Blahs

Seriously, what is up with me ... I've just got a case of the blahs.

The kiddos haven't quite taken their naps yet. Wish they would ... and I'm having troubles tearing myself away from the computer. Again. (I really, REALLY should jump on the treadmill. And do, like, a gazillion crunches if I'm going to be in Mer's wedding. ... But I lack motivation.)

I need to unload/reload the dishwasher. I did re-tidy the laundry room. I should fold and put away some laundry. I emptied the cat box (thank goodness. SMELLY cats). I need to pick up (or make the MESSY CHILDREN pick up) the living room. And their bedroom. And I need to clean MY bedroom. 

I'd much rather run a warm bath and read. And maybe watch BOTH versions of Pride and Prejudice that I picked up at the library today. And maybe Persuasion and Sense and Sensibility and Emma ... just for good measure.

Oh, hey. Just so you know ... and you're probably SMARTER than I am ... home-waxing? Rather painful. I've JUST about gotten the lover half of my calves done. And my armpits (is there a DAINTY way of saying that area? No?) are  ... less gross-looking. But it's rather difficult.

It's hilarious in a few ways, though. I bought the box of Nad's. I even have leftover strips of paper/fabric/whatever from the LAST time I've utterly failed at home-waxing. (The first time? I was a teenager. And I tried the COLD WAX STRIPS. ON MY BIKIKI LINE. ... I thought I was GOING TO DIE. Never have tried those since. Just sayin'.)

But, for waxing, you first have to let the hair grow long enough to wax. That is a difficulty for me. I'm OCD about my hair. Michael thinks it's hilarious and strange that I try to shave daily. He thinks it's even MORE hilarious and OCD that I try to shave when we're camping. (This is why *I* get to choose the campgrounds. I choose the ones with running water and showers!)

Michael only noticed a few days ago that I hadn't shaved for a while. When I was complaining that I could see hairy bits around my cap sleeves. (And, really, *I*'m the only one who examines my arms closely enough to see it ... so it's not like random strangers are thinking that I've completely let myself go ... or am European or a hippie (who dresses like a wannabe yuppie.))
And, let me tell you, dear ones, Michael was impressed. As he said, "I didn't think you had it in you."
(Really, I don't. BUT I want perfectly smooth pits/arm recesses/something that doesn't sound gnarly!!! ... DEODERANT RECEPTACLES! THERE! That's better! ... So I have hair happening.)

At least, like I've said, the bottom half of my calves don't look all like teen-boy legs. Ugh *shudders* Hey, it's okay when teenage boys have legs looking like that. It's NOT so okay when it's ME.

And, what's even stranger ... when I was waxing one of my legs, I guess that the hair roots came out ... just not all the way? So one of my legs looks like I had a small area of ... rash? Chicken pox? Infected flea bites? It looks funky, to say the least. BUT It's mostly hairless!

And, gosh, I need to buy another pair of tweezers, I'll tell you. (and I'm SOOOO sure that you wanted to know.)

Michael just looked at me and asked, "And women do this, WHY? It looks painful ... and you have sores."

"And I'll have perfectly smooth legs ... and won't have to do it again for a couple of weeks, at least!"

"How much would it cost for you to have it done professionally?"

"Well, it depends where I have it done. But this little tub of wax-stuff is just $20! If I went to the spa down the street, it'd be $75 for just my legs. I'm saving money! ... Now, can you help me get my armpit? It makes me dizzy to look at it this closely. Please?"

"Um, honey? You're bleeding." 

"Oh, it's just the roots. They're unhappy.  ... Oh, wow. I thought it'd be just a drop. Hmm. Let's give that side a rest and try the other side."

Oh ... also? You'd THINK that you'd just have to apply the wax and the paper strip-thing and you'd get ALL the hair in one spot.

HA!

Not so much.

This is why it's taking me SO LONG to get my legs and armpits de-hairified. Oy.

SO, yeah ... It's supposed to give you up to 8 weeks of not needing to wax/shave/whatever ... I'm hoping that I FINISH before that 8 weeks is up ... *sigh*

But, hey! I blogged. AGAIN! For the second day in a row!

Also, gave Bruise a haircut. He went from resembling Shaggy in Scooby-Doo to looking more like he's getting ready for basic training. He's totally handsome.

Okay, to start ... FIRST, I'm so sorry for not blogging for a while.

Second, I HATE hay fever. I feel like a drippy faucet and the back of my throat is all gnarly and irritated from my stupid post-nasal drip.

And I'm snarly due to wonderful Aunt Flo dropping by. Probably TMI, but you love me anyways, right?

BUT we got our new fridge. And it is BEAUTIFUL. I can barely bring myself to put FOOD in it, it's so pretty. (But I am going to buy ice cream! YES!!)

Pardon me, I had to go fumigate the kidlets' bathroom ... They're doing a really, really great job using the toilet -- I'm not complaining -- but OY! did it stink!!

What do I need to write about ...?

Let's see ...

- Michael and I celebrated our eigth anniversary. We went up to OMSI and went to the da Vinci exhibit up there (SO nice, since we could actually take our time. When we have the kidlets with us, Bruise just runs through EVERYTHING ... and we have to speed through all the exhibits to catch up with him.) and to IKEA while my mom watched the munchkin brigade. We spent way too much money at IKEA. But I got so much awesome stuff -- a new computer chair (only $40!!), a silicon-coated whisk (so I can use it with my beautiful pans), an apple corer (SO handy!), a set of storage containers from the "As-Is" bin (so I don't have all the lids ... but still! For just $1, I'm not going to complain!), a shower gift for one of my friends (Sheri, I hope that you and Amelia will like it!), Easter presents for the kiddos, a can-opener for our 72-hour kit in the car ... and, oh, the food!!

Michael got the pasta and meatballs. I got the Swedish meatballs with cream sauce, potatoes, and lingon berries. He got a soda. I had an Elderflower drink (kinda like lemonade ... but mostly not). We also had a slice of the apple cake with vanilla sauce. Oh, it was good. And QUITE affordable. Sure, cafeteria eating isn't the most romantic ... but, the FOOD! Delicious.

We were too tired to go see a movie, so after we drove back to town, we went to dinner (using a gift card from Christmas -- Thanks, T2!!) and headed home where Bruise, Bucket and Mutti had made us cards and cookies.

Mom also helped me clean out the old fridge and save any foods that we could while she was up.

Last weekend, we took the kiddos to A.C. Gilbert House and played. Bucket got a little lost getting up to the HUGE slide ... and I had to wade through the Spring Break crowds of kids to get to her ... and then we went down the slide together. 
Bruise LOVED the big slide (I'd like it more if I didn't bang up my knees.) as he went down it with some random kid. ^_^ If it were up to him, I think he'd play in the play area ALL DAY LONG.

I have been neglecting blogging and reading for computer games. I'm so bad. BUT I have unlocked all the extra characters (just not bought all of them yet) in LEGO: Star Wars (the complete saga) on my DS. (Hey, it was on sale! -- And Michael should be beyond thrilled that I'm getting into Star Wars now. :P) ... Oh well.

I've been so tired, so I'm going to close up. 

"Peace. But not literally." -- Dr. Horible.

If I had a band ...

... this meme would tell me what we should be named. And what our first album should be called.

And, from this, it sounds like I'd kinda into Folk music. Or references to Emerson (which is rather cool. Good ol' Ralph Waldo).

And, yes, I did totally cheat on the picture. Sorry, Bri, but whenever I tried to use the one I was assigned by the meme, it showed up MINISCULELY tiny (total repetition, I know). 

So I chose the one I liked best. I liked that I got a quote by Emerson. That made me happy. And, hey! I got to learn about a Danish poker player ... could be way worse.

So, if anyone wants to do this (since y'all know how I am about tagging people), here are the rules. Just let me know, so I can see everyone's cool album covers!

1 - Go to Wikipedia. Hit “random”

or click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random

The first random Wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2 - Go to Quotations Page and select "random quotations"

or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3

The last four or five words of the very last quote on the page is the title of your first album.

3 - Go to Flickr and click on “explore the last seven days”

or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days

Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4 - Use Photoshop or similar (i.e. MSPaint) to put it all together.

And, I'll add that if a picture or something isn't working for you, go ahead and change it. Use that artistic license. I give you total permission. ^_^

We are Family ... I've Got All My Sisters and Me!

Aubri strikes again (not that I'm complaining)!

