the pieces of my life

People here go stupid crazy over Truck Day and not only do I find that annoying, but I find it more annoying that when people say “Truck Day,” I know what it is. In fact, not only do I know what it is, but I know where those stupid trucks are going. (Truck Day is the day when the trucks are packed with the Red Sox *equipment* [Yes, the equipment. Not even the team] to head down to Ft. Myers for spring training. The only thing more exciting [not to me, thank you very much] is the day that pitchers and catchers report, which is February 20 AND WHY DO I KNOW THIS, PEOPLE? That is valuable brain space that could be spent on so many more important things, like how does Bruce Jenner feel about the fact that he is no longer referred to as “Olympian Bruce Jenner” but as “Reality TV Star Bruce Jenner”?)

Even my own husband, when I complained about my Facebook feed being taken over by Truck Day texted me, “I was just about to post on FB ‘TRUCK DAY!!!'” According to Adam, “It’s like the New England version of Groundhog Day, [but] the answer is always ‘It’s almost spring!'”

Bostonians are morons. Including the ones to whom I’m related. Or maybe especially the ones to whom I’m related.

I know I’ve been MIA, but I’m happy to report, I’m done with my manuscript revisions so I am now free to write again. It’s hard to write while I’m writing. But now that I’m not writing, I can write. So here I am.

As I imagine everyone knows, we’re going a little snow-crazy here in Eastern Massachusetts, and I’m going even more stir-crazy because on top of the six snow days we had in a three-week period, I got a bonus two days stuck inside as Pie had a nasty virus. Luckily, she’ll get in one day of school before the one-week February vacation during which another blizzard is coming. Fun, fun. (I’m ignoring the darkening skies that are occurring right now, and the flakes that seem to be fluttering from the sky.) The whole thing would be enough to drive a person to the bourbon cabinet, but I have it on good authority (hi, Peter!) that I have a cousin on the Left Coast (hi, SB!) who reads this blog and fears for the well being of my liver and my sobriety. I would like to assure Cousin SB that both are well intact, and in fact, I have embraced “clean living.” Since January 1, I’ve had only a couple of drinks and–gasp!–no gummy bears. And, I will say, that there is a distinct possibility that I talk about bourbon more than I actually have the opportunity to drink it. That is not the case for gummy bears. When I talk about eating gummy bears it is because I am actually eating gummy bears. Mmmmm, gummy bears.

I’m a little ramble-y today. Sorry about that. That’s what happens when you’re as cooped up as I am. (Coops. Chickens. Chickens go peep peep. Suddenly I crave Peeps. Where was I?) Seriously, the snow is horrific. I wanted an award for taking the compost out, but no one in my family acknowledge my great feat of environmental do-gooding. Heck, I wanted an award for finding the compost bins.

There are two compost bins in this photo. Can you spot them?

But we’ve had some fun. There’s been saucering with the boy (“Climbing back up the hill is soooo hard!”) and snowshoeing with the girl (“This is too tiring!”). There’s been excessive computer and iPad time while I yell from upstairs, “I said BE QUIET! I need to finish my revisions!” There’s been a few days of slow-simmered red beans and rice and soup bubbling on the stove. And now I’m done. I’m ready for this stupid winter to be over. Which is good. Because we’re only expecting, over the course of the next four days, 12 or more inches of snow. And on that note, I will type the final “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” into my manuscript and send it off to my editor, and I’ll leave you with images from the snowy northeast.

Despite the inauspicious start to our day, and a few tantrums by the girl, we weathered our first day of snow pretty well. The boy soon tired of Wii, and the girl and Tab decided that the outdoors was much more inviting than the indoors. All three spent a few hours outside making snowballs and snowmen and snow mayhem. I stayed cozy inside making hallah bread, fresh marshmallows, dough for hamentaschen (Purim cookies), and a turkey stock that made the house smell yummy (I froze the carcass of the turkey after Thanksgiving, and today seemed the perfect day to cook it). Then Beetle and I took a nice walk in the snow, and we had a lovely family dinner. The little ones are in our room tonight, as the wind is a slightly terrifying, but not so terrifying that we didn’t squeeze in a little after-dinner dance party.

Adam worked from home. He had a conference call this morning and I of course had my run, but the kids were still around. We threatened them with bodily harm if they interrupted Adam’s call. Well, not bodily harm. The only thing more scary than bodily harm. We threatened them with no electronics. Adam said, “Do not interrupt me unless the house in one fire.”

“What if one of us goes into cardiac arrest?” the boy asked.

“Fine,” I said. “You can get Daddy if you go into cardiac arrest.”

“What if we break a leg or an arm?” Pie asked.

I thought a moment. “If you break a leg or an arm, leave Daddy alone. Run across the street and get Beetle.”
They were not pleased.

We have enough supplies to get us through a while. Keaton and I stopped at Trader Joe’s after our run, and I grabbed milk (1%–the fat free was completely sold out). The bread aisle was decimated. As was the ice cream bin. Because isn’t that what everyone wants when it’s freezing out? Ice cream? According to our town e-mail list, we were lucky to get milk as most places were completely out. The line at Trader Joe’s snaked around three aisles, except our TJs doesn’t do one line and the frustrated cashiers kept telling everyone to simply pick a lane. Which we did. And we were in and out in minutes. Of course, Starbucks is one long line, and there was nothing to do but wait in it because you can’t have an 8-mile run without a post-run coffee. It’s illegal. Or so I hear.

No valentines were made today. The book report is undone. Science fair project? The topic hasn’t even been picked out. But we’re all still speaking to each other, so I guess we’re doing okay. And there’s always tomorrow.

In case anyone was wondering, 10:06 a.m. is when I caved. Pie is over at Tab’s house watching the American Girl “McKenna” movie. Doodles is on the Wii. And I just finished an amazing 8 mile run with Keaton and I’m headed for a nice long bath. But, dammit, we WILL have family time later. I think….