Epic Fail on the Parenting Scale

I guess the saying is true.  We do learn something new every day.  I've mentioned before that the last few years have been incredibly pivotal and life-changing for me.  There have been many realizations and I've put an incredible amount of work into changing the things in my life that needed changing.  As they say, with age comes wisdom.  And I say what's the point in all the life lessons if we don't change because of them?  We have the ability and are capable.  We only have to reach that magical point where we realize it's time. 

Some lessons are more difficult than others and I find myself smack dab in the middle of a doozy at the moment.  It's a 'Mom' lesson, so I suppose that anyone who isn't a parent may be hard pressed to understand it.  I always find that if it involves my kids and/or my parenting, it will be the most trying and this one is no exception.  A child-induced heartache can make a mom unable to focus on much else and also proves how little influence we have over what life may hand us.  Sometimes our only measure of control comes in the form of how we deal with it and how much we allow it to change us.  More simply put:  Sometimes, no matter how much we want to make something go away, we can't.  We have to do the best we can with what's there. We just have to deal with it. 

I confess.  I'm not dealing with this particular situation in an admirable way. 

If you know me at all, you know that it was never unusual for me to allow others to walk all over me.  They could use and abuse and take advantage and I seemed powerless to stop it.  I've gotten better at standing up for myself and I don't allow things to get quite so out of control anymore, but there are still times when I'm apt to allow their poor treatment of me at the time, then simply avoid that person in the future.  (Perhaps not a perfect solution, but it works for me.)  However, I am a Mama Bear when it comes to my kids.  Do NOT mess with them.  There is no better way to earn the wrath of Kelli than to do something mean or hurtful to my offspring.

And then...there comes a point when the mistreatment comes at the hands of someone in authority, someone who really has the final say.  Whether or not their behavior toward your child is justified is strictly a matter of their own opinion and they have to answer to no one for it.  A personality conflict?  Maybe, but if that's the case we are completely unaware of it.  They do as they see fit, handle the situation at their own discretion and that's just the way it is.  It makes me angry.

It also makes me sad.  I've watched my child's self-esteem diminish throughout this ordeal.  I've seen the effects it has had on other aspects of her life.  This one person, the one who wields all this power, should actually have very little control over her life as a whole.  But when the one thing he does control is something that is very important to her, the result is crushing.  So significant are his actions that their effects spill over.  We've managed to get some of these 'side effects' under control but I can't just wave a magic wand and heal her heart.  And that breaks mine. 

As a parent, I've been a terrible failure these last few weeks, at least where this situation is concerned.  I'm not proud of some of my actions and many of my words, but sometimes an aching heart has more control over us than we care to admit.  I've worried, lost sleep and even been sick over it all.  I've come to realize that none of that changes any part of the situation.  I've also come to realize that as long as the situation doesn't change, it's incredibly difficult to change my reaction to it.  I feel completely powerless.  It's one of those no-win situations.

I'm sure that somewhere down the road we will come to the realization that it all happened for a reason.  We'll find that there was something better awaiting her, something so much more significant than this huge THING that's consumed us for so long.  None of this has changed who she is or what she can be...as long as she doesn't allow it.  That's the hard part.  But I also know my girl and she's strong, smart, beautiful and capable of anything.  She'll get past this (probably a whole lot sooner than I do, if you wanna know the truth) and she'll file it away as one of her life lessons.  I think it will read something like this:

Fair is a matter of perspective.  People don't always have your best interests at heart.  We aren't always given the same chances that others are given and sometimes we have to just live with it.

And P.S.  Having hissy fits about it the way Mom does won't change anything.  ;)

As Easy As Saying 'No'

I've told you before what a difficult time I used to have when it came to telling people "No, I'm unable to fit that into my schedule" or better yet, just simply "No."  It can be rough when you're born a people-pleaser.  I am finally to the point where it is easier for me and I don't feel as guilty about it as I did in the past.  Sometimes you have to look out for yourself because no one else is going to do it for you, if you know what I mean.

Now it seems I'm learning another of those life lessons.  It's all about "I can't."  Not so much the act of actually saying "I can't" as convincing myself that some things are simply beyond the realm of possibility.  And again, it is something I must learn to accept and not feel the guilt that keeps trying to creep into the picture.

