07.31.08

home again home again

Posted in Uncategorized at 8:24 pm by Anne

poppy

Originally uploaded by Dux

I used to believe, that as a naturalized Texas, I would never want to live anywhere else. I was wrong, people, so wrong. Because there is Santa Fe, New Mexico.

I would totally live there, as long as we had enough cash to afford a place in the mountains. With a pool. And leftover monies to shop in town and eat well all the time, while sending the kids to good schools and providing for their future.

With Texas in the triple digits, that twenty degree reduction, coupled with fragrant mountain breezes made our all-girls vacation a veritable paradise. We ate well. We ate alot. We ate often. and walked. and shopped. and laughed. and considered immortality together.

Maybe the strangest thing of all, was that I had forgotten that I’d visited before…about 4 years ago. I had gone there to attend a family reunion, my side of the family, and was pregnant with Emma at the time. Lily was Piper’s current age, and we had stayed just a few days and then flown back to Texas.

On Monday, when we went into town, everything was too familiar. I knew a few of the stores and a few of the restaurants, which made no sense until I remembered that family reunion. Then it kind of clicked. My Dad had just passed away 4 years ago…shortly before the family reunion. No wonder why I had forgotten visiting Santa Fe before.

And now I am adjusting to raising three little babies again in the sweltering heat, reclaiming my crown as crazy-assed queen of the house. I like to think I’ve come back with a healthier perspective on everything. We’ll just see how long it lasts.

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07.26.08

later gecko

Posted in Uncategorized at 8:39 pm by Anne

emz’ gecko

Originally uploaded by Dux

Or should I say, later gator.

I am leaving town for a few days. It will be my first break from the kids in…well, ever, really.

I’m hoping to come back re-charged and re-newed and will all kinds of positive things to share. Wish me luck, I’ll see you biatches on the flip side!

hugz and shid,

A

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07.23.08

trophy-love

Posted in Uncategorized at 8:35 am by Anne

pinkypie

Originally uploaded by Dux

Last night I was signed up to go to an oil painting class at the community center. Shan was all set up to watch the girls, I had fed them dinner, and while we waited for him to come home Lily and I had a conversation.

Lily: What are you doing tonight Mom?
Me: I am going to a painting class, hon.
Lily: Oh! Will you get a trophy?
Me: (pause) er, no.
Lily: You should go to a painting class where you will get a trophy!
Me: I’ll look into it honey.

At the highschool where the girls take their swimming lessons, we always pass by the enormous trophy case and the children are mesmerised by the multitudinous, brightly colored, and shiny trophies that sit crammed together.

And I remember feeling that same way years ago (and maybe I still do)…there is some kind of shallow magic associated with the towering, if cheaply-constructed, awards that makes you want one. The accomplishment they declare is like a fleeting drug. It shouts success and worth and effort. What else do we need in this life to make it meaningful?

Well, besides love, of course.

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07.22.08

funked up

Posted in Uncategorized at 1:18 pm by Anne

japanese slipper

Originally uploaded by Dux

What is wrong with me? Somehow everything about today has so far gotten me down. Way down. As in, I woke up in a foul mood, it stayed with me through breakfast, working out at the gym (which usually helps a lot), and taking the girls to swim class. Swim class was particularly painful.

Possibility 1: Today is the hottest day yet, it’s supposed to reach 102 today and it certainly felt like it in the GD natatorium where I basically melted into a disgusting pool of sweat.

Possibility 2: Piper spent the entire half hour of class trying to fall in the pool, distracting all the swimmers with her howling shrieks, and forcing me to watch her like a hawk thereby missing my other daughters perform.

Possibility 3: I am deep in the pain-body that is unfulfilled. The pain-body is eating me alive right now. I would call it a mid-life crisis but it is a little soon for that assuming I will live to at least 76, but let’s be realistic, who the hell knows how long anyone will live to be?

To sum: I really need some more perspective. You see my saying that often, don’t you.

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07.21.08

losing my touch

Posted in Uncategorized at 7:41 am by Anne

texas star hibiscus

Originally uploaded by Dux

You may not know this but I used to be a social GD butterfly. I could break into any conversation that was going on anywhere and spin it into something I could participate more fully in. Now? Not so much.

