February 9, 2014

It was difficult to fall asleep last night, I was dreading the kids going back – perhaps more this time  than ever before.  Our time together was really incredible and I was sad to see it draw to a close.  Yet, eventually I fell and in the next moment, it seemed, the alarm was sounding.  Now, I am not gonna lie.  I was dreading going into that kitchen…I swear I heard scurrying, so I simply grabbed my coffee and/or breakfast, making sure not to glance down there <the cabinet "down there" - NOT the other "down there">

When the kids finally made it out – already dressed since they were getting themselves up – they both headed over there:  “Oh, look!  A rat!”  Ethan giggled, in that way that proves he is kidding.  “Let me look..” Maggie said.  “OH!!  A RAT!”  she shouted.  Dammit!  I just don’t have the moxie for this mess anymore.  Yet this time, there was no chasing or swinging the dead rat around; Ethan maturely flung it over the fence for wildlife to enjoy (Thanks, Nature!).  Eventually they found the Valentine’s Day truffle chocolates and cards I had sitting RIGHT THERE on the kitchen table for them, but I agree – dead rats can be much more exciting.  Later, as Maggie was getting last minute stuff done in her room and Ethan and I were in the kitchen, he said, “I really had a fun time with you these last few weeks.”  I concur.  It was magical.  We drove to school, with me conveying the feeling and emotion that can be heard in the instruments during “Burn Slow.”  My soul misses those two as I write this....

Back to school – all my sick time, plus some, eaten up.  It was a little awkward at work in my classroom: It’s tricky working with someone I can’t “connect” to or figure out.  Still, I’m aware that this is yet another chance for me to learn how to work in such environments. <There’s always a silver lining>  Collaboration Day, so class was out early.  Given that there is rarely work for me to do – and all these high schoolers go home early, I can see issues with my kid’s school wanting to start the same thing next year.  Not thrilled about it.  Lots to do after, however….  Went home to check about a Very Important Letter from Olivia– it still hasn’t arrived, even though it was due 2 days ago.  Way to go, USPS.  Then off to cash checks and look for a notary to get the Swiss passport renewal started.    Ethan and I were looking at the towns surrounding Zurich  last night...oh, I’m so excited (and conversely absolutely terrified)!!  I had to drive to 2 separate places to get the notary, but there she was – at the same UPS store I visited last week to get boxes.  Then over to AT&T to get my own phone plane and (!!!!!) I got Ethan’s birthday present!!!!  He will be so excited!  Also paid off my cell phone, which was apparently over $500.  Oh, my god – you have got to be kidding me.  Talk about mark-up.  Dammit…dentist appointments starts in 20 minute – sorry, really-cool-saleslady-who-is-also-in-the-air-force-reserves-as-a-medic.  I have to go to get my cavity filled.

And there I am – in that horrific chair which leans back and now this lady has her hands in my mouth with a drill and I WANT TO SCREAM!!!  The drill isn’t the high pitched <whirrrr-whirrrr> drill, it sounds like a damn sawing-logs drill and I know that at any moment MY JAW WILL BE SAWED AWAY FROM MY BODY.  I am NOT kidding when I say it took every inch of my self-control not to scream out, start crying, yell, yank the saw from my mouth, or SOMETHING.  It was PURE TERROR and I think next time I will need to be knocked out.  It gets worse every time. <a tear falls>

Yet I survived and made it out.  I was even given the December issue of Rolling Stone magazine with a certain Mr. David Eric Grohl gracing the cover when I grabbed it and clutched it to my chest like a love sick teenager.   I decided to go grab a burrito for dinner<burrito Monday>.  On the way home, I heard an interview with Sam Smith and I have to voice my JOY at the fact that we live in a time where he was able to voice his heartbreak over a man on stage at the Grammy’s/television.  I also find it interesting how the state of Alabama is reliving the George Wallace years, yet this time with same-sex marriage as the issue.  Judge Roy Moore has decided to defy federal law and block same-sex marriages.  What a complete ass he is and certainly living in the wrong time.  I am PROUD to fully support same sex marriage and have raised my children to question anyone who opposes something which they see as normal – any two people who love each other should be able to marry in this "free" nation. 

Pictures: The "Burn Slow" clouds;  Remnants of the rains; We are all WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic; My Dave.