Because I Have Nothing Else To Do
I should be cleaning the house. I should be doing laundry. I should be writing out the lists of instructions for the running of my home for the nine days that Hugh and I will be away but, I am doing none of these things. Instead, I am surfing the internet weather sites and growing increasingly panicked at the thought that 1) We never make it to Barbados because of all the freaking hurricane action in the Caribbean or 2) we will never make it back home from the Caribbean because of all the hurricane action or 3) our plane will crash in a fiery accident, damning our souls to a watery grave at the bottom of Davey Jones locker.
Yes, I think too much. Also, thank goodness I purchased the travel insurance when I booked the trip; we might be out a vacation but at least we won’t be out the money.
To take my mind off things, how about I invite you all to visit the brand new blog of one of my oldest and dearest friends. Mel is new to all this blogging craziness and I’m sure she would appreciate a “hello” plus, she's entertaining as hell and you'll get a huge kick out of her antics.
I have known Mel since High School. She dated The Boy’s best friend and, together, we spent many a crazy night making futile attempts at keeping those two under control. We also employed the age-old tactic of telling my parents that I was staying at her house while telling her parents that she was staying at my house when, indeed, we were staying at her boyfriend’s house, where hot-tub parties featured heavily in our entertainment repertoire.
Um, if you didn’t already know that Mom and Dad, I should assure you, nothing happened, we might have been sneaky but we were also prudes (Back me up, here, Mel).
Anyway, Mel is Good People and you would be lucky to know her, I know I am.
With that said, I should probably get back to the business of fretting over my doomed second-honeymoon.
Hey, we all need a hobby.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
It Was a Long Day But It Was a Good Day
The funeral went as well as could be expected. The family is holding up remarkably well and I am especially proud of how strong Phoebe is being. Granted, she has always been a strong person but, under the circumstances, no one would expect her to hold it together as well as she is and, I am in awe of her grace and quiet dignity.
Spending the day with four out of six of my best friends in the world was a pleasure, even given the reason for the visit. We did succeed in making Phoebe laugh at least a little bit and our time together, while all too brief, brought us all a renewed sense of peace.
Since it was too brief, we made plans to gather up the husbands and to together again in December. Three of us will be celebrating the big 4-0 between the end of November and the end of December which seemed like as good a reason as any to get together and throw a party.
We plan to meet in the town where we went to college, the town where this life-long friendship was forged in the flame of all-night study sessions, meals consisting of nothing but ramen noodles and whatever we could scrounge up at happy hour at the bar, hours spent bemoaning the lack of proper heating in our apartment and nights spent either consoling one another over yet another break-up or floating on a haze of drunken laughter (please note that I listed the studying first, Dad).
No doubt, the town has changed, our Alma Mater has grown and our old stomping grounds have been converted into businesses we may not necessarily wish to enter but, it’s still a great place to get together. And I can’t imagine celebrating turning forty (I just threw up in my mouth a little) with anyone, else.
They are, as Phoebe’s mom said yesterday, my “forever friends”.
Speaking of great places to go; Hugh and I leave for Barbados on Tuesday. Thankfully, I have the long Labor Day weekend in which to get my shit together because, frankly, I have been lazy and have nothing at all ready.
I need to pack. Can't do that until I decide what I want to take. Can't do that until I do laundry, etc.
Mom and Dad are coming to stay with the kids for most of the time that we will be away, with the exception of the first two days during which the kids will be in Emily’s capable hands. Having our parents in our home with our children while we are off playing in the sand is comforting to both me and Hugh but, it also means that I should probably give the house a good stem-to-stern cleaning lest they think us slovenly.
Also, I should probably hide the porn and the sex toys.
Ha! I'm just kidding!
I already hid the porn.
The funeral went as well as could be expected. The family is holding up remarkably well and I am especially proud of how strong Phoebe is being. Granted, she has always been a strong person but, under the circumstances, no one would expect her to hold it together as well as she is and, I am in awe of her grace and quiet dignity.
