Feeling Pinched.

I really really REALLY don't have time to post today, but I'm giving myself 20 minutes before finally changing out of my pjs in a quick attempt to be presentable before heading off to the grocery store.

I'm behinder than I thought I would be yesterday. Feeling a little {pinched} for time.

Yesterday (and the day before) were days I just wanted to get through.

Lots and lots of hair appointments on Wednesday. I had one no-show, and had given myself a spare 15 minutes here or there between other appointments, so I RAN to get a few nearby errands done in every spare moment.

It was exhausting.

Yesterday I RAN to the bank, then to the mall, then back home to clean, then to a Dr. appointment.

I was hoping the doctor's visit would be quick.

It was one of those annual appointments all of us ladies love.

Nope.

Instead I sat in the waiting room for an hour. A pregnant woman, her husband (or not), and two children were also waiting. Within 10 minutes of sitting down, the husband (or not) - an unsavory looking guy - started raising his voice as he talked to the woman. He had had a long day. Two guys hadn't shown up for work and he had to cover for them. He was tired, and frustrated that he was sitting in an OB/GYN waiting room for a long, long time. Of course he wanted to be there (so shut up), he said, or he wouldn't be there. 

The two kids had been playing around when the little girl, about 3 years old, started crying. The man grabbed her and said I'm outta here, and left. I thought he might be gone for good (I hoped!), but they returned after about 10 minutes. Once back in his seat, he turned his anger/frustration on the little boy, about 5. The foul language started to fly (think - or don't - "f" word 5 times in one sentence, with about 10+ of those sentences all strung together). I felt SOOOOOOO uncomfortable. I wanted to say something, but didn't. The little boy was crying. The woman was softly asking the man to stop talking, looking embarrassed. I looked at the office ladies, hoping they, in their professional position, would ask the man to leave. The man told the boy that he would kick his {butt} - that's how his mother had raised him (he had turned out so well, I thought - cough) - if he didn't start listening (to what? the "f" word over and over?)
Finally, finally the nurse came and called them for their appointment.

The whole scene bothered me.

It bothered me that I didn't speak up (I had no idea what to say).

As I thought about it, I realized that I had witnessed a man verbally abuse his family, and threaten physical abuse to his child.

I should have told him to stop.

I could have even called the police.

I did nothing but feel unsettled, and prayed that he would treat his family well when they got home.
(As I drove home I thought about the possible scenarios, and wondered if I had said something if I would feel safe leaving the Dr.'s office...? Maybe not.)

Add that to a long waiting room time, a long wait in the hospital gown (open in the back) in a freezing cold room, and an uncomfortable exam (I love my Dr. but she's very aggressive when it comes to poking, pushing, and feeling all that stuff in the lower abdomen), and it makes for a long, long visit.


Mar and I attended the Nutcracker last night. One of the YW in my Laurel class was performing, and I told her I would come see her dance before she moves to UT in a couple weeks.
The tickets were a bit pricey, but I thought Mar would enjoy it - not knowing that her friends would be having a Christmas party that evening.

 Did we enjoy it? Sure.
I had a few moments of When will this ever end? I have so much I need to get done.
And I started feeling a {pinched} Grinchy feeling come over me when a man behind me whispered in my ear "That is really bright" as I tried to snap just a couple non-flash pics with my camera.

After going to bed with some {pinched} Grinchy words to Bill, I got up early to get these done:

Bill had already cleaned the whole kitchen, but because of some miscommunication (and my {pinched} Grinchy day previous), I spread a little more Grinchiness around. Why do I do that?

I had to reprint AND cut these THREE (3) times. That doesn't help when you're feeling {pinched}. And Grinchy.

One down...

...84 to go.

Even though I'm {pinched} (and this blog post has gone over my 20 minutes - by at least double),
I'm changing the weather RIGHT NOW.
I'm sooooooooo excited for my family to come tomorrow!
I have 26.5 hours to shop, clean, wrap, and organize.
And even if I get nothing else done, I still know we'll have a fabulous time.

Lex had a bedbug infestation in her Provo apartment.
She's been calling on and off the past few days to update me and ask what she should toss and keep.
Poor girl. We'll be taking care of that (and preventing any possible spread) when she gets here tomorrow. There'll be laundering. And lots of drying on high, high heat.

And laughing.
And games.
And joy.
And food.
And togetherness.
And love.
And peace.
And contentment.

I can't wait.