Day in the Life of an Idiot

A lot has happened in the last few days. I chaperoned an all-day field trip to the “big” Minnesota Zoo, got Mason’s veggie garden ready for planting, and attended another Kids and Kin event at Sacred Paths.

Moving backwards through time, yesterday, was the zoo trip. It was fairly stressful. The way the teacher decided to handle the field trip was to assign each parent/chaperone a small group of four kids and told us to run free. I can’t imagine a better way, but this meant that all the responsibility for what we did, when, and where was down to me. Luckily, I know the zoo very well, having spent a lot of time there with Mason in the past. I asked my group (three boys and one girl) what they wanted to see on the bus ride out: Sharks! Wolverines! Monkeys!

I’d also decided on the way out that since there were only five of us total, I’d treat my group to a ride on the monorail. I figured that by the end of the day what I’d really want was a chance to sit down and not have to keep an eye on all four of them (since once the tram doors closed, they were stuck in one place.) Man, was I right! Plus, that way they got to see the animals without having to walk any further.

So, besides the monorail, we also saw the sharks (we went there first), Russia’s Grizzly coast (the leopard was the most cooperative, pacing back and forth right in front of the viewing glass), played in the new play ground “Woodland Wonderland”, had lunch with the rest of the class, and then did the Minnesota trail (where I gave each kid a punch sheet and told them it was a scavenger hunt to see if they could collect all the stamps,) and then, after the train ride, I thought we might have time to get out to the farm to see the farm babies – but they got distracted by the playground and I figured I’d just let them play until it was time to go to the bus.




I’m glad I gave us extra time, because I almost lost the girl – who, for reasons all her own, decided to run ahead and find the bus herself. She turned a corner and we completely lost sight of her. Worse, it was at an intersection of the "Woodland Wonderland" play area, the Grizzly Coast, AND the way back toward the aquarium. I thought, "This is it. I've officially lost a child. Parent FAIL!"

Luckily, we were close to a playground and I saw her heading back to it. We managed to even make it back to the bus on time and without further incident. All I can say is I was very, very lucky. Next time, I'm chaining those kids to me with adamanium!!

So I did nothing the rest of the day. What little energy I had left had been sucked out of me by the adrenalin rush of nearly losing track of one of my charges, and the squealy-ness of the bus ride home. We ordered a pizza and I played a few video games with Mason, tried to read a chapter or two (but my eyes kept crossing), and collapsed into a heap.

On Monday, I decided that I'd skip working out to work in the garden. There's a LOT to do in our yard. While I can't grow grass to save my soul, every seed that falls from the neighboring trees sprout and grow in inappropriate places like under the fence, next to the house, in the garden... you name it. If I don't want a tree there, it grows. HUGE. So I spent a lot of the morning ripping out junk trees with the new clippers I bought over the weekend at Menards. And, then, because that's a never ending job, I took a break to write. The sun called to me after an hour of writing, and so out I went to tackle the area that's become Mason's garden.

Mason, as I've mentioned before, somehow inherited my maternal grandmother's ability to throw seeds on the ground and have them sprout. Genetic osmosis, perhaps, but whatever it is, last year we dug up this little square of yard -- he stepped on a few seeds and we suddenly had a garden bursting with carrots, peas, corn and sunflowers. If I had planted it, we would have gotten nothing, as the birds would have eaten the seeds or some other disaster or blight would have killed anything that struggled up through the weeds.

Anyway, this year I decided it needed more definition. I had bought some bricks to edge the garden last year, but I wasn't happy with the way I had them arranged. So I did a bit of landscaping with the bricks and two of the pots we have for herbs -- rosemary and lavendar and set them in an artful arrangement. Now it looks great and is just waiting for Mason to work his magic.

Speaking of magic, we went to another Kids and Kin on Sunday. This one was even less formal than the last. It was an Earth Day celebration, which involved a walk over to a nearby park with the intention of picking up trash. We did that, although mostly Mason picked dandilions, violets, and pinecones. There wasn't a lot of trash, actually. I did find an abandoned fisbee. The "ritual" half consisted of play on the playground, which Mason opted out of. Not the most organized of the events, so far, but it's still a place where Mason can talk about the goddess and not have to explain what he means. That's something for now. Plus, next time is going to be Beltane/May Day, and we even have an extra meeting because Kids and Kin are in charge of making centerpieces for Sacred Path's Beltane pancake breakfast or something (I'm so not a part of this community, I have no idea. But, hey, I'm getting more involved!)

