Football and Dress Up

Brian transitioned from active Dad duty this afternoon into the comfort of a friend's couch with snacks and beer and football. I picture it as the Calgon of men. Actually I'd chose that way before Calgon as well!

Jacque met girlfriends for a lunch date and an appointment (just for fun) at Davids Bridal. We reminisced about trying on Prom dresses together in Wausau when we were much younger (although old enough to be prom girls' mothers) and that is how I anticipated the trip to DB today. Just fun(ny) playing dress up. But whoopsie, found my dress!!! Ha! Loooove it. And what a treat to have that done. 

Wonderful days all around finished off with dinner with Brian's sister and BIL. Holiday weekends are so luxurious and we are so in the mood to be around our loving friends and family.   

Stressors

These are things that are stressing us today.

1. We've learned recently that Jacque's breast cancer has returned.
2. Brian is in the midst of a job search.
3. Our elderly cat is now completely ignoring her personal hygiene and none of us really feel like helping her with that.

That's a heavy list. I get it. So I'll opt to write about the cat.

Kitty's hygiene has turned into a curious issue for me. I have had cats for many years. While I wouldn't say I was meticulous about their care all the time, I was pretty reliable. Cleaning the litter box each night was part of my wash face+brush teeth+go to the bathroom bedtime routine. My most recent lovey cat passed away about 6 months prior to Brian and I moving in together.

Since moving in with Kitty I am totally copping an attitude about litter box duty and expecting Brian to do it and getting annoyed when it's not done. Although annoyed, I'm still not doing it. Let's work to come to a shared understanding that this is dumb.  (Are we there? Thanks.) Brian DOES clean the litter box. But if it is not done when I want it done (daily), I need to just DO. IT.  This may be a request for a little kick in the butt. Shoot me a text some random day if you would please to remind me that the energy to clean the kitty litter is so small compared to the energy spent (wasted) not doing it. So simple. Stressor gone.

As far as giving kitty a bath though, I guess we're still uncertain if that would be a good idea. Is anyone else we know a cat-bather? Do tell.

For the other stress points, we'll keep talking. That is what this blog is for - to keep you informed on our lives and to give you an opportunity to keep us honest in our goal to celebrate all the positives about this beautiful life we share.

Thankfulness seen anew

As opening day of the new blog, we'll go with a  bit of an opening statement.

Brian and I have talked about blogging about our mashup family since we began it but the effort has been casual and blog writing hasn't been a priority.

Today we refocus with a commitment to capture our experiences in real time and celebrate them, talk about them, not take the moments - gorgeous and ugly alike - for granted.

Swan Positive will give us the opportunity to communicate with our family and friends to keep our amazing village informed of our progress and keep us HONEST to our commitment to the positive.

A project management truth is that what gets measured, gets done. It's time to put our money where our mouths and minds have been.

Welcome to Swan Positive and Happy Thanksgiving!

I am so thankful today that Brian and I found each other and that we live this life as a team.

-Jacque