Back In the Swing of Things...Literally

I managed to snap a couple of pictures of the Man-Cub at this week's baseball game. I basically slipped out of my car in between snow showers and rain showers and braced myself against the wind in order to do it, but, I kind of like the kid, so; I guess he's worth the effort.

Of course, I might change my mind about that somewhere around the fiftieth time that I am bleaching the grass stains out of those white baseball pants.

Ok, probably not.

Head. Desk.

Yesterday, the parent of one of our clients tried to defend herself against the Department of Health and Human Services in their quest to remove her children from her care. Unfortunately, when your best defense includes the sentence "And my drug test came back clean! The only thing on it was meth!"; you aren't making a very good case for yourself.

Like, seriously.

As I've said before; never a dull day at Day Job.

Because This is All I Have Time For

Bullet points...

• The Man-Cub had his first baseball game of the season this afternoon. It snowed. And then, it rained. And then it snowed. And the wind blew through it all.

• The boys lost by many, many runs. Batting practice may be in order. Some attention to the outfield may need to be paid, as well.

• After the game, the Man-Cub reminded me that we needed to be at the basketball team's awards night. With a covered dish. And a side salad.

• Much like the little drummer boy of yore, I had no gift to bring. Luckily, I had a few leftovers that, when cobbled together, created the illusion of a decent contribution to the buffet table. I made the Man-Cub deliver them to the table in an effort to hide the identity of the "cook", which, failed since we live in a town of roughly 2500 people where anonymity is not exactly possible. 

• I did manage to speak to three of the parents on my To Call list for The Teenager's graduation party, so, all was not lost.

• I am really feeling the sacrifice of Lent this year; I miss my Diet Pepsi, and, a Cadbury Cream Egg would go down real easy right about now.

It's Like Riding a Bike

I went to mass last night. I hadn't stepped foot in a church since, um, I can't even remember when; maybe when my grandmother passed away in 2007? That's a really long time to go in between masses.

It was so long, in fact, I actually debated whether or not I was allowed to take communion. The part of me that argued that I had received all the sacraments while growing up and was, therefor entitled to the host won out and I joined the line; I did, however, call my mother immediately upon leaving the church to confirm my decision with her (she said I was legit).

Other than that, the experience really was somewhat like riding a bicycle; I wobbled a little at first, but, as the service picked up momentum, I was able to ride it out without tipping over.

So, that's an additional aspect of Lent for me this year. I'm hearkening back to my New Year's resolution about inviting God into my life in a more meaningful way, and, truth be told, I've missed the routine of mass. I've missed the peaceful feeling that the music evokes in my soul, and, I've missed being part of something bigger than myself.

Plus, checking in with the spirit might help me resist the temptation of the Diet Pepsi bottles currently residing in my fridge, and, frankly, some days I need all the help I can get.

Situation Report

Lent: Day Three

Number of times I have absently reached for an imaginary Diet Pepsi while preoccupied with menial tasks...15.

Number of times my mouth has watered at an M&M's commercial....three...and I don't even like peanut M&M's.

Number of times I have walked by the bakery section of the grocery store, just to moon over the brownies, cheesecakes, carrot cake, and donuts...two.

Number of pounds I inexplicably gained this week...two (I blame PMS and my body's confusion over where the hell its' Diet Pepsi has gone).

Number of hours of sleep I am going to lose come this Saturday night...one (damn you, Daylight Savings Time! Damn you!).

Number of kisses I just bestowed on The Teenager against her will simply because I want to stockpile for the inevitable moment when she realizes that she needs a kiss while she is away at college...sixteen.

Number of margaritas I am tempted to drink when at dinner with Jana later this evening...three.

Number of margaritas I will actually drink while at dinner with Jana ...zero.

Sit Rep Status: Complete

One Down, Dozens Still To Go

I finally finished the FAFSA application, enabling me to check one more item off my massive To Do list. Now I just sit back and wait for the financial aid to come pouring in....

....ha,ha,ha,ha,ha! As if!

Anyway, it was a chore that had to be done and it is. I really don't want to talk about that anymore. Instead, lets talk about the next Grad Party fundraiser that we are holding: it's a dodge ball tournament and I am trying to pull together a team of parents who are willing to offer themselves up for a pummeling by their children, all in the name of good fun. This endeavor has proven far more difficult than one might expect.

It does, however, beat the hell out of struggling over scholarship applications and financial aid applications, any day of the week.

So, there's that.

In Like a Lion

March has finally arrived and with it came rain and wind. But! It also heralded the return of peep-toed shoes and maxi skirts so I'm not complaining. Today, I wore a black maxi skirt that is done in a striped pattern and I got so many compliments on it, it was ridiculous. In fact, at least six people at my women's club meeting stopped me to compliment the outfit and to comment on my weight loss, which, apparently, they had just noticed, you know, three months later. Also, not complaining; a compliment is a compliment.

In other news, today is Fat Tuesday and I have wasted not a minute of it by indulging in Cadbury mini eggs and the last Diet Pepsi that I will see for a while. That's right, I'm giving up Diet Pepsi for Lent. I've done it before and I didn't kill anyone so I am relatively confident that I can do it again.

If not, at least I already have a striped skirt in my wardrobe; it can take the place of prison stripes and I'll get tons of compliments on what a fashionable little serial killer I am.

Lookin' on the bright side, cuz that's how I roll.