The last four work and school days of January have started
off with an even nicer spring-like day than we had yesterday, and I’m really
glad that Rowen and I were able to go outside and enjoy it; since we’ll be
returning to more normal temperatures again over the next couple of days.
It wasn’t quite warm enough to take our Tai Chi – or the
twins – out to the river first thing this morning, but it seemed like everyone
was more cheerful today thanks to yet another break in what has again, so far,
been a very mild winter. There seemed to
always be at least some kids and teens outdoors all day while we were at
school. Quite a few gym classes were out
on the track or football field; a handful of teachers found some excuse to do
lessons or some kind of exploration outside; and nearly everyone was out during
lunchtime – and at recesses for the younger kids.
With less than a week left to go until the Super Bowl, a lot
of the guys were in full football mode, and while there weren’t any pick-up
matches until after school; there were groups of guys tossing footballs around
– including at least a few dozen ‘illegal passes’ in hallways and
classrooms. Rowen and I managed to
mostly stay away from both the talk and action while we were at school, but we
took Ethan and Ehlana with us to the park; Ethan really needed to go play
football with the guys; and Michael was happy to help him do that when we got
to the football field, and Ethan toddled out to join him and the other guys.
I’ve managed to get through a few days without writing about
any of the usual tween problems that seem to crop up so regularly in my life,
but having Michael play with Ethan brought a little unwanted attention my way
from Lisa and a couple of her friends.
They were there with probably close to twice as many girls as would
usually be watching the guys; and Lisa was not happy while watching Michael
with Ethan; the hug and kiss Ehlana had for him when he brought Ethan back to
us; and my smile, thanks, and close contact with him while he handed Ethan off
to me was probably not interpreted well either.
All of that would have been enough, but Ehlana innocently decided to
make things a bit tougher for me by inviting Rebecca to go with us when we were
ready to head over to the playground with a devastating combination of dimples,
a hug, and a simple “Come too?” question.
I didn’t need to look back to see the looks directed my way, though
Rowen did let me know about them later when we were back at my house and
hanging out in the lounge.
It’s too bad that hanging out with Rebecca for a little
while upset Lisa, but Rebecca was glad to get away from Jenny and the rest of
the girls who were mostly talking about their boyfriends and upcoming
expectations for Valentine’s Day; and I was happy to spend a little time with
her. She still isn’t really looking for
a boyfriend, but Grade Eight might even be worse for that in a small town than
either Grade Seven or high school is – especially for girls. Grade Eight guys can date girls in Grade
Seven, but girls rarely date the younger guys; mostly because of the height
difference. Niners almost never date
younger teens, so there aren’t many dating options in the first place; and
right now, there aren’t any available guys in her class anyway.
I’d make a comment about why the most beautiful – and one of
the smartest – girl in Grade Eight was also the only girl in her class not
dating anyone; but that would be just a bit too close to what Aunt Leanne has
said about me more than a few times; so I won’t do that. Let’s go with the idea that being the
brightest girls in our grades is helping Rebecca, Rowen, and me be smart enough
to stay away from guys while they’re going through the worst of the tween and
early teen years – even if two out of three of us would give up their single
status in a second for the right guy.
That’s more than enough of the whole tween-teen thing for me
right now; so let’s move along. Rowen
and I had a music practice after getting home to go with our little chat time;
we did a little surfing on my computer; and then Rowen headed home when Mom
drafted me to help out with making dinner.
It still seems a bit strange to not be doing Monday night Magi healing
lessons with Uncle Adam, but he and Aunt Leanne went for a walk with us after
dinner, and then stopped in for a while so we could have a family business
meeting. That was good for a couple of
hours of fun while they were here even though we were mostly talking business
and future plans.
Our meeting pushed back my Magi lesson with Mom until after
Ethan and Ehlana went to bed, so it was nearly eleven by the time I started my
nightly computing and studies. I cut
back a bit on the language lessons, but did all of the archive research and reading
that went along with my Magi lesson; and I kept my email, news, entertainment,
and sports checks to a minimum when I didn’t even get that started until after
one-thirty. It’s going on two now, and
I’m ready for some down time, so it’s time to wrap this up and get some sleep.
Until next time, this is Magi Master Cassie Proctor; logging
out!
