November 8, 2015

On a Sunday morning, at 6:41, I was up.  When I realized, however, which day it was, I fell back asleep with such passion and joy, that I cannot even begin to explain it.  Really, I fell asleep passionately. 

The first thing on our list was to see Sophia, but visiting hours weren’t until noon, so Brian told us to hang on, thus the next thing on the list was…Costco…on a weekend…in the rain.  Those three points together are near cause for head explosion, especially for someone like me who enjoys walking quickly and getting things done.  It was so crowded inside that within minutes, I was going crazy.  The Boy didn’t find any “winter clothes” he liked, there were no available food samples to appease Maggie, so we left.  The kids both swore up and done that they never wanted to go inside that store again…and I must admit, my attitude must have had something to do with it.  I have simply never found anything I really like in there that is worth the headache of the crowds other than the optical service.

 

Next on the list was Old Navy for Mags, then REI so I could return the Yeti icepack, which melts faster than the cheap ice packs I bought.  Then, when we couldn’t agree on food , we headed up the hill.  Sophia was home and we wanted to check on our favorite girl.  Connie and Rodger were there, too, which is always wonderful.  Little Sophia was a doing well.  Fortunately the doctors were able to rule out septic arthritis or juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.  The kids all had fun playing with ChinChin, the chinchilla and I had a wonderful time talking with Brian, Lindsay, Connie and Rodger.

 Back at home, we started a quick pack up session and it was here that THAT BOY almost drove me to wit’s end.  Clothes I had purchased for him months ago suddenly didn’t “fit” him and he told me that obviously I didn’t understand his growth spurt.  Well.  Unless that “spurt” has affected parts that I do not know about, then I beg to differ, son.  After tempers were cooled, he and I left to free the ratmouse and get his jacket and boots – dad gets to supply jeans (which were already too small after a few months).  What scares me is that he is really about to shoot up and out.  I need to find cheap clothing until he is stable.

Home for more packing up, then Who and Office on tv.  This is their last Sunday night here and I am kind glad, though I really wish I had some help packing more stuff up.  The shed is already pretty much boxed up, but I will need a truck to transport some stuff from point A to point B and make a dump run.  I learned a lot this weekend about attachment to stuff (although yes, that cardigan I donated could have been worn today) thus it is much easier throwing stuff out or donating.  I want a fresh start at this new place.  Yes, it is twice as big as this house, and yes, it is in a “normal neighborhood”(first one I will have ever lived in), but I do not want to be impeded by Stuff the way I was here.  There is a great deal of Change whirling about me – a lot of Death, Lives forever altered and New Lives just beginning.  As I sit here at night, listening to sound of the gently dripping rain through the open window, I open my heart and jump emotionally into the Future Unknown.

Pictures:  RAIN!  The glorious Nectar of Life; The kiddos having fun with Chinchin; I, apparently, am The Chinchilla Whisperer...; Also, I seem to meditate with them...it must be a spiritual thing.

September 12, 2015

Today my day began and ended with spiders and I love that.  Mags discovered Violet had molted and was wearing her new fur  and tonight I noticed a spider working hard at wrapping another spider up.  Rebirth and Death, how very symbolic.  I do love symbols.

We all enjoyed a leisurely late morning, but once I discovered how late it was, Ethan and I got going to head to the automotive paint shop with Lizzie Mae.  We are checking out how to strip her down and prep her.  Drew from  German Auto Werks suggested I go here as they taught him everything about painting (he said) but I must appear inept or something because they told me it really needed someone who knew what they were doing and they gave me some numbers.  Ah, well.  Mags and I soon headed down the hill to pick up Chenoa so we could shop for dance dresses.  The smoke was so thick in points that visibility was less than a mile.  The fire was staying around 64,000 acres, but see, I knew it had to be doing some damage; the smoke….it was terrible.

We met at Starbucks in Folsom, then the girls and I headed to the Palladio.  They got out  and begun the search for garments as I stayed in and continued the search for parking.  The  parking structure was my solution.  Mags found a dress right off, Chenoa found one in H&M.    Accomplished!!  Now Maggie was dying to go to Claire’s.  Ugh.  I'm not a Claire's fan.   Things became tricky when the girls went to Pinkberry’s and I , with my roving eye noticed something:  Jake’s Desserts.  Now what kind of a joke is this?  I went in to look, and left.  I went in again…and left once more.  The next time I returned,  it was with $2.50 I had borrowed from my daughter.  I can’t believe she made me do that.  THEN she made me EAT IT.  This hell live in.  I will state that when they went into the chocolate place, I only tested the sample after I finished my Halls…I did not buy anything.  How could I?  Jake would not approve (his name was nowhere – I checked).  We headed up the hill to pick up Ethan and then met Deb back in EDH.  What a lovely time it had been – even though it involved shopping.

The kids and I headed to Sky Sushi to meet with Brian, Lindsay and our little ballerina Sophia.  It had been quite some time since we had enjoyed sushi together and soon I will be heading back to the gym, so you know what that means.  We had a terrific time and even Ethan seemed brighter – cheerier.  Now, I’ve had a lifetime of SSRIs and know there is no effect this quickly, but I believe, I hope it is that Ethan finally feels a little relief from this Dark Depression he has had, there there is a A Way Out.  We shall see.  We talked for a while and then headed home.  There was a single car collision into the one tree on the center divide of the freeway.  Speed, every time.  Just like Jonathon.  I don’t think anyone died, but it can happen that quickly.  Per my usual, I pointed this out to the kids (I had also given Chenoa her Driving Tips and Life Lessons during our car ride using on driving in the right land, the left lane is for passing, focus, and don’t speed.

  

After sushi, the kids and I prepared to play cards, but I needed to get an inhaler for me and seltzer water for the kids and I .   I ended up with some decent medicine which should help and 2 cases of seltzer: kids and I were gonna party.  We had a few fun games of “Joker.”  First I should the kids the Kanye/Freddie Mercury video.  They love Freddie and Queen and think Kanye is a jackass - proof that I have raised them well.  Then we got down to some ABBA.  Mags tired quickly – she is very excited about the upcoming Best week Of Her Life.  Ethan and I kept playing, even though I was exhausted, this kid was laughing and having such fun and I would much rather hang out with him than <no offense> go into my room to write my 5aD.  

Pictures: Ethan and Sophia having fun; This smoke killed my pet owl; Violets old fur coat; Mags and I washed the car for the first time since January (there's a DROUGHT!) and Mother Hips came off; Joker <3