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Monday, April 14, 2014

Just Another Week of Whining

Religious/professional whining: I'm not preaching on Easter for the first time in three years. I won't be able to attend any services this week, because Baboos. Feeling a bit whiny about that.

Baboo whining: thinking of changing developmental doctors for Sweet, because the current one is smart but has the bedside manner of a prickly pear cactus who forgot to drink coffee this morning. We have one that she used to see, but insurance changes blah blah. Called his office this morning...it's been so long that she will be considered a new patient, which involves lots of extra red tape and phone calls. I tried the "but she's been seeing a developmental doctor all along" reason, but that didn't fly.

Further Baboo whining: some behavioral issues related to hunger that I'm trying to get a handle on. Exhausting.

And, I'm sure many of you will be joining in on this one: What the fireplace, weather? Cold front coming through right now that will drop the temp to near freezing in the morning. It's April. In Texas. C'mon, spring, get with the program.

Pixies? Let us have 'em, the good, the bad, the ugly, the Old Skool, and the existential. We'll hear them all.

131 comments:

kathy a. said...

All my sympathies about the drama of changing doctors. Hate that!

Hugs, too, about the behavioral thing. And other things.

W: not good fireplacing cancer news about a friend's wife. The OK part is her mets are "slow-growing."

AW: Remembered to check on a due date before it passed!

Dog Tale: Daughter used the treats to bribe the dog, who is SAD SAD SAD because her man is gone. Dog subsequently ate the rest of the bag of treats, leaving scraps of packaging behind. AW: no untoward digestive consequences!

esperanza said...

Sounds like you've dodged a doggie bullet. Yikes.

Sorry about the cancer news.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Esperanza, so much sympathy about the red tape of changing doctors. And hugs about the behavioural issues. Also, you seem to be experiencing the same sudden drop in temperature that we have (and the same temperatures?) That's amusing to me.

Kathy a: hugs about the fireplacing cancer news.

W: wrong number called us at 5am on Sunday (the one day that Mr. Q forgot to turn on "Do Not Disturb" on his cell at bedtime), and woke us all up. Tired all day yesterday, and then E woke up at the EXACT SAME TIME like clockwork this morning. How is her internal clock that good! It was the same time to the minute.

Related W: nervous about taking her to church camp this weekend, since we'll be staying in a dorm with paper-thin walls, and she sometimes wakes up way too early. Worrying about other people waking her up, and about her waking up kids at 5am. Of course, we've been fine every other time, but I still worry!

AW: I just found out that some good friends might move nearby, and that they might be hired by the summer camp where Mr. Q used to work, in order to fix and save the camp (it's fallen into some bad years, and they need people like our friends to come and overhaul everything). Excited to have them nearby again, and excited, because it's been breaking Mr. Q's heart to watch his childhood summer camp deteriorate like this.

esperanza said...

Our Baboos often do that "to the exact minute" thing. I'd accuse them of setting an alarm, but neither has a clock in her room. Sigh.

Hooray for camp saviors!

It is currently 42F here, which my phone informs me is 5C. And raining. Ha ha, very funny, Middle Earth Canada. You're late for April Fool's Day. Take your weather back.

esperanza said...

In fact, we're going to make a new rule directed at Middle Earth Canada: keep hands, feet, and WEATHER to yourself.

Can you tell I'm a bit grumpy about this? And perhaps feeling a bit guilty that I sent the Baboos to school without jackets this morning when it was 70 degrees? Humph.

kathy a. said...

I'm obsessive about jackets because you never know what the weather will do around my parts. 28 degree drop during the day is a little much, though. I'm pretty sure the school has a "do not freeze the students" rule. ;)

QWP, hope the camp is just great, and that E is having so much fun she sleeps like an angel. Great about your friends!

Something bad happened with a former work thing; expected, but you hate to see the bad in writing.

Liz said...

Hugs everybody.

AW: Kitchen Haiku.

A banana cake
is cooling on the counter
soon to be frozen

The ingredients
were in the pantry and the
refrigerator

It calls for a mere
half cup of buttermilk
that stuff never spoils

(Further AW, a friend of mine said that last stanza was showing off. Giggle)

May all those who celebrate, have good and fulfilling Holy Weeks and Pesachs.

kathy a. said...

My beloved has about cleared his mom's apartment. He met a lady in the parking lot of this senior complex, who had come from Texas with only a suitcase, and she was delighted to get a set of dishes! His aunt, MIL's best friend, and a dear neighbor took what they wanted; and the donation truck showed up before noon. I hope this doesn't sound heartless, but we're still dealing with stuff from his sister, and it is good that this part got worked out fairly easily and with happiness.

kathy a. said...

