The Annual Checking-In Post

It's almost embarrassing...


how I show up once a year and think you'd still want to talk to me. I've missed you, REALLY missed you! There's so much we need to catch up on...

Like Stranger Things! Are you a watcher? I binge late at night when the dishes are done, kids are in bed and hubby is yet again, thousands of miles away.
(I've seen lots of great things! This Is Us, anyone?  Toby. I loved him at the beginning, now I just find him annoying). It's just me, the dog, the cat and the laptop all snug and cozy in a bed rotting our brain one cell at a time.


To think, I might have used that time more productively, say like posting...

I really have missed our chats.

Pre-Holiday Gloom or Crying in My Eggnog

Aaaand we're back to wearing the stupid plastered smile.

Can I just say, to those of you in traffic, customer service jobs, schools etc... be a little kinder to those people who aren't necessarily giving you trouble. She may be the woman who has said very little at the check-out, she seems pleasant enough;  or the van in front of you that didn't pull forward quickly enough during the green arrow.
You see, she's distracted.
She would prefer to be at home curled up in a blanket, but the demands needs of her family don't stop just because she's sad.

That woman that just passed you at the school pick-up area may be facing one of the worst financial crisis of her married life. She may be mulling over the sad truth that the bouncy, happy daughter who is holding her hand while chattering about her day is soon going to have to be told the truth about Santa, because mom has no idea how to pull off that magical visit. Thanksgiving has already been cancelled.

Words to all of the folks who think the company my husband works for (code for the bad guys) pays so much money to their employees, not true. Sometimes they even give pay cuts, or reduce income based on where they send the employee to live. Sometimes there are so many moves in the employees career, the expenses never really get paid off.

I used to shake my head at the church people or family members that expected us to bring the food, book the flights, make the calls or buy the supplies for activities because they envisioned us "better off" than they. We've got 5 kids and lived on one income for 19 years- surely that was a clue to lack of wealth?

So yes, I am sad. I am unbelievably heartbroken over the state of things at the moment... and yet I live in an area where so many lost everything just a little over 2 months ago- can I really complain that we're not participating in the over indulgent meal of thanks?

PLEASE don't feel sorry for me, that just makes me feel chumpish for confiding. What I would love to hear are some "Oh yeah, been there!" stories to remind me that things get better. Because things will always get better.

Wanderlust

I'm traveling tomorrow.
It's THE absolute, hands down, least prepared trip I have ever not planned.

Time for the 20 year-old me to show up.   SHE never planned anything... and... lots of things went wrong, but WOW! the memories.
Age ( or Hubby's work, or responsibility, or...) steals the magic of spontaneous travel.
Sod all tomorrow,  road trip here I come!

Please tell me the last time you did something that scared the sense out of you.

Just Winking and Blinking and Naught

Why is it I loooong for bedtime, but when 10:00 rolls around, I suddenly find a pile of things that needs to be done?

Surely the quiet, alone time in the house is not as wonderful as a good sleep? Especially when one takes that quiet time and finishes laundry, or dishes, or gets lost somewhere in the Interwebdiol catacombs known as Pinterest.

Perhaps that could be a New Year's resolution? GO TO BED AT A DECENT HOUR or PINTEREST IS NOT ALLOWED AFTER 9PM.

Yes, I did just jump out of Halloween, clearing Thanksgiving and Christmas in one life-rushing bound. One does that when sleep deprived.

In not so many years from now, my bladder will no longer manage to wait until morning to wake me.
Not that many years ago, there were babies interrupting my sleep.
More importantly (and probably the most concern at present) it's nearly flu season and precious sleep may be hard to come by as we pass the cold compress and sick bucket.

WHY do I fight going to bed?

Am I alone? Any other tired soul reluctant to bid adieu to the day?

Ebby

"Rain, Rain, Rain Came Down, Down, Down..." -Sherman Bros

I used to love it when it rained...

Now I just look out the window and scowl. Rain means the puppy (did I mention we adopted a puppy and a kitten just two weeks after we moved to the United Sates?) will want to go outside twice as much as normal. It means most of my day will be spent dropping whatever I've started so that she can be wiped off with a towel (did I mention that there's a lot of towel washing going on here?).

I have taught her to wipe her feet, which begins with her digging at the towel and then rolling comically all over it. It's funny enough to watch and it earns her a treat.

OH MY STARS, a lightbulb moment- I think I just figured out 

why she goes out twice as much!

We have one very smart, cheeky little lab.

Meet Ebby, aka: Ebinator, Bebby, Dorkindogger. 

Yeah, not her most flattering photo.