A Goddess in a Cave in the Woods

I have been having a very arrrrgggghhh day. You know, that’s the sound of ultimate frustration that Charlie Brown makes when he’s having ONE OF THOSE DAYS. (Incidentally, I played Lucy VanPelt in my high school production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” and I am still very close friends with Linus and Snoopy.)

Anyway, back to my day. Suffice it to say that it started with a whiney, still-sick boy and ended with a cooking CRISIS. (At least that is the term I used when I called my friend Jenny for help. I got her voice mail. The voice mail didn’t have any useful advice for me.)

I hate it when circumstances prove that I’ve been a daft twit. I especially hate it when the circumstances in question involve cooking. I am not very confident in the kitchen, though I’ve really been making an effort lately. And today, three little, tiny words printed in microscopic font really shook me. Those words were: “REFRIGERATE AFTER OPENING.” Actually, the words weren’t really all that tiny, and they were printed on both the side AND top of the jar, but somehow I’ve missed them the last FOUR times I’ve made my family my delicious (and arguably deadly) Shepherd’s Pie.

Ah well, I looked a crisis in the eye today, and I’m still standing (as are the other members of my family who ate the allegedly poisoned previous pies, thank goodness). Today’s lesson? PAY ATTENTION!

What a week for babies! This morning, my friends April and Mark welcomed twin girls to our beautiful world. (Though, honestly, April did all the work.) Sophia and Olivia join their big sister Isabella and the three of them are going to charm the world, one unsuspecting cynic at a time.

This makes November a full-fledged nutso birthday month. Let’s see, we have, just in my circle, at least the following: Kayla (11/04), Sophia and Olivia (11/05), Hubby Aaron (he’ll be 33 on 11/07), my Yiayia (11/08), Isabella (11/10), my wonderful stepmom Nancy (11/13), stepbrother Zak (11/14), nephew Timothy (11/22), father-in-law Michael (11/23), and crunchy mama me on 11/30. And I know I’m forgetting someone.

I got to visit Lisa and Kayla in the hospital this evening. Or should I say, I visited them in their suite at the Ritz? It was very polished and plush in that hospital room. When I arrived, Lisa had a warm glow about her, and looked really wonderful. She explained that she’d just had her MASSAGE. Oh, well, sorry, excuse me, I was looking for the ragged, red-eyed new mother who keeps mumbling about cheese and ice chips. Sorry I got the wrong room.

Seriously, after my shock over the massage wore off, it was lovely to visit with Lisa and visit Kayla in the NICU. She was sleeping so peacefully, and is just beautiful. Hopefully, she’ll join Mommy in the suite tonight, then I can visit the red-eyed, sleep-deprived version of Lisa tomorrow. Honestly, though, Lisa will probably be the same – she always has a big smile and a cheerful, positive attitude. I asked her how her drug-free labor was, and she said with a huge grin, “Well, I won’t lie to you. It really hurt! So, how is Max feeling? Can I get you anything?” You go, Lisa.