Walking Backwards

Well, we didn't make it to the opera last night. We couldn't find a babysitter to replace our out-of-town babysitter until the very last minute and then I got a headache that has been going for three days (curse you sinus allergies!). I'm kind of pissed because Joe wouldn't go without me. I can understand that he would be uncomfortable, but it's the opera. If I was feeling up to it, I would have paraded down there all by my lonesome. Sometimes I think I am the only person in existence that is okay with going places by myself. I don't know at what point we evolved into a society of people who were so afraid of being seen alone or of spending our time out in quiet self-reflection. I guess that maybe having a toddler follow me every where I go, even into the bathroom, has made me appreciate my alone time even more. There is so much chatter and noise and activity in my life that the still moments where I can really focus my attention on something are few and far between.

Now onto my crazy day yesterday. First, I had to go help at Nico's preschool carnival. For two hours I worked the fishing booth. TWO HOURS. All this after I had spent hours helping with set-up and making decorations. It really wasn't that bad, but standing in the same place for that long while having to keep up silly carnival banter and make small talk with 2-8 year-olds was not the best way to spend Saturday in my opinion. Nicholas and Joe had a great time at the carnival without me. The game of choice for the small one was the cakewalk. He got to walk around to music and stop on squares with color and number designations. Anything requiring the specific identification of colors, numbers, or shapes Nicholas loves. He takes great pride in showing off his mad skills. He was on that one game for almost an hour. When I went to go find the boys after my shift, Nicholas was just happily going around in a circle by himself. The carnival was winding down and the woman who was running the game just kept on playing music for him. Of course, it might have been better for Nicholas if she stopped the music once in awhile.

When we arrived home I was surprised to discover my dad's car in the driveway. Foolish and overworked as I was, I forgot to tell him to push back his bi-weekly visit because we were going to be gone most of the morning. Lucky for him Travis was at home to gossip about boy things and listen to music. We spent a lot of time outside talking about the yard and the garden which has always been an area of interest for my dad. My yard now has a particular draw for him as he now lives in a condo without a spot of lawn. We also made tentative plans to visit my grandmother's gravesite on mother's day. It's the first mother's day after her death and I know it is going to be really hard on my dad. He was so close to my grandmother. I hope our being there will make it a little easier.

After my dad left, Jon, my brother-in-law, arrived to watch Nicholas so we could go to the opera. Needless to say, that didn't work out as planned. Instead we ordered Vietnamese food and watched Donnie Darko the director's cut. Before the movie, Jon went and got us some ice cream, the fabulous Phish Food. I have to say that that particular flavor is moving up the charts and slowly becoming one of my top five. Jon is supposed to be coming over today to do some laundry so I have to finish the remnants of the container before he gets here or be forced to share. I wonder if it is going to fit well with my breakfast of a Starbucks' white chocolate mocha.