Happy half-birthday, Boss!

March 2011
Boss--3 months

Dear Boss,

Since you crashed into our lives on March 17th, you have changed our world. We were going to make a list of our favorite things about you, one for each year, like our friend Uyen did. Then we realized that our list would only be half of one thing long.That doesn't a good list make.

So, there is no magic number to count the ways you have become special to us that matches your age. Instead, this little list comes from our hearts.

1. You were 5.2 pounds when we adopted you to become part of our family. Now you are 11.4 pounds--big boy!
2. You lost all your baby teeth, two of which we found and have saved. Perhaps they will go in your scrapbook one day.
3. You have been asked to have your picture taken with strangers due to your extreme cuteness.
4. You whine in the softball/kickball dugout if one of us isn't paying attention to you. When you see Mommy, you squirm and reach for her even if someone else is holding you.
5. We have already been through your first disease together, giardia, and have all survived. Supposedly, it's tough to get rid of but for you? Gone after the first round of medicine. Good boy!
6. At 4 months, we decided you were a big boy and could go to the dog park with cousin Sophie. Dogwalker Erin says you love the dog park and playing with your friends each day.
7. You have already graduated from Puppy Kindergarten and Basic Commands class. You know how to play well with others, and can sit, stay, drop it, leave it, and come. We are still working on fetch.
8. You have gotten big enough to jump on the bed by yourself.
9. You have learned how to sleep in until 7:00 am. Mommy is very grateful.
10. Your 6-month birthday means you are now good-to-go to be neutered. Enjoy the remaining time you have with your teabags. They will soon be a distant memory.

We love you, little Boss. You have been good practice for us to think we can handle parenthood.

June 30, 2011
Boss--6 months

Love,
Mommy & Daddy

FY and I

1. Jesse, Boss, and I head out to Leavenworth, WA on Saturday for a lovely weekend on the east side of the mountains. Jesse & I are signed on for a whitewater rafting adventure Saturday afternoon, complete with BBQ near the river. Boss will hang out at the raft shop for the afternoon.

B. Boss is giardia free--woot!

D. I am much better at kickball than softball. Our kickball team is 3-1 (the loss came off a ridiculous cheating display by the other team that was even acknowledged by the ref--don't get me started), and we had a triple play in our last game.

48. I used to be good at softball. I played outfield in high school and was even on the all-district team my senior year. What the bleep happened? I suck now.

VI. I've been watching The Voice. Yes, ANOTHER reality singing competition. But I like this one. The contestants have a celebrity coach (Blake Shelton? Yes, please.) who mentors them through the process. Anyway, I'm catching up with the finale that aired last night and my bet is on hottie Javier.

One of those days that makes 10 months of Seattle's crappy weather worth it.

Best Friends: Boss & Sophie

Fierce Boss

Hi Boss

Boss & me

Up close.

With the Budweiser Couch Cooler. Classy.

I wish the two people here were Jesse and me.
Now THAT would be a great picture.

It took until late June, but it finally happened.
A summer (spring by Texas standards) day.

Father's Day

I don't know why, but Father's Day makes me super sad.

Mother's Day doesn't really.

Which doesn't make too much sense, since they are both gone.

But I have some theories:
1. Mama's been gone 14 years. Daddy's been gone less than 3.
2. Mama was super sick and it was less surprising. Daddy's was a tragedy of ridiculous proportions.
3. When Mama went, I still had Daddy. And Grandma. And my grandfather (we called "Dad"). When Daddy went, I had...

So, maybe that explains why on Mother's Day I don't have too much issue reading a billion Facebook statuses (stati?) and blog posts oozing love and sentiment about all the wonderful mothers out there. But the Daddy posts? Skip.

So, here's my Daddy post.
When I think of Daddy, I think of:
*his cowboy hat
*country music from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s...a little 90s but he thought it became too "rock" to qualify as real country
*biggo belt buckles, countrified
*summer vacation at the ranch
*dependability
*naps!
*loyalty
*fried chicken--mmm
*quirky humor
*Nick at Nite
*the highest metabolism...EVER.
*love

the yin and yang of June

So, I submitted my Human Subjects application. Two weeks later, I was told that my research didn't qualify for that type of application and I need to submit another one instead. I'm doing that now. And you know what? I'm not hurrying. What would be the point?

