Salt of the Earth

Been dragging around all day today. Woo wee I am going to sleep well tonight. Talked to my friend several times today. She’s ok. One minute she’s ok then the next she’s crying. Her husband has agreed to go to individual counceling. This is just one of those times where I wish I had the right words to say or to know what to do- or have something magical that will take their pain away. I don’t like it when people I care about are in so much pain. Near and far….

The weather was beautiful today. I just ate a bunch of Mt. Hood cherries that were so absolutely yummy.

Mick worked from home today. Of all days to have him home this was a good one. I don’t know. Just having him physically here was reassuring to me.

Ok, i’m going to make a cup of tea and get into bed.

T

i just got home. It’s very early Thursday morning. I’ve been at my friends house since around midnight. She needed comforting-her husband asked her for a divorce tonight. It’s all so sad. I spoke of this friend and her situation awhile ago in my blog- but at that point they were only having problems. While I was there comforting her, her husband (whom for the record is a pretty nice guy) came home. (he’d been to his parents house to talk to them about his decision. He looked awful- they both looked awful and a lot of tears had been shed by both. There wasn’t much for either of them to say to each other and I asked my friend if I should leave and she said no that she REALLY needed me there at that point. I went to check on her husband-and i have never seen him look so defeated. It broke my heart. I hugged him and told him if he needed to talk to his wife I would leave. He thanked me for being there for his wife and said he was ok. Around 3am the Tylenol PM I gave my friend finally kicked in and she was ready for bed. I don’t think either of them will sleep much tonight. Now I’m home and a bit wound up from the evenings events. I am going to get into bed now and kiss my husband 100 times and thank God, the stars, the tree Goddess, Tinkerbell, Venus and whomever else i can think of -that I have my life.

T

It’s been freakin hot here lately. Yesterday we reached record high of 102. The INSIDE of our house was 92 degrees….. I thought I was going to die. Today is supposed to be the last day of this awful heat wave. I truly hope so. I don’t do well in heat. Never have-even as a child. i had several heat strokes as a child. It was awful. I haven’t had one since our first week in Saudi Arabia. Aside from when I was pregnant with Thomas, yesterday was the first time that I’ve felt like I was going to have one. I know now I will never be able to live in a desert setting again. I’ll take the nice cool weather in Portland!!!!

We’ve been chillin in the blow up pool in the back yard. It provides great relief for the most part.

It’s been lonely without my dad here. Little bits of him are left behind. His pillows, his towel, his coffee cup.

Well, i have a friend coming over today and I think i hear her at the door.
T

Dad just left. He’ll be back in Colorado early evening. All the way to the airport I had that sense of dread in my stomach that moves into your throat and makes you cry. The closer we got to his terminal the worse it got. We made the good bye quick- less painful that way. I hate goodbyes. I especially hate saying goodbye to my dad. It was so nice having him here- the extra help and company was so nice. I packed him a lunch to take on the plane. He’s diabetic and needs good snacks. The time he was here just flew by so fast. And now the trip is over. It’s always such a big let down- the end of a visit. We spent weeks looking forward to it and planning it and now it’s done. sigh……

I’m going to get in my bed and watch tv

Another good day today. We ventured to Home Depot so Dad could help me pick out an electric staple/brad gun for my canvases. He loves tools and wanted to buy several for me- was too funny. We went to Red Robin for lunch which resulted in Dad, Thomas and me getting really bad stomach aches. Graham, as usual was fine. I’ve been wanted to get one of those little fire pits for my deck- so we went to this outdoor place called Little Baja to look at them. I was hoping to pay $50 at most for one. Cheapest one there was $200. So we left empty handed- which was FINE with me. Came home and I made chicken noodle soup and coconut rice for us- since we were still feeling kind of ill. Mick got home after the boys were in bed and Dad, Mick and I watched Miami Heat win the finals tonight. (I did two more puzzles- one REALLY stumped me but was very rewarding when I finished.) We went to my favorite art store today so I could get some brushes and canvas. I ended up getting a long eraser with 2 refills JUST for my Sudoku books. Now i’m ALL set!

We were going to go to the beach tomorrow- but I think we’ll stay home and rest and venture to the coast on Thursday or Friday.

as for now- i’m going to bed
T

Had a good day with my dad today. Took him to my favorite art store. I got some oil pastels- he got a sketch book and some conte lead. He also got some pastel pencils for me- which i just love, and some new oil paints. I was so happy- i didn’t expect him to get any of it. He said it was his pleasure- cause he wants to support my little art thing I have going on.

We went to his favorite place- the mall. He got some shoes- 2 pair. He LOVES shoes. When we got home we heated up his green chili and had it for dinner. We also sat outside and sketched for awhile. It was cool. The boys played basketball. It was very nice.

Tonight I showed him all my art work. He loved the little stick figures i did- and the tree/woman. (i don’t think I’ve uploaded those yet.,…) I told him all about printmaking and stretching canvases and different carving tools and blah blah blah … He listened very intently. It was nice.

