The Princess Phase. 4-8-15

All Princesses, All the Time. 

Her school uniform has been princess dress, necklace, tiara, and black minky coat.

At least she is wearing clothes.

Who's Your Friend? 1-13-15

She would not.let.go of Chip, and it became a little awkward, yes. Funny though. She's nearly 3; so it qualifies as pretty cute. 

Even Dale is cracking up.

Dale takes his turn.

One more squeeze for Chip.

Applecore! 3:00

Magic Potty: the Scoop on the ****. 12-18-14

When Boop was finally able to have a bowel movement in the potty, it was a time of great celebration. Tiny baby diapers and the fascination with every bodily function are long, long gone by the age of 2. It actually goes downhill pretty quickly with the introduction of meat and the like. So, when your little one can do the deed without the need for lots of clean-up, it’s quite a relief, and it resulted in a fabulous, fabulous prize for one Princess Boop: her own little Mickey Mouse clubhouse (sung in choppy staccato). It made quite an impression, and there were no further thoughts of pull-ups. Thank heavens.

And so it is with Magic Potty. Once potty trained, another threat emerges—holding it in for too long. This can increase the likelihood of UTI’s, with all the relatedness of the innards, expansions of some pipes, causing blockages of other pipes and such. Somehow, though, when I ask Boop to sit on her little frog potty, it just happens, and the threat of a UTI dissipates. And this would be terrific it were just a magic potty for Boop.

However, we have made a discovery, confirmed through a battery of my highly scientific tests. The 1^st time Boop’s little friend, Princess Merida, visited, we thought it was a mere fluke. Princess Merida’s mom marveled that Magic Potty worked so well, as Princess Merida had been having a little trouble in that area. The 2^nd visit, we knew that Magic Potty had mystical powers when the royal throne again functioned so fantastically. Now, it seems that even the mere thought of Magic Potty can induce its numinous effect. Returning home after a recent trip, H posted a note that Princess Merida was having a little trouble. I asked if Princess Merida needed Magic Potty. H laughed and said she was just thinking about Magic Potty, and that she had considered calling me. In this case, simply invoking the spirit of the Magic Potty achieved the desired effect. So, it didn’t require a trip to my house, which Princess Boop and Princess Merida would probably be disappointed to learn and would probably result in the loss of the long-distance supernatural powers of the Magic Potty. We must keep these secrets of Magic Potty closely guarded, to be unlocked only after Magic Potty is outgrown and said princesses are able to read.

2 out of 2 princess agree in the powers of Magic Potty

Mouse Army: Unite! 9-10-14

Boop loves Minnie and Mickey Mouse, but she still can't keep them straight. Sometimes it's hard to wrap my head around the fact that Minnie and Mickey Mouse are supposed to be mice. I definitely prefer the former to the latter. We did however, have an encounter with the latter recently.

We were on our way to C's birthday party. I work with C's mother, and C goes to daycare with Boop. Everybody is connected in some way in a small town. Everybody. This was our 3rd birthday in the matter of a few weeks. So, Boop had just gotten her new silver shoes, and I had not yet removed the squeaker. We had to stop at the office to pick up some papers, and so Boop and I were squeak-squeaking along when out scurried 2 small mice from the hinterlands of the flowerbeds. One of them came up to run along beside my little Pied Piper. With that, my footsteps became more like stomps, which thankfully discouraged little Mickey away. Minnie had stopped her dash towards us. Boop was not quite sure what was going on but was unphased. Thankfully, she didn't try to reach down and grab one. 

