The good, the bad and the ugly....

Well, the weekend is over. It couldn't decide whether to be good or bad, or maybe naughty or nice would be more appropriate for this time of year.

Saturday started well. I managed to roll outta bed and get some bleary eyed work done - you know, laundry, that kind of thing. I got sidetracked on line reading about my alma mater, which is going through growing pains trying to incorporate a more inclusive approach to their philosophy as well as their doctrinal statement. That took a couple hours....

I realized suddenly that I had stuff to do - shower, bake cookies and make a hot artichoke dip for our church Christmas Party.....

Kelsey and I quickly whipped up a batch of Molasses cookie dough and popped it into the fridge. I ran to shower while the dough chilled. Somewhere along the way I managed to dry the laundry and pay some bills.

I baked the cookies, which really turned out well. Yay! Soft, warm and chewy molasses crinkle cookies sparkling with a sugar coating. YUM! While they cooled I chopped the artichokes and whipped up the dip and popped it into the oven. It smelled SO GOOD!

While it baked I quickly found and wrapped a White Elephant gift for the party. ~ Don't even get me started on White Elephant exchanges.....

Time to go. Juggling food and gifts I start for the door. Kim comes pounding up the stairs from his basement office. "Do I have time to shower?" Uh -no.....it's snowing and the roads are awful and we have just enough time to get to the party - 45 minutes away. I sigh and head for the car. Up goes the garage door - I see a couple inches of snow, and cars to be moved. Tick, tick, tick. He can't move the cars until he clears them off. Tick, tick, tick. He can't find the keys. Tick, tick, tick. He forgets the garage door won't close from the remote right now - so back inside to shut it. Tick, tick, tick. Sigh. Finally, we are on our way.

The roads aren't horrible, but they aren't good either. But still, nothing to warrant the 30 miles an hour some people are diving. This is making me crazy. Finally, we arrive at Mike and Julie's. Almost on time, and still the first people there. Huh. We try to help Mike with a few last minutes things, and then we sit and talk with Julie. This party is also a celebration of her 30th birthday... :) We have a good evening. Good food. Good friends. Good wine. Good conversation. Games. Gift exchange. Time flies......

Around ten we have to go. The roads are getting worse and the snow is falling faster. Still, traffic is moving fairly well along the country route. Obscured lines to be sure, but still, moving. I get almost to the toll way. Tired, but nothing two hands and a fully engaged brain can't handle. My cell phone rings. That can't be good. I fumble for it in my zipped coat pocket while trying to remain on the road. It's Carissa. Who has mono. And is totally distraught. She is in pain - both physical and emotional. Totally drained, exhausted and incoherent. Lonely, frustrated, and unable to sleep. So, now it's one hand on the wheel and my brain in Boston. Snow falling faster, wind blown snow covering the road.

Nothing I say helps. If anything it makes her cry harder. After twenty minutes she is a bit calmer and she hangs up. Now I have both hands on the wheel, but my brain is still in Boston. Where it will remain for the rest of the weekend. We get home safely. No thanks to me and my brain. Carissa calls again. Another twenty minutes. More frustration on both sides, and more worry on mine. By two a.m. I think we are all finally in bed.

Exhausted we choose not to go to church Sunday. The roads are still bad, we are all exhausted and the 45-minute drive seems daunting today. And I am not feeling well. I sleep in, but finally give in and get up when the dog starts using my body for a trampoline. Suddenly the most important thing to do today is clean out the Video/DVD cabinet. Why? Your guess is as good as mine. But that takes some time and it's nice to have that done. Let see, what else can I do? I check email - no word from Carissa. I want to know how she's doing, but I sure don't wanna wake her up if she's sleeping. So, I bite the bullet and wrap gifts. I hate wrapping gifts. But someone's gotta do it, right? So I drag out the paper and the scissors and tape. And all the gifts, as well as my trusty elf Kelsey to assist me. Kim goes out to shovel.

Gifts are done. Now what can I do? Thankfully the phone rings. It is Carissa. She still sounds crappy. And upset. But some better. Her upcoming Wednesday project has been excused. And she has emailed her adviser to, well, advise him of the situation. She has also emailed her OT prof. She's thirsty, and achy, and tired - and lonely. But she doesn't sound like she did last night. OK. I feel some better. Let's watch a movie....that works. Well, for a half hour when she calls again. Still upset, but better. Her adviser, who is also her theater prof told her not to worry about her project due Monday. And two of her friends arrived at her room to make her soup, hot tea, and clean. Angels they were. Up til now all her friends had been treating her like she had the plague.....

Back to my movie.

For ten minutes.

She calls again. Her OT teacher said she could take the test early, or wait until after winter break. She opts to take it early. Who wants to worry about it over the long winter break? But the point is, she can take it, be done, and come home early. Kim changes her flight, and books one of his own so he can go and get her and bring her home. One less thing to worry about. Especially if the weather continues to be bad on the East Coast.

Back to the movie.

For two minutes. Her friend calls me. This is her longtime friend from West Chicago. She wants me to know she is communicating with Carissa and telling her all the stuff I want to tell her, but she won't listen to because I am her mom. Go Jess! Another worry covered. Jess will whip her into shape - or into bed to sleep as the case may be.

Finally I can finish the movie, find time to read, watch a little TV and go to bed. The weekend has been long. Worrisome. Tiring. And somewhat productive. The yard is covered with a foot of snow that is still clean and sparkly. That almost offsets the condensation on the interior of the skylight that is dripping on the kitchen floor.....