05.31.11: Official Summer Kick-Off

Dear Friends and Family,

I know summer doesn't officially begin until June 22, but something about Memorial Day makes it feel like the start of summer. Unfortunately, someone forgot to tell Mother Nature. And, Friday afternoon was a dismal, windy, cold affair. And, Saturday was a dreary, cold affair. And, Sunday was a rainy, cold affair.

But, then, Monday, the clouds dispersed and it was 90 degrees by 8:30 in the morning.

Saturday, P and I went to the park for a quick run through of the usual activities (swing, froggy, slide) and then went for breakfast at the usual spot for P's usual breakfast (ham, dip, pancakes, syrup) before heading back through the park for a quick run through of the usual activities (see above) and then home to see Mr. mouse.

Then, because neither Mr. mouse nor I wanted to do battle with P over her nap, we loaded her into the car and let her sleep while we ran errands.

Saturday night was spent playing a new game. P would tell me to lie down. Then, she'd tuck a padded portfolio "pillow" under my head, put a suit carrier "blanket" on me, put a toy bar ring on top of that, kiss me, tell me I love you and good night, then rub my chest and say, "Mommy sleeping." And, seconds later, "Mommy, awake." followed by good morning and a removal of the pillow and blanket. Repeat.

Sunday, we headed out to the aquarium. Because the pie line was so long, P fell asleep en route, and we hung out in the car while she napped. P was frightened while we were there, but spoke fondly of all the things she saw once we got home. Her favorite? A wall of fake starfish posted on the wall - each starfish thanking a particular donor to the exhibit. It POURED Sunday and I was dreading the worst when we got home. But, knock on wood, no visible water in the house. Yeah for mouse!

Monday, we went out for brunch and then I took P to the park while Mr. mouse worked on a presentation. We kicked the ball around for ten minutes and then played on the swing for another five before heading home. We let P play inside until nap time. And, while she slept her pool water warmed. It was so nice to have her nap at home so we could do stuff while she slept. The evening was spent cavorting upstairs in the pool.


Cheers!
mouse

Friday before a Long Weekend

Dear Friends and Family,

I think I'll be in for some miserable traffic this afternoon. P naps until 3:30 and then has snack until close to 4. That means I'll be hitting the road right when the traffic peaks for a long weekend.

Unless I wake her nap early, I can't see a way around this. Oh well. At least I have three days at home to make up for it.


Cheers!
mouse

"Vacation" Day

Dear Friends and Family,

I have a dentist appointment today and I've decided to use the rest of the day as a vacation day - reading a book, watching a movie, working on my business plan and perhaps wandering the streets in search of elusive time alone.

I feel a little guilty. I could pick P up early and come home and spend more time with her. But, I'm looking forward to a day outside of work where I'm not being a mom. Where the car is quiet and I don't have to entertain or watch or talk or anything.

Is that bad?


Cheers!
mouse

Zigging while Zagging

Dear Friends and Family,

I think we may have a solution that works. I think.

I've been gestating on this idea and have two people I would like to work with. There's one local and one in another city. The one I started conversations with and the one I fortuitously "ran into" later. The one more aligned with my vision and the one with more drive. The one with more experience and the one with more time.

Wouldn't it be great if it was all aligned, but no, the characteristics are split between two people. And, I don't want to dilute the equity that far. Fortunately, I think we may have a solution that works.

I've asked one of my two potential colleagues if they're willing to come on board for less equity and more up front compensation. If she accepts, I have two partners I can work with both with skin in the game, and with enough equity left to make it interesting for me.

We'll see.


Cheers!
mouse

Mouse Pad Work

Dear Friends and Family,

Well. Mr. mouse spent a good piece of Monday at home with some contractors who replaced the cladding that got torn off with the last storm and re-caulked all of the major seams in our roof. We'll see if it fixes our never-ending water issues.


Cheers!
mouse

05.23.11: Weekend at Home

Dear Friends and Family,

Ah. It was so nice to have a weekend at home. The weather even cooperated. Yeah!

We made progress on a monster to do list. We made progress on the kitchen. We had my car looked at. We took P to the park. And, I mixed my "last" bottle of lactose pills and whole milk.

I couldn't ask for a better way to spend a weekend.

Oh. What'd we do? Saturday, we went to get our eyebrows taken care of. Then, P and I went for pancakes while Mr. mouse dropped off the car. We went to the park to play and then stopped by to say hi to our friend, Magpie. Dropped off some shoes and then headed out to lunch. Sunday, we went to the park, lunch, and zoo. P napped while we walked. We went out to a new restaurant - the food was okay, but the execution was poor. Mr. mouse's sticky rice wasn't sticky and they gave us an appetizer we didn't order. And, my noodle dish was minuscule. P slurped it up in record time and was looking for more.

And, now, I'm off to a four day work week - Thursday I'm off to get my tooth looked at. It feels good to catch up on everything.


Cheers!
mouse

New Business Partners

Dear Friends and Family,

I'm getting closer and closer to making some major changes to my life. I have an idea, and I'm seriously thinking about pursuing it.

