Words that Stuck

This weekend was a whirlwind. Chad was out of town for a golf trip, so I was a single mom from Thursday until Sunday. Except for Saturday, I went to Asheville to celebrate a good friend at her bachelorette weekend. So, since Chad was out of town, it meant I had to "dump" my kids off on someone else. Or, at least that's what it always feels like...

It feels that way to me, only because I am strong willed, hard headed, stubborn, independent, and the list goes on. I have the whole mindset that I had these kids, they are my responsibility, and I have to put myself on the back burner sometimes, in order to care for them. Sounds stupid, right?

Last week, I made arrangements for the boys, while I would be gone. They would stay with Chad's parents during the day on Saturday, and my mom (because my dad, was gone with Chad) on Saturday night. I went to Asheville. Worried about everyone, except myself, the whole time. Because I had just "dumped" my kids on the grandparents, while I selfishly was out of town, having a good time. Surely someone else out there, feels this way?  No?

Yesterday, I rushed back to get the kids from my mom. Wyatt is still--stiiillllll not sleeping through the night, I knew she was probably tired, so I wanted to hurry back to relieve her, of MY kids. Later yesterday afternoon, I got a text from my mom, saying she missed the kids already, and that I needed to go out of town more often, and then one other thing, that has stuck...

"We need to make memories with them, so one day they can tell stories, like y'all do..."

It's true. I have so many fun memories of times at my grandparents, or funny stories that keep on telling. I can remember smells, outfits, weather, etc...of different memories at each set of grandparents houses, or special occasions with them. I have/had the best grandparents in the world. Don't even try and argue with that one. I can still talk to them today, and some things put me back to a child, and I see them in that same glorious light, as I did back then. I'm laughing right now at one particular story that includes my dad's mom, and a beach trip breakfast stop at Hardees. If you are familiar with the story, you are laughing right now too. There really isn't a family get together, where that story doesn't somehow get told--through the tears of laughter. A belly laugh. I can remember a time that my grandparents on my mom's side, had a ceiling leak close to Christmas, and just plaster patched it up. And, my grandpa telling us that Santa had fell through the roof. I believed him. I'm sure I believed him up until I was in high school. And still, when I see that place, I remember that story. I can still remember nobody was allowed to sit in my papa O'neal's chair. If you were sitting in it, when he came in the house, he would pace the floors, until you got up. He had an empty vegetable can sitting by that chair--it was his tobacco spit cup. I still laugh at stories of my grandmother smoking rabbit tobacco (although it is still up in the air, if she actually did or not). My grandparents always made me feel like they had been waiting to see me all day, when I would go and visit--truth be told, they still do. I could write a whole post, just on childhood memories, that involved my grandparents. Great, wonderful, funny, sweet, sad, memories. All that if I close my eyes, I can still see, smell, and hear them happening.  Chad has memories too. We both were lucky growing up! I want that for my boys. They were blessed. And I mean blessed, with wonderful grandparents--just like I was. I want to be old and gray (not anytime soon) and sitting around a dinner table and listening to them belly laugh and tell stories of their grandparents.

There is something special about grandparents, that I didn't fully realize, until I had kids of my own. And I watched my parents and Chad's parents look at my boys like they are the most perfect things on earth (they aren't--close but, no). That my boys, no matter what they do, it's always ok, and most of the time, funny---but if it were me, growing up and acting and doing some of the things they get away with, then I would have been spanked a thousand times over. Grandparents are a special breed. They are our story tellers, our secret keepers, they never judge, and in their presence you always find unconditional love and kindness. They are quick to forgive and quick to overlook offenses.

If your children (or you), are still blessed enough to have grandparents, I encourage you to do the same. We are not promised tomorrow, but the memories will last forever. Here lately, when I hug my grandparents, I find myself holding on a little longer than I used to, and I have a certain fear there, like what if this is the last time. When conversations lead themselves to talk about a will, or a funeral wish, I pretend I don't hear. And sometimes as I walk home, after a visit next door with them, I cry, at this silly lesson in growing up. I realize that the loss of one grandparent still hasn't eased off after 11 years, and that those things you vaguely believe in when you are young--heaven, happiness, old age- they all start to become harsh and bitter realities.

