Huh. I thought there'd be a little more enthusiasm about that last post. I've been thinking about it forever and it sure took a while to put together. Figured what took me lots of hours and lots of money to learn would be some good free advice. But I guess I get it - not everyone is all jazzed about cutting their kids or their husbands hair. Just like I have no desire to make my kids clothes or knit or can food. Ok, I get that. At least it was helpful for a few, that's what matters.
Anyway, I think the nursing is officially over. To celebrate, I think I'm going to go take some vicodin and a muscle relaxer. :) I've missed you, guys. It's been a loooong time since I've been able to take much for pain. Over three years, actually. Wow, that's a long time I've been living as a host.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
Boy's haircuts
Some of you have heard me say that I'm a big fan of mom's cutting their kids hair. There are a few reasons for this: A. Money. The salon I was at was like $30 or something for a kids haircut. And some kids have such fine hair it would only be cutting like 5 hairs for that price. B. You know best how you like your kids hair anyway. It may take you a while to figure out how to cut it how you like it, but if your kid has messed up hair, is it really that big of a deal? C. Kids are moving targets, and I hate cutting kids hair, so I prefer you do them yourself. :) I'm actually a fan of cutting your husband's hair for a lot of the same reasons. (Except if your husband can't sit still through a haircut, you've got issues. Try turning on the tv while you do it.) I wasn't a hairdresser yet when I started cutting Ryan's hair, and it turned out fine, and I figured out how I liked it best, so I got the final say in the matter. :) So really, unless he has a big presentation coming up or something, convince him to let you try.
So while I was in Utah over the summer, I had my sister video me cutting my nephew's hair, for the benefit of anyone who may be interested. I just never got around to editing them or compressing them enough to get them all on here until now. I'm not saying I'm an amazing hairdresser or anything and I'm sure many other people could teach you better, but I figure if there are a few pointers you pick up to help you, then great.
This haircut is a very basic cut. Even though it sounds boring, most guys have a basic men's haircut. A lot of the variety comes in styling - adding products, messing it up, spiking it, etc. And this one is quite a short version of a basic cut (we were talking him out of a buzz). Of course there are many other ways to cut guys hair - longer, leaving the front or back longer, faux-hawks, crazy rocker styles, etc, but this is how the majority cut their hair.
Hopefully you can see these well enough. I realize it would be better if you could see it bigger and in better quality so you could see more detail, but oh well. I tried to just do a little of each part on the camera and then finish it off camera so it wouldn't be TOO long. (So if you do follow along, make sure you do the whole head - don't just copy this exactly!) Sorry there's a lot of videos, but obviously you're not going to watch them if you're not interested anyway. And that way you don't have to search through a whole long movie for one part and you can pause as you go if you want to follow along. And some of this stuff may feel a little a little advanced if you're not comfortable with cutting hair at all, so just do what you feel comfortable with - you really don't have to do all the fine details that I do.
So first, a little on how to hold your comb and scissors:
Really - if you decide you want to cut hair, having that down will make it much less of a hassle. Cutting Ryan's hair before I knew that was annoying because I was always having to set down my scissors, find the comb, set the comb down again, find my scissors.... So even if this haircut isn't how you cut your kids hair, that part may at least be useful.
This next video is something you definitely don't have to do. Some guys really like a "fade" - basically where the clipper size gets smaller and smaller as you get closer to the bottom of their hairline - and you don't go up as high with each successive size, so it just fades off. Some guys do even 2 or three different size clippers to fade it off. I'm just doing one here because sometimes I prefer the look, but you would be TOTALLY fine just using one clipper size for the whole haircut. Just figured I'd show you wile I was at it.
On this next video, just to clarify, the first thing I show is with regular scissors, and your just cleaning up your line to make sure it's even. The second thing is with the thinning shears, and with those you actually cut inside the hair - it's not for cutting your line, it's cutting inside the line, could be like 1/4" or 1/2" into the hair (depending on how long the hair is). The first time you do it, you'll think you're going to make a big mistake, but it doesn't cut every hair like regular scissors do - it just cuts a few hairs, so it blends out the blunt lines cut by your scissors.
So if you want the top to be longer, just cut it whatever length you want and then you may just blend the corners off at a steeper angle, if that makes sense.
If you decide you want to (or you already do) cut your kids/husbands hair, I guess my recommendation would be to get some haircutting scissors - regular ones, and I really think that texturizing shears (with as many teeth as they have) are invaluable especially when you're learning and need help blending in those lines more. I also think a haircutting cape is a good idea. Makes for FAR less mess. I'm sure you could get stuff like this at a Sally's beauty supply or one of those places that doesn't require a license.