But, I need to decide who to work with. I have a person who used to work for me. She's the first person I started working with on fleshing out the plan. I have a person who used to work for me. She's a good friend. I have a person I know who used to work for Mr. mouse. I think she's the one I may end up going with.

The first person is in another city and I think that makes this tough. The second person is a friend and sometimes that isn't a good idea. The third person has spent more time thinking through the idea and is more closely aligned with my vision.

Frankly, I need something like this because work isn't as fulfilling as it used to be.


Cheers!
mouse

Off the Tylenol

Dear Friends and Family,

I woke this morning and didn't have a splitting headache!

Yeah!

It's a quiet day at work today so I'll have a chance to do some thinking. And, with Mr. mouse home, hopefully, we'll get back into our normal routine which would mean that tonight he meets us at the train station, we get mail, we get dinner, we get gas and a car wash, and we head home.

We'll see.

I'm also cheerfully optimistic because I have begun a weekly organization routine and it's been working so far. I made a list of stuff that needs to be done daily and a list of stuff that needs to be done weekly. Then, I added a list of "hot spots" to be tackled - in order of priority. And, after my daily chores are done (for example, yesterday's daily chore was to log on and pay my bills) then I have 15 minutes to start on my list of hot spots. Not surprisingly, a week into it, I've begun to make progress, on, you guessed it, my kitchen.

Sooner or later, theoretically, I will get to the point where the kitchen is clean and organized and then I can maintain it in a couple of minutes and use the rest of the time to tackle the next area.

Theoretically, Mr. mouse is supposed to be doing his 15 minutes of time with me so that it's an opportunity to catch up with him as well as keep the house in order, but that hasn't been working so well lately. Perhaps I'll start my time when he comes down from putting P to sleep and we'll go from there.


Cheers!
mouse

Up and Semi-Running

Dear Friends and Family,

Two Tylenol and I'm up and running for the day.


Cheers!
mouse

The Body Doth Protest

Dear Friends and Family,

After all of the hectic stuff of the last four to six weeks, my body finally told me that it was done. Last night, after aches, chills, headache, body ache, and other signs of illness, I fell asleep. This morning, I woke to a low grade fever and a realization that a couple more hours sleep would make the difference between misery and life.

Last night, P sang happy birthday, the alphabet song, twinkle twinkle little star and a couple of songs I didn't recognize. She managed a full sentence, "shoe full sand really" and pointed out, "passing by giant fish without a doubt."

Today, I've got catch up at work and a possible two year old check-up tonight.


Cheers!
mouse

05.16.11: Deep Breath

Dear Friends and Family,

Well. My one day break didn't quite materialize the way I thought it would because Mr. mouse TOTALLY lamed out on me. As in, oh, I have a happy hour but I'll be able to meet you at the train station for the drive home followed by a phone call oh I missed the train I'll meet you en route followed by no phone call until sometime when I got home with no real info besides sorry it's 7 o'clock I'll be home soon followed by 4 million phone calls from me to him at 8:30 to make sure I don't need to be calling hospitals followed by a blow up on the phone followed by no Mr. mouse when I went to sleep at 11 followed by claims the next morning that he was home by 10:45/11:00 o'clock.

Right. Behavior like this is what keeps private investigators in business.

Friday, why oh why is it always a semi-fiasco when my parents are in town? Oh right. It's because nothing ever works right. Their flight was delayed. They hung out at the airport because they never got Mr. mouse's text that he was home. The traffic was a disaster. Well, it all worked out in the end and we met up for dinner before heading home.

Saturday, party, success, minus P's lack of interest in sharing her toys.

Sunday, I napped when P napped. Good move, mouse.

And, now, it's Monday again and I'm hoping for a slow retreat to normal. Maybe. We'll see. Oh, and a desperate need to reschedule my dentist appointment for a tooth that is bothering me.

But, to end on a high note, Thursday, P did do some memorable things on the car ride home. She told me she had a wet diaper which isn't uncommon, but then she pointed to the side roads and said something like "back there, change diaper" because we usually turn down to a side street to change her diaper.

Then, at the last light before home she said "last light." I used to point out last light for the longest time, but hadn't pointed it out in months so I was a little stunned when she pointed it out. She also declares "passing park" now when we drive past the park.

Our little two year old.


Cheers!
mouse

One Day Break

Dear Friends and Family,

One "normal" day before the chaos resumes.

Mr. mouse's folks left yesterday and my folks don't come in until tomorrow. And, while I need to bring in birthday treats today, other than that, it's a typical Thursday. A typical Thursday with some funky rain, but a typical Thursday nonetheless.

We'll need to get mail. And, there's still a bunch of stuff that needs to be done to prepare for the party, but, I cling to the fact that we have a day of normal in a schedule that feels like it hasn't been quite normal for the past three weeks since we began the marathon weekends away and the teacher appreciation stuff and the transition to a new room stuff.

There's something nice about time at home doing not much of anything. There's something nice about not having to socialize. There's something nice about sitting on your couch having morning tea and not thinking about it all.

