On the last day of August...

I berated myself for not sticking with my resolution to lose my expat fat. My closets are loaded with clothes I cannot wear. Bad, bad, bad Grrrl!

I reminded myself that I’ve exercised every day this week, and now that the kids are back in school, it’s much easier to avoid junk food and mindless eating.

I celebrated finishing my postcard scrapbook and relished the idea of doing an artsy scrapbook that focuses on words, not photos.

I drank three cups of chai.

I put away all the clean laundry and carried all the dirty laundry to the basement to be sorted. I washed two loads. It’s sad that I consider this a major accomplishment.

I packed my sandals back up in boxes, convinced it will not be warm enough to wear them again until next May because I turned on the heat two weeks ago. I’m OK with that.

I threw away my oldest pair of moccasins, two pair of slippers, and my kids’ outgrown shoes. I gave up on the navy sandals and put them in the giveaway pile. I noticed that my black walking boots are reaching the point where a coat of polish doesn’t help enough, but still, I can’t let them go.

I wondered what happened to my son’s navy sweatshirt.

I wondered how my daughter ended up with so many t-shirts.

I tried to guess what might still fit the kids next summer and what I ought to just get rid of now. That’s harder to do than it sounds.

I didn’t practice yoga. I should have.

I thought about my massage therapist, who is coming back to Brussels next week after spending three months in South Africa. My back has missed her.

I thought about my son’s upcoming birthday and made a list of everything I need to do before the weekend.

I haven’t done anything on the list yet.

I resolved to look for my kids’ lost reading glasses. I think they’re somewhere in the house. I hope I’m right. If not, cha-ching, cha-ching. $500.

I endured the excruciating process of supervising my son’s homework, a process fraught with tension, drama, and frustration for all parties. His weakest link? Writing. Yes, you heard that right. Flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone, the writer’s child can’t write. God has a sense of humor.

My son told me he was all out of erasable pens. I put three in his backpack on Monday, each one LABELED with his name. Three pens gone in four days. Sigh.

I didn’t say, “The next pack of pens is on you, bud.” But I thought that.

I made meatloaf, one of his favorite meals, for dinner. I know he’s having a hard time transitioning to school.

For the second night in a row, he had a meltdown before bed because we won’t get him a guinea pig. He keeps saying “It’s not fair.” Oh no, it isn’t. All we hear about is what he DOESN’T get as pets. Never mind the lizard, tadpoles, frogs, bugs, grasshoppers, hamsters, fish, cat, and dog. Sigh.

I watched Gilmore Girls after the kids went to sleep. I love Emily Gilmore--she's a bitch with a heart of gold.

And tomorrow, I celebrate the start of the weekend and the start of my favorite month.

Life may be boring but you know, it’s good. 

Comments

[Char]

Love it - sounds way too much like my day in many ways. No one said life had to be exciting to be good.

[Nancy]

This was not boring at all. It made me smile and feel good to think about what you were up to today.

[Neil]

I also don't see that as boring. All that would be overwhelming to me. I can't believe you accomplished so much.

[Ash]

I did the same things as you :) Except I also went to McDonalds and I bought the kids some jumpers and some vests. It's so strange putting away all the summer stuff. I kept thinking about the impending 'greyness' of it all. My kids are back in school on Monday!

[Di]

Lol, careful with the summer clothes, Gert said 25oC today, cooler tomorrow, rain Sunday but THEN there's next week and there are rumours of heat.

We'll see.

[Elisabeth]

I actually love these kinds of posts, and I occasionally write one like that too. Let's face it - our lives are mostly made up of mundane routines and mini dramas. I smile when I read about anecdotes about your kids - sorting through their clothes, will they still be wearing them next year? As I excavated my nearly 20-year old daughter's room this past summer, I went through layers of her young life, and it was something quite nice to experience.

I also loved the post about packages, I wanted to comment on it, but it was the middle of the week, and I really did not have the material time to do so.

[Arabella]

You've accomplished a tremendous amount!

[amber]

I just need to get off my butt and do the same. Of my butt off my butt off my butt....

:)

[Clare]

I sympathise with the writing drama, my son is exactly the same - homework would be wonderful if he didn't have to write...alas he does and he makes BIG issues. If you find a solution let me know!

[Imogen]

Putting away your summer clothes...That touched a cord:(
Still working from back home for the summer and coming back to Brussels in a few days. People keep saying it's gonna be Indian summer here 'till the end of Sep. and I can't help moaning at the prospect of dreary, grey old Belgium...

Not ready to put my mocassins away yet!!!

All that said, I still loved your possitive pov:))

[Cissy]

You have accomplished a great deal. I plan to use my weekend, getting my office in order. Actually writing some things for work, And, surveying the damage the heat has wrecked on my yard. I'm also going to go to a movie. I do like Fall. Both Spring and Fall are my favorite seasons. Moderate...just like me.

[Lazy Cow]

I love Emily Gilmore too. She reminds me of my mother, but better dressed and with more money.

[mamatulip]

I was putting laundry away the other day in Julia's room and I wondered too where she got so many t-shirts from.

September is my favourite month too...fall is my favourite season.

[Di]

Ya know ... that wasn't 250C ... despite how it looked. The little 'o' is just too big when placed next to the 25.