Still Here

I apologize for being a less-than-scintillating blogger lately, but I assure you that these days it's even less fun being me than it is reading about me. The good news is that in just a couple of weeks, I'll be back to "normal" (Huh? Was I ever normal?) and chit-chatting about books, movies, food, current events, my kids, and the Red Sox. The bad news is that I still have to get through these next couple of weeks.

I'm thwarted at every turn. Pete, who didn't miss a single day of fifth grade, missed two days last week and was out again today with a sore throat. No, not today, when he was supposed to get his teeth pulled! Yes, today. (But I am pleased that he has managed to wiggle out 2 of the 4 offending baby teeth, for a $20 profit to him and a $310 savings to me. Perhaps he can do the same with the other 2 before the rescheduled appointment?) Steph also missed two days. And so did Julie. And the work just keeps piling up, along with the laundry. I was giddy tonight when I discovered that the dead dying dryer can handle a tiny load (we're talking 4 or 5 items) with a huge clang-a-lang sound but no other problems. So each load of wash takes a couple of hours to dry, but at least I don't have to shlep to the laundromat.

I also want to mention that Pete had his first-ever Little League home run last night! I missed it by just a few minutes, but Andy reported that it was a "real" home run—that is, it went over the left-fielder's reach rather than through his legs. Yay, Pete! He also had a triple, which I saw, and which I think could've been another homer if the third-base coach hadn't been so conservative.

The damage from Sunday's storm was wicked. Numerous trees fell onto my across-the-street neighbors' patio and roof; other trees fell on the power lines one street away; and there are tree branches everywhere. We lost power overnight on Sunday but had no property damage, so I am feeling grateful. This is a city full of big, old trees, and a lot of them gave up the ghost on Sunday, taking cars and trees (but, fortunately, no people) with them.

Comments

[Sara]

Maybe you could put up a clothesline until you get a new dryer. I just put up a clothesline umbrella that I bought at the Home Depot for $40 and have been shocked by both the ease and speed line of line drying. Three hugs loads put up in the morning were completely dry in the afternoon.

[Karen]

We've got clothes racks and makeshift clotheslines (Julie can't find her jump rope -- hmmmm) all over the house for now. I've also managed to get the dryer to work for a few minutes at a time for a few items at a time -- woo hoo! As soon as I put something outside to dry, it starts raining. (Yes, the recent rain has been all my fault.)

I also have 8 sets of sheets waiting to go in, and there ain't a clothesline in the world big enough for all that. Sigh.

[Steve]

Doesn't the guy in the movie Cast Away knock one of his own teeth out with an ice skate and a rock?

[Rachel K]

That is AWESOME that Pete hit his first home run! Wow, what a feeling that must have been for him. My 10 year old son hasn't hit the big one yet, but I can only imagine how exciting it will be when he does.