Spending the day with four out of six of my best friends in the world was a pleasure, even given the reason for the visit. We did succeed in making Phoebe laugh at least a little bit and our time together, while all too brief, brought us all a renewed sense of peace.
Since it was too brief, we made plans to gather up the husbands and to together again in December. Three of us will be celebrating the big 4-0 between the end of November and the end of December which seemed like as good a reason as any to get together and throw a party.
We plan to meet in the town where we went to college, the town where this life-long friendship was forged in the flame of all-night study sessions, meals consisting of nothing but ramen noodles and whatever we could scrounge up at happy hour at the bar, hours spent bemoaning the lack of proper heating in our apartment and nights spent either consoling one another over yet another break-up or floating on a haze of drunken laughter (please note that I listed the studying first, Dad).
No doubt, the town has changed, our Alma Mater has grown and our old stomping grounds have been converted into businesses we may not necessarily wish to enter but, it’s still a great place to get together. And I can’t imagine celebrating turning forty (I just threw up in my mouth a little) with anyone, else.
They are, as Phoebe’s mom said yesterday, my “forever friends”.
Speaking of great places to go; Hugh and I leave for Barbados on Tuesday. Thankfully, I have the long Labor Day weekend in which to get my shit together because, frankly, I have been lazy and have nothing at all ready.
I need to pack. Can't do that until I decide what I want to take. Can't do that until I do laundry, etc.
Mom and Dad are coming to stay with the kids for most of the time that we will be away, with the exception of the first two days during which the kids will be in Emily’s capable hands. Having our parents in our home with our children while we are off playing in the sand is comforting to both me and Hugh but, it also means that I should probably give the house a good stem-to-stern cleaning lest they think us slovenly.
Also, I should probably hide the porn and the sex toys.
Ha! I'm just kidding!
I already hid the porn.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Soul Prescription
Tomorrow morning, I am driving to Mayberry for the funeral. I’ll be meeting two of the Girls at my parent’s house and, together, we will meet Phoebe and another of our roommates at the church.
I have spoken to each of the Girls more times in the past three days than I have in the last six months and, while we are all looking forward to seeing one another, we hate the reason for the visit.
On the other hand, wise men have said that laughter is the most potent medicine for healing a broken soul and, since we find it almost impossible not to find something to laugh about when we are all together; Phoebe’s soul will be getting a heaping dose of the good stuff.
And hers won’t be the only one.
Tomorrow morning, I am driving to Mayberry for the funeral. I’ll be meeting two of the Girls at my parent’s house and, together, we will meet Phoebe and another of our roommates at the church.
I have spoken to each of the Girls more times in the past three days than I have in the last six months and, while we are all looking forward to seeing one another, we hate the reason for the visit.
On the other hand, wise men have said that laughter is the most potent medicine for healing a broken soul and, since we find it almost impossible not to find something to laugh about when we are all together; Phoebe’s soul will be getting a heaping dose of the good stuff.
And hers won’t be the only one.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Sad Day
My girlfriend, Phoebe, lost her younger brother yesterday. My heart is heavy for my girlfriend and for the rest of her family.
When I got the call, it came from one of our other roommates and, with it; our unofficial emergency phone tree was put into action. I called three of the other Girls and, by noon, we were all ready to support Phoebe in whatever way she needed.
I should note that, it never ceases to amaze my husband how we can, after months without seeing or talking to each other, pick right up like we just hung up the phone or left one another’s side and, to this I say; it’s not hard to stay connected to people when you carry them in your heart, every single day of your life.
And, I do.
I wouldn’t be the person I am if it hadn’t been for the love of these women. I rely on them to get me through the tough times and to remind me of the good times. I need them to point out the flaws in my logic and the honesty in my deeds and I expect them to call me on my bullshit like no other people in the world are capable of doing. I believe that we were fated to be friends, that it was decreed long before we drew our first breaths upon this planet and that we are thus fated to remain friends once our souls depart this earth.
Those very thoughts bring me comfort when I am in need of comfort.
