If I was a drinker

If it wasn't my day, it might have been funny.

At ten minutes til four in the afternoon, a salesperson showed up at the store and started in on her sales pitch. I stopped her quickly, letting her know that the business is for sale, so we are not adding any new services or product lines at this time. COMPLETELY UNDETERRED by my statement, she wanted to continue. I told her again that I was not interested in adding any products or services to the store, nor did I want anything personally. I also told her that since I am the ENTIRE staff during the week, I wouldn't be able to listen to a sales pitch because I would be constantly interrupted by customers who would need my attention.

Again, not dissuaded in the least, she proceded to try to tell me all about her product or service. Customers came and customers went. I helped them, and I answered phones. She stood just to the side of the register area at the counter, and waited... and any time she could, she started back into her schpiel.

Then, one of our regular customers came in who is, to put it kindly, an odd nut. He works alone in a very small building, and I think he's just starved for people to talk to and gets very passionate if you give him even an inch of leeway.

It was a match made in hell.

She got him going, and off went the Energizer Bunny.

Remember, this whole thing began at just before four o'clock in the afternoon.

Michael called to check on me at 5:45, and asked if I was busy. I hesitantly said, "no", and he listened to what was going on in the background. Then he said he was going to change places with me. I would go get the eggs and milk we needed, and he would close the store.

I was more than willing to except this trade.

He came, and I flew out the back door. I'm not sure they noticed.

In fact, Michael called me to let me know that when the store closed at 6, he had to encourage them to go outside so that he could close up. He closed up the store, counted down the drawer, and did all the closing procedures. When he drove away at 6:15, they were still outside talking.

And I JUST KNOW she'll be back next week, since she didn't get to finish with me.

If I was a drinker...

-k

Beloved Polaseks

Our beloved Polaseks are here! We got to spend a little time with them last night, and from that time, a few funny stories arose.

Katie was already asleep - so we didn't get to see how the two girls will interact, or compare their sizes... although apparently Lori got an earful about Katie and her size and hair and ability to cure cancer. Which cracks me up because WE always hear about Tessa and how many things she's able to do which make Katie sound like the slow kid in the corner eating paste.

John and Ian got along very well, which I was pleased about. Ian is a rough and tumble kid who doesn't seem to realize his size or strength, and John, in his dad's words, is a "sensitive sailor". They got along fine, ran around the backyard like little crazy people, and there was a lot of giggling.

Of course, as the evening wore on, they got tired and a little more slaphappy. Tessa went inside and didn't come back out, so Lori was inside with her. The boys started roughhousing, and I asked them to stop. The dads told me I was overreacting, and to let them be. I stated for the record that roughhousing never ends well and I wanted no part of it. I headed inside to join Lori.

Within two minutes, there was crying in the backyard and then a TREMENDOUS smack as John ran full-speed into our sliding glass door - which escalated the crying into a wail. Fortunately, although his nose was now sore in addition to the original offense (which was related to him having been squished while roughhousing), no permanent damage was done. He cuddled with his mom until he calmed down.

At which point, Ian pipes up oh-so-helpfully from the sliding door, "John! It's your faceprint!"

Thank goodness, John thought that was actually kind of cool.

And I have to state for the record, that all the parents had to suppress a chuckle at that part.

More great stories to follow...

-k

Toes - the pictorial

Okay, read the post below this... and then scroll back up to these pictures!

-k

Katie Toes

With my beloved extended Polasek family coming to town (they arrived today), I decided that the least I could do was give my sadly neglected toes a home pedicure. I had really intended to go get a professional pedicure in the gigantic spa chair and the whole works. It's a treat, and I LOVE it. However, with my work schedule and my kiddos, it didn't happen.

So, a few nights ago I just put on a quick coat of red polish and figured it would do well enough. No one else notices your toes as much as you do...

Except your children.

My children were fascinated with my red toes. Particularly Katie. Who couldn't stop exclaiming "red toes"! "Red toes, mommie", and "katie red toes?"

I pondered. I weighed the possibilities. I figured that if I decided to paint her toes, it would be a disaster with wide-reaching stain potential. But she was persistent and so darn adorable that I couldn't deny her.

Yesterday, I painted just her two big toes with the same color red that I had done my own. And I told her that she'd have to sit still while they dried... which MUCH to my ASTONISHMENT, she actually DID.

And it was so darling, it took my breath away.

This morning, we did the other eight, and took pictures. She sat still again while they dried, and when it was all done and I was ready to let her down to run loose, she asked for "lip stuff", which is flavored lip gloss, NOT lipstick.

