Check Your Calendars PA-LEASE!

Note: Today is July 7th.

How is it that in the past three days, no fewer than seven people have confessed to me that they are already mourning a summer passed? Yesterday a co-worker actually wickedly whispered in my ear, "After the 4th, it feels like summer is over." Now I just didn't know what to say to that because I feel like my summer has just begun and I have worked long and hard to reprogram myself not to wish the moment, the day, the holiday, the season, the year, my life away. I have expelled great effort to resist falling into nay saying and dooms daying. So as said co-worker was halfway out the door on his way to a meeting in the middle of the absolutely perfect day, I valiently fought the urge to tell him to bundle up and instead offerred, "Ah...but summer is a state of mind." I'm not sure he fully appreciated or embraced my pat comment. But it's true...oh so true! Sadly, I fear he doesn't get that. Hopefully, he does get it before the middle of October.

The next time I see him I think I'll remind him that there are no fewer than 78 days of summer left to savor and enjoy, but really who's counting?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f06QZCVUHg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZeeELBWkJc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WXIom2IT1M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vSRa-qlKTo

Not Me! Monday

I certainly did not take my kids to the neighborhood carnival yesterday with the sole intent of using up our remaining ride tickets. Then I did not buy $20 worth of additional tickets only to have to give them away because my son's friend developed a sudden and severe case of motion sickness.

The same Scrambler ride that did him in is most definitely not the same ride that my daughter almost passed out on the day before because we would never intentionally scare the wits out of her a couple of months before we are Disney-bound. My hubby did not implore the ride operator to stop the ride, let our daughter off and cheat every one else out of their fair share of dizzy fun.

I did not say a prayer and than excuse myself to the bathroom (not a gross porta potty) so I didn't have to watch when my Dad agreed to go on the scariest ride at the carnival with my 8 year old son.

There is no way that I passed up the opportunity to see The English Beat yesterday for free. And it simply is not true that their show was on just before Elvis Costello (not also free), so not one of my hubby's favorites. I am not passing up fun for sleep after a busy week of vacation.

Even though I had a quiet night at home, I sure didn't have trouble sleeping. I absolutely did not wake up at 5:00 a.m. and lay in bed until 7:00 a.m. just stressing about all of the things that had to happen before 9:00 a.m. today.

I was not at all relieved when my kids decided that they didn't want to decorate their bikes for the children's parade or walk with scouts or little league. I wasn't the least bit content to just sit on the curb with friends and critique the parade and its participants.

I'm sorry, but I didn't skip church yesterday in favor of a run.

I did not have or enjoy a television and computer-free weekend and it didn't make me feel like I had a lot more free time.

I did not take my kids for haircuts this week only for my hubby to tell me that he didn't notice any difference in their dos.

After watching a story on the news this morning about pool drains, I did not put graphic images of evisceration in my kids' minds because I don't believe in parenting with fear.

When the neighbor kids came over last night, I did not watch with nostalgia as an innocent game of wiffle turned into all the kids being in the pool clothes and all. The inner child in me did not secretly want to join them.

I did not just watch the 'evil empire' come back and score 10 runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to win the game 17-16! There is no way that I got tears in my eyes and then forgot all about the Brewers who were reeling from a certain win to an unbelievable loss.

I did not wear my favorite pink skirt again today... and it was not the third day in a row!

4th of July fireworks certainly did not literally scare the crap out of one of my cats.

Today I am Thankful For...

The men and women who sacrifice so much for us in service of our country for great risk, meager pay and often not enough recognition. I ask myself..."Self, would I want that job? Would I want one of my loved ones to have that job?" I am eternally grateful that there are men and women who are able to answer those questions affirmatively.

A week of vacation. It is always fun to get away, but sometimes a week off at home going nowhere is exactly what I need to relax and recharge my battery.

A family game of mini golf yesterday. It was fun for all ages. Sometimes it's hard to find things we can all enjoy and excel at. Boys and girls often like different things...8 year olds and 4 year olds don't always agree on what constitutes fun, but mini golf pleases every one. Bocce ball also fits that bill.

2 cardio classes this week and a long run, and it's only Friday.

We went car shopping this week. I have resisted the minivan for long enough. The one we test drove was a virtual family room on wheels. It had way more than we need, but I think I'm finally seeing the appeal. We worked with a salesman who was professional and really the antithesis of other car salesmen we have encountered.

A heartfelt letter from an old friend that I have been on the outs with. It meant so much to me that she took the time to reach out to me once more and reminded me that I need not rush to judgement.

Games of backgammon even if I cannot dethrone my hubby, the champ.

Chivalry and citronella. Last night my hubby filled all of our torches with citronalla oil, he lit an Off candle and gave me my own personal mosquito repelling fan. Despite all his efforts, I still managed to get bit at least 3 times!

