Happy Halloween!

I'm not sure if this fits in under her school's dress code, but I couldn't resist the orange dye!

My son, the hero

Okay, you already know how this story ends. But I'm going to tell it anyway, because it's just too good to keep to myself.

This evening, as the kids and I were leaving the store, a woman approached me in the parking lot. She had been crying. "Can you help me, please," she asked. "I can't get into my car."

My first thought was to look around, and make sure that it wasn't some kind of a con. (Okay, I admit that I've been reading too many horror stories in the newspapers and online.) There wasn't anyone else around, so I figured we were safe. But if she was locked out of her car, there wasn't anything I could do to help her. Except maybe call a locksmith. I certainly wasn't going to break into a car.

She explained that the reason she couldn't get into her car was because she saw a big spider and she was afraid to get in. Being terrified of spiders, I totally understood her hysteria. I immediately offered my son's services. (He's used to hunting spiders, I assured her.)

PJ walked over to the car, and peered in the back window. "Wow! It is a big spider!"

I immediately backed away from the car. It was one thing for PJ to risk his life; as the mother, I feel it's important that I stay safe.

"Just kill it, please. You can use my shoe, but just kill it" the woman begged. PJ glanced at her tiny sandal, and decided that he would be better off using his own size 12 sneaker. He took off his shoe, and carefully opened the car door. Gingerly he reached in, careful not to startle the spider.

Suddenly he reached out and grabbed it. Foolishly he brought it over to show me. When I finally calmed down (I really, really hate spiders -- did I mention that yet?), I realized that he was holding a plastic toy spider.

It turns out that the woman had a young son, with a wicked sense of humor. I say "had" based on the dire punishments she was promising to mete out to him as she drove off.

Staying on pins and needles...

I've become consumed with sewing the past few days. I decided I wanted a Halloween scrub to wear to work, so I bought fabric to make one this weekend. I also got Becky material and patterns to make a skirt and top. When I got home, I found the Halloween material that I had bought last year that I never got around to using. I also "found" the pile of fabric for various projects that I haven't had time to finish -- mostly scrubs, but a nice skirt and top pattern for me and a skirt that's almost finished for my oldest daughter.

Yesterday I finished the first Halloween scrub, which I wore to work right away. I'm hoping to finish another one today. Of course, if I spend all my time taking pictures of pins and thread I'm not going to get anything done!

He's bad to the bone!

Poor George. Becky and I recently discovered the joy of dressing up the dog. She talked me into buying the t-shirt for Halloween, but I confess the bandana was my idea.

This weekend I pulled out the sewing machine, and we're learning how to make doggy shirts. So now the poor animal never going to get any peace! (I'm thinking matching Christmas outfits for the kids and the dog...)

The finished product

I promised a picture of the finished dye job, and here it is. I'm not sure where she gets her sense of style from, but Becky definitely has her own way of presenting herself. I think it's really cool. Of course, I'm not so sure how the red stripes fit in with the school dress code, but it's a little too late to have thought of that now. 

Each to his/her own style

It's been a rough weekend. There's a definite pattern going on: I spend the week rushing around, trying to keep up with the two jobs, the kids, and basic sanitation around the house. Everything else is put off until the weekend. But once the weekend comes around, I finally have the time to collapse in a stressed-out heap and none of the things I've been putting off actually get done. Which means that by Sunday evening, I'm already stressing for the coming week. It's a vicious cycle.

I did accomplish a couple of things today. I planned out the meals for the coming week, and the kids and I went grocery shopping. I had also promised Becky that I would dye her hair so she's now sitting in the bathroom with a timer, waiting for her rinse-out. This time we went with a two-inch red stripe on either side of her face. I wanted to do polka dots, but Becky talked me out of that. I also buzzed PJ's hair -- heavens forbid my military-minded son lets his hair get a little long! (I keep trying to talk him into gettomg a spiked style and an earring...)

Oops! The timer just went off, so I've got to go rinse and fluff! I'll try to get the finished results posted for tomorrow. 

Curlers in your hair, shame on you!

