Wound up going to the Elvis Costello show last night, though I mostly wish I hadn’t. Yes, I’ve always wanted to see him live. And he is an amazing performer. But I was far too exhausted to properly enjoy it. And the absolutely dreadful opening act soured the evening for me anyhow. And my companions heckling said act didn’t improve matters much. It was better when Elvis started playing, but even during his set I was thinking:
1 : how much I’d rather be with my son.
2 : how hungry I was.
3 : how tired I was.
4 : of how much better the show would be if I were rested, which is but one of the reasons why April’s Nick Cave show was so much better.
5 : of the oodles of things I should have been doing around the house, like mid-week laundry or taking the trash out for the Thursday pickup (which just didn’t happen).
6 : of how ridiculously overpriced the tickets were.
7 : of how annoying some people are, especially when I’m tired.

MIA :: The lawn hog, still a no-show. My passcard for the office (hopefully still in the purse I was using last night). Fashionable attire for this evening’s show. Yes, I am wearing beat-up old overalls. No, I do not want to drive all the way home to change when I work just blocks away from the venue. Sigh.
Recovered :: My favorite headband. My health insurance card. The “W” from Parker’s alphabet block/book set. My appetite.

Feels as though I smoked a full carton of cigarettes last night. Perhaps I did. Well, the equivalent in second hand smoke anyhow. Made sure to shower and shampoo out that bar smell before going to bed last night. So now, while my co-workers are nursing their hangovers, I’m nursing my already raw throat. At least the headache has subsided. Again. Hoping it won’t resurface for a while. Even so, I still don’t know if I’m up to another evening out. Supposed to go to the Elvis Costello show tonight. As much as I would like to I am:
1) very tired.
2) on the broke side (from spending all that money on the new lawn hog, which has failed to materialize, and on home improvements)
3) missing the little man. Would love to kick back with him, in our favorite new chair.
As amazing as the Elvis show would likely be, I may have a co-worker go in my place. We’ll see.

In other news, we’re being treated to “bright but mild sunshine” today. The forecast promises “it’s going to get better, beginning today.” I like the sound of that. If only it would hold true all around.

Weird. Soon I will be heading out to a party put on by my employers. The first such in quite some time. They’ve rented out one of the nicer warehouse district venues. One I haven’t been to in ages. Since I last saw Combustible Edison, in fact. So you know it’s been a while.

The weather here in the upper midwest is nearly as unpredictable as my moods. And that’s saying a lot. After a mild winter followed by a long, cold spring we were treated to a week-long (or so) hot spell. I opened up the house (but sort of skipped the spring cleaning) had all the fans a going, and even one of the window a/c units cranking away for a bit. But last night it was back into footie pajamas for the little man and I. Which I was about ready to pack away for the season. Woke up to a cold rain this morning. Could have used my umbrella but realized too late it had been left behind on the front porch. Doh. I’ve lived here all my life but still find the weather perplexing and sometimes vexing. But I wouldn’t have it any other way, I guess.

Took this photo a little while back, but the conditions are much the same today. Though with a bit more rain and less fog. And Godzilla has returned to his usual stomping grounds.

It was a quiet weekend, for the most part. Was still feeling a little cruddy due to allergies. And overeating edamame. Here’s the breakdown.
Friday :: I’ve managed to visit Home Depot the past two Friday nights, and will likely be there this Friday too. Home ownership = home repairs and improvements. That’s ok. I’m pleased with how the redecorating is progressing. Wish the danged lawn mower would show up though. Actually ordered that at Menard’s. It was supposed to ship last week…but now it turns out the factory has to actually make more first. Ugh. Whatever. The tall weeds have flowered and they’re quite pretty really (see below). But I am concerned about losing the little man in the wheat grass. It’s already up to his chest. Speaking of the little man, he was hanging out with his grandparents and aunt D Friday night. So prior to my exciting Home Depot visit, I was able to go out for a quiet dinner where I even bumped into an old friend. Later on I went to see “Lord of the Rings” a second time. Despite my exhaustion I managed to stay awake for all three hours. And I’m glad I did. Especially as I got to see the Two Towers trailer. Could have viewed it online first, but I’m glad I held out for the big screen. Tired as I was, I would have stayed for another three hours to watch the whole thing, if it were ready. Just another six months or so to go. Oh well.
Saturday :: The little man and I slept in (until after 9!) but I was still too tired and unmotivated to engage in any of our multiple, but tentative, plans. Instead we happily kicked around the house all day, as it was too hot and bright to spend extended periods of time outside, mid-day. The little man did a little skinny-dipping in his wading pool. But I worried about his heinie getting sun-burned. So we played indoors most of the day, with the blinds down. Manged to keep the house fairly cool, with the fans going and all. We didn’t leave the house until nearly 7. And then it was just to run a quick errand. When we returned it was the beautiful outside. Much cooler with a slight breeze going. We sat on the front stoop blowing bubbles. A little neighbor boy came over for a visit, as did a neighborhood kitty. Both pleased the little man immeasurably. When the neighbor boy was called away we headed to the backyard, to play on the swingset. I let the little man stay out later than usual, because it was so danged gorgeous out. We’d better enjoy it now, before the nasty mosquitoes multiply. Eventually we went inside to kick back in my new super-ultra-comfy favorite chair, where the little man fell asleep on my lap. A perfect ending to a lazy, lovely day.
Sunday :: Again with the sleeping in. Unprecedented. More lounging and lazing. A much cooler day, though, so outdoor play was less worrisome. Aside from venturing into the backyard, we didn’t leave the house at all. And that was just fine. Being home one would think I could get some household chores done. One would be wrong. I may have shirked them, but I did manage to re-read a favorite book, “Stardust“, in its entirety.
//begin fangirl alert//
Ok, I’m ready to cry now. Got sidetracked by going off to read Neil Gaiman’s weblog (which I was too busy to read on Friday) only to discover that I could have taken the little man to a reading of one his children’s books, “The Day I Swapped My Dad For Two Goldfish“, at the Jungle Theater on Saturday. And that Neil was there himself, to answer questions afterwards. Doh. I’ve said it before…that man’s weblog is not to be neglected.
//end fangirl alert//
Anyhow. A certain someone showed up in the afternoon. With a borrowed chainsaw. To try to hack down the smallish tree…that was but a twiggy thing when I moved into the house…which is now trying to grow through my front porch. Then he washed my dirty dishes (thankyouthankthankyou) and prepared dinner (morethanks) and cleaned up afterwards (thankyoueversomuch). After a very groggy little man was put to bed for the night a very tired mama played Scrabble with that certain someone. Who tried to pass off pseudo words. For some reason I wasn’t having it. Even though being a stickler meant going all the way upstairs to check the official Scrabble dictionary online. Going to have to break down and buy the hard copy version one of these days.

Overall, another fine weekend.

Poked around online a bit and found out that those random blooms in my backyard are actually attached to flowers, not weeds. This four-petaled member of the mustard family is called Dames Rocket. Who woulda thunkit.