blah blah blah
Tell me this weather doesn't just make almost everything better??
Today is small pet moving day with new homes for the recently discovered to be boys instead of girls rats and a sparkly clean home for the older and wiser (and still female) rat.
Hamster is also getting a spring cleaning and moving over to the new digs.
Now as long as no one escapes everything will be fine.
Clothing is coming over a little at a time but the washer/dryer are still over there. You know what that means? Yeah. But we aren't thinking about those ginormous piles of stinky boy laundry right now. Nope.
Still waiting to hear about computer problems but I am hoping that some posts are going through and that someone will get back to me soon.
Enjoy the gorgeous sunshine if you are getting what we are.
After a long overdue lunch with a good friend I came home and started in on the lugging. I hesitate to call it packing since we are only moving two blocks away and our very well thought out plan consists of heaving crap into rubbermaid containers, driving over and emptying them. Lather, rinse, repeat. The new house is filling up quickly and the old house looks as if it were robbed, during a tornado, that happend while some form of warfare or weapons testing was occurring.
And after an afternoon of lugging it occurred to me that it's not Friday. You'd think I logically would know that since my lunch date was for Thursday. And yet, right now, just this second the whole, "holy crap I have to get up and do this again tomorrow?!?!" thought just popped in for a visit.
So the question now is what shape pasta for dinner and how early can I convince the boys to go to bed. Hopefully the answers will be "whatever I grab first" and "really, really early."
The trouble with having beds at the new house is that they taunt you all day. "Shelle......come here.......nap.....sleep.... watch tv.... you know you want to... those boxes are heavy... leave them...look... comfy..." Tease.
Please, nobody ask "what next?"
We are still considering trying to move the bedrooms over here today. Sure, it's rainy and flooding but then again, this house is warm and dry with a crackling fire. Have I mentioned how much I am loving the fireplace?
School was canceled for J and we made the executive decision to cancel for C. The roads are bad, people don't have power and I have a feeling we haven't seen the end. In fact, I am pretty sure that pairs of animals were working their way up the street this morning just in case.
Hope everyone else is high and dry.
Isn't it supposed to be baseball weather by now???
- Sparky can live. With the help of three strong friends we managed to get the piano inside before the storm. Now I have started taking it apart for a little reworking. After doing some prelim. research, I am really looking forward to restoring this. It's like a big puzzle I just have to work at. And when I'm done? Just like new!
- We had people over yesterday. Sitting, grilling, hanging out by the fire. So nice to know that this house "works."
- No baseball today. Floods today. Good thing we have a third story ;) Still waiting on pairs of animals but I am sure they are on their way. Movies, movies, movies this afternoon and maybe some homemake cookies. It still counts as homemade if you just snap 'em apart and throw them in, right?
Our trip to the aquarium yesterday was fun and filled with things you just don't usually hear. For example, when was the last time you uttered the words, "Step a little closer to the cockroaches sweetie," coming from a parent's mouth?
We saw plenty of fish and more than enough bugs to keep everyone happy for the afternoon.
And then, the strangest sighting of all.
I was stalling as we headed into the gift shop, dreading the gift shop almost more than the jellyfish tank. As I was standing at the entrance bracing myself for the choruses of can we get this, a strange person kept bumping into me. Now its the aquarium, and it's crowded, and not everyone there is big on manners, so in an attempt not to make a scene, I just ease away from this odd person. Only this odd person is carrying a very small infant and keeps bumping the little legs into me, bumping and bumping and bumping. My patience is already thin having spent most of the afternoon surrounded by school bus trips with few chaperones, and yet, I still just edge away hoping not to have a confrontation.
But then? This odd person with a deep voice asks me, "Does he stink?" and nudges the baby towards me. How does one answer that? Who asks that? Well, I certainly didn't want to look up. No, I was doing my best to avoid eye contact with this odd man.
But it was useless to resist, and I looked up only to be looking up into the eyes of one of my oldest friends from HS. Yes, I shrieked and very astutely put together that I probably hadn't spoken to him in at least 10 months since he was holding the cutest, tiniest newborn baby boy.
