Noviembre

November is over. Here's what I remember of it.

Thursday, 11/3-- Oliver thought he'd hide his candy in a really sneaky spot...

...on the floor next to his designated kitchen stool, swaddled in blankies. I think he was surprised that I could see it.


Saturday, 11/5-- I mentioned this in a previous post, but I'm sure I didn't emphasize enough how giddy I was to see They Might Be Giants in concert. I had been looking forward to it since the last time they came to Boise, 2 years ago. That time they did a "family show", featuring their kid-friendly hits. As much as I cherish their child-geared tunes, I couldn't wait for them to come back and do an "adult show". Not that their other songs aren't safe for kiddies to listen to. It's just that they have such a vast collection of delightful music that it's hard to cover enough of it to satisfy me in one show. TMBG released a new album in July (Join Us) and I bought one the day it hit stores (from Borders, since I knew they were in the process of biting the dust). I listened to it repeatedly so I could be sing-along ready for the show. In my earlier post about this, I inadvertently left out the part where I explain how much I adore Join Us. It's their best album in years! I want to give one to everyone I know, but not many people I know seem to be interested. ='( I'm baffled that these wildly talented men are not more widely accepted! Even they admitted onstage that they just keep grasping at straws. If only there were more people in the world like me to love them the way they deserve to be loved. I think they're simply amazing. I could go on and on and on and on. And on. I'll convert someone yet!

Hmmmm... I didn't write anything down on my calendar from the 7th thru the 15th, but I'm sure there were plenty of mommy/housewife duties happening, with a sprinkling of leisurely stuff here and there.

Wednesday, 11/16-- Dawn, one of my old roommates, and I met at Red Robin for lunch. It was great catching up with her! She's always been so fun and easy to get along with, and I love her to pieces.

Thursday, 11-17-- I didn't get invited to a Breaking Dawn party. (No relation to my ex-roommate-- Who would ever want to hurt Dawn?) Anyway, I'd kind of lost interest in the whole Twilight thing. I figured I'd get around to seeing it eventually, but wasn't going to initiate plans to go opening night or anything. But when I realized there was a big party (with spinach artichoke dip!) leading up to the midnight premier and I wasn't invited, my dang heart broke a little. No, I didn't tell any of the party planners that I didn't care about seeing the movie right away. And they weren't random people who don't know me. I'd attended 2 of their previous Twilight parties. I don't enjoy being left out. I know-- poor Shan... I really wish I wasn't bothered by it, but I always have been. I still have this vision of me in high school. One night I was getting dropped off at home by two of my friends. (I refuse to use the term "girlfriends". Boys don't refer to platonic male friends as boyfriends, so why do girls? I just feel awkward saying "my girlfriends". If and when I do it, it's in jest.) Anyway, before I got out of the car, the two friends were confirming a sleepover for that night. Except they didn't invite me. My countenance drooped and I went inside. I stomped upstairs to my room, flung myself on my bed and wept bitterly. "Nobody likes me!", I wailed. I cried for a while, tears dampening my hair as I lay there, not caring how pathetic I sounded. I can still hear the scene playing in my mind. I found out later that the one girl's parents had arranged for her to sleep over at the other girl's house since they were out of town or something. But I'd gone ahead and assumed the worst. That they simply didn't like me.

It makes me think of how crazy minds are. What in my brain makes me instantly wilt with jealousy when situations arise? What is it about other people's brains which don't swell with uncontrolled emotion in similar situations? Why do I have to be so touchy? I've had people tell me to not worry about stuff so much. How can I train myself to NOT care about things that automatically make me feel so defeated and little? It's like I don't have a choice. The feelings are instantaneous. There is a stimulus, I process the information, then I feel things happening in my head, like blood rushing to and fro or something. My heart literally feels like it's been kicked in the face, and I feel awful. I don't know how to explain it. All I know is, it's not a conscious decision. I can't suppress the emotions. I could pretend I'm not bothered, but in reality I would be. What's the point in that?

Anyway, enough psychological mumbo- jumbo. Back to November. Something silly.

Friday, 11/18-- Cora and Jane decided to dress Oliver up in some of Jane's outfits.


He liked the way this dress caught the air as he spun around.



Feigning slumber in a cozy nightgown and headband.




What a beautiful boy. He looks just like Jane when he's wearing her clothes. I guess this is what Jane would look like with a butch.


It was funny activity. He bopped around for maybe half a minute in each wardrobe change, then he'd had enough and wanted his Superman pajamas back on. He's all about comfy and loves wearing jammies as much as possible!


Skip to Thanksgiving. We congregated at my parents' house for our turkey feast. My brother Gavin's family and my sister Erin's family were there, and Grandma Pinney, too. My other siblings were away with in-laws.
I made the obligatory lemon meringue pies for the second year in a row. They are a long-standing tradition in my stepdad's family. It would not, could not be Thanksgiving without them. At least, I don't want to find out what would happen if nobody brought any.

Yum, I want some more right now. I felt pretty special when Brad (stepdad) raved about the quality of the pie. He's pretty particular. Especially about an old family recipe.

Friday, 11/25-- Last year for Becky's birthday I took her to the Festival of Trees for her first time, then to Olive Garden (for her hundred millionth time). This year my family went with me to see the trees. No offense to them, but I wished it could have been Becky there with me. She loved Christmas stuff. I wanted her to be around so everyone who loves her could wish her a happy birthday and just be with her. I think of her and miss her every day.


And that's all I recall of November.