My eyes are filled with tears, and I'm trying to force down the Spaghettio's with meatballs I made myself for dinner at 9:30pm last night, as I am completely zoned into the Primetime on my TV showing the spouses and children of the 9-11 victims coming together to remember. Startling me back to reality, my cell phone rings the Island tune I've programmed it to notify me of an incoming call, in hopes it will constantly remind me of the recent trip to Riviera Maya I took with my girlfriends. It's odd that my cell phone would be ringing at that time of night, considering I use it for business, and my business is closed after 5pm
I rush to the sweet sounding phone and glance at the caller ID, it's An Iowa Dad calling from Chicago. Answering the phone with only a "Why in the hell are you calling on my cell phone?"
"I've been trying to call the home phone for almost 3 hours and it's been busy." he replies, sounding a bit irritated.
"Couldn't be dear, we have call waiting, our phone never rings busy!" I snap, obviously very tired from my day. As I wait for his response, I reach for the cordless phone sitting on the kitchen counter. LINE IN USE, it reads on the display. Directly under those words, 2-46-08. The phone has been in use for 2 hours and 46 minutes.
Oh good God, I think to myself. Who in the world did Smilee call while playing with the phone, and what did they hear??? Completely blocking An Iowa Dad out as he rattled on about what fancy restaurant he "had" to eat at and how full he is, while I'm still trying to stomach my wonderful dinner, I flipped through the "recently dialed calls", to find the last one. My heart sinks. The name that popped up as the last dialed call was Sporty's potentially new baseball coach that had called the night before informing us of the time and place where tryouts for the team would take place. Smilee must have been playing with her favorite big silver button in the middle of the phone, causing it to display the caller ID feature, scrolling through all 50 of the names and numbers who had called us last. Stopping on his, for no reason in particular, her little fingers must have pressed TALK. Dialing that number, and allowing a stranger into our house for possibly up to 2 HOURS AND 46 MINUTES without me knowing.
What in the world did this person hear? I had been irritable all night, as 4 wild and crazy kids, sugared up on blow pops and cake (I was being the nice mommy since An Iowa Dad is away on business), ran around my living room and jumped off of furniture, knowing good and well that is a HUGE no no in this house. My memory trying to recall all of the things I yelled and screamed at them, reminding them of our rules. The nastiness I spouted trying to get Sporty to finish up his homework. My head hurt ... I panicked wondering what kind of "first impression" I made on the man who would determine whether or not my child makes it on a baseball team he's been looking forward to playing on for as long as I can remember!
There was a stranger in my house last night, while I was here alone with my 4 small children, and I didn't have a clue. Now, that's great parenting! Way to stay on top of things An Iowa Mom!! What do you think? Arrrggghhhh!