Ooooh, Liz for style! And baked goods!

Liz said...

W: Today it hit nearly 90 degress. Tomorrow we have a freeze warning and a possibility of SNOW. I AM NOT KIDDING.

Go home April, you are DRUNK.

esperanza said...

Exactly on the weather, Liz.

Thanks for the cake. Yum.

Liz said...

My mistake, the freeze warning is for Wednesday.

Sue said...

esperanza, sorry about the red tape doctor stuff and the behaviour woes. And the weather - Ack! We are still in the minus double digits here, but at this point, we're used to it. Will try to keep our cold temps at bay, though Liz's forecast doesn't bode well....

QWP - yay for saving church camps! It's great that your friends will be part of bringing out back to life.

A Style nom for Liz as well as Mullet for "Go home April, you're drunk!"

Sorry about your friend and the Fireplacing cancer kathy. I'm glad the packing is going well for your hubby. That's such a difficult thing to do.

What Liz said re: Holy Week and Pesach. Blessings to all!

W: unbloggable chunky thing that will likely interrupt my stat days off next week.

AW: hubby made lamb for supper tonight. It was delicious and he's feeling well enough to cook. Yay!

kathy a. said...

Woo hooo! Sounds like hubby's on the mend, and bonus good food for a hard week, Sue!

esperanza said...

Perfect week for hubby to get back in the kitchen, Sue! Sorry about the unbloggable thing. Blech.

W: Easter grass. Worse than glitter.

esperanza said...

A question for people knowledgeable about kosher laws: is there a taste difference between our regular yogurt (D@annon all natural, listed ingredients: milk, sugar, vanilla, pectin) and the same yogurt, same ingredients, marked "kosher for Passover." The Baboos have deemed the Passover yogurt "bad." I can't tell the difference, nor can I figure which of the ingredients would have needed modification for Passover.

W: we have two quarts of the "bad" yogurt.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

I'm not the very most knowledgeable, but a friend of mine used to be an inspector person at a pop bottling plant, and the main thing that they did to have the "KFP" label was have rabbis inspect the factory. (Although they may have also used regular sugar instead of some syrup variety, during Passover, as well? I can't remember.)

Liz said...

Gotta be cane or beet sugar, might be different pectin?

Queen of West Procrastination said...

W: fireplacing 5am again. That one wrong number seems to have rest her internal clock. And nothing works! If I encounter one more sleep expert who says that I should put her to bed earlier (she's already going to bed so early, and she wakes up even earlier if we shift her earlier, but also gets overtired and wakes up early if she stays up late), or claims that 5am wakeups are evidence of an inability to self sooth (then what is she doing at bedtime and through the rest of the night?) I'm going to scream. Nothing works.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

"Reset" not "rest."

Liz said...

Is there light coming into her room? If so, black-out curtains?

Queen of West Procrastination said...

She has two layers of black-out curtains (from her first round of 5am wakeups). She sleeps with a favourite bunny and blanket (from the next round), and sleeps in the next size up of diapers at night (that was last time). We've had so many temporary solutions that work for a month or two, and then she's back to 5am.

esperanza said...

((QWP))

Re: yogurt discussion. In another venue, pixies and former pixies are suggesting that grain alcohol derived pectin and/or vanilla flavoring would not be kosher for Passover. I'm sure you were on the edge of your chairs waiting for this info. (Liz: it's always listed as sugar, not corn syrup, so I think the sweetener is not the culprit).

esperanza said...

And, one Baboo asked for a second helping of the "bad" yogurt this morning. Doesn't asking for seconds cancel out the "bad"ness of the food??

Liz said...

(((QWP)))

Esperanza, asking for seconds definitely negates badness.

Sue said...

Lol re: Easter grass. So true!

I have learned something already today. That's good, but I fear my over-loaded brain may not be able to take in much more than yogurt. Still, interesting.

(((QWP)))

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Grain-derived alcohol! That makes sense.

So, I'm trying something that may backfire badly. I put E down for a nap at 8am, and will wake her up after an hour, in the hope that she will still nap in the afternoon. She's been refusing to nap more than once a day lately, but she was beside herself with exhaustion, and so hopefully she'll just treat this like the last part of last night's sleep.

kathy a. said...

QWP, best with the sleepy issues.

Esperanza, looks like a recount on the badness of the yogurt!

Do you mean all Easter grass, or just the plastic kind that sticks to everything? Because I hate that stuff, but like the shreds of colorful paper.

Further dog W: the Wonderdog apparently gave daughter poison oak, while daughter attempted to console dog about the tragic not-hereness of Her Man.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Oh no! Poison oak!

esperanza said...

