Category: This and that

Say ‘Yes’ To Just Socks

~ Lenore Diane ~ Leave a comment

Labor Day has come and gone. The hours of daylight are lessening, and the long, hot days of Summer are slowly becoming crisp, clear, cool days of Fall. I am happy to see Fall’s approach, and I am happy to wake to cool temperatures. The hint of cooler weather is making me crave socks. Yes, socks.

I love socks. In fact, socks and turtle-necks are my favorite items of clothing. Socks are fashionable. Socks are fun. Socks come in so many types/styles like: fuzzy socks, silky socks, toe socks, toe-less socks, long socks, short socks, etc. Matching socks to your outfit would prove more entertaining and easier than shoes. Plus, miss-matching socks would be considered funny, whereas miss-matching your shoes is just an indication that you dressed yourself in the dark, not wanting to wake up your roommate, who snored all night, making it difficult for you to get any sleep, so you are half dead anyway. He really needs to ditch his girlfriend, she is only using him.

Oh. Wait. Sorry. Got side-tracked.

I’ve seen the signs: No Shirt. No Shoes. No Service. Oh how cozy and comfortable the feet of the world would be if “No Shoes” became “No Shoes – Only Socks”. Still, I am guessing if I were to head to work wearing no shoes just socks, I’d be asked to leave the office – maybe for good. But really, some shoes that people wear are no more appropriate for the office (or anywhere) than plain socks.

Compare wearing only socks to wearing flip-flops. Are flip-flops really more appropriate than socks alone? Keep in mind the manner in-which most people walk when wearing flip-flops. Typically, flip-floppers will slide their feet lazily along the floor, flipping and flopping noisily all the way. While those just wearing socks are quiet as mice. Well, the heavy-footed/heavy-healed just-sock wearers would make some noise; however, overall the just-sock crew could sneak up on a whole bunch more people than the flip-flop crew. (I’ll spare you from my comparison of socks to clogs. Suffice it to say, the comparison would include “clunk – slide, clunk-slide, clunk”.)

In the workplace, bosses could sneak up on their employees, catching them downloading the latest App or updating their Facebook/Twitter page. Even better, employees could sneak up on their bosses, catching them taking the last of the coffee (without making another pot) or updating their Facebook/Twitter page. And, all employees would be able to walk away from his/her desk quietly, so that no one really knew when you left or how long you’ve been gone. The comfort and noise reduction are two great reasons wearing socks, no shoes – just socks, should be allowed in the workplace and every place else.

Now, for the socks to be worn outdoors and in all kinds of weather, reinforcing the socks with a sole is necessary. I believe a minimal sole could be created – a ‘barely there’ kind of thing. Perhaps a much lighter version of the mukluk would work, a mix between mukluks and slipper socks. Hmmm . . . I wish it were socially acceptable to walk around in slippers… with socks, of course.

Itching With Inspiration

~ Lenore Diane ~ 4 Comments

I am itching with inspiration. Itching. And the inspiration comes from an actual itch and Facebook. The itch can be scratched. Facebook? It will be the death of me, if I don’t learn to keep quiet.

I find myself funny; unfortunately, I don’t keep the ‘funny’ to myself. (I don’t keep anything to myself.) Moreover, as I share what I find funny, I soon realize the rest of the world does not see things the way I see things. Amazing. Really, it’s a shame. Poor, poor world. I have a friend that says ‘you might as well laugh as cry’, and I try to remember that sentiment when things get crazy.

Yesterday, I posted what I thought was a funny poem on my Facebook status. “Too much info I sometimes share; here’s an example in case you care, My kid Joe does not have rabies. Nah. Instead this kid has scabies.” Well, the humor in my poem went over like a lead balloon. *THUD* (Actually, my neighbor found it funny, as she literally called me on the phone seconds after I posted the status.)

Other Facebook friends? Not so much. One FB friend, who has a child in my son’s daycare class, proceeded to contact the daycare provider. She was not amused with my mentioning my child and scabies in the same poem. [I admit, ‘scabies’ sounds horrible.] She wanted to request my child not be allowed back into daycare until the scabies was cured. Ok. Fine. I understand her concern. I understand her wanting to protect her child, as well as the other children in the class. But – Charlie was not the one with a rash. In fact, Charlie is rash free.

