I find it fascinating that the sky can be bright blue with puffy clouds behind me, and pale blue with wisps of clouds, including some gray ones ahead. I’m facing East toward the sunrise. My sweet pup was up at 4:30 a.m. I wanted the rest if my family to sleep a little longer. We’ve been enjoying a variety of birdsong in the backyard. It’s 6:00 a.m. now. Blue’s had his breakfast. I’m ready for mine. Coffee is a necessity today. May 25, 2012 is the first day of Summer Vacation, my niece’s second birthday and one year to the day since my husband’s diagnosis. The day life changed. ~ Janean

This morning I drank my first mug o’coffee in the backyard with my sweet pup, Blue. Just a few more weeks of school day morning rush before summer vacation begins. Once it does, I can lollygag in the morning to my heart’s content. Not today though. Children to wake. Breakfast to eat. Lunches to make. Notebooks to sign. A drive to make. I’m almost ready for that second mug o’coffee. Though it might have to be To Go. ~ Janean

Happy Easter Sunday!
Much like Christmas morning my children look forward to waking up to goodies, just for them.
Their Easter Bunny brings LEGOS, you see.
This year they are extra special, “Design By Me.”
One big chocolate rabbit it the norm.
Grandma and Grandpa added the second, smaller bunnies.
The prospect of More Chocolate is a welcome one.
For today is the one day on the calendar that chocolate for breakfast is allowed
…unless chocolate covered donuts,
or the occasional slice of chocolate cake counts.
This is the day pure chocolate, in bunny form is on the menu.
I’m thankful my growing up fast boys still want to do an egg hunt.
Even though the bunny is out of the bag on who does the hiding.

I am not a fan of April Fool’s Day, however I live in a house of tricksters and pranksters SO after a predictable, “You have something on your face” from my oldest son, I countered with, “The cinnamon rolls are gone.”
To which he replied, “WHAT?! Who ate them?”
Me: “April Fool’s!”
Gotcha. 
Good luck out there. 
The school teachers are probably glad it’s on a Sunday this year. 
Palm Sunday at that. One of my favorites. ~ Janean

dog tired

Is it a bad sign when it’s not yet 9:00a.m., there is still coffee in the pot, and more than anything you just want to go back to bed? I figure it is too early in the day to call it a nap. Puppy was up at 2:30a.m., sometime between 4 and 5, and again at 6:30a.m. That’s when I got up, planning to stay up for the whole entire day. The previous times I took him out, then back in, took him out and fed him and back in… In between I kept rekenneling him and going back to bed. I must have slept. Each time I was there long enough to have crazy dreams before being awoken sooner than I wanted to be from the dog sounds coming through the puppy monitor. For the record, there was a thirty minute walk in there too. Alas, no back to bedding, no napping. Not for me anyway. That dog?! He’s sawing logs, happily curled up in the family room, where the TV is blaring a dog themed show, and the rest of the family is done with breakfast. It’s Spring Break here. Day 4 of No School. Woof.

breakfast food analogy

I am toast
and not the pretty golden brown
evenly buttered kind
I’m stuck in the toaster
charred beyond recognition
crumbling burned black toast
evidently when my day starts at 4:30a.m.
by 6-something in the evening I am done
kaput
not worth much
by almost 7:30p.m. I am toast
actually those crumbs in the bottom if the toaster
I may be in bed before the children tonight
unless I fall asleep on the backyard chaise
where I have the dogs leash under a leg
to hold it in place
and I am stretched out fairly flat
my eye lids at half mast
there are dishes
clean ones to unload
pots and pans to do by hand
laundry to fold
more to move around
from one machine to another
but something’s burning
smoldering
crumbling
beyond done
crumble
crumble
ick
charred to bits
toast

Yesterday I wrote on my electronic reminder list, “Do the damn dishes. Every last one.”
I didn’t take a BEFORE picture.
Too embarrassing.
But here is my PROVING IT photograph.
The picture I took before clicking, “Done”, moving my e-reminder from unfinished business to COMPLETED.
Until breakfast tomorrow.
Or drinks in the night.
I’m out numbered you know.
Just savoring this moment.
While it lasts.
The dishwasher is running.
Thankful for that too.
Always.
My husband even said, “The sink looks nice.”
Damn straight it does.
It’s empty.
Hallelujah the dishes are DONE.
(For now.)

playin’ possum

I live in a house with three possums
not the pink tailed, beady eyed kind
the pretending to sleep while the dog barks in the early morning kind
there is a cat in the house too
she might as well be part possum
since she’s tucked in too
cozied up to those other possums
burrowed under soft covers
in rooms dark
for the sun has yet to rise
while the early dog and I got outside to take care of business
and he woofs the house down
so excited for his breakfast
and sits at the bottom of the stairs
waitin’ for the rest of the family
to stop playin’ possum
and wake up
to play with him
(the dog)