Editor-in-Chief

Harper J is a voracious reader. He inhales books. Presently, he's addicted to the Warriors series by Erin Hunter. This is his Harry Potter, and there are WAY more than seven books. There are five sub-series, and several stand-alone books. He's halfway through the third series.

A couple of months ago, he was reading and found an error. Not spelling or grammatical, but one of the names was wrong. As the cats in the books grow in the clans, their names change. He noticed that one of the names had reverted to the cat's former name. I told him he should email the Editor, so it could be corrected in future prints. We emailed him from my account (since I check my email more frequently than he does), and we heard back from the editor a few days later:

It was so exciting! Harper immediately started looking for (and finding) other errors. I told him the free book was probably a one-shot deal, but he could email the editor from his own account and give it a go. 

His book came in the mail this week:

At the rate he reads these books with distractions like school, and soccer, I calculate he'll finish almost all of the books over summer break.

Completely Unrelated

The first half of last year, I was an exercise fiend. I worked out every day during my lunch break. Then we went to New York, and shortly after, I went to Europe. Then school started. I just haven't had time to get back to the gym. Now I work 7:30-5:30 and do homework during my lunch break, so that when I'm home, I'm present with my kid. When he isn't home, I'm painting. (Because I decided this is the year to redecorate the house.)

Now it's been ten months since I was exercising regularly, and I'm feeling it. I'm tired. I'm achy. I haven't gained any weight, but I feel gross. I have friends who work out, and I'm genuinely jealous. I want to be fit again. I want to wear shorts and fit into those jeans and be confident in tank tops. But when I have time to actually work out for a few minutes on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, I don't wanna. I'm tired. But I'm more tired of looking at pics of tiny women and coveting their size sixes.

Here's the thing: I've overcome so much of what was laid upon me. My parents didn't go to college. I have an Associates, and I'm working toward my Bachelors. Mold: broken. My mom was an alcoholic. I refuse to succumb. I would get so frustrated with her when she would complain about being overweight, but she wouldn't even go on walks. I do NOT want to be that way. So... I have to change my way of thinking. Maybe look at it as an act of rebellion. I'm 40, but a girl still has to go against some kind of flow.

So I'm contemplating joining this Fit Girl Challenge (blog link to the right). I started it in January, but didn't finish, because I lost motivation. That's kinda my schtick: losing motivation. Especially when it comes to working out. But I can do this. Right? I mean... even if I just go on walks, and work out for 15 minutes a day. Start SOMEWHERE. Geez, woman. I also signed up for DailyBurn. They have a ton of different videos with different times on them. I could pick one that's 15 minutes, or one that's 60, if I have time.

The challenge starts April 20th. It's called the #28dayjumpstart. Honestly, I should have done three of these by now, and I should be on the bikini challenge. Oh well. Start somewhere. Start now. I can do this.

I guess the contemplation is over.

This Is How We Do

Harper and I have very stimulating conversations.

Last night it was:

H: Thanks for popping my pimples.
Me: You're welcome. I've always kind of enjoyed that. Weird... I know.
H: Is that how you hurt people?
Me: Are you calling me a sadist?
H: ...

This morning:

H: Guess what?
Me: You built a spaceship and you're going to Mars?
H: Mommmmm

a few minutes later:

H: Know what stinks?
Me: Poop?
H: Ugh. Mom!

and finally:

H: Know what kinda sucks?
Me: A teeny tiny vampire?
H: Mom! You're supposed to say, "What?"
Me: Oh. What?
H: ... Ugh... I can't even remember now.


And that's how we do. Don't get me wrong. There are plenty of times that he's the one dishing it out. This just happened to be my turn. Also, it really aggravates him when I answer his intro question. And what's the point of having a kid, if you can't aggravate them?

April Showers

Somehow I managed to miss March. I mean, it's not like I skipped three years, but still. I wanted to get back into this, and I'm already slacking. I don't see how. With school (mine and Harper's), work, painting the house... I have SO much free time!

Harper turned ten last month. TEN. I gave him a few little gifts on the days leading up to his birthday, and saved the big one for his actual big day. He had no idea. Our Wii had died a couple of months prior, and I told him it was just poor luck. I couldn't afford a Wii U. Well, I bought one with my tax return. I had a bit of buyer's remorse (those things aren't cheap), but let me tell you... he opened that box, and as soon as he knew what it was, he literally screamed and jumped into my arms! I thought I would burst with joy at his reaction. He's been asking for one since they came out, and I've always said no. I wish every gift would merit that response.

He's had two soccer games so far. They've lost both of them, but he doesn't care. He has so much fun when he plays! He and the goalie were named the MVPs at the last game, and the other kids had to apologize for not pulling their own weight. Look at that boy connect with the ball!

Do you ever have times where you feel like you can't get on the same page and connect with your kid, though? Man. We've been having one of those moments for the last week. No matter what I say or do, it's wrong. I'm not sensitive enough to his needs. I'm too sensitive to my own. I'm sure it will balance out eventually, but it sure is hard in the moment.

Parenting is not for the weak.