Good Advice

Naomi: How come you sometimes treat me like I'm a baby?

Me: Well, I forget what a big kid you are. I used to have to do most things for you and I forget how much you can do on your own now.

Naomi: Yeh.

Me: Like crossing streets on the way to school....

Naomi: ...and calling friends on the phone....

Me: ...packing your lunch...

Naomi: ...letting me walk around the block...

Me: Yeh. Its hard for me to learn how to treat you like a big kid.

Naomi: You should practice, mom. Its the best way you learn new things.

Good Egg

My cousin, Jake, came home to Nebraska this past week. Its the first we've seen Jake in some time. He serves active duty as part of our armed services in Iraq.

There aren't words to describe what its like have him come home, joke around, play basketball in his mom's driveway and then pack up and return to his army post.

Next time you're with your own family joking around, or enjoying this amazing fall weather -- regardless of your politics -- I would appreciate it if you could send a good thought Jake's direction. Like many of his fellow soldiers Jake is a good egg. Our hope is to have him state-side by Christmas.

Late Night Googling Receipe

Step 1. Go to the Google homepage.
Step 2. Type my husband is a pirate into the search engine block.
Step 3. Select the "I'm feeling lucky" search option.
Step 4. Read the detailed account of a woman's dream sequence where her husband skirmishes with and is ultimately stabbed by a pirate.
Step 5. Notice that no one, not even the internet psychics, has offered a response.
Step 6. Laugh-laugh-laugh.

Auto-Racing Wishes for My Girl

I've been thinking about my friends a lot recently. One just welcomed a baby girl. Several showed up to help raise the high-beam of our cabin roof. One leaves on Friday for a two year stint in the Peace Corps. One with her kiddo in a Denver hospital this week. More found on my cell phone speed dial.

Anne Lamott calls that core group of friends your pit crew. Its made up of those people who put you back together, inflate your tires, and check under the hood before they turn you around to face the road ahead.

With the beginning of each school year I watch as my daughter makes and moves away from her friends. I can only hope she has the good fortune to collect a pit crew as amazing as my own.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Naomi: You know, mom, I don't enjoy singing so much as I used to.

Me: Really?

Naomi: Yeh. Ever since I cried that time on stage it isn't so much fun.

Me: I'm sorry to hear that. Singing is something you really enjoyed and I'd hate for anything to ruin that.

Naomi: Yeh, mom, but change is part of life.

Increased Laughter = Increased Joy

Summer reading lists rarely sing the praises of fluff. When asked "so, what are you reading?" I always want to sound like an NPR correspondent. I like thoughtful commentary and gut wrenching sad plot-lines as much as the next person...but occasionally...I get the itch to blaze through a clever but predictable text.

Feeling that itch last week I knew Sophie Kinsella could scratch it. I'm in the middle of The Undomestic Goddess and having a lot of fun with it. Kinsella authored the entire Shopaholic series (which was charming and clever for about 2 1/2 books) and she topples anyone else on my Authors I'd Like to Party With list. Its a short list, really, but she's the best fit for me. Kinsella is clever without being a snob, she throws down endearing characters in hilarious situations and both the author and reader have a good time of it. Her texts occasionally inspire me laugh out loud which adds credence to my Increased Laughter = Increased Joy theory.

Thanks, Sophie! If you were in Lincoln or on Facebook, I'd buy you a drink (or two).

Energy Crisis Kvetch

Okay ... I'm feeling pulled in all sorts of directions today. Three articles in the same day:

• T. Boone Pickens' trip to Lincoln promoting his wind and natural gas powered car Energy Plan;
• A woman driving Lincoln's first an all electric vehicle. The article touts the 14 cent price tag for driving 25-40 miles at a single charge from the nearest outlet; and
• City administrators proposed cut of the LES rate increase of an additional 1%

Beyond the local issue, which conjures my obvious bias, the juxtaposition gives rise to my belief that we're pretty schizophrenic when it comes to any meaningful discussion of energy prices. Because energy (oil, gas, electricity) have been so affordable for so long we want to force it back into their nominal price mold. We also want to save the planet. We also want alternative fuels.

I'm a self-serving-solipsistic person at heart. Ask me to deprive myself of anything and I'll wince. But on this one I don't think we can have it all. We can't refuse to raise electrical rates AND hope to plug our cars into the nearest outlet. We can't create natural gas cars and infrastructure without also seeing significant costs for home heating and electrical generation increase. There is no Walmart or bargain basement deal when it comes to energy prices. You pay what you pay or you figure out how to use less.

My thought? Don't drain your savings to pay your gas bill. Carpool or use mass-transit, moderate the thermostat in the short term. Use your savings to make more lasting solution oriented changes such as buying a more fuel efficient vehicle, upgrading to an Energy Star furnace, adding insulation to your attic.

Because, straight-up, over time energy prices are going nowhere but higher. Sure you'll see some peaks and valleys. As prices get painful enough the blow to the pocketbook will inspire people drive less/moderate their thermostats and prices fall (a little); and surge again as demand increases globally.