I had pictures to share with you today, but I can't find my camera cable. Boo hoo. So, if I ever again figure out a way to get my pictures from the device to my computer, you will be the first to know.
Pictures of what, you ask?
Oh, just of our little miniature hurricane from this afternoon. No biggie.
I had a hard time sleeping last night, due to a late-night overdose of caffeine. So, it was really hard to roll out of bed this morning. Have I ever really confessed that that's exactly what happens? It's rather pathetic. My honey makes the coffee and gently shakes me. I ask for five more minutes. He grants it and then calls me again. Often, he will even turn down the covers and stand there to offer help because it really is that bad. I sort of roll over to my stomach and slide my first leg over the side of the mattress. Then the weight of that first leg sort of tugs the rest of me toward the floor, since my bed is high up off the ground and, you know, gravity and stuff.
So anyway, I rolled out of bed this morning with more difficulty than usual. I made it to work and my boss had taken the day off, so there was much knitting at my desk today. Plus, I raided the youth group's candy stash, so there were jawbreakers too. It was a nice, non-accomplishing day at work, followed by billing frustration at Emma's school. I spent the better part of my evening trying to unravel that mess, but I think it comes down to having been charged twice for science club in April and twice in May. I think. Plus, well, maybe plus, a check, that never cleared, so they must have lost it. Yeesh.
But this afternoon, in between the difficulties, Andrew and I popped some popcorn and sat outside waiting for the storm that had been promised. There had been warnings all day and you could just feel the energy crackling in the air. The wind whipped around in all sorts of directions - not nearly as organized as most afternoon storms. Tree branches fell and our legs were soaked with rain so quickly, as it came onto the porch nearly sideways! So we retreated indoors, only to hear a crack of really close thunder, followed by several smaller cracks. Those made me nervous until I figured out that it was hail. Oh, I scrambled for my camera faster than you can imagine! We enjoyed the premature darkness and the sound of the hail pelting our roof. Then we went to pick up Emma from painting camp, only to discover that she wasn't feeling well.
Once we were home, I popped our thermometer under her tongue and her eyes widened with anticipation of the great drama that was sure to unfold presently. We discovered she was running an impressive fever, so that cancelled out any other plans we had for the evening. And she made sure that we were all duly impressed by her fever - how, surely, no one would want to sit in her spot on the couch since she'd been sitting there while she had a fever, and how it was tragic that she couldn't fully enjoy the rainy afternoon due to her fever, and how her dinner was not palatable due to her fever, yet somehow, popsicles seemed to be just the trick. Other than a headache, she's pretty much asymptomatic, which is almost scarier, if you know what I mean, moms. I'm hoping it's just one of those random things that passes by morning. I'll let you know if it's really as dire as she believes it to be.
Daily Bliss: laughing so hard that I nearly peed my pants, and nephew blankie progress
Wake-up Playlist: Nada. Nothing at all in my overtired head this morning. At least not that I recall...
Showing posts with label rain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rain. Show all posts
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Focused? Nope.
I was utterly bored today, for a good portion of the day. That made it so very difficult to focus on anything important (not that I have much important work to do).
But once I got home, things started looking up. Or at least more entertaining.
I followed a couple of new-job-idea-leads while the kids practiced their myriad instruments and generally made noises all around me. I managed to get some dinner going and to suddenly toss a serious, future-iffic conversation at my honey the minute he walked in the door (Honey, what about if I just join the circus? I mean, I'm talented, right honey? Right? Honey, why are you rubbing your temples already?). It's not wonder that he sometimes comes home late.
He did the dishes for me, even if it might have been an attempt at finding some peace & quiet, because I will generally not be found anywhere near a sink full of dirty dishes.
I forced the elder of my noisy children to play Uno with the youngest of them and they managed to turn even that into a serious competition. And I tried to knit. But I was reading blogs too.
My head is just elsewhere and it is refusing to be put back in line. I have my little tricks and gimmicks for reigning in my mind and I will use them when it becomes absolutely necessary. It is almost absolutely necessary.
But maybe not just yet.
Chris has some money in his iTunes account that's been sitting there for a while. It's a good thing I didn't know about it before. It might have mysteriously disappeared. He bought a couple new albums of which I highly approve (Iron & Wine's new one and the She & Him album that I've heard is really good - he kinda looked a little dreamy-eyed about Zooey Deschanel, but I don't mind.). I've been on something of a folk kick for a while. It seems that's all my subconscious is singing in the morning these days, too.
Oh my. I lost track of my point. Surprised? Me neither.
So, he called me down to check out M. Ward's new album because he was liking it and that was his first mistake. iTunes, for me, is like an endless tunnel. Once I get in, I will never find my way out. It was not long before I had commandeered the mouse and found two or three more albums that I was strongly suggesting he should purchase. Um, Patrick Watson? I might love you. It's a good thing he's so open to suggestion. Or else it's a good thing that he thinks I'm cute enough to buy music for.
Whatever.
