All Better

Nothing like starting the day at 3:30 AM with a panic attack about a problem at work, going in at 5:00 and then spending the better part of the day trying to resolve a screaming match between two employees.

All was cured tonight by putting "Frosty the Snowman" in the car's CD player on the way back from the grocery store and then driving around looking at Christmas lights while Sam hums along .

Is There Some Connection?

Apparently my putting on Christmas music is the cue to switch on the TV and start watching "Uptown Girls". Last week when I tried to listen to Christmas music, something called "Heartland" got switched on. I mean, I can almost understand last week but now the tree is up, Sam's listening to the music too... Come on, it's once a year... I guess I should burn a CD so I can go out and listen to it in the car.

I decide to go out and take pictures instead.

Leading up to Christmas

Picked up Helaina after work on Friday. Saturday morning, Rachael drove home picking Jake up on her way. Hooked up the old VCR so Sam wouldn't miss his cartoons and we went to the tree farm to get a tree. Got it home and had it decorated by 1:30. Brought Rachael to work at the mall and dropped Jake off at his school on the way back. Stopped at home, did the dishes and picked up Helaina who went with me back to the mall to pick up Rachael and bring her back to school. Back home by ten PM. This morning, Helaina took the car to go back to her school.

Now things are back to "normal"... :(

Ice Cubes

Twenty-five degrees and falling outside and I'm bringing Sam to a pool party. Granted it's indoors but still... we have to go back outside at some point. And since Sam can't swim, I'll be suiting up as well.

I shouldn't complain too much. Sam had a birthday party several years ago at the same place and that was in the middle of a blizzard. I was grateful that a few brave souls came to his party so that it wasn't a total bust. So, it's the least I can do for this friend of his.

Besides, I can't imagine a bigger disappointment for a kid than looking forward to a birthday party and then nobody showing up... but still....

We head out and I can see Sam's thinking the whole way. As we pull into the parking lot, Sam says, "I'm not sure I want to go into the pool. It's not really my thing."

I try to contain my excitement. Swimming is not my thing either. Swimming and then going out into the freezing cold is even less my thing.

"Well Sam", I say, "That's up to you. Birthdays are supposed to be about having fun. If not going swimming is whats fun for you, that's up to you." I try to say this in the calmest voice I can muster. I try to sound like this is no big deal. It's all I can do to not high five him.

We get the present, go inside and have a fine time.

And we both stay dry.

Where's the Bowl of Cherries?

Someday I'm going to write about what it's been like...

Letters to Santa

 

 

Breaking the Silence

Is there anything crunchier than than the sound of someone munching on oriental rice snacks?

I don't think so.