Lily inherited my old iPod . . .and you’d think we gave her a castle made of marshmallows, a pony, and a prince.  She loves it!  She only got one, in all fairness, because her new bed came with a docking station, and since I got an iPhone with a lot of space on it for music, she got my hand-me-down.  She especially loves this song:

She and Arden also both love Nirvana’s “Lake of Fire”.  Rock on chickies.

Her cute little dockin’ station:

The weekend was alternately good and bad.  I had two different people freak out on me, which was a bummer - but thankfully they both live far away and I don’t have to deal with them much.  I have to say, since I left Maya’sMom.com and the site eventually closed, my life has been so peaceful and drama-free. I don’t know what it is about large groups of women hiding behind their keyboards, but I really didn’t need or want that kind of stuff in my life.  Unfortunately, some of them are now on Facebook and within literally minutes of them joining my own network, it was the same old crap again.  Partially I’m so incensed because I spend far too much time thinking about what other people think and feel, and trying to ensure no one feels icky, left out, or bad - and inevitably, I end up causing them to feel icky, left out and bad.  So I wonder, why bother even trying???  Apparently I could have avoided all of this if I had just invited you, internet and Facebook, to all come stay with me this weekend because by NOT inviting the universe and the web of world-wideness, I’ve excluded someone who is now very unhappy with me.  I didn’t realize that Richmond in January was such a fabulous place to be, but note taken.  (Seriously, the entire internet is NOT invited to my house this weekend - 5 internet friends is enough, unless Amanda and Kristin change their minds). 

I’ve spent years being a personal punching bag for people who drop their own insecurities on me.  I must be an easy target, and that needs to change in 2009.  It started on Friday with a pushy lady at Starbucks who felt I wasn’t moving fast enough with my 4 year old for her liking, and shouted in my ear, “ARE YOU ON LINE?”  I had no idea what she meant - did she mean, like, did I have internet access?  No, apparently she meant “in line”, and I hadn’t paid fast enough and she was telling me to get out of her way. I let her cut in front of me and then ended up paying for my drink about 5 minutes later. The people behind the counter baristas were cracking up - they couldn’t believe this woman.  Right before this, someone jumped two lines, two different times, to cut in front of me and Arden.  I can understand why some people just snap.  I’m feeling pretty mean right now, so that’s all I’m going to say about it.

Kimi’s baby took a turn for the worse today, and there are other issues in my family right now, and I am a big ball of stress and worry.  I’m not a religious person - at all - but I do believe in the power of positive thinking. So if you feel like sending positive vibes out toward Kimi and Baby Carter way over in Hawa’ii, I’m sure that side of my family won’t turn it down.  For those not in the know, Kimi is my brother’s wife’s daughter.  She had her baby earlier last week and he ended up aspirating a TON of meconium, and suffered pneumonia and a collapsed lung and has been in critical condition since.  We thought he was doing better - and hopefully he WILL get better soon - but today was not a good day. 

Arden’s eye looks worse so I’m going to pester the surgery center tomorrow morning first thin about getting her in on Tuesday instead of waiting another week. Wish me luck.  I don’t have high hopes but maybe if I break down crying and act like a freak, I’ll get my way. It seems to work for others in my life. 

On a happier note, I got to spend a ton of time with my kids and Mike this weekend, which was lovely.  It’s easy to remember, when spending time with them, that all the rest of this life is sort of just for show and to keep us from getting bored. My resolution for 2009 is to spend more time with my family - especially my extended family - and my true friends.  Life is too short to spend it with people who make you feel like crap.  You’d think I’d have learned that lesson by now, wouldn’t you?