So, this is my life...

Somewhere, in between kids with new (to them) cars, motorcycle licenses, trying to figure out which kid to sell to help raise $4200 for the plumber, Mark's new position which has entailed much success and a great deal of traveling...knitting half socks and falling in hate with the yarn, I feel content...happy...but then there is LINDA...

Who not only ate a paperback, a new BAREFOOT CONTESSA cookbook, a newspaper, a roll of toilet paper and the box in which bicycle parts were stored, but she stuck out her tongue when I tried to photograph her.

I get no respect...

Life with Linda

How would you like to wake up to see this looking at you in the middle of the night?

Trust me...it makes you want to turn out your night light and sleep in the dark.

Life with Linda isn't all bad. She's very handy. When she tears up the latest edition of Golf Digest, she helps pick it up...

And I'm still waiting for the estimate from the plumber.

Great News!

Almost three years ago to the day, we met Steve, the plumber. We moved into this house in February and one dark and dreary morning in April, the plumbing acted up. That's when we found out about tree roots.

Yesterday Steve came back to visit again (At Mark's request) and brought his roto-rooting machine. There is a door in my pantry that leads to the back patio that is perfect for bringing the roto-rooting machine to the sewer clean out thingy.

Mark loves to watch his money go down the drain, literally, so he stands and watches Steve cleaning out the sewer. Luckily for Mark, all he brings up for show-n-tell are tree roots...huge tree roots (we have huge trees).

We did this last time and at the end of an hour ($150), Steve told us we were okay but if it happened again within 6 months, we might want to take drastic measures.

This time, at the end of the hour, Steve recommended the water jet. I was all ready to take a trip, but he explained that jet doesn't always mean trip. He went on to tell us that for an additional $385, he would bring in the boss and a high pressured hose that would blast the roots out of there. They would, for no additional charge, run the camera down the sewer to see what else was going on down there.

I decided to watch Oprah instead of watch the plumbers. I was knitting when Mark came in with good news.

I immediately started smiling, feeling thankful.

Sadly, the good news is that we are putting the plumber's children through college. Yale, Princeton and Notre Dame.

The took me into the pantry where the plumber (the boss, the owner of the company, not Steve) had set up a TV like apparatus on which we could take a tour of the 117 feet of sewer line that leads to the street. It reminded me of watching Katie Couric's colonoscopy. I got dizzy.

The best news is that he gave us no price. The estimate will come in the mail in a day or two. The very best news is that if at any time between the acceptance of his estimate and the day it is done, our sewer gets stopped up again, he will come and open it (albeit temporarily) at no charge.

Or, as he said, he will fix it so we are 'good to go.'

Isn't that about the best news you've heard all day?

It's personal, predictable and punctual...

How's that for a title? Sorry, it's the best I can do. I've been on pins and needles, just waiting for that other shoe to drop. You know, when you remember, after two bad things, that bad things come in threes...and you wait...and wait...and then you start remembering other things that might be bad, but you aren't sure. You hope they were bad so you can say that you have your quota, that three bad things have happened, but you really aren't so sure...

Like this: My grandson, JR, broke his hand. Okay, that's one. Then Kailyn broke her ankle. Clearly that's two. So there i am, waiting for three.

Then yesterday I was carrying the trash out to the can and the bottom broke in the bag and trash spilled all over the driveway. Is that three? I was hoping so, but not sure, so I waited a bit.

Mark calls to tell me that he had to stop by his old office (he is still technically on-call and has to help train his replacement) for a minute and then he'll be on his way home. I am still wary, so I warn him to be careful. He says he will.

Twenty minutes later he calls to tell me that even though he's stuck in traffic half way home, he has to turn around and go back. He grabbed the wrong laptop. Is that three? Nah, can't be.

Dinner was delicious. There is no way I can consider it a disaster. After dinner, we clear the table and Mark, who is feeling guilty because he is going out of town tonight for business, says he'll load the dish washer and finish the kitchen. I hear him turn on the dish washer as I open the bathroom door to brush my teeth.

The toilet is making a gurgling sound. I turn and lift the lid just in time to see Mt. Vesuvius erupting out of the toilet. Water everywhere, I scream. That frightens Mark who runs to the hall, frightening the dog who scared the cat who in turn ran though the living room, delaying Mark who is armed with rags, a plunger and paper towels.

As we clean up the mess, we discuss Jeff, the plumber, how the roots of trees must be holding this entire acre in place, about dinner and suddenly I stop...now, clearly, this is a catastrophe...but is it #3 period, or is it 3, 4 and 5? That would make it 3, 1 and 2, wouldn't it?

