Who Put the End in Weekend?

The weekend that got away. Oh where, oh where, have my Saturdays gone? Oh where, oh where can they be?

On Friday night, we attended the annual pumpkin carving party. Food. Wine. Bonfire. Garage filled with tables upon tables of kids and adults carving pumpkins. The event is punctuated each year with our friend Brad carving a pumpkin with a chainsaw while the votes are tabulated.

Carving with a chainsaw

A few of the many pumpkins waiting to be judged

Saturday, we stood in the chilly autumn air, covered in blankets, to watch Son #2's Little League team (finally) beat their opponents. After suffering loss upon loss, it felt so good.

And Sunday, after brunch with my girlfriends, Son #2 and I hit the batting cages. I seriously should have worn batting gloves -- I never realized how much hitting a baseball hurts your hands! Ouch.

 Next time, I'm coming prepared. And I'm taking no prisoners.

Go Public (or Go Home)

On Wednesday night, I went down with the Chinchildren to our local NPR & PBS affiliate, WXXI, to watch the Chinchillas perform live for the music series OnStage. So much fun. I hadn't been in a TV studio since I went to see one of my old bosses get interviewed on Sally Jessy Raphael (remember her?). This recent taping was clearly a much more interesting experience, to say the least.

It felt so Austin City Limits-like. Groovy baby.

Photo courtesy of (aka "stolen from") the Stan the Man's Facebook page.

Fall Haikus

Autumn Romantic
A chill in the air
Jumping in a pile of leaves
Warming by the fire

Autumn Realistic
Layered in sweaters
Fall Ball in the wind and rain
Freezing my tights off

Top Chef Junior

The other night, Son #2 and I were home alone. He asked if he could make dinner for me. Of course!

Spiral noodles, butter, black olives and fresh, grated Parmesan cheese. Simple. Delicious. Love.

While I had to help carry the heavy pot of boiling water to the colander in the sink, he did the rest. He set the table, picked out his favorite drummer candle (that my girlfriend Kim brought to him from Africa) and made me close my eyes while he was "plating" my meal. Surprise! 

Swoon. It's nice to feel so loved!

Make Believe You're In a Jungle Movie

Yesterday morning, thanks to a snafu on my boss' part and a lack of communication on my part, we had a room full of clients in Atlanta at 7:00 a.m. whereas my boss thought the meeting started an hour later (i.e., she wasn't there). I apologized profusely but my client was totally cool about it. Actually, I was so mortified that I must have apologized a hundred times.

Today, I received a box full of fresh, gourmet strawberries dipped and molded into various animal shapes, along with a note that said, "We've all had an off day, here's to today being better!"

I also liked the message on the packaging (which, of course, I botched with my unpacking and my mad photography skills).

What a really, really nice and thoughtful gesture, no?!

Work Life Balance

You know you're overworked when:

1. Your son bursts into tears and tells you how much he misses you -- and you live with him
2. You meet a friend for a quick salad/glass of chardonnay at a restaurant in your hometown -- and you feel like you're on vacation 

Flickr image from John Lam

Focus

At a meeting near Ottawa on Friday, we were told by the head of HR not to use the word "focus" in front of the team because it meant something different at their company.

F* off 'cause you're stupid.

Good to know. And particularly interesting coming from HR . . .

Mother of the Year

Yesterday, feeling overwhelmed, I started sobbing at work. Later, my computer crashed. Blue screen. "Beginning dump of physical memory." Not that there's ever a good time for that but, now? Really?

Around 7:00 p.m., on the way home, as I was losing my mind, one of my favorite songs was playing on The Zone (a station I never, ever listen to but may start now): Where is my Mind? And the bumper sticker on the truck in front of me read, "Nope to Self." What exactly does that mean?

As I pulled onto my street, I noticed my mom's car pulling into my driveway. She had gone for dinner/drinks with her girlfriends and brought with her an empty travel mug. Why? To buy a cosmopolitan for me, sneak it out of the restaurant and deliver it to my doorstep at the very moment I arrived home.

Some may call that enabling. I call that love.

Thanks mom.

Crank v. Prank

Looking for a good, harmless practical joke? Put a million items for sale on Craigslist along with your neighbor's phone number.

You can thank me later. I'm too busy right now fielding phone calls about a Chevy Suburban.

Working Class Hero

According to the wrapper on my Dove chocolate miniature, I am exactly where I am supposed to be. So much for uplifting maxims. Now I'm feeling fat AND resentful.

Canned . . . what?

"Mama, do you know what my favorite part of the day is? It's right when I get in bed to go to sleep. My arms are around monkey and he feels all warm and furry. And your arms are around me and you kiss me goodnight. It the best feeling in the world.

It's the greatest thing since canned bread."