Don't judge me by the baby....

For the past 24 hours, I've been toting around a 18 month-old.
It has been absolutely bizarre.
I took her to Wal-mart, and received the condenscending smile from older women (the one that says "Aw... Look at the little slut...).
Then, I have the immense pleasure of taking her to the theatre for play practice.
She did quite well in the theatre.
She followed me around as I moved props about on the stage, and found a new hiding spot inside the mast.
Once Carol (the Tech Goddess) arrived and started playing music, Nevaeh gave quite a show of doing her little baby dance onstage as I clapped and thumped along.
After rehearsal, she became slightly demonic and I brought her home.
Bathing a small child proved to be quite a task, to be sure.
lol
After combing her hair and giving her a bottle, I wisked her away to her crib.
This morning, we had to go to Kroger to get chinese food ingredients.
I loath taking a small child into a big store like Kroger or Wal-mart for the simple fact that I know I will be judged.
Especially in Circleville.
A younger woman, with a young child, sans wedding ring = Somebody's baby mama.
Nevertheless, we made our way to the store.
I found it interesting that I received different looks from the total strangers.
Normally, I'm just a young woman, doing my own thing.
But, today, as I asked the employee to point me in the direction of the rice, I received a smile as the eyes darted from Nevaeh to myself.
Again, I found that pushing the cart, and narrowly missing an impact with an elderly lady, my apologies were met with not a snide "It's okay," but a "Oh, it's alright, dear. Go right on ahead."
Strange.
When I asked a male employee for the green onions, I did not receive the "How you doin'?" smile I tend to get, but the "They are right here, Ma'am."
VERY strange.
I guess the adorable little girl, chugging her bottle, and I in my peacoat and Vera Bradley purse, wearing an expression of urgency, kinda gave off the "married woman doing her morning errands" vibe, and not the "White trash baby mama" vibe.
Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that I was in Kroger and not Wal-mart...
Hmmm...
Coming from a sociological standpoint, I realize that people (especially those who inhabit a small town) tend to pass automatic judgement and predjudice on others, such as young women toting around a child or two.
It is hilarious to think on, yet I know that I too am guiltly of such immediate assumptions.
It's just another example of NOT judging a book by its cover...

Merry Christmas Eve Eve!!!

Today is my favorite day of the year.
Christmas Eve Eve!
December 23rd.
Today I get to go around repeatedly saying something semi-eccentric and absurd, but it will no doubt be accepted as it will erupt from my mouth with such joy and merriment that all who hear it will not be able to contain a smile.
HA!
I love the Christmas season!!
Today, I honestly think that the majority of people could be broken down into two groups...
Those that are prepared, raring to go, ready for their Christmas...
And those that are scrambling around like chickens with no heads and slowly losing their sanity.
I am definitely in the former category.
The rest of my household...
Not so much.
I know for a fact that my parents still have yet to finish up their gifts for each other.
My sister's break up has left her with several gifts with which she doesn't know what to do.
Mom had ordered some gifts from a catalog and has yet to receive them, some of which have actually been canceled off her order and left her in a frazzled panic.
Naturally, her panic will no doubt reach my relaxed soul a some point today, causing me to also run around like a headless chicken....

Oh, and let's just stop for a moment and recognize how totally UN-PC I've been this season.
About a week or two ago, I started changing how I said goodbye to people.
I mean strangers.
The cashier at the store.
The couple I just waited on.
My waiter.
EVERYONE has gotten a jolly "Merry Christmas!"
It has been such a delight to watch the faces.
For the most part, it has been me, up at the front of the restaurant, back behind the deli counter wiping something off or cutting lemons, looking up as folks walk out the door, and giving them a "Thanks for coming! Merry Christmas!"
Or I'll drop their change off at the table and say, "Here you go. Merry Christmas!"
And people have responded quite well to it, saying "Thank you" or returning with a "Merry Christmas to you too!"
Last week, this guy was leaving and kept saying "Happy Holidays," so I purposely said "MERRY CHRISTMAS!"
LOL
Yesterday another guy whirled around and gave me a strange look as I gave the salutation.
LOL
I work at a privately owned restaurant.
My managers LOVE that I say Merry Christmas.
In fact, the UN-PC disease has spread to several co-workers and members of the management team.
HA!

Last week, I went shopping with Kim.
We went to the mall, the Mecca for Christmas shopping.
We went into one store in particular and went to purchase some items.
The gal at the counter was very nice, and had helped us with some of our questions and whatnot.
As we left, we both turned and gave a cheerful "MERRY CHRISTMAS."
The girl kinda sputtered with her programmed "Happy Holidays" and a genuine response of "merry christmas."

AH, I love it so.