A couple other things, I guess - if you're lucky and your husband has curly hair like mine does, you have an even better subject because their hair won't show lines and mistakes as easily as totally straight hair. Also, if someone has serious cowlicks, maybe don't cut those areas too short until you know how they behave. And when in doubt, leave things longer than you want - you can always cut shorter, but when it's gone, there's no going back.
I hope I did a good enough job explaining. If anyone has questions or you can't see something clearly enough, let me know!
(Oh yeah, and to my cousins who own kids salons - don't worry - I don't know many people who live by you!)
So while I was in Utah over the summer, I had my sister video me cutting my nephew's hair, for the benefit of anyone who may be interested. I just never got around to editing them or compressing them enough to get them all on here until now. I'm not saying I'm an amazing hairdresser or anything and I'm sure many other people could teach you better, but I figure if there are a few pointers you pick up to help you, then great.
This haircut is a very basic cut. Even though it sounds boring, most guys have a basic men's haircut. A lot of the variety comes in styling - adding products, messing it up, spiking it, etc. And this one is quite a short version of a basic cut (we were talking him out of a buzz). Of course there are many other ways to cut guys hair - longer, leaving the front or back longer, faux-hawks, crazy rocker styles, etc, but this is how the majority cut their hair.
Hopefully you can see these well enough. I realize it would be better if you could see it bigger and in better quality so you could see more detail, but oh well. I tried to just do a little of each part on the camera and then finish it off camera so it wouldn't be TOO long. (So if you do follow along, make sure you do the whole head - don't just copy this exactly!) Sorry there's a lot of videos, but obviously you're not going to watch them if you're not interested anyway. And that way you don't have to search through a whole long movie for one part and you can pause as you go if you want to follow along. And some of this stuff may feel a little a little advanced if you're not comfortable with cutting hair at all, so just do what you feel comfortable with - you really don't have to do all the fine details that I do.
So first, a little on how to hold your comb and scissors:
Really - if you decide you want to cut hair, having that down will make it much less of a hassle. Cutting Ryan's hair before I knew that was annoying because I was always having to set down my scissors, find the comb, set the comb down again, find my scissors.... So even if this haircut isn't how you cut your kids hair, that part may at least be useful.
This next video is something you definitely don't have to do. Some guys really like a "fade" - basically where the clipper size gets smaller and smaller as you get closer to the bottom of their hairline - and you don't go up as high with each successive size, so it just fades off. Some guys do even 2 or three different size clippers to fade it off. I'm just doing one here because sometimes I prefer the look, but you would be TOTALLY fine just using one clipper size for the whole haircut. Just figured I'd show you wile I was at it.
On this next video, just to clarify, the first thing I show is with regular scissors, and your just cleaning up your line to make sure it's even. The second thing is with the thinning shears, and with those you actually cut inside the hair - it's not for cutting your line, it's cutting inside the line, could be like 1/4" or 1/2" into the hair (depending on how long the hair is). The first time you do it, you'll think you're going to make a big mistake, but it doesn't cut every hair like regular scissors do - it just cuts a few hairs, so it blends out the blunt lines cut by your scissors.
So if you want the top to be longer, just cut it whatever length you want and then you may just blend the corners off at a steeper angle, if that makes sense.
If you decide you want to (or you already do) cut your kids/husbands hair, I guess my recommendation would be to get some haircutting scissors - regular ones, and I really think that texturizing shears (with as many teeth as they have) are invaluable especially when you're learning and need help blending in those lines more. I also think a haircutting cape is a good idea. Makes for FAR less mess. I'm sure you could get stuff like this at a Sally's beauty supply or one of those places that doesn't require a license.
A couple other things, I guess - if you're lucky and your husband has curly hair like mine does, you have an even better subject because their hair won't show lines and mistakes as easily as totally straight hair. Also, if someone has serious cowlicks, maybe don't cut those areas too short until you know how they behave. And when in doubt, leave things longer than you want - you can always cut shorter, but when it's gone, there's no going back.
I hope I did a good enough job explaining. If anyone has questions or you can't see something clearly enough, let me know!
(Oh yeah, and to my cousins who own kids salons - don't worry - I don't know many people who live by you!)