I did take pictures, and I will post them as soon as I download them off my camera. Prepare yourself. Your heart may just burst from the adorableness.

-k

Moment in Time

Today at work, I am listening to the Crash Test Dummies classic album "God Shuffled His Feet" on repeat.

Music has a life of its own. And this album has been special to me since 1994, when as a heavily pregnant young woman watching the last remnants of her marriage crumble the closer she got to having her first child, I used to sit up all night, listening to this album playing solitaire on the computer because I couldn't sleep. I love every track on the album. I love the feeling of the album as a whole. It's comfort music.

I know full well that it's not like I would hang out with the band if given the chance. That's not it at all. I don't have the strong feelings of affection for the BAND. It's the MUSIC that I love like an old friend.

Today, although work has had all the same charms and challenges that it usually has, and there are too many to mention, this music has kept me on an even keel. It's kept me cheerful, and joking with the same customers who usually make me so angry. I am able to take their cruddy attitudes in stride, and just be mellow.

Do you have music you feel that way about? What is it?

Musically,
-k

Katie update

Katie finally gets air when she jumps! For weeks now, she puts all the effort into a jump and was just as pleased with herself, although not one shaft of sunlight got between her feet and the floor. Now, she actually does manage to get an inch or two off the ground.

Katie's vocabulary grows every day. Lately, she likes to announce when she has "a problem". And with that, I have been informed that I am the problem more than once. Especially if I didn't immediately hand over the "cookie" from the "eezer" (freezer for those of you who don't yet speak fluent Katie). She will tell you that she's "crying" or if one of her brothers is "crying". She even announced that if "Daddy" "spank" "Ian" he will "crying" and that would be a "problem".

I must admit that although I'm as proud as I can be of her intelligence, and her mastery of the alphabet, numbers, shapes, colors, and the dewey decimal system, I am sort of trying to handicap her when it comes to the alphabet. I don't really want her to learn "y". I'm not ready for the torrent THAT will unleash.

Just saying...

-k

Terrible Record

I believe that's the longest I've ever gone without blogging since starting the blog years ago.

I could be wrong, because I've never tracked it.

Sadly, there's not a lot to catch you up on. It's been a rough few months, and if I hadn't fallen so in love with the power of knitting, I would probably be curled in the fetal position, drooling and crying. Thank goodness, the yarn DOES soothe me, and I've ever made several beautiful baby blankets lately that have found their way to family members and close friends... which makes me feel very good.

I discovered much to my joy that one of my closest family friends is a knitter! I knew she quilted, so I shouldn't be surprised that she knits as well, but it made me happy just to hear it. One more thing that we share.

So I'm sorry about my prolonged absence. I will try to be better.

-k

Sentinel Article

In times of near panic, I can always turn to the Christian Science Sentinel or the Christian Science hymnal and find something simple enough yet with substance to meet my needs. When I am too upset to get into the deeper waters of the Christian Science Journal or even the Science and Health, those two sources are my go-to remedies.

Today, while I am contemplating some things that are scary and nearly overwhelming, I brought a recent Sentinel into work with me. I have been reading articles that are helping me to regain my peace of mind, and even work towards something greater, hope.

One writer talked about working with a practitioner during a time when she was facing what seemed insurmountable. Her practitioner told her that she needed to START with gratitude and joy. That seemed so hard to do when she was overwhelmed and frightened. She said the only thing that she could come up with was "Someday I will share this healing with others". And as her conviction grew that she WOULD have her healing and be able to share that experience with others, she found her joy. And of course, with that joy came the healing. It wasn't the instant healing she hoped for, but it was thorough and wonderful and exceeded her original needs and desires.

So today as I go through my day, whenever I feel like the weight of all these challenges is overwhelming me, I will state with conviction that I WILL have my healing and someday I will be able to share that healing with others. I will feel gratitude that I KNOW this is the Truth. I will be able to have my joy.

It reminds me of music video from an 80's band called Dream Academy for their song "Life in a Northern Town". In it, the sky is dark and melting down onto the people in the video. Whenever they reach the chorus, they throw their arms skyward and sing the chorus loudly and the sky recedes to give them the space to continue singing. That's a great metaphysical message. When the sky appears dark and problems threaten to crush you, make a joyful noise and watch those troubles recede to give you the space to continue in your good work.

I will be leaving for my annual Association tomorrow and not taking a computer or any way to get on the internet for a few days. When I get back, I will have lots of great inspiration to share.

In the meantime, if you are facing any challenges of your own, have the unshaken confidence that your prayers ARE answered and you will be able to share your healing with others someday too.

