Day 203

I've come to realize that I tend to blog less when I'm out doing awesome things because, well, I'm off doing awesome things, and at the end of a day full of awesomeness, I'm done. It's time for bed - or maybe for falling asleep on the couch, contact lenses still in, swimsuit still on.

So when I sat down tonight, I was thinking about how our last two days were filled with worry and chaos - high fevers followed by long lists of tasks that needed attending, today's to-do's stacked high atop yesterday's. I was thinking about how I lost my patience with Jules when he squirted me in the face with a turtle "squirt toy" (I try to avoid using the word "gun" for this thing) for the second time, how my tolerance for kids putzing around was, tonight, at an all time low.

But then I realized the bias of my blogging and instead, decided that letting a most spectacular weekend going unrecorded would be a shame. And, indeed, I had a most spectacular weekend. 

Blue skies and light winds marked the days; the temperature couldn't be more perfect, and our great friends the Bevans were in from Boston. We took full advantage of this sweet situation: eating grass-fed burgers at Bread & Butter Farm, riding bikes to the Farmer's Market, stopping for crepes at Skinny Pancake. There were adults' nights out, too: the guys made the Church Street rounds on Friday; Amy and I sipped drinks and shared soft cheeses at the Farmhouse on Saturday, then headed to Ri's for a low-key girls' gathering. (Dads and kids toasted marshmallows in the fire pit and slept in tents out back.) We all biked to a chill fishing spot on Sunday and spent the afternoon scouting smooth stones and swimming at North Beach. 

Just writing this relaxes me. Life is good. 

Day 143

Today was a long day at the end of a long week. I worked 17 hours yesterday - at the office. I am not complaining (or maybe I am? or am I bragging? hmmm... perhaps this mention was entirely unnecessary - yes, I think so - but now it's out). Anyway, I shouldn't be complaining because I still have a job after my company did a big round of lay-offs on Tuesday. And it happens to be a job I like. A lot. 

Regardless, my work week was a little out of balance and ended on a somewhat stressful note. Full confession: Today, from 4:55 to 5:10 pm or so, I cried in the car. (Yeah, yeah, me crying is like someone else sneezing... but after lots of days that require precarious work/life juggling and too few hours of sleep, I break down.) 

If this shark were chasing me, on land, I think I might be able
to run a 10K at a 8-minute-mile pace. Just maybe.

Luckily, I have great friends who pick me up. Ri made me and the boys dinner - pork tenderloin, sweet potato fries and baked beans, mmmm - while Jon took his turn at working late (on a Friday, poor guy). Note: the dinner invite was not in response to my cranky, weepy state. It came hours before the tears. 

And when I brought the boys home to put them to bed, Ri came with me, while Jon stayed to watched the NFL draft with Chris. The idea was to have a glass of wine when they were tucked in but bedtime took longer than expected. 

And then... then... I check the mail to find that my incredibly thoughtful friend Amy sent me a running mix (!!!) that she'd made for me--and this insanely realistic-looking shark card. Which is awesome and hilarious. Sharks terrify me--and, yet, I am obsessed.

My friends rock. I am lucky, lucky girl. (Yes, HT and Dibs, your tribute is coming. Be patient.)