Trees and thank you

One of our neighbors down the street works for a non-profit called Sound Forest.  It plants trees around Nashville, for free in some low-income neighborhoods, and does educational outreach about the importance of having trees in our communities.  Tom, our neighbor, let us know last week that he was trying to plant trees down the street and was asking each household to pay for two trees out in front of their houses.  Wes and I decided to go ahead with it -- partly because we like trees, partly because we think it adds value to the lot (especially since we'll soon have to remove the ailing elm in our front yard), and partly because we were hoping it would help establish a sense of good neighborliness.  We paid, in our estimation, probably more than it would have cost for us to buy and plant the trees ourselves, but hey -- that's what school wrapping paper drives are for, right?  I do have to say, though, that the street looks pretty nice with all these new trees in.  The yellow flags for gas lines and the rainbow spray painted on our grass aren't helping, but I guess it all adds a little bit of interest to the lot.

Thanks giving, Week 18

I am thankful for displays of affection.  I love that Oliver reaches out for my hand when he goes up and down stairs and keeps holding on to it even after he's there.  It makes me feel, well, needed and wanted.  I love the image in my head of us walking hand in hand down the sidewalk.  I love that at bedtime, he'll give Wes and I each kisses before stretching toward his crib.  I love licks from the puppy dog (well, okay, not always).  There's nothing like the attention a dog gives you when you come home and she's excited to see you.  And with Lucy, well, that's anytime you come home.  I love it when Wes gives me a big hug or a quick kiss, and when he spoons up against me when we lie down to go to bed (despite the fact that he can fall asleep like that and I cannot). 

It's just nice to know you're loved, you know.

Under where? Underwear!

Why don't men buy themselves new underwear when the old ones wear out?  This morning I ordered Wes an entirely new set of underwear.  I'd been noticing his old boxers wearing out for months but didn't do anything about it.  I mean, Wes doesn't exactly go out and replace my underwear when it's time, and so I figured he could take care of himself.  Of course, I don't know why I assumed that since, in the 10 years we've been together, he's never once bought himself a pair of underwear.  When we were dating in college, I bought a bunch at a Gap outlet store and then put a new pair in his bag each time he had an away road trip.  Then a few times in Charlottesville I remember picking up a pair here or there.  But we're at the point now that he has no good underwear.  Some have the bottom seams falling off.  Others are becoming crotchless.  (And no, I'm not keeping them as dusting rags.) 

Perhaps it will be a goal of mine to insure that, at some reasonable age, Oliver is capable of going out and replacing his old underwear, just so his wife (not ready to think about that inevitability) never faces the same situation.  Although, I have to say it is fun to pick out boxers with pictures of electric drills on them for your husband.