Confessions of a 20-something mother

[Mich]

I get far, far too anxious about shopping. Today I set out with the intent to purchase a new coat with my Christmas bonus (a Nordstrom gift card that could afford a low-end all-weather coat) and a new sweater in that magical mix of materials that doesn't attract cat fur. I got more and more frustrated as the day went on and I couldn't find anything. Department stores are frustrating because I couldn't give a crap what brand something is in, thus I needed to visit each "collection" and find the specific area for sweaters, and then sweaters that zip (which I like) and then ones in my size/material mix. Nordstrom was the exact same way, except I would not realize how expensive I was getting until I was in the suits department and getting eyed as I immediately checked every jacket to see that it was way, way expensive.

And then the growing anxiety that I would have to go home empty-handed, thus wasting the Trimet ticket and my time and all of this energy plus the growing anxiety as the day I had set aside to go shopping neared throughout the week...

I used to tell people that I liked shopping, but I'm pretty sure I don't. Even if it's for something like a video game I just stress that what I want won't be there.

[Gravity Defier]

And then the growing anxiety that I would have to go home empty-handed, thus wasting the Trimet ticket and my time and all of this energy plus the growing anxiety as the day I had set aside to go shopping neared throughout the week...

*nod* Same here. I get some form of that with online shopping (which introduces whole new anxieties into the experience) but it helps with a few in-store issues. Unfortunately, clothes are the area of online shopping that raises new anxieties that exist but not as strongly from store shopping.

Basically, just, no.

[Luet]

I told a new acquaintance today that she was the first person I had ever met that was paler than me. I meant it as a compliment! I love being pale and am always trying to stay pale, put on sunblock, stay out of the sun, etc. But she didn't take it as a compliment. She was a little offended. I felt bad.

[Gravity Defier]

I just noticed I'm now "Ewok in Tauntaun-land" and I'm a little sad to no longer be "Ewok in Jawa-land," even if only in spirit.

[locke]

i changed that like the week you moved to Chicago, btw.

[Gravity Defier]

I'm obviously very observant of my Pweb surroundings these past two years.

[elfprince13]

Wait.....really? It's said Tauntaun up there for that long? I'm not sure how I didn't notice that before.

Luet: awww

[Dr. Mobius]

I'm pretty sure Adam doesn't know what he's talking about since I just changed it a couple months ago.

[steph]

Although I still love Liberte yogurt, I feel a bit like a traitor here on pweb because I have a new favorite. Liberte has such limited flavors available here (usually only 2-3), but Noosa has so many flavors! And I love that I can reuse the containers when packing dinner leftovers for Brian to take to work.

[starlooker]

I love Noosa! So much! It has completely spoiled me for other yogurt.

[Petra456]

I have fallen in love with Tillamook's yogurt. The Oregon Strawberry is hands down the best yogurt I have ever had!

[Eaquae Legit]

I've become very fond of Sainsbury's yoghurt, mostly for their lemon flavour. I rarely see Liberte here, so I have to go with what I can find. Also, I have a pot of blackcurrant in the fridge that I'm excited to try.

[LilBee91]

My votes today were determined much more by which candidates have annoyed me less in the last year than by actual campaign issues. While I know voters should inform ourselves on the issues and whatnot, I think after candidates spent $50+ million in campaigning, I should have gotten more than "Begich is an Obama-loving liberal" and "Dan Sullivan hates women" from their ads (The other contests have been almost equally obnoxious--that one just cost the most). At least the marijuana legalization issue has had some intelligent debate....

That turned into a bit of "Things that I Hate," didn't it?

[Gravity Defier]

Confession: I'm super happy to see posts from Shannon and Mich. SUPER happy.

Confession: Apparently I'm territorial/possessive of places. Because I am having the strangest reaction to seeing someone post things from somewhere I have lived and spent formative years in; I'm proud of the place and, really wanting to not associate it with these people, thinking they can't know it the way I have known it. Which is obviously true but really stupid on my part. But still. Stop mixing my worlds up, please and thank you.

[Mich]

Confession: I'm super happy to see posts from Shannon and Mich. SUPER happy.

Shut up baby, I know you love it.

[Jebus]

When I hear someone say "you don't own a cat, a cat owns you' or similar s*****, I can't help but feel they live a sorry, embarrassing existence where they get value from a polite chuckle for their bland witticism.

[Jebus]

Also I've been drinking and I'm being harsh.

[Mich]

When I hear someone say "you don't own a cat, a cat owns you' or similar s*****, I can't help but feel they live a sorry, embarrassing existence where they get value from a polite chuckle for their bland witticism.

People who don't like cats tend to be terribly rude about it! It's dumb and they should feel dumb.

[starlooker]

Confession:

I've started just going straight to explainxkcd.com instead of bothering with xkcd.com. This started because I wasn't able to read the scrollover text on my phone, so it was helpful to see it printed, but I then realized that, honestly, half the time it just saves me a step in terms of figuring out references I don't get.

(For the record, I did understand today's without problem.)

[Wind Swept]

Stop mixing my worlds up, please and thank you.

But... It's so warm here.

