Sweet? Stalker? Or bribe?

This week is my first working at my alma mater, Georgia State University.It has been a whirlwind of visits to human resources, orientation and auxiliary services offices in an effort to get paid and get my car in a campus parking space. In the middle of all of this running I have also taken numerous trips down memory lane.  

From the fall of 1989 to the spring of 1995 I called these hallowed halls my home. I grew as a person and had priceless experiences while I was here. I still have many of the friends that I made during that time and as I have grown so has the university. Many things here have changed since I was a co-ed. For example the student population has grown from 25,000 to 38,000 students since I graduated and the school has legitimate dormitories. But I quickly realized that many things have remained the same. Apparently there is a spot called the Park Bar that offers a 3-2-1 drink special. 3 drinks, for the price of 2, served in 1 glass.  This is the type of deal that my friends and I would have been all over in the early 90s when Fat Tuesday at Underground was a part of our daily schedule. My Pearlcorder was my best buddy as it allowed me to tape all of the lectures I needed from classes that had the misfortune of being scheduled prior to happy hour. Advice to the novice: grain alcohol and taking notes do not mix!  

While making a purchase in the university bookstore I was given the bill pictured above back as change. I was watching the cashier the entire time so I know this note and number was not intended for me. It reminded me however of days gone by when I would have done something just as daring/stupid with my friends. I would like to add that we would not have sent that note via cash!! What the hell man?  Is this girl made of money? 
A friend also voiced the possibility that this was a bribe which is the saddest thought ever. However you see it, there is no denying that it comes from a place of innocence, fun and stupid youth. My early 20s were dotted with may bad moves when it came to romance to I won’t bash the lovelorn and their methods too much. 

17 years later I can honestly say that I would still pass a note like that onto a guy my friend was interested in; but it would be plain paper and not a greenback. This university taught me a lot about life, what I should give away and what I should hold dear. It taught me that five bucks might get your friend the possibility of a date; but it will definitely get you closer to that 3-2-1 drink!  

This funny picture was taken by Our Labor of Love at their Lovies session. Every year they photograph kids and their favorite toys. This is Aaron and his best bear friend Bear. 

For some reason our soon to be 2 year-old has some very strong fashion opinions. He will ask to wear a robot t-shirt, his Elmo pajamas and always wants to wear these shoes. “Okar shoes”, he will say at the breakfast table.

These Oscar the Grouch shoes are wide and weird looking and he asks for them just about everyday. He asks for them so often in fact that I drove all the way to a suburban Stride Rite outlet today to buy him a second pair in the next size up. A task that wouldn’t be so awful if the asking price wasn’t $34.00! At the outlet! For toddler shoes!

I called ahead and had the magical footwear put on hold. When the sales lady handed me the box he followed it with his eyes closely (I swear he recognized the box), then grabbed for them as soon as I took the lid off. “Okar shoes”, he exclaimed joyously. You would have thought he was Carrie Bradshaw and they were a pair of Jimmy Choos. He wanted the new pair as well as the lone sample shoe that sat on the display counter. What had fueled this Oscar passion and what did we have to look forward to him coveting in the future? Heaven only knows but I do know he better get a job…quickly. Mommy and daddy will only fund fabulous footwear until he is able to work legally. Then he will have to flip burgers for the latest Nikes and throwback Adidas.

Aaron is officially off of the pacifier! After having losing it during the night and not crying for it we decided to put him down without it. He cried for it for only a minute then fell asleep and slept through the night. That was about three nights ago and he has been without it since. I am so proud of him and so relieved that we haven’t had to do some of the tricks and schemes that friends have to rid him of the addiction.

The Paci Fairy seems to be the most popular way to break older kids of the habit. Convincing them that this fairy must give their pacis to tiny babies who need them has been the key to success for many of my friends. Aaron is too young for fairy stories so we had to do it cold turkey and I was skeptical as to what would happen with this method.

In talking to a friend who is a dental assistant I have learned that now we need to be on the lookout for finger interest. If he begins sucking fingers we need to give him back the pacifier immediately. They are specially made to correctly form teeth while fingers and thumbs are not. My husband and I agree that we are saving for college and not orthodontia and are now on finger watch. 

The joys of parenting continue.