Trip to the pet store

What was I thinking????

Persian New Year (a.k.a. Nooruz) is tomorrow. Part of the Celebration is setting up a table called the Haft Seen and part of this set up involves live fish (see http://www.aiap.org/norooz/about_norooz.html for more info).

Now most Persians use a bowl of goldfish, but I decided that since the kids have been asking for an aquarium that I would buy some colorful guppies. Then after the New Year we'd get an aquarium and set it up over next weekend. This was on Saturday. Well, by Monday morning my pretty guppies were all dead. Did you know guppies needed heated water? That's why most people use goldfish!!! Why didn't someone tell me???? Now the New Year is coming and I have dead fish - that can't be a good thing.

Well, since the kids didn't have much homework tonight, I had the brilliant idea we should go back to the store after my hubby left for work and pick up some goldfish. That way we start the New Year with live fish. Well, this was a mistake.

I know, I know, you saw it coming, but I didn't. I was in one of those "This will be great bonding time with just me and the kids" frame of mind.

First of all we walked in to the store and they were having some sort of dog event going on. There was a huge line of people and their dogs right inside the front door. Well, this sent Precious into fits of "Pick me up, Pick me up ...!!!!" She is not a dog person.

I got a cart and put her in it, so I didn't have to carry her through the store. Well, the fish department is not really built for a cart, one mom and four other children trailing behind it. Now, remember all I came in here for was 3 goldfish.

Forty-five minutes later, we're at the check out with three goldfish, one 20 gallon starter aquarium set, two 10 pound bags of blue and green gravel, a little castle, half of a pirate ship, an underwater volcano, four plastic plants and Precious crying because she thinks to dog treats at the front of the store are chocolate and can't understand why Mean Mommy won't buy her one. All because I fell for the "Mom you said we could have a fish tank and it needs to left to sit for about 48 hours before you can put fish in it. Just in time to move the goldfish out of the goldfish bowl after Nooruz." Man, I hate that my older children have learned to read.

Well, they're right; I did promise that they could set up an aquarium. I just meant next week. I did this mostly because there is no way I am cleaning up after a cat or dog at this point in my life. The older children suddenly remembered that Dad had told them they could have a dog when we bought a house with a bigger yard. We moved into the house with the bigger yard three years ago, but the kids are just now remembering that discussion because the neighbors got a puppy last week. Great ...not!

I have enough trouble keeping my own messes picked up just ask my husband.

So, I bought the start kit and additional decorations then spent my evening setting up the new aquarium instead of working. The kids had a blast helping to use pitchers to put water in the tank and it actually looks pretty nice. A much better way to spend my evening than reviewing a Test Plan (can you say boooorrrrriinnng?) like I was planning to do. And now I have five happy smiling faces going around saying things like "That looks really cool Mom" and "Wow, I really like that."

Maybe I should go to the pet store with my kids more often. They don't pass out the compliments very easily.

I’d like to see you before I die …

That’s the line I got from my Grandmother Friday night; like I don’t have enough pressure on my time. Between a full time job (in the middle of multiple production releases and a boss that just told me to go home, kiss my family and tell them I’ll see them after April 25th), a husband, children, parents, a brother who has a new baby, grandmothers, in-laws, aunts, uncles and friends; my grandmother has decided that she needs to explain that I need to come see her before she dies. At this point I should note that she is in very good health and will probably out live us all, so don’t think I’m so crass as to ignore a family member who is truly ill and in need of support.

I should also explain that I live about 500 miles away, so getting to out to see her is not a quick trip. It’s a 12 – 14 hour drive with children in tow (9 if I drive alone) or an hour and a half plane flight (not a cheap option for 7 people). I invited Grandma to come to visit us multiple times (my treat), but she’s not interested. She won’t say it to me, but the issue is my kids are too loud. She’s 80 years old. I get that the noise level in my house can be overwhelming if you’re not used to it. I’ve offered to put her up in a near by hotel – but no -- she wants me to come to her.

My in-laws have the same mentality. We’re older so you should come to visit us rather than us come to you. And I get it I really do – but if the point is you really want to spend time with me or my family then you are going to get a lot more of my time and attention if you come to me.

First of all, I won’t be sitting in your house wondering about the thirty things sitting at my house waiting to get done. I can talk with you and start the dishwasher at the same time. Secondly, I don’t have to chase children around screaming “Stop touching that. That’s not a toy. That’s breakable – Stop it.” It’s my house – everything is already destroyed.

Oh, well, you do what you can … make note to go see Grandmother before she dies … Guess going to the beach for spring break is out and out rude now ...