Saturday Morning

Good morning, B.

Did you get my email about your mysterious cyber disappearance? Glad to see you're still there. I'm so excited for you, having a sleepover with S tonight. I gracefully bow to you with the Best Aunt Ever title...no contest! I hope you enjoy every minute...and hats off to you for reading the puberty book with her. (Is is "What's Happening to My Body"? That's the one M read and I loved it...it's almost time for JJ...argh....)

This morning was so nice, but it's almost over. J had to go to work early and since I didn't sleep for s**t last night, I slept a couple of hours after he left. I got up around 9 and came downstairs to make coffee. (I think I may have gotten the formula right...the coffee's been good for awhile now.) I visited with JJ for a bit, then sat down to blog, because it is my new favorite drug. I've been sitting here for the last hour and a half, catching up on everyone's posts, commenting and writing myself. Heaven! I

I must go shower a such now, so I can drop JJ off at his baseball camp for the afternoon. J should be home by the time I get back and I have no idea what the plan is after that. It's sunny, so he may get out there and work in the yard, in which case I'll do laundry, etc. Tonight he's going to some fundraiser dinner for one of his FFs who has cancer, but I'm staying home with JJ since M will be working. Maybe we'll get a movie and curl up with some popcorn.

Or maybe I'll just blog more.

Love,
A

Off and running

Hey there, Amanda.

I started my day at 7 this morning. I arrived at the blood lab at 7:15 and I was already number 15. No joke. Fortunately I was in search of coffee only a half hour later. I grabbed a cup at my supermarket bakery and proceeded to fill my cart with kid snacks--Chex mix, Doritoes, Reeses peanut butter cups. (Thank goodness she also requested cucumbers.) I picked up the few other things I needed and was home by 9.

Unfortunately, I got a migraine at the store (I swear it's the bright fluorescent lights in the lab. I got a migraine last time I was there over the summer for my thyroid) so I wasn't able to keep up my momentum for long after I got home. Pretty much I was only good for unloading groceries and the dishwasher before coming to a screeching halt and a late morning nap.

An hour ago I forced myself to get up and clean up my room and master bath. I changed sheets and organized laundry, but alas I am out of time. Doing the laundry will have to wait, I guess. L just called with the heads up that they are an hour from a late lunch at Olive Garden, where I'll be picking up my Sunshine.

I am looking forward to our time together, but also glad I took some time to myself last night. After cocktail number 2 (you were right) I decided to go to a place close by--and I'm so glad I did. I ran into the older brother of my old neighborhood friend (P) and his wife, who kept me company during my mussels. Then, after they left, one of my current neighbors and pool friend came in and kept me company during my Caesar salad with grilled salmon. I finished my night with a killer Espresso martini (the bartender--who is so nice and makes me feel like a favorite regular--used vanilla vodka, Kahlua, white creme de cacao and a shot of espresso. It was divine. The whole evening felt like such a treat. I vow to do it again soon.

But now I'm off to meet my Sunshine and her family for lunch and be the best aunt in the world. (No offense.)....

Hope you are having a good day.

Love,
Barb

A Glass of Whine...

Hey, I'm back. I had to go pick up a rental car that was near K's shop, so I hitched a ride with him when he left to get parts. I got my car, (a snazzy little Kia - woo hoo!) K finished the plumbing, and all is right and quiet now. He gave me the "T's Good Neighbor Discount" - more than a 50% break - and I only ended up paying $100. Not to mention, he told me that any other plumber probably would have told me that it couldn't be fixed and I would need to put in a whole new shower unit, for around $900. Gosh, it's good to know people.

I started this plumbing project right after I got home from Friday Treats so I've basically accomplished nothing today. I ate my killer lunch and did a load of laundry - haven't got to the folding part yet - but now all I want to do is sit and write. Especially since I've somehow managed to break my tv. At first, I thought the cable was out, but my other tv works just fine. This one downstairs is such a high-tech operation that it's a miracle I can turn it on most days; I can't watch a movie if I'm home alone because one of the kids always has to help me set that up. I watched the Today Show this morning and everything was fine. Then I go to turn it on when I sit down for lunch and...nothing. I've pushed every button and every combination of buttons I can possibly configure, to no avail. Now J's says he's going to be home late, which means I'm going to miss Cash Cab, unless M shows up and fixes this for me. Maybe I should call him home from the skate park; I hate missing my nightly dose of I-Feel-Smart-Even-Though-The-Questions-Aren't-That-Hard.

Oh, the life of a housewife! It's exhausting! Plumbing problems and wrecked cars and technical difficulties...my drinking partner had gum surgery (again) yesterday so she's down for the count; S had too much wine the other night (that's two glasses, for her) so she's sworn off the hooch for awhile (whatever!). It's no wonder I take drugs. How else would I get through this life I lead?

Ok, enough of me. I wonder if you went out or stayed in...whichever you chose, I hope you're thoroughly enjoying it.

Love,
A

Blabbering INterrupted

Hey, and Happy Friday! I hope this weekend goes better (for both of us) than the last one. And FYI, a second cocktail is usually what gets me to decide on a plan. Just in case you need some help.

OMG, I just ate the most amazing thing for lunch....AND I think I found the recipe on line!! I bought these on a whim at Whole Foods last week - Butternut Squash Risotto Cakes - in the deli. The gal told me to just saute them in some butter for a few minutes on each side. For some reason, they just sounded good (remember, though, that I thought ordinary food like milk sounded better there than anywhere else) so I bought a couple for fun. I totally forgot they were in the fridge and when I saw them there just now I was afraid I'd let them go too long. But no! I sauteed them on a med-high heat in butter for about 8 minutes total and I thought I'd eat one, then maybe take the other one over to S (they're about 3" diam and 3/4" thick).

Poor S. I hope she has something else for lunch. Because I don't think I could have shared even a single bite of those. I immediately went on their website and looked it up. I could only find Butternut squash risotto, but figured they probably just shaped that into cakes. I'm going to try to make them for Superbowl Sunday. Then I'll send you the recipe. What a perfect appetizer/side dish.

At the moment, T's dad is upstairs in my kids' bathroom, attempting to fix the plumbing in the tub. (He's a retired plumber and I'm hoping he gives me a break on this work.) The other day, JJ came in and told me that when he "...just gently turned the handle to turn on the shower, like always" the entire fixture - handle, frame, parts, nuts, bolts - fell out of the wall. Gently, my butt.

J tried his hand at putting it back together, hoping against hope that it was simply a loose screw somewhere, but K (T's dad) now tells me that the damage is actually quite substantial, as if someone had fallen on the handle. Really? You think? Two boys would do that? Slam or hammer or pound or lean or even, maybe, jump, on the handle? S tried to calm us down by reminding us that it is a 12 year old fixture, and it does get used every day, and that maybe it's just old and it's time for it to fall apart. I was almost about to buy that until K told me about the broken bits, that in all of his 50 years of plumbing, he's never seen. If it doesn't cost me a fortune, I think I'll just tell J it was no big deal and he fixed it, no problem. But there's an awful lot of banging going on up there, and I'm afraid he's going to come out and tell me that A) it's fixed and I owe him $500, or 2) worse-case-scenario, I need a whole new tub/shower wall. At which time I will blow a gasket on my kids, because S's save-their-hides theory is crap.

The dal...(I am on total stream of consciousness today - I feel severely ADD) Well, before I tell you about that, let me just say that my chicken came out beautifully, and right on target as far as timing goes. It said 4-6 hours on high and at exactly 5 hours, it was done to perfection. Plus, my new crockpot has a "warm" feature, to which it turns itself when the timer goes off, in the event that you don't get home in time. How fancy is that? I was impressed. But mostly, I was just so happy that no only did it cook in the recommended amount of time, it was very good. Even JJ liked it...and he's definitely not a chicken kid. He had a 90/10 ratio of potatoes to chicken, but I'll take that 10. Even if you couldn't see it for all the gravy.

So now I'm feel completely vindicated in buying my new toy. It's not that it was expensive (it was like 40% off) it's just that it's the kind of thing I hate buying, always feeling like I already have one, it will do.

~~ I'm going to publish this so you have something to read, but I have to run out the door right this minute - K needs to get some parts (this is really f***ed up) and it's a long story but I have to go with him - more later

Indecisive

Hey, A.

Love the new crock pot! Does the liner come out? I love my new upgrade, too. I don't use it often, but when I do, I love having it. I wonder how your chicken came out. (Oh, and we still need to discuss the dal) Your menu sounds delicious. I know I'm a foodie and all and I delight in culinary creations, but whole birds scare me. I wouldn't know how to cut it apart.

And now that you have your nails back, you're all sorts of fancy!...Honestly, twice a year, after a couple of mine break and my checkbook is low, I'll pick the rest off and go a week or two without...then as soon as I get them back on I wonder how I even went a day without them. When my nails are back, it's like I have my own hands back. I've had nails now for almost 20 years, way back to the Pinkish days (for the first 10 or more years they were my own; for the last five they've been gel); when I don't have nails, my hands just don't seem to belong. Anyway, yay for you! I'm glad you've been able to find ways to feel better while all this FD sh*t is going on.

I'm home having a cocktail, wondering what to do tonight. Funny thing is I'm not sure I want to do anything--even though I finally have cash to play. (I got paid and my income tax return today.) (Again, I'm so laughably Psych 101.) I figured that rather than wander aimlessly, I should come home and relax a little, see if it gets me into hibernation mode or wanting to get out. So far, I still have no clue about tonight.

As for the rest of my weekend, my Sunshine is coming tomorrow night for a sleepover. She's bringing the puberty book my sister L bought her to accompany the new training bra she got, which she will probably be wearing. Last night she said, "my mom got me a puberty book" in that voice kids have that says I'm trying to be cool about this but I am so embarrassed and awkward right now, I may as well be in the middle of the mall with my mom singing show tunes at the top of her lungs. I asked her if she wanted to bring it so we could read from it, and she said yes. God I love her. I swear we have traveled together in a past life.

Sunday we have a party at M and V's for the kids' birthdays, so L will pick S up from there. I'll plan a quick escape because of the set of exams I brought home that I still have to correct. Not to mention that I, like the rest of America, want to watch the Superbowl. The Pats aren't in it, but I need to see the commercials. Hello?!! And the half time show!! (M plans the party for Superbowl Sunday every year and it gets more and more annoying that she does. Throw into the mix that the kids are 12 and 16 this year, and I'm beyond words.)

So that's my story. I'm done with my cocktail and my post and I still don't know what I want to do tonight, but I hope to figure it out soon.

