glargh!

[stoney321]

I have a MILLION things I want to talk about/ask/etc. and absolutely no time to do it. I've missed birthdays (Szandara, my lovely MARI, aka dusty273 - ACK!) and I'm supposed to meet another stroller jogger in fifteen minutes, then my INLAWS to help them plan a new garden (oh, god - if no one hears from me by this afternoon, the MIL has killed and eaten me) and then I have to research summer activities because I suck and have JUST REALIZED my children will be out of school as of FRIDAY.

Also- my head is swimming with tales of college, courtesy of Floweringjudas (see? I don't even have time for HTML!), which will give me laughs all day long. And I'm making NOTE CARDS for my panel at WriterCon - Bringing the Funny: EVERYONE COME, omg!! because I am so excited to talk about FUNNY WRITING and may be overdoing it, eep.

GAAAAAAAAH!! (chicken + head cut off = me) Comment with a soothing story to CALM ME DOWN, OMG. Or something funny so I get super amped and EXPLODE. That may be better for mankind at this point.... *bounces*

(also: Darthanne killed and BROUGHT HOME a jackrabbit. THANKS. Now I have to bleach my back porch. EWWWWWW. Not bunny, JACKRABBIT. Holy crap.)

Comments

[elcazavampiros.livejournal.com]

You have the killingest cats I have ever seen. A JACKRABBIT?!?!?! Damn.

Rascal has been all about the kill lately. There was a birds nest on our fence with three baby birds in it. One fell out and Rascal grabbed it. I was able to get it free and it seemed to be doing fine, but Mama Bird attacked us both. There's another bird who is without fear. He uses Rascal's water dish and watches Rascal, who is in his hunting stance, the whole time. He hasn't been caught yet, but I have had to clean up three dead birds in the last month.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

THE KILLINGEST. She is named Darthanne for a REASON. Yipes.

Rascal!! Noooooo! *loves Rascal, all the same*

[ladycat777.livejournal.com]

A little ball of fluff perched on Dawn's knee, curled up into a tight black ball. Dawn was holding unnaturally still, focused on the book balanced on her other thigh -- but her eyes kept flickering. A few words, then a glance, then another few words. Then a glance.

"Sweetie?"

Dawn very carefully did not jerk at the sound of Tara's voice. "Hi." Her eyes were still red-rimmed, a permanent feature by now, her nose flushed from blowing it too often. She'd lost a little of the pasty color, though, pink riding high in her cheeks as her gaze slipped back down to her left knee.

"What're you reading?" Tara moved carefully, not wanting to bump either occupant of the bed; the aging mattress jostled easily. "Is that homework?"

"Willow gave it to me. It's a book on meditation."

That explained the lotus position she'd folded her flexible body into, at least. Tara tried not to be jealous. "That's good. Meditation can be really helpful, Dawnie."

Dawn nodded, more the suggestion of the motion so not to shake her body too much. "She's so warm," she said, faintly like she wasn't aware that she was speaking aloud. "And her heart beats so fast."

Tara smiled and folded her hands in her lap. Miss Kitty loved being petted, of course, but Tara didn't want to do anything to disturb her. She'd been trying to get her to go to Dawn for a week, now - the one real downside to cats as opposed to dogs who would've sensed Dawn's sadness and gone to her unprompted - and she wasn't going to risk destroying this tableau.

"She's still little," Tara said. "Just a baby, really. She won't be a year old for, um, another month."

"Can we have a party for her?" Food had become something Dawn only flirted with, her face losing the plump curve of baby fat, thinning into something older, more somber. But right then, she looked as young as Miss Kitty Fantastico, an innocent who wanted only to be reassured.

Carefully, Tara reached out to stroke Dawn's hair, starting at her forehead the way she'd seen Buffy do, once upon a memory. "Definitely a party."

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

*sniffles* For me?!

*squish*

I love how motherly Tara is when you write her. So hugable and loving and trusting, and it makes me feel oodles better. Lovely. Thank you, my sweet!

