Clutter, Clutter, Everywhere

Dear Friends and Family,

Now that my night stand is clean, I've been tackling the dresser on Mr. mouse's side of the bed.

When I look at our house, I see little piles of clutter everywhere. In a pinch, I can tune it out. But, honestly, it drives me crazy. I'm wondering, does it not bother Mr. mouse?

He's in for a rude awakening. My first two areas of focus when I take time off this fall will be my weight and the clutter in the house. I'm super excited. I'm wondering if he'll be less so.

Speaking of which, one more week down. Five weeks to go until I give notice.


Cheers!
mouse

9 AM, F5, F5, F5

Dear Friends and Family,

I'll admit it. Yesterday morning, I was anxiously awaiting the SCOTUS opinions.

Really? Really.

I wanted to know if the country was headed in a direction I agreed with or if I would be disappointed in the direction. Fortunately, I was happy, not thrilled, but happy.

I wonder if a point will come in the future when we can't imagine life today, when we can't imagine going back. I think a right is truly ingrained when we take it for granted. We move on because it's a non-issue. I'm not thrilled beyond belief every time Mr. mouse and I go to vote and I exercise my right to vote. I'm not thrilled beyond belief that I can speak my mind and write my mind and not worry about the recriminations. I'm not thrilled beyond belief that I can choose my church or choose no church. I take those rights, frankly, for granted.

I hope, one day in the future, I will be thrilled beyond belief. Then, I hope, one day in the future, I'll take it so for granted, I won't be thrilled. And, when that day comes, will be the day marriage equality has truly arrived for me. Is that odd?


Cheers!
mouse

Impulse Cleaning

Dear Friends and Family,

I got tired of looking at my nightstand covered in stuff.

There were random cords to charge random devices. There were cards and stickers. There was a Kindle stacked on top of two library books. There was a bow and plastic airplane from Christmas. There was a plant and an alarm clock and a rubber band. There were three things of lotion. Oh, and a set of hanging things for P's growth chart.

And, I kept thinking how nice it would be when I had time to organize it all. Then, I decided there's no time like the present. So, I cleared away all of the junk and now my nightstand is a thing of beauty. There's my alarm clock, a plant my friend B gave me, and my Kindle. Nothing else.

I get a little happy every time I look at it.


Cheers!
mouse

Files, Files, a Kingdom for My Files

Dear Friends and Family,

After discussing our file storage and backup system with our friends in Montreal, we came home to a dead drive. I won't say I wasn't concerned because I was. I won't say I was panicked because I wasn't.

We replaced the power supply. We replaced the chassis. We bought a secondary back up drive. And, it just finished backing up. Mr. mouse will be taking that one into the office and storing it there. It's the easiest way to get some redundancy. There's some physical space between the drives. There's some security at the office. There's some small chance something could happen simultaneously to both drives, but it's certainly less than if we keep drives at home.

Now, it's on to replacing a bad disk drive and to finding a cloud storage solution. That should get us to more safe than most people in the country. I'm thinking of breaking our cloud storage needs into three buckets. There's our photos, immensely valuable, very large, of no real importance to anyone but us so lower theft risk. There's our music, immensely complicated, but commodity products. Then, there's our data. Small, valuable, with some theft risk.

It might make sense to have three different solutions. It might not. We'll see.

For now, it just feels good to have a backup drive and access to my files.


Cheers!
mouse

06.24.13: Summer Days

Dear Friends and Family,

We had a most wonderful weekend.

Friday, we went to get mail. And, there was a package for P. It was a scooter from her grandparents. So, even if it was late when we got home, we let her put on her helmet and scoot around the courtyard a little bit before going to sleep.

Saturday, P took her scooter (with Mr. mouse) to get bagels for breakfast. Then, after setting up a USB drive to backup our data, we set off for the carnival.

P was so excited to see all of the rides. She watched the ferris wheel. She watched several of the grown up rides. There was the one that's shaped like a boat and swings pendulum style. There was the one that's like cars going out a wavy centrifuge. There was the one where you get in a cage and they spin you vertically.

She watched the kid rides. There was a relatively mild train ride. We asked her if she wanted to ride it and she said yes. Mr. mouse bought $20 worth of tickets. The rides were about $3 each.

She got on the train ride and watched and waved and smiled. We were so proud. Then, she got on the carousel. I went on with her. When the horse started moving, she asked me to let go of her so she could ride alone. Okay.

Then there was the ride like Dumbo's ride at Disney. And, she rode it without a hitch. Then there was the ride with cars where the cars fling out at the corners. And, she rode it without a hitch. Then there was the ride with hot air balloons where you spin as you ride in the air. And, she rode it without a hitch.

