Words, Words, Words, Words

This made me laugh.

(Or family room, or sitting room, or living room. Whatever.)

Well, in honor of not having a job any more, I've been trying to straighten up my home. For an output of really not that much money*, I got new curtains and a new area rug. I also re-arranged stuff a bit. It looks so much better.

( Before )

and...

( After )

Thrilling, no?


*The $40 I got for selling my broken dining room chairs went towards the curtains, which I got from this awesome cheap curtain store, so I didn't spend any more than $40 for them, and the rug was $99.

It was actually quite nice. My friend hosted a bbq for our remaining high school friends, one of whom was visiting from Ohio. I don't see all these people nearly enough, but we have a great time on the occasions when we can get together. The years just roll back. And we all have kids around the same age, and we don't get totally stuck in the 'remember when' phase, and can actually build on the friendships we still have.

Like a dork, I forgot to get out my camera when my friend from Ohio was still with us (she had to leave early)but I did get a nice photo of the rest of us.

( the coolest girls from the class of '85 )

And yesterday was the Phillies make up game - we were supposed to see them in April but it was rained out. Last night was actually quite nice, good breeze, and the stadium is really nice. Charlie had the best time. He was such a super fan. He was cheering and yelling at the calls he didn't agree with and chanting names. Amazingly, the Phillies won, and even more amazingly they got something like 4 home runs.

Apparently Chase Utley is the newest baseball hero. He's quite handsome, which accounts for the hundreds of fangirl lookig people wearing his number.

Charlie was torn between him and Pat Burrell*, but ultimately went with Utley, whose number he wound up wearing out of the stadium because I broke down and bought him a $20 tee shirt.

And it is going to be a bazillion degrees today, and I don't have air conditioning in my home office, so that's gonna suck.

Hope everyone's day goes well.


*who made the first home run of the evening

My in-laws opened their pool, but at first it was still too cold for even Charlie to go into, as the heater was broken. "It's too cold for me," he said, after dipping his hand in. "Only penguins could swim in it."

However..The Husband managed to fix the heater, and before long it was warm enough for Charlie to swim in.*

( Are you ready for the summer? )

( Are you ready for the good times? )

( Are you ready for the summer fun )

( in the sun )

( and a whole lot of foolin' around )

*i.e., still too cold for everyone else, but too warm for, say, penguins

Yesterday during Charlie's baseball game, a rainbow appeared in the sky, one of the clearest I've ever seen. I posted one photo yesterday, but I thought I'd share all of them today.

( The Rainbow Connection )

Today starts Charlie's Spring Break. My first opportunity to see how the working from home, er, works, with the child around full time. *fingers crossed*

I had a dream about giant waves sweeping me and my family off the beach. Clear cut case of feeling overwhelmed, except it isn't so much overwhelmed as it is feeling inadequate. Sigh.

Well, I think he's cute.




What do you think?

There was a rainbow today.

Up at 7 this morning to a cold and rainy day. Out at the baseball field in Knight Park by 8am; the rain had stopped for the moment, but the trees were dripping leftover rain upon our heads. Parents huddled in groups while the kids, oblivious to the weather, ran around happily. It was, after all, Opening Day, and they were getting their uniforms.



They were allowed to pick what number they wanted. Charlie initially said he wanted a 'random' number, and then requested number eleven.



Right before the opening ceremony the rain started again in ernest, but this was Baseball, and apparently the show must go on. Which was fine, really, because what Charlie was looking forward to most of all was the parade, when each team was called to the field, and then they stood in a semi-circle as the announcer, er, announced the people who made this all possible. Don't ask me who they are, by this point I was soaked and shivering.



They did, blessedly, keep it short, and after the ceremonial first pitch and a short but cute prayer led by an Episcopal Priest, the season was officially opened, despite the fact the games themselves were postponed.

But despite the rain and the cold and the mud and the wind, it was still a really nice moment. Maybe not the 'Field of Dreams' moment one would wish to have at times like these, but it was still, well, momentous. There was Charlie, in his baseball uniform, standing proudly with his team, happy to be there, and ready to play ball.

Random act of cuteness:




Just want to say hello, and thanks to everyone who helped with my math problem. It helped quite a bit. Yesterday's homework consisted of inches and feet, so I was good there. You guys are, as always, wonderful.

Hope everyone is having a nice 'week before Christmas', whether or not they actually celebrate it. I had a meeting today with the guy who might be able to give me the 'work at home/part time job' thing, and that went well. If his people agree with him, I think the job is mine, if I want it. It could work out nicely. We'll see. Meanwhile, I'm just trying to relax and enjoy my time at home. Had a whole baking frenzy yesterday, I made my brownies and these butterscotch cookies and then, drunk with success, attempted chocolate chip cookies. The came out okay.

I promised Charlie we'd make more chocolate today, so I'm off to do that now. (he stayed home from school today because he has a horrible cough that has been keeping him awake and made him throw up. Lovely, no?)

Charlie and Butch The Cat

Couple of more photos under the cut:

( Just the cat and a photo Charlie took )