Potty Problem

Peeper and I are leaving for Texas later today, and I've got a bit of a dilemma. So much so that Shrike reached out for help on Facebook. Where, of course, we got 100 conflicting opinions:

Shrike Okay, question. After your child is "pottytrained," do they then regress? Do they need potty charts for a while after they are trained? Peeper is getting on a plane for 4 hours tomorrow and we don't want her to pee on the plane.
Thursday at 8:03pm ·


LiPA Ours didn't regress. Depends on how long she has been doing it. Maybe offer her a reward for a dry flight.
Thursday at 8:10pm ·


Whozat More info: Potty charts with stickers for telling us she has to go got her to the point where she was always telling us with very few accidents.She finished her 3rd chart in a row and was doing great, so we declared her trained, and had a potty party the week before Christmas, so that's been about 2 weeks.

Suddenly, about 3 day ago, she's started having accidents. Lots. What the heck? Are we just getting less vigilant about reminding her? Does she have no incentive w/a sticker chart?

Sometimes she's peed 2 or 3 times very quickly in succession. Did she just cut it off the first time, then finish? (Altho I always put her on the potty after to finish.)

Could it be something physical? (It's the opposite of a UTI, I think. For that she'd be asking to go, then not going. And hurting. Been there, done that.)

We just told her we'd do sticker charts for the flights and asked her what prize. She asked for a violin and drum. Fine. Whatever it takes. If she gets X # of stickers she'll get the prizes. I don't want to say "if she stays dry" because if she pees 30 min into the flight, she's got no reason not to pee 5 more times before we get there!

I may also buy some candies that she really likes and give her one when she tells us, during the trip down/back, even though I suspect there will be much begging for them at other times.

I really, really, really don't want to put her in a diaper or trainers for the flight because a> she'd just pee freely in them and b> I think it would be too, hmm, demoralizing?

Any other ideas to keep her from peeing on the plane?

Also, is a pretty immediate regression after being declared trained common?
Thursday at 8:11pm ·


Friend A When mine were that age and we were flying, I told them they needed to wear a pull-up. They demanded to know if there was a toilet on the plane and did not need the pull-up. But we brought them along. Good luck
Thursday at 8:13pm ·


Whozat We did cloth, and have packed away the diapers, which are really too small for her now, anyway. As luck would have it tho, I just TODAY received a shipment of some new pull-on cloth trainers for my store, so (altho I now can't sell it as new) I've opened one set (shell + 5 liners) and put it in the carry on bag. I have a big chamois towel to put on the seat under her, which should catch a pee and if she has an accident, I'll put the trainer on for the rest of the flight. I want to give her a chance to do it all in panties, though.

Also, a sticker + candy for every pee when I tell her or telling me she has to go. If she gets 12 (door-to-door, including 2 hour drive + stop to eat each way, airport time and flight, we're talking a bit more than 12 hour) OR stays dry the whole way, she'll get her prize.
Thursday at 9:53pm ·


Whozat FINGERS CROSSED!
Thursday at 9:53pm ·


Friend B I was going to suggest pull up for plane too....esp. with the recent events!! Better safe than sorry. Course this is from a Mom who once flew 18 month old to Europe and packed all the diapers in the "under-the-plane" luggage!!! Had to run around 10 of them airport kiosks and buy them all out of diapers at $3 a pop!
Thursday at 9:56pm ·


Whozat I should add that she has only had accidents (knock wood) at home. Out and about, she's been fine. Probably because we make her pee every time we pass a bathroom.
Thursday at 10:04pm ·


FriendA Whozat, I brought my twin girls to Ireland right after potty training. They were very proud to be big girls and not need the pull-ups. Keep praising her and she will be fine. Try not to stress, and enjoy your trip. :)
Thursday at 10:04pm ·


Whozat  I'm debating whether to tell her the trainer is there and I'll put it on her if she pees. Will she be "oh yeah, I don't have to go to the potty then!" or will she be "Oh NO! I dont' want a diaper! That's for babies!"

