Smoking has its consequences

I feel like crap.  Just trying to hold it together until after tomorrow and then for sure I will  collapse and sleep 18 hours.  Tomorrow is Georgie’s birthday  and there are 25 little ones coming over for three hours tomorrow to be entertained.  Birthday parties for kids here deserves its own post, but not today, remember I am barely functioning.  But needless to say, there will be a giant inflatable jumpy thing and I will have several energetic young girls organizing games..its a sporty party.  But there is still a million little things to do.  Kids parties here includes alcohol and food for adults.  Fresh flowers, a blow dry and manicure are standard for the proud mother.  I am telling you, its work!

What does smoking have to do with any of this.  Smoking is why I feel bad.  Not the pack a day kind of smoking.  I gave that up almost 20 years ago.  Its cigar smoking.  On occasion I have been know to enjoy a Havanna.  Last Friday we had a cocktail party and since I am not a big drinker I focused my efforts on cigar smoking, which a lot of people seem to do here.  I smoked 2 large Havannas and numerous “woodies” or cigarette sized cigars.  I chained smoked cigars for 7 hours.  Not surprising I felt yuck the next morning, but that was almost a week ago and I still can feel it in my chest.  When I work out I feel like I am going to die.  I guess I am paying for stupidity and I am getting old.  But then again, I didn’t inhale tequila through my nose with a spoon.  And you know who you are…

I will try to get some good photos of the birthday girl, she is going to be 7!!!

A little birthday eve somethin’ for my big girl:

If Princesses ruled the world

In the recent past a TV actress (I think it was the Flying Nun) was censored during a live award telecast because she said “there would be no goddamn war if the world was run by women.” While its probably true that we would not have this disastrous war, I am not sure that it would be all fresh baked cookies and puppy dog kisses. And I am definitely not convinced it would be a better place if princesses ruled the world.

The setting: a princess birthday party. There is substantial critical mass (19, 5 year old girls). There is a palpable power struggle and a lot of tension provided by the birthday princess, (my daughter) and her subjects who are clearly torn between being cooperative subjects (a friend) and resisting the domineering head princesses by exerting their personal princess personality (a selfish, not thoughtful friend). Also adding an electric dynamic to the party is what happens to one’s ego when you are costumed a full length gown, crown, kitten heels and other sparklely accessories that scream “look at me, I am pretty enough for a prince, but I must stay away from heating sources, I am flammable”. While it is amusing to watch, it is an interesting and disturbing view into the minds of 5 year old girls dressed up as Princesses. The (passive) aggression and deception that is evident is eye-opening to an inexperienced mother of a daughter.