Hope you have a good weekend in store.

Love,
B

When the Going Gets Tough...

Hey, B.

When all else fails, shop. Right? It worked for a little while today. The instant gratification wore off quickly, though, so I went and had my acrylics reapplied. That helped.

I'm sorry I didn't write yesterday. Not to make this a super long story, but I went to the commissioner's meeting last night and was so utterly appalled at the way the operation is run that I could barely sit through it. I had to leave as soon as the final screwing of my husband was complete; I only made it as far as the parking lot before I burst into tears. By the time he got home, a half hour later, I had managed to suck down an entire box of Dibs (minus a handful I'd eaten earlier) and was waiting at the door with my wine in hand to head over to our personal pity party at K&R's. R was actually at the meeting too, so between the three of us, we filled in K and S&T on the details, everyone commiserated and comforted and then, by midnight, when we were all totally crocked, we felt better. We walked home full of gratitude for our friends and reminded each other that this isn't the end of the world.

Today I just went shopping. I went to Tacoma Boys and Costco and the mall. I used my Macy's gift card to buy my new kitchen gadget and two pairs of pants for JJ; I came home and, instead of napping (which I really, really wanted to do, since I slept about 5 hours last night - 5 pretty drunk hours) I started cleaning my kitchen in order to make my chicken for dinner. Before I knew it, I had spotless counter tops and a stuffed whole chicken fully spiced and nesting warmly in my new crockpot. I splurged, by the way. I bought the higher end one. I was planning to buy these salt and pepper shakers that I had seen in the ad, but when I got there they were really ugly. So I figured I had already spent that $20, right? I put it towards the better cookware. And I'm so happy! :-) My house smells great, everything is clean, the laundry is plugging along at a good pace, and my nails look beautiful.

Yeah, just couldn't do the au natural thing one more day. I knew I wouldn't be able to. I didn't even feel defeated. Perhaps it was my hungover depression that steered me into the salon today, but in the end, I would have been there by week's end anyway. Maybe I'll focus on the long, unruly hair instead.

Tonight J will actually be home for dinner, so I'm looking forward to some down time. He did indeed go to work today; they're testing for battalion chiefs and he's part of the interview board, so he kinda had to go. I'm quite certain he would much rather have continued drinking 8 Seconds and Sprite through the night and well into the golf course today, but the boys couldn't talk him into it. Maybe it's just as well; he tends to do better when he doesn't dwell. By the same token, I'm a little worried about all the s**t piled up in his head that he can't let out, lest he goes postal. At some point he's got to break. I did last night and I know his wall is coming.

You know what else I did today? I ordered business cards for my blog! I was so excited when I got yours, I had to get some for myself. I probably ought to actually write in it, now, if I'm going to advertise it.

I hope you enjoyed your snow day yesterday and that you didn't correct one single exam. Curious, though: isn't your Little Man Principal your old friend? Has he turned out to be a Dark Side Traitor? There's nothing like administration to destroy a teacher.

I have to get a couple more things done before I start on the accoutrements to dinner. Garlic mashed potatoes, roasted brussel sprouts and salad...I'm thinking a glass or two of my $3 wine ought to compliment that quite nicely.

Hope to hear from you later - even though I know I've been terrible about writing...again.

Love, A

Another Snow Day

Hey, A,

I am so sorry. That really really really sucks. I can't imagine how J must feel, but I hope it begins to feel better soon...Makes no sense to me either, but I do understand what you call little men with too much power. Rat b*stards.

On a happier note, I'm glad his surgery went well (this was his second of this type, no?) and wonder if he took another day off just 'cuz, especially given what happened. I hope he did.

We're in the middle of a storm, so it's another snow day in these parts. I'm so close to getting all sorts of settled in and comfy...I have Prosecco in the fridge (of course, I do) and would so enjoy a mimosa and starting a new book. Unfortunately, I also have a bag full of midterm exams to correct. Still, I'm making no promises. I'm still pissed off enough at the little man who is my principal to spend the day leisurely reading and sipping mimosas. The exams will get done. If I have to give my kids seat work for the next two days so that I can correct, they'll get done. There. I guess I just decided how I'll spend my day.

If you're up for it later, give me a call. I'm not going anywhere.

Love,
B

Seeking A Reason

Hey,

I meant to write earlier today, but ended up napping with J after his surgery, then getting stuff done around the house before basketball etc. I had to cancel the movies but that ended up being a good thing; J was called to a special commissioner's meeting tonight and I had to drive him there. He had no idea why they wanted to meet with him, but he was really nervous about it. Turns out, his gut was right.

Not only will he not be appointed the new Chief of the department, he didn't even make it past the first cut of the application process. Apparently, the top five candidates have more education on paper than he does. Evidently, 25 years of experience and training and actually being the f***ing chief of the f***ing department mean nothing.

I'm just stunned, and my heart is hurting for him; I know, I should be so grateful that he isn't being fired, that he has a job at all. I know there are so many people in much less fortunate positions than he is (W included) but right now, forgive me, it's hard to be grateful. Right now, I can't believe the complete absurdity of what just happened.

A bunch of little men with way too much power and no f***ing clue what to do with it. We just have to believe that everything happens for a reason.

Everything happens for a reason.

Just wish we knew what it was.

More tomorrow,
Love,A

PS - the surgery went well :-)

PPS - f***ing F!

A Better Day

Good morning, Amanda.

I am in a much better mood today...I ended up writing quite a bit last night. It would be inaccurate to say I channeled my negative energy there, more like I pushed the negative aside and focused on the positive. I knew it was a waste of energy to stew about the principal being prickish, and I actually did have things to look forward to, so I wrote about them. I feel much better.

Speaking of things to look forward to, I would like to get a little more concrete about plans to visit. First, are you and J headed out here to visit with his family as you thought you might during one of the vacations coming up? And second, what is your summer like? Will you be spending the beginning in California as you typically do? Does August look like the better month for me to come visit? Suddenly I feel like I have to have all my ducks in a row....I just booked a trip to San Diego for April and would like to think about Seattle next.

It definitely looks like a storm tonight and tomorrow, so I decided that having to reschedule my ob-gyn tomorrow isn't the end of the world. They'll prescribe more pills or not. Rather than stress about it, I'd rather look forward to a snow day in the middle of the week. I'll bring home my midterms and purple pen, stop on my way home for Prosecco, and go from there. It's all good.

Sounds like you had a great day all around--lunching and shopping, then skating. I'm glad (and I'd love to try that restaurant if we have the time!).

If I'm snowed in tomorrow, maybe we can talk??....

Love,
Barb

A good day!

I'm so glad you liked it! I hoped you would.

I didn't want to leave you hanging in the morning, but I need to make this short and sweet. We just got home from skate night, which was totally fun. But now I'm all sweaty and in desperate need of a shower; it's almost 9:00 and we have to be up at 4:30 tomorrow for J's cataract surgery. His appt is at 6:45 up in the city, which is actually kind of nice, since we'll be home by 10:00.

Before we went skating, we had lentil soup and fresh bread from my Whole Foods trek today. I thought it was awesome, although I must say that I made quite a few modifications, mostly because of my slower-than-slow cooker. Still, M loved it, his BF loved it, Jack ate it with bread and J though it was pretty good. More on the modifications later.

Our day out in the city was fabulous - we spent an hour and a half in Whole Foods (do you even have that out there?) perusing every product in every aisle; I was shopping like I was in Walmart, just throwing stuff into may basket, left, right and center. Like fresh orange beets and brussel sprouts, and a rich selection of olives from the extensive olive bar. I was in heaven! After shopping, we went to this place that's one of K's favorites - called the Pomegranate Bistro. Without a doubt, the kind of place I would take you to, if it weren't an hour away. Maybe I'll take you there anyway! We had andouille sausage corndogs, pommes frittes, bbq brisket sliders on blue cheese biscuits, and a cheese/bread plate. She had a margarita and I had a Manhattan...I have never felt so like a lunching lady in my life!! (Redmond is very posh.) We got home around 3:30, perfectly in time for a nap, of which I was so in need, considering the fact that I was half lit from the straight up cocktail that I sipped and loved.

Great day. Great evening. Now I must go tuck JJ in and get the scoop on the new girl from the skating rink tonight....

Love,
A

Thanks! You Made My Day

Hey, A,

I heart my new cocktail shaker!! I honestly had forgotten there was a package on the way. Given the way my last few days have been, my surprise couldn't have come at a better time. I love it. Thanks!

Love you,
B

Ready for Tuesday

Hey, A,

I had trouble getting started this morning, so I enjoyed the flexibility of not having to get here on time, as I wasn't giving a first period exam. I showed up a little after 8, which was nice. Unfortunately, it's been one of those days ever since...

Another science teacher was firmly rooted in the department office when I got there, making no signs of being courteous and offering to get off the computer or phone or even ask if I needed/wanted to use either of them. I wished I stayed out until 9:15. Then we get a memo from the principal that if we have a snow day Wednesday (we're expecting another storm), grades will still be due Monday. He's not going to push them back. That is just an ongoing bone of contention and always will be. It assumes we will work on a snow day, when as far as I'm concerned I'll be working an extra day in June to make up for the luxury of not working on a snow day.

Of course the snow day screws thing up for me otherwise. I intended on calling in sick Wednesday because I have an ob-gyn appointment in Hartford. As much as I'd rather not call in sick again, I also don't want to reschedule this appointment again. They've already extended my birth control prescription 3 months since my last reschedule, and I'm not sure if they'll cut me off.

So that's 3 things that have me in a bad mood now and looking forward to a cocktail this afternoon. AARGGH.

Hope you're enjoying your day. Talk to you soon.

xo,
B

A New Week

Well, is Monday any better? Yes, on this end. I slept well last night (no alcohol, 1/2 an Ambien) and woke up feeling more alive than usual. J and I made a silent truce sometime in the night by curling up to each other and waking up with a kiss. This morning I was upbeat, creating a handle for the bag that A was carrying her science board in, (ain't nothin' a little duct tape can't do) and she thought I was all Martha Stewart. Of course, that's me. Crafty Christy! I managed, then to complete a short list of piddly stuff that needed to get done - balance bank book, put lunch money in the kids' accounts, etc., and am now ready to take my shower and head out for the day. I even ate a healthy breakfast! Wow!

