Okay, this may come as a bit of surprise to those that don’t know me, but I’m in the middle of an IVF cycle. What’s that, you say?
It’s where you have trouble getting pregnant, so you torture yourself for 3 months straight with hormone therapy, needles, and then (hopefully) a ‘test tube baby’ for a 40% chance of it actually working.
And I’m not exaggerating on the torture. 🙂 Okay, maybe a bit. But with all of these injections messing with my hormones, I’m moody and tired and swollen and grumpy and rage-filled. Yes, rage-filled. Would you like to know what apparently triggers my rage more than anything else? I thought not. Well, I’ll tell you anyway, dear reader.
Cell phones. Okay, just one cell phone in particular, and it’s probably not the phone’s fault. It belongs to my sweet, wonderful, 12 year old niece who, along with her 9 yo brother and 15 yo sister, are staying with me for about a month while my mom recovers from a knee replacement. This phone is permanently attached to her hand. Nay, her thumbs. When she has her phone, she’s like the 3 monkeys all put together – sees nothing, hears nothing, says nothing. Not just evil, NOTHING. If we go somewhere, we have to wait 5 minutes for her to end her conversation before she gets out of the car. Argh.
How does this affect her life? Example: After I left the studio yesterday, on a beautiful day, we went across the street to the park to play. We brought along assorted park-type playthings – basketball, volleyball, sidewalk chalk, frisbee, and lots of sunblock. Admittedly, I also brought along an ice-cold Diet Dr Pepper, which my nephew pilfered from me. Although, if it was really ice-cold, wouldn’t it actually be frozen? But, I digress… What was my angelic niece doing? Texting. Again. No doubt to her friends about the only thing they ever talk about, One Direction.
We played volleyball. I FORCED her to participate. By that, I mean, I forced her to come over to the volleyball court, so she stood there looking down at her feet unhappily while her sister desperately tried not to run into her to save the ball. When I told her to actively participate (and I’m feeling my blood boil) I get the look. Hold on, only I’m allowed to give the look! Who does she think…anyway….. Long story short, cell phone is neatly put away until Thursday. I’m tired of the phone coma. That’s what I call it – she’s in a phone coma.
Despite the events, we actually managed to have a great time. Well, not her, but the rest of us did. I’d like to brag that I smoked my nephew at basketball. Okay, exaggerating… firstly, he’s 9, and a short 9. Secondly, we played HORSE. I can’t run. Thirdly, I beat him by one letter. I had HORS already. 🙂
Then, the kids told me how hot and tired they were and begged me to stop playing so we could go home – that’s when I realized they’re OLD! I used to tell them to put their toys away and get in the car. But now, they were packed, sitting on the bench. “Aunt Jessie! Come on! It’s hot out here!” It’s 83 degrees…and we’re in the shade. “Five more minutes, guys! I never get to play! I’m always locked away in my dark studio away from the sunshine!”
We went home, and the girls played on our arcade DDR (Dance Dance Revolution for the uninitiated) games, while my nephew and I played Farkle as I made dinner. All in all, a good day. Now, more injections. Ugh.
The Voiceover Princess 