Our community 4th of July festival and the local car dealers who sponsor an awesome fireworks display.

LISTEN AND YOU WILL HEAR

We are on vacation. We are on a ship. Me, hubby, kids, my Mom and my in-laws. It is the last day of our last vacation together. It is our last vacation 'together' because I know my Mom will be leaving us soon. She already looks like death: her shrinking stature, colorless skin and sunken in eyes.

Suddenly there is distress and we have to evacuate the boat. I secure my children's life jackets in a hurry so that I still have time to help my weak Mom with hers. This happens every time. My subconscious is still trying to save her. I want every hour, minute and even second possible with her even if it's not like it used to be.

We pile on a raft and navigate the flotsam and jetsam in our path to the only relief in sight...an iceberg. Sinking ship to frozen, barren iceberg - we have just gone seemingly from bad to worse and this is causing me to panic. How will I protect my children? How will I shelter my Mom?

The suddenly sharp ringing wind chime outside one of my bedroom windows startles me awake and my rising panic turns to peace as their melodic clanging echoes in my ear. These chimes hung on my Mom's front porch until, well...not long ago. Just this weekend my husband hung them where I am able to hear them and to feel my Mom's presence when I need to most.

I know I have to stop worrying about whether or not I did enough, but I need permission from her. She is my Mom...after all, and I will always listen to whatever she tells me whenever I can hear her. This morning, I heard her loud and clear.

Not Me! Monday

• I did not take more pictures of my cats than of my kids this past week and I am not one of "those" people who think every thing they do is cute. But it is...just look at them!

• I did not have more fun making spiders out of Styrofoam balls, pink and purple pipe cleaners and bright colored feathers than my daughter the other night. I did not covet the box of art supplies my aunt stows away in her closet because all of those pretty,shiny, sparkly things do not make me feel like I am 5 again myself.

• There is no way that I hung around the ball park Sunday after my son's last regular season game watching the next game because it is impossible that I am already missing little league baseball.

• I would never wear matching outfits with my 4 year old daughter. I certainly did not wear a skirt that matched the dress she was wearing to my brother's for dinner last night.

• Tonight is not the first night since summer vacation started that I have asked my kids to read before bed. I am not already breaking my rules about reading every day.

• I did not buy myself not 1, but 2 pairs of new running shoes last week because they were on sale and they were pink.

• I am not excited that Real World Cancun is on now because there is no way that I find any value in watching horny, immature housemates party and fight night after night. And I am absolutely not Tivoing The Bachelorette right now either!

• I did not sign my kids up for camp Wednesday even though I will be home. I do not think I deserve a whole day to myself to just do whatever whenever. No! Not Me!

Boys

Foes on the field...friends in life.

Grateful Friday

Today I give thanks for...

• Last night was breakfast for dinner. My daughter took a couple bites and said, "This dinner is glorious." Of course, she didn't eat much for lunch. I packed a peanut butter sandwich in her lunch yesterday and my girl doesn't do sandwiches. She doesn't like bread unless it's smothered in butter and garlic. I convinced her she had to try it, but she told me she didn't end up eating it because she thought it was rotten. Nice try! Today she is happy with Wheat Thins and pepperoni.
  
• I'm leaving work early today so I can go listen to my brother speak at a conference and then get a birthday present for my friend's big day, which just happens to be today. She's coming over for a little cheer tonight.
  
• My kids are having fun at camp. My daughter had the quivering lip when I left her Monday morning, but when my hubby picked her up that afternoon, she cried because she didn't want to leave. My son has no problem at all walking up to a complete stranger who has a ball and making fast friends.
  
• Summer means relaxed schedules for every one. Next week I only have to go into the office one day.
  
• Air conditioning.
• I talked to one of my Mom's friends the other day. Well, she's my friend too, but I know her through my Mom. She called just to ask how I was doing and to tell me that she talks to my Mom every day. It means so much to know that my Mom's memory lives on with others too.
• Big, fat peonies. The color is breathtaking...not pink, but not quite purple either. A perfect combination.
• The way that I sometimes surprise myself. I came home from work yesterday and I felt like dog meat. I had a 10 minute cat nap (with my cats) and then I woke up and went for a run. A 4 mile run made me feel human again. This morning, I got up and went for an early morning walk. I have greatly missed this weekly tradition.
• That I have my priorities straight enough to know that I should be more concerned with the state of our country and the slippery slope towards socialism we are on than Wacko Jacko. This morning I had to turn the news off because the droves of people flocking to LA to pay him homage was making me angry. Why don't people care that much about other more important things? I know he was the King of Pop and I even like his music, but I can't say I have much respect for the man.
• Fresh and cheap berries.
• I'm not afraid to get dirty and I was able to get the grass stain out of my skirt. Yes...on Father's Day we were playing a serious game of wiffle and I slid into first base (or halfway across my yard) in my skirt and I wasn't even safe.