I can't take it anymore!

I just can't hold back anymore!!! I've tried to be good, look on the bright side, and not get too emotional about a few things but I just can't keep quiet any longer. I'm about to burst!!!

First, how many times is it humanly possible to watch "Memo" and "Cookeee" (aka Nemo and Monsters, Inc)? Pearl has been sick for over a week now and the only thing she wants to do is watch movies. I never thought this busy little girl would turn into a couch potato and I'm still trying to figure out what triggered this movie obsession. After watching these movies at least 3 times EACH per day, I'm just about ready to pull my hair out. But how can I say no to a runny nose, messy haired, bags under her eyes pip-squeak? She's so cute when she tilts her head to one side and says "Mom, MEMO?!" I'm just hoping she starts to get back to her normal self soon. I'm a bit worried about her first day back to daycare (it's been almost 2 weeks) because she's been biting a lot lately. I have no clue why but when you bite your teacher, yikes! No mom wants "the biter".

Second, does anyone else bicker with their husband, constantly? Jeff and I don't really fight, just bicker. We've always bickered and for the most part it keeps us real and it's just the way we work. Most of the time it even makes us laugh. It seems to go in cycles where we have a few months of joyful bliss then constant bickering about everything from having to share a bed (no this is not what you're thinking, just sharing the same sleeping quarters is all - Jeff thinks I should sleep in the spare bedroom) to how we squeeze the toothpaste. On Sunday we made a goal to be nice to each other for 2 hours. Seems funny and yes, we both laughed but we did make it the whole 2 hours without bickering. And before anyone gets too harsh on either of us, just know that Jeff brought this on himself. He says I never blog about him so here ya go sweets!

Third, how long will I continue to torture myself by watching and reading the news? This economic crisis has seriously sent me into ulcers at times. Not so much the national news now, but the local news about our state budget. Being a state employee I admit I'm a bit sensitive to all the media attention and proposed cuts. After all, my job may be on the line. I really don't want to lose my job for a number of reasons, mainly for health insurance (yet what legislator is willing to cut their LIFETIME health benefits after their service or in reality job is over) and paying our mortgage, but I've worked hard and really want to help people have healthy and happy lives. We don't live extravagantly, as is evident from an earlier post on Jeff's shirts, have little debt compared to the majority of Americans, and yet we constantly worry about what would happen if the gas bill continues to go up, food keeps getting more expensive, or we lost our jobs. But an even bigger worry is the lack of understanding and appreciation for public health in our state. Please, please if you're taking the time to read my blog and made it this far into this monstrous post, read "A Day in the Life of Public Health" (I tried to find the Utah specific one but Colorado's will do for now). I know public health is a beastly thing to grasp and us public health professionals don't do promote ourselves like we should but if public health disappeared, trust me everyone would demand it back. Some of our hair-brained legislators have proposed completely dissolving the state health department not just the massive budget cuts already proposed. Brilliant, just brilliant! Has anyone stopped to think what would happen if there wasn't restaurant inspections, childcare licensing, responses for a bioterrorism attack or better yet, pandemic flu or bird flu, tools to track disease outbreaks and then prevent them - remember the crypto outbreak in swimming pools or the current peanut butter salmonella outbreak, mosquito abatement for west nile virus, air quality, no prevention for the spiraling obesity/diabetes/chronic disease crisis, no services for children with autism or other special health care needs, oversight over hospitals, prenatal care for low-income women, health care for the poor and disabled, safety laws like seat belts, not having smoke free places to go, and let's not forget the millions of dollars in federal matches the state gets with public health programs. Probably not, why? Because when public health is doing what it's supposed to, people don't see, recognize, or value it. I mean really, who needs help quitting tobacco or clean water, right? I'm all for eliminating waste in EVERY sector of our society, public and private, but I hope we all remember what President Obama said in his inauguration speech..."The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end." Public health is not just a "wasteful state agency" as our elected officials portray but in the majority of cases, providing those who need help the most with the resources and services essential to happy and healthy lives. Without our health, we are nothing. While my concern is admittedly selfish in some regard, I truly hope that we can all see the value in a healthy society and public health is the keystone to making this happen. Plus my back up plan if I lose my job and public health disappears...to stay home and have lots of babies...was soundly rejected by Jeff (not to mention the fact that barfing 24/7 for 6 months doesn't sound too appealing either).

Love/Hate Relationship

I got home from a business trip to Atlanta late, late Wednesday night. I hate Atlanta, I really do. Here's why:

1. Having the stomach flu on the plane and in a hotel...not fun.
2. Knowing your husband and daughter are home sick with the stomach flu and there's nothing you can do about it...not fun and talk about major guilt over being the world's worst mom/wife.
3. Layovers in Denver. Seriously, it's just a hop over the mountain so why stop?
4. Hotel food.
5. Long, long, brain-numbing meetings day after day.
6. Could I get sent anyway else? I mean I can't count the number of times I've gone to Atlanta (in January no less) instead of somewhere new and exciting.
7. Having a million emails when you get back to work.
8. Trying to adjust to a 2 hour time difference.
9. Missing your hubby and cute, hilarious, and wonderful little girl.
10. Packing and unpacking...I really hate living out of a suitcase.
11. Coming home to piles of laundry, dried noodles on the floor, and a house in desperate need of cleaning.
12. Missing out on all of Pearl's new tricks (apparently she wanted to try and use the potty, is now a couch potato - post for another day, and learning how to say new things).

