This week kicked my ass.
Between turning 40 on Saturday, losing power on Sunday - for 100 hours, running my home on generator power - which meant that we couldn't leave, trying to entertain 4, 21st century children without tv, computer or electronic games, and actually trying to WORK, I'm completely frazzled.
I retreated to the beach house today. Oh, I couldn't actually enjoy the beach because I was working but there was electricity, a strong wifi signal and ice cold Diet Coke. What more could a girl ask for.
Lunch?
Oh. I forgot lunch.
Luckily there was a bucket of animal crackers and a tube of Ritz crackers in the cabinet.
I emailed my boss, "I'm taking tomorrow off. It's been a LONG week."
"Good idea." he said. He's smart like that.
Then my husband showed up with the kids. The waves were huge. He lost my daughter on the beach. To be fair - she wrapped herself in a towel so she was a different "color" - but she was standing 10 feet away from him. When I heard him frantically calling her name I looked out the door and saw her right away. "She's right there." I pointed. He felt silly but it took a while for the adrenaline to leave him. I hate those moments.
Then my husband took the boys to their first football scrimmage. The LOVED it.
The girls and I? Oh we decided to take a little ride into Boston. We have a condo there and the old tenants were moving out and the new tenants are moving in tomorrow and we had to let the cleaning lady in. Do you know why they were moving today? Because EVERYONE in Boston moves on September first. That's what happens when 72% of a major city's population are college students.
It took 2.5 hours to make the 45 minute trip but we didn't really care because we were rocking out to Beyonce and Taylor Swift.
Everyone around us appreciated the show - at least that's what I choose to believe.
When we were done in the city it was past dinnertime and I offered to buy the girls pizza but they insisted on McDonald's so I made them wait until we got back to the suburbs. The timing was perfect and we managed to rendezvous with the boys for dinner at McD's after their game.
We came home and the house was dark - we had left so early that we'd forgotten to turn the lights on. I was SO Happy when I flipped the switch and the lights came on - in every room!
The kids were so tired they showered and crashed and I only read them one story.
Tomorrow we are going back to the beach and I am going to body surf with my children and dig my claws into summer and hold onto it for dear life.
Thank you all for bearing with me this week.
yes its been a crazy week without the power, we didnt have it for like 3 days and it was hard to not have even the simple things like hot water. glad you had the beach to retreat too and your going back to take time for you and your family to relax. is the beach far from where you are? thanks for being amazing!
Posted by: christa pepin | September 02, 2011 at 09:06 AM
Well I can't speak for not having power, it has been a crazy week. I love the "He's smart like that" comment. Cracks me up. Love your blog.
Posted by: SpokaneHomeGuy | September 02, 2011 at 09:42 AM
Oh man. Sounds like a nice end to the insane week though. And yes. Wringing the last bit of summer out of the next few days here too. See you tonight at #wineparty!
Posted by: Kimberly | September 02, 2011 at 11:37 AM
Sooo happy you have power once again. That is my definition of hell, no power and the kiddo do not mix well. Take it easy and hold onto summer for me too, woke up this morning to fog and 39 degrees.
Posted by: Montanamama | September 02, 2011 at 12:46 PM
Thank YOU for being so dedicated to posting during such a challenging week!
Posted by: Lucinda | September 02, 2011 at 08:30 PM
I'm glad you weren't swept away by Irene and that you got power back. It must have been exhausting dealing with that! But thank God the Diet Coke was cold and available at your beach house. LOL
Posted by: Shan @ Last Shreds Of Sanity | September 03, 2011 at 03:26 PM
I don't live in a city at all, but the two closest towns here are also college towns, and even oral sex wouldn't convince me to brave those messes during the last week of August.
Posted by: Tea | September 05, 2011 at 06:45 PM
I agree. Power interruptions can be very frustrating especially when you have work to do.
Posted by: new homes | January 19, 2012 at 11:06 PM