Boss has giardia. I noticed when he started pooing bloody diarrhea. Awesome.

It's still barely making it to the 60s here in Sea-town.

And that's been June.

Wait, that's only one part of June.

The other part of June has been...
Playing softball and kickball
Being asked to be a bridesmaid in my cousin's wedding
Celebrating Jesse's (near) graduation
Boss waking me up in the morning with kisses

Okay, I feel better now.

What ever happened to that dissertation?

Well, I'm glad you asked. I always heard it would be a long process that would test your patience. I really hadn't experienced much of that until the last 6 months.

If you recall, I passed my General Exam (which was basically chapters 1-2 of my dissertation proposal, with a third chapter that would need quite a bit of work before it was included in the proposal) in November and completed my last courses in December. It's now late May.

I have...waited a lot. Written some. Waited more. Written a little bit. Waited awhile. Written a tweak. I was waiting on dissertation committee feedback, which always eventually came. I would deal with one question/comment, fix it, wait, and then receive another in response.

Finally, the proposal was ready. I filled out the human subjects application. Then I was told I also needed to submit my interview questions. Those, friends, are NOT in the proposal.

Wrote interview questions. And am now waiting. (For feedback from my advisor.)

So, in 5 months, I've written the equivalent of about 5-7 pages and created a title page and table of contents. And I've waited in one form or another for probably 4.5 of those 5 months.

BUT. If all goes well on the next round of feedback, all I have to do is get the signatures (in person, electronic not allowed) of my department chair and faculty advisor (finding 2 faculty in person when I work full-time? Sure, no problem.) and submit it to Human Subjects.

And then I get to wait.

In Seattle, it's hard to tell if it's May...or February.

And the winner is...

Thanks, Joanne, for the adorable frame!

Other favorites from my Cinco de Pegs birthday:

Ever heard of Rocket Dogs? Apparently, I have been missing out.
These are the best shoes I've ever purchased (thanks, Kerrville Itschners, for the birthday $!),
BAR NONE.

Rat City Roller Girls (roller derby) tickets--thanks, Roommate!

Favorite Middle Eastern cuisine with my favorite.

In other un-birthday news:
It's a very un-surprise birthday/Bon Voyage party for Roommate since I emailed out to her friends that we should turn the last monthly movie night before she leaves for the summer to the Philippines into a surprise birthday/Bon Voyage party...and included her in the email. BOO. HISS. This is why I don't spearhead these things.

I played right field in softball last Sunday and am proud to say that I caught both fly balls that came to me...and didn't break any fingers.

It has yet to reach 70 degrees since last summer in Seattle.

It's shocking how 59 degrees and sunny felt warm the other day. 65 was downright hot.

Boss is growing up. You know how I know?
1. His mouth is half adult teeth-half baby teeth. Very freaky.
2. He has obtained clearance to go to the dog park.
3. I have scheduled his pre-neuter appointment. That's right. We are nipping things in the bud on his 6-month birthday.
4. We walked Green Lake the other day, and he only received 3 direct compliments. An all-time low. I am convinced that many others just didn't approach us, but were secretly crooning.
5. He has had ZERO accidents in EIGHT days--WOOT!

I mean, seriously.

Which of these should I frame in my office?

Spring came to Seattle...or Boss meets a Clydesdale.

Either one of the above is an appropriate title for this past weekend.

My college friend, Joanne, came in town and it was the PERFECT weekend. 60s and sunny. Jo and the weather were very amenable to the fact that we had to find dog-friendly activities to entertain us.

Highlights:

We finally got a non-blurry picture of Boss in his Leavenworth hat.

I know this guy! I was walking along the Pike Place Public Market shops when I saw my friend Patrick featured as a model for a lady selling scarves.