We bought 5 more tickets and I took P on the ferris wheel. And, then, she asked to ride more rides. We were so impressed we bought 9 more tickets and told her she could ride three more rides. She re-rode the Dumbo ride, the hot air balloon ride and the carousel. The funny thing was, she wanted to ride one of the grown up rides, but we told her she wasn't tall enough, so she picked the carousel for her last ride.

Then, she watched the games and asked if she could play one. We ponied up $6 for her to play a guaranteed win game where she had to fish for sharks. When she won, she wanted the sword which we vetoed. She picked a blue monkey instead. And, that, my friends, was our first carnival adventure with P. I went to the amusement park a lot growing up so it was extra special for me to see P enjoy it so much.

On our way home, she asked if we could go again on Sunday. We told her maybe next weekend, but not two days in a row. Sounds like P enjoyed it as much as I did.


Cheers!
mouse

Parent Association and Other Things in My Future

Dear Friends and Family,

I signed up for the Parent Association. We'll see what capacity I actually serve in. I want to make sure I stay involved in something even if I am not working. Volunteering seems as good an option as any. We'll see where it leads.

In the mean time, I need to get through another day of work to tick off another week as done on my list of things to do. And, on the home front, Mr. mouse and I are trying to figure out how to resurrect our hard drive that seems to have gotten rather unhappy in the last week. Wish us luck.


Cheers!
mouse

Work Just Needs to be Done

Dear Friends and Family,

It's Thursday. And, I made it through all of my tough meetings. I think. Honestly, I'll be so glad when work is done.

But, enough whining.

Mr. mouse is back from his trip. We have a pizza party this afternoon at P's new school. We have the weekend coming up. And, I had a great time with P last night. She asked to play Trouble. And, we worked on a new puzzle together.

Life is good. Work just needs to be done.


Cheers!
mouse

Hump Day

Dear Friends and Family,

I've decided to give three weeks notice which puts me at something like seven weeks left at work.

Here's to hoping I make it through today in one piece. Tomorrow I get to leave early for a pizza party and Fridays are mostly desk time. Today I've got multiple meetings I need to make it through.

Oh, and a bath for P.


Cheers!
mouse

Managed Chaos

Dear Friends and Family,

I need to sort out my head:

Tuesday

1. crazy hair day
2. bath

Wednesday

1. water day
2. Teacher present

Thursday

1. chips, salsa, guacamole
2. pizza party
3. bath

Friday

1. show and share
2. ice cream
3. breathe

Okay. Got it. Go.


Cheers!
mouse

06.17.13: Mad at Mr. mouse

Dear Friends and Family,

We had a good day Saturday. We had house cleaning in the morning. We drove out to the suburbs in the afternoon. We used a groupon for some pizza. We played at a park. We went to a friend's house for an evening party. We drove home.

We had a miserable day Sunday. We went to church. I twisted my ankle. Mr. mouse got mad. I got more mad.

From my perspective, he's being completely unreasonable. I didn't do it on purpose. Getting mad isn't going to untwist my ankle. It's not going to "ruin" our summer. And, even if it was, is that an excuse to act the way he's acting? No.

He's taught P some pretty awful lessons. Like, not keeping pace with someone who's injured. Like, not asking if someone's okay. Like, not trying to help when someone gets hurt. Like, getting angry over accidents. I could go on for a good long time with this list if you let me, but I won't.

Suffice it to say, I'm mad at Mr. mouse. And, I'm going to stay mad for a good long time.

Happy Father's Day to all the deserving father's out there. Too bad, we don't have one in the house.


Cheers!
mouse

Another Week Down

Dear Friends and Family,

Yesterday, I had a moment at work. There's a guy at work, let's call him Joe (names changed to protect the innocent).

Joe was on a rampage. And, when he gets on a rampage, he starts sending mean emails and making mean phone calls and calling people into his office and being mean. It's just not fun.

Fortunately, I don't report to Joe anymore. But, when Joe's on a rampage, he doesn't care. And, he fired off a note yesterday to me that would have normally gotten me worked up.

Fortunately, my new boss, let's call him Eddie (names changed to protect the innocent) stepped in and took control of the situation. I was honestly thinking of quitting yesterday, but, instead, I'm continuing on this unusual journey to August.

Thanks, Eddie.


Cheers!
mouse

2000 Posts Later

Dear Friends and Family,

First, the good news. My doctor told me I could stop taking my medication. I'm waiting for the lab numbers today. But, I'm not planning on taking medication today since my doctor told me I didn't need to. Now, I just need to keep my stress and my iodine intake under control.

Second, the slightly unbelievable. 2,000 posts. Really? Wow. Which begs the question, where was mouse 2,000 posts ago? I was getting ready to leave work. I was working on my house. I was focused on my health. Funny, 2,000 posts later, and life hasn't changed much.