We caught up as best you can in the exit of a gift shop at a crowded aquarium. Obviously, it has been way too long, it has been at least a lifetime, maybe two, since we have seen each other and so much has happened, so much has changed. We promised to keep in touch, since that has worked so well in the past, and headed home.
I think that was my favorite part of the trip. Sure the shark tank is cool, but strange men pushing babies at you? Who can top that? Especially when it turns out to be someone you wish you saw a lot more of.
Oh, and I took lots of pictures of the fish and the bugs (coming soon!) but I was so distracted and thrilled by my encounter with my friend that I didn't get one picture of his beautiful and growing family. Maybe we will actually have to get together one of these days!
Now please make it stop raining. I mean it. I have many, many things to do today and all I can think about is hiding out under the covers and catching up with my other good friend....TiVo.
Yup, I'm a bad parent. I'm yanking the boys out of school this morning. Shame on me. :)
We are all heading to the aquarium this morning with my sister and her family. I doesn't happen to often that we can all get free to do something fun so we thought we'd go for it.
J had a fun birthday yesterday. A teenager! How did that happen?? He is very excited about being sprung from school since the aquarium is one of his favorite places to be.
For his birthday, Sparky built him his own art/miniatures studio. He now has a 4x6 desktop with an art caddy, seven drawer rolling storage tower and magnifier light (those guys he paints are small!). He said he was never leaving that room again. Sparky did a great job building it and included a six foot bookshelf for him to display some of his creations on.
C had his first Doherty Painting baseball game last night. He went 2 for 3 with three RBIs and pitched two solid innings. He made a great play at the plate when a very large kid came barreling in. C held onto the ball in the collision for the out. Then, he came up to the plate with the bases loaded in the bottom of the last inning and cracked the game winning walk off hit. But we are most proud of the fact that even though he could easily be awarded the game ball, he gave it up so that someone who got their first hit ever, and who might not so easily win a game ball during the season, could have it.
Somedays, I have pretty good kids. Remind me of this after I spend a little time on the train with them ;)
I was in the grocery store yesterday and the oddest woman hobbled up to me and grinned wildly at me. Then, through gritted teeth she asked me, "Do these look really real? I just had them done. Had all my other old teeth yanked right out. Paid a lot for them 'cause those cheap ones look like baby teeth. What do you think?"
Uh.....
"They're very nice," I told her trying hard to look away from the spectacle. Sure, the teeth looked real, but the giant beehive wig was a little tough to believe.
They find me. They always find me.
I got picked for a criminal jury, or at least I was chosen to go sit up in the jury box and get asked a bunch of questions. My answers were pretty much the same as everyone else's except for one thing--they asked if you had any bumper stickers. :)
Why yes I do. I have two. I have this one and this one and you know what? That's just what I needed to be excused from the jury.
No crazies allowed;) Ramen!
Now I just have to call in tonight and hope that they have added me to the "we don't want that one" list.
I am so lucky that I get to be moved from civil to criminal and stay a few extra days. At least I snuck out of jury duty today because the defendant wasn't ready. Looks like I am stuck there for at least the rest of the week.
It would have been quicker to be arrested. At least those guys are in and out in a couple of hours;)
We are running out of here again but for those who didn't make today's game...C was the first 9yr old we've seen in the competition to block the ball as a catcher. No, not to keep it from going past him but an actual "official" block.
Yes, I know this is potentially only exciting news to people with kids that catch or that are as obsessed about baseball as we are, but we are very, very proud and he is beaming.
Um, no, they didn't win. But they played great.
Baseball on a day when the ground is still snow covered is a good thing!
Still baseball even in the sleet. Right now if it weren't for C, Sparky and I would be done with baseball. Too much tension. Too much politics. Too many grown men living vicariously through little kids. Too many power trips. Not going to rant and rave about it all that much because I can't go another round.
Pick on me all you want. Pick on my kid we are going to go 'round.
flu.
house.
baseball.
I did it. I went back to a WW meeting. It's almost Spring and I need to get motivated so I went back. Points, portions, it's all coming back to me.
