Apple-Picking in the Rain

Delicious!

I Struggle with My Weight...

...because I'm such a freakin' good cook!

Oh gosh, I'm so full. I made Chicken Paprikash tonight. It's the first time I made it and it was SO GOOD. Along with it, I made mac and cheese--homemade, not the stuff out of the box. And a mixed berry cobbler. And cinnamon vanilla dinner rolls. We had non-veggie-eating guests tonight (hello #4 and boyfriend), so I skipped that, but it's okay, because the primary members of this household eat fruits and veggies all the time otherwise.

As I'm sitting here holding my overly-full belly, I'm thinking it's good that I did my workout this morning, because I don't think there's a chance in heck I'm going to be able to move my rotund rear end for a while.

Cheap Thrills

Shopping. Sometimes it's fun, sometimes it's not. It all depends on the motive behind the shopping.

I always feel that if I'm out shopping for nothing in particular, that's when I'm going to find the most fabulous items. Heaven help me if I'm actually shopping with a purpose! Those are the times that what I need isn't out there. So, if I'm looking for a long sleeve girl's blouse? Nothing. If I'm taking a shortcut through a shop to get to the parking garage? Wow, look at all those great things! If I was actually going to seek out the clearance racks at a department store, I'd walk away empty handed. What?! you may ask yourself. How is that possible? I can't explain it. My favorite items are all things I've just happened upon: my Favourbrook jacket, my Missoni wrap, my Via Spiga pumps. This last weekend was no different. I was at a mall that I had never been to before. I had no intention of buying a single thing, so almost every piece of clothing I passed was practically jumping off the rack at me. I resisted...until the silk scarf. It is exquisite. The colors were like looking at a natural pool of water in the fog--the colors of dreams.

I bought it since it's perfect for me.

And just because it was a lightweight silk scarf, and the stores are making room for fleecy garments, it was 82% off.

No bargain hunt can beat a random cheap thrill.

Lullabye Lady vs. The Disco Daddy

Sometimes the Disco Daddy wins.

Finicky baby.

Wonderful (NOT!) Wednesday

Normally, Wednesday is a good day. "Hump Day." It signals that it's midway through the work week and the weekend is getting closer. Wednesday often makes folks feel happy.

Not me.

My little darling woke up VERY early this morning. VERY, VERY early. She dozed back off. I didn't. I finally got up to go the bathroom and when I was making my way back to bed, I tripped over the keyboard that was sitting on the floor. Why was there a keyboard on the floor? Good question. Our old computer was temporarily put on the floor in our room until it could get moved to a permanent spot. A permanent spot that I've been asking my dear hubby to find for over a week so I wouldn't trip on it.

Anyway, the keyboard had mysteriously moved out into the direct spot where I had to walk and I got tangled up, and SMASH SMASH, SNAP, SCREAM, FALL, SHRIEK...I was writhing on the floor in pain, holding my bloody foot in my hands. After stumbling to the bathroom, I saw that I had indeed gashed open my toe (hence the SMASH SMASH), which was set at a strange angle (that was the SNAP). Darn it all! I set it, bandaged it then moaned like a banshee because it hurt so much.

Son of a gosh darn biscuit. And I've still got two days until the weekend...

Hanging Out in the Garbage Can

I think if I was going to pick the Sesame Street character that I resemble most today, it would have to be Oscar the Grouch. After an extremely difficult month at work, I've about had it. I'm not upset with my boss or anything. I have no real reason to bash anyone. I'm just drained. Dealing with the problems of the world just gets to be too much sometimes. Abused children, neglectful parents, state requirements that sometimes interfere with helping both the children and the parents...it's a mire of red tape. The time spent satisfying state requirements could be better spent providing the care and support that these people so desperately need. I know that protocol is in place for a reason, but it's really getting on my nerves these days. Ah well.

On the upside, I should start sleeping better soon. After months of pleading and nagging on my part, my darling husband finally went to the doctor to find out if there was anything that could be done about his flailing limbs and earth-shaking snoring. Turns out he suffers from "abnormal involuntary leg movements" that's just one step short of Restless Legs Syndrome, and has a moderate case of sleep apnea. It's amazing what a sleep study can reveal. Now we at least know what's going on and can do something about it. Woo-hoo!

AND...I'm excited because I get to leave work early today! I actually get to spend some quality time with my munchkin. I can hardly wait. I'm watching the clock now, (im)patiently waiting for 12:30pm. Then I'm out the door!

I AM a Brain Ninja

I pulled a brain ninja on my unsuspecting honey. It pretty much worked out the way it does in the previous video clip. Not nice, strangely necessary, and oddly comforting. All's well that ends well.

Brain Ninjas

Because, well, it's true ;-)