You know the saying about how "getting there is half the fun?" No. Not even close. Not even a quarter of the fun. Actually, just not fun at all, compared to being there. Not that there's anything WRONG with getting there, just that it's wasted time in comparison to the rest. Mir's Handy Travel Tips: DO bring lots of reading material. DON'T bring a book about the ebola virus if you are predisposed to anxiety. DO transfer important items to your cool new purse. DON'T forget to remove your girly leatherman tool which now belongs to the security dude at the airport. DO catch the handy train that...
On the one hand, I'm leaving in a few days, and I have a lot to do before I go. On the other hand, with the kids gone, it does feel a little bit like I have an unlimited amount of time to do... whatever. (Fortunately, I'm super-good at doing whatever. Especially when "whatever" means "not getting out of my pajamas all day on Sunday but eating ice cream for breakfast and watching a bunch of movies.") After my scintillating day, yesterday, I figured I'd better get back into the groove, today. Lots of things to do in the name of Trip Prep! Also it tends to keep the voices in my head to a dull...
The acne solution I use on my face at night--combined with the heat and some sweating--is bleaching out my pillowcases. Note to self: Get a new face, or consider sticking to all-white bedding. A few hours in the sun helps with the acne, but causes me to burn and freckle (not tan) even with sunscreen. Also, my children do not appreciate me calling out "Mama McWhiterson wants to see your TUSHIE!" as I tug on their swimsuits and admire their tan lines. There are two more months of Summer left. Naturally, I cannot find the white shoes I neeeeeeeeeeed, because the stores are full of... boots?...
I was feeling a little jealous of all the folks who got to attend BlogHer this weekend, but really, my life is way more exciting than all of that. Who needs a conference full of funny, cool women when they could just BE ME instead?? I am my own entertainment, baby. All excitement, all the time. Wooooooooooooooo! I'm on fire, I tell you. Stand back. Take today, for example. I woke up to the rhythm of driving rain (again), but that wouldn't affect my plans. No sir. I had important things to do. First, there was the sleeping. I don't like to brag, but I'm sort of elevating sleeping to an art...
I'd like to be able to do all of my own home repairs. I'd also like to be able to fly and inflict severe bodily harm with only my laser-beam glare. Sometimes I don't get what I want. Nonetheless, I think I've learned a fair amount about how to remedy the basic annoyances that face most homeowners. Nothing stunning, of course. I can spackle, sand, paint and wallpaper. I can do very basic carpentry repair. I've put in a new floor. Whatever needs doing, that it seems like I might be able to teach myself, really. But I do not mess with plumbing, short of changing a washer. I know my limits. So...
Monkey's birthday is in January--which sucks badly enough, for him, because it's so close to Christmas--and I have a horrible history of presenting him with birthday presents he can't run out and use. It seems like a good idea, giving a kid a motorized child-sized Jeep or a bike or something for his birthday. But not in January. That poor child is now resigned to receiving something really cool, looking outside at the snow, looking back at his cool warm-weather gift, and sighing. Loudly. I'm a slow learner. I recently ran across an amazing deal on this baby. Perfect for Monkey's birthday! I...
I was ready, today, for life to Get Back To Normal. So I guess it should come as a surprise to no one that--after tucking the kids into bed, prepping the backpacks and lunchbags for camp tomorrow--I headed out to the deck. To throw large hunks of flesh onto my grill. Yup. It was all verrrrrry normal. Rib? Okay, let's back it up. This morning, I woke up ready to count down the minutes until it was time to go fetch the children (who had gotten back into town late last night). I would bound out of bed! Accomplish my remaining household tasks! Go to church! Joyfully reunite with my babies! Or,...
I am totally capitalizing on all of this kid-free time. The house is spotless; I've finished up projects I've been putting off for years; and tonight I got gussied up and went out where children aren't even allowed. Oh, wait. That was just my imagination. Whoops! In reality, I guess you could say I'm off to sort of a slow start. Or that I'm just a complete lazyass. It's sort of a toss-up, really. It's just been so long since I was able to sleep late and do almost nothing; I think I was overdue. Of course, once I got going, it was a highly productive day. 6:00 Alarm does NOT go off, because...
The weekend has served to highlight that--as usual--my life is composed of blacks and whites, with nary a grey to be found. Why have happy mediums when you can just swing from joy to fury and back again, I say. It just keeps things interesting. I love: Beautiful summer days. I hate: 95 freaking degrees?! I think I'm dying. Well, okay, maybe not, but I'm certainly not cooking. Or mowing. Or moving at all, really. I love: Thinking to set up and fill the kiddie pool on Friday night, so we can use it all weekend. I hate: Being eaten by bugs in the dark. The water still being freezing cold...
