five things, may 3
Friday, May 3, 2013 at 05:00AM 
1. I think, one week in, that this new planner has been a success. So far. I thought I wouldn't like that it's even smaller than my old planner, but it's easier to write in somehow, and I really like the one page devoted to the week and the facing page devoted to notes. Because I'm sure you'll be dying to know how I get on, I'll let you know if we're still getting along a few weeks from now. ;)
2. I think we can feel the school year winding down. We can't feel it, as we shivered our way through yet another frigid baseball game, but it feels (and I hesitate to say it out loud in case, poof, next week the feeling is gone) as if the homework load is easing up, just a bit, and the days are easing up, just a bit, too. I'm ready. It's been a great year, but we're all tired. Bring on summer.
3. I think, however, that this week has been a doozy. If you follow me on Instagram, you'll have seen that we had some canine drama around here. As if one cancer-ridden (and milking it for all it's worth) hound wasn't enough. As Neel says of our beagle Lucy, "The dog ain't right." She and our corgi Thea have had occasional dust-ups but not in quite awhile. Wednesday night, while we were eating dinner, they got into a fight in the back yard. Neel was on it in an instant and got them apart before I could even unwind the hose to try to speay them apart. Still, Thea was hurt pretty badly. She spent the night at the Emergency Vet (Neel came home after several hours), and is home with us now in a Cone of Shame. Thea will be fine, but I hate like crazy that this has happened to her. I can't even tell you. There's a bigger worry here and that's our funny Lucy. She's always been a skittish creature (this is a dog who freaks out and runs away from a dryer sheet lying on the ground) but lately she seems more so. And yet, she is the dearest, leaning-est, sweetest beagle too. When Violet was diagnosed with cancer, and I sat on our stairs with tears pouring down my face and texted Neel to call me, it was Lucy who quite literally crawled into my lap and leaned on me with all her weight. She put her head on my shoulder. No one should feel as aggitated as she does, and no one especially should get hurt the way our sweet Thea Turbo McFatty has. As if we didn't have enough puppy-worry going on.
4. I think, on another note, that as I work on my river series of photos each week, I find stories like these particularly inspiring. My photogroup had an assignment this past week to bring in work or other photographers that inspired you. Only a couple of us completed the assignment (I'm looking at you, Jackie!), but I did (go me! I never complete things!). It felt really good to look out for work other than those that I normally have my eye out for and to start to dissect why I find certain photographers so compelling. Thank you to all of you who weighed in on my lens questions yesterday. Investing in gear is important, but investing in time and education is important too. I'm just as un-good at that as I am at spending money on myself! Everyone seems to be making goals for the month. Maybe I'll make some too and include some work related goals. Couldn't hurt, right?
5. I think we have another fun weekend coming up. It's Field Day at Callum's school, which, trust me when I say, is a Big Deal. Our reward for surviving the festivities will be dinner with some friends Saturday night. I hope they can handle a face-painted, hair spray-painted Callum. Sunday, well. Maybe we'll get a little caught up on Sunday! Groceries, laundry, mopping. I asked Neel, is there anything wrong with wanting to just sit around all day for Mother's Day?! So who else is going to Field Day? I kid! What fun stuff do you guys have going on? I haven't said this in awhile, but thank you, thank you for hanging in and listening. XO
Reader Comments (7)
Hang in there chickey! The end of the schoolyear is in sight :)
PS: loved the pictures of "that tree", I definitely see how your project ties in!
Foothill's field day is always the first Saturday in May also. Scaled down from the NA version to say the least, but good old fashioned fun. We should both be in our sun hats on opposites coasts showing school spirit on Saturday. xo
Oh, pups. What are we going to do with those girls of yours?? Emergency vet visits are never fun, but at least Thea is okay now! I love the Cone of Shame, though, haha. Maybe Lucy would benefit from some of Fitz's prozac? It seems to have plateaued for him, so maybe it will be effective on her? I love your new planner :) Is that the soft-bound moleskine or a hard-cover? I have the hardcover regular one in red (as you know) but a soft-cover planner. Mine is pocket-sized! I don't mind tiny planners, though, it means I have to reign in my scribbling haha. I actually also have a hard-cover grid moleskine that I use for random scribblings or post-planning or budget lists. So I have three. I think I have a problem.
Have a great weekend, doll! Isn't mother's day next weekend? I have nothing on the agenda for Saturday but quite a few things on Sunday, so I'm hoping to do nada tomorrow. It will be glorious. xoxo
poor pups! i have to agree that lucy does look pretty cute in the cone of shame. too bad it wasn't just for a photo op however.
oh my, this weekend i am going to try to knock some more things off my list. i am starting to go into full-on hypertension, so i am really hoping i can kind nip that in the bud with work mingled with relaxation. our weekend is set for the 80's (!), with that i think doing a little work outside may be a really good solution.
you are really making me want to buy a soft moleskine planner. i love that it has a week side and a notes side. i have a few blank ones and a grid one. but while i don't like the super rigid schedule ones i need a little direction to keep me on track, this sounds really perfect. did you find it online?
and i am so with you! i know many moms that dread summer coming but i am the opposite, i just love knowing school is almost out. i think i am more excited than fisher. might be he is a pretty amazing helper with m&l and why i am more excited than he ;) xoxo
Oh, in my tweet I wished Lucy well, but in fact it was Thea that needed the well-wishes. (Read that incorrectly. I'm sorry.) Your pups sound like my kids over here. Hm, maybe I should try the water spray. I kid, I kid!
I love your new planner! Now that I've seen Erin's red Moleskine journal and your red Moleskine planner, it's got me thinking that I need to join the party. Did you know red is my favorite color? [big smile]
I cannot believe that the school year is almost over! Weren't we just in January singing the winter blues? And just like that, summer is almost all planned out. Though, I'm not sure what will happen to our annual family camping trip since the wild fires burned through the campsite we were planning to stay at. (I'm secretly hoping it gets canceled. Shh, that's a secret between you and me.) Well, mama, I hope you had a fantastic weekend!
PS~The tree photo is beautiful. I like the idea of noticing ordinary awesomeness.
Awww, I saw those pictures of the cone of shame and felt so bad for the poor puppy. Hope she's feeling better soon
1. yay! so glad your new planner is making things a tad easier. I love this layout!
2. winding down is good. I hope your summer is aweome!
3. my goodness honey.... what a puppy week you've had. sending love and healing and calmness to all your pups xx
4. go L! it feels so good to complete tasks. you are going from strength to strength
5. sittong around home on mother's day sounds wonderful. happy mother's day lovely xx