There are a few good things about Atlanta though, the highlights of which include:
1. Coming home! I'm not sure if Jeff missed me much, but Pearl did.
2. Getting your own king-sized bed for a few days!
3. Humidity...ah relief from my hands splitting/cracking and my hair curled beautifully.
4. Cable TV. I never knew there were so many interesting shows on.
5. Being able to take naps without interruption.
6. Having someone else make your bed.
7. Knowing I still have a job and hopefully a bit of job security once the legislative session starts and those morons on Capitol Hill start cutting all those "wasteful state employees" (I won't even begin to start with my loathe for our state legislature).
8. Being reminded why you work hard and gaining some new enthusiasm for my projects.
9. Getting a big hug and kiss from Pearl.
10. Seeing mountains again.
11. Getting a call from your mom who forgot you were in Atlanta. Always funny to me when my mom asks what Pearl is up to and I say "I don't know, I'm not home."
12. Knowing Pearl is in great hands and that her dad is awesome! Pearl always seems to get sick when I go on business trips and Jeff takes such good care of her, better than me.

There's a killer on the loose!

Yes, that's right...a killer is on the loose! A shirt killer that is. Jeff has ripped minimum one shirt a week for the past month. It's always the same sleeve in the exact same spot. The first couple of shirts, while tragic, were understandable - Jeff has had them since he was 15! But the latest victim was less than a year old. Jeff was ticked when he went to put his shirt on and saw another ripped sleeve. I was sound asleep and just heard "You've got to be kidding me!" followed promptly by some leg kicking and shirt throwing onto the bed. He was so ticked off that I was afraid he would completely destroy the shirt before I could get a picture of it for the blog (I thought it would make for a funny entry) so I hid it under a sweatshirt I hadn't picked up yet. He was a good sport about it and even put on another victim to the shirt killer for a picture. We both have our theories about the killer. I think it has something to do with the fact that Jeff sits with his elbows on his desk everyday crunching numbers and rubs his shirts thin in the same spot. Not to mention that this must be a sign to get him some new work clothes. He swears it our "laundry lady" that's behind all the killing. I couldn't agree more...I mean she still hasn't put away the two baskets of clothes on the bed or pulled out the last load from the dryer yet. We should seriously consider firing her! Wait a second....

Career Moves

Our neighbors bought Pearl a new toy and I thought I'd take a poll on what everyone thought Pearl should be when she grows up.

A) Rock Star

B) Business Executive with a hint of DivaC) Professional Baker with brownies as her specialty

New Year's Elf

I'm a bit behind on the blogging, so beware over the next few days if I bombard you with posts. After a previous rant about having no traditions in our little family, I just couldn't not post anything about the one tradition we do have...the New Year's Elf. Growing up, Jeff's family always had a visit from the New Year's Elf and we decided to take our own twist on it. Jeff said the New Year's Elf, I'll refer to him as just Elf to save some typing, brought a small gift (usually leftover from Christmas) and stuff you would need like toothpaste or socks and filled their Christmas stockings again. Our twist to the Elf tradition is really something we stole from my cousins Jay and Tracy. On Christmas Eve my cousins would give each other a set amount of money, drive to a 7-11 store, and then buy whatever they could for each other to fill their stockings. They always said it was fun to just be together without kids and see how creative they could be. So we decided that every New Year's Eve, we would pick a store and give each other a set amount of money in cash (no cheating by going over) to fill the other's stocking with. We've gone to Kmart, Walmart, Smiths, Target, you name it but now stick with either Smiths or Walmart (in case anyone is wondering the best stores to go to if you decide to add this to your family traditions) and had anywhere from $10-$40 to spend on each other. It's always fun to run around frantically trying to think of something funny or cool to buy and trying not to let the other person catch you. I admit that Jeff is much better at the Elf thing than I am, he's had more practice I guess, and always finds something super cool or really funny.
The Elf brought Jeff a new camping chair, ice scrapper, Reese's, and a Gatorade. Pearl got a new pair of purple Nike shoes (she could care less if they are two sizes too big, she still wore them), some books from Grandma and Grandpa Spring, and a plate/cup/spoon/fork set. I got a pair of huge (and very fake...it's Walmart people!) diamond earrings, Oreo's, Legally Blonde DVD, sticker book, and a way cute XOX cookie cutter (it came with a hint to make sugar cookies). We love our Elf and look forward to this every year. So for anyone who needs a new tradition, I highly suggest this one!