Miscellaneous Catch-Up

Snuggling with Gray Kitty in the new chair.

He's such a goofy cat. He loves to have his belly pet, so he'll often roll over onto his back like this.

Just stuff:

1. The street light out in front of the casita went on before 4:00 p.m. today, that's how gloomy it was outside. It's supposed to be even gloomier tomorrow.

2. Last night Dave and I picked a couple of children's gift-requests off the giving tree at the Co-op where we grocery shop. After dropping Dave off at work this morning, I went shopping at Target for two little boys, one-year-old twins. I bought them each a small dump truck with large Lego-type blocks in the back and one of those little boxes with shapes you have to fit into specific-shaped holes. (I bought them the exact same things, only now I think I should have gotten them different things. Or maybe not. I think it must be nice to have one's own things that one doesn't have to share, even with a twin.) When we picked the requests last night, there were still several on the tree and I thought that if any were left when I dropped off the gifts that I would take a couple more. But this morning the tree was bare. I'm glad for that because it means that all those kids will get something for Christmas this year. 

It's strange what The Brain goes through picking out gifts for unknown children. Last year we picked an 11- or 12-year old girl who wanted clothes. I picked out about four outfits for her, then, knowing that my own taste in clothing tends to be unusual, I started to second guess myself. Would she rather have skinny jeans or boot cut? Would she want t-shirts or more ruffly things? What colors do other girls like? I remember when I was a kid, I didn't like to wear skirts or dresses (I didn't even consider a skirt or dress for her). I didn't like girly clothes in general. I also hated getting clothes for Christmas. But this girl had requested clothes, so I picked out middle-of-the-road things for her then I went and bought her a pack of flavored lip glosses and some candy. I mean, every girl loves flavored lip glosses and all kids love candy, right?

3. I've recently become a bit obsessed with EDC videos on youtube, so much so that I put together my own EDC pack for the bag that I carry.  What's in it? A lot of stuff that I would normally carry in my shoulder bag anyway, things like my phone, lotion, lip balm, a comb, cash, a lighter, gum, eye drops, a maxi-pad, antihistamine tablets and ibuprofen, dental floss, hair ties, pens and permanent markers, Sweet'n'Low, a nail file, pepper spray and so on. (This list won't surprise most women who carry a shoulder bag, I think.) And then there's some stuff that I always felt I should carry but never did, like a little keychain light and a pocket knife. (Actually, I often did take a knife into the studio when I worked Sundays and knew I'd be spending a few hours there alone. I'd keep a knife, my cell phone, and pepper spray in my apron pocket. I'm paranoid, yes, but I was also a Girl Scout for years and am usually prepared.)  To all that I added a Clif Bar and a tiny Leatherman tool and a few basic first aid supplies (bandaids, tiny packets of antibiotic and anti-itch ointments, antacids).  I considered and then abandoned the idea of carrying hand sanitizer (I'm against hand sanitizers and anti-bacterial soaps in general), a travel-sized deodorant (I often don't wear deodorant to begin with because I'm not a "sweat-er" by nature), and any makeup besides the lip balm (I tend to put on my face and then never retouch).

It's funny, but I often put together packs like this when I have some change in my life. I bring all this stuff together, then at some point, I let everything disperse. When I was taking classes a year ago, for example, I assembled a similar pack with most of the things above plus a dissecting kit, lots more writing implements, and a whole array of office supplies (3x5 cards, highlighters, colored pencils, folders, and on and on), a water bottle and travel coffee cup, freeze-dried coffee in a small baggie, my iPod and earphones...After a few weeks, I started leaving my travel cup at home and buying coffee in the student union building. Or I would decide that I didn't need nine highlighters, I only needed three. Little by little, my pack would come undone--or maybe it would just be pared down to the necessities. (That sounds a little better, pared versus dissipating, no?)

4. The lady who took all my banks turned out to be legit. I have a $135 credit at the clay store now. Yay!

5. I'm still dieting, have fallen into the rhythm of it a bit. Thanksgiving threw me for a loop--I gained a pound and lost it the next week--but now the challenge is to stay vigilant. I've dropped nineteen pounds so far, a small chunk of change. (Or maybe a change of chunk?)

I say all that but then I also have to admit that I had deep-dish pizza for dinner. Dave, Rudy and I went to a local chain and split a veggie and a deluxe, both large. I had a slice of each and split a small second slice of the veggie with Dave. I also had some salad, no dressing, and a diet Pepsi. Unfortunately, tomorrow is Weigh Day. We'll see how that goes.