Around Here: Week 15 2025

 {April 6th-12th}

@birdsofashmae

Enjoying... spring break and the opportunity to stay up late, sleep in and not do much of anything else. 

Hitting... Dollar Tree with my sister and Carly, leaving the boys to go to the movies together to see the Minecraft movie. We had so much fun just bumming around Dollar Tree and talking and laughing. 

Cleaning... out the second pantry while Roxanne and Carly were sorting through and organizing Carly's Barbie stuff. I have had "organize second pantry" on my to do list for months. In the end, it was done so quickly, I regretted that I hadn't done it sooner!

Still... making it to Jazzercise on Monday and Wednesday, and feeling proud I am making it a priority, and grateful that my feet and back, which used to hurt during each workout, feel a lot better. 

Taking... Carly and her friend Joslyn to the park at a nearby elementary school. I walked laps while they played on the playground. I was happy for them to have each other and I was happy for me to get some movement. 

Reading... The Blue Castle and Northwoods, and listening to Sunrise on the Reaping. I am enjoying all of them, but The Blue Castle is really magical. It's by L.M. Montgomery, the author of Anne of Green Gables, and the writing is so good. I also started reading It Goes So Fast on my kindle app on my phone. It's so good. I had a goal originally to read one book per day of spring break. I got close most days, and I'm happy with that, because I read more than I would have if I had never made that crazy goal. 

Getting... the all clear from the dentist (no cavities!) for Carly & Wyatt, and when they told her she was Sugar-Bug free, she sang, "For the first time in forever!" Hahah! (She's had cavities two, maybe three times). On the way home we got donuts which delighted Carly to no end. Later I took Wyatt to the orthodontist. He is likely going to need jaw surgery when he is older. His throat is so tiny that surgery would help him get better sleep and cure any sleep apnea he may have. 

Happy... for the twins to spend the day in Wenatchee, thrift shopping, eating out, and hanging with their cousins and my parents. 

Hitting... Costco with Josh, which was lovely. We had a good time, laughing, walking every aisle and grabbing a slice of pizza at the end.  He's my favorite person to spend time with, it rarely matters where we are. 

Requesting... the boys send me photographic proof of their chores being done before they could go off and do what they wanted. They weren't thrilled, but I thought it was brilliant.

Mortified... thanks to a thing that happened that keeps playing on repeat in my brain. Have you ever done that before? Had something embarrassing happen that you can't seem to live down? I'm just praying the other person isn't replaying it in their head!

Grateful... for three of my four kids spending some time with their Grandma, making gingerbread houses (even though it's spring). It was a lovely quiet day for me home with just Logan, reading and blogging. 

Talking... to my counselor about my lack of belief in God anymore. It kind of got off topic, and we ended up talking about whether you can be a good person without faith or religion. Interesting conversation, to be sure, but not what I wanted to delve into, which is more, like, what do I do now that I don't believe in God? I wish, oh I wish I still believed. But I just don't anymore.

Planting... dahlias with Josh in the backyard on our twenty-fifth dating anniversary. On that day in 2000, when we were juniors in high school, we decided to officially be boyfriend and girlfriend. A decision I have never regretted. 

Visiting... and laughing with Josh's sister Julie who came to hang out while we planted the dahlias. We had such a great time. 

Informing... Carly that her balance beam arrived. She is SO excited to be able to practice some gymnastics at home. I died at how she decorated the garage- complete with pictures she drew of different gymnasts she loves- I just love her.  The only bummer about her balance beam and practicing in the garage (so she has more room) is that she is terrified of ants, and sugar ants have shown up for the season.  We're going to need Josh to save the day and spray for them so she can not freak out every time she goes out there. 

Trying... a Jazzercise stretch class, which I had assumed would be slow moving. Boy was I wrong. If anything, it moved even faster than my Monday/Wednesday class. But it was only a half hour and it was fun and felt good. So that's happy. 

Researching...  COVID and fibromyalgia. There seems to be some overlap between long COVID and fibromyalgia, both of which can follow a bout of COVID.  My fibromyalgia has just been so bad this school year- my feet and lower back mainly, but also my collar bones and hands and arms and the worst headaches & migraines. I'm just so tired of feeling this level of weary. 

Shopping... at Safeway for dog food, Carly's friends' birthday gift and some other items on my list. I am grateful to not be shopping at Wamart, but I sure do miss Walmart's prices. 

Watching... Dying for Sex, and oh my lord, what an incredible show. I laughed, I cried... it was amazing.  What struck me is the way that sex is a given for men. Of course they want it, of course they have fetishes and desires. But when women make it clear that they want sex, that they have dreams or feel lustful, it's not as readily accepted. 

Making... pizza and cookies for movie night while watching Hercules with Carly & Wyatt. It was a lovely way to end the week and I'm so grateful for those little munchkins and this one week break amidst the chaos of the end of the school year. 

***

Well this is just rude.

I wish I could doodle like this!

The neurologist Logan sees said they have seen a massive
spike in seizure activity with vaping, and an even bigger one
in people who "dab" (use a weed pen). It's so scary. 

From "It Goes So Fast"
by Mary Lousie Kelly

I just started Act III according to Mary Louise Kelly,
and it definitely feels this way. 

***

Me & Cousin Kimmy opening presents with Aunt Barb and Cousin Kasey

Me & my cousin Kimmy

Born ten days apart, we always celebrated our birthdays together.

Our engagement party. 
Circa 2002

Our one year wedding annivesary.
2004

Christmas 2000

Aww, I love those kids with stars in their eyes.