End of Month

Dear Friends and Family,

It's the end of the month.

And, I get to assess our retirement tonight. And, strange as this may sound, I'm very excited about it. I'm less excited in down months. But, this month was another good month and the more we get of these in a row, the more I will feel like maybe this is a trend.

And, Mr. mouse got his bonus yesterday so we will need to figure out what to do with that. Most of it will go towards retirement and some into the car fund. Still, I need to figure out how to keep the retirement fund from sitting in cash. Time for us to go shopping - look at some stocks to purchase.

And, Monday, P starts transitioning into the three year old room. This is super exciting because she's stalled out in the two year old room and there's a couple of neanderthals in the room.

Happy Friday.


Cheers!
mouse

Paint, Paint, Go Away

Dear Friends and Family,

Just when I was making such good progress on the nails, I decided to wash out some of P's paint containers this morning. And, now my fingers are a red and green hue.

It's nice to have the clutter gone, but I need to find a way to keep my newly growing nails from becoming objects of picking now that they have bits of paint stain in them.

I've decided watching nails grow is like watching paint dry. Listening to my blather about my nails growing must be as interesting as listening to paint dry.


Cheers!
mouse

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Moments

Dear Friends and Family,

The terrible threes have officially arrived. Or, P is so bored in her twos room she is lashing out. I'm not sure which.

We get lots of nos. We get throwing. We get hitting. We get shouting.

Then, in a complete about face, we get a little angel who hugs us and kisses us and tells us she's sorry and promises to be good next time.

Not a clue how to respond. Mr. mouse and I are completely bewildered.


Cheers!
mouse

Question on Automation Loops

Dear Friends and Family,

I'm rather pleased with the progress I've made on automating my life. I have a kitchen that stays vaguely under control. I have 10 short, but socially acceptable fingernails. I have a laundry bin that is manageable. I have a better oral hygiene.

But, there's only so much you can incorporate into an existing routine before it's not really an existing routine anymore. For instance, I think I have a decent shot at adding wearing my retainer to my evening teeth brushing routine. But, can I really add 60 minutes of yoga and trick myself into doing it? I think not.

And, when you remove things from a routine like checking email at lunch, then how do you add it back into another routine at home? See? This isn't all cake walk.

Oddly enough, habits take planning.

I'll have to think about this some more. I don't think I'm ready to add any more changes to the current house of cards. Before I know it, I'll be back to a mountain of stuff on the kitchen island, 10 nubbins on my fingers and a pile of dirty laundry.


Cheers!
mouse

03.26.12: Stars Aligning

Dear Friends and Family,

Let's dispense with the formalities.

Saturday, we returned the rental car. We ate lunch. I went to see Hunger Games while Mr. mouse played with P. We ate dinner at home. We went to the supermarket.

Sunday, we watched the F1 race. We played at home. Mr. mouse took P for a walk. I got a manicure as extra insurance for the week. We ate dinner at home.

Friday! Yes, I really want to talk about Friday.

Friday, Mr. mouse got a bonus. A good bonus. And, it reminded me, I haven't gotten a bonus in five years since working at my current job. Honestly, what am I still doing here? And, no, it's not me. No one's gotten a bonus in the five years since I've been at my current job.

Friday, I had lunch with a former colleague. Interestingly enough, she's seems like a different person since leaving her job and finding herself. I am fascinated with someone willing to earn minimum wage to get a foot into a start-up. Mr. mouse thinks I should spend some more time talking to her and assessing if there's a fit, if I think it will work. He tells me to trust my instincts.

And, today, I logged onto my email to find my paperwork complete. I have an official corporation.


Cheers!
mouse

March Top 3 Revisited

Dear Friends and Family,

It's Friday. It's spring. It's three quarters way through March. Time to revisit my March Top 3.

Eating Right. Hasn't been happening. I realize one of my top cues for nail biting is hunger. However, on the nail biting front, I've had lots of progress. They're slowly growing. I realize that can all change in an instant and I'll be back at square one with ten nubbins and another cue as to what drives nail biting.

Time with Family. This week has been bad with work. Actually, I don't feel like I've spent a lot of time with family because I've been sharing P with my extended family, oddly enough.

