Losing Sally

This is Sally.

Sally joined our family on May 29, 2009. For those of you in the know, this is also Miss Adelaide's birthday. When the doctor said, "It's a girl.", (I'm not using an exclamation point, because she didn't use one. My doctor was a bitch, but that's another story.) my sister ran out and bought a host of lovely pink things to welcome her god-daughter. Among the lovely outfits and pink hats, was Sally. She plays "Braham's Lullaby" and has been adored by the kid since day one.

Now, I have been told in the past that we need to work on separating her from Sally, but I have had no desire to do so. Miss Adelaide loves Sally. Sally comforts her. Also, I know that one day she will grow up and no longer cling to Sally the way she does now. Me, however, she will always need and adore. I figure she'll only be two for so long, so why rush it. Sally has been known to cure hurt fingers, mend broken hearts, fix sad faces and lull Miss Adelaide to sleep within minutes. Note the sleepiness:

Why am I going on about a pink stuffed hippo like some animal obsessed freak? Because the kid will be starting "school" in three weeks time and I was notified on Friday that Sally will not be allowed to attend. Apparently the state feels that small stuffed items carry lice and germs, so the child care facility has banned all such items. "But surely she can have her during nap time?" Negative. No Sally. No way. No how.

Being the pregnant, overly-emotional mother I've turned into, I cried. And it's not because I'm upset about having to take Sally away, and it's not because I think she will have a total hissy fit when it comes to nap time (okay- so I kinda think she will, but at least I won't have to be there to see it). I'm sad because I'm not ready for her to be old enough to not need Sally anymore. I knew there would come a time when she wouldn't need Sally (like when she gets married), I just didn't think it would happen so soon.

So parental units (or whoever else is listening to my obscure ramblings), any suggestions? We never had a pacifier issue, so I've never had to work to take anything away from a child before. I'm sure there are a few hard-core parents who are thinking, "Just take the damned thing from her and don't look back." You're suggestion is dually noted. Thanks so much for that helpful insight.

Any other suggestions?

The kid is getting too smart.

The kid has been asking to go to California. Her Nana and Poppy are in California and she doesn't seem to understand the distance between Louisiana and California. We've been telling her she can't go because she is too little.

That prompted this conversation:

Kid (packs a bag of crackers and Barbies, puts her baby in the stroller): Bye mama. See you later.
Me: Bye Addie Jo. Where you going?
Kid: To Calipornya.
Me: You can't go to California. You are too little. It's time for bed, come over here and pick up your toys.
Kid: Ummmmm, I too little to pick toys.

Awesome. So now our days go like this:

Me: Let's go potty.
Kid: I too little to potty.

Me: Can you come help Mama with the clothes? (which she does, in fact, love to do.)
Kid: I too little to help clothes.

Me: Time to brush you teeth and get your jammies.
Kid: I too little to bru teet and jammies.

We may have created a monster. A very litte monster.

Cucumbers and Wednesdays

Today is Wednesday and I found myself craving a cucumber. Since I have recently re-joined Weight Watchers, I knew I had some in the office fridge. I grabbed all the proper cucumber cutting tools and mindlessly began making myself a snack. Then it happened.

There I stood, in the kitchen at work, cutting a cucumber and holding back tears. Because today is Wednesday and no one could grow a cucumber like my grandfather.

Every Wednesday, for many years, my family picks up the grand kids and goes visit at my grandparents house. It's a day to laugh and visit and love. But it's not the same anymore. When my grandfather passed away everything changed. While others rejoiced over the mid-week hump, I often find myself sad driving home and knowing he won't be there.

When someone dies we go through many stages of sadness. There is the initial sadness that haunts you 24 hours a day. The sadness that you can't escape even in sleep. Then there is the day to day sadness. Those moments when you realize that they are really gone and your life is forever changed. After a few months it's the creeping sadness. You feel it on holidays and birthdays, trying to beat it back while you strive to enjoy the day. After a few more months it's the memory sadness. I think this one is the worst. It's driving past the Mowata store and having a craving for boudin and not knowing why that makes you want to cry. It's setting up the chairs at the campground and feeling that your still waiting on the rest of your family to arrive. It's Moe Bandy on the radio and having to pull over on the side of the road because you can't see through the tears. And today, it's cutting a cucumber on a Wednesday and knowing that I'll never have one of his cucumbers again.

My grandfather was amazing. He was funny and caring and he pinched really hard. He had false teeth that he would scare the children with. He was a diabetic and our family would often catch him at the grocery store buying sweets. One day he was caught in the grocery store parking lot eating a small loaf of french bread in his truck. My grandmother watched his food intake, so he would have to eat his goodies in the truck between the store and his house, which was less that one mile. He loved to camp and we loved to camp with him. He is the man I was named after, and I couldn't imagine a better person's name to have.