[ladycat777.livejournal.com]

Is for you, love although, okay, I cleaned it up and reposted it so it's better, but yes, still for you

*love you liek whoa*

[cherusha.livejournal.com]

For a moment I thought Darthanne was you MIL. Stoney, I thought your MIL killed and brought home a jackrabbit -- presumably so you could cook it for her.




Okay, I go put paper bag over my head again.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

AHAHAHAHAHA!!!

My MIL wouldn't be able to kill me with physical means. She'd whine and complain and fret until I hung myself. :D

Heeee! *makes you tea*

[crazydiamondsue.livejournal.com]

Darthanne is strong with the power of the Sith! Your mother-in-law is almost so, as well, I think.

I was in a great mood, and now I'm crashing a bit. Oh, well. Not bad mood, I've just come down from the endless SQUEE!!! But yay - note cards. Ooo, you could do flashcards and I could answer them. "Donkey Punch" and the like. Hahahhahaa! Ahem. Yes. We're serious humor writers. No monkeying around.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

GAH. MIL rode in the backseat with Em (so I could navigate with FIL) and she GASPS every time he changes lanes, or cries out, "Watch out, -FIL-! A ___ on the ___!" With FEAR. All the time fear.

FUCK!! We are NOT GOING TO DIE, unless you don't SHUT UP and let him CONCENTRATE on driving!!

Ahem. Sorry. :D

[crayonbreakygal.livejournal.com]

Will MIL bury you in her backyard? hehehe We'll pray for your safety.

Ewwww. Jackrabbit? Bad kitty. Yuck. *hands you a scrub brush*

The kids will be out on Friday? You poor soul. We still have a few more weeks. Then older son, teenager, will be at home with me most of the summer. I may just have to lock him up in his room if he drives me crazy.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I am not dead! I didn't commit suicide after being in her presence!

What is the DEAL with this early release?!?! Let them go through June, then start up after Labor Day! (I think they're going to move back to that next year, whew!)

[anelith.livejournal.com]

How big is Darthanne again?

*imagines Maine coon cat size*

Your kids are going to be out of school THIS FRIDAY?! Oh lord. I have a few more weeks of grace. What are you thinking, for summer activities? We've signed them up for a week of science camp in August, and of course July is swim/tennis lessons.

I don't know about soothing, but Nathan lost his first tooth last night. Well, we had to help it along because it was really bothering him, so we employed a wet washcloth to pull it out. He's very concerned about the Tooth Fairy. He wants to know what she does with the teeth. I think we may have to 'fess up about the whole gig, because he keeps asking about whether the Tooth Fairy is actually a real fairy, then he answers his own question by saying that he thinks maybe not, that it's probably a person. I think it might worry him to imagine an unknown person sneaking into our house at night. It would worry me.

Such a contrast in our two kids. Evan didn't ask any questions about the Tooth Fairy, he just was interested in the money. I think he's known all along that it was us. Very sharp and pragmatic, that's my eldest. Nathan is far more imaginative and empathetic.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Darthanne is TINY. Like, she was obviously the runt of a stray cat's litter, and never got very big. Like... a bit bigger than a Chihuahua. And she has a murderous raging FIRE within that must be sated! WOW.

Tooth Fairy! We finally gave up and just give the kids money, without the pretense. Mostly because I kept forgetting to "play TF." Because I suck at motherhood.

As for Summer stuff... tennis, swimming, golf for the boy, Invention Camp in July, which should be fun, and LOTS and LOTS of trips to the library and pool. And "quiet, in your room alone" time so mommy doesn't go on a murderous Darthanne-esque killing spree. :D

[anelith.livejournal.com]

OK, so you're saying... Darthanne is a demon?

Invention Camp! I saw on the list of possible summer camps something called Club Invention, run by a national program with a web site at www.campinvention.org. Is that the same one? We were aaaalmost ready to sign them up for that one, but the other one is about dinosaurs, so we kind of had to go with it.

But if you recommend Invention Camp, we definitely will keep it in mind for next summer.

"Quiet, in your room alone time" -- sounds fantastic to me.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Yes! Camp Invention! We've also done "Kidz Science" which was a MONSTER hit. Dinosaur camp! NICE.

