Category: Flighty Friday

Where you will find frivolous Friday foolishness. Please do not come here looking for organized trains of thought.

This, that and another Friday

~ Lenore Diane ~ 1 Comment

.:: Wait a second; who put that there?
After dinner out one night this week, Rob and I were walking to our car. Rob started walking to the wrong red car. When he realized it, he started laughing.

“Remember when my parents borrowed my car, and I used my Mom’s car for a week?” He asked.

“Yes.” I replied.

“Well, I took my Mom’s car to the grocery store one day. When I came out of the grocery store, I got in the car and got ready to drive away. But, I noticed something.”

He continued, “The seat was leaned way back, and I didn’t remember reclining the seat at all.”

Then he started laughing hard. “I looked around inside the car, and I realized I was in the wrong car!”

I laughed and said, “That’s funny. I have a similar story. I didn’t share it with you because I was too embarrassed.”

“During a trip to Target, I walked away from my cart to look through the clothes. I didn’t find anything, and I went back to my cart and continued shopping. I went to the card section to buy several birthday cards. I was probably there for 10 minutes. When I was done, I put all the cards in the cart. Then I realized, it wasn’t my cart!”

Rob and I start laughing.

“I went back to the clothes section, where I got the cart. I parked the cart, and slowly walked away. I pretended to look through the clothes, again. And, I noticed a woman come and take her cart away without a word. I felt like the biggest dork. I waited awhile before I went and retrieved my real cart.”

.||.

Lost in thought with so many things on your mind.
All sorts of distractions, basically leaving you blind.

Where are the car keys? Who put that chair there?
I know I’m going some place; I just don’t remember where.

You make it home, thinking things could be worse.
You unload your car and realize that’s not your purse.

.||.

.:: It’s All a Daze
Week two of my overnight part-time job. I am so glad Rob and I decided not to have a third child. Though the reasoning behind the ‘no more kids’ decision was based more on me being psycho and our relationship struggling than the genuine desire to increase the family.

Lacking a full-night’s worth of sleep for two days out of the week is really taking its toll on me and my over 40yr old self. I’m not more cranky without the sleep (Rob may beg to differ); I am just plain tired and lacking any sort of motivation and focus. (Though really, motivation was hard to find even with sleep.)

My son’s teacher is celebrated her birthday this week. My son came to me with an elaborate idea to make a special craft for his teacher’s birthday. He wanted to make a lesson for his teacher, similar to one she uses in his in class. I was impressed with his grand idea, and I wanted to see it through to fruition. Well, the day before his teacher’s birthday and a day after no sleep, I asked him if he was ready to start on the project. He said ‘no’.

If I was working with a weeks worth of sleep, I would not have accepted his ‘no’ response. In fact, I would have said, “Okay, Joe. You need to start working on your project.” However, because I am lacking sleep these days,  I said, “Ok.” And honestly, I was impressed with his idea; I thought his teacher would appreciate it; and, I was looking forward to having him tackle the task. Alas, I was too tired to push for it. This is one of those times where I will have to find satisfaction in knowing he had good and creative intentions. Then again, I’m so tired, I’ll probably forget that part, too.

.||.

Sleep deprivation
Loopiness and no focus
Ooo pretty colors

.||.

.:: Don’t go back to Rockville
Sleep will find me this weekend. In addition to sleep –  junk food, movies and great conversation will find me, too. This weekend, I am taking a road trip to meet a girlfriend of mine. (Meeting a boyfriend of mine would be a bit odd, seein’ as I am married.)

I met my friend when I moved to Rockville, MD back in 1992. I moved back to Georgia two years later, after my father died. (No, I didn’t move back because I thought, ‘Woo hoo! My dad is gone. I can go home now!’ I moved back to be closer to my family, because I wasn’t able to get to my Dad in time.)

Even though I moved back to Georgia, my girlfriend in Maryland remained and remains one of my best friends. So this weekend, she is driving south, I am driving north and we will meet in the middle. Woo hoo! We’ve booked the hotel, and we’ll both arrive within minutes of check-in on Friday and leaving no earlier than check-out on Sunday. We’ve already discussed the junk food we’ll have in the room, as well as the movies. And, we’ve loaded ourselves up with books to read.

Though we are prepared with a plethora of entertainment, we’ll also bask in the quiet free time. Because we both have young kids (6 and 4, 5 and 4), we have a greater appreciation for quiet free time. Aaaaaah….. quiet free time.

.||.

Hitting the road and heading out.
Spending time with a friend is what it’s about.