There is a campground in heaven and he is there. Walking around with his fly-swatter, listening to Moe Bandy, sneaking candy in the camper and giving cucumbers away to all who visit. I know he watches over me and I know that someday we'll sit together and visit again. And I already know just what I'll say when I see him again......

"Heellllllooooo, J.C."

It's Thursday, be thankful dammit.

Let's get this day started!

1. I am thankful for heating pads and ice packs. Without them, I wouldn't have been able to get out of bed this last week.

2. I am thankful that Jake, Amanda, Kristen and Nick will all be coming home shortly! Yay for cousins coming to town!

3. I am thankful for Fuji Apples. They are the best tasting apples ever and they make a great little snack around 10am.

4. I am thankful for Layla who made a kick-ass chicken salad for dinner and saved me from a dinner of cold cereal.

5. I am thankful for Peggy. She helps so much with Adelaide and I was able to help Layla and Ryan last week while she played with Addie Jo.

6. I am thankful for my mother who invited me to the beach for Thanksgiving. Still trying to figure out my calendar and really hoping we can make it!

7. I am thankful for a great job with an understanding supervisor. They take care of me and allow me to take care of my family.

8. I am thankful for my Pops. He lets me live in his house and is letting me take the time to pay off my bills in order to buy his house later.

9. I am thankful for underwear. I wish more people would wear it (I'm talking to you Wal-Mart skanks who bend over in ya' hoochy suits and flash your cookie to God and the world. You ain't hot and no one wants to see that crap.)

10. I am thankful for blue suede shoes.

Peace out chickens! Have a great day!

Thankful Thursday

Feel free to take a moment to jot down your thankful-ness today.

I am thankful for my mother who kept the princess this weekend.

I am thankful for Amanda and Kristen who bought a new house and let me come stay in it for a few days.

I am thankful for color pens. They make my notes at work a little more festive.

I am thankful for Val and Jordan and that they are having a birthday party this weekend. Can't wait to see my pals!

I am thankful that I no longer live in Texas. All the events coming up in October would make me very sad if I couldn't be there.

I am thankful that in a few short weeks I'll get to meet my new niece or nephew.

I am thankful for Kristen (again) for knowing the medical anti-dote for anaphalatic shock. She kept me alive after consuming foods that don't like me.

I am thankful for side-walk chalk. The princess still tries to eat it sometimes, but she also scribbles on the concrete and gets really excited when it leaves a big blue mark behind.

I am thankful for my bike and trailer. Haven't been very good the last couple weeks and feeling pretty blah. Can't wait to get back on the bike today and sweat out some gross-ness.

Lastly, I am thankful for Smuckers Uncrustables in Strawberry. They are fun to eat and keep me fuller longer during my day.

Peace Out!

The over use of the exclamation point.

Okay humans, some of you need a lesson on the proper use of the exclamation point. Please note the following excerpt:



An exclamation mark, exclamation point, or bang (!) is a punctuation mark usually used after an interjection or exclamation to indicate strong feelings or high volume, and often marks the end of a sentence. Example: "Watch out!"



It should go without saying that one (1) exclamation point is enough to convey your sense of excitement (or other strong feelings). However, it has become acceptable to place multiple (and by multiple, I mean over five) exclamation points behind a statement.



This is getting ridiculous!



*** See how I used one and still got my point across.



A sentence written like this means I'm really excited!



This sentence means I got a huge promotion and my boyfriend asked me to marry him!!!



A sentence written like this means I had 16 red bulls for breakfast and a shot of cocaine for lunch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



And I'm on a sugar high!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Or, a ninja attacked me in a dark alley and now my broken finger won't get off the keyboard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Another over-use of the exclamation point:



LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! U crzy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG ROLFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously? Those aren't real words people.


Some things do require an exclamation point. For those of you who have seen "The Sniffing Account" episode of Seinfeld, you should know that I agree with Elaine. There is certainly a need for this punctuation mark, I just relish the overuse of it.



You may now return to your regularly scheduled Monday.

Almost a year.... wonder if that's a record.

Hello, Universe!

It's been almost a year since my last post and many things have happened.

I produced a child. She is awesome, she dances and she says "no" to everything.

I moved back to the North 40 and couldn't be happier to say "Suck It" to the great (cough, cough) state of Texas. We sold our house and are officially homeless. Thank you Pop, for letting us live upstairs for minimal rent.

That's all I got for now, let's hope another year doesn't go by before I make my way back to you.

Peace~