To Read Or Not To Read

That is my question.

Do you read parenting books?

(and by asking that I'm not implying anything)

Should I be reading them?

I like to be old school, and learn from my parents. And the parents of others. There's plenty of To Do and Not To Do in the examples around us.

I am fortunate enough to have parents who gave me plenty 'to do' rather than 'not'.

Several months ago I studied 7 Habits - Teenager (only about 1/2 of the book, does that mean that my kids are only going to be half effective?). I really liked it and might even go so far as to recommend it.

I refused to read What to Expect when I was pregnant, not sure why. To trendy, maybe?

One of the reasons I haven't read any other parenting books is because 'who do you believe?'. And do these authors even have kids?

So much of parenting is just good ol' common sense. Or is it?

What do you think? Do you consult Dr. Spock? Or do you wing it?

PS Speaking of parenting and common sense...Maddie is watching Zoey 101, starring new-mom Jamie Lynn Spears. I wonder if her and her sister were reared on parenting books.

I just hope they don't start writing them.

Ross & Rachel Beware

Only I can turn a bump on the head into 2 doctor appointments. Poke fun.

Go ahead. Get it out of your system.

Yes. Based on the symptoms I have a slight concussion and 'PVD', which basically means that the gel-stuff in my right eye became detached from the back of my eye. It will heal over time.

I was told to take it easy.

Stop laughing.

The doctors didn't know that they were instructing the laziest person on the planet to take it easy.

So what do I do with these instructions?

I go to the couch and watch episode upon episode of The Office. I am a late bloomer, but thank goodness for NetFlix and TV on DVD. I just finished the first disc of season two and demanded that David order up the next batch ASAP.

At first it was too stressful to watch Michael and his disgusting-ness. But I, of course, took the Jim-Pam bait and got completely hooked.

David has also ordered up Lost for himself. He is officially hooked.

So we've both got our summer re-run vices.

And the laziest couple ever is once again living in scripted bliss.

PS I also need a Juno fix. And the F*R*I*E*N*D*S should stop by.

French Twist

The older I get, the bigger baby I become.

Which really sucks when you start out wimpy like me.

I was playing Pickle with Isaac and his buddy last night, and took a baseball to the forehead at close range.

I maintained my cool. I didn't want to upset the kids, especially because it was the buddy who threw it. I just calmly let them know that I needed to go in the house for a break.

But on the inside I was freaking out. It hit me so hard that it rattled my teeth and instantly goose-egged. Who gets a goose egg in their 30s?

I fixed myself an ice pack, but tried to hide it from the boys. My friend Cristel, a sister that I visit teach, happened to be walking her new puppy on my street. I asked her to check out my forehead and in her thick, French accent she said "get an ice cube and push that thing back in".

Big Chicken

I am.

I always have been.

On Wednesday I stumbled across a contest that I wanted to enter online. I filled in the questionare, and then realized that I also had to submit a 1 minute video.

That sucks.

But I got myself set up to do so.

Went over the dialog in my head. Had my props. Went over my dialog again.

I couldn't do it.

I totally chickened out.

I am such a wimp. And a dork. And stupid.

Free products were at stake.

And I blew it.

Message to the Lakers

Mwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha

Are There Gables in Jersey?

I gain control of the remote (for just a minute) and during a commercial from F*R*I*E*N*D*S I surf around a little bit, landing on an old episode of the Fact of Life.

Let's pause and reflect on the wonderful-ness of the Facts of Life.

There's an unfamiliar character, but something very, very familiar about her. I scrunched my eyes. I backed it up. I studied for several minutes.

And then it came to me. This girl, this actress playing Jo's cousin, with the short, dark, 80s haircut is Megan Follows.

I guess Anne's not just of Green Gables.

Making My Mark

Okay. Okay. I know that it's common for women in their 30s to get splotchy skin.

I guess I'm due for mine.

It's here, and it's very reminiscent of a former world leader.

My 'mark' is in the same spot, very close to the same shape, but fortunately not quite that dark. Yet.

Do you suppose Clinique carries Gorbachev Cream?

Vocabulary: The David

Definition: when the husband deletes the entire DVR library.

Everything. Favorite movies. Favorite TV episodes. Even the old Cosby Show episode when it's the Grandparents' anniversary.

Gone.

But then again.

Gone are also David's stupid Cash and Treasures episodes. And his dumb Ghost Hunters.

Well that's just good housekeeping.

Question:

Why THE CRAP (as they say in Utah) is he in a beer commercial?!

Little Helpers

To the mommas out there: some things you need to do for yourselves, no matter how badly your helpers love you and want to do it for you.

We finally had a summer's day here in Utah yesterday, with temperatures close to normal. I looked forward to soaking up the sun at Maddie and Isaac's baseball game, and when we broke out the sunscreen, Maddie wanted to put mine on for me.

I have a bright red (and sore) triangle on my leg just below my knee.

A fabulous accessory for my new skirt.

A Sigh of Relief

Our girl is home.

In Case There's a Doubt About Where I Live

In the desert.

Today I turned on the AC in my car, only the 2nd or 3rd to this year, and sand shot out of the vents. Lots of sand.

I think I see Tusken Raiders (aka Sand People) passing by.

Summer of Train Wrecks

Is anyone watching her new show?

