I am swamped with work and countdown to this weekend’s recital, so I haven’t been here and won’t really be for the next week, either. I’m late on my Books Read in May roundup, and that has to wait, too. Short form:
– Lovely weather, but as is expected the humidity rising, so there are good days and bad days.
– The boy turns six on Saturday, and has a school field trip to a local national park for frog and butterfly exploration on Friday. They had caterpillars in class to observe in the latter half of May, and the kids saw them make chrysalises and hatch into beautiful Painted Lady butterflies, which the class released last week. Very exciting.
– The boy finally realised what playing in a recital meant at his lesson last Saturday, and there were some tears because it would be different from his usual environments of lessons and home practice. His teacher worked with him sensitively and they changed his piece to a duet with her; we also scheduled him to be second, so he isn’t playing first and alone.
– Owlet is doing fine, and passed her brother’s gestational record of 31w2d this past weekend. Go Owlet! I am exhausted and in pain a lot of the time, which isn’t a surprise considering the stupid amount of growth that was accomplished in a very short time on top of my pre-existing fibro and scoliosis issues.
– Also this weekend, there were suddenly a half-flight of stairs, a landing, and a big hole in the ceiling to the attic. Next up: Plywood floor, framing walls, vapour barrier and ventilation layer, lifting insulation, plasterboard. Windows have to be installed in there somewhere, and wiring run to be certified by an electrician.
– Did I mention I am swamped with work? I handed in the copyediting gig, but now it is all bird book rewrites all the time, and I am having panic attacks at the amount of work that needs to be done by Friday night. Technically I have to hand it in on Monday morning at 8 or 9 AM, but I won’t be able to work on it all weekend because of dress rehearsal, guests, birthday party, and recital, so Friday’s the deadline.
– We have a lead on a secondhand 1/8 cello for the boy at an insanely low price. It’s in Ottawa, so we’ll trundle down there for a day trip the last week of June and check it out, as well as visiting the redone Museum of Nature and walking through the Parliament buildings. Even if it needs new strings and a bow rehair (both of which I fully expect) it will still be less expensive than the other secondhand one listed here in Montreal.
Right; back into the fray. Wish me sanity and an even head.
I wish you whatever you need to get through the next little while of extreme business. If you ever need to vent, you know you can email/call.
(I still think a relaxed afternoon for moms only is in order, once things settle down a little, if they do — or maybe even before they settle, so as to restore sanity, midstream.)
xoxoxo
I’m sorry the workload is so incredible at the moment, sending smooth working thoughts your way. Also, I’ll be sending the Owlet’s presents this week! So hopefully they will arrive before she does.
Oh, the Museum of Nature in Ottawa! I spent so much time there as a child (I grew up in Russell, small village about 45 minutes away). There’s an incredible ice cream place on Elgin street nearby – well, there used to be, not sure it’s there anymore. Anyway, the Elgin Street Diner isn’t too far and it’s great too. xx
Paze: Lovely idea, but definitely post-schedule-insanity. If someone tries to book me for one more thing before I have time for it, I will snap.
Erin: We went to the Museum of Nature once a couple of years ago, while it was under renovation, and loved it. We’re so looking forward to seeing all the proper exhibits in place! And thanks for the tip about the Elgin Diner; their menu looks yummy.
It was just a thought — I would never, ever try to schedule anything w/out people indicating that they were game. More importantly, I would never want to be the cause of an expectant mother snapping! (=terrifying, as Jeff will heartily concur)
xox
Sending some energy your way, and thinking of you guys.
Sanity, an even head, lovely cool evenings, a glass of wine to wash away the day.