Tired Mama.com

Need a summer read?

Are you looking for a book to read this summer?

I've got a beach book for you - The First Husband by Laura Dave.

I call it a beach book because it's an entertaining and light read.

I'm not usually a light book reader. I am the one who decided to read Anna Karenina out loud to my oldest daughter when she was an infant. At two months old, she didn't get it but it kept me amused while I was nursing.

Since then I've learned that, when you're a busy adult, you often can't read something that's that intense but you often need a book that can be gulped down whenever you get a few free minutes to yourself.

In my opinion this is that kinda book - a beach book.

The story is centered on Annie, who is floating along in a relationship when she is suddenly dumped by her live-in boyfriend. She is shattered for a time but then meets up with a new beau who sweeps her off her feet and changes her life.  

I must admit I wasn't all that thrilled when the heroine decided to give up everything for love. 

But some days?

I'd chuck everything just to be swept off my feet too.

Or just to have someone offer to sweep under my feet.

Sigh.

Interested in learning more about this book? We're talking about it here.

http://www.blogher.com/bookclub/now-reading-first-husband

Oh, and here's the small print - I was compensated for this BlogHer Book Club review but all opinions expressed are my own.

I want off...

I think I'm getting old.

I think this because things are changing around me faster than I can keep up.

I have an original iPhone and I've torn the case. Do you think I can find a new case for the original iPhone anywhere? Nope, they do not exist anymore.

I play Scrabble with two friends on-line and Facebook has recently uploaded a new and improved game. Now? I have no idea how to play. 

I bought a new lens for my camera and yesterday when I was trying to take pictures they were all turning out fugly. After three tries? I put my old lens back on.

Our tabby keeps throwing up his new and improved cat food.

The dog keeps managing to slip out of her new collar.

My husband is complaining that his new undershirts aren't as comfortable as the old ones I used to buy – same brand.

Yes, we’re both getting old and grumpy.

But, I don't like all this new stuff making my life more complicated.

Just slow down on all the darn innovations, won't you?

Please?

At least until I can find a few free minutes to catch up.

Thanks.

Blue...

You're going to know how this story ends before I finish, but I'm going to share it anyway.

My youngest daughter and I were at the mall last Sunday trying to update her summer wardrobe. She had lots of shorts handed down from her older sister that fit, but most of the t-shirts were worn or stained so we decided to go out and get her some new ones.

My daughter's favourite tween store had shelves full of brightly coloured tops. 'What colour do you want?' I asked, tossing a pretty turquoise one in her direction.

'Anything but BLUE,' she replied. 'You always buy me blue. I don't want blue.'

'Fine,' I replied. 'There's red, pink, purple, yellow, orange and tons of other colours, pick whatever you want.'

She did and we returned home happy.

Then, on Tuesday afternoon, my daughter came home and told me that Friday was Sports Day at school.

'Great,' I said. 'What do you need for Sports Day?'

'A water bottle, some suntan lotion, a hat and a T-shirt in my house colour,' she replied.

'Oh, so what's your house colour?' I asked.

'Blue,' she said with a smile.

Yes, it would be.

Sigh.

Open wide...

For some stupid reason, in the middle of one of the busiest weeks of the year I decided to book in our family dental appointments.

I have no idea why I did this.

Stupidity, would be my best guess.

So, in between everything else going on today, (a dance lesson, a doctor's appointment, a synchronized swimming show, sport's day at school and a rugby game) I have to somehow get myself and all three kids in and out of the dentist's office too.

I have no idea how this is all going to happen.

Actually, right now? It doesn't look possible.

Is it okay to send kids to the dentist in a taxi?

That would be bad parenting, right?

Sigh.

Rugby Smells

I've had a son now for fourteen years. He's a good son too so we've decided to keep him.

He's a typical young male though, he's fearless, he takes stupid chances and most days he treats his body likes it's unbreakable.

So, I wasn't totally surprised last fall when he came home and told me his wrist hurt. After icing a suspicious bump for a day, I finally took him in for an x-ray and we came home with a cast on his arm.

Yep, the boy broke his wrist the very first day of gym class playing rugby.

Therefore, when this spring rolled around you can imagine that I was less than thrilled when the same son came home and told me he wanted to try out for the school rugby team.

Yeah, football with no equipment.

Lovely.

I mean didn't he LEARN anything when they told him he was BROKEN last fall?

Obviously not.

My son is now playing on his school rugby team.

Now that he's played a few games however I must admit I have another problem besides the roughness of the sport.

The smell of his shoes.

Have you ever smelt rugby cleats?

You don't want to.

They smell like uh, barf or um, rotten meat or decaying bodies or something vile.

Something very very vile.

So, this is why I now have a bottle of Lysol Fabric Mist in my van at all times.

Because it's only AFTER my kid's cleats are sprayed that my son and his shoes get a ride home.

And if I'm carting several kids home from practice, EVERY single pair of shoes get sprayed and sometimes I spray the team's shirts and shorts too because then, and only then, can I stand the smell of these young men.

Yeah, it works and it kills 99.9% of bacteria on fabrics, therefore eliminating the root cause of odours caused by the bacteria and that's a good thing.

A VERY good thing. 

Thanks Lysol Fabric Mist, you make my nose much happier.

Disclosure: I am part of the Lysol Healthy Families Ambassador Program by Mom Central. I received compensation as part of my affiliation with this group.  The opinions on this blog are my own.

When can you wear white pants?

I was going out last night and I needed to wear something that wasn't jeans or yoga pants. 

This left very little in my closet to choose from.

So, I put on a pair of white pants.

After taking a quick Twitter survey, it was decided that it is now warm enough here that I could break the whole you-can't-wear-white-pants-until-after-the-May-long-weekend rule.

I admit, I still fussed about it a little longer and then I decided that I should just wear whatever the heck I wanted.

Yeah, I'm a rebel like that.

So, I went out last night wearing white pants and as far as I know, no one laughed at me.

Until of course, I sat in chocolate ice cream.

And then, after I said something that I can't repeat here, I wrapped a sweater around my waist for the rest of the evening.

And then, probably someone did laugh at me.

Quietly.

Good times....