Venus Mars

I came home to this contraption. Lynn rigged an extension ladder to the swing set resting it on a step ladder, creating white trash monkey bars. At its highest point, the monkey bars were about 6 feet off the ground. The other end was relatively low but Leah climbed the step ladder making her eye to eye with the edge of the roof... which she clutched. Fabulous. Neither one of them understood why I didn't share their glee.
I'm no engineer but what's preventing the extension ladder from "extending" as she swung from rung to rung either catching her hand and shaving her skin leaving a bloody appendage or simply severing her entire hand?
I'm going to St. Louis for a week. Will someone check on them for me?

Like a Knife

Once a month I get to help out in Leah's first grade class. It's very fulfilling. I get to experience all the joys of being a teacher and none of the headaches. Last year when I helped out the kids would ask if I was Leah's grandma. That hasn't happened so far this year -- must be the vitamins.

There's a little boy, Julian, who epitomizes "snips and snails and puppy dog tails". He's very often already in trouble in the morning when I get there. You can't help but be charmed by him and his eyes that dance with mischief.

This morning I asked him what he wants to be when he grows up and he said "A basketball player and a policeman." I said "like Shaq?" He nodded in agreement and grinned with pride. I asked him if he'd please get tickets for me because I'd like to see him play when he is famous. Before he could answer, his friend Colt looked at me and said "you'll be dead by then."

Mother's Little Helper

Does anyone else take this many vitamins? I guess they aren't all vitamins. Some are herbal supplements.

So far I take a multiple vitamin, red yeast rice for cholesterol, glucosamine for my wobbly knees, black currant seed oil for my hair and nails, omega 3 for my heart, B complex for energy and some kind of herbal supplement for my eyes. Oh and a baby aspirin for heart health.

I wonder if they really do anything. I seem to feel better when I take them consistently and I swear my hair grows faster and my joints are stronger. What would I have to eat in order to get the same nutritional benefits? Pounds of vegetables? Plates of legumes and fruit? I don't suppose the M&Ms I ate this afternoon were laced with nutrients.

My Hiatus Is Over

I'm back. I hope you've missed me. I've missed blogging. Too much going on but I think things are back to normal. My parents went back home (I miss them terribly), I still haven't done our taxes and our house is still on the market.

You know, before Leah was born, I was the loniest girl in the world. Lynn was always hanging out with his friends going here and there and I spent most weekends alone. My friends were knee deep in child rearing with little time to just hang out. I saw lots of movies, read lots of books and worked many hours. Oh how things have changed.

Today started out as a great day. Puttered around the house all morning, de-cluttered, cleaned and did laundry. I was in my pajamas until 11:00!!!

Leah was invited to a birthday party this afternoon. I have been looking forward to it for 2 weeks. It was my chance to have nearly 3 hours to myself at home. I was so anxious in fact that I RSVP'd twice. The party was at 2:00. At 1:00 a realtor called to say she was bringing by a client to look at our house -- between 2:00 and 3:30. My disappointment manifested itself by yelling at my husband. Don't get me wrong, I want to sell our house but I NEVER get to be alone.

I rearranged my day. Went to Trader Joes (and for once remembered my shopping bag.) Then went to Safeway to buy the bulk of things. Finished at 3:00 so I went to Starbucks, ordered a refreshing iced tea and sat on the patio pretending to be a carefree middle-aged woman with nothing but time on her hands. Headed home which left 40 minutes of "ME" time. The best laid plans. After I put away groceries I had 20 minutes to peruse my new Oprah magazine.



My family is in bed and I have some time to myself but it's 10:30 and I really don't have anything solitary to do. It's too late to start a movie and I'm not working on a book right now. I did finish a project but I can't talk about it because it's a gift and the recipient might be tuning in --- more on that in early May.

As you may have guessed -- I haven't been lonely in 7 years.