About Me

Welcome to The Redheaded Lefty! This is my home on the web. And this is me (and Toddler Monster):



I've been writing here since June 2004, when life was all about spontaneity and evenings out. Posts were frivolous. Somewhere along the way, I married and got pregnant and decided to FINISH GRADUATE SCHOOL while my daughter (age 0) was still nursing. That was crazy. I was certifiably insane, of course, and felt---for a long time---that I had lost my stable foundation. I cried a lot. I was very sleep deprived.

At that time, I was reading a lot of blogs---mommy blogs---before I knew they belonged in a separate category. I read Dooce a lot. In fact, I've always wanted to tell her how much her postpartum posts meant to me. Really. But I also read Kicky Boots, Daymented, Drowning in Kids, and Don Mills Diva. Two of those (the first two) had their babies right around when I had TM. We were in a pregnant bloggers' network together. The other two write in a way that I love---very honest and emotional. Blogging is cool, okay?

I finished graduate school in December 2007 and am in the process of doing a post-graduate training program at a psychoanalytic institute. I like working with people. Problem is, babies throw a wrench in our well-thought-out plans and, like so many other moms, I don't want to miss the good stuff. She's under thirty pounds and I carry her everywhere. We snuggle a lot. She won't always want to spend all of her time with me, right? Plus, I married someone who has his summers "off." When we can escape the heat of the St. Louis summertime, we do.

In March 2008, after I had had all I could take of the part-time job search, I got an email from a BlogHer advertising network producer saying she'd read my post(s) about employment disgruntledness and, "Would you like to work for BlogHer from home?" Oh yes. So, I feel very fortunate. I get to work part-time from home. The life.

And without futher delay:

100-ish Things

Late twenties.
First-time mom.
Blogger since 2004.
Love dogs. And all animals, really.
And anything else helpless.
Love to travel.
Love personal details.
That's why I love blogs.
Social worker.
Without a social work job.
Am concerned about advocacy for my profession.
Don't believe in all that astrology stuff
but can say with certainty that a lot of social workers have brown auras.
Or am I projecting?
Don't know what color my aura is.
My aura is not brown.
Have never dieted.
Have a lot of ambivalence about working outside of the home.
Internet sleuth.
Not a vegetarian, but sometimes scared of meat.
Sleep-deprived.
BlogHer ad network editor.
Am a twin.
Also have a 6-years-younger brother.
I'm the over-responsible, control freak firstborn.
My twin is really good at the facade---but he's a lot like me. Only quieter.
My little brother fits the 3rd child stereotype.
From Georgia.
Like folk music.
Like to do other people's hair.
Hate action films.
Love baths.
Love to get together with old friends.
Think college was blissful.
Am not entirely convinced that the world will be a bad place when my daughter is older.
Am not sure I am not just in denial about that.
Worry about the day my daughter goes to college.
Scared to raise an only child,
but not ready to have another.
Am a self-help book junkie.
Don't love idle time but wish I had more of it.
Hate violence on TV/in movies.
Can't decide whether I prefer the mountains or the beach.
Or hot or cold.
Am competitive.
Love my parents-in-law (and am loved back).
Feel sad when I see people eating alone.
Love old people.
Do not like people who assume they are funny
and then dominate conversations with jokes.
I never think pre-packaged jokes are funny
but I always try to laugh.
I am terrible at ending conversations.
It pains me to see other people feel awkward.
Like to do things my way.
Never want to be just mediocre.
Get joy from running, but only afterwards.
Love to read.
Read to escape.
Can't picture myself in old age.
Am obsessed with NY Times Sunday Styles.
Don't think that makes me stupid or overtly feminine.
I don't read Sunday Business or Technology.
Hoard bath products.
Find music therapeutic.
Will only use red nail polish. Darker makes me look goth and lighter makes me look gray.
Can never find the right sunglasses.
View nature as my higher power.
Find peace in solitude.
Grew up in an alcoholic home.
Used to steal pot from my dad.
What could he say?
Have 1 living grandparent.
Married to a college professor.
He had a ponytail when I first saw him.
I loved him a whole bunch, right away.
I don't think white sunglasses look good on anyone.
Like good socks.
Have lots of pillows.
Am a pro at vacuuming.
Am constantly trying to organize my life.
Feel guilty about having my daughter in daycare.
Use "preschool" rather than "daycare."
Prefer the in-between seasons.
Am scared the in-between seasons are disappearing.
Was a debutante.
Thought being a debutante was fun, but entirely without meaning.
Have never been in trouble with the law.
Would describe my body as strong.
Am in a psychotherapeutic training program.
Love my Canon Rebel XTi and take it everywhere.
Fold my husband's laundry.
He cooks.
Wish I had a paintball gun to shoot rude people.
And people who run stop signs in my n'hood.
Am nostalgic about everything.
I scrapbook.
Like flowers but can't keep them alive.
Hate mayonnaise.
Prefer not to get suntanned.
Love David Sedaris.