Playing catch up...

Wow, as you can tell, this has been a crazy-go-nuts week for me, starting with Mother's Day, ending in my birthday, with buying a house in the middle. Oh, and did I mention the lockdown at my school, when I had a gun pointed at my head? Heh, silly me ... must fill you in on that bit.

If you read the link, you will see that everything turned out ok but, at the time, we didn't know what was happening. When they called a lockdown, I had 4 students in the media center looking for books. I told them and my assistant to get down in the back corner as I locked down and put out the lights. Well, I locked down as best as I could, locking 2 of my 3 doors and putting out my 'all clear' cards, then joined the kids on the floor.

It became evident pretty quickly this wasn't a drill, as we had no prior knowledge of it. I tried to keep the kids calm and quiet, listening to their nervous whispers and giggles while keeping one eye on the clock. We heard sirens, which didn't help the nervousness, and occasionally we would hear a bang or a rattled door.

About half an hour into the lockdown, it happened. The double doors that I can't lock swung open and two police officers came in quickly and quietly. We huddled there in the dark, watching the light from their flashlights sweep over the room until it came to rest on us. A quiet "All clear" into a shoulder walkie and the officer turned to the side and that was when I realized the flashlight was mounted on top of a gun.

I don't think I was really too scared until those doors swung open. Nothing like being responsible for the lives of someone else's kids to bring you up short. It was all over in about an hour and a half but we were all fried for the rest of the day and, honestly, the rest of the week.

Speaking of kids ... both of my children had concerts this week. I'm an extremely proud momma.

And speaking of moms ... (see, there is a breadcrumb flavored thought path I'm following here) ... for a perfectly worded Mother's Day post, (oh, Grace, I am so with you in this one) check out this post at State of Grace. As you know, I have my own ambivalence/anger/resentment about Mother's Day and Grace's kind, empowering words made me feel perfectly normal for having them. Thank you.

Ok, one last thing, really, and I think that will be the end ... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!! 43 is turning into a very lucky birthday for me ... did I mention the couple we are buying the house from got married on my birthday?? Serendipity?? Methinks ...

HA!! I lied!!! ONE more thing ... I got a phone call from my landlord today, which always puts a peach pit of fear in my stomach. Apparently, he is building a new house and the bank advised them to sell their other houses, one of which is this one. He wanted to offer it to me before he put it on the market.

Let me just say right now ... I don't want this house. I never did want this house. It needs new wiring, new plumbing, and at least one more bathroom. Oh, and bigger rooms and no lawn maintenance. Hmmm ... kind of like THE TOWNHOUSE I'M BUYING! I haven't told him about it yet but I will tell him this week so he can move forward. I just don't know when my closing date will be so I don't want to shoot myself in the foot. Even if this townhouse falls through, though, we are moving this summer.

What it is they say, "When it rains, it pours"? I believe this is my deluge. Here's to a more peaceful week.