That fireplacing plastic kind that multiplies and sticks to everything and scatters to the far dusty corners of the house. Shredded paper is messy, but lots easier to clean up.

But any kind of Easter grass is better than having poison oak. Makes me itch just thinking about it.

kathy a. said...

Inventions that are Severely Worthless and Annoying:

* plastic grass
* styrofoam packing peanuts
* styrofoam everything else
* hard plastic over-packaging
* Furbies
* cards with shedding glitter
* the "pink" aisle in the toy section
* spanx and other garments of torture
* the technology that makes robo-calling possible
* those bright lighted signs by freeways that make it hard to, ya know, watch the road

Feel free to add your favorites!

Sue said...

Poison Oak - how awful!!

Love the Severely Worthless and Annoying list. If I may, I will add:

*plastic mailing covers on magazines - especially from magazines claiming to be eco-friendly.

*leaky Timmy's coffee cups.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

* charities mass-mailing coins to make some point about how easy it is to donate (my cousin phoned the charity in question and said that she doesn't want them sending HER money, and that she was less likely to believe that her donation to them would be used well).

W: I may have taken personally something said on Twitter, and gone a little overboard. But it involved the opinion that a grad student was wasting a prof's time by not having traditional career goals, and...well. That's a little too close to home for me.

AW: Li'l E is off to her Grandma's for the afternoon, and she's been in good spirits since her small morning nap. We also spent a lot of time talking about how she's going to nap at Grandma's, and she picked out her blankets carefully. I sure hope this works.

kathy a. said...

Great additions to the list!

QWP, "one day at a time" works for many situations, and that includes naptimes. But napping is grandma's problem for now! (OK, I never won a mother of the year award. But I'd like to point out that a year is 365 unique days. Marathon, not a sprint.)

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Marathon, not a sprint. I need to keep reminding myself of that.

AW: E is napping at my parents' house right now! I have to say that, even though I make a lot of complaints about toddlers, that there are some real benefits to this age. E suddenly understands so much more of what I'm saying, and so I was able to explain to her that she was going to Grandma's, and that after eating lunch (and peeking around the milk jug at Grandpa, which is her favourite, and which she acted out for me when I reminded her of that), she was going to take a nap in the Yellow Room, in the playpen. I let her pick out the blankets to take, and find her bunny, and let her take her housecoat, since she was pretty insistent that this was also necessary. Sure! Whatever works.

The ability to discuss things (even though her vocabulary is still pretty limited)!

Anonymous said...

QWP-- for your scienc-y viewing pleasure, I offer up this url:
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap110222.html

and I especially direct the message at the very end to those people spouting those ridiculous opinions on the tweet place.
(ok, hits too close to home for me too!)
(((QWP)))
--Neighbor Lady

kathy a. said...

Oh, nominate Neighbor Lady for a Dr. Science Award. And humanity points, too. Thanks!

Daughter got home at 4:35, filled out the tax forms she forgot to do, and got to the post office before 5:00. Her income was severely south of mentionable for last year, but done and mailed.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

NL, thank you so much.

Kathy A: wow! That is impressive timing.

esperanza said...

W: Sweet's OT report. If a score is 0.1 percentile, can we just say <1, for the sake of the mama's feelings, please?

AW: that should be good/bad enough to get her some OT at school for the upcoming year

kathy a. said...

((( Esperanza ))) It is just a number, and your Sweet is so much more than that! This girl does horses, which I can't do; so don't let a number bring you down. Yay for the extras next year. xoxo

esperanza said...

oh, thanks. There were some significant gains in other numbers. I'm completely ignoring the low score in "activities of daily living," because the things she's not doing are things she's not been invited to do. (ie, snaps and zippers on clothing. She only has elastic/stretchy clothes). Just added to the bleh appointment with the developmental doc last week was a bit much.

kathy a. said...

Go, gains!!! Yeah, it feels bad with bleh and bleck coming back to back, but you know your girl. xoxo

kathy a. said...

Sweet will be fine with a little practice on snaps, zippers, this and that. (She cannot possibly get into the kind of zipper trouble that boys her age do. If you know what I mean.)

Sue said...

((((QWP))))

Yay NL - science-y award for sure!

Great timing on your daighter's part.

((((((esperanza)))) you know Sweet. The docs and OTs see her for a limited time and only have charts and official numbers to work with. You and your family see all the subtle gains along the way. Try to think of those. And I'll second what kathy said about horses. I've never been on one - because they're big and I'm easily frightened.

Sue said...

That great timing comment was for your daughter kathy. :)

kathy a. said...

It was close, but totally self-inflicted drama. Good training for next year, though. ;)

Queen of West Procrastination said...

((((esperanza)))) And everyone else is right: you know your kid, and you know she's making progress. Hugs.

