I could use some advice. 

We've got a short trip coming up. Dogs will stay at a local kennel, and the cat will have the house to himself. I feel okay leaving the cat for two or three days with a gravity feeder, big bowl of water, and a pristine litter box at the ready. This trip will be slightly more than 3 days, and I asked my friend/Boss - a card-carrying cat lover - if he wouldn't mind checking in on Napolion, our cat.

He accepted the mission, said he's got nothing else going on those days, and would be happy to do it. He lives just a couple of miles away, too, which is why I thought to ask him. Normally, I would ask a neighbor kid, but I honestly don't currently know any neighbor kids well enough - a ramification of empty nesting, I suppose.

With a neighbor kid, I would just give them some cash. But what to do with Boss friend? Feels cheesy to give him a gift card or such. 

Any suggestions?

For reference, he's about 60 years old - a single (never married)  history buff and Japanophile. Likes to read (history and Japan, duh), hike, and bicycle. Oh, and he's rather fond of cats.

I'm drawing a blank here.

• We had our little white elephant gift exchange at work  yesterday - ended up just being five of us as Triple-D was sick, and Star and Kitty had other obligations. I was surprisingly content with what I ended up with - a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle, kitchen sponges, and a dental grab bag - HA!

With these work gift exchanges, we try to do them without anyone having to purchase anything. I learned that the jigsaw had been gifted to Party Girl's dad, who has dementia and can do a 60-piece puzzle, tops. I suspect that she did purchase the kitchen sponges - they are new and in the shape of cat faces. The dental grab bag came from Work Study, who informed us that the college's dental assistant program had given them out for Halloween. Who knew?

As to why I ended up with gifts from two people, it's a roundabout story, but suffice to say that I almost ended up with that Zombie book that I brought after things had made the rounds. But Sarge actually wanted the book and traded up to get it. So all's well that ends well, and I don't have to buy toothpaste or floss for a while.

• In other happy news, I went running this morning. My foot had been on the fritz for about a month and a half, but had gotten to feeling better, so I rejoined the weirdos this morning. It did okay, but in the meantime, I had contacted a local physical therapy office that specializes in running injuries.

They're offering a $49 special with full analysis/diagnostics, plus they're office is really close to our house. So I made an appointment for next week, and they sent me a questionnaire which asked typical questions like, "what hurts", "what makes it better/ worse", "what have I tried doing for it", etc... And it also asked something like, "What are my goals from therapy and how meaningful will it be for me to reach them?"

As for goals, I just want to be able to go for regular runs again and make a decent showing at a handful of races - 5K, 10K realm - each year, blah blah... But meaningful? I had to think. I mean, I'm nearly 60 years old. I'd like to be able to leave other 60-year-old women in the dust, but I'm pretty sure I've passed my peak. I came up with something for the meaningful question (all fields had to be filled in), but I realized I could find meaning in other activities if push comes to shove.

I'm off work today, and we're closed all next week. I guess I'll start searching for some meaningful things to occupy my time.

Another Wednesday, and I am again without tutor detail since the college kids are on break. I'm trying to make good use of my free time, it's going so-so.

The annual Christmas haul from step-mother-in-law arrived yesterday. The Diabetes in a Box has somewhat toned down from years past, so that's nice. She also habitually sends a 1000-piece art themed jigsaw puzzle for all of us as well as an art-themed desk calendar for me.

I have received these desk calendars from her for about as long as I've known her. I can't remember the last desk calendar I actually kept. I vaguely remember using a few at my desk when I was a working girl - back in the days before shared digital calendars. But I haven't had a desk job in many years, and we have things like MS Outlook now.

I mean, it's a nice thought, and the high-grade calendars are from the Metropolitan Museum of Art - [this year's] is Van Gogh. But seriously, I haven't had use for a desk calendar in a long long time and don't know how to ask her to stop. So I donate them shortly after they arrive.

I did get started on the puzzle. Possible marks for productivity?

