Mormonism Meets Buddhism Meets mouse

Dear Friends and Family,

First and foremost, I'm not even considering converting to Mormonism - raised a Catholic by a mom who once considered entering a convent, I've found my comfort level with religion in being a Buddhist of sorts.

Being a Buddhist, I am 110% comfortable with the idea that there are useful concepts and constructs to be found everywhere and if you find something that works for you, it's fair game to pick it up and adapt it to your use.

One of the things I do like about Mormonism is the approach to money. Replace "tithe" with "donate to charity" and "replace 10% of your income" with "what you think makes sense to you" and we have a workable solution of sorts.

Another tenet is to avoid debt - to live within your means and to recognize the difference between wants and needs. Amen.

Followed by use a budget. This one I've gotten a little slack on. We used to have a very strict budget. Now, we know how much we need to save for retirement and as long as the monthly budget balances, I don't get too hung up on the details. Last month and the month before were tight, but this month is shaping up better.

Let's see... Build a reserve. Yes! This is a tough one and one we took a couple of years to do. I'm still not sure if it's the "right" amount, but it's enough so that I can sleep soundly at night. If one of us loses our job or decides to try something new or both, then we can last indefinitely on the other income although retirement will slip out several years if that were the case. If both of us lose our jobs (I'll assume we don't both decide to try something new spontaneously and simultaneously as that seems like poor planning) then we have one or more years of reserve depending upon how much we cut back on our expenses. Again, not sure if it's the right amount, but it's enough so that I can sleep soundly at night.

And, last but not least, get the word out. Family? Not very successful on this front as I'm concerned any conversation on the above makes several family members begin to believe I am an angel investor and they are a worthy start-up. Friends? Yes, especially ones with a natural interest in managing their finances.

See? Totally fine adapting and using good stuff from everyone.


Cheers!
mouse

08.16.11: Weekly Weigh In

Dear Friends and Family,

weigh in: 140.6

Well, at least the number is going in the right direction - down (in case you were wondering). Actually, this is tied to my happiness map. I have a lot less interest in eating out - it's a good way to save money and to help with the weight loss.

There's still a place for eating out in our routine. It's just not as often and when we do eat out, it's for something more worthwhile. Realistically, we'll eat out at least once each week on a weeknight - when the traffic is bad or we're picking up mail or something comes up. Then, I think twice on the weekend is a reasonable goal - once on Saturday, once on Sunday. That might seem like a lot, but it's down from our current trends.

We typically ate out 1-2 times during the weeknights and maybe 3-4 times on the weekends. Toss in 5 lunches at work and it adds up. I've been taking Lean Cuisines in for lunch so lunches at work are down to a more manageable 1-2 per week as well.

before: 11X per week
after: 5X per week, still a lot, but a lot better

Eating out is mindless. You order, play with P, and someone brings you your food. It's an easy routine to fall into. Eating in takes work. But, we've come to realize P rarely eats what we eat for dinner, so the bar gets set lower. She can have rice and beans and we can have leftovers. It can be equally mindless if you want it to be.


Cheers!
mouse

08.15.11: Smorgasbord Weekend

Dear Friends and Family,

Highlights and lowlights. The weekend had them all.

Mr. mouse's best friend flew out to see a concert with Mr. mouse sparing me the need to go to the concert and sparing us the expense of an extra ticket and baby sitting money. P and I got to spend the evening at home reading books in bed.

On the flip side, we discovered a new leak in the house. This one, we think is caused by a leaky pipe. We closed off the main and the leak went away. We have a plumber coming in today to diagnose. In the meanwhile, we're bringing to bear a lot of lessons we learned travelling overseas on how to conserve water.

P's weekend was a huge success. She got to go through airport security twice. And, she got to play at the indoor park avoiding the crowds on Saturday and the rain on Sunday. She got to go to the supermarket. She had chocolate for dessert on Saturday night. She avoided her haircut (until Tuesday) and had pasta for dinner, not once, but twice. If she could have gotten on the plane with her uncle, she would have gotten everything she wanted this past weekend.

Added bonus for me, because we've spent a good piece of the month entertaining instead of travelling, the credit card bill came in lower than typical increasing my happiness. We'll continue the eat out watch and see if we can continue on this happy trend.


Cheers!
mouse

Happiness Map II

Dear Friends and Family,



(Note: click on map to see a legible version)

It's draft 1.0 so there are probably many things missing. Both squares and ovals and arrows. But, here's my happiness map. How to read it? Square are "stocks" things that have levels. Ovals are "flows" things that increase or decrease stocks. Red arrows show decreasing stocks, blue arrows shop increasing stocks. Got it?

Next disclaimer. Not in any particular order. This is just a way to get it to fit on a single diagram with no crisscrossing lines.

Now, please don't think I'm vain for the "when things look good" stock. I don't need things to look great. But, honestly, there's something to when my house is in order and I am at my goal weight that just makes me happy.

It's funny. Even a day in, I started making decisions based on my map. Will this activity make me happier? Yes? Okay, then I should do it. No? Then, I shouldn't. It might be revealing to draw your own.


Cheers!
mouse

Happiness Map

Dear Friends and Family,

I sketched out my first draft of my happiness map yesterday and no surprise the two constraining factors are time and money. I'll post it on-line later when I have more time to write about it.

For now, I had two ah-ha's, eating right is an unconstrained activity - there's no downside to it and there's not limit to good for you food. Truth be told there are constraints - eating right does technically take time and money, but in smaller increments than what my high level map is capturing so for now I'll consider it good.

And, the second ah-ha is eating out. There's two types of eating out. There's the saves time eating out and the being relaxed eating out. They both cost money and they both take away from my goal of being in shape. So, while I can semi-justify the being relaxed eating out, I'm going to take a sharp look at the saves time eating out. It may be more "expensive" than I realize.


Cheers!
mouse

Inertia

Dear Friends and Family,

Today is "the" day. According to rumors, we'll be "right-sizing" our department and today is when we'll find out who is "impacted." Well, we'll see. Nothing I can do can control this at this point, so I don't want to fret a lot over it.

And, today is another day. Yesterday, my boss, or rather my boss' boss' boss challenged everyone in the meeting to draw a map of what makes them happy. I will try drawing that map. It may prove enlightening.


Cheers!
mouse

08.09.11: Weekly Weigh In

Dear Friends and Family,

weigh in: 143.8

The weigh-in from hell. Up 3 pounds. Seriously?

Well, I'm going to try a couple of things this week - 3 servings of fruit, 2 servings of milk, and most importantly, 1 multi-vitamin.

Hopefully I have better news next week.


Cheers!
mouse

08.08.11: Where Did the Weekend Go?

Dear Friends and Family,

It's Monday and I'm in a bit of a daze trying to put together the past 48 hours.

Let's see. Saturday, we went to the library and then to the salon to get our eyebrows done and then to the park to let P ride the swing and then to the car to go to the grocery store. Oh, it's all coming back to me now. Then, P fell asleep in the car and I did as well. Mr. mouse went the rounds while we slept in the back seat.

Saturday evening, we had a boat load of people over for dinner. The weather turned out perfect. We had appetizers in the house and then headed to the deck for dinner. A jaunt over to the local ice cream shop rounded out the evening.

P had a lot of fun playing with everyone. She isn't as territorial around adults. It's only other kids that get her on edge.

Sunday. Sunday. Um. Sunday. How does my memory fail me on these trivial instances?

