Friday, June 12, 2009

No New Piercings, No Tattoos ~ yet.

So I am back from my Spring Break. I did not get any new body piercings or a tattoo as many do when off on their trips to Cancun or Ft. Lauderdale. I am not tanned, rested and rejuvenated. To some degree I feel as if I have been partying all night long and I do look like something the cat dragged in. That would be due to the fact that I, the best sleeper in past US history, now can not fall asleep when I lie my head down on my pillow. I count sheep. When that doesn't work I imagine I am on a quiet beach and the surf is gently lapping the sand. Next I try to count the sheep in color. Then I imagine I am on a quiet beach with the colored sheep jumping the waves. I imagine myself chasing the annoying rainbow colored sheep through the crashing tidal waves screaming at them that I can't sleep and they had better get out of my way. At this point I am usually exhausted from chasing the sheep through the turbulent waves and I fall asleep until I am forced awake at 3:03 AM with a night sweat/hot flash that really makes my blood boil. I throw the sheets and blankets off. I sit on the edge of my bed confused. For a moment I think I am in a sauna and then come to my senses. I wake my husband up and ask him to feel my forehead because I think I have a fever and it could be the swine flu. He assures me as he has every night for the past six months that I do not have a fever. I growl. I then tell him that I am quite sure that I am going to burst into flames at any second and he better be prepared to throw water from the glass on his nightstand onto me. I also recite the fire safety rules about dropping and rolling. I explain how we won't have to drop since we are already in a prone position in the bed so when the flames shoot out from my sweating, boiling cells all we have to do is roll. At this point my husband gets out of bed and decides to go make the coffee. I explain that it is only 3:29AM, He mutters something to me as he shuts the bedroom door and I lay back down exhausted from the experience and sleep for another few hours. So that explains the dark circles under my eyes.



A few posts ago I mentioned all that I was going to accomplish on my Spring Break. As I go through that list now I am satisfied with all that I did complete. I ran the 5K in good time - 35 minutes, 3 seconds - my goal was to run it under 36 minutes without having a bladder malfunction so I was happy. There were 2000 runners and I was the 1,588th runner across the line. I was hoping to get a medal or a trophy but only the superfast speedy runners who have no body fat and who run like gazelles received those.

My vegetable garden is planted. That is all I can say about that for now. The weather has been fickle - no rain then no sun then a frost so... the jury is out on the garden success for now. I do think my obsessive/compulsive gene kicked in a bit when I planted the 24 tomato plants. How many tomatoes will each plant produce? Tomato sauce, salsa, spaghetti sauce, tomato sandwiches, tomato and mozzarella salads. tomato on our cereal - just joking.

I have been taking care of my twin grandbabies on Mondays. I call it Funday Mondays. If they could talk they would probably call it 'Get this fake nipple out of our face, we want the real thing NOW Day!' So far there has been a real learning curve involved for all of us. I now understand why women my age go through menopause because having babies at this age would be physically exhausting . I know women do it and hats off to those that give birth later in life. My back is so tired after juggling two babies for the day and my arm muscles ache in places I had never felt before. I raised four children so I do consider myself an expert but two at once is a juggling act. But I wouldn't trade my Funday Mondays for anything. I love the coos, the smiles, the expressions they make as I read about the pink car and the red ladybug. Last Monday I took the mirror off the wall and the three of us had so much fun looking at each other's reflections. The twins thought I had invited two more babies over and they were mesmerized by the mirror for a long time. I am thankful for the moments I get to spend with these precious little boys and I know that each Funday Monday will be that much easier.

And so now I am back. Lots of other 'stuff' happened during my break and some will make its way into a post or two. Other stuff isn't worthy of a post. I do know that writing helps me process what is happening to me. I enjoy writing and when I grow up I hope to be a writer. I also enjoy the community of bloggers that I have made connections with in the blogosphere. That would be you that I am talking about.

So no body piercings this time around but do I have a story about a girl I met at Home Depot. She had the most beautifully colored tattoos on her arms. I commented on the pink bird and she then proceeded to...but that is a post for another day.

24 comments:

Willow said...

I've giggled and nodded throughout this post. I remember the boiling cells days and nights. I love the memories of days and nights with my little grandson, who is growing and growing. I know you are cherishing your Fun Mondays!

Jeni said...

