Fashion forward

My mother has managed to live through many a fashion trend.  She has survived the dignified hats and glove era, the beehive hair days, the tye dye, bell bottom period, and now sports yoga pants with panache.  Will she make the... I am always cold and love my new crocheted beard to warm my face ....  A fad or the newest trend in practical winter wear. 

Cold feet...

Some people get cold feet about new steps in their lives.   My mother has cold ears when asked to play new board games.   

Well truth be told she is always cold all over, hence multiple layers all over and the hesitation to move from her spot to retrieve more clothing with which to warm herself.  So instead, she warms herself with whatever is close at hand...  As in baby socks for her ears. 

Shirtless Joe Whittaker

Apparently, if you play the piano pantless, the appropriate attire for watching your brothers play a Wii game is shirtless.  

It was almost 3 months ago that I was pulling my hair out trying to keep this boy in the same outfit for an entire day.  Some days as many as 10 outfits would be worn and each day the closet had only empty hangers by the end if the day with a mound of clothes strewn across the floor.  He and I share a closet.  I would rehang it all, only to do it all over the next day. 

I finally had an epiphany.  I removed all the clothes from his closet and put them in a box.  I only left his favourite three outfits.  It seemed to work.  Although now he will sometimes wear only one outfit everyday.  I look forward to a spill so I can whip it into the laundry.  Or...  He just doesn't wear anything...  Definitely his preference is the nude approach. 
 
Recently I pulled a new outfit from his box of banished clothes and he was ecstatic.  Now he insists on the new outfit daily.

Fickle, this one is!

The hospital diet

Some think of time spent in a hospital and think, 'ugh, hospital food'.  I've had a few hospital stays and I can say that as a patient I've had a tendency to enjoy and almost over eat.  Perhaps after a surgical procedure and typically a liquid diet, all foods are appealing.  Or perhaps I've come to appreciate any meal I don't have to prepare or clean up after.  

However it's a whole different picnic as the parent of a patient.  Unfortunately I have too much experience in this department.  I do have it down to a science though.   I can eat reasonably without too much expense or time away from my child's room. 

Breakfast: brought a bag of my typical muesli cereal.  Every morning a parents courtesy cart comes by offering three complimentary items.  One item I choose is milk for my cereal.  Next I choose a piece of fruit and a bran muffin.  These are tucked aside for later. (bran muffins are a hot commodity...  Often they run out, second choice is the blueberry muffin).  There are plenty of options on the cart but they won't satisfy for the day.  Doughnuts, danishes and hot cocoa aren't going to keep me going long.

Lunch: this is the time for the saved muffin and fruit.  I also packed a bag of nuts which I nibble on at lunch time. 

Supper:  this is the only meal I leave the room for.  I try to go when he is asleep and I take the four flights of stairs and walk the long hallway for my exercise to get to the hospital cafeteria.  I go for the soup du jour and a side of Veggies.  Very filling.  Once they had a soup I didn't like so I had the cheeseburger.  I take my food and ascend the four flights once again.  I arrive at my room out of breath and ready to devour my meal. 

I only wish I could have such disciplined eating habits at home.