There is, for instance, my complete inability to blog on a routine basis.  I make promises to myself when it comes to how often I will blog and I simply end up breaking those promises.  It isn't even as if blogging is a chore for me.  It's actually quite the opposite.  I love to blog.  I enjoy writing just as much as I enjoy reading, if not more.  Truth be told, this is one promise I despise breaking.  But it is what it is.  There are just too many other things that need to be done, too much that needs my attention, too few hours in the day and too little energy to do it all.  Being unable to post here as often as I'd like hurts no one other than myself, but then I guess that's another reason it bothers me.  My inability to find the time to do something that is important and therapeutic and cathartic for me makes me just a little sad.

But here I am, learning to say "I can't" to myself just the same as I learned to say "No" to others.  I will make no more promises regarding how often I'll blog or even if I'll blog because it seems to only add to the pressure I already have coming at me from all sides.  And when I say pressure, I don't necessarily mean it in a bad way.  It is only the day to day stuff that makes up this beautiful life.  As much as I love my husband, my children, my grandkids, life in general...there is still a certain amount of pressure that comes tagging along with all the joy they bring.  The pressure to do what needs done in order to keep this house running, clean clothes on our backs and healthy (for the most part) foods on the table.  The pressure of keeping up with practice schedules, music lessons and who is playing what game on which side of town.

Thanks to the calendar on my iPhone, I've actually gotten pretty good at keeping up with all of it.  The kids haven't missed a practice or a game and I haven't misplaced a kid.  I may need to tell myself "I can't" on occasion, but I guess when it comes to life in general, I think it's safe to say "I CAN."  And that's pretty much all that matters.  :)

Guidelines for the Uncool Parent

I'm totally uncool.  And I'm cool with that. 

As much as my teenager hates it, I'm not one of those whose kids get by with a whole lot.  I watch the news and my heart breaks when I hear about the teenagers who die as a result of their own poor judgement and I ache for those left behind to mourn.  Goodness only knows the news has been full of these stories recently.  God willing, I will never wear those shoes.  

I have plenty to say about being the uncool parent.  In my opinion, it is totally cool to be uncool.  It is okay to be the parent who is always lurking in the background, keeping an eye on things.  'Stalking' my kids is not only okay, it's my job.  And maybe, just maybe, it will help keep them safe.  In today's world there are plenty of things to cause a parent to worry.  It pays to be vigilant.

I've been a parent for more than 29 years and I still have a teenager and a 10 year old living under my roof.  Over the years I have witnessed plenty of parenting styles and I've had to adapt my own to fit various circumstances.  It's okay, I'm flexible like that.  To an extent.  ;)  But in these changing times there needs to be more black and white and less gray area.  And we, as parents, need to stop judging each other for the way we choose to parent our own children.  Don't judge me and I won't judge you.  But if you're interested, here are my ground rules:

1.  As a parent, you CANNOT be 'too involved' when it comes to knowing where your kids are and with whom.  Right now they should be honing their decision making skills with your assistance, not turned loose to do as they please.  They'll have years of adulthood to exhibit their independence. 

2.  It is never wrong to ASK QUESTIONS or to expect your child to check in/stay in touch.  And when you call their cell phone and they don't answer, there SHOULD be consequences! 

3.  Kids are going to fib and they're going to make poor decisions.  It's a matter of fact because they must test the limits from time to time. Life is a learning process and no matter how wonderful you know your kids to be, there will come a time when they feel the need.  My kids are awesome but I would be the one fibbing if I didn't admit that I have indeed caught them telling a little white lie in the past.  So far it hasn't been anything horrible, but there were indeed consequences.  Friends and classmates who are willing to push the envelope can be very convincing creatures.  When it comes to your kids, question anything that sounds fishy.  Talk to other parents.  Check out their stories. 

4.  It's much better to be looked upon as a meddling parent and to be called 'overprotective' and 'smothering' than to lose a child.  Call me all the names you want.  As long as my kids are still here, still living and learning and growing, I can live with your name-calling and finger-pointing.  Your opinion of me isn't nearly as important to me as the safety and well being of my kids. 

5.  I'm okay with not being the 'cool parent'.  I will not knowingly allow ignorant behavior to take place among my kids and their friends.  Having fun is one thing.  Doing things that can cause harm is another.  And if by any chance you happen to be one of those 'cool parents', please do not take it upon yourself to make your 'cool choices' for my kids as well as your own.  Don't allow them to drink at your house.  Do not allow them to take part in promiscuous, questionable or illegal behavior because you allow your child to do so.  This is not your choice to make so do not take it upon yourself.  Just like there would be consequences for my child, there would also be consequences for you. Promise.