Tomorrow, I'll jump back into it all. Today, I hope to make it through a normal Thursday.


Cheers!
mouse

Happy Birthday, Sweetie

Dear P,

It's 7 AM on your birthday, and everyone is asleep. You're asleep in your crib. Daddy's asleep in green chair. Grandma and Grandpa are asleep in the basement.

You turn two today. We have a fun day planned out with breakfast - pancakes with syrup and ham with dip - one of your favorite breakfast combinations. Then, we're off to the aquarium to see fish. And, we'll eat lunch. Then, you'll nap while we wrap all of your presents. When you get up, we'll go to the park. Then, we'll stop by the hospital where you were born before going to dinner at the same restaurant we went to the day after you were born. We'll come home for cake and presents. Then, there'll be some time for play before you need to go to sleep.

We'll have pictures and a weigh in and a height check and hand and foot prints too.

I know it's a lot to squeeze into a single day. But, you only turn two once. And, the time feels like it's going faster. And, I realize, seeing your classmates, that by next year, when you turn three, you're going to be a big girl and your toddler years will be behind you.

The days go so quickly. I'm glad we get moments like today, when I can get up and come over into your room and watch you sleep. Today, you were on your side by the foot of your crib. Monkey, orange friend and froggy were by your pillow and blanket. And, I remember the days when you were born and I watched you sleep. I felt like the world could go on and I could sit there forever watching you sleep. I still feel that way.

I'm sure this upcoming year will be as much fun as the last. You'll continue to get smarter and smarter and talk about even more things. Hopefully, we have lots of time to spend in the park and at the zoo and doing puzzles and drawing sleeping monkeys and all of the little things we like to do together.

Happy Birthday, sweetie. Mommy loves you. Daddy loves you.


Love,
Mommy

Birthday Week Begins

Dear Friends and Family,

It's officially starting - birthday week.

Mr. mouse's folks arrived yesterday and are staying through Wednesday.

P was okay with them last night, but she was thrown off a little which kept her up until close to 10.

Me? In addition to work and to birthday week, I've got my head turning around a new business concept. I'll share more at some point, I promise.


Cheers!
mouse

05.09.11: Mother's Day Weekend

Dear Friends and Family,

Another busy weekend in the mouse household.

Mr. mouse bought tickets to a baseball game, in Boston, the weekend before P's birthday party, right after the weekend he was dying to go to Omaha. Scheduling at its poorest. I was not thrilled with the overly ambitious planning.

But, despite the rain and the freezing cold weather, and the Red Sox win, I had a good weekend in Beantown. We took P to Mr. mouse's old haunts, and she ran the hallways leading to a bunch of photos which did much to mollify me.

This upcoming week promises to be hectic. Um, the better word may be crazy. But, I am planning on taking Monday off with P which means I'll have a day to unwind and breathe before jumping back into the thick of it all.


Cheers!
mouse

Friday

Dear Friends and Family,

I feel like I have a little more gas in the metaphysical gas tank than I did Tuesday morning.

After a long bus ride, a chance to think through an idea that's been bouncing around in my head, and several movies, we arrived at our annual summer meeting.

And, the familiar faces and the familiar sights and the smiles and the chance to talk and unwind and catch up and play was just what I needed. The first meeting I attended, I didn't get it. Now, I totally get it.

It's like having a cabin, but a giant cabin, without the maintenance and with a staff.

We spent Tuesday night talking by the fire pit. And, Wednesday night playing cards and playing practical jokes. In between, we had our review of the past year and discussed plans for the upcoming year. And, the food, was delicious as always.

Note to self: if I ever start my own company, I need one of these places.


Cheers!
mouse

Time to Think

Dear Friends and Family,

I'm off for two days for a work trip. Lots of time to think and hopefully some news to share once I return.


Cheers!
mouse

05.02.11: The Oracle Speaks, the Toddler Sleeps

Dear Friends and Family,

We took a late night flight to Des Moines, IA and a later night's drive to Omaha, NE to attend the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholder Meeting. Now, before you get all crazy on us and think we have money we don't have, remember, a share of B stock can be had for $83.30.

P watched about 5 minutes of the movie and decided the ambient noise was perfect for a mid-morning nap. We stayed for the discussion and the first two or three questions of the Q+A.

P ate some snacks and we boarded the shuttle bus for the NetJets tour. Nothing like seeing the inside of a private jet to remind you that there are people out there who live a lifestyle the rest of us only see in movies.

Out of curiosity I looked on their website last night and it comes out to roughly $5,000 an hour. So, if you flew 14 people to Omaha from Chicago for the meeting it would cost roughly $715 per person one way which could be cheaper than some obnoxious fares that I've come across, but, somehow I don't think these planes are being flown at capacity. And, with just three of us, it would have been $3,333 a person. We paid much less than that for our flights.

Saturday night we ate Vietnamese. And, Sunday, we played briefly in the park before heading home. P fell asleep in the car, and played with her toys when she woke up.

Happy Monday.


Cheers!
mouse