I beg your forgiveness!

This happens to me every few months. I get so busy with work that stuff at home that I can barely keep my head above water and I have no time to do much of anything online.

So I ended up writing a post where I apologize to everyone because I'm a crappy blog buddy. I'm really sorry that I haven't read any blogs for about a week.

Again, the schedule I'm keeping is a busy one right now. Taking my kids to earn their volunteer hours along with school and doing mom stuff just keeps me busy.

I also find when I shut down with blog reading i tend to shut down with friends and family stuff. I just hole up inside myself and don't really do anything with anyone. I mostly just... watch TV. I really don't read, talk on the phone, see friends... nothing. And nothing is wrong, that I know of. It just is something I sometimes do.

I'm really sorry I haven't read your blogs. I also promise that sometime this week I'll be catching up. It can be done. It's just done.... slowly. I miss you all.

Love,
Mags

Stop! In the name of....

So... I got a ticket the other day. I got a ticket for a seat belt violation. I was wearing my seat belt but I didn't make sure my passengers were. And the state was working the 'click it or ticket' campaign that day.

And I am the worst mother in the world because I didn't make sure Mac was properly wearing his seat belt! OMG- I suck. And the deputy who pulled me over actually wrote on the ticket: "Her son was not wearing belt." OH. My. Goddess. I suck as a human being.

We had just left Burger King and Mac, who is big enough to beat a bear with a switch, was riding shot gun. We passed a sheriff car and he popped a u-turn behind me and the lights came on and over we went. I was running through my mind what I could've done. I had just left from a stop light so I knew I didn't even have a chance to speed. I ran through all the other violations in my head that it could be.

Officer is at the window, which I have rolled down. He leans in and introduces himself and asks Mac: "Now tell me the truth young man, honestly, were you wearing your seat belt at that light?" I look at Mac who was wearing his seat belt at that moment and Mac says:
No sir, I had the lap bet on the the shoulder strap behind me so I could eat."

I about died. I had no idea. And I know that makes me a rotten parent and a bad driver and I know I should've noticed it! I felt like I was willing to let my son be splattered across the highway but that wasn't it. We were talking and he was eating and I was watching traffic and driving and the radio was on and I just. plain. didn't. notice.

The Officer was very,very nice and he didn't make me feel like I should be hauled off for potential child abuse or anything. He explained to me that since Mac didn't have a driver's license (yet!) it would go on my record, but it was not a "points" offense so it wouldn't affect my driving record or my insurance (thank the goddess I didn't have to go to work and explain to my boss that my insurance would be going up and why! Sheesh!). Even though Mac was the passenger in the front seat, if he had been a licensed driver, and if if I had been driving, the ticket would've been in his name.

So the Officer takes all my information and goes back to his car and I turn to foist the hairy eyeball on Mac and open my mouth when he said in a one breath rush: "Oh gawd, mom I'm so sorry and my next $25 in lawn mowing goes to you and I'm really sorry I'll pay so please please please don't be mad at me I'm sorry!"

Since he was apologetic and he volunteered to pay the ticket before I could say anything, I didn't yell or lose my cool. I mean, really, at that point, what purpose would it serve? And when Officer Nice Guy returned, Mac told him he was sorry and he would pay it since it wasn't his mom's fault. The guy told Mac he was proud of him and it was good that he was taking responsibility.

I have to say this is the nicest traffic stop I've experienced. This Officer was super nice and very friendly. He was kind and informative. He wasn't a bully and didn't seem to act like he had to throw his power around. He was just a guy doing his job who was also human. He seemed like he felt sorry for me.

But I still got a ticket. Drat! Mac is mowing the lawn on Tuesday and the ticket will be $5 closer to being paid!

I fought the law, and the law won,
Mags

I'm terrible- I know!

I apologize to all of you for not reading your blogs. I was doing so well and then... everything went to hell in a hand basket. My time had just gotten away from me, somehow. Between driving Mac's play practice car pool, subbing, my trip, sewing, packing, laundry, and whatever the hell else I do (I have no idea other than nap. I love napping; napping is good) and talking on the phone to Sam (ohhhhhhhhh, that could be where all my time goes....), I have not read your blogs. Your wonderful, funny, witty, grand blogs. I'm so very sorry! And I want to say I'll do better but.... with Ireland looming in front of me in 6 days (!!!!!!!) I know I won't So I'm sorry!

But here's a deal- I'm going to read everyone and get all caught up before I go. then I'll be a total slacker the entire time I'm in Europe but give me a few days once I get back, get resettled, un-jetlagged and unpacked, then I promise to get back in my routine.

Thanks to all of you who keep on reading me even though I make ghost like non-appearances at your blogs!!!!!

Begging your pardons,
Mags