S decided not to join us today, so just K and I will head up north. I was bummed, but she's got stuff going today. It will still be a lovely girl's day out. Tonight is Skate Night at school (not at the school, for the school at the skating rink.) This is a monthly family affair and it's actually one of J's favorite things. He loves to skate, so the two of us get out there with all the kids and we get a little exercise. The rest of this week is equally busy with basketball, (JJ's on two teams) M's job, J's job, a date with my friend J to see Slumdog Millionaire tomorrow night, TA's basketball game (S's youngest) on Wednesday then we end the week with Little league tryouts, followed by Baseball Clinic, all day Saturday.

Buy my nails are looking better as each day passes. Still soft and breaking and a P in my A, but I'm persevering. Don't know why...still have no desire to put the tips back on. We'll see, it hasn't been that long, really.

Happy Monday - I hope you and W talk this week and smooth out the wrinkles. Look forward to reading later,
Love,
A

TGIMonday

Hey,

So, seven + hours into this, my soup is nowhere near ready. I have a really old crockpot, so I wonder if that's why my stuff keeps taking longer than it should. No worries, I'll make something else for dinner tonight and have this tomorrow. Question: Was the TJ's curry sauce supposed to go in this soup? It doesn't appear on any of the recipes you sent and I can't remember why I bought it now.

The movie was good but I should remember that JK is one of those people who talks all the way through a movie, which drives me nuts. I enjoyed it anyway, and it was a good way to kill a couple of hours on this wants-to-be-snowy-but-can't-quite-get-there day. We have a light, light dusting and it's been falling on and off all day, but it's nothing to speak of. No chance of a snow day tomorrow, it's too warm. I came home and did some laundry, then my nails, and now I should figure out what's for dinner. I have no idea...I'm mostly just tired and would love to tell the family to make themselves something. I'm not even motivated enough to get take-out. How bad is that? Where are all my BLU buddies with a last minute dinner invite when I most need one??

Wish I had more to say or more I wanted to say, I guess. just tired...I'm looking forward to this weekend being over as much as you are. Sorry to hear about you and W. Hang in.
Here's to Monday, for once -
Love, A

Fastforward

Hey, A,

I suppose you could say it's a funk...no plans, no money on the eve of a tax refund (literally; I looked it up), and a little bored. Also, W and I are fighting/at an impasse/on a different page so even though I have done nothing willingly a thousand times before and loved every minute, this weekend it feels like it's his fault that I'm doing nothing. No. Worse. It feels like I have allowed myself to become a lady in waiting and I. Hate. That. It is antithetical to who I am. God forbid I simply see this as one of our off weekends. No, I've got a touch of your Mountains out of Molehills disease. Ridiculous.

Good news is I have things to look forward to--like extra money and plans to spend it. I have been making plans for February and April vacations. February vacation I will spend a couple days in Boston, with or without W, treating myself to a couple of nights at the Sheraton in the Back Bay. Then, I think I'm going to visit J in San Diego over April vacation. Our district has vacation a week later than everyone else in the world, which explains my being able to get airfare for $278. I haven't bought the ticket yet, but if it's still available once my tax refund is in the bank, I think I'll go for it. I haven't seen J for as long as I haven't seen you. In fact I think I visited her in April the same year I saw you over the summer. So, that's all good. It's just this weekend that's begging to be over.

I'm so glad you liked the noodles (I made them for myself again yesterday and they do rock, I must admit) and that you're trying the dal today. Of course now I'm wondering if I included a note about how I modify the recipe with a can of diced tomatoes a couple hours from the end. Either way, if you like curry, the warmth of those spices and the comfort of hot soup, I think you'll like it. But, of course, I will be waiting anxiously for your report. (Honestly, I wonder if part of what is going on with me is that authentic, certifiable PMS that comes the week after one's period. Blues, paranoia, the whole nine.)

Hope you enjoyed the movie. Talk to you soon.

xo,
B

How to Ruin a Weekend with One Little Word

Hi there.


Sounds like you're in a funk. Post-inauguration blues, maybe? How do you like the new Meet the Press? I miss Tim.


K & R ended up going to the FD thing with us last night, for which I was so grateful. This is an annual awards banquet for an all-volunteer department in the sticks...the dinner was in the grange hall. Bud in cans, boxed wine in red plastic keg cups...although I was a little impressed with the gallon of JD and mixers, all complimentary. Dinner was actually a very nice prime rib, standard stuff with veggies and potatoes...some kind of berry crumble for dessert. I was surprised to see that three of my former students were there: one is a firefighter, the other two were significant others of firefighters. I chatted with all of them, feeling rather old, and a little awkward at the bar. It was nice to see that they are doing well and functioning in society. And with ties on...wow. Even J and R didn't wear ties.


After dinner we all came back here and had a couple of drinks before turning in. Not that I needed any, mind you. Two keg cups of cheap wine and I was pretty good to go. But hey, when has that ever stopped me? I don't know if I can blame that last glass or not, but I ended up ruining the whole night after K&R left by deciding it would be a good time to tell J how disconnected I feel from his life and this job process. Yeah, it wasn't such a good time for that.


