A Little Down Time?

Good morning, Barb.

I sent my boys off today on their first father-son road trip, which, to my surprise, brought tears to my eyes.  I've been so looking forward to a few days to myself before flying out to meet them on Friday night, and so grateful that I don't have to spend two long days hauling a trailer (and sleeping in it). Then I'm standing there on the driveway at 8:00 in the morning and the two of them are as excited as little kids at Christmas, and I suddenly wanted to call in sick and hop in the truck with them.

Then it passed. Phew! 

I still have two hours before I have to be at work, and Monday is already over, so I'm in a pretty good mood.  I have plants to water and some time to enjoy my coffee on my deck before showering and heading out. This week will be/started out crazy at work as we have a new provider and a total scheduling nightmare playing out, but we kind of got in the groove yesterday so hopefully today will go a little more smoothly.  That, and I bought a 3lb bag of fun size candy bars at Costco to bring in today.

The rest of the week I don't have much planned other than getting my nails done, the house a little cleaned up and maybe a movie/dinner with M before I leave.  He (M) decided that he was going to stay home all week and "keep me company".  I find this sweet, if completely weird, since he's never here, and rarely spends time with us.  He's in a tough spot right now though, as both of his vehicles have gone TU and he's going to have a challenge getting around until at least one of them gets out of the shop.  So maybe it's not really quality time, but I'll take it.

I should be home after work during the week, depending on how many last-minutt errands I come up with before leaving, so hopefully we can talk a little before I go.  Otherwise, I will have my cell with me while I'm gone and I'm pretty sure there will be a moment in there with the Crazy Family that I need the voice of sanity and reason in my ear to talk me down. :)

I hope you're enjoying your first week of freedom and that the sun is being good to you,

Love you,

A

FINALLY ON VACATION!!!

Oh my god, Amanda. I thought this year would never end. Those two days after final exams nearly killed me...not literally, of course, but my spirit was definitely broken. Getting grades done on Wednesday was so anticlimactic and having to sit through workshops was painful. But finally I'm done!

I stopped to eat on my way home yesterday (and skipped my weekly steak) then came home exhausted. I went to bed early and slept later than I have in months. This morning I'm enjoying my coffee and looking up recipes and watching TV and getting into vacation mode...

As you know I have plans to clean today (my place is a disaster area) after I get motivated (mimosas may help) and make myself some seared ahi tuna for dinner. Other than that I look forward to talking to you today, even though we need to talk about doing your east coast visit another time, maybe next year. :(

Anyway, call when you can.
Love you,
Barb

Hey, you.

I've been neglecting our blog too.  The entire blogosphere, actually, except that I check a couple that I LOVE every morning ;) I haven't felt much like writing lately; I have once again over-committed myself in terms of projects, activities and social engagements, so I've been a stresshead.

This doesn't excuse my lack of contact during this horrible and sad time for you and your family.  How are you holding up?  How are the rest of the sisters and daughters? I can't imagine the pain of waiting...and still hoping. I am so sorry for all of you. I wish I had had the opportunity to meet D over the course of all these years, although I feel as though, through your stories, I did. I even got to know her a little bit, and it breaks my heart to hear that her battle is coming to an end after fighting so hard for so long. I know the coming weeks or months will be difficult for all of you; my thoughts are with you every day, even though I you may not hear them.

We're winding down the year here too...we go until Wednesday, but as you know, the kids will check out the minute that bell rings this afternoon.  I mean, really. Who's going to be engaged during Monday's Bobcatpalooza Day, Tuesday's Clean Out Your Locker Day or Wednesday's Must Meet State Requirements Half Day?  JJ dumped the contents of his backpack on the coffee table last night and I knew we were done.  This year flew by, though. Maybe it's because I was working, I don't know. I have no idea where the time went.