I probably will still have a hard time asking for help with the boys, just because I feel like I am burdening someone else, with my children, but I will try and talk Chad into a date, or weekend trip every now and then --just so my boys get that time with their grandparents. I need to remind myself that it isn't a burden to them. That my boys will never have those memories and stories, if I don't allow them that time. And, it is ok to admit to myself that I need a break every now and then. I can't be supermom everyday--just most.

So, thanks mom! Not only for making me blog and write for the first time in 2 years...but for giving me that little reminder.

My fight is personal...

I am over the top on things that I truly believe in. I get that. My heart is big, and when I love, I love with everything that I am. I can say the same about anything that I believe in. With that being said, one of those things, is breast cancer awareness month. To be honest, I really don't just think about breast cancer and its effects on others, in October. I think about it all year. It is now, a part of me. We all know someone who has been affected by this. If you think hard, you probably know way more than one. It is nasty, and it is inevitable. My fight is personal.

In 2001, my mom was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. There was no history in our family, on either side. To this day, I can still remember, very vividly, everything about that experience. From the moment she and my dad sat my sister and I down to tell us, all the way through to the very end, when we were told that she was in remission. Vividly.

It was July. I was 21, and Emmy was in high school. Our parents requested we all sit down together for dinner that night. At this time in our lives, we were all going in different directions, and this was a rarity. So, at dinner, my dad starts the conversation with "your mom and I have something we need to tell you". At this point in time, they had been married 23 years, so I rolled my eyes, and Emmy and I simultaneously blurted out "great, y'all are getting a divorce". I could see the look in my mom's eyes, almost as if that announcement would have been easier to swallow. For her. For us. And then, those words came. My world went silent. I remember flooding them with questions. And I remember the deafening silence that came from Emmy. That silence from her, lasted for most of the next year. I took on the "I'm strong. I can carry everybody on my shoulders through this" role. And I did, in front of everyone. But it was during those silent times, when I was alone, that I realized that I really wasn't the "tough" girl, I had always portrayed. My mom fought, and fought hard. She never wavered. And, my dad was by her side the whole time. I watched how hard it was on him, but it was at that time, that I truly understood the depth of his love for her. The exact moment, was when mom's hair started to fall out, and it was uncomfortable. And, they went out into the garage. Just the two of them. My dad shaved her head. The woman who he had vowed his love to. The one he had made a family with. His high school sweetheart. This was a true example of love.

The fight for me, had gotten personal, way before that July. Emmy and I had two friends growing up. Sisters. Who we were in the process of watching go through this same thing, with their mom. We had watched them go from highs to lows. And, shortly after mom had been diagnosed, we witnessed the lowest of the lows. We watched as their world crashed down, because their mom had fought the fight, but cancer won. I watched as they broke. And, no words, no act of kindness, no nothing, could have made it any better. We had memories of sweet Ms. Shirley, but we didn't have her, and no amount of memories, or reminiscing would have healed their wounds. It wasn't long after Ms. Shirley passed away from breast cancer, that mom had a friend, pass away. This friend, was also the best friend of my mother in law. So, it also hit too close to home. So, within a year of mom's diagnosis, we had already lost two people to this disease. I was scared. I began hearing about others being diagnosed, left and right. So, I knew then, that I did not want to sit still and silent any longer. I wanted others to know my story, I wanted others to know the facts, and I wanted others to know what to do to catch it early. I wanted others to know, that I had been where they are, and that they could talk to me if they needed to. Awareness, was important to me. I didn't care about who made a donation to what charity, I didn't care who walked in a walk, or ran a race. I cared about the next woman (or man) that I knew, who was going to be faced with this disease. The next friend, that would watch their mom go through the same thing I had been through. The fight was personal.

My fight and advocacy against any cancer, IS personal. I have cried, hugged, sat, talked, and just been there, one too many times for friends who have faced cancer themselves, or with someone that they love. And, all of these times, I have been rocked to the core. It knows no boundaries. Word of mouth is a powerful tool. It is important that you not sit silent. If the opportunity arises, inform someone of the benefits of early detection, not ignoring signs, and yearly physicals. Early detection saves lives.