6.  Stalk their Twitter, FB and other social media accounts.  Stalk their friends' accounts.  You will learn SO MUCH.  Trust me. 

I could probably go on about this for days, but that pretty much covers the basics.  So go on out there and be uncool.  And be proud of it.  Not in your face, embarrassingly proud, but you know what I mean.  ;) 

Angels Among Us

angel:  [eyn-juhl]  a person having qualities generally attributed to an angel;

a messenger, especially of God;

a conventional representation of such a being, in human form

I've been seeing angels left and right,

both in person and in the media.

I don't know about you,

but I had gotten so tired of the bad news 

that I pretty much stopped watching much news at all.

I seldom click on the news links posted on FB

but I'm really glad I checked out this one.

This story is packed FULL of good news

and a handful of angels, too.

CLICK HERE to see what I mean. :)

This one hits a bit closer to home. ;)

CLICK HERE

Makes a mama proud.  :)  

Drew loves being a firefighter

 and even though I worry every time

 I know he's out on a call, 

I love that he is passionate about helping others.

Then there is this guy:

 

One can be labeled an angel for many reasons.

Sometimes it's because of the example they set. 

This is my Tucker Man.  He's 10 years old.

Yesterday his class went to visit a local nursing home.  

Those who are band members 

put on a little concert for the residents, 

then they all sat and talked, 

giving each of them some one-on-one attention.

Tucker came home just bubbling over 

with stories about this little excursion 

and ended it by saying

 "I really enjoyed going there.  

It was fun to talk to them." 

He told me of the conversations 

he had with a couple of the elderly residents

and he spoke with so much 

enthusiasm and joy.

My heart was so full it nearly burst. 

He is such a loving, giving, sensitive young man.

And that makes him an angel in my eyes.

When the news of the day is getting you down

with stories of political unrest,

rising food and gas prices,

and crime after crime...

LOOK AROUND YOU.

I feel certain you can spy an angel or two. 

Move past the depressing headlines

and allow them to lift your spirits

 and, more importantly,

 restore your confidence in mankind.

The wings of angels are often found on the backs of the least likely people.  ~Eric Honeycutt

Everyone entrusted with a mission is an angel.  ~Moses Maimonides

Anyone can be an angel.  ~Author Unknown

Clean Slates and Patient Hearts

This was posted by a FB friend this morning 

and it really struck a chord. 
It also made me think of another line 

I'd like to add to it:

and the confidence to form our own opinions.

These lessons have been so terribly lost in today's society.  

People can be incredibly judgmental, 

basing their opinions on what others say 

rather than figuring things out for themselves. 

How often do you approach someone,

already armed with opinions and expectations 

that you've created based upon 

gossip and hearsay?
Or perhaps even impressions they've given you

based only on their outward appearance?

And let's be honest.

There have been times when

you've even created a monster in your mind

only to meet the person and think

"Wow. You know, she's actually very nice."

I confess.

Guilty as charged.

I'm not proud of it.

It's just a fact.

 But I am changing all that.

It's part of a big ol' remodeling I've been undergoing

the last couple of years.

I'm making changes to the only thing in this world

over which I have any real control:
MYSELF.

Important changes are usually the toughest to make.

Being less judgmental is important.

Being kind is important.

Having an open and patient heart is important.

I will create a blank slate for each person I meet.

 I will allow them to write on it 

the story they want me to read.

I will let them be the person they choose to be

rather than forcing them into some mold I've

already chosen for them.

I'll allow them to set the tone of our relationship.

I will follow my own instincts.

And...

I will hope and pray that from this day forward,

others will give me

that same opportunity.

Because,

you know,

people will become what you expect of them.

 It's human nature to respond in kind

to the way others behave toward you.

And more than that...

given good reason to do so,

PEOPLE CHANGE.

Be what you'd like to see in others.

Simple.

Roundabout Blessings

It's one of those mornings.

No, not a BAD morning.

Just one of those mornings.

The Hubster and the kids seemed to be

 in  good moods

and I got everyone off to work and school

with no hitches.

