Simple Pleasures

I know, it’s been weeks again. No excuses, okay? Just an appology.

So let me start with the simple pleasures. Grandma came last week. If you’ve been reading me for a while, you’ll know about Grandma. The best Grandma on earth for a kid, but a parent’s nightmare. She’ll contradict you in front of the children, saying “Oh, that’s okay, just let them,” to something you’ve said “no” to, or “Let them have the ice cream right now,” after you’ve told them they can’t have it until after they’ve eaten at least a spoonfull of vegis. It’s nothing personal to me, my mom had the same complaints 30 years ago when it was me and my brother being spoiled. You can imagine the effects on the behaviour of the young ones.

This time, though, it wasn’t too bad. The Bug took full advantage of the laxness of discipline, but the Cat behaved awesomely, having been reminded who she has to deal with after Grandma leaves.:) The Hound was the Hound, no better and no worse. It was actually a fun visit, although she typically did some things that had ZK steaming. They go together like oil and water, those two. Nothing got too bad, though, both keeping temper fairly well. And nothing was mentioned at all about the wedding that we didn’t attend.

When Grandma was here, we went to the City to do some shopping. While there, I got some soap from the Body Shop, which I haven’t done in … shamefully long. At least since the Bug was born. I got an orange soap, two Strawberries, of which I gave one to the Cat for good behaviour, and a Papaya. I actually look forward to showering for reasons other than a few stolen minutes of quiet, and love the fact that I smell the scent of Orange every time I walk into the bathroom. I *Must* do it more often. Surely I can afford 13 dollars every couple of months to treat myself to something, right?

An experience that used to happen often that almost never does now, that I want to get back into the habit of again, [Yes, I know, that's a horrific sentence], is the DQ blizard. The same day we went shopping with Grandma, I got a Chocolate Covered Cherry one. YYUUUMMMMMM! I WANT MORE!

Let’s see. What else. Simple pleasures. Peace. ZK took the olders to Church by himself this morning. He’d not have gone this morning, he was up most of last night with back spasms, but he had to do a talk. [See the TTC update for the reason I didn't go.] Anyway, I’ve had a lot of trouble dealing with the Hound lately. He’s far more terrible a two than the other two were at his age, and I was pretty much dealing with both of their twos at the same time, more or less. This morning, though he was a pleasure to deal with. He actually *HELPED* me with the laundrey and the dishes. I think it’s not so much that I’m having trouble dealing with him as that I’m having trouble dealing with him when his older sibs are aiding and abetting, not to mention showing him extensively how to get into new and better trouble.

And decent, fun work. Definitely a simple pleasure. I got recommended by an on-going client to a new client for transcription. Seeing as how I have trouble with the word “No,” I took the job while wondering “Why on earth do I want a new transcription client?” Then I found out that the transcription is all about natural mothering. YES! I’m still doing VA work, and bringing in some good money. Loving it!

So, that’s it. Life’s been amix of the chaotic, [Did I mention I'm having trouble with the Hound right now?], and the wonderful. Exactly as it should be.