I am over the top. I am hyper sensitive to the topic. I am offended when cancer, any type is taken lightly, and spoken about, as if it doesn't matter. Cancer knows no boundaries. And, it knows no age. If you haven't been affected by it personally, then count yourself lucky. And, my hope, above all hopes, is that you never will. That you will never know the pain of watching someone you love- lose their hair, or be sick and fragile from chemo. Or that you will never be brought to your knees with the pain and grief, of losing someone you love to cancer. I hope to see the day, where cancer is a diagnosis, just like a cold. Where you can take a pill, and it is gone within seven days. But, until then, I will continue to scream from the mountain tops, how important it is to be aware, and for others to know the facts.

To this day, every time my mom, has a check-up, I hold my breath, until the news comes, that it hasn't returned. And we celebrate, another year.

It became personal, when I had to begin having mammograms last year, because my chance of having breast cancer has now doubled.

It is personal. Very.

Thankful for a lot, deserving of little...

Thanksgiving is right around the corner-- by the time I finish writing this with a 3 year old sitting in my lap, having to clean, cook and do laundry (ha--just kidding about the latter 3) it may be Christmas. I have so much to be thankful for, and feel like the list is so long, and I am undeserving of any most of it. First, and foremost, I am thankful that I was given another day here on earth. I am thankful that my God still reigns, and lives in me. I am thankful for the parents I had, and the home I was raised in, and the lessons I learned growing up (even the hard ones). I am thankful that my parents instilled values in me, that are so important today. That they taught me how to love, and what it felt like to be loved. I am thankful, that they showed me that they loved each other. My mom and dad are both hard workers, and growing up, I probably didn't appreciate all of their hard work, but I fully get it now, and for that I am thankful. I am thankful that my mom is still here, and fought and won her battle with breast cancer, and is a fabulous example of the word- strong. I am thankful for the relationship that my sister and I had growing up, it has made us stronger now. I appreciate her, and love her more, because of that. I am not thankful that she moved away and left me :( But I am thankful for being able to Skype her! She married a great guy, and I am thankful for him, that they found each other, and he fits in perfectly. I am thankful for my extended family. I am lucky to have grown up with the most amazing grandparents a girl could ask for, they wrote the definition for "selfless". I miss my grandfather O'neal Emory, so much sometimes that it hurts, but am so thankful for the 23 years, I was blessed to have with him. My aunt is amazing in herself, and I am blessed to have formed close relationships with my cousins, that are still strong today. My family, from top to bottom, I am thankful for. From each of them, I have learned something. I am thankful for my in-laws, for raising the guy that I am lucky enough to do life with. For instilling in him, everything I was looking for and more. That they love me, as their own, and I can feel it, every time I am with them. I am thankful that Chad, chose me. That he works so hard each and everyday to provide for us, and to make Owen's future easier. I am thankful that I got to meet Horace Turner, Chad's grandfather. He taught me how to shoot skeet (even though it was a difficult task at first), and had the biggest, most giving heart. There are times I can still hear his laugh, and see that smile. I am thankful that God chose me to be a mommy. That he gave me Owen, who blesses me daily, and makes me thankful for life itself. The sweet and funny personality that he has, and his ability to make me laugh, nonstop. I am thankful for the grandparent's that Owen has, I don't know what I would do without them, and never want to find out. I am thankful for my job, and getting to spend each day, with the most precious kids, who are sponges, and soak it all up. My coworkers, who are caring, dependable, and prayer warriors. I am thankful for my friends. Old and new, who I know I can depend on in a skinny minute, if needed. They make me laugh, put me in place, and I couldn't make it some days without them. Even my oldest, true blue friend who lives almost 2 hours away, that I haven't seen in ages-- I am thankful that true friendships never die. Lastly, I am thankful for all of the setbacks that I encountered throughout the years. I am thankful for the hard times, that I didn't understand. For the "why me's?" and the "not again's". From those I learned the most, and feel that they made me a stronger woman. I am thankful that I don't already know everything (don't tell Chad--I've still got him fooled), it gives me the opportunity to continuously learn new things.

I am thankful for (in no particular order)

• my passion for things I believe in
• sense of humor
• reasoning skills
• my laugh
• health
• my home
• my faith
• my mistakes (even though I never make any) :)
• my strength
• food
• hot showers
• sight
• hearing
• clothes (I know you are thankful I have them too!)
• love
• that I know when to quit
• being free and an American
• the seasons
• hooded sweatshirts
• the little things
• being sensitive
• bonfires
• being me (I am imperfect...but I know it, and like me anyway!)

