Wednesday, January 27, 2010

My husband is on a low fat diet, so for the last several months I have been experimenting with recipes. Last night my son came in after a long day of classes and grabbed a piece of freshly baked cake. "This is good!" he said. He was confident when he stated, "This is not fat free."

Saturday, January 16, 2010

My Week

Monday came. I did not feel so good but got moving anyway. Then my son checked the balance due for tuition and it was more than double the amount it should have been. This required a trip to the college. I had an appointment in the same area I didn't want to put off anyway. After being fortified with caffeine, I donned an oversized pink sweatshirt and my softest comfy jeans and forged ahead.


It turned out to be a pretty good day. I had an excellent time conversing with one of our church staff. The tuition problem was rectified. "Someone wrote it wrong," the lady at the college said. I'll say. An extra one in the thousands' place makes a huge difference. And then, someone wanted to talk with my son about a job that pays money. This was a very good Monday. Then the rest of the days came after.


During the week we prepared for a performance scheduled for Friday, practicing and making costume adjustments. My son was to do some sign language. He had been suffering a pinched nerve for a week. It was still bothering him, so I spent a lot of time telling him to lie down on the heating pad.


Other things happened. My dog somehow pulled the outside water pipe up out of the ground and disconnected the water from the house. We had to turn off the water for a while. It was making a small lake in the backyard. The toilet overflowed. This was after we got the water fixed. It had nothing to do with the other water problem. Neither did the deal with the washer. My laundry appliances are just temperamental. The washer will sometimes stop working. It makes a horrible squealing noise that my husband is trying hard to ignore. Now the dryer, which he did recently fix, likes to randomly come on all by itself.


Tuesday was ok, as far as I remember. We had some minor bumps, projects delayed by missing tools, and things of that nature, but no major disasters that I recall. There may have been a small kitchen fire.


Wednesday we had a fun day out planned and enjoyed ourselves even though my head still hurt a bit. When we came home, the neighbor's rottweiler was chewing on my puppy dog. My dog, Thunder, is not a tiny thing, unless you compare him to a buffalo. Or a rottweiler. We jumped out of the car to rescue the pup. (Thunder was not hurt, just a little damp.) Someone forgot to close the car door. Rottie decided he wanted to go for a ride. In my car. He would not get out. All I could think about is how much rotties drool. And chew. I tempted the nice doggie out with ham placed strategically down my drive back to his house. This took time . . . and approximately half a ham. I did not make it to Ladie's Bible Study that night.


Thursday my little dancer began the day by saying, "I think I yelled too much yesterday. My throat is sore." Ginger Ale and jello was the menu for lunch. Around 1:00 I sent a message to my oldest to bring home more ginger ale and nausea medicine. I cleaned the bathroom several times Thursday. I spent the evening cleaning carpet and washing towels. When my poor little girl developed a fever I sent a message of apologies and regrets about the performance. Maybe the dress will still fit this Easter.


Friday I cut my own hair.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Enhanced Vision

My daughter got her first pair of eye glasses yesterday. When she put them on she said, "Cool! Now everything is Hi-Def!"

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Dancing on Carpet

It's easy to smile in the beginning. Step, step, turn. Leap. Grace and power flow. Arms reach out and float in the air. Your fingers turn red as blood rushes through your veins. Up onto toes. Drawing air, your chest expands and nostrils flare. Everyone in the room can hear labored breathing, but your smile never falters.


Little girls in make believe tutus, young mothers, tweens, and silver haired ladies all watch you move across the floor. Keep your face soft, soft. Make them blind to holes in your shoes and tattered ribbons. Move smoothly against the resistance. It looks easy even as beads of moisture trickle along your hairline, wetting the sprigs of hair that have escaped. Finish.


They clap, ignoring the sweat running down your neck. The sparkle of sequins distracts attention from the frayed seams. You smile and smile, sinking gracefully into a bow.


The slippers are removed. You stretch and stretch. Rub your calves, ankles, feet. Sometimes you cry, but it's ok because no one can see you now. You pray for smoother floors tomorrow. Point and flex, point and flex. Stretch some more, because tomorrow you may have to dance on carpet again.