So, today, we're not speaking to each other. That's typical. I made your lentil soup this morning with my iPod on, while he read the paper. . The kids were both gone until just now - JJ just walked in from B's house. J's napping and here I am...I'm contemplating going to see Gran Torino in an hour or so

~~~

Got sidetracked by JJ coming home. Now I'm going to see Inkheart, with JK and him (him and JK? how do I not know that?) We'll stop by Walmart on the way to get our cheap candy beforehand, since my new purse holds the contents of a small convenience store. I know, that's what's going to put the theaters out of business, and I'll be the saddest one of all when that happens, but honestly, $4 for a candy bar? Yes, I know I could say no candy, but that would mean that I couldn't get popcorn. Which is not an option. I'll pay the $5.50 for a dollar's worth of popcorn, but the kids have to go with the cheap shit. Who's paying for all of this, anyway?

You'll have to read The Glass Castle...the part where the kids are literally starving to death and the mom is eating a Hershey's bar hiding under her covers...hmmm...good thing I'm not homeless. And speaking of that book, now all of BLU has read it and loved it - we are a good collection of girls with dysfunctional parents, so the discussions have been rich. Read it before you come to visit so you can join the diagalogue...oh, and K is wondering if when you come to visit you're going to cook for us every night?

Ok...we're off. I'll try to check in later on this evening (like I have anything better to do). Tomorrow the girls and I are going up to Seattle - Whole Foods, then the mall for Nordstrom returns and maybe lunch or maybe to go see Revoluntionary Road. No definite plans but a day out.

Hope your Sunday is a little less listless than your Saturday. I must say, however, that sitting through the bezillion commercials on TBS vs. putting in a Netflix was probably worth it if only for Marisa Tomei..."...and my biological clock is tickin'" " oh, yeah, and you blend." I LOVE that movie.

Love,A

Laundry List

Good morning, Amanda.

Just a quick note this morning while I have my coffee and gear up to do laundry. At 10 I want to watch Meet the Press (I'm officially a permanent politics junkie) and have breakfast, and at some point my friend D is going to call this morning so we can catch up. Other than that I have no plans, so I will try to get back later today and write a bit more....

Not that I have anything exciting to report. Yesterday was useless. I did nothing productive, nothing fun. I ended up watching My Cousin Vinnie on tbs because it was easier than getting up and putting in one of my Netflix DVDs. Seriously. Pathetic.

Hope you're day was a little livelier than mine.

xo,
Barb

Weekend back to "normal"

Hey. Sorry. :-(

Perhaps it is my own feeling of being in limbo that is preventing me from finding some kind of writing groove. I might have been fooled into thinking I had written, since we emailed back and forth a couple of times yesterday.

I so know what you are talking about. I've felt this way since New Year's Day. Although the nice thing is that your place is clean and you don't have to be somewhere unpleasant or undesirable today. That's the best situation for trying to get out of one's own way. Good luck. Call me if you need to...

Last night we had wine club, which, last month, was kind of a bore. But we had such a good time this month! S&L cooked a full Italian meal (Chicken Parm) for us. I decided on crab cakes (used a box mix and fresh crab) and garlic prawns for the apps. They both turned out well...although I'm not used to frying foods and think I should have had the oil hotter for the crab cakes. Good flavor though (Zatarains) and texture. Homemade ice cream for dessert...the theme was "Your Favorite Red" so I took a chance and brought my new fave - the $2.97 Walmart brand Oak Leaf Merlot. We had three different reds from the same vineyard in Lodi, CA (all were specatcular) and the fifth was a Washington blend. I was a little nervous until we revealed the bottles and comments and discovered that my cheap-ass swill really can stand up to the test. We rated it as high, if not higher, than some of the others (one was a $35 bottle!) and everyone was pleasantly surprised and newly informed. I so love being in the know.... :-)

Today JJ has a baseball clinic, in preparation for Little League starting next month. J and I will run some errands while he's there, then I'm going to run down and pick up B for the afternoon. His dad (crackhead, remember?) is in a band and has practice today, so B's going to hang with us. Then I'll drop him and JJ back off over at B's for the night. S, his sister, is babysitting the two of them because Dad has a concert tonight.

Meanwhile, J and I will be attending an annual FD banquet for the neighboring district - the town in which I had been teaching. We haven't gone to this one since we first moved here 12 years ago, so I probably won't know a soul. K& R were actuallly invited too, but R's sending some rep because he and K have a personal dinner date tonight. But boy, did I try to talk them out of that, because then the FD thing would have been totally fun. It won't be bad...lots of hand shaking and such for my hub, and a reason to dress up and play grown up for me.

I'm off now to shower and get my day started. Enjoy your day and if I get a minute later I'll check in verbally.
xo
A

Limbo

What gives, A? Truth be told, I hate when you don't write for days. But I guess that's my issue. I'll hear from you soon enough.

Last night I got home from school and did nothing. I watched TV, then when it was time to turn lights on, I did--but only the lamp next to my end of the couch. It was enough light, combined with the TV, for me to get around and read a little too. I had cheese and crackers and pepperoni for dinner, not hungry enough or energetic enough to bother with anything else, and as much as I wanted to finish my book, my eye lids got heavy around 10, so I went to bed with a few pages left for the morning.

Indeed I finished reading the book over coffee this morning, and now--at noon-- I'm writing with a Bloody Mary. I have no plans for today and have no idea what I want to do. Start a new book and hibernate? Get dressed and go out? The nice thing is I'm caught up cleaning (the best part of having company over in the middle of the week is having a clean place on the weekend) and have no projects hanging over my head. I'm not sure the last time I felt this way.

Starting in November I guess life somehow revolved around the holidays--getting ready for them, getting through them, getting over them--and now it's life back to normal. Only it doesn't feel normal. It feels like there must be some commitment lurking around the corner, something I'm forgetting to do. Like I'm in some temporary limbo. I feel like I should either be doing something or rebelling against doing something, claiming some time to myself between commitments and choosing to be a recluse for a day. This weekend I can hibernate without a storm or an excuse, and I'm not sure I'm good with that. This weekend anyway. Yet I don't really want to make plans either. This, Amanda, is what I refer to as not being able to get out of my own way.

I'll let you know how things work out.

Love,
B

Down Time

Hey, A,

First day of midterms is done. (Two 2 hr. exams per day; teachers are free from 11:45 on) I only gave one exam this morning, and did so in fleece sweats. I love that part of midterms. For whatever reason, I can be much more productive when I have on sweats and sneaks.

Last night, getting ready for guests was not nearly what I made the task out to be in my head--as usual. After school I have to swing by the store for chips and salsa, soda, and flowers (I haven't had any since my roses from W!); my friends (T&C, a married couple--he teaches Spanish, she Business; and K) will be over at 6. That gives me plenty of time to get the chili on the stove and the garbage out, and to do any last minute straightening. I'm sure it won't be a late night, since we have school tomorrow, which is fine with me. I have been wanting to have T&C over since I moved to the town in which they live and just haven't gotten around to asking them. Finally I created an occasion. K was coming over for chili anyway, and she knows them quite well, so I figured I'd have them all over at once.

Then tomorrow it's already the weekend. What a nice, short week! No W again this weekend (he's been really depressed this week) so I have the weekend to myself without commitments. I'm looking forward to it.

Wanted to say hello while I had a little time. Hope you're having a good day.

Love,
B

Hopeful

Hey, A.

Not bloody likely you'll hear contented sighs from me today.

Back to the grind today, after being out sick yesterday, and with exams beginning tomorrow made for a busy day. Oh, add to that the emergency faculty meeting after school to talk about the stoo-pit (that's even worse than stu-pit) actions of a coach and a student, followed by a faculty advisory committee meeting (that I volunteer to be on) and it's a little stressful on my end. Especially since I invited a few friends over for dinner tomorrow night. (What was I thinking?)(Now, that's stoopit for sure.)

C's party last night was fun. It was a neighborhood party (plus me) for the most part--definitely a BLU vibe. There were six different soups and stews from which to choose, breads and rolls, champagne, cake and cookies. Perfect. I didn't try them all, but of those I did, my favorite soup was a potato and kielbasa (go figure) (C brought me leftovers today for lunch). We watched the DVR of the swearing in, etc., so of course I was the expert, having seen it all live the first time. (Oh, and yeah, me too on the Patriotism. I was standing, home alone in my pjs yesterday.) I got home around 9 and turned msnbc back on to watch some of the commentary and footage from the balls. I enjoyed watching President Obama and the first lady (tee hee) dance--every time. They are so clearly in love, it makes me in love with them. All in all, it was just a great day yesterday. All of those people on the mall were my friends. I felt a kinship with a hopeful world.

On that positive note, I'll sign off and let you connect (or reconnect) with that feeling.

Love you,
Barb

New Prez, Completed Science Project

Hello, B.

What a great day it was! While I was prevented from crying, for the most part, by the fact that I was watching the whole thing in a room that might as well have been a daycare center, I did choke up and even stand when it was time to stand. (I'm weird that way; I stand in my classroom, even if I'm alone, and say the Pledge.) In the end, I saw the replays all day long, so was able to hear the speech all the way through, later on. I was so pleased to hear that our Superintendent had sent out a memo last week asking all teachers in the district to please have their televisions on during not only the speech, but the swearing in and the parade as well. He said he hoped that the whole district would take part in this together and engage in dialogue througout the day at all the grade levels. Hello!! (I probably never mentioned how much I love our new Sup, he's awesome!) JJ came home and told me that they had this huge packet/questionnaire they had to fill out as they watched all morning. I was duly impressed...how badly did I want to call T and tell him that his boys would have been far better off watching it at school, actually A) watching it and 2) learning something, instead of crawling all over us. But anyway...like I said, it's all part of my every day life, right?

We stayed up until 10:00 last night working on that GD science project (it graduated from stupid to stupiT to GD) then got up early to finish it this morning. It's done, finally. Between that mess and a weekend's worth of company, my house is a wreck and I don't feel like cleaning it. I thought I'd procrastinate a bit to write. Then I should get busy as I have hula-hooping to do!

It's freezing cold and pea-soup foggy today; no reason to leave the house whatsoever. Just got my iTunes cranked up, since my friend the rocket scientist was here this weekend and fixed it (I haven't had music since Christmas). The holidays are officially over, the guests are gone, the science project is turned in and I have nowhere I have to be today... * contented sigh *

Hope you're having the same kind of day!
Love, A

Happy Inauguration Day!!

I have already gone through half a box of Kleenex, just watching scenes from DC. What a day. What a feeling!

Talk to you later.

Chaos

...Even better, maybe we can share a few moments of history together. I am, as you know, calling in sick tomorrow (and at this point, it won't be playing hookie), so maybe we can get a little chat time during Inauguration festivities. Do you remember where you were[...]? I was home watching, but I got to talk to some special friends...

Getting to lunch was fine (and lunch itself was a good time), as it was getting to L's...but then when I was leaving L and J's at 8 ish, after being totally immersed in helping with dinner prep then sitting down to a delicious meal with them all plus K (M's BFF, a boy across the street, whom she won't admit to [hearting], whom I totally [heart]), it was snowing like crazy. J told me to forget about it. He and L totally got that I didn't feel well and wanted to be in my own bed, but I got that my 1 hour drive would become 3 and a migraine, so I decided to stay. If I could have captured my Sunshine's face on camera! So I poured another glass of wine, played Candy Land (she is such a good big sister!) and another game and suddenly it was 10, then way past bedtime.

I left this morning at 11. We had a little time to hang out but I didn't want to get too comfortable. I knew I had all my housecleaning to do, and I discovered I've misplaced yet another credit card. So now it totally looks like a tornado went through here. I found the one I called to report missing last week (of course I did), so followed suit after a little tizzy and called to report this one lost too. Which means, of course, I'll find it later today or tomorrow.

I think I'll make chili a little later, after straightening up some, and will make the dhal to bring to C's tomorrow. While my coffee is brewing I'll throw all the ingredients in the crock pot, and when it's ready I'll be ready to head to the party.

I'm glad your visit has been good, but sorry it's been in part a game of putting on a happy face.

Call whenever--today or tomorrow. I'm around.

Love,
B

Winding Down

Hi, B.

You're so funny. Be careful on the roads today though. I hope you have a good visit with both D and L; what a good cousin-sister you are!

JB and family (with JJ) went out to KB's house for the day today. We were invited also, but since J really really can't stand KB's husband, and we thought it would be nice for them to have family time, we didn't go. The kids will have fun though. That gives J and me most of the day to clean up a little and run errands. Hopefully we won't have to do these things together as our brief interlude of getting along has come to a screeching halt. I won't go into it right now, but keeping up the facade for guests is wearing me out.