You are bored, I get it...but I can still go on (probably for days). This isn't all of them....so don't send me a message, saying "what about..." :)  I began this blog by thinking of all I have, or have enjoyed, and am amazed at the amount of blessings I have, and am so undeserving of most of them. I am so thankful for life itself, and everything that it has brought me. I often get so caught up in "life" that I fail to stop to think about it all, or tell those I love that I am truly thankful for them. I am ashamed of that. I knew I couldn't do the "thankful for" face book posts, because I am busy, and absent minded, you would have had days 1-15 on one post, by the time I realized I had forgotten...again. So I thought I would just do it all here. I hope you each have a Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you find the time to stop and ponder all you are thankful for, and how blessed each of you are. If you are reading this, I am thankful for you!

"Teachers just teach..."

If I had a dollar quarter for every time, in my short career, that I have heard "Oh, you're a teacher", "you just teach kids all day", "you're off all summer, must be nice", etc...then I would have my retirement already laid out. And, in defense of these uninformed nice people, I understand their point, I get the fact that the comments come from those who don't know, and who have never been in my shoes. But, guess what...I didn't choose this profession, it chose me. And, for that I am grateful. It isn't all rainbows and butterflies, it's hard work. My fellow educators and I work hard, and do things "behind the scenes" that often go unnoticed and unappreciated, but we keep doing it....because we LOVE it. We love the children, we love watching them learn, we love seeing the light bulbs go off, we love helping them solve problems, and watching them explain it to a classmate, we love seeing how proud they are of their work, we love it when they want (did you catch that, WANT) to do better the next time, we love the challenges that some kids come with, and we love to watch them overcome those challenges. I could go on, as a matter of fact, could fill up the whole page with things that we love to do, but will spare you.

We do more than "just teach". The list is enormous, and I won't go in to all of those things that we do, everyday, all day, without thinking about it, we just do it. But, this week, one of those things slapped me in the face. Remember I said, we do a lot of these things without thinking about it...

This week, a former student broke her glasses on the playground. She was devastated. They fell off, and before she could snatch them up, another student came running by and trampled on them. it wasn't his fault, and it wasn't hers. It happens. Life happens, right? She came up, crying, holding her mangled glasses, and even though I taught her two years ago, my heart broke. I knew her story, I knew that those glasses were important, and I knew that I needed to do something. But, like I said, life happens...it slipped my mind, once I got back inside, and was bombarded by 3rd grade recess drama, packing up, and end of the day routines. I never thought about it until later that night, and then vowed to remember to do something the next day. (my mom works at this little girls eye doctor...that is what I am thinking I could do) The next day comes, I run into a sweet friend, my next door teacher, and she starts to talk to me about this little girls glasses (she taught her last year). Immediately I remembered what I was going to do, so my friend and I, drop everything and call my mom, and after a conversation, find out that her glasses were under warranty! Long story short, her new glasses will be here on Monday!!

After that back and forth, and letting her mom know that her glasses are still covered under warranty, we didn't think another thing about it. We were happy it ended that way, but I honestly never thought more on it. But, she did. The next morning, I felt like a 250 pound football player had tackled me from behind, as I was walking in to school, but it was a petite little girl, running to hug me, and tell me "thank you, thank you, thank you, Mrs. Painter". She was smiling from ear to ear, and my heart melted. Her aunt thought about it, and sent us a card of thanks, telling us how much it meant, for us to have done that for her niece. And her mom thought about it, by specifically finding me after school, with a card, and a small angel...because we were her child's angels at school. We did it because we wanted to...not for the fanfare, not because it was in our job description (because it isn't), not for me, but because we knew it was the right thing. I made a phone call. That is all. But, this one single, 5 minute phone call, meant the world to this little girl and her family. And, because of that phone call, I was blessed. Nothing that transpired over the last few days, had anything to do with "just teaching". It didn't involve a book, a test, or data collection. Sure she remembers things I taught her in the 2nd grade, sure she remembers things that my friend taught her in the 3rd grade, sure she is learning things this year in the 4th grade, but I promise you, this will be remembered far longer than those things in a book and longer than anything I could teach in a year.

