-image-Next Stop: Top Chef

May 26, 2008 | Me,random randomness,Uncategorized

I wowed you all with my chocolate chip cookies soup, but can I just tell you how damn tasty my latest pairing is?

Picture this: Oatmeal Teddy Grahams + Nutella = Large But Happy Ass.

Oh yes, I’ve put away half a jar of Nutella and almost an entire box of the Grahams today. I need to stop. When Mr. Squirrel reaches for the Nutella tomorrow morning, what he finds (or doesn’t find) will surely alarm him. My addiction is so bad that I strongly considered NOT telling you about the Win a Case of Nutella giveaway. Sad and selfish.

Are there any treats/sweeps you’re not sharing in hopes of bringing home the prize? Fess up, people.

-image-Didja hear, little brother?

May 23, 2008 | the homestead,The Office

Mommy scored 2 more months home with us! Yay!

Yes, after I wrote this post, I contacted HR to discuss extending my childcare leave through July. It was approved today! I’m relieved and thrilled. Thanks for your support.

-image-What’s Going On

May 21, 2008 | Jojo,The Nugget,The Office

My friend Nic said it was fairly obvious, but she didn’t want to say anything until I was ready to admit it myself. But yes, I’m having second thoughts about returning to work.

You saw it, too?

ugh. blech. ACK.

This whole procrastinating on the daycare bit was so obvious to everyone except me. I just kept plugging ahead (with visions of lunches out with colleagues and unfettered time on the internet adult conversation) with my plan to return to work.

I don’t know. With no spots at any respectable daycare and my one referred nanny not returning my email (ok, I could probably CALL her, but there goes that avoidance again), I’m thinking I may just need some more time at home.

When I started my part-time position when Jojo was a baby, he was actually 9 months old. He wasn’t that interested in breastfeeding anymore, which made the transition to daycare/bottlefeeding so much easier. He could also sit unsupported and Gollum-like crawl, so I was reassured that he could play by himself of crawl away if he wanted a certain toy or person at daycare.

The Nugget, on the other hand, is completely dependent on me (or anyone taking care of him), and ack, I don’t know. I’d never considered having a nanny because of the Lifetime movies, but now I’d rather have someone come to our house and love both boys than take the Nugget to a daycare where the ratio of teachers is higher.

Plus, the thought of pumping at work skeeves me out. Currently, my big ass office (with all the nice grad students on their way out into the ‘real’ world…which? WAH I miss them. COME BACK. GRAD SCHOOL IS MUCH BETTER THAN THE REAL WORLD…COME BAAACKKKKK!) has a lock and would be great for pumping, but in a few weeks, we’re moving offices (oh, and that’s not going to generate any stories, right?).

My new “office,” I’m fairly certain, is a cube…you know how it goes when you’re not getting any news about it, since they don’t want to tell you the news? Yeah. No news about the new offices is not, in this case, good news. Plus, the bathroom for all of us is off the lobby to a waiting room, so I can’t be commandeering the one unisex (blech) bathroom several times a day for ten minutes each time. My God gross.

So. Can you tell I’m lining up the excuses? Why am I trying to convince you that going back is a bad idea? I need to come to terms with this apprehension and just fill out the paperwork to extend my time off. Maybe until I’ve negotiated a temporary office (with door at least; a lock would be a bonus) to pump…and until I’ve secured daycare placement (or nanny) that excites me.

Anyway, how long after I post this will my BestWorkFriend Vera call me in a panic? I’m placing bets on 13 seconds…

-image-He doesn’t like them either.

May 17, 2008 | Jojo,random randomness,The Nugget,Uncategorized

Jojo experienced bagpipes for the first time in his young life and joins the ‘no thank you’ side of the quadrant…

What he did like and “get” for the first time at a parade? The candy-tossing. Ooooh yes, my boy is a quick study at the strewn candy scoopage. After a few non-candy throwing floats, Jojo turned to my husband and asked “where are the people who throw candy to MEEEEE?” They’re coming, Jojo… they’re coming.