I hope they bring the same comfort to Phoebe. I hope the knowledge that we love and support her will be a soothing balm on her broken heart and that she knows she will smile again, one day, soon.
Because, let me tell you, a day without that girl’s smile is a sad day, indeed.
My girlfriend, Phoebe, lost her younger brother yesterday. My heart is heavy for my girlfriend and for the rest of her family.
When I got the call, it came from one of our other roommates and, with it; our unofficial emergency phone tree was put into action. I called three of the other Girls and, by noon, we were all ready to support Phoebe in whatever way she needed.
I should note that, it never ceases to amaze my husband how we can, after months without seeing or talking to each other, pick right up like we just hung up the phone or left one another’s side and, to this I say; it’s not hard to stay connected to people when you carry them in your heart, every single day of your life.
And, I do.
I wouldn’t be the person I am if it hadn’t been for the love of these women. I rely on them to get me through the tough times and to remind me of the good times. I need them to point out the flaws in my logic and the honesty in my deeds and I expect them to call me on my bullshit like no other people in the world are capable of doing. I believe that we were fated to be friends, that it was decreed long before we drew our first breaths upon this planet and that we are thus fated to remain friends once our souls depart this earth.
Those very thoughts bring me comfort when I am in need of comfort.
I hope they bring the same comfort to Phoebe. I hope the knowledge that we love and support her will be a soothing balm on her broken heart and that she knows she will smile again, one day, soon.
Because, let me tell you, a day without that girl’s smile is a sad day, indeed.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Et Tu, Brutus?
When the Man-Cub and I were walking to school this morning, we ran into one of his buddies from baseball. Upon spotting his friend, the Cub dropped my hand like it was coated in the plague; I’m sure the tearing and burning sensations that I felt in my chest at that moment were the result of too much spicy pasta sauce at dinner last night and had nothing whatsoever to do with the little bastard’s dismissal of my affections.
I mean, really; I sheltered that child’s body in my womb for nine months. I endured twelve hours of hard labor without drugs, just to get his ungrateful ass into this world. I stayed awake countless nights, treating fevers, cleaning up vomit and changing sheets on the infrequent occasions when he was sick or accidentally wet his bed; there is no way a child of mine would diss me in front of his friend just to prove he was a Big Boy, not after all that suffering and sacrifice. No way.
But, on the off-chance that that was what that was all about; I fully intend to hold every bit of that suffering and sacrifice over his head when the day finally comes for him and his sister to pick out my nursing home.
And, it had better be a damn fine nursing home.
When the Man-Cub and I were walking to school this morning, we ran into one of his buddies from baseball. Upon spotting his friend, the Cub dropped my hand like it was coated in the plague; I’m sure the tearing and burning sensations that I felt in my chest at that moment were the result of too much spicy pasta sauce at dinner last night and had nothing whatsoever to do with the little bastard’s dismissal of my affections.
I mean, really; I sheltered that child’s body in my womb for nine months. I endured twelve hours of hard labor without drugs, just to get his ungrateful ass into this world. I stayed awake countless nights, treating fevers, cleaning up vomit and changing sheets on the infrequent occasions when he was sick or accidentally wet his bed; there is no way a child of mine would diss me in front of his friend just to prove he was a Big Boy, not after all that suffering and sacrifice. No way.
But, on the off-chance that that was what that was all about; I fully intend to hold every bit of that suffering and sacrifice over his head when the day finally comes for him and his sister to pick out my nursing home.
And, it had better be a damn fine nursing home.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Adapt or Die
Day two of our new morning schedule went well; both the Man-Cub and The Girl were up early again and I made the half-mile walk to school and back in record time. The walk is good for me and I figure I will take advantage of the opportunity to do it for as long as the weather permits.
Of course, my entire schedule will change when the weather does. Then, it will change again once The Girl starts volleyball and again when the Cub starts football then yet again once those sports end so, let’s face it; I am going to have to get used to change.
