Miscellaneous Monday

In the wake of Mother's Day, I do have to gush a little. James made me a coloring book picture of a teddy bear today while in daycare at the gym. It's just a page ripped out of a book, with blue and brown marker scribbled on it -- but it's almost in the lines ... sorta. And he looked so happy with it that I just about melted. It now proudly resides on the fridge, when he's not carrying it around in his grimy little hands.

On the subject of moms, did everyone at least call their mother yesterday? I did, dreading as usual my dose of yearly angst but pushing forward nonetheless. My mother sent me a card for Mother's Day with an apology letter in it for her phone call of a few weeks ago. Well, it was mostly an apology letter ... though apologizing for something you have no recall of is pretty weak. Besides, the majority of the letter was just more of the same theme we've been reliving for the last decade. How I couldn't possibly understand or realize what she goes through, how worried she is about my brother (they're a matched set of alcoholics) etc. Though I will admit she reached a new level of guilting me. Apparently now she doesn't feel like I love her because , get this -- I've never forgiven her for divorcing my biological father and changing her life. Well, that would be pretty textbook save for the fact that I was only nine months old. I have no recall of him nor interest, anxiety or psychological baggage as a result. Perhaps some mild curiousity at his half of the DNA. I realize I'm stubborn but that would be one hell of a grudge. Anyway, we got through it with pleasant conversation and no real changes of course. There's always next year.

Last week was my husband's birthday, and as part of our night out we went and saw Van Helsing. First off, it's a fun movie. It's campy and not for purists and we had a good time. And Kate Beckinsale in that outfit alone is worth the price of admission. The theater we go to generally doesn't get overly crowded. Just as the movie was starting, this black family shows up -- guy, his fairly pregnant SO, and two children. A boy who looked about 12 or so and a little girl who couldn't have been more than 5 or 6. They slide into the seats right in front of us. The guy reeked of some heinous aftershave or something and would keep throwing himself back in the seats when amused. But the most upsetting part was the little girl. As soon as the movie started she started to cry, she was sincerely frightened and they were just awful to her about it. Saying things like, "I warned you. You should've listened to me when I said it would be scary. I'm never taking you with me to the movies again. Hush and go to sleep." etc etc. Even when she was sobbing, "But I think its real Mommy!" They completely blew her off about it. And THEN, so they wouldn't "disturb" the rest of the folks in the row, they would climb over the seats to an empty row behind us to get in and out ... multiple times. At one point the little girl got stuck trying to climb them and started crying and the woman was saying, "Look girl, I'm 6 months pregnant and I can do it now just climb over." I was so upset by all this. Who lets their five year old decide for them if she'll see a rated R movie or not??? Here's a clue people, the word is "No". Say it once in awhile, you'll find it's good for your kids. And who ignores their child sobbing in fear? Oh I was so angry I just wanted to kick them all in the head and take the little girl to go see something Disney.

And my work-related advice of the day: If you have a relative who's a dialysis patient with no feet and a myriad of other health problems, please do not let them live in the attic. It's a complete bitch trying to get them out of it when they keel over.

Now if you all will excuse me, I have some Evil Overlord tasks to attend to.