The rules for accepting the award are as follows:
Put the logo on your blog or post. Nominate at least 10 blogs with great attitude and/or gratitude. Be sure to link to your nominees in your post. Let your nominees know they have received the award by leaving them a comment on their blog. Be sure to link this post to the person who nominated you for the award.

So, here goes (and don't be offended if I didn't nominate you. You know that I love you):

1. Melissa is full of attitude and always makes me laugh. I find it funny that it took a couple blogs from across the country to bring a couple of Oregonian chickie-poos like us, together. And while you're there, go vote for her on HumorBlogs, since I've voted enough that they reject my votes now. *mutters to self*
   
   
2. "Priss" is one of my dear friends, a whole day older than me (who I don't see often enough because [1] she's so incredibly busy as a teacher, mother, and incubator supreme ... among her other duties and hobbies and [2] I'm a lazy, slightly-agrophobic git). Her blog is usually full of more gratitude than I express. And, golly, but do I miss commuting to college with her. We didn't meet until we were in the University wards in the college town south of our college. But, really, if you need cute Boo stories/videos or great tales about teaching (and some stories of how daunting teaching can be), you should seriously add her to your RSS-feeds.
   
   
3. Heather (of Heather's Happy Heart) has a good blog for gratitute -- She's got her hands full with raising a son with Autism ... and incubating a little baby girl. AND having a husband who's away at work a good deal of the day. She manages to be an awesome parent, work on keeping in shape, and is just awesome ... and so modest about it!
   
   
4. Cristall is my dear artist friend ... and I miss her so much (even though she and her husband abandoned me to go back to Utah. :P). (Yes, yes, it's all about me. :P) She's so fun and sassy and SO dang talented at painting that if I didn't love her so, I'd probably be plotting her demise. Good thing I love her so. ^_^ She and I quote movies back and forth like crazy ... Gosh, I miss her!!
   
   
5. My Cynthia is my awesome, hilarious friend in Belgium. She is proudly obsessed with Joss Whedon's work (one thing we share). She also has about the bestest job EVER -- She's a librarian! How awesome is that?!? She also is a most excellent and funny friend, a wonderful and loving aunt to two darling little girls. Yes, I adore my Cynthia.
   
   
6. Jenny always makes me laugh. Whether it's us joking about playing with her husband's Wii (It NEVER gets old!) or trading stories about our kids, I always end up laughing until I nearly pee my pants. She is my most-politically active friend. ... And the friend who'd be most likely to make me vote Democrat. :P When she runs for office, she'll get my vote. ^_^
   
   
7. Katie always makes me laugh, she's definitely got attitude. She is a powerhouse -- she quilts, cleans house, feeds her family, surfs the 'net, reads voraciously (maybe even more than I do!), and gardens ... simultaneously, with a hand tied behind her back with a very stylish bow. She's got the crafty-bug and she's a great actress. If we were in competition, I'd make a horrible showing. Good thing she loves me enough to never embarass me like that. ^_^
   
   
8. Xcedra is another bookish, Anime/manga-loving friend of mine. And she loves cats, too. Seriously, I find so many friends that I must have been seperated by birth from. She's hilarious and sweet and the proud-mom-to-be of a much-loved little girl. I love how she refers to annoying people as "hoosers" and how she makes me giggle to the point of hyperventilation.
   
   
9. Dianne is one of those people that manages to be so, so funny and spiritual ... and she's another one of my crafty-crafty friends (Obvioulsly, I know to surround myself with awesome people so that I'm cool by association). She runs a house, redecorates it, scrapbooks, TEACHES CLASSES on scrapping, reads for pleasure, raises three awesome kids, cooks wonderfully ... And plays the piano and sings like a bid. Is there anything she can't do? I've never seen her upset or grumpy, either. 
   
   
10. Last will be Satina, even though her blog's gone private ... and even *I* can't get to it. But she is VERY spiritual ... I don't even try to compete. She manages to raise four kids, is Cubmaster, does Girl Scouts and always looks SO put together. (Yes, I AM jealous, thanks for noticing). And she has excellent taste in television shows, if I may make mention of that. And she finds it funny when I think that I'm threatening MY son, only to find out that it was hers. Heh. Oops. The lights were off!
    But she gets nominated for being grateful and gracious. She originally started blogging when she was on bedrest ... and she's kept it up. She has such great perspective on things that ... Yeah, she's an example. On that I should, you know, actually FOLLOW once in a while. ^_^ (Not that she wouldn't get a nomination based on attitude, she makes me laugh. Don't worry. I don't think I have a single friend that doesn't make me laugh. ^_^)

Okay, there's my list. Now, I'm going to try and remember to comment on everyone's blog to remind them how awesome and amazing they are (and, remember, if I didn't nominate you, it's NOT because you have a lack of awesomeness or amaingality ... It's just that I am not cool enough to realize and appreciate your full potential. I'm not trying to hurt your feelings or anything. You can totally kick me in the head when you see me next. Really. If it'll make you feel better).

But first, my darlings, I MUST restart my computer ... poor plodding thing. *sigh*

We Are Family ... I've Got All My Sisters and Me!

Aubri strikes again (not that I'm complaining)!

The rules for accepting the award are as follows:
Put the logo on your blog or post. Nominate at least 10 blogs with great attitude and/or gratitude. Be sure to link to your nominees in your post. Let your nominees know they have received the award by leaving them a comment on their blog. Be sure to link this post to the person who nominated you for the award.

So, here goes (and don't be offended if I didn't nominate you. You know that I love you):

1. Melissa is full of attitude and always makes me laugh. I find it funny that it took a couple blogs from across the country to bring a couple of Oregonian chickie-poos like us, together.
2. 
   

Music of My Life

Aubri has tagged me ... and, wow, I'm not all that sure WHY, since I'm nowhere as musically inclined (Don't get me wrong. I like songs ... but I'm nowhere the music patron that she is.) ... but here I go:

Pick one album you remember the most about every 5 years of your life and tell us why its important to you.

0 years old - My mom will tell me that when I started crawling, I'd BEE-LINE (is that the right term? Spelling? I don't know) for the television every time the commercial for some country singer's CASSETTE/RECORD would air.

Maybe it wasn't country ... it could have been folksy-type music. But EVERY. TIME., I'd be squirming my way to the television set to gaze and listen in utter rapture.

I wish I could remember who it was supposed to be. I'll have to ask Mom. Or maybe Dad'd remember.

5 years old - Besides regailing my Nana with loud renditions of "Little Bunny Foo-Foo" and "I Am a Child of God," I remember listening to "Thiller" by Michael Jackson (yes, children, there was a time when he was considered such a talented dancer/singer. There was a time when he was not AT ALL creepy. There was a time he had his original nose. And chin). 
I also loved Cyndi Lauper (c'mon, what girl in the 80s didn't want to BE Cyndi Lauper? "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" always makes me so happy when I hear it.
I also listened to a record (yes, we were OLD SKOOL, people. I STILL listen to cassettes at times.) of Primary songs from church... I think it's entitled "Sing with Me" ... No, that was the OLD Primary songbook ... Blast! I canNOT remember the title! Something about singing together ... and that the main color (besides the image on the record) was a warm brown with yellow sprigs/spots on the record case ... Drat my bad memory.

I bought my first just-for-me tape when I was in second grade -- M.C. Hammer.
I also recall, in thrid grade, choosing out of the prize box, a record of ... classical music. The Skater's Waltz, William Tell Overature ... things like that. Too bad there was a huge scratch on it, it was a great collection.

10 years old - By this time, we had made the BIG move to primarily listening to cassettes (even though the cool kids were buying these new-fangled things called see-dees :P). I would occasionally listen to a couple of my mom's records (West Side Story and Annie), but mostly she and I would listen to Broadway musicals - Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera (which is why I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Michael Crawford -- Sorry, Bri ... but to me his wonderful voice IS the phantom), Evita, Cats ... It'd be a few years before I got into Miss Saigon or Jesus Christ Superstar.

You can imagine how popular this made me at school ... "Do you like Meatloaf?" "My Nana makes a good one." (No, really ... that was a VERBATIM conversation I had with a friend. And that was in JUNIOR HIGH.  ... I've lived a rather sheltered life, no?)

I also liked soundtracks, especially Disney soundtracks. And I had the soundtrack to Ferngully (Hellooooooo Tim Curry! -- No wonder I eventually wound up having such a soft spot for Rocky Horror Picture Show, huh?)