My two favorites.
(I promise Jesse looks older in person. Promise.)

When we came out of the shops area, we heard a horse whinney. Wha...?
Turns out a cop was riding a Clydesdale through the park. So we introduced Boss to his first horse, who happens to be THE largest Clydesdale on the Seattle PD force.

This was Boss' Big Weekend. We went to Norm's Eatery & Ale House, which was created to be a dog friendly place where people can come eat and bring their dogs. In walked this BEAST of a dog, a Newfoundland named Cole, who was very patient but any time either of the dogs moved it blurred the photo. This was the best we got.

Jo & Pegs, est. 1998.

Why I do what I do...

My co-worker shared this video at a recent advising meeting. It's awesome, even for you non-higher ed folks. And it was even more special because it was of students from San Antonio College, so they look like my first students in Texas. I am so lucky to have a job that I love and find so much fulfillment from everyday!

Leavenworth and A Spring Day

Part I: Leavenworth

This past week, I went to a work conference in Wenatchee, Washington. Six of the advisors were able to attend and do some fabulous bonding...which may or may not have included 4 mixed drinks in a 2 hour period for yours truly as well as jumbo margaritas at a local Mexican restaurant for all.

The weather was gorgeous, as it tends to be on the east side of the mountains, and Friday was sunny with a chance of good times in Leavenworth, WA on the way back to Seattle. Since I had never been, the others opted to take this Texan on a tour of Leavenworth, which is basically Little Germany seated in the middle of Washington state. See for yourself...

Note: The mountain is real.

Downtown Leavenworth

Das Sweet Shop
Anna, me, and Felicia with our delectables

"Hat Shop"..."Wood Shop"...serious creativity going on here.

The six advisors: Judy, Felicia, me, Anna, Joy with Rina in front
I had so much fun getting to know them OUTSIDE the office!

Saying goodbye to Leavenworth...

Of course, I had to buy Boss a little something from Leavenworth. At the town's pet store, A Paw Above, they sell all kinds of German pet clothing. Not one to overdo it, I decided on this simple hat. I think it suits him rather nicely.

I know it's blurry, but you can still see how CUTE it is!

Part II: Finally, a Spring day!

In other Earth-shattering news, the temperature in Seattle SOARED today to...64 degrees! It was that first truly sunny, spring day when it feels like there is a glimmer of hope that you aren't going to die because in late April, it has STILL been cold enough to need your coat and gloves whilst your Texan friends are fine-tuning their tans. That first day of Spring hope is also when the Seattleites come out of the woodwork and load up the canines and babies for a day outside.

Leah and I took Sophie and Boss on a 2.5 hour walk down Fremont to the Burke-Gilman Trail and GasWorks Park (remember the paintball scene in the movie 10 Things I Hate About You? that was at Gas Works).

What happens when I take Boss, a 16 week old Westie puppy, out in public:
1. Approximately every third person stops to say hi, ask what kind he is, what his name is, and compliment how adorable he is. Let me be honest: I LOVE IT. I take it as a personal compliment to ME and love the attention. It's moments like those that erase his finest moment last night, which involved peeing on my down comforter at 8:30 pm, requiring me to stay up until 11 pm cleaning it after returning from the above work conference.

2. At Gas Works, a few college kids (I'm guessing) sitting on a blanket 10 feet away kept commenting on how cute he was. Boss kept pulling to go towards them, so I just let him go. He played for several minutes with the college kids. Who by the way, read his name tag which says "BOSS" on one side and "Peggy, cell#, SEATTLE, WA" on the other, and wanted to call him Peggy. Seriously? The future of America right there.

3. Walking back to our place, a guy backed out of his driveway and into the street, then takes notice of us. While in the middle of the street, he yells out his car window, "Is that a Westie?" So I say yes. We do the usual--how old, what's his name--and THEN he asks if he can take a picture of Boss for his girlfriend who loves Westies. I am so not kidding. So, Boss took his first celebrity photo. In the middle of the street.

