February 20, 2015

This morning was okay – it was Friday, tomorrow I could sleep in…I can do this!  And then I saw it:  a tomato eaten by a furry intruder.

 Dadgummit, that shot everything to hell!  The day seemed to not be as terrific anymore:  the peanut butter tasted horrible, because I knew it wasn’t really for me, it was for them.  The kids thought it was kinda funny.  They have no idea.  Ethan is spending the night with a friend, so what will I do??? We were heading out the door when I went back to the kitchen for something and there he was – scurrying across the floor and I SCREAMED!  The kids looked up and laughed.  At me.  Their mother.  Hmphhhh….  I don't get it - I've had pet rats, snakes, lizards, frogs, I have a tarantula - but this wild thing freaks me out.  Kinda like grasshoppers <you don't know when/where they will hop>.

School was school….. During second block I remembered to text my sister and wish her a happy birthday.  She responded thank you and said she had a pot job for me in Europe.  A pot job?  I don’t smoke, I’m no dealer….  I was very confused, especially when she didn’t respond.  <I tend to forget she is potty training a 3 year old and has a month old infant child>.  “You don’t smoke?” she texted, and I could hear her laughing.  “Potential!”  Oooohhhh….  During third block,  I was running the stairs at the field and helping a student with stretches.  1). to get some exercises, 2) to show her how to do it.  It felt good to get some stretch, but damn…I need to crank it up a notch.  I spoke with the girl’s coach after and she said a rowing machine would be good – don’t need to extend my knee and it works everything.  Hmmm….

Had to pick up the girl right away, since the boy is going to a friend’s birthday and we headed to get things for the weekend and then I needed to get home.  I wanted to shower and out of those ridiculous skinny jeans.  Why the hell do I even own those??  The plan was steel wool, peppermint oil, etc and we got most of everything but the peppermint oil.  I quickly showered at home and we went to the health food store to get the oil.  Success!  So many people swear by this. We also put on the size three diaper on Annie – and it worked!!!! Mabi wouldn’t stand for it, but Annie is like Maggie – very complaint.  I’m noticing distinct similarities between dogs and children.  How weird to have one of each in both sets.

 Down the hill to Macaroni Grill, which Maggie was dying for.  As we pulled in, Olivia FaceTime’d us and we sang Happy Birthday.  Got to see Ingrid and little Abney.  We miss that little girl…  Me: “Hi, little mama!”  Her: “No… I Ingid!”  We’re calling back tomorrow with a better connection. I was never a huge fan of Macaroni Grill and after tonight, neither was Maggie.  WHY  did I eat so much bread?  Bread for they pass out with oil and balsamic, bread with my appetizer (melted mozzarella) and then pizza.  Why the hell didn’t I order salad and chicken marsala??  It would have been much better.  Mags’s food wasn’t as good as she remembered, either.   The important thing was we had a beautiful time.  We sat and talked…noticed a table – mom, big brother (about 11) and two little girls about 8 years old in beautiful dresses and their dolls, who also had their own seats.  I kept looking at the brother and smiling.  As they left, I asked smiled and asked him if he was having a good time.  “No!”  he laughed.  “You’re a terrific big brother!” I responded.

 

Michael’s was the reason we were down in Folsom, so we grabbed clay for the science project, molds and looked for petit four stuff.  This store.  It is too much for someone like me who wants to do every cool thing in here, but I have no talent.  Off to Sports Authority to look at rowing machines!  Nothing.  I felt a sparkle of energy as we walked through the baseball section and I was rather intimidated in the clothing section with those well-endowed male mannequins.  I should just hang out there  <grin>  I was excited to get home and set out the peppermint oil cotton balls, but…noticed the trap we’d set this morning was…filled.  I hate that.  I also hate that Ethan isn’t here.  Fortunately, Maggie is the other man of the house, so she carried it out and then I released it from the trap.  Nature – the cycle of life.  She made strawberry pie per my instructions (I was over my 12 hour time constraint tonight, plus the 4 tons of bread was too much) and we watched some Office episodes.  Just as Maggie has fallen asleep <she's sleeping in my room tonight>, I hear the trap snap again…right next to the cotton ball.  Dadgummit.  I hate this shit.  <I had to be my own man of the house>

Pictures:  Annie in infant diapers; The spring blossoms at Union Mine High School; Tonight's  beautiful sunset