I guess I kinda am.

She's out there, trying to make a better name for herself, but along the way ponders doing another nude-ee shoot. (thank goodness the friend talked her out of it)

If she really wants to make a fresh start, let's clean up the language. Holy cow! Who talks like that in front of their own dad?

I'm not a fan. Haven't seen any of her movies. My only frame of reference is when she played Monica and Ross' cousin and everyone (including Phoebe and cousin Ross) had a crush on her.

It gets hard to pull yourself away from this kind of train wreck late at night. I watched two episodes last night.

I guess if I'm not careful, she's going to make her way in to my summer vacation, too.

Floats and Bands and Babies (Oh My!)

This past week was Pony Express Days here in our little town.

Activities galour...softball tournament, carnival, movie in the park, helicopter rides, cute-baby contest, a parade that went on for 2 hours (which had 6 different bag-pipe bands), concerts, just to name a few.

Saturday night we had a neighborhood BBQ, which was just out in front of my friend A'Donna's house. The BBQ was awkward for me, fun for my kids. There are some 'rifts' in the neighborhood, so some people, instead of grilling on the long row of BBQs, went off to someone's driveway and had a mini-party of their own.

I was bugged. Really bugged. So much that I lost sleep over it, but that's another can of worms.

BUT! The evening took an unexpected turn after the clique-ee BBQ.

As darkness fell, we gravitated to A'Donna's backyard around the fire pit.

There is something magical about a (backyard) campfire.

Marshmallows were burned, dropped and eaten.

We listened to the concert at the park.

As if there wasn't enough magic, through the darkness and across the fire, a neighbor recognized a long, lost navy buddy he had served with 18 years ago.

It was chilly. Isaac was miserable (as he was the night before when we laid under a pile of blankets to watch Horton Here's a Who in the park). I couldn't keep him warm enough curled up on my lap, and walked him home, but quickly returned.

Then, the proper cap to the evening: fireworks.

Sometimes it seems that no one gets it right in this young town of Eagle Mountain. But they outdid themselves with a great fireworks display. Isaac was able to watch from the couch in the piano room; Maddie in a sleeping bag next to the fire in A'Donna's backyard with me.

Like always, I was feeling crummy on Saturday and wouldn't have even left the house if A'Donna hadn't called and begged. What else have I been missing out on?

The Pressure Is Mounting

The wind is a-howling. Not unlike when mom, Jill, Jaye and Sarah were here in April.

This morning I spent an hour, maybe more, vacuming and wiping up sand because I didn't get the windows closed in time.

Now the pressure is building up so much that I can feel it in my ears.

So I've got a new slogan:

"Eagle Mountain. Where the weather is never perfect."

This slogan would work well for us existing residents, as to ward off more people from moving out here. (I just collectively heard mom, Jill, Jaye, and Sarah say "who would want to?")

But really, the weather rarely is perfect out here, though yesterday was pretty nice, just barely reaching 80 degrees.

We've had so much snow this winter, even long-time Utahs were moaning and groaning.

Then the ick and the cold that was our spring.

And if by change you get a day of sunshine, you'd better hope for at least a little wind, or the sky turns brown from the inversion, aka smog.

Who the crap let me move out here?

I'm Growing Cures in My Kitchen

My kitchen has black appliances and dark countertops. Oh, and dark flooring.

***Don't make this same mistake.***

It always looks like it needs to be wiped down, and I do so several times a day. Well. Not several...

Apparently all my focus/attention has been there, because I just opened the microwave and eww!

I've been warming refried beans up a lot lately. (no jokes please) The inside of my microwave has well, you can imagine.

I guess I'd better go and find the chisel.

Thanks for Bringing it Home David

I guess the way we're going to survive the week is by packing on the pounds.

I have my weaknesses. Chocolate. Cookies. Brownies.

Things that I don't keep around the house.

There are some things that never, ever tempt me. Until now.

I just ate 2 chocolate Zingers and might go for a third.

So when Friday finally arrives, and I get to reclaim my long, lost daughter, I'll need a cardboard sign with her name printed on it because she won't recognize me. I'll be 50 pounds heavier.

Then I'll need to explain: mommy was coping. And by coping I mean shoveling in all the Hostess products the gas station up the street has to offer.

Needing Some Hydration

First of all, the computer and I are not longer on the floor.

Second of all... well, (sigh) I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to make it through the week.

This morning I dropped off Maddie for science camp. She won't be back until Friday.

I cried myself to sleep last night. (haven't done that in a long time)

David's last words before he drifted off to sleep were "I don't want her to go".

This girl signed up for camp without any of her friends going with her. She is so brave, and is obviously way ahead of her momma.

But this might be coming at a good time for her and I. With her becoming more and more hormonal, we could probably use some time apart. Hopefully absence will make the heart grow fonder.

Her and I were far more cuddly and sugary sweet towards each other in the days leading up to her departure.

This morning my world became even smaller, and I love it.

Remember Elisabeth? My student in special ed? The one I adore? You know, the one that bit me.

Elisabeth's mom was at the camp drop off, sending off her other daughter Amy. Introductions were made and Maddie and Amy are sitting together on the bus and (hopefully) will have a great week together. I'm really excited. It's like it's meant to be.

And also brought some comfort to this sad mom.