My mother always leaves town on Mother's Day. I think it's contributed to a great deal of familial peace and contentment.

All in all, that's kind of the Emily family way - happily adjusted to our dysfunction!

I tried to call Mom, but her phone goes to voicemail. I called Dad (since they are the beach) but he said she was running an errand and he'd tell her I called.

That was a few hours ago, still haven't heard from her. I tried calling again, but it went to voice mail again. I talked to her yesterday but I wanted to wish her a happy mother's day today. I did talk to Grandma.

Sammy (who has thrush which I just treated with the extremely intensely colored gentian violet).

In my head you dyed him like an Easter egg.

Brenda, he looks sort of Easter egg like. His tongue and lips are still bright purple.

We bailed on the movie. Sammy fell asleep but I had to pass him to a friend and of course he woke up. My friend likes holding him but she wanted to see the movie too. Frisco kept dropping his 3D glasses, asking stuff in a loud voice, and trying to sleep on the floor. Finally we left because I felt we were disturbing everyone. Ellie was totally bummed (she loves Capt. America and he had just shown up in screen) and declared, loudly, that brothers, other than Sammy, are the worst ever. I promised to take her without Frisco soon. I love Friscoi and he can be so totally sweet but he can also be such a huge PITA. He just can't/won't do what you ask him. Anyway, now I know he's still not ready. We will try again in 6 months.

Aw, Stephanie, that is frustrating. Poor Ellie.

Man, anxiety can bite me. I didn't leave the house. It's now 5:30 and I'm hungry again, and haven't done the lunch dishes yet. I have done everything on my to-do list, *except* of course the work work that I should have done on Friday (and did start but didn't get very far). My stomach is churning with anxiety (and hunger) and the nasty voices in my head are getting louder and louder.

So! A plan. I have about four hours until I need to be asleep. I can totally do this. I'll do the dishes while I prep the animal food and fry myself an egg for dinner. Goal is to be out of the house by 6:15 and at the coffee place by 6:30. I'll work for a couple of hours, pop over to the grocery store just before they close, and be home by 9:15 or so, and in bed before 10 pm.

Ready, set, go.

Okay. Dishes almost done, animals fed, ice tea brewing, eating my fried egg on toast. Still having a panic attack. And I'm not phobic, but I was taken aback to look up and see a massive Jillifont up in my kitchen where the wall meets the ceiling, over the stove.

I'm home, exhausted and overfed, but we had a very good day.

You can do it, Smonster!!!!!!!!

smonster, I'm sorry about the panic attack.

Keep calm and INSERT MEME HERE, smonster!