Yesterday we did nothing at all. We sat in our pjs until 2:30 in the afternoon, made a quick trip to Walmart for dinner stuff, then came home and sat around some more. The guys went and played golf for most of the day and they had a great time. I was glad J got out and did something he likes to do, relaxed a little. I wish he would do more of that.

Tonight we're planning something easy and kid-friendly for dinner, then maybe rent a movie. Everyone leaves tomorrow around noon, so we'll be out of here fairly early in the morning. It will be nice to have the rest of the day to get myself back into my groove before starting the school week on Tuesday. Nothing much going on this week besides JJ and sports so I may be able to get some of my house projects started and/or finished. Like that whole filing thing...

Enjoy your "social" day. Maybe tomorrow we can catch up by phone.
Love, A

Clueless

Good morning.

I have to laugh at myself this morning...As I'm lying awake it occurs to me it's a bit dark (my sky-light blinds are permanently open: mornings can be pretty bright), so I look up at the sky light and see that it's covered with snow. Hmmmm, I think. Then I come downstairs and peek outside and see there's a couple of inches of fresh snow and it's still snowing--hard. I turn on the TV and hear we're in the middle of another "clipper" storm. What's funny is that I pay no attention to weather when I'm not in school. I am all over it like white on rice when I could have a snow day, but clueless when it won't have that kind of impact.

I feel better this morning, well enough to meet D for lunch and then drive down to L's with some TJ's treats--weather permitting. I'll start with the first leg to meet D and see how it goes. It's all highway to get to the mall to meet D, and the same to get to L's, so if getting to lunch goes without incident, I'll be all set. Meanwhile, L's part of the state is getting less snow than mine. By the time I'm driving home the snow storm should be over everywhere in the state and the roads should be nice and clean.

I am happy that I decided not to stay overnight. I love that kind of time with S and C, but I'm not 100 percent, and I'm looking forward to a couple more days of weekend. Yesterday was my errand day, today will be my social day, and tomorrow I can do my housecleaning. I might even decide to do my cooking tomorrow, too. Tuesday will be my bonus day--mimosas and breakfast and the Inauguration! If I stayed over night tonight, I would pretty much lose all of tomorrow, and I need it. I want to be glued to the TV on Tuesday, not glancing at the TV in the middle of housecleaning.

Looking forward to more tales from your visit. Hope everything continues to go swimmingly. (Oh My Goodness, How'd that happen?)

xo,
B

Sick and Tired, Literally

Ugh.

That's how I feel. I was up half the night with a headache, and started the day barking. Now I actually have something resembling a voice, though not mine. When I cough I feel like I'm coughing glass. I actually called L and told her I may cancel on my overnight, depending on how I feel as the day goes on and then in the morning. I can't tell if things get better from here or if I still have a couple of days of feeling worse before I'm on the mend. Interestingly enough, around midterms last year I was sick, too. I guess it's my time of year. Last year when I got sick with a cold it was the first I had in years. I remember being so bummed, and hoped it was a fluke. I guess the healthy, cold-free winter streak is over, but honestly--one cold a year isn't bad. Anyway, I may call D as well, let her know I'm up in the air. Given her health, she might not want to be around me.

As cold as it is here (single digits) and crappy as I feel, I went and ran errands this morning after coffee. I needed scripts from CVS, champagne for Tuesday, and ingredients for dhal and chili (I'm having a few friends over for chili Thursday night, and Tuesday I'm bringing dhal to C's Inauguration party). My supermarket is having their annual can sale so I stocked up all my canned goods while I was at it. Now my house is a disaster--empty bags everywhere are scattered around the debris from the last couple of days when I couldn't be bothered to pick up after myself.

Before I get started cleaning I wanted a little down time to read and respond to your entry. Sounds like you're having a great visit with JB et. al. Indeed, I wish I were there...but I'll get my turn. I'm excited and intrigued that a package is en route to me (yay!)....Will you give me a hint? (Now I feel bad that I didn't include anything besides recipes in my self-promotion package.)

Hello to everyone!

Love you,
B

Good times

Good morning, B.

Glad to hear all is well with L. Yay!...time with Sunshine!

I thought I'd write a little this morning since JB is on the phone and the kids are curled up watching Saturday morning tv, J's reading the paper and G is enjoying sleeping in on his vacation. The coffee is great this morning; JB made it. Maybe it's just me. Also, we had left a bunch of dishes undone when we went to bed last night and when I got downstairs she had already finished them all and the kitchen was spotless. What a treat!

We're having a great time visiting...yesterday we woke up early since it was a school day for my kids. We had a busy hour before the bus came, with A here catching up with her long distance BFs (JB's girls, N&R). They love it that they have friends when they come here. R did some school work and I finished all the essays, then we all headed out to the fire station to deliver them. We picked JJ up from school at about 12 and went to a local Italian place for lunch. I was a little bummed; the food is always good there, but this time, the service sucked. I hate when that happens when you bring new people. But it was fine...I was just bitchy because I hadn't eaten. We went from there to our little gourmet market, (I will definitely take you there when you come, it's awesome) and then over to Costco for a couple things. JB & G were so funny, they both bought winter coats at Costco because they're freezing their butts off up here! We got home mid-afternoon and then, instead of relaxing on the couch with our lattes and taking a little nap (as I would normally do) I wanted to get your package in the mail so I did that and went to the post office. By the time I got back, it was time to get ready for dinner, so we started cooking and preparing and drinking.... J came home in a great mood and jumped right in. The four of us had a good time bustling around the kitchen until S & T, the boys, Kim and Josh and daughter and R showed up. Unfortunately, K woke up with shingles yesterday morning and had to stay home, but she sent over two pitchers of Sangria and a lemon cake. Yum!

We had an fabulous dinner party...the kids all got a long like a house on fire (new kids always help!) and our little BLU group already knows JB&G (they went to Vegas with us a few years ago). Totally fun and crazy; I kept thinking I wished you could have been here, then was so happy to remember that you will be soon!

Today we have no plans. We might go to the skating rink for a bit, we might not. The neighbor girls are clamoring over each other to get play time with N and R, so maybe we'll just stay home and let them do that. No plans for tonight, other than cooking up some flank steak and roasted potatoes...maybe play a game or rent a movie...easy.

Anyway, just wanted to say hi and check in. I hope you're feeling better as the day goes on.
Love, A

Mismatched and Miscellaneous

Hey, Amanda.

The neighbor thing: weird. Definitely weird. Keep me posted.

L had her surgery this morning and is doing fine. J texted as soon as she was out of surgery and in recovery and let me know all was well. She's in the hospital overnight, but I had a chance to speak with her just before I wrote. I'll visit later this weekend and will get some quality time with my Sunshine in the process.

I went out with C after school, as planned, but the Thai restaurant wasn't open when we got there (during their break between lunch and dinner rushes)(another reason not to be a teacher). Instead we went to Pizzera Uno and had a fine time. Like so many other chains, they are trying to entice customers during the recession, so our early dinners were a bargain.

Today my period feels more like someone wrapping my bowels around my uterus than pulling connective tissue off my organs as it did yesterday, but the end is in sight. I seriously considered calling in sick tomorrow, and left lesson plans on my desk, but I don't want to be out two school days in a row, two days on either side of a long weekend. And, A, I'm not missing the Inauguration. We have permission to watch the swearing in at noon, but none of the festivities, and I'm in for the whole day. I followed all the campaigning and Tuesday I'll be champagning. When someone asks years from now if I remember where I was when President Obama was inaugurated, I'll say, Yes. I felt like it was an important moment in history, one of the most important in my lifetime. So I stayed home from work and watched every minute.

Thanks for getting another post in before your guests arrive. Check your mail for recipes; call if you have any questions (especially if you're going to make the farfalle with broccoli).

Love you,
Barb

Peyton Place

Good morning, B.

Wow, look at that. I wrote before you responded! I wanted to check in this morning in the event that I don't get time this afternoon. JB et al come in at 6:20 tonight, so I will pick up JJ from basketball at 5:00 and go straight to the airport. Pray it doesn't rain, because I have to take the truck, (not enough seats in my car) which means putting their luggage in the bed of the truck....it's already raining now. Otherwise I'll have to borrow S' Suburban which isn't that big of a deal, but. Can you end a sentence like that? ...but. You know what I mean.

This morning I got up and went to the bus stop with the kids, even though it was a little rainy and I didn't feel like going, because I had good neighborhood gossip to share with my bus stop buddies. We have these new neighbors, W&E, who moved in next door to R&K this summer. Long story short, she home schools and he's in Amway. That should tell you more than you need to know right there. They have two kids, 4 and 7 years old, who are pretty sweet. The thing is, they let them run all over the neighborhood completely unsupervised, at all times of the day and night. Evidently, every single neighbor is having problems with them (except me, JJ's too old for their kids). My friend T unloaded all of her frustration on me last night at the basketball game, which is funny, since we're not all that close and I don't have anything to do with this family. But S definitely is involved, and all the things she shares with me are the exact same things T was telling me last night, and my other neighbor V told me a few weeks ago. Turns out this woman is leaving her kids at peoples' houses for hours at a time, particularly at meal times and nap times. She dumps them off and disappears; sometimes she only leaves the boy. The thing is, he's 4 and he's not potty trained, so he pees anywhere he wants to...outside, inside, doesn't matter. He's peed in everyone's house (on the stairs, in bedrooms, wherever). But the thing that had T so upset was that she's got an icky feeling that something not right is going on over at their house. To be honest, I have that icky vibe too, even though I deal with her very infrequently. Sometimes your gut is right on, though.

I have no idea why I told you all that...just that S came over and continued the conversation with me over coffee this morning and I'm only just now getting started on finishing my house. No much left to do, then hit the grocery store and try to get the rest of these essays done before I pick up JJ. I may not write again for a day or two, but I'll try to get to the page sometime while the guests are here so as not to have a four-day hiatus.

Happy Thursday...are you wearing your new shoes today?!
Love, A

Editorial SNAFU

Hey,

Just a quick note to say Yay for you! on the shoes. I can't believe you didn't attach a picture. Hello!

My day was really busy - lots of little stuff that I wasn't planning on that got in the way of getting real stuff done. Like I sent the wrong file to the printer for the PTA newsletter and they dutifully printed 520 copies of it for me. Right on time, too! What I sent them was the text copy of the newsletter that I have the Principal look over (minus all the graphics, spacing, etc.) and in the end, for $41, I ended up sending it out like that. Lame, I know. I didn't want to eat the cost, and if it didn't go out this morning, it was going to be a week late. That took forever to figure out, though, between agonizing over the mistake, then the decision, then having to get them all distributed in the end with only a few minutes to spare instead of the usual, calm hour I normally have.

I have to get a jump start on these essays if I'm going to have them done by Friday. I, too, have a wicked headache and the two Aleve I took earlier lasted only a few hours. Mostly, I just want to drink this glass of wine and hit the sack, but I'll try to knock out at least one paper before I crash.

More tomorrow - thanks for writing twice in one day!
Love you!
A

Me Again

...but not for long...I wanted to write more tonight but am not feeling well. I have wicked cramps (in fact, it feels like someone is pulling the connective tissue off my abdominopelvic organs) and just want to curl up on the couch with another glass of wine and my hot water bottle.

I imagine you are busy preparing for your house guests. Good luck and have a great visit.

Tell JB hello from me.

xo,
Barb

PS The eagle has landed. I have the shoes!!!!!!!!!!!

Success

Thanks for writing! (and you’re not even Catholic!) Good to hear all is well.

It’s wicked cold out here and getting colder. Tomorrow we’re supposed to have a little snow but not a major storm. Still, I’m hoping that maybe we’ll get an early dismissal. That way C and I could have a grown up Thai lunch instead of dinner.

As for my shoes…thanks for the prayers. Lucky for me I have a sister who can empathize about a good bargain and a good pair of shoes. Today is her day off and she is headed to the store for my marked down J&Ds as soon as the store opens. All it took was for me to tell her my story. How awesome is that?

W is at a job fair this morning, so I guess we can put our prayer energy there instead. I really do hope something comes up soon. He is so discouraged, understandably. (J gets job prayers, too, of course.)

I’ll write more this evening. Just wanted to say hello for your morning coffee since I had a minute to write. Have a great day!

Love,
Barb

PS I heart Ramen noodles, too.

