Shake, Rattle and Scold

You would think that being a California resident, I'd run at the slightest quiver of the ground. Not me. When the desk started shaking this afternoon, I told the kids to knock it off. I was in the middle of finishing a painting and was making a very precise stroke and the last thing I needed was a smart Alec kid shaking the desk. When it ceased to stop moving, I let my frustration get the best of me and yelled, "Will you knock it off for the love of Pete?!!!" I turned to see all of the kids on my bed...all seven of them. The only one under the desk was the dog. Then it hit me...

The damn dog must be chewing the desk again. Just then the phone rang and it was my husband. "Hey, are you guys okay?" I put down my brush. "What are you talking about? Of course we are okay." Apparently my brain doesn't function well when preoccupied with painting (or any other activity that requires concentration.) He sounded panicked, "We just had an earthquake! Didn't you feel it?"

After I apologized to the kids and the dog, I vowed to save my painting until after the kids are in bed. You know... just in case another natural disaster strikes, requiring me to be more alert than the paintbrush I am holding. BTW, the painting is just fine (oh, and the kids too!) However, Ella would like to know who Pete is and told me that she is going to tell daddy that I have a boyfriend.