We went out for brunch which turned into lunch. We were going to go for Hawaiian, but instead went for fusion Korean of the kimchi taco variety. Then, we split for the afternoon. P and Mr. mouse went for a "walk" to get her to nap while I took the afternoon to work on the house - got some laundry folded, some papers organized and the gate down. Yes, we're down to one gate and one plexiglass barrier. I'm tempted to put the gate up (the one we just took down) at the top of the stairs once P's crib rail comes down. That way she won't be able to go downstairs without us. But she shows no interest in having the railing removed, so for now, I'll store the gate in the basement.

We spent the evening playing with P - she rode her elephant (it's a good thing I didn't give that away) and putting zookeeper to bed using the kitchen towels and looking at pictures of herself on TV. P didn't want to eat, but when we finally convinced her to sit down at her table, she wolfed down her goldfish and her pasta. She looked like she couldn't get the food in fast enough. I felt guilty, like we had starved her without realizing it when in reality we spent the entire evening trying to get her to sit down for dinner.

And, now, it's Monday and time to get ready for work.


Cheers!
mouse

Organization Hold

Dear Friends and Family,

I've gotten slack about getting the house in order.

For awhile I was making really good progress. Then, I started sleeping. And, now, it doesn't look so good. I'll have to reboot my efforts.

Tonight doesn't seem like a particularly auspicious night to begin organizing. And, our weekend is chock-a-block with stuff to do. So, I may begin Sunday night. Hopefully by the end of next week I'm back where I started and can continue to make progress on taming the CHAOS that is our home.


Cheers!
mouse

Mouse? Here!

Dear Friends and Family,

I'm a little off schedule because I'm a little off schedule.

Tuesday, I took a quick day trip and I wanted to have my computer with me with a fresh battery so I didn't turn it on in the morning.

Wednesday, I woke up late so I was in a scurry to get to work.

And, now, I'm back. I feel like a kid at roll call in school.

In the interim, I read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo which I enjoyed. I've decided not to read The Girl Who Played with Fire for the moment because the plot line is a little nerve wracking and I would like my free time right now and the book ended at a good stopping point for me.


Cheers!
mouse

08.01.11: Things We Take for Granted

Dear Friends and Family,

Our neighbors are in town. Yay! May the food begin.

Saturday, we got the house cleaned. Then, we played at home, out of the heat, until the neighbors came over. The daughter and I stayed at home while Mr. mouse and the dad went to the airport for pick up duty.

P did the cutest thing when she got up from her nap. Instead of crying or calling out for Mr. mouse or me, she called out, "Mommy, Daddy, I'm awake!"

Dinner? Barbecue followed by ice cream.

Sunday, we went to the farmer's market. Then, had brunch followed by deck time. It was brutally hot so we huddled under the umbrella. P got a couple of dips in the pool and got to enjoy a popsicle stick for a snack. P called, "Daddy, P have pink shoes on in bed!" when she woke up from her nap.

Dinner? Tacos followed by frozen yogurt.

The highlight of the weekend? When the generator powering our house was finally removed. Yes, starting Friday night it was on-again, off-again power. There's nothing more irritating. Well, I guess off-again, off-again power would be more irritating. But, still, it was nice to have the generator gone.

And, P discovered directions on Sunday, as in, No Mommy, restaurant all over there, and, No Mommy, our home all over there - in response to when I turned the "wrong" way when pushing the stroller.


Cheers!
mouse

Continuing the Journey

Dear Friends and Family,

After a month break, we're back in business.

My partner and I met a couple of times over lunch to talk about progress. And, I've begun capturing my thoughts on paper. It's an interesting exercise. Just writing it down forces you to be more precise about what's in your head. And, it spawns additional questions and thoughts.

The primary question ahead of us right now is one I'm sure many businesses need to work through - tax structure and equity framework. What kind of legal entity do we want to set up? And, how do we want to split the investment in the company and the equity/compensation from the company? Neither are glamorous decisions. But, one we need to tackle before we can hire our first employee.

Our first customer? Well, that's easy. Me. Our second customer? That's easy too. My partner.


Cheers!
mouse

Note to Self: She's Only Two

Dear Friends and Family,

The one thing I can't stand doing with P? Going shopping.

Now keep in mind, I barely can stand shopping in the first place. I'm an in and out as soon as the deed is done kind of shopping person. And, P makes that impossible. She runs around the store like a crazy person and I can't make a half-witted decision to save my life.

Mr. mouse doesn't make it any better. He loves shopping. So, he shops and leaves it to me to run around the store like a crazy person following P. And, since he loves to shop, he then lingers. And, I boil. And, since he loves to shop, he indulges her running. And, I boil over.

That was last night. I was pretty peeved. Then we got home, she was sleeping and I was watching her. And, I remembered, she's only two. And, one day I'll wish she was two again. At the end of a school day, she comes running when I go to pick her up. I get a gleeful, "Mommy!" followed by a giant hug and kiss. And, I guess that trade-off is worth it.

I just need to convince her that running in the store is a bad idea. And, I need to find a way to convince Mr. mouse to give me the space to work with her.


Cheers!
mouse

Less Than a Week and Counting

Dear Friends and Family,

I know when pressed into a corner we always find a way to get to done. But, I just don't see how we're going to pull a rabbit out of this hat.

August 2nd is less than a week away and it seems like the news will be co-opted between now and then unless we can find a solution. And, I want them to find a solution.

Selfishly, I need the economy to pick up if I'm going to either pursue my grand idea or pursue my capstone career move. And, truth be told, I need the economy to pick up if I'm going to retire at all. Otherwise, I see myself continuing on the same trajectory which isn't a bad trajectory, just not the one I would be on if I had my first choice.

And, maybe that's how it happens. We look at others and see where they "end up" and need to remember that so many factors outside of their control might keep them from their first choice. There could be an illness in the family. There could be economic downturns. There could a host of things that add bumps to the road.

But, back to the current mess. I can't see how the current batch of plans is going to come to anything good. My prediction? House Republicans will need to work with House Democrats to pass something that will be palatable to the Senate and the President. It will make the Tea Party madder than mad, but it's the only way I see out of the crazy land we seem to be in.


Cheers!
mouse

Oh, The Places You'll Go

Dear Friends and Family,

I'm not sure. Sometimes I'm convinced I'll do grand things, soar to high heights. But, sometimes I wonder if life isn't better with less ambition. What if my grand goal was simpler? To simply enjoy life, have enough to make ends meet, to be okay with being. Perhaps it's not a bad path.

Speaking of the Dr. Seuss book, P loved it for about three days - asking for it non-stop at home and on the road. Then, one afternoon, I was reading it to her, and we got to the page where the main character hits a lurch, her balloon gets stuck on a tree and the other balloons fly off without her. And, P got really sad. She shed a tear and asked for a hug and didn't want to continue reading the book. Since then, it's been relegated. I don't even see it in her book pile anymore.

She's growing up so quickly. I think this is the last year we get to enjoy of toddler-hood. I think by the time she's three, we'll be well into pre-K land. There's a piece of me that wishes we could press the rewind button and do the last two years all over again. But, there's a piece of me that's okay cherishing the memories and moving on to new adventures with P.

Oh, the places we'll go.


Cheers!
mouse

07.25.11: Record Weather

Dear Friends and Family,

I fell asleep Friday night thinking that the smothering heat we had over the week would make for a miserable weekend. I awoke at 1AM to learn that it would make for a miserable Friday night. We had record rain Friday night surpassing every previous record of a single day's rainfall. Right. More than a hundred years of record keeping. Wow.

