I’ve mentioned before that NIkkiZ got moved to the toddler class a couple of weeks ago. This is due to a general restructuring of the classes - so I’ve been just watching as schedules and teachers get settled into new environments. The teachers in NikkiZ’s class have had to make some adjustments with the onslaught of crawlers and they’ve done an okay job so far.

But, there’s this “toy” they have, that I’m sure seemed like a good idea to someone somewhere for some age group, but NOT for this one. It is a big water bottle (maybe 30oz?) filled about 1/5th of the way with glitter and beads with the lid “glued” on. The big kids just use it as a rattle like any other noise maker. But, NikkiZ has been putting the top of it in her mouth and chewing. I saw her with it for the first time yesterday and said, “Um, this toy makes me a little nervous. If she gets the top off, those beads are going straight into her mouth.” The lead teacher, who is nice enough, said, “The lid is supposed to be super-glued on.” I just casually mentioned that it’s not anymore, since I was able to get the lid off, and just left for the day.

But through the night? I found myself thinking - WHAT THE HELL? First of all? No matter what you’re using to stick the lid in place - NOTHING is a permanent hold and that risk alone seems enough to remove the toy for good. It’s not like there’s a shortage of rattles in that room. BUT - let’s just say super-glue would seal it on there forever, who wants their kid sticking something in their mouth that has super-glue on it? HELLO? TOXIC? How is coating a toy with a toxic substance going to make me feel better about that toy’s existence?

Of course, none of these thoughts popped into my head yesterday. I was just like, “Uh - Okay.”

But this morning? I kinda insisted they (there’s more than one of those genius creations…) be removed. The morning teachers are the ones I love and they totally agreed with me (they are in the baby room most of the day, so they didn’t know about those toys) and took them out immediately. But seriously, the more I thought about it last night? The more I got irritated that none of these thoughts had occurred to any of the full-time teachers who are in that room all day watching the babies put that toy in their mouths. BAH. One man’s common sense is another man’s rocket science, I guess.

Well, I went to work out for the first time at the Y tonight. I got on the treadmill and warmed up for five minutes and then I ran for over two miles. Did you hear me? Two Miles plus some. As in, I started running when the “distance” said .34 and stopped when it said 2.5. See? Over two miles. OVER. Of course I did two stupid things I’ll never do again (hopefully). I forgot my water and my towel. So, by the time the (over) two miles were over? I was dying of dehydration as I sweat all over the machine I was on.

But then? I went to the locker room, put on my bathing suit, rinsed my nasty sweat off, and jumped in the pool with LilZ. And let me tell you, I am NOT a swimmer by any means. I don’t even really like swimming that much. BUT - jumping in a heated pool after a tough workout? Feels so freakin’ good that I almost forgot how much I hate to excercise.

And then - to top off an already rockin’ good time? I ran into Michelle and her boys. We all goofed off in the pool together and her boys tried not to run away in fear when I started freaking out and going, “MY EYES! MY EYES!” Because I opened my eyes under water and the chlorine blinded me forever. I’m blind now. The end.

Anyway - a very awesome and productive night to cap of an exhausting day. And to reward myself for OVER TWO MILES? I’m going to go get an Softwich at Breugger’s for breakfast tomorrow. Because what’s a better way to motivate me to excercise than with high calorie baked goods? There is no better way because that is the BEST way.

So, I have this job that I really like so I don’t talk about it so I don’t lose it, right? At this job, I stay in my office and rarely see any other humans throughout the day. I work on my data/maps for random customers I hear referenced by name or organization. I have no contact with these customers as I am not a project manager of any sort (thank god). Yesterday? I was told we were going to have a “meeting” with a customer today to give a progress report on a job I’ve been doing.

(cue anxiety attack….NOW!)

I showered this morning (I know!) and wore nice clothes and brought a jacket to wear to avoid any viewing of my arm tattoo which stays mostly hidden under short-sleeves but not completely. I spent some time this morning cleaning my office since I figured I’d have to show the progress on my computer since it’s my project. I took goofy things off my bulletin board and tried to make my surroundings a bit more professional looking. I brushed my teeth and was ready to go at meeting time.

Then, I went in to check with my boss and said something nonchalantly like, “How is this progress report going to work?” He casually said, “Eh - I guess I’ll call him in the meeting room and we’ll just teleconference from there…”

HUH?

Turns out? This customer is elsewhere in the country and the organization he is associated with is not even in this state, much less this city. I’m officially a moron who was almost very embarrassed by asking my boss when this customer would be here and should I move more chairs into my office? This is why they keep me locked up in the back office, when it comes to human interaction? I’m a little inept. How did I not even realize all this time that this customer is out of state? Because I’m a moron evidently.

But I’m a well-dressed moron with a clean office.

We made our first family outing last night to the YMCA to introduce Nikki to the swimming pool. I tried for ten minutes to get a cute shot of her in her adorable swimsuit, but this was the best one I could get now that she’s become mobile and doesn’t understand words like “sit,” “stay,” or “roll over.”

We had a ball at the pool, though. She loved watching us go under water and come back up again. She would just squeal and laugh and giggle and it was so awesome because we all enjoyed it as a family. It’s nice when “firsts” can be a family event, and since we miss out on so many with her being a daycare, we like to make big productions out of the ones we can control ourselves like First Swim, First Ice Cream, and First Beer…the usual.

There’s a weird system of locker rooms at the Y. They are labeled Men’s, Women’s, Boy’s Family and Girl’s Family. Now, after much confusion and thinking, “What if a father and his little girl were in the ‘Girls Family’ locker room at the same time as a Mom and her little girl?” I realized the last two should read Women’s Family and Men’s Family. One is for Dads and their kids and the other is for Moms and their kids. I may have stood guard in the hall for 15 minutes watching who went in and out so I could make sense of it all. I know it seems like a simple concept but I like to make things really difficult and awkward.

There’s also a “shower before entering pools” policy that I blew off until LilZ snapped at me, “You are supposed to SHOWER FIRST, Mom. It’s a RULE.” And, you know, nothing makes you feel good about yourself as a parent like having your pre-teen reprimand you. I dropped my head in shame and went back to shower off. And then I grounded him for the hell of it, you know, just to remind him who’s boss.

Look! I took a pretty picture of a butterfly! Click on it and view it on my Flickr page and then leave a comment telling me it’s the best butterfly picture you’ve ever seen! Okay - not really - but will you look at it and the other butterfly pictures I uploaded and at least tell me they’re pretty? I’m so proud of them.