As teachers, we do more than "just teach" we do more than what is related to education, we are encourager's, we love, we inspire, we celebrate, we pray, we care, we encourage, we fix problems, we counsel, we cry, we worry, we slip food in book bags for those we know won't eat again until they return to school, we wipe tears, we instill values, and we love.

I'm glad that I was lucky enough to have "just taught" her.

Talkin' Trash....

Many of you already know, but in case you don't, my husband and his cousin are in business together. They have their hands in several different things; port-a-johns, roll-off dumpsters, and a household trash company. I know what you're thinking--shew. And, that's about right, but to these guys, it "smells like money" :) Chad's cousin and his family have gone out of town, for a much needed vacation. SO, that means, I, being the supportive wife I am, stepped up to the plate and graciously volunteered to help out this week in the office. I basically just answer phones, write up new orders, take payments, etc...you get it. (did I mention VOLUNTEERED)


This week, has been quite eventful to say the least. I am not sure if there is a full moon coming, or if the crazies are just out in full force, but to be honest, I have enjoyed the free entertainment. I have taken all types of calls, and below I will give you some of the memorable lines from the week, ...I am however including my thoughts during these conversations in ( ). Feel free to imagine what you would have said if put in the same place. Or, feel free to tell me I am overreacting, and these are legit things to ask or say.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Caller: Well, I am not even sure you all are my trash company, but I want to pay my bill. But again, I am not sure you are who picks my trash up.
Me: (well...1-look at your bill, who is it from? 2-what name is on the side of your trash cart? 3-do you just call random trash companies, and hope they take your payment?)


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Caller: I'm not sure when you pick my trash up, it's either Monday, Tuesday or Thursday.
Me: (1-what do you mean you don't know when they pick it up, do you not put your trash out? 2-well good thing it isn't Wednesday)


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Caller: I just need some information on your trash service.
Me: {I explain everything}
Caller: Do I need to separate my trash?
Me: I'm sorry, I don't understand the question.
Caller: Like, do I need to put paper in one bag, food in another,etc...
Me: No ma'am, just throw your trash away like you normally (?????) do.
Caller: Oh really.
Me: (huh?????? what in the world)


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Caller: When you come to pick up my trash, do I just sit the bags on the curb?
Me: (huh?????????) No sir, you place the bag in the cart, that we provide, and once a week take it to the end of your driveway, and we will pick it up, on your trash day.
Caller: Oh, ok.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Caller: Yes, my trash hasn't been picked up in several weeks.
Me: Oh my, let me look up your account, and see what is going on.
Caller: Ok
Me: It looks like each time they have come by, your cart hasn't been out.
Caller: It stays outside of my garage.
Me: You need to take it to the end of your driveway the night before pickup.
Caller: Oh, I have to take my trash cart to the end of my drive for you to get it?
Me: (no...please, leave the cart wherever you please, and we will gladly come and get it each week. no problem. Better yet, let's turn it into a game of hide and seek.)


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
These are just a few samples of what I have dealt with this week. It has kept me laughing, made the days a little shorter, and some have given me a headache. Overall, it was an interesting week. To think that when I started this week, I was more concerned about Chad and I spending ALL day EVERY day together, and that we may have ended up divorced by Friday, more than I ever thought of the interesting questions I would answer, or the stories I would be told. I think I will add one more job title to all of the others, and that is whatever title Dr. Phil has.....I did just as much relationship, and family counseling over the phone this week, as I did signing people up for trash service.


I also realized, that maybe I do have more patience for kids than I do for adults, making my current profession a perfect match. I had Chad giving me looks, and shhh'ing me when he could tell I was about to cross a line with a customer. For example; when I was waiting on my computer to pull up a customer account, and was asked 3 times in a matter of 30 seconds, "are you sure you know what you are doing"--I got the big bad Chad look when I answered her. {Ooopsie} I even got a shhh, and "the look" as I told a guy what I thought, when he said "my wife obviously doesn't have the mental capacity to remember to put our trash out" BUT I won't apologize for that one, NEVER. {Sorry Chad ;)} PLUS, I believe the guy learned a lesson, and probably won't do that again.


With all of this said, if you need trash service, let me know, or call the office....I promise I won't be there next week to write a blog about you, and the guys won't know any better! :)

Lessons from Linda...

**Side Note**I know it has been a while, but, the truth is, I have been busy very busy. Busy being a mom, wife, teacher, etc...so blogging has been the last thing on my mind. Until today...