The temp is very mild for a February morning

and it's supposed to go into the 50s this afternoon.

Earlier I watched a thick layer of dark clouds 

being blown across the sky,

the wind taking them elsewhere,

so that we might enjoy a brief blast 

of springlike weather.

Now there is sunshine streaming through my window,

highlighting a layer of dust that needs

to be removed from practically every surface.

  I have stacks of laundry sorted,

ready to be thrown into the washing machine

and then the dryer

(which I don't mind all that much)

folded/put on hangers

(which I also don't mind)
and then put away

(which I mind very much, for whatever silly reason.)

Over the weekend we stopped at Sam's and 

picked up some beef and some chicken.

They need to be worked up, divided into smaller portions

and put in the freezer.

Not my favorite job, but it's nice to have it on hand

and not have to worry about running to the store

so often to replenish.

Not my freezer...borrowed pic from a search engine

because mine needs some organizing.  ;)

We have a busy evening ahead,

filled with a piano lesson

and then a quick dinner before we go

to a basketball game at the high school,

where Perri will be cheering.

That will put us home in time to start

getting ready for bed so that we can

get up tomorrow and start all over again.

It might sound monotonous to some,

but I'm counting my blessings!

My roundabout blessings,

meaning they may not look like blessings

at first glance, but dig a little deeper.

You'll see what I mean.

 

That layer of dust I see means that I have 

a roof over my head 

and furniture to fill it. 

All those stacks of laundry mean that 

we have plenty of clothes to wear to keep us warm.

 The music lesson and the ballgame

that leave our schedule feeling somewhat rushed

mean that my kids are healthy 

and spending time on things they enjoy.

That hour or so I don't relish spending in the kitchen

packaging up things for the freezer

means we are blessed with enough food

to nourish and sustain us.

But now it's time to get busy.

I'll turn on some music,

definitely sing along and

probably even dance a little ;) ,

while I tackle the tasks at hand.

It's not a perfect morning

by most folks' standards.

But it sure feels perfect for me.

 

5QF

It's been a long time since I've done a 5QF

and I think I'm due.  ;)
Let's get it goin'!

Join in at My Little Life!

1. What is your favorite book to read with your kids?

I really have to choose just one?  Seriously?

 

Not gonna happen.

 

There are DOZENS!

 

Let's break it down like this:

My favorite CLASSIC to read with them is 

Where the Red Fern Grows.

And yes, I cry 

Every. Single. Time.

 
My favorite SERIES to read with them is

Junie B. Jones.

I'll be honest.  I despised those

books when they first came out.

The grammar was 

atrocious

and I kept thinking how

Perri was just learning to read 

and write and what a mess

this was going to make of it!

 

But they made me giggle.

Really.

I could just imagine Junie's 

thought process taking place

in my own kids' minds

and I knew we had to read them.

So we turned them into lessons, too!

As I read them aloud,

Perri would correct Junie's grammar.

And no, I can't take credit for the idea.

She just sort of started doing it on her own.

 

We've also read TONS of other great books

but I'll save that post for another day. ;)

 

2. After having kids, what body part has changed the most?

 

Okay, really now.

Do we want to go there?

I didn't think so.

 

A few stretch marks after the first one,

a few more and some sagging after the second...

you get my point.

 

There is no fun to be had in discussing that!

 

3. Would you ever go back to college? What would you study?

 

I would.

That is, if my circumstances were 

very different,

I would.

Perri will start college 

(full time...she is already earning credits in high school)

in 2015, and then Tucker in 2020.

I really don't think now is the time

for me to even think about it for myself. 

 

If I were to go, I would want to study journalism. :)

 

4. How do you close a phone call? Bye, bye bye or other?

 

I'm thinking...

 

Funny how we really don't pay attention

to that sort of thing, isn't it?

 

But I'm pretty sure that if it's my

hubby or my kids on the other end

of the line,

I end with 'Love you'

and if it's anyone else,

it's usually 

'Later' or 'Talk to ya later!'

 

I'm not a 'goodbye' kind of girl.

 

5. What is the one food that will always be your "cheat food" on a diet?

 

Since a picture is worth a thousand words:

 CHOCOLATE!!!

Especially dark.

Mmmmmmmmmmm... 

Three Little Words

Not much happening.

Making this cake.

 Found it HERE.

Expected a storm.

