Day 27: Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful

It's October 15th and it was actually snowing earlier today. Not sticking, but there were some discernible white flakes in the air. Now there's just a steady rain: ugly, depressing and cold. The only cause for celebration was that H's soccer game was cancelled. Am I a terrible mother? I just wasn't in the mood.

This morning I brought Carmen to the vet for surgery on her elbow. She had a malignant tumor removed a few weeks ago and today's surgery was to remove a larger margin of tissue, although there's not a lot of flesh on an elbow to begin with. Poor girlfriend. I felt terrible leaving her there. At least she won't have to wear an Elizabethan collar. There was an otherwise studly American Bulldog thus encumbered at the vet's office and I could tell he was embarrassed when Carmen caught sight of him.

I was sad when I left the vet's office and food seemed like a good solution. I went to the grocery store and did a BIG shopping -- it had been a while and our cupboards were bare. Truly, though, it was just a convenient excuse to buy candy corn. My next stop was the apple orchard to buy cider and donuts and an apple pie. Sadly, I also had to buy apples. In past years our refrigerator would be stocked with apples that we picked on Columbus Day. This year, the tradition took a backseat to college, friends and dwindling interest. I guess it was bound to happen. At least my kids still write letters to Santa. The threat of no Christmas presents is a pretty powerful motivator.

My mom sometimes made pancakes and bacon as a special treat for dinner on a yucky night like this. I briefly considered it tonight, but the idea of having sugar and fat for dinner after eating a pound of candy corn made me feel sick. Instead, I've made a recipe my sister sent me for lasagna soup. When my kids see the spinach and the mushrooms floating in it they're going to mutiny.

L is hoping for a snow day tomorrow (dream on, buddy!). When the kids were younger they believed that wearing underwear on their heads to bed and putting spoons in the freezer created good snow day karma. I wonder if they're too old for that now, too. Maybe it could also make Carmen all better? That would be so delightful.