Mommy Colored Glasses

*Last Saurday, the preschool had a morning session where the parents could come and watch their kids in action. I think that it was mostly for the benefit of the dads who couldn't usually come on a weekday. Bailey was fine, except when he started to get tired and hungry towards the end. He perked up however, when he heard one of his classmate's moms asking me if it would be alright for her daughter to give Bailey chocolate for Valentine's Day. It is pretty much all he has talked about all week.

*Last Sunday, Sophie's daycare had a little performance. Sophie was dressed up like a little, blue crayon and although she didn't cry, she really didn't dance. For the most part, she just stood open-mouthed staring at the audience. It was snowing when we got there and when we left about four hours later, there was about an inch and a half on the ground. Strange weather for a place that never gets snow.

*I passed level two of the Japanese Proficieny Test. I got my little posctcard-y, certicficate-y thing in the mail on Wednesday and did a little happy dance. Today, I went to the bookstore in search of study aides for level one, but I left only with a copy of People.

*Bailey and I are off tomorrow to see a movie. It will be Bailey's first time to see one on the big screen, but he is adament about going. It is a kid's movie so I think he will be fine. I am not so sure if he really wants to see the movie or just eat popcorn.

*The school year will be winding down in March, so I invited some moms over for lunch next Friday as a kind of thanks for all your help kinda thing. I think I am going to make Mexican. They all seem excited about it, but I have a lot of planning and cleaning to do to get ready.

*Sophie has started saying her name. It comes out as SoSoSi and she proudly points to her nose (the Japanese equivalent of pointing to your chest) and nods her head. Going around the room, she smiles as she names everyone- MaMa, DaDa, Brother and SoSoSi. Sometimes she will throw in another word or two- usually an animal- just for good measure.

*After I finished at the dentist today (they only cleaned my back teeth last time, the front teeth were cleaned today) we went to pick Sophie up and found her in time out for pulling hair. That's odd, I thought. Not odd because she pulled someone's hair, but odd because she was in time out. One of the teachers explained it was a new techique they were starting to use to deal with misbehavior. In my opinion, they should had started using it a long time ago. They had the timer set for two minutes and when it went off, they had her apologize to the kid whose hair she pulled and then she was all smiles and MaMaMaMa again.

On a good day, I can peck around on this thing for five minutes and have something fairly decent to share. On a bad day, however, I just stare at the wall and hope something, anything will come out. A little like being constipated, except someone else (Sophie) is supplying all the noises that usually accompany it.

It has been a bad week here. A bad week in terms of writing, I mean. Somewhere in that brain of mine, there is something to say, I just know it. Maybe if I did a handstand and let all the blood drain to my head. Like sands through the hourglass, so are the ......... (see, I can't even finish that one). Umph, poo-pah, fiddley fie fo fum.

Think it is the time of year? I am sleepy a lot lately which could just mean I need to hibernate. Sleep on it. You know, let it marinate overnight. Speaking of marinate, a big ole marinated, grilled chicken breast sure sounds good.

Hunger, perhaps? That might be it. A hungry brain spends all of it's time thinking about being hungry and therefore can think of nothing else. I think we might have hit on something here. My mind is perking up at the mere mention of food. I need to get something in my tummy before I can get something in my head. I am off to the kitchen.....