I also started to like Harry Connick, Jr. and Ace of Base "The Sign".

For the record, I was the one girl at my (small) school who hadn't cared for New Kids on the Block. I can sing a couple lines of songs ... mostly to be ironic.

15 years old - By this point, we were starting to buy CDs. And I was gearing up to watch MTV (I watched it near-incessantly during the last couple of summers at home in high school). I still listened a lot to musicals ... started to really get into Swing. I loved No Doubt. I had Alanis Morrisette's CD. And Sarah McLaughlan's "Building a Mystery." I fell for the siren song of the Spice Girls (because they were FUN! They still are. A-zigga-zig-ah!) I bought one Backstreet Boys CD ... and my favorite song wasn't one of the ones that played on the radio (#7 - Hey Mr. DJ, if you really were curious).

Mom and I listened a lot to the soundtrack for Forrest Gump. I loved Bob Dylan's Rainy Day Women ... she didn't care for it much.

Toward the end of high school, I discovered Rammstein.

I loved the soundtrack for Batman Forever ... didn't hurt that it had Chris O'Donnell in it (Oh, I crushed on him a bit <-- Understatement.)
My friends really helped my musical knowledge -- I was treated to The Beatles, Jimi Hendricks, Metallica, Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, The Offspring ... My friends are so very good to me.

Like Damien who made me an AWESOME mixed tape. I only wish that I knew ALL the songs on it, so I could create it perfectly on a CD. ^_^ (He was amazed that I liked reading song lyrics as much as I do.)(I think he was even more amazed that I ADORE Ozzy Osbourne's "I Just Want You." ... I'm complicated.)

I also discovered Cibo Matto -- and am still SO SAD that they've broken up. Because I love me some crazy Japanese-American pop.

20 - By now I was married. Not a whole lot of money for CDs, so I relied on my friends to hook me up with most of the new music I got. I have some great mixed CDs ... and having a computer with a CD-burner meant that I was able to make my own mixed CDs.
Jenny-Boo told me about Shakira ... and I bought her CD, "Laundry Service." I still REALLY like that one.

Shortly before getting married, there was an AWESOME CD shop down the street ... I really SHOULD have bought the soundtrack to Jane Eyre: the Musical ... I still haven't heard any of the songs.
Friends introduced me to the joys of Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies (who are AWESOME) and I got even more into Weird Al and They Might Be Giants. And Barenaked Ladies (Only the second-worst name for a band, according to my mom. The first would be Butthole Surfers ... It's so hilarious when she's all, "Oh, I like this song. Who is it by?" And I tell her ... and then she's shocked and lightly rants about how much she HATES their names! Never gets old. I love my mom.)

25 years old - By this point, Michael's made sure that I've learned to appreciate Elvis (my mom wasn't crazy about him, so we didn't listen to him much. I know! Complete travesty! I still love my mom). 
Since we have added the munchkin brigade to the mix at this point, we have even less money to spend on music ... but I can make a mean mix-CD, if I do say so myself. (Ask Aubri or Sheri! They've each received one ... maybe more than one in Bri's case. 
Since we have broadband internet, I get to listen to lots more music now ... And I'm pretty eclectic. I have found that I rather like Johnny Cash. ... And I find that I'm woefully clueless about music and bands in general. I'm never really going to be cool like Bri about these things ... but I'm happy with what I can get.

You know that I don't tag ... but if you want to, just comment and let me know that you've done it. I like to read responses ... I just feel demanding if I do the tagging.

No love ...

I don't know how many of you have heard about this ... kerfluffle going on with a certain HBO show. One show that is about polygamy and people who practice a religion like unto my own (or our own, for you fellow LDS-ers out there).

Well, if you haven't heard, there's an episode planned (and, apparently, already filmed) which is ... less than full of win.

The Church (of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) has released an official statement, "The Publicity Dilemma," if you care to read it.

I don't watch Big Love. I never have really had the urge (and this is coming from the girl who watched an episode of Dexter ... Hey, I LOVE the book series. Well, not the cussin' so much ... but it's SO well written! ... And the series appears to follow the book pretty well. I can't say that I'm completely in love with the casting for the sister ... but I think that the dude playing Dexter does REALLY well).

I don't plan on watching the episode where they are going to show some semblance of an excommunication and temple ceremonies. I don't think that it's right or classy for them to do this. Especially since they're getting the information from someone who has left the church.
(I mean, really ... does a person seriously investigating and considering an unbiased view of a religion primarily rely on accounts given by people who obviously have issues with said sect? If I were trying to find out about, say, Catholocism, would I take all information given to me from someone who's left that religion without a grain of salt? Wouldn't it be better to discuss doctrine with a contented member of that church? ... It seems like common sense to me ... I don't know, though. I mean, it takes all kinds, right?)

I think that The Church has responded very well in their statement. Yes, because we are a "peculiar people" there will always be some who don't get us, who will rely on stereotypes or caricatures, who will think of "those blankity-blank Mormons" as a bunch of self-righteous, narrow-minded, homely teetotalers.

And they'll be just as mistaken (and, dare I say, a wee bit hypocritical? Yeah, I dare. And I'm a wee bit hypocritical, myself. I try not to be ... but I do try working to be a little more accepting of everyone and their ... quirks, for lack of a better term. ^_^) as people who think that a person's character can be defined solely (or primarily) by their race, nationality, hair color, athletic prowess, or ... shoe size or something.

I'm a bit more of the belief that "pretty is as pretty does." ... Or that one's actions do speak on a level that one's words may not reach. It is ... less than kind/sensitive/compassionate/humane for the writers to SAY that they wouldn't make it about members of The Church ... it appears that they have planned to go ahead and DO just that.

I do, myself, doubt that these writers would try something like this if it were a different sect -- like Catholocism, per se.

I don't think it's classy. Or the wisest of choices.

I could threaten to boycott HBO. ... But I'd have to, first, actually patronize their company. I could write an email to Time-Warner ... but at the same time, I almost wonder if this issue is WORTH making an issue about. How many people WATCH Big Love? How many people really think that it's about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints? How many of the people who DO think that are ... well ... I don't mean to be catty, but (as anyone who says that, I'm immediately following up with, "I'm going to be") how many of those people who actually believe that members of The Church ARE like that ... are really that ... intellegent?
I mean, have they met many Latter-Day Saints?

I have to think that it's a credit to my/our church that whenever people learn that I'm a member of the LDS Church, they are rather effusive about other Latter-Day Saints that they know.

I hope that by not making a huge deal about this (other than letting you know about it) I'm not burying my head in the sand about this. I just really think that if people have any sense, they'll judge/consider/whatever The Church based on their experience with its members, rather than by a show that's not affiliated (at ALL) by the church.

At least I can hope that people still have sense, right? I'm rather optimistic.

Or I, at least, TRY to be. :P

Randomness

Conversation that just took place -- Bruise and Bucket are running around chasing each other. Bruise is apparantly a ghost. Bruise falls to the floor (on purpose).
Bucket: He died.
Bruise, on floor: I dead.

This morning, Bruise was in the windowsill in the dining area ... and somehow turned on the treadmill (I was alerted to this by the hum of the treadmill on low). And he starts SCREAMING, since he can't get out of the window with the treadmill on.
I go to rescue him. He is half-sobbing and CLINGING to my neck. I'm TRYING not to totally crack up at this ... and then he says, shakily, "It a TWAP!"
Then I nearly totally lost my crap, giggling over how the treadmill is a trap.

Also this morning, Bruise wakes up at an ungodly hour (it's still ungodly early when Michael leaves for work) crying that he's peed his bed. Remarkably, it was JUST the sheet. So I strip the bed and the boy, get him a clean pull-up, put a blanket on his matress, and tuck him in until it get lighter.

YESTERDAY, as we are coming up the sidewalk to walk into the church building, Bruise trips and EATS IT on the sidewalk. He's got himself a scrape on his forehead ... and miniscule little scrapes on the palms of his hands. Thank heavens for Dianne, who (1) opened the door for us, (2) enlisted Bucket to get supplies with her while I changed Bruise's dirty diaper (hey, we're in the midst of potty-training. We still have some off-days), and (3) brought me band-aids and an ice pack. I rocked the boy and sang to him in the mother's lounge ... and he's doing fine. He's actually REALLY verbal about it. Sis. P, one of the Nursery class leaders, asked me about his bandage ... asking if it were from at church. ... Because Bruise was telling her about it. 
(YES! My son is finally getting some words in edgewise around his extremely verbal sister.)

