Celebrating My Neuroses...

Hi. Remember me? I used to write a blog here. If anyone is still checking in on my sorry ass, please be patient with me as it's the end of the school year and my calendar is double & triple-booked most days. Where did April go, anyway?

One reason I've been scarce is that we had a big blow-out bash for my friend who's moving in the next few weeks. It was last night & we managed to keep it a surprise. The party was great fun with friends who have also been neglected due to my crazy-ass schedule lately. We partied old-school, complete with a lot of booze, a band, and My Baby's Daddy upchucking after we got home at 1:15 a.m. He smelled like a damn brewery and I went to sleep in the bottom bunk in the boys' room. Good times.

I am now officially on the countdown to my annual girls' beach trip. Since it is less than two weeks away, today has been list-making day. Nothing makes me happier than a good list. Besides my list of what to pack, and what to do before I go, there is the Snack List. Some years we bring homemade snacks, and others we just buy everything when we get to the beach. But since fuel is forty bajillion dollars a gallon, we decided it would help our budget to bring some stuff from home. I tend to think of myself as The Queen of Snacks, and take my title quite seriously. I'm thinking of taking a couple of old favorites and debuting something new. Any ideas?

I also plan to take pre-made labels with everyone's name on them to stick on the ziplock bags when I (being a food snob, control freak, and born entertainer) make everyone's sandwich to enjoy on the beach. In years past, we've had to label them with a pen or some other crude and inferior method. People will either envy me or think I am a neurotic control freak. Whatever. If they want their damn sandwich, they'll sing my praises like a bunch of canaries. Don'tcha think?

Back to reality

• Take Pop to the orthopedic surgeon to schedule impending back surgery--check

• Take Fat Baby to the doctor with impending ear infection--check

• Glob Abreva all over the two massive fever blisters covering my bottom lip--check

• Discover that My Baby's Daddy hired a babysitter to go to the dog track while I was away--check

• Realize that since I've lost my voice & I'm totally exhausted, I don't even have the inclination to fight about it--check

• Attend Teacher Appreciation Lunch at the President's school--check

• Refill Zoloft prescription--check

Welcome home, Mom!!!

Mama's off the clock...

...or I will be very soon--the Girls' Beach Trip starts in 8 hours and 32 minutes (not that I'm counting down or anything!) Of course, I've been in list-making heaven in preparation for this drunken stupor....um, uh.. I mean, time of bonding with my best girls!

Swimsuits---check!
Pedicure---check! (complete with blingy little rhinestone daisies on my big toes)
Notes for My Baby's Daddy--check!
Pop taken care of---check!
Get cash at the ATM--damn, missed one!
Mimosa ingredients on the counter next to my boys' lunchboxes--check! (the Mimosas are for me, not them)

Hopefully, I'll return at the end of the week-end, relaxed, refreshed, golden tan, and ready to roll again...and with lots of stories to share! This is our 4th annual beach trip---I was hugely pregnant with Fat Baby on the first. My girlfriends hauled my big ass down to the beach on the golf cart & treated me like a queen the entire time. That being said, it's soooooo much more fun to be un-pregnant on the girls' beach trip! Out of all the trips, this will be the first that MBD has kept the boys home with him the entire time & not shipped them up to my mom's...I did leave an emergency babysitter number for him, just in case....in case what?!?! Hell, it's four freakin' days with YOUR. OWN. KIDS! If he went out of town, would I send the boys away or hire a sitter? Ummmmmmm.....no! And I am with them all the darn time. Moms and Dads are just wired so differently. He is a great dad, and they will all be fine. And yes, I did leave two pages of notes. And yes, I did set out pre-approved outfits to last the whole time I am gone...with additional alternate wardrobe changes. As I admit all this, I am reminded of just how much I really need this trip. I feel responsible for so much and so many. I am a control freak. I thrive on a plan and a routine. And sometimes I just need to let it all go for a few days & soak up the sun, read a trashy magazine or a good book, and have some drinks and laughs with my buddies. Sometimes I need to just let my kids wear whatever the hell they want to...and not worry about them being perfectly matched or seasonally appropriate. I need to let My Baby's Daddy figure out what to pack the boys for lunch on his own...and if he gets it "wrong" know that it's only one meal out of their whole life. But that's just not me!

This weekend, I will enjoy the part of me who is carefree & has no imminent responsibilities. I will not think about the extra calories I consume, or about the pile of laundry that will await me at home. This girl won't be worried about schedules, doctor's appointments, or homework.

I will call home, but just because I love them & want to hear their voices. Not because I need to remind them of "one more thing." I will bring home surprises. I will be covered in kisses. I will not want to leave them again....until next year!

Southern Fried Update

I really am still here!!! Sorry for the unannounced little blogging hiatus. I really didn't intend to go so long between posts, but I have had a lot on my plate (understatement of the century), and life happens. I'm not going to post about anything specific about my family's situation for a while, but know that my faith is strong, and we are doing very well. Thanks for your prayers, good wishes, and concerns. I am happy to correspond individually through e-mail about the more personal stuff for the time being.

Cool stuff that's going on in my world: I'm working on my tan, and I wish I were working harder on my weight loss. I'm getting there, though. The countdown is on to my annual girls' beach trip. Woohoo! I didn't think we were going to do it this year, but we are & I am so very ready for some mindless sunning, drinking, shopping, and trash-book reading. I even found the cutest baseball cap (brown & pale turquoise) with the Mailbu rum logo! Regular readers (if I have any left) may remember that my signature beverage of choice is a Route 44 Diet Coke with lime from Sonic with a big ol' shot of Malibu---yum-my! Spring Break was last week for The President, and he had a great time. Went to the zoo, a little camping, saw TMNT, and hung out with the family. The weather has been gorgeous (80s) and we took full advantage of it.

Some stuff that sucks: Monday morning, trying to get everyone back in the groove after a week off, I'm pushing the limits of time...go to wake up Fat Baby at the last possible minute...nasty, stinky puke all over his crib, all over him...dis-gust-ing! Change sheets, bathe kid, know that he won't be attending his only weekly day of Mom's Day Out, and my ability to work on my grant-writing will be compromised at best. Along with the fantastic weather here in the Deeeep South comes about 3 inches of thick, yellow pollen. I can not walk to the mailbox with out wheezing, coughing, sneezing, and itchy, watery eyes.

But did I mention that the Girls' Beach Trip is coming?!?! I am also going to book a condo this evening for our family vacation. I am going to be pretty worthless this summer. Anyone care to join me?