Heartache: senseless violence happened in my city today, the day after more violence in the next province over (in a city where many loved ones live). A friend of mine knew one of the kids that was killed yesterday, and I'm just not wrapping my mind around what's wrong with everyone this week. My heart aches for everyone affected.

kathy a. said...

xoxox

Sue said...

(((QWP)))

Liz said...

(((QWP))) (((Esperanza)))

kathy a. said...

The bunny must hop on Sunday for the kids, even though they are all grown up -- so, baskets have been gotten, and we even have egg dye. (I am serious; they would think I'd gone over the edge if there wasn't some excess in a basket.)

But I'm trying to come up with ideas for my SIL. Don't think she can manage unwrapping bite-sized candies; and bad idea to leave her with a basket of them anyway. So -- a nice wrapped cookie, and what? Need cute, non-dangerous, not overboard.

SIL's having a lot of falls, and her bones are on the fragile side -- 2 fractures last year. She can't remember to use brakes on a wheelchair (making that very dangerous), and she cannot understand how to work a walker. They're trying a helmet and pads, like for x-treme sports! She might even go for that, since she used to ride her bike a lot. Whatever works!

kathy a. said...

I love that the staff at her place really try to come up with solutions! Totally the work of angels.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

What a wonderful staff that is working with SIL. Whatever works indeed!

A wrapped cookie would be a nice idea for SIL. Or large marshmallow peeps? (Would those be too sticky and pose a choking hazard?)

AW: *cue angel choirs* E slept well past 6am today. The adapted nap schedule helped! I'll do that on the weekend, since church will be in the way of normal naptime, and she will likely get tired from playing with kids so much. Today, she was able to stay up until her regular nap time. I'm feeling less panicky about how I'm going to manage with her, now.

esperanza said...

wow, that staff is impressive. Many places would be tempted to just put her in chair with restraints and call it done.

((QWP))

My mom's birthday is Sunday, and there seems to be an inordinate number of tragedies that happen near her birthday. I'm sorry for the violence that has happened near you, QWP.

Hooray for sleep progress! We're working on it here, in the two steps forward, one step back fashion.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

W: panicking a bit about current feedback from my supervisor. It's sounding more and more like that last chapter will need to be overhauled, and he's starting to question the sources I'm using. Bleeergh.

AW: he keeps referring to the fact that he still likes three of the chapters.

kathy a. said...

Love to everyone feeling the pain of losses and violence. xoxo

Fireplacity fireplace. The fireplacing pancreatic cancer has got my former boss, and he is out for treatment. Really glad I gave him a hug at the end of February.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

(((kathy a))) Fireplacing cancer.

kathy a. said...

QWP: Just keep going. One thing at a time. He LOVES 3 chapters! If edits are needed, they are so much easier to do than starting from scratch. I've come to appreciate critical feedback, even if I don't end up agreeing with it -- because it helps me view a thing from another angle, and make it stronger.

Anonymous said...

(((kathy a)))
(((QWP)))
(((esperanza)))-- I so hear you on the steps forward and back...

as for kathy's SIL, how about putting a cute stuffed animal duckling in the basket, or something along those lines?

Maybe some lotion?

--Neighbor Lady

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Oof, that was an emotional afternoon. Ended up being a couple of phone conversations with my supervisor. The end result is that I have to weekend to decide between three options: 1.) fight the university to give me one more year's extension (and then deal with another year of this stress and expense); 2.) quit; 3.) ask the Dean for a long-term deferral, during which time I would withdraw from the program, and then if I decided to come back and finish, I would first have to take a reading course to catch up on the field. We didn't originally know about that third option (the department head recommended that option, since it's been used a few times lately), and so before he called back, I spent some time crying.

AW: that third option is really tempting, if the Dean will let me. That will give me a few years to try and get work, and determine whether there would be a cost/life benefit to finishing. And, uh, deferring the program sounds easier to explain to casual observers than suddenly quitting.

AW: Li'l E is a sweetheart. When she saw I was crying, she hugged me and brought me her bunny.

kathy a. said...

QWP, you have a couple options besides quit. We don't think you're a quitter! xoxo

I guess there must be a difference between a year's extension and a deferral; but those choices seem to have been presented to you in totally different ways. "Fight" for extension; "ask" for deferral. Is the difference that stark? Can you start with one, and follow with the other request if that doesn't work? Taking a class to catch up on recent lit in your field does not sound like a deal-breaker.

kathy a. said...

NL, stuffed animal sounds perfect. And lotion, too.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Kathy a: the difference really is that stark. Technically, I've exhausted my extensions and would have to really plead to get another one. It also might not be wise to try to finish when E is still so small. The university is more likely to give me a deferral, particularly based on my case. It also would likely suit my life better (and, if I decide down the road that it wouldn't benefit me to finish, I can walk away).

