Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

Now that we are out of college,

we have begun to contemplate our later years....

Don't you think I cheered him up?

Parenting: always a new frontier.

Well, Crap

It would appear that I have brought Connecticut "spring" to Tennessee.
Sorry.

Why I'm Yawning Today

I knew we were in for storms overnight.

Actually looked forward to a break from this January heatwave.

But what blew over was horrific.

First of all, Dora hates storms.  Hates.

So, at bedtime, she got a little "calming" treat.

At 12:30, the howling wind woke me up.

I can hear the grass growing outside, so it doesn't take much to wake me.

I browsed the local TV stations, all of which were live.

Not a good omen.

But the front was still in Missouri.

Dora was asleep.

So I tried to sleep.

At 3 the tornado sirens started.

I turned the TV on again.

The red was close by.

The weathermen on NBC in Nashville live broadcast as their power went out
 and a roar went over the station.

This has just been confirmed as an F2 tornado that hit the ground east of downtown

 and stayed on the ground for 4 miles.

At 3:15, these same weathermen said this: "If you are in Cool Springs, and are near I-65, then you should already be in your safe place."
This is exactly where we live.

So Dora and I ran downstairs and got in the hallway bath.

Then: roaring, groaning and shaking.
Not in a fun way.

It really does sound just like a train.

And just like that, it was gone.

 We were safe.

And the all-clear sounded a little later.

So we went right back to sleep.

Just like veteran storm troopers.

We have had our first "spring" storm.

Only it's not spring.
So, all my friends east of Tennessee, be alert today.  It's ugly.

We may be spending a lot of quality time in that loo.

Maybe I should put a TV in there.

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

Hurricane humor.

I get no respect.

Even in a storm.

So thankful all my people made it through.

Praying

Be well my family and friends.

Please take this storm seriously.

St. Paul's on the Green, Norwalk, CT

Hump Day Haiku

our morning routine

is not so much fun these days

get well soon dora

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

More role reversal.  And in a little trip down memory lane, I like to remember that one of her first sentences went something like this: "Mommy, if I'm wearin' my clothes, why do you choose them?"

But, still...what am I supposed to wear today??

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

Some more role reversal. 

 And waking up in Bridgeport, Connecticut on a train at midnight?  

Is the stuff of nightmares.  

You have to trust me on this one...

And The Bird was so relieved that I was home...  

She was able to think about accessorizing her apartment.

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

Wherein I attend a rugby match via text...

And then tend to the child's injuries.

Or not....

Day 36

Are you kidding me?

You can get a live feed of this disaster and you cannot stop it?

36 Days.

Ruining my favorite body of water on the planet.

Murdering the wildlife.

Destroying the lives of countless families who make a living on that water.

Are you kidding me?

Somebody?

The Augman Cometh....

Spring Break has arrived for a certain son.

He had and has big plans.

Those plans had me worried because of our snowacaine...

Some parentexting™ was in order.

I like how he tries to change the subject with a food order.

Yesterday: Villanova to James Madison University to UVa.

In a snowacaine, mind you.

Today: Connecticut.

And the spaghetti will be ready as requested at 7 pm.

Word.

The Nest Empties Yet Again...

For nature lovers, this season has brought the appearance of a special species, homo studentus universitatus, a.k.a. the college student on break.

This highly social creature, which travels in packs and leaves a trail of unwashed dishes, is apparently drawn to return every winter to its parental nest. Researchers speculate that it is attracted to large-screen TVs, down comforters and a ready supply of food.

The initial arrival of homo studentus in late December is heralded by the appearance of a large pile of dirty laundry. This is followed by other piles of shoes and clothes, as the denim-rumped primate marks its territory by covering all flat surfaces with its possessions. Within days, the floor of its den is nearly impassable, though interestingly, the creature itself seems not to notice.

It generally remains in its winter habitat through mid-January, displaying the characteristics that make it a particularly intriguing form of wildlife.

A nocturnal animal, homo studentus is rarely glimpsed before mid-afternoon. Observers are warned: Do not attempt to disturb it before it awakens, as it can become hostile.