I'm looking forward to my time off. Eight weeks can't come soon enough.


Cheers!
mouse

Doctor's Appointment, Fingers Crossed

Dear Friends and Family,

I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon. I'm really hoping I can be done with my thyroid medication.

I feel like I've slept the last six months and I still feel exhausted. I know there are people out there dealing with real illness, life or death illness, who would trade spots with me in a heartbeat. What's a little tired and fat compared to real pain and suffering? Nothing.

I should keep this all in perspective. And, because I have my doctor's appointment, I get to leave after lunch today. Making lemonade out of lemons.

Still hoping I can be done with my thyroid medication.


Cheers!
mouse

06.11.13: Bienvenue a Montreal

Dear Friends and Family,

Another year another fabulous race weekend in Montreal. I do love Montreal. We get to see fabulous friends. We get to watch a fabulous race. We get to eat fabulous food. And, we get to meet new people every year - our fabulous friends introduce us to their fabulous friends. See? How do you top that for a weekend?

Saturday, we went out to watch qualifying. It was cold, it was wet. But, we got to catch up with the people who get the seats behind us every year. We came back, cleaned a bunch of vegetable, grilled some fish and some steak and had dinner with our friends.

Sunday, race day, dawned sunny and bright. We had a picnic at the park. We watched the race. We let P run at the playground. We came back to dinner at the park with friends and wine.

Monday, we came home. I'm not looking forward to work today. It seems so trivial and petty. I'll be glad when I'm done.

Race weekend. So liberating and refreshing. I'm looking forward to when work is done.


Cheers!
mouse

Friday, Made it Through One More Week

Dear Friends and Family,

Made it through week 10. Next week will be week 9.

The sad part is there are parts of work I truly enjoy. There are people I will miss working with.

But, I am still excited about the time off.

I'm inspired to write a new top 3:

1. enjoying the remaining 9 weeks of work: I know that sounds counter-intuitive. But, I think I will. There's going to be a lot of change in the upcoming months. I know there will be days I miss work. I may as well enjoy the weeks I have remaining.
2. managing P's transition: There's stuff to do at her current school like the letter we need to send to let them know we're officially leaving. There's downloading all of her stuff from her current school portal. There's putting together something for her teacher's and the center to say thank you. Then, there's stuff to do for her new school like sending in forms and attending the welcome events.
3. estate plan: And, last, but not least, is using my free benefits to complete our estate plan.

I think that's our top three for the summer. A lot of things will change in the fall, but I think focusing on these three things will make the summer a bigger success.


Cheers!
mouse

52 Things Will Leave the Mouse Pad (Round 2) Update

Dear Friends and Family,

It's a new year. And, I'm beginning another round of my clutter diet. The goal? I am going to try and have 52 things meaningfully leave the mouse pad this year. It's a purposeful decision to remove something that has found a home in our home. I'm evicting unwanted tenants.

There's different questions different people use to gauge what should stay and what should go. There's do I still love it, does it serve a purpose, when did I last use it, etc. My guiding light question will be knowing what I know today, would I buy this today?

The List (most recent departures listed first):

1. I'm feeling a little guilty, but not guilty enough. I'm bringing a bag of stuffed animals in for a friend who just had twins. P got them as a gift, but we never put these in rotation, so they're new. All the stuff P got that we never used. I'm feeling a little guilty, but not guilty enough.
2. Change of plans, we brought some stuff down for P's cousin instead. There's a tower of stacking alphabet blocks.
3. Next is a small zoo Mr. mouse's folks got P for her second Christmas.
4. There's a bucket of blocks P got from my parents.
5. There's two puzzles. The first, Mr. mouse bought once when we were traveling. It's got four little puzzles each with four pieces. The second, we got as a birthday gift. There's only so many US state puzzles one kid needs.
6. And, last, but not least, an art kit for the bath. More stuff we got that we never used.
7. I've been sick for three days now and so I'm going to focus on something small for today. My friend Pete offered me $50 for my four year old crib and mattress. P's slept in it almost every night since she was three months old so we've gotten full usage out of it. It'll be a little sad, but she loves her big girl bed so I guess she's ready for the change.
8. We had a small refrigerator sitting on our landing. It used to be in Mr. mouse's office until they moved offices and sneaking a refrigerator in got too complicated. Then, we used it for parties on the deck, on occasion. However, it's latest use, gathering dust while sitting on our landing for the last four years, didn't seem like its best use. So, when we learned the nursery room that P stays in when I go to church needed a refrigerator, we dropped it off.
9. I'm writing about clutter because sometimes it's easier to focus on a small thing than to try and process a storm going on around you. And, I am truly getting rid of something so I have the slight endorphin rush from progress against clutter. This one is almost comical. I have 12 Disney coffee mugs I bought in 1994 so almost twenty years ago. Actually, I bought close to two dozen mugs, but donated a batch some years ago and kept only my favorites. The colors are them are really nice. The feel of them is really nice. I haven't used one ever. They're still new in box. I found a friend of a friend who has a car with a vanity plate of Disney Lover. I am going to give the last 12 mugs to her. I am still sad to have these mugs leave the house. I don't use them. They sit above my stove in the cabinet. They need to go. Would I buy them today? Possibly, if I came across them somewhere. The problem is, I don't think I'd come across them anywhere today. So, I guess I couldn't or rather I wouldn't buy them today. Be strong, mouse, let them go.
10. The next two are almost trivial. I almost feel guilty counting them. Yesterday, I went into a bin of light bulbs we had and I found a plant bulb from the pile of random bulbs that sit in our garage. I brought it into work and gave it to my friend who now uses it to light up the plant I gave her. (see below, second from bottom)
11. useful, just not for us: swim diapers
12. junk: old telephone and two routers
13. useful, just not for us: sandwich maker
14. junk: three plastic cups
15. useful, just not for us: bagel slicer
16. useful, just not for us: more aqua globes
17. useful, just not for us: two winter coats
18. baby gear: two baby gates
19. baby gear: three baby gates
20. books: five or more kid books
21. toys: two noise makers
22. toys: Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders
23. toys: elephant pull toy
24. toys: peg puzzle with farm animals
25. toys: two bags of blocks
26. useful, just not for us: house plant
27. useful, just not for us: exercise ball

