I Need a Countdown Ticker

I'm planning a vacation. Me and two of my girlfriends. We're going on a booze cruise, and I cannot wait! I have to wait, though. We're not going until Jan. *sigh* But I need to be able to look forward to that.

This school year is knocking me out cold so far. Riley is still not transitioning very well. She is going back to the therapist for a while (or, as we call her, the "feelings doctor"). She was so thrilled to go, and I'm very grateful that we've had this particular therapist in our lives for quite a few years now. It's clear to me that she really likes the girls, and the girls like her. She's always helped before, so I'm quite confident that she'll able to help this time as well.

This was what I feared back when I knew we had to move. Poor Riley - she's changed schools every single year of her education. Not to mention, moving yet again. She's having a rough time with all those adjustments. We had a great weekend, but as soon as the reality of having to go back to school started to hit, she started to fall apart on me all over again. Things got bad. I knew something had to be done.

So she went today. She was so excited to go. While they were in their appointment, I was blackberrying about my vacation. It got me through.

These two particular friends, L and J, are around my age, yet we enjoy regressing back to about high school when we're together (when we can). J is the one who actually helped me find this apt., and I met her through L, a colleague of mine. J is also a single mom so she gets it. L has spent enough time with J and I to get it as well. We take advantage of any and every opportunity we have to re-connect with our inner child when we're together.

So we found a 4-day cruise to Mexico for less than $300. J and I have made our child care arrangements and we are booking tomorrow. I cannot wait to have those days without worrying about children, about homework, about work work, about driving, about laundry and just...cruising and drinking. I may not even get off the boat in Mexico. Okay, I may have to get off to call home and make sure the girls are okay. But after that, I'm getting right back on, and the bartender better have my drink ready. I will drink "Sex on the Beach" for 3 days. I will lounge until my feet fall asleep. I will laugh until my sides hurt. I may even make up a cruise name for myself. (Suggestions welcome.)

And that will get me through for now. That will get me through as I tell Riley for the hundredth time tonight, "homework!" That will get me through as I lay out their clothes for tomorrow. That will get me through when I rush to tomorrow's Outdoor Science Parent Night (which takes place in the auditorium). That will get me through next Tuesday night when I go from the new parent tea at 6 at Riley's school to the band parent meeting at Sylvia's school at 7.

Even the girls had to admit, Mommy deserves a vacation, too!