Under Your Skin

1.  I just finished watching the documentary about Lyme Disease called "Under Your Skin."  That was one of the scariest things I've ever seen.  I have a friend suffering with the disease and now understand a bit more of what he's been going through.  I've spoken to so many people that have had Lyme.  Fortunately, most caught it early enough that they weren't debillitated by it.  Please watch this movie!  I spoke to a landscaper tonight who told me he thinks Lyme is an epidemic here and that it's being covered up to protect home values.  He said his son just had a tick test positive for Lyme.  They were fortunate to have a Lyme-literate doctor that put him on the antibiotics before they even got the test back on the tick.  He told me to make sure to take baths or showers every night and scrub with a wash cloth.  He said to inspect the kids and myself thoroughly for ticks.  I was just out weeding yesterday and don't think I'm going to be doing any lawn work myself anymore.

2.  I went to a mom's group meeting today.  Our meetings have changed in that there are no longer speakers, but it's just a social time.  The kids have babysitters in the church nursery and the moms get to talk.  I've been going to this group since we moved here almost two years ago.  Honestly, I have felt that I have never fit into this group.  Today I was trying to figure out why.  I think it's age, geography, religion and socio-economics.  I love the concept, but just don't have a very good time for the most part.  I took Lola out of the childcare an hour early and went to the gym.  I did the elliptical trainer and saw one of her classmates in the childcare and then went to look for his mom.  That's the second mom from her class that I found that works out there. 

3.  We have a busy weekend ahead.  Lola was invited to three birthday parties on Saturday.  I decided to only go to the first one that we were invited to and also do soccer and yoga for Grace.  Grace met a girl from a nearby town on the cruise and she will join Grace at yoga and then for ice cream afterward.  Grace is so excited!  I'm hoping they have a good time and will keep in touch.

In the Weeds

1.  I've decided to take on a few jobs that I normally pay to have done.  Recently I cancelled our trash pick up and have been taking our trash to the dump.  It's amazing how much less trash we have now!  I make sure that everything that can be recycled here goes to the recycling bins, which are free, instead of into the trash.  Next, I weeded the front of our driveway today.  I don't know if I'll be able to keep this up as there is just too much to weed, but did get a feeling of accomplishment from it.  I also felt more of a pride of home ownership than I've felt in a while.  It was fun working outside, but I know this will get tougher as it gets hotter outside.  I've been thinking about getting a mower and doing the lawn myself, but I don't think this is realistic.  I heard my neighbor saying he hit a rock and bent his blade.  There would be a lot of maintenance on a mower that I wouldn't be able to perform.  I used to take my little lawnmower to Sears service, but that wouldn't be as convenient around these parts.

2.  I went to pilates again today.  I feel like I'm starting to get the hang of pilates and yoga.  They are definitely wonderful for core strengthening and making me feel powerful.  I used to get on the cardio machines or weight machines and am now switching gears for a while.  Between the weeding, pilates and pushing Lola on the swing today, I'm pooped!

3.  Oh yeah, and eating Mexican food with a friend tonight.  We had dinner at Ole Mole, which I always enjoy.  I had half a veggie burrito and will have the rest for lunch tomorrow.  Looking forward to my mom's group meeting and just the fact that it's Friday!

You're Fired!

1.  I had to do something very unpleasant today.  I had to fire the landscaper.  This guy has been really good to us and even let us borrow his box truck on our moving day when the big truck couldn't get in our driveway.  We have three dead trees and something called a "shotgun fungus" in our mulch that has left tiny spots all over our house.  I had a home restorer/painter come over and try to pressure wash it off the house and it wouldn't budge.  He said it comes off by hand, but who would want to pay to have someone scrub your house?  There were a few other things and I finally called to tell him it's over.  He told me it wasn't fair and kept trying to defend himself.  I truly don't think he meant any harm, but we just felt he wasn't as competent as we would like.  Now I have to find a new landscaper-pronto!  I had a referral and the guy hasn't called me back.  I used to mow our yard in DE, which took me three hours with a push mower.  There is no way I could do that here.  And, I don't think I want to invest in a riding mower.  Any referrals would be appreciated.

2.  After the grill fiasco Rich went out and bought a new grill.  He ran out to Home Depot with my car and then came back to get the truck.  It's another big one and we need help getting it off the truck and into the back yard.  So, let's see when we'll actually be able to use the thing!

3.  We watched Modern Family as usual for a Wednesday night.  That show is such a hoot and always produces belly laughs.  I usually don't watch the elimination nights for AI, but did because I wanted to see Harry Connick, Jr.  Oh, how I used to love him!  I just don't know what the appeal for Lady Gaga is, though.  Yuck!

Om

1.  I took a yoga class today!  It was really hard, but really exciting.  At the end the teacher read a poem about a butterfly from "Going In and In."  It was so amazing it made me cry.  She started the class by telling how her kids watched a Sponge Bob episode this morning that talked about making the day the best ever.  She asked what would make this the best day ever for us.  I thought if my mom were alive it would be the best day.  We went through the class and then her poem struck me as so profound because my mom had told me only months before she died that the butterfly (and heart) was going to be the sign she sends me when she's gone.  The poem struck me to my core because it brought my mom to me today.  I'm going to order the book and try to read the poem at her memorial service.  I actually don't think I'll be able to do it, but may try.

2.  Grace met a girl on the cruise from a nearby town.  They exchanged info and we finally sent her an email asking if she'd like to join Grace for her yoga class and ice cream on Saturday.  Grace is so thrilled that she's going to join her!  She had been asking everyday to contact her friend-and the friend has been asking everyday to contact Grace!

