Today’s thankful: She didn’t want to be one

I was driving through town with Youngest the other day, when we happened upon a guy standing in front of one of those we buy gold places wearing a sandwich board and waving to get attention. Youngest exclaimed, “Look! A juice box with a head!” At least she didn’t say she wanted to be one of those when she grows up.

Today’s thankful: That guy wasn’t my son

While attending a graduation ceremony recently, I saw something that I have never before seen. The student was a vet tech student, maybe in his late twenties. He had on a Batman cape over his gown, which honestly didn’t strike me as all that odd. Then when he walked past me up close, I noticed that he was wearing a small fleece pouch around his neck and cradling it as if there was something live in it. Again, as he was a vet tech, I assumed he was nursing a sick or wounded baby something or other back to health. I asked Eldest about it after the ceremony. She told me that the thing in his pouch was a sugar glider.
According to sugarglider.com, a sugar glider is a small nocturnal marsupial native to Australia and Indonesia. They are awfully cute, but I’m pretty sure I don’t want one for a pet.
Anyway, Eldest informed me that the owner of the sugar glider takes it everywhere with him. I wonder how many cats try to eat it during the course of a regular vet tech day. At any rate, more than being entertained at such an odd pet owner, I was pretty glad the dude wasn’t part of my family.

Today’s thankful: Youngest doesn’t have a clue

On the way out the door this morning I grabbed a small knitting project I had going. Youngest looked at me and said, “Are you going to work on that during recess?” I didn’t have the heart to set her straight. Why yes, I do have recess and take naps at my job. And the ice cream is free and covered in whipped cream and sprinkles.

Today’s thankful: Neither I nor my siblings are likely to be in the public eye

The news media today is in an uproar because one of Madonna’s brothers is apparently living on the streets in Michigan. Public opinion seems to be that she should take care of him. What?! On what planet is a person responsible for the welfare of his or her siblings? I understand that family should take care of family, and I agree with that to a point. For example, if one of my siblings needed help through no fault of their own, I would step up and do what I could. But, and here is the gigantic but, if I had helped them once and they made the same stupid mistake, I would SO not feel obligated to step in again. So my problem with the public opinion being that Madonna should step up and care for her brother is that we don’t know their back story. It is none of our business. I frankly don’t care what she does. I simply believe that it is awfully easy to sit back and judge when you don’t have all of the facts. I am choosing to stay out of that particular argument as to whether she should or shouldn’t help him. I am thankful that neither my siblings nor I are likely to be in the public eye anytime soon, so if they were to need help while I looked the other way, it wouldn’t make the evening news.

Today’s thankful: A very pleasant, do nothing but play day

Today was one of my best in recent history. My sister and I celebrated my birthday yesterday because she won’t be in town when it actually happens. Part of my gift was a CD of nothing but ocean waves. I took that baby to my bathroom and listened to it while I basked in the warmth of a hot tubby. Then I got dressed in clean jammies and finished piecing a quilt top for a coworker’s baby. Before tubby, I had plenty of time to sit and knit; something I haven’t done for a very long time. So all in all, I have had an extremely pleasant day, and for that, I am thankful.

Today's thankful: My children haven't pulled a Lohan

I saw a picture of Lindsay Lohan on the Yahoo! front page again, looking more unrefined and mentally unstable than usual. I kind of expect to see photos of her shaving her head a la Brittney soon. I didn't read the story, nor do I care to. The reason I mention it is solely to share my thankful for today. My children thus far have not been to jail, nor have they seen the inside of a courtroom. They don't routinely behave badly in public. I am certain of this fact because if they did behave badly, no small number of busybodies would be more than happy to let me know about it. Are my kids perfect? Absolutely not. Have they been working in front of a film crew for most of their lives? Nope. Are they capable of making bad decisions and getting into trouble with the law? I'm pretty sure they are, but so far have managed to keep their noses clean. And for that small miracle, I am very thankful.