The Pied Piper

Children and Restaurants. 6-27-14

I never got around to sending this, but it needs to be said--

Dear Cheddar’s and any other restaurant so challenged:

I had a very frustrating experience at Cheddar’s the other day. I hear lots of non-parents talking about how they hate to dine with children around. Well, the truth is: the restaurant is a part of the problem. We had 5 adults and 1 toddler at the table, and we spent about $80 on a meal. It was just as terrible an experience for me as it was for the people around us. This is particularly bad because we were celebrating an accomplishment for our student, and I wanted my toddler to meet a friend for the 1^st time. Here are some tips (many of which should go without saying):

1. If you don’t want a child in the way of people entering and leaving the kitchen, don’t seat a child there. It’s not like there weren’t tons of other tables, too. And it’s not as if we were being punished by being seated by the kitchen (Boop ran into one of her daycare friends there, seated in a more remote location). It’s hard for a toddler to set still through a long meal (more on that later). Please don’t set a child by the kitchen if you don’t want them blocking the kitchen! Pretty rude: a waitress complained about us being in the way of people entering and leaving the kitchen. She’s potty training. She wants to see your fish tank. She’s having to wait on food. Take some responsibility!

2. Don’t serve a toddler a 16 ounce cup of milk—even if you have one of those plastic lids. SIXTEEN ounces. After making the mistake at another restaurant, I knew to request an extra cup. Most places have enough sense to bring one out when I ask. Our waiter looked at me like I had 2 heads when I asked for one. I had to request it from our waiter THREE times. I should have just poured the milk in the center of the floor myself.

3.  And napkins. DO bring napkins. Yes, yes, I know about the ozone layer and widespread deforestation. And those paper dinner napkins cost a mint. But can’t we make some accommodations? I mean, you just brought us a SIXTEEN ounce cup of milk. And baby wipes can only do so much. Some waiters and waitresses have enough sense to bring them out when they see a toddler coming. Most waiters will bring them out the first time I ask. Again, this waiter took THREE requests. The 3rd time is not the charm. Even adults ask for more than 1 napkin. I asked for extra napkins in my wild and care-free pre-mommy days.

4. I take time to plan before we go out. I want the meal to go as smoothly as possible. I look up your menu on the Internet and plan our meal in advance. I make sure there is macaroni and cheese. Otherwise, I pack her dinner. I depend on that macaroni and cheese. It’s the only food that she will eat no matter how it is prepared. Don’t run out of macaroni and cheese (or other such menu item), or at least have sense enough to substitute something similar. Seriously, you’re out of macaroni and cheese?!? And it’s only 7pm? There’s a Super Walmart and a Giant Eagle less than a block away. Heck, you can find a cow and wheat less than a mile away. GET MY DAUGHTER SOME MAC and CHEESE!! Or even easier. You know that penne pasta with veggies and alfredo sauce? How about making just penne and alfredo?

5. DO make sure your waiters know the menu items. We can’t have macaroni and cheese. I see yogurt on the menu. My daughter likes yogurt. We’ll try it. I ask about the apples; he said that they are chopped up in it. I comment 'she’ll just eat around it.' Impossible. I ask about the cinnamon; I’m hesitant. “Oh, there’s just a little bit.” They bring the cup out, and basically, it’s a Waldorf salad, substituting yogurt for mayonnaise, with tons of cinnamon and golden raisins. One look and I knew it was a no go. I couldn’t eat it either: lactose intolerant.  I explained this was not what we were told. He brought out French Fries. She doesn’t like white potatoes but will sometimes eat fries. Not tonight. My friend gave her a few bites of grilled cheese. We wound up ordering that.

6. Don’t assign us a waiter/waitress without kids, and apparently without a lick of sense. ‘Nuff said.

7. DO bring the kid some food! It seemed like every time I came back from a walk, my friends were getting another course of food. Boop had nothing. Seriously, do they have to wait through the appetizer course and the soup course to get their non-existent macaroni and cheese? Waiters and waitresses who have a clue offer to bring food out to toddlers early. And by the way, restaurants make things so awkward when bringing out multiple courses. There's always someone who doesn't have a soup or salad course. It is the most awkward thing to try to eat when others aren't, and well, it's poor etiquette. Why don't servers ask if they want things brought as a separate course, but I digress. That probably will never change. However, if you had fed us, and she had started acting up, we could have just left. Instead, it was 2 hours before she got something she could eat.

