Supersize

When did everything in my life become supersized? I spend more time at Costco than ever, where I purchase nearly everything necessary to run my home in institutional sized packages. Yet, somehow, I seem to run out of the same stuff in the same amounts of time, which means I'm also spending supersize. My stress is supersize. With two kids recently diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, and one having behavioral issues at school and at home, I could easily resort to a liquid diet. And I'm not talking about Slim-Fast. Add to that a husband who is rarely home, and when he is, he's working on his 1970 Karmann Ghia (that old German girl is more high maintenance than any lady you've ever met), or watching every episode of Top Gear ever recorded. It's spring, and the Christmas lights are still up. The laundry room has remained unfinished since my older daughter was three. There were no other children then...now there are four. That was NINE years ago. The windows are unfinished from two years ago. Several rooms need to be painted (including the two supersized messes-Cameron's and the boys' room), the porch needs to be stained. The siding needs to be replaced, but that is a supersized battle. My husband wants to use some old siding (he swears it will match) that he found in his grandmother's garage to cover the section that's been lacking for nine years. I want new siding. Yes, it's a considerable expense, but one that would make a phenomenal difference for our house. I'd say a supersized difference, but I'm getting tired of that word. You get the picture. I need to somehow simplify, get stuff done, and relax. How does life fly by so fast?

Archives-Hot in the City 7/9/2007

July 9, 2007

So, yesterday we went to the zoo, as G's place of employment had their regional picnic there. It was so very, very hot. While we were sitting beneath a tent, which was in the shade of those huge old trees, and the breeze was blowing, and we were not moving a muscle, it wasn't too bad. Otherwise it was pretty relentless. I'm pretty sure Baltimore City was 10 degrees hotter than my home here in the 'burbs. We missed some of the animals, at least I think we did...but it was so hot (and we'd had enough fun) that I really didn't care when 4:00 came. I miss the old Baltimore Zoo with the victorian iron cages and quaint feel. I understand that it's now on lease to the state, so it's now the Maryland Zoo at Baltimore, and the state has invested millions in the overhaul and upgrade of the zoo, creating habitats rather than just cages. That's a nice idea for the well-being of the animals, but I do miss the cages. Let's face it, a zoo is hardly animal friendly. They're still wild animals, taken out of their natural habitats and kept in captivity unnaturally. Some are born there, yes, but still...I just miss the cages.
Anyway...we stopped by my mom's on the way home and ate more cookout food, which was so fabulous. We went swimming and had more mojitos. I think that because I was so dehydrated from the 100-degree heat, the mojitos really packed a punch. I only had three, but it felt like six. Then we went cruisin'. I drove the Bus (as in, VW, 1973) with the boys, and G drove the Karmann Ghia with Cam. My stepfather & mom drove his '64 Fairlane, and we all went to Bruster's for ice cream. I was a good girl and got the [slightly better for you] frozen yogurt, but caved and got the peanut butter & hot fudge toppings. That has to be my favorite thing in the world. I don't know if I'll ever get used to the European pedals in the Bus, which push straight down instead of back. G joked that I nearly ran him down, coming up the driveway. G converted that Bus from automatic to manual, God knows why...and the gears have been ever elusive. Not to mention that reverse is down-left-back. That and the need to toe-heel it, so that it won't stall at low speeds (so that you can have feet on clutch, brake and gas all at the same time), and the "Volkswagen supplemental braking system"...which is the chock you put behind the tires to keep it in the driveway. We thought it was strong enough to stay, at one point, until the across-the-street neighbor came over to tell us that she had rolled down the drive and across the road to his house, possibly into oncoming traffic. She is Herbie's big brother, you know.
Well, time to see about building another lasagna. I don't feel like making my own sauce this time, nor do I have the time. I do, however, feel like making fresh garlic bread. Mmmm.
Have a good week.