I realized it has been 3 weeks since I last posted.  It’s not that I haven’t thought about it — I have.  But our lives are kind of in a holding pattern right now: nothing new, nothing exciting, just a lot of crap to do to get to the fun stuff.  So out of nothing but pure writer’s guilt, I shall fill some space.

So what have we been up to?

A lot of stuff has to do with Singer Girl’s senior year.  She hasn’t picked a college yet, but has narrowed it down to two.  She will not be forced to make a decision before she has to — in her mind, that’s May 1, the national commitment date (my commitment date however, might be sooner, as this indecision is driving me crazy. I am so ready to discuss every last detail with her to help her decide.  This is what happens with a research-driven Type A mom spawns a commitment-phobic procrastinator.).  I reminded her today that we need a shirt from her chosen school to wear at her high school’s commitment day celebration, so she really should choose in time for us to order one and have it shipped.  Doubt it’ll light a fire under her, but I’ll try anything at this point.

Also senior year related, the graduation after party is looming.  I am just about to start on the last fundraiser, an online auction, which I have been doing predominantly by myself (shocking).  I need this done and off my plate so I can focus on fun stuff (more about that later). We go live in 3 days — either we will be ready, or we won’t.  Either will make bank, or we won’t.  I’ll just raise ticket prices.  Screw it: if folks complain, they shoulda helped with fund raising!

Hey remember the squirrel nest in Singer Girl’s car? Well, we think they have made like the Jeffersons and “moved on up”– to the inside of our attic and walls.  It’s either that or mice, and the pest control guy says he thinks it’s both.  I guess there is a downside to being a good host…we need to do some hole plugging (why does that sound bad?)  to start.  HWSNBN  has set out posion and traps, but pest guy says that won’t stop the problem from reoccurring, of course. So THAT’s on the list…

We have been excitedly awaiting spring, which of course looks farther and farther away with each forecast.  Got almost a foot of snow the other day, with more coming this weekend.  Temps look to be in the 30s/low 40 for next week. Yippy skippy.  At least I can put off yardwork…

But that will surely hit me with a vengeance in May, when I have to prep for house guests and a grad party, but that’s cool.  I have sworn off fostering dogs until July, and once the auction is over and the girl has picked a school, my load should lighten a bit. I have a bunch of projects I want to get done before June: frame a huge antique map we found in the attic of the house we tore down to build this one, finally create a gallery of old family photos, finally arrange my bookshelves in an aesthetically pleasing way (yes, there is such a thing).

But first, I must plan and pack.  This time next week I will be in Paris! Hoping to have lots to write about from there — the food, the wine, the art, the architecture. It’s supposed to be grey, wet and overcast while we are there, but I don’t care.  I shall take far too many photos of “local flavor” and post way too many food pictures on Instagram.   I shall fret over my lamentable French, and lament over how how effortlessly thin and chic the women are. Then I will shove another baguette in my mouth, wash it down with a gulp of wine, and realize it doesn’t matter.  I am in Paris for my birthday, something that has been on my bucket list since I can remember. C’est magnifique!