March has been a month to determine which of us has True Grit. It's been one thing after another. March 5th was Jon's official "halfway point" for this residency, but instead of celebrating we both just kind of looked at each other-- not sure which was more depressing; the though of what we'd just been through for 6 months, or the fact that he has just that amount more to go? Then the FORECLOSURE posted on the door. Then the 1st LIST came out with ample availabilities in places like Minot, North Dakota. And now LIST #2 which is more official than List #1 comes out tomorrow. Then illness falls on all four of us at once.... That darn spring cold that just won't go away!! And now our beautiful spring weather is playing games. Plus let's face it, if I have to wake up one more time at 4:30 a.m. listening to Zachary crying to be let out to play, I might really do something stupid. Like go grocery shopping at WalMart, get through the check out line with a cart FULL of a $160 worth of groceries, and then realize I left my wallet at home. Oh wait! I just did that. Lack of sleep makes you do really, really stupid things...
So this weekend, despite that I was feeling feverish and had a sinus headache that was near-blinding, I decided we needed a day out. Something blog-worthy, something to free us of these Ides of March, something I could FORCE us to have fun doing. So we drove out to Red Rock seeking some adventures.
But first, Lucy had to randomly puke all over herself. I figure it had been awhile since our last public puking (two weekends ago to be exact-- Zach randomly puked all over a Panda Express at dinner), so we were due for Public Humiliation #468. Actually it wasn't that public since we were just pulled over on the side of the highway, but still. I didn't let that stop us! No sir! Drive on! And notice how in this picture she's eating, so apparently she DID feel better after puking. Go figure. Just crossing my fingers she was car sick and didn't have stomach flu to pass on to us all...
We finally made it to our picnic destination only to discover that there were gale force winds and a temperature of 47 degrees. Refusing to give up we picnicked inside the car. Jonathan's favorite!! (If you know my husband, you know his one, undying beef is about keeping the car spotless until we pay it off). I'm not too sure he enjoyed our "inside" picnic.
Here I am! Forcing one and all to have FUN!! We only got out to use the porta-potty once, so according to my mom's picnicking scale, it ranked disastrously low. No points for scenery-- and definitely NO water to be found (waterfalls score bonus points), no points for gourmet food (Subway sandwiches don't count), no points for company since I was sick, Jon was half-asleep, and Lucy had just barfed, so I'd only give it a 2 out of 10. 
What do you think? Would you have liked to attend our car picnic with Zachy banging his head against the windows trying to get out? Have we earned a reputation for True Grit with all the barf, colds, pre-dawn wake-up calls, breeches of rental contracts, and 47 Places-You-Don't-Want-To-Live lists this month? Sound off!!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
True Grit
Posted by sara cardon at 4:44 PM
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
16 comments:
Oh my, that IS true grit! I'm so sorry. Somehow you make it almost sound fun. You're too good of a writer. Jon sounds like Ken: He HATES us to eat in the car or get mud in the car or anything. It's his sanctuary. Can't wait to hear where you're going in six months!
Wow, true Grit is right. Sorry we were laughing out loud with your descriptions....True Grit with the picnic !!
That last picture of Zach begging to be "unleashed on the world" says it all for me. Gale force winds and 47 degrees? Sounds like a nice day in Blackfoot. From now on, you can just refer to it as FFF ("Forced Family Fun"). But next time, make sure you get a little of that Nevada sand blown into your sandwichs. Now that would be True Grit!
Hey! We have had a really crappy month too! Even though we are many miles apart we still managed to be right on track with each other! I hope that things are only going to go uphill for you guys.....I am excited to hear where you are going next! And only 7 more weeks till we can have a much needed mommy retreat!
yikes! Sounds like quite the month. Good for you for trying to have fun with your family! Hopefully next month is better and that there is at least one place on the list you want to go!
You are such a clever writer. I just laughed and laughed about the puke. I swear Jon and Dad are two peas in a pod. Dad also hates the eating in the car thing. Hope you are feeling better this week and that the saying "March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb" will mean your end of the month will be much better than the beginning.
LOL! I'm sorry, it's all just so sad I'm laughing after reading your post. Maybe it's because you write so well. So do you have to move twice? Is that what the sign on your door meant?
Oh dear!!! Sorry but I laughed out loud several times! Miss you guys!
Don't worry Sara. I'd still come to your picnic. I love that kid even though he has a reputation for being self-abusive. I think you are a good sport for trying and give you bonus points on the scale for smiling in your picture :)
As much as that stinks, I couldn't help but laugh... I love your stories!
Things can only get better - repeat that 5 times and then keep hoping! Sounds like a big rough patch and those do seem to come around often in the course of raising kids! Your picnic idea was great - too bad the weather and all else didn't cooperate! Hang in there!
Oh boy. I definitely count that experience as blog-worthy. I just feel horrible that everyone was feeling so rotten.
oh I'm sorry you are having bummer days too but at least you can write humorous posts about them that makes us all smile :) I think you are such a great mom for working so hard to have some fun family time despite all the circumstances and being sick. That is definitely True Grit!
Yikes! What a bummer! But it sounds like despite it all you made it through okay.
What's up with the 2 lists thing? I thought the first one was the official one...
okay, so I laughed at the picnic in the car and jonathan stressing out. So...now that the super long list is out, how did you rank. our colonel wanted us to turn ours in yesterday so we officially submitted it. It's such a game, because they could give you your number 1 or your 33rd! If we could get one of our top ten, we would be very pleased. Sorry to hear about the foreclosure, that's just annoying, especially because you have to move again in Aug. Good luck!
You are hilarious. And any time someone attempts a picnic it should at least deserve a 3 for effort.
Post a Comment