A friend, w/a son who is 20 mos picked up a trainer today, and I think she knew that he was getting one, because he's just starting to learn to go in the potty, so I think she'll see it as a baby thing. I do NOT want it to be a punishment, I just want to be allowed on a plane again!
Thursday at 10:06pm ·

Friend A I would tell her she has to wear it and see if she fights you on it. Either way, airline crews see a lot worse than a little pee. Enjoy your trip. Where are you going?
Thursday at 10:19pm ·


Frienc C i would go for the undies. just bring pull-ups in case she has an accident, then you can put her in those if you need to. my guys always have an uncanny ability to 'hold it' when we're out somewhere, or on 3 1/2 car trips to NJ. if they have to go, they hold it or tell us. i think it's different peeing on your floor than peeing in your seat on the airplane! B will still have accidents at home, but never out anywhere. i have noticed that (especially with G) if he has an accident at night, the next day he will come down with a cold or some other illness, so keep an eye on her! that's my 2 cents :) enjoy your trip! :)
Friday at 6:13am ·


Whozat Ok, here's the plan:

Potty Chart (hand scribbled) and Stickers AND Candy ("Mrs Darlene Kuhn Smith mints") - Each time she tells me she has to pee (emphasizing this) or goes when I ask her to (mumble, oh yeah, that too) she gets a sticker and a mint (I never do candy rewards, but desperate times / desperate measures).

If she gets 12 stickers OR stays dry all the way to Grandma's, she will get a toy violin. (This was actually on her Christmas list. If, by chance, someone in my family has bought it already, she'll get a drum.)

If she's dry all the way there, she'll get to finish the rest of the candy (I will buy a reasonable amount!) when we get to Grandma's house.

Same deal for the trip home, but the next prize is a drum. These prizes were both her idea. Right off the top of her head.

I have a big chamois towel to put under her on the seat, to absorb and pee, and a pull-on cloth trainer in the bag. I've told her that if she has an accident, we'll switch to the trainer (it has multiple swtich-out liners)
but "I know you can do it!"

Oh, and I changed our seats to the back row, so we are sitting right by the potty. Faster to get there, and more acceptable to sneak there with the seatbelt light on.

Btw, we are going to Texas to visit my family. We go about every 3 months, but this is the first time we're doing it without diapers.
Friday at 7:11am ·

Shrike Friend A, they're going toTexas, where Whozat's family lives. I am staying home to guard the house.
Friday at 7:13am ·


Shrike There have been a rash of burglaries in our area in which pee-covered office chairs have been stolen
Friday at 7:26am ·


Whozat LOL!
Friday at 7:39am ·


Whozat Thanks for the input, everyone! I'll be sure and let you know how it goes.
Friday at 7:44am ·

Help Me, Interwebs!

So, I have gotten a few answers on my logistical questions about this White House VIP Reception or VIP Tour or Open House Tour - I've seen it referred to as each of these things, over the course of the past week.

I can take in a small bag, but there is no coat check. So, I'm thinking that if I have to carry my coat around anyway, I will probably just stick things in my pockets, rather than carrying a coat and a purse (which I don't own).

I don't actually own a coat that I'm real comfortable with either, but when I went looking today, I found it hard to justify even the $40 for a cheap "lady coat" if I'm never going to wear it again.

So, I might just wear my current black suede-ish? jacket. It will really just be a black lump on my arm, anyway.

The more I hear and think about it, the more I think we're just going to be walking around looking at pretty stuff and the less likely I think it is that we're going to be conversing with, or even seeing, the Obamas themselves.

But, you never know.

So, after not finding a coat, I bought not one, but two red sweaters, because I'm starting to chicken out about the outfits I bought the other day.

I am much more comfortable in the sweater options, but I just don't know what's best.

So, help me!

First, there's the LGBT roundtable with our senator and his staff. I want to go more businessy for that one.