Spring is right around the corner and I would like to be a little more energetic. It worked for me before so I am hoping I can do it again.
It's going to be hard to do during jelly bean season though...
The Mets are back on TV, the boys play in their first Spring tournament this weekend--baseball season is officially back! (I am not sure that it ended this year, but Spring baseball is something completely different!)
C is playing in an indoor tournament this weekend (and every weekend in March). I am not sure what to expect but we took a peek at the facility and it's very cool. If nothing else the guys are going to feel like they have made it to the big leagues!
The house is moving a little slowly this week but we did move J's fish tank over. I am not sure that Medusa is going to survive the move. We are keeping fingers (and fins) crossed but have made sure there are Oscars in stock at the pet store in case of emergency.
Saw Wild Hogs at the movies last night and laughed so hard Diet Coke shot right out my nose. Very funny and just the break we needed.
C has decided that there should be an Extreme Home Makeover Trailer Park edition. Then he reconsidered thinking that it would be confusing when they had to yell bus driver, move that bus!
And while we are creating game shows...we think that struggling baseball teams should run a show like American Idol. You know. The public gets to pick the team through a series of televised tryouts. I'm sure it would get seats in the stands. Fun, yes? Ok, maybe just fun for me ;)
Feels like Spring out there today.
Comcast was here, again, and things are working, again. But I imagine that I will have a hot date with the fix-it guy by mid-week next week. We just can't seem to stay away from each other. There's no point in trying to deny it.
Baseball was stressful but fun. The kids were all given crack right before the practice to make it more interesting apparently. During the night all three coaches gave me that look, the one of mixed sympathy and glee that it isn't their job to be in the dugout with this crew.
I did get to come home and watch Idol. I won't bore you with my obsession but my predictions and reviews are up over at Tivoholic. You know, that other site where I hide just how much I use the DVR to escape the stress of moving and kids or moving kids, one of those.
And while I have been very lame about posting and commenting, etc., my darling sister picked up the slack and posted questions for The Book Thief
House is still coming along. We're trudging. But we're getting there. New lighting makes it look a whole lot more like a real house and less like a demolition site. Electricians are done for a bit now. It's all us for the next few weeks.
Whirly, swirly days. Between the wind and the chaos kicking in, it's been crazy here.
Progress is still being had on the house. A little less this week since apparently we have to work at things that bring in money instead of the constant hemorrhaging that we have been doing.
Good TV! Yes, that's right, we have been allowing for a little down time and my, oh my, there is some good tv right now.
And you know what else is on TV? Baseball! It's Spring Training and we sit eagerly waiting to glimpse a green field and a hot player or two. Ok, Sparky probably isn't checking out the players ;)
Speaking of baseball, C's teams are in full swing now. Sparky is head coach for the regular season team and he is asst. coach on the travel team. I am the administrator for both teams. You know, the one who does all the paperwork that the guys don't want to do and wrangles players in the dugout. C isn't quite done winter clinics yet so right now everything is overlapping.
Oooh, and guess who is coming over again today? The Comcast guys! We might as well be dating, except, ew.... Seems we have a 25% loss of signal strength. I wonder, will we be having a 25% loss of billing? Friggin' Comcast.
Sorry I haven't been emailing or commenting much lately but 25% signal loss, plus 75% craziness well, you get the idea.
- Guitar lesson today and yes, I completely rocked this week and am deserving of a gold star and an atta girl. Ok, except for bar chords but hey at least the atta girl.
- C was drafted last night onto his spring team and there was much cheering as we managed to have him playing with his buddy. Also much cheering since there was no more "my kid is better than your kid" crap going on. Everyone acted like grownups or at least like grown men playing ball.
- Jim will be head coach of this team and this year? Sponsor. So C will be the only kid with his name on his jersey. Not really, all the kids will have C's last name on their jersey. Haha. I'm sure this won't cost too much in therapy.
- This is tentative but still...it looks like we have an offer on the house. Ok, we know we have an offer coming in today we just don't know the numbers. Keeping fingers crossed.