Now, I have a shawl to block (hear that, Mom?) and I need to obey some lovely rain that is calling me to the bathtub.
Maybe that doesn't happen to anybody else.
I love to open my salvaged window right next to my claw-foot tub and listen to the rivulets of water smacking the pavement of the driveway as they roll off the side of the roof. And sometimes, that is even a trick I use to bring my brain back into submission when it has decided to go a-wandering - giving it something so lovely on which to focus.
But we are not resorting to tricks yet, are we? That's what I'm telling my brain for right now. I suspect it is a little skittish and I don't want it to run off in the other direction under the threat of being forced to behave.
Daily Bliss: watching a papa cardinal and his baby peck around by my mom's bird feeder
Wake-up Playlist: Iron & Wine - Resurrection Fern
But once I got home, things started looking up. Or at least more entertaining.
I followed a couple of new-job-idea-leads while the kids practiced their myriad instruments and generally made noises all around me. I managed to get some dinner going and to suddenly toss a serious, future-iffic conversation at my honey the minute he walked in the door (Honey, what about if I just join the circus? I mean, I'm talented, right honey? Right? Honey, why are you rubbing your temples already?). It's not wonder that he sometimes comes home late.
He did the dishes for me, even if it might have been an attempt at finding some peace & quiet, because I will generally not be found anywhere near a sink full of dirty dishes.
I forced the elder of my noisy children to play Uno with the youngest of them and they managed to turn even that into a serious competition. And I tried to knit. But I was reading blogs too.
My head is just elsewhere and it is refusing to be put back in line. I have my little tricks and gimmicks for reigning in my mind and I will use them when it becomes absolutely necessary. It is almost absolutely necessary.
But maybe not just yet.
Chris has some money in his iTunes account that's been sitting there for a while. It's a good thing I didn't know about it before. It might have mysteriously disappeared. He bought a couple new albums of which I highly approve (Iron & Wine's new one and the She & Him album that I've heard is really good - he kinda looked a little dreamy-eyed about Zooey Deschanel, but I don't mind.). I've been on something of a folk kick for a while. It seems that's all my subconscious is singing in the morning these days, too.
Oh my. I lost track of my point. Surprised? Me neither.
So, he called me down to check out M. Ward's new album because he was liking it and that was his first mistake. iTunes, for me, is like an endless tunnel. Once I get in, I will never find my way out. It was not long before I had commandeered the mouse and found two or three more albums that I was strongly suggesting he should purchase. Um, Patrick Watson? I might love you. It's a good thing he's so open to suggestion. Or else it's a good thing that he thinks I'm cute enough to buy music for.
Whatever.
Now, I have a shawl to block (hear that, Mom?) and I need to obey some lovely rain that is calling me to the bathtub.
Maybe that doesn't happen to anybody else.
I love to open my salvaged window right next to my claw-foot tub and listen to the rivulets of water smacking the pavement of the driveway as they roll off the side of the roof. And sometimes, that is even a trick I use to bring my brain back into submission when it has decided to go a-wandering - giving it something so lovely on which to focus.
But we are not resorting to tricks yet, are we? That's what I'm telling my brain for right now. I suspect it is a little skittish and I don't want it to run off in the other direction under the threat of being forced to behave.
Daily Bliss: watching a papa cardinal and his baby peck around by my mom's bird feeder
Wake-up Playlist: Iron & Wine - Resurrection Fern
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
At Long Last
The sky broke its long silence today.
We finally had a good, heavy rain.
I'd heard it was going to happen, but I doubted.
I watched the sky all day, straining my eyes for a heavy-laden cloud.
It felt a little muggier, but it has been so hot and dry (record-setting, in fact) that I decided it had all been a cruel joke. No rain would be coming.
I picked up Emma and we settled in at home to read a bit of Anne of Green Gables before we picked up Andrew from an after-school club, and when we stepped outside to get get back in the car, the air was still. And that's when I knew it was coming.
There's a special kind of before-storm still that we get around here. It's like the trees and the air and the critters have all drawn in a deep, anticipatory breath.
By the time we got home, the clouds were darkening and ganging up on our town.
At the first crack of thunder, I put down all my chores and went to my porch. My porch and I haven't spent enough time together this year. Blame it on whatever you will. But this was a moment not to be missed. So I snuck the book out there with me and got caught. Emma was also drawn to the porch and scolded me, "are you reading ahead?" I just nodded.
We felt the cool air swirling around us, fighting with the hot air as the winds picked up.
Andrew joined us soon and my two children were suddenly very chatty.
I admonished them to hush. Listen. Wait.
And finally, the rain came. It kicked up the dust and surprised the love bugs. My parched yard flooded. And the wind knocked my corn clean over. We didn't think about the side of the house and my neighbor's fence forming a wind tunnel when we planted all those seeds. Some of it may recover. If not, it's just a lesson learned.
And when it was all over, an amazing double rainbow spanned the sky.
The first rain after our long, dry season is always so welcome. We were not the only ones in our neighborhood sitting on a porch, waiting for the deluge.
