1. Look after friend’s kid while she’s at therapy preparing herself to “file.”
2. Buy wine.
3. Chill wine.
4. Open before it’s really chilled and make do with ice cubes.
5. Cover self in bug spray; go out to plant flowers.
6. Let kids run wild – school’s almost over, who cares! – and, when your friend arrives, drink, collaborate, corroborate, console, laugh!
7. Stay up until all hours preparing for daughter’s birthday knowing that her dad’s gift ordered via amazon is going to be the thing that steals the day. One credit card entry and he’s King. Three days of work and you’re the backup band.

8. Note to self:  Teach daughter (and son, for that matter) to understand the value of a backup band.