- Contractors are here today finishing the A/C. Yes, I know the wind chill is -5. Also, paint. Rooms are changing colors. No, not the scary pink room but that is coming as soon as we decide on a color. I think we are back to a nice ginger color. We'll see.
Outta here. Too many men. Bet you never thought you'd here me say that, huh? ;)
I don't know about that sport with the odd shaped ball. I just know that today is the day we eat good snacks and watch funny commercials.
Also, after this we are one step closer to baseball season.
Happy Superbowl Sunday to those who are watching. Happy Snackfest 2007 to those who are just along for the ride.
Yeah, so you should never get into that argument with anyone because everyone always thinks their own kid is better.
At least I'm right ;)
Dumbass.
No, not you. Your kid is great, really.**
**Yes, I know the difference between your and you're. I was just testing you. And it's late. Shoosh. I caught it.
I have this overwhelming feeling that something bad is going to happen. Not something bad like, oops, the dvr didn't tape Brothers and Sisters again, but something seriously tragic.
I can't shake it all day. Sparky is in Boston today and it's everything I can do not to call every hour just to make sure nothing is wrong. And the boys? I almost drove an hour to pick up J and embarassed C by plucking him from his classroom and mom hugging him in front of all his very cool friends. I didn't.
They are do home within the hour and we are all going to curl up together with a movie. No one gets out of arms reach today.
Irrational? I know. I really do. But it's there just the same and I can't shake it.
Please be extra careful today, 'k?
Looks like snow, smells like snow, feels like snow but we just have heavy, slate colored clouds darkening everything.
Got my two Harry CDs in the mail yesterday. Love them. Everyone should have them. Picked up C's new drum kit yesterday and he was very happy. This one has wheels so he is no longer going to quit because everything is too heavy to drag around. This makes me very happy. He also drummed along to Harry for a bit which makes me nearly ecstatic:)
Guitar lessons are still going on amidst the chaos over here. I am making progress. Slowly but surely. Bar chords still give me fits but I'm getting it and I work around it when needed.
This week:
Jack Johnson "Banana Pancakes"
John Mayer "The Heart of Love"
John Mayer "Why Georgia?"
Next week a little Rilo Kiley. Maybe. We'll see how the muted strumming and bar chords go. I obviously don't have as much practice time. The contractors don't want to be serenaded and there's too much to be done. But a little music always helps settle me down so the lessons will continue.
So glad that it's Friday. Mostly so I don't have to pretend to be bright and chipper in the morning in order to trick boys into going to school and avoid chopping them to pieces and burying them in the yard. They have a serious case of the winter "I don't wannas" and honestly, I'm with them. Our schedule is so wacky right now that there is no routine and without routine we get testy.
Babbly entry, I know. Blame it on the weather, the constant banging and sawing in the background or whatever.
Hurray for the weekend!!
I found my computer again! It was buried under many, many levels of dust and debris but we are digging out. In fact, we have walls and ceilings in most of the house now and the air conditioning is almost all the way done just in time for the wind chill to be subzero ;) Timing is everything, yes?
There were many, many men in the house this week. No, not like in college (just kidding Dad!). We had contractors everywhere finishing up things. We have lights that come on with nifty switches and vents and drywall. Just like a real house.
Hopefully we are going to be able to start moving more things in now that the guys are done in the attic and basement. Done being relative, of course.
Odd and ends and little bits:
- Idol makes the week easier to get through. Love Sundance and the odd guy that looked like Castro. Just imagine what a makeover could do there!
- Yes, I am geeky enough to be Tivoing the Grease show. It's good, shut it. And I would have won but you know, I'm a little older...
- Someone called me Sporty last night--as in "Don't you play sports? I would have thought you did. You're very sporty and you seem to know what you're doing." Bwahahahaha! I have obviously mastered the art of slinging it though. Go me. Sporty!
- Comcast and I have called a truce that includes a working phone, internet and a large ass rebate for funds paid when not a damn thing worked and communication was limited to two tin cans and a friggin' string. We will see how long the cease fire lasts.
Miss you guys! I haven't disappeared so if you've called or emailed I just probably haven't had time or access but I'm not ignoring you, honest!
New house make new noises--especially on howly, windy days when you're home by yourself.