Daily Bliss: finally finishing up a dress that's been sitting around in a state of error. it was a small fix, but i'm glad it's done.
We finally had a good, heavy rain.
I'd heard it was going to happen, but I doubted.
I watched the sky all day, straining my eyes for a heavy-laden cloud.
It felt a little muggier, but it has been so hot and dry (record-setting, in fact) that I decided it had all been a cruel joke. No rain would be coming.
I picked up Emma and we settled in at home to read a bit of Anne of Green Gables before we picked up Andrew from an after-school club, and when we stepped outside to get get back in the car, the air was still. And that's when I knew it was coming.
There's a special kind of before-storm still that we get around here. It's like the trees and the air and the critters have all drawn in a deep, anticipatory breath.
By the time we got home, the clouds were darkening and ganging up on our town.
At the first crack of thunder, I put down all my chores and went to my porch. My porch and I haven't spent enough time together this year. Blame it on whatever you will. But this was a moment not to be missed. So I snuck the book out there with me and got caught. Emma was also drawn to the porch and scolded me, "are you reading ahead?" I just nodded.
We felt the cool air swirling around us, fighting with the hot air as the winds picked up.
Andrew joined us soon and my two children were suddenly very chatty.
I admonished them to hush. Listen. Wait.
And finally, the rain came. It kicked up the dust and surprised the love bugs. My parched yard flooded. And the wind knocked my corn clean over. We didn't think about the side of the house and my neighbor's fence forming a wind tunnel when we planted all those seeds. Some of it may recover. If not, it's just a lesson learned.
And when it was all over, an amazing double rainbow spanned the sky.
The first rain after our long, dry season is always so welcome. We were not the only ones in our neighborhood sitting on a porch, waiting for the deluge.
Daily Bliss: finally finishing up a dress that's been sitting around in a state of error. it was a small fix, but i'm glad it's done.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Suspension
I ended up working at home today, which is probably a good thing. We still didn't have our computers and stuff all up and running in the office (after we were struck by lightning last week), so I brought all my stuff home, opened my windows, turned on some good music, and...
got distracted.
It's been cloudy and breezy all day and the promising scent of rain floated through my windows. It called me out to my porch for a bit. It was just a tiny minute, but it was so nice. I talked to a dove and said hello to a Papa Mockingbird.
I talked to my brother and to Julianna. I did laundry and dishes. I deconstructed a dress that needs re-constructing. And, I mean, I got my work done too, mostly.
And with all that, I still feel like I'm in some state of suspended animation. I'm waiting for my honey to come home. I'm waiting on some decisions about what to do with my kids over the summer. I'm waiting to see what will come of my job situation. So, no matter how much I get done, so much feels undone and there seems to be nothing I can do about it.
I have a few more tasks to accomplish before bed tonight. I don't even want to tackle them. Maybe it's just that I don't think they'll make me feel any more accomplished, what with all the big stuff out there, waiting to be solved.
The rain loomed and flirted with my parched lawn all afternoon. It finally burst out at the most inopportune moment - Emma and I were on our way in to Publix to pick up a chicken. The wind blew my skirt up and around in many embarrassing ways as I tried to hold onto it with one hand, struggling to keep the umbrella in the other, simultaneously sheltering my little one from the fierce onslaught. She squealed and I screamed and the boys who were gathering errant carts smiled at the two of us.
I'm not worried or stressed about the undone things - yet. But when they do all come tumbling together, I promise to squeal loud enough for all to hear.
DAILY BLISS: open windows
got distracted.
It's been cloudy and breezy all day and the promising scent of rain floated through my windows. It called me out to my porch for a bit. It was just a tiny minute, but it was so nice. I talked to a dove and said hello to a Papa Mockingbird.
I talked to my brother and to Julianna. I did laundry and dishes. I deconstructed a dress that needs re-constructing. And, I mean, I got my work done too, mostly.
And with all that, I still feel like I'm in some state of suspended animation. I'm waiting for my honey to come home. I'm waiting on some decisions about what to do with my kids over the summer. I'm waiting to see what will come of my job situation. So, no matter how much I get done, so much feels undone and there seems to be nothing I can do about it.
I have a few more tasks to accomplish before bed tonight. I don't even want to tackle them. Maybe it's just that I don't think they'll make me feel any more accomplished, what with all the big stuff out there, waiting to be solved.
The rain loomed and flirted with my parched lawn all afternoon. It finally burst out at the most inopportune moment - Emma and I were on our way in to Publix to pick up a chicken. The wind blew my skirt up and around in many embarrassing ways as I tried to hold onto it with one hand, struggling to keep the umbrella in the other, simultaneously sheltering my little one from the fierce onslaught. She squealed and I screamed and the boys who were gathering errant carts smiled at the two of us.
I'm not worried or stressed about the undone things - yet. But when they do all come tumbling together, I promise to squeal loud enough for all to hear.
DAILY BLISS: open windows
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