I am socially awkward in a way that even I don’t fully understand (but it has something to do with being an alpha for so long and suddenly being the new girl). I am also very self-conscious, which is new for me.

Through all of this, there have been a few people that have stuck it out with me and I just want to reach out and thank these people that have become very important to me.

The first people I have to thank are the folks from back home that have stayed in touch. It’s amazing how many people who acted like me leaving was the end of the world have not called since we drove away. I need to give credit to the people who still pretend to give a shit about me when they don’t have to.

My facebook friends!! I love you guys! I love you so much I even meant those exclamation points. I have a very short attention span and facebook gives me a good platform to slowly get to know you without feeling like a stalker. And you guys are the greatest. It genuinely amazes me how, even though we are a reeeeally diverse group, you get me better than my siblings. And most of you have fantastic senses of humor. I rarely worry about offending or seeming too dark in front of you.

My twitter followers and followees. I don’t think I’ll ever be comfortable with twitter, I admit it. You guys frighten and amaze me with your conversations and, frankly, I can’t keep up. But everyone is still incredibly patient and, for that, I thank you with all my heart.

My new friends from SC. Not many of you will read this, but thank you anyway. Again, with the patience! Many of you have taken my social awkwardness in stride and continued to invite me out of my house (which is more of a help than you can imagine). Please don’t mistake my shyness for any sort of slight. I really am this weird; once you get to know me, it becomes endearing.

Finally, I want to thank you, my readers. If I didn’t have you to vent to I would have no reason to log on everday and reach out. I really think this blog thingy is what’s standing between me and a genuine mental break. It keeps me motivated and enthusiastic about meeting new people, even if only online. I know it’s not that good, so thanks for hanging in there with me!

Flightless Goose

From the book jacket:

Flightless Goose is a story based around a real goose which lived on a lake in Columbus, Ohio. Due to some unfortunate circumstances, the goose was unable to fly south for the winter with the other geese. Eric and Nataliya Goodman, after witnessing the incident, named the goose Gilbert, and envisioned a beautiful tale that would delight children, while subtly teaching them lessons about self worth, tolerance, and friendship.

My sons are 5 and 6 years old. They really liked this story. They found the illustrations, with the geese dressed in clothes, particularly funny. They were a little scared by the “bad guys” (poachers) but it wasn’t too bad. Their favorite part was the ending, which I cannot give away.

I encourage you to give this book a try. It’s message is touching but, more importantly for us, it’s a good story. The book can be purchased at www.flightlessgoose.com (a really cute site for kids) or www.rungoose.com.

I have one copy to give away to a lucky reader! If you’d like to win a free copy of Flightless Goose, including the hardcover edition of the book and the read-along CD, just leave a comment below; I will pull a name out of a hat on October 8, 2010.

Then there are days that make you feel like you’ve won a Nobel prize. You just can’t stop patting yourself on the back for the magnificent little people you have created from nothing – NOTHING! Through your own self-sacrifice and good judgment, you have reared the most perfect specimens of human life on planet Earth.

I’m having one of those days.

My kids are generally great, but today? Today they played quietly in their room for hours, stopping only once in so often to pop their adorable heads out and ask me if I wanted to see something they had built, or tell me that one of them had discovered a new homophone pair (this is actually something my kids do), or to show me something one of them had drawn.

I felt like a mom in a commercial – but one of the good commercials about juice or toddler food where the mom is relaxed and the kids are delightful. Usually I feel like I’m in a Brawny commercial or one for Drag Me to Hell.

I’m sure this self-satisfaction will pass quickly, but for now? I’m enjoying it.

I might even reward the little bastards with a movie. Who’s the best Mom in town?