Whines of a Manufactured Holiday Devoted to Infatuation Nature

Pixies, I get frothy when I think of Valentines Day. I suspect it is because I have never been in a happy relationship when the day rolls around, nor am I likely to ever be in that kind of relationship. Even fake dating around this time of the year is tricky. With no established relationship, a gift would be unnecessary. But what if the other person does do something? One year, I did receive a romantic gesture. Unfortunately, it was not from a romantic partner but it was the perfect romantic gift.

Instead, I am going to post links to things that do not pertain to traditional "romantic" gifts or infatuation on the face thingie tomorrow. Assuming,I get much time since I have been summoned to the office (hysterectomy-related sick leave be blasted) and my similarly cranky, now 14 year old, daughter who also eschews dating and cliched romantic gestures (where do these kids come from???), wants me to make a proper dinner tomorrow night.

So, what are you doing? Who needs cluesticking? Sleep fairies? Cleaning elves? Share in the comments.

Blame it All on the Hysterectomy Awards Show

That's right, pixies, let's blame it on the hormones or lack thereof. They can take it!

Gentle hugs and recovery from all assorted hormone shenanigans wishes to Miranda. Kudos to the Super Therapist Who Understands the System.

Cluesticks to governmental people making kooky decisions, and kudos to those actually using their brains for once.

Elevated Risk of Mullet to kathy, for this funny, yet pathetic whine: "Sue, may I borrow a quart of productivity?" (who knew it was measured as liquid volume?)

Cluesticks to offspring who do not wish to pull their own weight. And to other assorted family members who need to--ahem--think of the other people in the household every once in a while.

I seemed to forget that I was hosting this week, so apologies for the abbreviated awards ceremony. I have two rebellious non-nappers demanding my attention.

Post-Superbowl, Pre-Valentine's Day Whining

W: The plagues of sickness whines continue. We are slowly getting better. Energy levels are lagging behind, at least for me and Sweet. Mini is back to her usual antics.

W/AW: We got some good news from Sweet's testing, but are no closer to any answers. More testing to come.

AW: I got to get away for the weekend to hang out with friends from my pre-Baboos life. The break came just in time, as I was about to run away and join the circus. Or the Snot Olympics. My mom came to stay with the Baboos, which was good since hubby ended up working most of the weekend.

So what's with you, pixies?

Awards Show

This presentation is brought to you by Cranky, Sleepy, and Sickly, three of the popular house dwarves, who have managed visits to several Pixies and are now in residence chez moi. Let's hope everybody is feeling better, STAT.

The coveted Elevated Risk of Mullet Award goes to our Sue, for this gem: "Unsolicited middle-of-the-night Pixie advice: Playing Angry Birds is not conducive to relaxation and sleep." Runner-up is Liz, who adds: "Angry Birds is nothing NOTHING compared to Plants Vs. Zombies on the not conducive to sleeping front."

Sarah brings the fluids, and also wins a triple-header Old Skool Award for this: "Last night the 3yo peed in my bed, the 7yo had a nightmare and the 10yo had an ear infection. All in the course of 2 hours."

But wait, there's more! Sarah wins the Grace Under Awkward Circumstances Tiara because this happened on soon-to-be-ex's night, while he slumbered on obliviously, with a Kids First Sash for trying to work it all out in the least disruptive way for the young ones.

Esperanza wins her Own Medical Clinic; this is about week 43 of the sickness festivities, and this week featured her own lingering illness, Sweet's visit to the pulmonologist, and -- ta da! -- hives. Listen up, Universe! Enough!

The Running on Empty Award goes to Purple Kangaroo, whose hubby could use a little retraining on matters like finding a gas station at the appropriate time. Our Best Wishes in thrashing your way through the insurance jungle, too.

Days wins the Excellent In-Law Lottery, with three of her kids headed off for Ski! Week! with Grandparents! Hugs and crossed fingers about the trip back to NYC. xoxo

Happy Birthday to Liz's Muffin Man, who has achieved double digits! How did that happen??

