Yesterday, I Was Such a Spaz

I was all spun up about having to get my kids from school yesterday, because they ALL got out of school at the same.bloody.time . . . and their schools are separated by roads filled with other parents picking up their kids, at the pace of 25mph . . . and it's only a mile or so between the schools, but with traffic and "figure it out yourself" left turns, uff da! Let's just say I could use with a new mouth! Lord, I need to learn to put a cap on it and chill out, yeah? I need to live the "hang loose" thing out, man. Geesh.

So, in order to be there on time to get Teenie first in the lineup, I left the condo ungodly early and traipsed through the new Target. Target is new on O'ahu . . . it's so beautiful. It is the cleanest Target I have ever been in - not that I've been in a dirty, disorganized one, but this one is brand spankin' new! I've been in dirty, disorganized WalMarts - quite a few of them, actually, and it's such a shame since it's a good store, too. My B-I-L would vehemently disagree, as a union man. Anyway, the Walmart near where we are now currently living is spankin' clean. I like it!

I have been waiting to find this book since Jamie posted on it a few days ago . . . and found it at Target. I read it almost in its entirety in the parking lot waiting for Teenie. I got there an HOUR before I needed to be 'cos I must have sprinted through Target. I ran the car for the AC for a bit, but then I was wasting petrol . . . so I shut her down and rolled down the windows. I still sweat through to the leather seats. Gross! I finished this book after I got home. Let's just say:


I'm going to get the other two as I can find them. This book is about the indignity he suffered at the hands of his parents. Yes, both of them. One for being cruel, the other for letting it happen. Still, it's more about the triumph of a soul - he soldiered on and became a human being that stayed a human being that God can be proud of, and, we can admire. God bless Dave Pelzer!

After I got the kids from the rat-race pickup routine, it was brought to my attention that the younger two would be required to read. Crickles will need to read thirty minutes daily. Teenie will need to read genre books once a month with book reports to be turned in. I'm not against this at all. I love it! The problem isn't with Teenie, but with Crickles, who doesn't like to read per se. I know, the sacrilidge! Anyway, we don't have our bookcase to our disposal so I trotted them to the Borders nearby and we got some books. Here's what I picked out (with his approval) for Crickles:
I remember reading it as a youngster and it's not "challenging" but fun, light reading that makes play with words and such. Remember Tock, the dog? He's on the cover. I'm re-reading it as well so we can talk about it. I love memory lane.

The girl got the classic Robin Hood and Little Women. I will likely read those as well. It's been a long time and I love to read. I think The Phantom Tollbooth will jump-start Crickles to read again, too, and ENJOY it.

Whilst walking amongst the Hawaiian goodies offered in Target, I found this and could not resist. I got one for a friend of mine (Heather) who will likely read this post before she gets it, but she totally understand my humour - or lack thereof! The kids and I worked on it and had it done far too quickly. I started it first . . . then Squirrel Boy (of all the kids) started in and pieced together quite a lot of the center before I could gather my wits from surprise that he was joining in . . . . We all agreed to get more puzzles on the spot! I cannot remember who suggested . . . oh, yeah, it was my M-I-L . . . to buy puzzles and just work on them at leisure. Who knew? Y'all knew and I know it!! I cannot always help it that I'm a slow learner.
Today, I got them off to school in good time and we agreed we could leave ten minutes later than we have been and still make good time. Tomorrow we'll leave later. It's all about getting a feel for it. By the time it's an art form, they'll be packing into the bus. Oh, well.

I'm sitting here having my first cuppa. I am using the last of the half and half. I started putting creamer in my coffee at the Hale Koa and blew my no creamer resolve of a year into the terlit. I did not gain weight from it, but I would likely lose a few pounds by leaving it out of my coffee. So, it's back to black with my second cuppa. Maybe a bitter pill to swallow, I don't know. I do know that I'm very seriously considering not drinking coffee any longer after this packet is used up. No, seriously. I have to ask myself why I drink it if it's making my intestines ache. It tastes good and I like the brain tingle, but other than that, I know I can live without it and I know my toilet paper shopping will decrease. I'll save ten bucks there and another ten not buying Starbucks beans any longer. There's always an upside. I can deal with the headaches . . . it is only the first few days without coffee that are the worst. I'm just thinking about it, is all.

I'm doing a load of towels. I like this particular load of laundry. They always come out smelling so good and, they are easy to fold up. White wash, on the other hand, I despise. Matching up all the socks, folding my husbands white tee's (he wears with his uniform) . . . ach!

Perhaps today I will relax more and not rush to pick up the kids. I do need to leave a tad early just so I can get petrol in the van. I don't like being under quarter tank and it's at a quarter tank now. I'll fill her up, get to Teenies school, and read War and Peace for the few minutes (not hour this time) it takes for the last bell to ring.