Atomictumor

Spotz sounds like a gimpy elephant stumbling around the house. I cringe and hope that Wing can sleep through the scattered thuds, thumps and bonks.

October joins me at the table, where she sits across from me and practices her newfound whistling skill. She only knows one note. She squeaks softly, eyes narrowed in concentration.

Lugnut is to my right, exploring a Thomas the Tank Engine website. Every once and a while, one of his many clicks results in success, and various toots and peeps erupt from the speaker.

Thud, squeak, toot. Thump-thump-thud, peep, squeak, peep. Toot, toot, bonk. This is the music of my afternoon.

So.. this morning when we woke up, it was snowing!! It’s really the only substantial snow we’ve had this year that has “stuck.”

We checked the news website and school was NOT canceled. The boys were not happy.

As of 7am, school was still on for the day… AT loaded up a very sad MastaG and took him to school.

Juicebox made the best of the snow before he had to leave for school. (Note: The car is AT returning from dropping MastaG @ school).

Juicebox loaded up in the car and went to school. 20 minutes later, AT returns home..Juicebox in tow… the elementary schools are now closed.

As AT’s rehashing a story about stupid Tennessee drivers in the snow, MastaG calls.. as of 7:35am, all the city schools are out for the day.

AT goes to pick up a very happy boy.

The boys have enjoyed a cold morning, playing in the snow before it all melts.

And the dogs joined the snow eating, too.

Then everyone came inside to defrost and eat some warm breakfast. Juicebox chased his snow with 5, yes FIVE, pancakes and some bacon…

And MastaG? He ate about half of a pancake and a piece of bacon…. He wasn’t hungry. He had breakfast at school this morning.

Juicebox woke up this morning and told me that he had a bad dream, one of volcanoes and ‘blowing up’. He then proceeded to impart upon MastaG and myself his extensive knowledge of volcanoes.

He told us that there is lava in them. He told us that lava is bad news. He told us that they grow up out of the ground, and that they’re very dangerous, and that you don’t want to be near one. He told us that they make mountains.

He told us that there are girl volcanoes and boy volcanoes. The girl volcanoes are the ones that have closed up and don’t shoot lava out.

The boy volcanoes are the ones that do.

Hmm.

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I think I’ve been having nightmares myself. It involves being in a large crowd, maybe at an anticipated outdoor music festival, and hearing the incredibly amplified voice of Metallica’s James Hetfield say “WHO CAME TO BONNAROO TO HEAR SOME FUKKIN METAL?!?!?!?“

They then proceed to play some fukkin metal and chase me with RIAA lawyers. I escape, only to be blocked by Eddie Vedder, wearing a polo shirt and brandishing golf clubs.

I wake up screaming. I managed to convince the Ladyfriend that it was just another giant robots dream.

Theres no need to put something this heavy on that girl…

Earlier this week in the Chattanooga area, a mother dropped her kids off at an apartment (in the morning…school? hello?) with a bunch of other children (where they were not being attended by a capable adult) and then went shopping with some friends. The 6 year old little girl got hungry and tried to cook some food. A fire started and she’s in the hospital now with 2nd and 3rd degree burns. Her mother has been arrested and she has no other family. Terrible. Makes my heart hurt. This little girl needs some prayers…

…………………….

I have 3 younger brothers. The oldest one is a 4th grade teacher in the city where I grew up. He’s had a lot of jobs, but teaching is where he belongs. Recently in his class, they’ve been talking a lot about friendship. After he heard about the little girl who got burned, he and his class decided to write the little girl some “get well soon” cards and letters. His fiance’ is interning for her teaching certificate right now, and she did the same in her class. He called me last night to tell me they made the news.

I wanted to send some big ol’ KUDOS to my brother and sis-in-law-to-be for teaching friendship and love. It’s what this world needs more of. It goes a long, long way.

JBAM- you guys have taught your kiddos something huge. Thinking of others and caring for humanity. It’s so, so, so important. And I know that little girl will feel every bit of the love you’ve sent her way. There is no greater gift. You guys rock.