My time I’m a’wasting. I need to publish this post.
So, I can get in the car and head for the coast.

The coast is not really the destination this time.
But, I need to hurry, and I am trying to rhyme.

Okay, I’m going; hug hug – kiss kiss.
I didn’t even have to shave for this!

.||.

Be good to yourself, and be kind to others.

Friday

~ Lenore Diane ~ 1 Comment

.:: Dust Mites
You may recall, my husband and I spent the weekend in the mountains. And, we enjoyed watching Dish Network’s Earth channel. Though many may find such a channel boring, my husband and I found it intriguing and amazing. I also found looking ‘down’ on planet earth both humbling and startling.

At night, while in the mountains, my husband and I sat on the deck for hours, staring at the countless stars. In the morning, we were literally awakened to the sunrise, watching it take place through the sliding glass doors in the bedroom. And, during the day we spent our time reading, writing and watching ‘planet earth’.

Life is good. Life is great. Life is happening all over this world, as I live it and see the earth upon which I live. I wonder what would happen if every public place had a streaming video of our earth. What would happen if everyone could see a live shot of earth from space at all times? Would we be moved to better protect our environment? Or, would we become quickly desensitized by the constant reminder of our Big Blue Marble?

As I watched the shot of earth from space, I could not help but think that we are the dust mites of the earth. From a distance, we are microscopic organisms feasting off its host. And, when we think of dust mites infesting our beds and linens, we shudder. Yet, viewing the earth from space, I can’t help but think we are the very things that make us shudder. Unfortunately, dust mites are – for the most part – harmless. Humans feeding off planet earth? Not so harmless.

.||.

Beautiful from space,
Beauty covers the planet.
Handle it with care.

.||.

.:: Lose a Tooth get a Prize
Earlier this week, as I mentioned in a previous post, Joe lost his first tooth. Though the tooth was loose for weeks, the ‘fall out’ seemed to happen suddenly and unexpectedly. And, because we don’t do the Easter Bunny or Santa (in the traditional sense), I had no clue how we’d handle the Tooth Fairy.

I told Rob I could go to the store to get something, but we decided we’d just give Joe a quarter and call it a ‘visit’.  That said, I looked in my wallet to see if I had any quarters. I didn’t. And, I knew I wouldn’t; we rarely carry cash. So, while the boys were getting a bath, I went into Charlie’s room and took a quarter out of their piggy bank. Rob walked in the room as I was taking the quarter. “Nice.” He said, smiling. “Stealing from the kids in the name of the Tooth Fairy.”

After their bath, Joe informed us that he was hoping he was going to get an ice cream sandwich or a lollipop from the Tooth Fairy. I told him I doubted that would happen. And, I reminded him that the ice cream sandwich would melt. Though, perhaps he was thinking he’d wake up in the middle of the night and eat it. Who knows.

When Joe was in bed, I crafted a little note to include in the pouch with the quarter. I had a feeling Joe was going to be disappointed, but I was hoping the simple ‘thought’ of a Tooth Fairy coming in the night would be enough to please him. Yeah. Not so much. He didn’t see the quarter initially, just the note; and, he was disappointed. I told him there was a quarter in the pouch, too, but he told me he didn’t want it. Ironic, because it was his quarter to begin with. I wonder if this means I can keep it?!

Knowing he was bummed, I agreed to buy him a lollipop. We don’t do lollipops in our house, so he was excited to hear he was going to get one. He became even more excited when he found out he was going to get two lollipops. Because, like all good Moms, I bribed him with a lollipop to get him to agree to getting his picture taken. Joe smiled and said, “You’re better than the Tooth Fairy.”

.||.

Why, he asks. Does she want my tooth?
Searching for answers is this little sleuth.

Why under the pillow? Why on my bed?
How can she get it? Will she lift my head?

The ways of the the fairy, the elf and the bunny.
He shakes his head, finding it all kind of funny.

.||.

.:: A New Job
This week I started a 2nd job – a paid gig. I am helping friends handle the ‘night shift’ of parenthood. They recently celebrated the birth of their second child. And, wishing they had a ‘night shift’ helper with their first child, they put a plan in action to have help with the second. So, two nights a week from 11PM until 7AM, I do what I can to let Mom and Dad sleep (though Mom does wake up once to nurse the newborn).

It’s kind of nice taking care of a newborn again. I feel like a grandparent – able to enjoy the little baby, while handing the cutie off to her parents at the end of the day. Um. Wait, I hand off the baby at the beginning of the day.

