Might I explain why I have not been laboring on this blog...
1. The athletic son was recruited from his leisurely soccer camp to play in the local competitive league. Somehow, after watching him play for two days, the coach managed to sneak him onto the team three months after tryouts... and two days before practice started. That was a fun scramble to get paperwork, uniforms, and schedules organized. Oh, and it might have been nice if they'd been a little more up front about the amount of travel required. He's six and now playing in tournaments that overtake our entire weekend... and require over night hotel stays? WTH? Too late now. He loves it. And he's good. Or (since they lost 3 out of 3 games this weekend) maybe I should say, he has extreme potential.
2. The soccer player also entered second grade. Still in shock. And after attending "meet the teacher night" I'm now also a little overwhelmed. Felt like I needed to take notes so that I could come home and google some of her lesson plans. Between his soccer calendar and the new homework schedule I think I might have found my full time job. Or the incentive to rush out and find a nanny to take this one while I get one that pays in cash. I jest of course. I think.
3. The dog almost died. That was a shitty week. She ate something toxic, her liver nearly failed and her blood stopped clotting. Quick response, good doctors and an extremely willful dog were all on our side. Several too many thousand dollars later she's back home and still a scavenger.
4. The daring daughter bought herself some plastic surgery after a run in with her scooter handle bars. Fortunately she waited long enough for the dog's blood to begin clotting properly, but soon enough so that Grandma was still here to take her big brother. And Dad & I had the common sense to make the drive to the pediatric ER in the city where she got top notch care. We haven't received that bill yet. Should be a fun one.
5. I'm busily closing the shop. I finished my last outstanding wholesale order last night. I'm waiting for an already agreed upon custom order to come through tomorrow and then I'm done manufacturing any new goods. I'm completely heartbroken and question the decision hourly but I just can't justify the time that goes in vs. the money that comes out. Heartbroken I tell you. Enough said. Except that if there is anything you want... come and get it while it's still there. Don't wait for me to mark it down. That's not happening.
6. I bought a bike and became seriously addicted to paddle boarding. Both good things. Both great stress reducers. But neither is appropriate for winter in Northern California. Trying to squeeze as much cycling and paddling in as possible now... before it starts pouring on us. I don't bike in the rain and I certainly don't paddle in the cold. I'm just picky like that.
7. I'm too tired for seven. Kids are still adorable but at the moment Gage has a simultaneous stomach ache and a head ache and Zuzu is relentlessly asking for her dessert. See you in another month or so... Maybe.
post script:
After I published this post I went and sat with headachey, stomachachey son to ask him what was wrong. He told me, in far more words than I can reiterate here, that "there was just so much going on his head that he was feeling like he really just needed to turn off for a while." I didn't know whether to hug him or give him a valium.