And that's basically it: there's no way I can finish in time, because I need a bunch more research and reframing (my supervisor and I strongly agree on that matter). I'm not leaning toward the option of trying to get an immediate extension; I'm pretty burnt out now, and we're not in a great place regarding childcare. In about five years, if I find that it's worth it, I could come back and finish. (I would have ten years to decide if I'm coming back.)

esperanza said...

Oh, QWP, I have a feeling that afternoon of phone calls would have left me a quivering mess. Sweet E, to be so empathetic. The deferral sure sounds like a good possibility, at least from my ill informed and unknowledgeable perspective. And from the perspective of a mama to a 4 and 6 year old, it is easier to find time to have a complete thought when they get a bit older.

Liz said...

Take the deferral

kathy a. said...

Deferral sounds good, then. And you have that online teaching thing, at least, as some income along the way, no? xoxo

kathy a. said...

You'll have all kinds of things you can pursue, actually. This will be a big load off.

Anonymous said...

(((((QWP))))) I so hated those emotional afternoons with such huge decisions to make. If it helps at all, my advice is to go with your gut. If it is for sure that you can't finish in time right now, the deferral sounds like a good option.

Many many hugs from here.

--NL

Sue said...

kathy, I'm sorry about the fireplacing cancer. I love the image of your SIL enjoying an Easter goodie bag - with a (happy) fuzzy duckling perhaps!

QWP - go with your gut, but it does sound as if deferral is your best choice at this point. What a sweetie L'il E is, looking after her Mom.

esperanza, I'm thinking of you and your Mom on her birthday.

Sending hugs to everyone affected by so many tragedies.

W: This feels especially whiny - the dishwasher died and we have a family dinner here on Monday. UGH! It is quite dead. There was a bad electrical smell, a fizzle and then nothing.

AW: New one on order. It was even on sale! A good sale (not one of those "$50 off your expensive appliance!" kinds of sales).

W: Back-ordered until June 5th. Ya. UGH.

kathy a. said...

Sue! Well, everyone can pitch in and celebrate by helping with dishwashing after the feast, right? You can do it like a bucket brigade -- the scrubber, the rinser, the dryers. xoxo

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Oh no! Broken dishwasher and a big family meal! I agree with Kathy: it's close enough family that everyone else can wash the dishes, right?

AW: I'm feeling really positive about the deferral option. I'm also starting to realise that deferral means that I can go on vacation without taking work along, and can do all the fun activities that I haven't been able to do with E. And now I have time to apply for sessional teaching work (such as that online course), and could spend the summer prepping for it. Oh! And I no longer need to worry about how to pack up the apartment in the next month.

W: headache. Always happens if I cry.

Sue said...

Maybe we can come up with a happy "work song" to make it less of a chore. :)

It is sounding like a good choice. Sorry about the headache though.

kathy a. said...

I'm going to get pizza; plenty to share! Pizza's good for headaches, right?

Sue, will try to think of a song besides "Chain Gang." Oooooh, everyone can hum the Bunny Hop!

Yeah, I'd better just go get another basket and that pizza.

esperanza said...

QWP, I get a post-cry headache too. It sounds like your gut has decided. May it persuade the rest of you and give you peace.

Sue, the dishwasher is indeed a tragedy! (why is Easter dinner at the minister's house? Just wondering).

pizza! Yum!

W: I offered to run a church errand at the restaurant supply store tomorrow with the Baboos. That sounds like a good idea, right? If they have your dishwasher, I'll ship it express, Sue.

esperanza said...

Has anybody heard from Andy lately?

kathy a. said...

Andy!!! Where aaaaarrre you? xoxo

Sue said...

Mmmm....pizza.

esperanza, the Easter dinner is at our place because no one else can accommodate hubby. Everyone brings a dish, so we only cook (as if I do the cooking - ha!) the turkey and stuffing. It looks like I'll be sending dirty serving dishes home with the family this time.

At least we've agreed not to have the dinner on Easter Sunday. By the time Sunrise service and the Big Deal worship are done - I'm done.

So it's not ideal, but at least it's Monday.

BIG AW: I have a new window in my office!!!! Remember how it was cracked for 12 years and the winter wind howled through it???? It's all better. **commence happy dance**

kathy a. said...

12 years? That's got to qualify for some kind of endurance award.

QWP, hope the headache's moved along.

Additional news about the fireplacing cancer last night, and it is not good. This man played an enormous role in my little area of work. They are forwarding cards and messages, so I'd better do some writing.

Liz said...

