These are the topics that were discussed immediately prior to and during tonight’s family dinner. I know, with a 6- and 4-year old that we’re not going to be discussing the use of epiphany in Joyce, but is it too much to ask that when we sit down to eat a dinner I’ve spent the past hour preparing (“You cook every night?” my neighbor asked me when we had her over for cocktails a few weeks ago. “I don’t know ANYONE who cooks every night.”) a delicious chicken casserole with every leftover in my fridge that hadn’t gone over to the dark side (sorry rice, sorry red cabbage — only 4 Tbsp of each but into the garbage they went), that we discuss something other than the death of my first-grader’s teacher’s dog?

Maybe I’m just being bitchy. Regardless, we’re praying for the teacher –and Chase, departed to doggie heaven– tonight. And then I’ll have a second helping, once the children are abed.

Yeah, I’m probably being bitchy. Most likely because Lex started the conversation with, “I think Nana’s going to die soon,” and I told him, “I don’t think so” and did not say what first came to mind: “I hope so.”

The first Friday of November = Lex’s class birthday party. He is the only child in his class born this month so I got to supply all the goodies. I baked red-velvet cupcakes, brought some pretty napkins, and Dixie cups of water served on an elegant-if-tarnished silver tray. I also surprised the class by opening two packs of Pokemon cards. Each child took one card and all were wildly excited. It was very sweet when the children sang “Happy Birthday” to Lex. And it was nice to get away from the political telemarketing calls we’re getting in our Ohio household every 23 minutes. Win-win, people. Win-fricking-win.

Today is the first day of the National Bloggolalia Month, or something like that. I’m supposed to blog every day. I’ll probably blog for the first three days and then feel guilty for shirking.

I just finished closing out all of MFM’s accounts so she’ll be eligible for Medicaid. It is the most soul-sucking thing I’ve ever done. God help us.

She fell out of her wheelchair at the nursing home on Monday and has a couple of terrible bruises on her face. It makes my heart ache to think of the whole situation.

Maybe tomorrow’s post will be happier. xo

MFM, two days after her most recent fall.