I have certainly had an interesting two weeks. During my first week(and last week of June) I was on my own with the kids. Tom flew to Chicago for work. Fortunately it wasn't too hectic as Allison was off to GS camp teaching archery. She had a ride every day from our neighbor who was volunteering and had her two little girls enrolled in the day camp. Allison of course had a wonderful time. She even had a job offer teaching archery to girl scouts for a day, but it is scheduled when we will be on vacation.

Scott on the other hand needed dropped off and picked up at his favorite camp-classes at the local university. He took a lego class and a science experiment class. He loved the lego class, but thought the science experiments were rather lame(except for making ice cream!).  And of course there were summer piano lessons for Allison and Scott had swim class to get to as well as trying out a new Boy Scout troop.

We have been very frustrated with Scott's troop and thought it would be fun to try a new troop. I wanted Tom to take him, but he wasn't home. Scott's troop was not meeting that week, so he and I checked out a newer troop. Of course I really liked the parents and leaders, but Scott was not crazy about the boys. It is a small troop and mostly young kids and very old teenage boys that weren't at the meeting because they were packing for Philmont-the High Adventure camp out west for boy scouts. So guess we will keep looking as needed. I also had SCott work on some projects for Boy Scout camp. He is going to work on his fishing badge so he needs to show that he can catch and cook a fish. (Not necessarily in that order).  I had him cook some Tilapia for dinner one night. We will be going fishing in a few weeks for the boy scout fishing derby which will fulfill his prerequisite for catching a fish(if we do indeed catch one!).   Scott is going to work on his Fishing badge, Basketry, Electricity, First Aid, Environmental Science, and Reptiles and Amphibians badge. So he had some work to do before going to camp. He had some research to do and a few reports to write up. I was just excited that he paid for most of his camp by selling popcorn and picking up trash after the 4th of July fireworks last year.

I was also struggling with the decision to head to Michigan to help out my mom and dad. My dad has been recuperating in the rehab center, and on June 30th he was discharged home. I decided to ask for the week of the 4th of July holiday off from work since I figured our out patient clinic would at least be closed one day. They were able to find a substitute to see my patients, so I planned on heading out on Saturday. I am not a long distance driver so I split my trip into two days. The Friday before I left however we had a very big storm. It made all the headlines. It was a solid line of storms from Baltimore to Richmond VA with winds at 80 mph called a Derecho. It hit around 11pm, just after Tom brought Allison home from work. Our power went out, so I couldn't get any more laundry done. At least after the storm rolled through we got our power back on, but much of Maryland and our neighborhood was without power. And lots of trees down.

It felt eerie to drive down our main street with no traffic lights and tree branches hanging off the power lines on Saturday morning. I had a very nice trip and even took myself to see the movie Dark Shadows with Johnny Depp at a cheap movie theatre I found in Ohio.  I got to my parents house early on Sunday afternoon, just in time to drive us all over to my Uncle Joe's house. We had dinner and Mom and Dad took a nap while my Uncle Joe, Aunt Kathy and I swam in the pool. It was a very nice afternoon. Unfortunately, I can't say the rest of the week went as well. My dad had a urology appointment on Tuesday and a dentist appointment before that. I took both of them to the appointments and learned that my dad is going to have to be hospitalized for surgery to his prostate at some point. MOm and I also had to run him to the Hospital ER Thursday morning since they put in a smaller catheter at the urology office and it clogged and needed replaced. Besides doctor appointments, I was helping make sure my Dad got the right medication, as well his helping out with his general care and we even stopped into his barber shop for a hair cut.

Michigan also had incredibly hot weather like the mid atlantic and a few strong storms that took out the power in the Detroit area. I watched a branch hit the power lines early Thursday morning and sparks went flying. Fortunately my parents did not lose power, but I did notice their new air conditioner was not working. I had to call in the service company to have the unit switched on. At least no service fee. And finally some much needed AC. I did get some yardwork done and cut the grass. Dad was able to cut the back lawn with the tractor.  I was also trying to help get the house a bit organized as it appears it will need to be fixed up and sold. I had some friends come in and do an overall assessment of some of the projects that needs to be done. They also helped me set up a large tv that I brought from our house and cable will be installed thanks to the very helpful guy at Best Buy, my great friends the Hejza's and my brothers who visited the week after I left. I couldn't get as much organizing done as I would have liked to as Dad is not quite ready for a change in plans. Due to his decline in his status, it looks like it would be best for the two of them to relocate to their Florida house. My dad was not quite ready to hear that. But he is not supposed to drive or handle the finances alone so it would just be too difficult to travel back and forth to Charlevoix as well as to be quite so isolated in Northern Mich. So big change in plans that was not expected at this time. Life has a way of doing that to us.

It was a pretty stressful week for all of us, but I did enjoy spending time at home. I also was grateful to spend time with my very dear friends the Hejzas. Again, thanks for everything that you all do and did. You all are dear family to us. I loved visiting the Hejza house on the 4th. We had so much fun swimming in the pool, eating way too much great food, talking and even a quick game of scrabble for me before I had to head back to my parents. And I was able to break away to have dinner out with Laura. What fun to have a girls night out. I don't even really get to do that at home much.

Back on the homefront, the kids were melting in the heat and entertaining the neighbors that did not have electricity. They really did not do anything special for the 4th. Tom sent them out on the back porch with  poppers at night. Lame. I am taking us to a Baltimore Symphony Orchestra outdoor concert with fireworks next weekend since we missed out. Scott was miserable at the Y camp. The boys have been harassing him and he missed his field trip to Philly to see the liberty bell and Independence hall. Tom and Scott missed the early morning bus. At least he has been there before. Scott did enjoy one good day swimming at Beaver Dam and swinging on the ropes over the lake. But he came home with a black eye. Mostly he just stayed home from camp with Allison. However, on Friday Allison had her big moment when she passed her driving test!  Now she is a full blown licensed driver. Wow. And she didn't have to work the weekend before because the rink lost power. Now the rink is on their summer schedule so only open on Fridays. And Allison will be able to drive herself to work. Wow again. Mixed feelings about her driving-it is a blessing and a curse.