Showing up at the page!

Done. Clean and organized and decorated and dusted and swept. Just need to mop, and clean the bathroom. Then I can move upstairs. *sigh* I did enjoy my day of nesting, but it's after ten now and all I want to do is eat this ramen I cooked up (yes, I did) and watch the last half of Law and Order SVU (only because CSI isn't on tonight). I actually haven't watched television at all today. Woah, easy! A whole day!

I went to lunch with J today and visited for awhile. He made a comment this morning about how "this would all be over" in a couple of weeks. He didn't say what "this" is, but I chose to take it as an acknowledgment (however cryptic) that he's been checked out lately. We talked at lunch, mostly about the job and C and her latest financial crisis. I told him a couple of things about the kids that have been going on, but he never once asked me how I've been, what I've been up to. He's so absent, that's the best way I can describe it. Oh well, I know we'll get through this.

Tomorrow more cleaning, (seriously, I'm only half done, but you could eat off my baseboards). M and I have an appt after school and then I have to take JJ to the allergy doc. We've got a basketball game at 6:30 so I'll have to get dinner organized early. I could just do fast food, but I ordered a pizza tonight so I think I'll feed them real food tomorrow night.

I will also spend a few moments of my day praying for your shoes. Good luck!

Love, A

Shoe Gods, Hear my Prayer

Hey, A,

I feel less guilty for not writing if you aren't writing, so I took your lead and took a break. (By the way, we have to get you there--to that obligatory/daily place where you show up if only for a paragraph to say hey.) And now, like you, I'm back.

I'm glad you had a [capital W]onderful time with your friends. It sounds like a great day. These days I spend one-on-one time with friends and rarely do a group thing, and can't remember that last time I went to a play so I lived vicariously through you. Thanks for that. I'm also glad to hear things are better with J. I think. Right?...

I did mail you a little package yesterday with a few recipes and a note, so you should get that later in the week. I mention that because I made the farfalle with broccoli (that I told you about and sent a recipe for) again tonight and have a couple of notes to pass along when you get the recipe and have it in front of you. Honestly, it's one of the best and easiest things I make but I hadn't made it in a while when I wrote the recipe from memory. Today, as I was making it, I remembered a little more and measured a little more than I usually do and want to pass the info along.

I have been taking it easy this week but trying to be a little more active by putting off my return home. It's not exercising, but my feet still hurt too much for that, and it's something. I know that once I get home I get in sweats and don't leave the house, so after a few extra trips up and down the hall at school, I've been doing some non-shopping shopping. Unfortunately today I did myself a disservice, as I saw those Joan and David shoes I saw a few months ago and obsessed over (I couldn't find my size) and not only did they have them in my size, but they are on clearance!!! (I really don't have the money until tomorrow and am trying to be better about creative banking, as I call it--charging, e.g.) The store is holding them for me until the end of the day today so I just have to pray that tomorrow after my nail appointment they are still there. Cross your fingers for me and pray to the shoe Gods that they'll be there. I swear they are beautiful and comfortable. Please, let no one with a size 10 foot and obsession for patent leather shoes and an eye for comfortable wedges go shopping between 10 and 3 tomorrow. Is that too much to ask???? I'll let you know how I make out.

So nails and shoes (putting that out there) tomorrow, then Thursday C and I are going eyeglass shopping and out for Thai. Friday I have my eyes on a steak after drinks with F and M. Then I have a long weekend! I'm having lunch and a Trader Joe's adventure with my cousin D on Sunday, then plan to spend Sunday night at L's. She's having her thyroid removed Thursday and I figure I can entertain M and C on their day off and give her and J a break. Then, Tuesday I plan to play hookie so I can watch the Inauguration. But now I'm getting ahead of myself. Guess I'm just trying to get my mind off those shoes....

Hope you're having a good day lunching with J and getting ready for JB.

Love,
B

Me Too!

Hey, B.

Not so good at showing up at the page lately, am I? I was actually going to call you yesterday (instead!) but got caught up shopping and then ran out of time. Of course, I could have just been like the woman in front of me in Costco, who talked on her phone the entire time she was being checked out, so loud I couldn't even hear the cashier. I wanted to pound her. The absolute height of rudeness.

I'm definitely nesting, too, although my culinary pursuits aren't nearly as impressive! I did whip up some chicken and cheese quesadillas last night, at M's request, that were quite tasty. I boiled chicken tenders (so worth the extra $$ over breasts) in chicken broth and chili con carne seasoning. Don't ask where I came up with that, it smelled good in the jar. M was happy. And anything in the world that can be modified to only contain cheese and starch is a good thing for JJ.

I am getting ready for our three-day-visit from JB and family on Thursday night. Good timing, seeing as how my house was all torn apart and ready for reconstruction anyway, but it's hard for me to just put everything back in its original place; I have to change it up a bit. So yesterday I went out to Pier One and Michael's and bought a few little things to make me feel better. Candles, fake greenery, a new table runner, that sort of thing. Today I went out early to see if I could find some finishing touches, but completely struck out - in 3 hours of wandering!! Argh! I almost bought two things: a little table fountain that I have coveted forever and never can justify ($20 - seriously...what is wrong with me?), and a copper/bronze-ish plant stand that was extremely cool but it's still in the store. It was only $50 on sale, but I thought by the time I got all the silk ferns to put in it, I'd be up around $75 and I just can't do it....especially when M is asking for new jeans. So....I bought a cheap lamp to replace the one that's being held together by Scotch tape and super glue (I'm not even kidding) and that should keep me happy for awhile.

The thing is, it's now almost noon and I just got home. I haven't showered or done the breakfast dishes or, actually, anything at all. I am supposed to meet J for lunch today (that's a good thing - more on that later) and then I'm bringing home ten, ten-page essays from the applicants for the Battalion Chief's position at the FD. I have to evaluate them all by Friday, which really won't be that hard, but it cuts into my decorating time, for sure. :-) Since J has been working every night getting the application for his job completed, I've been doing an awful lot of dinking around and vegging in front of the boob tube. Isn't that horrible? Me and my freakin' CSI (and now 24, God help me)...when I got home just now I put my iPod in the dock and turned it on before I even went into the room where the tv is. I so know how housewives become the stereotype they've been given.

I wanted to drop you a quick line though and check in before I get going on all of this. Sunday afternoon was wonderful. With a capital W. We had such a good time; we drove over to the little city and did random chance dining - we ended up at some tavern that was very cute, had pretty good food, and was across the street from the theater. We ate lunch and jawjacked for an hour or so, then headed over to see the show (Shirley Valentine). I was a little nervous, being the one who recommended it (having only ever seen the movie and being totally unsure if the play would be any good at all). It was surprisingly awesome! I didn't know that the original play was a one-woman show (Have you seen the movie? It's a full cast.) and I couldn't figure out how they were going to pull it off, but they did. Like I said, this is a community volunteer theater, so I don't think any of us were expecting much. It was a real treat to be so thoroughly entertained and impressed for a measly $15! S was particularly taken with it; I'm so happy when my recommendations are well received! And if it happens to be in town anywhere near you in the future, grab any and all of your girlfriends and go see it.

When we got home, S and I finished up the stupid science fair project (I'm sorry to use the words stupid and science in the same sentence, it's not personal) then ate her tortilla soup for dinner. She had left it all out for T to assemble while we were gone; they kill me with their passive aggressive (but funny and loving) bantering ("Why didn't you put more cumin in?" "Why didn't you blow off the theater and make it yourself?") M came over and ate three bowls, which is more than I have seen him eat in an entire day for weeks. I think it's because of the running - did I tell you that he's taken up running with his BF, S? S is on Cross Country and M's going out for it in the spring. Meantime, S has him out running three or four times a week and he loves it. He actually got me out there with him last night for about 45 minutes. I'll bet I didn't run more than a quarter mile altogether, but I was wiped out when we were done! Plus, it was so fun doing something with him that he was so into. He was so pleased that I went with him. Then we went to the running store, as I call it, a place where they only sell stuff for running. I got roped into signing up with him for their Couch-to-5K program that starts in March. It's a 12-week training course that includes all this other stuff and I thought, what a great way to do something together. M was all over it, so I'm actually looking forward to it. Woah.

That's about it around here...it's now officially noon and I really need to get moving if I'm going to make it to lunch. I hope you're having a good week so far!
Love, A

Nesting

Hey there.

My day played out as I imagined it would, little projects and tasks and some time in the kitchen. As planned, I made pizzas (one with the red sauce I made earlier in the week (pictured), the other with mushrooms and onions), and although it's a lot of work, it's somehow relaxing for me. And then, to have something to show for the hard work, something delicious to eat at the end is gratifying. So unlike teaching. I wonder if that's why I like cooking so much--the immediate gratification, being able to enjoy the fruits of my labor.

I did write out some recipes for you and have them in an envelope to mail to you tomorrow. (How old school!) And now I'm ready to kick my feet up and watch TV. But before I totally melt into the couch and the Golden Globes I thought I would write a quick note and tell you I was thinking of you today as I hoped you were enjoying the play and lunch and your day in the little city.

Check in when you can. G'night.

xo, Barb

A Little Bit Listless Today

Hey,

Sorry I didn't write back last night. I did get everything at TJ's, except they were out of the Yellow Thai Curry, so I bought the Red instead. Now you'll have to help me figure out how to modify the recipe. We went to lunch at Olive Garden afterwards and I listened to the tales of an insane marriage for an hour or so. She's not a complainer, she doesn't go on and on about what a nut he is and how she's going to leave him. Instead, and, I think, worse, she defends him. Makes excuses for his behavior and supports his every half-assed, short-lived commitment to change , with all her heart. It's sort of interesting, in a train wreck sort of way. I listen, she talks, I don't judge her, it's all good. Puts my life in perspective, that's for sure.

Came home and took a nap for an hour or so (why? who knows) then attempted to sit with J and help with his resume. But he was still pouty and it was too uncomfortable, so I finally left and came in here to write. Then I remembered that I was in charge of finding a restaurant for lunch today, so I went on line ("really quickly") to do that first. Not surprisingly, I couldn't seem to surf in the right places or get to the right area of town, or manage to list out restaurants by the right criteria...I was totally frustrated by the time T called, fishing for a dinner invite, and had never even made it over here to write. Nor had I found a place to eat today.

I had made that pork roast the day before and it was warming in the crockpot, so I went ahead and invited them over. It was nice, actually, since the boys had eaten early over at their house and had a "date" at 6. This is so cute - my neighbor, SC, whose husband, you may remember, was killed in a motorcyle accident a few years ago? (Then we dedicated our park to him...?) Anyway, she's a British women in her late 60's who now lives alone in this gorgeous house. She's a real estate agent (and a rich one too); she travels the world and is constantly surrounded by friends and neighbors. If ever there were a perfect person on whom to use the word "delightful", it's SC. So I guess the boys go over there and visit her from time to time, A) because she has a Toto dog named Rupert (and you must say his name in a high, shrill, British accent) who's cuter than anything, and B) because she makes them hot chocolate or whatever the drink du jour might be there. Plus, her driveway is circular, so it makes for good bike tricks, I guess. Last weekend she mentioned that it was her birthday yesterday and C immediately came home and told Shawn. "Mom," he says, "I'd like to get SC a vase with flowers for her birthday." He didn't forget all week long, and yesterday they went out and got the gift. When he came home, JJ was there and C said to him, "This is from both of us, right JJ?"

It appears that she was having a party but when they boys got over there, there were no guests yet. She was completely moved and made them hot chocolate and, C told us, "she hugged and kissed us like seven times. Yeah, I guess she liked it."

Have I told you how much I love my neighborhood?

So the boys didn't even eat with us; they went upstairs and mmiraculously played PS2, all three of them, in peace for quite some time. We ate my roast (too much spice in the spice packet, but the meat was scrumptious) and a huge salad of whatever-was-left-in-the-fridge. S got a hair up her butt to toast pecans, so she did that and we scarfed those with the salad, then later as a little snack. Yum!! (Butter, sugar, orange juice) We drank cab in the Big Girl's Room while the guys finished watching the game, texted back and forth with K to see how much she was hating R's belated work Christmas party, then decided the kids needed to get some sleep.

