Today’s thankful: I took time to cuddle

I would like to think that I am not alone in the fact that sometimes I get too busy to really be present and indulge in a good cuddle with Youngest. She is almost six and super busy, so the opportunity to hug her is rare. Even so, sometimes she climbs up on me when I am in the middle of working and I don’t truly enjoy the interruption. This morning, as I was checking e-mail and organizing my day, Youngest climbed up on my lap for some cuddles. She wasn’t feeling super well when I put her to bed, so I wanted to check her out. I put my laptop down and engaged in some cuddle time. Then the most wonderful thing happened. My baby girl stayed on my lap, her tiny arms wrapped around my neck, and I got five full minutes of stroking her back, smelling her hair and feeling her heartbeat next to mine. She lasted a lot longer than usual, and I am so glad that I set my work aside to indulge in the moment.

Today’s thankful: That “X” thingy in the upper right-hand corner that closes a window

I have been trying for the past year and some months to eat more locally and have less impact on the environment. The eating locally is going pretty well, and I have made some progress with baby steps toward being more environmentally friendly. Here is the weird part. The more right things I do, the more I learn about things that I am doing wrong or could be doing better. For example, I don’t eat out much anymore, mostly because there aren’t many places which serve honest to God meat raised naturally on a farm with grass and bugs and I just don’t care for the other kind anymore. But when I do go out, it never occurs to me to have the server keep the straw. I learned that tiny tip on greenpieceindy today.

While I was poking around on the web reading blogs from people who are trying to make positive changes, I came across a blogger at thenonconsumeradvocate who is trying to live by the motto, “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.” Wow, talk about having less impact on the environment. I am so not there yet. And I’m not honestly sure I want to go that far. For the past year I have tried to be more conscious of what I buy and only buy what is necessary, but I have still been known to put things in my virtual shopping cart and hit the checkout button. One item of note, I have found that it is somewhat satisfying to put things in the cart that I want, and then when it is time to checkout, close my eyes and hit the “X” in the upper right-hand corner. This exercise gives me the happy pursuit of consuming without having to pay for it or justify myself to that nasty, judgmental witch in the mirror each night.

Today’s thankful: Umbrellas

It is spring. It is raining. A lot. I hate to get wet, and I hate rain on my glasses. I have a friend who would argue that I really don’t hate to get wet, but despite his experience to the contrary, he would be wrong. I truly do hate to get rained on. So today as I headed out the door in the rain, it occurred to me how very thankful I am to have an umbrella.

Today’s thankful: Conference calls without webcam

Working from home is mostly great, but some times are more great than others. This afternoon, for example, I was on a conference call. Eldest was home with me, so I left the television on for my call, but turned the volume way down. It happened that “The Talk” came on while I was on the call. Eldest started excitedly carrying on about how much she loves Julie Chen. I’m pretty sure everyone on the conference call could hear the chattering emanating from my end of the call. Thankfully, I wasn’t on webcam, so while they could hear the craziness, they have to keep guessing as to what was making all that noise.

Today’s thankful: Youngest only takes off her pants at home

When Youngest got off the bus today, we jumped in the car and drove to see Eldest at her dorm and have dinner. Then we went to pick up Middlest and get her some dinner. By the time we got home, it was 8 p.m. I was taking off my boots, and Middlest and I heard Youngest having what sounded like an orgasm. Turns out she was just taking off her shoes and pants. She is right. It DOES feel good to get home and take of your pants.

I can learn new tricks

I took Eldest to a concert in Chicago last weekend. As happened when I took her to see the same band four years ago, I learned a few new things. First, I am completely too old to be in a mosh pit, however tame it is. Second, while it is no longer possible to get a contact high from a concert, it is completely possible to get one in the line outside waiting to get through security. Third, the security pat down I received was a lot friendlier than I ever cared to be with another woman.

I also learned that my darling daughter can handle herself in a crowd. She wound up dragging me around like a pull toy. My only complaint is that while she can squeeze through a six-inch space, I cannot, thus causing me to get stuck like Pooh in a honey tree before being sprung free.

Finally, I learned that there may be a version of the mile high club I have not previously learned about. While standing, literally, pressed against sweaty strangers, I glanced to my right, where Eldest was standing. She motioned me with her eyes to look next to her. There was a couple of kids who may have been 15 or so, and they were having sex. At first I was sure it couldn’t be, but much like a train wreck, I couldn’t look away. I swear on all that is holy, I saw his “O” face. At that point, Eldest looked at me and mouthed, “I feel dirty.” Yah, I did too, but relieved at the same time that it wasn’t my daughter.

Today's thankful: It wasn't chicken pox

This morning Youngest came into the bathroom while I was in the tubby. As she pulled up her shirt to use the pot, she noticed some pink splotches on her belly and sides. She said, “Oh no! I hope I don’t have chicken pox!”

I dragged her closer to inspect the splotches, because they were not a normal skin tone pink, were irregularly shaped and rather large. After a few seconds, because I am an experienced mom, I told her to go look in her bed and see if there was an open marker or stamper. She returned a few minutes later with one of those glow bracelets which she informed me had cracked open. I don’t even know how it got in her bed. I swear I drag all of the toys out at least every other day. I am pretty sure she gets up after I put her to bed and gathers things.