I know it's been awhile but I have a doctor's note

I know it's been a while but my childless sojorn ended abruptly with 17 messages on my bb. I went to hike up one of the ski hills we live near (isn't as impressive as it sounds, they are only 900 feet high) with some friends and the dogs. After we had huffed and puffed our way to the top and carefully picked our way back down (going down is harder than you think but is great for the thigh muscles) the dogs had found a lovely big puddle of mud (I have to carry a camera with me next time) and two Golden Retrievers, one Yellow Lab and our black Portuguese Water Dog were now all two-toned so we headed for the beach to cool off and clean them up.

All the while my bb remained in my car as I had been taking so much heat from my Other Half for being an addict. I figured Sons Numbers One & Two were safely at camp and Three was on the soccer pitch until 4 o'clock that afternoon. What could go wrong? Apparently a lot. I got back into the car and checked my phone and it was practically melting from the heat of all the messages - voicemail and email and text. From the camp, from my Other Half and from my father who is the emergency contact if the camp can't get a hold of either myself or my O.H.(who never hears his bb). I called him first and got an earful about not erasing messages from my voicemail. How could I have know it only holds four and then is full.

To make a long story short, I parked the dirty dog with a friend and hightailed it over to the other side of the Bay to meet Number Two who arrived by barge kitted out in sugical mask and gloves. I burst into tears when I saw him. He had been put in isolation for the previous two days. Nine years old and all alone in a cabin with nothing to do and someone only checking in a few times during the day. He was so brave but when we finally got home he broke down and asked if he had swine flu and if he was going to die. Damn the media and the camp. Why didn't they call me right awaygo? He is fine, no fever now and the doctor says just to keep him quiet and away from other people for a few more days.

Is this what the world is going to be like from now on? Every new flu virus is going to send everyone into panic mode. They (whoever they are) are alreading saying that the fall flu season is going to be even worse but they don't have any real suggestions for how to deal with all this.

I do. As of Thursday I will be up north at the cottage hiding under a rock. I'll let you know how the wireless stick I just had to pay throught the nose for by my cell provider works through several layers of Canadian Shield.

Road Trip to the Lakes

Lake Memphremagog, Quebec

Lake George, NY

Lake Winnipesaukee , NH

Final Tally of 8 Childless Days

Number of movies watched without cartoon characters, superheroes or Japanese anime - 2

Number of dinners cooked - 1

Number of meals cooked by some one else - 7

Number of meals replaced by a glass of wine (or three) and cheese - 2

Number of mornings slept in - 0 (we still have a puppy)

Number of nights slept naked - 2 (it has been too cold at night)

Number of dresses worn - 2 (see item above re temperature)

Number of visits to camp - 1

Number of letters home from camp - 0

Number of gallons of Benjamin Moore Cloud White paint bought - 1

Number of rooms with trimmed painted - 3 (4 more to finish today)

Number of toy bins purged - 0 (Batman and the Power Rangers got a reprieve)

Number of windows washed - 0

Number of hikes, bikes and walks - 2 (have to try harder on this one, no excuses)

Number of visits from Dog Catcher - 0 (not that the pup hasn't been making his rounds)

Number of Horse Rides - 2 (better than none, but still pretty pathetic)

Number of happy boys at camp - 3

Number of happy parents at home - 2

I'll let you know how the big reunion goes tomorrow with Number Three Son but it might be a while as I have a Welcome Home Party for my sister and her husband to plan (I've done nothing except invite about 40 people) and pull off on Thursday. Keep your fingers crossed for sun.

In the meantime go visit Jen at Harried Mom, she's got a great give-away which I am going to win but you can check out anyways.

Wordless Wednesday

Since I promised I wouldn't waste my precious childless time on line, here is a photo of Number Three Son (in Maple Leaf cap) off to camp. Notice the little smile on his face. Now I am off to paint trim.

I will not waste this week.

I have exactly 6 days, 19 hours, 46 minutes and 33 seconds (more like 30 seconds now) until I get on the barge to go out to pick up Number Three Son at camp. I will not waste this precious time at home in my house alone except for My Other Half who won't be home from work until dinner time and the pup who I promised I would take for a play with one of his many girlfriends later this afternoon.

I know I wrote about some of the things I wanted to do while the boys were away but it was more of a wishlist and since it included things like skinny dipping after dark and which is not going to happen anytime soon, what with the temperature being about 15C or 60F. And the weather which was crappy from here to New Hampshire and back again on our three day road trip last week isn't getting any better so that rules out all the sundress-wearing and patio sipping of Pimms and Pinots I had planned.

So back to reality and with it comes the Other List I compiled leading up to the boys departure. Let's see how many of these things I accomplish.

1. Touch up all the trim in the house that has been chipped and scratched by the boys and puppy over the last two years - I will do this if it kills me
2. Work in the garden, weeding, transplanting, willing something to bloom in the rain and freezing temperatures
3. Wash windows - oh hell, what's the point, you can't see anything out through the driving rain
4. Ride my horse - I will do this at least twice, if I am lucky
5. Ride my bike, walk, hike with a friend and the dogs - heading out this afternoon as promised to the pup
6. Purge all the toys that the boys no longer touch in the playroom - so long Power Rangers, farewell Batman, ciao Yugioh
7. Install Invisible Fence for wandering pup who has now had two visits from the local dog catcher (still can't figure out which neighbour ratted him out)
8. Figure out which neighbour ratted us out to the dog catcher and drop off some fresh-baked scones (hee hee)

So that's my To Do List. I'll let you know how it is going. But the other thing I have to do is not spend all my time on line reading and coming up with witty comments for all your eloquent and hilarious posts, that I can do when the boys are home, of course.