Tag: Friday

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.”

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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.

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.:: 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.

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Sleep deprivation
Loopiness and no focus
Ooo pretty colors

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.:: 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.

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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!

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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.

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

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.:: 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.”

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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.

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.:: 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.

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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.

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.:: 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.”

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

F R I D A Y

~ Lenore Diane ~ Leave a comment

.:: Forget Me Not
This week was Joe’s 2nd week of school. He has his routine down, and he has settled into his new classroom nicely. On the other hand, I had a blip this week.

While taking him to school on Monday, I realized I left his lunch at home. D’oh! No worries. I returned to the school, leaving Joe’s lunch with the gals at the front office. Later that day, while driving home from work, I realize, “ACK! I have to pick up Joe!”

Yes, on my way home from work, I drove straight home. I did not pass ‘Go’ and I did not collect my child. D’oh again! Fortunately, I realized the car was a little too quiet, and I missed the smiling “Mommy!” greeting I always receive when I pick up Joe. So, I quickly corrected my error, drove to the school, and got in the pick-up line behind all the ‘non-forgetful’ parents.

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Routines of the school year in full swing.
Staying busy now through Spring.

Time for breakfast, rise and shine.
Drop off, pick up, and get in line.

Remember what to bring with string.

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.:: Two Pounds!
So last week, I touted the fact that I lost two pounds. And, this week? Drum roll please . . . Two pounds!! Two pounds, Folks! I gained two pounds!

Apparently, you cannot celebrate a two pound weight loss by eating a pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream two nights in a row, without gaining two pounds.

Oh well. Live, learn, and eat anyway.

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Weight, weight don’t tell me.
I want to lose thee.

But, when ice cream is near, I am weak.
And, my quest for willpower remains bleak.

I shall never be ice cream free.

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.::A Difference in Taste
First an aside: I absolutely love when Charlie asks us to turn on some music. Charlie doesn’t say ‘music’; Charlie says ‘muse-tik’. Rob and I love when he asks, “Can we here some muse-tik?”

Well, one afternoon, the boys were playing with Daddy and their friend, Joseph, in the basement. Joe asked Daddy to turn on some music, because he wanted Joseph to hear his favorite song. What is Joe’s favorite song? Corelli’s Christmas Concerto. Yes, you read that right. Joe’s favorite song is a classical music ‘song’. (When there are no lyrics is it still a song?)

I was upstairs in our bedroom, while the boys were listening to the music. I could hear Joe going on and on about how he loved it. He even asked Daddy to turn up the volume. Joe was trying to get Joseph involved by saying things like: “Don’t you like it Joseph?” “It’s a fast song.” “Oh! Here comes the best part!” And Joseph? Yeah, no. He was not interested. Joseph preferred playing with the air compressor to listening to classical music.

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Our boys love music;
Jamming to whatever they hear,
Classical through rock.

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.::Wonderful Words
And finally, the day after the Monday Meltdown, Joe said he made a surprise for me. I could only imagine the surprise Joe was going to make for a Mom that sent him to bed without supper the previous night.

Much to my surprise, Joe came running to me with a note that read, “you are the greatest mommy ever. love, joe.”

That works.

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The highs and lows.
The giggles and woes.

The ups and downs.
The smiles and frowns.

And so my love still grows.

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