Saturday, November 13, 2010

Half Baked

This is my favorite ice cream.  It is sold in expensive pints in the freezer department of nearly every grocery store next to much more practical choices: affordable half gallons of other brands.

If you can't read the description printed below the flavor, allow me to help you.  Each pint reads:  Chocolate and Vanilla Ice Creams mixed with Fudge Brownies and Gobs of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.  Now I ask you, what isn't to love about a calorie fest of that variety?

I first fell for this ice cream on a late night chocolate run with my mom and I have never looked back.

When I lived in London, it was not unheard of for my friend Steph and I to occasionally brave the drunk-infested streets late at night in search of this ice cream.  The Blockbuster a few blocks away had a freezer chest stacked full of them.  We were lured there by the exceptional price of two pints for five pounds.  (Unfortunately, two pints for five pounds is not the same thing as two pints for five dollars, and even that wouldn't have been that amazing of a deal. . .)

I am thrifty, and my husband is even more so (some might venture to call him cheap).  We do not usually buy Ben and Jerry's ice cream; it is simply too expensive.   Our freezer is only graced with its presence for very important occasions, some happy and some sad.

For example, Chad might surprise me with a pint for my birthday.  Happy.

Or, Chad might surprise me with a pint after a PMS induced meltdown.  Sad.

After Kaden was born, my mother-in-law brought me a pint of Half Baked in the hospital.  It was heavenly.

Thursday, Chad brought me a pint of ice cream back with him after his grocery store run.

You see, I went back to work on Wednesday.

I pretty much cried for a week straight beforehand.  I would be playing with Kaden while I changed his diaper, and I would burst into tears and say, "I want to stay home with you all the time!" or I would watch him get this huge smile on his face, the tears would gush down my cheeks, and I would proclaim, "How can I ever leave you?!"

On Wednesday, I cried when I kissed Kaden goodbye.

I cried while I pulled out of the driveway.

I cried all the way down Cary Road.

And all the way to North Lenoir High School.

Once I made it to school, I was fine.  I taught three classes filled with wonderful students who missed me.  It felt good to be missed.  I saw all of my colleagues, people I love.  It was a good day.

Thursday was Veteran's Day.  Thank goodness, no school.

I cried Thursday night, not wanting to go back to work on Friday.

I cried Friday morning on my way to work.

I am crying now while I write this post, thinking I will have to go back on Monday.

The cycle continues . . .  

Chad has pointed out that Kaden is not going to prison.  He's not being kept from me for the rest of his life.  In fact, he is staying with his Gigi, who loves him and will spoil him rotten.

I know this.

I know he is in good hands.  I know that he is fine.  I know that he is happy.  I know all of this.

But it is still hard.

9 comments:

  1. Katie, I had to go back to work when Isak was 6 weeks for a few weeks, then again full time a few months later when kevin was in school. It was horribly, horribly hard and even though I knew he was with his dad, it was never easy. Take comfort in knowing he won't remember any of this and that you are still a super great mom even though you aren't home all the time. And call me if you ever feel guilty or get judgemental comments from other people. I've been there. :).

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  2. Anonymous1:17 PM

    Half Baked is TOTALLY my favorite Ben and Jerry's flavor, but I too am a thrifty gal. They also have it in the frozen yogurt variety--not as delicious, but makes you feel a little less guilty when, say, you eat the whole thing in one sitting.

    I'm sorry you have to go back to work! Your students better know how lucky they are to have you!

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  3. I almost cried reading your post! I'm so sorry you have to work. You are lucky he has his Gigi to play with while you are gone. Enjoy your ice cream and your baby this weekend!

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  4. Ah! I'm famous! I'm mentioned in one of your posts! Half Baked is truly one of the best things in life. Anyway--I bet you're the most amazing mom in the world. You're brave for doing what you need to do. I hope it gets easier.

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  5. London was the first time I discovered I could eat an entire pint in one sitting, since we could never put stuff in that freezer. It was a dangerous time.

    I'm sorry you're having a hard time, and hopefully it will start getting easier. In the meantime, you deserve all the pints you can handle.

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  6. I honestly am not sure if I've ever even had Ben and Jerry's ice cream. If I did I would probably remember, right? We've always been too cheap but I always want to try it just because people seem to love Ben and Jerry's. Maybe I'll have to splurge one time on this flavor since it comes so highly recommended.

    I'm sorry you have to go back to work. I can only imagine how hard it would be. You are a great mom! And enjoy your ice cream. Moms need pampering.

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  7. I love their Bovinity Divinity. Mm. I'm sorry you're having a rough time. One good thing is the great relationship he will build with Gigi. Give him a good snuggle all weekend; he's darling!

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  8. and I cried reading your post. hopefully it will get better. oh and just make a promise to yourself you will never read the label on that carton of ice cream...i made that mistake once, YIKES!!

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  9. I am so sorry! Poor Katie. At least you have a job that you can get home early. (sometimes anyway.) the ice cream sounds divine. Keep your chin up-- it will get easier and just think how you'll treasure the moments you have with kaden.

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