The Here and Now

Did you ever have one of those days...?

Where you'd rather be somewhere else, with someone else, doing something else?

I felt like that all day yesterday, with the result that to keep my mind off of it, I worked from 8-4, then came home and scurried around until 1am. I took down my Christmas tree, unpacked the 12 boxes of books sitting in the corner of the dining room (finding a boat-load of socks, underwear and bras that the packers used for filler in the boxes), moved and filled a bookcase, redecorated the empty spaces my absent Christmas decorations left, cleaned up the kitchen, reorganized my sock, underwear and bra drawers (see above), and drank 2 glasses of wine.

Finally, at 1:17am, the 29th was over and I could go to bed. I think I fell asleep immediately, but slept restlessly and woke up with the same brooding thoughts that haunted me in my sleep. There is still much to do, and Dillon comes home today (Mac not until the 2nd), so I need to get moving. I'm hoping that the constant activity will help keep my mind off of what I'm missing and on the here and now.

Oh, Edna Mae...

My mom is a hairdresser.

She has some Crazy clients.

Enter into evidence "Edna Mae":

Edna Mae returns her corn to the the store when the end of it is chewed on by bugs. The rest of us just cut that part off.

Edna Mae has returned bananas to the store because they turned brown.

Edna Mae has returned meat because she decided she didn't need all of the meat she purchased. You return sweaters when you buy too many - you don't return meat.

But today! Today my mom had a story that tops all the rest:

This morning, Edna Mae came into Mom's shop and told Mom about how, on the way there, two deer ran out in front of her car and she almost hit them. And she couldn't get her hair done yet because she had to call 9-1-1.

Mom said, "911?"

Edna Mae said, "Yes! Someone needs to know about those two deer! The could have caused me to wreck my car! Someone needs to do something!"

Mom tried to discourage her from calling 911. Mostly because Mom didn't need the aggravation of the Fire Department pulling up in front of her place of business with their Ginormous Red Fire Engine in response to Edna Mae's call.

But Edna Mae wouldn't listen. She called 911.

And she told them about how she was driving in her car and two deer ran out in front of her and how it was a dangerous situation and how someone needs to do something because someone could be killed.

And I asked Mom, "What did she want them to do? Send two cops out to talk to the deer? Did she want them to cuff them and haul them downtown? Did she think they would execute a man(deer)hunt? WHAT, EXACTLY DID SHE THINK THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT???"

Mom was speechless.

The dispatcher told Edna Mae that she had the wrong number.

And Edna Mae gave it up.

But now I feel so insecure that there are two rogue deer in town willy-nilly running in front of cars, recklessly trying to forage for food and risking my life for their own self-preservation!

I should call someone.

"The Time Has Come, the Walrus Said..."

I didn't want to write because I didn't want to sound sad.

And I'm not sad, per se. (How do you spell per se?) I'm just a little weirded-out.

One year ago today I asked my husband of 15 years for a divorce.

Today, the kids left for their first visit with their dad since the divorce.

And I did not cry. (Mostly, anyway.)

I did:

• balance my checkbook
• pay bills
• put plastic on 2 of the 8 windows in my living room (sexy)
• corral dustbunnies
• gather up Christmas paraphernalia
• organize my office supplies
• make Mackenzie's bed
• eat all the peanut clusters and chocolate-dipped pretzels
• take a bubble bath
• go to bed early (but not fall asleep)
  
• read (The Virgin's Lover)
• catch another cold
  

I didn't know what else to do - I just knew I needed to keep moving. Mom called me and asked if I wanted to come over for dinner. But I ate leftover Gumbo at 3:00 so I wasn't hungry for dinner and I feel like crap, so I went to bed instead.

Tomorrow will be better.

Happy Holidays!

From Paige, Dillon, Mackenzie and Taiko...

So I've Been a Little Preoccupied

First, I bought this:



Then, I cut this:



Now I'm doing my damnedest to survive this:



All while working 6 days a week.

I'm open for suggestions.

But scratch the wine. I've already tried it and it doesn't really help.