We fell back asleep by around four. And, we slept until P woke us at 8:30.

Saturday? Birthday party for a friend's toddler followed by a nap, errands, and time at home with P. We decided to eat in to save money.

Sunday? Brunch and F1 with Auntie Janet followed by a nap for P and time at home with P. We decided to eat in again to save money.

Actually, I'm not sure if Mr. mouse's motivation is to save money. He may just be acquiescing to my request to eat in without realizing my motivation.

Now, we need to prepare for the barrage of mosquitoes that will come with the standing pools of water from Friday's rain. Sigh. And, Mr. mouse needs to wake up. His alarm is ringing like mad. Ah. He just did. Yeah.


Cheers!
mouse

Paying the Piper

Dear Friends and Family,

Three months in a row where the cash left over at the end of the month equals zero. Time to come up with a plan so August doesn't turn into a repeat of the prior months.

Now, all is not stark in the mouse household. We still saved each month. It's just usually, we have something left over after our savings. These three months, we haven't.

Just need to refocus on our expenses. Make sure we have our act together before it creeps into something bigger.

I think I'm going to give us a daily budget, but not the same amount each night.

Monday: 13% (base + a little extra for gas and lunches at work)
Tuesday: 8% (base)
Wednesday: 17% (base + gas + dinner out)
Thursday: 8% (base)
Friday: 8% (base)
Saturday: 25% (the big day - since it's when we do our food shopping)
Sunday: 20% (a smaller day - since it's the weekend)

Excuse the rounding - Tuesday, Thursday and Friday are the same amount (8.3%).


Cheers!
mouse

Heat Wave

Dear Friends and Family,

The weather does this to the best of us.

We have a top three. We work on them. We have ups and downs. We work on them. Things come up. We work on them.

Then, the heat hits. And, everything changes.

It's like it becomes your new top 3 - right there - just dealing with the heat. And, if bad news comes? Sorry. Already irritated with the heat. There's no room for bad news. Good news? Sorry. Already irritated with the heat. It doesn't make anything feel any better because whatever news it was didn't solve the heat. And, when things come up? Sorry. Don't have any coping mechanisms left... You know... The heat.

Yes. It's that bad around here. And, we're fortunate. Mr. mouse and P and I are cryogenically preserved during the day thanks to our respective caregivers' generous policy with central air conditioning. We only need to deal with a passable home unit and the car.

I can see why crime goes up when the heat goes up. People are just in a foul mood and it becomes pervasive.

So, time to take a step back and remember, summer is a brief joy. There will be smothering summer days and there will be picture perfect summer days.

I just need to keep telling myself that.


Cheers!
mouse

Happy Belated Birthday, Mouse Journal

Dear Friends and Family,

Um, ask me how I missed it, and I'll plead total ignorance. But, Mouse Journal turned 5 this year. Yes, 5.

Five years ago, this past April, I started keeping this journal. And, in that time so much has changed. We finished getting the mouse house ready for sale. We sold it right before prices started dropping. We moved in together. I started a new job. The economy took a decided turn for the worse. We decided to start a family. Mr. mouse started a new job (well sorta). And, yet, here we all are. And, life goes on.

Congratulations to all of us for doing what we do best.


Cheers!
mouse

07.19.11: Weekly Weigh In

Dear Friends and Family,

weigh in: 139.4

Uh huh. Down over 2 lbs from last week!

Not that you can let one number get you up or get you down, it's all part of a trend. But, I can't resist being a little happier today because of it.

My goal for the upcoming week? Simply to stay at 139.4 or under. There's always time for more loss, but this week feels like a week where simply maintaining isn't a bad thing.


Cheers!
mouse

07.18.11: Lazy Summer Weekends

Dear Friends and Family,

Yes, a weekend without any obligations. I know there are loose ends we'll need to tie up this weekend, but it was worth it.

Friday, I took the afternoon off and went to see Harry Potter before picking P up from school. It was fun to have an afternoon off. I had a great seat with the seat on each side of me open. It was my first 3D movie, and I like that it added to the movie without becoming the movie. That's what technology is supposed to do. And, I received a foursquare badge surprise to boot.

Saturday, we went out for lunch (pizza) and then stopped off to buy bread and pick up library books. I filled the pool while Mr. mouse took P on a nap/walk. Then, P took a quick dip in the pool before we went to the grocery store and got ice cream.

Sunday, we swung through the farmer's market en route to brunch (diner). Then, because P was awake, we swung through the park on the way home. We took a longer wade through the pool, played inside, napped and then had dinner before walking to the local ice cream shop for more ice cream.

Before you think I've gone crazy, I've been indulging in sorbet - same cold sweetness at a fraction of the points. I know. I know. There's something about the creaminess of ice cream, but I'm okay with sorbet. In fact, I may pick up the chocolate sorbet that Whole Foods carries. It's quite good.

Last night, I was up because of my nap and some work. So, today, I need to keep a handle on my food so I don't blow weigh-in tomorrow.


Cheers!
mouse

Taking Children Out to Dine

Dear Friends and Family,

This is where I turn into one of those parents.

I never liked hearing other people's children. And, frankly, I'm not a big fan of hearing my own child if she's screaming and whining and being a public nuisance. I am not one of those parents who are able to "tune it out" when it's their kid or someone else's kid for that matter.

And, fortunately, due to some luck and some hard work, P is generally not one of those kids. She wants to participate in the conversation. She wants to be a part of the meal. She likes going out to eat.

Now, let's layer on the completely self-centered arrogant layer. I'm going to preface it by saying we've been fortunate and we're grateful for the life we are able to lead. We have a security that comes with years of saving and two wage earners who work very hard at what they do. So, forgive me if I come across as a completely self-centered arrogant SOB here.

But, what's a "special treat" out for you might be just a typical night out for us. So, there's no way of knowing what your expectation is. I get it. I've seen it. Go out on Valentine's Day or New Year's Eve for dinner and it's like amateur night at the improv. I'm willing to concede those two nights as special nights and generally we steer well clear of restaurants on the former and accept that everyone's going to be a little rowdy on the latter.

But, every other night in between? Seriously? Do you really believe restaurateurs want to see your sorry @$$ once a year vs. my equally sorry @$$ once every two months?

I get that there's behavior that makes parents with kids unwelcome. But, be realistic, money is money and people have a right to spend it as they see fit especially if the kid's not doing anything wrong.

Okay. Off my soap box.


Cheers!
mouse

I Survived

Dear Friends and Family,

Contrary to what the data implies, we humans can exhibit discipline and control if we want to. And, yesterday was a personal victory for me. One that I celebrate because it gave me a sense of accomplishment.

I went to lunch. I had a Diet Coke (standard drink for me). I ate four chips and salsa from the appetizer plate instead of mindlessly munching. I ordered my steak and broccoli and fruit. I cut my steak in half when it arrived. I ate half my steak with my broccoli and my fruit. I boxed the leftovers. I had a fabulous lunch chatting with my teammates. And, we drove back to the office afterwards.

No excitement. But, a quiet sense of accomplishment. And, a reminder to myself that food can be a social event without it becoming the social event.

For dinner, Mr. mouse grilled burgers and I tossed a side salad. The scale shows nothing criminal this morning. And, I didn't "blow" my points "allowance" on lunch.

Victory.


Cheers!
mouse

Team Lunch

Dear Friends and Family,

It's a friend's birthday and we're taking her out to lunch. And, now, I'm realizing Weight Watchers is like a bicycle. You never really forget. But, like a bicycle, you don't really remember by thinking about it, you remember by getting on it and wobbling around the block once or twice before taking it out for a ride.

