Kid tending blues

Yesterday I babysat for a family right after church, mom and dad both had meetings in regards to their callings, and I was happy and willing.... that being said, they offered me free reign to their snack closet which included a BIG pack of Coca Cola Cans... of which I consumed two... which wouldn't have been so bad had I not already had a 20oz bottle on the way to Church that morning (trying to chase away a threatening Migraine)!!!!! That, in an additional 20oz bottle pretty much every day this past weekend, and I was in serious need of detox and pre-addiction intervention today.. (yes I just made up that term)

Today again I had a babysitting gig, and though I was expecting only the baby, getting the last minute addition of the elder brother (5) who was home from school sick, didn't really faze me.... that is until I got home... 

and, MAN,

I've forgotten how inquisitive and attention DEMANDING 5yr olds are!!!

This one is also exceptionally smart and that just adds a whole 'nother level to the game!!

I survived the day, but boy was I tempted to cast my weakness under a cloud of Caffeine in the form of a Coca Cola!!! 

Give me a grumpy elderly person any day!!!

(okay, not really!!!)

Jon hunting SUCKS!!! I absolutely DETEST it! And it's making me grouchy, grumpy and depressed!!

That's all...
The end!

Lobster Sunburn

I got the chance to go to a beach out on Long Island with two friends the Saturday before Labor Day.... I prepared for this by slathering myself with Waterproof HIGH SUNBLOCK Lotion, and made sure I brought it with me and applied throughout the day, but I still got really fried... Like a lobster... so from here on out... I'm going with full body bathing suits.... Three weeks later, I'm still itching, peeling and have skin that is more like leather than anything else...   :(

In these pictures you can see some white "stuff" on me, that is just cream my kind friend put on me to soothe the skin... In addition to the face, back and my chest area, the back of my legs also got burned as well as part of the bottom "cheeks"... I couldn't even sit!!! It was soooo painful!

I will say this though, being able to frolic in the ocean again almost made it worth it... I really do believe I am part mermaid, because once I got in the water, it felt like I was "whole" again...

Central Park Zoo

Today I met with a dear old friend whom I haven't seen for such a long time, and her two little boys. We went to the Central Park Zoo, and had a blast. The favorite I think was the Sea Lion Show, and the penguins, but we didn't walk through all of it, and we forgot the "petting-zoo" part of CPZ... but that's okay, that just gives us something for next time!!   :)

It was great to renew old friendships... though "renew" does not feel like the correct word in this instance... It's more like we left right off where we'd ended last we saw each other... This is how our friendship is...it exists through time and space, without any awkwardness or change with time passing. And I love it!!! Sure there is some time spent "catching up",  going over the latest "news" etc. but then it's just so free and relaxed....

The boys were little rascally angels... just how I adore them... and with another on the way, it's going to be a fun house!!! I can't wait to visit them and play with them some more.... :)

forgotten corner no more

Last summer Norway got a serious and horrific wake up call, when a man killed almost 80 people in two separate attacks, the majority of his victims kids and teenagers... This summer, again, Norway has learned that it is no longer the forgotten little corner of the world, by the disappearance of a 16 year old girl, and the following discovery that she was killed. "The world" with all it's technology, socio-economics and "forward thinking" has long since made it's mark on Norway and it's inhabitants.... but now we are seeing the backside of the coin as well.... The gritty and sometimes gruesome parts of a "modern" and "western" society.. Sure there have been a few other kidnappings, disappearances and even killings in Norway since WW2, but they have been sporadic and few between... it seems it's only in the last 5-10 years it has gotten truly brutal.

Perhaps the trial this year, of last years' mass murderer has put a spotlight on the need for stricter laws, better and "updated" police work (ie. investigation, reaction time, evidence gathering etc), and a much needed revamp of the Psychological practices in Norwegian Society. And maybe this will be the last of brutality in Norway.. though I doubt that.

However, it is time Norway realize that this is now part of the "normal" modern society, whether we like it or not, it's come to stay. And hopefully this will lead to hasty revamping of the Police and  Psychiatric departments, to at least stem this unfortunate reality somewhat.. and give help to those who truly need it. In a country where preventive measures are at the forefront, this should be attended to quickly!!

Norway is the world's forgotten corner no more...