Just Plain Creepy

This night has finally arrived. The much anticipated 10 hour visit is upon us! My BIL is on a layover on his way to Tokyo. The kids are over the moon happy to see him. We had a great time just chatting. He's a good-hearted soul.

But... We drove up to the airport and out to the Cell Phone Parking area. As I drove through the lot I saw a large white van that appeared to be re-inforced such that no one would be able to get out of the windows. And printed on the side of the van was:

Prisoner Extradition Van. Stay Back.

I locked the doors to my car immediately! I could see through the mesh that there were people in the van wearing orange jump suites. S wanted to know why I locked the doors and why I would not let her unbuckle her seat belt.

I told her the truth, "If one of those prisoners gets loose, I want to be ready to run him over with my car if he starts looking in our direction."

And I meant it.

I was really happy when the van pulled away.

Cell Phone Parking Lot... What an odd name if you really think about it. And what a creepy place.

I hugged Them Tighter

Last night I laid down to sleep just a little before 11PM. I turned the radio on to catch the news before going to sleep. As I listened I realized something awful had happened. I jumped out of bed and grabbed my computer. I immediately got up to speed as the events of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. My sister-in-law is in Tokyo because her mother is in the midst of open heart surgery (she had a valve repaired about 2 weeks ago, and yesterday needed to have a pace maker installed). I was very concerned.

I called my brother-in-law in New York to wake him and tell him. I emailed my SIL, her sister and her Brother-in-law. After 20 minutes I heard from my brother-in-law-in-law (!) that he was in a meeting in Yokohama when the quake hit. He'd not yet heard from his wife or our sister in law. This morning My BIL e-mailed that he heard from his wife and that all are well and safe.

I am so sorry for the thousands of people and their families who are not so fortunate today. I can't imagine the suffering and loss.

I held my children tighter last night and again this morning.

Ami (Pronounced Ahmee)

Seems I have a new name. Ami. That's Urdu (i.e. Pakistani) for Mommy. From out of nowhere Z. has started calling me this. Its okay. My MIL will always be "Ami" as far as I am concerned, but since she baled, I guess I'll take over the name. He sounds so cute, "Ami, I love you!"

S. hasn't caught on to this, but that's okay with me.

As my dad always says, call me what you want, but don't call me late for dinner :-)

When I have work stuff, home stuff suffers. I get all twisted up inside and it shows at home. I hate that. I wish I had a job I loved. A job where I thrived. I don't thrive here. I don't thrive around these people. Too much pressure. Too many agendas. Too much game-playing.

I suppose I should do something about it, but the effort would be monumental. And I probably couldn't find a job where I am so well-paid. That would be a real problem.

Enough wallowing.

I'll have a lovely, blessed day and pray that you do, too.

Hugs and Elbows

S. is all about hugs. Physical contact. Elbows. Z. is the "I love you" guy, but S. needs that physical contact. From the time she was a small baby she loved elbows - especially my elbows. Sometimes I would have to tell her that my elbows were raw - she would repeat it in her little toddler voice, "Mommy's elbows are wah!"

And she still goes straight for my elbows every chance she gets. My elbows have grown tough and I love the feel of her warm little fingers on my skin.

She is awesome packaged up as a little girl!

The Tooth Fairy's Been Busy

Really Busy with S. lately. The day before yesterday, as we prep'd for school S.'s left front tooth was super loose. (She has already lost the right front tooth.) I ran out of the bathroom and told her to extract it herself. You see, I can take all forms of childish goo - I don't mind the blood, the barf, the poop... But I can't take loose teeth. They gross me out.

Gross. Me. Out!

So finally, the tooth fell out. She did a great job of extracting it and we put it in a Ziplock bag. We forgot to put it under the pillow that night, so I told S. that the tooth fairy woke me up to complain :-) So we put it under her pillow last night. She forgot to check this morning.

I'll remind her tonight. The tooth fairy is very busy and can't make three trips just to complete one payoff. She really chewed me out about it last night.

Nothing like a tongue lashing for the Tooth Fairy...

Hackin' Goddess Strikes Again

Mom's laptop was infected. Infected. INFECTED! What a mess. What a hairball. It took me about an hour, but I got her all cleaned up and now she can go back to surfing to goodness-only-knows where, but hopefully this time she won't get infected.

In a couple of years, when she needs a new machine again, I'll get her a mac. Expensive, but worth not having to deal with infections.

Yours truly,

The Hackin' Goddess

Today I Love Everybody

Said Z. on the way to school. He's very excited. Today's his first field trip. They are going to the local Children's Museum. R. will go on this field trip with him. I think they are going to have a blast!

I went with S.'s class last week. We had a great time. I have been there several times with S, but never with Z. I am kinda sad to miss this first, but... Its okay. He can tell me all about it tonight.