 Basically got nothing.

Fred is lost.

Breaks my heart.  :(

Five days ago:

Seventy degrees today.

 

Mother Nature's menopause.  ;)

That is all.  

Half Done

Seems like there are lots of things 

in my life right now 

that are only about half done.

The snow day we're enjoying today?

Only about halfway earned.

We barely have any snow at all!

But it's super cold and I guess 

there is some ice on the roads.

 (The above pic is actually an old one...we don't have quite

that much snow right now.

Can't post a new pic because Photobucket is having issues.)

Cleaning and organizing the kitchen?

About half done.

Sorting/weeding out the junk

in the spare bedroom?

About half done. 

Getting over this upper respiratory infection?
About half done.

Yes, it finally got me.

Made it through the holidays without

falling ill and that was my goal,

but I should have known

something would eventually attack me.

Don't get me wrong...

I've had far worse sickness in the past

than what I'm dealing with at the moment.
I can't really complain because

the worst of it lasted only 

a couple of days.

I got started on an antibiotic

just about the time my ears became 

involved and I think I caught it early enough.

My biggest issue now is an 

annoying cough during the night.

This, too, shall pass.

Hoping to soon be back to full energy

and ready to tackle the other half

of all those tasks that have

been put on hold lately.

I guess half done is better than

not even started, huh?  ;)

Weaving Threads

I have something I want to share with you.  This video is so very precious to me and I wrote this post several months ago  but had issues 
with the video link when I published it.

Unless you are a relative of mine or you have some 

other connection to my family,

I know the video won't mean nearly as much to you  as it does to me,but I feel the need to convey to you  the importance of such family treasures.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It seems I'm feeling quite sentimental here the last few days.

A very dear cousin sent to me a video of a 

family get-together that took place in 1960, 

five years before my birth.  

I have to tell you.

I bawled like a baby.

It opens with my Daddy, smiling and enjoying his birthday celebration

with all the folks he held most dear.

There are many of my aunts and uncles, most of them gone now.

The almost-five-year-old version of my brother 

(he was 10 when I was born)

sitting with an ultra thin, oh-so-young version of my Mom.

It was a pivotal moment for me, seeing these people in this way.

One of those uncles I don't recall ever meeting.

I'm sure I did as a very young child, perhaps even a toddler.

He and his family moved away and then he died rather unexpectedly when I was very young.

Until watching this video, he had been merely a handsome face

in a handful of still photos stored in a cardboard box at my Mom's house.

But this video, this treasure, allowed me to see him 

really LIVING.

Laughing, joking with his siblings, having fun.

It made him so much more real to me.

And most importantly to me, there was my Daddy.

Alive, young, vibrant and happy.

The same with all those aunts and uncles 

who are no longer with us.

It broke my heart...

but in a very good way.

I miss these folks and I wish they were still here.

I wish I could have realized at a much younger age

what a gift it is to have a large and loving extended family.

I wish I had spent more time in their company,

listened more intently to their stories,

paid a little more attention in general.

It's just a few threads in the fabric of my life,

a snippet of time that I'm sure my Uncle Bob (the man with the camera)

never imagined would mean so much
more than 50 years down the road.
 But what an impact it has had on me.

I hope that when you watch this

it will make you stop and think

the next time you have a chance to spend a few minutes

with an aunt or uncle or grandparent...

TAKE IT.

Enjoy it.

Savor it.

REMEMBER IT.

The older I get, the more important

those fond memories become.

When loved ones pass on,

those memories sustain you.

Those little threads we weave in the springs, summers and autumns of our lives create a warm cocoon that will keep us warm even in the coldest of winters.

Recipe for creating S P A C E

The Great American Cookbook Clean-Out has begun! 

Well, it feels like it's that big a deal to me. 

I've been collecting these things for years

but I've finally decided that 

some of them must go.

In all honesty, there are many I haven't

even opened since I first brought them home.

It's just that I have this thing about

books in general...

I have a really tough time parting with them.

NO MORE!

This clutter must go!

I didn't get a 'before' pic

and for that I apologize. 
It was a last-minute thing

and I just didn't think.

But here is what remains:

Top shelf 

 Bottom shelf

15 years worth of  

Taste of Home magazines I must sort through.

The giveaway pile

Brie is going to see what she wants to keep

and the rest will go to the local Resource Center.