4. Boss crapped out on the walk about 10 blocks from home, so I got to carry him the rest of the way. I'm sure he looked more than slightly spoiled. But at least he wasn't like one of those dogs in a stroller. (Or apparently, a Moby wrap is the new thing.)

Makes you want a Westie, right?

Boss & Peggy's Big Day

So, yesterday was supposed to just be Boss' Big Day. However, it turned out to be a big (and crappy) day for me too.

Boss' First Day of School--Doggy Day Care
Boss had his first day at doggy day care yesterday. He's been slowly becoming BFF with Sophie since they are roommates, and Soph is a BIG girl. So, who did Boss make friends with at day care? A Doodle (labrador-poodle mix) and some other big dog named Balzo. Oh, and a pug. When I dropped him off, he kept pacing...to the gate where I was standing then towards the other dogs playing...then back to the gate...then back to the dogs. Apparently, he finally stopped pacing and started playing after I left.

The Great iPhone Theft of 2011 (aka A Jerk Stole Pegs' Phone)
So, I left doggy day care and decided to stop at Jimmy John's on the way to work and pick up a sandwich for lunch. Jimmy John's is incredible, if you've never had it. And usually near a college campus for some reason...so I've always had a JJ's nearby which has always made me very happy.

On the way, I talked to Jesse on the phone. After I picked up my sandwich, I wanted to check the time on my way in to work. I looked in my purse. No phone. Looked in my pockets. No phone. Looked in and around the car seats as I was driving. No phone. I decided I just couldn't find it while driving. Once I got to work, I looked in all those places again. No phone.

Panic started to set in. I called JJ's where, by the way I had been at 9:45 am. Needless to say, I was the only customer in the restaurant or parking lot at that time. The JJ's guy said there was no phone in the restaurant or parking lot. I decided to drive back there because he didn't know what my phone looked like or where I was parked. No phone.

So, how many customers were at JJ's between when I was there at 9:45 and when I called JJ's at about 10:05? Probably not many. Yes, I am implying something here.

I started calling my phone every 10 or so minutes. No answer. THEN.

My call went straight to voicemail. As in, the phone had been turned off. As in, someone had found the phone and turned it off. As in, someone stole my phone b/c what idiot would turn off a phone they plan to return to the owner.

I went to the AT&T store, where they informed me that:
1. My "Apple Care Protection Plan" doesn't cover lost/stolen phones.
2. I wasn't due for a new phone until September.
3. The iPhone 4 is $650.

So I bought a piece-of-crap phone that depresses me when I look at it.

Not to mention, I lost all pics of Boss taken so far b/c I hadn't moved them to my computer. And I live by my calendar...which is on my phone. This Type A girl is in a frenzy.

What kind of jerk doesn't return a lost phone?

Okay, rant over.

Boss' First Day of School (continued)--Puppy Kindergarten
Four puppies showed up for Boss' first kindergarten class. Cooper, a very shy 14 week old Havanese pup who rarely steered away from owner's lap. Molly, a crotchety 16 week old Havanese who growled when the other puppies, and sometimes the other people, came near her. Wendell, a very sweet but also shy 14 week old supposed dachsund-chihuahua mix...though Wilbert was that mix and he looked NOTHING like Wilbert. So we're not totally sure.

And Boss.

Now, these other 3 puppies pretty much just stayed right by their owners' sides and looked shell shocked to be at puppy kindergarten.

And then there was Boss. He was:
1. Sniffing the others (you know where)
2. Chasing Cooper (who dove back to Owner)
3. Locating treats all over the room and scarfing them down like I don't feed him.
4. Making friends with the other dog owners, trainers, etc.

The trainer called Boss "Mr. Confident". I love Boss. He is hysterical. He tried to play with the others, and had no idea why they were so freaked out. He got excited for his treat, but waited like a good boy. I was very proud of him.

Then he fell asleep about 10 minutes before class ended. I think Boss' motto is "Take-off and Landing." He has little concept of normal energy. He's busy, busy and then zonked out.