On that note, I thought I'd try this Wednesday 'podge I've seen over at Incognitus Scriptor:

1. Did you do more talking or more listening yesterday? Was it by choice or by necessity? 

I would guess that I did more talking, but really, I'd think it to be about 50/ 50. I worked at the testing center, which necessitates that I spew a fair amount of information, but I also must listen. Then there's always the sit-around-and-gab-with-the-coworkers.

2. Are you a tea drinker? Hot, cold, or both? Flavored? What do you like in your tea? Do you make Christmas tea this time of year? What time of day do you like to sip your tea? 

Yes. Hot. Green or black. No additives. No Christmas tea. First thing with breakfast.

3. What’s an activity you won’t try, an event you won’t attend, or an athletic challenge you won’t take part in not even for ‘all the tea in China’? 

• Activity = scuba diving
• Event = bull fight
• Athletic challenge = ultimate fighting

4. What’s something most people seem to love but is not ‘your cup of tea‘? 

Avocado anything

5. How does your family celebrate New Year’s Eve? 

Long ago readers might remember that we used to run a mile at midnight on New Year's Eve - "midnight mile" - no matter the temperature or conditions. These days, I'm tucked away in bed by midnight, ready to get on with the new year.

But hey, I'd stay up for midnight miling. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I went to the eye doctor today since it's been over a year, and I had the time. Nothing much has changed, and I almost feel the dr. just tweaked my prescription a little bit to justify my going in. 

But the bike ride to the eye doctor's and back was lovely. We've had nice mild weather most of this week, and I was reminded that this time last year, we were in a deep deep freeze and holed up indoors most of the time. What a difference a year makes.

I've been working some extra shifts these last two weeks.  A couple of weeks ago featured spring semester finals for the college students. Then this past week, one of my coworkers took a vacation week to Mexico, so I covered one of her long shifts.   I'm looking forward to "normalcy" working hours.

And I'm looking forward to continued spring thaw.  Many signs shout it out, mainly return of allergy sneezing and puffiness and little puffball goose babies around every corner.

 Days are getting longer, do you feel it?  We've passed the winter solstice, so brighter days are a-coming!

Wordless?   As if!!

As mentioned, I've been taking advantage of the time off this week to tidy up a bit.  It's Life Changing, I swear it is.  So for Wordless Wednesday, here are a few pics of things that are gone / going away.

• Meego's consumed Secret Santa gift bag from percussion camp = The Gift of Diabetes:

• Wolfgang's wrapped contribution for his workplace Yankee Swap.  Any guesses? 
  Hint:  it's one of the wonders that is the Chia Pet, but which one??

• No, it wasn't ugly sweater day at Magnum's work.  They had a tie-dye day to honor a deceased coworker.  Faces have been blurred to protect the innocent.  

• In our local news, we have the story of The Big Blue Frame.  Creatures were stirring.  Even the mice.  It's gone, but destined to return... somewhere?

• In other news, I sold Bicycle Alice this week to a good home.  I'm 😊/😢 about it.  Will speak of it later.  Maybe.

• And as I was organizing my computer files, I noticed something missing from the photo below. 
  
  Whatizzit?  Anyone?

Yesterday, there was a meeting at work.  Since I'm a noob, it was my first meeting at work.  I'm told they happen every quarter or so. It was a pretty laid back meeting featuring some business talk and some awards.  And, being the time of year that it is, there was the inevitable ugly sweater contest.

Where are those sweaters the whole rest of the year?  The thought, to me, is uglier than the sweaters.

As confessed a few times on the blog, I'm a minimalist.  I don't like "stuff" that serves little or no purpose, such as a sweater worn for a few hours or less, once a year.  A lot of the stuff in our house is only there so as to not scar our children by my getting rid of it, although I've probably already created little scars during the times I couldn't stand it.


In fact, I've told our kids not to get me stuff - for Christmas, for birthdays, for Mother's Day... They all too readily comply.

Truth be told, I wouldn't mind learning that they gave it some thought.  I just don't want "stuff".

