Just get me through today and I'll be fine

Check out me and Michael!! We met up at the fair for a quick photo op. I was all, don't be so stiff! That guy works so hard.

Duuuude. I'm so over today! No patience left. Between trying to fill out tedious job applications online with a toddler hanging off my mouse arm and having to clean up more kid pee than I've seen in a long time, I've just about exhausted all my patience reserves. You know you're a parent when you find yourself saying "show mommy how a Transformer pee-pees in the potty!" It's kind of ridiculous, but it works and these days I might try anything that works, including bribe by jellybeans and chocolate chips. I'll be glad when bathroom breaks don't need the big sell anymore. It's one of those things that I try to put into perspective. Like, when Ira is away at college (please, please, please I hope he goes to college), I won't be reminding him every 30 minutes to take a bathroom break. Or at least, someone please stop me if I feel the need to do this.

It's only 3PM and my brain already feels so exhausted. I'd take a nap, but I don't think my mind would stop racing long enough to get some rest. Nor do I think Ira would let me sleep. He's been talking nonstop since he woke up this morning. This kid is the chattiest guy I know! I have no idea where he gets it. Plus, I've got more job searching to do, so I better get on it. One job posting I found today asked for a picture to be emailed with your resume "to facilitate a phone interview." It was for a construction company. For real. I did not apply!

Tony, Tony, TONY!

I've read this blog post from Anthony Bourdain a couple of times now and it's still cracking me up. Warning though, it really is funnier if you have a general awareness of preschooler television programs. Can this guy do any wrong? Eh, probably. Though I love his show, his books, I do not see eye to eye with him on a few key things. For instance, his stance and utter dislike for non-religious vegetarians (hi!), or his disdain for Billy Joel. Hey, there are a few Billy Joel songs that are guilty pleasures of mine. And this is a deal breaker for us: I once saw him on his show, do the thing with ketchup that I can't stand. He poured it all over his fries, not a neat blob in the corner, but all over the fries like toddler gone scribble crazy with a crayon. I can't go for that and that's why it would never work out between us. But otherwise, this is one non-religious vegetarian that loves some Tony Bourdain.

On the job front: I'm still looking for something. Lately I've had a handful of interviews, all going pretty well, but nothing really coming out of them. Can't do anything but keep trying, I guess. What's killing the control freak in me is this state of uncertainty I seem to be in. I have no idea if I'm going to be unemployed for days, weeks or months and the inability to plan certain things right now is making me NUTS! Like, I wonder if I should keep shopping for Ira's daycare. He's going to need it when I get a job. Should I even show up with my $180 check in hand to register him for his parent participation preschool (meaning I have to be there) next week? If I get a job two weeks into that, there's no way they're going to refund my money. What the eff am I going to do when my unemployment benefit runs out? Pressing questions! The only solution is to probably just ride this out, try and hope for the best. All of this uncertainty and inability to control my fate just makes me want to bake bread. I know that sounds weird, but I just want to do something challenging and see success come out of it. LET GO AND LET DOUGH, MY CHILD.

Cute Overload

This two week old tortoise is likely the cutest thing in the known world. Do not be fooled. The cuteness is just a survival tactic. They get you to buy them because they look like this. Then they grow into this:


This is not an animal for casual pet owners. Being an owner of a couple of 10+ year old cats who I love, but don't intend to replace, I can't imagine having an animal that will outlive me. There's something just not fair about that.

The summer of getting fit!

Green smootie # 7
Originally uploaded by riblet.

A friend challenged me to continue on my path to getting fit by getting some more healthy greens. I think it's revenge for challenging her to the 30 Day Shred. So I've been making these crazy smoothies with lots of green things in them. Spinach, lettuce, mint, cukes, avocados, grapes and some sweet things like pineapple and peaches to make it all palatable.

I cannot tell you if I feel any change in health but it can't really be hurting me, unless you count the fact that I've been looking at the world through greenish lenses. Now every time I pass a produce section I find myself scanning the bins for potential smoothie ingredients. Hot peppers? Nah. Beet greens? Maybe! Leon mowed the lawn on Sunday and I found myself ogling the pile of yard waste he left for collection, wondering how it might go in a smoothie. I opened my wallet yesterday at Target and wondered if a dollar bill would add some hefty fiber.

I have seven more days to go on this challenge before I'm not really committed any more. While I like green smoothies and how they taste, I don't really like having an extra task to do in the morning. I could see myself making these once a week maybe.

Cheers!