I got my hand stuck in the couch today...

I say this because, well, because I did... but also because I later realized how distinctly this phrase answers the question, "How was your day?" Now usually I might respond with "fine", "lousy", or even "one of those days". But really, don't you have a pretty good idea of what kind of day I've had if you ask and I say, "I got my hand stuck in a couch"? It wasn't predominantly bad... or good... but there were about 30 minutes in the middle of the day that were so typically bizarre that I wonder how I ever get myself dressed in the morning let alone take care of anyone else.

At 11:15, I remember that I am late in getting my payment into the pre-school so I embark on a vast, yet unsuccessful search for my checkbook. I know it's here somewhere because I've seen it. I also know that it's "lost". I've known this for some time now but haven't bothered to look for it. (This drives my husband crazy.)

At 11:30, I realize that I'm running out of time and am just going to have to run by the bank and get cash so I grab my car keys and begin a search for my cell phone. (I always need to look for at least one of them.) I call the cell phone from the home phone and find that our couch is ringing. This is when I learn that behind the normal dusting of crumbs buried in our couch cushions, there is a bottomless abyss that has sucked up my cell phone. I also learned that once I extend my arm up to a certain point, it becomes stuck.

Really, truly stuck. I had no idea that it was even possible to get your hand stuck in a couch. Unfortunately, I have a pretty quick panic button when it comes to the whole notion of being stuck in any sense so it was really the longest 20 minutes seconds of my day.

Finally, I freed my arm and approached the ringing from another angle. Oddly, before I recovered my cell phone, I first pulled out our long missing second house phone. A whole phone lost in the couch! Forget Mars, there could be life in our sofas!

By this time I'm running late and dash to my car. As I'm driving off, I realize that my cell phone battery is almost dead and I can't find my charger. (Are you seeing a pattern here?) This is more important than you might think... you must understand that when you live in a house with 5 boys, the only chance you get to talk on the phone is when you're in the car.

I began to try to calculate what percentage of each day I spend looking for things but it was too discouraging so I gave up and stopped at the store for a Diet Coke since I had forgotten to buy some over the weekend.

You can pretty much fill in the blanks for the rest of my day with the insight that this is just a random moment in time for me. So when you don't know how else to describe the day you're having, try it. "Ugh. I got my hand stuck in a couch today!" I think it sums things up quite well.


Anyway... DH remains interested in supporting my blog by continuing to submit his own photos. I suggested he start his own blog as the shock value of his photos might not appeal to my average visitor, but this one is special because it's my middle boy in training.



This same snake-hunting, mountain-biking child found a crystal when he was camping with DH last year and spent some time with his jewelry-making grandma recently to make this for me...



He is a boy of extremes... fearful of nothing, fights to the end, yet loves with an amazing heart.


Finally, for those of you on Ravelry, I wanted to pass on this fundraiser info I just came across. It's actually a fundraiser with prizes which makes it even better! I have to confess that a part of me really hates passing along contest alerts because in doing so I am actively seeking to decrease my own odds of winning but what can I say... I guess I just like you that much.

So here's the info. If you've been hanging out at Ravelry, it's a great chance to help them out if you can.