The Idea. Slow progress. We submitted the paperwork for our legal entity. We're waiting for our federal employment identification number. I reached out to two people in my network to look for potential employees. I need to write a job description this weekend.

April? Continued automation of my life which oddly enough gives me back time - not real time, but the perception of time. Spending time with family which contributes to being relaxed. And, I'll continue to work on my idea which gives both intellectual challenge and hopefully at some point in the future financial security.


Cheers!
mouse

Mid Week Scramble

Dear Friends and Family,

After mind-numbingly quiet days at work, the past two days have been hectic, hectic, hectic - enough so that I brought work home with me last night.

I'm still stoked about the idea of my idea. And, I wish work was a little more level-loaded. But, I'll take the frenzy over the boredom any day.


Cheers!
mouse

P's Unicorn Moment

Dear Friends and Family,

I got off work early on Monday. And, since it was a gorgeous afternoon, I decided to take P to the park where we ran into three "Park Slope" moms.

They loved P's haircut. They said they could eat her up. They oohed and aahed and gushed and I realized we were having a unicorn moment - one of those moments when the lighting is right and P is just irresistible.

Unicorn moments have become less common as P has grown older. This is a good thing since it was making me a little paranoid when she was younger. But, they're still special moments. I try not to let it get to my head.

I've got a pretty special kid in my house. She's one in a million.


Cheers!
mouse

I've Been Thinking

Dear Friends and Family,

Today marks the return to our normal routine. P and I drive to school. We have drop-off. I have work. I pick P up after school. We drive home.

Only, lately, I've been giving more and more thought to changing up the routine.

I've been thinking about quitting and working full-time on my idea. I've been thinking about putting P's name on the wait-list for a daycare program closer to home and then letting that make for one less complicating factor.

I could take a day off work and take P on a tour of the new school. I could see if she thinks it would be fun to switch. I could then decide to leave work independent of what happens to her school. I could work on my idea. I could spend the afternoons in the park with P.

I can give up the sham that is my "work" day.

Yes, I've been thinking.


Cheers!
mouse

03.19.12: Visitor

Dear Friends and Family,

After the moment with my sister (who wanted time alone with P last weekend, without being crowded by my mom), we invited my mom out for the weekend. That way, my sister could have her time last weekend and my mom could have her time this weekend.

All of this translates into a couple of additional scheduling complications on our part. But, overall, it's been good watching P with her extended family.

Friday, I stopped in for an impromptu manicure since the weekend would be busy. And, I had my best manicure ever. The person I got REALLY knows her @#$%! around cuticles and cleaned mine up like nobody's business. I was impressed. So, I walk into the second half of March loaded for bear. Let's see if we can crack this nut. This manicure every other week is helping a ton in keeping me from biting my nails.

Saturday, P and I went for a quick trip downtown to celebrate with the Irish. Then, we came home to play with grandma. We spent the day indoors even if it was a gorgeous spring day. And, we went out for dinner because I had a craving for soupy dumplings.

Sunday, we went out to watch the F1 race. P spent some time in the park with grandma while we watched the race. And, we played in the park some more, after the race, until P became a little pink in the cheeks and hit her nap time.

Today, I'm headed to work, the car is headed to the shop, and P is enjoying a long weekend and her first day out of school without her parents.


Cheers!
mouse

Complicated Nail Biting Habit Revisited

Dear Friends and Family,

Time for a manicure this weekend. The cuticles are beginning to fray and three nails are bordering on overgrown. I know I will regret it if I try to make it another week to three weeks.

But, this is all good news. The nails are definitely in better shape now than they were two weeks ago when I got my first manicure and started my March challenge of figuring out my nail biting habit.

When I have to pee, I get up and pee. When I am hungry, I snack. When I am cold, I get tea or coffee. When I am stuck, I sit back and think. When I am bored, I find a way to occupy myself.

Wow. If one book can get me to kick this habit, I owe that author a profound gratitude for changing my life. Then again, it's only been two weeks. This is one I need to gauge longer than that since it tends to come back when I least expect it.

There might be additional cues out there that I haven't discovered yet.


Cheers!
mouse

Daddy Blues

Dear Friends and Family,

Mr. mouse was out last night so P and I were on our own.

We had dinner with one of her classmates from school and her mom. And, we went to the park for a few minutes before it got dark.

