it’s going to be one of those days…

Today’s a busy day.  One of those days where you hit the ground running and before you know it, it’s over, and you fall into bed ever-so-grateful for that fluffy down comforter and freshly laundered sheets!  Right now I really shouldn’t be taking this chunk of time to sit and write but I know that when I write, I feel better and today, I NEED to feel better.  It’s an achy day today.  A lupus is invading my life again kind of day.  I hate those days but I’m determined to not let it get the best of me so I’m writing, because I’m the boss, and I can.  So there!  Nanny nanny boo-boo!  Yes, I’m four years old.

The day began with the the first of two alarms on my clock going off.  4:00 AM, first alarm, the hubster’s first official day back at work.  Time to make the donuts.  Poor guy, back to the grind.  Back to his three hour commute, one way!  He’s tougher than most I tell ya.  Had a hard time going back to sleep with the wonderful aroma of coffee drifting upstairs.  Being the wonderful wife I am, I actually remembered to set the coffee pot for him!  Seems I was just back to sleep when round two of the alarms started going off.  The clock radio at 6am in my room, the cell phone ringing alarm in my son’s room, the beep beep beep in my daughter’s room.  Ugh, is it Saturday yet?

Was thankful that everyone could get to school via the school bus today, it’s always a good day when Mama doesn’t have to make the three-school-run.  Young Flanagan was too funny this morning, he seems to prefer me driving him to school rather than the bus so he starts with his subtle, “Green… CAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!” routine.  It’s his way of saying, “I much prefer you and your companionship to drive me to school over that big yellow bus, Mom!”  He says, “Green…CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!” to which I respond, “Yellow…BUSSSSSSSSSS!” and so it goes, back and forth.  Of course some days he’s a winner, when I know there is just no way we are going to make the yellow bus and he says, “Green…CAAAAAAAAAAAR” and I say, “YES!”  and he is happy.  It’s actually quite cute and flattering too I guess, that he prefers my presence over his schoolmates but socialization is a big part of his success in life and sometimes a mom’s gotta do what a mom’s gotta do.  Of course when he’s signing “green car” along with his adorable little voice, it’s hard to not just scoop him up and say, “of course I will drive you to school you sweet adorable child of mine!”  But today was one of those days…”Yellow….BUSSSSSS!” it was.  He protested for a minute but then walked down the driveway with me and waited about two minutes and then, bam, the bus was there.  Of course Dave the bus driver got a kick out of him as he steps on the bus with his Red Sox baseball hat and sunglasses on, yes, he’s the man and he knows it.  Off he went for one of the last remaining days of third grade….

For me it was a quick run to Dunkin’ Donuts for a big cup of joe, a slight distraction of reading the paper, then off I go.  Lot’s to do.  Chicken is cooking on the stove right now, I’m making Chicken Enchiladas for dear friends of ours.  The mom is recovering from hip replacement surgery and I volunteered dinner duty for tonight.  I know by now, a few weeks into it, they’ve probably had more lasagna, baked spaghetti, and stuffed shells then they care to ever have again.  OLE’!  Bring on the mexican I say!

Then it’s off to pick up my first CSA share of the season, cannot wait to see what’s in the basket!  After two o’clock this afternoon, it’s going to get a little dicey.  Pick up CSA, drop off dinner, pick up oldest and drive him to work, race back here to meet Young Flanagan’s bus, greet new Community Support Worker for her first solo day (more on that later), grab a snack for Young Flanagan and we’re out the door for…you guessed it….my favorite day….HAIRCUT DAY!  Yep, time to make it happen again.  Hopefully this won’t run our wonderful new CSW out the door when she’s sees the protest and consumption of time that takes place when one sets out to just get a trim!  Please, fellow readers and friends, do think good thoughts around 4:30pm EST today, much appreciated!

Of course in between dropping off the oldest and enjoying a nice relaxing haircut with the youngest, my daughter will be running in a track meet without any of us there to cheer her on.  I know this is fine, happens all the time, but some days you just feel more guilty that you can’t be there to support them all, 100%, whenever they need it.  It’s just self-induced guilt, I know she’s okay with it, she told me so herself, but still, guilt is a feeling I’m learning not to live with.  I’m a work in progress just like this old house of mine.

Now that doesn’t sound like too bad of a day, really, I’ve had far worse.  The trouble with today is that the lurking lupus has decided to visit today – oh how I ache.  My hips, my shoulders, my ankles….ache.  My face has looked better, man I hate the red look of lupus!  UGH!  Hmmm, you think anticipating today and all that I had to do had anything to do with it?  Note to self, don’t over-schedule yourself unless you want to be achy and have a skin flare!  It’s all trial by error, this life of mine.  One day I’ll get it, I just hope I live long enough to be there when it happens!

I should be able to get a pretty good cry or two in today though.   One of the local radio stations, 92 Moose, has changed their format all day to benefit the Special Olympics.  People can can call in and request ANY song, doesn’t have to be part of their typical top-forty format, with a minimum donation of $20 and they’ll play it.  Special Olympics being near and dear to my heart, and the ability to cry at the old “Kleenex says bless you” commercials, should work out great.  I’ll have to put in my request while trying not to cry!  I’m such a sap, a gift I treasure from my Mom.  Thanks Bets!  This weekend is the State of Maine’s Summer Games, Track and Field Special Olympics.  We haven’t gone on to the State level of S.O.’s yet as I think Young Flanagan has plenty of S.O. time ahead of him that will be better enjoyed at an older age.  He’s happy running at the local level right now, when he gets a little older, the big trip to U of Maine overnight will be more enjoyable.  Until then, go Maine Special Olympic althletes!

Chicken’s ready, time to assemble the enchiladas.
Have a guilt-free, stress-free, ache-free day friends!