Paper plates, plastic cups and utensils.

Liz said...

Alternatively, china rental. It's a thing.

Sue said...

Sorry about your friend kathy. Cards and messages are always good for the soul.

Paper plates and cups have real potential. Yes, that may just work....

kathy a. said...

Liz, mind-meld! I'm all for paper goods in a time of dishwasher dysfunction or other need. And there is so much more plastic recycling now that I don't even feel bad about that.

Anonymous said...

Arg--just wrote a big old whine it got lost...

W: Have to decide whether to accompany my family to see other family 6 hours away. Would leave tomorrow, return Mon. I love my bro in law and sis in law and their kids, and have fun with them. But I am so bone tired. It has been such a draining year, and honestly the thought of being able to be here by myself and have some introvert time seems so nice. But decadent, and not really fair too.

But, I could get a ton of work I need to do done while they are gone, and then have time to spend with my kids when they return and are on spring break for a week. If I go, I will do a half-a$$ job of trying to work while I am there, and still have a ton to do over their (and my) vacation week.

The thought of hanging with fam sounds fun, but the thought of ordering in Chinese and watching movies only I would like, in my pajamas, sounds pretty darn awesome too!!

Trying to decide what to do that would recharge and help me make it through the rest of my school year.

I go back and forth and back and forth and.....
What to do pixies???

--Neighbor Lady

kathy a. said...

NL -- where would you be staying, if you go? If a hotel, everybody else could go off and do the fam things, and you can do alone things, and yay. If it's camping with family in their place, is there a way to carve out alone time? Because you need some of that. Or -- maybe you can designate some alone time next week? xoxo

kathy a. said...

Dirty secret -- I kinda liked work travel, because of the alone time in the hotel room.

Anonymous said...

We would stay with them.
Kids would sleep on inflatable beds in niece and nephew's rooms. We would be in guest room. I could carve out alone time there, and get some of my work done there, but not as much.

--NL

p.s. I hear you on the alone time in the hotel room. Sounds heavenly. Just realized that the last time I had a weekend without kids was about 3 years ago (but was with husband, which was nice). Last time I was just away (with a friend) was about 8 years ago.
Last time I had a day and evening truly alone? um........ maybe 12 years ago before first child born?

Sue said...

Agreed on the work travel introvert heaven of a nice hotel. It's really the only time I am alone. Love it.

NL, it sounds like you could use some quality rest to prepare for the remainder of the school year. At home or with the family, I hope you can refuel this weekend.

esperanza said...

*trying not to be jealous of NL's dilemma*

Very Related W: morning field trip to Middle Sized City with the Baboos turned into errand afternoon. In and out of carseats (the full, 5 point version because we are lightweights) 7 times, if I'm counting correctly. Exhausted. Corollary: not looking forward to summer.

esperanza said...

AW: clearly saving the environment because of "combining trips" and even running errands for other people while in Middle Sized City. Mother Earth, I expect some decent weather in return.

kathy a. said...

Esperanza rocks!

Also, I misread "mother earth" as "middle earth" (Canada), and I'm pretty sure Sue would ship you some snow right about now. Possibly also dishes, given the dishwasher situation.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, esperanza--didn't mean to whine about what is not really a bad dilemma to be in..... I think I am just having a hard time because I feel guilty that what I really want is to not go....
but that said, I do realize how lucky I am to have that option....
Sorry for all the errands and trips you had to do. All of that in and out of car sears is exhausting!

--Neighbor Lady

esperanza said...

Oh, don't feel bad about the whine, NL.

They can buckle themselves in, which is a blessing and a curse. I don't have to do it anymore, and anything Sweet is willing to do that will strengthen her hands, I try to let her. But, I am not kidding, it takes at least 5 full minutes to get them both focused on buckling and actually done. So...let's do the math...5 minutes times 7 carseat entrances = 35 minutes of me saying "buckle your seatbelts. Are you buckled?" This too shall pass. One more pound and Sweet is eligible for a booster, I think. I'll have to check the state laws.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Oh my goodness: thirty-five minutes of convincing Baboos to buckle. You are a saint, esperanza.

NL: you will definitely have to choose for yourself, but considering the stress you've had this year, and the catching up required, you definitely could justify the alone time.

W: it is now am hour and a half past E's bedtime. I'm sitting in a chair as old as my father, sitting in the hallway of a building built in the late 1940s, listening to my child refuse to sleep. Mr. Q and I keep taking turns trying. Uggggh.

esperanza said...

uuugggh, QWP. That's awful. Have so been there. I don't know how you would feel about this, nor do I know if E is old enough, but melatonin has become indispensable in away-from-home, hyped-up bedtime situations, for both Baboos. It just helps them turn it off so they can give in to the tired.