Congratulations to Sue, whose head is so much better, and who has a sabbatical coming up!

Good Luck to Sarah, with the interview today!

Cluesticks to the K0men people, who failed to persuade us of their commitment to health when they defunded cancer screening for poor women.

Thanks for playing! See you next week, when the lovely Esperanza will host!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ETA: JenR wins the Walkin' Pneumonia and teh Boogie Woogie Blues Award, for her late-breaking tale of pediatric medical sorrows. May the antibiotics be with you!

Let's just break out the whines...

What's cookin'?

I am so very whiney tired worn out.

But on the up side -- I've got friends, my tiredness is earned, and things will work out.

Actually, nothing's cooking at my personal house. I hold the opinion that it is my beloved's duty on weekends. He, um, has been distracted. But (she says righteously) not as distracted as me, because of teh deadline thing, and how I'm actually almost working right now. Maybe it will be pizza night, or something.

Let the fine whines begin...

Very Whiny Whine Awards

I am amused to see that preachers and professors have similar nightmares. esperanza’s “nightmare come true” of getting lost on the way to the church and walking up the aisle during the prelude feels a lot like my class last week. (This week went better, fortunately).

Congratulations to liz, who won the internets this week.

Condolences to kathy a. on the loss of a good friend. Your description of her and the inspiration she left you makes me sad I never met her. The world was a better place because your friend was in it.

The Old Skool Award this week goes to amy for a “chewed up a spoon in the garbage disposal.”

kathy a. made an adorable addition to the Pixie Lexicon this week: “faux-paws.” Apparently a “faux-paws” is what has happened when a jumping cat misses the windowsill and slides down the wall. There are definite parallels for the non-cats among us.

Nurse Elves and her very own otoscope to esperanza, who seems stuck in a spiral of snot. esperanza, you can yell here anytime.

Liz and amy’s husbands get the Alright Guy Awards this week, for sacrificing a crocheted pot holder to make single colored mittens possible and offering support at the right time.

kathy a. gets this week’s Elevated Risk of Mullet Award for her handy list of driving tips and instructions. “If your music makes my car windows rattle, your music sucks.” Amen.

Three cheers to Sue, who woke up without a piercing hot knife headache.

Kudos to Sue’s Pain Doc, for listening, asking good questions, and managing the impossible task of being “very gentle with a needle.”

Sarah at ratatat gets the Groundhog Day of Fights Award this week. We are so sorry, and hope your phone interview went fabulously well. Any employer would be lucky to have you, Sarah.

Neighbor Lady, we hope strep has been vanquished from your home as the new furniture arrives.

Gentle Hugs to Days, who is dealing with the icks of chemo.

Cluesticks to mean relatives, mean people, lousy drivers, and creepy delivery guys. We have a special posse assembling to take on the stoopid insurance process that keeps Sweet Baboo from getting OT where she gets PT and sentences esperanza’s family to another hour a day in the car. Lots and lots of cluesticks to the Fireplacing Cancer (and anyone whose idea of support links the weight of your struggles with your strength – that is not a theology we endorse here).

I hope you have a fabulous weekend, Pixies. See you next week, when kathy a. will be the Hostess with the Mostest.

Very Whiny Whining

I'm feeling whiny and Bridadoon hadn't appeared yet, so I decided to bring this week's Whiner's Ball into being a little early.

Very Whiny Whine: I'b sick! I do't hab time to be sick!

Very Whiny Whine the Second: Last week was the first week of classes. I lived out my teaching nightmare: showing up late, not being able to find the room once I got to the building, not having all my materials...

Anti-Whine: As my sister points out, at least I wasn't naked. And this is another week, and another chance to show them I am an actual competent adult (no! pressure!).

How are things going for you, Pixies? Whines, anti-whines, and consoling stories of the days you lived out your nightmares welcome.