Put them all together, they spell "Mother"

I just finished wrapping my mother's birthday gifts. I'm amused by the collection of disparate items I've chosen for her, and pleased by imagining how much she'll enjoy them all.

• Snow removal service. Because if I didn't do this, she would stubbornly be out there on her own, shovel in hand.

• Renewal of her TV Guide subscription. So she will never miss a Bulls game and can stay up on her behind-the-scenes gossip about soaps and talk shows.

• A pelican buried in the sand, enjoying a Long Island Iced Tea. Every year I get her a garish, horrible Christmas ornament. She loves them, and hangs them on the tree where she can see them as she enjoys her coffee and newspaper.

• Squirrel food. Made by Girl Scouts to benefit a local animal shelter, she'll enjoy watching the squirrels dine in her beloved backyard.

• Cranberry Body Butter. She's forever complaining about her dry skin.

Instead of a cake, we're going to have a giant Mrs. Field's chocolate chip cookie.

I love my mom very much, and while these gifts may seem less conventional than a sweater or a brooch, they are all perfect for her.

How can anything compete with Ann?

TVLand is running a That Girl marathon. How can I not watch? I grew up on this show. I loved her clothes (and her bags). I loved her madcap adventures. I loved her and her dad. I loved her and Donald. I loved how she loved New York.

Yet I have so much to do today! I really should work out. I really must get organized for my mother's birthday (seeing as we're celebrating tomorrow). I must start moving the prodigious piles of crap I've collected so the window installers can do their job this Thursday. I've got four loads of wash to do.

But how can any of that compete with Ann? I guess I better start multitasking.

ow, Ow, OW!

Yesterday I woke up feeling light headed. Almost dizzy, but not in that Lucy Riccardo way. As the day wore on, the not unpleasant but distracting light headedness grew into a persistent, nagging headache. It got worse when I moved. At times I felt nauseous. Advil had no impact whatsoever.

Since it wasn't debilitating like the migraines I've had earlier this year, I didn't take the Relpax I carry in my purse. What an ass I am!

Left work a little early (to balance out how I arrived late) to make sure my commute home wasn't too stressful. I just could not stand being on that train. My head felt full of steel wool and I wanted to scream. Or lose consciousness. I got home, put on my pajamas, swallowed a Relpax and went to bed.

Two hours later, I woke up. And I was fine. What an ass I am!

I was in pain all day and wasted a Friday night I could ill afford to lose. (I'm soooo not ready for Christmas!) All because I didn't think I felt bad enough for the prescription meds. I hope I have learned something from this.