Current Dirt

My friend’s grandson is in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the local hospital. He is going to make a full recovery, but it was touch and go there for a few hours. I learned through this experience that the NICU takes clothing donations for it’s little patients. Hmm, shopping for baby clothes? I’m in. So last night Tom and I went to Macy*s and bought some cutie patutie newborn outfits. And since we were there no harm in checking out the other departments. Like the Kate Spade purse collection. Hey I saw clearance and Kate Spade in the same sentence. I’m stopping. And sure enough we left there with 15 onesies and a hot pink Kate Spade purse.

From the Dalai Lama to Kate Spade in less than one week. Shame on me.

My past experiences with donating clothing has been handing a bag of clothes to a person who doesn’t really care and watch them dump them in a pile of other clothes they don’t really care about. But today at the hospital couldn’t have been more different. The nurses were so appreciative for the little newborn outfits, showing them off to the other nurses. Even a little surprised about the trip to Macy*s. But like I said, any excuse will do.

The little baby boy we were visiting, Jayden, is such a different baby from the first time I saw him. I changed his diaper and got to hold him, something that wasn’t possible not that long ago. Then Tom sat with him and held him. When I asked if he was ready to go he said, “in a couple more minutes.” There is just nothing like an infant snuggling on your chest, nothing. The hospital is still monitoring his kidney and liver function but we are hoping the lab results on Monday will give him the green light to go home. A place his family can’t wait to welcome him to.

I am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I saw the Dalai Lama today in person. He was invited to speak in town and as he said, “I had an invitation, so I accepted.” I started taking notes because I thought I would never remember everything he said. But without writing a word the message of unbiased compassion, inner value, inner peace, happiness, and affection would be impossible to forget. This was an event I will look back at for a lifetime.

The ticket to see the Dalai Lama was a gift from a colleague. A very generous, undeserving gift that I dearly appreciate and will always cherish.

I also got a new water bottle today from another colleague. And if you saw the state of my old water bottle you would know how much that meant to me.

All that and a phone call from my nephew to wish me a happy birthday, that would be 35 if anyone is counting.

Off to dinner with my hubby who has used my birthday as an excuse to finance my new cycling hobby. No complaints here. Just tons of thanks.

Not sure how I got this lucky.

So, Victoria’s Secret called me on Saturday. After some standard survey questions they asked if I would “wear test” a new Victoria’s Secret bra. The bra would be mine to keep and they would call me in two weeks to ask some questions. Heck yeah, count me in. Bra’s are expensive.

And sure enough, my new bra arrived today. Along with the pretty lace number were some instructions. This bra is to be worn only by you. Please begin wearing this bra immediately. Etc. And a Bra Home Diary to be completed at the end of the two week testing period.

Just one hiccup.The bra is white and I always say, “I have no use for a white bra.” Reason being you shouldn’t wear white under white clothes and if I have on something other than white I try to color coordinate. And since I wear a white blouse to work a couple times a week I am going to have to shake up my wardrobe for maximum usage.

Let the testing begin.

Hot from the bakery. With melted butter. The perfect lunch for St. Patrick’s Day Parade Day. My girlfriend is waiting for me to throw on some green and meet her downtown for a couple of pops. Her two favorite days are parade day and St. Patrick’s Day. These crowded, must drink all day, holidays are not for me. But apparently there is something in our friendship contract small print that states I must go out for at least one.

Update: I put on the green and went downtown and there was a line of drunk college kids to get in the bar she was in. Needless to say, we moved on. But ended up at the top of the street with another couple having a grand time sharing stupid human tricks.

Totally worth it. What a difference actually watching nominated movies makes when watching the Oscars. Gee, who woulda thunk it? Out of the 15 films I watched for tonight’s broadcast I saw 14 movies I wouldn’t have otherwise watched. And they were (mostly) really good movies.

Congrats to the winners. All of which I picked except Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight. I didn’t pick him but I knew he would win.

Also, a special shout out to my girlfriend V for getting me hooked on Oscar movies and for hosting many a movie night as well as hosting tonight. I could live in your TV room, your TV is so big and your couch is so comfy and you always have chips.

I guess I better start saving for popcorn now…Oscar season is just a year away.