I hope she gives in soon, for everyone's sake. Ugh.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

W: continued uggggh. We went to check why she hadn't settled down, and the Revenge Pooker strikes again. I'm not saying she has control over these things, but when she really, really doesn't want to sleep, she frequently manages to pook. We're utterly redoing the bedtime routine, this time REALLY, REALLY trying to get this precise.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

AW: silence, at last!

W: two hours after bedtime, and people will soon be coming back from the evening service. Mr. Q and I are sitting in the hallway, ready to shush passersby.

Sue said...

esperanza, you are a saint. 35 "buckle-your-seatbelts" and keeping the carbon footprint down. Wow! And yes, you may have some snow. Any. Time. You. Like. In April, for example....

*whispers* I hope the silence continues QWP.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

W: while the silence continues in our room, it hasn't settled down enough outside our room enough that we can open our door and go to bed, without fear that it'll be so loud that it will awake E. Oh, and the family in the next room brought a toddler who has a stomach virus. ("Oh, don't worry! She's already had it for a day, and so it's on its way out. " Trying not to become a germaphobe, but seriously.)

esperanza said...

Sue, that's a big no thank you on the snow.

And I don't want to leave you with the impression that all of the "buckle your seatbelts" were sweet and kind. Ahem.

QWP, that is just wrong, wrong, wrong. Bark = stay at home. Period. They won't let bigger kids go back to school until 24 hours without an "episode." Same thing applies. (and why would they want to cope with a tummy bug away from home? Not my idea of a good time). I hope E slept well, and as late as possible.

kathy a. said...

Second the no bark rule. Not everyone wants that kind of souvenir, ya know?

kathy a. said...

Esperanza, any time you have to say something 35 times, and eventually all those messages work, you are a saint. Even if a few of the messages turn out on the cranky side.

Have to report on progress with a work albatross; and the past couple months have sucked. There are things that are fine to mention -- events with other albatrossi; unexpected illness and death in the family. And then there is all the other fireplacing crap, which is mostly inappropriate to share. Bleah.

kathy a. said...

oh, that was whinety in the extreme. just want a quiet week.

Sue said...

Agreed. Bark = stay home.

Whine away kathy - that's what we're here for.

W: Our office admin, who also sings in our choir, went home sick yesterday with a terrible cold. I specifically said to her (from a safe distance) "Please go home and take care of yourself. I know you're disappointed about missing the Cantata tomorrow, but there will be other Good Fridays. Just get well."

Guess who showed up this morning, dressed and ready to sing? Her head was all clogged up with Disgusto-Goo. Argh.

The choir director gently told her she couldn't sing with the choir, so she sat at the back of the church.

Seriously, what does it take??? Who does that???

esperanza said...

Methinks she might be related to the parents of the toddler-barker. They are both Canadian, presumably. Germ-carriers, stay home!

kathy a. said...

I don't think Canadians are the only germtastic offenders. Just sayin'.

esperanza said...

~snerfle~ You are correct, I'm sure. It was just a funny juxtaposition of whines from our Canadian pixies. Besmirches the "Canadians are soooo polite" reputation, eh?

W: Baboos and I were all set for a public library/pizza trip to the next town over. Public library closed for Good Friday. I'm as religious as the next guy, but c'mon. Separation of church and state, anyone? Pizza place was open.

kathy a. said...

One out of two -- that's at least something positive. Drat about the library closure, though. When girls need books, girls need books, amiright?

Sue said...

Lol! Fear not, we will keep our snow and our germs on this side of the border!

Library closures make Jesus cry. Just sayin'...

esperanza said...

It just about made me cry, since I had already talked Stay Home Baboo into agreeing with her Let's Go sister. Our books are not re-checkable any more, so we dropped them in the book drop. We are library book-less. Sadness.

Sue said...

W: The concert I was hoping to enjoy this evening via live-stream is not being streamed. Dang.

I suppose I should have gone. People will ask why I wasn't there. It's just....people. So. Many. People. Full church this morning. Full (different) church this evening for the concert. My inner socially-anxious-shy-little-girl is screaming at me this weekend.

Anyway, it's too late to worry about it. sigh.

esperanza said...

Late-breaking AW: Little Waylon, with teh fireplacing cancer, got really good news today. They are having to "look really hard" to find any evidence of disease. That means this icky chemo/antibody therapy is working well. It's not over, but huge gains after two rounds.

kathy a. said...

Deep breaths, Sue! It is really OK to have some quiet time right now, and probably someone will film the concert.

Yay, Waylon! Take that, fireplacing cancer. xoxo

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Oh esperanza, that is a wonderful AW.