There I was, yesterday, looking up nutritional information on the restaurant's website instead of relying on the item descriptions to try and discern what is healthy. And, of course, I was shocked at the lack of correlation between item description and its actual nutritional content. Some salads had more points than entrees. Some sandwiches were worse for you than burgers. Some items, in spite of sounding decadent, were actually not bad.

Where'd I land? Ultimately, I narrowed down based on points. Then, I chose based on sodium content. And, if all goes to plan, I'll be eating half of a steak with broccoli and a fruit cup. Now, if that sounds as boring as hell, well it is. My initial option was a stir-fried Kung Pao chicken with rice. But, then I looked at the sodium content and decided the steak was a better option for today. I can always go back and have the Kung Pao chicken another day.

And, that's another thing I'm remembering while on Weight Watchers. Seriously, think about it a moment, is it an absolute once in a lifetime opportunity, or is it just food? When we went to London (during my last Weight Watchers foray) and when we went to Turkey (again, last Weight Watchers foray) I decided it was worth it. I would make conscious decisions, but I would be okay with a gain for the week. If it took me a week or two or a month or two more, it was worth it, for those trips.

But, lunch at work? Definitely not worth it. The restaurant is down the road. We go approximately once a month. The food, while good, is not great. I can get any of the dishes anytime. Not worth batting an eye, much less breaking a sweat.


Cheers!
mouse

07.12.11: Weekly Weigh In

Dear Friends and Family,

weigh in: 141.8

Down 0.6 lbs in two weeks. Definitely slower the second time. That's okay. I'd love the pounds to melt away, but I'm okay with slow and steady weight loss. I guess the way I need to think about it is... if I hadn't been on Weight Watchers the last two weeks, I would have made worse food decisions and I wouldn't be down any weight, I'd be neutral or up.

And, I refuse to try to think ahead and extrapolate my weight loss to say... okay, at 0.3 lbs a week, I'll be at goal weight by... because it doesn't work that way. Sometimes you get lucky and it goes faster. Sometimes you hit a rough patch and life takes over and it goes slower. And, sometimes you end up right were you thought you would. And, that is why I refuse to try to think ahead.

I have plotted out my day's food. And, happy day, I've got sushi on the agenda for lunch and polenta with mushrooms from the farmer's market on the docket for dinner. Yeah for mouse!


Cheers!
mouse

07.11.11: Terrible Twos

Dear Friends and Family,

This weekend was a weekend of battles. We had our good moments and our not-so-good moments.

Moments we wish we could bottle and replay? swings at the park, breakfast at P's favorite breakfast stop, smiles at the baseball game, pizza for breakfast, blowing bubbles on the deck, typing on the computer and playing with P's puzzles

Moments we wish we never had to go through the first time? diaper changing battles, holding hands when walking battles, being carried when crossing the street battles, getting dressed battles and getting buckled/unbuckled into the car sear battles

Well, we had a fabulous meltdown Sunday evening. And, after rolling on the floor crying for several minutes, P got her act together and was a model toddler afterwards. We'll see how today goes.


Cheers!
mouse

U2 Set List - Soldier Field Chicago

Dear Friends and Family,

Before I forget...

• Even Better Than the Real Thing
• The Fly
• Mysterious Ways
• Until the End of the World
• Out of Control
• Get on Your Boots
• I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
• Stay
• Beautiful Day
• Elevation
• Pride
• Miss Sarajevo
• Zooropa
• City of Blinding Lights
• Vertigo
• I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight
• Sunday Bloody Sunday
• Scarlet
• Walk On

First Encore

• One
• Where the Streets Have No Name

Second Encore

• Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me
• With or Without You
• Moment of Surrender
• One Tree Hill

As always, I ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would. In a perfect world, the concert wouldn't have been delayed and we would have gone last year on a weekend night with a one year old instead of on a Tuesday night with a two year old. But, I don't think I would have gotten the same things out of the concert a year ago. I was too scattered mentally. But, this year, the message of all that's going on it the world, and being grateful, and taking action really resonated with me.

More to stew on.


Cheers!
mouse

Kitchen Reboot

Dear Friends and Family,

I've figured out the obvious. When you do things a little bit each day, it's a lot easier than tackling it all at once. And, it's the "new" stuff that tends to kill me - like returning from a trip and having to go through all the stuff Mr. mouse accumulated to see what stays and what needs to leave.

I'd give our kitchen a 6 out of 10 right now. Overall, it's presentable. But, there's a pile of food we brought home from the trip. There's a pile of postcards and stickers and random paper that needs to GO AWAY this weekend before it spawns and becomes a full-fledged random pile of stuff. There's artwork that needs to be carried upstairs. There's ear plugs that need to be carried upstairs. There's plastic ware that needs to be put away. There's bottles that need to be cleaned. There's pots that need to be put away. There's sunscreen that needs to be carried upstairs.

Huh, I guess the biggest thing to tackle is the innocent pile of paper from our trip. Then, the rest of it is easy. I'm cautiously optimistic.


Cheers!
mouse

Technology Rant

Dear Friends and Family,

Well. I was ready to rant about technology (hence the title) but then Facebook got their act together and fixed their news feeds rather than demanding my cell phone number to log in.

I still want to rant, though, so I will.

We went to a concert last night. And, I'm going to reveal how old I am, I remember a time when people would light their lighters and commune through the particular song that ignited the emotion within. Well, at the concert last night, it was that moment. P was sleeping on my shoulder and I was thinking about all the people I miss - people who are gone forever and people who might never be. And, at that moment Mr. mouse felt compelled to show me an app on his phone to make a lighter - your choice on color.

And, there went my moment. And, I was ticked. And, he knew it. And, now, you do too.

Those moments are so ephemeral. Somehow, even after he put the phone away, the moment had passed. A little bit of the magic was lost. And, that's why I hate technology today - for intruding in on my special moment.

My goal for the rest of the week? Get P back on schedule, get the house organized, and get some rest myself.


Cheers!
mouse

07.05.11: Discombobulated

Dear Friends and Family,

After a long weekend, we should have our act together, but we don't.

1. We took a quick trip to Mt. Rushmore over the weekend which was a lot of fun, but also chewed up our long weekend. We flew out Saturday night, spent Sunday at Badlands National Park and Mt. Rushmore. Then, flew back Monday.
2. I had a crap weigh-in this morning. I stepped on the scale, it was flat to last week. I stepped on again. It went up 0.2 lbs. I stepped on again. It went up another 0.2 lbs. I stepped on a third time and got weigh-in for the week - up 0.4 lbs.
3. P was a mess yesterday, refusing to nap, falling asleep at 8PM, waking from the fireworks at 11. I was assuming Mr. mouse had nap duty, he didn't realize nap duty even existed. I should have been more explicit.
4. The house is a disaster since P did not nap, then we chose to dwaddle over the fireworks, and then P woke. It's tough to balance dwaddling and being efficient. One gets stuff done so that you can enjoy life. But, the other reminds you that you need to enjoy life.
5. We have a concert to go to tonight which I could do without since I'm annoyed it got rescheduled to a weeknight. I need to leave work early. P still needs a bath tonight. I'm sure the concert is only going to throw her MORE off schedule.
6. For some reason my bank account has the bill to wrong on a new credit card and I need to get it sorted out. Technology is nice, but sometimes it lets me down. Then, I'm annoyed until technology wows me again.
7. Oh. And, we're on a budget through next week since June was a rough month for us. I have a sneaking suspicion Mr. mouse over-adjusted his tax withholding amounts, but better safe than sorry. Or, at least I keep telling myself that.

