Or, why I haven't written in a while and it isn't because of being ill because I have complained enough about that already. I am such a wuss.

I was abducted by aliens. For real! And they looked just like they do on TV. I think their leader was ET's, brother's, sister's, uncle's, cousin's father. There was THAT much family resemblance. I was sitting in my office, writing this thought provoking, gut wrenching, humorous post, when all of a sudden, WHAM! There they were. Standing right in the doorway of my office. If you don't believe me, you can ask my dog, though she might be kind of hard to understand, because ever since the abduction, she's been speaking in tongues. I was so flabbergasted by their unexpected appearance that I accidentally hit the little red "X" up at the top of my screen and lost my award winning post, which would have catapulted me into instantaneous fame. I have no memory as to what happened following their arrival. After they showed up, the next thing I remember was landing with a thud in my office chair, and I was once again, sitting in front of a blank screen. For some reason, I am fighting a most irresistible urge to pick up my cell phone and dial random numbers, while shouting things like "can you hear me now?"

Pardon me while I go take my medicine now. The voices in my head. They are so very loud!

N-EEE-WAY!!!

With all the alien excitement, loosing my post type stuff going on I don't think that I have mentioned that there is only one more week of school. Not that I would have had any chance in Hades of forgetting it because each and every day, I have been reminded that my children are almost free. Meelie No informed me just how relieved she is, because after all, school is so boring. All you do every day is learn. I didn't realize just how hard it has been for her, bless her heart.

With the end of school drawing near, I feel the need to confess that I have done nothing in regards to figuring out just what it is my kids will be doing over the summer. I've thought about it, but most of the camps out there are cost prohibitive, as well as being impossible to coordinate due to both parents working full time. While we could most likely handle the economic side of things, the hours make it a complete no-go. Would any of you like to come and babysit for the summer? I promise you that you will not have to clean any guinea pig or hamster cages, scrub out fish tanks, nor take on the daunting task of pooper-scooper duty as a result of having three dogs. Oh, and as an added bonus, all my dogs are people friendly, and if you don't mind a dog speaking in tongues, you'll do fine.

Along with the end of school, comes the "BIG RECITAL." This is the performance that Chickie has been working hard on all year. She will be performing in six pieces. SIX. Count them. She has more costume changes than Carter had liver pills, and don't get me started on the hair styles and head pieces. This year, they are going to have "helpers" in the dressing rooms. I'm hoping that everything will work out. As a mother, I am most anxious for her, but she is so excited and confident, mixed with just the right amount of nervousness that I can't help but be caught up in the moment. I know that she will do fine. More than fine actually, but I still worry. All of this is happening Saturday.

In many ways, these last few weeks have been crazy, which one would expect. It seems to me as though everything is happening at once. At the same time, there is a sense of winding down. I get all warm and fuzzy at the thought of actually sitting down as a family and eating dinner that doesn't come out of a box or can, and doesn't need to be microwaved after careful ventilation of the film cover. I'm not sure I even remember how to use my oven anymore.

As for right now? It's time for me to pick up the camera and go take some photos of my children and their friends, doing death defying stunts on the trampoline. Right after a couple of shots of whiskey to calm my nerves.

If you are still with me, I'll leave you with something that is bound make you smile. Go to the extended entry and have a look.