Is there a method to the madness or just madness?

I was running through the house putting away laundry the other day. In the back of my mind, I knew something was a bit off. The cats usually follow me from room to room, but today as I ran down the hallways, they hid under my bed. It wasn't like I was in a hurry or anything. I just couldn't put my finger on it...

Laundry put away, I poured myself another can of dr. pepper. As I rinsed out the can and put it in the sink, I suddenly knew. Ahhh, there were already 5 cans in the sink.

I had started keeping my daily cans in the sink to monitor my drinking. Two cans---back to back--is good. Sometimes I need a third. I had just poured myself can number 6. No wonder why I felt kind of funky and a little too jumpy...it all made sense. "How did I not notice all the cans in the sink before now?" I wondered.

I would have to be more diligent from now on, I decided as I took a drink. Yes, moderation is important. I knew this for a fact as I started vacuuming out the couches. No one needs this kind of energy. It just isn't natural.

You'll have to make do because this is it.

I watched my friend's two little kids today. I have them over pretty often so it isn't a big deal. But today I had a headache. The little girl is a year and a half old and afraid of the cats, so we never play in the basement. After they arrived, I brought up the usual two boxes of little people for us to play with.

We set up in the living room and right away I realized there would be a problem. The last time the kids were over, Heather had taken the little boy down to the basement to play. He had seen all the little people we have down there. He knew the paltry two boxes I had brought upstairs was nothing compared to what we had.

"There are only THIS many little people here," he informed me, pointing to the pile he had made. "I'm sorry," I replied. I continued setting up my little people, purposely ignoring the hint that he wanted me to go downstairs and bring up more stuff.

After the third time complaining that things were missing, he started looking around. "Where is she?" he asked. "Who are you looking for?" His sister was sitting on my lap and no one else was home.

"I'm looking for the other Mindy," he replied. "The fun Mindy that gets all the toys for me." Oh right. That Mindy. My head still hurt and we had plenty of little people to play with. I wasn't about to drag everything upstairs.

"Where is she?" he persisted. "Sorry, but you're stuck with me today," I told him. He looked disappointed. It was okay. He wasn't the only one who was disappointed. I wish the fun Mindy was around too.

Not really what I had in mind...

Maybe it's punishment for skipping Sunday School, but Nicholas and I had to run home after sacrament meeting to get something he'd forgotten. On the way back to church we were almost killed. Seriously, we were on the freeway and a car in the other lane merged right into us. I veered onto the shoulder and it took several minutes before I could stop shaking enough to continue. Deep breaths. Very deep breaths.

The worst part of it was my ridiculous horn. I surprised myself that I had the presence of mind to remember that I even had a horn and really laid into it. "Toot toot." You have got to be kidding me. It was a: "Hiya, how ya doing?" kind of beep. Not the "HEY you almost rammed me off the road and KILLED ME!" blare, I had envisioned.

I really need to do something about that horn. I picture something louder with a little more attitiude.

I've got you babe.

All the kids were gone. For the whole day. It was very quiet. All alone for a change, we went out to eat. It felt strange without the usual incessant chatter from the kids.

"I'm not much of a talker, but I like being with you," my husband managed after another long silence.

I smiled. "It's okay. I like you too." Sometimes I talk enough for both of us.

One of those days.

I woke up this morning feeling like I just wanted to bite someone. No, I haven't been reading any vampire books and I'm not teething. My teeth just feel restless---like I want to...you know. But I figure that's pretty normal, right? Doesn't everyone feel like that every now and again.

It's not like there is someone SPECIFIC I want to bite or anything like that. But I am guessing that if I did bite someone, all of a sudden, people would be more likely to listen to what I have to say. And that wouldn't be a bad thing, would it?

Of course, I'm an adult and I understand the difference between wanting to bite someone and actually biting someone. I mean I haven't completely lost all grasp of reality. Even though it is hard to have a conversation with myself anymore, without me ending up looking completely incompetent or unstable. Why is that?

Just to be clear. Even though I want to bite someone. I will refrain from doing so. You understand, right?

It has arrived.

Okay so the mixer has arrived. Now what do we do with it? You can see from the picture that it is quite large (oddly reminiscent of the large speaker Brian received a few months ago...)

I KNOW---it has 32 input channels. But what do I do with it? It's not like I can stick it in the corner or push it under the counter or anything. The thing weighs 60 pounds, for pete's sake---which is the reason it is still sitting on the couch.

Yes, it's lovely to be able to walk over to it and touch it and drool on it. But IT IS SITTING IN MY LIVING ROOM! Apparently I'm having issues with the new toys Brian and Nick are acquiring. Not that I don't totally and completely think this equipment is awesome and I get chills knowing that we now own it...It's just that everything they get is so large. And for some reason these things tend to end up sitting in my living room for weeks on end.

Did I mention I have to find somewhere to put this fine mixer? Oh, I know. I'll just put it next to the speaker...

There are many reasons it isn't time to give up drinking my dr. pepper.

My husband has recently stopped drinking Pepsi Max. He hasn't mentioned or hinted to me that I should give up caffeine as well, yet. But just so everyone knows where I stand on the subject:

Thanks to drinking dr. pepper, I've learned many life lessons. For example, driving to church on Sunday I opened a can and it sprayed all over the front of my skirt. (I hate it when that happens. Perfectly good dr. pepper wasted.) "Girls, this [I point at my sticky, wet skirt] is why you shouldn't drink and drive." See? Life lesson.

Life lesson #2: Know your limitations.

I was at a book club meeting with my sister in Switzerland. (I just had to add that last part. It makes me sound so hip, doesn't it? A book club meeting---in Switzerland, no less!!!) Well, if it makes you feel any better, I hadn't read the book... Anyway, back to the dr. pepper. The hostess asked me if I wanted anything to drink. "I only drink in the morning," I told her. She looked at me very strangely. But it's true. I try to only drink dr. pepper in the morning and early afternoon. Otherwise I can't sleep at night.

Life lesson #3: Protect what's most precious.

I was drinking some dr. pepper when Tim came up to me. "I want some," he reached up for my glass. Usually I have no problem sharing. But this created at least 2 problems. First, a 4-yr old drinking caffeine? I don't think so. Second, what if he likes it? Then he'll drink all my pop!!!

"I'm sorry. It's my medicine," I told him. This is also the truth. Where would I be without it? (Lying in bed somewhere....) This didn't phase him a bit. [cough, cough] "I has a cough," he tried reaching up for my cup again. "Sorry, it's not cough medicine," I told him as I took the last gulp and went to get him something else to drink.

So although my husband has given up drinking his Pepsi Max, you can see that clearly there is more I can learn from my beverage. Besides, all this talk about dr. pepper is making me a tad bit thirsty.