Full-up on summer fun

• AJ is home from camp! I was desperate to see him by Friday, on pick-up day. I snapped at KT to hurry up, hurry up, get OUT of the car. The house and my whole routine had started to feel weirdly empty, just not right. Don't get me wrong, life is a whole lot EASIER with just one kid to manage! But at the end of the day Thursday, at 5:00 pm, I just felt heavy, and knew he had officially been Gone Too Long. So Friday morning, a snapped-at KT and I trekked across the campus to where the boys were appearing... only to remember I had to drive elsewhere and get his luggage first. Argggh. Good thing I was there early. He wasn't nearly as desperate to see me, but all the same, I think he's glad to be home. We do wonder if he's having a period of "withdrawal;" he's been acting slightly weird. Staring blankly at us, random outbursts to scare KT... I don't know. He's also picked up a small set of germs and is coughing. Hoping this will all normalize soon.
• I have painted the trim around two doorways that were most despicably dingy! And the baseboards surrounding/nearby. (I have a lot more to do, but this is a start. A start!)
• The house next door is for sale. Not this one; the other side. I guess it's good for us. An indicator of how we might do? I'm wondering.
• DH mentioned possibly just getting the stupid banisters re-built. I didn't mention it here, but since Real-Estate Friend suggested I paint them black, way back in December, one of the spindles has fallen (or been knocked) out. Off. There's a hole in the spindles. Kids love to stick their heads (whole bodies) through holes like these, argh argh. Maybe rather than beat the whole structure up by nailing it back in (and trying to strengthen some other loose areas), we should just scrap it and start from zero. Go for iron. Plus, painting all those grooves myself would be a huge PITA. So, back to the piggy bank we go? It's in talks, I guess.
• We got FitBit Flexes! We're having fun trying to accomplish 10,000 steps a day. We're having fun with the sleep-monitor and silent buzzing alarms. We'll see how long the fun lasts but I'd glad to have a motivational tool right here on my wrist and look like a badass simply by wearing it. ;)
• I'm hopeful that our Braves game tonight won't get rained out. We got tickets for free. I can get probably 5 or 6000 steps just by walking from the parking lot to the stadium so GO AWAY, RAIN! and Go Braves! (Have loved 'em since I was seventeen!) You want to talk about summer fun?? I am excited to take both kids tonight. AJ's never been before!
• Beach Week countdown: 4.25 days! It can't get here soon enough! I decided today that I'm going to disappear from social media for the week. It will be difficult, since we carry our cell phones for communication from the condo to the beach, to plan dinnertimes, to locate each other (are you at Pool 1 or Pool 2?), and to ask for someone to bring snacks downstairs! But I am determined. Screen-time, save for Kindle-time and FitBit-time, shall decrease to below 10%. So Say We All. (Well, or just me.)

Bird dream

I dreamed last night (early this morning, actually), that I was lying on a carpeted floor, near a window that had blinds on it. The blinds were closed. At the top there was a gray/brownish bird, half-hidden behind the blinds. I couldn't tell, at first, if his head was peeking over the top -- I didn't see a face or a beak. Next, the bird flew out of the blinds and attacked my neck on the right side. It latched on and chewed. I physically felt a pain there and it woke me up. I even cried out, in my sleep.

Of course I went looking for this:

http://dreamhawk.com/dream-dictionary/birds/

"Bird attacking: Fear of ideas, ideals or opinions; verbal or mental (suggestions or suggestive behaviour) attack by others; fear of going beyond ones narrow boundaries. Be daring and face the restrain that holds you back." [Emphasis mine.]

Interesting. (I've always remembered dreams easily and always loved dream "interpretation.")

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One other related thing: When I read with KT in her bed, I'm always looking to the left to see the book that she insists on holding, so the right side of my neck gets tired/sore.

(But I've also been doing yoga the last two nights, before bed. Overall I think it's going to help with the soreness/pain.)

Birthday wishes

Yesterday was my 39th birthday. I thought of some wishes for my next year. I don't know if they're hokey; they probably are. I'll tell you anyway.

1. I wish to not hurt so much when I wake up! This sounds pathetic, but OH, MAN, do you guys just HURT in the mornings when you wake up? I do. My calves wake up sore like I've been working out without stretching, but I haven't been. My neck is just constantly tight. Is this just a getting older joint-thing that we can't alleviate? Or could drinking more water, eating better, taking the dreaded fish oil and whatever else, throwing out all my high heels, getting crazy like a vegan, or doing yoga every day reverse this horrible side effect? Do I need a new mattress? I don't know but I guess I'd like to experiment with several of these ideas -- like, get up at 5 am (haha) for a week or two for some serious yoga, or take a damn class like I want to do, and see if it helps. Because seriously, I am too young to feel this old. (I AM.) ....But please tell me you hurt, too, if you're over 37! It's mostly in the mornings, but also sometimes when I just get up from sitting, my legs hurt. WTF.

2. I wish I could figure out my career aspirations. What do I want? Most of all? And how can I get THAT, and also bring home the salary that I want and deserve? I mean, what I've learned in the last year is that what I want (what everyone wants) is contentment. So if it's simply being more grateful for my writing/desk job, and learning to let go of the corporate BS, and making peace with my cubicle, then fine, I wish to be more grateful. (And also for flextime that doesn't make me feel guilty.) And perhaps all of that will lead to more success/recognition/happiness within this job, which is a good job. But if it's finding whatever MORE could be out there for me -- if it's getting brave and looking into something riskier than I'm used to, for the reward of some free days in the summers or some interesting projects or new directions, then I wish to figure it out. Maybe it's freelancing. Writing a book (no). Finding a new company to write for. (I think it's writing; I think I've figured out that that is my marketable skill.) This is lofty and really scary, but with so much being written about Happiness, lately, it seems like I should get mine, too. I want to get in on the Happiness-as-a-business movement, to be honest. And before I turn 40 would be nicely timed. (I am so weary of reading the websites and expert opinions of basic 27-year-olds who say, "I was stuck in a dead-end cubicle job but then I [started this blog] and now I have one million followers and I live my life for me! Woo hoo! And now I'm going to teach YOU how to do the same! For a small fee." And yet, I WANT THAT. Is it our generation's snake oil? Surely it is. Or is it legitimate and where can I get some?) I WISH TO BE INDEPENDENTLY WEALTHY, that's what. ;)

3. I wish for my kids' and my husband's health, safety, growth and happiness. Same for my parents. And sister. And all of you nice people. And heck, me too. Let's all be happy.