Bubbled

I was invited to a co-worker's house last night for a "beer and board games" party. I'm not much of a boardgamer but was excited to be invited to this elitest group. After arriving and making a plate of some great food - we all made our way to the basement where the big screen tv was. They pulled out the wii games. A night of "Guitar Hero." As I announced to them when they encouraged me to take my turn, my gaming days ended with atari. I am so behind the times, I feared it would be hard for the group to watch me struggle. In addition to high-tech games that just about everyone had played before, there were conversations I tried to take part of about crazy cable shows involving rock stars with names I didn't even recognize.... I haven't had cable since I lived at home with my parents. Never before had I felt the distance between me and the rest of world so glaringly... I might as well have been homeschooled!

Love is in the air

As Valentine's Day approaches, this single chick isn't feeling sorry for herself...
I sent out valentine's day cards to my ss girls. It was fun! I only wish they all had construction paper mail boxes I could deliver them each to.
I have made cupcakes for work tomorrow complete with pink and red sprinkles...why not share the love?
And goodie bags for some of my friends. It was a great creative outlet and a way to share the love.
And... if you wonder what's going on with the fellas....let me tell ya.
I get a phone call at work from a male:
Male: Hey, how are YOU doing?
Me: Good - who is this?
Male: This is John Lovah (names have obviously been changed for the protection of Mr. Lovah)
Me: How's it going John ? Things going alright?
Mr. Lovah: Yeah, things are going real good, staying out of trouble...one of my buddies is on your caseload.
Me: Really? Keeping good company are you?
Mr. Lovah: So... have you got yourself a boyfriend or a husband yet?
A confused Me: Excuse me?
Mr. Lovah: You have a boyfriend or husband?
An offended Me: Did you call me for personal information?
Mr. Lovah: Well I'm not calling you for legal reasons, I'm not on probation anymore.
A shocked Me: Well! I'm not giving you information about my personal life!
A disappointmed Mr. Lovah: Oh.
A done Me: Glad to hear you're doing well. Goodbye.

A bit of a scene

I remember being a child and while my mom was at a woman's retreat my dad had a break down. The pots and pans were disorganized (and I imagine there were all kinds of others stressors) and he got so irritated he pulled them all from the cabinet onto the kitchen floor. If I remember correctly, we were then ordered to put them away...

Christina and I have opposing ideas of how tupperware should work. I feel strongly that if I want to put something in a plastic tub, the top and bottom should be easy to find...easy to match. So, in my ideal kitchen tops and bottoms are paired together, like couples. Christina is more of a free spirit. She likes to stack bottoms with bottoms and tops with tops. I will not attempt to explain why this seems like a better idea to her...because I can't undertsand the logic. This morning while trying to put together a lunch I grabbed a bottom, threw some spinich in it, some carrots and then began the daunting task of trying to find the right top for my bottom. To no avail. Rrrrrrrraarrrrr. I felt the rage build inside and then I reminded myself that I was getting upset about tupperware! I threw the salad into another bottom and grabbed its found top.

Tonight, I emptied the dishwasher. I put the silverware away, plates and mugs. Then I swung the lazy susan tupperware drawer open and began to attempt to stack lids on lids and bottoms on bottoms. Chaos insued. Things were sliding, some falling into the back of the drawer. Rrrrrrarrrr. That nasty rage (which may or may not be hormone induced) got the better of me and I lost it...and just as I had seen my father do so many years before, shoved those darned disobediant tupperware lids and bottoms to the floor. That'll teach them.

Psssst... thanks dad for allowing me to retell your story. I do it not out of judgment but as an awareness that those kinds of reactions to life (and unruly kitchenware) is pretty normal...at least for you and me and my caseload.

Psssst... notice the photo I have chosen represents the ideal organization of tupperware - the coupling system.

Tick Tock Tick Tock

I have become concerningly sappy regarding other people's children. Recently, during the western stock show rodeo, I teared up as I watched the clown beckon his son from the sidelines. He was dressed just like his strange clown dad and mirrored dad's every move. His dad put his hat on the dirt floor, so did son. Dad did a head stand, he bent all the way over trying to pick up his hat with his head (just as dad did) and the crowd cheered when he finally stood up, hat on head. I got all kinds of choked up. I think I looked over at my grandchildless dad and apologized for not gifting him with a grandson.
A friend was over with her two sons. Little Ethan hollered to his mom, "mom! do you hear that?!" "what is it son?" "mom! It's our song!" I don't even remember what top 40 hit he associated with his mother but I can tell you it was the sweetest thing I've ever seen... and got all kinds of choked up.
Earlier this week, a judge sent out an email inviting us (I made the list...yes!) to come by his chambers for some cookies, explaining his kids made cookies... again. Today he made his rounds with the last couple and explained everytime it snows, his kids greet him at the door when he comes home and beg him to help them make cookies. My heart melted.
My new co-worker next door took a phone call and I could hear him talking to his young daughter..."can you take a nap for daddy? so we can play when I get home from work? take a nap for daddy, tiny." So stinking precious!
Just today, my last appointment told me when he got home the other night, his son was decked out with a sweatband around his forehead and a crib sheet tied around his neck and that he was "Super hero Soto." Dad says to me, who is Soto? Heck if I know, but it sounds cute as can be to me!