Weekend Coffee Share #22

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If we were having coffee, you would wander in slowly. You had a rough night last night, but a lot of fun. I was happy to hear details about your trip to a party your husband’s coworker threw, and I was happy to get you a coffee. And speaking of party, 

If we were having coffee, I would remind you of those guys who were barbecuing last weekend and had the loud party and woke me up… I saw one of them do something yesterday that really bothered me.  They were playing with the neighbor’s kids again, water fights, but it was almost all the kids in the apartment complex having a water fight with these guys. The thing is, there are like five of these guys and some are better than others. On the good end, one is patient and kind to the kids, helping them out even as they were “adversaries,” talking friendly smack. On the bad end, they were cursing at the kids and bullying them.

There was one girl in particular; and I’ve seen her around for awhile. She’s not as liked as the other girls, though I know she wants to be. She’s the tallest and she’s Indian, to name just a few differences, and it’s hard to be different.

One of the guys was bitching her out for being rough with a younger kid. She was trying to apologize, talk to the younger kid and trying to take responsibility, but this asshole wouldn’t stop badgering her. He was actually cussing at her. He’s a grown ass man, getting into the kid’s stuff, and bullying her.

I was disgusted and also a little convicted – should I do something, I wondered? I was bullied as a kid, even by some adults. Would I have wanted intervention? I didn’t end up doing anything, though I did get the Wee One out of there. I didn’t want her seeing such crap. I know I can’t spare her from it forever, but I’ll probably try.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you that the crochet project I am working on is not coming along like I had hoped. I am not able to crochet as often as I would like, with the Wee One. I’m afraid my friends won’t let me sell anything with them. Maybe I will just give The baby her own ball of yarn to play with-like a cat.

You giggle, and then you wince. Yeah, I’ve been there.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you how, on Saturday night, I was kind of hoping those guys, the bullies, would again throw a party so loud I could call the cops. Cohiba said “You’re in the ‘I wish a motherfucker would’ mode.”  

Oh yeah, and that  night, after we left dinner, I had black beans smeared by my ear-the Wee One is beginning to leave a trail behind her wherever she goes. I had trusted food on the front of my shirt, because she puts her open mouth on my chest. (Wanting to nurse) My kid is subtle.

Black History Month

I meant to post this in February, but, you know. Life.

There was a video released on the White House Facebook page of a 106 year old woman meeting the president. She was so happy, and to think of all she had seen and lived through – from 1910 until now – its moving.

As Super Tuesday has just passed us in the United States and we are gearing up to inaugurate a new president, I wanted to share memories of Obama’s first inauguration in ’08. The first time a black president was inaugurated. A day that will live in history will live well in my memory.

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Top 10 90’s Movies, Part One

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I have never been a big movie buff – when I was a kid, I was only allowed to watch one hour of TV a week.

You read that right.

A week.

So I didn’t watch a lot of movies, and since I was in a very formative phase of my life in the 90’s, the ones I did see made an impact. This week’s Top 10 is the Early Years countdown, listing the movies from when I was starting to building memories and friendships, some of which I, luckily, still have today.

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Weekend Coffee Share #21

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If we were having coffee, you would come in with a sunburn.  What were you doing?! I’m not sure if I’m jealous or piteous for you right now. You assured me you were having fun riding your bike, and I find I’m still feeling a bit of both. I don’t have a carriage for the Wee One while I’m biking yet, but we did get a Deuter hiking pack for her, which is more structured and puts the pressure more on my hips than the Ergo does. She also sits higher so she can see more and it’s more a kind of pack Cohiba would wear. I took her on a short walk in it while I was trying to adjust it, and I think it’ll be good once it’s set for her.

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Legacy, or Writing For Throwback Thursday

I have been thinking about legacy lately, which was the word of this Daily Prompt. (I still hate the one-word thing, but it works for me today.)

I was thinking about the best way to save for her future and then I was thinking about writing up a will (now that I have a child) and who I would name as beneficiaries for my belongings. At first, I was thinking of things like books and CDs, and it was like the Senior Wills we wrote in our last year of high school. “Would I leave certain books to my social work friends and other books to religious friend?”

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My Top Ten Favorite Things Right Now

This is a list of 10 things I really love right now.  I will not say I’m “obsessed,” because I hate the overuse of that word (I have seen obsession, and this is not it), but they are things I really appreciate in my life right now, in no particular order.

  1. The drive through at Starbucks. I love being able to drive through and get coffee. So easy.
  2. The pool at the gym I just joined – I joined a gym! I’ve never done that before, but it has childcare, so the Wee One is tended to for up to two hours. I have started swimming thi week and love it. This accomplishes one of the goals on my 52/52 challenge.
  3. My ergo. I’ve loved it since I had it. It’s quick, easy, and keeps my hands free while I hold and love of my Wee One. (It’s also valuable and useful for Syrian refugees, as used by the Carry The Future organization. If you have an extra carrier no longer in use, I highly recommend this organization.)
  4. My crothet hooks. I’ve started making some things I hope I can sell with some friends who are vendors in a few Ren Fairs in the Midwest.
  5. Pens for drawing zentangle. Which I haven’t been doing as much, in favor of doing the above.
  6. This computer for writing. Which, again, I haven’t been doing much of in favor of crocheting, and of doing the following:
  7. Candy Mania – It’s one of those Candy Crush-like games that you can download onto your iPhone, but the other week when I was dying with the stomach flu, it kept me company and entertained.
  8. Giving the Wee One her bedtime bottle. It’s the first part of her bedtime routine and we sit in the recliner and watch something. Since she doesn’t take as many bottles, she doesn’t sit in my lap and eat like she used to. This is one last warm and snuggly little time. For a second, I thought about getting rid of it, but for right now, I’m not going to fix what isn’t broken!
  9. The Kindermusik class I go to with the Wee One. After about a month, she has become more comfortable crawling around and interacting with other babies and the teacher, which I like to see, and it helps me learn different ways to interact with her, to play with her. And she likes music, so it’s good. The teacher is kind of weird, and I get the feeling that it’s like a posh little club and you’re lucky to get in, but still.
  10. My mom squad. I have a squad. 38 years old and I have a squad. But we’re an awesome team, particularly for only having known each other for several months and for having four toddlers to look after.

Weekend Coffee Share #20

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If we were having coffee, I would talk all about the gym I joined and the swimming I started doing.  While I know how to swim, I was never on a team or anything, but I joined this gym that has child care! So I can leave the Wee One somewhere safe and exercise.  I started swimming because I know what good exercise it is, and its something new for me.  I had to go buy a cap and goggles, but I really like it. I like the meditative quality to it.

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Weekend Coffee Share #19

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If we were having coffee, I wouldn’t be around for very long, and I wouldn’t be drinking coffee. I would be drinking tea and some sports drink to replenish some fluids I lost last week. I have had the stomach flu all last week, and now I feel like I’m coming down with something respiratory. I couldn’t even do my Top Ten Tuesday, I felt so icky! You groan in commiseration, because its no fun to be sick. I was also really homesick during that time, more than I usually am. I was hurting and didn’t know what was happening, and I wanted my mom to tell me I was okay. I know both my mom and mother in law wished they could be here to help, which is sweet.

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