Ramble On, And Now's The Time, The Time Is Now, To Sing My Song

Monday morning after a long, relaxing weekend kinda feels about as nice as having my teeth drilled.
(On a total Random Side Note - THIS does not hurt AT ALL and totally works.)

I have to tell you, I have really adapted to Summer Life and having the kids home. I thought I might miss having some of that Me Time, Free Time. But...I'm good. It far out weighs the hectic Go, Go, Go Schedule we had lived through during the year. And, I've decided that I LIKE THIS PACE. So much so, that I am doing something I have not done in the 7 years I have had my business. I am making Summer Hours for myself.

I'm taking Fridays off for the rest of the summer.

I know, I know, it's only 6 more weeks, but this is a huge step for me. With this schedule, I can PLAN to take the kids places on Fridays without any STRESS of wondering what might be happening with work. Maybe I'm missing a job - or God Forbid, a deadline. (Not that I don't have my new handy-dandy cell phone with email etc - but its better to go KNOWING I have no responsibilities for the day. I can let my hair down and not rush getting back.)

And I'm HAPPY with that.
Happy Mommy = Happy Kids = Happy Daddy Later On.
(That's not NEW math - that's old school math.)

So, my first official Friday (last Friday) we went to Quassy Amusement Park with the neighbors. They have a beach and a water park and we did it ALL. Best part? Grandma came to pick them up later on and DH and I went out to dinner with some friends. Yes, WE DID. Did I drink too much? YES, I DID. But it was still fun.

Saturday, DH and I installed hard wired low-voltage lighting for landscape lights in the front and side yard. If, you MISSED that, I said WE did it ourselves. (Sherry's mouth is agape right now. CLOSE YOUR MOUTH you'll catch flies.) Perhaps, this is no BIG DEAL for you all...but around here - we don't usually roll like that. And there are reasons for that - none of which have anything to do with lazy...

A) DH has had TWO back surgeries on the same disc - one more will result in a Fusion to his spinal column, and well - I am not willing to risk that. The other surgeries were hard enough on him emotionally and physically and he constantly copes with feeling Less Of A Man, being unable to do things he used to be able to. So, for the things that require some physical labor - we usually hire someone (the lawn, plowing, etc.) Fuck it, life is too short.

B) This project required the following - LIVE Wiring, digging trenches, and other back-breaking manual labor. (Over 150 freaking feet of wiring people.....)

C) DH and I never used to work very well together. Seems we both like to be Captain. Can't run a tight ship with 2 Captains with 2 different ideas on how to get a job done.

With all that said, we did it anyway. He did the wiring, I dug trenches and we were done in about 4 hours. Best part? No fighting. Perhaps we are getting old, no? It looks unbelievable and I could hardly contain my look of awe at my not-only gorgeous-and-well-endowed hubby and his ability to wire that shit together. I was really happy, that for one day, he didn't feel like a broken man. (his words - not mine)

We spent the rest of the day lounging on the deck watching the kids play...well into the night where we smoked cigars and drank a bit too much after we put them to bed. Do you know how GROSS cigars are? BLECH! Never again. Seriously. This was not a very well thought out plan, as we were out of Citronella candles and DH thought this was the best way to keep the bugs away. That's the last time I let him be Captain.

And Sunday couldn't have been any better what with all of us crowded around the 50 inch LCD TV in the basement to watch Italy kick some ASS in the World Cup. Being born and bred in Italy, DH and my BIL could barely watch as it came down to penalty kicks. Italy does not have the best record when it comes to this dodge-ballesque ending. In my opinion, penalty kicks are a weird way to end I game, but I never have been a sports connoisseur, so what the fuck do I know.

I always feel bad for the losers, not because they lost, but because the camera guy always zooms in on the men crying. Grown men balls-out crying, gets to me. Perhaps its because my own father never shed a tear. Or maybe its because, my own husband, who admittedly has a black hole where others have hearts, only laughs harder when I bring up them crying. I'm not overly sensitive - but I DO understand being passionate and WANTING to win more than anything in the world. So, sue me if I get a little choked up with the losers. Even if it is France.

So, for Italians everywhere - (especially the ladies) - I give you the 2006 World Cup Champs.



God, I'm gonna miss watching them play.......... (sigh)

Next week the kids start summer camp, which lasts for 2 weeks, half days. I do need to plan what other Friday activities we will be doing. Of course, we plan a trip to Auntie Horkin to go play on the beach and newly installed water park. Anyone have any good ideas for summer fun? Day trips and the like on the East Coast?