Hence, the feeling of discombobulation. I'm sure I can sort through all of this over the week and land on my two feet by the weekend. I just need to take the time to sort through it.


Cheers!
mouse

The Car Bug

Dear Friends and Family,

Mr. mouse wants to buy a new car. No, not a new car for him. He wants to buy a new car for me. And, I don't want a new car.

His arguments? My car is old. My car needs work. My car guzzles gas. The cost of the repairs will equal the car payment - a new bushing, new tires, new snow tires, key repair, oil leak repair, etc.

My arguments? We'll still have two cars. I like my car. I can drive my car in my sleep. Our insurance will go up. We're still saving up from our tax hit this spring. Our savings took another hit this past month. Our checking account isn't feeling particularly flush. I don't want to rack up miles on a new car and kill the resell value in the first two years.

For now, we'll continue to punt on the issue. Basically, it comes down to Mr. mouse convincing me because we're not going to buy a new car without it being a joint decision. And, we're not going to trade-in my car unless I want to. It is my car after all.

This is an interesting quandary - something we've been talking a lot about. What takes a person from ready to buy to active buying. What is the trigger? Time for some navel gazing, I guess.


Cheers!
mouse

Random Piles of Paper

Dear Friends and Family,

Well... The daily discipline is keeping the kitchen in order. And, I've gotten ambitious enough to try to tackle a "random pile of paper." Now, these "random piles of paper" are hardly "random" or "piles of paper." They are piles of stuff paper, postcards, receipts, souvenirs, stickers, etc. that Mr. mouse amasses. They're a hodgepodge of stuff that take an inordinately long amount of time to go through.

Why?

Well. Each piece is random so there's no pattern. First decision point: what is it? Second decision point: is it worth keeping? Third decision point: what is a logical home for it? Action: place accordingly. Rinse. Repeat. Now any one piece probably takes 30-60 seconds. But, a typical random pile of paper usually contains somewhere between 100-200 random pieces. So, a pile takes a fair bit to get through. And, there's little sign of progress while you're working your way through it.

Now, the one part that gives me hope in all of this is that by keeping the counter clean, I am close to eliminating any new "random piles of paper" since the counter is the main source of "random piles of paper." What inevitably happens is the stuff builds up on the counter because it has no real home - it could be partially opened mail, it could be stuff left over from a trip, it could be stuff from work. We need the counter for something or other. We pile all the stuff into a pile and move it somewhere else for the moment.

Voila! Random pile of paper born.

Well, last night's pile's route started in the kitchen and went from the kitchen to the living room coffee table to the bedroom floor now to the family room coffee table where it sits to be tackled a little bit every night. It's a combination of stuff from our spring travel including San Diego and Omaha and bills and coupons.

Sigh. 15 minutes a day. Signs of progress.


Cheers!
mouse

Lunches Organized

Dear Friends and Family,

Now I remember why Weight Watchers can be so tough. It takes discipline and time and planning. And, I spent a fair bit of time doing just that yesterday.

And, here's the "budget" I came up with:

• 5AM: 1 pt, coffee with milk
• 8AM: 3 pts, cereal, coffee with milk
• 11AM: 8 pts, lunch
• 2PM: 0 pts, fruit salad
• 5PM: 4 pts, granola bar
• 8PM: 15 pts of randomness
• 11PM: 3 pts: dessert

And, I organized a bunch of 8 pt lunch options. Now, the big question is, can I stay "full enough" on my lunch options to make it to 2PM snack? And, will my 2PM snack keep me full enough until dinner? Or, am I better off with 3:30PM snack of fruit and granola? That may be the way to go.


Cheers!
mouse

06.28.11: Weekly Weigh In

Dear Friends and Family,

weigh in: 142.4

Despite a tough weekend, I made it. Down 0.4 pounds this week. I've love to be down a full pound, but a loss is a loss and I'll take it. Better 0.4 pounds than 0.2 pounds. Which leaves me at 5.6 down and 24.4 to go.

Lots of things to do this morning. So, I'm going to go get started on my day. Not quite as ecstatic as I would have been if I had lost a full pound, but happier than I would have been if I hadn't lost any weight.


Cheers!
mouse

06.27.11: Wait, Where'd June Go?!?!

Dear Friends and Family,

P had a fantastic weekend at home.

Saturday

treat and a bagel

breakfast with Aunnie J

see a play

Daddy's rice for lunch

meet up with my sister who came in for one last weekend before moving

play all night

cupcakes before turning for the evening

Sunday

park

Daddy's chicken for brunch

ice cream (favorite brown ice cream)

play in the pool

rice and beans

nap

walk with Daddy

dinner on the deck

bath

quick trip to the supermarket

There's no better weekend as far as P is concerned. Us? We had a good weekend including time on the deck reading while P was napping.


Cheers!
mouse

Looking Forward to the Weekend

Dear Friends and Family,

It's Friday and I'm looking forward to the weekend. And, now, I'm wondering if that's a good thing.

Always being that excited about not working isn't always a good thing. I mean, shouldn't I be just as excited about Monday? Okay, maybe not. But, still, this might be a sign of bigger issues.

What I am excited about is something so atypical for mouse, I'm almost embarrassed to write about it. I splurged on facial cleanser and lotion and it arrived in the mail yesterday and I'm going to try it this morning. I'll let you know if I feel 10 years younger next week. Somehow, I don't think I will feel that much better. We'll see.

Either way, still excited for the weekend.


Cheers!
mouse

Top 3 Update

Dear Friends and Family,

Stuck in a boring meeting yesterday, I started thinking about what was on my wish list - in an ideal world list. And, then, I started prioritizing realizing I can't make progress on all of it at once. And, then, I realized I had a Top 3 Update.

Priority 1: Still, P. I'm not going to park her in front of a TV while I do yoga at night. That's just not who I am. So, while she's awake, she's still my number one priority. Now, I have no qualms about parking her in front of Mr. mouse for five minutes while I enter my food on Weight Watchers. Let's just be clear on the difference.

Priority 2: Weight Watchers. I want my long term health odds back and the best way to do that is to get back to my goal weight. I know at some point this will be able to drop off the Top 3 list because I'll hit my goal weight and figure out what maintenance means, but for now, it's got a spot.

Priority 3: The house and continuing on the chore wheel and the 15 minutes of clearing and de-cluttering. At some point, this too will hit maintenance. But, for now, it's something I'm willing to prioritize.

Happy Thursday.


Cheers!
mouse

Digging Deeper into the Clutter Zone

Dear Friends and Family,

Sometimes organizing is agonizing - like staring at something and trying to find a home for it. Or, staring at something trying to decide if you should keep it or toss it. And, sometimes, organizing is remarkably easy.

For example, last night, it wasn't bad at all. I found myself confronting the kitchen cabinet where we keep our "medicines" or as it turns out our expired medicines, their corresponding sheets that the pharmacist gave us, expired vitamins, unused droppers and all sorts of stuff that with a quick look I tossed.

That was easy. Now, I can use the space for my new vitamins that are on order - vitamins I never had space for because the cabinet was always full.


Cheers!
mouse

Progress

Dear Friends and Family,

Nothing like a good weigh in to change your mood for the day.

Yes! I'm down a pound from last week.

