Off My Game

Do you ever have those days where you are 15 minutes late for everything? Where nothing works out the way you NEED it to? Where cheese popcorn spills all over the car (again) and you discover there's no bread or milk or diapers in the house?

Welcome to my day!

I was so tired last night I fell asleep watching Hillary on Jon Stewart. (From what I saw, I thought she did pretty well.) I didn't budge until 7am this morning. (Half an hour later than I should have woken up.) The P.E. uniform wasn't clean (quick run through the dryer with a sheet of Bounce disguised that - don't tell Big Guy), lunches weren't made, and checks for the book fair were not written. Ack. Not to mention, I was still wearing the same clothes I had on yesterday. The ones I spilled ketchup all over.

I spent the next 45 minutes running around like a maniac - doing all the things I usually do the night before. Making breakfast (oh, crap, no milk!), making lunches (oh, crap, no bread!), changing a diaper (oh crap, not again! thank God all the baby dolls in the house have size 5 diapers on them - we borrowed), checking backpacks, combing hair, adding up (incorrectly as it turns out) the totals for the school book fair and writing checks. Whew... When the first crew left the house, I FINALLY had time to pour myself a cup of coffee.

But, no rest for the weary. Then I had to make breakfast for the younger two, find clean clothes for me, pick outfits for them, check email (hey, hey, now, I was eating at the time). Middle Guy has some crazy rashy, hives thing happening on his feet, so I had to lather him up in various lotions. When his ride came to take him to school, I buckled him in and ran back into the house. Time for a shower for me. For all of 2 minutes. I heard bloodcurdling screams from Little One while I was in there. I jumped out and stuck my head out of the bathroom to see what was wrong. Dora went to a commercial. (She hates that.)

I finally get dressed, get Little One dressed, pack her lunch (no bread) and hustle her in the car to go to her sitter. About 30 minutes late, by this time. I drop her off in more of a hurry than usual, which discombobulates her and she starts crying and screaming. Fabulous Daycare Provider grabs her and distracts her while I dash out the door... because I have to be at the elementary school in 7 minutes to work at the book fair.

I speed up the road, weaving in and out of traffic, swearing and gesturing and generally in a tizzy. I dash into the school and run to the library. Which is empty. Except for the librarian who says, "You didn't get my message?" Oy. The message is, I can come in 30 minutes later. So now I am actually 30 minutes ahead of schedule. Whoa.

Time for a quick dash to Starbucks and some phone therapy with my friend, K. (More on that in a minute.) Then back to the book fair, where I helped run the checkout for the 4th grade shoppers. (And complied with strict instructions not to look at Big Guy or acknowlege him in anyway. And to think what that kid owes me for the big-ass head he was born with! Hrmph.)

After my book fair duty, I raced home to measure my house. All the rooms. We are looking at another house. In the neighborhood. Less expensive than the last one. But some parts are smaller than what we have now. I'm conflicted. I won't say any more because I don't want to jinx anything. Just cross your fingers for me.

The mess of breakfast dishes, laundry, school papers and other general detrius was still everywhere. But my real estate agent was waiting on a call from me, so measure I must!

Now, the day has slowed down a bit. Everyone is home. Big Guy is playing football in the yard with a neighbor, Middle Gal is secretly spying on them from various windows in the house. Middle Guy is on the couch sobbing because his leg has spontaneously broken (???) and Middle Gal is as onery as a bag of cats because she's exhausted but doesn't take a nap.

I have a dentist appointment this evening to discuss my broken tooth. We are having pizza for dinner because we have no food. Sometime in here, I need to clean up the mess and convince Middle Guy that his leg is not actually broken.

And then, if I can get all my cleaning up and preparations for tomorrow done early, I can fall asleep in my bed and perhaps get off to a better start with a new day.