He even used our new drink holder on the stroller to store his booty:

Miraculously, the Nugget slept through countless marching bands and obscenely loud firetruck horns and sirens.

Life is good.

-image-Like Swiss Cheese! Only grayer.

May 14, 2008 | bitterness,random randomness

I’m losing it.

WHY did it take my husband to finally clue me in to my idiotic thinking about daycare? He didn’t read the post, but he did alert me to my quickly atrophying noggin when he alerted me to the fact that schools aren’t out yet, which is why all of those children of teachers are still in daycare.

Honestly, I kind of thought it was mid-July or so. I realize that would mean I’m back at work and that that makes no sense, but … well, instead of mocking me, let’s just pray that all of English beef I ate in April 1996 hasn’t come back to haunt me/eat away my gray matter. No really. The FIRST newscast I saw when I returned from this particular stay in europe (and a couple weeks in England) was breaking news about mad cow disease. I’ve got it. Scouts honor.

So yeah. I have mad cow’s disease probably. But more importantly, I don’t have effing daycare lined up yet and instead of freaking out about it more tonight, I’m going to go to bed.

-image-You know how sometimes…

bitterness,family,The Office

I’m a big asshat who procrastinates and waits until May 13 to start calling around for childcare and DOH Stacy, places are filled up so now I’m screwing the giant pooch? Yeah.

Directors are laughing at me (LAUGHING!)(AT ME!) (DON’T THEY KNOW I HAVE DOUCHE CARDS I WILL SEND THEM FOR THEIR MOCKERY???) for looking so late in the game…

but but

here’s my (erroneous) thought process: teachers have the summers off, so they probably took their kids out of daycare, so their spots are wide open for the taking. Um, flawed, wishful thinking.

Call me (and yes, I have my hand in the “phone”/call me” shape) if you wanna come watch the Nugget & Jojo. You do, right? Good. Starting June 2! You can eat all the hummus and teddy grahams (not together. unless that’s your thing. I don’t judge.) you can fit in your tummy.

-image-Tell me I’m gross.

May 12, 2008 | Me,random randomness

Does anyone else ever make a 1/2 dozen chocolate chip cookies, then slide them off the hot pan into a bowl, pour milk over the cookies and eat them with a spoon? 6 cookies. 6 fatty cookies.

I feel kinda yucky.

-image-I’m Confused. Please help.

random randomness

When the flag on the mailbox is up, does that mean

a. your mail has arrived OR
b. you have mail that you need the mail carrier to take with them/mail for you?

I always thought flag up meant (b), but after seeing a couple of scenarios on tv where the mail is delivered and then the flag is raised, I’m seriously confused. Also, in one of Jojo’s books, Biscuit the dog receives a Valentine’s card in a mailbox with a raised flag.

What’s going on here? Is this a regional thing? We don’t even have a box with a flag — our mail carrier walks and puts it in the placed-too-high-on-the-door-frame box that I have to reach up, over and into and holy shitballs once there was like a moth or bird in there and it all fluttered around and almost bit me/gave me rabies/killed me and I think I might have peeeed a little bit.

Please help me. On any of the issues displayed here.
======

UPDATE: Ok, it’s clear from your responses that B is correct, which I always thought. But now that you have read my mystery, you’ll see it on tv commercials or in kids books. You’ll see that when they pick up their mail from their mailbox, the flag is up, as if the mail carrier was alerting them that mail was there. Seriously. Go forth and see this craziness.

-image-And of course

May 11, 2008 | holidays

Happy Mother’s Day. I planned a ginormous, lovie-dovie post to all the moms I know and love but my day got away from me what with all the pancake breakfasts and kisses and hugs and spitups and feedings and trips to Toys R Us then return trips to Toys R Us (oh yes, there’s a story there) and what not. For now, I have to put away three huge laundry baskets full of clean clothes or else I’ll spend tomorrow searching the baskets for what I need.

LOVE and HUGS and much appreciation goes out to all of you wonderful moms.
Love,
Mrs. Squirrel

-image-Overachiever

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