Here are my options:

Choice A - Off-white blouse with red blazer and black wool pants

The blouse is a little big, as are the pants, so it wants to ride up and get untucked and messy looking. It's also just a bit too low cut (wants to show my tanktop, which I will be wearing, because it's very thin and requires something camisoley) and the collar doesn't want to stay put either.

I suspect I will spend the whole meeting doing this

and this.


Choice B - The same thing, with a black turtleneck sweater. This is much more physically comfortable, and much more "me."

But do I look like somebody that a senator might listen to?

Specifically, to I look like a dyke that a senator might listen to?

Then there's the reception / tour / open house / whatever at the White House. I will be wearing Peeper in a black Sleepy Wrap (thanks DoulaK!).

She will be wearing black velvety pants and a red sweater, with her black Mary Janes and hopefully, some red socks.

I think the red socks will make the Mary Janes stand out and femme it up a bit. On her own, the sweater is very girly, but in the wrap it's hard to tell, and it sort of give the impression that she's wearing a black vest, making her look like a boy.

She could, theoretically, wear her black-with-a-big-white-bow sweater and / or the same pants in red, but I think I like this combination best.

That said, should I wear. . .

Choice A - Velvety slacks, shiny white shirt, red and black vest.

If I wear the vest open, "outside" of Peeper, you really can't see the red part.

Here, I've got her arms through the arm holes with me (it's actually several sizes too big for me), which shows it off better, but does it look silly?


Probably not as silly as this.



or Choice B - Same slacks and a red sweater.

This sweater isn't exactly the same color as Peeper's, but is very, very, very close. Close enough. It does have the same knit pattern as the top of her sweater (which is about all that shows of hers).




As you can probably tell, I am very much leaning toward the sweater options for both events, but I don't know if they look appropriate.

For what it's worth, when I checked with a very-high-up in our state Democratic Party (before I went shopping) and told her I was thinking of a black suit for the meeting and black pants with a dressy red sweater for the White House, she said I was on the right track.

So, I think it should be okay, but I'm still fretting.

What say you?

Cover Girl?

We're planning to enter Peeper in the Babytalk / GMA Cover Contest, and I need some help deciding what photo to use.

Of course, we know it's a long shot, but on the other hand, I've seen the photos of last year's finalists, and she's way cuter than at least some of them.

(Including, in my humble opinion, the winner.)

We're only allowed to send one photo, and it should be one that was taken within the past month.
If not for that rule, I would absolutely be using this one.


Their suggestions for what makes a good photo include: show the baby's personality, show all or most of the face (so the uber-cute sunglasses photos are out), good lighting, and smile!

I've narrowed it down to a few choices, shown below.

(One of which was taken just a smidge more than a month ago, but less than a month before the contest submission period opened, so that's good enough for me. Shhh.)

There are other photos of her from the past month that I like better, but for the contest, I've ruled out the ones where she's not smiling, or her whole face isn't showing, or her "zipper" is showing (not that there's anything wrong with it, but I suppose it's not her most photogenic feature, especially in its current not-so-healed state) or there's anyone else in the photo with her.

Take a look, and let me know which one you think will get her the gig!

#1

#2

#3

#4

Potential Entries for Future Contests

DoulaK tells me that she'll let me know the next time BumGenius is running a contest, so I can enter this one. (If she were smiling and looking at the camera, I'd use it for this contest.)


If I ever run across a mother-and-child photo contest, I am totally entering this one of Shrike and Peeper.


And, I think this is a good candidate for some sort of artsy-fartsy-type contest:

You Likey?

I'm not quite sold on the colors.

Daily Peep: What's Wrong With This Picture

Can you spot the mistake in this photo?

(Hint: It's not Peeper!)

Caption This, Baby!

We saw "Dr. Peri" (the perinatologist) this morning and, as he said when he first walked in the room after seeing the ultrasound images, "Baby looks like a million bucks!"

(As she damn well ought to. If we're getting our money's worth. Or, I should say, if Anonymama and Anonydaddy are getting their money's worth.)

