Confessions of a 20-something mother

[powerfulcheese04]

I use hand sanitizer pretty heavily at school/work because washing my hand 8-20 times per hour was starting to make them crack And bleed. I only use it in the real world in rare situations (like eating where handwashing is inconvenient, or if I stick my hand in something gross like a wet doorknob).

[Luet]

I was always under the impression that unnecessary use of antibacterial products is, you know, bad. Isn't that the whole "superbug" problem? You kill off all the least harmful ones and help the most dangerous become more dangerous.

Oh, I totally agree. I have a little bottle in my glove box but I've only used it on the rare occasion that I have contact with someone who actually seems sick and I don't have the opportunity to wash my hands.

[steph]

I really only use it when I have a brand-new baby and people are coming over to visit. I leave it out on the table for people to use before they hold the baby. Having a 2-week-old baby who has a cold is miserable, scary, and heart-breaking. Otherwise, I agree with you.

[LilBee91]

Antibiotics contribute to the superbug problem, but I don't think hand sanitizer does. I believe most of them mainly use ethanol, which kills too thoroughly to really be a risk. As for antibacterial soaps, I don't know if they have things added to them that carry that risk, or if that's just a sales thing.

[thoughtreader]

I read somewhere that people who used antibacterial soap daily had a higher population of bad/dangerous bacteria on there hands then people who used regular soap.

[megxers]

I know people who talk about times in their lives where books were their only friends, ie in the awkward middle school days. I kind of feel like I'm going through that now, and I'm not sure if I mind. I'd rather read a novel than go hang out in a cafe with an awkward high school friend and be slightly bored most of the time. And I mean, I'm social at work, how can you expect me to be social after it?

But I call it my "Fake MFA" and ignore any other implications. Woo!

[Gravity Defier]

And I mean, I'm social at work, how can you expect me to be social after it?

Amen.

People who aren't introverted have a really hard time understanding how I can be worn out by dealing with hundreds of people a day and then not want to "go out" or "hang out" after work. I just had to play nice to a bunch of people I don't know, some of whom weren't very nice back! Going to a noisy restaurant or even trying to have a quiet conversation is going to tax my already empty inner-battery.


Also, confession: Mich is really good at faking it or whatever because if ever I would have pegged him as anything, it would have been extrovert. Then again, I do recall telling him more than once he could just...relax and not be on all the time, so I think I had an inkling that he was nervous/anxious or otherwise getting antsy.

[Young Val]

Reading anything by e.e. cummings makes me cry.

[Luet]

The "girls night out" that I invited to tonight got cancelled and I was so relieved. I was only going to go because I felt obligated, which is silly. It's weird how life events have changed me from an extrovert to an introvert. Although I still put on a great extrovert act in public.

[Mich]

Sometimes I feel like the only person in the world who doesn't really like Drew Barrymore.

[LilBee91]

Sometimes I feel like the only person in the world who doesn't really like Drew Barrymore.

My roommate sincerely dislikes her. She refuses to watch Ever After.

[Mich]

My roommate sincerely dislikes her. She refuses to watch Ever After.

I don't flat-out hate her. There's just something about the way she talks and her facial expressions that I just don't buy, no matter the movie. I managed to enjoy Titan AE by the end of it, but when that character opened her mouth and spoke with Drew Barrymore's voice I internally went "ugh."

I wish I knew what it was about her that I don't like. Her inflection feels forced, I guess.

[Ela]

Antibiotics contribute to the superbug problem, but I don't think hand sanitizer does. I believe most of them mainly use ethanol, which kills too thoroughly to really be a risk. As for antibacterial soaps, I don't know if they have things added to them that carry that risk, or if that's just a sales thing.

That's correct, LilBee. Hand sanitizers containing alcohol do not contribute to the superbug problem. The effective hand sanitizers contain at least 60% alcohol.
http://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

According to this, antibacterial soaps do not contribute to antibiotic resistance in bacteria. There have been some other concerns about the active ingredient, though.

[Gravity Defier]

I'm just the slightest bit in denial (and definitely in a sort of shock) that Whitney Houston is dead. I have memories of her from when I was 4 or so. Her remake of "I Will Always Love You" was a huge radio hit when my parents were first divorced, so I have somewhat strong memories of that. Her music is still on my MP3 player; I mean, "How Do I Know" and "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" are musical pieces of me I can't imagine not having. And I was just laughing at an admittedly mean-spirited joke about her on The Boondocks! It's kind of surreal, though not as much as Michael Jackson was...

[Mich]

One of my greatest stupid selfish pleasures in life is having someone ask me "what's wrong" when something is, but I haven't had anyone do it to me in years. I'm wondering if I'm just too good at masking it, or if nobody I spend time with knows me well enough to tell. Both are somewhat depressing prospects.

[Eaquae Legit]

I teach Latin partly to show off, I think. I'm proud of my facility with the language.