Bribery
Ok, so we don't have anyone here that we've found to use as a babysitter - like the when we're away babysitter, not just to help while we're around. So instead of begging for a trade with some other couple here and be indebted to them until we pay them back, I'm putting out an offer - if someone (local, obviously) wants to come watch our kids Saturday so we can go out to dinner and a movie for my birthday, I'll do your hair for you sometime. Whatever you want. Just think about it first before you respond. We do have three very little children and it would have to probably involve bedtime, so I don't know who would be getting the better end of the deal. :)
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Car seat deal
*Update: Sorry it looks like it is out of stock now!*
So remember Ryan's love of slickdeals.net? Well, it's proven useful for something actually really useful this time: a Britax Marathon car seat. Normally listed at $279, the Granite color is now $42.99 with free shipping. Since I don't know numbers for all the people I know that are pregnant, I thought I'd post it on here. We just bought two of them, although we're not sure they'll work because we may need a special brand that makes them narrow enough that we can fit three car seats across. So anyway, if you need another car seat or know someone that needs a new car seat, hurry and tell them! Anything that gets on slickdeals usually goes really fast, so go get one if you need it! And if you know about car seats, you know how awesome this is since Britax is one of the highest ranked brands by consumer reports and stuff. I have a friend who is way into all that consumer report stuff and she only buys Britax for that reason. Anyway, sweet deal! Click HERE for a link to the Target one, or just search on Target's website for Britax Marathon and it's the granite color.
So remember Ryan's love of slickdeals.net? Well, it's proven useful for something actually really useful this time: a Britax Marathon car seat. Normally listed at $279, the Granite color is now $42.99 with free shipping. Since I don't know numbers for all the people I know that are pregnant, I thought I'd post it on here. We just bought two of them, although we're not sure they'll work because we may need a special brand that makes them narrow enough that we can fit three car seats across. So anyway, if you need another car seat or know someone that needs a new car seat, hurry and tell them! Anything that gets on slickdeals usually goes really fast, so go get one if you need it! And if you know about car seats, you know how awesome this is since Britax is one of the highest ranked brands by consumer reports and stuff. I have a friend who is way into all that consumer report stuff and she only buys Britax for that reason. Anyway, sweet deal! Click HERE for a link to the Target one, or just search on Target's website for Britax Marathon and it's the granite color.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Miami update
Ok, so I figure you all got sick of hearing me talk about Miami (and pretty much my disdain for it), so I chilled out for a while. But I can only suppress my feelings for so long. So here's the latest.
1. I don't know how I am supposed to feel that they have placed one of those police marquees, electronic road sign things on the street right outside our building. It says: Commit a crime with a gun and get 10 years - life in prision. This area under surveillance. Nice.
2. There have now been about three non-humid days since I've lived here. That means the other couple hundred have still been humid. It is the middle of November people, and the last time I checked the weather it was 89% humidity. UGH. Yes, the temperatures are getting lower (like 80s), and that's a little better, but not when it's still so dang humid. I know, if you live here, you're going to say, "Oh really? It's still humid?" Yes. And I'm still sweating in the middle of the night.
I realized how bad it was when I took the babies to physical therapy a week or so ago and I walked in and one physical therapist said, "Woah, you did your hair." Then a second one walked in and said, "Wow, you look nice - you did your hair." And then another one, until I finally said, "OK, OK! I know - I pretty much always look like crap since I've moved to Miami." I just hadn't realized it was that bad! But seriously, why would I bother doing my hair here when within 2 minutes of walking outside, I look like this:
(Ok, except with clothes on.)
3. People here are so quick to get mad at you, and be all up in a rage, even when you're not in the wrong. I cannot tell you how many times I've gotten the throw the hands up in the air, lean forward and give you the what-the-heck glare. Like driving. Yesterday, it happened to Ryan and I a couple of times. One time he and another lady happened to round a corner in the parking lot at the same time - honestly, not a big deal, no one to blame, and it's not like anything happened, one of you can just wait for the other. But of course we get the what-the-heck throw the arms up in the air from her. Ok, that was totally unnecessary.
Then today I was leaving a parking lot. Let me just say, we have very squealy tires. They have always been that way. This parking lot had especially waxy or slick floors. So when I was leaving to go pay the parking attendant, I rounded the corner and my tires totally squealed on the floor. The guy coming up the opposite way stopped his car, glared at me, mouthed some words, and of course gave me the throw-your-arms-up-in-disgust. Um, if you had stopped to think about it, idiot, you would have noticed that I was only going 5 miles an hour. I was only parked around the corner, not even enough time to get up speed, it's not like I was skidding and sliding around the corner, or like I somehow infringed on your driving at all. I could give you about 5 other driving examples like this too.
