Visit the kelpforest....

Yesterday was our 13th anniversary. Given the year we've been having, that's probably appropriate. Anyhow, it was pretty low key, given that we are broke until payday. The last thing I bought was my bus pass and while I was at the grocery store getting it, my gaze fell upon these silly little figures with a tillandsia glued on the side in the plant section. The figure I spied was a pair of blue rainforest frogs, and they struck me as looking like a fat, middle-aged couple, leaning on each other and holding each other up. Perfect. A whole $4. I've never given John a plant before; although he's been know to give his mother a cactus for gifting occasions ("Because you're prickly, and you're a thorn in my side!"). I didn't give it to him until this morning, because he confessed to not having gotten me anything either, and didn't want me to. However, the little plant was getting squished in my purse, so I gave it to him anyway, and it made him laugh.

I wasn't really expecting anything, but actually, I was kind of wondering if he'd gotten me a camera or something. My great aunt's estate sent me $800 last month, apparently the last bit left after all the taxes and all had been paid, and I told John we needed to put it aside and not spend it, so we could put it toward the trip he wants to take later this summer. It seems to be gone already, and I have no clue where it went. I know I havn't really made any big purchases, and neither has he, that I know of. And I'm quite sure we didn't spring for pizza that often. I mentioned this to VT on our walk at lunch and she offered to send me a spreadsheet she uses for a family budget - not that they always stick to it but it helps. Something we should have started a long time ago, I know - I'll try to put it to use.

Anyway, when I got home, the house was empty, except for Dad, who said "Happy Anniversary!" and explained that he'd sprung for Chinese take-out. When John got back with our regular orders, he laughed and told me the woman at the counter is always happy to see us and remarks on how the kids have grown, but her husband in the kitchen gets cranky, because he knows he's gonna have to cook something; most of their customers just seem to order off the steam table - but I like to order something off the menu, usually mu shu. So she yells into the kitchen and he yells back. We don't know Chinese, but it sure sounds like he's swearing.

So, thirteen years. Where has the time gone?

So today was runsamuck and I's 13th anniversary; I can't believe it's been this long, but with the year that's just past I can believe it was the 13th. Anyway, we are broke, so we are putting off any celebrations until payday (I like my job, but it kind of sucks to only get paid once a month). Anyway, I wasn't going to get a present, but I saw this at the grocery store and thought it would be a good token; they reminded me of us - fat, middle-aged and leaning on each other heavily. ;)

(And I'm getting increasingly frustrated with the lack of a manual focus on my camera. grr.)

Home
Huntington Beach CA
Sharp VE-CG30
20 May 2008

Angus is nine today! Where has the time gone?

We're having a birthday party on Sunday, so we just had a small cake today.

My youngest turns five today.


(click for bigger image)

She starts kindergarten in a few weeks.

When I started this journal, she was still nursing. Where the hell has the time gone?

For a challenge by megthelegend - who added me out of the blue a few months ago, and I'm ever so glad she did... :) I know this was due the week after you issued it, but it rapidly got out of hand and threatened to become novel-sized. I'm sorry it took me so long...

Meg sez...

senoritafish wants a non-(fiction)writer DARE.

I would love to hear about the birth of your kids. ::g:: I'm a sucker for a kiddie story, especially when it involves something that traumatic and amazing!!! Don't mention the actual labours if you don't want to, but I would love to hear, please, about the buildup and anticipation, about how the household adjusted each time.

OK, you asked for it. Actually I was planning to eventually post about this at some point. I'll try not to get too graphic, but there may be some TMI, and/or bodily fluids.

(  #1 - Nematode's Story... )

This one probably one won't be nearly as long. I'm a bit less clear on the details...
( #2 - Tardigrade's Story... )

This was the most recent- You'd think I could remember more. Then again, maybe you wish I remembered less! ;p
( #3 - Copepod's Story )

( Further Adjustments... )

John just called, and told me Avalon just walked three steps all by herself. Sometimes I hate being at work. Grrr!

Then again, I think my sanity would suffer greatly.

Today is Avalon's 1st birthday. I can't believe it's been an entire year already! I had five dollars to my name so I went to 99¢ Only store at lunch. I found a set of stacking cups, a little bath scrubby with a terrycloth crab (pink), a board book, a set of rubber duckies, and a gift bag to put it in, all for $4.80. Not bad. I wish I didn't have to be so cheap, but after all, she doesn't really realize it's her birthday anyway. First birthday parties are mainly for adults. The kids are just happy to be around all their special people.

Her grandma is springing for dinner at the Ruby's (a fifties-style diner) in Seal Beach tonight after work. Coincidentally (or maybe not), it's Ruby's 20th anniversary, so they are having 82¢ burgers; not that I'm saying John's mom cheap too, but there it is. It'll be fun to sit in a restaurant at the end of the pier and watch people catch fish while we eat.

The pump gets put away tonight. Bye-bye forever. I guess I should just pitch it, but I can't quite bring myself too. Maybe in 50 years it will be an priceless heirloom on a future version of Antiques Roadshow - ("Can you believe people used to use these things?")

Soon she won't be a baby any more, my last one. I know now why my mother always gushed over babies; not that I do, but I understand. I get pangs every time I look at her. Not as physically painful as a year ago today, but as filled with regret that one stage will soon be ending, and with welcome that another is starting.