strange encounter

I bumped into my Gynecologist at TJ Maxx

She was shopping in the home goods section and at first I couldn't place her -- I actually went down an aisle she was in -- wracking my brain to try to place her.

She was very very familiar

but I had no idea where I had seen her before

When it hit me it was very strange

Like running into a former teacher at a bar

She looked like she was having fun -- browsing -- I said hello (she said hello back in an absent way that told me she had no idea who I was) and we went about our Saturday

It was surreal -- like coming home and finding the dog washing the dishes.

Fake Sick or Home Sick?

Miss M stayed home today

She woke up complaining that her eyes hurt -- I the she wanted me to tell her to stay home

I didn't bite

I hoped she would suck it up and go to school

eventually she asked to stay home -- and I allowed it

after assurances that there are no tests to be missed and knowing that homework was done

she slept most of the day

I wonder if she's finally feeling homesick

Mom would have been nice when she feels sick

I'm not mom.

Send in the Clones

I am a terrible American

I have kept Miss M from the most essential of American experiences

I have kept her from

McDonalds

What a horrible oversight

Sunday --we went to the movies and saw Despicable Me in 3D-- they have 3D in Mongolia -- but it's the kind with the red and blue glasses -- I think Em liked it -- but she would have rather seen a slasher flick or Step Up 3D -- maybe next time.

She took pity on me -- she knew I wanted to see this one

So -- afterwards -- I offered Mexican or McDonalds

2 guesses which one she chose -- first guess doesn't count

She ordered a Quarter Pounder -- she wanted to order and pay for it herself -- We took about 15 pictures -- ordering it -- the box, the soda, the burger (before, during and after)

She kept asking me about the clone --

I had no idea what she meant

finally --I figure it out

O-W-N is own

so if you add a cl to that -you get "clone" (very logical)

English is weird

A recent dream

I fell asleep on a friend's couch -- and had the following dream

I had to go back to the office -- which for some reason was both my current office and a hospital.

I got into the parking lot and was irritated that the security guard was nowhere to be found.

I got out of my car and headed to the main building -- which involved climbing down a steep ravine and fording a small stream before heading up the cliff face on the other side

As I was climbing I noticed that a burro pulling a cart was working his way down the parking lot side of the ravine -- the cart held a woman and many packages -- and her husband walked along side -- another man lead the burro. They were all wearing complicated disguises -- which included beards and fake beauty marks and big straw hats.

As they reached the bottom of the ravine they took off their hats and threw them like boomerangs to man in a roach coach who caught them with ease and put them on the racks with all the other hats -- and I realize that this is a people smuggling operation and they are 'coyotes'.

I continue up the hill and reach above my head to open this old white wooden door -- I'm pissed when I discover the door isn't locked (seriously -- what sort of security team do we HAVE anyway!) and I lift my leather backpack (which I'm pretty sure the ex got in the divorce) over my head and shove it just inside the door where I can find it tomorrow.

I woke up -- very irritated at security.

Study Aids

School has just been a bitch

and I feel for her

Foreign language classes don't prepare you to analyze literature and discuss the political reasons for various events in US History

Vocabulary is the ENEMY

We're going to beat this -- one Latin or Greek root word at a time.

I see flashcards in our future

Adventures

The girls got up early -- about 8:30 -- now that they're on school schedules -- it feels like sleeping in.

At 10:30 -- they were eating sandwiches -- I scolded a bit - "We're going to KoMart for LUNCH"

"When" asked Em

"Noon"

"I can eat again"

Shit -- teenagers -- it's almost a little disgusting.

My Mom assures me that at this age they're either eating all the time - or nothing at all --

So Let's see -- at this point in the day Em has eaten: A banana, a small orange, some left over popcorn, two swiss roll cakes and a roast beef sandwich.

We pack up and head out to pick up Amy in Irving

Miss M and Miss J think that everything here is very far -- when I declare that Amy lives only 27 miles away -- they look at me like I'm insane.

We picked up Amy and headed to KoMart

KoMart is this big Korean grocery store where you can buy anything at the grocery store, buy electronics, shoes and sit down and have lunch.

I picked up a hand basket that was almost instantly full of all the things that Miss J misses from home -- Miss M found her beloved "Choco-pies" and was blissful

I was asked, "When will we come again?" -

"Not for quite some time -- it's far"

and 2 more choco pie boxes were in my basket (now replaced with a cart)

We had a lovely Korean-Korean food lunch -- where I was grateful that I had the "if its orange it's hot" guideline -- and headed to the next adventure.

The Mall

We went to Southlake -- one of those Malls that looks like a town -- but is really just a big shopping mall and set the girls loose with the instructions, "do not leave the boundaries of the map (Yes -- this mall has a MAP) and meet us at THIS starbucks at 5"

They were stunned and pleased with the unexpected freedom -- and ran off in the direction of Victoria's Secret

Amy and I wandered around looking at things -- ate some Toll House Cookies and found ourselves at Barnes and Noble

At 4:45 -- I got a call from Miss J -- wanting to know if I had said 5 or 6 ("Five" I assured her) -- amazing how 2 1/2 hours seemed decadent -- now it was too short.

They came back with Jamba Juice (Now the count includes another orange, a large Korean lunch of what I think was Kimchi soup, a choco-pie and a jamba juice)

We had chili for dinner -- and Miss M finally declared herself full -- and rounded off the evening watching a TIVOed So You Think You Can Dance

I think I might be the fun-mom

who would have thought....

What a week!

Mom and Dad were a God-send -- they came and hung out with Miss M all week while I was at the conference that never ended

I knew it would be demanding on my time -- but I didn't expect that I would be there from 6am to 10pm every day.

I missed Miss M

and I think she missed me too.

She had a great time with Mom and Dad -- and now -- we're starting our holiday weekend.

Miss J has joined us again this weekend and they're making personalized Tshirts -- and giggling

like you do

Tomorrow we're going to go to KoMart to see if their Korean food is Korean and maybe

brace yourself

to the mall.

Thank God Amy's going with us -- it'll save my sanity......Miss M is DYING to go to Victoria's Secret