And, in looking up Mr. mouse's benefits, it looks like it makes sense for him to work one more year than we had originally planned because several benefits kick in after that last year that we would be walking away from if he retired before then.

And, if Mr. mouse works one more year, then, that's a batch of income we weren't planning on in our retirement calculator which means we're in better shape than we had anticipated we would be this month given the abysmal performance of our portfolio.

I know, I just extended retirement by a year for Mr. mouse. But, really, I didn't extend it due to the performance of our portfolio, I extended it because of the benefits and the portfolio boost is a nice side bonus.


Cheers!
mouse

06.20.11: The Napping House

Dear Friends and Family,

Fortunately, it did not rain this weekend. So, instead of being forced inside by buckets of water, we got to enjoy P's little swimming pool, pouring buckets of water and splashing around.

We didn't do much of anything this weekend besides tackle the task list, play with P, and nap. I napped both days while P was napping. And, I'm still tired. I guess I needed it after last week.

So, I'm ready to kick off the week - decently clean kitchen, fully stocked refrigerator and a couch clear of stuff. What more can a mouse ask for?


Cheers!
mouse

P's and Q's

Dear Friends and Family,

Nothing like trying to instill manners in a toddler.

P will say "please" when prompted. She'll say "thank you" spontaneously.

But, when it's expeditious, "move" and "get out" are completely acceptable words in her vocabulary. We're trying to get her to say "excuse me" instead, but she'll only do it if prompted. And, when she says it, it sounds just like "move" or "get out" in tone. In P's mind, it's just a new set of words to accomplish the same task.


Cheers!
mouse

Long Commutes

Dear Friends and Family,

Another day, another killer commute.

Weather in the morning, accident in the afternoon. Yes, I love my job. Well, no, actually, I do not love my job. Mr. mouse loves the daycare that comes with my job. It is not free, but it is subsidized. They allow us to bring in P's food. And, they have a GIANT outdoor facility that she gets to play in twice a day, weather permitting.

So, until I either break under the pressure or P goes to school or I get fired or Mr. mouse begins to appreciate something other than this playground, P and I will continue to drive a tortuous route every morning and every afternoon.

BTW, I read an article. Longer commutes are directly correlated with increased obesity, divorce, neck pain, stress, worry, and sleeplessness. Small price to pay for this playground, wouldn't you say?

Oh, and the forecast for the next five days? Rain. Yes, a week of killer commutes.


Cheers!
mouse

06.15.11: Rain, Rain, Go Away

Dear Friends and Family,

What an awful spring we've had. And, it's lining up to be more of the same this week. More cold. More rain. More clouds. Sigh.

Well, at least we were able to get away for the weekend and enjoy seeing our friends in Montreal.

I think P was eager to get home. Two weekends away seem tough on her. And, we didn't bring swim gear for the pool. And, the race activities were at nap time so she slept marginally. And, the kids were younger so she had to share her toys. And, it was pouring rain on Sunday. All in all, it was a tough weekend for her.

But, last night we had fun.

On the way home, she told me froggy had a wet diaper and needed a new Elmo diaper with a little bit of cream. Another cute moment was when we were playing. She noticed a couple of drops of water on the floor and said, "Hang on a sec." She went to the bathroom, grabbed a couple of squares of toilet paper, came out, wiped up the water, and threw out the tissue before resuming play.

Our little girl is growing up.


Cheers!
mouse

Too Tired to Be Angry

Dear Friends and Family,

I was pissed last night. And, there's nothing like doing something stupid when you're angry. And, with my stunning judgement, I stayed up and organized the house - not because I wanted to, but because I've been annoyed with Mr. mouse.

He took a new job recently and the hours are longer, there's work on the weekend, there's more social events, and, now, our vacation day on Monday isn't a vacation day any more because he needs to come back early for work.

See? I'm angry.

So, last night, kudos to him, Mr. mouse skipped dinner and came home to spend the evening with us before heading out for drinks with the team to celebrate something or other. But, there was still stuff left to be done, so I began doing it.

And, 15 minutes turned into 50 when really I should have been asleep 30 minutes before I started (if that makes any sense) and now, I'm too tired to be angry.

I'm a wreck. Mr. mouse needs to get through this contract and needs to find some better level of work-life balance. I feel like I'm stepping it up to try to get our lives back in order and he's taking it as an opportunity to step down a notch so really we end up in the same spot with a lot more effort on my part.

Okay. Off to another rainy commute.


Cheers!
mouse

Angry at the World

Dear Friends and Family,

It happens to the best of us. And, today it's happening to me.

It's dark and grey out. I'm tired. I ate poorly yesterday. I didn't get my 15 minutes in. And, now, I'm angry at the world.

And, we revisited an ethical dilemma yesterday and so far everyone I've spoken with agrees with me. So... Let's say you work at Company X with 100 other employees. Let's say one of the employees is leaving and has a chair that is the envy of a subset of the employees. Well, it turns out the employee who is leaving is holding a silent auction for their chair with the funds to be used for a group good-bye dinner with the participants of the silent auction.

I've always been on the fence about this employee. I've always felt they live in a land of grey that I choose not to occupy. Well, this is just one more example. I think we all agree, if they were to choose to give the chair away to another employee, they are free to choose the recipient and the recipient is free to use the chair at work. I think we also agree, if a group of friends want to get together for a going away dinner for a colleague who is leaving, that is completely ethically fine too. It's the silent auction thing that is wrong.

And, this just confirms that I already knew. I'm angry at the world today.


Cheers!
mouse

Good Weigh In

Dear Friends and Family,

Continuing on the process of trying to better myself, I've decided to get back on the Weight Watchers bandwagon, again.

Okay. You must be wondering what the deal is. Why is this time so different?

Well, it comes down to a time thing. It takes discipline to go to the supermarket regularly. It takes discipline to wash, cut, weigh, label fruits and vegetables. It takes a lot of freaking time to enter the info into Weight Watchers on the new interface. And, it takes discipline to remember everything you ate to log it into the new system. And, it takes discipline to learn all of the new values.

So, it takes two to tango. There's me without the time to pack my food regularly. And, there's Weight Watchers with it's "new and improved" point values and interface.

But, option B is finding a new system to follow since 'just hoping' clearly wasn't working. And, that takes time too. So, for now I'm back on the bandwagon again.

And, since it's week 1, I had a good weigh in so I'm motivated to continue.


Cheers!
mouse

Progress, Again

Dear Friends and Family,

Well, the progress continues. The bills are paid. The kitchen is organized. The food is logged. The couch and coffee table are clear. The to do list is documented.

If not fulfilled, I'm at least not feeling overwhelmed.

I've found that 15 minutes working with Mr. mouse is enough to keep the kitchen consistently organized, with the exception of Thursday nights when I go through the mail. Then, it takes 30-45 minutes.

It leaves me a couple of minutes extra to begin tackling other areas which means I either need to consistently allocate more time which I am loathe to do, do it in fits and bursts when the motivation strikes, be okay with it not happening, or find a way to do the kitchen faster.

I think I need to be okay doing it in fits and bursts when the motivation strikes. Realistically, I'm not going to dedicate more time or find a way to do the kitchen faster. I guess since what I'm doing is organizing, as long as I can keep an area organized, maintenance shouldn't be a nightmare. The house cleaners should take care of the cleaning so all I need to take care of is the stuff that comes into the house - easier said than done at times, but at least we're clear on what we're trying to do.