The house is cleaner. And I need to read one book (well, really, more like seven ... but I'm just gonna cut my losses and turn in books and check them out later ... when I have more time [Ha!].) today ... and two more before Thursday. 
One of the fridges isn't being cold. Good thing we don't have a lot of food in that one. I'm going to try and pull it out and run a hairdryer in the back ... and dust it and whatnot. At least the freezer portion is working. Or I'd be SO torqued off.

I also need to do about two loads of dishes. Then I'll be CAUGHT. UP.  ... for, like five minutes.

And I have a veritably MOUNTAIN of clean laundry to fold. At least it's CLEAN, right?
But I'm going to concentrate on dishes and reading. And making the munchkin brigade clean up after themselves.

Perhaps that was a little premature ...

Okay, so naptime hasn't been any easier since that ONE TIME. *sigh*

Oh well.

We went to the zoo yesterday. We asked Bucket, on the way home, what part of the zoo was her favorite. "The animals."

She was able to narrow it down to the hippos (since she sleeps with her stuffed hippo, Carl. And we have NO idea why his name is Carl. No idea. I asked her once what her hippo's name was ... and it is Carl.) and the Zebras ... mostly due to the Z in "zebra." Those of you who know Bucket will know WHY it's so special.

Bruise liked the birds. We actually forked over some cash to buy the little juice/sugar water/whatever cups to feed the Lorikeets. Bucket FREAKED THE CHICKEN OUT when one of the birds shook some of the juice (for lack of a more specific term. Since I didn't drink any of it, I really don't know what it is) over her head.

I did get nipped by one Lorikeet. Not a big deal. Bucket kissed it better for me.
I did get some nice pictures of the birds. That made me happy. Bruise thought it was HILARIOUS to be surrounded by screaming birds.

And, dude, lorikeets have such a WEIRD tongue(via WikiBooks). It looks like a little BRUSH on the end. I mean, I understand that it'd help them eat the juice ... and whatever they eat in the wild. Nectar, I guess. But, land sakes y'all, it looks a bit strange.

I think that Bruise likes the birds since he's started to let me do his hair in a faux-mohawk. He calls it "up hair" or, as Bucket calls it, "birdie hair" since it makes him look like a little boy crossed with a Cockatoo. It's even funnier (at least to me) when he's sporting his "birdie hair" and Bucket is all glammed out with a conservatice, little-girl updo and a dress ... and he's looking like he belongs to a whole 'nother household.

I need a good, strong gel so that it'd last all day. Maybe I'm just doing it wrong: I wet his hair, apply gel, and comb the center into the middle for the wanna-be mohawk. 
Yes, I really let him go out in public with his hair like this. It makes up for all the whining I put up with. And he looks SOOOOO CUUUUUUTE!!

My mom's always after me to spike his hair. If I find a good gel, I think I will. He's getting to where he's letting me DO stuff to his hair, instead of always having it combed into the default Young Republican (not anything wrong with that, since I am a R, myself :P) ... It's nice to switch it up.

I'm almost caught up with the dishes. Maybe one BIG handwash load and I'll be DONE!!
And then I'll rope Michael into helping me fold Mt. Laundry on our bed.

After a couple more loads go through the washer and dryer.

I meant to finish raking the front yard today ... not gonna happen, with how dang COLD and wet it is outside. Although I MAY go out and give the Japanese Maple a bit of a trim.

And then I should read at least two books. We'll see how that goes. But, hey! At least the house is LOTS cleaner (thanks to the awesome motivation of my husband.) ... I mean, I did manage to clean up the junk counter and my desk ... But, oh, there's always SO much more to be done. And I never want to do it.

Holy duke ... I think that the kids might just be asleep. Which is much better than it was about twenty minutes or so ago ... when I was all pissy about maybe losing an earring (of one of my FAVORITE pairs of earrings ... but I found it a minute later) and, as I walked by their bedroom where they STILL hadn't fallen asleep, but were up talking and PLAYING, I just screeched, "JUST GET IN YOUR DAMN BEDS!!!" at their door. Then Michael talked to them ... and they CRIED because they "not WANT to go to bed" (But they're sure cranky enough to NEED to, iykwim, aityd). Then, later, as they played again, I just opened the door, stood there and said in my dangerous-low-slow-don't-mess-with-me voice, "This is your last warning. Do you want me to come in here again? NOW, get in your bed. Pull up your covers. Close your eyes and shut your mouth. Go. To. Sleep." ... And, since I don't hear them right now .... I think they might have actually followed my instructions. WOW.

But, yeah. I looked up a series of church books for the kids. I like the three that we have so far. There's another three that I want to get (out of five available). Me? Want to buy more books? Pshaw! 
Yes, I know that I have a problem. But I can't help that I love books so much. They make me happy!! And they don't make me as fat as my love for food ... of course, it'd be really nice if I had a little shelf for books or magazines on my treadmill. If I did, I might be about twenty pounds lighter ... and that'd be very good for my mental health number. ^_^

Okay, to read!! I hear the siren call of written language.

Oh. Em. GOSH.

It's taken three years, one month, and thirty-two days ... but I might have just figured out the secret to nap time.

Leave the damn door open.

My house is really rather in shambles. The new library is open, I'm trying to finish reading books helter-skelter, and I'm semi-addicted to Vampire Wars on Facebook (my clan is nine mebers big [read: kinda small] but I'm up to level 23. I tried Fashion Wars, but it was kinda dumb. And I didn't care for Dragon Wars much. But Vampires?? I like it.

Still ...  So, I'm getting the kids ready for storytime this morning. Rox calls. Yes, we'll get together while we're up north to go to the zoo. We get it so that I have directions. I have maps (so there will not be a repeat of LAST Friday where Michael and I were driving around Salem ... me driving, him navigating, me FREAKING THE CHICKEN OUT BECAUSE I DRIVE CRAP IN BIG CITIES). ... and I notice that it's just about time for storytime to start ... and we're still in the house.

So I hustle the munchkin brigade out the door, in the van, drive down the street (well, practically) to the NEW! AMAZING! LIBRARY! and we have fun at storytime ... except for the part where Bucket trips coming in and scrapes her knee.

Bruise gets to play with the train table (which was remarkably NOT crowded today. Crazy.) while Bucket and I sit and read Chickerella about three times. (Obviously, I know how to pick a book.) Then I load everybody back into the van (After we ride the elevator over and over again. And Bruise about pokes some poor old man in the testes as he [Bruise] isn't looking where he's going [the poor elderly chap was ENTIRELY TOO AWARE of this happenstance. Oh, but I couldn't help but laugh. Can you really blame me??] as he's trying to run up the stairs.

(Note to self: Next house = Must have stairs and elevator. Or at least a dumbwaiter. Keep dreaming.)) and we go to Costco and get gas. And bananas, potatoes, tangerines/mandarins/whatever-the-H-you-want-to-call-them, gravy mix, and a package of those chocolate muffins that are about half the size of your head.

Then, as we've gotten home and are heading to the street to check the mail (or, as we call it, "checka mail" -- Oh, how my Toddler-ese vocabulary has GROWN!!), Bucket runs down the driveway and scrapes her OTHER knee! 

And oh!! The screaming!! The agony!! The minute possibility of blood!! (Okay, so there was some visible blood ... but it's not like it even shows up on a napkin or anything.) So we grab the mail, I carry in the food while Bucket screams and shrieks, and I patch up her knee.

Talk to Mom on the phone. Talk to Dad on the phone. (For two people who haven't been together in YEARS, they sure called in sequence. Why is that?) Bucket's band-aid came off while I was chatting with my dad ... SCREAMING. (Whereas, before that, the children were quite peacefully communing with the siren vocal stylings of Disney's Snow White. And had each worked on eating a muffin as large as their HEADS.) So I took care of that. This is why I really SHOULD remember to pick up a ginormous package of Band-Aids at Costco next time.

But the kids wanted a bath. So a bath they got. And then I instituted reading time ... and I read them two books (I know, how awesome am I? I actually LEFT THE COMPUTER and SPENT TIME WITH MY OFFSPRING. I should get, like, a friggin' Nobel Prize or something. *rolls eyes*). And I told them that it was nap time. And Bucket asked me to leave the door open ... and I said, "Okay, as long as you stay in bed. If you get out of bed, I have to close the door, since I need to work at cleaning up the house." And they agreed. So, the door is open. I ran a load of laundry, cleaned off my crap from the small counter (it still needs work, but it's WAY better) ... and am taking a break before I think about cleaning off my disaster area of a desk and doing another load of dishes and folding some laundry and reading another book (or two, since I have a metric crapload of literature due back at the library in the next week. *sigh*).
Bruise did play in his bed for a while ... but last I looked, he got bored and, since he was (noticeably) tired, he's asleep.

