When there's a deadline, there's a nor'easter

I have a deadline on Monday.

First I didn't get my interview until Wednesday evening. Then, the weather guy predicted, correctly, downpours on Friday so my mother couldn't drive here to babysit. Friday morning I had to get an MRI of my ankle early in the morning, so I couldn't even work for a few hours before Brian left for work.

Saturday we had John's party at the local indoor sports place, then had four adults and three kids over to watch the Patriots. During John't party, I found out that the predicted 6-12inches of snow on Monday would again prevent my Mother from babysitting for me. When I got home, I realized I'd come down with the chest cold that Ben and Ava have had for two weeks.

So I napped, drank beer, woke up with a kink at the top of my left shoulder blade. Went out for a much-needed and long-overdue visit with a good friend. Then I worked all day today, finally finishing a draft in time to help put the kids to bed.

For most of the winter, I've warn my thick, terry cotton bathrobe every night without a belt because I'd lost it. To avoid freezing to death, I had to hold the thing closed. A few days ago, I found the belt, and tonight I finally picked it up and stuck it back through the two belt loops.

With this important deadline hanging over my head, it felt like such a simple comfort, to get that silly belt back on. I was glad I met with my friend this morning too. It felt like I was finally managing to work under a deadline while still taking care of myself. With the temperature outside falling ahead of the impending Nor' Easter, I pulled the belt snug and headed downstairs for a piece of leftover pizza.

Then I went to the bathroom, and my belt fell into the toilet water. Then I checked the weather, and realized the boys will have a snow day tomorrow. Deadline day.

So now I'm going to bed to dream about a magic, free babysitter fairy who shows up on my doorstep in the morning, with a snow shovel, so that I can finish my article on time.