Once it begins to stir, it generally moves slowly to the vicinity of a television and a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios. Again, do not approach it; at this point the creature appears to be unable to engage in conversation or even to hear sounds such as requests to walk the dog.

By late afternoon, however, homo studentus becomes fully conscious and begins to interact with other members of its species.

Homo studentus communicates largely by using its opposable thumbs for texting. The species' social structure is complex and communal. Individuals gather in collectives, similar to hives, with different individuals fulfilling specific roles. One may buy the beer; another may surf YouTube for funny videos of animals.

They will often congregate on sofas in family rooms, burrowing underneath fleece throws and blankets. The pack can grow so large and dense that it may be difficult to discern which feet belong to which body. Observers trying to track the populations are advised to count heads.

Homo studentus is an extremely intelligent species, judging by the creatures' GPAs, their verbal interactions and their speed with answers to "Jeopardy!" However, scientists are puzzled by their inability to fold blankets or put dishes into a dishwasher. It may be that their brains have evolved to specialize in such tasks as remembering lines from movies and applying to graduate school, to the detriment of those parts of the brain that are involved in such tasks as hanging clothes in a closet.

They appear to be cold-blooded, judging by the levels at which they set the thermostat. On the other hand, their preference for indoor heat may be a function of not paying for utilities.

Those who hope to observe this species closely can attract them by providing the right environment. Set out feeders, e.g. pizzas. Scatter indoor areas with pillows. Provide premium cable channels and potato chips. Stay out of sight and don't touch the remote.

You may not always see the creatures themselves, particularly if you sleep at night. Some people have gone days without seeing the examples of homo studentus that have taken up residence in their homes. Be patient, and look for signs: A profusion of hair-care products in your bathroom, perhaps, or tire tracks in the snow on your front lawn. Eventually, even the most elusive of the creatures will show themselves, if only to ask you to buy more Honey Nut Cheerios.

The rewards of the species' visit are substantial -- a window into a complex society, happy noise in a quiet house, an impressive library of funny animal videos and the way your credit card feels so vibrantly alive. Indeed, many wildlife watchers are reluctant to see the creatures depart, and abandon their roles as observers to hug and kiss the creatures.

But the homo studentus season is brief. No matter how much the creatures have enjoyed the family nest and the use of their own bathrooms, they will soon return to college. Nature lovers must put away their binoculars, turn down the thermostat and bide their time until spring migration.

By: Barbara Brotman

I wish it had been me!

Tuesday Text

And in other news,

The Baby Geniuses go back to Vermont today.

At this point in the big game of college student conversations,

I just ask them if they have enough skin cream.

And then? They're on their own.

I cannot believe I am going to say this...

But I like it when they are at school.

There.

I feel all better.

Tuesday Text on a Wednesday...

Sorry for the delay.

I know you were on the edge of your seat waiting for this.

It's just so riveting.

In a nutshell, my beloved son stayed at school

for two more days after his exams.

And I think they are doing a fine job of educating me...

This-n-That Thursday: Holiday Style

Twas the week before Christmas,

And all through the blogosphere land,

Mental P's friends were bragging cheering,

Because they had everything in hand.

And yet Mental P. sat, day after day,

In her baggy sweatpants,

Just itching away.

The children were returning,

From their first college foray.

They were excited to have,

Their traditional holiday.

And yet Mental P. sat, day after day,

In her baggy sweatpants,

Just itching away.

And in the cold break of dawn,

The seventeenth of December,

Mental P. woke with a yawn.

And began to remember.

Today is the deadline,

For her list crafted with care.

So Mental P. will be scurrying,

Everywhere and on a tear.

And by the time Metal P. sits down tonight?

She will deserve that bucket glass of wine...

She might not look or smell just right,

But she will have salvaged Christmas 2009.

To do today:

Get asthma shots

Do Christmas cards

Bake a rum cake for Squazz

Make chicken soup for Augie

Get acupuncture treatment for eczema

An indoor tree?

Last day for online shopping--must start shopping

Get groceries for hungry college students

Go get Augie at the train.