As it turns out, so did I. God, I'm just exhausted all the time lately. I cleaned up the kitchen a little and did a couple of Sudokus and I was out by 10. I slept until almost nine this morning, when I needed to get up and get some things done before we go to the play.

My PTA newsletter is due tomorrow and I haven't started it yet. It's not hard, or even time consuming, but I've been up for an hour now and I'm still sitting here dinking around on my blog, making coffee, watching cartoons with JJ....I'm not exactly working. As soon as we get home from the play, I'm in charge of finishing the science fair project with the boys. I think I might have a cocktail beforehand, see if that helps. I would so drink if I homeschooled. Everyone else is going to S&T's for S' famed tortilla soup and some playoff game so I'll bring the kids over here and knock this thing out before I join everyone.

Things with J are the same - probably getting worse, I'm not paying much attention. Looking forward to going out with the girls today and getting a dose of culture, even if it is a volunteer based community theater in the little city.

Hope you enjoy the rest of your Sunday and I look forward to reading more later!
Love, A

Another Sunday

Good morning.

So?....Did you have success at Trader Joe's? Did you get my list of recommended ingredients? Did you have fun with KB afterward? I hope you enjoyed your afternoon and that your evening back home was better than your morning...Later today I'll be sure to email those recipes for you.

At 5, when it had not yet begun to snow, I decided to accept an invitation to M and V's. Their friends N and R from NY, whom I've now known for 20 years, were visiting with their kids, and I was getting a little stir crazy. Of course just as I walked out, the snowflakes began to fall, but it wasn't a big deal. I enjoyed myself. N is really a hoot: funny and easy to entertain. We laughed practically the whole time. Still, aware of the weather and wanting to be safe, I only stayed a couple of hours. I got home with time enough to watch a movie (I watched Little Miss Sunshine. Loved it--as f 'ed up as it was.) before turning in.

As it turns out, the snow has already stopped, and accumulations were only 3-6", not 6-12", as originally anticipated, so I'm not snowed in as I thought I might be. I have already been out to clean off my car and move it to another place so my space can be cleared although I have no plans to go anywhere. I think I'll just spend the day doing little organizing projects, making lists, getting my ducks in a row. No mimosas today, although I did have a good breakfast. Later today I'll make pizza and will enjoy it with some Cabernet.

So that's it here. Hope everything there is okay.

xo,
Barb

The Calm Before the Storm

Good morning, Amanda.

How fun was it to talk--and laugh--again last night?! In fact, our conversation inspired me to write when I got off the phone. I was up until 1:30...(Which means I actually had the treat of reading your post before I went to bed. Yay, me!)

As you know, I've got nothing going on today and nothing much to write about at this moment, but I am having my coffee and wanted to at least write hello, so that you have something to read over coffee too.

Have a good day.

Thanks again for the laughs.

xo,
Barb

Google On!

Hey,

Thanks for the fun chat about Google tonight on the phone. I was sooooo in the mood to talk, but didn't initiate the call since the family's all home. J and JJ had retreated into Madden '09 (PS2) while we were talking, but it's not the same as an empty house.

Too funny about the nails. I never make it more than a couple of weeks either! Mostly because I chew the crap out of my cuticles and they look horrible, even though I try to keep them manicured and out of my mouth. We'll see how it goes this time. Something must be coming over me (actually, I know exactly what it is) since I also decided on a whim, today, to grow my hair and bangs out. I have been bang-less only twice in my life and neither was a good look for me, but this new au-naturale kick requires long, unruly, non-product-infused hair. (BTW, this should last about as long as the nails.)

The impetus was Mamma Mia!, if you want to know. Meryl Streep plays a middle-aged single mom, living on a Greek Island, running a worn-out hotel. Every minute of the film, she is beautiful, (stunning, even, in parts). Never does she wear makeup, high heels or fitted clothing, nor does she appear to brush her hair once. And yet she's gorgeous, standing beside the amazingly beautiful 20-year old co-star who plays her daughter. So, of course, I thought I might still have a chance to be that barefoot girl I so envied in my youth.

I remember an interview I once saw with Jodie Foster, and I loved her response to the question, "What have you learned, now that you're 40?" She said, "I've learned that there are things you can just let go of. Like, I always wanted to be a rock star. I'm 40, and I'm not a rock star. I can let go of that now." So I let go of the whole rock star thing, but I'm still shooting for Barefoot Girl. (Not to mention I love the part about the Greek Island. I'm working on that too.)

I'm looking forward to an easy day of cleaning and organizing more tomorrow, even though I've got most of the Christmas stuff done. I have a couple of little errands to run, but other than that, nothing. Sunday, we go to the play (speaking of Greece and middle-aged women), and Sunday night, as everyone knows, is the season opener, 2-hour special, of 24. If I have to go to someone else's house just to have peace and quiet, I will. Maybe I'll try to make some of that popcorn-that's-so-salty-it-hurts-your-mouth right here at home for the event.

It's onl 8:45 on a Friday night and I have to admit, I am exhausted. I didn't do anything today, other than take my cat to the vet and make a snack schedule for basketball. Oh, yeah, the cat. So I was worried that she'd have leukemia and I'd have to make the decision whether or not to fork out a couple thousand dollars to save her life, or if I would have her put down and make up some really good lie for the kids. As I'm in there, waiting for the vet, I hear him say "Mrs. So-and-so is here with Fluffy for her chemo" and I can't text K fast enough to share this absolute absurdity. Then the doc comes back in, and what does he think is wrong with my cat? Get this, he thinks she's epileptic. Yes way. And I'm sitting there thinking that this is only one step away from a pet with a so-called mental disorder, and there's no way, in my lifetime, I'm going to pay for psychiatric help for me and my cat, so what makes him think I'm going to medicate for this b.s.? Honestly. Let her freak out a couple times a week. She's fine. No, I don't want to talk about anti-seizure meds. For a cat. Get real.

Maybe that stressed me out enough to be this tired, who knows. I did have to grocery shop at Walmart and run to Office Depot (and found the perfect daytimer for $8.99) and take M to the bank to open his first bank account....oh, wait. I do know why I'm so tired. I just don't want to talk about right now. I got into it with M at the bank - well, almost - and I realized just how powerful my Prozac is when I was able to walk away from the situation before I blew a gasket. I'll write more about tomorrow, but I'm not sure if this laissez-faire attitude is a good thing or a bad thing.

I'm going to go upstairs and tackle a 5-star Sudoku and try to avoid intimacy with J for one more night. At some point, I'm sure I'll have to give in but right now, I'm so fed up with him I can't stand it.

I hope you're enjoying your Saturday morning!
Love, A

If your nails look good...

Hey, A.

Ah, the weekend....

I don't know what came over me, but I just went on a little cleaning binge. Oh my goodness, how'd that happen?....

After school I entertained myself for a couple of hours poking around Staples; Bed, Bath and Beyond; and Pier 1. Then I did a little grocery shopping and came home around 5, prepared to be in for the weekend. The storm you had has made its way across the country and it's supposed to hit us with 6-12 inches tomorrow night into Sunday, so I have everything on hand that I need and I'm cool with staying in. I made myself a quick dinner (although I'm not sure steak'ums count as food, never mind dinner) and thought I'd do nothing else--just hang out and welcome the weekend. Take a Prevacid and wash it down with a little wine. I have the whole weekend ahead of me, after all. Well, suddenly I was bleaching my kitchen counters and throwing away receipts and that lo mein clutter, putting away the rest of my Christmas chachki that missed the last trip to the basement. I guess somewhere in my head I wanted to be free to do nothing. Meaning I didn't want to look over at my dining table only to see little piles all over it while I try to enjoy my book. And when I feel like making a calzone or pizza tomorrow, I didn't want to have to spend an hour getting my kitchen picked up and clean before I could dust my counter with flour. I didn't want to have anything hanging over my head. I'm not quite done with everything but the clutter is gone; I need to dust and vacuum, but visually everything is good. (That reminds me: we must bring up the topic of your nails.)

So, here I am at my dining table dressed in a new table cloth ($2 at B, B, and B--seriously), glass of wine nearby. I have two movies on hand (Little Miss Sunshine and The Pursuit of Happyness) and two days to watch them. Life is good.

Hope you have a good weekend planned.

Love,
Barb

PS I called my post "A Day Late" because I had intended to write later on Wednesday/my snow day/ after our conversation, and I never did.

PPS Oh yeah, I've tried to go without nails, too. I think I last 2 weeks before I get them back. Now I just stretch the maintenance and go every 3 weeks instead of 2, which is fairly easy with a French. Keep my posted on how long you last.

Crashing early tonight

I couldn't dis you on a Friday morning, so before this Ambien kicks in, I'll quickly say hello. Tomorrow morning I have to take my cat to the vet (C thinks she might have leukemia - good God, I'm not going to spend a fortune on a cat...what am I going to tell my kids???) but after that I have nothing going until after school. So I will probably have time to write when I get home. No Friday Treats tomorrow, although school's back on since the roads are cleared.

Went to T&S' for dinner tonight and to watch some football game. It was fun, but things are so awkward between J and me right now. He went to bed as soon as we got home (9:00) and I'm not too far behind him, as neither of us slept much last night at all.

How'd your meat sauce turn out? I hope it wasn't interrupted by a phone call...:) Everything is relative, B. An invasive conversation isn't any better than no conversation. Everyone has issues.

Ok, my Ambien's sinking in. I can't wait to sleep...my afternoon nap was usurped by the decision to do the science fair project with JJ and C, with S helping a little. That was the most frustrating hour I've had in a long time. Since June, come to think of it. I'm so glad I'm not teaching anymore. I almost killed both of them today.

More tomorrow - Happy Friday!
Love,
A
P.s. I didn't understand your title "A Day Late" ??

A Day Late

Hi, Amanda.

What a treat to read from you this morning! I must say I logged on when my coffee was ready, but I was running late (I was hoping for a delay), and I saw all the paragraphs and knew I didn't have the time to read it with the attention it deserved...so I saved it for school. lolol I read while my kids were working on a study guide. Classic. Anyway, thanks again. The JJ BFF-nonGF story is awesome. I smiled the whole way through it.

I ended up taking the rest of the day off yesterday. After my "take-down" and our conversation I pretty much petered out and did a whole lot of nothing, other than half-starting projects before getting distracted by creating new projects whose worth is questionable. Alternately, I read, watched TV and flipped through cookbooks. I went to bed around 10.

I'm home from school already after a quick stop for some cheap cab (I understand your debate about cheap wine vs. good wine, by the way...I always think I should permanently upgrade, but it's not in my budget. When I'm down to my last 20 bucks, I always remember that there are decent tasting cheap wines that I can live with.) I haven't called W yet, because I need a little time to myself first. Once he knows I'm home, he could call every 5 minutes, and I'm not in the mood yet. I'm not sure I will ever get in the mood for that tonight...

I'm going to make a meat sauce tonight (a pretty basic FN recipe from their cookbook) for dinner. Other than enjoy a nice meal, I want to read, and maybe write what I started yesterday and didn't finish. Just my luck he'll call at all the wrong times--as I'm cooking my sauce or pasta, or sitting down to my delightful dinner, or just as I settle in with my book. I guess those are the dangers of a long distance relationship. Most of it happens on the phone, and timing the calls isn't always perfect. I suppose I should look on the bright side, though, right? At least he wants to talk to me. And I can always be clearer about my plans and when it would be okay to talk, when it would be a disruption. Little fish, I know.

I hope everything is okay for you out there on the top of the hill. I wonder how everyone is faring and do hope it isn't as bad as they thought it would be. Be safe.

Love,
Barb

Greetings from Atlantas

Hey, B.

The next time I decide to go out during a major flood, remind me not to. I didn't have too much trouble getting home, although the highway had already closed and many of the backroads were already congested by the time I headed that way. The district dismissed the high school and the middle schools an hour early, but they were still running bus service at that time, so M got home ok. My friend JT (the ex-crackhead) called to see if I wanted him to pick up JJ, as he was going to pick up B. I called down to the school and they had just decided to evacuate the elementary schools too, so that worked out well. In the end, bus transportation was so limited that I'm glad I didn't have him wait. Everyone was home and dry by 3:00, which wasn't too bad, considering.

It's still raining, though. They don't expect the (22 flooding) rivers to crest until sometime early in the morning, so there will likely be no school tomorrow. The big one near here has a record crest of 31 feet; it's expected to get as high as 36 tonight. They've completely evacuated two cities already and they're talking about closing down part of the Interstate south of here. What a mess!! I haven't seen J since 4:00 this morning. I talked to him briefly this afternoon and he said that it's all much worse than they had expected; even one of their stations has flooded out. I feel fortunate to be up here on high ground; I can't imagine the nightmare of trying to get out of my house with my kids and treasured things, in the dark, in the pouring down rain. I don't envy the emergency workers tonight either.