Cheers!
mouse

06.06.11: P's First Dentist Visit

Dear Friends and Family,

We were in Detroit over the weekend visiting friends and oddly enough going to see the dentist. I know. It sounds odd. But, it makes total sense if you think about it from a slightly different perspective.

Mr. mouse and I both have friends in Detroit. We would, with our crazy schedule, love to see those friends regularly, but inevitably, life takes over and the months slip by. But, with a dentist there, we guarantee ourselves two visits a year. See? In our crazy world, this makes perfect sense.

The dentist was a bust. P didn't mind the chair. She loved the glasses. But, she had no intention of actually opening her mouth. Still, when asked, she said she had fun at the dentist office.

The rest of the weekend was a ball for her with one exception I'll get to later. She napped. She played in the pool. She played in the park. She went to the supermarket where they have carts shaped like cars. She ate ice cream. She ate cookies. She played Legos with friends. Excellent times for a two year old.

The exception? We went to a friend's house for dinner Saturday night. And, P was afraid of their dog. And, by afraid, I mean terrified. Wait, that doesn't capture it. TERRIFIED. ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIED. ALMOST VOMITING SCARED. HEART RACING, MOANING NO MOMMY, NO MOMMY, NO DADDY, NO DADDY, TERRIFIED. And, Mr. mouse took the tack of she'll be fine, she'll remember it fondly and get used to it. And, so did his friends, our dinner hosts. Well, I had words for him later that evening. And, our other friends were in violent agreement the next day when we saw them for lunch... they got to witness the whole thing in action since they were over for dinner as well.

And, now, I've decided Mr. mouse is lacking in the judgement department on this one. Or, maybe a kinder way to put it, we just violently disagree on a proper approach. But, I don't care. I'm vetoing subjecting her to that kind of cruelty going forward.


Cheers!
mouse

What'd I Do with My 15 Minutes?

Dear Friends and Family,

I know.

You're bored witless by my latest journey down this path of getting my life together. Well, yesterday, I spent my 15 minutes folding laundry. It was probably less than 15 minutes, but that's all I've got for you.

That, and a learning on wellness. I went out to lunch with a friend and ordered the barbecue chicken wrap and when I came back to the office and looked up the nutritional information I was aghast to realize I had spent my entire day's caloric allowance on one sandwich. Next time, I need to either eat half the sandwich or order it without cheese, sauce, chips.

I remember these days from Weight Watchers - when you realize, yes, almost all of the food out there should be treated as toxic.


Cheers!
mouse

More Progress

Dear Friends and Family,

Last night was the simplest of my 15 minutes, but it still felt good. I cleared off a small coffee table we have in P's play area.

I think the feeling of euphoria is a combination of seeing the progress on the physical organization and seeing the progress on the mental organization. With two weekends in row at home, we've made a lot of progress on the list of random tasks.

At some point, I know we'll fall behind again. But, for today, I'm feeling good.


Cheers!
mouse

Happier Mouse

Dear Friends and Family,

Yes. It's finally sunnier and warmer out. The days are longer. And, I'm in a happier place.

And, so far, my "chore wheel" is working. Actually, it's not a chore wheel, but it's an organized list of what needs to get done when to keep us from devolving into chaos.

For instance, today, I have on the docket the usual - feed P dinner, play with P, P bath time, and then put P to bed. Then, there's the Wednesday specific tasks which would be pay the bills... check... and then, last but not least, there's the 15 or so minutes I spend each night tidying up.

I'll be honest, 15 minutes a night isn't going to change the world overnight. I've been doing this for close to a month now and the house is still a disaster. But, 15 minutes a night is enough to make steady progress. I guess it's like credit card debt or losing weight - you didn't do all the damage in one day, so you're not likely to fix it all in one day. But, if you chip away at it, sooner or later you'll be where you want to be. And, I'm a day or two or three away from getting the kitchen in order which means I need to begin planning my next area to attack...

Granted at some point I will hit stasis where 15 minutes won't get me any new progress, it'll just get me to even on my current footprint. But, for now, it's enough to keep me going and that's enough for me.

So, yes, between the sunshine and the warmth and the progress on the house, I'm in a happier place.


Cheers!
mouse

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

I Love Pizza

Dear Friends and Family,

Yesterday, in addition to her usual antics on the ride home, P did something new. She's said I love you, Mommy and I love you, Daddy. Last night she added I love pizza.


Cheers!
mouse

Spectating

Dear Friends and Family,

I'll admit it, I am more than mildly curious about the upcoming royal wedding on Friday. I remember my cousins waking up early to watch it. I remember the photographs of the new couple, the new baby, and all of the ensuing drama over the upcoming years culminating in the car accident.

So, today, tomorrow and Friday, I'll read articles and remember those years growing up when I believed in princes and princesses and happily ever after.


Cheers!
mouse

10.0 and Distracted

Dear Friends and Family,

We weighed P last night and she hit the 10.0 kg mark which means Little Miss Third Percentile is finally big enough to be turned around in her car seat - the size of a typical one year old. Also amusing is the fact that she still fits almost all of her clothes from last summer so all of the new clothes I bought were for naught.

She's still so precious and so curious.

On my distracted side note we've been dealing with ants (which she is no longer terrified of) and now water. Sigh. This house is cursed.


Cheers!
mouse

04.25.11: Our "One Year Old"

Dear Friends and Family,

It sadly dawned on me that we are enjoying our last days with a one year old in the house. I know it's not a step function and that P will not be noticeably different on her second birthday from how she is today.

Yet, it feels like the time from one to two went astonishingly quickly. Mr. mouse summed it up perfectly last night when he said the days are long, but the years are short.

Saturday, we went for a haircut. P settled down mid-way through the haircut, watching a counting game on Mr. mouse's phone. Then, P and I went to the park while Mr. mouse went hunting for a new pair of jeans. Mommy and Daddy eyebrows followed by a walk through the neighborhood. And, the afternoon? I think we spent the afternoon at home, just enjoying the weather. Oh, I remember, we headed back to the park to play a little more.

Sunday, we went to the zoo. P takes a little bit to get used to the animals. But, she loved the playground, the peacock, and eventually, the giraffes. We rode the carousel on the way out since she asked to. We rode on the bench for the first half, and then Mr. mouse held her by a stationary, non-animal pole for the second half. P and I had a monster three hour nap in the afternoon while Mr. mouse planted some new grass seeds. Then, we headed out to dinner. P wanted to go to the park, but we out voted her and dinner won out. She ate a giant bowl of plain white rice for dinner. I can't help thinking that's not the healthiest dinner, but I'm sure she could have done worse.


Cheers!
mouse

Dreary and Overcast

Dear Friends and Family,

So, I don't like my new job and much as I liked my old job. I don't feel like I can switch jobs without finding a new daycare solution for P and Mr. mouse and I are happy with our current provider. My boss quit this Tuesday.

I have been trying to get motivated/disciplined about time management, getting enough sleep, eating right and getting the house organized.

And, I'm struggling with the weather.

Thankfully it's Friday.


Cheers!
mouse

Sunflower

Dear Friends and Family,

I was so depressed yesterday morning. Stressed and miserable I left for work. Cold, damp and sad, I went into the office to start my day. Lunch was a miserable affair in an overcast cafeteria. And, the afternoon dragged on.

But, when I left work and drove to pick up P, the sun FINALLY broke through the clouds and I was a new person. I know seasonal disorders affect different people to different degrees, but I am beginning to realize they impact me more than I would like. This cold, wet, snowy, overcast spring certainly hasn't helped.

