Tipping

I think we need to do away with tipping in this country.  The concept has grown quite out of hand.  I always tip my servers and bartenders well, since I was one many moons ago.  But, I have great difficulty tipping baristas (especially when I'm going through the drive thru), the dude "drying" my car at the automatic car wash, the sandwich "artist" at Subway, the dry cleaner.  Um, it's your job.  Why isn't a tip jar present at McDonald's?  Because the people are doing their jobs as set forth in the company manual.  Can't we just hike the prices and pay these people a living wage instead?

Tipping should be reserved for exceptional service, not for fulfilling the minimum duties of the job description.  Tipping should not be expected or tied into a person's wage (I'm looking at you restaurants).  I have given tips at the Starbucks drive thru.  On a couple of occasions, when I pull up to the speaker box, the chipper person on the other side has said, "Would you like your usual Green Tea Frappuccino, no whip?"  Why, yes, I would.  That is above and beyond, and very tip worthy.   

Speech

When Drake was first acquiring the gift of speech, Tim and I said he was speaking Klingon- lots of harsh, strong consonants.  Flynn seems to be speaking either Navajo or Apache- lots of vowels and more fluid sounds.  "Uh-oh" is the most common.

We were so worried about Drake's speech.  He understood language and he communicated with us using sign language.  He just wasn't interested in speaking much.  At 25 months, he finally started speaking regularly.  Now, at the threshhold of 3, we can't stuff all the words back in. Here's an exchange from a few weeks ago.  He had to have blood drawn (again), and I promised him we would go to Starbucks afterwards.

Drake: Go to Starbucks, Mommy?
Me: Yes, Drake.  We are going to Starbucks.
D: Get Drake's drink?
M: Yes, we'll get your drink.
D: Get Drake's apple juice.
M: Yes, Drake.
D: Get Mommy's drink?
M: Yes, Drake.  We'll ge Mommy's drink.
D: Get Mommy's frappuccino, no whip?

And he's listening to everything, too, apparently. :)

Drive-thru

The USPS needs to install a drive-thru window.  I can get food, coffee, dry cleaning, liquor (in AZ), married (in Vegas), and money from a drive-thru window.  I just want some freakin' stamps, and standing in Christmastime-lines with my two boys Drake-Zilla and Flynn-Ra isn't an appealing option. 

In the spirit of the holiday

Allow me to take this moment to become schmaltzy and share all the things for which I am thankful. (Cue string section).

I am thankful for my wonderful husband, who somehow manages to still find me attractive after seeing what I am like on the inside... literally.  (Not sure why he is fascinated by my innards, but, to each his own.)

I am thankful for my two boys, who make me smile and take notice of the minutiae around us.  (Fuzzy caterpillars are a favorite, or, as Drake calls them "fuzzy appapois".

I am thankful for my parents, who are able to enjoy Karma working her magic.

I am thankful for moments spent with friends, even if it's just an hour.

I am thankful for the support of friends and family, near and far.

I am thankful for the roof over my head and the food in my cupboard.

I am thankful for stretch denim.

Technology?

Two new advances in technology have come to my attention and make me question where the heck our priorities are.

First, the iPhone has a new app called the "Cry Translator".  Yes, hold the phone up to your screaming baby and the app will let you know why your child is crying.  My guess is because the child is upset and you are holding up a phone to him/her instead of providing comfort.  Duh!  (All I keep thinking of is the episode of The Simpsons with the baby translator.  "I have soiled myself.  How embarrassing.")

Second, a new type of service dog is being trained to find the most terrifying of all substances in this day and age: peanuts.  Your allergic child can now take this service animal to school, friends' houses, anywhere, and the dog will find the life-threatening snack.  But, what if your child is like mine: allergic to peanuts AND dogs?  Will a service monkey be available to find both peanuts and dogs?

Really, people?  Can't we be working on solving world hunger or something more substantial?

Post-Surgery Update

Thanks for all the thoughts, prayers, and well-wishes, everyone!  It helps to go through something like this with lots of support.

Everything went really, really well on Tuesday morning.  My appointment was at 8:30 am.  My face was heavily numbed by 8:40.  (Why is getting anesthesia the most painful part?  Oh, sweet irony!)  By 9, I could smell my flesh being burned away.  (Yum?)  Tim was able to return to the exam room a little bit later.  He told me the hole in my cheek was rather large.  Didn't think much of it at the time.  By 9:30, the doc returned to tell me that all was clear.  How great that she only had to do one pass!  She stitched me up and I was home by 10:15.  My doctor was fantastic.  She has twin 7 m.o. girls, so during the surgery we talked about our kids teething and where to buy inexpensive children's clothing.  At home, my mom was taking care of Flynn.  Luckily, Drake was at daycare; I just didn't have the energy to deal with his high energy.

Yes, I have a Nemo icepack on my face.

I was in some pain most of the day and quite swollen.  Pain pills, good!

Can you see the shiner start to form?

The first thing Drake said to me when he returned home was, "Mommy has an owie."  He then proceeded to snuggle into my lap.  He was very concerned and protective.  He even shared his Halloween candy with me.  (He returned to his normal 2 y.o. self by morning.)

I was still pretty out of it yesterday.  Today, I feel almost normal.  I still have some swelling, but I was able to take the bandage off today.  Holy crap!  25 stitches.  Thankfully, she did a great job: no puckering and such.

This would have been a great look for Halloween!

They say the truth is stranger than fiction.  Not in this case.  I'm telling everyone I was in a bar fight- far more entertaining (for me).

Pre-surgery report

On Tuesday, I go in for surgery to remove a basal cell carcinoma from under my right eye.  I haven't really freaked out about having skin cancer, as is my usual m.o.  Typically, upon hearing bad news I burst into tears.  I didn't this time.  I've been rather blase about the situation, for two basic reasons.  1) It could be so much worse.  The spot is small; only a tiny bit a skin will have to be removed.  I'm not losing a large section of colon, or a breast, or a testicle (if I had any).  2) I've got bigger fish to fry.  Lately, I've had to deal with other issues: Flynn cutting three teeth (and, therefore, not sleeping); Drake's behavioral issues (which may be caused by a medical problem- we are seeing lots of specialists right now); an old family friend had a massive stroke; Tim's contracting job was reduced from 10 weeks to 5; whiny students who can't seem to read simple instructions; and so on.  I'm not saying I'm totally fine with this either.  All I'm saying is that when this is all over, someone needs to buy me something pretty.