Normally, I am on top of things. I pay bills on time, don’t let things expire, send thank you ntoes promptly, etc. But this morning, no mortgage payment went out and it has been one month since Elliot’s birthday and not one thank you note has gone into the mailbox. Also, forgot to eat breakfast and get coffee. Sigh.

But, remember this?

:

The workmen are there right now! And maybe we won’t have to come home to an unsightly blue tarp anymore. That was kind of depressing. I’ll be glad when it’s all over, though if you want me to be forthright and honest well, then it’ll be done when we ACTUALLY replace the fence, not just wind some chicken wire around the existing posts to keep out the feral cats and that random lab/weimeraner mix who keeps eerily showing up at our GLASS DOOR, mouth slobbery and tail wagging. The fencing was not so much to keep our dogs in – as they actually listened – but to keep all other things out.

We leave in 8 days for Chicago and I am both pumped and stressed out. I keep thinking that there’s no way I will be warm enough, even with heavy coats. My sister is sending up some jackets and shoes with my parents so that I may have some more options. i have a lot of nice tops for fancy shmancy restaurants but they’re all sleeveless and I don’t have a single nice jacket for that. Why would I? I know I should just calm the eff down and be happy that we’re going on a vacation – a child-free vacation – and roll with the punches. (Did I mention that Elliot is staying HERE, with my PARENTS?) I think by the time we get back they’ll remember why people have kids when they’re young, not 60. They’ll probably be putting up ads on Craigslist: “Free to good home: 13 month old boy with a penchant for throwing things at your FACE and chronic diarrhea.” Yeah, good luck mom and dad.

Meanwhile, it’s 11, I am hungry and I have a meeting at 12:30. Somewhere, I must squeeze in lunch. I foresee something quick and unhealthy in my future.