i am a chronic "loser" of things

Today was freezing and I think it is only going to get colder.  When it gets really cold, my hands and feet shrink, kind of like the wooden doors in the house I grew up in.

Tonight at work, I kept noticing that my wedding ring was sliding around, but I didn't think much about it until I realized it wasn't there at all.  I had just dropped off a check to a table of three (high maintenance) girls and when I felt for it as is my habit, there was nothing there.  Of course I could not remember the last time I had noticed it on my finger, all I knew was that I definitely wore it to work.  At first I was pretty optimistic about finding it - especially with the help of the other waitresses - but after digging through all of the disgusting trashes (seriously disgusting...wet wipes, used napkins, slurped on edamame, old stinky fish....) and sorting through the linen bag with still no luck, I started to feel panicky and on the edge of tears.  Now, I'm the first to say that a ring is just a ring, but it really has come to mean a lot to me and I felt sad thinking I would never have the original ring Tanner asked me to marry him with.

The restaurant was all swept and there was still no sign of my ring.  I knew it had to be in the restaurant somewhere, but I started to think I had missed it in the trash and the thought even crossed my mind that one of the girls from my table had to have taken it, even if by accident (silly me).  Finally, my last table - a party of eight - left and as I was bussing their table, I started to stack the little soy dishes onto the kids meal bento box and guess what I find sitting among the crispy wonton chips?  Yes - in the kids meal, there it was!  I was really surprised the kid - who was probably 8-10 years old - didn't see it mixed in with his food and I'm really glad he didn't accidentally eat it.  But seriously, I don't understand how no one saw it.

In case you didn't know, I lose things all the time.  Mostly my keys and an occasional article of clothing, but I am pretty used to losing my stuff and Tanner is pretty used to me texting him in the morning freaking out about not being able to find my stuff.  Well, the other day I was on my way to school and I was looking for my debit card to bring with me to campus so I could buy myself lunch.  I was nervous because when I looked in my wallet, my license was gone too, which caused me extra stress knowing I would need it to get to Iowa in a couple of weeks.  So I came home from school early because I develop ulcers over things like this and I was texting Tanner about it the whole time.  I felt like I looked everywhere - every pair of pants that I own, every jacket, every purse, in the couches, and I couldn't find it.  Tanner walked in the door a little while later while I am still searching and he lifts up the mail sitting in the little basket we keep next to the front door and my license and debit card are of course plain in sight.  He threw them on the floor laughing and I ran into the kitchen covering my face because really, I felt sheepish! (sheepish is my new favorite word, right tanner?)

Well that's about as exciting as it gets on a Monday for me and Tanner.  I guess the moral of these stories is don't have me watch anything important for you - except you Elizabeth - I promise I take great care of your clothes!