Example:

Friday night I went to a girl’s night out, basically, at a local wine bar, and for the first half hour had nothing to say to anyone. I sat there, nursing my lone glass of overpriced zinfandel, and considered leaving the group of chatting women. I fantasized about going to a real bar in town, with loud music and too many bodies crammed inside, with smoke and cheap assed margaritas, and that deliciously inexplicable feel a real bar gives off…not this pseudo-uppity gravitas the wine bistro wrapped itself with.

It got better. I did wind up talking with a few good girls as the night wore on but next time I’ll suggest a pub. I’m just not into fancy sometimes.

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07.18.08

some days

Posted in Uncategorized at 12:49 pm by Anne

reveal

Originally uploaded by Dux

Some days arrive like this:

1) getting up late on a school camp day, no coffee, no shower, cold cereal-non-nourishing breakfast on the fly for the girls.

2) halfway through the neighborhood Emma announces “I am not wearing panties!” When already late, these things happen. So for an additional bonus, the girls get to listen to me chastise them as I execute a 12 point turn and head back home for underpants.

3) realizing that Emma’s ‘lovie’ security blankety thing was most likely left at yesterday’s swimming lessons, since it is no where in the house. and hoping that no one wants to take the ratty old thing home with them.

4) realizing too, that both girls left their bathing suits over at their cousin’s house last night. 30 minutes away. Not on my schedule today.

5) Old Navy only has baby bathing suits no bigger girls. That said, at least I got some supercute capris while Piper screamed. and screamed and screamed. Yes, I was that Mom.

6) Recognizing that there will be a fight (nay WW3) over the old cruddy bathing suits the girls will be wearing to swim lessons today.

7) Wondering if Emma will refuse to get in the pool until the remaining 7 minutes of class. Like YESTERDAY.

TGIF Biatches!

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07.17.08

worser

Posted in Uncategorized at 12:47 pm by Anne

So trying to type some vastly importants thoughts while the baby crawls under the desk howling with indignation is bad.

It is profoundly worse when the baby digs in her diaper, while howling and playing beneath the desk, and spreads poo all over your pant leg.

Honestly, Pipez. Just use words.

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07.14.08

vision quest

Posted in Uncategorized at 12:45 pm by Anne

bebee

Originally uploaded by Dux

So I am looking to get my yearly eye exam handled this week since I am on my last pair of contact lenses. My eyes haven’t changed in the last five years but whatever. It’s. The. Law.

So my question for all of you is this: What type lenses do you wear if any?

I’ve got the Acuvue Oasys but I think they are both expensive and not super excellent. So I am looking for cheap but good. Because, you know, the money I save on lenses I can apply towards gasoline.

Thanks doods.

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07.11.08

tough times

Posted in Uncategorized at 2:14 pm by Anne

whoops

Originally uploaded by Dux

With my middle child still forgetting to go to the potty in time and my youngest removing her diaper and leaving tootsie rolls on the carpet, I am back in the land of scatology.

It’s all right. I’ve been here plenty of times before. I can handle it.

Our dog, the old gal we’ve had for as long as we’ve been married, coming on 12 years this October, is starting to fail. She doesn’t hear so well and she sure doesn’t see so well. Piper tests her patience from time to time but for the most part she has been a good member of the family.

Add to that her middle of the night incontinence and the poor thing is being relegated to the outdoors. I let her in periodically during the day because it is so damnably hot but she is an outdoor dog now.

Someone needs to warn the kids what could be looming in their own future.

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07.10.08

Um. ouch

Posted in Uncategorized at 9:34 pm by Anne

pedicruel

Originally uploaded by Dux

So today I went and got a pedicure. I went to the place Cecily and I received super-bad-ass-pedicures on my birthday and just happened to wind up with the very same pedicurist. Is that the right word?

Although I didn’t sign up for the super deluxe pedi, since I was on a schedule, I was mostly very pleased with the whole thing. The whirlpool, the massage chair (best in town!), all was going great, I had even brought along my Harper’s magazine and was enjoying the down time when.

Ouch. and DAMN. Ouch!

I didn’t flinch or pull my foot away but whatever she was doing was eliciting pain on my end. Finally she stopped, and I could stop gritting my teeth. I peeked over my magazine and saw her wiping a small amount of blood off my big toe.

sigh.

I’ve never had a fungal infection before but that record may be over after today.

Oh well, at least the color is nice.

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