And yesterday we were in Wal Mart. Granted, we all know Wal Mart is the armpit of America, but it is especially true in Miami. I was walking, pushing my cart and I was sort of looking back at some items that I had just passed. Well, I turned around in time to see another cart coming along the other way in front of me, so I stopped and gave a friendly courteousy "Sorry," for really nothing at all, just the fact that if I hadn't turned around in another 2 seconds I could have run into her. The woman stopped her cart and glared at me. I could see the arms itching to be thrown up in the air in disgust, and muttering under her breath. She even glared me down and waited another awkward 5 seconds, as if to make sure I didn't try to pull another fast one and just start walking and ram into her cart. Seriously, so unneccessary. And I'm pretty sure if I could hear in their minds or in their cars they're all muttering, "Stupid white girl."
So on another note about Wal Mart, I had to return a couple things when we went. So I had to go wait in a nasty long line, and by the time I got to the front, the girl said to me, "do you have a sticker?" I said, "Um, what sticker?" She said, "You have to get a sticker saying you walked in the store with those items." I said, "Oh, I've never had to do that before, I didn't know." "Well, you have to go back and get one and then get back in the back of the line." "Are you serious? After you've already seen me here without a sticker, you want me to go back and get a sticker just for the sake of getting a sticker, even when I have a receipt and everything?" "Yes." Grr. And of course the line was twice as long when I got back. But the lady who gave me the sticker said that you wouldn't believe the things people do in this Wal Mart. I believed her further when honestly, nearly every item I tried to pick up had already been opened. Boxes of crackers - already opened and eaten from, rolls - same thing, and even salad dressing. Seriously, who the heck is going around opening a bottle of salad dressing in the middle of Wal Mart. Someone just have a sudden craving for a swig of ranch? Seriously.
4. People continue to be SO put out when you ask them to do anything for you - even when it's their job. Even when it's their mistake you're asking them to fix. I don't understand it. I am STILL trying to get things from my doctor's office for issues that I started calling them about in August. A few weeks ago, I called and said, "I haven't gotten my test results yet and I've left a few messages and no one has called me back. They said it would take 2 days and it's been over a month." The girl tells me, "Oh they're in the mail." "Oh, they are?" I said, "because I haven't seen anything yet." "Yeah," she says, "We mailed them out." Then I asked her another more detailed question and she sighs and says, "Alright, what's your date of birth?" She hadn't even been looking at my chart! And here she is telling me they're in the mail just to get me off the phone when she really has no idea. UGH. Then when I finally did get my results (which she did have to get mailed out), I had to call back and say, "I think the wrong test was done on me. I see one on here that I have no idea why they would have ordered it, and there were a few she said they were going to do that aren't on here." The annoyed response I get from the girl after a long pause, "So, what do you want me to do about it?" Oh, I don't know - do your job and figure it out???
Ok, if you're still reading, thanks for letting me rant. There are also many things I do like here - like the great group of girls I hang out with, all the little friends for Cash to play with, and um, there's water to look at that's pretty?
1. I don't know how I am supposed to feel that they have placed one of those police marquees, electronic road sign things on the street right outside our building. It says: Commit a crime with a gun and get 10 years - life in prision. This area under surveillance. Nice.
2. There have now been about three non-humid days since I've lived here. That means the other couple hundred have still been humid. It is the middle of November people, and the last time I checked the weather it was 89% humidity. UGH. Yes, the temperatures are getting lower (like 80s), and that's a little better, but not when it's still so dang humid. I know, if you live here, you're going to say, "Oh really? It's still humid?" Yes. And I'm still sweating in the middle of the night.
I realized how bad it was when I took the babies to physical therapy a week or so ago and I walked in and one physical therapist said, "Woah, you did your hair." Then a second one walked in and said, "Wow, you look nice - you did your hair." And then another one, until I finally said, "OK, OK! I know - I pretty much always look like crap since I've moved to Miami." I just hadn't realized it was that bad! But seriously, why would I bother doing my hair here when within 2 minutes of walking outside, I look like this:
(Ok, except with clothes on.)3. People here are so quick to get mad at you, and be all up in a rage, even when you're not in the wrong. I cannot tell you how many times I've gotten the throw the hands up in the air, lean forward and give you the what-the-heck glare. Like driving. Yesterday, it happened to Ryan and I a couple of times. One time he and another lady happened to round a corner in the parking lot at the same time - honestly, not a big deal, no one to blame, and it's not like anything happened, one of you can just wait for the other. But of course we get the what-the-heck throw the arms up in the air from her. Ok, that was totally unnecessary.