8. Don't keep large potted plants (or other potential accidents) along the sides of the banquets. Cheddar's: your insurance company called; they're dropping your coverage. Seriously though, little ones like to stand in the seats. The thought of her pushing one of those planters off gave me some stress. What's worse? An adult losing their balance and knocking these things off and smashing a toe, or perish the thought, a tyke. Ditch the lawsuit-waiting-to-happen.

9. Speaking of seats, why have rickety booster seats? They rock around in the banquets and don't do very well in the chairs, either. Another accident waiting to happen. I can understand why she wouldn't want to sit in them after hitting her jaw. But, at least they appeared clean. Better than a certain Denny's could claim. I will say that the booster seats at Cracker Barrel are quite nice. They actually strap to the chairs. Learn something from your neighbors. If you want little ones to stay in their seats, provide a decent place for them to sit.
10. Do keep the fish tank. Boop has been talking about it for a few days. It was a nice distraction, even though it was on the other side of the room. Just don't expect little ones to not want to see it when they are sitting in their seats. And again, don't sit them by the kitchen so they block certain waitresses when the little ones have to go see the fishes again. Some restaurants even have pricey crayons and paper to occupy kids. Sure, it’s annoying when we parents have to pick crayons a million times when it becomes a game, but we’re actually pretty grateful about those crayon-dropping games. It means our child is relatively quiet and sitting in her seat.

True, my daughter is no angel. However, some places have a knack of bringing out the worst in her. And even the best child will have a meltdown now and then. Some relatively easy steps could avert crisis or make it less distracting to fellow restaurant goers.

Sincerely,

Boop's Momma

Returning Home, Part II. 6-11-14

The day before I was due to come back to the house, I got a call from my friend. She wouldn’t be able to bring me back to my house for a few days because she had a family emergency. With that, I decided to just try another way to get back home. Flying home was out—our tiny, hometown airport would mean more time and money for the ticket. Plus, I would have Winnie, making it hard to manage dog and baby through the various stopping points and further adding to the price. Renting a one-way car from my aunts would be an option, but it would be half the price to rent one at the state line. So, Mom accompanied us the 2 hours to get the rental. When I got the car, I began shifting boxes and bags and car seat from Mom’s car to the rental as Mom tried to distract Winnie and Boop. I was really nervous about driving with Boop mid-day, especially for 3 more hours.

I'mma Livin' Inna Box! I'mma Livin' Inna Cardboard Box!

Thankfully, the trip was smooth. I didn’t have to stop to get gas, and Boop ate and slept for the rest of the trip. Uneventful. As soon as I pulled into the driveway, though, I realized I had a problem: I left my keys in my Mom’s car. I had left a spare key at the office, but driving over there, I confirmed my worst suspicions: my spare key was to my old lock. With that, I had to break into my house with the help of my neighbor and just need to fix the window now. Mom mailed me my keys, and I got some good exercise walking back and forth to daycare and work for a couple days.

BTW, very classy work. Whoever you are who called in a code infraction for one of my neighbors, resulted in an official notice for me. Which was probably what you intended, anyway. 20 days to repair my gutters. Yep, and I’ve only been trying to get them done for a few months. Fortunately, the inspector was nice enough. She said that I could just take the gutters down if I wanted to. 

Crazy Trip Home. 6-1-14

I made a trip home for the holiday with the worst luck. The trip didn’t get off to a good start. I thought I had everything sorted before I left—but alas, no. When a friend came to pick me up, I kept hearing water running. It was on the wrong side of the house from everything that I thought it could be. I even had a couple of rattling pipes. So, my friend, who was nice enough to drive us home, advised I turn off the main line water; so she had to wait while I ran in to do it. Then, an hour into the trip, I started looking. Wiggles DVDs: check. DVD player: check. Plug the DVD player in the cigarette lighter… Oh no. I forgot the cord. We saw a Target, got turned around and finally got in there. I ran in. No, I really don’t want to buy a $70 DVD player when we already have 4. The guy at Target told me Radioshack was 2 doors down; so we went in there. Mind you, Boop has no shoes, and I’m carrying 38 lb. baby and DVD player in a mad dash through Target and mall. Fortunately, they were able to test the cords in the DVD player because it took us some time to figure out the right one, even though several seemed to fit. Feeling exhausted, yet? That was just the first hour of the trip. Fortunately, my friend is a very patient person.

