August 20, 2007
we didn’t drown, but we might as well have
I was jolted awake this morning at SIX FORTY ONE am by the phone. Clearly, I thought, someone has died, because why else would ANYONE be calling us at SIX FORTY ONE on a SUNDAY morning?
Except today is Monday and we had all overslept. Dammit.
The phone call was from Charlie’s teacher, who wanted to know if I could sub for their aide, who is sick. I said of course! mostly because I wasn’t awake yet and was so happy no one was dead. And then I took the Universe’s Fastest Shower and ran around like a chicken with my head cut off until we were all ready to go.
Somehow, we were not late for school, which was awesome. But mostly I still feel like I’m not ready to start my day yet, even though it’s nearly 2:00 and the kid-free part of my day is nearly over. Gah.
Charlie announced first thing this morning that he “hates” school, which on a normal day would have made me really sad and would have resulted in lots of snuggles and a healthy serving of Mommy Guilt. But there was no time for that this morning, and we just bombed ahead and of course–OF COURSE!–he was having a GREAT time at school when I left, and actually SAID to me, “Mommy, do I have to go with you when you leave, or can I stay?”
Oh, you can stay, son. Believe me, YOU CAN STAY.
I went to the grocery today after school (on the list: EVERYTHING) and ran into a friend whose child starts school this week. She was saying how nice it must be to have my kids already back in school, and have time to get things done, and I thought, yes it WILL be nice, if I ever get caught up enough to DO ANYTHING. And then I had to run off and get milk and come home and do ten projects.
And now it’s nearly time to go get the kids.
On Saturday night, we had nearly six inches of rain in five hours at our house. The carpet in the sun porch is soaking wet (again) but the house didn’t flood (phew). Wade and I were both awake on and off all night, because the weather was so crazy, and yesterday people were calling and e-mailing to say ARE YOU OKAY? ARE YOU FLOODED? which was really nice. I’m still surprised that a tropical storm could cause so much of a problem in OKLAHOMA, which is nowhere NEAR the coast, but whatever. We’re battening the hatches for Hurricane Dean now, because apparently you never know with hurricanes.
I’m feeling a little that way about school, too, that it’s like this gigantic hurricane that we’ve been watching from a distance without any real sense of engagement because it isn’t supposed to hit YOUR house, at least not in any significant way, but then it picks up speed and slams into you when you’re not really ready and leaves your stuff scattered everywhere. Is that a good analogy?
Holy cow. Time to go get the kids.
Posted by Susan @ 12:57 pm • thinking about the weather
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August 20th, 2007 at 1:06 pm, gorillabuns Says:
i beginning to understand the currents amid our waters. i’m thankful we weren’t flooded and pray my child doesn’t pee in her pants today at school. again.
August 20th, 2007 at 3:39 pm, Moose Says:
Someone called me at 6:26 this morning and asked for the National Mint. There’s a witty response to that somewhere but I’M TOO TIRED TO THINK OF IT.
August 20th, 2007 at 4:14 pm, Susan Says:
Now THAT is funny.
What IS the proper response when someone calls asking for the National Mint? Anyone?
August 20th, 2007 at 5:05 pm, MamaChristy Says:
“What IS the proper response when someone calls asking for the National Mint?”
If it were in my house, do you think I would be answering the phone at this hour?
August 20th, 2007 at 6:05 pm, janet Says:
“What IS the proper response when someone calls asking for the National Mint?”
It’s your dime….
August 20th, 2007 at 6:58 pm, Crisanne Says:
I do like the hurricaine analogy. We start school this Thursday and I’m a bit afraid of the coming storms.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:04 pm, Caitlin Says:
We had a similar morning except in the midst of it all I also had to pull together a ‘costume’ for my youngest. Which as you all know is EXACTLY the kind of thing that makes parenting so rewarding. Ahem.
August 21st, 2007 at 7:12 am, Lisa Says:
Okay, I think I beat you all. I woke up way earlier than I needed to (because we are still on summer holidays here) to the sound of my husband cursing and the smell of dog poo. All.over.my.house.
Yeah, fun times huh?
August 21st, 2007 at 7:15 am, Susan Says:
Oooooh Lisa, you win. Sending vodka and Resolve.
So sorry.
August 21st, 2007 at 11:56 am, Heather Says:
our last name is white, so if someone called looking for the mint i’d disdainfully say, no, this is the white house. he he
August 21st, 2007 at 8:34 pm, Katy Says:
Um, yeah, we’re dealing with the dang hurricane all the way up here in Canada, so I can believe it about your sunporch.
All I can recommend is
1) A margarita, and
2) Online shopping.
August 22nd, 2007 at 3:13 pm, Jessica Ashley (Sassafrass) Says:
Oh how I understand. Those days when Lil E’s in school, my to-do list is a mile long. Impossibly long. And yet I beat myself up when I’ve only scratched off one or two things by the time he gets home. Always feel like I’m running running running, scarfing down a sandwich, grabbing grocery items off the shelf and then running some more. Maybe I should compare my day to his… What exactly has he done in those hours? Play with a truck, eat some mac & cheese, maybe pee on the big potty once or twice, take a nap. Nearly 3-year olds are SO unproductive. Now, don’t we all feel better?
August 23rd, 2007 at 3:43 am, Marisa Says:
One late night my high school friend called the local taxi company Friendly Taxi to pick her up from our house and take her home. Apparently she missdialed. When someone answered the phone she said,
“Hello, is this Friendly?”.
“No, this is UNfriendly!”
Click.
August 24th, 2007 at 6:18 am, CathyC Says:
Hi! new to your blog–I just posted on your fashion blog (as Cate). Anyway, if it’s not too much trouble, um, can you send some of that rain over here to south eastern Massachusetts? This has GOT TO BE the only place in the US that has seen ZERO rain this entire summer. No, I’m not kidding. People here are almost jealous of those flooded. Almost. We just want rain. Our lawns are D-E-A-D.
August 24th, 2007 at 6:32 am, Susan Says:
Cate, would it make you mad to hear that Oklahoma is TWENTY INCHES above the average for rainfall this year?
Probably.