Nice things … I said no to some things this week. And I definitely thought about your battle against “should” this weekend, and used it to help steel myself.

I don’t love talking on the phone, and I’m one of those people who happily ignores it. I am really good at blocking out noise, though; I think it comes of working with children for so long. Of course, one does have to return phone calls. That’s important.

This week, my nice thing is that I decided that I was going to take a couple days off work at the end of the month so I can spend a little more time sitting around the house (ignoring the phone). Just putting in the sheet asking for the time off felt great.

Also on a not-very-interesting health note, got myself to the chiropodist and got insoles made – turns out one leg’s significantly longer than the other. I learned that the body protects the lower spine by effectively shortening the longer leg through underpronation which hurts the knee and possibly hip. I thought that was fascinating, though the insoles feel well weird as I’m getting used to them!

On the converse, I utilize all this technology to forward my phone calls to my cell phone on school days whenever I’m out of the house. That way, if there is an emergency at the kid’s school or something (knock on wood), and the school gets confused on which phone number to call, I get the phone call right away. No worries.

Make the phone work for you.

Miri, I love it that you took care of yourself! I agree with you about the message of illness–the body’s last resort to make you pay attention. Good thing you did. You’ll be spit-spot by next week.

Dylan, I didn’t even think about the text message aspect. Another thing that’s so hard to ignore! But if I can retrain myself, you can, too. (If you want–if not, enjoy!)

Jules, love your zoo visit! And way to power through the sing-songey voice–that sort of thing annoys me, too. Talk to kids like real people, please.

Katie, what an ugly job! That must have strained your good humor. Aren’t you glad you’ve moved on from that? Now you have the glamour writing life, including fabric shopping in the middle of the day. Sweet!

Sara, I just discovered those honeycrisp apples, too! They’re ginormous, aren’t they? But so incredibly crisp and sweet–delish. With havarti–you have stolen my heart.

Deborah, how glorious that you’re eating out of your own garden. I love pears on a salad. Mmm. Hope you’re having fun with your laugh fest!

Katie Sis (ooh, I like that), overcoming writer’s block and knocking something off your to-do list–major treat for yourself. Hurray!

Mother Reader, I would have been shocked to get a call from you at any point in the day, let alone at 6:30. I forgot you even have my phone number. Call to chat whenever! (Well, except before 8:00 in the morning or after 8:00 at night–am I the only one who can’t stand hearing the phone ring too early or too late? My body just isn’t ready for it sometimes.)

Kelley, high five on that. E-mail except for mothers and a few friends. Nothing against everyone else–just trying to keep the noise to a manageable level. How sweet that you took a nature stroll with the baby! Hey, but you’d better be knuckling down and editing your sister’s paper now, don’t you think? (Whoops, a “should.” Sorry.)