A Perfect Storm

9 am- Boss calls to say there is drama at work (which I probably should not elaborate on in writing), and is there any way I can come in to work today. Being the team player that I am, (also known as a pushover) I say yes. Make arrangements for Livvi and carpool, promise my house and laundry that we will play another day, and head on in.

1 pm- Spill boss's drink all over the inside of his car on lunch break. Nice.

3:30 pm- Kid calls from school to say that carpool has not shown up. Frantically scramble again to scare up a ride home for the little darlings.

6:35 pm- Arrive home from work, thinking about dinner. Mitch has been kind enough (?) to set up the pool in the backyard, never mind that there is no tarp under it, and no chemicals in it. Livvi is in her swimming suit and ready to swim. Duncan, in a panic, suddenly remembers that he was supposed to be at school at 6:15 for his last ever, end of year choir concert, at the same time that my friend begins texting me. She is at the school, wondering where we are. Alisa is informing me that she has a drama banquet in 20 minutes, and Audrey is missing in action.

6:40- Decide to make a mad dash and try to catch the end of the concert. Mitch announces that he and his friend are going to go grab some dinner. As I am hurrying Duncan along in changing into proper concert attire, I yell to Mitch to not take the car, and that I will be back in an hour.

6:45 pm- Pile into the car, soggy swimsuited Livvi and all, and go in search of Audrey. The first house we stop at, I am informed that she left on her bike 10 minutes ago, with a friend. At the second house, I am told she left three minutes ago. We drive back home, where we find Audrey, and as she is climbing into the car, Alisa comes running out, asking how she is going to get to her banquet, since Mitch just left with the van. Call Mitch to find out why in the #*)&*?>$%* he took the car when I told him not to. What he heard me say was that I was leaving in one hour, rather than coming back in one hour. Great. Throw Alisa into the car and head in the opposite direction of school, to drop her off on the south end of town.

7 pm- Finally heading north to school. Everyone is starving. Break it to Duncan that we are probably not going to make it in time. He starts to cry. Try to convince him to blow off the concert and go to dinner instead. He says that if he doesn't show up, the whole class won't get their donut party. No kid of mine is going to miss out on a donut party if I can help it, so pedal to the metal, we barrel down Main Street.

7:15 pm-RUN into school gym, 8th grade bell choir is just filing into their places. WE MADE IT. Duncan runs up the aisle, frantically waving at his teacher, who bless her heart, waves him up into place and gets his bell for him. Stand in back with camera, while Livvi dances to the music in her soggy swimsuit, to the utter horror of Will and Audrey. Duncan sings 3 more songs, and we are done.

9 pm- After a fast food dinner, we are back at home, and this is how my day ends:

Everybody else was busy cleaning up. Livvi was entertaining herself. Now we are off to memorize the Gettysburg Address (I'm not kidding-Will has to recite it in class tomorrow), find a missing copy of Winn Dixie, and get ready for 8th grade Lagoon Day. Lunch, water bottle, sunscreen, spending money....