Ah, the joys of babysitting grandkids! And yes, there are many joys to that job, but it does introduce you to muscles and joints you thought were long forgotten, for sure! I've been doing the grammy-sitting for the two little grandkids here for the past 5 1/2 years now -first with Maya and now, for the past 3 years, with her baby brother, Kurtis too! And I would never trade the experience for all the tea in China as I'm betting you know and understand full well why I say that, don't you? So much more fun to be tending to grandkids -regardless of how many or their ages -than I think it ever was doing the same with my own kids when they were these ages. Plus, with my kids, I was a single parent after my youngest turned four, working two jobs, not near enough time to spend with my kids then so now, I am really making darned sure to savor every minutes with the grandchildren!

Maggie May said...

Oooooh! This was a busy post and really interesting.
Glad you had a good break and that you resisted the tattooos and body piercing!
Your grandsons sound adorable!
Sorry about the hot flushes and sleepless nights.
I went on HRT which helped or rather completely stopped the wretched symptoms.
I have heard that Evening Primrose oil has the same kind of properties as HRT.
You will come out of it.

Daryl said...

Night sweats ... do you drink coffee or tea or cola in the evening? STOP. Do you eat spicy food at dinner? STOP. Try almonds, soba noodles and soy .. they help. Honest. If you arent able to do HRT, then its diet adjustment time

And stop counting sheep of any color.

Instead, take two tylenol extra strength 30 min before bedtime .. then when you lie down, replay/think about how you spend Mondays .. picture those twins and how you will spend next Monday and I promise you will fall asleep and stay asleep ..

And its also very clear where April gets her writing gene.

xo

April said...

I'm glad you kept the "yet" in there. I know you'll be happier once you give in and get that tattoo.

Kim Mailhot said...

That was some spring break ! those tattooed, drunken young-uns ain't got nothing on you ! ;)

I thank God for sweet husbands who tell us we don't have a fever whenever we need them too. But if she could just eliminate the fiery bursts of Hell we have to go through in our later Womanly years, that would be awesome !

Can't wait to hear what you do on your summer vacation !
Have a great weekend ! It is sunny ! Yay !

San said...

Your hilarity makes me break out in a sweat!

When I passed through a time of midlife insomnia, I found the only thing that would work for me was to go to the kitchen and make some herb tea. Then I'd sit on the sofa and sip the tea. Eventually, I would get sleepy.

It sounds like your life is full of joys. The only missing ingredient is a good night's sleep.

Beverly said...

It is so nice to come here and see your smiling face.

You sure have been busy. It must be so fun having the babies.

Don't work too hard, and enjoy every minute.

pink dogwood said...

"when I grow up I hope to be a writer" - it is so funny that I was saying the same thing to my kids the other day. "when I grow up I want to be an artist" :)

great time on the 5k and sorry to hear about your sleeping troubles. Hope they are sorted out soon.

Akelamalu said...

Grandchildren are such a joy but I agree with you I couldn't possibly go through all that again once I got past 40!

david mcmahon said...

Welcome back, Deb. Don't merely count sheep - count merinos. Trust me!

Maude Lynn said...

Your description of trying to fall asleep is absolutely priceless!

Daryl said...

Over from David's to say congrats on the POTD mention!

Marg said...

Glad to see you are back.
I think it's good to take breaks and then one feels so refreshed.
I can imagine how much fun you are having with those little ones.
It takes on a new meaning of life.

Cheffie-Mom said...

Congrats on the Post of the Day Award!

Sandi McBride said...

I can't believe you didn't get even ONE piercing or tattoo...and hot flashes...they're only topped by the ice freeze which soon follows...ah life...being a woman...ain't it a blast!
hugs
Sandi

SandyCarlson said...

So interesting! Can't wait to hear the rest of the story!

david mcmahon said...

Welcome back, Deb.

katherine. said...

I loved this...my first laugh of the day1

I came by way of david and so glad I did.

Anonymous said...

Busy busy busy...but thankfully not too busy to talk to us. Lovely post.
Not too sure about the tattoo.

Here from authorblogs POTD. Congratulations.

Grace Albaugh said...

Came over from POTD. So glad I did. I've found wonderful blogs to add to my list this way.
What a fun read! I look forward to returning. I plan on skippin the night sweats. I'll tell you how that works out for me.

Brian Miller said...

haha. you gripped me from the beginning and i laughed my way through the rest. congrats on your POTD mention. Hope things "cool off" for you.

♥ Boomer ♥ said...

I relate all the way around ... from troubles sleeping to aching muscles from keeping 3 grand-babies, ages 4, 2, and 3 months. Last Sun. morning at 1, I was feeding the baby...we exchanged soft coos in the night...

Here from David's. Congrats to you!

2Shaye ♪♫ said...

Hey there. Thanks for the morning snicker. Can't wait to read about the woman at Home Depot!

Popping over from David's. CONGRATS!

~Shaye

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