oh, nothing, just this morning

i need a james bond camera that discretely snaps pictures when i close my eyelids. i need this to replace the one i have now, which looks like a car engine strapped around my neck and inserts itself in the scene rudely. reminds me sometimes of certain annoying girls who used to try to block me from making shots in church basketball. if i had a james bond camera, i could capture a memory without crushing it. i could, for example, show you a little scene from this morning that was no big deal, but which i would like to remember forever.


first, some latelies. 


lately, we've been lolling around with no school schedule to obey. we've been spending long hours puttering and lying at the beach, trawling the neighborhood in sundresses looking for cheap pedicures, dropping in at the park to see friends, rearranging the furniture, watching tv and otherwise indulging ourselves while bim works and works to keep us in the lifestyle to which we've grown accustomed. even i would hate us a little if i weren't so grateful for this slow, savory summer life. 


Ally packed her bag(s!) days ago in preparation for a sleepover that will happen tonight. she's been using her backup toothbrush at home because her good one is packed. she slept in her dress last night so she wouldn't have to waste any time in the morning. so, she's ready. (i heard her bounding around the house at 6-ish this morning.)


a little later, when Al was halfway through a bowl of generic cheerios, we heard Liv bawling for her. Ally looked up like a houndog that's just caught the scent of its 'coon. she put down her spoon and rushed to Liv's bedside. i slunk in behind her in case i was needed, but i wasn't.

Ally: Livvy, what's wrong?
Liv: I didn't want you to go!
Ally: Ohhh, you didn't want me to go. [Patting her back, kind of hard but meaning well.] I'm sorry. It's okay, it's okay. Next time I won't leave you.
Liv: *sniff*

there was some babytalk (from Ally) and some more big, sad eyes from Liv, some more patting (er, pounding?) on the back, and lots of loving.

then i came out to my office and my bunnies started giving me a jumping show. did i mention we got LeBoeuf his own bunny, a dutch named Maisy? he's a more blissful bun these days (Ally: 'look, they're hugging!' Liv: 'they're getting married!').

so far i like this morning. feels good.

Fanks, that's perthect.

this post is alternately titled, going wrong for all the right reasons.

i want to say publicly that i screwed up Father's Day yesterday. it started with forgetting until late Saturday night that i had promised snickerdoodles to my Sunday school class (11 and 12 year-olds), so i got up at 6 to make them. i think there would still have been a chance to save the day if i had only slept until 8.

then when we got home, instead of resting for a bit and doing a good job, i rushed into it and made the worst meal of maybe ever. inedible. (over- and under-grilled chicken, soggy cabbage...and not much more)

then i gave the wrong gift because i wasn't listening. no gift would have been better, truly.

the father in this house wouldn't have minded either of those things. he isn't rude--actually, he's very nice and a great dad...the total package. he didn't say a cross word all the live-long day.

but...i did pout a lot. not really about the food or the gift, but mostly because i was feeling melancholy and tired and didn't muster the strength to rise above. i went to bed early. i think we're going to have to stage a Father's Day Redux.

an alternate title for this post is, going wrong for mostly wrong reasons. 


i sure hope all your father's days were better than the one i presented. i have *no doubt* they were.