Flush

Nice title, huh? I mean you really don’t know what you’re going to get, do you?

It could be that I’m going to fuss once again about sharing a bathroom with boys (specifically Little Man) or I could be about to share the first chapter of my romance novel between a handsome and strapping (but, of course, aloof and moody) cowboy who is forced to share space with a bonny lass who was dropped on his doorstep by fate. Heck, it might even be a post about a big  video poker win [Vegas, anyone?]!

Yeh, no. This one is about a funeral. You see, I killed Fishdy.

OK, that may be a bit dramatic. I didn’t do it on purpose. There was no premeditation or heinous act. But it happened. [And, to be fair, it's probably a good thing that I've gotten some distance from the whole thing because I was inexplicably upset and traumatized by the whole thing.]

I was actually trying to be a good fish mom. I was cleaning out his tank. I did everything just like I’d done before … only this time the bubble stone broke. So, good fish mom that I am? I set out to get him another one. He was fine when I left … I swear.

Four stores and a 60 mile round trip later, I had the ding-dang stone [OK, first, I'm not exaggerating about the number of stores and number of miles here. Not even a little bit! Second, I also bought him new rocks and a new net ... he was about to be ready for his own segment on Cribs.]

Seriously, we were gone for about 3 hours. It wasn’t a long time.

When we arrived home, I put the stone in and got the clean water a’bubblin’ again. Ahhh … all was well.  I went to check on Fishdy.

Crap. [I may actually have used a different word. It's all a bit hazy.]

He was laying on his side at the bottom of the holding tank. No gill movement. Nothing.

I told Little Man. He told Husband. There was a bike ride.

A bit later, while Little Man was playing with his trucks, I quietly took Fishdy into the bathroom. I told him I was sorry, dumped him into the bowl, and flushed.

As I walked back to the kitchen, Little Man quietly said,

Mom, I know what that flush was. It was Fishdy wasn’t it?

I told him that it was and that I was very sorry that Fishdy was gone. We shared a quick hug and he went back to playing.

Fishdy’s very clean tank is sitting on my counter top. The pump is still on and the stone is still a’bubblin’.  A couple of times this week I’ve had to remind myself NOT to feed the empty bowl.

Little Man has decided he wants another fish … and a hamster.

I’m sure that there is something deep that I could say here about the frailty of life and the resiliency of childhood. I feel like I should make some commentary here – something deep that resonates with readers everywhere.

But, in the end, this is really just another story of a mom, a boy, a fish, and a flush.

Taste Buds

So … had a thought today. (No comments from the cheap seats, please.)

Little Man told me last night (in no uncertain terms, mind you) that he will like pickles when he is 16. It was one of many random thoughts that he laid on me while we were headed to dinner at his favorite not-so-fast-food restruant. I’d bet money he’ll like them sooner than that!

My mother swore that I would like tomatoes when I turned 30. It was one of her random assertions as I was growing up. Yeh, over 30 now. Still don’t like them!

Hang with me here … there’s a point to all of this!

So, I reach in the candy jar today and get ready to make a selection from the many mini candy bars just waiting for chomping. I pulled out a Milky Way. Now, this is not radical. In fact, it’s probably not even blog-worthy. Except that as I walked down the hall, it hit me. I’ve never liked Milky Way bars. Never.

For the better part of my life (and better part is, at this point, a long time), my candy bar of choice has been Snickers. I’m not really a candy snob mind you … this would just be my choice. Except today, it was a choice and I picked one up … put it down … chose a Milky Way.

OK, this is now starting to sound like I’m either on medication or need to be!

Guess my question is this … what happened? Based on this evidence, is it possible that my mom will eventually be right? Might I actually end up liking tomatoes sometime before I die? And, would that be a bad thing?

Or, perhaps the bigger concern … is it possible that one day, out of the blue, I may stop liking chocolate??? That’s kind of alarming! That’s actually alarmingly alarming!

