believe how relieved I am that Mike had a good time....phew! Probably projection of my horrible first dance coming back to haunt me 30 years later.

"So, Mike, who did you dance with?"

Then he names all these (older) girls and no real names here.... "Sally, Josie, Molly, somebody else in 7th grade, some other girl in 8th grade."

"Whoa! You mean you don't know their names?"

"Nope."

"OK -- it is not OK to not know their names .... if you don't know them before, you need to find out afterwards.... what if someone you asked to dance didn't know your name?"

ponder ponder ponder

"So, Mike, who did you ask to dance?"

"Mom, I don't ask....I wait for them to ask me."

The mind boggles.