2009, Here I Come. Right Back Where I Started From.

I think y'all should be flattered to know, that this whole week while I was busy not blogging, I had a running dialogue going in my head for you. Even when I'm not here, I'm with you. Just keep that in mind next time you are writing out philanthropic checks and whatnot.

We just got back from Missouri last night. Danyo walked in and loudly exclaimed over and over to the laundry basket by the stairs and the shoe basket not far away and gently caressed the tv. I'm thinking he likes his routine and familiarity. He wasn't a spoilsport or anything, unless you call, refusing to take naps or go to sleep at night "spoilsport". He's my baby. I think it's the cutest thing in the world.

During this trip Avee got to spend time with her beloved Uncle Daybid. She cannot get enough of him, and has loved him from the first moment she met him. Bo got to spout his random facts for all who would hear. He learned about Harry S Truman during a donut run with Aunt S. She wondered if maybe she was giving him too much information as she started telling him about bombing Japan.* His dad has no such filter. Bo was of course, very interested. And quickly included Harry S Truman on his list of "things that make something way cooler than other things". For example, as we were driving out of town, "Mom, you know what's good about Missohwi?" Uh no. What? "It had Harry S Truman." And then a few minutes later, "You know what's bad about Iowa?" Yes, er, I mean, no.... "They don't have Harry S Truman."

Oh how I long for the days when my opinion of things was so simple. Somehow the words, crazy, apathetic, butt-cold, and freaking idiot driver, make more appearances in my opinions than say---Harry S Truman does.

Speaking of freaking idiot drivers, I only said that phrase 3 times this traveling escapade. I take that back. I said, it twice. One time I forgot the "freaking" and just said, "idiot". Avee corrected me though, so I was able to say it properly.

Oops.

In other news, I got to meet my friend Sarah's two little boys. She's totally getting a line in my blog because she reads my blog faithfully and still likes me. And I'm sure the faithful reading has nothing to do with a late night desk job. At all. Her boys are very cute. I was a little jealous watching her 16 month old whale on pretty much every piece of food put in front of him. Danyo refused to taste a donut hole yesterday. He's sure that if I put it in front of him, it's gross.

I drove my van once.

I actually got SORE one night from sitting so long.

I got to spend time with my friend Jiffo.

I got to hang out with an old friend, whom I haven't seen in about 15 years. Saddest part about that is, I'm old enough to have a vivid recollection of people I haven't seen in 15 years.

I went to Denny's at 3 am. Yeah AM. What is that?! S, old friend, and me---we got hungry from all the uh....talking and sitting, so we went out.

I may still be paying for that decision, but it was totally worth it.

J was incredulous when I told him about it last night. Denny's? DENNY'S!?!?! I don't know what his problem is. Does think that Ruth Chris' is open at 3 am for three half-asleep, mascara smeared, drunk-talking ladies? And DO THEY HAVE MOONS OVER MIHAMMY!?! I think not.

Perhaps he was recalling THIS. (last coupla paragraphs)

I did this drive alone because the boss at J's job made everyone work on the 2nd. A Friday. How lame is that? What could be more lame? Oh! I know! The fact that J is the boss who MADE EVERYONE WORK ON FRIDAY. Ahem. I'm done.

So, I have to say, the trip was downright manageable. Avee and Bo are great travelers. Danyo's pretty awful, but I've been around worse---so I won't complain too much. I kept him happy for one whole hour of the trip by simply holding his toes, on the foot that I could reach. Yeah, my right shoulder aches and I'll probably need reconstructive surgery or something---but he did not scream that entire hour.

The highlight of the long weekend for J was only having to clean the house once, the entire time we were gone.

The lowlight was not having me around.

I believe the two are mutually exclusive though.

As I returned home this morning from dropping Bo off at school (he wondered if he'd missed two days of school or 3---when I told him he'd been gone 2 weeks and that everyone had been gone----he was a little shocked by it all) I walked into my house that has clothes and suitcases and Costco rice bags and Christmas toys and a giant container of cheese balls and I felt mildly overwhelmed by all that needs to be done. I also felt immediately at home, and happy to be back in my routine. If you can call what I do routine. I think you'd be very hard pressed to do that, since routine implies some element of structure and typical or regular. I'm pretty much the antithesis of all three of those things.

Cheesepuff anyone?

Happy New Year!

*During one of our gas stops Bo saw an Asian man and whispered loudly, "There's a Japan man, do you think he knows it was Harry S Truman who did that?!"

And that's when it's too much information for a 5 year old.