Tonight JJ, J and I are going to the ballpark for a minor league game (translate: hot dogs and beer in the sun) - a sort of Birthday/Father's Day gift to ourselves.  It is, amazingly, supposed to be pretty nice today, warm if not completely sunny.  The rest of the weekend I'll be running around tying up all the loose ends for Monday and maybe we'll go out to dinner and to see Cars 2 for my birthday tomorrow night.

I'll be glad when Monday [successfully] comes to a close, although I've enjoyed this process and am looking forward to seeing how it all turns out.  I'll just be grateful for the extra time in the day, that's all.  Then it's a couple of weeks of work until I leave for CA - which is another story altogether that I won't get into here.

I've got to get ready for work now, but wanted to check in and let you know that I'm thinking of you.  I will be heading out with the family right when I get off work this afternoon, but I wonder if you'll be around this weekend? I will definitely try to call you tomorrow to hear your voice, even if you can't complete a sentence without crying.  I wouldn't expect anything else.

Love you,
A

So Sorry!

Hey, Amanda,

Wow. I have been very neglectful of our blog, and I apologize. This is that weird time of the year for me when vacation is close but not quite here, and I find I have a lot more to do than I want, yet the weather beckons me to spend time outside when I can. As a result I haven't been at my computer much lately, for pleasure anyway. Seems I'm always at the keyboard at school writing end of the year lessons and quizzes and reviews and now finals.

Blah Blah Blah.

Still, I'm sorry. And, before I head off for the weekend to Boston, I want you to know I am well, though things with D continue to deteriorate, and that I am thinking of you.

Love,
Barb

View from the deck

Hey, Barb.

Sorry for the delay in response to your newsy post the other morning. Sounds like a rough weekend overall.  I'm sorry it had to be the way you celebrated your birthday so I plan to help you make it up in August.  I hope you made it to the beach after all and that a day with the kids was exactly the right answer.  I also have to apologize for not sending you a card because I try not to let things like that slip past me.  I just lost track of my days, I guess.

I know I've been complaining about the weather here for months now, but I swear, I'm about ready for medication.  Seriously - our ski resorts are still open.  The thought of a public pool opening is hilarious. All Memorial Day weekend, people were actually in better moods because, even though it was 50 degrees, overcast and gloomy, for once it wasn't raining.  But let's not get too excited...it's been raining ever since.  I'm so tired of it, but it's also making me tired.  I'm so lethargic; all I want to do is nap until summer.  Supposedly, we're going to have an 80 degree day on Saturday - just some random Phoenix day here in the middle of the rain - but I'll believe it when I see it.  If something doesn't turn around soon...argh.

Our weekend was good, despite the gray.  We got the backyard almost totally finished and I'm so pleased with the way it all turned out. There are a few loose ends here and there, but for the most part, it is beautiful.  I just wish we could hang out on the deck and enjoy it now.  The other day, there was a cougar sighting in our neighborhood and J thought he saw some prints in the dirt between our house and the ridge.  He said they might come up to drink out of the waterfall and now JJ and I are obsessed with cougar-watching. How cool would that be?! I mean, you know, if no small children or cats got eaten in the process.  JJ wants to put food out on the deck.  LOL! Dude, we don't actually want to invite them, we just secretly hope for a visit!

M leaves tonight for ten days in Mississippi for his cousin's wedding. It will be a nice break for my worry wart head.  I think I told you that he "accidentally" forgot to register for school this semester so I've been losing some sleep building stories in my head about his never getting a diploma, a job, or a place of his own.  Funny, how I used to be afraid he'd never come home, and now I'm stressed that he'll never move out.

Still planning the 4th of July party at my parents' house but not looking forward to going very much.  I'm tired of trying to talk to them when they're usually drunk and don't remember entire conversations we have.  All my reading and working on self-esteem doesn't prove much of a buoy when my dad gets going on one of his rampages.  And then my mom...well... if denial were the center of the earth, she'd be in China.  You'd think, at my age...you'd think.

My thoughts have been with you, D and all of your family this week.  Keep me posted and I'll keep you in my prayers.

Love you,
A