[Gravity Defier]

One of my greatest stupid selfish pleasures in life is having someone ask me "what's wrong" when something is, but I haven't had anyone do it to me in years. I'm wondering if I'm just too good at masking it, or if nobody I spend time with knows me well enough to tell. Both are somewhat depressing prospects.

It could also be a personality thing on the end of the person who might be asking.

I wouldn't ask someone "What's wrong?" in most cases because I would feel like that's being too intrusive ("Hey, they'll tell me if they want me to know.") and is definitely drawing attention to something being off, which is something that makes me feel awkward when I'm on the other end. I hate for people to notice I'm not okay, even if it's obvious, because I have such a hard time saying why I'm not; it's easier for me to pretend I'm okay until I'm alone and can take care of whatever. I've also noticed I'm really bad about assuming other people want the same treatment I want, so I never even think of doing the more normal thing.

Not that that explains why no one asks you, but maybe it explains some of it.

By the way, are you thinking about this because something recently was wrong or is it just a random observation? Either way, I hope things are okay.

[Mich]

By the way, are you thinking about this because something recently was wrong or is it just a random observation? Either way, I hope things are okay.

Nothing too serious, I was just pondering it after work the other day.

Of course, yesterday everyone was asking me what was up, because even I can't hide when I only got about four hours of sleep. Stupid cats! "I'm going to meow incessantly immediately after you go to bed, for THREE HOURS."

[Gravity Defier]

Okay. Glad it's nothing major. But do us a favor and post a picture of your face every day; if something seems off, we'll take turns asking what's up.

[GS]

Okay. Glad it's nothing major. But do us a favor and post a picture of your face every day; if something seems off, we'll take turns asking what's up.

Think this should have it's own thread. Make it happen!

[starlooker]

There are babies down the hall. I can hear them screaming and squalling and crying. And it makes me feel so superior, because MY baby's crying and screaming and squalling is much more darling and cute and pretty! He sounds just like a lamb ba-a-a-a-a-ing. Except he says Na-a-a-a-a-a-a-a. Or la-a-a-a-a-a. Mom thinks he's a baritone.

[Gravity Defier]

I'm looking at flights to AZ at various times of the year, to see what's best for my schedule and virtual wallet.


Because I miss my dogs.

[Mich]

Despite years of Boy Scout training, anecdotal stories telling me exactly how to react, and millions of cartoons playing it straight, averting, and subverting it, I saw a little old lady hobbling across a busy street today, traffic piled up in all directions for her, and I did not help her cross.

In my defense, she only had about a yard to go when I spotted her, but it led me to great feelings of guilt as well as meditation on why A)I was worried that if I tried helping her, I would be misconstrued as an attacker, and B)How I was supposed to help her. An arm for support? Then what does she do with her cane?

I was very confused.

[zeroguy]

B)How I was supposed to help her.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5AllXh62GE#t=2m08s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Petra456]

Confession:

There is a very big part of me that wants to see Titanic in theaters just because I didn't get to the first time around. I'm also kinda mad that I haven't found anyone who will go with me!

[thoughtreader]

Confession:

There is a very big part of me that wants to see Titanic in theaters just because I didn't get to the first time around. I'm also kinda mad that I haven't found anyone who will go with me!

I'll go with you! Come get me and we can have a cheesy chick flick date

[Petra456]

Oh man, I wonder if the big IMAX up in Seattle is playing it!? I saw HP there and it was amazing!

[thoughtreader]

Oh man, I wonder if the big IMAX up in Seattle is playing it!? I saw HP there and it was amazing!

ooooooo!

[Young Val]

Had a vivid dream last night that I found out I was pregnant. It was so visceral that when I woke up I took a pregnancy test. Even though I currently have my period. (Verdict: not pregnant. Not particularly trying to get pregnant either, so it's just as well, but I've never had such an intensely-real dream before).

[Gravity Defier]

These are pretty stupid confessions but whatever.


I'm not a fast reader, nor a particularly great reader, so when I finish a book, no matter how short or easy it was, I feel accomplished. I genuinely feel like I did something great, something to be proud of, something worthy, and I want to tell anyone who cares to listen "I just read this book! It was [great, okay, terrible]!"

I cried over Sunday's episode of Once Upon a Time; it was such a great episode.

One of the best parts of my day is signing into my library account from home (or work, if it's an early start) and seeing I have holds ready for pickup. Today is going to be a golden day because I have two items awaiting me. My holds list is shrinking, though, so I better start adding more stuff.

[neo-dragon]

I'm almost 6 weeks into the semester and I still have to fake knowing some of my students' names. That's sort of terrible.

[Noodle]

I'm so burned out at work that I just found a couch hidden away in a remote location of my client's building and I'm chilling out on the couch where nobody can find me. The only problem is, since I'm here I'm billing for this time.

(I won't stay long, I'd feel guilty billing the client for my relaxation for more than 5 minutes) but right now, solitude feels really good.

[Confessions]

There's a possibility that I might be becoming a parent.

[starlooker]

Yay?

[Young Val]

Too much Mark Does Stuff lately has got my use of Caps Lock out of control. Rein it in, Kel.