Fluid Pudding

During our Thanksgiving celebration, I wandered downstairs into my aunt’s basement and found the most amazing parenting guide. Children in the Family—A Psychological Guide for Parents was written by Florence Powdermaker and Louise Ireland Grimes. It was published in 1940 by Farrar & Rinehart, Inc.

How many times have I walked around the room once or twice saying, “Loose, loose, loose” to all my muscles? Zero times! BUT, it’s not too late to start. Because if I shake or slap my kids, then we have a real fuss.

I’ve always wondered about sissy boys and masculine girls and what happened to make them that way.

I *still* don’t feel secure in my knowledge of how things really are and function. I wonder if I will EVER be ready for fairy tales (especially the classics)?!

Just this morning I sent the girls outside with some rope, a shovel, and rocks. Thank God for Urgent Care.

Suddenly, I know why I’m so screwed up. I went on entirely too many excursions when I was a child. What a preposterous stunt world I have seen! ‘ ‘ ‘text/javascript’>

Last year at this time, we were doing this:

This year at this time? Let’s just say that I’ve eaten my share of sweet potatoes and corn and cranberry salad and rolls and caramel pie, and am getting ready to head to the couch for a few hours before I hit the streets for Black Friday. That’s right. Black Friday.

Please know that I’m not one of Those People. Tempe and I head out mainly to drink coffee and watch people and maybe grab a gift or two. I’ll be back home shortly after the kids roll out of bed, and will spend tomorrow chilling out with a Harry Potter movie and some more sweet potatoes.

Remind me to tell you the story about this afternoon’s schizophrenia accusations and the unlikely bullet holes I found downstairs at my aunt’s house. (THIS is why I love Thanksgiving.) ‘ ‘ ‘text/javascript’>

You guys, I feel like I’m being totally lazy with the NaBloPoMo thing. I promise to give you more actual STUFF next Month. I promise.

Here is the breakdown of my day:

I sent the kids to school this morning.

At 9:15, I drove to school for a quick meeting.

At 9:45, I drove to school AGAIN for a quick meeting.

At 10:10, I started my freelance for the day.

At 11:45, I had lunch with friends at Flavor of India.

At 1:10, I once again pulled out the freelance.

At 4:00, the girls came home from school. I continued to work.

Dinner at 6:00. (They had sloppy joes. I had a few handfuls of peanuts. Don’t judge.)

At 8:45, I stopped the freelance for the day. And, it’s funny, because if you add up the time I was sitting at the computer, it would look like I worked for about eight hours. BUT, because of the frequent ups and downs associated with phone calls and dogs who pee and dinner preparation and talking to kids, I clocked only three hours and forty five minutes. (I use a stopwatch.) BUT, it was a productive 3.75 hours. All is well.

Good news: I received my tunic in the mail, and when I tried it on, it just seemed really BIG. So, because I’m crazy awkward and have no fashion sense, I took a photo of myself and e-mailed it to Ruche with a message that said something like, “Hey. Does this look right, or are tunics supposed to cling a bit more?” They replied with “All tunics vary in fit and style, and this particular tunic is meant to be worn loose. Personally, I think the size you have works great!” They didn’t tell me that *I* look great, but they DID say that the SIZE works great. I have chosen to take that as a compliment. The end.

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