So with that, I offer...

A Gift Guide for the Minimalist in Your Life

1.  The first category that comes to mind is Consumable Items.

• Gourmet coffee or tea
• Trail mix
• Harry & David pears and cheese (we just ripped through the annual box from the MIL)
• Homemade jam.  I'd eat it.

And although a minimalist's gotta eat, there are non-food consumables too.  Ferzample:

• Nice luxurious hand lotion - rather than the cheap store brand stuff I buy
• Art/craft supplies, for the artsy minimalist *hint*hint*

2.  Another category is the Experience category.  Being a minimalist doesn't mean sitting in a cave!

• Ski pass
• Fishing/hunting license
• Theater/concert/sporting event tickets

The Illustration Friday prompt for this week is "sprout".  The first thing that came to mind, sadly, is the mighty Chia Pet.

"Chia" is the ancient Mayan word for "strength" (I just learned that today).

Chia seeds are among the most healthiest foods on the planet (according to that article I read where I learned about the Mayans).

I've seen chia seeds recently in the stores, but really, I just know them as the things that make the "fur" on Chia Pets.  I guess chia seeds sprout relatively quickly, so they work for the pets.

Does anyone actually buy Chia Pets?  As gifts?  Or are they associated with Christmas the same way fruit cake is?

I've never had a Chia Pet, nor have I ever wanted a Chia Pet.  Thank you to all of my family and friends for not giving me one.

School starts today in our school district.  As a kid, I always got excited about the first day of school - getting back into the swing, new clothes, new school supplies, catching up with friends.  Oh, I guess there was new stuff to learn too.  Actually, I even looked forward to new classes.

Meego seems to be looking forward to starting another year too.  He actually gets today off because it's "dumb freshman" day at the high school (my name for it).  He'll officially start tomorrow.

As I've mentioned before, he works summers for a school supply kit business.  They stock and ship pre-packaged kits based on provided lists.  Remember running around checking stuff  off the lists?  Not necessary, just order from EduKit!  Heck, I used them back in the day.

So his last day was Friday, and as is typical, employees get to pick items for themselves from some designated leftovers.  He came home Friday afternoon carrying a good-sized box

Remember when Christmas shopping was easy?  A truck.  A boat.  Better yet, a truck AND a boat?  And/or pretty much anything LEGO?

Yes, times have changed.  Our kids still like "toys", but such toys have gotten more high-tech and expensive.  Plus, they're loaded with options I know nothing about making comparisons.  I believe we've now entered the realm of gifts for the "kids" being comprised of clothes and money.

No socks, though, because apparently, socks are a most disappointing Christmas gift.  This according to the guy on the radio the other day.  Meego responded to that with, "How silly", and I was thinking the same thing because I wouldn't mind some nifty socks, but then Meego continued with, "Who would give someone socks as a gift??"

Oh.

So I was doing some online shopping last night, and today, almost every webpage I go to has ads for the stuff I was shopping for.  I suppose I could just clean my cache and cookies, but for some things, I might want to leave my options open.



Like all these cat condo links I'm getting.

Okay, so maybe I WAS looking at cat condos... and plans for DIY cat trees and such.

It doesn't suggest that I'm going all crazy cat lady.  Maybe I just need a project.  Maybe I want the cat to stop scratching my chair.  Maybe our active cat needs something to stimulate him during the cold winter months.

Besides, we only have one cat, so that automatically violates one of the crazy cat lady requirements.

Maybe we'll get another cat.  I don't think Napolion would like that, though.  We could name it "Socks".

It was a robust red.  With training wheels,  tubeless tires, a hard plastic white seat, and red and white streamers flowing from the handlebars.  It was the first thing I saw under the tree that Christmas morning.  I had recently turned 5 years old.

Looking back, having and riding a bicycle seems like such a milestone of childhood.  I'd seen the older kids riding them, of course.  I remember staring at a 10-speed as the girl upon it had stopped to talk with my mom.  Looking at those skinny tires and trying to figure out how it was possible that anyone could ride such a thing.