Fondly,
-k

Emotional Pain

Tonight I am feeling very upset about the Broadway career I wanted to have. I truly believe I could have done it and was headed in that direction.

I know I've been over all this ground before and it does me no good. I made my choices. I stand by the reasons I made the choices that I did.

Still hurts though.

And I would not be willing to completely throw away my life now in order to chase that dream again at the expense of my family. Which is what it would take.

I think that's why people like Susan Boyle capture the world's attention. She got her dream shot. And she made good on the opportunity. And we all celebrate with her and through her!

-k

Swine Flu update

Well, mixed signals like crazy here... but the kids went back to school and daycare two days ahead of schedule... and yet the media would tell you that things are worse... and if I see that picture of the little kid kissing the pig on the snout ONE MORE TIME...

-k

Katie's AWESOME present

A package came in the mail today addressed to our darling Katie Rose. She was very excited to see her name on something, and had a GREAT time simply exploring the envelope.

And smart girl that she is, she figured out pretty quickly that there was something inside that she wanted to see. So she started trying to get it open. Please notice the CHARMING expression on Cory's face in this picture. She was so interested that our little picture hog wouldn't even look UP for the camera.

It was Katie's FAVORITE thing! New books for Katie Rose! There were FOUR books inside. Not only were there new books inside, but THREE of them are Baby Einstein books, and Katie loves "Stein" as she calls it. There was also an adorable Sandra Boynton book - another favorite. Here Katie has pulled them all out of the envelope and arranged them around herself and is SO interested that again, she can't be bothered to even look up at the camera.

And here is Daddy reading them to her. We all read to Katie every day. Even Cory and Ian help read to Katie, although sometimes their versions seem to have different words. Katie loves her books, and loves to be read to so much that if you don't agree immediately, you are likely to be pelted with books until you relent. If you are doing something else, she pushes it aside and climbs into your lap anyway.

And Daddy is always a good sport. Even on the 18 millionth read in a row!

Katie certainly had a MAGNIFICENT day with her lovely gift of books and the six billion times we all read them to her already today. She particularly loves the two with lift-the-flap adventures.

Thank you thank you from all of us, and mostly from Katie Rose!

-k

Day Four - Piggy Issues

Today felt a little more normal because it was a Saturday and we are SUPPOSED to all be home together. It was still a little strained because Cory spent the day being miserable and angry about not being able to get together with his friends. And I have to tell you that today I am VERY upset with my adopted hometown. After all, schools and daycares have been forcefully closed for several days now - and yet they DID allow Schlitterbahn to open. Proms were forced to move to another weekend, but the big Harley rally continued.

So either, they have to admit that they overreacted to the school closures, which included all the public parks and the library... or the pull of tourism and its monetary rewards were more important than public safety and they allowed those events to proceed knowing that it was putting people in danger. And honestly, I'm sure they won't admit to either... which is frustrating. I want to be a good citizen and do what I am asked, however I don't think it's fair to ask all of us parents to scramble to figure out what to do with our children on short notice, remove them from their academics, and insist they all stay apart from each other - but allow tourists to frolic and play as though nothing was happening. How do I proceed next week? Do I allow my kids to socialize with their friends now? If they were wrong (and we'd all be glad to hear that they were), why won't they allow the schools to resume?

On the bright side, we did get the canvas top put on the gazebo... as pictured below.

And our grapes are doing VERY well... and you can see in the next two pictures. There are at least a couple of dozen of these little bunches on the several grapevines we have in the backyard.

We have several variations planted, and last year I think we got four total bunches. This year, they are VERY happy where they are, and going gangbusters.

And our tomato plants are also flourishing. Here is an adorable bunch of cherry tomatos, just growing away!

We played on the slip and slide again, we worked on our storage space a little, we put the top on the gazebo, we drew with sidewalk chalk, and in the next post I write, we received a VERY exciting gift package that changed Katie's day!

More soon, which means above since these post in that order...

-k

From Day Two

Here are the promised pictures from standing on their heads. Sorry they are so fuzzy, but these were action shots.

Sometimes my kids are so cute I just want to BURST. Please notice the underoos... and the pigtails on Katie. As well as how adorable bare feet are on children. Some of my favorite things, really...

-k

Day Three - Piggy Issues

Day Three was rough.

There was crying, shouting, pushing, timeouts, and a lot of fussing. The kids were a pain in the bucket too.

It wasn't all bad. Just mostly.

We did have a few highlights to the day... like discovering a slip-and-slide in the garage and using it for almost an hour.

The rest of the day was fairly unmentionable.

-k