Currently- the beginning of summer edition

Reading: The Choice by Edith Eva Eger. I read a higher than normal amount of books about WW2 so when I say this is one of the best books I've read from that time it's because I've done my research. It is so, so good. She survived Auschwitz and became a psychologist promoting forgiveness, healing and compassion.

Listening to: The Happy Hour podcast. The most recent episode was with a woman who was a victim of a home break-in and assault by three men. I was home alone listening when I heard a banging on the door. I froze. The woman in the podcast heard banging before her house was broken into. I thought for sure my life was about to end. At least Annabelle wasn't there to witness the end of her mother's life. All I had to defend myself was a mallet and screwdriver. Spoiler: I'm still alive. It was only the AC repairman coming four hours early. 

The How I Built This podcast. As someone who has 14 different business ideas, I like to learn from others who have grown successful businesses. I disagreed with one lady who was sharing her findings on shopping patterns and what customers want but what do I know? I'm the one who uses all the money-saving apps and she's the one who built StichFix, a highly successful, multi-million dollar company.

Frustrated with: the bathroom walls. And the air conditioner. The landlords finally sent someone over to fix the ac only for it to stop working five days later.  The outlets in the bedrooms all stopped working. Things are literally falling off the walls. The walls here are so poorly built that curtain rods, toilet paper holders and towel rods don't stay up. We hired Carlton the handyman to hang the curtain rods and such up for us and when I was looking over his work he said, "Now remember. This rod is for towels, not hanging on." I'll remember that when I get the urge to practice for Cirque du Soleil after my shower. 

Concentration camps. Assault. Frustration. This post is a real ray of sunshine!

Receiving: fun mail from Michelle. I got an alert saying my curtains had been delivered so when I saw a box on the deck that's what I assumed it was. It was something so much better. Michelle sent me a royal wedding mug straight from Great Britain. I could not be more delighted. She knows the way to my heart! 

Driving: to art camp. Our resident Norman Rockwell had art camp all this week. She spent several days last week very nervous as it was her first camp. She cried a few times because she didn't want to go. She practiced her coloring so she could do a good job. She practiced wiping her own bum. We talked about introducing herself to the other children. I haven't confirmed that she actually did talk to other children because she hasn't remembered anyone's names. She did give me a rundown of how many other girls were in the bathroom with her and how many times she stood on one leg so she shared all the important details. 

We have to leave by 8:30 every morning which is a good hour and a half before my preferred time to leave the house in the morning. The first day she woke up at 5am to discuss the day. I am not a nice mom at 5am. At some point, she crawled into bed with me, fell asleep and we didn't wake up until 7:59. I threw clothes on her, toasted a bagel and we rolled up to the art museum with 2.5 minutes to spare. There was construction going on in front of the museum so I had to find alternate parking after going down two one-way parking lots. Then we had to walk through a muddy field where AB took a sudden liking to examining clovers. She was one of the last ones to arrive but we made it. This does not bode well for next year when we have to be out of the house early to school.