Wednesday, September 3, 2008

I Need a Countdown Ticker

I'm planning a vacation. Me and two of my girlfriends. We're going on a booze cruise, and I cannot wait! I have to wait, though. We're not going until Jan. *sigh* But I need to be able to look forward to that.

This school year is knocking me out cold so far. Riley is still not transitioning very well. She is going back to the therapist for a while (or, as we call her, the "feelings doctor"). She was so thrilled to go, and I'm very grateful that we've had this particular therapist in our lives for quite a few years now. It's clear to me that she really likes the girls, and the girls like her. She's always helped before, so I'm quite confident that she'll able to help this time as well.

This was what I feared back when I knew we had to move. Poor Riley - she's changed schools every single year of her education. Not to mention, moving yet again. She's having a rough time with all those adjustments. We had a great weekend, but as soon as the reality of having to go back to school started to hit, she started to fall apart on me all over again. Things got bad. I knew something had to be done.

So she went today. She was so excited to go. While they were in their appointment, I was blackberrying about my vacation. It got me through.

These two particular friends, L and J, are around my age, yet we enjoy regressing back to about high school when we're together (when we can). J is the one who actually helped me find this apt., and I met her through L, a colleague of mine. J is also a single mom so she gets it. L has spent enough time with J and I to get it as well. We take advantage of any and every opportunity we have to re-connect with our inner child when we're together.

So we found a 4-day cruise to Mexico for less than $300. J and I have made our child care arrangements and we are booking tomorrow. I cannot wait to have those days without worrying about children, about homework, about work work, about driving, about laundry and just...cruising and drinking. I may not even get off the boat in Mexico. Okay, I may have to get off to call home and make sure the girls are okay. But after that, I'm getting right back on, and the bartender better have my drink ready. I will drink "Sex on the Beach" for 3 days. I will lounge until my feet fall asleep. I will laugh until my sides hurt. I may even make up a cruise name for myself. (Suggestions welcome.)

And that will get me through for now. That will get me through as I tell Riley for the hundredth time tonight, "homework!" That will get me through as I lay out their clothes for tomorrow. That will get me through when I rush to tomorrow's Outdoor Science Parent Night (which takes place in the auditorium). That will get me through next Tuesday night when I go from the new parent tea at 6 at Riley's school to the band parent meeting at Sylvia's school at 7.

Even the girls had to admit, Mommy deserves a vacation, too!

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a wonderful vacation! Just thinking of the sun, sand, and umbrella drinks will get you through the winter.

I am so glad Riley likes her feelings doctor. All those changes -- I don't like it when they change the menu at my favorite restaurant so I can't imagine a move, new school, etc.

sybil law said...

I will be here - jealous, jealous, jealous!!!!!
But happy for you. It is fun to act immature and without responsibility sometimes. It just IS.
Yay for you!

Shiona said...

Woohoo for me time! I had one of those back in the day. It was so sad it took me TWO HOURS to drink it! Sun, surf, drinks and old friends what could be better?

Shiona said...

I also wanted to say that I'm glad to hear that Riley actully likes the feelings doctor. Hopefully that will make things easier for all of you.

Loth said...

I've never been on a cruise. I look forward to reading your detailed and informative critique of the experience. Even better - drunk blog it!!!

Anonymous said...

I'm so excited for you! A countdown ticker is definitely in order.

FreedomFirst said...

Hope you have a great time - and make it okay until then! Lol. I'm sorry school is so rough on you guys.

Suzie said...

I know this mommy needs a vacation but as I am now the human baby bottle it aint happening. Have fun you deserve it

Kori said...

Yep-you deserve it. Because if you aren't taking care of yourself, you can't take care of the girls. Instead of just drinking sex on the beach, get off the baot in Mexico and HAVE sex on the beach while drinking it. Take condoms just in case, and let your hair down. Not that I would EVER advocate some no-strings-attached relations with a handsome Spaniard.

Anonymous said...

WOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO for VACATIONS!!!!! I'm so excited for you! :) Good for you!!!

As for moving schools...as a youngster I attended 2 preschools, 3 elementary schools, 2 middle schools and 2 highschools. My family moved a lot....if I don't say so myself, I think I turned out pretty good. It helped me become the talkative and strong person I've become! ;) (it also keeps you on your toes and teaches you 'people' smarts...you learn who you really want your friends to be)

hugabug1 said...

Yay for vacations! I hope that the time between then and now goes well. I'm sorry Riley is having a rough time right now.

Anonymous said...

Aww I wanna go! Too bad I live about 17 hours from the closest Ocean.
P.S. The school year is going to kill me I think. Good for you on having such a handle on it already.

Julie@My5monkeys said...

have a fun vacation....check out lilypie for a ticker/countdowns.

Anonymous said...

Mexico? DON'T DRINK THE WATER, but,of course, that is not the plan!

There is nothing better than a cruise...sun, relax, drink, eat, sun, relax, drink, eat...

Treat yourself, cause if you don't, who will?

I'll be enving you in January as I sit in the 'Burgh icebox...

Mama Smurf said...

Oh MAN! That's awesome! Me and several friends go on a girls' trip every year (for the past 4 years)and do the same thing....connect with our inner adolescense. It's a wonderful thing!

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Mama Smurf said...
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Mozi Esme said...

Yeah for you! Enjoy it!

goin-crazy said...

Yeah! Vacation! I am jealous. I have not been a vacation in...let's see...8 years!

I think I am due.

nutmeg said...

I'm doing a girl's weekend with friends in six days! I feel the very same way.

KG said...

I hope you have an utterly trantastic time. And I hope Riley starts getting into a new routine ASAP!

Jeff and Charli Lee said...

January? It sounds like you need that vacation now ;-)

I think you should be Lolita while you're there.

Ms Crazy Princess said...

I got your site from http://insanity-of-organized-chaos.blogspot.com/ (R) .. I read some of your stuff and you're pretty funny! I hope you don't mind if I add you to my list?
ANYHOW! The girls get away sounds sooo awesome. I so totally need a girls night out sometime as well. Enjoy it when you go!
(And I second the HAVE sex on the beach thing!) ;)

Anonymous said...

Oh sounds like so much fun!!!!! My cousins used to go on those all the time.

Anonymous said...

Oh sounds like so much fun!!!!! My cousins used to go on those all the time.

Anonymous said...

I'm so jealous....

Jen said...

Sometimes knowledge that something like that is ahead really CAN get us through.

I know you'll enjoy every second.

And I so, so, so hope that the transitions smooth out soon.

Meg said...

A good therapist is hard to find--we've had three. Hang in there. Sex on the Beach is on its way!

Anonymous said...

Mommies-Off-Call Cruise! WooHoo!

January gives you four months of fantasizing through the doldrums and tantrums. The fantasizing part will last longer than the cruise itself, so I say savor the idea of savoring drinks with umbrellas!

Tara R. said...

Your trip sounds fabulous... I'm a little, okay a lot, jealous! I hope you have a great time. I hope your girls' school year settles out and that they both have a great time.