Something New, #154

Several times a year, outside my local Wal-Mart, either the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts or another group set up for troop fundraisers. I usually don't buy anything, because other than Thin Mint cookies, there's nothing I ever need. But this Cub Scout was so cute and so earnest, that I bought a $6 box of popcorn.

It better be good.

Something New, #153

We had a birthday party for The Little One's 8th birthday. The new thing was it was the first co-ed party we've had.

She has several good friends that are boys, especially B and C, who are also best friends, so I felt they would be fine with all the girls around.

Boys are a lot different from girls.

From the moment they both walked into the house, the energy changed. Lucky for us, the weather was good, and since the theme of the party was "carnival" we had everything in the backyard. We had a ring toss, junk food walk (like a cake walk, only the prizes are junk food), estimation jar, toilet toss (throwing wet sponges thru a toilet seat. The boys loved this one.) and rides on the rope swing.

The Little One had a great time so that's all that matters.

Something New, #152

I attended a BBQ, hosted by team Master Basters. It was great. Not only did I try a new food, cheddar cheesy corn, which was AWESOME, but I did so in a town I'd never been to.

I'm also slowly overcoming my fear of social activities.

When I was married to The Ex, and even while we were still living together, he worked in the restaurant business and had crazy hours. We had about two days off a month together and I could literally go 3-4 days without seeing him, even though we were in the same house. In fact, when we separated, we didn't tell The Big One for about 4 months, and she was so used to him being in and out, she didn't even notice.

Because of this, I spent a lot of time at home alone or with babies and toddlers. When we started living together, it was because I moved to another state to be with him, and then when we had our first baby, had just moved to another state. As someone who does enjoy socializing, but is somewhat shy, this was problematic.

And while dealing with his addiction, I learned to withdraw even more.

So after about 17 years of conditioning, it's been a slow process to get back into the practice of meeting new people and being in a group.

I started to feel that old panic again at this party, and was leaving, when a new friend came running after me. I did feel comfortable enough with her to let her know how I was feeling, and she totally understood, and said she had the same problem.

It does help talking about it, and just practicing.

"I certainly have not the talent which some people possess," said Darcy, "of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested in their concerns, as I often see done."
"My fingers," said Elizabeth, "do not move over this instrument in the masterly manner which I see so many women's do. They have not the same force or rapidity, and do not preoduce the same expression. But then I have always supposed it to be my own fault- because I would not take the trouble of practising..." Pride and Prejudice

Something New, #151

Although my babies have been out of diapers for years, I still keep a box of baby wipes in the car. Seriously, baby wipes can clean just about anything.

I had a job interview this afternoon, (FINGERS CROSSED FOR A SECOND INTERVIEW!!!) and forgot to bring my toothbrush to work so I'd be all fresh for the interview. I hadn't had lunch, but still had coffee breath and no gum. So I swiped a baby wipe across my ivories.

It didn't taste all that bad, and it did feel like I at least got the coffee film off my teeth.

Something New, #150

I came up with a theory on suburban spread.

When I take my walks at lunch, part of my route is past one of our local mega-churches. There is a field next to it, that's filled with wild grasses and wild flowers, and a driveway running down the side that separates it from the subdivision on the other side of the privacy fence. As I was walking up the sidewalk that runs around the perimeter of the field, there were about 200 grasshoppers leaping from one side of the sidewalk to the other. When I crossed the driveway where there was no wild grasses or wildflowers and just perfect green sod, I didn't see a single grasshopper. Made me wonder what kind of pesticides are being used for the perfect carpet of grass.

Something New, #149

I ran out of coffee filters, so used the sit-com method of cramming a paper towel into the brewing basket. The sad thing is, my coffee is so bad to begin with, I couldn't tell the difference.

Something New, #148

I made a choice today that deviated from what my usual fears would have me do. Like most women, I probably do things not because it's what I want, but what will not hurt someone else's feelings. Today I made a decision that may hurt someone's feelings, but may help my family substantially.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it turns out for the best either way.