December 12, 2015

I really wish I could stop waking up around 4:30 as it really sucks getting tired around 8 in the evening.  Ethan’s game was to start at 8, so I knew I needed to leave by 7:45 and before I knew it, it was 7:24, so that knocked my yoga plans right put the door.  It was under 32 degrees last night – frost all over the deck.  I love this weather.  

The game began. Within minutes the score was ten  to one, their team.  It was a brutal game.  In fact, I’m quite sure many of the opposing team were actually college freshman for Michigan State’s basketball team.  The score ended up, opponentrs ahead 64-22.  The loss meant a noon consolation game, so I hustled off to my former neighbor’s where I had lived when I was married.  This house was built by this couple, Sam and Shelley and it is one of the nicest homes I have ever been in.  They had added to the home since I had last seen it, added to the deck, to the pool they had built themselves.  I was astounded.   We talked a bit, caught up on news, then they gave me a lot of firewood.  Soon, I will be going to help them split wood so I can get more.  

Headed off to pay off credit card bills from the Europe trip, then I headed back to game two.  I didn’t see my daughter anywhere (L was supposed to bring her to the game) and he told me she hadn’t wanted to come, that she had said she’s texted me and I said I would get her after the game.  Now, I’m not going to complain, but there are many reasons why this piece of news was the straw the broke the camel’s back.  I stomped outside, quite huffy-like, because I wanted to “get some air” (as I told him), then texted Maggie that NO,  she had not asked me to pick her up, etc.   After a moment or two, I returned to my seat and noticed L was no longer there. I sat and watched the game.  Game two was…not  any better.  The slaughter was as severe, only the team wasn’t as brutal.  The best thing, however, was watching Ethan laughing and having a wonderful time with his teammates across from me.  Eventually I noticed a man who looked like L sitting next to some high school girls.  It was about 5 minutes after this that I realized one of the high school girls was wearing the boots Maggie had purchased with me a few weeks ago.  That high school girl was my daughter.  Immediately, I texted L an apology and did the same for Maggie.  

After the game, Boy headed off to spend the night with his friend and the girl and I headed home to unload the wood.  She hadn’t been to the house since we returned from Switzerland and hadn’t seen it unpacked.  The pups were so happy to see their girl again.  We took care of a few things and then off to go get a Christmas tree. No decorating yet as Christkindl will decorate it on the 24^th with me and both kids, since Mags is 12 now.  I was sad Ethan wasn’t with us, but…those kids are growing up.  Soon it’ll be just me getting the tree and all the rest, so…I was happy my girl was with me.  It was time, then, for Maggie to help me get some clothes for Hipsmas.  I have no “nice” clothes  and wanted her input.  I am still not a “girl”…my shows are boots or high tops or Merrells and all my dresses are pre-grad school size.  While Mags said I looked beautiful in the 2 dresses I tried on, I call hogwash on that one.  I’ve watched football for much of my early life and now exactly what a linebacker would look like in a dress – and that was me.  I’ll make another effort tomorrow, but for now, no way.

Off for dinner where Mags selected the music after being subjected to my “Toy Dolls” selection. She chose Mackelmore , initially, but then went with NWA.  My skinny little white girl daughter loves NWA, which is kinda rad. I listened to them when I was a teen, though not as young, but rap was brand new at that point where I have introduced my kids to just about everything.  Then home to start the fire where it only took me about an hour to get it going (face smash).  I have no idea about wood stoves and am grateful Bridget wrote how to prime it.  I’ll try that soon.  I need to get an ax to chop the kindling smaller and get more newspaper.  We sat down and watched Elf together, though I really wanted to watch an old Burt Reynold’s movie (we say a bit of ‘Shamus’ while we were eating and it brought back happy-feely memories), but that’ll be for tomorrow when Ethan is here.  

Pictures: Court-side seats!!!; First thing I saw this morning; Mags hugging our tree.