Things are Lookin’ up
Aug 22
I’ve been feeling a bit down in the dumps. It’s not a downswing; I don’t need my lithium level checked. I think it’s just a combination of work frustration, worry over Hot Joe’s back and now his knees, craziness in the neighborhood and as Beth called it, “the end of summer blues.” Noah has been home bored pretty much this entire summer. He has 2 hours of computer, 30 minutes of reading, some TV and then whatever happens each day. He’s had a few outings, some camping with his cousins and a racist comment. He’s ready to start school again.
So am I.
Don’t get me wrong, he’s been really easy this summer. It’s just having him here totally disrupts the personal schedule and environment I crave so much.
I want my home back. I want my quiet.  I want my Do Not Disturb. I don’t want to set my timer for computer usage or reading. I don’t want to answer questions or hear the background sounds of a television, a boy playing with dogs or multiple texts coming in back to back. To back. Repeat. I don’t want to listen to a little dog whining at a door for 2 hours waiting for a boy to appear. I don’t want the front door to open and close several times unless it’s me letting the dogs in and out because that’s what I’m accustomed to.
That day is coming my friends, and it’s right around the corner. I. Am. So. Ready.
Wednesday isn’t that day. That’s the first day of school. I took the whole day off of work because who can concentrate when their kid is experiencing double the classes?
Thursday, on the other hand, Thursday is the day. Thursday, August 30, 2012. The day I get my quiet back. I may work naked that day. Who cares? Nobody will be here to know about it. On the other hand, my chair is fake leather and it’s still summer and even with the air running…
Seriously, Thursday can’t get here quick enough. I love my kid. He’s awesome, amazing, handsome, funny and all that a son can be, but I want him out of my house.
In order to cheer myself up I’ve decided to remind myself and share with you some of the funny happenings around the Pugliano household:
1. Joe spent all week and then part of the weekend working on his hands and knees. By Sunday night his right knee was swollen with fluid. Because he likes to take care of things himself (and because he’s somewhat odd), he took a needle and poked a few holes in his knee. He squeezed, forcing down a scream, with no results. Monday morning he sat on the chair in our room, bore down and squeezed the living shit out of his knee. The result? An arc of fluid sprayed across the room. When he told me this I didn’t know whether to cringe, laugh or high five him. I laughed.
2. Noah has taken on a new way of talking. I can’t describe it. It’s like an accent he uses. I can only tell you he’s saying, “Hey Momma! Whatcha doin’ baby? Are ya workin’ hard? Good job sweet thang.” Now you’re reading this and you’re like, “ha. funny.” When he does this to me tears pour down my face. It’s the funniest thing in the entire world to me. When I feel sad I say, “Hey Noah!” and straight into character he goes. Seriously, this is one very funny kid. He totally takes after Hot Joe and I. We are super funny.
3. Wyatt. Wyatt had zero personality when he was little. He was all about Mommy and that was it. Nobody else mattered or existed. I loved that kid and I wanted so bad for him to just like me back. He always loved his Noah, though. Now Wyatt is 11 and he’s dry and sarcastic with this amazing timing for random comments that totally fit the situation perfectly, if only for not fitting. Does that make sense?
4. Uncle Grampa. Sweet sweet Grampa is slowly slipping further into dementia and it’s honestly frightening and frustrating and very, very sad and worrisome for all of us. However, if I take a step back and describe one of his antics to a friend, I find myself able to see the funny in the often dangerous things Grampa says and does.
Yep, things are definitely looking up for me.
Hang in there baby!
You help. A lot.
One of my favorite tv commercials is the office supply store one, where the dad is dancing down the aisle with the shopping cart and the Christmas song, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of The Year” is playing.
I considered working naked next Thursday in some sort of act of solidarity, but that probably would not be a good idea… for so many reasons.
I’m not wearing my glasses and I can barely read the screen. Please excuse typos.
Yes, yes!! I was going to mention the same song as Hippie!! I was singing the song while reading your post, in fact.
The naked in the fake leather chair made me cringe. That hurts. Please, don’t do it. You’ll ruin a really good day.
I am excited you’ll get your place back. I get it. I was there. Thankfully, I live here, and well – our kids went back earlier. My world is a brighter place. Here’s to your rainbows and unicorns coming soon!
And chocolate? Can I have chocolate too? If I DO go naked you will be getting a photo. I will mail it to someone else out of state to mail it to you so you will be confused. And I will also include a recording of the sound of the skin ripping off my butt when I stand up. And you will love it.
OMG that story about hot Joe and his knee just made me gag a little. Ugh I am the worst person when it comes to medical stuff.
Anyways you can see the light at the end of the tunnel! Just one more week!
And the countdown begins today. I didn’t cringe, because that’s so Joe. I laughed. The visual was so awful I had to laugh. ONLY JOE.
My date is September 5. My kids go back to school on the 4th, but that day does not count.
Little tip for working naked: put a pillow on your chair, that’s what I do because I have been pantsless the whole summer (I have airconditioning, but I hate cold air blowing on me so I set it on really low and then it’s hot. I know, first world problems)
Also – found your joint blog with Lenore and your Twitter account – HOW COOL IS THAT?!?! You betcha there’s better times coming for you, sweet thang!
Hahahaha sweet thang!!! I wish you could hear that. I am SO PROUD of you right now for being half naked all summer. I just think it’s necessary sometimes and people don’t understand that. YOU get it Kerstin and I love you for that. And I’m also super glad you found our co-blog. I just know we’ll be famous.
Hot Joe actually squeezed the fluid out of his knees?! I’m no expert, but that don’t sound like a good idea to me.
As for this “strange” accent Noah is acquiring, I could send him some mp3′s of true New Yawk accents, a la Queens, Brooklyn and da Bronx. Just pay for the shipping – it’s $4.95…just kidding. I wouldn’t make you pay for shipping!
That would be SO AWESOMESAUCE!!! Joe is from Syracuse and that just really really doesn’t count to me. My FAVORITE is Sowf Bronx. So STRONG an accent. Love.
I bet if you blogged about working naked you’d get a lot of awesome google search hits!
Ha! Funny because I had to remove a post once when I got porn searches.
Umm…I don’t think Joe should have squeezed the fluid out of his knee. But next time, you should totally take picture.
Cheers to next Thursday friend!
I am quite upset with him for not informing me he would be doing this.
He pierced his knee with a needle? Wow…what a trooper.
And totally not something anyone was surprised by.
I am totally ready for some rhythm and routine back in our life’s. I’m not looking forward 11th grade a year filled with college talk and prep but I am looking forward to knowing my kid is at school from 8-3 or thereabouts. Waldorf schools are big on “thereabouts.”
My 16 year old has wheels and I’m thrilled for both of us but he has been on the go constantly which means I must ask, “Where are you going.” and “When will you be home.” Teens never know where they are going and while I could solve the “what time will you be home” issue with a curfew, I don’t want too. . .so we have played it by ear most of the summer and while that has worked it has been stressful and overwhelming and I’m ready for a break.
Cheers for Naked Thursday.
I was going to do naked Sunday to practice, but everyone’s home today, so…I hope we can parent Noah like you. I hope Noah is trustworthy and makes wise choice. You are a terrific mom Katybeth.