In other news, we've gotten ourselves a membership (which explains the trip to Salem) at the A.C. Gilbert House (and, via that, OMSI and a few other Science Museums. Hey, with a membership at these places, it came with a coupon sheet for a few other museums -- There's a two-for-one coupon for the Portland Children's Museum. Cool, cool. I think the kidlets would like to go there sometime.) So, Saturday, we went to OMSI with bil (brother-in-law) J and Mom and Dad C. The kids had a great time ... Bucket even conked out in the car on the way home.

Sometime, Michael and I will ditch the kids and go up ourselves to check out the DaVinci exhibit. (And, crappit, I totally forgot my camera this time!! Grr. Oh well. I still had a great time.)

Bucket looked at the fetal development exhibit with me. She's rather amazed that she was ever so small. Come to think of it, so am I.

Okay, I've got to close this up. My house isn't going to clean itself. Even though I really, really, really, RILLY wish it would. (Oh, my dears, I DO so wish it would. But it never does. And I don't think it ever will.)

So ... yeah.

And, hey, if you want me to make you something crafty-crafty ... or maybe just half-crafty, since I'm not all that crafty (Hey, just keeping it real.), you should sign up on the previous post. There are three spaces left! You know that you want to make me wrack my brain to figure out something that I feel talented enough at to DO for someone else! Or, hey, you could just NOT ... and let me be all lazy. I'm pretty easily pleased.

Crafty Tag

So, I've signed up for my Bri-Bri's tag (and, dudes and dudettes, if you hurry, you can get cool stuff from my Bri. Seriously ... she's a busy girl ... and wonderfully creative. You should totally make her head "asplode" by having her tag list filled. Hurry! Three spots left!)

I really almost didn't sign up for it myself. NOT because I don't LOVE AND ADORE her ... but because I'm a lazy git. I NEVER know what to do that is creative and fun and whatever ... (which explains to the rest of my dear, sweet, BELOVED, dear and wonderful friends why I haven't signed up to yours recently. No offense, y'all. It's just that I have NO clue what to do for anyone else who signs up.)

And, really, the last time that I signed up (from my dear Dianne's blog), NOT A SOUL took me up on the pass-it-on bit.
So, yes, I got a wonderful CD from Dianne ... and I didn't have to do a gol-durned thing. I totally lucked out on that, huh?

BUT I'm willing to work at it this time. And, like Aubri, I'm going to post my little addendums, my quid-pro-quos up front.

So, the main gist is that the FIRST FIVE (if I even get that many. Just keepin' it realz, here) commenters to this post will get something that I've made. 
If you comment, you need to post this on your blog (or what's the fun in that? Hey, maybe less than five people will take you up? Maybe, if you're really crafty or into this, you can shoose to do MORE than five! Rules, schmules!) and be willing to pass the crafty-whatever luff on.

So, yeah, if you want to make me work at this, comment away.

Here's the list of limitations:
1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It'll be done this year. (Sometime during 2009)
4. You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a story. It may be poetry or an article on properly cleaning your face before a masque. I may draw or paint something. I may bake something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!
5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

Yeah, I get to choose what I make. If you're local and I know you and all, I could -maybe, I'm not promising anything!- invite you over for dinner or bring you a dessert. If you're farther away ... well, that's not quite so much of an option.

I will allow you to make requests ... I don't promise to honor the request. But if you're REALLY jonesing for a mixed-CD of what I currently listen to in the car ... or a fun Christmas mix ... or something, let me know.
If you have a FAVORITE above all other favorites color, I wouldn't mind you passing on that info.

If you have allergies? That'd be good to know. Especially since I live in a two-cat house. (As opposed to a cathouse. That'd be bad. Real bad.)

And I refuse to listen to any whining for what I've done. Compliments only, please. :P
I've already been totally upfront that I don't consider myself all that hand-crafty or creative. So, in the words of stereotypical moms everywhere, "You're gonna like what you get, whether you like it or not!"

And ... yeah, I think that covers it.
And, if you want crafts by some of my other friends that are doing the tag, here's a list of some whose lists aren't completely full (as of March 1, 9 AM):

• Bri's mom, who is FAB-U-LOUS! (And, I should totally jump on her list, since she loves me anyways. ^_^)
• Lacy - Her list is only for three. Still, she's amazing and darling. And expecting her third child. (Two left, since *I* just signed up for it! HA! ... and it's probably cheating. Like double-dipping. But I DON'T CARE! So, ha-HA!)
• Bri-Bri still has three spots left on her post ... better hurry!
  
• My friend, Nicole, whose blog is private (so you might not be able to hop on this one, but still!) is offering the same Pay-it-forward-to-five tag. If you can get to her blog, you should -- She's got just the one spot left! I might just triple-dip (since I'm feeling TERRIBLY REBELLIOUS today) and nab THAT spot, too. :P
   If you can't get to her blog, then you could order something from her shop. (Nursing wraps, blankets, burp cloths, wash cloths, and those cool pockets for diapers and wipes.)
  (Seriously, I need to order one of those pocket-things. I have about three diapers swimming randomly in my purse. And I'll pull them out and they're all wonky ... like there's a ghost/debris baby somewhere in my purse, since they're all curved and wrinkled. And I didn't know disposable diapers COULD get all wrinkled and odd like that.)
• Bri's friend, Lisa, is who got Bri (and therefore, ME) on this tag ... So, you have options.

 And, hey, if you get to a list and it's all full? Then you should totally follow the links of the people who've signed up. you might get a new friend or something.

And, I agree with Lisa, Bri, and Bri's mom: You should totally post pictures of what you get. Sharing is caring and all that jazz.

So ... yeah. Sign up if you want. And, hey, if you're getting all ticked about my double-dipping, if you ask nicely, I might just extend my generosity and pass-it-on to a few more people. ^_^
I'm cool with trying to make it fair.

And, hey, if you want me to be lazy and all ... I'm down with that, too. Since I'm so GOOD at it and all. :P

Bruise took a nap.

Sacked out on the floor while watching a movie this afternoon. I had to ask Bucket if he was asleep.
She leaned over her and affirmed, "[Bruise]-y asleep."

Bucket, however, has NOT had a nap. And is heading toward being hyper.

And since I've been up since 5 this morning (Just couldn't sleep any longer. Oh well.), it's a miracle that I haven't yelled more.

We made it to storytime. That was nice. I found a book that I've been meaning to read for a while. And an armful of manga sequals in series that I wanted to continue. So, a GOOD book day.

I also have been terribly sucked into some Facebook games. And I've found some more people I know on Facebook. Strangely enough, ANOTHER of my friends from theater in high school (graduated before I did) is living in my town. How funny is that!

Dinner is on the stove ... It would be done already if I hadn't spaced putting the lid on the rice cooker. (Oops.)

Picked up the living room and the kids' room. Still need to vacuum and take out garbage and such before Mom and Dad C get into town tomorrow.

No Bones on tonight, so Michael informs me. Darn that American Idol. Too bad it's AI instead of QI ("Quite Interesting" ... on the BBC. Stephen Fry is so smart and droll and I heart him.)

I'm tired. And I've been tired for a few days. 

At least today I didn't nearly give myself a coronary yelling at my little children ... like after Bruise peed in the hallway.
(And Bucket peed next to the couch today. She didn't want to miss any of "The Little Mermaid." *rolls eyes* )

The kids were excited to see the dusting of snow this morning. And Bucket is REALLY excited that "Grandma and Grandpa" are coming into town.

I am tired of being tired. 
I should go see if the rice is (finally) done.

And, after the kids go to bed, I should read copious volumes of manga. Because it makes me happy.

Oy. Vey.

There I was, my dears, sitting at the computer ... the kidlets are watching their morning shows ... and suddenly there's SCREAMING and WAILING and BLOOD!!

From what I can piece together, Bucket was sitting on the arm of the couch and fell/slipped/laid down onto Bruise's FACE.

All I know is that I run over to the boy and he's sporting a double nosebleed (you know, bleeding from BOTH nostrils) and his mouth is full of blood and he's CRYING and so I take him to the bathroom and dig out the DARK PINK washcloth (since it doesn't show blood. See? I have a system here.) and clean him up.

