It was a long day of traveling. We got up at 2am for our 6am flight, which was subsequently delayed four hours, causing us to miss our connection. We had 19 minutes to make the new one, which required going to a separate terminal. Somehow we made it, even though my shoes kept falling off. And then that plane was delayed 20 minutes due to some fuel gauge issue. The people around us on both flights were completely obnoxious. One woman kept poking my seat because her TV screen was broken and she just couldn’t accept it. There was a spider and a woman who refused to sit in her seat near a spider, even if someone did kill it. There was a guy next to me who sang and bounced his leg next to mine for the entire flight while he also sniffled and coughed the whole way. He obviously had a cold. I spent the whole flight trying to avoid his germs. But we finally got to Rosina’s to get the kids, who had a great time, and we made it home by 4:30. The rest of the day was lying on the couch watching the Olympics. I’m so tired.
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August 10
This trip has lived up to every expectation, and I am so grateful to the Universe for obliging me. We ended up not staying for the second game of the doubleheader, but they won the first game big (8-0) and we got to have a great dinner with Siggi and Brett and that was more worth it. They ended up losing the second game big, so obviously we didn’t miss anything .We went to Zaro’s and got black and white cookies, and we went to an Irish pub and watched Olympics and drank beer and honestly it has felt so good to be home. I miss this city with all my heart. I could not live here again with the kids and through the long winters, not to mention how expensive it is, but it feels so good riding the subway and walking through avenues and city blocks. I literally feel at home. Going back to Jacksonville is going to be hard… but we’ll be back.
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August 9
There was so much riding on this flight and damn it, Hurricane Debby was not going to fuck with my day at Yankees Stadium that I have been looking forward to for ten years. But look at our luck: I was worried about tomorrow’s game being rained out, but instead tonight’s game was rained out and rescheduled for tomorrow – which means we get to go to TWO Yankees games! I am so freaking happy. Also this sunset was awesome.
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August 8
After Robin’s epic practice last night, I felt inspired to get my ass on the treadmill for the first time in almost a year and a half. My entire being hurts. I guess this is a good thing?
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August 7
Robin had an amazing cheerleading practice today. It was almost two hours of solid conditioning, and it was HARD WORK. He had them doing squats while carrying their teammates on their backs. Robin kept looking up at me in disbelief, but she did it. The only thing she didn’t manage to do was a back handspring. He wanted her to do it without help and she stood there for a two full minutes trying to psych herself up and never did it. She was holding her own until that point, and left practice pretty miserable. She’ll get it, even if she needs to stand there for two hours to make herself do it. Once she sees she can do it, it’ll be easier. I’ll keep sending her good vibes.
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August 6
Just another day. I screwed something up big at work, but I’m doing what I can to fix it. Robin had a pretty good tumbling practice, but she’s got a ways to go. Her new coach is fabulous and taking her back to basics. We got our butts kicked by the Harry Potter expansion game I got for my birthday, but not as bad as yesterday. I finished another advent calendar ornament and I like it. Lots of Olympics. Tired.
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August 5
I may have sewn some ornaments while doing trainings at work. I still have a lot of work to do.
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August 4
Back to school shopping is done, thank goodness. It went a lot better than I expected. We got all but three items on the list and it cost less than half of what we spent last year. It also only took half an hour. Everything is all sorted and packed and ready to take to school. Not one person is looking forward to school starting, except maybe Billy. I want the summer to last another 6-8 months at least. I love summer. School means schedules and monotony. But… to everything there is a season.
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August 3
We took a family pasta making class at the Y and made about 10 pounds of pasta. Not that any of it went to waste. The dogs enjoyed eating the small amount of dough that was too sticky to use. I also made two more ornaments for the advent calendar, which looks like it might not be finished in time for this Christmas either. But it is getting closer.
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August 2
Taught the last session of the latest NAMI Family to Family class tonight. It wasn’t the best series this go around. It was online and there wasn’t great participation overall, but I always appreciate when someone gets something out of it, and I think we accomplished that. I love doing it, but I’m always relieved when it’s done. Friday nights are mine again!
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August 1
Homage to the dog who doesn’t get nearly enough attention but honestly would rather not so thanks anyway.
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July 31
This summer is flying by with very little time to enjoy it. I feel like I am just jumping one hurdle after another without ever taking a break. It’s not that I’m not having fun as much as that I’m having fun without having the chance to acknowledge that I’m enjoying it. If this is what summer is like, I can only imagine what I’m in for once school starts. Dang.
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July 30
I am so proud of Robin, who spent seven solid hours at a cheer practice in a gym that is not air conditioned on a 95-degree day and then went to a tumbling class immediately afterwards and still put in a solid effort involving many sets of back handsprings without anyone around her, all with a huge smile on her face. Her coach had to come to me and suggest that we cut the tumbling practice short because she didn’t want to overwork her. I am so proud of her effort and determination and success. Yay Robin!
Year in Photos 