Today’s thankful: I was up working at 7 a.m. on a Sunday

This morning I was at my desk working at 7 a.m. Ordinarily, besides the fact that I have a job, I am not at all thankful to be up that early, especially on a Sunday morning. This morning, though, is different. Why? Because at about ten minutes after seven, my dog started hacking in her crate. I ran to her just in time to open the crate and patio door. She made it! And that is the source of my thankful today. It is a very good thing to catch the pooch before she makes a mess in the house.

Today's thankful: Parent teacher conference is over

I went to Youngest's parent teacher conference this evening. I really like her teacher. This one seems to be in it because she truly loves children. That is refreshing. She also suggested offering a little more challenging work to keep tiny princess engaged. I never mentioned it. Ima so happy.

Today’s thankful: I have never, ever, fought putting on clean panties

A few mornings ago when I went into Youngest’s room to make sure she was getting dressed appropriately, I noticed that the clean panties I had laid out the night before were still not on her behind. When I suggested she put on the clean panties, she all but came unglued on me, wailing about not wanting to put on clean underwear. Although I am really a laid back kind of mom who is willing to let the kids be who they are, I draw the line at wearing dirty underwear to school, or anywhere for that matter. As hard as she was fighting me about donning clean underwear, I was forced to wonder if I am the one with the problem. Maybe not everyone likes or needs clean panties. Hmm. In all of my life I have never balked at the idea of putting on clean panties. Some of mom’s brainwashing was a good thing.

Today’s thankful: I only have to see the public once in a while

Today at work I had yet another exchange with “the public” which serves to reinforce the many reasons I don’t want to work with them. For the most part, I don’t deal with the public, but only with my coworkers. My contact with the public tends to only occur when I am in the hallways on my way to the restroom or gift shop. So today as I was walking down a hall in my black skirt and pink top, an elderly gentleman stopped me. He was wearing an obviously work worn cowboy hat and had a large diamond stud in his ear. He said, “Excuse me. May I pay you a compliment?” Not being one to turn down a compliment, I stopped walking and told him he could go for it. He then said, “You remind me of a 1969 Chevy.” Really? Then he said, “You wanna know what color mine was?” I was still standing there with my mouth open when he said, “It was pink and black.” Oh. Now I get it. I think. I sure am glad he told me what he was about to say was a compliment, or I might have missed it. And for you guys out there, if you are going to liken a woman to a car and think it is a good thing, the least you can do is get a faraway look in your eye and say something like, “Man, she was a sexy beast.”

Today’s thankful: She took two helpings

Last night I was cooking dinner and feeling uninspired by our vegetable choices. Then I decided to shred carrots and put them in with the pasta and sauce. As I was standing over the pot grating carrot, Youngest walked into the kitchen and saw me. She raised her little palms, stretched her arms out in front of herself and shrieked, “What are you doing?” I told her she wouldn’t even know they were in there. Luckily, I was right. She ate two helpings.

Today's thankful: I didn't have to slit my wrists

It is no secret that I find my job incredibly boring. Most days there is enough work to get me through the day and enough variety to keep me going. Today was not one of those days. The good news is that just as I was trying to decide if I should use the scissors or an unbent paperclip to open my veins, one of my bosses asked if I could find time to maybe work on another project. Yay! I am holding out hope that tomorrow will be a busier day.

Today’s thankful: Youngest’s filter is starting to work

Yesterday evening Spouse and I were sitting in our chairs next to each other when Youngest came up for at least the hundredth time of the day and asked me a question. I answered, then gazed over at Spouse with a help me expression. He asked Youngest why she never asked him any questions. She said, “Because Mommy is smart –“ then she looked at me with a shocked and excited look on her face and said, “Mom! I didn’t say it all!” Well, yes, but daddy was sitting right there when she admitted there was more to her thought. We decided to praise her for kind of using her filter and let the rest of it slide.