The Man Burns in 13 days

So this week begins a grand experiment of sorts. Dear hubby is leaving on business for a week and then leaving from there on a much needed solo vacation for 8+ days. So that will leave just me and the 3 mons-ners for 16 days!! EEKKK!! I’m a little scared. I think I can I think I can I think I can. (right?) I took a 7-week trip with them over the summer kind of by myself…. but we visited with a lot of family, so most of the time there were other folks around to help absorb some of the energy abounding from the kiddos. I’m a little less um, shocked I guess is the best word, about this situation than I was a couple of days ago. I thought the lovely folks coming in to help with the kiddos would have mentioned months ago if they weren’t able to come up for the timing of the actual event so that we could have made other arrangements or cancelled dear hubby’s trip. I am trying to think positive (hanging on to that silver lining) and put some life cheats in place. So far I have scheduled some babysitters, arranged for 2 evenings out for me and alerted a few of my friends that I may need to contact them in an emergency. (thanks Dalal!) I thought I would do a countdown until the whole thing is over. Next time we do this we’re going to have to figure out a different childcare assistance option or bring them with us and pay for childcare when we arrive – also generally an option. We once hired a nanny for a weekend away (just Friday to Sunday) for a stay-cation, but we only had 2 children then and we didn’t go far. It was extremely expensive. I can’t imagine how much it would cost for 3 children. Thoughts anyone??

 

For vacation, dear Hubby is going to Burning Man in Black Rock City, NV. It’s an art/music/social experiment /festival of sorts. Any burners out there?? I’ve been a few times, but it is such a long trip and I just can’t be away from my mons-ners for that long. When they get a little older I would like to take them. But they have a bit of maturing to do for safety (in my opinion – I know a lot of folks bring babies, no judging here, each child has their own temperament). Check out the link if you’re curious about Burning Man – I am sure I will talk a lot about it over the next couple of weeks. Right now in fact I am listening to BMIR, Burning Man Radio, 94.5 The Voice Of The Man. It streams live at www.BMIR.org. You can also download the app for it. That is what I have. There will also be live streaming of the event online all week (August 25-Sept. 1).  Here are a few of my pictures from a previous trip.  Oh, and hence the title, they do actually burn a statue of a “man” on Saturday night of that week.

Me and Dear Hubby

Me and the Popsicle Cart Guy

On the Playa

Our camp, Camp Weetzie Bat

I thought I would have that on most of the time so that the kids could see where daddy was during the week. They (most likely) won’t actually see him, but it would be cool for them to kind of understand where he was on his trip since we won’t have actual contact with him for 7 or 8 days. I have to say though, we dropped off dear hubby’s camping luggage to be shipped out to NV for him and then now that I’m listening to the radio….. ugh, I really miss it. Maybe that says something about where I am in my life. That I’ve finally relaxed enough to want to reach out again to things like this and have new experiences. (I am a recovering corporate dweller and I have to say that it was just not a good fit for me. It has taken me years to get over the damage done to my ego and psyche. I’m getting there though, I am finding myself and figuring it all out again.) Also, I’m just one of those people where if I go, chances are my mons-ners go with me. I’m a package deal 90 percent of the time. I love my nights out don’t get me wrong, but, I dunno, I just couldn’t handle a long trip such as this without them.

 

Keep me in your thoughts out there. Tomorrow starts Day 1. Stay tuned.

 

Be fierce.