Then today I was leaving a parking lot. Let me just say, we have very squealy tires. They have always been that way. This parking lot had especially waxy or slick floors. So when I was leaving to go pay the parking attendant, I rounded the corner and my tires totally squealed on the floor. The guy coming up the opposite way stopped his car, glared at me, mouthed some words, and of course gave me the throw-your-arms-up-in-disgust. Um, if you had stopped to think about it, idiot, you would have noticed that I was only going 5 miles an hour. I was only parked around the corner, not even enough time to get up speed, it's not like I was skidding and sliding around the corner, or like I somehow infringed on your driving at all. I could give you about 5 other driving examples like this too.
And yesterday we were in Wal Mart. Granted, we all know Wal Mart is the armpit of America, but it is especially true in Miami. I was walking, pushing my cart and I was sort of looking back at some items that I had just passed. Well, I turned around in time to see another cart coming along the other way in front of me, so I stopped and gave a friendly courteousy "Sorry," for really nothing at all, just the fact that if I hadn't turned around in another 2 seconds I could have run into her. The woman stopped her cart and glared at me. I could see the arms itching to be thrown up in the air in disgust, and muttering under her breath. She even glared me down and waited another awkward 5 seconds, as if to make sure I didn't try to pull another fast one and just start walking and ram into her cart. Seriously, so unneccessary. And I'm pretty sure if I could hear in their minds or in their cars they're all muttering, "Stupid white girl."
So on another note about Wal Mart, I had to return a couple things when we went. So I had to go wait in a nasty long line, and by the time I got to the front, the girl said to me, "do you have a sticker?" I said, "Um, what sticker?" She said, "You have to get a sticker saying you walked in the store with those items." I said, "Oh, I've never had to do that before, I didn't know." "Well, you have to go back and get one and then get back in the back of the line." "Are you serious? After you've already seen me here without a sticker, you want me to go back and get a sticker just for the sake of getting a sticker, even when I have a receipt and everything?" "Yes." Grr. And of course the line was twice as long when I got back. But the lady who gave me the sticker said that you wouldn't believe the things people do in this Wal Mart. I believed her further when honestly, nearly every item I tried to pick up had already been opened. Boxes of crackers - already opened and eaten from, rolls - same thing, and even salad dressing. Seriously, who the heck is going around opening a bottle of salad dressing in the middle of Wal Mart. Someone just have a sudden craving for a swig of ranch? Seriously.
4. People continue to be SO put out when you ask them to do anything for you - even when it's their job. Even when it's their mistake you're asking them to fix. I don't understand it. I am STILL trying to get things from my doctor's office for issues that I started calling them about in August. A few weeks ago, I called and said, "I haven't gotten my test results yet and I've left a few messages and no one has called me back. They said it would take 2 days and it's been over a month." The girl tells me, "Oh they're in the mail." "Oh, they are?" I said, "because I haven't seen anything yet." "Yeah," she says, "We mailed them out." Then I asked her another more detailed question and she sighs and says, "Alright, what's your date of birth?" She hadn't even been looking at my chart! And here she is telling me they're in the mail just to get me off the phone when she really has no idea. UGH. Then when I finally did get my results (which she did have to get mailed out), I had to call back and say, "I think the wrong test was done on me. I see one on here that I have no idea why they would have ordered it, and there were a few she said they were going to do that aren't on here." The annoyed response I get from the girl after a long pause, "So, what do you want me to do about it?" Oh, I don't know - do your job and figure it out???
Ok, if you're still reading, thanks for letting me rant. There are also many things I do like here - like the great group of girls I hang out with, all the little friends for Cash to play with, and um, there's water to look at that's pretty?
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
Random
Just a few random thoughts I thought I'd pen.
I know elections were so three days ago, but I never took the time to write anything about them. As I walked up to the building where we voted, I saw a man and a woman with signs that said "NO on Proposition 2." Proposition 2 is Florida's version of the California Prop 8. You were to vote yes if you wanted to protect marriage as between a man and a woman. When I approached, the woman said, "Have you heard of Proposition 2?" I felt really good that I could firmly, but politely, say, "Yes, I've heard of it, and I'm voting yes." She just sort of said, "Oh..." and let me pass.
