One of Those Days

I know adjusting is never easy. Today finds me out of creamer, low on coffee, out of Pop-Tarts™ (not for me, but for Hubby), disorganized in a feeble attempt to clean up messes around the house, and strung out, because I have to run errands for my mom that will take me out of town for the day.

Yesterday the trip to the outlet mall was a nightmare, but at least Hubby has new boots. As for me, I went into Cavender’s to see if they had some nice cowboy boots for moi, but alas, the mob and the styles contained therein drove me into a stabby state, so boots for me will have to wait. But at least I got to enjoy one of these:

The world famous Johnny Rockets Chocolate Malt™!! And it was soooooo good!!!

Now, off I go to Goodwill© to drop off what seems to be half of my daughter’s closet, and then go grocery shopping. Hopefully I’ll have made a big enough dent in the garage that my van can finally fit 🙂

GUESS WHAT????

HUBBY IS HOME!!!!!

I had to keep quiet about because the kids read the blog, and couldn’t spoil the surprise!

Of course, my sister and my Mom were upset that I didn’t tell them, because had my mother known he was coming she would have prepared a feast.

In retrospect, maybe I should have told her. Nah!! My jeans fit now, and I don’t need the temptation of her food to challenge the bounds of denim 😉

Animal Fears

Today started off on a low note, and the weather isn’t helping much. So, I am posting a funny today.

Remember to laugh, my friends. And don’t let the….. negative people bring you down 😉

Just Breathe

Yesterday, though a milestone, was still a hectic day. I spent most of the day running to and fro, conducting errands and taking care of a sick kid. It used to be that I had time for me, but lately I have forgotten about that. I find myself saying that I can just do “that” later, or I can go “there” next week, or perhaps have “this” done at the beauty salon sometime…. but it doesn’t happen. Not because I don’t have the time, but because I don’t make the time.

As I was driving back from the post office yesterday, I was passing a local farm. Yes, we have farms within our subdivisions here. I was looking at the beauty of the field, when I suddenly stopped the car, put the hazard lights on, and stepped out to enjoy the view.

I must have stood there, leaning against the fence just looking, and enjoying the peace and serenity. I hadn’t noticed how long I had been there, until an older gentleman stopped to inquire if I were having car trouble. I told him no, just wanted to stop and look at enjoy the flowers. And then he parked his car, put his hazard lights on, and came to stand by the fence, telling me that as many times as he drives on that road, he had never noticed the field before. We chatted for a bit, until the cattle started to moo, and then we parted. But not without humor.

Me: Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

Him: That’s very profound…. Hemingway?

Me: Nope. Ferris Bueller.

Him: HAHAHA!!

But it’s true, isn’t it? Life does move pretty fast. And we should always stop and look around, take a deep breath and enjoy it. 🙂

Into Each Life a Little Rain Must Fall

It seems like into my life, a freakin’ hurricane landed. As usual, it’s the little things that pile up, some of which I am ill-equipped to fix.

I am….not the most handy person around the house. Sure, I’ll figure out some quick-fixes every now and then. But the drawer that I had “fixed”? That completely broke. And a couple of weeks ago, the doorbell stopped working. There are cracks alongside the bathtub edge, and I fear I have water damage in the walls, so that has to be checked by someone other than me. The spigot outside needs to be replaced, and several dead bushes need to be dug up.

My tool basket. Yes, there are Legos in it.

As usual, I will try my best to fix things around here, but I realize some things are beyond my control. But the drawer? Oh yeah…. THAT has to be fixed before my parents and sister come to visit. So, I’m looking up information as to how to go about it. That’s what the internet is for!!

And after the huge storm that passed through last night, I shudder to think what lies in store for me outside on the patio 😉

Stolen Hour

I hate this time of year: Daylight Savings Time. Last night I reset all the clocks for which I am responsible and wondered why it is that most states still adhere to such an antiquated policy. Arizona seems to cope quite well without it. So do a lot of other countries.

And it never fails…. any important change inevitably brings on anxiety, for no reason. So, last night as I settled into bed, feeling sleep overcome me, only to wake up suddenly. And stayed up until 4 AM.