Finish shopping

Wrap presents

Go to CVS when there is no wrapping paper

What's on your list?

Does anyone want to come help?

Word-Filled Wednesday

Ointment

Biopsy

Oozing

Crusting

Inflamed

Itching

Madness

Sleepless

%$#*%$# Eczema

Help.

I have eliminated gluten, dairy, soy, peanuts and sugar. Which means no wine. And today? Out goes the caffeine. Does anybody have any ideas? I think I am allergic to myself.

I Got Nuthin'

Cleaning out the nest.

Packing.

Squawking.

And maybe a lunch in NYC....

Happy Weekend my friends.

We Can Do It

Yesterday, I finally had to push back from my media addiction.

I have always loved all things financial and political.

But now it is making me sick.

Literally.

So, I turned off all my electronic boxes.

I cooked.

I read.

I slept well.

Today is a new day.

And I think we all need to declare war on our gloomy outlooks.

We've been through worse in this country.

It is going to be okay.

So go out and have a great day.

And an even better weekend.

Mama said so.

Sigh

My little cherubs are off on a trip to Philadelphia this morning.  By themselves.  Augie is driving The Bird and a few friends of theirs for a day visit to Villanova.  Sigh.

Between this and the vacating puppies, I don't know how I'm going to survive the day. Seriously.

Attachments

One of the books I read during the little vacation I had last weekend was The Shack by William P. Young.  It is a work of fiction in which the protagonist Mack endures many heartaches and losses in his life, and a final blow is the death of a young daughter.  He suffers under the heaviness of his Great Sadness for several years until he is mysteriously summoned back to the shack, in the Oregon wilderness, where his daughter may have been murdered.

Once there, Mack encounters an unlikely and diverse trio who represent the Holy Trinity.  Alongside them, Mack works on uncovering answers to his questions about where God was when he and his loved ones needed him, and why there is so much pain and suffering.  I think the shack itself is a metaphor for the heavy and palpable pain and feelings of inadequacy that Mack, and, if I'm honest, myself, have felt during our lives.  Actually, he attached himself to his pain.  It was how he knew he was alive in many ways--by feeling the pain.  The lessons he learns are transformative.  My favorite notion is that there are no real do's and don'ts.  No right and no wrong.  No good, no evil.  Just lots of food for thought.

While the book is Christian in its literal reading, I think the metaphor/lesson crosses all understandings and doctrines.  As a matter of fact, in The Shack, I found a great deal of the core Buddhist tenet that suffering is inevitable.  Suffering is born of attachments to objects that are transient, and the loss of such objects is both inevitable and painful.  I think it is far more about spirit and being gentle than about any set religion.

While this is a very cursory and subjective take on the book, I would love to hear what others have thought about it.  Faith is a great healer, and while I often thought of that movie Oh, God! with John Denver and George Burns while I read some of this, the overwhelming message for me is that a loving relationship with others and kindnesses to all is a transformative, healing power. 

Fast forward.

Yesterday morning, I found out that half of a neighborhood shopping area was destroyed by fire overnight.  One of the stores was my dry cleaner and another, a favorite wine shop.  I know.

My first impulse was to mentally list all the clothes I had at the dry cleaners, and then I added up how much they were worth.  Then I promptly forgot my stuff.  At least five businesses have been physically destroyed.  These businesses have employees who are working their butts off, like everybody else, to eek out a living.  Like Mack, I wondered why.  Why did this happen to these people?  What comes of all this is the only answer we have.   

After this, I attended a Mother/Daughter Service at The Bird's school.  This is an annual tradition, and each year during the Liturgy, a Senior and her mother each give a reflection on their past and what lies ahead.  Some years, I have to breathe into a paper bag to regain my composure, but yesterday was different.  I feel hopeful.  While I am facing the necessary loss of my beautiful babies leaving the nest, I am doing my best to embrace it as anything but a loss.  They are gaining a new life, a new step on their paths, and I do revel in the possibilities for them.  

In the meantime, I will continue to work in my garden/soul as Mack does, and live in the possibility.  A garden is, after all, a continual work in progress.