3.  I just watched an episode of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution.  Amen.  I'm doing really well with my challenge to myself of better eating.  My problem is getting the kids on board.  I'll keep plugging away. 

One of those Days

1.  We had a doozy of a night last night.  Grace was up the entire night.  Rich was sneezing and finally got up with her.  I was up and down with her all night.  Lola slept like a rock.  I had to get up and do the mad cleaning dash before the cleaning ladies came this morning.  Rich didn't get up til very late and Grace was up when I walked downstairs with Lola.  I got them ready and took Grace to school first.  I then ran Lola over to her gymnastics class to find that the power was out in that part of Westport.  So, no class and no time for me to dash to the grocery store.  We dashed home so I could continue the mad dash cleaning of the kitchen and family room.  Did I mention Grace's room was worse than normal because she was playing all night long?!

2.  Later I decided it was long overdue to clean the oven.  I pulled the racks out and got a sliver of metal in my finger.  I worked for a long time to try to get it out.  I think I got most of it.  At least it doesn't hurt anymore.  I took Lola to swim class, but couldn't find Grace's wetsuit.  Fortunately, she didn't have a fit.  She miraculously made it through the day and through swim class and didn't get to bed til after 9.  I don't know how her little body can just go and go.  When we got back from swim class and the pharmacy I turned on the oven to clean it.  Phew!  I about smoked us out of here!  We had to have windows open and the stove fan on to draw out some smoke.  Rich and I both were complaining of burning eyes.  I had to run back to the pharmacy to get another RX that was called in late.  I barely have any gas left and have a few things to do in the morning before I get to a gas station.  Let's hope I make it!

3.  I speed watched two American Idols tonight.  I do love when they get down to the end and you get some really good performances.  We keep saying we're going to turn the tv off at night and play a game or read books.  Hasn't happened yet!  When I'm done putting kids to bed I like to plop down on the couch and veg!

Marvelous Mystic

1.  We enjoyed a great day at Mystic Seaport!  We joined in March and have now been twice on beautiful spring days.  We're always amazed at how empty it is.  We stopped into the membership building for some free lemonade and the lady there told us that it is wall to wall people after Memorial Day.  Ah, good to know!  Their new restaurant Latitude (something) was open and we had a really delicious lunch.  It is upscale, but also kid-friendly with a nice kids' menu.  We highly recommend it! 

2.  On the way home we stopped first at Tim Horton's, which is now a tradition whenever we're in the area of a Timmy's.  I had their iced cappuccino and Rich had hot chocolate!  We then stopped at the Christmas Tree Shoppe and A.C. Moore and found some things for Lola's birthday party.  She is having a mermaid party and it's really tough to find mermaid-y things.  We've branched out a bit to include other sea things to make the planning a bit easier.  We bought the doll cake pan at the craft store and then came home to watch some youtube videos of mermaid cake decorating.  Of course, other things come up when searching and we found ourselves watching a tutorial of a woman putting on mermaid eyeshadow.  Then Lola wanted to watch something with Barbies.  I let her watch and then came to check that she didn't click on anything else and found that what I thought was a kid's video was a porn video!  Thank goodness it said "Blocked for your safety."  Yikes!  Be careful of youtube!!

3.  To continue with my scary story from yesterday...this morning I was putting on mascara and noticed that the side of my head that had the hair burned also had burned eyelashes!!  I am still so shocked that I wasn't hurt and so grateful!!  Rich cooked another burger tonight and I let him light the grill!

Thank God!

1.  No kidding, I've been thanking God all night that I'm still alive and/or not burned.  Tonight Rich wanted to grill out and I showed him how the handyman had told me to light our grill.  The grill fell over and is not working very well anymore.  He showed me how to turn the burners on and then light it.  I did that and then lit it and POOF!-a huge woosh of fire came up in my face!  It was the single most scary thing that's ever happened to me.  At first I thought I was going to die and then I thought I was not going to die, but be burned very badly.  Rich was standing by me and I jumped back very quickly.  I could smell a bad smell and noticed my hair had burned.  Thank God we were both ok!  But, one side of my hair did burn.  It curled up at the ends.  I ran upstairs to check the damage and combed it out.  A lot of burnt ends were in the sink.  I also singed the hair off both forearms and slightly burned one arm.  A little Neosporin helped that to feel better quickly.  I really feel someone was looking out for me tonight!  I kept thinking it could have been so much worse.  My mom worked at a place where a chicken fryer blew up.  A woman in front of it was burned severely.  My mom was burned quite badly and went through a lot of burn therapy.  She said it was the worse pain she had ever endured in her life.  Oh, thank you God!

2.  Rich and I had date night tonight.  We went to see Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes at the Ridgefield Playhouse.  It's our third time seeing them together.  He grew up listening to their music and turned me on to them several years ago.  Good concert!  We called around looking for places to go for dinner afterward.  Needless to say nothing was serving that late so we ended up at Orem's.  So, if you want to know when to go to Orem's and not have to wait-late night is the best time!

3.  We started our morning at soccer.  Lola played for about 30 minutes til she got knocked over.  She then was done.  That's better than her first time she went and clung to me the entire time.  I worked at the concession stand today and enjoyed it.  It made me feel like I was back working in high school.  I then took Grace to the doctor and Rich took Lola to a make up swim class.  We then all met up and went to Wilton Pizza and sat outside.  The best part of the day was the gorgeous weather and driving around in the convertible.  Ah, summer is just around the corner!  I even got to take a small nap today.  And, the sitter cleaned up the huge mess in the family room.  Now it's off to bed before one of the kids is yelling, "Mooooommmmyyyyy!"