All that blood was just from his nose. Nothing was cut or split in his mouth. I'm trying to to gag thinking about blood. from his NOSE. in his MOUTH. *Ughhh*

And the nosebleed stopped pretty quickly once he stopped screaming and let me get him cleaned up. There was barely more than a drop on the couch. Only a few drops on his jammies. Some smeared on my robe.

Once he was cleaned up, he wanted me to hold him. And, of course, I did. Then he didn't want to open his eyes. Which freaked me out. So I called the clinic ... just for confirmation on what to do.

He didn't show any signs of a concussion ... and after giving him a dose of children's ibuprofen, he seemed fine. The nurse verified that it sounded like I did everything right (Yay for those umpteen first aid classes that I took with Mom!) and to call back if anything changed. She agreed that, yeah, the adreniline rush probably ran its course and that, yes, the endorphins had probably kicked into his system. (Go me, being able to recall Biology lectures from YEARS ago. Yup, I'm that geeked out to ask if it could be endorphins.)

She even called back later to just check in. I love our clinic.

Besides that, I'm feeling lots better. Napped and read a lot yesterday. Had VERY strange Ny-quil-induced dreams. Now I'm trying to get motivated to do a load of dishes and get the garbage cans from the driveway and fold and wash some laundry.

But I DID make my kids French Toast for lunch. I know, I know. Hold your applause. No, really. You're just trying to flatter me.

But, really, I NEEEEEEED a shower. And I'm going to read at least two books. At least.
And maybe take a nap.

Dishes be dashed. I'm going to be all pampering today. Well, kinda. I think it's called LAZY, which should make it no different than, say, EVERY OTHER DAY. *rolls eyes*

*sniffles*

My little drug-cocktail from last night has worn off.

And I'm taking the day off from church. I'll still be at my meeting tonight (Yeah, I know! I had a meeting yesterday for my OTHER calling. But, hey, at least I will have a nap before this meeting).

But right now, I'm watching the kids while Michael's in his Sunday morning meetings ... and, after Sacrament meeting, he'll come home and pick up the kids (who are dressed and ready) and take them to Nursery. And I'm going to try and sleep off my cold.

I've been sicker ... but I'm just TIRED of being sick this time. I'm never going to be known for my patience and long-suffering. So I'm just going to whine right now and, hopefully, get it over with: My nose is alternatingly stuffy or runny. Sometimes both. My voice ... doesn't sound great. If I HAD decided to go to church, I wouldn't be making Bucket cover hear ears (which she does do to volume, not to my singing abilities, I'll have you know), because I wouldn't be singing today. I'm just tired.

----

My kids are funny. 

This morning, as I did Bucket's hair, she was telling me about being baby-sat last night:
"And the girl said that we had to go to bed after the show. And then she left at night."
Sister D has a daughter in high school ... and I think it's sweet that Bucket seems to be like me in referring to any lady as a "girl" ... Well, I do call my group from my home ward "my Relief Society Ladies" since they are all old enough to be my moms or grandmothers ... Oh, I miss my RS ladies. I really do.

Also this morning:
I had given the kids some fruit snacks (Hey, they've already eaten breakfast and are dressed in church clothes.) ... they finished them and asked for "some more food"... so I gave them more snacks, telling them "Well, here are more fruit snacks. They've got Vitamin C, which is very important right now." 

And Bruise squints up at me, as he's taken the little bag of snacks and chirps, "AGAIN?"
And Bucket, echoes him emphatically, "AGAIN?!?!?"
I affirm, "Yes. Again."
And they both trot off to the couch to watch Anastacia and eat their snacks.

Last night:

Bruise, as I had mentioned, wasn't sleeping well. I finally just picked him up, changed his diaper (which woke him a little, so he was crying a little more), and was just walking the bedroom with him.
He whimpered, "It bedtime."
"Yes, " I soothed. "It is bedtime."
"It dark outside," he murmered. "It time to be in bed."
So I just laid him back down, pulled up his blanket, and he was fine.

It made me roll my eyes a little that after he and his sister tried to be awake at 6 that morning, that he was telling me he needed to be in bed. 

At least I think he's gotten the point that when it's dark outside, it's time to be in bed and asleep.

Heaven help me once Daylight Savings comes around.

----

Also, Bruise has a big scratch on the bottom of his foot from stepping on one of his toys. So he's got a band-aid on it. Bucket cut her wrist on the tub-stopper in the bath this morning. So she's got a band-aid on that. I have finally taken off my band-aid that was covering my blister (on my foot, of all places) where I got burned from the manicotti boiling on the stove (No, seriously. It sounds like science fiction -- the water teleporting itself -- But, really. It's insane.) ... Yeah, we're a little accident-prone right now. Crazy, huh?

Okay, I'm about ready to take my coughing, sneezing, stuffy, sniffling self back to bed. 
You think the kids will be fine if I just let them watch videos until Michael gets back?

A first

I have now been a chaperone for a church dance.

I would feel OLD ... except that over half the music played was songs that Michael and I danced to back when we were in our respective high schools, in our respective youth.

I also was a total nerd and accosted Bri's brother, Ian. Okay, that's strong wording. I told him that I had texted Bri to brag that I saw him from across the room. And he totally let me take a picture with him and send it to her. (Even better, he was totally into it. I LOVE Bri's family, let me tell you.)

Best of all was that she was actually awake and received my messages and she texted back.

Awesome.

Another awesome thing was that Bruise and Bucket (as she tells me that she is now to be called. *rolls eyes* At least you know who I'm talking about.) were very good for Sister D, who baby-sat them (In church, we call each other "Brother So-and-so" and Sister What's-her-head" ... you know what I mean. And I'm getting used to being called "Sister C" by my Young Women ... I mean, I don't look around for Michael's mom or sisters or aunt or something. But, really, they could just call me by my first name. I'm cool with that.).

Also good: Once Michael and I were at the dance, all the drugs that I took (RELAX. I took some Day-Quil, a couple snorts of Afrin, and a dose of ibuprofen. Yup, that's me hitting the HARD stuff. :P) finally kicked in and I was able to have a good time instead of feeling like Plague on a Stick. (As my nose starts pulling its Niagra-act again. *sigh*)

Okay, it's late. Bruise isn't sleeping well. I'm going to figure out what's wrong, fix it (I hope) and go to bed. And take off my shoes. My feet hurt.

Does It Make Me a Bad Mom

That I'm leaving the kids (mostly) to their own devices while I let Michael sleep off this cold, read through my mountain of books, and blow my nose and clear my throat?

Does it make it bett or worse that my sweet daughter runs up to me and declares, "I wearin' a SILLY HAT" ... and shows me that she's wearing a pair of her brother's underpants on her head?

How about when Bruise starts screeching about how those are HIS Bumblebee (Transformer) underpants, that I appease her by giving her a pair of Elmo underpants to wear on her head?

Okay, now I'm going to make myself some hot apple cider to heopfully make my throat feel less like I have a package of alternating cotton balls and sandpaper stuck in my throat.

My Day in List Form ... not quite in order. Oops.

• Michael came home sick
• Got lots of scripture story videos from my dear, shiney, lovely Dianne
• Mom went home
• She and I stocked the freezer with about five weeks' worth of dinners.
• Now I have no excuse for not having a hot dinner ready for my breadwinner when he comes home.
• Well, not until we eat up all the dinners.
• Went to the library.
• We bought Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day at Costco. WOOT!!
• Dianne also gave me a DVD of So I Married an Axe Murderer, which is an excellent movie. (Yeah, I know, you all are jeaaaaaalous. If only you all had a Dianne of your own. ... Because I don't know if I can bring myself to share her with all of you. She's just so pretty and shiney and wonderful ... and she's MY friend. MINE. But if she wants to be your friend, too, I SUPPOSE that I can share her with you.)
• I finished Dearly Devoted Dexter ... and, dude, I know that you're not supposed to LOVE a sociopathic muderer ... but, you know what? If loving this series and REALLY LIKING the main character is wrong? I don't want to be right. Because these are SO GOOD.
• Mom and I folded my laundry. (Yes, my mom is excellent. She might adopt you, too. If you're extra-nice. ^_^)
• I went to the library. Picked up LOTS of books. Now I just need to finish reading all the ones that I have.
• Mom and I went to the two bread stores in town. Mom's jealous that we have TWO bread stores in town. At the first one, I got two free bread things (opted for one loaf of bread and one bag of mini-bagels). At the second, since another lady didn't want her free stuff, I got FOUR free bread products (a bag of dinner rolls, two loaves of bread ... and Bruise chose a package of oatmeal cookies. Hey, I wasn't about to argue. The boy's got some good taste.)