But … I WILL NOT PANIC! I think I’ll just have another Milky Way and think about it some more!

Alias

OK … I’m back! I’ve been an Alias fan for a couple of years now and there are few shows that have caused me as much grief in May. I simply cannot take the cliffhangers!

Break in thought here … I need to state this very clearly … CRAIG ROCKS!

On the night of the season finale this year, ABC 15 was apparently having trouble with its HD feed (argh). We were at home and watching live … not careful about what TIVO (which is instructed to tape every episode) was doing. We missed the last 30 seconds of the show. Doesn’t sound like much, does it? It totally is.

Now, since that time, I’ve pieced together what happened and Debra has filled me in. But, today, Craig found my lost last seconds. Even knowing what was coming – and that I would probably jump out of my skin – I freaked out! My heart is racing as I write this! Unreal!!!!!!

OK … last 2 minutes found on Alias Media.

AHHHHHHH!

So Much to Write About

I’ve been thinking about posting for a very long time and just haven’t done it. Sad really. Probably would help me stay sane … which is, of course, my whole purpose for creating this space in the first place. OK … let’s get started … gonna be a long one.

1. Fruit
A couple of weeks ago, Little Man and I spent time at Grammy’s house. While we were there, I had more than a few a-ha moments about how (or if) I’ve grown up. One of them was about eating – specifically fruit.

The day before we left home, I was craving green apples. Have no idea why. Didn’t drive 2 blocks to go get one. See, I knew that mom would have lots of really fresh fruit in the fridge AND that she would prepare it for me. Very pathetic. So, Little Man and I ate fresh strawberries and big juicy grapes for a week. It was great.

Back at home, I’m not craving fruit anymore. It’s certainly not that I’ve had enough of it. There are strawberries and grapes in the fridge (not as fresh and yummy as at mom’s) and I’ve had some from time-to-time. But it’s not a big thing for me right now.

Driving down the freeway the other day, I got to thinking about food and how what and how I eat has changed since I left home. I came up with a lot of theories. But I seem to connect certain foods to home and mom – and that’s really the only place I eat them. Certainly I am capable of going to the store and buying good, fresh fruit. I just don’t.

Not a huge epiphany, I know. But interesting to me as I look at Little Man and wonder what he’ll do as an adult that is connected to home. I almost shudder to think.

2. The Wiggles
One of the few ways to get Little Man changed and dressed right now is to put on a Wiggles episode. Can I insert that TIVO has made certain portions of my life a bit saner? Yes, cuz it’s my blog!

So, this morning Little Man was furious with his dad for asking him to stay still while his diaper was changed. To get things back to some sort of normal, I put on the Wiggles. Seriously, works immediately. The crying stopped and the watching began. We all watched. It was peaceful.

Then, Husband started to wonder aloud about these 4 men who pranced and danced around on the screen. He couldn’t equate the silliness with a serious occupation/career. So, of course, he had to go to the Internet to find the dirt on the Wiggles. He did. http://www.beingdaddy.com/archives/000669.html

Here’s where it gets confusing …

From ABC News
SYDNEY, Australia Apr 8, 2005 … The Wiggles have sung and danced their way to the top of a list of Australia’s wealthiest entertainers, edging out Hollywood heavyweights such as Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe.

OK … Brian tells me that the Wiggles we see on stage here in the US are “clones” and I already knew that many of the shows we’ve been seeing are pre-2003. I find it odd that this news report didn’t mention that they are no longer a group. This seems to be spin to the utmost … make everyone think the clones are the Wiggles and that everything’s fine – just fine.

Who knows … maybe it is. This article is from 2003.

Wanna know the truth? As long as they keep Little Man calm enough to get changed and as long as what they produce is clean, moral, and ethical. It’s just fine with me.

3. iPod
This one’s short. I LOVE my iPod. ’nuff said!

OK … since this is the very last thing I’m supposed to be working on right now, I’d better stop! I’m going to try to add a sentence or two every day. We’ll see.

Ta.