Then, the train wreck hit. Someone refused to go upstairs for her bath. Then, she refused to sit up in the tub. Then, she refused to come to the bathroom to brush her teeth.

Each time, I got tired of counting and threatening time outs and speaking firmly so I picked her up and carried her and let her cry it out.

Ultimately, I think P was tired and missed Mr. mouse. He was out Tuesday night as well. So, it'll be nice to see P with him tonight. She really loves her daddy.


Cheers!
mouse

The Complicated Nail Biting Habit

Dear Friends and Family,

It's amazing I have fingernails at all.

After two weeks of careful note taking, I've determined it's a combination of cues that trigger nail biting. I've figured out the routine. I still don't have a good grasp on the reward.

The Easy Cues

These deal with my hands. These also help explain why manicures help. If they're in good shape, I tend to leave them alone. If they're in bad shape, I tend to pick at them. First, there's the cuticles. Hangnails, overgrown cuticles, and rough spots on healing cuticles seem to trigger nail biting. Then, there's the nail edge. Rough edges, broken edges, edges with lots of random bits of skin seem to trigger nail biting. Last, but not least, overgrown nails or broken nails seem to trigger nail biting.

The Harder Cues

If that all isn't enough. There are the other cues. I'm hungry. I'm cold. I'm bored. I'm stuck. I'm pressed for time. I'm stressed. I'm waiting for a file to open. I need to pee. Yes, it's almost like I'm looking for an excuse to bite my nails. However, on the flip side, if I'm fed and occupied, I am in good shape.

The Routine

I start with my fingers - picking at all the possible things I can pick at. If I need "help" I'll turn to other things like files, clips, etc. that could "help" with whatever I am picking at. And, if that doesn't work, then I turn to my teeth and biting and somehow believe that will remedy the situation.

The Reward

Who the hell knows. Seriously.

The Current Status

I'm trying bi-weekly manicures to get the nails into shape and then hopefully keep them in shape. I'm trying to track my "other" cues and divert them into more healthy behavior. My right hand is making progress, outside of my thumb. My left hand is making progress, albeit at a slower pace. The index finger and ring finger are still gross.

It's been an interesting learning process, that's for sure.


Cheers!
mouse

Emotional Twinges

Dear Friends and Family,

My sister is due in May. And, we're using this as a most excellent opportunity to hand me down. P doesn't need her infant car seat. She's done with her pack and play. She doesn't fit into her bouncy chair. She's too smart for her swing.

And, my sister needs these things. And, she wants these things. And, it all makes sense. After all, we're done with them and better she gets use out of them than we store them indefinitely for no real reason.

But, still, it's sad to see them leaving the house. They've become fixtures in the house and I still remember them each because they're all associated with such a happy time.

I need to keep reminding myself - better that my sister use them than they gather dust in our basement for the next twenty years.

I'm not a hoarder, but I can see how people get into trouble.


Cheers!
mouse

Camping Inside

Dear Friends and Family,

Last night, P asked if we could sleep on the futon. I had told her we could the next time Mr. mouse was traveling. That way, she could sleep with me and I wouldn't have to worry about her falling off of the bed.

Except, last night, Mr. mouse was home and laughed and laughed at the thought that P had "ratted me out." Except, I didn't really consider it a secret. After all, who trusts a two year old with a secret?

We set up the futon and she fell asleep next to me. And, although the futon needed a little more cushioning, it was nice waking up this morning with P snuggled up next to me and her arm wrapped around my neck.

I also learned that P will mumble words and phrases in her sleep - like something about a straw in a cup last night.


Cheers!
mouse

PS: Finger update. We left it unwrapped until it started bleeding Tuesday night. Last night I looked at it and the nail is less black and blue. The part closest to her nail bed is still darker than the rest of it, but there are places where you can see the pink of the nail bed under the blue. The other side is still pretty swollen.

Haircut Success

Dear Friends and Family,

Yes! We made it through the haircut in one piece. The key?

First, and foremost, was managing the hair. P hates seeing her hair on her. So, we put a robe on her and told her to tuck in her hands. Then, we told her to look at Mr. mouse while her hair was being cut and not at the mirror or the floor. And, during the some parts, we told her to close her eyes.

Second, was distraction. P hates feeling her hair get cut. So, Mr. mouse talked to her the whole time.