Again, I understand the Mom’s concern. As a Mom, I experience the same concerns, and I certainly don’t want to expose other little ones to my sick little ones. However, as a Mom of two, my knee-jerk response to illnesses has lessened. Greatly.

When my oldest was a newborn and throughout his first three years, I freaked whenever he was sick and/or was thought to have been exposed to someone else who was sick. I freaked to the point of becoming a freak. (Rumor has it I am still a freak, but for other reasons.) Then, when I had my second child, I found I freaked less. I found juggling childcare and my paid gig was tough, especially when a child was sick and had to stay home. Hmm . . . maybe the kid isn’t sick. Maybe he just has allergies. No fever. He’s fine. Off to daycare you go.

Yes,  juggling work and two kids eased my freaky “Oh my gosh! My kid is sick! Quick! We must go to the Urgent Care Center STAT!” nature. Juggling parenthood and employment eased my freaky “What do you mean he was exposed to chickenpox? What kind of Mom takes their child out in public when they have chickenpox? Argh!” nature. Just like being a Mom of two eased my “He fell! Is he breathing? Is there blood? Do we have to go to the ER?” knee-jerk reaction. Now, if one of my two falls the reaction is more like, “I can’t see any blood from here. Shake it off. Rub it. Move along.”

I admit, my neighbor and I still call each other (immediately) when we fear one of our little ones is battling a scary illnesses or has just experienced a serious bonk of some sort. She and I will talk each other off the ‘freaking out’ ledge.

Back to the rash. I’ve discussed Charlie’s lack of rash, which brings me to Joe. Joe doesn’t have scabies. However, the pediatrician thought it best he (and Charlie) be treated for scabies because our neighbor’s kids had scabies. The rash on Joe’s arm is actually dermatitis, and we are treating it with a steroid cream. Still, last night, we did the scabies treatment, too, which consists of lathering the child in a special cream before bed and washing the cream off in the morning. Treatment also includes washing sheets, towels, etc. Done, done and done. Joe is enjoying a normal day at school, and Charlie is enjoying a not-so-normal day at home.

And Scabies? Yeah, it’s a scary name for a mite that is similar to lice. Scabies mites typically thrive on the body below the neck, whereas lice thrive on the scalp. Scabies is far easier to treat than lice; plus, unless you are sharing a bed or rolling around naked with someone suffering Scabies, Scabies is harder to transmit than lice. You can access the MayoClinc’s website for information about Scabies by clicking here.

I’ll work harder on keeping things to myself, while holding my humor in check. Still, tonight I may have to create a new poem for my FB status; many words rhyme with ‘flu’.

That Sounds Familiar

~ Lenore Diane ~ Leave a comment
By Edward Koren

I’m confident that much of what you are going to read is not new. In fact, I may have mentioned some of these things in a previous post (or two). Regardless, based on the conversations that took place in the house today, I find the following lists timely (if only for me).

10 Things You Might Hear If You Have Kids

10. “My pajamas are wet, so I took them off.”
9. “No fair!”
8. “Mommy! He’s touching me, again!”
7. “But Grandma lets me do it.”
6. “Mommy, Joe is looking at me.”
5. “But, I wanted to sit there.”
4. “You’re a poopy head.”
3. “Butt. Butt. Butt. Butt.”
2. “Mommy, Charlie hit me.”
1. “Mommy, I can’t find one of my worms.”

10 Things You May Have Said If You Are A Parent

10. “Please stop rocking in your chair.”
9. “Leave your brother alone.”
8. “Don’t pull your shirt over your knees; you’re stretching it.”
7. “Don’t play with your food, please; eat it.”
6. “Because I said so.”
5. “Stop pouring the water on your brother’s head.”
4. “Don’t make me come in there.”
3. “No, really, the dog does not want to wear your pajamas.”
2. “I am going to count to three.”
1. “Aaak! There is a worm on the counter!”

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