I had a lot of thoughts about that moment. My first thought was - that was a pretty good strategy to be right outside the voting booths. If you hadn't heard of proposition 2 and didn't know any better and the last thing you heard from two decent looking, normal middle-aged people before you voted was to vote "no" on it, well that could potentially be very influential. Especially since the description of the proposition was like only one sentence. You would never know all the ramifications that that law entailed. I thought about things I could say to her, like, "You see these beautiful little boys I have here (that my husband and I made), do you really think I want their innocent minds being taught homosexual sex education in schools?" (which would happen if the proposition to protect marriage didn't pass). And then when I thought about the consequences of her being the last thing people saw before they went in, I felt like I should make my own signs and come back and stand next to her with my three little kids, telling people to vote yes on Prop 2. Only I didn't want to be too confrontational. And my kids were getting tired.
But the thing I felt most of all, was very proud that I could be so politely firm about my answer, not embarrassed, and completely unapologetic. And they were so obviously trying to play on people's emotions, as their signs also said, "Stop the hate." It has nothing to do with hate. I don't hate gay people at all. But I will speak out to say what marriage is. I believe God is clear on the issue, and I am too.
The other worry I realized though is that the margins these propositions passed by were not huge. Better here than in California, but I was listening on the news that the more of the older population voted yes on these, and more of the younger generation voted no. So by the time our kids are older, I'm sure these issues won't be overturned anymore. Sad.
But on a more positive note, there was NO LINE when I went to the polls! That was a relief.
And Wednesday morning was another really awesome moment in mothering. I had post-election hangover from watching all the election stuff on eastern standard time. I was really banking on having one of those every once in a while mornings where all the kids sleep later than usual. Not so, especially not the week after daylight savings time. So I had to get up at 6 with the twins, and then when Cash woke up right as I put them down for a nap, I did something I've never done before - took in the portable DVD player, set it up outside his crib (so he couldn't mess with the buttons and accidentally turn it off and start yelling for me), put in the longest DVD we have, and when he seemed a little weirded out by the whole thing I had to leave him with threats not to cry or he couldn't watch his movie. Nice. Got another hour or so of sleep that way.
*****
I have a new strategy for Costco. Well, let me start off by saying, I have actually been to Costco TWICE by myself now with all three kids. I know, many of you go to the store with three or more kids all the time. I'm not one of those. It terrifies me. Going anywhere with all three of my kids still terrifies me. I know how quickly things can get out of control. But I have never been grocery shopping with them. Not only is it just not fun, it's logistics. How? At best I could wear one baby, put one infant seat in the cart and have Cash sitting in the cart, but then, um, groceries? Where do they go?
So my new strategy is to just take in the double stroller, let Cash walk, and then I can only buy whatever fits in the bottom of the stroller. There you have it - how to do Costco cheaply. (Well, cheaper.) And I totally had to smile when I saw an African guy carrying around a Costco-sized box of like Lever 2000 or something on his head, all throughout the store. Such a genuinely African talent. I attempted carrying buckets of water on my head a few times, and basically just ended up wet. But anyhow, I thought, hmm, that would be a good skill for me to learn when coming to Costco with just my stroller and all my kids.
Anyhow, enjoy your weekend everyone. Ryan is taking his FIRST WEEK OFF since starting here next week!!
I know elections were so three days ago, but I never took the time to write anything about them. As I walked up to the building where we voted, I saw a man and a woman with signs that said "NO on Proposition 2." Proposition 2 is Florida's version of the California Prop 8. You were to vote yes if you wanted to protect marriage as between a man and a woman. When I approached, the woman said, "Have you heard of Proposition 2?" I felt really good that I could firmly, but politely, say, "Yes, I've heard of it, and I'm voting yes." She just sort of said, "Oh..." and let me pass.
I had a lot of thoughts about that moment. My first thought was - that was a pretty good strategy to be right outside the voting booths. If you hadn't heard of proposition 2 and didn't know any better and the last thing you heard from two decent looking, normal middle-aged people before you voted was to vote "no" on it, well that could potentially be very influential. Especially since the description of the proposition was like only one sentence. You would never know all the ramifications that that law entailed. I thought about things I could say to her, like, "You see these beautiful little boys I have here (that my husband and I made), do you really think I want their innocent minds being taught homosexual sex education in schools?" (which would happen if the proposition to protect marriage didn't pass). And then when I thought about the consequences of her being the last thing people saw before they went in, I felt like I should make my own signs and come back and stand next to her with my three little kids, telling people to vote yes on Prop 2. Only I didn't want to be too confrontational. And my kids were getting tired.
