I think it’s a sign of a good holiday when it’s time to go back to reality and you aren’t ready. That’s where I am right now. Although I can’t let Caroline know because she will smell weakness and all her lamenting about going back to school will increase a hundredfold, along with what I’m pretty sure is a faux sore throat complaint.
But it was such a nice break from everything and we had some much needed downtime to just relax and eat too many carbs and watch a whole lot of football and movies. I realize this can’t be our permanent reality because LOSERS, but it was nice while it lasted.
We spent Thanksgiving at Bops and Mimi’s house with my sister and her family and P’s mom. It was a nice way to spend the day and the weather was gorgeous so the kids were able to play outside while we all visited after lunch and let ourselves recuperate after all the various food groups we consumed. My sister and her family had just gotten back from a week long trip to Disney World and so we got to hear about that and the stomach bug she had while she was there. You know when Disney isn’t magical? When the stomach bug hits. But fortunately no one else got it and she was able to rejoin her crew after a day off in the hotel room. Better known to moms everywhere as the REAL VACATION.
Later that evening we went over to Gulley’s house to watch the A&M game and while the game outcome was less than desirable, the company was fun and the Thanksgiving leftovers at her house were superb. (Yes, I ate again Thanksgiving night. I regret nothing.)
P left for the ranch on Friday morning and I had to go record an audio thing for the trailer for the new book. Caroline didn’t care to go with me because she has discovered these things are very boring and she has to hear me talk all the time and so I dropped her off at Gulley’s house to hang out with the boys while I ran across town to my appointment. When I got back they were all happily playing outside with the puppies and Gulley was sitting at her computer doing some Christmas shopping and answering emails. I happened to have my computer with me and so I sat down next to her and we had what is best described as an unofficial office day. We answered emails, did some Black Friday shopping that didn’t involve being out in the masses, watched football, and discussed various important topics all at the same time. Later we took the kids to EZ’s for a dinner that wasn’t turkey and dressing and then Caroline and I came home and watched a movie together on the couch.
On Saturday Caroline and I debated driving to College Station to watch the Aggie soccer team in the NCAA tournament (They won! And are going to the College Cup for the first time ever!) but decided to stay in town instead. I took her to get the pedicure I’d been promising after soccer season ended and then we went to go see a movie at the actual theater before we came home and spent the rest of the night watching football.
Then Sunday I decided to show some ambition. I cleaned the house and began the process of getting rid of my pumpkins and replacing them with Santa and nativity scenes. It seemed a little odd to be doing it while wearing shorts and flip-flops but welcome to Christmas time in Texas. It is what it is.
I also decided it was time to wash all the slipcovers on the white couch again. I cannot even stress how much I hate doing it. And I will confess that it was long overdue. The good news is I have ordered a new couch, the bad news is it most likely won’t arrive until after the first of the year. But I want my house to look pretty for Christmas and that meant I needed to wash and bleach the slipcovers and strategically place a festive blanket over the places they have ripped after so much washing and bleaching. I will also tell you that I kept looking at Pinterest yesterday and noticed the common denominator in every picture I loved was that it contained a white couch. This is what some people refer to as a sickness. And, also, insanity.
However, as I wrestled the slipcovers back on my cushions Sunday afternoon, I went all Scarlett O’Hara and may have exclaimed “As God is my witness I will never wash these slipcovers again”. And I mean it. I’m done messing with them and I plan to throw them straight in the trash as soon as the new couch arrives. Actually, I may throw them out for Piper and Mabel and let them finish destroying them once and for all. I suspect that has been their goal all along.
But let it be noted that for one brief shining moment at 3:46 p.m. on Sunday, November 30, I experienced my own version of Camelot.
And let it also be noted that at 3:48 p.m. I noticed there was already dog hair on the couch even though the puppies weren’t even home. And at 7:01 p.m, Caroline ate Oreos on the couch and left several crumbs. And at 8:06 p.m., Piper lost her mind and jumped up on the couch even though she knows she’s not allowed to.
And that’s how dreams die.