She's still small, measuring 19w6d today (about 8 days behind, versus 6 days behind, three weeks ago) but he said, repeatedly, that he's not concerned about that.

Her brain looked "perfect" and the cerebellum and cisterna magna (the parts that might have looked funky at 17 weeks, but the images weren't very good, and that he said looked okay at 18 weeks) were both looking exactly as they are supposed to.

Whew!

Everything else looked good, too. Of course she still has the single umbilical artery (that won't change) but the cord insertion looks good, and we've seen both kidneys (sometimes the SUA can be associated with a missing kidney), so that's good to know, too.

She wasn't in the right position for the sonographer to get a good image of her heart, and I was starting to get concerned that maybe the position wasn't the issue, and that whatever she was looking for just wasn't there, but she evidently turned around while we were waiting for Dr. Peri and he was able to see what he wanted to see and said her heart looks great.

We'll get a much more detailed study of it in four weeks, when we see the fetal cardiologist for the echocardiogram. We'll also do another full ultrasound with all the other measurements at that time, as well.

The best part of the whole morning?

(Other than the "perfect" brain, and "I'm not concerned about her growth" and "she looks like a million bucks" of course.)

After seeing her heart, Dr. Peri was poking around, looking at some other things, when he evidently saw something he liked, clicked some buttons on his magic machine and, with absolutely no warning, up popped this image:

Oh. My. God. That's a baby!

With skin on it and everything!

He said, "Don't tell anybody I did this. We usually don't do 3D at this point, but that was just too cute."

And, indeed, she is.

If I do say so myself.

And I do.

So, my question for you is - just what is that gesture she's making?

Leave a comment with your caption for the photo, and we'll pick the best one.

Sorry we don't have any fabulous prizes to offer the winner, but isn't the glory enough?

Happy Blogiversary To Me

Today is one year since my first post on this blog!

When I started, I had all the time in the world on my hands, and I still wasn't sure how long I'd keep it up, or how regularly I'd post.

A year -and more than six hundred posts - later, I guess I've managed to do ok.

With quantity, at least. Not so sure about the quality.

Which brings me to . . .

The First Annual Whozzie Awards!
(and the crowd goes wild!)

At risk of being incredibly self-indulgent, and being reminded that there are only five people reading this stuff, (and four of them are related to me), I'm asking you to nominate your favorite posts from my blog over the past year, in a variety of categories:

• Stop! You're Cracking Me Up! (Funniest Post)
• Quick! Pass the Insulin (Sweetest / Sappiest Post)
• Oh No She Didn't! (Most Outrageous Post)
• TMI! TMI! TMI! (Most Over-Sharing Post)
• Do You Email Your Mama With That Keyboard? (Most PG-13 Post)
• I Hear Ya, Sister! (Post to which you can most personally relate)
• Would Ya Look At That! (Best Photo)

Of course, you don't have to vote in every category - and, you're welcome to make up your own!

To share your choices, please leave a comment with the category and the title and date of the post. If you know how to make a link, all the better. If not, don't worry, I'll put them all in one post in a couple of days, complete with links.

Vote early, vote often!

Thursday Thirteen #13

This is the last of original topic suggestions; does anyone have any ideas for me?

13 Parties / Events That I've Hosted At Our House In The Past Year or So

1. May 21, 2007 - Meeting to recruit people to lobby for upcoming gay rights legislation in Blue State


2. April 8, 2007 - Easter with Shrike's Family


3. February 17, 2007 - Mardi Gras Murder Mystery Party


4. February 4, 2007 - Dinner Party with 2 Friends & Their Son


5. January 23, 2007 - State of the Union Watch Party


6. January 6, 2007 - Democratic "Majority Party"


7. December 16, 2006 - "An Inconvenient Truth" Viewing Party


8. December 9, 2007 - Christmas Party


9. October 28, 2007 - Halloween Party


10. September 16, 2007 - Barbeque Fundraiser for Congressional Candidate


11. July 12, 2007 - Houseparty for US Senate Candidate


12. May 14, 2007 - Mother's Day Cookout with Shrike's Family


13. May 7, 2007 - "Welcome Spring" Cookout

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thursday Thirteen Blog Roll

Thursday Thirteen #12

I'm nearing the end of my original topic suggestions, so I guess I'd better start thinking up some more. Any requests?

