Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Upside-Downside

Upside:

A really solid writing day! The end of the book so close I can taste it. A self high-five for a bad-assitude at the close of a chapter. Yay!

As a bonus, baby falls asleep in car on the way home from parents', who have babysat and fed us so I could squeeze in another precious writing hour. I have it made, I think: sleeping baby at 7:30, without having to even try.

Ahem.

Downside:

Baby wakes up and stays up. Resists all tricks and efforts and sleep-induction. Husband not home. Baby wide awake. Book not getting finished.

More coffee is consumed against the certainty of a post-midnight workday extension.

Baby still awake at 10 pm; husband still not home to take over. I decide I might as well put the dishes away while baby plays. Something catches my eye just as I'm sliding a bowl into a stack of heirloom Italian ceramics on a tiptoe shelf. I drop the stack, terrify the baby, and break almost every dish. (Mom, if you're reading this, breathe.)

Comfort scared baby, who decides it's high time to fall asleep. About five-minutes post-disaster. Of course. Husband returns home two minutes after that, finds the cataclysm, wonders what happened.

Razzle fratzen.

10 comments:

Jim Di Bartolo said...

Sheesh! I leave for 45 minutes and all h@## breaks loose (and get semi-scolded on the blog :(

xo
Husbles

Jennifer Morian Frye said...

Wow. I have been in similar situations, on both sides. SO frustrating! From both perspectives. Hugs are about the best cure. Well, hugs and venting....and deep breathing. : )

tone almhjell said...

Oh, that sounds just like any day in my house, haha. No, just kidding. But once in a while, I wish I could rewind to before the chaos erupted, to hold the plug in just a little tighter. But today will be better! I know it! Because, you know...there's a whole book in your computer. Almost, but very close. Glee! Go, go go!

Charlotte said...

oh, poor poor china. Poor Laini.

Lexi said...

ay me , sad hours seem long !

hope today is not so frazzle filled , also much luck for your book !

Heather said...

Was it a nasty creepy crawly? Because I would have done the same thing! I had enough of BUGS this summer in Provence! *shudders*

anne said...

I assumed it was a small furry critter, and it startled you. Even if you like them (and I do, tho not so much in the house) they are startling...
There are many cool crafty things one can make w/broken crockery....
HUGS and laughing are best. One can't help, sometimes, venting the frustration, which DOES make the receiver feel a bit attacked...and it's not the person you're upset w/, just the situation!

Seriously, venting on the blog MIGHT help one get over it quicker. We still love you Jim :)

Laini Taylor said...

You know, I don't even know why I looked away. It wasn't anything interesting like creepy crawlies of the cute or uncute variety. Maybe I glanced at Clementine, who was playing in the next room? I don't know. I just can't believe I did it. I'm always SO CAREFUL putting dishes away in that spot :-(

lizardek said...

Agh, what a bummer! So sad about your dishes :(

Maybe you can make some pretty mosaic things with the pieces?

Wyman Stewart said...

Just a day in the life of being a Mom.

The distraction was probably a real-life fairy popping in to see how things were going, never meaning to distract you. The chaos may have frightened the fairy away before thinking to apologize. She will pop in later to speak to you in your dreams.

Happiness is creation, whether making stories or making children. Best wishes with both. Jim has a great sense of humor.