After he went to bed I went into the big TV room and hung out with Mick and listed to TV and did 2 Sudoku puzzles. I think I can say I’m getting better at them. I do have to get a new eraser for my pencil tomorrow cause the one that came with it is GONE!!!… (Maridee, how is it that you don’t erase?)

Now I’m off to bed. I’m tired. But it’s been a really good day.
T

First of all a very Happy Father’s Day to the 4 of the 6 main guys in my life- who have been supportive and awesome throughout all stages in my life. I love you all very much and you mean the world to me.

My dad is here. I’m happy. When I gave him his Father’s Day present he got all choked up. (the wolf print i made). He loved it and was very touched by it.

I made homemade chicken pot pie- MIck’s favorite. It was a lot of work but it turned out really good. My dad made green chili stew tonight- for tomorrow. Graham wanted to help- and Dad let him. It was so sweet. Very warming to my heart.

I don’t know what the plan is for tomorrow. Just hanging out. We are taking my dad to beach one of the days. I need a good beach day.

Ok- Graham has had another naughty day- i think he’s just really tired from running around outside all day long. He’s talked my dad into reading 6 bedtime stories so far tonight. Thomas has discovered the trick of putting a card on your bike so it hits the spokes and makes a tick, tick, tick sound when you ride.

my sudoku puzzle is calling my name.

Tina

Today turned out to be a really good day. Mick hung out with us ALL day long. Even came outside with us. It was so nice. I really appreciated the company. I took on the task of cleaning up the back yard and deck today in preparation for my dad and just summer. Got a lot done. Even primed my bench and put a new coat of paint on it. When my neighbor died 2 years ago her husband gave us a picnic table and benches that have just sat upside down in the back yard. Last summer I was too sick to do anything with them. THIS summer- I’ve decided to fix them up and paint them the same color as my bench. I got the boys to help me move them up on the deck. Mick helped scrape the old paint off. It was so nice having his help. We were outside most of the day and it was wonderful. Graham had to come in early because he threw a doosy of a temper tantrum and tried to throw his bike helmet. He had a pretty naughty day today- another one of those days where I found myself thinking of how animals eat their young…….

My dad comes tomorrow- have I mentioned that yet?
I’ve become addicted to Sudoku puzzles… Mama mia i can’t stop doing them. Last night Mick showed me his method of doing them and it’s much more logical and efficient than mine was. So now I’m ripping through them like wild fire.

I’m getting into a nice warm bubble bath now- i’m stinky and dirty.

today was a good day
T

Taking a break from pulling weeds. The yard is full of them-UGH!! Feeling melancholy today-maybe just a little lonely i guess. I don’t know if it’s cause my routine is changed now and I’m not around my school friends during the day or if it’s cause Mick hasn’t been home much in the last few days. maybe a combination of the two. I’m so familiar with that ‘alone’ feeling. The shrink and I have discussed it several times. I used to think it was because of ME- and my inability to let people in. He (shrink) seems to believe otherwise. In any case I need to make peace with it and just accept that it is a part of me and a part of my life. I know physically I am not alone. I have my boys and they full fill my life so much. I am fortunate to have them. I have friends- several good ones at that too. So then why do i feel lonely?
T

Today is officially my first day of summer vacation. I slept in until 8:30am and then got up and started cleaning. Couple of reasons why…. I’ve totally neglected my house in the last few months while in school full time and……….. BIG and…….. MY DAD COMES ON SUNDAY!!!!!!!! I know he wouldn’t care if the house was messy- but I care. I hate clutter and disorder and it’s just kind of nice to have a clean, organized house when someone comes to visit. (Did i mention…… MY DAD COMES ON SUNDAY!!!!????) We tackled Graham’s room this morning- and by we I mean Graham and myself. Thomas was in charge of his own room. I gutted his closet- just the toys. I have 3 bags for Goodwill and 3 for garbage. My goal is to have the whole house gutted and clutter free by the end of summer.

ANYWAY, had my printmaking critique yesterday. Went well. Howard was VERY pleased with my work. He thanked me for being a ‘bright, shinning, face in his classroom.’ He’s so awesome. I got my black book back from my painting teacher. Out of a possible 733 points, i got 753. Somehow, I picked up 20 extra points. My painting teacher left me an amazing note in the back of my book. It was awesome. I’m so grateful and thankful to be home with the boys and have that time with them, but there is a part of me that is really going to miss that ‘college’ part of my life. I just don’t want to lose that passion and happiness that I found and felt so much in the last few months.

The weather is beautiful today. I have doors and windows open and there is a cool breeze blowing through the house. Ahhhhh perfect day.

off to clean Graham’s book shelf now…. if i don’t blog for a few days, someone PLEASE send in the swat team- I may just fall into the pit of despair (aka Grahams bookshelf) and never come out!!!!

T