A thing of beauty, laughter

Tonight was a stressful one. But then, Wednesday nights are always stressful because it is work time for me. We are in the process of getting used to a new childcare location or, rather, going back to the old one after many years. People get used to what they get used to and change is always hard. They're handling it okay.

When most of the people are gone and we are winding down from the night and finishing paperwork, sometimes we get a little punchy. I had shared a funny family story with my friend. She laughed harder than I even thought she would. So when our friend, R, came by after hearing our laughter, I was asked to share it with him. It was moderately involved and required some grammatical word play. Normally I write part of it down as a visual aid, but I didn't for him. To see him go from puzzled trying to figure it out in his head, to the lightbulb moment on his face when he figured it out and was doubled over in laughter...perfection. We laughed even harder because he did. It was excellent. Just excellent. A perfect salve for a day of hardened hearts and stressful situations.

Laugh out loud. You never know whose day you might make.


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Election night...pass out the barf bags and nerve meds

As on every Tuesday, I find myself sitting at dance practice for S. It is always entertaining and interesting to watch their progress from week to week. However, my heart is at home half watching the election and half reading the Twitter comments. And, for those of you who may get snarky and ask, yes I voted...for Pedro. I feel there are so few secrets kept in life anymore, my political views are mine and known only to my spouse. It is no secret that of all the things to find interesting, I do not have but about a half ounce of interest in politics. Many may say that is unpatriotic or irresponsible. Let's be clear there is a difference between lack of interest and lack of information. I know what I know...but debates at coffee shops and on social networking sites do nothing for me.

On other fronts, I began the strange and stressful task of accident proofing the house and readying it for the hub's return after his surgery on Monday. Things that he can negotiate normally will not be allowed. Slip on shoes will need to be purchased since he won't be tying his shoes for a while. Grabber handles have been purchased in case he drops a remote or a phone or a napkin and no one is immediately available to fetch it for him. This period of time is going to be a challenge for us all. For me, I will have to remember that he may look like my sweet husband, but he has had a major surgery and will take a long time to heal. It will be even more difficult for him. Not only will he have pain, but he will have to allow others to do things for him that he normally has always done for himself. That's hard for anybody. I just pray for level heads for the both of us.

Well. 153-123 right now. I will do my best, but I feel I will conk out before a winner is decided. This may be an all-nighter. I am sorry to say that I will probably be drooling and slack jawed by the time an announcement is made. Oh well. God Bless America!


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Ah, I am taken back to days of Southfork

Tonight was S's first band concert. It was the most excellent thing, thus far, about middle school in my opinion. I am a BIG band girl from long ago. A big nerd, I know. A saxophone player, I was, inspired by my brother's "An Introduction to Melody" record that we played on a loop for days on end. Did anyone else have it?



When "Old MacDonald Had a Band" came on and it turned out he had a sax in his band? I just, I can't. That little tiny dirty sax part was enough to turn me against playing any other instrument in the band....ever. I did not play a tenor as shown on the album cover. I instead started on the alto and moved to the baritone. I loved every moment of it. Even when I wanted to drop from marching band exhaustion or cry because the pit band music for "The Wiz" was tremendously difficult, I loved it. So it was a misty evening for me seeing her back there with her buddy, D, and all the other eager kids. They haven't had their instruments that long, so they have learned just basic basics. But it was so stinkin' cute. I remember in my first band concert, we played the theme to "Dallas". JR Ewing himself might have been driven to turn his life around after hearing some of the cacophony brought forth in the gym that evening, but it was a precious sound to my parents' ears just as tonight's sounds were precious to mine.

I so look forward to the days and weeks ahead as she learns new things and finds even more enjoyment as her skills grow. Maybe, if she's lucky, she can play Toto's "Africa" in 8th grade like her Uncle Mike did. It was fantastic! A mom can dream....
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No snappy title comes to mind

This is going to be a relatively short and sweet synopsis of my day. Got grumped at for inadequate electronics, got grumped at for allowing supervised independence, had my phone battery drained by procrastination texts, got grumped at for not carrying cash or being able to pull barbecue out of my rear end and grumped at for refusing McDonald's as a valid lunch option, was awakened from a 10 minute therapeutic power nap by sparring siblings, was informed that punctuality was merely a suggestion, was blessed by a healing service, was saddened by a friend's job loss, was humbled by my husband's selflessness and his ability to make one spectacular hamburger, was saddened by the boy's hurt ear and blessed that he felt my hugs would make it better, got annoyed by the selfishness of others, learned to keep my mouth shut and my head low and learned that I dislike 99% of what is on the Disney Channel.

Have a great evening. Going to try to go to bed and wake up with a better attitude.


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Car shopping is beyond torture

The hub needs a new car. That is the cold, hard truth we are facing. Just kidding with the dramatics, but it is a necessary evil for a man with a bad back who is driving an 11year old car with over 200K miles. My brother and his wife were kinds ugh to watch the kids today and we went to throw ourselves into the shark tank also known as the car dealership. Holy shnikeys, what were we thinking? We got a trainee. That was enough. His sidekick trainer resembled Al Capone in a very outrageous pin striped suit. This was a bad combination and, three hours later, I asked the sales manager for a trash can. "If you insist on making us wait, I'll need a trash can for my husband. His pain level is so high, he's going to throw up. Your choice." We got a figure,but so sad for them. They stuck in lots of shifty fees and wouldn't come down to a reasonable price. Oh well. At least we aren't out any $.

I'm going to dream in new car smell. Hopefully we'll find something soon.


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Exhaustion makes shows run together

After a busy week(aren't they all?), the hub and I are indulging in a tiny bit or sloth. We spent a few hours this evening looking at vehicles with the kids, which was a delight. The hub must have a vehicle that will be more comforting to his back, especially once they "surgurize" him.

After dropping S off at a sleepover, G, the boy, the hub and I got PJ'ed up and snuggled up to watch Billy the Exterminator. Well, we flipped back and forth between that and Shark Tank. My brain and body are so tired that, when answering one of G's questions I said, "Mark Cuban is the one with bad hair and spiky bracelets. He made that donkey an offer with a dart gun. If he's smart, he'll take it." She proceeded to give me the side eye, moved away and asked what in the world I was talking about. Um, time for bed kids. Mommy's getting exhaustion related dementia.

Time to put the back patient to bed and take a melatonin to secure that sleep actually happens tonight. Going to get a glass of milk and head up. Night.


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Welcome to the jungle baby...you're gonna diiiieeee!!!

Navigating a new job is always interesting and I hope it never gets boring. I don't think it ever will. I have learned that, big duh statement here, I enjoy the interactive part over the official authority kind of part. People are passionate about what they are passionate about and I have to learn how to harness that passion and constructively use it. If I don't, I'm going to get eaten alive. I'm a bug girl...they'd dine for a while. Oh well, it's a process.

My sweet hub was informed of his surgery date today. In a little less than two weeks, he will have a cut in his back, bad stuff taken out, good stuff left in, stitches and then hopefully blessed relief upon waking up in recovery. Then the long road to a new world begins. We are anxious, but I know he is ready and I am so ready to see him feel good again. He has suffered for too long. I covet your prayers as we prepare him for the process and to heal and not overdo, prepare the children for the process and learn to live gingerly around Daddy for the next several months.

Funny of the evening. Hub was describing to the children the process of surgery day and how it will all go down. "They'll prep me for surgery, then take me to surgery and then afterwards I will go to..."...and a child shouted, "The maternity room!!!". If only. Then he could quit his job, write his life story, make the talk show circuit and buy that farm we've always wanted. I'll post pictures if he delivers.




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