Flat Out

(What else is new?) This has been one of those weeks, and I've not had a moment to sit, let alone sit and say hi here. Started Sunday afternoon dropping off the truck for service (all day Monday), continued with Staff Appreciation at school (I'm the committee chair), a lunch meeting with the Student Council, an unplanned doc visit to check out that tick, then a hike (mile and a half) to get the truck again.

Tuesday I was at preschool until noon, then spent the afternoon cleaning out the grills and filters of the A/C in prep for the 85º+ we've had the past few days. Chauffeur back and forth to Taekwondo, and a 2 hour transition meeting at the middle school. Yesterday, my mid-week break day (usually) was not. Staff Appreciation breakfast had me at the bakery at 6:30 to pick up the food for the 7:00 buffet. Set that up, then get to work for my 3 hour volunteer stint (I do enjoy it) cataloguing books in the library. Home, lunch, then a 6 hour shift at the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory as a fundraising effort for the middle school end-of-year trip. We actually spent those hours packing PajamaGrams. Had to miss the PTO meeting. Darn (not.)

Today I've already watered the garden and walked the 2 1/2 mile round-trip to drop off the water bill. Serves 2 purposes - the water doesn't get shut off, AND I get my exercise for the day. Plus, there's not going to be another 1/2 hour today to do it. I've got cleanup at school (returning the coffee urns and serving dishes to the bakery, putting tables and chairs back where they belong... then Daniel's got a haircut at 10:00. Simon's got Blue Belt testing at 6:30, Tori's got Girl Scouts, and Scott's got meetings so I'm it.

Tomorrow's looking promising - I only have to bake 3 dozen cupcakes and a decorated cake for the Children's Fair Saturday. Oh, and help set up Friday night. Saturday I get to sit on a teeny little chair and plant pansies with 4 year olds for 5 hours. Can't wait!

I want to expand on a couple of this week's adventures. That Student Council meeting. Our 6th graders have come up with a fabulous idea - they just need some help executing it. Every year, our tiny town hosts the state's largest Memorial Day parade. People come from all over - thousands of them. These 6 kids are going to push shopping carts along the entire parade route to collect donations for the local Emergency Food Shelf. They're so excited about this and their staf advisor and I are doing as much as we can to let THEM do as much of it as they can - all it takes is some guidance and homework on our part to let them. They're great kids - I hope they collect a ton!

And the PajamaGrams. What fun! Because we have to check for accuracy, we occasionally have to read the enclosure cards sent along with the order. Just let me say that a) a Satin Chemise and fleece slippers is a really weird combination b) flannel pajamas are not going to get much wear in Michigan between now and, oh, November, c) Jackie? Jill loves you VERY much (yours was probably the biggest order I packed) and d) I really don't think calling your mother SugarNipples is appropriate. Yanno?