I'll be back...

It's a hectic time of year: the final days of school are upon us, report cards are due (mine are d*o*n*e!), kindergartners are sprouting into first graders overnight, and, at least in my case, it's time to go back to Alaska. My son is graduating from high school!

As a result, I'll be away from the blog for over a week. Check back with me though, because I'll be feeling old missing you!

I Know What NOT To Be When I Grow Up...

After getting my daughter on the plane to see her grandparents this morning, I have to say I know another job I hope to never have: baggage inspector. It joins the rest of my do-not-ever-hope-to-be list of occupations: garbage collector, sewer maintenance repairman, surgeon (needles I can handle, literal blood and guts, not so much), and mortician.

Dear Daughter already had her boarding pass pre-printed at home, and wasn't checking any luggage, but in order to guide her all the way to her gate, I had to obtain a parent's pass at the ticket counter. Not a problem. We grabbed a quick bite to eat at Burger King in the terminal, and headed upstairs to the security checkpoint. It was a rather long series of two lines since the first few flights of the morning were scheduled to leave in the next hour, but pilots mingled and chatted pleasantly with the passengers as everyone slipped off shoes, wrangled belts out of belt loops, with several young women wriggling out of tons of cheap jewelry and accessories that kept setting the alarm beeper thingies off.



After my daughter and I made it through the scanner beep and alarm-free, the only unpleasant, sour people we encountered informed my daughter her carry on would have to be searched. Yep, the baggage inspectors. Turns out her ziploc baggie carrying her toiletries was too large and that two of her three items surpassed the 3 ounce limit. Surprising, because the two items were a two-thirds used tube of toothpaste (and yes, it was obviously MORE than half used) and a half empty 4 ounce bottle (half would be TWO ounces) of sunscreen. Apparently the original container size itself determines whether or not the ever-deadly gingivitis fighter and its sidekick, anti-cancer cream make it on board. Dear Daughter said there wasn't a problem, she'd just ask Grandma and Grandpa to let her stop by the store once she landed to replace the toothpaste and sunscreen.

To which Grumpy, the baggage inspector replied:

"Fine. But YOU (meaning me) need to take this downstairs, to your car, and then you can come back up here."

I told Grumpy in a purposefully pleasant voice that if I took the toothpaste and sunscreen to my car, I'd have to go to the ticket counter, obtain another pass, then wait in another line to come through security, and therefore MISS getting my daughter to her gate. "Would it be possible to just dispose of those items here so I can make sure she doesn't miss her flight?" Smile, smile, pleasant pleasant...

Grumpy growled. Oh yes, she growled. "Fine." Then she slapped the lid down on Dear Daughter's carry on case, and shoved the case down the roller ramp.

I couldn't resist: "Thank you!" (smile, smile, smile) "Have a great day!" (beam, beam, beam)

Perhaps Grumpy was just ending a long, difficult shift. Maybe Grumpy had had a tough morning at home. Maybe Grumpy is just G-R-U-M-P-Y.

*****

*Perhaps installing one of these Passive Aggressive Anger Release Machines would help... (I'm not kidding! Go take a look!)

*...or maybe a hug from a Softie made from scraps would better soothe the inner-Grump?

The Mom Thing

I've been doing "the mom thing" today. All day.

I'm going on a trip on Friday- a*four day* trip- back to Oz to see friends, their new babies, and do some treasure hunting. Yes, only four days. Get there on Friday afternoon, and leave around Monday, lunchtime. But to visit Oz, I am leaving my dear husband, my thirteen year old daughter, my toddler son, and my cat here in the Bordertown. For four days. Without moi. So the "mom thing" that I've been doing has included:

~anticipating any and all grocery needs/emergencies/cravings

~ shopping for said groceries

~making sure the laundry is done

~making sure Daughter puts all of her school and social activities on the calendar

~making sure Daddy knows to *check the calendar* in case he has to pick her up from school (and he WILL have to)

~ watering the plants

~ and any other housecleaning-type-jobs that I just won't feel good about leaving undone before leaving.

So when do I pack? When do I figure out what toiletries to take, clothes, shoes, etc? Eh, the night before. Packing doesn't stress me out- I've told friends I'm not a "panic packer." If I forget something, I know how to stop at a store to correct the situation. No, what to wear, what to bring, how much room I'll have to bring stuff home...these things don't bother me.

Imagining the state of disarray the house will be in upon my return...THAT bothers me. While secretly grateful that my husband will have a smidgen of a taste of what I've done for years while he's been TDY or deployed, I still know Daughter will end up taking up the slack. A lot of it. The toddler has entered a Destructo-Mode recently, requiring much more hands-on time, and exponentially more clean-up time, and the cat has begun to feel more comfortable expressing her displeasure with the boy whenever he chases her under the beds or couches. I fear the phone calls I'm going to receive. I've had nightmares for the last two nights in a row. I know, I'm over-reacting, but hey, it's "the mom thing."

More "mom thing" related documentation:

Daughter's Valentine Treat Bags are almost done (just need cookies and the pecan/rolo/pretzel nummies added, then bows tied on), as are her cards:



Cookies? What cookies? Oh yeah, I need to make cookies! Red and pink sugar was added later:



While cleaning out the fridge, I found a lone pie dough roll...oh darn, I guess that means I'll just *have* to make date and marmalade pastries:



For a pick-me-up, I enjoyed a snack, er, "taste test" of the cookies:



...and then right as I was wandering back toward Worrysville, darling husband appeared with these:





Okay, so maybe I shouldn't worry about him, the kids, and the cat...

Maybe.