Snow Drama

Richmond is big on snow drama. Having grown up in Boston and experienced the infamous Blizzard of '78, I have to chuckle and say, "Bless their hearts." There is widespread panic, confusion, and the inevitable possessed mob at Ukrop's stocking up on basic provisions of milk, bread, and brownie bites. (If you don't know what a "brownie bite" is, you need to add it to your bucket list! I can mail you a couple!)

We've had the forecast for snow out there lingering all week, fodder for much speculation and conversation. "Ready for the
snow? What have you heard? How much are we going to get?" we all asks each other even though we are all reading the same forecast. As my friend Mary noted, "Everyone gases up their car and then doesn't go anywhere." That is definitely true, but we're all ready to roll in case of emergency, such as running out to stock up some more brownie bites. (The ones with creme cheese frosting on top are my favorite -- and the most caloric, I'm sure. What can I say? I've got good taste.)

In Richmond's defense, here they only plow the main roads. And when I say "main road," I mean a MAIN ROAD. In lawyer-speak, the term is quite strictly construed. Midlothian Turnpike? Sure! Salisbury Road, the main drag through our huge neighborhood the size of a small town? No. And when I say "no," I mean HELL NO! This is not even right at the beginning or end of the storm, this is never ever.

Back in the day when I was a wee lass, I still remember hearing the sound of the plows scraping against the tar on the road all night long. Heck, you could eat off the roads they were so clear! Then sometimes the roads would start getting a tad icy. Before you could say "Hahvahd Yahd," the trusty trucks were right there dropping sand and salt all over the road, enough to scrape the finish on the chassis of your car. (Pronounced "cah.")

The snow cancellations here are what really crack me up. Not long ago, we got barely a dusting, no exaggeration. Honest to God school was delayed for TWO HOURS. It's a good thing I don't have an elementary-aged kid. We would have been standing around the bus stop forever wondering where the heck everyone else was and trying to figure out what holiday we totally missed.

Richmond's ready for some snow. We're stocked up, gassed up, and soon to be liquored up! Bring it on!

LibbY

Sleep Is Overrated

Well, I try to tell myself that, but it really is my favorite sport and the one of the few in which I truly excel. So, if you read my earlier post about Sam falling asleep at 5 PM for the night, my Mommy's intuition/pessimism that Daddy Mac and I would not sleep uninterrupted until 6 AM was right on. Sometimes it just sucks to be right.

At the ripe old hour of 1:52 AM, Sam raced into our room like the Green Goblin was chasing him, asking that ultra time-sensitive question, "Where is my Spiderman Transformer monster truck?" He has a tendency to wake-up full throttle, which is great quality to have if you are in the Special Forces, but not so ideal for low energy forty-something parents. And so the day began not long after Conan signed off the Tonight Show, but at least he is on the West Coast three hours behind us.

For a while he played in his room, busting into our room periodically right as we finally managed to fall asleep again. I remind you that this is a form of torture in many countries, a very effective one at that. After about two hours of that cat-and-mouse game, I was ready to give away any important information/enemy secrets I had. Thankfully Christmas is over and I had no hidden presents to divulge.

Then at about 4 AM, Sam asked if he could watch TV until we woke up. That was the best idea I've heard since they invested 100 calorie packs. So I came downstairs to turn on "Alvin and the Chipmunks" (the prequel, not the squeaquel.) By the time that was all set up, I was wide awake. As any pirate worth its salt would say, "Aargh!" So what was I to do but console myself with some really good cookies?! Of course it was a stealth maneuver so Sam won't get my bad eating habits. OK, so maybe it was stealth because I didn't want to share my stash.

Anyway, it is now "late," 5:17 AM and Alvin has ended, a sad development. Next up is the Human Machine science video that got me into this mess, putting him to sleep at 4:45 PM. Alas I know that no matter how boring it may be, that ain't happening again right now!

So, the burning questions, was it worth it to have a serene Friday night? You betcha! Plus I just learned a lot about saliva.

LibbY

Precious Moments -- A Big Mistake??

Aaah! I can focus, I can concentrate, I feel relaxed. You guessed it, I'm home ALONE! Well, not really alone-alone, but alone enough since Sam is here but passed out cold upstairs.

Let me back up here. Sam had quite a fun play date today. The proof is that he feel asleep before 5 PM while watching "The Human Machine" right after his buddy left. I guess his human machine really needed some ZZZZZZZZs. I looked into my bag of tricks (a small bag) and considered trying every tactic known to man to revive him. However, I darn well knew it would be unsuccessful anyway. Instead I decided to be all Zen and go with it.

I picked him up with bent knees and a huge groan, took him upstairs, and tossed him into bed at 5 PM in his clothes and all. As we well know, this tactic may very well backfire on my sorry self. Among many probable scenarios, he may wake up at anytime between now and 6 AM and be wide awake for the entire rest of the night. (I need to check and see when Dunkin Donuts opens in the AM.)

So I figure I may as well enjoy the incredible benefits of my scenario while I can. That translates into having the piece of mind to write this very blog entry. In addition, I plan to check out the three library books that I had on Reserve. Which to start first?? I have definitely eliminated one right off the bat, a highly recommended parenting book called "How to Raise a Resilient Child." I'm sure it's great, but I need to recharge my own resilience storage tanks right now, thank you! It's not exactly big plans for a Friday at happy hour time, but I am thrilled by my lameness. However, I may be regretful later... Did I mention that he hasn't eaten any dinner yet? Needless to say, that doesn't bode well.

Keep you posted on whether these precious moments do turn out to be a huge mistake. In the meantime, I'm off to check out my dorky library books!

LibbY

Out of the Mouth of a Preschooler

People are often the funniest when they don't know they are being funny. The same goes for the little people known as preschoolers. If Sam was trying to be funny, he would yell, "Stinky feet!" and chortle away, thinking himself more entertaining than any Curious George episode on record. That wouldn't get me laughing, just a forced smile at best.

However, the preschooler musings on life are hilarious. The other day we were driving around the parking lot at the gym, searching for a parking place as people scurried to and from their cars. Sam commented aloud to himself, "Some people don't know who we are." I had to guffaw and agree.

That is one of the toughest realizations of a lifetime -- not only are we not the center of anyone else's world, most people don't even know who the heck we are. It's quite an eye-opening "aha' moment for all of us -- and downright humbling. Yes, the world goes on just fine without us as if we didn't even exist, believe it or not. The sooner we absorb that concept and pop the bubble of egocentricity, the better off we are.

LibbY

First Day of 2010

One day of the new year down. Let's see, I woke up with a headache from too much wine and champagne, munched on three pastries in bed for my first breakfast and followed it up with sausage and scrambled eggs for a "second" breakfast.

Then it was an ultra-nutricious Happy Meal for lunch with fries, avoiding the healthy apple fritters. Dinner was take-out pizza, washed down with a Guinness, finished with two incredibly rich chocolates as chasers. Oh, did I neglect to mention no exercise whatsoever?

So this year will be all about Improvement Over the Status Quo. After a day like this, I sure have set myself up for success! Look out, 2010!

Happy New Year!

LibbY