The Full Moon was Last Week

So someone needs to explain why this week has been so off kilter. Work has been unusually stressful and while there have been situations that would account for some of it, most of it is just ambient weirdness that makes MAB and I look at each other with a "What the H?" sort of expression. Yesterday I was in an elevator going to pick up The Child from her orthodontist appointment and I heard two people talking about how crazy and long this week has been, "And it's only Tuesday". I shared this with the receptionist and doc and they agreed. So it's not just me.

Last night, however, we had a fun, relaxing family time. Dinner was ok...the corned beef was perfect but the cabbage was over-cooked, owing to an incident with the soda bread. But it didn't dampen our festivities. And last night I sleep comparatively well so this morning I woke up feeling more chipper than I have had. Perhaps there was just some sort of lunar remnant dorking up neural pathways and maybe it's dissipated so we can get back to normal.

Either way, tomorrow I take off for my madcap Omahan weekend and let me tell you, I'm ready. 3 days of sleeping in and not having to work or fuss with laundry or remind The Child -again- to get her homework done and hanging out with one of my besties doing silly grown-up besties things...bring it on. Mama is way, way ready.

I just have to remember to go on-line at 11am to get my boarding pass.

What If Leonard Nimoy was Your Dad?

I've played this before. But it's a delightful little tune and a delightful little video and I feel delightful today.

This week I've been getting up earlier and it's really changing my outlook on things. It's amazing the difference that extra half hour can make. I'm getting done more of the home related things, which allows me to fully focus on work because I'm not feeling as guilty and overwhelmed and it's making the evenings more mellow because I don't feel like I'm scrambling around until bedtime. You can't have it all and it's true that working wives/moms are often caught in a place between guilt and frustration. But each person has to figure out what's going to work for her and I think I'm onto a strategy for myself. Even if it means falling asleep before "30 Rock" is over.

I'm looking forward to a delightful weekend, possibly doin' nothing. Hope yours is the same.




The Bangels "Goin' Down to Liverpool"

For the Record

As of 10:35 PDT:

8 comments for the Plain White Ts.

12 comments for Hannah Montana (aka Miley Cyrus).

Kinda like a Google Fight without the, uh, fighting.

At this moment The Dog is barking furiously at me, wagging his tail, while he tosses his lion at me. This means he wants to go to bed. Because he sleeps with his lion...a stuffed toy he stole from The Child long ago.

I must go to bed because The Child and I have to get up early tomorrow to get to this frikkety frakking rummage sale in support of the 8th grade trip to DC and may I just say, the people who are driving this train are driving ME out of my frikkety frakkety mind? Good. Because they are. Trust. You don't even want me to get into how frakked up all this is. No? You do? 'K. I'll make it simple. I'll use army code:

This weekend looks to be a Charlie Foxtrot.

Myriad things have happened this week that make me say Whisky Tango Foxtrot.

I need to trip and fall into a bucket of money and I need to do it like, now.

Seriously.

Do you know, I haven't even had cocktails with The Neighbor since Monday? Yeah, that would be the shift in the space/time continuum that you felt earlier.

Lord, I will be so damn glad when this weekend is over. You don't even know.

I need change for a $20.

Don't forget to fall back tomorrow night. What will you do with that extra hour?

Oy Vey

What shall I tell you about today?

Should I share with you how thoroughly and completely yesterday was not my own and how I was a personal hero to both the school secretary and the 7th grade teacher? Naw,. You'd come away thinking that I single-handedly provide the volunteer corps for our little school and that would be inaccurate.

Perhaps I could tell you about the long and civilized conversation The Spouse and I had about a potentially marriage-altering subject. But no. It's personal. And don't worry. It's potentially marriage-altering in a good way; very positive, in fact. Mommy and Daddy are fine. And no, puppies, you're not getting a new baby brother.

I should announce that the corkscrews have been found. I know you were worrying about that. One turned up in the family room couch, the other one fell out of the dishwasher. And they were found in time to get some red wine into the stew. Phew.

I missed the Dateline interview with Wills and Harry last night. Had no idea it was even happening. The madness of this week is seriously interferring with my pop culture saavy. That is not good.

This morning is going to be spent doing more school-related running around and then I have to start planning the menu for the Solstice Feast, which is Saturday night. And put finishing touches on a shower that The Neighbor and I are hosting for Seattle Coffee Girl on Friday. And plan a menu for a dinner next week for friends who are visiting from Arizona. And probably a million other things that I can't even think of right now but will remember either at 3 a.m. or just before they need to happen.

And if you were planning on heading over to "Here's the Dish" (and btw, thanks if you are) you'll want to save that for your afternoon diversion because I need to get about my errands now or I'll lose my will.

Who's ready for a vacation?

Oh My Yord

Things have been relatively quiet around the Casa social calendar-wise. And then everything exploded.

While I was sitting in my Parent Board meeting The Child came in to announce that the 7th grade will be performing salsa at the Spring Concert.

"What Spring Concert?" I asked.

"The one tomorrow night", came the blithe reply.

Are you frakking kidding me?

Here's a run-down of the current calendar for the next little bit.

Tonight - Stupid meeting of the 7th grade parents (more on that in a sec)

Friday - Frakkety frakking Spring Concert

Saturday - Lie very, very low and don't move.

Sunday - Father's Day + church + I have to spend a couple hours at school with the other board members moving all our stuff out of a supply closet that we just found out is going to be taken over by a new computer system.

