Fishy

I haven’t updated in a while because, believe it or not, I’ve been busy. But not busy in an interesting way. So, read with caution and prepare to be bored out of your mind.

I started the nanny job on Tuesday. I nearly started to cry when I left for work and it was still dark. This isn’t your usual “dark.” I could see all gazillion stars (even the Seven Sisters). The sun wasn’t up for another hour or so. Btw, anybody else notice how Jupiter is rocking the night sky? Rock on Jupiter.

So anyway, the family that I sit for is pretty cool. Girl is 11 and Boy is 6. The mom is kinnda old-fashioned in the way that she wants her kids to be outside getting dirty. I didn’t really understand to what degree the kids could get gross but the first day Boy was swimming in the pond trying to hit fish with Big Stick (what I mean to say is: Huck Finn waded through a swamp to beat $1,000 koi fish on the head). Big Stick is the oversized twig that Boy brings with him everywhere. I’ve been whacked with it at least twice… and unfortunately I think the koi fish have also felt the wrath of Big Stick. I was amazed that Mom didn’t mind that Boy, soaked up to his waist in murky pond water, had transformed into swamp thing when she returned home from work.

A couple of days ago Boy actually caught a fish using Big Stick and a fishing wire and hook that he found. He didn’t even use bait. He just had an uninviting, unappetizing, and rusty old hook. Knowing that somebody had to have bought and placed those really over-priced fish in there I nearly had a heart attack. I never thought he’d actually catch the fish. But I’ve learned my lesson; never underestimate Boy’s abilities and koi are either really dumb or really hungry. I’ll have to keep a better eye on him.

This weekend was pretty fun. Friday night we went out with the kids in Potato’s program. I played shuffle board for the first time at a bar. It’s a really fun game but I’m pretty bad. Potato and I lost every game.

Last night we went for sushi dinner with the family from the yellow house. Potato and I are in agreement that it was a lot of fun. I always have a good time reminiscing with them about neighborhood water fights and TP-ing escapades. It’s also nice to see familiar faces every once in a while.

Because I know many of you are concerned - I think Gloria the goldfish just likes to swim on her side sometimes. She has been doing it on and off for a couple of weeks now.

Spoiler alert! I’m coming home on Friday. I’m hoping that one of my brothers will host a party in my honor (I’ll also need a place to crash. Dibs on Jomaura’s futon.)