But the thing I felt most of all, was very proud that I could be so politely firm about my answer, not embarrassed, and completely unapologetic. And they were so obviously trying to play on people's emotions, as their signs also said, "Stop the hate." It has nothing to do with hate. I don't hate gay people at all. But I will speak out to say what marriage is. I believe God is clear on the issue, and I am too.
The other worry I realized though is that the margins these propositions passed by were not huge. Better here than in California, but I was listening on the news that the more of the older population voted yes on these, and more of the younger generation voted no. So by the time our kids are older, I'm sure these issues won't be overturned anymore. Sad.
But on a more positive note, there was NO LINE when I went to the polls! That was a relief.
And Wednesday morning was another really awesome moment in mothering. I had post-election hangover from watching all the election stuff on eastern standard time. I was really banking on having one of those every once in a while mornings where all the kids sleep later than usual. Not so, especially not the week after daylight savings time. So I had to get up at 6 with the twins, and then when Cash woke up right as I put them down for a nap, I did something I've never done before - took in the portable DVD player, set it up outside his crib (so he couldn't mess with the buttons and accidentally turn it off and start yelling for me), put in the longest DVD we have, and when he seemed a little weirded out by the whole thing I had to leave him with threats not to cry or he couldn't watch his movie. Nice. Got another hour or so of sleep that way.
*****
I have a new strategy for Costco. Well, let me start off by saying, I have actually been to Costco TWICE by myself now with all three kids. I know, many of you go to the store with three or more kids all the time. I'm not one of those. It terrifies me. Going anywhere with all three of my kids still terrifies me. I know how quickly things can get out of control. But I have never been grocery shopping with them. Not only is it just not fun, it's logistics. How? At best I could wear one baby, put one infant seat in the cart and have Cash sitting in the cart, but then, um, groceries? Where do they go?
So my new strategy is to just take in the double stroller, let Cash walk, and then I can only buy whatever fits in the bottom of the stroller. There you have it - how to do Costco cheaply. (Well, cheaper.) And I totally had to smile when I saw an African guy carrying around a Costco-sized box of like Lever 2000 or something on his head, all throughout the store. Such a genuinely African talent. I attempted carrying buckets of water on my head a few times, and basically just ended up wet. But anyhow, I thought, hmm, that would be a good skill for me to learn when coming to Costco with just my stroller and all my kids.
Anyhow, enjoy your weekend everyone. Ryan is taking his FIRST WEEK OFF since starting here next week!!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Warning
If you have ever been my roommate (and I've had 52 of them in my life), you may be at risk for having twins.
Probably identical twins.
Probably boys.
Most of you have heard about Brooke, my BFF who was due a week before me and found out at her 20 week ultrasound that she was having identical twin boys. And then the next week I found out at my 20 week ultrasound that I was having identical twin boys. That was nuts.
This is even nuttier.
Meet lovely Aimee. (The bride. And yes, that's me on the left with dark hair. Remember the post-baby distract from the mid-section stunt?) Anyhow, she was the next roommate that we had for the longest time. Just last week she found out that she is now pregnant with identical twin boys. Now mind you, identical twins isn't something you can fertilize. They think it's basically just a fluke. And of all twinning, identical boys are the least common. Go figure.
So I've called my mind back to the BYU years, 1998-1999, I believe. We lived in The Colony (which was an amusing place itself - people would always sneak signs in between "The" and "Colony" that said things like "nudist," for example). We had a freaky weird roommate. She was mail-order mania. Nearly every single day there were mail-order packages on our doorstep (and this was before online shopping was common). It was weird. And where did she get the money? We were all broke college students. And I think her dad was like a forest ranger or something.
And then there was the ballroom dancing. She was obsessive. We overheard a phone conversation one night where she was discussing other ballroom dancers on the team who apparently did not meet her standard of obsession. "....don't they realize it's our life??????"
And then there were the psychotic books. I remember looking over at her during church one time and seeing that she had her scriptures open... and inside of her scriptures she was concealing the novel "Blood Debt," apparently a companion to "The Laughing Corpse" and other books I'd seen on her bookshelf.
