improvements a'plenty

For the past few Novembers I've participated in National Blog Posting Month, and for a couple of days at the end of October I was stupid enough to think I would be able to participate again this year. And then the second day came and I stared at my laptop screen for a few minutes and promptly passed out. I never realized before just how hard it is to string together words into a post when you've had all the creative energy sucked out of you by an infant that enjoys made-up-as-you-go songs. Excuses, excuses.

Since I failed at NaBloPoMo before I even really got started, I've decided to take up another task, Slynnro's NoImYoSeMo. Instead of making a blog post a day I'll make a list of things I want to improve in my life, which oh my god there are so many, and then try my best to get the list done by the end of the month. Sounds easy enough, let's go!

Drink more water. I'm breastfeeding and I work out like crazy, yet I barely drink any water. Diet coke, yes. Coffee, yes. Water, not so much. I have a feeling that my life would be better with more water in it.

Clean out my bathroom drawer. The other day I was digging in there for a ponytail holder and found quite a few lip glosses I thought were lost, some expired medicines, and an unmarked airplane safe bottle of something, but no pony tail holders. That drawer is a pit and I need to do something about it.

Run. And then run some more. Meaning run longer, run faster, run more frequently. Run.

Put away the pile of clothes that has resided on my bedroom floor for weeks now. Make sure the pile doesn't come back.

One fourth of my closet is tank tops. No person needs that many tank tops. Time to clean them out. No mercy!

Clean out the kitchen equivalent of that bathroom drawer. Do I really need two sets of incomplete measuring cups? Do I even know what appliances half the attachments in there are for? God, I hate that drawer.

Eat better. I pay a lot of money to belong to a gym and have a personal trainer yet I've done nothing to change my diet. Eating like I do means I'm basically wasting the money spent in monthly fees. While I don't need to go on a full-fledged diet, I do need to be more mindful about what I'm eating. Maybe I'll even go crazy and start having breakfast.

Read a book. I've read one book since Truman was born and I guess that's good considering the circumstances, but it bothers me. Time to take back my kindle from jparks and read more.

Sign up for one of the half marathons I've been thinking about. I've had the registration pages open for the Kaiser Half and the Rock and Roll Mardi Gras Marathon open for weeks now, but I haven't been able to bring myself to make the commitment. It's time to man up and register for one or both

None of these are huge changes to my life but each one will help me in some way. And besides, I'm not certain right now is the best time to try and take on a huge change. I feel crappy enough that I failed at NaBloPoMo, I can only imagine how crappy I would feel if I weren't able to make an improvement in my life that I had told everyone about and that I wanted to accomplish. So drinking more water and cleaning drawers it is!

whoa, the boring might overwhelm you

Usually I'm up for celebrating Halloween but someone apparently peed in my Halloween corn flakes this year, because I was really not feeling it. I tried to get into it, I really did, but between the super crowded Google Halloween party and the disappointing Fall Fest I attended, my Halloween spirit died quickly. I did manage to dress Truman up once in his caterpillar costume which made me happy:


ohhhh it's the elusive Regan smile. No one make any sudden movements so we don't scare it away

On Halloween night I thought about hitting a local mall with a friend to see the kids all dressed up for a costume parade, or visiting a neighbor's house because they had set up their porch for a Halloween photo backdrop, or even just going to another friend's house to hang out but in the end I was lazy and stayed home. Since last year we had one kid come to our house I hadn't bought any candy and now that we were going to be home, and I would hate to get egged, a quick trip to the store yielded one bag of Mr. Goodbars, which are one of my favorites. Turns out we got more kids than I was expecting and when I lowered the bowl of Mr. Goodbars down for them to grab some, there were quite a few disappointed sighs. Who knew kids aren't into chocolate and peanut goodness. Sorry kids, I'm happy to share my candy with you but I can't promise our palates will like the same things. You should be glad I didn't hand out dark chocolate covered salted caramels since that's what I really like.

