I was still so steamed over that guy I mentioned yesterday that I went to Jazzercise without the slightest reluctance yesterday, and I told the instructor, "I sure hope you've got a routine with punching in it, because there's someone I need to fantasize about beating the crap out of."

When the music for it started up, she said, "This one's for you, Liz."

It felt pretty damned good, I must say.

What felt better was talking to my friend on IM after dinner. She said she talked to him (against my recommendation) and he told her that he'd date her if 1) she lost fifty pounds and 2) she agreed to love him unconditionally and without expectations... She said no, thanks, she'd rather date someone who loved her the way she was and wasn't just looking for a no-strings-attached fuck.

I'm so proud.

Speaking of proud...

When I got home from Jazzercise last night, both Matt and Penny were excited to tell me about her day at school. Penny wanted to talk about the petting zoo that came to daycare and the horse she got to pet.

Matt wanted to show me her daily chart, which showed several voluntary trips to the potty, including two, ah, number twos!

There were also some normal diaper changes in there, but by George, I think she's starting to get the idea!

I am such an utter dork that I saved the chart.

We celebrated with ice cream after dinner. Of course, if she does it again today, I don't know what we'll do. We're all out of ice cream, now.

"So... you went to Jazzercise on Monday."

"Yep."

"And yesterday you went shopping with Alexis."

"For baby shower presents, yeah."

"And tonight you went to Jazzercise."

"Yes."

"And tomorrow night is scrapbooking night."

"Uh-huh."

"And Saturday you're going over to Becky's."

"The baby shower. Yes."

"So my question is... What are you doing on Friday?"

I don't feel all that busy, but I guess I am. I could protest that the shopping and the shower are one-time events, but I do usually have something happening on a Saturday, if not on Tuesdays.

It's not like I feel guilty about it, though. It's not like I'm missing too many critical moments of Penny's life -- just most of Sesame Street -- and I'm not dumping any extra chores on Matt. (Okay, he makes dinner for himself and Penny when I have scrapbooking night every other week, and if Sesame Street ends before I get home from Jazzercise, he gets Penny something to eat and starts our dinner. I don't think that's such a bad deal, especially since I do menu-planning and plot very quick, easy meals for those nights.) And almost all my weeknight obligations are highly negotiable, if he wanted or needed me to be home.

Wow, did that sound completely like rationalization to anyone else? Yeah, I thought so. Okay, maybe sometimes I feel a little guilty. But not enough to stop.

--Liz