Sunday, July 7, 2013
The story of today really starts yesterday. And while that might sound like I am trying to be poetic or symbolic because of the time change, I'm not. It has to do with torture.
The trip to Tesco was far worse than I said it was. We were so tired and still we marched on. Pushing him in the cart with his two cars, which he enjoyed throwing on the floor. Trying to look for shit that we had no idea which row it was in. I was on the verge of tears. It's a good thing they sold these:
Anything smaller probably wouldn't have been able to handle the job.
Right now, it's almost 10:30 pm and he is in bed, sort of. He's been screaming and crying for about 20 min, which, he also did at 11:30 last night. He and Jess went to bed around 9 and I stayed up a little later 10/10:30ish to write the blog. About 11:30, he starts screaming and crying. They have both at least had 2.5 hours of sleep - I had just started to drift into sleepy bliss. Jess eventually pulled the blanket she had ceremoniously pulled over her head and got up to comfort him, which didn't work. After a minute or two, he refused and pulled away and she came over to me and said, "He doesn't want me," and I was thinking, "Neither do I, go pick him up and get him to sleep!" Eventually she had him up and he started to calm down for a minute or two. She put him down and bam! He started right up again.
At about 12:10 or so, I got up and held him. He immediately calmed down and relaxed and did his little tuck thing he does with his arms. I held him for a good 15 minutes or so until I decided that I would try to lay down with him. After getting my way down in to the bed, with him on top of me, he started to really settle down. I'm thinking, this isn't so bad. How bad could it be to try to sleep with him in the bed - he's exhausted, it will probably comfort him and he really needs to sleep.
I tried to position myself to ensure that he he would be ok. I had one arm under his head and the pillow and I was laying on my left side. This isn't so bad. He snuggled in had is head under my neck and chin and seemed quite comfortable. He was sleeping well.
I was not sleeping at all. I would start to drift off a little and then realize that I was blazing hot, only it wasn't me, it was the little inferno I had graciously put in bed with me. Not only was he hot, but he was sweating like a fat man in Cancun. This went one for another 45 minutes or so, me trying to figure out the best way to remove my arm (which was slowly falling asleep), all while ensuring that he stay asleep. I kept checking to make sure that he wasn't too close to the end of his side of the bed and I realized that my ass and lower back were hanging off my side. He continued to sweat profusely and at about 1:30, I decided to go for it.
Of course, he woke up as I ungraciously lifted him out of MY bed and carried him over to his. He was definitely awake and started to moan and grunt a bit but I laid him down in the bed and tip toed over to mine, jumped under the sheets and proceeded to hit the sack. I kept waking up, thinking that I had heard him but thankfully, did not. He was out.
I woke up again at 4:30 and thought for shit sure I was going to be awake for the day but was not. And neither was he or Jess until about 10 am.
With a late start, we got some breakfast together, he seemed to be his normal self and we hit the road about one to see Dirleton and Tantallon Castles. We switched today with Sunday to ensure that we would be able to see the things we wanted to.
After about 20 minutes on the road, his highness falls asleep again. This gives Jess and I ample time to discuss directions, wrong turns, the fact that I should be navigating and navigating well despite the fact that the maps don't have all the shit they should...etc., etc. Amazingly, he doesn't wake up and we make it to Direlton Castle.
I love castles. Ruined, in good shape...as long as they are stone and old, I'm good. If the choice is between laying on a beach or seeing castles, castles win every time.
The castle was taken by the English and I believe for the last time by that piece of crap Cromwell and it has lay in ruin ever since.
Jess strapped the baby in the backpack, he had his wolf and his shitty van that's missing the back axel so he was good and we were on our way!
Below is a massive fireplace that they used for cooking. Yes, it was that whole thing.
After Dirleton, we attempted to find a cache that was right there and failed. We headed down the road a bit to Tantallon and had some lunch and took some shots of the place from the picnic table.
The long walk up to the castle was slightly uneventful. When we got to the gate, he started to crank out a little but we managed to get him out and up and inside to walk around. After passing through the tower that you see in the middle, it opens into a huge area where Jess and the baby hung out while I ran around to grab some shots. He was starting to get cranky so there was no shot at using the backpack or the stroller.
It was fine, because the mayor started to greet everyone, saying hello and goodbye to everyone who came within 50 ft of him. So this meant everyone. And of course, people loved him. "Oh my, he's so adorable!" "Oh, he's just lovely!" "He's so cute!"
Is he? Perhaps you would like to come by our place around 11 or so and stay up with him.
In the picture below, you can see, I believe it is called Bass Rock. There is a lighthouse on it and it is pretty massive.
You were able to walk on the ramparts and look down. It was at that time I hear the mayor screaming Da-Da!!!! Over and over again. I think he liked it because he was able to hear his voice echo throughout the whole place.
We made it "home" with only a few navigating issues and sat around trying to figure out what to do. The baby had a good time with the people's fat cat, even trying to lure him over to him with a rock. That didn't work so well.
We tried to compromise on dinner because I wanted pub food and she wanted other stuff. We headed to the Gray Horse in Balerno because it had both pub food and a Chinese menu. Yes, really. Quite bizarre if you ask me. After sitting at one table, being asked to move to another because a party of five was coming and then choosing a different one, the mayor settled in and began to flirt with the two tables of people who were already there.
The waitress/owner was great and brought him some mango creme crackers because he couldn't eat the prawn chips they put on the table instead of noodles. Yes, prawn chips. The mayor went through his usual routine of giving us cheers with his cup and saying hello to everyone - which, of course, people loved. I was hoping we'd get a discount for his services.
I am very picky with Chinese food because I worked in a place when I was in high school. Chinese in other parts of the world is very different and ofter vile - but I must say, I was pleasantly surprised, it was really good. After dinner we walked through Balerno. This took about 30 seconds to make our way up the street.
After getting home - we relaxed for a little bit, he played in the laundry basket and got him in the shower and put him in the sack.
I suppose that being in such a historic place, it shouldn't shock me that history repeats itself. He went in at about 10:15 and cried until 11. Jess went in to calm him down and that didn't work. He was screaming bloody murder again, so I went in and got him to calm down. I laid down with him again and he was in and out of deep sleep...read yesterdays blog for the falling asleep arm, etc. I didn't have my watch or my phone on me so I had no idea what time it was. I tried to lay him down - that didn't work, so we laid back in bed again. I tried to get him down for a second time, this time waiting for him to stir a little thinking he might not notice - and he bugged out again. I sat on the floor in desperation. He continued to groan and whimper and he eventually went off. I crawled back in bed. I'm not sure what time it was. Perhaps tomorrow will be a better evening.
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