Finally....
the bags (3) are packed and we seem to have just about every type of iPod, DVD player, gadget packed to keep the kids occupied (I have 3 books and tha ability to sleep pretty much anywhere nowadays).. It was strange re-packing some of the bigger bags - one hadn't been used since my last time in UK and found a few things kicking around in there that brought back mixed memories......
Rory picked last night to break his cycle of being dry at night - great timing. Washing machine has been in use and much muttering (not the good kind) has been coming from me......
So if you see a bedraggled looking mumof4 in Chicago later today, trying not to lose patience with her (current) husband and counting said number of offspring, whilst trying to look in holiday mode - well that will be me - please feel free to say hi....and by tomorrow we'll hopefully have slept a little and made it through Dublin to a family holiday home we have never seen, have no directions to, but is apparently so far away from other houses that kids' screams don't affect anyone.... Mmmm. We'll see.
Ciao.............!
look stressed at the fact that I still haven't begun packing for any of us????
Erm no. Procrastinating though? Oh yes. on an Olympic medal worthy basis.
I practically have all weekend to pack I have decided. And they do have shops over there.....
A fun filled weekend is planned.
With treats.....
This morning, Bee asked me to take a photo of her before school - she wanted to show this to a boy in her class who had not believed something she had said...
So we made our way into the garage as Paddy sussed what we were up to and followed us, saying:
"Oh, you should put on a bikini like the real girls do - they drape themselves over cars in bikinis y'know!"
I was speechless. He is EIGHT for goodness' sake - how on earth can he know such stuff???
Today I headed back to 'Phantom 8' which is a local tattoo parlour that also specialises in body piercing. They sell a different type of ring/stud combo than most shops - I fancied a new one for the summer and also needed to by another stud bit for mine that came loose. (I only have my belly button pierced). I was, probably the most 'normal' looking prudish person to be going in there.
It is very clean in there. First thing I heard was the whizzing sound of the tattoo gun in a different room. There were two young girls waiting by the counter also - no one was there to help them. I looked in the display cabinets at the different jewellery they had there - these girls weren't looking at these things at all so I guessed they had either been helped or they were not getting piercings (they had a fair few between them, but they still looked very out of place in the shop - says me!). New white converse sneakers, designer jeans etc.
So we are all waiting for someone to come and see to us. The girls are chatting and seem friendly - I ask one of them about her nose piercing as I really quite fancy getting that done (although Hubby has vetoed it for now). They were telling me about it and I asked if they were here for a tattoo. The young girl was telling me she was - it was her first and she wanted to know if she needed an appointment or could just get it done as a walk in. At this stage the phone rang and out of the back (piercing) room came the female artist, herself covered in tattoos and piercings and she answered the phone, took an appointment and then told us she wouldn't be long but she was 'in the middle of a piercing.' So I chat some more to the young girls about the tattoo and she shows me what she is planning to get done - a Japenese (apparently) symbol AND the word 'eternity' above it - as that is what the symbol allegedly meant (I didn't ask her what I was thinking - which was 'are you SURE that is the symbol for it?'). She went on to tell me it is a surprise for her boyfriend - she is going to get it done on the back of her neck - and that they have been together for 4 years and she wants to show her committment to his heritage.
Mmm.
At this stage, whoever is getting tattooed in the next room (there are no doors) starts shrieking. I mean SERIOUSLY making some noise - almost like sadistic enjoyment of pain, either that or he was getting electrocuted....and the young girl's eyes just froze and she looked at ME for reassurance (maybe I look like I have loads of hidden tattoos?) and the tattoo artist was yelling 'Dude, shut the fuck up, man,' and there is a real pause as we half expected the guy to storm out and start throwing things - if he was, indeed, not electrocuted, of course.
So I think tattoos are pretty cool but I have A LOT of friends who have them and really wish they had never done it. They have bought dodgy creams on line to try and burn them off - another pal was relieved that a septic wound from her botched c-section meant more surgery and previous tattoo was cut out. Another friend admits she only got it done whilst she was drunk . . .
But this girl looked so bloody young. And call me a skeptic old mum of 4, but getting one for a guy (at least it wasn't his name), well, it just seemed a bit permanent. When she came to pay her deposit I saw her purse and she had the vertical CO drivers license which means she is not yet 21. So young. I seriously wanted to put on an agony aunt voice and ask her if she had seriously thought it through.
