Homestretch

Current mood: sore

Well, if all goes according to our wishes, we are entering the last phase of this living arrangement. Travis will be here Wednesday. I am so glad. Yeah, I'll have him putting aluminum sealant on the roof and putting the hardware the kids ripped out of the walls of the bathroom back up and putting new blades on the fans on the porch and stuff like that, but I am just so glad he's going to be here.

I've been trying really hard to hold it all together and I think I've done a reasonable job of it. I haven't killed the kids yet, which is sort of important. I've not gotten everything finished that I wanted done by this point, but there's a lot of it done. I didn't have time to have a freak out over my mother, but I was extremely scared for a while (she's home, by the way, and doing better). I did make time to have a teensy freak out after my brother's little nuclear meltdown on me.

My Aunt Betty died last week too. Mom didn't learn of it until Friday and I didn't learn of it until that night. I am sad about it, but I am ok.

I am working again. I have two new contracts and maybe a third. I am delivering a little boy to and from school and I am dog walking. The third is for animal waste pickup. The lady wants me to do that for her mother. I am not making much yet, but that will come. This is my litmus test for personal assisting. I know I can charge more in Columbia and I am pretty confident the people there will be more receptive to the idea. I am enjoying myself. That's the key. Plus, I am getting a pretty fair amount of exercise in (big, huge dog walking makes your shoulders sore from leash training them. They are still very young and are learning manners.- St. Bernard and Bulldog) and I again have my business income and write-offs. The exercise is big too, because going to the gym has almost disappeared from my life.

The biggest reason I am glad Travis will be here is that I just need him. I miss him terribly. He works like a fiend there and I feel awful that I am not there to take care of him. I miss having him to take care of. Yeah, I do take care of the kids. I am pleased to do that too, but it is nothing like taking care of Travis. Letting him go back is going to be rough. I've said it before and I feel guilty for saying it at all, but this type of separation is in some (many) ways harder than a
deployment. There is no arguing with a deployment. They are just gone. This situation was a choice. I don't want to regret it.

Today is the first day for about four or five I haven't picked up something to paint with. Instead, I walked the dogs and then headed for Home Depot for more paint stuff and the rest of the siding stuff for the front of the house and some plants to make the place look pretty outside. I just hope I can get the inside looking that nice again. I planted for about two hours this afternoon and then cleaned up out there. Have I mentioned yet how sore I am? I feel like my hip joints are about to drop my legs from my body and I hurt. I keep telling myself this will pass. I'm not thinking that it will pass for at least another two weeks.

I survived my first week as a high school parent. It wasn't that bad and somehow it seems like La Princessa is experiencing fewer issues. I am sure that is, in part, a result of the wanker not being around. I am excited for her and all the fun she is having and all that is to come her way.

The Man-Child got to wrap up the week at the Waiting Families' pizza party at IPC. We carpooled over with the Tomster and his mother and youngest brother. The boys had a blast. It was fun to watch TMC have such a good time and giggle. He won enough tickets on the games to earn himself a prize. His choice- a water weenie. I have always hated those things. It was all the excitement on the way home. I'm sure you can imagine all the fun a truck full of boys could have with a water weenie. Gestures, motions, phrases. Allow me to share- purple mushroom, one eyed snake, there were more but I was too amazed about what they were saying to remember. Yes, me, embarassed at boys.

I've got work tomorrow and the thrift shop. I have to clean and do laundry and I really need to get some more painting done.

Know anyone who wants to buy my house later this month?

Oh, I'm still sore.

Currently listening : I Think We're Gonna Be Alright By Rob Russell & The Sore Losers Release date: 2002-10-15