July...went by in a blur

Writing this on August 15, trying to catch up. July was a blur. Relying on my handy-dandy planner to try to remember what happened, because sometimes it's so hard to even remember what happened yesterday.

It's been very busy at work...budget season, cost savings plans due to the current pessimistic outlook of business, meetings.

Took Ryan to band uniform fitting on the Thursday before Band Camp. He's gotten taller (and a little bigger around the middle) so he got bigger sizes. Then when we were walking through the parking lot to the car, I fell down and got a big "strawberry" on my right knee. Darrell was watching us from the car, and he said one second we were walking and the next second we were gone...actually down on the ground! It was totally like Sandra Bullock in "Miss Congeniality" where she's walking in her high heels across the tarmac then goes down. So clumsy! And so painful! It's been a month and it's still healing (the bruise underneath the scabbing).

Friday was Ryan's last day of summer school...got a B- in Algebra, a vast improvement over the grade he got during the regular school year for the same class. Haley and her parents came to Honolulu that day because her brother Kihei was participating in Kamehameha School's Explorations Program, when entering 6th graders dorm at the school for a week to learn about their Hawaiian heritage. Ryan and Haley both participated in Explorations the same summer four years ago, but attended different sessions. Haley's dad Emil also went to Explorations way back when. And they all knew a lot of the songs, since the program has changed little in the 30 or so years that it's been in existence. Ryan enjoyed his experience then, but I was a wreck since we couldn't talk to him the whole week.

That night, we went to watch Kihei perform in the program, then we went to have a late dinner at Zippy's together. It was so nice to see the family again. Kihei reminds me a lot of the way Ryan used to be, very talkative and intelligent. He asked Ryan, are you poor? Because you're always wearing the same clothes when I see you (Ryan's signature black tshirt, jeans and black jacket)! When it's time to say goodbye, Haley and Ryan hug each other, and then Kihei puts his arm around both of them and hugs them together. So cute!

Saturday: I got up early to go help with Band Camp registration. Finding out that being part of the band booster club executive board means I'm expected to be at every activity, in addition to doing treasurer duties. It was fun, though, and nice to feel a little more like I belong. There are a lot of nice people I have met through the band. Last year, as a freshman parent, new to high school and to the band, I felt lost and left out. But because I was persistent in wanting to be involved, I got to know more people and definitely am more involved now!

Ryan spent the day with Haley and her family and Darrell went to work. I had hoped to see them again today, but that didn't work out. Hopefully we'll see them again when they visit Oahu again or when we visit Kona.

Sunday: Ryan reported to Band Camp and I went to work registration again. Freshmen, new invitees, Kalalea (band student leaders), color guard and percussion went to Band Camp from Saturday, returning band members reported on Sunday. Spent time with more nice band parents at the sophomore class potluck.

Monday-Friday: Work...Ryan at Band Camp...though we pulled him out Wednesday at noon since the kids were going to Bellows. Figured this was a good time for Sin to Society to practice for their upcoming gig on Saturday. I went to a school bus transportation meeting that evening. The school transportation dept held a mandatory meeting for parents to go over the rules...had to go in order to get Ryan's bus pass. Found out why they needed to have it...apparently some parents can get pretty vicious when they're late for the bus, pounding on the closed door and cussing the drivers.

We went to watch the band at marching practice Thursday evening...wanted to go sooner, but it rained every night. Since this was his last night at Band Camp, this was our last chance to see them practice. Band Camp ended Saturday evening with a performance for the parents, but we pulled him out Friday night since they were having a dance and they needed to practice. We were about to leave Thursday after watching practice when a little girl (daughter of one of the clinicians assisting at camp) fell out of the stadium box (where the announcer sits) and onto the bleachers near us. OMG, we just heard her crash and it made us sick. Luckily one of the other parents was sitting there and broke her fall, otherwise she would have hit the bench much harder. An ambulance was called and she turned out to be ok; I was so worried that she might have broken her neck and cracked her skull. Still don't know what she was doing up in the box and how she fell out the window. Found out later that there was another incident up at the Performing Arts Building on Friday. The Hawaiian Ensemble also had their camp at the same time as Band Camp, and the kids were hanging out at the building. One girl was sitting on the railing or trying to get onto the railing on the second floor and fell over, breaking her pelvis. Again, totally awful and shocking, but a tragedy was averted; it could have been far worse.

Friday night we went to the Angelos' house in Ewa Beach (their son Keali'i is the drummer in the band). We had a potluck and the kids performed for us. At first I was very worried...they just didn't sound ready to perform in public. Then they got warmed up, and were great! (Actually the singer Kaala went to the bathroom and when he came back he sounded a lot better! We kept joking that he needed to do the same thing tomorrow before he performed the next day at the water park!)

Now, I'm caught up...