I will be spending some time going through 

the ToH mags, choosing which recipes 

I want to keep.

I haven't yet decided if I'm going to 

cut them out and create a binder

or if I'm going to take digital pics of them

and keep them on a disc.

I love having a file of my recipes 

on my computer.  But I suppose I'm also 

an old fashioned girl

because I love having a hard copy, too.

Maybe I'll just do both.  ;)

When it's all organized 

and I consider it a job well done,

I'll post the 'after' pics. 

Until then, tell me....

how do you organize your 

cookbooks and recipes?

Bipolar Pinning

If you are following me on Pinterest,
you might agree with the title of this post.  ;)

It's just one of those days.

First I pinned this one to my board titled
Here's Your Sign:

I'm not mean and nasty by nature,

but this just struck me as hilarious

this morning!

But then I ended up posting this to my board

titled Words of Wisdom:

 

I'm thinking I'll heed the second.

It's just been a rough couple of days.  ;)

Gettin' a Jumpstart on Feelin' the Love

I'm not usually a Valentine's Day kind of girl. Yes, I did make this heart-shaped meat loaf one year, but that was kind of a fluke. I've baked square and round cakes, cut the round cake in half and created a heart-shaped cake, too.  Those things were fun but this family just doesn't usually get totally wound up in the Valentine spirit.

(Actually, they REALLY made fun of the meat loaf! LOL!)

Oh well.  Not that big a deal in the grand scheme of things, huh?  ;)

Except for Pinterest.  It has me wanting to bake more, cook more, craft more, decorate more, read more....you get my drift.  And if you are on Pinterest, too, I'm sure you feel my pain.

I didn't find this exact idea on Pinterest 

but some of the ideas I did find

sparked this one. 

I think it turned out to be rather cute

and it was also very inexpensive to make.

You just need:

2 of the $.97 plastic tablecloths from WalMart

A wire coat hanger or some wire you can shape yourself

A pair of scissors

A pair of pliers to bend and twist the wire

Make the heart shape using your wire

or wire coat hanger.

If you're using a coat hanger, you need to

untwist the neck of the hanger

so you have both ends of the wire free.

You're going to need those ends

so you can poke through the plastic.

I opened the tablecloths to their full length,

cut them into quarters across their width,

then folded their length accordion-style.

Starting at one end of the long accordion fold,

I punctured the center of the plastic 

with the end of the wire,

pushed it through 3 to 4" and 

then pushed the end back through

the folded plastic.

Back and forth, back and forth,

just like sewing stitches down the center

of the accordion folded plastic,

until the full length of it was

on the wire.

I took the pliers and twisted the ends 

of the wire together in the center

of the 'V', then using my fingers

I fluffed and tweaked the folds

of the plastic until I had the shape I wanted.

It took 6 sections of the tablecloths

to cover this size wreath,

so that means I have two pieces left.

I think that means I have a head start on  another wreath.  :)

I later decided to add embellishments.

These are foam hearts I had

from an earlier project.

I plan to let Tucker take this to his teacher.  

I'm already imagining what I can do for 

St. Patrick's Day, Easter, etc.

The possibilities are only limited

by the colors of tablecloths they have in stock!

If I'm not clear enough on these instructions,

I will try to take pics of the entire process when I 

make my next one.

Just let me know if you're interested 

and I'll post them on here.  :)

Couldn't Do It Again if I Tried!

Ever see this?

 Same goes for carrying things to the car, too.

I was leaving Brie's house, 

my hands full with a bag of craft supplies, 

an empty (yet bulky) soup pot, my purse 

and a large unsweetened tea. 

Anywhere you park at Brie's, 

you're on an incline.

This causes your car door swing shut, 

ready or not. 

I managed to maneuver the driver-side door open

and drop myself into the driver's seat.

Then, halfway in the car and halfway out, 

I attempted to deposit my armload of cargo onto the passenger seat 

when suddenly I realized...

the door was closing.

With a good bit of force.

Two-door car...long, heavy door.

I was so preoccupied with rescuing my ankle 

(which was still firmly planted on the ground outside my door)

from certain painful injury that I didn't even consider 

the position of my left hand.

You know, the one in which I was holding

that large unsweetened iced tea.

I'm pleased to announce that my ankle escaped injury.

My cup, however, did not fare quite so well.

So how was your day?  :)