So, not only do I fall asleep at 4 PM after the time changed, I had to get up at 7 AM to tend to the dog, which necessitated another pot of coffee. Three hours of sleep does not make for a nice Aggie. It doesn’t make for a pretty one, either, but that’s why I have Mary Kay™.

And as I sit here in the peace and quiet before everyone wakes up, my only thought is how to go about making a Daylight Savings voodoo doll. I could make a killing with that 😉

The March Hare

This is a great title to my post. Why? Because I am going nuts over all the stuff happening this month here at Casa de Aggie. This week brings dental appointments, tax prep, birthday party, and then, just when I thought Spring Break meant just that, I find that two kids have ROTC commitments and then family portraits, and then Son’s birthday, and after that I may be able to go out of town to visit family and deliver last Christmas gifts.

And this is all before the 18th of this month.

And after they go back to school, it’s Spring Concert season. YAY ME!!

This is what I look like, only with a sweatshirt. And clean shaven.

Sadly, the one thing I had to look forward to is no longer on the schedule, but at least the year is winding down, and the countdown goes on.

I’m just grateful to have coffee.

When is Easter?? 😉

On Appreciation

Sometimes we fall short of it. I know I have, many times. I have been a not-so-appreciative wife. I always try to see the upside of things, glass is half full, silver lining, etc. But lately I have been morose and down about not having Hubby home. It shows when I snap at one kid for not rinsing out a glass, or when I get impatient waiting for them to do some small chore. I am so used to having some sort of communication with Hubby everyday, that when I don’t, I immediately begin to worry.

And worry sometimes leads to resentment.

I know he is in a really tough spot, both figuratively and literally. His absence here has made me appreciate how much I took him for granted, and how much I really need him. I try not to resent the fact that he extended due to unforeseen circumstances, all of which I understand. But logic doesn’t help me much when I sit at home alone waiting for a text or a call. It doesn’t help me when I read the news. So, I have to shake this feeling off, and be more compassionate about his worries, and show him how much I appreciate the sacrifices he makes for me and the kids.

Counting down the days may help, but so will counting my blessings.

Prayers for a Friend

I am a firm believer that there is nothing I can’t handle, as long as God is with me. I am blessed that I have so many friends to pray for every night and every day. All prayers are heard, though not all of them are answered to my satisfaction! But they are answered, and for every closed door, there is an open window. I just have to look for it, usually in the most unlikely places. But trust me, the window is always there, open and waiting.

A few weeks ago, an online friend of mine who suffers from cancer had to have a brain tumor removed. He is a true warrior, in every sense of the word. He is also one of the most giving people I have ever known. There was never a stray anything that he didn’t take in. After the last major hurricane hit his area, he personally gave of his time and money to fix his neighbor’s homes, providing shelter while repairs went on. He wasn’t afraid to argue with anyone, and he was always offering of himself to anyone that needed a hand.

I have lost touch with him in the past couple of weeks, and fear for the worst. I know he is a fighter, and not even death makes him afraid. But I will pray for him to get better, so that he can finally come out this way to meet us, as was his wish to travel cross-country. And if God has closed that door, then I pray to find the window, where I can look up to the sky and see him arguing with the Archangel Michael.

Because that’s the way he rolls 🙂

When It Rains….

This past weekend, Eldest informed me that the battery in her laptop needs to be replaced. That’s nothing unusual, since the battery in my laptop has needed replacing for a long time now. But yesterday Son informed me that the kids’ computer no longer reads discs or memory sticks.

So now it seems certain tech thingies can’t wait for Hubby to get home. I have been wanting to upgrade the kids’ computer for a while, but Hubby is bringing the one he is using back, so I’m not sure if I should go ahead and get a new CPU, and install the other PC in the main reading area.

Of course, Son is all for a new PC in his room, where he thinks he can limit access to his sisters. And Little One is all about having her very own laptop in her room. That won’t happen for a few years, though. The gnashing of teeth will continue unabated until then, I’m sure. I swear, this house is fast becoming a computer and videogame system graveyard. I just wonder if there will be enough room for a new iPad 😉