Piercing client came out and paid for her 'piercing.' She had a fair few done already and as she stood there, looking very goth like I was looking for redness around any piercing sites for where she may have just gotten it done. None were visible so I was wondering if it was 'elsewhere' and I don't mean tongue as she seemed to be talking just fine. (It was $79 whereever it was!).
Yes, old, a prude and bloody nosey too.
Young about to be tattooed girl then showed the tattoo artist her plan for the proposed tattoo which she had printed out - and seriously they discussed it for no more than 20 seconds. The appointment was made for 6.30 tonight and the $50 deposit was paid. I wonder if she showed up for it. On her way out, the assistant mentioned that if it was her first tattoo (seems it was) she should make sure she eats beforehand....I think we all stood there with a puzzled look and then didn't really want to think further about it......
Her mate said she would come back with her at the scheduled time to hold her hand. I wished her good luck as she left.
On going task of sorting out closet, erm, is just not happening. Admittedly today was about taking the kids to a faraway birthday party and then waiting for a loooooong time to get the boys' haircut (Bee says they all now look like they are in the military).
But after putting up a new shelf in my closet yesterday (just me - very proud of myself - hasn't fallen down as of yet....) and sorting out all my tops, I have a slight problem with all the things I still need to find a home for.
These were previously on the shelves I removed to make space for a hanging shelf. Mmm. No room to hang them up despite a few of these looking like they are on hangers.
So my next idea was to take out all my going out, rarely used shoes from the other shelves....
but that then leaves the question as to where these should go. In my defense I can say that a lot of these were really good bargains AND whilst I often need to try on about 3 outfits each time I am going out properly on a night time, I can usually decide the shoes straight away - or I come down the stairs with 1 shoe and 1 boot and ask Bee/babysitter to help me choose which ones to wear.
Oh and on my fireplace are a few of my handbags/purses that also need a home.
Hubby did mention today that if someone came and stole all our clothes (wtf?) then there is very little he would miss. So one thought was I take all his stuff to the charity shop, tell him someone came and stole his stuff and then take over his walk in closet and then I *might* actually have room to sort things out. Just a thought.
PS - We inherited the white carpets when we moved in. Not even I would be daft enough to pick white carpets in the bedrooms with the kids. . . . .
And I'm alright
Standing in the streetlights here
Is this meant for me
My time on the outside is over
We don't know how you're spending
all of your days
Knowing that love isn't here
You see the pictures
But you don't know their names
Cause love isn't here
Chorus
And I can't do this by myself
All of these problems, they're all in your head
And I can't be somebody else
You took something perfect
And painted it red
No sympathy
When shouting out is all you know
Behind your lies
I can see the secrets you don't show
We don't know how you're spending
All of your days
Knowing that love isn't here
You see the pictures
But you don't know their names
Cause love isn't here
Chorus
And I can't do this by myself
All of these problems, they're all in your head
And I can't be somebody else
You took something perfect
And painted it red
When - you took something perfect
And painted it red
You take the best things from
Then everything gets empty
That's not a world that I need
Oooh, you take the best things from me
Then everything gets empty
That's not a world that I need
Oohhhh
Chorus
And I can't do this by myself
All of these problems, they're all in your head
And I can't be somebody else
You took something perfect
And painted it "red"
When - you took something perfect
And painted it red
(repeat)
You took something perfect
And painted it red
What item will someone ALWAYS find in your kitchen pantry?
OLIVE OIL.........
and about 13 different boxes of cereal . . . .
The older kids have 3 1/2 days of school left. I need to sort 'thank you' cards and presents for their teachers. I must go and grab a gift card for Bee's teacher who is moving out of State too.
I have a sitter booked on Tuesday - it will be my last real chance to do things kid free before we leave for Europe. The list of things to do for Tuesday is growing by the minute. Ah well.
I booked another sitter for Thursday night when we are going out with friends. That sitter arrived this Thursday getting her weeks mixed up. Whoops.
One of Hubby's relatives passed away in Ireland last night. He had been suffering from cancer and it was not entirely unexpected. But this guy is just a few years older than Hubby's dad and Hubby grew up close to him - so he was quite upset today. I didn't help much this morning when I got up and he started to talk about 'Jim' in code as the kids were about and I said 'Yes you told me already - it's a yoga class isn't it? Surely you don't need socks for that...."
