Going Insane

It was really just one of those days. Between trying to keep up with everything at work, and Issac having a doctor's appointment (read 1/3 of my day gone) and then trying to figure out how claims forms work to get money out of my flexible spending account, and then add the fact that with the heat index it was close to 107 degrees outside and I don't have AC and the steering wheel was searing my hands, I had a headache the size of, oh, say, Mt. Fuji. This is not to imply that the pounding in my head would not grow into something more everest-like as the day progressed.

A co-worker leaned against my car, kicked the wheels, and pointed out that the tires are bald. Great.

Issac has been a grouch all week ever since I've been leaving him with Moji inthe mornings. He tells me that he doesn't like her, and when I leave, he kicks and screams and cries for hours (literally). He's been that stubborn lately. I drive off in the morning like a kettle already beginning to steam. I already feel guilty about leaving him this weekend for some much needed R&R, while another part of my being sighs with relief to be gone.

But mostly I feel guilty.

I had a beer when I came home to help me relax, and for about an hour it did the trick. I was happily bobbing along, congratulating myself for throwing dinner together so effectively. But when I came inside to make our plates, my organic green beans that I spent all that time cleaning and washing were smoking in the pan (I left it on high) and the potatoes in the steamer smelled (and tasted) like char. And the pot is black and ruined. Long, sad face. Sigh. So we quickly cooked some veggie sausages to eat with our rice and salad. And then the boys argued and screamed over who gets to sing the blessing while I put my head in my hands and tried to decide if I was laughing or crying. It was nine-thirty before I gave up hope of putting Issac to bed in a happy, sweet, June Cleaveresque way and barricaded his door with my roommate's moving boxes, letting him cry himself to sleep as he pounded the door with his fists and promised (lied?) "I'll be nice now Mommy! MOOOOMMMMMMMYYYYYY! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA (sobs, inconceivable noises, choking on snot, shrill, piercing schrieks).

You know, one of those days.

Danny on the big bass, or, as Issac calls it, the "really big huge guitar!" There were lots of good pickers there, and my fingers still hurt from jamming. 

Another Florida palm tree, and Issac. 

What a cheese-ball! 

What a big boy! Are you gonna jump? 

Self-picture. 

Goofing off... 

The beggining of the "run" to the river. You can float on your back and let the current carry you along... 

Swimming down the run with Izzey on my back...just fifty yards or so to the river. 

Here is where the run meets the river.  

Issac enjoyed playing on the sandbar near the river. The water turns brown here due to the tannic acid that leaches from the roots of the trees. 

A palm tree grows where the spring meets the river. 

The cabin was just up the hill..the water was 72 degrees! 

Blame It On the Bossnova

I title this post such because it was my favorite song played by the musicians who accompanied us to the beautiful little secret spring deep in the Ocala National Forest. Included is a picture of Annie's bass, which made the song a real hit. We all danced on the porch, shaking our hips, holding glasses of wine, singing "Blame it on the bossanova, and its magic spell...blame it on the bossanova, that we did so well..."

What a sweet time!! Enjoy the pics, which were taken with my cheapo camera, but even so, capture the real beauty of natural Florida.

Oh yeah, I have a story to tell. Issac and I went on a canoe trip up the river, which was a little difficult because the current is strong. Even so, we managed to manuever pretty well. We made it around three or four bends when we came upon, I kid you knot, a dead alligator. At first I thought it was a log in the water, but as we got closer, I saw that this "log" had four webbed feet sticking up in the air. Then I saw a tail. And this was not a small gator--it was, minus the tail, four or five feet. I did not get any closer, or else I would have noticed that this alligator was missing its head. I was pretty sure it was not sunning itself, but just for the sake of safety I quickly hightailed it back to the cabin. Yikes!

Everyone at the cabin thought I was telling a tall-tale, trying to pull someone's leg. My brother and some boys checked it out and confirmed that it was dead by poking it with their paddles. Yuck. They confirmed that it was missing a head.

How does a gator end up dead, missing a head? Poachers? Bigger alligators? Hmmm. Anyways, it was interesting. It's not everyday that you come upon four webbed feet sticking up out of the river.

Life's Been Catching Up With Me


1. Bathroom Etiquette: In the bathrooms at work, someone has posted signs in all of the stalls that say "PLEASE DO NOT FLUSH WITH YOUR FOOT." This strikes me as absurd, because it is absolutely female protocol to flush with your foot. I've been trying to decide who put the signs up there--I think it was the secretary, because she strikes me as somewhat anal retentive and possibly a germaphobe. Hey--I'm a germaphobe, too, when it comes to bathrooms. That's why I ALWAYS use my foot. Sorry lady. I can't stop.

2. Fancy Lunches On the Company: We have been wining and dining a lot of "sponsors" to try to court their business. Yesterday our waitress was an old friend from high school. I looked a lot more important than I was. It was kind of weird, considering just a month ago I was basically unemployed.

3. Orphans In The Ukraine: My roomate brought home a brochure about helping kids in orphanages. They have a penpal program for the 340 children, age 7-18, who are in the orphanage because their parents have abused them or abandoned them. The Ukraine has over 30,000 orphans. Hannah (my cousin who is living with me and babysitting Issac this summer) and I called, and two days later the director sent us our first letters. Russian handwriting is so cool looking! I'm mentoring a 15 year old girl, and thinking about learning Russian. My heart is stolen already.

4. Consumption: Work can easily become addictive. I am interested in what I do, so I find myself bringing work home, and reading reports on industry trends, when I should be just relaxing at home, writing, or enjoying some of my other hobbies.

5. New Song Idea: There's a really great song idea that's been burning me up. I haven't even taken down the guitar in over a month, but I've got to find some music for a song about my dream hippie guy. Me and my roommate were working on some lyrics yesterday, and it's going to be great.

6. Fun Weekend: I'm going camping with my little brother in the Ocala National Forest. We're going to be canoeing (sp?) down Juniper Run, which is a very shallow, clear, canopied "creek" that connects with the St. John's River, which is the only other river in the world besides the Nile that runs North. I suppose there will be some beer drinking and guitar playing as well.

7. Sorry Friends: I haven't seen any of my friends in over a month. I'm telling you, life is crazy now. I miss you all.