Maybe next year will be better. Tru will be old enough to stand up and act cute in his costume and I'll know not to buy Mr. Goodbars for the trick-or-treaters. Or I'll buy Mr. Goodbars but then get something else that kids actually like. Maybe I'll even go crazy and buy a pumpkin. Whoa, slow down self, you don't want to get too wild.

I have many more gym complaints, but I'll spare you

Can we talk about a few things that have been pissing me lately? Perhaps it's because I've been sleeping less but it seems like way more little things drive me out of my damn mind and I just can't take it anymore. And seriously, it's all little things that should not bother me. What can I say, parenthood has made me a cranky bitch. Now I understand what happened to my mom. (kidding, mom. Please don't cut me out of your will, I really want your jewelry.)

A radio station here has started playing what they call "Vintage Vinyl" but I call "Songs From When I Was In High School And Are Not Vintage By Any Means, Dammit I Am Not Old." When I hear the term "Vintage Vinyl" I expect songs that were actually released on vinyl, not songs that came out in the age of cds, which are not made of vinyl. I guess "Plastic from the Past" doesn't have the same catchy ring to it that "Vintage Vinyl" has. Also, that song from Kids is not vintage music! Neither is Closing Time by Semisonic! Don't make me send you a list of acceptable vintage songs Live 105, because I will. I have no life and have time to care about this sort of crap.

I've recently joined a new gym and many people there wear these abominations:

I honestly can't come up with words that accurately convey the level of disgust I have for those shoes. Those shoes are what happens when crocs and toe socks drink a bottle of vodka and then do something regrettable together. They are unnatural and should be eradicated from the Earth. I should not have to look at them while I work out and my mind will not be changed about this no matter what you say.

And speaking of the gym, are there rules regarding using cardio equipment too close to another gym goer? Today I was on a treadmill and there were at least ten other treadmills open to my left, yet a woman got on the one right next to me. Too close! Personal space! I don't want to be sprayed by your sweat! There need to be rules about this. I think we could apply men's urinal rules to these types of situations and everyone would be happier.

Has anything been pissing you off that you would like to share with the class?

tweed is good

Recently a pregnant friend emailed me a list of name suggestions because Truman was included on the list. And while finding his name on a baby name list is nothing special, finding it on a list of yupster baby names is. After reading the description of a yupster, a blend of yuppies and hipsters, I had to laugh because despite what I think I am, a yupster pretty much sums up jparks and I.

And since I want Truman to feel like he belongs in this family, I did this to him:

Future Accountant, originally uploaded by whitneybee.

Don't lie, right now you're dying from the cuteness.

Things that prove my brain is broken

I was searching for a part for my coffeepot yesterday morning and couldn't find it. After a minute I realized the part was in my hand

Searched for a netflix movie longer than was necessary because I swore I saw it on the coffee table. Couldn't locate it. Found it in that day's mail as it had just arrived. Who knows what I saw on the coffee table. Possibly a ghost movie. Someone call TAPS

Returned a netflix movie without the inner sleeve. Which I had in my hand while I packed up the disc. Let's hope they can sort out that I'm returning disc 3 of Mad Men Season 2 and not some other customer.

Twice packed up bottles so I wouldn't have to suffer through breastfeeding in public and twice, TWICE, forgot the bottle on the kitchen counter. And of course each time the damn kid got hungry and forced me to feed him. Call me a prude, but I hate breastfeeding in public.

Worked on another blog post for the past three days whenever I could steal a minute of time for the computer and then, on the fourth day, totally forgot the point of the post and decided to delete it. I should have just ended it by rambling on aimlessly but I didn't. You are so welcome.

Totally forgot that the dining group I am part of was supposed to meet tonight. At least everyone else in the group forgot as well. I have a valid excuse for forgetting, what's your excuse slackers?!? Too busy with your jobs and child free lives? (kidding, totally kidding. Please don't kick me out of the group. I like food.)

Bought 8 six packs of beer, 2 bottles of red wine, 2 bottles of white, 2 bottle of sparkling rose, and 4 22oz bottle of beer because I haven't had alcohol in a really long time. Well, since weekend before last. But prior to that it was forever ago. Man, I forgot how much I like beer. And wine. And sparkling beverages. mmmm, booze.