Yes, just two nights into my job, and I’ve already lost track of the days. When I came home Thursday morning, it took me all day to realize the day was Thursday not Wednesday. And, perhaps because I am in my 40s, I find recovering from an all-nighter takes more than one night to recover. As the sun sets on this Friday, I feel my energy starting to return. Yes, just like a newborn, I may be getting my days and nights mixed up. Sure hope I don’t wake Rob up tonight by crying out for a bottle. That would be awkward.

.||.

The memories of my babies as newborns are foggy.
Perhaps because much of it was spent feeling groggy.

A full night of sleep did not exist in those days.
So often we walked in a sleep-deprived haze.

And when sleep is something that you lack.
The days of the week become harder to track.

.||.

.:: And Now for Something Completely Random (Because it is Flighty Friday)
Top 7 Most Annoying Words/Phrases Currently Coming from the Mouth of My 5yr Old
7. “Oh, Baby.”
6. “Mr. Baby Underpants.”
5. “What did you say, Baby?”
4. “Mr. Baby Underpants”
3.  “Here we go, Baby!”
2. “Ok, Baby.”
1.  “Mr. Baby Underpants.”

.||.

Thanks for Reading. Be good yourself, and help take care of others.

Frazzled This Friday

~ Lenore Diane ~ Leave a comment

I must tell you, I am frazzled today. Completely frazzled. Too much to do in too little time. Busy, busy, busy. Did I mentioned I am frazzled? How about busy? Anyway … as I walked down the driveway to put a letter in the mailbox, I realized something. Of course, now that I am back inside the house and typing – I forgot what it was I realized. No doubt, the something was earth shattering and life changing.

The letter I put in the mailbox is to one of my sisters from my 5yr. This past weekend, he drew her a picture and sent the picture to her in the mail. She received the picture, and she sent him an email. I printed the email, stuck it in an envelope and put it in the mailbox after the mail had already been dropped. When I brought him home from school, I stopped at the mailbox and pulled out the mail. “Look!” I said to him. “You received a letter!” A smile appeared on his face.

After reading the letter, he immediately went to his work table and started to write another letter to my sister (on the very same letter I printed). With my help, he folded the ‘updated’ letter and got it ready for a new envelope and stamp. The letter is in the mailbox, waiting for the mailman to pick it up and take it to my sister. And, I am certain, when my sister receives her latest letter from my 5yr old, a smile will appear on her face. There is power in cards and letters . . .

:: I interrupt this post to say, “Forgive me please, if you’ve already heard this stuff from me.” As my thoughts fill my head, I am wondering if this is a repeat. I blame my frazzle day for any repetitiveness. I blame feeling frazzled for any redundancy. I blame – well, you get my point. Please, continue …

Last week, a friend of mine went to visit her Mom and Dad. Her Mom is battling cancer. I have been sending my friend a card every single week, letting her know she is in my thoughts and prayers. Knowing she was going out of town for a week, I decided I would send her Mom some cards, too. Then, I decided I would reach out to some “Facebook” friends, and see if I could get them to send my friend and my friend’s Mom some cards. A well-wishes writing campaign, so to speak.

Though I can’t tell you how many people participated, I can tell you my friend and her Mom were overwhelmed with the number of cards they received. My friend and her Mom were quite touched with the outreach. In fact, my friend wrote “My Mom was in awe of your friends and all the cards we received. It was fun … Thank you!”

For me, the best part of that writing campaign was the fact that my Facebook friends participated. Many of the gals I included in my outreach were mainly Facebook friends. What I mean by ‘mainly Facebook friends’ is that I don’t see or talk to these gals on a regular basis. Some of the gals I do not truly know, we simply share some sort of connection – either by school, work or other Facebook friends. Still, many took part in my request to share some positive thoughts with two people who mean so much to me. How cool is that?!

Today’s world is a different world. And, every single generation will say the exact same thing. The world changes and will continue to change. Many changes are for the better, though some changes are for the worse. With each and every change comes responsibility. And perhaps, with the internet, comes a time for greater responsibility. We can use the internet to reach out, lend a hand and show support; or, we can use the internet to spread ridiculous rumors, vicious videos and hurtful hate-speech.

Last week, Facebook served me (and my friends) well, and I am grateful. Maybe you could start a small writing campaign of your own. Regardless of a person’s health, personal cards and personal letters are sure-fire ways to bring a smile to the face of the receiver. A telephone company used to have the slogan, “Reach out and touch someone.” Well, I think it is high time to reach out and touch someone the old fashioned way … snail mail.

A special note of thanks to my Facebook friends for participating in the writing campaign. Mission accomplished.