Okay, that's the big part of what's gone on. Now to get the kids in bed, watch Bones, and take some Ny-Quil (yeah, I'm a little snuffy, too), and get through the mountain of books. ^_^

What would you suggest?

There I was, my dears, surfing my usual array of blogs ... and the phone rings.

So I answer it.

Now, usually I have a decent ear for voices ... I'll KNOW that I know who you are ... and I'll chat with you until I can make sure that I really can put your name with your voice.

And I'm a chatty-type of person.

So, I pick up the phone ... no one speaks, but I can hear stuff going on, so I stay on the line and say, "Helloooooooo? Hello??" and start singing the Jeopardy theme ... and I'm about to give it up, when a guy's voice says, "Allanna?"

"Hi! Yes, this is she."
"Hi"
"Um ..." I say, "What's up?"

And this guy is a soft talker ... so I can't quite figure out who he is. Almost sounds like my Ty-bro ... but not quite, because Ty would be making me nearly pee my pants with his jokes and conversation.

Also, Bruise comes over and is trying to get me to give him certain papers and things from my desk, which is NOT GONNA HAPPEN, so I ask soft-talker-dude-on-the-phone to speak up. MORE THAN ONCE.

"Your voice is sexy," he tells me. 

WHAaaa?? Seriously, what the H?!? WHERE in Hades or otherwhere does it seem like an appropriate or smart or whatever thing to do to tell some person (who's happily MARRIED and SURROUNDED BY HER CHILDREN) this??

Point: It's NOT.

FACT: I have a semi-healthy amount of self-esteem. However, there are not many people (especially guys) that I would feel comfortable with telling me that I am/sound/look/smell/whatever "sexy." ... I think that Michael's 90% of that list. I have some guy friends who are wonderfully platonic and decent that would not be ... WEIRD/PERVY/WHATEVER by telling me this. ... I can only think of ... well, maybe two. Three -- two that are practically my brothers (through our own adoption of each other) and one who is gay.

Yeah, completely weird-making. 

So I told this soft-talker that I thought he had the wrong phone number, GOODBYE. *click!*

I'm thinking that it was this magazine sales-guy who had called back (this was MONTHS ago) the next day, just to chat ... and it promptly got strange. And I told him that it wasn't appropriate and I thought it was a good idea if he didn't call back. Like, EVER. (Which, for me, is rather mean.)

It did sound like him. And he did seem to have this problem with me feeling weirded out. 
(The conversation went like this:
Me:Um, I really don't think that my husband would be comfortable with us having this conversation. [Meaning: Dude, you're weirding me out. I don't like it. And Michael wouldn't like it ... especially because it's weirding me out.]
Him: Do you have to tell him?
Me: [Thinking: Oh HELLS, YES, since you said THAT.] Yes, I tell him just about everything. I see no reason to hide anything from him. He's my husband.
[And, yes, I DO tell Michael just about everything. He's my bestest besty-friend])

So, yeah. I don't have Caller ID on the line that this soft-talker guy called on. I think he may have called again after I went to the shower. 

... Yes, I did what any normal woman would to after being phone-accosted:

I scrubbed out the shower stall and got dressed for my mother to come over.
Completely normal.

I also texted my husband and told him that I missed him. Because, dude, if he were here, he'd have told that soft-talker-stalker-dude what for.

Gosh, I wish Michael were here.

SO, my dears, what should I do? I'm hoping that soft-talker-dude NEVER calls again.
If he does, I'm going to tell him that this is entirely inappropriate and to never call here again.
I might try to get his name and information so that I can get the police involved if I have to ... but I worry that asking for that would only encourage him.
Maybe I could tell him that I died. And that this is her twin sister. The bounty hunter. Who's a double black belt in Judo and specializes in armed combat. Who served time for disembowling a dude, years ago, who called her sister a lightskirt. And who wouldn't have any issues taking out a hit on the guy who called her previously and propositioned her for phone sex. (Okay, it wasn't phone sex ... but it didn't feel like he was just making an innocent observation.)

INNOCENT OBSERVATIONS that wouldn't make me feel all yucky --

"Your voice sounds:"

• melifluous
• lilting
• husky
• raspy
• angellic
• fluting
• mild
• well-modulated

ANYTHING like that would be acceptable.

Anything sounding like flirting? Not quite so welcome.

Ew.

*shudders* 

I don't know WHY I get so freaked out by this. 
I'm just hoping that being firm about my version of "these are not the droids you're looking for," might have given him a little wake-up call that this is not any kind of attention that I'd welcome.

I think I'm going to curl up in a ball and pet my hair, okay?

Or, since my mom'll be here anytime, maybe I should do a load of laundry and finish up the dishes.

Or I could finish reading "Dearly Devoted Dexter" and imagine that Dexter would take this guy out if I needed him to. Yup, I do really like that sociopath. Something about how he TRIES to act like a normal person and how he LIKES and PROTECTS children ... and he tries to take care of his foster-sister and his girlfriend ... I just like it.

I don't watch the show, since we don't get that channel ... and we watched the premiere online (well-done, really ... but I don't care to hear that much cussing. Or else I'd probably watch Deadwood or something. Firefly is really about my speed, as far as language goes. ... However, for some reason, I can READ it and it doesn't seem to have such the impact. Why is this? ... Probably because I can edit it a little as I go. Whereas, when other people are SAYING it, it's a little jarring. Why is that?), but I do like the books better. Judging by the premiere, the television series stays pretty faithful to the books. Hard to judge from just one episode. You'll have to ask someone else, really.), but the books are good. I'm reading the second one right now. The first was EXCELLENT.

Talked to my mom. She says that I handled the soft-talker-dude well. *whew*

Hopefully this is the last time. I really hope so.

Any advice?

Catching up ...

I'm sory that I've been like the SUCKIEST blogger-friend in the universe. 

It's not that I don't love you. You KNOW that I do (happy belated heart day, btw). I'm just SO VERY unmotivated.

I did get most of the house cleaned before my folks-in-law came to spend the night. Cut Michael's hair a little (they showed up as I was changing to the second guard for the razor). Mom C did some of my dishes Saturday morning (Slightly enbarassing, but I was still glad that SOMEONE was doing them. ^_^).

V-day saw Michael coaching the YW basketball game. Then we met up with family in Portland for a little family Valentine's Day party. Which I spent most of the time playing with K's (T1's husband) Wii. (Yes, Jenny, I said it out loud there. JUST FOR YOU. ^_^ Still hilarious.)

C, Michael's brother spent hours playing with K's Wii with me. :P

Bruise and I (and then Bunny and I) (and then me by myself ... then Michael) tried playing Guitar Hero.
Let's just say that, "hitting it with my best shot"  ... Well, I really suck at it. And I couldn't blame it on having a toddler on my lap that time. Of course, Michael, who CAN play the bass well (when, he'd say he can play it, when he's been practicing. But, ehy! He's performed in public! More than once!) didn't do fantabulously ... Solely to make me feel better, I'm sure.

K, though ... He rocked it.

(note to self: work on my timing. With practice, I could rock, too.)

Then after some family rounds of "The Price is Right" (Hey! I actually one a showcase! Woot! Didn't think I would! ... Also, what would I DO with a Hovercraft?), C and I played, for ... oh,  about FOUR HOURS, the Lego Star Wars game.
... Maybe I should invest in the DS version. It was pretty fun. I did have K take over for me a few times (like I said, my timing sucks, so my jumps were often ill-timed. But I'm more than deadly with a light saber. And I prefer to play as Qui-Gon Jinn, since his hair is the most easily recognizable. ... Oh, and I SUCK MUCHLY at the pod-racing. Without Keith, we never would have passed that part. *sigh*). We got through the first episode. 

So, yeah, if I ever get a Wii of my own (heh heh ... I'm a GIRL! I don't have a Wii!! LOLZ), I think I'd want to get Boom Blox, since I'm okay at that ... and the Star Wars game, and Wii Fit ... so that I might actually, you know, have some motivation to work out. (And being told that I'm obese? Not news to me, darlings. So I could just glower at it in a not-at-all self-righteous way.