Luckily, that Christmas I got my first bicycle, the outside was not covered in snow.  I could bundle up and test ride it right away.  What a rush of freedom that was!

Fashion Disaster on Wheels

I'm sure I received other gifts that Christmas, but I have no idea what they were.  And I don't know that I can say it was the "best" gift ever, but I loved my new bicycle.  And the infatuation didn't wear off after those initial first "dates".  I remember riding it a lot, even if just around our little block.  Eventually, the training wheels came off.

One of the most vivid memories I have from those years is when I learned to handle the 2-wheeler.  My dad had been patiently pushing me up and down the sidewalk,  holding onto the seat.  At one point, I realized he was just jogging along beside me,  no longer holding on, and so excited.  I had graduated!

Bigger bicycles and more fun followed.  The neighborhood kids all got around on them.  If someone got a new one, we all looked on, and eventually, the owner let us take a spin.  In high school, my close friend Ingrid and I would go on long rides on roads we probably should not have been bicycling on.  Ingrid sadly and suddenly passed away while just in her early 30s, and I'm so glad to have the memories of those rides.

So many years have passed since that Christmas of the Bicycle.  And I don't know what became of that little red bike with no name.  I have no desire for competitive bicycling, but I'm not surprised that, at my riper age *ahem*, my bicycles are my chosen methods of transportation.  It's hard to describe in words the difference between commuting on a bicycle and commuting in a car, but the bicycle experience is just so many nice things the car isn't.  The line of separation is thick.

Older face...  same expression?

Not religiously epiphanous or anything, just better.

Homestretch of the college semester now.  I'm finishing another final case study and have pretty much everything done, just need a conclusion.  Time for the procrastination to kick in!

Oh well, thanks to procrastination, I got a lot of other things done today.  Cleaned the shed, cleaned Bella, cleaned the dog kennel, ran some errands...

One thing still left to do - I need a gift for the PEO Christmas party gift exchange.  About $10 range.  It's a yankee swap, which is fun.  Last year, I ended up with this huge platter, remember?


So I guess I can't re-gift it at this year's exchange?

In other news, Meego had another concert this week.  Symphonic band this time, Meego on the euphonium, so not as jazzy as jazz band.  It was a nice performance all around, and I'm just pleased to know what a euphonium is.

Any yankee swap gift exchange ideas are welcome.

And I WILL write a spankin' conclusion...

Tomorrow.

I enjoy reading, and I haven't quite made the jump to reading only in digital format.  So when I'm not reading blogs, I prefer a book I can hold, with physical pages I can turn.  

So I appreciate libraries.   I appreciate that they purchase books, and store the books in an organized way, and provide repairs/replacements when the books get beat up. I can't remember the last time I actually bought a book that wasn't for work or required for a class. We  have a smallish house.  We need all the space.  I gladly let the libraries store "my" books.

I know some people who don't like the idea of library books and not knowing "where that book's been!", especially in thinking about where a lot of people do the majority of their reading...
But I don't get too bothered by that if the book is in generally good condition.  A bit of fraying around the edges or water damage, I can live with.  Food stains or other stains of unknown origin leave me a bit more wary, but those are few and far between.

Plus, sometimes there are added bonuses - little clues to the others who have read the book I'm reading.  I've come across library slips, Starbucks receipts and the like, even interesting photos.

I came across this little prize about midway through the latest novel I'm reading:

*DING * DONG *

Me:  Oh {SHOOT!} Don't answer that!

Meego:  What?

Me:  Don't answer that!

Meego:  Why not?

Me:  Don't answer that!

Meego:  Go answer that?

Me:  Don't answer that!

Meego:  Who is it?

Me:  Don't answer that!

Meego:  It's UPS.

Me:  Don't answer that!

Today is Meego's birthday.  Happy Birthday, Meego!  Born Mother's Day of 2000.  So we ordered him a thing, and it was due to be delivered yesterday afternoon.  Meego and I were both at home, but I had to leave to go tute and was hoping that UPS driver would get here so I could intercept the thing.