Just sayin'
Sparky's employee is working on the house. He thinks he is "helping" with the house. But since we are still paying him his daily rate I consider it working. So, not happy with the gajillion breaks and the helpful hints and suggestions.
On top of this, he is the most aggravating, infuriating man ever. Not the valedictorian of the trailer park academy. And yes, he is actually from "the park." The reason we call him "uuhhhh Dave" is because that's how he'll answer if you ask his name. It kind of stuck. (I personally have a few other choice names for him but Sparky says I have to play nice.)
A few tidbits from this afternoon:
In reference to a DJ on the radio - "I used to listen to that dude all the time 'til I realized who he was. Now I can't believe he still is on the air man. I mean it freaked me out when I found out he was a homo and stuff."
Seriously....
And when Sparky gently mentioned that he might want to get back to work at some point since he is getting paid he said:
"It's not me, my mind is still moving fast as anything but my body is shut down. It's not me man."
And we won't even go into the decorating advice he's been giving.
On a happier note, I am still having guitar guy come every week even though there are weeks when we are sitting on folding chairs in the demolition zone. I finished up "Blackbird" and am working on Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" and Jack Johnson's "Banana Pancakes." Two fairly different songs but I am having fun and it's keeping me relatively sane. I said relatively.
I'm not ready for Idol yet;) But then again, most of those people weren't. Were you watching? It's back on.
They should just know things. And if they don't know, and we have to tell them, then it doesn't count.
That's all I'm sayin'.
Off to sing at Lincoln Center tonight. Lalalalalala!
Vague enough title? Don't sit there shaking your head. You've done it. You've "uh-huh"-ed your way through a phone conversation while you were really, I don't know, let's say, shopping online or reading blogs. Maybe you're doing it right now.
Thing is--then you hang up and you aren't really sure what you just said "uh-huh" to. You might have volunteered to bring desserts that require pastry chef skills to a dinner or said that you wouldn't mind puppysitting for a few months. Dammit.
But sometimes you just do it. Blame it on the ADD or the lure of the glowing computer screen while people are drolling on, but it happens.
Sometimes you just realize "Damn! I am still on the phone!" and then you try real hard for a few minutes to have people skills and engage in real grown-up conversation only to lull yourself back into the occasional but perfectly time "uh-huh." Just enough so that they know you've really been listening. If you have kids you have mastered this skill and honed it to the point of perfection.
Don't worry. I didn't do that to you. I did it to them. I would never "uh-huh" you. You are way too witty and clever.
Thanks to Cate Ross I got a nifty new winner button from Write Wizely.
Pretty cool, huh?
(If you aren't reading Cate's blog head on over and have a look. It's one that I quickly added to the blogroll after finding it through the addicting randomizer.)
(No More National Blog Posting Month)
Made it! Didn't miss a day and even had multiple posts on more than a few occasions. I even posted on multiple blogs a number of days. What does this mean?
1) I win! Woohoo!
2) I apparently should get out more.
3) I am a blogoholic and should seek out a program.
4) Stress=blogging and this month=lots of blogging
Congrats to everyone else who posted everyday in November. It's been fun checking in on everyone.
To celebrate, and because any excuse for retail therapy is a good one, I went shoe shopping today. Serious shoe shopping. Making up for lost time shoe shopping. Brown shoe, black shoe and even boot shopping.
A good day.
I know it's wrong and I should be a better and kinder person but I keep using the NaBloPoMo randomizer to see who is still keeping up and who has fallen along the wayside.
And sometimes...I gloat.
Yeah, I know. Santa is going to bring me coal.
read more »Hmmm, seems like I was remiss in my description of the crop this weekend. Not only was I joined by my sister and good friend but I was also joined by my lovely, talented and creative stepmom friend who worked on gorgeous creations while resisting the urge to wallow in the retail distractions. (How was that? Better? Am I forgiven? :) Unfortunately, she had to leave early but we are all looking forward to heading back in March with more money photos.
