Freak Accident

Have you ever gotten the feeling that you aren't completely embarrassed yet, but you glimpse tomorrow's embarrassment?
Tom Cruise

Earlier this evening, I was taking one of those preciously few breaks that harried mothers have, and escaped to the shower to linger under the flow of warm water and soap suds.

Suddenly, my reverie is broken by the sounds of my two dogs howling in pain and my kids screaming for help. I raced down the stairs to find that, somehow, Baxter had not only gotten his lower jaw hooked around Daisy's collar, but also completely wrapped around it! He is shaking his head and yelping which only served to tighten the collar around Daisy.

I frantically tried to unbuckle her collar, but it was too tight and the hook was too near Baxter's jaw to allow me to get it loose. So I had one of the kids bring me a heavy duty pair of shears, and after trying to calm the two dogs long enough to slip the scissors under Daisy's now very tight collar, I managed to cut it off her. Just as well, I could hear her breaths getting pretty rattled.

Everyone, luckily, is no worse for the wear. Everyone, that is except for me. Much to my chagrin, I had performed the collar extrication in the living room. In front of two windows with the shades rolled up. You see, in my haste, I had come barreling out of the bathroom (and more precisely, the shower) and down the stairs at the first cries, both human and canine. So, the entire time, I was dripping wet, stark naked, and totally oblivious to everything but the plight of my poor pups!

Maybe no one noticed?

Play Ball!

The only real game - I think - in the world is baseball.
George Herman

Spring is here and baseball is in the air! Or in our case, softball! All three of the girls, even HyperBaby, are playing softball this year. That means my Saturdays are pretty much spent living at the field. So far the weather has held out, but it is only the first week. Last season was literally a washout considering how much rain we had. Hopefully this season won't be!

As far as the quote goes, I just HAD to choose that one. Why? Because I was lucky enough to have actually met the man behind the words. George "Babe" Herman lived next door to my piano teacher. I have many fond memories of going to his house before my lessons and hanging out with him. We didn't always talk about baseball, we discussed a lot of things. We talked about the dove with the injured wing that he had rescued. It used to sit on his shoulder while he was watering his garden. His wife would bring out lemonade and cookies while we chatted. He would often come to our recitals, and always had a positive word for every performer. He may have had a legacy in baseball, but his legacy for me will always be the kind old Mr. Herman who made waiting for piano lessons a whole lot easier.

Pop!

I just think that there is very interesting stuff in the mundane.
Harvey Pekar

I love bubble wrap. There is something very cathartic about taking a sheet and twisting, wrenching, and tearing it all while listening to the various sounds that are emitted. I remember how my brothers and I would love it when a package arrived at our house. Not, mind you, for the treasure that might lie within, but for the bubble wrap. We used to fight over who would get the biggest sheet. We would also have contests as to who could pop the most the fastest, who could pop the loudest, and so on.

If you enjoy bubble wrap too, grab a sheet and let's see who can pop the fastest!