I had to get ready to go and stepped into the bathroom to do in-the-bathroom things, and of course, that's when Mr. UPS arrives.  Hence the above "conversation", me shouting from the bathroom.

So I made it to the door to intercept the thing, which by then, Meego was on the up and up about.  At least it was in a nondescript brown box, so I took it down to the rec room to help it blend in.

In the meantime, Chaco and Wolfgang are to be out of their dorms by the end of this week, and have brought "a few" of their things to the house already.  So I have plenty of camouflage for Meego's Birthday thing.

*POOF*, Fast week, huh?!  Seems like I was just here doing the frozen silver liningness of last week.

I'm happy to report that temperatures here have improved and the snow and ice is trying to melt.  After the first couple of days, fluffy pretty snow becomes crusty grungy and nobody wants that to hang around.  Plus, the temperatures feel almost human again.

AND, brother Guano surprised me with some new running duds in the mail this week!  Some  capri tights and a tech top from Brooks.  Unfortunately, it's been too cold for the capris as of yet, but I've got a good feeling I'll be "field testing" them in the next few days!

On a related note, I was walking home on Friday at about the time the elementary kids got out of school.  I saw this kid, Tyler, walking towards me.  Tyler used to hang out with me at the crosswalk each day after school.  He didn't even cross the street, he just liked hanging out.  In fact, he even told me that he wished he did cross the street so as to be part of the action.  He was one of the kids I knew I would miss when I left that post.

Anyways, I saw him walking towards me.  He was kicking a tennis ball he'd extracted from a pile of snow.  As he passed me, I said "Hello!".

"Hi", he responded and kept kick-walking.  A couple of paces further, he stopped and said, "HEY!"

So we had a nice little reunion.  He told me about how he'd won first place in the 5th grade spelling bee and so now is going to the regional bee.  If he gets first or 2nd in that, he'll go to the state bee.  I'm not one to put a lot of weight on spelling bees in general, but I'm excited for him.

And speaking of winning, we won Magnum's office football pool again last week.  WHOOO, it's almost like that powerball jackpot!  except... not...

And we think we've discovered China's issue with the stairs.  After noticing that she goes up and down the basement stairs just fine - in fact, she seemed to go up and down them JUST for dealing with the stress from her issue with the other stairs - we're pretty sure her problem is that the stairs going upstairs are too slippery for her comfort.  They're wood whereas the basement stairs are carpeted.

Any suggestions?  Short of providing my own self as a grippy human walkway?  (It has crossed my mind)
.

Meego and I made our way to the Heavenly Orthodontist office.  I swear, it's like dental week around here for me.  Chaco's wisdom teeth Tuesday, Meego's Heavenly Orthodontist Wednesday.  So, what's in it for me??

A punch in the face!  Yeah!

It wasn't pretty.  The blood.  The swelling.  The loosened teeth.  The misalignment.  BUT, with wrestling, there are risks involved.  Just another day.  And with quick intervention, all would not be lost.

Still, I'm glad it wasn't me.

Which is not to say, however, that I didn't feel the "impact".  No, we were just there for a routine follow up for Meego.  A quick get-in-get-out, go back to school.  Except the bloodied wrestler got there just before we did.

He was inadvertently kicked in the mouth during wrestling practice.  At least, I hope it was inadvertent.

He was appropriately moved to the top of the queue, and the good doctor went about putting things back where they belong.  Meego and I waited in the comfy, softly lit waiting area, watching some MegaMind.  There was one other patient, a girl about Meego's age.  The wrestler's young sister sat cutting out paper snowflakes while wearing a princess dress, seemingly oblivious to the state of her big brother.

It was really not a big inconvenience, and certainly understandable.  In the end, our appointment was only pushed back about 15 minutes.  But it was enough for the receptionist to take pity on us.  In the form of free FroYo:



She gave LuLu's gift cards to us and the other waiting patient.

