It is starting to dawn on me that a four day weekend approaches and I might just get a real break.

We’ll be going to visit Dr. David, his wife and their new baby – who is not quite 5 months old and is already only three pounds shy of The Baby, who is 19.5 months. I am somewhat afraid the little tyke might eat The Baby, but I don’t think she’s eating many solids yet, so we’re probably safe.

The weekend will be a trial run for our Real Vacation next month, which is a 10-12 hour drive (depending upon the whims of Toronto traffic and border security). This trip will be peanuts in comparison, but still we’ll get to see how The Baby does on long drives that result in sleeping in unfamiliar places. Wish us luck.

We’ve talked about going to the aquarium or finding a beach that isn’t ridiculously packed with holiday weekend vacationers, but honestly I don’t care what we do because my main goal is to spend time with old and dear friends, all my kids in one place, my loving The Man by my side – and in that sense it doesn’t matter what we do as long as we’re together. I think we all need a break from the stress we’ve been under, so if all we do is sit on their porch and drink iced tea, I will be perfectly content. Although looking at fishies is nice too.

All week, I’ve been working on projects around the house that need to get done and are easier when the two big kids aren’t around. I haven’t gotten nearly as much done as I would have liked, but there is a certain amount of satisfaction to be derived from discovering that there is, indeed, a floor under all that dog hair. It’s the Friday before a holiday weekend and, strangely enough, not too many people seem to be in their offices. The phone has only rung three times all morning. So, hopefully I will be able to take off a little early today and finish a couple of things before the kids get home and the hugging and kissing and packing craziness begin.

So, I will write again next week, when hopefully you will be hearing from a saner, happier Helena.

Until then, dear readers…



Reading:
Mirrormask, Neil Gaiman. Finished yesterday. Must. See. Movie.

Hearing:
Jack Johnson, In Between Dreams. I love him more every time I hear this CD.

Needing:
Lunch. I have some refried beans, cheese and triscuits today. If you cross your eyes, it's just like eating bad-for-you nachos.

In My Car CD Player:
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I have a terrible memory for details when I read things, but when I hear it, it sticks (Thanks, Suzuki Violin!). So many little things I'd forgotten.