sometimes you get what you need

My family went away yesterday  to participate in Adam's Cub Scout summer camp out. It was a sleeping in a tent situation. There is definitely a reason why I was in favor of purchasing our camper. I love the campfires, the outdoors, the exploring new places, the hiking. I like having doors that latch to separate us from the outside, and separate us from a bathroom. Of my own. So I opted out of the Cub Scout camp out, but Mark took the kids. At first I thought I would have a few friends over to my house for drinks and girl gossip. Then my thoughts moved on to just calling them up for drinks out. But ultimately I didn't do either of those things. When do I EVER get the chance to be alone in my own house? So I went for a mani/pedi and enjoyed the quiet of salon. Then I picked up dinner and a bottle of wine and came home to the quiet of my own home. I ate dinner lounging in a bean bag chair. I played Words with Friends to my hearts content. I poured a second glass of wine and turned on movies that I've wanted to see, but knew I couldn't EVER watch them with kids around. And I watched reruns of Glee. With the volume turned up. REALLY LOUD. After that I just went up to bed and realized that although my chance at a wild night out with the girls was over, I really did get what I needed. Peace and quiet and a bit of time on my own. But I sure was happy to see my family walk in the door this morning!

from where I'm sitting

There have been several Facebook posts floating around all with a similar theme. They tell you to look around "from where you are sitting" and name 10 things that you see, or list the CDs currently in your player, or last 5 songs played on your iPod, or books on your nightstand. The intent, I THINK, is to give others a snapshot into your life currently. Your interests at this moment. So tonight, while I've been grumbling over getting dinner on the table while supervising homework and helping to find the "right" show 'n tell item, I thought I would get some perspective on my life "from where I'm sitting."

1. On the kitchen counter is  a homemade birthday cake with crooked letters and smeared frosting. I turned 42 years old yesterday. Mark and the kids waited until I left for work, then baked me a cake. They love me, and I loved having a birthday cake!
2. There are dirty dishes on the counter waiting to be washed and put away. I cooked for my family tonight and although I was grumbling at the time because there was so much else going on at the same time; I enjoyed having us all sitting at the table together and hearing their stories. It won't be long and the kids will be in and out on their own schedules....not at the dinner table with us.
3. The refrigerator is covered with photos of friends and family I love the most, artwork by the kids, and magnets that make us smile. I think a family fridge can tell you a lot about a person. But maybe that's another blog.
4. My dogs. Sophie is curled up on the kitchen rug and won't leave my side. She's waiting for me to either go upstairs to watch Glee in bed, or get to the couch to watch Glee. Either way....she is ready to snuggle up and is getting impatient.
5. I can see my husband at the computer in the other room. It's POSSIBLE that he's working, but chances are he's playing darts online or watching something Blackhawks related. :)
6. I see a large pile of school papers that the kids have brought home this week already. Just like in my own classroom, teachers are doing end of year assessments, projects, and work that was on bulletins boards came down to spruce them up for Open House with new stuff. Some I will keep, like a few writing pieces, others will make their way into the trash without being seen by the kids who brought them home.
7. From where I'm sitting I can also hear the guns at the shooting range nearby. By now I am mostly used to this sound, after 15 years here it's commonplace. But after a long winter with the windows and doors closed, it's much more noticeable now that they are open and I can hear it. It's one sound I never thought I would have to explain to my kids.
8. Here I can also see a pretty pot of flowers that a new friend gave to me for my birthday. I'm thankful for her and glad we've become friends. And I'm eager to get into the garden!!
9. I can see my cell phone...and it's making me want to play Words with Friends. But I have laundry to do.
and number 10.....
I hear the dryer and the washing machine chiming so it  must be time for me to get back to the laundry for sure. I am glad I have family around me to care for, but wish there wasn't so much to wash and fold. :)

Anyway...it had been awhile since writing and I was feeling overwhelmed with my to-do list at home. Rather than flip out, I wanted to get perspective and look at things from where I'm sitting with a positive attitude. So there you go. Until next time...

She's coming home!

It's been forever since I've posted anything new. Mostly, I think it is because life has been moving at a pace that is much too fast. I have found myself in quite a "funk" (see Glee link) and just not wanting to write about my mood. BUT...today....my dear friend who has been teaching in Brazil for 2 years...shared with our small group of BT friends that she is going to come home. She will be home of course for Christmas, and we have already been looking forward to this. But she will be coming HOME home, after finishing this school year. She will miss her new friends terribly. She will even miss the birds calling outside her window before she's ready to wake up, but we are so so happy that she will be back around us. I needed this news like I needed to breathe today. Thank you Megan. Couldn't have been anything better to hear today!!!