Of course Meego wanted to cash it in as soon as we left the office.  LuLu's is just downstairs.  But no, I made him go back to school.  As keeper of the coupons, I brought it home and put it on the kitchen white board next to my crossing guard Santa.  I doubt it will stay around for long, but for now, we shall savor it and give thanks to the sacrificial wrestler.

Now, that's a fine kick in the mouth.
.

I was in my late teens and Mother's Day was coming.  I had no clue what to get for her, and I was just out browsing around hoping that something would speak to me.  After not having much luck, I went into the card store, figuring I could at least get a nice card in the meantime.

So I was selecting a card when I saw this cute little musical doll.  It looked like a ragdoll with a little flowery dress and matching hat.  And it was singing. 

Well, not actually "singing", but it was equipped with a wind-up music box.  It played a tune, and as it did so, the little ragdoll head swayed a little to the melody.  I don't know why, it seemed silly, but turns out that that was the thing that spoke to me.  The tune it played was the Sukiyaki Song.  Seriously though?  A doll?  For my mom?!?

I purchased the card and the doll and deemed myself ready for Mother's Day.  When the day arrived, as was customary for me, I didn't just give it to Mom and say "Happy Mother's Day" *kiss*kiss*.  Instead, I always put her gifts someplace where she would eventually find them, all the while acting like I'd forgotten the occassion.

I put the doll and the card on the toilet seat of my parent's bathroom.  My mom sulked around for a while because nobody had given any Mother's Day recognition, but eventually, she went to the bathroom and all was forgiven.

She thanked me profusely, but I still felt a little silly giving her a doll. 

The next afternoon, I heard the tune playing from my parent's bedroom.  My mom was in there, seated at her dresser getting ready to go to work.  The music doll was propped on her bed pillows, playing and swaying. 

Once again my mom told me how much she loved it.  Then she said, "I never had a doll before".

SHUT  THE  FRONT DOOR?!

I was all, "Mom, you're like 55 years old!  Whaddya mean, you never had a doll??".  And she said, "I just never had one", all nonchalantly as she continued tweaking her hair.

But... but... I was confused.  On the wall of her bedroom, for as long as I could remember, was an old black and white photograph of my mother with her mother and her two older brothers.  Her younger brother hadn't been born yet. 

My grandmother is seated, quite regally, in the center.  My two uncles, looking proud and manly, stand just behind her. And then there's my mom, probably about 4 years old, leaning on my grandmother's knee and holding a DOLL. 

I can't say how many hours I've stared at it, from the time I was about the same age my mom is in the photo.  Thoughts would run through my head about what my mom was like as a little girl.  And much wondering went on about the doll.  Was that her favorite toy?  Did she have other dolls?  Having been quite the doll aficionado myself, I was very curious about that doll my mom clutched in the photo. 

"But, you're holding a doll in that picture", I pointed out, indicating the photo on the wall. 

"Oh, that wasn't mine", she said.  "The photographer just wanted me to hold it for the photo". 

I was dumbfounded.  All my little made-up stories about my mom playing with her doll vanished.  I'd remembered her telling us about growing up poor in the Phillipines.  About how they only had oranges for special special occassions.  How she learned to sew clothes at a very young age.  How, part of the reason she married my dad was because he had a refrigerator...

But THIS!  No DOLLS?!  EVER?!?

And so coming upon her that day, with the little music doll propped on the bed, singing and swaying, was a real bonding moment for Mom and me.  She told me it was one of the best gifts she'd ever gotten.  And, almost 30 years later, she still has it. 

Damn straight.


For the NaBloPoMo prompt:  What is your favourite gift you ever gave someone?
.

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring.  -  Leo Buscaglia

I was having a girl's night out about a month ago.  There were six of us in all at this coffee house pretending to be playing board games when really we were just gabbing.  I don't remember how the subject came up, but someone mentioned accupuncture and how they swore by it for everything from relieving back pain to killing a cold to treating infertility.