It’s not that I’m opposed to change, per se; it’s just that I like getting into a routine and sticking with it. I find that I have an easier time sticking to my diet and exercise plans if I have a schedule to follow and, while I am not totally inflexible, I do like to have some idea of how my day is going to unfold.
Speaking of inflexibility, lately I have noticed that my range of motion has become somewhat limited. The work-outs that I have done have left me stronger but a whole hell of a lot less, well…bendy. For instance, I used to be able to do the splits and, while that was a while back (like, um, High School), it would be nice to at least be able to do a deep side bend withoout the fear that I am going to snap in two.
So, I have added a fairly intensive yoga/stretching/pilates DVD to my arsenal and I tried it out for the first time last night. Let’s just say, it’s no small wonder I was able to make the walk to school with the Cub this morning, but! I’m going to stick with it and, before you know it, I’ll be doing cartwheels.
Hell, I might even land in split position.
On the front-lawn of the Middle School.
Because, if I'm going to embarrass The Girl, I might as well do it right.
Day two of our new morning schedule went well; both the Man-Cub and The Girl were up early again and I made the half-mile walk to school and back in record time. The walk is good for me and I figure I will take advantage of the opportunity to do it for as long as the weather permits.
Of course, my entire schedule will change when the weather does. Then, it will change again once The Girl starts volleyball and again when the Cub starts football then yet again once those sports end so, let’s face it; I am going to have to get used to change.
It’s not that I’m opposed to change, per se; it’s just that I like getting into a routine and sticking with it. I find that I have an easier time sticking to my diet and exercise plans if I have a schedule to follow and, while I am not totally inflexible, I do like to have some idea of how my day is going to unfold.
Speaking of inflexibility, lately I have noticed that my range of motion has become somewhat limited. The work-outs that I have done have left me stronger but a whole hell of a lot less, well…bendy. For instance, I used to be able to do the splits and, while that was a while back (like, um, High School), it would be nice to at least be able to do a deep side bend withoout the fear that I am going to snap in two.
So, I have added a fairly intensive yoga/stretching/pilates DVD to my arsenal and I tried it out for the first time last night. Let’s just say, it’s no small wonder I was able to make the walk to school with the Cub this morning, but! I’m going to stick with it and, before you know it, I’ll be doing cartwheels.
Hell, I might even land in split position.
On the front-lawn of the Middle School.
Because, if I'm going to embarrass The Girl, I might as well do it right.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Why Do I Always Get Myself So Worked Up About the First Day of School?
This morning went remarkably well. Shocking.
My alarm went off at 6:15 and I stumbled to The Girl’s room to wake her. Not only was she already up, showered, dressed and ready to go; she was in the process of combing her brother’s hair, her brother who was likewise dressed and ready to go. I’m fairly certain it is one of the seven signs of the apocalypse so, you might want to consider stocking up on the canned goods and bottled water now.
The Man-Cub requested a sack lunch to take to school so I whipped out a sandwich while the kids ate their breakfast and made their beds and, before we knew it, it was time to leave the house. Since it is a nice day, The Girl walked the block and a half to the Middle School while the Man-Cub and I walked to the Elementary School a half mile down the road. The Girl didn’t mind going on her own since, as you may recall, I embarrass her.
When the Cub and I got to school, we met up with several of his baseball teammates and their mothers and chatted briefly before entering the building. Once in the classroom, I introduced myself to the Cub’s teacher and made a quick sweep of the seating assignments to make sure the Cub wouldn’t be sitting near any of his friends, quite a few of whom are assigned to the same teacher. Apparently, this isn’t the teacher’s first rodeo, however, and I was pleased to see that the Cub will be surrounded by girls while his friends are scattered throughout the classroom, also surrounded on all sides by girls. The seating arrangement is so calculated, it’s almost diabolical and, I think I am going to like this teacher.
After settling the Cub in, I walked the half mile back home and am now enjoying the quiet solitude of an empty house. Hugh is already at work and I had forgotten how peaceful school days could be; maybe I won’t lament the loss of summer quite so much after all.
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