And I'd have to get a Disney Princess game for Bunny. And something Transformers for Bruise. Or maybe a racing game ... Bruise did over 100-grand of damage on one round of an auto-racing game. Heh heh. I've told C that maybe HE'll be the one to take my kids out driving.

Also, Bruise was reminiscing last night about how he "dwove DADDY twuck. And beeped da HORN!" ... And I was really amazed at this because (1) Bruise is not a HUGE talker very often (I mean, hey, he has to compete with VERY VERBAL Bunny and me) and (2) the event he's talking about was nearly a YEAR ago. As I put it, "Wow [Bruise]! I'm amazed that you remember all this! You were just a BABY back then!" And he just nodded.

Also, good news: I applied for health insurance again. ACCEPTED!!!!!!!! WOOT!!! Now I can not worry about breaking my HEAD or something!! YAY!! ... Now, hopefully we can afford it. *grim smile*

But, yay! Not every company is going to HATE me for having had a high-rish pregnancy!

Other good news: My cousin had her baby. He's healthy and they should be back at home.

Bad news: My mom's stove gave up the ghost.

Good news: She got a new one. With a 10-year waranty.

Really bad news: One of my friends, who was pregnant with twins, lost both her babies.
I feel SO terrible for her. Any advice on what might help her? Or just put her and her family in your prayers, meditations, wishes for good karma, whatever. Don't worry about naming her by name -- the Lord (Higher power, etc, etc, whatever you believe/don't believe in) knows who she is.

Sorry for including something so sad ... but it's been in my thoughts.

Well, it's about time to get the kidlets ready and in the car for church.

Oh, other good news: the boy is using the toilet. For both eliminations (to be tactful)! So we've graduated up to Pull-Ups. There are still some mistakes ... but we're SO much further. Phew!!

I have about a bazillion links to share. I'll try and do that sometime this week. Wish me luck!

stuff ...

So, I'm tired.

Big surprise there, huh? :P

I should get a few loads of laundry folded. I should make dinner. I should tell my dear hellions beloved loinspawn that it's not crying/whining/screaming time, it's NAPtime. Emphasis (BIG EMPHASIS) on N.A.P.time.

I should finish the load of dishes (hey, only ONE load, mind you! I've made some wild headway).

I should vacuum.

What am I going to do instead?

I'm going to run a warm bath and read a book that's due tomorrow. And I'm going to make dinner after that.

Because I need that bath. And I WANT to finish this book SO badly.
And I'm also going to watch the video that's due as well.

And I'm not going to worry my little head at all about the three DVDs that I haven't watched and will be turning in. Because I'm going to be okay. It's going to be cool. No one's going to judge me.

Right?

Here ye, Hear ye ...

Let it be known that I am, and will forever be known as 


SO, yeah.

And here's another meme:

-What time did you get up this morning? Around 7.

-Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds. I can't hurt them as easily.

-What was the last film you saw at the cinema?  ... Oh!! The Dark Knight!! That's right!

-What is your favorite TV show? Jeopardy, House, Bones, Lie to Me, Fringe, Firefly (Shut up. I don't care if it hasn't been syndicated for YEARS. Still counts.), Daria (ditto.) ... VH1's Pop-up Videos ...

-What do you usually have for breakfast? ... That assumes that I really eat in the mornings. Sometimes I do.

-What is you middle name? Lee ... hence my blog's address ...

-What food do you dislike? I'm not a fan of seafood. And I think that corned beef hash is dog food marketed to humans (Sorry, honey. It's true.)

-What is your favorite CD at the moment? ... CDs?... I've been using my iPod for years.

-What kind of car do you drive? Honda Odyssey

-Favorite Sandwich? My mom's tuna salad sandwich (has minced carrots and dill pickles in there. I modified it by adding some cracked black pepper). Or turkey with cheese and dill pickles.

-What characteristic do you despise? Probably hypocrisy. Or maliciousness.

-Favorite item of clothing? Um ... Right now I really don't have one. Maybe my light-teal jacket that's in the wash right now.

-If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? How about a tour of the world? I mean, why not? I'd love to travel.

-Favorite brand of clothing? I don't really shop by brands. ... I do like the George line, though, at Wal-Mart.

-Where would you retire to? Michael likes the idea of a houseboat. I'm thinking about it.

-What was your most memorable birthday? It could be my 15th ... when I decided that I didn't really care for my birthdays so much after all. ... However, Dave singing to me in the cafeteria on my 18th was entertaining. It's nice to have talented/hilarious friends. :P

-Favorite sport to watch? I don't often watch sports. 

-When is your birthday? April 9

-What is your least favorite chore to do in the house? Dishes. And folding/putting away laundry. And vacuuming.

-Are you a morning or night person? I used to be a night owl. Now I don't know what I am. I'm too tired to figure it out.

-What is your shoe size? 8

-Pets? 1 cats -- Ginger and Diana

-What did you want to be when you were little? A doctor, a vet, a cheerleader, a detective, a writer, a world-famous pianist (but not enough to actually, you know, PRACTICE), an actress, a teacher, a cowgirl, a photographer, an artist ... What DIDN'T I want to be?

-How are you today? Tired. Lazy.

-What is your favorite candy? Chocolate, especially with caramel or peanut butter. Or sour things.

-What is your favorite flower? Roses, violets, carntions (not from the florists. I mean the ones that grew in the sun and wind and smell deliciously spicy).

-What day on the calender are you most looking forward to? "April 13. Because it's not too hot and not too cold. All you need is a light sweater." (Yeah, I don't know. So you get a movie quote. Whee.)

-What was your maiden name if you are married? Dick. Stop laughing. I can show you my birth certificate and several student IDs to prove that I'm not pulling your leg on this.

-What are you listening to now? The Secret of NIHM, my typing, the kidlets (who are currently ENGROSSED in the movie. Phew!!)

-What was the last thing you ate? Toaster pastries from Costco.

-Do you wish on stars? Sometimes.

-What is your favorite color(s)? Teal, I think. Or baby-tea-rose pink. Or blue.

-How is the weather right now? As Bunny and Bruise would declare, "It FROGGY outside!" (Fog)

-The first person you spoke with on the phone today? T2 ... to recommend a doctor's office. Poor, sick girl.

-Favorite soft drink? Water. Or root beer. Or Raspberry Lemonade.

-Favorite restaurant? Probably Olive Garden.

-Real hair color? Dark blonde/light brown. What's on my head right now. Just about matches Bunny's hair. Weird.

-What was your favorite toy as a child? Books, My Little Ponies, Barbies

-Favorite season? They're all good. Especially when you have central air with a heat pump. SCORE!!!

-Hugs or kisses? Depends on who you are. If we're close, I can accept both. If we're not ... well, then hugs.

-Chocolate or vanilla? Yes.

-Coffee or tea? I drink herbal teas ... and HOT COCOA!!
But this video makes me laugh:

-When was the last time you cried? Yesterday. I was reading about the MissingAngelsBill.com (For families who've lost a baby through stillbirth. And how most states don't offer them a birth certificate, just a death certificate and a financial duty to bury their baby. Ouch. ... And there's also a group of volunteer photographers who, pro bono, take professional pictures of these babies for the families. I mean, this is a labor of love. It makes me proud of mankind ... and it starts to make up for all the crap that we, as a species, deal out on each other.)

-What is under your bed? Drawers. Full of stuff.
-What did you do last night? Went shopping at Costco, put the kids to bed, read blogs, went to bed, played Sukodu on my DS, went to sleep.

-What are you afraid of? Bad things happening. Debt. Spiders. "Carnies ... circus folk. Small hands. Smell like cabbage." (Can you name the movie?)

Sweet of salty? Yes. Sometimes at the same time!

How many keys on your key ring? LOTS. House (3, including the shop), mailbox, two for church, three for the cars (two are for the truck), a screwdriver, a Hello Kitty keychain ...

-How many years at your current job? Homemaker - since mid-December 2003. Mom --- well, do you include incubation time? If not, 3 years and 25 days.

-Favorite day of the week? Fridays and Saturdays

-How many towns have you lived in? 5 - My hometown (Canyonville), Seattle (1 year. Exactly), Monmouth (my college town), and two in the Willamette Valley.

-Do you make friends very easily? I seem to be able to make people feel comfortable. And I don't really mind reaching out, especially if it looks like someone feels out of place. You'll have to ask people that I've met recently, though, to get a really honest answer.