Today, was a typical Monday in my classroom. We only have 32 days left of school, so we are busy, busy working on filling our minds with everything a 2nd grader should know, before the end of the year. Today was also the last day of the book fair at school. Any of you familiar with the book fair, know that it is a BIG deal to the kids, especially the younger ones. They get to come to school with money, and buy things without their parent being there to tell them no, or you don't need that. Before lunch today, Linda asked if she could go down to the book fair. She was so excited, she had $5, and couldn't wait to spend it. We were working on finishing up something in Reading, and she had already finished, so I sent her on down. She came back about 10 minutes later with a poster. We continued on with our day, nothing was ever said about the poster, she just quietly placed it in her cubby and sat back down at her desk. (I need to note that the poster cost $4.77, so Linda spent all of her money on the poster.) At the end of the day, I was passing things out to go home, and as I got to Linda's desk, she was holding her poster, and smiling brightly. I assumed she was excited to get home, to hang her poster in her room. I placed her weekly newsletter on her desk, asked if she was excited about her poster, to which she nodded yes, and I was getting ready to move on to the next desk, when this conversation took place...


Linda: Mrs. Painter, do you have any brothers or sisters?
Me: Yes, I have a younger sister.
Linda: When is the last time you did something nice for her?
--I was taken aback by this question from a 7 year old--
Me: I don't remember Linda. It has probably been a while. (as I really thought about her question)
Linda: Well, Mrs. Painter, we should do nice things for people, all of the time, without having to think about it. Sometimes people need to know we care. Like this poster for example. I took all of my money, and bought this poster for my older sister, because she likes USC. I don't like USC, but I used all of my book fair money to buy her something, because I wanted to do something nice for her.


I honestly have no clue how I responded to her, because I was in shock (and almost tears) as I thought about a lesson that Linda had just taught me. I spend 5 days a week, doing my best to teach Linda, and her 21 classmates lessons. Curricular lessons, and life lessons. But, today, Linda taught me a lesson. Linda taught me that no matter how busy we are, how much money we have, or what our crazy, busy lives are throwing our way, we should take time to do something nice for someone. It doesn't have to be in the form of a monetary item, but something as simple as a card, phone call, or in our technologically savvy lives, an email or text message. Sometimes it is the simplest things, that mean the most to others. This wasn't something that I had never thought of, or done, and to be honest I used to be good at it. But to be honest, if you are like me, we are busy, living life, and often forget, although not on purpose, those who mean so much to us. And we don't forget them, as in completely out of thought, but we forget to tell them, or show them how much they mean to us. I could tell by Linda's smile, as she told me about spending all of her money on a poster for her sister, that she was getting just as much out of giving it, as her sister was going to get out of receiving it.

Such a BIG lesson, from such a small girl. One lesson, that we all need to remember every now and then.

Give credit where credit is due...

I will always give credit, where credit is due....and, well. This is one of those times. This blog is for all of you single moms, single dads, etc...How do you do it?? I give you all major props, for doing it all alone. I'm not sure I could do it....I guess if I had no other choice, I would, but MY WORD, it is a lot of hard work.


Chad was sick, in the bed, with the flu for 5 days. So, I was a single mom, for 5 WHOLE days :) Let's just say, if it were a test, then I didn't pass failed! Owen was clean, and fed each day. He was happy. I managed to get him and myself to school on time each day. BUT, laundry was sky high, we ate out every meal, and my house looked like those tornadoes last week, had made a detour and tore through the Painter casa. How do you do it?? How in this world, do you manage to work full time, clean, cook, do laundry, keep up with the latest Chuggington episodes (Owen won the TV battle), and still sleep and bathe? Did I mention I slept for 5 nights in a twin bed, with a 2 year old, who likes to do somersaults in his sleep??


I guess I have been taking advantage of the fact that Chad does 90% of our laundry, and is usually able to sidetrack Owen, while I cook or clean. So Chad, thank you for doing life with me...obviously my single mom skills are a HOT MESS!


So, to all of you single parents...KUDOS. You are beasts, I never knew how hard it was. Whew. Now...excuse me. I think I will go take advantage of the fact that Chad is well, and can now get out of quarantine. I think I will disappear in a bubble bath, for a few days :)