Stress-It Sneaks Up On You.

I keep telling everyone that the kids and I are coping with the deployment just fine. Oh we all have our moments but we deal. Which is true, we do. But stress is tricky and it sneaks up and bites you on the butt when you least expect it. Which is why I found myself eating cat food the other day.

Sorry I had to take a quick pause and let my stomach contents settle down. It still makes me gag.

We had gone strawberry picking and the kids helped me get the berries washed and chopped. We made jam, pies, cookies, froze some, and everything was going just peachy. Ok, so I had several projects going at once but it was no more of a disaster than my kitchen usually is. I thrive in chaos. I am MASTER OF THE KITCHEN UNIVERSE! Right. So it was no big deal to be watching several recipes at the same time. Or at least it wouldn't be normally.

But the cat was hungry. I don't have a death wish, and grace is not one of my strongest attributes, so having a 20 lb cat rubbing on my ankles constantly was asking for trouble. So I did the sensible thing.

I told elder daughter to feed him so he'd leave me alone.

Which she did. Except she left the knife she used to scoop the food out of the can laying on the counter.

Which I then picked up and licked. I will NEVER eat spam again because it tastes the same. Please excuse me while I run to the bathroom quickly. Just the thought brings back a gag reflex.

This is how I know I am more stressed than I think, or rather that "background" stress uses up brain cells. A cat food covered knife looks nothing like a spoon used to stir jam. Nor was it anywhere near said spoon. (Bet you can't wait til I give you a jar though, right?) But I just didn't think. Or rather the neurons that normally prevent such stupidity were already in use.

There is only one thing to do until Hubby comes home---there is an immediate NO LICKING policy in effect in this household.

Oh, and memo to the makers of Science Diet---they put food dye in everything else, would it kill ya to add BLAZE ORANGE to cat food????