I slept well, so I must not have worried too much. I woke this morning to find a note on my desk from my husband. It said:

Hi! Holiday Inn tonite, can't remember town. Call Holly or Sue at office if you
need to know, or call my cell.

I'll call you tonight,

I love you, princess puking

Now I'll admit, I was sleep befuddled and did not think that we have a cat named Princess who occasionally throws up. That possibly could be described as Princess puking, but no, I thought he had fumbled on yet another unflattering pet name for me.

I immediately fired off a text message to his cell phone:

I love you too, King Caca.

I think him not understanding that I did not understand could easily be described as our third catastrophe.

I give up! Going to bed. goodnightiloveyouseeyoutomorrow!!!!

Before and After

Kailyn and Andy before:

Kailyn and Andy after:Nothing that six weeks and a lot of fiberglass won't fix.

goodnightiloveyouseeyoutomorrow

Motherhood is all about repitition. I've been a mother for 38 years and every night for the past 35 of those years, I said the above phrase, as fast as I can, to each child. GoodnightIloveyouseeyoutomorrow. And again GoodnightIloveyouseeyoutomorrow. Maybe one more time: GoodnightIloveyouseeyoutomorrow. There were times when all 4 of them were home: GoodnightIloveyouseeyoutomorrow. Sometimes they had friends for sleep overs: GoodnightIloveyouseeyoutomorrow. GoodnightIloveyouseeyoutomorrow.

You say it often enough and they learn to say it back. They understand it. They know what you are saying. Sooner or later, even the most bone headed of them learns this lesson.

Now that Andy is 20 and Tony is 18, I have added to my repertoire: When they leave the house, they never go without me telling them that I love them, to be careful, remember the curfew and to use common sense. IloveyoubecarefulwatchthetimeandTHINK!!! Andy leaves for work: IloveyoubecarefulwatchthetimeandTHINK!!! Tony leaves for school: IloveyoubecarefulwatchthetimeandTHINK!!!

Now that Andy and Kailyn have been dating for a year, she has become part of the family. She is like one of the kids. She gets the Goodnight speech and the Think one as well.

Tonight Tony drove himself to the dentist for the first time ever. He took his golf clubs to stop at the country club afterwards to play 9 holes. As he walked out the door, I called after him: IloveyoubecarefulwatchthetimeandTHINK!!! Thirty minutes later, Andy and Kailyn pulled in to gather their ropes and stuff to go rappelling. I know that they are safety conscious. They understand the risks. They know I understand that they understand and we all understand that some things are just not in our control.

As they left, I called after the red jeep going down the drive: IloveyoubecarefulwatchthetimeandTHINK!!!

And now, four hours later, I am sitting here waiting for Andy to call and tell me if Kailyn's ankle is broken or not. I wanted to shout at them. I wanted to ask them if it was the becareful or the THINK that they forgot, but I know that the answer wouldn't be important, but that they might shout at me as I leave the house the same thing Michael told me about 35 years ago: You're not the boss of EVERYTHING!

I'm not...I know that...I'm the queen.

Lots of things going on!


Seems as if it was only a day or two since my last real post (the last one doesn't count), but the truth is, it's been forever! I know, I broke my promise to myself, and am I ever catching heck from myself. I promise to try to do better!

Now...to get us caught up:

On the knitting front:

I finally finished this pair, in my favorite colorway from knitpicks (discontinued)

This pair is my back up pair.

My first pair of Opal! I don't remember the colorway, but since they are shorties, of course they are for me too.

I wish I could remember what kind of yarn I used for this pair. Lanna Grosso? I'll look if anyone has to know. Otherwise, I'm not moving from my chair.

On the homefront:

Tony has been saving money for the past few years to purchase one of his two dream vehicles. He finally brought it home:

And took it for a ride:

Yes, I am nervous, but as he pointed out, he's been driving a bicycle in traffic for two years and I can't keep him home forever...

I woke up one morning last weekend to find my husband out in the front yard doing this. He told me that it had something to do with being married for 22 years. Yikes!

Was I relieved to see that this was what he had in mind. I've been asking for a flag pole for years. This one is just want I wanted!

Since we are talking about digging in the yard, I was poking around in a flower bed and found this: Could it be St. Joseph? Whoever he is, he didn't work. This house was on the market for quite a while.

And a visit from my grandson sporting a lime green cast. He broke a bone in his hand. This is his fourth broken bone in three mishaps and he's only 14! Today is Mark's first day in his new position. I didn't even hear him leave. So far, he's called and emailed twice. Can't be working too hard.

He spent most of yesterday setting up his home office. This may become interesting...

I'm sure there is more to tell, but the sun is out and I want to be out there too, so more next time!