Currently Reading The Partner By John Grisham see related

Yes...I am still alive!

I am currently sitting in sunny California, taking a much needed break from my "normal" life, if you could call my life normal!

I am staying with my friend, Jenn and her family (4 kids) in their beautiful home. It is so relaxing for me, because the place is very comfortable. The furniture, the color of the wood--she and I have the same tastes, let's just put it that way. So, I feel very relaxed, and at home.

I am taking long, hot showers every morning, and no one is banging on the door or crying or screaming or telling me how they will DIE if they don't get into the bathroom NOW.

I eat breakfast leisurely (I don't think that word has been in my vocab for the last 5 years!) We have spent the days running around or just hanging out:

Sunday: Went to Big Sur, and ate at Nepenthe. I had an awesome portebella mushroom sandwich. When Jenn and I were talking after lunch, she commented on the fact that she didn't know I was a "slow eater". Then she realized that I was TAKING MY TIME EATING! I actually got to enjoy my food! It was an awesome meal.

Monday: Hung out.

Tuesday: Went to the beach. It was nice. I got burned to a crisp on my legs. Owie! Went to some friends of Jenn and her husband for fireworks. It was insane, the amount of fireworks everyone was setting off. The subdivision was nothing but a smokey haze!

Wednesday: We went to "Gram's" house. The kids swam in the pool, and I hid under the umbrella in the shade. I didn't want to burn more. Then we enjoyed a delicious home-made meal by Gram, and I about burst out of my shorts. Nice picture, I know.

Thursday: Today we are going to get pedicures. Then we are going to Carmel and Monterey. Back to the beach, I believe.

Friday: Tomorrow we will go to San Francisco. Woo-hoo!

Saturday: Back home to see the fam!

Well, I need to go sit on the hammock on the deck, overlooking some wonderful rolling hills. I try to get hammock time every day. And yes, I fall asleep most times! Mostly, though, I read and wait for one of the kids to make their way out, where I try to get them on the hammock with me without flipping us both out!

More later!

It was a surreal moment as I watched the mouse run through the playroom.

The cat (the good mouser--) was NOWHERE to be found.

But somehow, in her busy days and nights, not catching mice, she always know where I am, and spends the night jumping on my bed to try to sleep with me, only to be shoved off.

Now, she has taken the liberty of drinking out of my bedside water cup. Excuse me, I have to go to therapy now.

Well, our Jonathan turned 5 this week! We got him The Shaggy D.A. (the original) movie for his b-day. He feel asleep (as did I!) watching it. I couldn't stop looking at my little boy sleeping. I kept thinking about bringing him home from the hospital when he was born. This tiny little thing. I was so exhausted.And I really wasn't sure how I was going to make this "mom thing" work. But somehow, I did. And now, he is this beautiful, smart, funny little boy with a smile that lights his whole face (and my heart) up. I am just so thankful that God saw fit to bless us with this amazing boy.

In other news...we are cat sitting. For a year. We have a friend who needs this favor, until she graduates. I was very much against it, until I saw the mouse droppings...again. They just keep getting in from the crawl space, and they are undefeatable little boogers. As a selling point, I was told the cat was a good mouser. She had better be, or else. Here is the problem: most people know I am not a lover of animals. Period. So, guess who the cat likes the most in the house? If you guessed me, then DING, DING, DING! You win! The cat tries to jump up into bed with me! She made 4 attempts her first night with us. She succeeded last night, b/c I didn't realize she had jumped up. When I did realize it, she was OUT! And, she follows me around the house. Seriously. To the boy's room, the laundry room...everywhere.

You should see the litter box. It is one of the Seven Wonders. It has this sensor that somehow knows it needs cleaned, so a little shovel thingy (technical term, of course) scoops the unmentionable stuff, and then a door opens. The scoop dumps the stuff, and the door shuts. Ridiculous. But cool, cuz I don't want to scoop it.

Oh, yeah, her name is Pumpkin. But I keep wanting to call her Snowbell. Too much Stewart Little.

In more other news...my mom had her trach capped yesterday. She is just on the nose oxygen. She is in PT, trying to walk, etc. Good news.

In more, more other news, I do like my aide job. Do I stay or do I go? Na, na, na, na....

In more, more, more other news...no, I think that is it for now.

Spring Break!

I was sitting at lunch today, thinking how I actually have been on Spring Break...in college  (circa 1992-1993).... And how someday, I would like to go on Spring Break again. With family in tow. Maybe a Disney cruise.

This break is great for me. I decided I would turn on the TV whenever I want to. And I would sit on the couch and zone. And read. In bed, on the couch, at the kitchen table while I am eating. Wherever. And that I would stay up past 9pm. And watch movies after the kids go to sleep. And eat chocolate like there is no tomorrow. And think of some interesting things to do at home with the kids. Sounds fascinating, I know.

Such is the life of a working mom. And a mom in school. And a broke mom.

Mom update:

My mom is actually off the vent after five months. So I actually spoke to her the other day. First time in 3-4 months. It was strange hearing her voice after not hearing it for so long. Is she better overall? I really don't know.

School update:

I am taking my last class before student teaching. I am thinking about putting student teaching off a little longer. I just feel the need to be more stable. But will that really ever happen??

Okay, that is it. Not feeling the urge to be philosophical. And besides, I need to finish my homework for class tonight.

Currently Reading Eva Peron By Alicia Dujovne Ortiz, Alicia Dujovne Ortiz see related

Um, not much new. Let me think for a minute, and see if something really great has happened to me lately....

....well, Tami did the dishes. That is actually a huge, awesome deal for a tired, overworked mother.

If anyone wins a dishwasher and wants to donate it to me, I will let you.