Adventures in Juggling

I believe that it is truly a gift to just fall asleep any time, any place, just like that (finger snap!). It’s a gift that my husband, some of my children and my grand-girl seem to possess. Unfortunately, for me, I am not gifted in that way. Of course I am jealous! But I do love it when Hazel stretches, yawns, sighs and falls asleep on my lap. If anything, it gives me the perfect excuse to just sit there until she wakes up…I could seriously sit here for hours.

The scene: It’s 10:30 on a warm July evening. Darling husband and I are relaxing on the sofa, cuddling the grandchild and watching our latest Netflix offering, The Kite Runner. Daniel is tucked into bed, sound asleep with visions of cars, planes, trains and Mario Brothers dancing in his head. Holly is at work and not expected home until sometime after 11:30. Zoë is driving home from a friend’s house where she spent the evening hanging out. Abby is away at cheer camp. Jodie is spending the night at a friend’s house. It is at that moment that the phone rings.

Bill: Hello? OH NO!!! OH NO!!!…

Laura: What?!

Bill: Oh my God!!

Laura: What?! WHAT?!

Bill: That is awful…

Laura: WHAT?!

Bill: I’m so sorry…:::laughs::: Talk to you later. Uh-huh. …Okay…Bye!

He hangs up the phone.

Laura: WHAT?!

Bill: Oh it’s just Holly…

Laura: What?!

Bill: She just saw her old car in the parking lot. She sure does miss that old car.

Laura: Oh for goodness sake!

Bill: What’s wrong? You sound upset.

Laura: Four out of five of my children are not home. It’s 10:30 at night and the phone rings…and I hear a one-sided conversation that sounds like something bad has happened. What is there for me to be upset about?

Bill: You worry too much.

Laura: It’s my job because I’m the mom.

Bill (laughing and shaking his head): Whatever.

Back when the Big Top first settled here in Manteca, the city council and the chamber of commerce was discussing painting the city water tower so that it would resemble a giant pumpkin. After all Manteca is one of the self-proclaimed pumpkin capitals…I can’t argue with that title during the Fall harvest when it smells like rotting pumpkins around here. But more conservative heads prevailed and the water tower never did receive that coat of bright orange paint. Perhaps it is because on most days around sunset the water tower appears to turn into a pumpkin.

Really, why waste the paint?

I just might ask the folks from the Manteca Chamber of Commerce about what became of the Great Pumpkin Water Tower-gate tonight at their Hollywood-themed mixer. Bill and I got an invite because we have friends in high (and low) places. Or perhaps I will just look fabulous in my halter style maxi cocktail dress while I quietly sip my chardonnay.

This is how Holly’s obsession with herself got its start.

Summer days were so much simpler when you were just a toothless, barefoot kid who could hang upside down on a swing for hours.

After an extended medical/maternity leave, Holly is returning to work today. Hopefully she won’t encounter folks like these on her first day back.

Show a little love today to your barista, okay? She just might be a single mama with a butt-load of bills to pay.

I wish I could blame it on jalapeño peppers.

Perhaps I could blame it on the slobs I call circus clowns.

Seriously, would I be a bad mommy to wish food poisoning like I have right now on my darling clowns who can’t seem to clean up after themselves? I certainly can’t blame it on the maid they seem to be waiting to appear. Kids, seriously, there is no maid or cleaning fairy waiting to clean after you. There is only your haggy, naggy mommy who needs to run to the bathroom…again.

Excuse me…

Meh! This swinging thing with the turn-y, spinny thingy is okay but I much prefer the big turn-y, spinny thing on the ceiling that you call a fan. Now that’s fun!

Bill, Zoë and Jodie prove that there is more to Vegas than gambling and drinking and partying all night.

There are bus tours!

and check out the tourist-y souvenirs that they brought back!

Congratulations to Jodie and the entire Dance Stars team.

In neonatal circles the neonatal or newborn period of a human baby’s life is traditionally considered to be around the first six weeks of life.

Hello infancy!