I Don't Mind Flirting With Another Woman

Dear Dunkin’ Donuts Girl,

It started with a smile. I am typically not a morning person but I make an exception for those that handle my food.

I smiled the first time because I was really staring at your pierced eyebrow and got caught.

It was rude and I tried to play it off. You smiled back. I ordered my “usual”: a small hot chocolate with whipped cream.

I paid and thought it was over. To my surprise it was only the beginning.

You made a point to call me out of line to specifically take my order. I thought it was nice and you always gave me my change back with a wink. ;o)

I ignored it and walked away sipping my hot chocolaty goodness. Then one particular bad morning. It happened.

I ordered my drink and you weren’t there. I order my “usual” but got back a significantly smaller cup. Hmm. That was odd.

I questioned them on the sizes and the manager made me aware that what I was holding was a SMALL and the next size up was a MEDIUM.

You had been charging me for a small but hooking me up with the next size. Suddenly the winks made sense. Or did they?

A few weeks later you were back at the register and me and a co-worker got in line. I ordered my “usual” and you gave me your “usual”. But this time was different. You whispered something to me and waved away my money.

I ain’t no fool so I tried to pay you again. You refused and I hurried away. But I felt like I had stole.

During my next few visits I made sure to go to another cashier as to avoid you but you managed to slide over and take my order anyway. *Sigh*

Today I upped my ante a bit and ordered my “usual” and added a wheat bagel. You smiled winked, got the MEDIUM cup and filled it. There was another worker standing over your shoulder. You STILL only charged me for the bagel. You smiled at me.

I think you are trying to get fired. Seriously. But until you do, I will continue to smile back and order the “usual”. Who knew flirting with women across the counter could make me all warm inside.

4th Of July Weekend Photos

No need for words.

One Less Child

Well she’s gone again. Being a blended family has always been hard. It’s been hard on my husband. It’s been hard on me. But most of all it’s been hard on Lael.

These past 30 days is the longest we’ve ever had Deja consecutively. Yeah we had her the whole summer last year but she still went back to her mother every other weekend. Not this time. We had her for 30 days. No break. Lael and her were each other’s shadows. If one wore pink so did the other. If one had a snack so did the other. If one took a bath, the other was right there too. It was such a joy to watch but a little part of me was in pain for what would happen when it was time for Deja to go home.

Yesterday was that day. The night before Lael told one of my friends that she would cry because she always cries when Deja leaves. My friend told her to not cry and show her sister what a big girl she was.

It was hard for her. She hugged her sister goodbye and I scooped her up and kissed her. As I buckled her back into her car seat she bit her bottom lip. She took deep breaths. She hugged her stuffed bunny. And then she was ok. She took out her video game and started to play Sponge Bob. I climbed in the back seat with her and held her hand and played her game with her the whole way home.

We won’t get Deja again until August. July is going to be a long month. With one less child.

More Flags, More Fun, Six Flags

I am so tired. Why am I tired you may ask. This is why. It's a good kind of tired though. The kind you know you don't get to often. The "I played my heart out and the kids will remember this" kind of tired.

I have been promising to take the girls to Six Flags for a few summers. I just never seemed to make it there. Yesterday we did. We spent 6 hours screaming, laughing, eating, slashing around and just enjoying each other's company.


There were tattoos......

Falling out of the sky......

Balloon popping......

Squeals and screams......

Holding hands......

But most of all there was pure joy.

Words can't express how it filled my heart just to have a day of fun with my girls.

Funny thing, I forgot my cell phone at home and I can't help but think it was God's why of giving me a day off.

Wordless Wednesday (Nation's Capital)

What's A Baseball Season Without Trophies?

Friday night was the Baseball End of Season Party.

I for one have never been more happy for the END of that.

Don't get me wrong. It was fun. But FUN can even become exhausting sometimes.

I have learned quite a few things after being Team Mom of this fun sport that I will remember over the next few years.

1. Team Mom really means assistant coach, snack organizer, bandaide put'er on'er, water bottle police, and referee.

2. Even if you arrange the snack roster, re-confirm the snack roster, snacks will still be forgotten.

3. When the above happens, everyone will look at YOU and YOU will be blamed for the kids not having snacks. Even if they don't SAY it, the looks speak loud enough.

4. You are responsible for handling the kids on the benches and by the end of the season you will be comfortable enough to grab some by the collar and not even care if the parents see. Just kidding. No really.

5. Even though it's not mandatory, the coach will need a gift at the end of season and you have to come up with ideas.

6. When you come up with said present and send it out to everyone you will get NO responses.

7. When it's time for the party and presents those NON-RESPONDERS will have the nerve to ask you what you are giving the coach.

8. And they will say they are giving you money.

9. And they won't.

10. And you'll get an email from them 2 days later about the 5 dollar check they wrote you and you will start saving up for next years present because you are sure it will happen again no matter how much you SWEAR you won't volunteer again because you'll look at this face and know she needs you. (Longest run-on sentence EVAH!)

And Then A Child Was Lost

I find it amazing that I just posted about losing a child in a store or otherwise. Amazing. Yesterday me and a friend went to Target to pick up a few things for out kids Baseball End Of Season Party. We picked up what we needed and decided to browse the Women’s Department before checking out. My friends youngest son was with us in a shopping cart and while we were talking and looking at clothes we hear a faint “Hello”. We turn to see a pretty little 2 or 3 year old girl wearing a cute dress and barefoot. We smiled and greeted her and went back to what we were doing.

A few seconds later she was still there playing hide and seek between the clothes I was standing next to. I joked with her and smiled and looked around to see who she was with. There were 2 ladies close by (but too far in my opinion) in the Women’s area and I figured she was with them. We asked if they had a little girl with them and they both shook their heads no.

Shit.

My friend tried to talk to the girl to see if she knew her name or her moms. I don’t think she spoke English. I got worried and asked a few people walking by if the girl was with them. Nothing.

So I decided to try to have her walk with me to the front of the store. I grabbed her hand and she pulled back and got on the ground. I then tried to pick her up but she began to shriek.

Shit.

My friend decided to stay with her while I went to have them make an announcement. I found a Target employee and explained the situation and that the girl didn’t want to come with me. Instead of making an announcement the girls said she would go find some candy. What the fuck was that going to do? I walked away in frustration. I went back and my friend said the girl wasn’t responding to any of her questions. We asked a few more people if she belonged to them and she did not.

After another minute or so another Target employee and a foreign lady holding a younger baby walked up and we asked if she was her. She did. She thanked us and carried on. Not one of those “OHMYGODITHOUGHTILOSTYOUDON’TEVERUNAWAYAGAIN” thank you but a “thanks” kind of thank you.

The little girl wanted to be carried but her mother told me she couldn’t carry her and the baby and she grabbed her hand and the barefoot child walked away with her mom.

I was so furious. I don’t get it. I just don’t get it. Me and my friend both felt sick. How long did it take her to realize that her daughter was missing. I would have been running around yelling my child’s name. It pisses me off to no end. Keep your children safe. In the time the whole situation took place that girl could have walked right out of the front door. She could have been taken off by God knows who. Too many possibilities and none make me feel good.