~~~

Got totally sidetracked by J coming home to eat, shower and nap before heading out again for the night shift at midnight. They called off school tomorrow, already. Only JJ's school, though, since all the roads in and out are flooded.

J's asleep now; JJ and C are upstairs playing PS2, giddy with the early knowledge that they don't have to get up tomorrow. M's still at work...I took some time to do some email blah-de-blah stuff I've been meaning to get to. Now, I'm going to pour my second "glass" of wine and write some. Did I tell you how the other day I had two bottles of red opened, but with only about a half glass left in each...how I finished the one, then the other, then took a new bottle out to open that...and JJ looks at me in disbelief, says, "Are you going to open another bottle??" And then how I felt the need to totally justify myself with the whole they weren't full bottles excuse....

Zinfandel. That's truly one of my favorites. Particularly Ravenswood Old Vine, or Bogle Old Vine (both under $10!). Right now I'm on the Bogle. It's awesome. I wonder sometimes why I bother to drink cheap wine. I mean, yeah, I'm a lush, but I really, really enjoy my wine: the taste, the texture, the temperature, everything. Like coffee. You still get the caffeine high off a cup at Denney's, but is it worth it? I'd rather pay the $3 something at Starbucks and savor it. However, I did discover (did I already tell you this?) the Walmart brand wine. It's called Leaf Something - I don't remember, I could look it up but I'm too lazy - it's $2.99 a bottle and it's not bad at all! I'm such a Walmart junkie these days. I swear, I know it's all bad for the economy and unions and that, but the amount of money I save shopping there has me hooked.

Onwards...

Thanks for the long chat today. It was so nice to get caught up using intonation and inflection. There is much that is lost in translation on the computer keys, indeed. Just little things, like when you talked about W "invading your space" and the laughter that invoked...it's nice to keep in touch in RL, as M would say. That's Real Life, in case you're not up on your text language. I did have a good day, aside from the rain. I went to exchange a watch J got me for Christmas at Macy's, but had no luck. I loved the one he got me but it didn't fit right. I ended up with a gift card and another new pair of cheap slippers (the $5 Walmart ones lasted about as long - 5 days). I'll go back in a month or so and check out the new shipments. Then I had to return a bra to Victoria's Secret and decided, in exchange, to pay the extra $23 for a pair of navy blue velour sweats They are so incredibly JLo, it's not even funny. But I have to tell you, I feel sexy as all get out in them. They're all covered in silver lame (with an accent on the e) bling that says "Make Pink, Not War" down the legs, with a peace sign. They're way too long, of course, because every pair of pants in the universe is too long for me, but they're super duper soft and comfy. I might actually have them hemmed, even though they're only jammies, just because I totally love them. If I ever do wear them out in public (I'll be drunk, so this won't be a big deal) I'll be sure to wear my 5" diameter rhinestone-studded hoops with them.

When I got home this afternoon, I half watched, half slept through, Oprah, then finally got my butt off the couch at 5:00 and took a shower. I put on my new sessy sweats and and ridiculously ugly new fuzzy slippers, and now I'm so comfortable I could just melt into a coma. I thought about inviting my NDF (Non-Drinking Friend) K over to watch the news and hang, since R's out of town, but then decided against it. A) She won't share this wine and 2) I'd really rather just sit here and type.

I had my acrylic nails taken off yesterday in an attempt to move away from some of my artificial beauty routines. Why did I feel I needed to do that? Don't know. Just felt like being more au naturale for awhile. Well, first off, it hurts. My nails are so frail and thin, and the skin at the tips, under the nails, is like tissue paper. So everything that comes into contact with my fingertips hurts. What I do love? I can type like 100 wpm. I can put on lip balm from a jar. I'm going to save $40 a month. Which, I think, I'm going to spend on a massage this month, because I'm having some problems with my shoulder. I think it's just the way I sleep, but lately it's been bothering me more and more; now I have this sharp, stabbing pain from time to time that's totally new. Any excuse I can think of for a little pampering...I'm all there.

In light of our conversation today, here's an interesting scenario:

J comes home at 6:00 tonight. He tells me about his day, I tell him a little about mine. We watch the news while I put together some dinner for him. He eats and reads his Blackberry for 45 minutes, periodically looking up to listen to something I have to say, answer a question or catch something on the news. When he finishes dinner, he passes by me in the kitchen and says something about my sweats. I ask, Do you not like them?" and he replies, "No! I love them. Actually, honey, they're really hot. Maybe, you know, you and me, after I eat, we can go upstairs..." Now, I know he's not serious, so keep that in mind. But really, at that moment, I just wanted to say "Are you f***ing kidding me? You've just spent your one hour at home staying in touch with the flood of the century and now that you've got a spare minute, you want to have SEX???" I about lost my mind. I didn't say anything, but later, when he came in after his shower to say goodnight, I didn't feel one tiny bit guilty about being on the phone with KB and barely returning his kiss goodnight. I didn't hang up so I could spend a couple minutes with him, like I probably normally would. I just kept on talking, kissed him absentmindedly and went on with my conversation. I'll wake him up at midnight, which is probably when I'll go to bed myself, and he'll be off again for the rest of the night.

Yes, I feel like I should be there for him. I know he's out saving lives and property (as we always refer to this job); I know he's an American F***ing Hero and all. Sometimes I feel selfish for wanting more from him when he gives his all to the rest of the world. But today, not so much. Today, I feel like finishing this bottle of wine, which had far more than a half a glass to start with, and opening another. If I didn't feel so good in these sweats (sweats! I feel sexy in sweats, how funny is that!) I'd eat something, but right now, I'm pretty motivated not to. I don't want this feeling to go away, which it would, in a heartbeat, if I ate so much as a salad. (So, I'll just drink more. That's not real calories!) Bedsides, and I would only admit this to you, I ate a Big Mac for lunch. No lie. It's so my weakness. I could eat a freakin' Big Mac every day for the rest of my life and never, ever, get tired of them. How sad is that? Here's another "me" moment with my kids...I was chatting with JJ and JK the other day and JK said something about Pop Tarts. I immediately chime in with "OMG, if Pop Tarts were the only food left on earth, I'd be totally happy." JJ looks at me, confused, and says "You said that about chips and dip the other day!" and JK looks at him, then me, and says "Yeah, and you told me this summer that you'd be perfectly fine if the only food in the world was bread and cheese." Ooops...I should keep better track of my ultimate statements.

I'm laughing at myself, wondering if I sound buzzed as I write, because I'm so all over the place.

It was JK's 12th birthday last Saturday. She had invited two friends to go the mall for makeovers, then to the movies and her favorite pizza place for dinner. We are long past the day when JJ would be invited to her party, regardless of their friendship, so he wasn't bothered in the least. Friday night, she called over here, heartbroken that both of her friends had cancelled out on her, and wanted to know if JJ wanted to hang out with her and go to the movie anyway? Of course he did. So off we went to Target to find her a gift. We started in the toy section, but quickly realized we were off base there. I'm not a big fan of the makeup that her mom lets her wear, so when JJ suggested that I steered him toward the jewelry area. First, he chose a heart-shaped cubic-studded necklace. I told him he might want to be careful, that a heart might make her think he wants to be her boyfriend. He dropped it like a hot potato. Then he picked up a ring, and I said the same thing was true about rings. He put that down and kept wandering, until he found a necklace - you know the kind with three "diamonds" kind of in a curve, on a silver chain? What was I supposed to say to that? Dude! She's gonna think you want to freakin' marry her! I said nothing. He bought it and he was so proud. He wrapped it himself and she loved it. She wore it all day and all night, while they went to the movies, and dinner, and hung out until 10pm when her mom drove them to Dairy Queen for Blizzards. He didn't come home until 11:00. How f-in' cute is that? It was the best birthday party he'd ever been to.

I've about exhausted my reserve of Things About Which I'd Like To Ramble. I was planning to write elsewhere today too, but I'm not sure I'm in the mood now. I've got the whole day tomorrow, since I had to cancel lunch with KB. I hope you thoroughly enjoyed your snow day...another one in the forecast for tomorrow? Look forward to reading if you get time in the morning.

Love you,
A