The tally from 2012?

1. junk: 15
2. useful, just not for us: 14
3. toys: 11
4. baby gear: 7
5. odds and ends: 3
6. books: 2

We'll see if I can get to 52 this year. I'm cautiously optimistic.


Cheers!
mouse

Allergic to Chipotle

Dear Friends and Family,

If this were life before P, I would take today off and sleep and drink tea and go for a long walk. But, in my current life I will get ready for work, drop P off at school, and deal with it all.

Yesterday, I went out to Chipotle for lunch. Unfortunately, I think they must have switched their cooking oil because I felt that so familiar heart racing sensation all afternoon and into the evening. Today, I feel like sh!t. Am I allowed to say that? Well, I think I just did.

Sleep. Tea. A long walk. It sounds so therapeutic. Perhaps I'll do that in a couple of months after I leave work. I'll have all the time in the world for sleep, tea, and a long walk.


Cheers!
mouse

Highlight for the Week? Visit with the School Nurse on Thursday

Dear Friends and Family,

We've got a visit with the school nurse on Thursday to talk about P's health before she enters school in the fall. I wish the school allowed us to pack our own lunch. But, for some odd reason, they don't. It's school lunch for all of the kids.

On the one hand, it'll give P chance to eat things she wouldn't normally eat at home which might be a good thing. But, on the other hand, some of it might not be as healthy. Plus, I'm afraid of how the transition will go. What if she hates the lunch and begins to hate the school because of it?

She's got a lot of change coming up. We'll have to work through all of it with her. Hopefully she enjoys it.


Cheers!
mouse

06.03.13: June, Glorious June, Honey, Can You Turn the Heat on? I'm Cold

Dear Friends and Family,

Another cold, wet weekend. It started out promising on Saturday. We went to the library and to the salon. We packed a picnic and headed out to the zoo with the free admission pass we scored at the library.

We looked at the big cats. We ate our lunch. We headed in to see the monkeys. P loved watching the gibbons. They were walking around, swinging around, and just being active and comical. She also liked the orangutans. The zoo keeper was feeding them grapes. The gorillas were napping.

We opened the door back out and found ourselves in the middle of a passing shower. Fortunately, we had umbrellas. We walked by the giraffes because they're P's favorite zoo animal. And, we walked by the polar bears because apparently they're also a favorite animal.

The polar bear couldn't have been more picture perfect. Beautifully framed, hanging out by the water's edge, we could have stared at it all day. But, since it was getting late, we walked by the camels and headed out to the car.

Unfortunately, we got hit by a second shower right when we got to the car and got hit with buckets of water. But, we made it home in one piece.

Sunday, we went to church. Then, we came home and picked up coats, gloves, bike and helmet before heading out to the park. P played in an empty park and then went for a bike ride.

She had her first fall halfway through the ride. We stopped for lemonade which turned into lunch. Then, we rode back to the car. She had a second spill right before the car. Those inclined corners can be tricky.

P and I napped in the car while Mr. mouse ran errands.

The rest of the weekend was spend playing Dr. Mommy Mouse (P) and (insert name here) Jane (me). I got cold Sunday night, so I grabbed my blanket and my pillow and headed to P's room. It was much warmer in there.


Cheers!
mouse