Honestly, I hate a lot of planned activities in the summer. I suck. I'm a big believer in kids having a lot of downtime in the summer months. We have friends who are NEVER HOME during the day. Class after class after class... I feel terrible for their kids! They never get to just hang out and lay around and dream and talk and be little. (Not to say you are doing that at all. You know what I'm talking about, I'm sure.)

And yes, Darthanne may very well be otherworldy. (She climbed our 8 foot security fence with it in her JAWS. Then laid under the trampoline and went to town. Ewwwww.)

[anelith.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I hate a lot of planned activities in the summer.

AGREED. I *do* know what you're talking about. This dinosaur camp, which is one week long, is the only thing we really have planned. The pool club has the swim and tennis lessons twice a week during July, but we may not make all of those. They are "free" with membership. Since the kids like them we'll probably go to most of them. We hang out at the pool most of the day on lesson days.

I hate not being able to schedule playdates with my kids' friends during the summer because their friends are so overscheduled. Or they go away to the Cape for an entire summer. Nice if you can do that!

I have a "nanny" scheduled to take the kids for 5 hours on Fridays this summer so I can get my one day of work in per week. She's going to probably take the kids to the pool or whatever they want.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Ooooh. Good idea with the "nanny." We call those "mother's helpers" and tend to be girls old enough to be good with kids, but maybe not old enough to watch your kids without an adult? Like 11 - 13?

We are three blocks from the pool, so we walk there and hang out A LOT in the summer. Tennis is a few blocks further, and it's a two-week class, then opened to "graduates" in a block. Golf is a weekend activity with dad at Hank Haney. Otherwise, books, trampoline, kids on the street that happen to be home.

Oh, and Cartoon Network. :D

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Oh, one last thing: if you think of it, check out Lynn Miles' CD, Love Sweet Love. I think you'd really like her. Clear, sweet voice, a little folksy, little country-ish.

:*

[ravenwings-7.livejournal.com]

Sorry about your back porch, but as I am surrounded by masses of wild rabbits that destroy gardens, I say Hooray for the Kill-Cat of Doom. Although, at least my kitty has the manners to store his leftovers under the porch.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

No, no, let me be clear. I Loooooooove my evil cat. I'm a gardener, and enjoy my plants more than I feel they need to nibble on them.

Just... nothing like finding entrails at your back door first thing, is all. Bleh. (I know she's telling me she loves me, but glech.) :D

[ravenwings-7.livejournal.com]

I never doubted that you loved your kitty. I figure if you were bothered by the death of a ferocious, garden-nibbling fiend, then you would have said something to the effect of "ooh, poor bunny" instead of pointing out it was a hare and now you need to remove bloodstains. Perhaps I should have used some sort of cheerful emoticon... :D

Though, entrails? Eww. Here's hoping you didn't step in them.

[zyrya]

It's 07.20 here and I'm all bleary and checking my flist before a conference with the bricklayers and breakfast. I'm nowhere near up to speed for your glarghing torrent! Half my brain is still in my still-warm, flannel-sheeted bed, all soft and toasty and dark.

School holidays start this week? Holy cow! When do they go back? When I was in school in the US we broke up near the end of June, not May!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

*sends some of our very, very hot weather your way*

This new school district we're in breaks at the end of May, then starts back up in AUGUST. Unholy. Enough people have raised a ruckus, the new year will begin after Labor Day (first of September) and close in June, mid-to-late. Which is AS IT SHOULD BE!

*refreshes your coffee*

[slackerace.livejournal.com]

Seeing you on a panel at Writercon is reason enough to attend, that's for sure!

I'll try not to snicker too loudly at the stroller-jogging as I sit on my ass eating pizza. Yummy.

p.s. My icon isn't directed at you. I just never get to use it and figured it wouldn't offend you.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Snickering at yourself, right? Snickering at yourself? :D Puh. I have a kick-ass jogging stroller! Shocks, ATV wheels, one hand steering, we ROCK the block! Hahaha!

(Of course not! I have icons I never get to use, either. *displays one*) Yay!! Can't wait to see you at WriterCon!