All I’ve heard the past couple of weeks from Boop was Uncle B this and Uncle B that. So when we finally made it, I had one very happy little girl who got to see Aunt D and Uncle B—and one very happy Winnie who quickly established her spot on Uncle B’s lap. I got to hang out with a friend from college—hadn’t seen her little ones since they were babies who are in middle school now. And see my middle school friend, her husband, and one of my 2^nd mothers, and have some very good fried chicken, for a change. Boop was ‘on’ at the dinner house—talking and singing, but she had conked out when I went to see my friend from college. That at least gave us a bit of time to talk.  

TrickorTreat. 11-3-13

Our candy bowl is full. We have done Halloween. First, we went to a local dormitory in the Lady Bug costume. That was a pretty good haul. Next was Malloween. Meh. A lot of just standing around and waiting. Then, we went around the block with a friend. My neighbors give good candy—except for the people next door, the not-so-pleasant ones, who give none. We had a nearly full basket just from that trip. 

Plus, I bought candy for the trick or treaters coming to my house, but most came during the brief time while we were out. It was dark and rainy, meaning less trick or treaters than usual and more candy left. As if that wasn’t enough, we went to the trunk or treat when Mom came in, which was huge. We got cold and tired about half way through, but still got a lot of candy.

Not a happy camper. The best snap I could get.

Boop is all about her punk-on (her plastic pumpkin candy holder), and hearing the word “candy” really gets her moving. At 21 months, the recommendations still stand at no peanuts; so that eliminates some candy. Plus, there is the fear of her choking on other candy. So, she’s a bit limited on the candy she can eat—we’ve discovered her love of Twix and Kit-Kats. Mom took the remaining chocolate, especially the Snickers. I took the chewy, chokeable, non-lactose candy that I liked (one pack of Dots left). The rest, we will share, most likely with the students.  

Fall Is In the Air. 11-3-13.

“There’s a change coming in with the Autumn air. The crisp wind makes me quite aware.” I don’t know why that came to mind. Seems like that was a poem I wrote in elementary or middle school. There was more, but you will be glad I’ve forgotten. At least it rhymes. We did a few things in the spirit of Halloween, but that weren’t officially Halloween events. 

Daycare had a parade. The little ones in each of the classes dressed alike. There were a lot of crayons. The little ones in Boop’s class were explorers in paper bag vests and paper towel roll binoculars. I was happy that the food this time was specifically for the kids. Just wish I had known ahead of time. Forgot my camera and tried to take a few with my geriatric cell phone. Still can't figure out how to download those onto my computer.

Then, we went to S’s farm last weekend, which was a nice day. I’ve already posted a photo of Boop on H’s slide. It was good to see them again. It seems like every other time we’ve tried to see them, Boop has been sick.

You've Got a Fast Slide. 10-27-13

Boop was trying out her friend's (from Baby Yoga) slide. 

The only thing that got her to stop was the tractor coming around for the hayride.

I've Found a Hiding Place, Part II. 10-3-13

Once at work, I talked to my friend, G. She offered her car to me if I wanted to run home at lunch. I called my mom who had left to go back home on Sunday morning. "Did you happen to find my keys in your stuff?" I asked. When she said, 'no.' I was a little relieved and a little disappointed: relieved that I didn't have to try to get my keys from 7 hrs away, disappointed that I still didn't know where they were. She gave me a few ideas. "Did you look inside of each of your shoes? Are you sure you didn't leave them in x, y, z? I bet they just fell somewhere." So I borrowed G's car to look through the places Mom and I had reviewed. After exhausting those, I was more worried that Boop had stuck them in one of Mom's bags, which Mom dismissed as not possible. 