Monday - help set-up for graduation reception (something the 7th grade does for the 8th). I'm going to be there from 3-6 setting up. The Child has to hang until...wait for it...10 frakking p.m. Guess who has to pick her up?

Tuesday - Lie very, very low and don't move, except to coordinate details and plan menus for the rest of the week because:

Wednesday - end-of-the-year school picnic

Thursday - Ministries dinner at church (have to bring a salad for 8)

Friday - sleep-over baby shower for Seattle Coffee Girl (including an elegant little supper for 6 or 7)

Saturday - Summer Solstice feast

Sunday - Final Parent Board meeting

And then there are 4 days to pack and get hair cuts and what-not before we leave for Chicago on Friday.

I need a tablet.

So the meeting tonight. First, you need to understand that the parents of The Child's class have not historically distinguished themselves as go-getters. There are some parents who have been involved with various projects but after 3 years, I don't even know probably half of the folks. They show up for Curriculum Night in September and that's the last you see of them.

Right, so a meeting has been called to review our role for graduation (fine) and to start discussing fundraising for next year so that the kids can take their 8th grade trip to...wait for it...New York and D.C.

On one hand, this is a very impressive thing. I really didn't think we'd get our act together enough to manage anything more than a trip to Ballard. I am very impressed that a couple of parents, neither of whom are moi, have stepped up to get us organized.

That said, I happen to know for a fact that they are going to propose that our fundraising strategy should involve working a stand at Safeco field.

There are manifold problems with this idea, imho.

1) It's a complete headache. You need 20 people to staff a booth; 20 people who are willing to give up 9-10 hours of an evening or weekend. Parent Association has done if for a couple of years and we're not next year because it is such a pain in the arse.

2) It's one of those things that sounds good on paper. If you have a full complement of people you get paid $1200 plus any profits. But if it's a light staff, at $60/head, it can end up being a lot of hours for very little return.

c) Some people, such as moi ,are just not going to sign up. I'll tell you that right now. There is no way in the world I am going to work any Safeco games to send a bunch of 14-year-olds to the eastern seaboard.

Add to all that, I don't think it is the responsibility of the parents to raise all the funds for this expedition. Good lord, even this morning The Child said, "Well, Mommy, I really think that if we want to go to New York we should be the ones raising the money".

Damn straight, my little chickadee! She said I could quote her. I so am.

Now, I'm not going to go to the meeting and tell them that Safeco is a stupid idea. If they think enough parents will be happy to do it and they want to organize it, that's just dandy. More power to them. But I will make a case for there being avenues for parents who can't or won't do Safeco to aid the cause. And then I'm going to bring up the whole kids-having-ownership thing and then, just because I'm so superfantastic, I'm going to volunteer to be the one who sits down with the kids at the beginning of the year to brainstorm a slate of fundraisers, develop a calendar and marketing plan and generally engage the little beggars in raising their own bloody money.

And if that plan goes over, just between us, I'm also going to be keeping very close tabs on who is involved and to what degree. Because I can tell you right now there are entirely too many kids in that class who have quite the sense of entitlement and are very good at standing in the shadows while others do the heavy lifting, stepping out just in time to take all the credit. That is so not happening on my watch. Bwahahaha.

On the other hand, I'm so volunteering to chaperon the little darlings should all this come to fruition. New York and DC? Hello? I'm so there!

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On the Happy Happy Joy Joy front, things are moving ahead on the food blog. I finally have a name that I'm pleased with, JP is going to design my banner and The Hat is doing the artwork. I've been busy copying some of my old food posts into the new space so that there will be some stuff there when I launch. It's become quite the little project but I'm excited about it. I even, at JP's suggestion, registered the .com and .net domain names for the title. This is going to be a nice little way of keeping mommy off the streets and out of trouble. I'm thinking I'll open 'er up for business next week sometime. I'll keep you posted.

Monday Stuff

This week is going to be massively nuts. Tonight is the only night I get to spend at home. Tomorrow I'm doing some Passover babysitting for the Rabbi's grandson. Wednesday there is a meeting at school. (You know how I hate evening meetings but someone is coming from the SPD to talk about internet safety and teens and that's a pretty important topic). Thursday is Holy Thursday so we'll be at church.

To balance the equation, The Child is starting her service hours for this trimester, working 3 days a week helping with different after school activities. Which means mama doesn't have to pick her up until 4 or 4:30 most days. Love that.

Yesterday the weather really got into the whole April Fools concept. It was bright and fragrant but the sun was deceptive. It was frakking cold all day. So cold, that even though it was April, I felt completely justified in making chicken and biscuits for dinner. Winter food in springtime. It was really yummy.

Yesterday was also Palm Sunday. YAY! Lent is almost over, officially ending on the Thursday evening, when the Holy Triduum, or 3 Days, begin. This Lent has kicked my butt. I'm going to be really, really, REALLY ready for the feast of Easter.

Not that I'm complaining. Lent is supposed to kick your butt, one way or the other. There's been a lot of reflection and wrestling and plenty of realizations. The self-examined life, they say, is not worth living. But Lent is heavy on the examination part. I suppose it's not unlike studying for a really big test. You have to do it, you know it will bear fruit, sometimes you discover little nuggets of truth that escaped you during the regular classwork. But in the end, you really can't wait for it to all be over. Hopefully, some of what I learned will stay with me instead of falling out of the back of my head.

Crap. School just called. The Child is sick.