Quick Snippets and such

I am not finding much time at my desk at the moment (I am prepping for a party) so here are a few quick updates on random things going on.

Connor is off his Meds

Tattoo

Rosie Project

The Joys of Laundry... AKA... How I Enjoyed Mother’s Day

As we left for our vacation we got a brief note from Greg's Aunt Linda. All it said was “when the sun shines today, it will be mama smiling from heaven. will be in touch.” Well Grandma smiled on us with a vengeance all weekend long. She is first in line to get her wings. We love you Grandma! And our thoughts and prayers go out to Aunt Linda. We love you too.

As we got home Sunday afternoon I opened a lovely e-card from my Aunt Sharon about how I should sit and relax and enjoy Mother's day. At the end she scrawled a quick note that basically read “After you attend to the chores.” 

Ha Ha!

"When can I write? When can I write?" Words pound around in my skull. Getting the story down is the only thing I want to do but chores claim my attention first. The "Coming home from vacation" chores ..like Laundry, shopping and such. Add on top of that the "Im now seeing my home with fresh eyes because I have been looking at other peoples houses" ,"Damn its dusty!", "And its Spring!' , "And I must clean every corner... Every drawer." chores. Its a rather manic state and woo to those that get in my way. The energy of the sun recharged me. The excitement of the city pumping away in my veins. Motivated, I am making huge strides. Up and down the stairs, Here and there stopping for 20 minutes to jot notes, make lists, or work on scribbling out Connors medical history in German to prep for an appointment. Eventually the adrenaline begins to fade. Moments of quick note jotting and brainstorming become full fledged writing sessions with words dropping off my fingertips and splashing across the screen.

And here is what I have to tell about Mothers Day... Other than the drive and the chores and the manic happy state productive state I have found myself in for days...

While on vacation, I had the chance to read a short story by an author I have enjoyed in the past. Quite honestly I didn't' want to waste my vacation on the Rosie Project. Reading it is more like a chore. So... "The Slow Regard of Silent Things" by Patrick Rothfuss.  It was beautiful and magical. It really amounts to the story of a broken girl who lives alone and underground. It chronicles her life for the breadth of 6 days during which time she is prepping for a friend to visit. One of the most enduring parts of the story is the reverence and honor that the girl has for the few possessions she owns and for the world in which she lives. I finished the story on the drive home and it was fresh on my mind as we walked in the door. As I scurried about in the basement from room to room, hanging and folding and what not, my mind reflected on the space.  And I was doing the last bit of laundry Sunday night  I  realized just how very thoughtful this house is too provide mom a shower in the laundry room and how grateful I am for it.

Yes, my shower is in the basement of the house. I have always loved it. The water is quickly hot and steamy because it's right next to water heater. Its spacious. The other shower in the house is used mostly by the kids which is narrow and every time I turn around in it I knock the temperature to one extreme or the other. Its not enjoyable. Greg gets daily dibs on the bathtub...He doesn't have the hair to wash.. but we all make good use it from time to time.  

Anyway... the Moms shower is super accommodating. After housework, one can toss their grimy clothes in to the last load of laundry and step right into the waters warm embrace.

There is great joy of returning home to do the laundry and wash the road off. A mothers sigh of contentment.

Wings and prayers

The excitement begins to set in and travel plans begin to fall into place. Slowly at first. Airline tickets booked. Whew! We leave (and arrive) on Greg's  birthday. We are doing it in style. Business class all the way.  Then three weeks of family and friends. The whats and wheres now become the question.  Oh so many possibilities to dream up. And believe me my mind is spinning.

Details... details... details ... where to start?

Monterey..  the first leg. After our trip to Amsterdam I will attend to hotels, Rental cars and jugging the kids and our social arrangements there. Then I'll move on to the next leg.

I take a  deep breath and turn my attention to more immediate needs. Reservations made. Tickets printed. Itenerary created. All that remains for preparation is laundry and shopping. I got this one in the bag. Just about ready to lean back and enjoy the canals and culture of the Netherlands. 

(I have no real words to describe how amazed/humbled/thankful I am at the unexpected course my life has taken and I look forward with great anticipation to what lays around the next few bends.)