December 5th --update on Lee

Today was busy. I started the day getting the kids ready for school. I pressed the snooze 3 times but I cannot remember why. Hazel had a field trip to see the first half of the Nutcracker Ballet (the whole thing would be too long apparently). She wanted to dress up a bit because they were going to the Times Union Center downtown. I spent most of last night and this morning helping her find something to wear. She is growing so fast right now. All of her cloths from last year look awkward and small....pulling in the shoulders and difficult to fit over the hips. I pulled a sweater of mine out and we put together an outfit but we were missing shoes. So, prior to getting her to school at 7:35 for her patrol/techno cat duties we had to stop by her Nana's to borrow shoes. Lynda, Hazel and I are all about the same size right now so it is getting easy to borrow.

Once I dropped her off I went back home to finish getting Liam ready. Packed his lunch and helped him study for his vocabulary test. (note...I have mentioned his spelling issues wanted to share how hard he has been working. He is now in speech as well as gifted and has been working hard on spelling. He brought home a 100 yesterday from a spelling test that was difficult--Way to go Liam).

After I dropped Liam off I went to meet a friend for coffee and spiritual refueling. This friend is definitely in my life for a reason. She takes my cynical attitude and liberal views and loves me for them and continues to provide me with spiritual motivation and guidance. I have never met someone more resilient and true to her faith. I usually sigh and roll my eyes at the concept of a joint prayer (I am very private about this sort of thing). She will just laugh and let it roll from her tongue like conversation. She is incredibly bright and gifted. She fueled a good conversation on marriage and love and the work involved and God's plan etc. It was all good and well received.

When I left her I went to FINALLY pick up my Jeep from the body shop. It was filthy and smelly from the work they had done. I really thought they could have at least wiped their greasy paw marks off the inside of the door they replaced. One of the new doors sounds like a tin can when I close it and that worries me. I called the insurance adjuster to ask about it, she did not have any insight really so I am left to hope the car is safe and feel a bit of sadness for this brand new Jeep that is not all that new.

Next, my mother-in-law followed me to the airport to return the rental car. $600 total- ouch. We left the airport and drove to McDuff and Commonwealth to the hazardous waste dump to dispose of Lynda's hazardous waste. She is so dedicated to the environment- I continue to admire her dedication. Not a nice area of town, lots of poverty and I am again amazed that it is always so close, yet so far away.

It is just after noon now and I went to have my hair cut and colored for the Holiday Season. I love my hairdresser. He is very Miami. He calls me doll and gorgeous and is always fretting about being single and the lack of available men in Jacksonville for him. Then he told me this hilarious story about needing to loose 30 pounds in 5 days before he went to Houston to meet a couple of old friends. One of the women stylists ended up taking him to Dillard's to get Spanx (mix of girdle and body tights) instead. He was so funny. He was telling me how he had to cut out the male area to make them practical. Anyway, I was cracking up telling him that it was brilliant but if he ends up in the Emergency Room I hope he has a kind nurse to cut them off his body without taking photos and putting them in the paper!

Hair is good. Picked up the kids. Took Liam to him light therapy and finally came home at 5 tonight. Hazel has a friend over and they just finished painting cardboard for gifts at the kitchen table. Liam played an hour of his Wii and is now in the bath. I pulled out a couple more Christmas boxes but lost momentum halfway through. I miss Lee - I hate putting up outside lights. I just like them to magically appear. And although I have to FORCE him to do it, he eventually gets into it and does a great job.

Lee is still without the ability to do more than e-mail. He only has access to government Internet. He is waiting for his guys to arrive and calls on a calling card (we have had trouble getting the timing right and having a good connection). I think the base he is at is more remote and rustic than he thought it would be. It will be a long 9 months for him. I encourage everyone to send e-mail, letters etc. because the days are long and the missing of family seems great.

I think this post was rather boring. Daily life--101. I have a ton of trash to take out--miss Lee. I miss having another adult in the house. I think I talk to myself in my head....