First good haircut experience in a LONG time.


Cheers!
mouse

Ow! My Finger!

Dear Friends and Family,

I'd write about my weigh-in, except it was a non-event.

And, P's finger got squeezed by a slamming door yesterday.

I got the call. I went to pick her up. She was sitting there puffy-faced, red-eyed, eating with her hand on ice. She looked so sad and forlorn, I wanted to cry. I scooped her up and hugged her and held her and sang to her and tried to comfort her.

We decided to leave school for the day. She napped in the car, then napped at home. She agreed to the Advil. And, we watched her all evening.

She keeps saying her nail is missing. And, she's a little gentle with the hand, but it looks like she's bending the finger and using the hand. The nail is completely black and blue. I hope it doesn't fall out.

It's been a stretch - tumbling down the stairs, falling out of her chair, falling out of our bed, and now this. Time to keep a closer eye on her for awhile.


Cheers!
mouse

03.05.12: Work Weekend

Dear Friends and Family,

The overarching theme of this weekend was Mr. mouse's work. He rarely needs to work weekends, but he needed to work this weekend.

So, Friday night, P and I went out for pizza and waited out the snow. Then, we came home and played and read and went to bed. P fell off of our bed, but that hasn't stopped her from asking each night to sleep in it again.

Saturday, P and I had toast for breakfast and played until Mr. mouse got home from his overnight. Bakery, library, breakfast, and gift shopping rounded out the morning. Naps for P and Mr. mouse and conference calls and constant email rounded out the afternoon.

Sunday, more conference calls, more emails, dim sum with a friend, more naps, more conference calls, more emails, dinner, more conference calls, and more emails.

Before you think I'm really annoyed by this, I'm not. It wasn't the most fun, but I recognize it's not a frequent occurrence. Honestly, though, it's less disruptive when I'm alone with P altogether. We don't need to coordinate schedules. We don't need to work around schedules. We don't need to make space or time. We can just be ourselves.

But, this should be over this week. And, hopefully, next week life returns to normal.


Cheers!
mouse

Nail Biting

Dear Friends and Family,

I know I'm trying too many things at once. But, I'm curious.

The laundry thing has been working this week. On nights we get home at a reasonable hour, I bring down a load of laundry to do during the evening. Too early to declare success, but progress.

In the mornings, I set the timer for 15 minutes. I organize while I make my coffee. Then, when the timer goes off, I stop and resume my normal morning routine of coffee, news, blog, etc. Too early to declare success, but progress.

Now, I want to see if I can add another "thing" to the loops. Nail biting. This week I want to try and figure out what my cues are. Unfortunately, I don't think it's a single one. I think it's a panacea of sorts for me. I wouldn't be surprised if there are multiple cues.

But, I'm optimistic. I think this isn't an impossible nut to crack. Why? Well, I already have some clues.

• I only bite my nails at work. I don't bite at home. I don't bite during the car ride. If we go on vacation, I inevitably come back with progress on the nail front.
• I don't think I bite during meetings. I'm almost certain it's when I'm at my desk alone. Not 100% certain, but almost certain.
• I know if I get regular manicures, my likelihood of biting goes down. I've had several instances of growing my nails through this process. Polish reduces the likelihood even more.
• I know there's a certain point when my nails get too long and then they all go at once.
• I know it's hardest to recover when they are bad. When they are decent, I somehow don't bite as often. Like it's either a virtuous cycle (of sorts) or a vicious cycle (most of the time).
• I don't bite evenly. My right thumb and left ring finger are the most frequent victims. My pinkies tend to fare well.

If nothing else, it'll give me "intellectual challenge" in March. And, it'll definitely help on the "when things look good" front of the happiness map.

Which reminds me. The laundry? It helps with getting to "completed to do list" which leads to "being relaxed." And, the 15 minutes in the morning? It helps with "clean house" which leads to "when things look good."

Optimistic.


Cheers!
mouse

Retirement Review

Dear Friends and Family,

It's March 1.

I reviewed our retirement savings. No surprise, February was a good month.

Luck has really been on our side in this for which I am grateful. We both still have jobs. We haven't had any major unexpected expenses. The stock market has been generous.

For now, we're about a third way to our retirement goal. Onward. Time to find more investments for our February savings.


Cheers!
mouse