List of accomplishments

1. Dinner. Soft tacos (they didn't complain like they did that Sunday when I gave them all the cold shoulder. Fast learners.) I even cut up a canteloupe.


2. Grocery shopping. As far as I can tell, I didn't forget anything. I even remembered the Hershey's syrup.


3. Incident of fantastic parenting at McDonald's. I only had to count to one before Gabe came back to the table. In front of other people. I felt like I'd won an Emmy.


4. Playing in the backyard. I hate going outside. But now I sit out there at least once a day so the kids can play on the swing set.


5. Let the "big" kids play in the backyard by themselves. I'm paranoid. My kids do not play outside without a grown up. I freed them today, and nothing bad happened. I think I'll continue this new experience. Note: Gabe is not one of the big kids. I'm not that confident.


6. Cleaned up Gabe's goopy eye. You know, with all the green slimy stuff that sticks it shut and sticks the eyelashes together (too graphic?) He sat on my lap while I held a warm damp rag to his eye, and then I got all the gunk out. Of course, two minutes later it was back, but I did it with no screaming. From either of us.


7. And the grand finale (duh duh duh DUH...) I REARRANGED MY OFFICE! Andy pulled out the carpet, and we put up the bookcases and the desk and laid out the rug and rehooked up all the computer crap. I say crap because I despise all those ugly cords hanging down. Ask Andy how long I sat under there untwirling them and tying them together with garbage ties, and stuffing them behind the CPU. I know I'm ridiculous. I just can't stand it.

The door should go up this weekend. Too bad the other door fell off so the office is open to the kitchen. Another door is coming our way one day. Stupid holes in the wall. I mean, that's all a doorway is, isn't it? A conveniently placed gap in the wall sized to accomodate an average sized person. Yeah, we have to have them. I mean, the alternative is living in a box. Oh, or a tent. Oh, oh, and the great outdoors. I am claustrophobic and I hate the outdoors, so I guess I'm left with doorways. Stupid holes in the wall.

Okay, so left to do in the office is hang a wall cabinet and then actually organize and put up all the crap that goes in an office. I have hopes it will appear on a list of accomplishments in the near future.

In other news, I watched "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" today. A fave. Gabe had no interest at all, but when I had on "Scream Blacula Scream" he was glued to the screen. You all know how much I love a B grade movie. But to defend myself, my brother who is a college English teacher and a grad student is writing a paper about a movie called "Cat People" from 1942 which I have totally seen. How many of you can say that? (If it is a lot of you, well, I bet you haven't seen "Scream Blacula Scream.") I have no defense for Gabe. He is just weird.

Off I go to bed with the sleeping pill. It's just Unisom, and it takes an hour at least to make me feel drowsy, but once I'm out, I'm out like... hmmm... like I don't know. Whatever is out. Poodle skirts. Electricity in Lousiana after the hurricane. George W. from the white house. Where you go when your spouse asks you where you are going when you are storming out of the house. Casey at the Bat.

I'm out of here.