The Simple Woman’s Daybook for Monday, August 25, 2008

Outside My Window…Tropical Storm Fay has left a complete mess in its wake. Our yard is a disaster—branches down, whole trees down (pictures to follow in a later post). Technically, it’s over. But it isn’t over. Even as I type this, the sky is dark. It’s thundering again—we already had one storm this a.m.—and I’m afraid the power might go out any second. (The electricity has gone out innumerable times, just for very short periods. But we lost power for about 13 hours, Saturday into Sunday.)

I am thinking…About a great many things, one of which is how terrible I feel for the family of the 47-year-old electric company worker who died trying to restore power to one of the nearby counties. Those people put their lives on the line, all so we can have our “modern conveniences” available again as quickly as possible.

I am thankful for…The safety of my family, first and foremost. Thankful my house is still intact. Thankful that I was able to attend Mass yesterday afternoon. (Ah—there comes the pouring rain.) This seems so minor right now, but I’m also thankful for a quick resolution to the “bus stop” problem. My son is now being picked up and dropped off where he should have been picked up and dropped off all last school year. All I can say is, it helps to talk to the principal when the department of transportation won’t care a fig for your child’s safety!

From the kitchen…Hot coffee and berry smoothies (two separate things!). (Is that weird?) Later, we’ll have penne alfredo and chocolate cake—today is little Levi’s 3rd birthday!

I am wearing…Blue t-shirt, navy blue shorts, navy blue slippers, earrings Brian and the boys got me for my birthday three years ago. My hair is in a ponytail.

I am creating…Must be nada. My brain has been too consumed with the weather to make anything. Though, I do plan to put sprinkles on the birthday cake—this in lieu of “real” decoration. We’ve discovered at our house that unless a cake is chocolate, with chocolate frosting, it won’t get eaten. Tonight’s cake will look cute; just not like your standard kids’ birthday cake.

I am going…To be spending A LOT of time cleaning up sticks and branches, once all this rain is finished.

I am reading…Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge (still). The book of Acts in the Bible. Wild at Heart by Patricia Gaffney. I finished the Georgette Heyer novel (Venetia) last week. I am sorry to report that it was, for me, a disappointment. It could have been so much better. Yet, for some Heyer readers, it is the favorite. Go figure. I liked Sylvester (or, The Wicked Uncle) and The Masqueraders both much better.

I am hoping…The stains come out of the laundry I’ve had soaking in the washer for the past five days. BIZ has worked miracles in the past!

I am hearing…Wonder Pets on TV; the little boys playing “Sorry!” at the dining room table.

Around the house…Things are looking pretty good. Most of the toys are put away. Dishes are done. Bathrooms are clean. I need to vacuum (again), and of course it’s time to wash clothes(also again). Tiny water ants keep sneaking in the kitchen window and getting in my sink and on the counter. We’ve killed several large roaches (“palmetto bugs” is the nice name). Everybuggy’s trying to get in out of the storm. [Just as I was typing this, the boys came and asked me to shuffle their cards. I stood up from my chair and got my foot caught in the cord to the keyboard. I tripped, and the whole keyboard tray and keyboard came tumbling down, and this post was filled with "+/-", over and over and over. Great. Did I mention that our van hasn't been starting like it should? That's a whole other story, but it's like Gilda Radner used to say: "It's always something!"]

One of my favorite things…Going out to eat with my family. Yesterday afternoon, we went to The Hobbit for a late lunch. It was nice just to sit and chat and enjoy our pops and cheeseburgers and see other people—we’d been trapped in the house for two full days!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week…Well, it’s supposed to keep on raining, but when I get a chance, I’ll be doing yard clean-up. We’ll have to arrange for a tree service to come chop up one of the fallen trees—Brian’s chain saw is not big enough to handle the job. Tonight we’ll celebrate Levi’s birthday. I suppose most of the week will be spent doing chores and helping Urban with his homework, playing with the boys, fixing meals—the usual.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing…

Can you guess what my 7-year-old wants for Christmas?

Be sure to visit Peggy to read more daybooks and/or get the guidelines so you can participate, too!