Erieversible

I had about five errands to run this afternoon.  I had to pick up a check for instance for the house closing tomorrow, and run to the Gas Company and prove that my husband exists.  Little things like that.  And, of course, the kids had to tag along as they are off school and I didn’t have a chance to make other arrangements.  (My cousin actually offered to take them off my hands, but then her mother called from the Emergency Room and she had other things to worry about!)

About half way through the errand list, the little one announced that she didn’t feel well.  And I felt her forehead and it was warm.  Not hot, but warmer than normal.  And I remembered that being a mother is hard work some times.  I don’t think she is really ill.  She has been fighting a cold for ages, but she doesn’t seem that bad.  But I worry.  It goes with the stretch marks. 

We had to finish the errands, otherwise we can’t close tomorrow and that raises a whole raft of other problems.  She was a brave little trouper about it all, but she was clearly not feeling her best.  Now we are home and she is on the couch with a blanket, a pillow, and a cuddly toy, watching Barbie and the Diamond Castle.  After a little while, she asked for some Cheerios, and she has actually eaten them, so I’m sure she isn’t doing too badly.  But it is hard not to worry.

Tomorrow morning I have to be up at the crack of dawn to drive to Buffalo for the house closing.  My mother is looking after the kids.  I trust her, really I do, but I wish I didn’t have to go.

Journeyed down to the Occupational Health Center on Sassafras this morning.  It was interesting, driving on more snow than I have driven on for many years.  I’m informed that was just a gentle introduction to Erie’s winter.

I’m sure many of you have undergone drugs tests as it seems to be very common in the US.  However, it is very rare in the UK and this was my first drugs test.  Ever!  I have to say the process was very quick and very clinical.  I hope the laboratory that does the processing is as efficient as the staff at the Center.

Getting back to the weather, being unused to the lake effect snow I find it amazing how distinct the boundary can be between the area that got tons of snow and the adjacent area that didn’t.  There’s really no gradual build up of snow as you walk / drive along, it suddenly just “is there”.  Quite strange (to me) and yet quite wonderful at the same time.  As yet we’ve got off relatively lightly at the rental house but our time will come, sooner or later.

The snow does make for some dramatic photos though.