“Dr. S……’s office”

“May I please speak to the nurse?”

“This is Barb.”

“Hi Barb this is Alison H….., my son, Christopher, was hitting icicles off the roof and one punctured his forehead.”

“Did it bleed a lot?”

“Oh yes.”

“That’s actually good. Then what did you do?”

“I cleaned it out with hydrogine peroxide then put a band aid with some triple antibiotic on it.”

“It sounds like you did everything necessary.”

“What about scarring?”

And then we had a nice chat about the merits of Neosporen and Vitamin E.

Have I mentioned this is my professional life?

1. I refer to my mother as “Martha Stewart’s one-armed sister” because she is able to make all things beautiful and she is doing it with one less appendage.

2. She usually helps me out when I entertain. While we are in the planning stage she will float an idea with the reassurance, “It is so simple!” For 35 years this fooled me.

3. Now I know I should question the certainty on the simplicity of a thing from someone with one arm. I think she has transcended simplicity. If I had one arm tying my shoe would be complicated. It is for my mom too, but she doesn’t know it.

We are alive.

I have been quite busy chasing around the Bean who from one day to the next is either a bathroom genius or something not so brilliant…It takes a lot of energy to maintain constant enthusiasm and encouragement. I can’t even count the public restrooms where I have helped her perch her teeny buns and then hoisted her up to wash her pudgy mitts.

The man is out of state – bad manners indeed.

My colleagues have been quite busy. Never fear, I have been taking notes and will report their activities soon.

My Moms Group had our Christmas Brunch today which means I am off the clock for 5 blessed weeks. OK, I still have administrative stuff, but no schlepping the homeschoolers across town and getting behind in school.

My sister wrote me a beautiful e-mail the other day and I still haven’t responded. I got all teary and then someone started something on fire or started bleeding and I had to take care of it and haven’t been back online since.

Saturday Paul and I celebrate 12 years of marriage. And baby, we ARE going to celebrate even if it is a romantic dinner with Christopher. (The girls are having a sleepover at their cousin’s – hi Meg!) I am working on arrangements for the boy.

I miss my husband.

It is getting late and I feel like I have been stuck under something large for days. This is what comes from protracted conversations with soaked two year olds at two in the morning when one’s husband is out of town.

I have given up coffee…somewhat. I think this blog was entirely powered by caffeine.

Will be back soon.

1. I don’t have a favorite color, but in clothing, pink is my signature color. When someone compliments me I will say, archly, “Well pink IS my signature color.” It’s such a ridiculous thing to say it always gets a laugh. I mean, who has a signature color? It’s silly, but I do.

2. I like clothing. I always notice and appreciate someone with a sense of style but I get a little tired shopping and slightly overwhelmed. I want someone to dress me, shop, that is. I am willing to actually put the garments on myself.

3. When I do shop – all you mothers know what’s coming – I get distracted by sales on clothing for the kids and Paul. Sad, but true…

“Mom, my scared meter is going high from this movie!”

This was C. Riley regarding an educational video on amphibians. There were snippets from horror movies from the 20’s. WHAT were they thinking! All three of my kids are scared and threatening nightmares.

When Einstein’s Protege is scared…!