Twang-a twang TWANG twang
I had noble intentions of putting together a deeply meaningful—but also hilarious, natch—post for your enjoyment, yesterday, but my day was derailed by a multitude of more pressing matters.
True, probably the least of my worries was the subcontractor who is out on the deck painting (did I mention that we replaced our siding while redoing the deck? because we did, because why not spend every last penny all at once!) and BLARING country music all freakin’ day long.
Part of me feels like: Hey, this is my house, and not only that, this is my OFFICE, and I am trying to work, and therefore I am well within my rights to ask him to please turn his music down (or off).
But the other part of me feels like: Dude is probably being paid minimum wage by the contractor, let him listen to some music while he spends hours and hours moving a paint brush back and forth, and P.S. don’t be a dick. read more…
After this, less death
Okay, tomorrow I swear we shall return to things less death-and-despair themed. Probably. Not that I’m ever going to be Little Susie Sunshine, but I’m starting to depress myself.
That did not, however, stop me from ruminating a bit on murder (oh goodie, more death!) today over at Off Our Chests. Sorry.
Tomorrow: Kittens! Bunnies! Rainbows! And possibly Licorice’s new doggie door, and the hilarity therein.
Small town life (and death)
One of the things I didn’t share recently, because I was worried it would make things harder for them, was that a few weeks ago my folks lost their dog. (You remember Buddy, right? He showed up for my birthday, wearing a tiara!) Buddy was having a hard time moving around when they were here in August, and in dog years he was already somewhere between “geriatric” and “Methuselah,” but that didn’t make it any easier to see him go. I cried when I found out, and he’s not even MY dog. He was just one of those wonderful creatures you can’t help but love, and even though his time had come and I’m certain he’s enjoying unlimited rawhides and squirrels and all the butts he can sniff in doggie heaven, it’s hard.
I was worried about my folks, too—especially my stepmom. My dad is better at compartmentalizing (that comes with the Y chromosome, right?), plus he’s out of the house at work nearly every day, whereas my stepmom is more like me and home all the time, feeling the Buddy-less void left behind. So it was with a small squeal of joy and maybe a sigh of relief that I read the email announcing their new puppy last week. The kids were excited, too, and I thought “Well, then. Circle of life. It’s sad, but it’s okay, and now there’s another dog to love, and life goes on.” It’s overly simplistic to say this, but in many ways the new puppy “fixes” this in my kids’ minds. read more…
Five fortunately/unfortunatelys on Friday
1) Unfortunately, our Internet is mysteriously down. Fortunately, my favorite coffee shop has both Internet AND pumpkin lattes.
2) Unfortunately, writing a post about Chickadee’s relative good health angered the Germ Gods, and she is home sick today. Fortunately, she’s old enough that I can spend a little time saying “Poor, poor little bunny” and then tuck her into bed with the dog and leave the house to work.
3) Unfortunately, I kind of sort of fell in a creek while on a forest exploration with Monkey and Hippie School yesterday. Fortunately, that was pretty much the worst thing that happened all day.
4) Unfortunately, after two weeks of smooth and flawless work on our deck, yesterday while I was out the construction crew apparently tacked up some trim work with their eyes closed. Fortunately, it should be easily fixed. I think.
5) Unfortunately, the school auction I’m heading up is eating up all my time and energy and really stressing me out. Fortunately, it’s almost over.
Viva la Friday!
Med update, with bonus weirdness
Remember the whole “Now we are going to put you on a medicine that requires regular blood tests and also for you to swear a solemn oath that you are using two forms of birth control even if you aren’t sexually active” thing? And the whole “Oops, maybe you’re allergic to the dye in the generic!” thing?
