Ahh. Friday.

Hi. It's cloudy and humid today. Everything is wet, and dark-ish, and lazy and still. It's a good thing it's Friday. I don't have to get ready to go anywhere.

I don't know what to read. Maybe back to Agatha Christie?

I really worked hard at taiko this week. Probably no one could tell, but it felt nice. But my time isn't my own, and so the scheduling continues to be weird. I've signed up for a couple of performances with my fingers crossed. We'll have to see if babysitters are required. I almost signed up for a performance today, but realized in time that it was the day we come back from vacation, and I wouldn't be at any of the practices.

My mom and dad came back from their vacation yesterday. I saw them briefly, when they came by to get their dogs. Mere hours later, I picked up Vinny on my way home from practice.

Wednesday, we decided to go to the zoo, as a family. Grant didn't go to school. I almost didn't agree to that. I don't take my kids out of school lightly. If they are sick - yes. And maybe for a rare family vacation or special out of state visitor. But then I stopped to consider: This kid doesn't see his dad on the weekends, and who is more important than that? A perfect day presented itself, we were available, so we took the kids and went to the zoo. And the weather really was perfect. We used Abbie's Build-A-Bear card at the zoo Build-A-Bear (very sweet place, U must say) and we saw the sting rays and the penguins and the elephants and the children's' zoo with the otters and such. Then, we used an old gift card at TGIFridays. Yum. And what do you suppose was right across the street? Oh, yes. Cold Stone Creamery. It was a great day. Then, Grant had T-ball, and Josh had fun watching that. All good things. We were sort of celebrating my wedding anniversary. Josh won't be so available next Wednesday. Anyway - 9 years! Next year I'm going to the place that made our wedding cake, and getting a little one of the same type (family sized, not wedding sized.)

Today, I spent looking at real estate. Josh is applying for a job in South Carolina. What an unfortunate time to realize that I secretly want to move to Eugene, Oregon!

This haze is making me feel tired! I think that's cheating.

I've been having unhappy dreams lately. Two nights ago, I was dreaming that my mom's family were fighting and I was upset, no matter where I was or who I was with. Well, kinda. It was vague. And last night I dreamed I was somewhere and stormed out, angry. Then I was shopping or something, and Abbie wouldn't stay where I asked her to. It was as bad as a cartoon - I kept putting her back, and she kept running off, and I kept getting mad.... So why am I having unhappy dreams? Josh says maybe I'm stressed out, but I'm not. I mean, no more than usual. I don't have any new things that I'm stressed about. I'm still frustrated that I can't get my family into a nice synchronized schedule. And I'm worrying about what I can and can't do for the taiko guys. And I'm worried about finding employment. And I worry about my grandmother being alone and still insisting to keep her bedroom upstairs, when she never had much of a sense of balance. (Well, not since the fever she had when she was little.) And I worry about my brother becoming cranky and reclusive because he lives alone and never has to compromise. And I worry about what my children will become someday, and how much of that I can help with, or should be doing different. And I worry about the school systems. And the finances. And if I should cut my hair before we go on vacation or after. And the laundry piles that I'm not getting washed.

I want bubble tea.

I don't know what I want to make for dinner, but it certainly isn't in my freezer. I think maybe....maybe it's fried shrimp.

We should watch movies tonight. Wish I had some new ones. We kinda took a long time getting our last Netflix back, so nothing is on the way yet. Boo. I'm excited, though. Our next shipment should include Despicable Me. Me and Josh will be the ones watching it, of course. I doubt it's Kindergarten friendly. But-it's something I've never seen, at least!

Well, off to get ready for Grant to come home. And I'll have to cook up some non-shrimp for dinner. Wish me luck.

Happy, happy, happy weekend to you!!!!!!!!!!