"Hair"
Pixite

One of our instructors decided to try out the electric curlers today. I wanted to curl my hair, too, but it's too short to pin up. Drats!

 

Neglected mom, looking for sympathy

Children grow up, and they have their own lives. I know this. After all, I did it myself. I just didn't expect it to be so soon or so emphatic.

Cari's plane leaves in a couple of hours, but we'll be saying our goodbyes in a few minutes. She made arrangements to have breakfast with her boyfriend, and he's going to take her to the airport. I'm feeling very left out, and very angry (after all, I'm the one who paid for this trip home). I don't like it, but I'm really not sure how to deal with it.

Since she's been home for this visit, we've spent only about four random hours together. We were going to have Thursday evening, but she got confused about our plans (she didn't realize that I had actually made the appointment for the family portrait, followed by dinner out) and so she ended up staying out with her friends instead. Yesterday she lost track of the time and didn't come home until it was too late for us to do anything. Our original plan was for me to take her to the airport this morning, but last night she decided to go out for breakfast (without me) instead.

It's hard, but I guess I really have to just let her go. I don't want to. After all, even though she's all grown up, she is still my baby. I love her, and I miss her, and I want to keep her with me. I know she has to be free to live her own life. I just want to know that I have a place in that life.

Happy Birthday, Sis!

I can't believe that my "baby" sister is 42 years old today! 

My girl's come home!

My daughter flew in today for a short visit -- she goes back to New York on Sunday. I guess she missed me as much as I miss her. (And I am totally ignoring the fact that she packed her suitcase with dirty clothes and headed to the washing machine as soon as she came in.) 

Daily Tasks

A part of me is rejoicing and I'm feeling very smug. It's only 7 am, and already I've accomplished a lot. When the alarm went off at 4:30 I resisted the temptation to hit the snooze button, for a change. As a result, I've already folded four loads of laundry, and there's another load in the dryer and one more in the washer. I managed to be showered, dressed (complete with make-up and hair dried) when I took my son to the bus stop at 6 am. I ironed the entire pile of ironing (16 pieces of clothing--yes, I counted them) even though I truly hate to iron. I also wrote a note to my son's teacher. The best part is that I still have half an hour to play on the computer before I have to leave for work!

On the other hand, I do have a small sensation of total panic lurking inside my chest. It's been caused by a quick glance at my task list. According to my daytimer notes, the following things need to be done today:
1. Clean the bathrooms (especially the tubs!)
2. Clean the kitchen (clean out refridgerator, sweep/mop floor)
3. Get insurance quotes (need coverage by Saturday!)
4. Send PKK letter re: child support arrears & medicals due
5. Answer emails (LATE!)
6. Thank you notes (OVERDUE!)
7. Family birthday blog for October (LATE!)
8. Mail out birthday cards (Missed September's!)
9. Balance the checkbook and pay bills (this should probably be at the top of the list)
10. Bring case notes up to date (LATE!)

This list probably wouldn't seem so bad, except that I leave for work at 7:30 am and won't get home tonight until almost 8 pm. By the time we have dinner and clean-up, I'm usually so tired that I fall asleep on the couch. The kids wake me up when they go to bed, and I end up giving up and going to bed myself. After all, I have to be up early in the morning...

[I wonder what happened to the smug feeling I had a few minutes ago?] 

Run it up the flagpole

There's no way I can adequately explain this picture. Let's just say that my partner-in-crime and I have been at it again. (Although it was more her than me this time, I'm happy to report.) 

Here we go again!

7:30 am, and the alarm went off. I tried hitting the snooze button several times without any success before realizing it was the fire alarm and not my alarm clock that was ringing. I pulled on my shorts and a sweatshirt, grabbed my purse and the house keys, put the dog on the leash and stumbled out the door and down the stairs. Poor George was whining, the alarm obviously hurting his sensitive ears. As I left, I noticed that most of my neighbors didn't even bother to look outside.

The fire department showed up with lights and sirens, but it turned out to be a false alarm. Apparently someone was smoking in the staircase again.

I would love to just go back to bed. But I guess since I'm already awake, I should go ahead and start my day. Sigh.