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07/02/2006
Play misty for me
We're sitting on the patio at my grandparents' Louisiana house in the early evening. Charlie is tooling around industriously, requesting ice cubes and chasing them under the wicker sofa. ("Not in the mouth, Charlie, for the love of God: dirty. And lizardy.")
The mosquitoes have come out — as if they ever went in — and my grandfather has decided to fumigate the area with a blast of Deep Woods Off. Instead of applying it to his clothes and skin as per the instructions, he's waving the can around, spraying the chemicals indiscriminately into the air, like a germophobic housewife misting her home with Lysol.
"Daddy," says my aunt, shocked, "that's not good for people with compromised respiratory systems."
"Well," my grandfather drawls, "it's not real good for mosquitoes, either."
Off for the next ten days at our annual family camp in the woods. Thank you so much for your comments and e-mail on my last post. I'm thinking about them every day, and if I don't expire in a cloud of DEET before my return, I'll follow up when I'm back.
Posted by Julie at 09:11 AM in Charles in charge | Permalink
Comments (19)
lizardy. ha! happy 4th of july camping celebration and may the skeeters stay away.
Posted by: kimblahg at Jul 2, 2006 9:21:30 AM
Mmm...lizard ice. Have fun!
Posted by: Jenn at Jul 2, 2006 9:47:04 AM
"Lizardy"
Julie, you never fail to crack me up. Lol.
Have a nice camping trip and DON'T INHALE THE SKEETO SPRAY!
Posted by: ChelC at Jul 2, 2006 5:00:55 PM
Have fun on your camp-out!
I didn't comment on your last post because I was (am) at a loss for words, but you and Charlie are certainly in my thoughts with hopes for the best outcome.
Posted by: JustLinda at Jul 2, 2006 5:47:21 PM
Have fun in the woods...and never underestimate the powers of DEET.
Posted by: Flicka at Jul 2, 2006 6:43:57 PM
Enjoy . . . Charlie might just come back running from trying to avoid his great-grandfather's fumigation efforts. Hey, whatever works . . .
Posted by: Stacey at Jul 2, 2006 10:58:37 PM
Lizardy... that's too funny!
Enjoy your camp out!
Take care
Posted by: Soralis at Jul 3, 2006 12:00:46 AM
Yummie! DEET!
At least if you ingest the Off!, when you sweat you'll have built in insect repellant!!!
Have fun in the woods!
Posted by: jude at Jul 3, 2006 9:17:49 AM
Ummm.....good luck with that. Your trip sounds like it will be.......fun???
Perhaps you should bring a suitcase of citronella candles as well?
Posted by: VanillaDreams at Jul 3, 2006 1:42:57 PM
Have fun! Enjoy the wicked miserable weather. (here in Houston it's not much better)
Can't wait to see pics of Charlie camping out!!
Posted by: Leah at Jul 3, 2006 8:31:53 PM
Oh man..... your grandfather sounds like a character!! *happy Loling*
Best of luck and have a lovely time!
Posted by: Maria at Jul 4, 2006 10:23:37 AM
We just got back from our mini vacation. Hope you have fun!
Posted by: InDueTime at Jul 4, 2006 3:12:41 PM
Hi Julie, I have lurked for a couple of years. I'm an IF. I get it about that. I have had m/c s (3) so I get it about that, I'm exploring donor egg (you, lucky girl, didn't have to go that far, but, hey, it beats waiting for one to be left on the porch) and I am a pediatric hospital-based occupational therapist. I read the eval. stuff you posted about Charlie and because of the road we long-term IFs take, I get it about that too. We have to think "why always me when everybody I know is told that their mediocre f-ing kid is in the 98th percentile in everything", but, you get it that we who have been down the IF road really know what is important in life. If you were here, I would hug you, and tell you that Charlie is a most beautiful child and you are a beautiful mom. Charlie will grow up and change the world. I will always remember the post you wrote about the lady in the airport and her "grace". You, with your wit and deep sense of humanity know what grace is too. I hope your life continues to be blessed. If you're ever in the Western NY area, I'm buying the first round!
Posted by: limited sunshine at Jul 4, 2006 3:27:21 PM
I just checked out the pictures of Charlie and he is such a cute, beautiful kid. I loved the Batman picture!
Thank you for writing your blog and sharing your story. This helped me tremendously in recent tough times.
I wish you and your family the very best
Marie
Posted by: marie at Jul 4, 2006 7:51:51 PM
Wanted to say hello. I'm a 2 time severe preeclampsia survivor too. I have 2 girls (born at 34 weeks and the other at 27 weeks). I've been reading your blog for a few days...I like your brutal honesty. I hang out at this site here and there: http://www.preeclampsia.proboards67.com
Maybe you'd like to meet some fellow moms who've survived PE.
Love the name Charlie by the way...it is my DH's name.
Jen in Wisconsin
Posted by: Jen B. at Jul 5, 2006 12:49:31 AM
LOL EEEEEK!!! well you have tons of fun ok :) big hugs!! is it really lizardy?!? hehe
Posted by: beth at Jul 5, 2006 1:51:36 PM
i had severe pre e with my son.. i had him at 38 weeks he was supposed to come oc t 3rd scheduled section but it got so bad .. my blood pressure got so high and so much protein .. that they ahd to take him sept 22nd..
i had my daughter at 34 weeks.. she was in the nicu for 3 weeks.. but shes doing great now shes gonna be 4 next week on the 13th :)
do you remember us at all?
well hugs
Posted by: beth at Jul 5, 2006 1:53:18 PM
I hope you have a great time camping! I'm cracking up about the DEET. Don't inhale! Don't inhale!
Posted by: Heather at Jul 6, 2006 9:49:44 PM
Also a 2x preclamp/bedrest survivor. Not fun! Husband is pushing for a third child, I'm pushing him out the freaking window!
I love your grandpa's retort. That quick witted stating of the obvious is something that generation just owns man!
Posted by: Lotta at Jul 8, 2006 1:32:52 AM