Yes, infertility.  It turned out that three of the six women had struggled with infertility and/or precarious pregnancies.  I don't know what the actual numbers are, but I also find that there are a lot of women bloggers with fertility and pregnancy problems.

Probably deep down, I always somehow knew that I would be a mom.  I didn't really think about it much more than that.  Not long after Magnum and I got married, the lever went full over to "time to be a mom".   And along came Chaco, pretty much by the book.  And he was just so much fun, we went and had us a Wolfgang too. 

Then came The Dark Times.

We didn't have much problem getting pregnant, but for some reason, staying pregnant became a challenge.  I had a miscarriage.  Then another.  And yet, another. They each made it to about 10 weeks, but then...

During those dark times,  I learned a little about just how common a problem it was to (1) get pregnat and (2) stay there.  I began to think of my obstetrician having "just another day at the office" when miscarriages happened to her patients. 

After that third one, I was in "the back room" yet again.  I remember the mobile in that room.  No, it wasn't a baby nursery mobile, it was a perfectly balanced stained glass mobile that was very calming as it would slowly turn or not, depending on the air current in the room.  It didn't serve any real medical purpose, but someone thought it important enough to put it there, and I appreciate that.

Eventually the nurse practitioner came in to check on me to see if I was recovered enough to go home.  I remember how my obstetrician, after she was finished with "the procedure", had abruptly gotten up and left the room without saying much.  I figured she had other patients to attend to, as it was another day at the office. 

The nurse practitioner told me, "These are really difficult for Dr. K.  She had to leave and sit alone in her office for a while, she was so upset".   Really?  I saw Dr. K in a different light then.  I knew she cared, but this showed me that she really Cared.

Not too long after The Dark Times, we had Meego.  Hadn't done anything particularly out of the ordinary - no hormones or drugs, no accupuncture.  I guess my body, along with the universe, decided The Dark Times were over. 

Later, I gave my obstetrician a photo taken during Meego's first day on the earth.  She smiled and I saw tears in her eyes. 

Another day at the office.
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Welcome to December.  Ours is coming in like... well... December.  We've got snow, wind, grey skies, and c-c-cold. 

Here I am this morning at my crossing guard post.

Okay, not really, but close enough.  The only things missing are my (ratty and unfashionable) vest, stop sign, and the traffic.

So, yes, it was blustery cold, but I was toasty warm.  Warmer than my penguin friend, I bet. 

Twelve years ago, I was preggars with Meego.  I liked to go for walks in the evenings, and the evenings were getting chillier and chillier and my waist measurement was getting larger and larger.

I outgrew my own jacket and began wearing Magnum's for my nighttime excursions, which were just as much about "quiet time" as they were about pregnant-woman-walking.  I wasn't about to give those things up just because it was getting dark and cold.

So one evening as I was putting on the Man Jacket, Magnum said, "You should buy yourself a new jacket, you deserve it"  Translation:  I will pay you to stop wearing my jacket. 

Whatever, that was just the nudge I needed to go a-shopping!  This was back in the days of single-income-with-two-kids-and-one-on-the-way, and I rarely RARELY bought anything for myself without a thrift store tag.  And I wasn't about to skimp.  We lived in Utah at the time, and Utah winters can be c-c-cold too.  I went to Cabela's - "World's Foremost Outfitter" for my outfitting, and got me an ultimate women's parka, complete with adjustable waist drawstring. 

To this day, nothing I have ever worn has sheltered me from the wrath of winter like that parka.  I walked with Meego all through that pregnant winter, comfy and cozy the whole time, never foreseeing that someday I would be moonlighting as, of all things, a crossing guard.

As I was out there this morning, leading packs of bundled kids across the street, I realized that the parka and I are embarking on our 13th winter together.  And I was super warm and cozy.  And since NaBloPoMo for December kicks off today, asking us to write about a tangible gift,  I pay homage to the Cabela's World's Foremost Outfitter's Women's Ultimate Parka and to baby daddy Magnum.
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