A few mornings ago, I let Licorice hop into bed with Otto after I let her out. She commenced furiously licking his neck, which---because we'd read some article that basically said, "You think your dog is kissing you when she licks your mouth, but really she is hoping you'll vomit up whatever you just ate, just like her wolf ancestors would've done"---caused Otto to peer at her and say, "No matter how many times you lick my Adam's apple, it's not going to cause yummy vomit to come spewing out of it." We had a good laugh over that, because we are twisted individuals. And then that night, lying...
So we had this Big Important Meeting at school this week. The nice thing about completely obsessing and worrying over such an event is that it rarely turns out to be as bad as you've imagined. Really, the worst thing about these meetings (so far) is that no matter how much notice we give about the kids' dad wanting to be teleconferenced in, the school seems to be chock-full of conference rooms without phones. And as much as I like Monkey's classroom, spending a Big Important Meeting sitting in a child-sized chair isn't really my idea of a good time. Ahem. Anyway, part of what we did was go...
So we were supposed to go on our last big camping trip this weekend, and we shopped and packed and measured out dog food and loaded up the camper and then I spiked a fever. Because I am nothing if not able to ruin everyone's plans without breaking a sweat. (Actually, I'm totally lying. The fever, you know... I was a little sweaty.) Rather than TRULY ruin everything for everyone else, I assured the family that it was okay if they went without me. Because everyone had been so looking forward to it, and there was no reason for everyone to stay home just because I was feeling crummy. The kids...
A fairly standard thing for Otto and me to say to one another is: "You love me. But you have no idea why." He says it to me when he's just come up with a scheme for another clunker of a car he simply must have, or I say it to him when I've just finished completely taking out on him any number of things that aren't in any way his fault. It's a little lovebird ritual of ours. Afterward, we stare deeply into each other's eyes and argue about whose turn it is to go upstairs and yell at the kids. (Ahhhh, romance. Don't be jealous.) But I actually know why Otto loves me. Otto loves a CHALLENGE....
One of the last boxes I unpacked this weekend was clearly one that had lived in my last basment, half-unpacked, and then had a generous measure of "I'm nearly done packing but I don't know where to put this stuff" items dumped in on top of it. I'm glad I took the time to go through it, because it did hold several items of sentimental value ("MAMA YOU ARE THE BEST MAMA LUV MONKYE MONKEY") and a couple of things I'd assumed were lost forever. It also held Otto's wedding gift to me and my ex. My first wedding was in 1994. I was 12. (I slay me. And no, I never tire of that joke.) Despite having...
Last week chewed me up and spit me out and then sneered at me and told me my mother dresses me funny. Then it stole my lunch money and stomped on my fingers. The sad part is that I really didn't get the worst of the week; I'd say the men of our household had a significantly worse week than I did, even. In fact, some might say the only person who had a great week was Chickadee, except for the tiny detail of some of her choices having resulted in a few extra chores this past weekend. And although it cheered ME up immensely to watch her mop the kitchen floor, I'm guessing that wasn't her...
So you know how I mentioned Otto having a bad case of poison ivy? Several of you suggested various remedies (thank you!), and Otto dutifully went and bought the Mystical Scrub and prepared for relief. Except that it kept getting worse. And worse. So I made him go to Urgent Care today, and GUESS WHAT! In addition to confirming that his poison ivy has gone systemic, the doctor also suspects he has a patch of MRSA. Awesome. And how is YOUR weekend going?
Otto and Monkey greeted me at the airport with flowers. Of course. I scooped Monkey up into a hug and nuzzled his neck as he squeezed me and chanted, "Mama! Mama! Mama!" I set him back down and hugged and kissed Otto, and then Monkey yelled, "GROUP HUG!" and we picked him up between us and embraced again. When we pulled apart and put him down, several folks standing around us were smiling and chuckling. (If you are ever down, the place to be is right at the top of the escalators at the Atlanta airport. You can't be sad while watching loved ones reunite.) We went out into the evening (94...
Good morning! Today we're pulling up camp and leaving Lake Placid. It's been mostly dark and dreary with a few brief periods of sunshine, but even with the black clouds, I have to admit that the scenery up here is rather fantastic. Yesterday we took a gondola ride to the top of Whiteface Mountain. (Photo by Otto, king of capturing Jesus Light.) Today is a landmark day for my family, not just because it marks the end of our first extremely soggy camping adventure. (This is me being convinced that the next leg will be drier. I know, it's weird to see me trying out the positive thinking thing.)...
