Saturday, April 16, 2005

Drum roll please: I cleaned out my purse-diaper bag-first aid kit-toy chest-"honey can you hold this?" bag. It weighed 17 pounds and 4 ounces, smelled like old Wrigley's and melted crayon, and caused my right shoulder to audibly wince with pain.

Is every store giving a frequent shopper or discount card? I have about 24 of those. I found a lot of old receipts, of course, and also some movie ticket stubs. It was nice to find the ticket stubs, because it proves that we have left the neighborhood for something other than orange juice and bread. At the very bottom of the bag was Maria's knit hat from the hospital. It's small, like she was.

With trash removed, and cards, keys and butt wipes reshuffled and in order, I feel a lightness. I may have a better day, an easier week. My clean bag will be the catalyst for great things, like making a dental appointment, getting my haircut, sending personal mail.

What would you do if you could do something extra? Something new, or special, out of the ordinary? I need to indulge a whim or pursue an interest; it's a personal challenge and a treat. I counted money in my loose change basket, and it adds up to a significant amount. For me it seems to be more of a challenge than a treat. I feel a little tormented trying to think of something to do with the money. I also feel the blessing of not having to use the money for bills, which makes me feel all the more pressured to make really good use of the money. Do not suggest charity... it's noble and I do contribute, but this is an exercise in being charitable to myself. I want to be sure that I don't wind up spending it on a car wash, new shoes for the boys and toilet paper...

Wednesday, April 13, 2005

Shhh! The baby's sleepin'.

I showered and got the boys rolling on their school work. Now I have, possibly, a few moments to update Chicken Blog with insight and wit. I laugh. Making myself laugh is a gift I very much apprecitate. I laugh because I am amused by the idea that I presume to have wit or insight.

What's new? We saw Sideways last night, and The Castle the night before. We are Netflix fixed and loving it. Swiss Family Robinson, Spanglish and Sex and the City: Season 4: Disc 2, are on their way.

What else? Today Grandma V. is on her way to be with Delia and Ron in Oregon. I like to think of her and my mom gardening together and making jewelry too. They'll soon be at the Coos Bay Farmer's Market, and perhaps enjoying a cranberry pizza sometime soon.

Que mas? We started cleaning up the RV. It was our escape from Firestorm 2003 vehicle and we have sort of neglected it ever since. Okay confession: We found six of the Chica's eggs in the refrigerator. Fresh eggs were packed in October 2003, transported from east to west and stored for a very long time. Talk about WMD!!! I don't know the science of eggs gone bad, but these did not stink or glow, or excrete foul fluids. What's up with that. We did handle them with care and disposed of them like UXB. They are on their way to the landfill. Sigh of relief. And, also, I did have an emotional moment, because I miss my Chicas.

Back to school. Alex is adding mixed fractions and needs some help reducing them...