Thoughts flitting through

Let's say you have a credit card that charges you 15% interest. You intend to pay off the balance, but -- having lost the original bill (what? no, that never happens to me; why do you ask?) -- you write the check for what you think it was plus a few extra dollars just in case. Technically, they now owe you money. Do they have to pay you 15% on it?

* * *

I am madly and passionately in love right now with the song Incomplete by Alanis Morissette.

* * *

Speaking of love, I had a dream last night that I was competing for the affections of one of my old crushes with his now wife (though the dream took place back then, when we were all young and free). In the dream, I had invited him on a date but she showed up, invited herself along, and dominated the conversation with her stupid bubbly personality. I felt left out and hurt. I stewed for a long while, then told her off, slapped her across the face, and shoved her out the door (the dream me is so much more ballsy than the real me). Far too upset to enjoy his company, I shooed the boy out, too, apologizing through my sobs, and then I sat down to write out the most eloquent of love letters explaining why I -- though a crappy date and bad conversationalist, and apparently also a violent psycho, lol -- would be the better choice. I woke up half way through its composition, but in my groggy morning haze willed myself to finish the letter because it was just that good.

I'm such a nerd.

(For the record, I'm really glad I didn't end up with that particular boy. I like the one I've got quite a bit. And from what I know of their life -- which isn't much -- I think he ended up with the right girl for him.)

* * *

Tres has a tooth! It hasn't cut all the way through yet, but I can feel something sharp beneath her bottom gums.

* * *

Poor Dos surprised me with her first tooth. It came in months before Uno's had, so it hadn't occurred to me to check for any yet. My normally calm and easy going baby became super cranky one day; none of my usual tricks worked to console her. She kept me up all that night, too, with her fussiness and by the next day I was flat-out annoyed. It wasn't until later that afternoon when I noticed her doing weird things with her tongue that I discovered the fully erupted tooth -- and then, of course, I felt horrible for being such a mean mom.

* * *

Uno and Dos had their final day of swimming lessons this morning.... Both failed to pass Level 1. Both -- despite their bravado and big talk -- are apparently terrified of the water. Dos wouldn't / couldn't do several things required to move on to the next level, but Uno only missed by one skill: She refused to put her whole head under water for three seconds. I tried to get her to practice that last night in the tub, but she wouldn't do it. We talked all about her fears, about why she wouldn't drown, about how well she can hold her breath when she's not in the water and how it's the same thing, about how learning these things can keep you safe and that's why they're important.... Nope. "I'm so sorry, Mommy!" she sobbed. "I don't want you to be disappointed!"

Honestly? I think she's more addicted to the melodrama of her fears than she is actually afraid. I also suspect that Dos would have passed with flying colors were it not for all the theatrics of her sister. *Sigh.*

Oh well. We'll do Level 1 all over again starting Monday.

* * *

They come by it honestly. I passed my Level 1 class, as I recall, but I am a swimming lessons drop out. Whatever level it was, we had to dive to get the certificate. Diving freaks me out. What if I belly flop? What if I dive in straight, but hit my head on the bottom of the pool and end up paralyzed for life? So I wouldn't do it.

I tried negotiating with the teachers: "Can I jump off the diving board, but just jump? I'll even do it from the high dive. Can I do it from the side of the pool? Look, I'll just sit down, put my diving arms up, and sort of tip in. It's like diving, I swear."

They wouldn't go for it. I wouldn't budge. I never got that certificate.

* * *

I love paper (makes sense, given my other fetish). I got a B&H catalog recently, but since I can't afford a new camera or lens or anything else fancy-dancy at the moment, I poured over their selection of inkjet friendly papers. And then I ordered some sample packs! They came a few days ago: Bright white photo papers, pearly mattes, cream canvasy textured lovelies, and even an opaque type called back light film. Mmmmmm!

Sample packs are awesome.

* * *

My Windows Media Player is set to random (apropos, right?). A song from the Fight Club soundtrack is playing; to the accompaniment of the Dust Brothers, Brad Pitt is yelling at me that I am not a beautiful and unique snowflake; I am not my bank account or my grande latte; I am not my freaking khakis.

True. So true.


~RCH~