Like Beyoncé, I'm a Survivor.

I have strategically given myself little "treats" each day this week as a reward for being in the office all day.  I don't think I would be faring this well not having had vacation for the preceding two weeks, with or without treats.

My treats are lame.  I'll admit it.  They are also food-centered, but for anyone who knows me, that's no surprise.

Day 1--Choice Greens Southwest Chicken Salad with no chicken for lunch
Day 2--Same salad, but with an iced latte at lunch time
Day 3--Beyond Bread breakfast (which I like to call Beyond Breakfast because it usually serves as a good mid-morning snack... this time I ate the whole damn thing before 9 am) with a latte and Choice Greens salad for lunch

I think I'm going to have to just be happy with giving myself permission to leave the office at 3 (guilt sets in as I realize this means cutting out on a well respected geriatrician's talk from 3-4) to restock our shelves which are getting REALLY bare.  This week Josh hasn't been home before 9 pm at all, which means no Trader Joes, which stinks because when I have to do all daycare runs, work every day, and prepare dinner and do bedtime, I could really use some half-prepared meals.  Poor Elena went to daycare yesterday with frozen peas, frozen corn, frozen edamame, and some ripped up frozen Nan bread (all unfrozen before going to school of course).  (Those were some fun stools to clean up.)  What a lame lunch--no offense to Josh who put it together.

When Josh is in the UMC ICU, I get a glimpse at what being a single parent must be like.  I think I've said this before--sorry to sound like a broken record.  (And I'm mostly apologizing to single parents because as part of a two-parent household, I *know* I've taken Josh's help for granted!)  I just don't know how people don't completely blow a gasket on a daily basis raising kids alone--and I'm only dealing with one child for 1-2 weeks at a time, and that time involves a dad who occasionally is home long enough to change diaper or make a lunch.

Okay, so maybe my feathers got a bit ruffled in the early afternoon today and negativity started to ooze a bit.  Gotta keep that in check.  (Of course, this post is becoming totally stream of consciousness as well as more of a "note to self".)

I'm totally cheap, and couldn't let today's CSA pickup go.  My summertime partner was supposed to pick up, but is away on vacation, and I realized this last minute and couldn't find someone else to pick it up... until Liz Moran offered.  That girl is saintly.  Liz, who picked up her own share earlier in the afternoon, went back to pick up mine so that instead of driving all over town with a tired, hungry, cranky toddler, I could feed, snuggle, and put that toddler to bed.  And get my produce tomorrow.  Liz is my hero.

Tomorrow is Liz Day.  I'm going to be positive and pleasant and food-treat-free as part of expressing my gratitude to Liz.  And any ideas on how to make carrots more interesting would be appreciated... by both Liz and me!