Almost done...

with this maternity leave that I've been covering. It's over on WEDNESDAY! I am so, so excited. I didn't mind the actual work part of it (well, actually I did mind some of that, but that is a story for another day) but logistically it was hell. I cannot be two places at one time. I was lucky that I was able to be somewhat flexible with my schedule but it was still a trick to get everyone to where they needed to be on time. Unfortnately in a rare moment of practicality/frugality I arranged to have my paychecks deposited directly into a retirement account, so I don't even get to enjoy the fruits of my labor with say, new clothes or other fun Mommy-type toys. Booo.

My other part-time job, the university teaching gig, is going quite well. The undergrads have all been really cool to work with, and I thnk they (gasp!) are actually learning something useful. At least I hope so. Sometimes my jokes fall flat and I hear crickets. But I think for the most part they enjoy the class. I was up in the department office suite yesterday morning getting some work done and I met a few of the other faculty members in the department, many of whom thought I was a student. Made my week.

Henry's class had a field trip last week to see a production of "If You Take a Mouse to School" put on by the Eau Claire Children's Theatre. I thought it might be fun if I took George this weekend. I love, love, love live theatre and I can't get Mike to go with me EVER and I can't even get Henry to leave the house to go to Menards so I thought maybe I could mold Georgie into my future theatre-going buddy. Visions of trips to the Guthrie in Minneapolis danced in my head. A third person to hang out with Mary Pat and I when we hit the shows in NYC. So I pitched the idea this morning:
ME: Hey, do you want to go see a play with me?
GEORGIE: What play?
ME: If you Take a Mouse to School.
GEORGIE: Have I seen the commercial for it?
ME: What?
GEORGIE: Does it have a commercial I could see? Then I'll tell you if I want to go.
ME: Um, no, but we have the BOOK. You know, the book "If You Take a Mouse to School?" We just read it the other day? Remember?
GEORGIE: Yeah, I remember. (thinking). But I really need to see a commercial first to see if I want to go.
ME: You mean you won't see any play or movie unless you see the commercial first.
GEORGIE: Yeah. I don't want to go if I might not like it. Cause I might get bored. (Pauses). And they have to have popcorn. I won't go if there is not popcorn.

Yes, he's 3. THREE. Not even 3 1/2 yet. I guess I have some time to work on him.