The more I looked, the more exasperated and desperate I got. I started working at Boop's level, started crawling around a bit. I pulled out furniture--where I found our pool pass and a few credit cards I had been missing--after I had already gotten a replacement, of course. After giving the living room and den a good look, I ran upstairs, then back downstairs. On to the laundry room and the kitchen. The kitchen. And Boop's little kitchen. I went through her toy bins, pulling out the shelves of her little kitchen, opening the door to the cab... inet. The little cabinet. And there they lay. The long blue ribbon loop and the clump of janitor's keys. Boop no doubt put them there for safe keeping. I couldn't help but smile a shake my head, an expression I saw my dad make a little too often as I was growing up. And all of those hours I wondered if Boop would have some awful genetic disease where she wouldn't be aware of the world around her. And then she has the where-with-all to know that my keys are important and should be kept in a special place. Soon, she'll get much more enjoyment of giving her mother so much grief! 

Taking Stock at Month 16. 6-6-13

Here's what's happening at 16 months old:

• We have settled into a routine, which probably looks more like chaos to outsiders. I was surprised I was able to report weekly updates as long as I did. I was so far behind that I just gave up. Boop will be 17 months old in a couple of weeks. At least I could give an update before the month is over.
• Boop has just learned to say 'jes' and nod her head. It is a huge improvement over the indignant 'no' that I got in response to every question I asked. We have lots of great toddler words now, like 'MINE'. She's speaking in sentences, but I just can't understand her beyond the 1st few words. She probably feels the same about me. 
• One thing that she has clearly picked up from me is my 'what/why/how <insert incredulous phrase like what gives?!?, why are you in the dog crate?!?, why did you rip the screen out of the door?!?>' with palms up. She looks at me, turns her little palms up, and says 'wa-wa?!?'. 
• We have a few recognizable songs. There's the classic rocking chair song "Rock-a-Baby ah da dip dop", which I have previous featured. There's also Boop's old favorite "Baby, baby, bee" also known as "Baby bumble bee." She sings a lot, but I can't quite figure out the songs. 
• It seems that Boop and Winnie have been apparently UTI free, but it seems like I'm 'it' now, after my visit to the Urgent Treatment Center yesterday.
• I finally paid off my student loans this month, and I'm trying to save up money for braces and retirement. I'm a little obsessed with retirement, now. Does that tell you anything about the current status of my job? Well, everyone has their highs and lows in the working world, and this is definitely not a high point. 
• My friend, A, was nice enough to go out to dinner with us last night to help me get my mind off of things. A bit of African goat curry never hurts. We were both surprised to see Boop take the spoon and start digging in, especially when 1. she's not crazy about utensils, and 2. she would have none of the matoke when I tried to feed her.

Little Snips. 5-30-13

Miss Boop has conked out, and I'm still watching Eat, Pray, Love. Makes me a little sad. Reminds me of all of the people that I have met all over the world that I don't know anymore. I've stashed them away, and they make their appearance from time to time as memories. Like Isaac, the shabby gentleman I met outside of Brussels. I was talking to some guy from California as I was catching the trains to the ferry in Oostend on my way to London. As we parted somewhere in Belgium, the guy from California and I said, "See ya later." Isaac was a bit incredulous, "What is this? See you later? You will never see each other again. I don't understand Americans."  

These kinds of connections are much easier. You can always imagine them just the way that you left them and that they are happy and healthy--unless they were people you didn't like, and then you can imagine that they are a little less happy ;) 

Indecision: 12 Months. 12-30-12

Christmas toy from Aunt S

It won’t be long until Boop is one year old. I’m having a bit of trouble trying to figure out what to do for her birthday, who to invite, when to have it. Mom wants me to have it while she’s in town, which will be about a week early. It’s a bit strange because all of my early birthdays were spent with family, or people my parents knew long enough to feel like family. And I feel a bit like I’m somehow imposing by asking people I haven’t known for very long to come to her birthday, and people may feel like I’m asking for gifts. That’s not it at all, and I wish there were some polite way to request for folks not to worry about bringing presents. Those requests never go very well, always end up awkward. There are the folks who bring presents anyway who make those who don’t bring presents feel uncomfortable, and then there is the presumption when making such a request that folks would have brought gifts, which isn’t good, either.