[starlooker]

We got a new cat. Her name was Smi, we're calling her Esmi, maybe, because Atty can't pronouce the S in Smi, so it comes out "Me" and we're also trying to teach pronouns, so Esmi clarifies.

Donny saw her picture in the grocery store window and she sounded really perfect. Atty's a little nervous around animals, and she's three, and we figured that's young enough to be fun, but old enough to be reasonably settled, and she's declawed, but we didn't have to decide to declaw her, so yay, and the owner wanted her with a small family, great, and she's supposedly cuddly and friendly...

NOPE!

I mean, maybe she will be, eventually. She was obviously quite attached to her owner while we were there, went up to her to be brushed, rolled on her side, just a good cat-human bond. She's not a mean cat, really, probably. I know, I know. She's new. She's scared. She was perfectly happy being the center of attention from her previous owner and sees no reason why we would've taken her away from that happy home. So, she's hissing and growling and mostly hiding, except sometimes not. And today she damn near prevented me from being able to do laundry, and then she came into the kitchen while I was making tea and started growling and actually started kind of charging up like she was thinking of attacking and I was like, "HELL NO, CAT, I WILL NOT BE DRIVEN FROM MY KITCHEN." You know. The line must be drawn here! This far, no farther!

Anyhow, the confession is that basically I think I wish we hadn't gotten her and I'm actually not really sure I wanted another cat at all. And I feel bad because I know I don't actually KNOW her yet. Maybe in a few months I won't be able to imagine the place without her, but right now I am imagining it rather longingly. And as a person who is generally regarded in my friend circles as The Cat Whisperer, I feel guilty. (And resentful that she doesn't like me already because all cats really love me, except for cats who hate everybody. And even they usually tolerate me better than they tolerate most people.)

(Atty has been VERY good about giving her space and respecting her hisses and growls and if she attacks him we. are. done.)

(I miss Reece and Tara so much it hurts.)

[starlooker]

At night, during prayers, Atty has taken to filling in the "Thank you for..." blank with, "Don't be scared of kitty cat." I'm not sure if he's thankful for the cat, thankful for hearing "don't be scared," or supplicating God for the strength not to be scared of the kitty cat. It's pretty cute, anyhow.

He does freak out about the cat from time to time, but keeps trying to like it. From, like, fifteen feet away. "Hi Smi! Hello, kitty-cat! Meow!" Very politely and respectfully. However, when he runs into the cat and he's not prepared, he starts shrieking. I think the cat must have hissed or growled or charged at him or something, because he's EXTREMELY cautious.

Today was hopeful, though. The cat meowed a lot, which she hasn't really done up until now, mostly hisses and growls. And she started rubbing up on things. And she made pretty clear she wanted some treats and expected them. And, like, purposely went into rooms where we were.

Petting is still strictly verboten, and she does not like us walking past her. But, y'know. Baby steps.

[Gravity Defier]

Her wanting pets from you made me so, so happy. I hope these baby steps keep happening for you guys!

[starlooker]

It's gotten way, way, unbelievably better. She's still a temperamental kitty, and Atticus still gets a bit nervous of her has to walk by her in close quarters to leave a room, but it's great overall. Last night, we were all laying in bed to read Atty's story, and she came and joined us and demanded pets from all of us, including Atty. And she's pretty playful, they bond over the red dot chasing. I think they'll be fast friends soon. It's never going to be like Reece, maybe, she obviously did not help raise him from infancy. But we're enjoying her a lot more.

I call her Esme when she's being a lady, Smee-bee to be affectionate, and Smeagol when she's getting on my nerves.

[Gravity Defier]

Confession: I am not sad that David Bowie died. I'm sorry a person has died but I'm not in the least actually affected by his death. This makes me feel pretty bad intellectually but that's about it.

[LilBee91]

Confession: I am not sad that David Bowie died. I'm sorry a person has died but I'm not in the least actually affected by his death. This makes me feel pretty bad intellectually but that's about it.

I wish I could say this about Alan Rickman... I'm much sadder about him than I probably should be.

I think watching Sense and Sensibility is in order for the day.

[Gravity Defier]

Yeah, Alan Rickman's death has made me feel all sorts of sad things. And I'm okay with that.

[starlooker]

The number of white hairs that have suddenly appeared on my head is freaking me right the f*** out.

[Luet]

Yeah, I turned 39 a few months ago and my greys have proliferated lately too.

[Gravity Defier]

I really, really can't stand my brother's fiancée. Like, at all. Not even a little. I find her disagreeable to the point of just not talking to my brother anymore to avoid having to deal with her in any capacity.

[Wind Swept]

The number of years that can be traversed by scrolling through a single page of a thread here kind of scares the s*** out of me.

[Gravity Defier]

You get used to it.

[LilBee91]

Confession: I really want to be a 20-something mother. This baby craziness is getting out of control...

[thoughtreader]

Confession: I really want to be a 20-something mother. This baby craziness is getting out of control...

It can get pretty intense.... I ended up being a 39 some mother.... Still pretty great.

[Gravity Defier]

I hope it happens for you when the time is right, whenever that may be. Good luck. :)