Creepy Crawlies

I started working on a post yesterday during my lunch hour, but I've postponed finishing it because I've spent the whole day delousing myself and Miss Pink.

Yes, I saw a tiny moving spot on Miss P's scalp this morning while I was doing her hair for school. Her dad took her to let the school nurse make the official diagnosis since I've never identified them myself. (I had them around age 12 but you can't see your own scalp. However, I am now qualified to identify both lice and nits, unfortunately.) While they were gone, I scrambled about to email lesson plans for a sub and take Mr. Blue to school. He was able to stay because the school didn't find any evidence on his head. I attribute his escape entirely to the fact that he and Miss Pink don't stay close to each other for any length of time. They sometimes get along but they don't enjoy cuddling with each other.

On the other hand, Miss Pink LOVES to cuddle with me. We often read together on the couch with both our heads lying on the same pillow. Sigh.

Two heads of long hair shampooed with deadly-to-lice shampoo and combed meticulously with fine-toothed combs until no more nits were found: check.

All non-washable stuffed animals and dolls sealed up in a plastic bag for two weeks: check.

All upholstery sprayed with a special spray: check.

All hairbrushes, combs, and clips boiled in hot water: check.

All recently worn clothes and bedding (sheets, blankets, pillowcases, mattress pads and comforters) washed in hot water and dried on high heat: still working on it.

We're not sure if Miss Pink can go back to school tomorrow. It depends on whether or not we killed all the vermin on her head or if she needs another round.

It's times like this I kind of wish I was a drinking woman.

Do I Have a Fever?

I'm not feeling very well at the moment--precisely, at 9:55 p.m. CDT.

For one thing, my head is hurting and I don't know why. My left shoulder is hurting, and I do know why--on Friday I wore a sleeveless dress to the park and forgot that two hours in the Texas sun plus very white skin equals a bad sunburn.You would think after nearly 36 years with this skin, that I would remember to always wear sunscreen, but apparently I was so happy that winter is over that it completely slipped my mind.

The previous two things have been bothering me all evening. I got crankier when I had to spend 2 1/2 hours this evening doing the work I'd had all week to do, which is due tomorrow morning. It's done now, which is the only good thing about it. It doesn't help that the grades reinforced my suspicion that most of my students are not exactly doing a fabulous job on their research papers.

The REAL reason I'm in a bad mood? I have to wake up early tomorrow and do some actual work. The barrage of work responsibilities and children's scheduled activities from which we were free last week will begin again. If I were a kid, I'd be wondering if I could convincingly fake being sick tomorrow.*

*I actually love my job and I also love being paid (next Friday!) So it will be fine but I'm sure you all agree that going back to work after a break is not easy.

Losing My Voice

My poor neglected blog. I just haven't known what to write about. Part of the problem is that I'm hard on myself: as in telling myself, "No one would find THAT interesting!" And it's true, I don't have a life full of adventures and beautiful pictures, as most popular blogs do, but I also enjoy reading about mundane events, if the writer has a unique voice and tells the truth about his or her experience. And I just haven't had the extra energy to put my voice out there and try to write something worth reading.

But it's Spring Break, so I don't have an excuse for not posting at least something. I got to sleep in a little this morning, but we spent the afternoon going to the bank, the library, Goodwill, and the grocery store, but the kids were happy enough since the errands included books and a Barbie and a ball to bounce.

The weather is gorgeous--sunny, in the high 60s--so tomorrow after Mr. Blue gets a much-needed haircut, we are going to have a picnic in the park. I'm also thinking I need to get the copy of Mr. Blue's birth certificate that I will need to register him for kindergarten. (YES, I have had five years to get it and haven't done so. It hasn't exactly been a priority until now! And by the way, who took my baby and turned him into a boy old enough to go to kindergarten?)

And now my brain is officially mush so I am stopping and going to bed. By the way, I HATE losing an hour every spring. I know I'll enjoy having more daylight in the evening eventually, but getting used to it is brutal.