And that was Thursday.

pilates and kickball...a combustible combination.

Even though I haven't been "working out" (as in go to the gym, hop on a treadmill or elliptical, do some weight machines, etc), I've been working out...

Kickball--it's Spring season with Underdog Sports and our team is 1-1! Yesterday I was in some serious pain, and felt ridiculous that it was due to kickball. But I take my kickball seriously, and so it became true...no pain, no gain. But I pained (slid into a base and scraped my knee, dove for a fly ball) and then I gained (we won 13-2!). Here's our fierce team:


Pilates--my friend Kelly is a Pilates believer. I mean, believer. She's been taking Reformer Pilates classes, which is totally different from mat pilates, and convinced Roommate and me to join her for an intro series.

We walked in and the "Reformer" looked like it should be named "Torture Device, the thing which can kill you in 1,000 ways". Here's the Reformer:


The first class? Snooze fest. We practiced breathing. Breathing is a work out? We also practiced contracting kegels. Do you know what kegels are? The instructor told us to pretend like we had started to pee, and wanted to stop mid-stream. Now, that's an odd way to teach an exercise. So, I thought about it and decided I needed to go home and practice to make sure I was doing my kegels right.

We did our sixth class in the series of seven last night, and whew. We are doing all kinds of crazy things with this machine, including some of the moves you can find here. Seriously, click on it. You have to see what we are doing on these machines...all the while contracting our kegels.

So, I've been working out without working out. And believe me, it's a work out.

Also, Jesse & I should be having our flying trapeze class at Emerald City next weekend. Yep, for our 3 year anniversary, I told him I wanted us to take a flying trapeze class.

On residency and roots.

As of one week ago, I am officially a Washington state resident. The most immediate benefit of this was watching my tuition for 2 credits go from $2,600 to $1,089 in a matter of hours. :)

Letting go of my Texas residency is hard, but easier when I realize that I will always be a Texan. My roots go deeper than voter registration, license plates, and bank accounts. My roots go to a place where the heat is a comfort, the Gulf Coast is familiar, flip flops are a fashion staple, and country music runs through my veins. So I will always, always be a Texan.

But I decided in light of my new residency, I wanted to reflect on the things I have come to love about my new state:
1. My best friend and love, Jesse
2. Looking out my living room window to see Mount Rainier and the Cascades in all their glory.
3. August and September, when the temperature averages 75-80 degrees.
4. The evergreen trees.
5. Delicious food--organic, local, Asian, breakfast specialties
6. Playing adult league kickball
7. Dogs, dogs everywhere...including my own
8. My job and the people I work with who have quickly become friends
9. Best Roommate Ever
10. Being able to walk one block from my place to a coffee shop, yoga studio, pizza place, or a fabulous Caribbean restaurant that was featured on the The Food Network
11. Amazing things to do--incredible plays, trapeze lessons (coming soon!), pro sports, national film and improv comedy festivals, and more!

I have a baby...no, a puppy...no, a baby...no, a puppy...

Nearly two weeks ago, Boss entered my life. As much as I am supposed to be the Alpha, most times it feels like this 13 week old puppy is boss (pun intended).

Amy & I picked him up in New Braunfels when I was in Texas earlier this month. On our first day, Boss was an angel. He slept peacefully on the 2 hour drive to Amy's house. He tiptoed into Amy's house and sat quietly by my feet. He peed on his wee wee pad. I thought I scored the most well behaved puppy in the world.

THEN. We went to bed around midnight. I had taken Boss to his wee wee pad, and he went. Then he went again in the bed. I woke Amy up and we changed the sheets. Then I put a diaper on Boss.

Sometimes I feel like he's mocking me even when he's just yawning.

I put Boss in his little carrier he would travel in on the plane to Seattle (under my seat, not in cargo). He went bat sh*?! crazy. Oh, Lord. 100 people are going to hate me all the way from Austin to Seattle. So, the day before departure, we went to Amy's vet and got 2 sedatives for the little bug. He conked out the whole flight.