Most of these photos were taken right after we moved in, almost four years ago, but they give you the gist of it. Just imagin everything a little shabbier, a lot more cluttered, and covered with pet hair and bodily fluids.

13 Photos of Our Home / Yard

1. Bedroom
2. Hall Bath
   
3. Sunroom (Dogs' Room)
4. Kitchen: Fiestaware
5. Patio: Wind Chimes
6. Backyard: Bird House
7. Living Room
8. Living Room
9. Living Room: Christmas Decorations
10. Kitchen: Christmas Decorations
11. Kitchen
12. Kitchen
13. Kitchen Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thursday Thirteen Blog Roll

Clomid???

Per the discussion with my ob/gyn, which I recounted in my previous post, I'd appreciate feedback/input from anyone who's had experience with Clomid.

I've heard that the side effects can be kind of rough, so I'd like to know what I'm getting myself into if we decide to go that route.

Anyone?

A Blue Rose By Any Other Name . . .

I've mentioned before that Shrike was getting squicked out by my constant references to sperm, so we decided that we should find a euphemism for it / them.

For a while there, we were talking about "baby juice," but she's decided that's even worse, because it sounds like someone has done something truly awful to a baby. (She makes a valid point.)

So, her most recent suggestion is that we refer to them as "gentleman callers."

It does have a certain Victorian charm to it.

You got a better suggestion?

For Extra Credit: Identify the literary allusion.

Thursday Thirteen Follow-Up: Book Quiz

Toni was the only one who ventured a guess, but here are the answers to my little quiz about which books on my most recent Thursday Thirteen list belong to which of us:

Which Books Are Whose?

1. Love, Janis: Whozat
   I grew up in the same town as Janis Joplin. The guests at our committment ceremony included not one, but two people who graduated from high school with her.
   
2. Dog Tricks for Dummies: Shrike
   Not that our dogs have actually learned any of these tricks . . . .
   
3. 101 Nights of Grrreat Romance: Both
   I think we've used maybe four of their ideas.
   
4. The Holy Bible: Whozat
   The one I had as a kid. Technically, it was a gift, in that it was presented to me upon "graduation" from the third grade Sunday School class at the Baptist Church that I grew up going to. (I got over it.)
   
5. Loose Lips: Both
   Shrike brought some Rita Mae Brown books into the relationship and turned me on to her. This one, we bought together at a book signing.
   
6. Jumble Crosswords Jamboree: Shrike
   She likes this kind of stuff. I can never figure them out!
   
7. I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence: Both
   The Sedaris family is hilarious.
   
8. HBJ Algebra 2 with Trigonometry: Whozat
   A few years ago, I had this idea that I wanted to go back and remember this stuff.
   
9. America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction: Whozat
   Love, love, love Jon Stewart and the Daily Show!
   
10. Gone To Soldiers: Shrike
    I've been meaning to read this, but haven't yet.
    
11. Daughters of Darkness: Lesbian Vampire Stories : Shrike
    Shrike loves her some lesbian vampires.
    
12. Take the Cannoli: Both
    Sarah Vowell is great, in a nerdy kind of way.
    
13. The Ultimate Guide to Pregnancy for Lesbians: Whozat
    See our previous discussion of these books.

Thanks for playing!

Thursday Thirteen #6

Next on the list: a sneak peek at our bookshelf.

How well do you think you know us?

Leave a comment identifying (by number) which books you think belong to me, which to Shrike, and which to both of us equally.

You have until Sunday to guess, and then I'll post the answers, and the names of the winners.