Guitar Guy is coming this afternoon and I am the bad student. I was a slacker this week playing only those pieces I am already comfortable with, ignoring the pick (evil, evil pick!) and barely playing through the new pieces. Maybe I can still cram in some quick practice and not look like such a dufus. Could be tough. I hope he doesn't withhold Xmas tunes as punishment. I will make the house smell nice and festive (oils from B&BW) and create the appearance of clean and he will be in the holiday spirit. Maybe.
Lunch with a friend this afternoon and I am having one of those mornings. Those "why didn't I get my haircut, I have no clothes that look good, why did I have that second slice of pie now nothing fits right" kind of mornings. Grrrrr.
Oh, and while I am confessing to slacking, I am running the reading discussion this month and I might be the only one who doesn't finish The Book Thief
On the bright side, at least I excel at slacking :)
I spent a fun night with the boys. Sparky is off in Atlantic City with his dad for the night and the boys requested a trip to the bookstore. What kind of parent would I be if I didn't take them??
I stayed in the kid section and resisted the lure of holiday sales. I did see two books that I need:
Green Eggs and Ham Cookbook
and
The Book of Lost Things: A Novel
Still, it was a fun, stressfree night spent browsing the books, sitting on the floor and reading the dustcovers, looking for hidden treasures on the shelves.
And on the way home the actually requested The Decemberists so I was happy and proud. Now they are making tea and reading their new books (Icefire (Fire Star Trilogy)
Remind me of this tomorrow when I am threatening to feed them to wolves again.
Ok, I actually ordered them. But it feels like presents when the FedEx truck pulls up out front with goodies.
This morning's haul?
Tea! And not just tea but tea from Adagio that's been out of stock for a while. I ordered some seasonal favorites: Casablanca Twist and Christmas Tea.
They were still out of the best Chamomile in the world but I have a little left to hold me over and now that my new stock is here I'm all set for brisk Fall afternoons with a cuppa and a good book.
If you are a tea lover you should get a few sample sizes and give them a try. Also, I couldn't live without my IngenuiTEA teapot. It's the best way to make a perfect cup of tea from loose tea leaves. No mess, no fuss, great tea.
on edit: Turtlemama you are my new best friend!! Points??!! We get points?? I just checked and I had plenty of points built up and they now have chamomile in stock since this morning!. I had enough to get my chamomile and some xmas gifts. Points?? Who knew! Thank you so much! I am practically giddy. Well, that and pumped up on oodles of tasty caffeine.
I checked the weather. The map is green. And red. And it isn't some way-too-early holiday decor. And... the red spots are heading here.
So I finished up all the pesky crap, nagged Sparky about house phone calls, stalked walked past the house on a quick walk and am getting ready to curl up with a book. Hopefully a good book but it's...the rebound book.
You know the rebound book. You just finish a great book. You give your heart to it and then it ends, leaving you just hanging there. But you're already in reading mode, in quick page-turning, what comes next mode. So you take a chance with rebound book, but you just know you won't be able to really give your heart to it.
Maybe, this will be an exception. Hell, it's a rainy day and sometimes you just gotta love the one you're with, you know, book wise.
Someone just search for this:
And when Santa squeezes his fat white ass down that chimney tonight he's gonna find the jolliest bunch of assholes this side of the nuthouse
and found my site! I am still laughing. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (Special Edition)
Thanks to whoever clicked in here for that quote. You made my day.
This morning C's buddy came over. When the two ravenous boys were foraging for snacks C said:
"My mom hasn't gone shopping yet. We could have butter. Butter makes everything better. Sometimes I just like that."
ok, ok, I went to the store. Snacks for everyone. And no butter!
Typical dull but easygoing Saturday involving cleaning, trips to home improvement/hardware stores and other drudgery.
Just wondering. How is that when you are up to your elbows in nasty kitty litter and flooded basement sludge, you haven't showered yet and you have a sink full of dishes, your sister-in-law manages to pop by?
Yeah.
No worries, the house is now clean(ish), smell free (plus incense!) and I am all showered and ready for my hot date to see Stranger Than Fiction with my three guys.
Ooops. While today was going to be the boys last day of the week anyway (do they actually go to school in November???) I realized as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and looked out into the rainy yard that I didn't press snooze. I turned the alarm off. Over an hour ago.
