Catching Up

So, we are two-thirds of the way through Memorial Day weekend, and the weather has been glorious! We have already done the requisite grilling—got that out of the way on Friday night so it wouldn't be hanging over our heads, but we might fire it up again tomorrow. Pete's Little League team made the City Series, but too many of his teammates were going away for the weekend, so we had to forfeit and pass it along to the next team in line. Andy took Pete and Julie to opening day at the pool yesterday, and they (and Steph) went again today. (Steph went to a Bat Mitzvah yesterday.)

And me? I've been working. And working. And working. I'm starting to feel a wee bit sorry for myself because I have too much work right now and no time for relaxation or fun or even household stuff. There's one project in particular that's putting me over the edge. It's a compendium of every possible disease you can imagine, complete with symptoms and treatment options. This is not good for my hypochondria. Editing the infectious disease section just about did me in, and the mental health section was no picnic either. All I have left are musculoskeletal and nervous system disorders, so I should be able to make it through those OK. But it is so tedious (in addition to creepy), and I would much rather be working on the cookbook proofreading project that is sitting on the dining room table right now! Every day or so I let myself do a few hours of that just to buoy my spirits.

I have been so busy in fact, with both work and all the end-of-year stuff that comes with having three school-age kids, that I have not done a single thing about replacing my dryer (and washer, for that matter). A friend of a friend is getting rid of their 4-year-old Bosch pair, and I haven't even had a chance to follow up on that lead, or do any research about a new set. I just do a bunch of washes every few days and then shlep them to the laundromat to dry. Wah Wah Wah.

Friday I chaperoned the Grade 2 field trip to the Butterfly Place, which was fun. And last Tuesday was the Grade 2 chorus concert. This Tuesday is the middle school chorus concert, and Wednesday is the Grade 5 chorus and band concert. In the midst of all this, Pete had a dentist appointment, and we were told that he needs 4 teeth pulled if they don't fall out in the next 2 weeks. I have offered Pete $10 for each tooth he can "lose" before June 9—seeing as they're going to charge me $165 for each of the 3 "simple" extractions and $181 for the "erupted" one. Eek. I used to have dental insurance before I had kids. What's wrong with this picture?!

Let's see, what else.... Steph and Julie both got bee stings this week, on different days and in different locations. Julie also got a massive mosquito bite on her forearm that swelled up to the size of a walnut. I happened to be in the right place at the right time to help a neighbor rescue her lost elderly dog (and was given lovely yellow tulips as a thank-you). Steph and I were on the highway during a brief but terrifying rain and hail storm that had me gripping the wheel and praying I could keep just following those tail lights ahead of me.

And now you are all caught up.

Comments

[margalit]

You can live comfortably and much more cheaply without a dryer. We have been dryer free for about 5 years now. At first I didn't like it because I didn't get the nuances that were needed to keep the clothes soft when they dried, but once I got that down, I realized that the clothes last much longer not using a dryer, and the cost savings was about 3400/year. Plus, it's much greener living. Yuo can get a couple of indoor/outdoor racks at IKEA for a paltry sum, and use them inside on a crappy day or in winter, and outside when it's nice out.

Try it. I think you'll be surprised.

[margalit]

that was supposed to be 3-400 a year!

[Kelly]

I feel your pain about the teeth pulling. Payne only lost 2 baby teeth on his own - the rest have had to be pulled. 11 in one knocked-out sitting. Wiggle, Pete, wiggle!

[Ross]

Please try to understand the difference between a bees and yellow jackets. If you are a beekeeper like me, you have probably been stung by a bee. Otherwise, it's a yellow jacket.