matching tracksuits

fun in threes, sometimes fours

the girl

First Check

Saturday 03 July 2021 | 1 Comment

The Girl recently began working at Culver’s, which is a restaurant we’ve passed on a busy road a number of times but which we’ve never given a thought to. We really didn’t even know the type of food they serve. So we were in the dark as much as the Girl.

She’s worked a few short shifts now, and today, she picked up an extra shift through the app the company uses for scheduling employees. Workers can request coverage for unexpected time they want off, and others can pick up that coverage for extra hours. So she went in to work from 4:00 to 8:30 today.

Today, she got her first check.

First Friday

Friday 02 July 2021 | 0 Comments

The first Friday of this July — we began with a trip to the local pharmacy to get L’s second dose of the covid vaccine. We picked up a couple of suckers while we waited, returning home to find K and E playing Wojna in the kitchen. The Boy won.

In the afternoon, we went to the pool, which to our surprise was completely empty. When we went to Nana’s and Papa’s condo complex’s pool, this was often the case. The pool we joined this year, though, has been crowded every single time we went — except today.

The Girl originally went with the intention of just reading, so she didn’t take her swimsuit. Then she changed her mind. A fourteen-year-old can just tie a knot in her shirt and dive in.

After swimming, the Girl lost the call for shotgun. The Boy has only been able to ride in the front for a little while, and he’s still more comfortable in the back due to habit. But calling shotgun — what’s not to love about that?

 

Myrtle Beach 4

Monday 28 June 2021 | 0 Comments

Back at home, I finally got a chance to download images from the X100. I used my phone for most pictures (even though I always insisted I would never do that), but a few times I pulled out the little digital rangefinder.

Myrtle Beach 3

Sunday 27 June 2021 | 0 Comments

Myrtle Beach 2

Saturday 26 June 2021 | 0 Comments

When we woke up this morning, it was raining. It’s bad enough that it’s raining when you’re at the beach; it’s even worse when you’re at the beach saying in what the children have come to call a “crusty hotel.”I suppose that’s What you get when you try to save a little money. Because even if you save money one way you’re going to pay for another. Still there is a right side to staying in this crusty hotel: it makes us stay away from it.

So in the morning we head to an aquarium.

In the afternoon when it clears up, we go to the beach.

And in the evening, the SkyWheel.

Fresh

Wednesday 23 June 2021 | 0 Comments

The Girl's first day on the job was yesterday, but she was just shadowing people. "I learned how to restock the ketchup! Thrilling!" she exclaimed with a hint of sarcasm.

Today, she worked on the cash register, which means she had multiple interactions with the public.

"Hi! Welcome to Culver's! What can I get started fresh for you today?"

"Is that what you have to say? Those exact words?" I asked during our conversation after she returned.

"No, we just have to work 'fresh' into it somehow."

"So you could say something like, 'Hi! Welcome to Culver's, home of freshity fresh-fresh freshness!'? Would that work?"

She rolled her eyes as a fourteen-year-old will do.

As for the picture, I had to sneak it.

Boys’ Lunch

Monday 21 June 2021 | 0 Comments

After visiting with Papa this morning, E and I decided we needed a boys’ afternoon out for lunch. And when it’s a boys’ afternoon out for lunch, we always choose Mexican. And when we choose Mexican, the Boy always chooses the same thing: enchiladas.

The Girl couldn’t go with us because, well, it was a boys’ afternoon, but also because she had her first day at work. I got to see her in her Culver’s uniform, but I didn’t get to snap a picture. Not yet, at least.

Mid-June Thursday

Thursday 17 June 2021 | 0 Comments

Taxi service today: E to scout camp at 8:00. L to volleyball conditioning at 9:00. Pick her up at 10:00.

I had just enough time to pick the first blueberries (or second I guess -- we did pick some yesterday) and to mow the neighbor's yard afterward before heading off to take L to sand volleyball practice (including going to pick up her partner). On the way home, a few errands. Then off to pick up the Boy from scout day camp. Back home to get ready for the swim meet.

He dropped his time from 36 seconds to 31 seconds. Great job! A victory regardless of how he stacked up to the competition.

And then a glance at the "Time Machine" widget at the bottom of MTS: a reminder that four years ago today was just as hectic, but it was in Warsaw:

Tuesday

Tuesday 15 June 2021 | 0 Comments

The morning — I am the taxi driver. E has to go to scout camp. L has to go to volleyball conditioning. Then L has to come home to get ready for orientation. (She got the job.) Then she has to go to that orientation. Driving, driving, driving.

After lunch, I head out and do some weeding.

I’ve no idea how many sweet gum saplings I’ve pulled up this year. I’d guess I’m nearing 300 or so. They’re everywhere. All of the sweet gum trees we have are in backyard, in the corner, where no one really cares about them. For whatever reason, the seed pods from them result in very few saplings. However, the pods from our neighbors’ trees — they’re particularly virulent, I suppose.

In the evening, it’s back to taxi service. L is participating in a summer league. In a city that’s about 40 minutes away from us when we leave for said league because the games start at six. Which means we’re driving in rush hour traffic. Which means the 20-mile trip can take up to 40 minutes…

The Flip

Sunday 13 June 2021 | 0 Comments