Eyes closed, just like her momma

Then, there’s the issue of having folks to the house. The house is a wreck from Christmas, along with my many incomplete renovation projects.  My helpers will probably be out of town until after Boop’s birthday as classes don’t start for a while. I won’t be able to do any work on the house for a few days due to travel, with Mom and Boop being here. So, I will have a fair bit of stuff to do when I return from travels. Maybe I’ll find someone that can help me get the house ready. Although a bit pricey, my best bet is probably to get trays or catering or something along those lines. Of course, then, we just need folks to show up to eat. 

Christmas Cards. 12-2-12

I tried to write out a few Christmas cards today. My card list is *very* limited because I simply don’t have the time or energy with busy Boop and grants due. So, I had a few photos to include, and I had to hunt down a few addresses. Oh my goodness! It was a bit like wrestling a monkey, I think. There were hands and feet everywhere, grabbing and kicking. I tried to nurse Boop, which usually gives me a little time, but the distraction of the paper everywhere was too much for her.

Boop with a present from Ireland. Thanks!

She loves to eat paper. I’m not sure if she really means to eat it, but she likes to suck on it and chew it. Every little thing she finds goes into her mouth, and when I see her chewing, I know I need to do a quick finger sweep of her mouth. Unfortunately, I have found paper in there more often than I like.  And so, I really didn’t want the cards and envelopes to be a casualty. I wound up having to put her on the floor and pushing everything just out of her reach. Everything survived, except my handwriting. Not so hot to start with, but grabbing hands and bumping feet made for a very shaky hand. I just hope the USPS can figure out the addresses. I’m sure the recipients will either deduce it’s from someone with Parkinson’s (can’t think of anyone in the family with Parkinson’s) or their relation with a busy Boop. 

Down on the Farm. 10-17-12

Poor Boop was having such a rough morning. She couldn’t stay down for her nap. I had a million things to do to get ready. I wasn’t having much luck with some type of cookie or goodie to exchange. When you’re lactose intolerant, you always have to be wary of these sorts of events, or else be prepared to be sick. A doesn’t eat wheat—not sure if it’s Celiac’s disease, wheat allergy or just preference—so she wasn’t planning to make cookies. I should have done the same. I found a cute, Halloweeny cookie recipes for Monster’s Toes and bhg.com. They weren’t classically ‘good’ or ‘edible’ in the traditional sense, but they were festive. I thought they would be cute for kids, but of course, it was mostly a baby event. I got humus and carrots and pita to take as a snack, but it was so late by the time we got there that most folks had already eaten.

Boop was doing much better by the time we got there. I reclined her in her car seat, and she slept most of the way to S’s farm, a nice 45 min. nap. The colors were awesome on the drive;  I love this time of the year. When we got there, we toured around to see the new additions: more chickens and ducks, a new calf and another horse.  The horse let Boop touch his nose, which cracked Boop up!  Then, Boop went to play in the corn. Such a clever idea: they used corn instead of sand for the little ones to play in. Boop mostly just wanted to chew on the wooden spoon, though. After a while, we went on a hayride, and I wound up with Boop on one knee and a 2 year old girl, on the other. After looking around, I guessed her mommy wasn’t able to join us, but I had an extra knee.

Boop playing in the corn. She went as Tigger, but it was too warm by the  afternoon.

Before heading out, I tried some of the kombucha. I didn’t realize it was made with tea. I was concerned that the caffeine might pose problems, but after watching Boop sleep all of the way home, I figured we were okay!  

Baby about Town. 10-6-12

Up at the crack of dawn. If it’s a sale, we’re motivated. There was a large consignment sale. I had gone earlier in the week when there was a lot more stuff. It was pretty slim pickin’s by the time we went back, but it was half off. So, we had to try. We found a few little things. We found Boop a Dora the Explorer tub toy with Diego. It’s too big for her little tub; so I may have to try her in the regular tub to see how she does.