I feel like a lot more happened, but that's basically everything I can remember. I'm going to try to be more regular, but with the sun calling to me and gardening to do.....

I don't know if you noticed, but it's Monday. I woke up in a foul mood today, and was very snippy with my family. I'd blame the weather, but I actually like cold, rainy, dark days and God/dess knows we need the moisture. Though the weather might have a little to do with it because for the first time in a long, long time the sound of thunder woke me up last night. At first I didn't know what it was, then it rolled again and I was like, "Oh, okay, nothing fell. It's just a boom of thunder." I slept rather fitfully, and Mason called for "snugoooos" (snuggles) not long after.

Despite the dreariness, I went outside this morning and dug up the spot for Mason's garden. I know it's late in the season, but Mason really wants to try a Victory garden this year. He's got a number of veggie seeds: corn, peas, beans, carrots and tomatoes (which I doubt we'll plant, because no one in this entire house LIKES tomatoes and it's FAR too late to expect them to grow.) And some flowers: zinnias and sunflowers. Anyway, the ground can wait for him and the weather now, as I put some garden fabric over the top to keep the weeds mostly out.

My big plans for the day is to make some tea and strain the soup stock I made from the left over chicken bits from last night's impromptu feast. We'd planned to make a whole chicken, but to it I added brussel sprouts with almonds, mashed potatoes, homemade french bread, and lots of gravy. I also made a fresh cherry pie, although I have to say that apparently Betty Crocker really likes cherry pie to taste like merischino (sp?) cherries. Not my favorite, but not too bad hot from the oven with enough cool whip.

Oh, and I'll be writing, too. I got the first chapter of Tate's young adult novel done, though I think it's lacking one scene, which I'm going to put in today. Then it's on to chapter two and hopefully some Mouse later today. Fingers crossed. I think some tea will help get me in the mood on this dark day.

Also, Mason is off on a field trip without me (gasp!). They're going to the planetarium today. Should be fun. I can't wait to hear all about it.

I skipped working out today in order to continue working on the gardens. We have this nasty tangle at the side of our house which I spent much of this morning taming. I discovered a couple of volunteer bleeding hearts (not the showy old-fashioned ones, but the other fern-like ones) that I moved around. I also added more of my mother's day lillies here and there, filling in the empty spots made when I removed several ginormous trees that I some how never noticed growing right next to the house's foundation.

Today I realized why I suck at gardening (for the most part). I don't like to pull ANYTHING, especially if it's, well, green and growing. And, really, to have a half decent-looking garden you have to be fairly merciless, even with "good" plants (as opposed to obvious weeds) when they jump their assigned areas. I sublimated by uprooting plants and moving them around, like the volunteer bleeding hearts and a couple of hostas (which are, at least, fairly indestructable.)

I'm also watering the beejeezus out of the yard, which was a bit like working in dust, despite the bit of spit we got from the sky yesterday.

Now I plan to work on Mouse. I should probably be starting on Tate's new YA project, except I'm not entirely sure if I'm supposed to be writing that in first person or third. I've got an e-mail into my editor, but she's on vacation until next week. I figured that was a sign that I should work on the prequel.

Ms. Ball is sitting on my lap, purring. I think she's worried about me, and figures when I come in from gardening I might be sad. I'm okay, puss. Today was a GOOD day. The sun is shining, and, despite the dryness, it's hard not to appreciate that. I could easily have spent the day puttering about in the garden (and god/dess knows it could use the work!) But I figured it was time for lunch and some writing.

Speaking of which, I just signed and sent back the contract to the Biblical horror anthology that bought "Jawbone of an Ass," my re-telling of the Samson story from the point of view of his first wife (not Delilah.) The anthology is currently being called She Nailed a Stake Throug His Head, which I think is very nicely evocative, though I always liked the line in the Bible where "he tied his ass to a tree and fell on his face." But I guess I just like the word ass.

Hope you all are well. I'm planning on finally heading out tonight to see "Star Trek" with Shawn. I've hired the babysitter and everything.

Too nice outside to blog... imagine me knee-deep in dirt in my overgrown with weeds backyard, digging in the dirt and planting the hundred dollars worth of plants (about six) that I bought at Highland Nursery.  Mason is playing with the garden hose getting wet and muddy and giggling every time water splashes him (which is often.)