She was a real piece of work. So much so that we could no longer stand aside and let poor Aimee share a room with her. Oh yeah, and I think she was really stinky. So, anyway, we moved Aimee into the bedroom with Brooke and me. And really, weird roommate didn't mind. Then there was more room for her thigh-masters and whatever the heck else she was getting in the mail. Now, let me tell you, these were not large rooms by any means. In fact, the beds had to be overlapping to fit all three of our beds in the one room. It took many cinder blocks and a lot of creativity to make it happen. It really was hilarious. Good thing I was such a good sleeper back then.
Anyhow - I think I've finally hit on my theory. You know how often a whole apartment of girls are in such close proximity that they all start to get their cycles together? I think we just somehow took that to some whacked out extreme. So here we are. With three sets of identical twin boys.
And I blame it all on the overlapping beds.
Probably identical twins.
Probably boys.
Most of you have heard about Brooke, my BFF who was due a week before me and found out at her 20 week ultrasound that she was having identical twin boys. And then the next week I found out at my 20 week ultrasound that I was having identical twin boys. That was nuts.
This is even nuttier.
Meet lovely Aimee. (The bride. And yes, that's me on the left with dark hair. Remember the post-baby distract from the mid-section stunt?) Anyhow, she was the next roommate that we had for the longest time. Just last week she found out that she is now pregnant with identical twin boys. Now mind you, identical twins isn't something you can fertilize. They think it's basically just a fluke. And of all twinning, identical boys are the least common. Go figure.So I've called my mind back to the BYU years, 1998-1999, I believe. We lived in The Colony (which was an amusing place itself - people would always sneak signs in between "The" and "Colony" that said things like "nudist," for example). We had a freaky weird roommate. She was mail-order mania. Nearly every single day there were mail-order packages on our doorstep (and this was before online shopping was common). It was weird. And where did she get the money? We were all broke college students. And I think her dad was like a forest ranger or something.
And then there was the ballroom dancing. She was obsessive. We overheard a phone conversation one night where she was discussing other ballroom dancers on the team who apparently did not meet her standard of obsession. "....don't they realize it's our life??????"
And then there were the psychotic books. I remember looking over at her during church one time and seeing that she had her scriptures open... and inside of her scriptures she was concealing the novel "Blood Debt," apparently a companion to "The Laughing Corpse" and other books I'd seen on her bookshelf.
She was a real piece of work. So much so that we could no longer stand aside and let poor Aimee share a room with her. Oh yeah, and I think she was really stinky. So, anyway, we moved Aimee into the bedroom with Brooke and me. And really, weird roommate didn't mind. Then there was more room for her thigh-masters and whatever the heck else she was getting in the mail. Now, let me tell you, these were not large rooms by any means. In fact, the beds had to be overlapping to fit all three of our beds in the one room. It took many cinder blocks and a lot of creativity to make it happen. It really was hilarious. Good thing I was such a good sleeper back then.
Anyhow - I think I've finally hit on my theory. You know how often a whole apartment of girls are in such close proximity that they all start to get their cycles together? I think we just somehow took that to some whacked out extreme. So here we are. With three sets of identical twin boys.
And I blame it all on the overlapping beds.
Monday, November 3, 2008
The $150,000 wardrobe
Controversy nothing. The only one who needs to be answering questions right now is Hillary - why didn't she do this years ago???Letterman's Top 10 "Sarah Palin Excuses For Spending $150,000 on Clothes"
10. "Need to look good for the Russians who can see me in Alaska."
9. "The old man spends more on Polident."
8. "Auditioning to be Paris Hilton's BFF."
7. "Wanted to impress the American voters in the evening gown competition."
6. "Maverick, Joe the Plumber, Maverick, Maverick, William Ayers, You Betcha!"
5. "I fell for the liberal retailers' gotcha sales tactics."
4. "Because the dollar is so weak, it's really like I only spent $50,000."
3. "Hmm...excuses? I'll find some and I'll get right back to ya!"
2. "In addition to every newspaper and magazine, I also read every catalog."
1. "The difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull: lipstick, Prada shoes, a Gucci handbag, and a few $3000 suits."
Happy election day tommorrow. I'm excited - I am (as the media has been calling it lately) a virgin voter. Can you believe it? Here I am almost 30 years old!! But the first major election I was in Africa, and then the last one we lived in New York and I wasn't a resident. I just didn't see the point in doing an absentee ballot for UTAH. Like that would be worth all the effort. But it's exciting to live in a real battleground state where my vote actually matters. And where I get to make my voice heard to preserve traditional marriage. I'm only anxious that the line will be hours long and I'll have three screaming children!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
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