My little runner

Today was the day of Brian's first cross country meet! I was so thrilled that he made the team (some of his close friends didn't!), and the meet was today after not a whole lot of training. I was nervous for him, because I didn't really know what to expect, and he was a little nervous too. I warned him about the group start, telling him to get away from the other kids, and just pace himself...and that was pretty much all the advice I could give him.

So we arrived, and there he was, looking so adorable in his school jersey. There were 27 schools at the meet, grades 3, 4, 5 and 6...so tons of excited, jacked up kids running all over the place. I'm glad he was in grade 3...I didn't have to wait too long to watch him run. His start was somewhere in the middle of the pack, and as the kids were coming around the first stretch, the track, some of them were walking already, but not my puddin'. He was just running along, pacing himself perfectly, looking like all of this was no big deal. They ran off, into the forest, and we walked down to where we would eventually be able to see them emerging. And when I saw him come out of the forest, my heart nearly burst with pride! He looked so athletic and so competent, running along the path...toward the big hill! The final leg of the race took them up a big hill, across a bridge, and then down the grass to the finish where we were waiting, cheering for him!

He sprinted to the finish line, 60th out of 91 kids who ran, but second place out of the 6 who ran from his school. I was so proud of him! What a kid! And he had so much fun doing it! I couldn't believe how much stamina he had...he looked like he could have run a lot more than he did! Who would have thought that I would have an athletic kid? Yay!!

Going a little crazy, maybe?

I am really not sure how much more I can take. I think I might be as stressed as I've ever been in my whole life. I'm falling apart here...

...and the air conditioning goes on...

Yep...it's only April...theoretically could still have a big snowstorm, and I have boys who I kicked outside to play (a la my own upbringing) begging to come back in because it's too hot out there! Which, of course, I already know, since I am smart enough to stay inside where it's cool and there are no UV rays threatening to prematurely age me!

I understand that there are people, lots and lots of them, who have spent the whole winter inside waiting for this day, where it is sunny and hot and they can just soak it in; I however, am not one of them. I am an inside person. I just am. I enjoy temperatures that can be controlled. Sweating is not something that I enjoy in any way (well...maybe in one way but that's it!) So I think I will let all you outdoors people do...that. I am going to sit here, maybe watch a little TV, and enjoy the cool.

The "Super"store??????

Super my BUTT!! I went to the Superstore today, and what a nightmare. The store looked like a bomb hit it, and it was out of EVERYTHING! I was mildly annoyed, as i wheeled up and down the aisles, at how many things were out of stock. I realize it's easter Monday, but seriously, the store looked like it had been ransacked by hurricane Katrina crowds! Which I might understand if I had shown up first thing in the morning, but I was there at around 6pm, so they had all day to stock shelves...as I say, mildly annoyed.

So I go to the cash registers, and see every single one of them lined up. That's pretty usual, so I get in a lineup and proceed to flip through a magazine with Jason Segel, Paul Rudd and the gang on the front. I had time to read the entire article before it occurred to me that the line was NOT moving. I looked at the cashier and she is just standing there, apparently awaiting some price confirmation about a set of pots and pans. With my annoyance growing, I began wondering if I should just find another line. Eventually, I decide that's the best thing to do, and I get into another line. I manage to unload about half my groceries onto the conveyor belt when I notice that this line has stopped as well. Some problem with the price of a jar of Nutella and also, a travel mug. So now, not only have I waited in line for close to 1/2 an hour, but I'm really annoyed because the grocery store is empty, and what little they do have isn't even priced correctly, and clearly the woman in front of me is desperate to own this travel mug. So I say to the cashier, "what the hell is going on here...the store looks like a bomb hit it...nobody knows the prices of anything...where is everybody?? Where is a manager...I want to speak to a manager." She looks at me like I'm green, and then she tells me that I can go to customer service if I want to talk to a manager. That is when I lose it. I tell her that no, I've waited in line for 1/2 an hour in this stupid store, and I am NOT waiting in line for a manager so I can complain...bring on here...FIND ONE AND BRING HIM HERE TO ME. So she stands there for a minute, then turns to what is clearly another cashier and, in whatever language they both seem to speak (not english) and it appears she tells her to come deal with me. Over she comes and I say to her "are you the manager?" and she says "yes" and I say "you are the MANAGER of this store? If I call this store and ask to speak to the store manager, it's you that's going to pick up the phone, is that right?" and she says "no", so I say "WELL YOU GO AND GET ME THE MANAGER!" After more irritated rigamarole (I'm still standing in line though), some young dude comes bopping down, declaring himself to be the Grocery Manager. At this point, I'm just ready to kill everyone, so I tell him what my problems are, and he stands there and nods sympathetically...and then says "well you know...it's easter weekend...we were closed yesterday and we were really busy on Saturday" and my head just explodes. I'm like yeah, i'm aware of what weekend it was; were YOU guys aware of what weekend it was?? Because your store certainly wasn't stocked adequately for it! Oh and also, asshat, easter weekend is OVER, and you've had all night and day to get things ship shape again. Dude is just nodding, saying "i totally understand what you're saying...I totally hear you..." ARG!!! Clearly you DON'T, you fucking halfwit. So I bitched my face off, and you know what's going to happen? Exactly nothing. I effing hate that store...I swear, I'm stopping shopping there.

Also...i wish more people just spoke english better. *sigh*