Hrumph.
Ah, screw it. We're calling a mental health day. We got chores and errands done early and are going to spend most of the day reading, watching Cars (Widescreen Edition)
A quick trip to see my neices and then some comfort food and the next book in the From the Stacks Challenge. Right now I am up to The Memory Keeper's Daughter
I'd imagine that the NaBloPoMo randomizer and I will again be spending some quality time together as well.
Rainy days are good for these kinds of things.
The NaBloPoMo Randomizer is sucking away my entire morning. Really. I would step away if I could but I am helpless to resist the lure.
It's interesting to visit new blogs, find some forgotten old ones, etc. It's also a challenge sometimes to realize that these are blogs that are completely out of your circle. You don't have to like or agree with them and you certainly should control and kneejerk, PMS-y responses to argue with people.
I suppose I should comment more and lurk less but if I add to the time I am already wasting spending clicking, clicking, clicking through the randomizer I will never get anything done.
The From the Stacks Book Challenge is unexpectedly taking off. I am having trouble keeping up with the list of participants. I wake up in the morning to dozens of new book bloggers from all over the world signing up--Greece, London, Australia, New Zealand. I am thrilled.
Guitar Guy comes this afternoon. Xmas tunes are on deck this week. I learned my happy little Sesame Street song (he thinks I'm crazy) and have been singing "I Don't Wanna Live on the Moon" all week. The family will be happy for some new tunes.
Still no house news. Keeping fingers crossed as the attorneys battle it out.
Yes, that's right. I love Mondays. Go on, mock me if you must but I am sticking with it.
Don't get me wrong, the weekends with all their family fun are enjoyable and I love spending time with the guys but...somehow during our fun and festivities, nothing gets done around here. And by the end of the weekend, when the kids are whining about school in the morning and I am scrambling to get everyone showered and in bed I find myself thinking, "shut up! shut up! shut up! Just stop making any sounds at all. Could you possibly chew any louder? Stop it! Don't call me. Don't ask me anything. If you make even one more small little noise I will leave you on the front steps for the wolves."
Well, we don't actually have wolves, but maybe rabid squirrels or a band of gypsies.
I know, it's not nice. It's not what good moms do. But screw it. By Sunday night I am on family overload and I need some time off.
So there you go. Mondays. A little regrouping time even if it's filled with shoveling the debris of a weekend off the kitchen floor, washing marshmallows out of the sheets*, and beating back dust bunnies with the beater bar. I can do it in complete silence if I want**.
*No, we weren't having some kind of desert topping fun. C snuck mini marshmallows in my room as a snack.
**Of course, I don't wander around in silence but use this as an excuse to turn the house into some kind of karaoke factory while singing along to the album of the week at the top of my lungs. this week's choice? The Crane Wife
We just got home from a full moon Ghost Tour in New Hope. The boys had never been on one before but Sparky and I had gone when we were dating. Yes, that's a long while ago. We found out tonight that the tours have been in business for about 25 years and we went around 20 years ago so we were in from the beginning.
We had fun but didn't see anything out of the ordinary. I'm not sure if the boys were disappointed or relieved.
J is convinced he will see something when we upload the pictures in the morning.
Either way it was a fun night for a walk along the canal in the moonlight listening to local ghost stories.
*phone rings*
"umnsdfkjh....nnmmmmmffff.....hello??"
"HI!!! We're almost there!!! Whatcha doin'??"
"smndfjhuh...Mom?....Why???"
"HAHHA! We have to *mom stuff* and then I'm going to stop in so we can *mom stuff* together!! Won't that be fun??"
"mnadsfashf...mmmm....'k....see you soon...."
I'm up. I'm up. No baseball and apparently now company. Shakin' off the sleep. I'm movin'...almost. Nothin' like an early morning surprise visit from mom to wake you up.
How can I call and nag remind you about the lawyer and the paperwork and your appts if you leave your damn cell phone on the counter???
Gah. I hate when I call the cellphone only to hear an odd buzzing sound coming from the other side of the room.