Upon arrival in Seattle, we met Jesse and Boss tried out his leash for the first time. He did NOT like it. So I picked him up and we walked to the car.

He does have his calm moments and has gotten along famously with Roommate's dog, Sophie. At least, he thinks they get along. Sophie got up and walked off 10 seconds after this picture was taken.

Ten days later, here's the sitch:

1. Boss hates being left alone. He yelps and yaps and howls in his crate. Therefore, I have no social life so that my neighbors don't evict me.
2. Thankfully, Jesse has been on his school break and Roommate has had a flexible schedule, plus other friends have stepped in to babysit. Seriously, I need a babysitter for my dog.
3. Potty training is on the fritz. It's a total crapshoot. Thankfully, our carpet is already a piece of crap so a little more hasn't made it worse for the wear.
4. My favorite moment so far: I washed the towel that Boss soiled (b/c oh yes, he potties in his crate even though he is supposed to, by instinct, not want to do that) and put the freshly laundered towel back in his crate. He headed straight for the crate and I thought, "Yay! He wants to hang out in his crate! He's starting to like it." Stupid girl. He walked into the crate and peed right on the towel.
5. The one rule he has down pat is one that Roommate laid down for Soph and therefore Boss has to follow as well even though I don't really care about it: not allowed in the kitchen. I spritzed him in the face twice with a water bottle and he hasn't gone near the kitchen since.
6. Boss knows his name.
7. I have been to Petsmart or Petco 5,637 times in 10 days.
8. Boss starts Puppy Kindergarten on April 7th. Happy frickin' hallelujah.

Then he does this...and I fall in love all over again.

Oops...I did it again (not the Britney Spears song)

This one is for you, Swiftyjess.

Do y'all remember that time when I got in the wrong car? Well, if you liked that story, then you'll find this one equally awkward-hysterical-and "oh Pegs".

About a week ago, I came home and it was already dark outside. I parked on the street and walked past Roommate's Boyfriend's car. Roommate & Boyfriend were in the front seat, and Boyfriend opened his door to get out. I peered at the car and walked closer. Yep, it was definitely Roommate and Boyfriend so I yelled, "HEY! IS THAT YOU GUYS?"

The guy started to get back in his car because some creepy lunatic was yelling at him.

Guess that wasn't them after all.

I walked into my apartment and sure enough, Roommate & Boyfriend were indeed not in the car...they were eating Tillamook ice cream on the couch.

Oopsie daisy. Creepy lunatic, party of one.

Books I'm reading:
Questions & Admissions: Reflections on 100,000 Admission Decisions at Stanford
Stick Figure: A Diary of my Former Self

Books I'm re-reading:
I don't re-read books purposely. However, I got halfway through Crafting a Class (a higher ed geek book I checked out of the UW library) and realized I own it and already read it.

Movies I want to see after the Oscars:
The Fighter
Black Swan

Non-reality TV shows I'm totally digging:
Parenthood (heart-wrenchingly realistic)
Modern Family (hysterical)
The Middle (underrated)
How I Met Your Mother (Ted needs to meet their mother ASAP or I'll be out.)
The Office (WHEN is Michael's last episode?? I'm on the edge of my seat each week.)

Reality TV shows I'm totally digging:
Biggest Loser (Red team really pissed me off on Tuesday)
American Idol (Casey has totally brought sexy back)

Stuff I'm doing:
Gearing up for Spring kickball (I've successfully recruited a full team)
Waiting, waiting, waiting for my dissertation proposal to be approved by my committee
Reformer Pilates
Counting down til Texas (9 days)

In our own weird way, we work.

First of all, in regards to my last post, SBS has NOTHING to do with Valentine's Day. That was the clearly missed point of saying "In honor of the upcoming Valentine's Day."

This post, however, has everything to do with Valentine's Day. That fateful day when Irony stabbed me in the back and made me pay.

As the tale goes...

