Our life

That’s right, Mother Nature, I’m flippin you the bird. Just like Mickey Mouse did in those old business cards you could leave on people’s windshields when they parked too close. Why, you ask? I’ll tell you! Cause you decided to tease me this morning.

WCCO let me know, at about 445 this morning, that we were under a severe thunderstorm WATCH until 9am. TWC sent me the text too. Looking at the handy dandy little graphic, I saw that our county was on the extreme North Eastern edge of it. Knowing storms down here, I figured that it would just stay south, and move on to Iowa and IL (maybe rocking the old Chicago crew). So everything looked good.

I cruised on into work, keeping an eye in my rear view mirror. Everything still looked like it would stay south. I watched as you teased me to keep my eyes North and East, showing me that sunrise, and the clouds that danced with it. Little did I know, the whole time, you were mixing up a pot of heavy weather right behind me, like a witch and her cauldron. I bet you even cackled when it all came together.

Thankfully, TWC let me know about your plan before it got there. I, in turn, called Oz to let her know. As everyone here knows, I’m a fanatic with storms. I’m sure you knew this too, which is why you hatched this plan with this sort of timing.

Listen, I’m sorry I insulted you a few years back with that St. Peter storm. Truly, I am. Can I ask a favor of you? I know its already on its way, and what’s done is done (seems you’re going to hit here too), but can you please leave my family out of this?

Turn up the volume. Flash your lights. Hell, throw some hail if you need to. But can we leave it at that? Please? I promise I won’t move to Arizona, or tease you anymore!

“rain rain go away”

Tuesday was my first day back at work. First day back after 2 days shy of 4 weeks. 24 days of which was spent with dd. Nearly every morning, for just about 2 weeks of my leave, she would hang out with me while I told you about the day before. I would drink coffee or some other caffeinated beverage. She would sleep.

Then the bama family showed up, and things were good. For another week, I would wake up as dd slept. I’d plan the day, drink coffee, say good morning to each member as they woke up and joined me, and await dd’s beckoning.

Bama family left Monday morning, and again we were 3. But alas, responsibility rears its ugly head: I had to go back to work Tuesday. I’ll be honest here: part of me was excited. I could go in when I wanted, and leave mostly when I’d like. I had a new office to set up. There were things I was looking forward to getting done. I could listen to my music at unacceptably high levels, complete with swear words and hard guitar. All that ended the second I closed the door behind me at 543 am.

I went from almost happy to fully sad in less than 5 steps (I walk fast in the mornings). But here’s the weird thing: I wasn’t sad for myself. See, I knew there were fires burning in the office, just waiting for me to put them out. I knew that, within an hour and a half, I’d be entertained. Life would be back to how it was 4 weeks ago. I knew I would be fine.

No, I was sad for c. Tuesday would be the first day that she and dd would wake up without me there to accept her overnight deliveries. The first day c would wake up without me, bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready to tell her the stories of the morning. First day without me at the house.

After a long day with a million thoughts, I raced home to my loving family. After passing Oz’s scooter and parking in the garage (backed in, outside stall), I flew inside like a child racing to the living room Christmas Morning.

“Hi hon.” *kiss* Hi (petname for me) was c’s response.

“Hi dd.” *kiss* *fart* was dd’s response.

Man its great to be home.¹

1. sorry for the lack of style today. I’m just feelin off [↩]

Hi Everyone! Wow, what a week. It flew! *sigh* The family is currently heading south on their way back home. So if you see em, say Hi! Miss em already.

I had plans to post the stories and pics of Kolacky Days. Stories like Dad entering the kolacky eating contest with our mayor, Mick McGuire… oh and this dude from Minneapolis. Or jj’s adventures in the inflatable park. Or, oh I don’t know… dd’s first Kolacky Days??

Yep, I had those plans. But then, all of the sudden, a glass of water found its way to my computer. You’ll never guess what else was on that computer… Yep, the pics. So it’ll be a couple days.

So instead, I’m just going to spend the rest of my last day off of work OAAing little dd. I’ll tell you the stories soon.

Okay okay… so it’s Sunday and I’m still writing about Friday. Sorry! I’m a little behind. My free time is measured in minutes right now. I know you’re chomping at the bit to hear about dd’s first Kolacky Days Festival, and her entry in the Kiddie Parade. I’ll tell you about that later. Right now, I’ll tell you about a southern gal and the Mall of America.

For those who don’t know yet, Minnesota is home to the Mall of America. In case you didn’t click the link to find out more, the M.O.A. is the largest shopping mall in America (in terms of physical floor space). Currently, the MOA is the 2nd largest in North America (2nd to the West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton Canada) and 17th largest in the world. Asia has been busy over the past 5 years or so.

This place is a monstrosity. From the outside, its boring. No fanfare. No bright lights. No cool vantage points. Its a box, across the street from an airport. Inside, however, is a power shopper’s paradise. Store after store after store. Over 500 stores and a boatload of restaurants. Plus, there’s the giant indoor amusement park, Camp Nickelodeon (Formerly Camp Snoopy). Shopping for the parents, distractions (incentive?) for the kids. Its also one of Minnesota’s largest tourist attractions. As such, dad and jj figured they’d like to check it out.

Now the plan was to go in, shop a tad, then check out Camp Nickelodeon. For anyone who has ever dealt with a wide eyed little gal, then you can already see where this went. We entered on the somewhat vacant (but once hopping) 4th floor, cruised down to the first floor, and started shopping. Made it 1/4 of the way around before the sounds of the park found their way to jj’s ear. That’s all it took. The rest of our stay was spent watching her eyes go from pennies to dish plates. I guess there’s something really flippin amazing about roller coasters and swings and water rides inside a mall to a gal jj’s age.

Dad was dragged around that joint for the better part of an hour and a half, and only got 2 rides in: those swings, and one of the three roller coasters.

Of course, the only pics we were able to really get were the swings. Watching jj zoom around, acting like a kid, was fantastic and telling. There is nothing as cool as seeing that childlike wonder and amazement, pure and unadulterated¹. Kids do that best, don’t they? Live. They make friends with strangers in the park, and never worry (that’s our job). I hear parents say stuff like “grow up” or “act your age”. Why? Were they not kids once too? What’s the hurry? Be amazed, right along with them.

She was a trip. We barely got the shopping done that we wanted to, but that’s okay. What lasts longer: things or memories? This whole little excursion made me realize that, one day, we will be seeing the same zest for life in the eyes of dd. She will remind us both, on a daily basis, what’s truly important in life…. living.

1. unadulterated. Think about that. “Not mingled or diluted with extraneous matter; pure.”. It is us, as adults, that complicate things. Think about that the next time your kid is doing what they do best: act like a child. [↩]