Secrets

Have you ever found out something about someone close to you that just shocks you? I mean how could you have know this person for as long as you have and not know this? And how can you not let it change how you feel about them?

Today, I learned something about my dear husband and I just don't know how I didn't know this before. We have been together for almost 12 years. I never noticed.

He doesn't like caramel popcorn!!!!!

That is just downright un-American. I can inhale the stuff. Give me a box of Fiddle Faddle and I'm a happy girl. I have such a horrible sweet tooth and honestly, what's not to like. Popcorn+Sugar=Bliss.

This all came to a head tonight when we got home from our weekly pilgrimage to Target. I saw a bag of Vic's Lite Caramel Corn and thought I would try some. Vic's is a local company and I know people who really like their popcorn. I had never tried it, it was on sale, so I thought - what the heck?

When we got home, Madeline and I tore into the bag as if we hadn't eaten in a week. It is so good. The only thing that could possible make it better is the addition of nuts. Don't care what kind, I just love them. Especially covered in sugar.

As I was proclaiming the greatness of my new found love, Bob came over to try some. He took a couple of pieces, popped them in his mouth, and exclaimed "Eh, not bad I guess."

This brought me to a halt. This is honestly one of the best caramel corns I've ever had. That's when he dropped the bomb. "I don't care for caramel corn."

How did I not know this?

But on the plus side, I know he won't be eating my caramel corn!!! :D

The Mind of a Two-Year Old

Madeline is quite the little character. She does something everyday that makes us laugh. Thought I would share a few of those things with you today.

While we aren't gung-ho about it yet, we have started with potty training. And of course, they do work with them at day care. Well, she has lately been picking up all of her dolls and asking "Cinderella, do you need to go potty? Let's check your pants."

We have one particular pair of shoes that I can not get on her if she doesn't help push her own foot in. Well, her bathtime Dora doll has removable flippers. Last night in the bath, she took off Dora's flippers then tried to put them back on. As she was putting them on, she said "Push, push, push." When she finally got both of Dora's shoes on, she said "Good job Dora!"

We are getting ready to go on vacation in a couple of weeks and have been talking to her about where we are going, who we are going to see, and what we will be doing. Well, now she is very excited about going on vacation. Last night, she was playing with Mommy's shoes. She put on a pair, grabbed a hat and my purse, and headed for the door. When asked where she was going, she said, "Bye bye Daddy. I'm going on vacation!"

On the same topic, when I asked her what we should do tomorrow, she replied, "Go on vacation!"

A couple of weeks ago, we went out for lunch on a Sunday. We got to the restaurant right when they opened, so it was pretty empty. She marched right up to the hostess and proceeded to tell her "I have pretty barrettes and I have fishies on my shirt." Now, normally, she doesn't talk to people she doesn't know.

She has quite the personality!

Just one of those weeks...

I tell you what, if something can go wrong, it will happen this week. I can not beleive the things that have happened this week.

On Sunday, when I looked at my calendar I thought, oh this week won't be too bad. Sure I have two night meetings and that's never fun. But I had a lot of "free" time so I figured I would be able to clear off the Mount Everest pile of stuff that has been accumulating on my desk.

However, this was not to be.

I've gotten phone calls from people who have not liked the decisions I've made. People I actually need to talk to are not returning my calls. I even had a guy call my boss's boss to see "what we could do about this situation." Sure, I'll just get on my personal line to the White House and get federal regulations changed, just for you because you went to high school with his cousin's wife's ex-roommate.

The two meetings that I've had so far this week have been absolute train wrecks. People, regardless of party affiliations, don't like the government. We have website issues, and I don't know how to deal with that.

So, I've spent the better part of this week dealing with issues as they come up, instead of actually accomplishing things. So, Everest is just growing.

And the problems just aren't at work. Oh no. If there is an idiot driver out there, they are no doubt right next to me. I've had more near misses than I can count. If I texted while driving, I would be in trouble. I spent my lunch hour yesterday driving all the way to Target and they were out of everything I needed.

There is a bug in our house that keeps biting me at night. We've washed everything in hot water and bleach, vaccumed out all vents, corners and even the mattress. But we can't find the beast that is doing this to me. At this point, I don't care if I get cancer, I want some bug spray that will just kill anything and everything.

And today, I got a call from daycare to inform me that everything is ok, but they didn't want me to freak out when I came to pick up Madeline tonight. She fell and hit her head hard enough to cause an instant lump. And of course, this happened at 9:30 this morning, so I was worried about it all day. She is just fine, but she has a nasty bruise on her forehead. It's a good thing she has bangs.

And now, looking forward to the rest of my week. I have another night meeting tomorrow night, and it's not looking like it will go well. I have to get some information from an organization that doesn't like our organization. And I somehow I have to get to all the normal things on my to-do list. I only have to get through the next two days...

Pregnancy

No, I am NOT going to have another one. Ever.


But, a friend posted recently how much she liked being pampered while pregnant. And that reminded me of an article I read while pregnant about all the joys of how people are so much nicer to you when you're expecting.


Well, let me tell you, that DOESN'T work for everybody. I suppose if you're some little skinny thing and you look like you just put a basketball under your shirt, strangers think you're so cute and want to give you all sorts of unwanted advice.


If you're like me, and plus-sized, people just think you're even fatter than you normally are. Not once did I have a complete stranger ask me about my pregnancy. Not even the girl who did my pedicures ever asked me about it.

I remember one day while my mother was visiting, we went out to lunch. There was a bit of a wait and all the seating was taken. When some finally came open, this woman jumped right in front of me so fast that I couldn't even waddle over close to the open seat. I was about 8 months at that point and it was obvious that I was pregnant. And it wasn't an elderly lady, she couldn't have been more than 40. My mom just looked at this woman with shock and then asked me if I was going to be okay. The lady then looked and realized what she had done, but did she give up her seat? No.

For me, pregnancy was horrible. My hair was greasy, not full and luxurious. At the ripe old age of 27, I finally had to start using an acne cleanser. Let me tell you, the girls at the Clinique counter aren't used to getting adult women asking the basics about treating acne and then having to take into consideration that there are some products that shouldn't be used during pregnancy. Now, I'm not complaining about this. Considering I didn't have to do that in high school like most girls, I can deal. It's just not fun dealing with the 12-year-olds they hire at these places.

My asthma was horrible and I ended up on steriods. The back pain that was relieved by my breast-reduction surgery was back, and not because I had big boobs. Just because of whatever crazy medical reason that gives you back pain when you're knocked up.

I, who sleep through anything, ended up getting up four times a night to pee. And you know how they say you'll get your energy back in the second trimester? That was a lie. I was absolutely exhausted the whole time. I was in bed no later than 9 every night.

And the swelling. Let's just say that it was a good thing we lived in Arizona and I was able to wear flip flops all winter. I'll leave maternity clothes for another day.

But, even after all the misery, I couldn't imagine my life without my precious girl. Not going to go through it again, but it was worth it.