After our adventure, I dropped Mom and the baby off at the house and took Winnie to the vet. Fortunately, the guy there was able to manage to get a container under Winnie while she was using the bathroom. When the vet came in, he said she had a UTI. Maybe this will explain her frequent accidents. Poor thing, she must be miserable.

Then, we went to a play area to meet our friends S with her little boy H and A with her little boy P. They were our yoga buddies, and I love how they are so laid back and have a handle on the bigger picture. It’s refreshing, particularly at their age. They are quite a bit younger than me but have their act pretty well together. Mom watched as we played. I love how well P is getting around; Boop won’t be too far behind, I think.

Last Weekend. 10-6-12

Occasionally, I try to do something nice for the new students. However, I don’t want to do it too frequently—or else I’ll lose my ‘rep’ as a mean old lady! I feel a bit like a Pharisee talking about the event last weekend, but here goes.

Boop having a little 'nightcap'...

We have a couple of new international students this year, and I invited them out for lunch. So, we went to a local pizza place, which I thought would be informal enough for families. The little ones were so cute, if not a bit bashful and uncomfortable speaking English. I tried to get a little bit of everything for them to try and hopefully find something that they would like. Thankfully, most things they seemed to like and seemed to enjoy themselves.

Of course, the best things were the glorified gumball machines that had toys in them on the way out the door. They must have thought it was like a lottery where you put a quarter in and may not get anything; so they were thrilled when actual toys came out. Had I known that they would have been so excited with a quarter toy, I would have started it earlier in the visit!

Am I Blue, Too? 10-6-12

I must look overwhelmed. My friend, G, who had survived the recent trip to my aunt’s with Boop and me invited me to see the Blue Man group recently. It was a little awkward as she had given me the opportunity to order tickets with her for the season during the summer, and I had declined. At the time, it just felt so overwhelming to try to do anything outside of the house. Fortunately, since that time, Boop has been doing so much better.

Boop trying to nap at the Orthopedist's office

To be honest, I wasn’t sure I should go. I emailed my mom, and she said that she would watch Boop and that I should go. So, I took advantage of the ticket. Fortunately, I responded affirmatively before someone else in the office found out about the ticket, as they weren’t able to get tickets.

I tried to get the house reasonably clean, still terribly cluttered, but reasonably clean. And I tried to cook something. That way, Mom could eat what she wanted while taking care of Boop, and G could grab a bite if she wanted it. I made a decent veggie soup in the crock pot. Not a very big deal, I guess, but it was something that Boop let me get it done. I hadn’t really cooked since I had Boop and had wondered if it were even possible.

And so G came by to get me. She really didn’t know much about the Blue Man group, but it didn’t take long before we were up shakin’ our groove thing. One of our co-workers went with his teenage daughters. I asked if he got up and danced, and he said, ‘Of course.’ I was watching his teenage daughter out of the corner of my eye; she had that faint look of mortification and of a strong desire to run. And I couldn’t help but think of Boop as a teenager: what delicious things can I do to make her want to disown me? All in all a good night.

Road Warriors. 9-16-12‏

It was the day I dreaded. The trip back with Boop. Mom started us out in the morning. We stopped to see my aunt at the nursing home on the way. Winnie was so excited, and Boop did fairly well. S was glad we stopped by. She had lost some weight, which will be better for her diabetes.

Getting spoiled by Aunt D
Boop reminds me of Elton John in this photo

Next stop was Aunt D's for lunch. I was thinking Mediterranean or Mexican. We wound up at a regional sandwich shop, kinda like Panera. Then, we stopped at Wally world so I could get a few things for the trip. It was just long enough for Aunt D to find Boop a toy. Anything to distract her on the trip, I thought.

G was running a little late, which gave us longer to visit. We packed up G's car and headed back home. Boop had a rough time of it. About 2 hours from home she started getting really fussy. I tried to feed her, sang and sang, but in the end, we had to stop about an hour from home. Boop was hysterical, bless her heart. We finally made it home, and we were all worn out. These trips are so difficult. We may just have to fly for the holidays. G is such a good sport!