So this week is the first official week of Summer Vacation for the boy. And yesterday, my freelance job told me I had to turn all my stuff in by Wednesday, shortening my work week by two days. And I had a big home project to do on top of it all, plus I am trying not to become a cow during the summer, so working out was essential.

I drank way too much coffee, did a whole bunch of work, and couldn’t sleep that well last night. Usually I can even go to sleep after drinking a pot of coffee (yeah, that’s right, that’s how sleep-deprived I am), but last night was not so good.

So today I have another full slate of work to do, not too much sleep to fuel myself with and coffee is helping, but not enough.

Gah. So if I am silent over the next few days, that’s why. Head down, nose to grindstone. Will emerge later.

So I have some really fantastic relatives, case in point the aunt and uncle who are putting me and The Son up for over two weeks. I mean, who wants to have people stay in their house for two weeks? Three years in a row (and counting?). This morning, my aunt took me to yoga class at her Y, which was great. I am really inflexible, not just in spirit and spontaneity, so I needed it.

My aunt went through a lot of difficulty growing up, and has developed a philosophy of parenting and life in general that sure sounds good. She and my uncle (my mom’s youngest brother) have an amazing relationship, one that I envy being all passive-aggressive/neurotic/oblique as I can be at times (yes, asking the Spouse is moot, since we all know he’d agree). My uncle is the most blunt-spoken person I know, but also one of the kindest. Of course they, in particular she, have a lot to say about my parenting, but they do think I’m a good mom. If over-protective. Which I have to reluctantly agree with, I am overprotective of my guy, for sure.

Which is a long way to go for saying I feel weird today, mostly ’cause I stayed up too late last night, and my carefully-laid plans for the evening were disrupted when another one of my uncles returned from Brazil (he lives in the Philippines normally, is here for the summer? Not sure; he’s another brilliant-but-odd relative), a young friend of my uncle’s was here getting tutoring and my Son was devastated that his uncle was caring about another boy. Can anyone say ‘only child?’

So instead of settling down to quiet and a book, I had to console a sobbing child, deal with many tired relatives who had less patience for my boy than I did, and then top the night off with a . . . discussion . . . with the Spouse.

I took a nap today, but am wicked fuzzy after. These days happen, for sure, but I wish I didn’t feel so woozy and depressed. Feh.

In the good news department, however, I’ve firmed up plans for Friday, the Son’s birthday. Am I the best mom ever, or what? I’m taking him to the Mall of America to go to the indoor amusement park, making him bacon at some point in the day, taking him to see Hellboy II, and giving him three Miyazaki movies. I rock. I will consume much caffeine that day.

Megan

This weekend, I learned:

1. I need to be alone for a certain amount of time every day, or I start to freak out.

2. I can do a workshop in front of people without turning into a sweat machine.

3. I like wine.

4. Some people get way more obnoxious than me when liking wine.

5. New England Clam Chowder kicks Manhattan Clam Chowder’s ass.

6. My P-I-C, Kwana, totally has my back all the time (and she’s got pix of our weekend here!)

7. The Delightful Phone Friend is the best ever. I never get tired of hanging with her.

8. I can gain five pounds in three days. Who knew?

9. Black is a good color for me.

10. Free books still make me giddy.

11. I have a platonic crush on Loretta Chase.

12. Today, there is not enough coffee in the world. Carry on.

I have two–count ‘em, two!–staircases now. Before, I trudged up four flights of stairs to our apartment, which was all on one level. But now I can say something is upstairs or downstairs or in the basement.

If you live in a city, even if it’s not New York, you know how huge that is.

Now I just gotta pay some taxes (gulp.), and some credit card bills. Piece of cake, right?

My head hurts.

I am way beyond discombobulated, too, btw. Stairs notwithstanding.