Miscellaneous

Happy Valentine's Day

This is another one of those made-up holidays I hate.  I hate feeling like I am entitled to a gift, because, sadly, I feel that entitlement.  I hate feeling like the craven consumer the advertising people think I am.  I always want to boycott it, but damn it, those Necco hearts are really good. 

So this year, we did things a little differently.  We donated 150 doses of measles vaccine (roughly $40) through UNICEF, and I did a little shoe shopping (finally getting - at a very steep discount - those shoes I've been lusting after for ages, and a couple pairs of equally insanely discounted Joy Chen shoes*).

And in Oregon, it's the state's sesquic sexquicen - sesquintennial er, sesquicentennial, too. (Oregon is not nearly as cool as Nevada, which celebrates its statehood on October 31, and makes it a state holiday, to boot.)  So happy b-day, Oregon. As much as I love living here, I really do wish you could celebrate by getting a new, not so lame flag.

*The Maddie in Dark Wine/Rust and the Mackenzie in Camel.

UPDATE: I actually wrote this post Thursday, in advance, something I almost never do.  In some ways, ensuing results made it a better "holiday" today than before: my husband surprised me with roses at work yesterday with a sweet card that ended: "PS: Get the shoes."  Priceless. 

Also better: Matthew is going back to work Tuesday, which means no more playing single mom.  If I believed in a god, I'd be praising him/her/it.

The part that doesn't make this a better day? That would be because a couple of days ago I slipped going down our (steep) stairs and bumped - on my can - down the last four or five steps.  It didn't hurt so much at first, but today?  All I want to do is sit with a heating pad and whimper every so often. Alas, the toddler is currently playing dress up with my old Saucony running shoes and a beaded handbag, and this is occasionally requiring intervention.

Full post as published by The Menagerie on February 14, 2009 (boomark / email).