I had a funny conversation with a friend the other night about evenings once the kids are in bed and doing laundry vs going to bed for sex. She had me in stitches the way she was describing her approach with her husband. Another friend of ours is a psychiatrist. Even though she laughed with us, sex friend and I later said we were both worried she was assessing our mental health/sex lives as she laughed along.
Mac and Rory are like little tiger cubs pushing and fighting with each other. They are almost the same size despite their difference in age (2 + years). It can be cute to see. From afar. For a minute. Not when you have a fair few long haul flights booked....
Thinking of what to pack for the holiday/vacation. So much so that I started to re-organise my closet today. One of those 'well now you have started it.....' jobs. 2 huge piles sorted out for the charity store - some things still having their labels on = v v bad. I have enough pairs of capri pants to last me all summer without doing any washing. Have been ruthless with the sorting out. And tomorrow, I am going to put in new shelves in my closet. Well, that's the plan.
I watched the Farrah Fawcett documentary I had tivoed about her battle with cancer. Wow. So so sad. I remember watching her as a kid on Charlie's Angels.
Paddy and Bee are so excited about Ireland. I am trying to muster enthusiasm.
I keep getting excited when I see dark clouds and hear thunder. And then nothing happens. As Paddy said tonight, 'You just never can tell with the weather in Colorado. It can change just like that....."
Bee is amazed I have some CDs downloaded from iTunes that 'even her friends listen to.'
God forbid. . . . .
So I hope I have never implied I am a patient, flawless type of person.... HA! There are many many big subjects that I could pick to rant on about in the world......but on a much smaller scale, here are my Thursday Thirteen....
Mum of 4's PET PEEVES
1. People who take the last cookie/packet out of the box but STILL LEAVE THE EMPTY BOX in the pantry. ***
2. Customers who load all of their groceries onto the conveyabelt at the cash register, but can't be arsed to put the little divider thingy on after their purchases....and make no effort to pass it to you even though they can see you leaning over and nearly breaking a rib to reach it so you can start unloading your cart..
3. People who use the last of the toilet roll and don't get a new one - or they do get a new one but can't be bothered to put it on the toilet roll holder properly. ***
4. Drivers who don't indicate their turns. Happens ALL THE TIME over here are using your indicator (signalling) seems to be connected to whether you feel like it, rather than to tell other drivers which way you are going.... (plus being allowed to overtake from any lane, they really do need it more over here).....
5. People's answering machines where they have their kids doing their message. Cute - for those who know the kids perhaps but even then, only the first time. I have a friend who not only has her little boy taking the longest time to say the whole Spiel, but you can actually hear her prompting him with his bloody name in the background.
6. Over zealous parenting. By that I mean the who-ha you often see here for the most mundane of tasks. ie. "Johnny used a Kleenex all by himself! Way to go, dude. You are DA MAN. High five buddy! Good job" etc for the kids just blowing his bloody nose or whatever other normal thing they are doing.....
7. Going to get in the car and finding it has NO PETROL in it. Dude, there are little pings and lights going on to make you aware of this - it is not rocket science!!! *** (Worst case of this was many years ago staying in Yosemite where we needed to get Bee as a baby, to the Emergency Room in the middle of the night and we had no friggin' petrol and didn't know if we could get there without chugging to a halt.......).
8. Those nearest and dearest to you going off to bed WITHOUT saying GOODNIGHT.
9. Opening containers, but not properly - so the other 29 servings of rice krispies don't have a cat in hells chance of getting out without going all over the work surfaces.....or sort of taking the wrapper off the butter, but not properly......
10. People who go away on business trips but still leave their alarm set to a ridiculously early time. This is also the same peeve as those who get up before their alarm but still leave it set to go off. Or kids who can't set alarm clocks at all, but press several buttons so it goes off in the middle of the night, but they sleep through it . . . . ***
11. Drivers who park in handicapped parking spaces (even for a minute) when they are not disabled. Should be clamped instantly. No exceptions.
12. The Americans I meet who 'ASSUME' I am from London, just because I say I am from England.....
13. The spam you get in the snail mail, where they send you a real cheque/check but in tiny tiny print they have a clause that says by cashing the cheque you are signing up for a lifetime of annoying services that are then exceedingly difficult to get out of. . . . usually for something you have no interest in whatsoever -
*** 'could' apply to current husband close family member/s.
Any of those wind you up or am I just the most uptight, irritable / irritating person on the planet?