I don't have any fabulous prizes to offer, so I'm afraid you're just playing for glory but, really, isn't that enough?

Good luck!

13 Books On Our Bookshelves

1. Love, Janis - Laura Joplin
2. Dog Tricks for Dummies - Hodgson
3. 101 Nights of Grrreat Romance - Laura Corn
4. The Holy Bible - God Man
5. Loose Lips - Rita Mae Brown
6. Jumble Crosswords Jamboree
7. I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence - Amy Sedaris
8. HBJ Algebra 2 with Trigonometry (Second Edition)
9. America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction - Jon Stewart, et al
10. Gone To Soldiers - Marge Piercy
11. Daughters of Darkness: Lesbian Vampire Stories - Ed. Pam Keesey
12. Take the Cannoli - Sarah Vowell
13. The Ultimate Guide to Pregnancy for Lesbians - Rachel Pepper

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thursday Thirteen Blog Roll

Pasta Ideas?

We have a big bowl of cooked macaronis and another big bowl of cooked spaghettis in the fridge, and need to eat them both up pretty soon.

I'm thinking of doing some sort of chicken peanut thing, and maybe pretending that the spaghetti is lo mein noodles.

(I bought five pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts the other day. Shrike's not a huge chicken fan, so I'm trying to trick her into eating it by putting peanut butter on it.)

We're getting a little tired of the Italian genre, so I'd appreciate any other suggestions that anyone might have for using up either pasta - preferably with the chicken or some of the four pounds of ground beef that was also on sale last week.

Other than that, it's been a quiet day and my mind is blank.

I don't know what's up. I couldn't shut up on here last night. Today, I got nothin'.

Nigeria, hmmm?

There must be some sort of scam afoot with all this "intrest in my lesson."

I've now heard from (supposedly) four different people from overseas, all of whom want me to teach their kids while they are on holiday in the US. All of the emails seem to follow a similar outline.

There's definitely something hinky going on.

But what???

From : (his name)
Sent : Friday, March 30, 2007 9:00 PM
Subject : INTREST IN LESSON

Hello,
My name is (his name) and I am a buisness man and I work full time as the designer director and recuitment manager with nigeria branch of Ozone clothing company. I am presently in Eindhoven Netherland on a buisness trip. and I am writing just to confirm if you still take the lesson you advertised on craigslist. If yes, i will also like to know if you will be available to take my daughter of 19years of age lesson for may 1st to june 30th 2007.

My daughter who just concluded her high school, would be coming to your city in usa for holiday for the whole of may and june and since i dont want her to be too idle,i have decided to enroll her in your lesson so as to widen her knowledge and keep her a bit busy. i hope a lessons of five hours every week would be okay for the two months since she is a beginner.

If this is okay with you i will like you to email me the fee for the monthly tution so that i can forward the estimate to my company who would be responsible for the payment and her flight ticket to usa.

I would appreciate if this is done at your earliest convenience so that advance payment can be made before her arrival on may 1st. also i will later arrange with her for the time of lessons.

I will like you to reply me as soon as possible so that if you will be available i can make arrangement for your payment so as to secure this dates and as a sign of seriousness. I am sorry i sent you an email instead of call,it is because i am in presently not in my country and i dont have long distant credit neither do i have acess to the phone.

Warmest Regards,
(His Name)
OZONE CLOTHING
(address)
SOUTH AFRICA
www.ozoneclothing.co.za

Tag Yourself Meme

I asked Toni to tag me for this interview meme.

Here's the deal. If you want to be "tagged" just let me know in the comments, and I'll send you five questions to answer on your blog. Let me know when they're posted and I'll link to them from here.

Here are Toni's questions for me:

1. What is one thing you do to unwind from an extremely stressful day?
   Whether or not my day is particularly stressful, I enjoy a good, hot bath. I prefer to have something to read while I'm in the tub, even if it's just a catalog. I like to add something to smelly-up the water, but have a hard time with the idea of paying $5 for one bath worth of smelly-stuff. I'd just as soon get the big bottle of bubbles from the dollar aisle at the grocery store, and have a month of baths for a buck!