Chickadee has been on the new med for over a month, and she is… rash-free. No side effects. Two rounds of blood work have been endured without too much drama, and her lab results show her organs are tolerating the med well. It’s unclear if this will continue to work for her, of course, but right now we are not-even-that-cautiously optimistic. This is HUGE. So there are many little victory dances happening ’round here. Sure, it took four years, but if this works for any length of time at all, YAY. read more…
The good, the bad, and the Halloweenie
The GOOD news is that I found a deal on a huge sack of Sour Patch Kids (mmmmm… Sour Patch Kids) and it took less convincing than I thought it might to talk the kids into us all staying in last night. I know that probably makes me some sort of Halloween Scrooge, but whatever. I gave them each their own bowl of candy and everyone seemed happy and it just seemed easier.
The BAD news is that the dog really and truly hates us, now. Or at least she did until I gave her some peanut butter this morning. Which I guess cancels out the hate. But I’m putting some pics below the fold so that you can judge for yourself. Heh.
The HALLOWEENIE news is that I’m over at Off Our Chests today, talking about wearing a mask for Halloween. Obviously. Come on over and join the conversation, particularly if you’ve ever felt more at home wearing someone else’s face.
Now, for the Licorice lovers: read more…
Insert uplifting conclusion here
Have I mentioned lately how much I like all of you? Because I do. You’re a lovely bunch of super nice people I would like to have over for a party on my deck. I mean, once there’s actually guardrails and stairs, and stuff. Probably I would only be serving Chex Mix I got on clearance and three buck chuck from Trader Joe’s, but the LOVE, man, THE LOVE IN THE AIR would make it a party.
This is the part where I tell you that everything worked out splendidly. Life turned right around and all is flowers and sunshine. Wouldn’t that be great? But… yeah. No. We did, however, go out Friday night and listen to some great music and drink wine out of plastic cups (fancy!) and generally have a nice evening. So that was lovely.
Of course, it was raining pretty hard so the marching band left their away game early, and we were still out when Chickadee texted us that she was back at the high school and needed a ride. Because we’re responsible parents, I texted back that she should find someone else to give her a ride home. And you know what? She did. read more…
A night out
Otto and I are going on a real live genuine date tonight, in just a little bit. I am drinking a large cup of coffee by way of preparation, because the sad truth is that my idea of a perfect evening, lately, is sitting on the couch watching TV for a while before going to bed at about 9:30.
I’m not sick. I shouldn’t be tired. But I am exhausted, mentally, and that’s bleeding over into everything else. I’ve taken to shutting off my alarm in the morning and going back to sleep; on the rare occasions when I used to do this, before, I would just get up 15 minutes later when Otto’s alarm went off. Now I often lay there until the last possible minute, and one day this week when Otto offered to pack lunches and shuffle children I just let him and stayed in bed.
It didn’t help. So tonight I’m doing my best to slough off my now-comfortable shroud of “I am just so TIRED and OVERWHELMED” and instead I’m going out with my very patient husband, and I may even put on mascara. read more…
Deckpocalypse
As I noted last month, Licorice enjoys her time out on safari now that the fence is complete and she can roam around in relative freedom, inside a contained area. It had gotten to where she spent only a napping hour or so indoors with me, during the day, and spent the remainder of her daylight hours either 1) outside doing lord knows what, 2) hurling herself at my office door as a subtle hint that she wished to head out, or 3) standing next to my chair whining until I opened the damn door.
I’ll admit, I was a little saddened that just laying on the floor of my office was no longer sufficient for her. My office is a messy pit, but a dog on the floor totally spruces the place up. Nevertheless, I was pleased that she was enjoying herself so much outside, and it did kind of make the whole fence debacle ALMOST feel worth it.
But then—because I’m essentially a big jerk—I had to go and ruin the dog’s good time. read more…
Apples, tree, karma, and coping
I often marvel at the clear evidence of fate and genetics bringing me back what I dish out to the universe by way of my children not-so-subtly throwing some of the same in my face. Karma has a twisted sense of humor, it turns out.
Today over at Off Our Chests, I’m thinking about my most fearful little apple, and what tending to him has done for this mama tree. It’s a good thing, I hope, though we both have a long way to go. Courage is easier to come by when it’s for your kid, I find.
I hope you’ll come over and add to the conversation.