Dirty Donuts and a Delightful Salad | How Much Did I Spend Last Week? May 26-June 1, 2025

Another thrilling week in the life

Monday

It’s Memorial Day! Yet another year where I’m no closer to understanding American holidays, but what I do understand is that (a) this is about honouring the fallen military but also (b) it’s a federal holiday, so Brandin gets it off (unlike, say, MLK day, which some workplaces give off but not all).

In other words: I’m not alone with the children! Am delighted! Atlas is also delighted because there’s no school, I fixed the TV – “you the best at fixing the TV!” – and his Dad is home from work to hang out with us.

In honour of the holiday, I invited Bea and the boys over for burgers this afternoon, so most of today is spent preparing for that: Brandin makes burgers, macaroni salad, potato salad and chocolate lasagna and I, er, am not sure what I do but I’m sure it involves minding the children.

I had originally planned on making a salad from the Sprout Saladology book a friend sent me for my 40th birthday – in an envelope full of Cadbury’s Caramel Nibbles, because she understands me on a deep level – but decided we had enough food as Bea is also bringing deviled eggs.

As usual, the afternoon is chaos. Thankfully, it’s a nice day – not too hot, not too cold, Goldilocks style – and they spend most of the time out in the back garden, climbing on the climbing frame and playing some kind of game that involves the enormous box Brandin got with the new barbecue he went out and bought this weekend.

The trampoline is still out of commission so it’s a good thing they have the box, honestly.

Burgers, salads, eggs and chocolate lasagna are delicious. Bea holds Roman most of the time which is a great relief.

She and the kids head home at around 7pm and, as the sun begins to set, so too does the dread descend upon me as I look forward to another week of being mostly alone at home with the boys, as Finn has three baseball games in a row over the next three evenings.

This is, as Beatrice will later say to me, a difficult season of life.

On the upside: my Book of the Month subscription comes out, which means a new book will be on the way very soon! ($18.18)

Daily total: $18.18