Hopefully, we get a break in the weather and I can begin to get my life back in gear. Some people celebrate tax freedom day. I celebrate winter freedom day - that brief window from March 21st through September 21st when the days are longer and the air is warmer and mouse is happy.


Cheers!
mouse

Baby

Dear Friends and Family,

How odd.

My first months with P felt like a miracle. I couldn't get enough of her. Mr. mouse and I talk somewhat vaguely about whether we should have another or not.

We went to see a friend last night with a six week old. And, I didn't really miss it. I was totally happy for her. But, I didn't leave with a pang to have a baby in the house.

Huh.


Cheers!
mouse

04.18.11: Leaps and Bounds

Dear Friends and Family,

I won't spend a lot of time writing about the weekend because it was a typical weekend. Instead, I need to write about the leaps and bounds P is taking in her development.

Gross Motor Development
running
swings, see saws, slides
climbing
climbing stairs standing up
squeezing and reorienting to get through spaces

Fine Motor Development
drawing circles
taking off and putting on socks
putting on pants
putting gloves on
doing stuff with gloves on

Oral Motor Development
feel like this is complete

Language Development
speaking in sentences
singing songs

Social-Emotional Development
people's states: eating, sleeping, crying
scary, fun, treat

Cognitive Development
memory
counting to "thirty ten"
recognizing letters and numbers out of order
memorizing books
puzzles
logic (e.g. Mr. Potato Head)
form factor (e.g. the chocolate bar)
clean vs. messy and then how to fix it (e.g. her blanket with a hair on it, Daddy wash it)
waiting (e.g. at the front door for us to lock up)
recognizes home, room
opposites - stand up, sit down

And, unfortunately, it's time to go get read for work.


Cheers!
mouse

Before I Forget

Dear Friends and Family,

Before I forget:

Thursday - zoo, dinner in the hotel room

koala (scared)
giraffe (scared)
rhinoceros (scared)
panda (slept)
polar bear (slept)
zebra (slept)
hippos (liked)
tiger (not in sight)
turtles (liked)
monkeys (tolerated)
flamingos (liked)
ducks (liked)
peacocks (loved)

Friday - bay, safari park, dinner by Whole Foods

rhinoceros (scared)
giraffe (scared)
lunch
cheetah (tolerated)
giraffe (tolerated)
tiger (tolerated)
elephants (tolerated and then liked)
gorillas (tolerated)
lorakeets (liked and then scared witless)
children's playground (loved)
cheetah (tolerated)
carousel (scared and then tolerated)

Saturday - beach, pool, nap, beach playground

Sunday - playground, flight home


Cheers!
mouse

I'm Not Dead

Dear Friends and Family,

No. I'm not dead.

No. I haven't deserted my journal.

Yes. I have been trying to figure out how to manage my morning time better and have been doing a miserable time of it.

Retirement planning. Wow.

I wish this was easier. But, it certainly seems like every man, woman, and child for themself in today's political environment. I'm not sure how people are supposed to make this happen. Mr. mouse and I are on the brink of possible, but we're misers with above average incomes. How is a typical family supposed to do this? It should be possible for the average family. It should be a walk in the park for us, frankly. But, it isn't.

Still, we're on the brink of possible, so I shouldn't complain.


Cheers!
mouse

The Terrible Twos

Dear Friends and Family,

P was a walking nightmare last night.

Every other word out of her mouth was mine. And, every other word out of her mouth was no, effectively giving her a two word vocabulary.

She insisted on doing things her way. She threw several tantrums. She ran around the house like she owned the place.

She's effectively two. Excellent.


Cheers!
mouse

04.11.11: Refreshed

Dear Friends and Family,

As always, Monday morning is a little hectic with my early Monday meeting at work so my vacation update will need to wait until later this week.

But, I can say, the weekend was much needed.

We had our moments, more of them than is healthy, truth be told. And, Mr. mouse had trouble letting go of work the first day. But, overall, I'd say vacation was a good thing and something we should try our hand at again.

Practice makes perfect.


Cheers!
mouse

Vacation Day II

Dear Friends and Family,

After a year of working non-stop, we finally found a four day stretch to get away from it all.

Our flight was delayed four hours yesterday which threw a little kink into our day, but we made it out to the somewhat sunny west coast to see the animals at the zoo. Yes, we're in somewhat sunny San Diego, compliments of a $114 fare on Southwest Airlines.

We went to the zoo yesterday, but P was a little petrified at first. Then, she napped and woke to a little more interest in the animals. She saw a mommy hippopotamus and her two month old baby hippopotamus, a tiger, a pool of turtles, a flock of flamingos, and a peacock from her Tails book.

Her favorite part of the visit? Going to the zoo store for a shirt for school. Excellent. Our child loves the store. Oh, and, of course, the fruit slices we got for a snack when leaving.

We're off to some more exploring today. Happy Friday!


Cheers!
mouse

Mental Stress of Random Stuff

Dear Friends and Family,

I'm beginning to feel bogged down by a bunch of random to dos. There's birthday party invites that need to go out. There's birthday presents to be bought. There's cake to be ordered. There's party to be planned.

There's taxes to be filed. There's retirement savings to be invested.

There's house to be cleaned. There's work to be done. There's sleep to be slept.

And, that's how I know, it must be PMS. Nothing else can make me feel this overwhelmed this quickly.


Cheers!
mouse

04.04.11: Spring Weekend

Dear Friends and Family,

The weather finally turned. Saturday morning was chilly, but ambitious mouse bundled P up and headed out to the park. She doesn't mind the cold and prefers a little bit of cold to a park full of kids.

Saturday night, we headed out to dinner with a friend and discovered a couple of old friends at a new restaurant.

Sunday, we woke to a dilemma of sorts. P told us it hurt near her butt, but she was pointing to her front. And, we realized all of the times we thought she was saying dirt (as in, I have sand in my diaper from playing outside) she was saying hurt.

Choices. Choices. We decided to take her in to see the doctor, just in case. She was okay, until he turned on the otoscope and she recognized it. Then, she was all screaming and tears. They took a urine sample to check for an infection. We'll know today how it turns out.

Sunday was also the day of the waffle with butter. P ate 1.X waffles for breakfast, polished off the rest of her second waffle for a mid-morning snack, and she nibbled on another before dinner. In between she ate nothing and drank three cups of milk. Dinner? A bowl of plain brown rice. I'm not kidding.

Oh, and I need to record the squirrel incident. We were at the park on Sunday and P was looking out towards the street. Or, at least, I thought she was looking out towards the street. All of a sudden she starts screaming/crying, "stroller" and points and I notice a squirrel had climbed up the side of her stroller. She must have been watching it and the squirrel must have crossed some invisible line she had drawn.

Time for work.


Cheers!
mouse

Financial Planning Procrastination

Dear Friends and Family,

Well. You can either have the discipline to do it yourself or you can pay someone to do it for you. I'm convinced we're not doing a good job of it ourselves, but Mr. mouse is reluctant to outsource it.

So, each month, I put aside money to invest for retirement. And, each month, the bulk of it sits there in cash. We need to find the time to sit down and discuss how to invest the money so that it's growing for retirement. Cash sitting there earning nominal bank interest isn't going to get us there.

I know. I shouldn't complain. Most people have enough problems with step 1, putting the money aside. But, here, time IS money. Delaying this part of it only delays retirement, in a very real way.

So, next week we've got plans. The week after, we're sitting down to do this right. Or, at least I tell myself that.

Perhaps the right answer is to let someone else do this for us.


Cheers!
mouse