Jack is more excited about this than he looks.  Promise.

A blogging break is a lot like a good nap.  

You think you need it.  You decide to do it.  And when you wake up, you realize how awesome it was.

I've missed you.  I hope the feelings are mutual.  (Ahem.)

Talk to you soon,

Heather

Spring Break

Grown ups don't really get spring break.  That's a bummer.  

But, you know what?  You can kind of take one, if you want.

I'm going to take a wee break from blogging, here and here.  Just a week or so.

In the meantime, Pablo and Lucy remind you to get out there and enjoy the sunshine.

Hope there is spring in your step today,

Heather

An Open Letter to Viruses

Dear Viruses:

You know me.  I'm Jack's mom.  And while I like to be inclusive and polite and well-mannered about things, it's time for me to put my foot down.  Go away.  Leave us alone.

Don't act innocent.  You know what I mean.  You lurk around Jack and his buddies at daycare, on shopping carts, on toys, you name it.  And then, just when I have a major project at work, or am feeling not so hot, or you decide it's a totally bad time, you go for it.  And you infect us.  Last week, you chose to prey on a cute little boy who had just had his adenoids out.  That is just rude, guys.  Poor form, even for you.

I know your ways.  High fever that makes my boy wicked cranky, followed by red-rimmed eyes that only lots of napping and lots of Gabba can fix.  Several days of malaise, while my vacation days dwindle like sands through the hourglass.  Don't get me wrong; I love spending time, all time, with Jack.  But, I prefer lazy days at the beach.  Just sayin'.

All working moms know you.  And hate you.  Stop taking the shine out of our kiddos' eyes.  Go rid the world of cockroaches or something productive.  Mmmkay?  Thanks.

I really mean this.  Aka, sincerely,

Jack's Mom

Ear Rhymes with Fear

Yesterday, Jack had tubes put in his ears, his second set in his action-packed two years of life.  He also had his adenoids removed.  

In the ENT world, this is not a big deal.  In the world of two year olds, it's not really a big deal.  Tubes are like Toms -- everyone has them.  Adenoid removal is more noteworthy.  I approached the day with about that attitude: This is doable but noteworthy.

And then, BLAMMO!  The night before surgery I got nervous.   I like, respect, and trust Jack's ENT.  I was just ... Worried.

And then, I had parenting epiphany #2375 or so:  All parents go through this.  You can't stop the worry.  You can't rationalize around the worry.  It's there.  It's yours.  And you have to just sit with it and own it.  

Oh, and also?  He is only two.  This is just the beginning.

Oh, shit.

No one tells you this when you become a parent.  It's one of the things your friends don't want you to know because they really want you to have kids now that they have kids.  So, they leave out inconvenient truths like the gut-twisting worry.  Rock on.

The surgery went fine.  Jack got to eat ice cream for dinner.  (Yes, that's really more for tonsils, but I'm a sucker.)

Here we are, post-op, as Jack shook off the anesthesia.  Oh, yes, I am about to levitate off the table from joy and relief.  And yes, I brought my best eye Samsonite to this party.

Fun fact:  Parenting also comes with luggage.

Hope your day is tubular,
Heather

OK, I'll Bite

There is this thing that has been going around the blogosphere that is the rough equivalent of those email forwards where you ask 20 questions and then forward to a bunch of your friends.

As my sisters and many of my dear friends know, I was inordinately fond of those emails.  Answered. Every.Single.One.  So, it should come as no surprise that when Straight Talk Jess tagged me in one of these, that I jumped (leaped, hopped) on board to answer.

I believe this is how it works:  You share 11 random things about yourself.  Then, you answer the questions that have been lobbed your way.  Then, you lob a few questions the way of some other hapless bloggers that are next in line.

The Random:

1.  I am completely and utterly addicted to lime seltzer.  As in, I just researched buying a SodaStream.  (I decided against it.)  

2.  I *may* or may not have Restless Leg Syndrome.  In our house, we just call it Jimmy Leg.

3.  I don't like pancakes.

4.  I have lived in all of these places:  Maryland, Maine, Ireland, Alexandria VA, San Francisco, Austin, and DC (in the District, stars and bars, yo).

5.  I know all of the US Presidents in order and by number.  Like, on command.  This came in very handy when I was on It's Academic in high school.  (Double whammy of a nerd post, this one.)  It has also come in handy in various bar discussions in my life.

6.  Deep down, I do believe that Guinness is good for you.

7.  I sort of "collect" accents.  I am surprisingly good at doing them.

8.  I can't watch horror movies.  I have become a serious chicken as an adult.  Scary trailers even freak me out. 

9.  I know how to sew and embroider.

10.  My brother, dad, and I all keep a running mental tally of the Ten Best Meals We've Ever Had.  Some of the meals on my list were at Jeffrey's in Austin, Fore Street in Portland, Maine, and Uncle Larry's house.

Oh, man.  That's embarrassing.

11.  The first tape I ever bought was Take on Me by A-Ha.  The second was Out of the Blue by Debbie Gibson.

Questions for Me to Answer:

1. What do you order at Starbucks?   A grande Americano with sugar free vanilla syrup.
2. If you could go crazy at any store, which one and why?  Boden.  I would just go nuts and get my entire wardrobe from them.  
3. What do you do for me time (if you actually take any)?  It's harder and harder to come by these days, but I run, sleep, and read in my "me" time.
4. If you could go back to school (without worrying about working or tuition) would you?  Absolutely.  I'd get an LLM or a Masters in History.  Or an MFA in Creative Writing.
5. Did you always know you wanted to have kids?  Yes, without a doubt.
6. What’s the last book you read? Should I read it?  I recently read Nefertiti by Michelle Moran.  It's a fluffy bit of historical fiction, but I really liked it.  Nefertiti was a tough cookie.
7. Favorite movie(s) of all time?  Oh, wow.  Breakfast at Tiffany's; Mary Poppins; North by Northwest;  You've Got Mail.

I'm going rogue and opting out of asking more questions and asking people to answer this.  Because my Spidey Senses tell me that I'm on the tail end of this flash in the pan.  

So, I appreciate you taking the time to skim this moment of utter self-aggrandizement.  

Hope your day is full of your favorite things, even if that includes pancakes.

Heather