A bit of randomness...

Random photo (our room in Antigua at night)

Back by no demand at all, I give you more miscellany: a few random items and thoughts that have captivated me lately.

• I've been thinking about some memorable posts about parenting recently. Sweet Juniper's Dutch captures the soul of the conflict (do conflicts have souls? not sure) of leaving a child at preschool for the first time, especially when your child is a reluctant separator. I loved Bridget's post about the tenderness of her daughter's mysteriously bad day. And Kate at sweet/salty is spot-on when she discusses the frustration of losing the post-baby weight. You've got to love a gal who compares her rear end to "a sackful of Ultimate Fighting Champion squirrels."

• Etiquette query. It's happened to me twice today: I'm approaching a set of doors, walking behind another person. Person opens the door and holds it open for me. I say "thanks." We walk two steps, person opens door again. Should I say thanks again? Is my previous thanks implied gratitude for all future door openings? Usually I smile and nod but is this adequate? Am I being rude? This is the burning question that only you can help me resolve...

• Here's another one: I agreed to wait at a new friend's house for the cable guy one day when she was on vacation. The guy came and wanted to know in which wall to drill the hole. What? I didn't know so I started looking on her table for her cell phone number. I didn't find it but what I did find puts me in a quandary: very clear, unmistakable ultrasound photo evidence of her unannounced pregnancy. Hmmm. Do I admit that I know? Do I continue to pretend I know nothing?

• Lauren went to Stephenie Meyer's book signing of Twilight this week. She went early with friends, got a bracelet that determined where she sat, and returned a couple of hours later for the signing. Get this: It was on the second floor of a Barnes and Noble. By the time she left two hours later, the line wound all around the book aisles upstairs, down the escalator, around the downstairs book aisles, out the door, through the parking lot over to the restaurant next door. Crazy! I still haven't read them (I've had an aversion to animal stories and vampire stories since I was an early reader that I can't seem to shed) but wow! This one's found an audience.

• Finally, essential to my mental health is having something to look forward to. I've added a list here in the margin where I'll park the big and small things I'm anticipating (and that make life more worth living!). What about you? What are you looking forward to that brings you joy?

Comments

[Bridget]

You are so funny. I love your 'thank you' conflict. I have a problem with the thank you thing. When I drop my boys off at the kids' club at the gym, I say thanks. If the attendant does not respond for whatever reason, I feel the need to keep thanking her/him until I receive a 'you're welcome' or 'sure'. I want my thanks to be acknowledged. I guess I hadn't noticed this until I read your post.

About finding the ultrasound photo....I say act surprised. Then months later tell her that you had seen it beforehand and you can all have a good laugh. But not until way after the fact. That's my vote.

[Stie: My Favorite Things]

I'm with Bridget on the whole thank you query. I like my thank-yous to be acknowledged. I would, however, say that one thanks is good enough. The first one definitely counts.

Secondly, WHY have you not read Twilight yet? I had the same aversion as you, but I PROMISE that you will like them. They'll be mildly entertaining at least. And the leading-man-vampire is quite dreamy, so it gives you another man to dream about. (Not that you need that or I'm advocating non-spouse dreaming-of. You know what I mean).

Thirdly, on the PG question - I'd say nothing for now. Unless it's someone that I know, and you must email me immediately.

And fourthly (you thought this would be over ages ago, didn't you?) how are you so nice as to be there when the cable guy comes? I hate doing that for myself; I can't imagine being nice enough to do it for someone else.

There. Nuff said.

[Anonymous]

A. I don't like vampire stories either, however, I have found myself up until 2 am reading New Moon, and 4 am finishing Eclipse...no explanation.
Jen

[Anonymous]

I agree with the above. You didn't go snooping for secrets, and if she wants you to know, she will tell you. As long as you don't tell anyone else who knows her, it is still her secret. Just keep it safely locked away. As far as the double door etiquette, saying thanks once, then maybe "extended thanks" or "ditto that" or "Twice, so nice" or "Remember that thanks I gave you two seconds ago? Copy that." None of the above? Just smile and nod at the second door, making eye contact. MA

[gab]

Does your pregnant friend read your blog? I'm guessing not...

[Marty:]

I've had the same trauma over the double door dilemma. But what about the dilemma in reverse? What if they let it slam in your face both times? And then there's the situation of holding the 1st door for someone coming out, while they're holding the other one waiting for you to come in.

[Annie]

Thank you everyone! It looks like we have consensus on both of the etiquette burning questions: no need to rethank at the second door and don't tell my friend I know.

Gab, she doesn't know about the blog, although you have a good point! You never know...

Finally, I am going to surrender my predisposition against vampires and go ahead and read the books. So many of you have loved them, I've got to check them out.

[Emily]

Hey Annie, I guess I'm late in posting a comment but I do the same thing with the double door opening--thanks with the first, smile and nod with the second. The whole ultrasound thing--ditto everything said but do be careful about word getting around about your blog. After I posted about Matthew biting his church teacher before I knew it she had commented on the blog and I had barely spoken to her once. Then half the ward was telling me "I saw your blog--good luck with Matthew." How does word get out so fast? Lastly, how did Maddy like Jane Eyre?

[Annie]

Hi Emily, Oooo...good warning on the blog risk. I think you overestimate the curiousity of the ward about my life :). This is actually a town friend so I'm a bit safer. Maybe.

Maddy didn't finish Jane Eyre yet. With school started back up, she's been too busy. She couldn't get enough of it in August, though, although it was harder than most of the other books she's read. I have to admit I felt so happy every time I saw her reading it!