Jesse and I decided to celebrate on Saturday because Mondays are bad for us with school and work, etc. So on Saturday, we had a truly lovely day. He actually refrained from studying and we just spent the day together, capped with a fabulous dinner at one of his favorite restaurants, 13 Coins, where we both enjoyed the Valentine's Prime Rib Special.

He ordered flowers, but bless his heart...he ordered them on Saturday and the florist laughed in his face (or rather over the phone) at the idea that they would arrive on Monday. "More like Tuesday, fool."

So, Monday arrives, and I should know myself (and Jesse) better than this after nearly 3 years. I should know that no matter how lovely Saturday was, I want something on Monday. Period. Yep, I'm that girl. I also should know that if I tell Jesse that Saturday is fine and don't need anything on Monday, that he will take my word for it.

Monday night arrives, and not even a phone call from that yahoo. Now, c'mon.

So, I get all bent out of shape and pouty. "Why couldn't you just call me?" "Why couldn't you have ordered the flowers earlier?" Why, why, why. Pout, pout, pout.

Then, Irony showed up and stabbed me in the back.

Jesse's Valentine's gift, which I had bought the week before, was sitting in its bag in the back of my closet. Unwrapped, forgotten.

Oh selfish, selfish girly girl on Valentine's Day. While I was pouting, Jesse never once asked where his gift was.

I howled with laughter while he looked at me like I had 3 heads. When I finally calmed down enough, I went to the closet, pulled out the bag, and threw it on the bed.

He opened the bag and pulled out the card. That I had not signed. Or put in the envelope. He said, "But the card's not even in the envelope." I snatched the card, shoved it in the envelope, and tossed back to him. "Here."

He opened the card, which had a wiry little dog and nasty looking cat tangled in an awkward embrace on the front.

The card, in a most fitting way, read: "In our own weird way, we work."

Living with SBS

In honor of the upcoming Valentine's Day, I thought I would blog about my Shy Bladder Syndrome (SBS). I was chatting with a couple of my friend-workers (co-workers who I count as friends) recently and realized I may have some weird issues around my SBS. This has particularly become an issue in the workplace, where I must use a 4-stall public restroom on a workdaily basis.

SBS-a working definition: when someone can't pee if someone else is around because there is a fear they will hear you and (gasp!) know what you're doing

SBS Coping Skills:
1. If I go into the bathroom and someone I know is in there, I pretend I just went in to wash my hands. I wash them and then sneak down one floor to the other bathroom where there is a far slighter chance of running into someone I know.
2. It infuriates me if I am in the far right stall (which I ALWAYS go to as a first choice) and the other 3 are empty and someone comes in and chooses the one next to me. I mean, I know there's a stall-wall, but come on...give me some space, please.
3. The toilets have auto-flushers that sometimes go off manically (read: flush for no apparent reason, often while you are still on the toilet). In order to pee, I will sometimes push the button so the toilet flushes, giving me a few precious seconds to push out the pee...but other people will assume it's just the psycho auto-flusher.
4. The hand dryer is an SBS person's best friend. When I am sitting there trying to pee and someone chooses to use the hand dryer over the paper towel machine, I want to hug them. That blessed hand dryer gives me a good minute to give my bladder the courage it needs to pee without fear of being heard.

SBS irony: By not being able to pee if you think someone else can hear you, you end up sitting there hoping to pee...meanwhile, others in there think you are pooping because it's taking you so long. Which in the mind of an SBS sufferer is far worse than if you had just peed in the first place.

good stuff

I suppose I should post, seeing as how it's almost been a month.

It's been a hard month.

But here's what has been good:
1. Purchased my ticket to Texas for Spring Break. Can't wait to see the Itschner crew and celebrate Emma Byrd's 2nd birthday! And eat Chick-Fil-A, Mexican food, and Whatabuger. And wear short sleeves.
2. My roommate is thebomb.com. Really.
3. Free yoga.
4. The Cosby Show on DVD.
5. Working out.
6. Tillmook Oregon Strawberry ice cream.
7. Girl Scout cookie season.
8. My paycheck.
9. Making progress on my dissertation proposal.
10. Friends who deal with the miserable version of me.