W: E awoke at 4:30 and then for good at 5:30 this morning. I've been awake since she started stirring at 4:15.

AW: since then, E has been a pro at putting herself to bed. I've been a little bad and have put her in her playpen with her bottle, but she's loved it, and she napped amazingly today. Now she's already in bed.

W potential: do you think I'll be able to sneak up and steal the bottle when I go to bed? I don't want her to decide to drink 8-hour-old milk in the middle of the night.

AW: I volunteered to be the one to stay back and put E to bed, and miss the Good Friday service. Sue apparently understands why this is in the AW category. It's been a day full of people.

You guys, E has been in heaven here, with all the kids and interesting stuff going on. I just hope she doesn't catch anything.

kathy a. said...

Official opinion, seconded by dental and medical professionals: take the bottle. And yay! So glad she is having a great time, and tired enough for good sleep!

Queen of West Procrastination said...

I'm definitely going to do it. I normally wouldn't have given her the bottle in her crib, but after it was so hard to put her to bed last night, I was ready to try anything that involved her sleeping quickly.

Sue said...

Great news about Waylon! WooHoo!

I'm glad L'il E is having a good time. And yes, take the bottle, but be vewy, vewy quiet...*shhhh....* :)

Queen of West Procrastination said...

It was so funny. At first, we were being so careful, trying not to wake site while we were searching for her bottle. But it was somewhere in her blankets, and she was very soundly asleep. We ended up using our phones as flashlights, and rearranging her completely. (Bottle retrieved without incident!)

AW: we had a great night.

kathy a. said...

Yay, sleep!

I was going with ham for Easter, but my sweetie wants to do his mom's traditional Armenian shish-kebabs and pilaf. (There will be chicken, too, because lamb's not my favorite.) Probably should have shopped yesterday, huh?

Miranda said...

Honestly? I am never going to do enough to make Family Member with Mental Illness better, am I?

Cancer took my old neighborhood friend from elementary/middle school this week.

Work sucks in unbloggable ways.

AW: When FMwMI gets in a spell, my extended church family goes on high alert. A kid told her mom who told her minister who told my minister who gave me a heads up that someone went all PostSecret on social media. Another mom gave me the name of the site and my Tween son helped me find the account. FMwMI is with my mom today so I get some time to process.

AW: A good friend came over to help me prep for Easter and to go buy yarn.

AW: I had a great Seder. No one was stoned, overly intoxicated, or unpleasant. This is a first.

AW: I am mostly done getting ready for our very simple Easter tomorrow that is at my house which means I can work on laundry too.

AW: The weather is beautiful. I have been getting in lots of walks.

esperanza said...

oh, Miranda, dear. No, you can't fix it. Sorry about that and the work whines.

But so good to hear about a church family that cares about each other, and a good seder and "a very simple Easter" sounds REALLY good.

esperanza said...

Keep whining, pixies. I'll do an awards post sometime after I finish sewing the Easter dresses. That means it may wait till tomorrow.

kathy a. said...

((( Miranda ))) I'm so sorry. There is so much out of your control in a situation like this. But you have a fabulous support network there! xoxox

Miranda said...

FMwMI isn't ready to talk about the posts on social media. However, the list of adult leaders who are concerned has grown considerably.

Sue said...

((((((Miranda))))

kathy a. said...

Oh, Miranda. Is it possible to take those posts down? Do you have a mental health professional who can talk you through this, at least next week?

Stick with the supportive folks; any gawkers can just stuff it, in my opinion. (I'm speculating, but when a whole group of adults is expressing concern, not all of it may necessarily be friendly.) xoxo

Miranda said...

You know what is awful? The fact we don't have better supports for those with mental illness. I've recently met someone who also has a FMwMI and we both provide some much needed support. People who don't have a FMwMI (particularly the ones that are deemed a personality disorder) really don't get what it is like. I really hope they never have to.

Miranda said...

Yes, the posts are down I'm pretty sure most are supportive but one includes someone who has graced WW before.

Long sigh.

kathy a. said...

((( Miranda ))) Sending much love. Totally agree about not enough resources for families in this fix. xoxoxo

Queen of West Procrastination said...

(((Miranda)))

Late-breaking whine: my child barked all night. Thanks, friends who brought a sick toddler!

Old Skool: bark on my pillow. On all my blankets. On my bath towel (and she's sleeping wrapped in Mr. Q's, and I'm not using hers).

AW: going home, and everyone has been wonderfully helpful.

kathy a. said...

Oh, no!

esperanza said...

QWP, I will not send Ralph after the poor sick toddler, but the parents are another story. That's just mean. Poor Lil E. And poor QWP and Mr. Q. I hope she's on the mend.