Neuton's 3rd Law in action.

Part of the problem in living life is that every action we take has an equal and opposite reaction. Some are obvious other are hidden for weeks, months or years. We often base our actions on the obvious ones, and teach our kids to do the same. "You do your chore, you get computer time." But sometimes it is not that easy.

For example; when we moved into this house several years ago my daughter, who was a very light sleeper, had the bedroom next to the bathroom. I soon learned that if I aspired to a good night's rest then I better not do anything to disturb her while she slept. The meant that I couldn't flush the toilet while she was sleeping without the risk of waking her. I soon realized that it made the most sense to let it mellow if its yellow, but if its brown, flush it down.

Well, my other children all thought that if Mommy didn't have to flush the toilet at night, then they needn't flush the toilet, ever. So almost every time I walk into any bathroom in the house, it needs a good flushing. When its 85 degrees, then sometimes I even notice they need a good flushing from several rooms away.

We have discussed this in family meetings. The dogs have patiently waited for the toilets to get flushed, just so the could drink from it.

Is it seriously that hard to flush a toilet? Or will I always regret the year of trying not to share my bed with my toddler?

Smelling me, smelling you

My sense of smell seems to read things rather stronger then most people's. I smell every soap you use on your body. I smell your hairspray and makeup and weather or not you have a cat box in your house when you walk by. If you are wearing perfume you can floor me, coughing and wheezing for breath.

When I walk into homes or businesses its the smell that I notice first. The smell of the salt and dirt tracked on the carpeting (winter in Minnesota)... the smell of your cleaning products and weather or not the filter needs to be changed on the air exchange or furnace.

When I walk into a home I can smell if the dishes were done last night and if the garbage was taken out, what cleaning products were used, if you have cats or kids who pee their bed (and forgot to change it). I can smell if a kid barfed almost anywhere in the house.

I smell it in my own house too- the entry where the dogs weren't let all the way out, the beds that the kids didn't change, the whole upstairs reeks when they don't bring down the wet clothes they peed in. I can smell if someone forgot to flush a toilet and when my husband forgot to shower. I can smell if he's feeling stressed and can even smell it when the baby is sick. (Hubby takes on a dull smell with a s light metallic tang, babies take on a sharp, tangled smell).

I got rid of all shampoos, soaps, and cleaning supplies with a smell. (no pinesol or windex). I control all body care items like face cream, chapstick and deodorant to keep the smell down.

I love the smell of live dirt, babies heads, and all things cooking . I hate the smell of vinyl, melting plastics and diesel. I love the way my hubby's unders smell fresh from the dryer. I love the smell sunshine infuses into the line drying clothes. I love it when I can leave all the windows wide open in the house and get fresh air in.

I can smell my own hormonal state and that of others close to me. I firmly believe in human pharamones, and wonder how much more dogs could tell us about what they learn when they sniff us. I believe that interpersonal communications would be much easier in a world where nobody covered their own scents up. I like fresh human scents for what they can tell me.

I know you better when I can smell you. I know how to respond to you better when I can smell you. If you are truely going to be you- then smell like it.

It could be worse....

Well, A wild ride is what I got for this week.

Tuesday was by far the worst day of the whole pregnancy. I was so sick I just lied in bed (as much as a mother with 2 toddlers can) and cried.

And my poor husband. Tuesday was his birthday. We had a baby sitter lined up and were planning to go out. But I couldn't even respond to him when he came in.

And our water heater went out too- but I really didn't miss it on Tuesday, but by Wednesday I did. And after a quick on the scene investigation, I called for some professional help. But they were booked through Friday- 2 placed booked through Friday! So I agreed to pay the overtime rate and got someone out about about 6pm. Our water heater has a broken igniter. And the plumber company's suppliers do not carry that brand......
So a quick web search produced desired results with overnight shipping coming to more then the part. It should be here tomorrow.

And today, I was at least moving. I had to conquer that pile of sky high dishes and dirty kitchen, even with no running hot water. How did the do it 100 years ago? Duh! they kept water in big pots on the stove at most times and often near the fire. So 6 pots of hot water later and I had a clean kitchen (mopped floor and all). And while we ate dinner I boiled another pot for those dishes (and also used it to bath my Ian).

Then this afternoon I went to my mother's house for a bath. Pregnant women have amazing abilities to smell, and man, did I smell! Then I actually had a nap, made a birthday cake and my man's favorite dinner, sang happy birthday and put my kids to bed. All before nausea kicked in too strongly.

Mike is less ornery, now that someone acknowledges that he had a birthday. Boys can be so sensitive sometimes. And I got him a great card. The cover shows a woman at the sink washing dishes she is saying "The garbage needs to go out and the kids tracked mud through the living room today." Her husband is at the table and he says "Talk dirty to me, baby".

Then in the inside it says" we'll find some way to keep the romance alive, happy birthday"