2. What was the all time best vacation you took? Why?
   Shrike and I went to Toronto for PrideFest in 2005.We stayed with my long-time friend Katr and her partner, Roro. Their condo was right in the heart of the Gayborhood, and we watched the parade from their living room. We also walked in the Dyke March (photos) and attended several other event. I had my honey, good friends, and civil rights. What more can a girl ask for?


3. What is one goal you want to achieve this year?
   I would like to be pregant by the end of the year. First, I need to get a job and health insurance. Or have I already mentioned that?


4. What is your favorite drink? (Alcohol or non, or both)
   Ooo! I don't know that I really have a favorite non-alcoholic drink, maybe fancy flavory coffee? I'd say my favorite alcoholic drink would be a either a mudslide or a something in the chocolate martini family.


5. What is your favorite indulgence?
   Hmmm, see above, re the hot baths and mudslides? I'm also all about sleeping late in the mornings, which some folks see as an indulgence. I guess I'd better start seeing it that way and really appreciating it while I still can!

If you want to play along, post a comment and I'll send you some questions!

Jumping the Gun?

The CountyShopper is advertising a 3-year-old (but barely used, because they actually ended up co-sleeping) crib / toddler bed, just like the one pictured here, for $75.

We are of a variety of minds about it:

1. It's a heck of a deal.
2. Would we "jinx ourselves" by buying before we're pregant?
3. It would be very hard if things didn't work out and we had to get rid of stuff we never got to use.
4. Another baby might need it now.
5. It's a heck of a deal.

Yeah, it's probably a dumb idea. But it's a heck of a deal.

Pros and Cons

So, here are the pros and cons of the two jobs that I'm looking at right now:

StateJob - Pros

• Salary $3K - $14K higher than other job
• State has good benefits
• On-site Daycare (down the road)
• Already interviewed

StateJob - Cons

• Commute(1 hour)
• Starts at 8:30 am - can't wait up for Shrike
• Schedule not flexible?
• Parking $50 - $120/month (Free parking pass?)
• Position 2 - Travel
• Position 2 - Not comfortable with some aspects; would require doing things that are my weak points

TutoringCenter - Pros

• Shorter commute (45 min)
• 2 mornings start at 10:30 am - could wait up for Shrike
• No parking fees
• More comfortable with job
• Could have dinner with Shrike, 1 - 2 evenings/week

TutoringCenter - Cons

• Salary much lower - at least $10K lower than what I made at OldJob
• Evenings - work til 7:30 pm two nights, could conflict with other activities

So, what say you, Internets?

Did I Miss Something Here?

What the hell is going on?

Another email, arrived moments ago:

From : (new person, different from before)
Sent : Friday, March 23, 2007 11:50 PM
To: (whozat)
Subject : AM INTRESTED IN YOUR LESSON/TUTOR

Hey,How re u doing?My name is HisName I'm Married to (Mrs WifeName) that's my wife with 2 children.One Girl and a Boy Lisa And John.I'm based in United Kingdom but a nationality of United state.I was born and brought up in Albany ny .
I saw your Advert of your lesson and tutorial on craigslist and wont mind having you as the teacher of my kids because i really want you to teach them and let them know more about your profession because they are coming to the state for some months to spend their holiday.
I really want you to please explain more about the part you are much better in teaching to me so that i can know the best part you can teach my kids so that they can catch up and know it within a little period of time.also i want you to tell me something about your payment,the terms,amount, and also let me know if you'll be receiving the payment monthly/weekly.Please try to get back to me Asap and get me updated to my private email(address)

A Moral Quandry

Would it be wrong to edit my earlier post, to conceal my crime more accurately reflect the number of cookies that will be remaining when Shrike gets home from work?

Oh. Fine.

But how do you know that I haven’t already? Hmmmm?