Saturday, February 16, 2008

I love my hairdresser


I tried a new- and highly recommended- hairdresser today. Triple love her. Have I mentioned that I LOVE her? For anyone who has not tried Tara S, please do so. She fit me in last minute, gave me an excellent cut, and took the time to blow it all straight. Plus, she is extremely reasonable as far as price goes. What's not to love?

And, even better, Nate keeps coming up and hugging me saying, "You're just so beautiful, I can't resist!"


Brief Notes

1) I am on page 119 of Brothers Karamazov. At this rate, I will finish it sometime in 2025.
2) I have to clean my room today.
3) I have to go shopping for shirts and shoes in order to be presentable for my work conference next week
4) I still have no real plan for distributing 10,000 ping pong balls
5) Evan and Tyler are delighting (with great volume) in making slide shows on the computer- all out of stock images, just flipping them sideways and upside down. It never fails to amaze me that such simple things will entertain them for hours.

Which is worse? The cleaning or the shopping? I can't decide.

Friday, February 15, 2008

A gift of love


In the true spirit of showing love, Rebi made me coupons for service yesterday. And really, it's a win for everyone because at this point in her life, she realizes that I am going to forget she gave them to me and not cash them in. Honestly, from all of the birthday and Mother's Day and Christmas and Valentines coupons from all of the kids over the years, I could probably sit on the couch and eat bon bons for the rest of my life. . .If I only I could remember where I put them!

This set was especially creative and meaningful though. She offered to clean our center counter in the kitchen- no small task at all. She offered to do a load of laundry (and she knows I am going to be doing loads and loads of laundry before I travel again), but my personal favorite is the one that reads, "Good for hour of 1/2 free work." I don't have to pay her full price? I'll take it. 1/2 free. I wish everything in life was 1/2 free!

I love you Reb!

Thursday, February 14, 2008

A few more thoughts

I can't resist posting this article:
http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/yshoppingarticles/83/the-cost-of-showing-you-care

17 billion dollars?!?!?!

To be fair, I'm not sure yesterday's post fully represents my feelings for V-Day. I don't hate the idea of showing someone you love them. Ellie made cookies for her family today and it was sweet. Rebi is making and sending cards to all of her friends, also very sweet. . .and heartfelt.

I think it was the shopping cart of crap in Wal Mart yesterday and the lady pushing it whining to her daughter about all of the money she was spending on Valentine's. Clearly, that did not sit right with me. And I do still think it's a dumb holiday. If you love someone, like Cathie, you look for reasons to show love anyway, so why do we need a made up holiday? Retailers make a fortune, but do the rest of us really benefit? OK, I'm done, I swear!

On a different note, I was standing in the kitchen next to Evan last night, and noticed that he has fine black hairs on his upper lip. YIKES! No need to worry about his dreams of world domination. It's just puberty. I am in for a long couple of years.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

In Honor of Valentine's Day

Alternate Title: The world's dumbest holiday

If this bothers you, please feel free to stop reading now.

Anyone who knows me knows that I have serious issues with Valentine's Day. Honestly, I have serious issues with most holidays due to their over commercialization and complete and utter lack of any real meaning, but Feb 14th is the ultimate worst. Named after not one, but at least 3 different Catholic saints, it should be noted that very little is known regarding any of these guys, and according to scholars, "no links between the Saints named Valentinus and romantic love existed".

And yet, here we are with roses double in price, chocolates tackily wrapped in cellophane and cardboard, and cards which ooze sappy sayings. I won't even talk about the expectation some people have for expensive jewelry. How does dropping cash express love? Are we so conditioned towards things and stuff that even for a holiday which is supposed to express love, things prove that someone loves us? Does anyone really buy that? Well, they must or it wouldn't be such a big deal that we are willing to wait hours for a table at a mediocre restaurant on a Thursday night.

Let's talk just a moment more about how Valentine's Day became such a big deal in North America. According to reliable sources, the most amazing feat of marketing genius ever can be attributed to Esther Howland.

"The reinvention of Saint Valentine's Day in the 1840s . . . In the United States, the first mass-produced valentines of embossed paper lace were produced and sold shortly after 1847 by Esther Howland1828-1904 of Worcester, Massachusetts. Her father operated a large book and stationery store."


She basically created a reason to sell cards. Genius! Her father's sale probably quadrupled or more just in his lifetime. I'm sure she and her future generations were very very wealthy. Absolute genius! She single handedly set a standard for only showing love on days dictated by other people.

Next to Christmas, more cards are purchased on or around Feb 14th than at any other time. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 85% of those cards are purchased by women. Of course, if you're getting $50 a dozen roses and diamonds and boxes of expensive chocolates in return, you just made a sweet sweet exchange. All of that for the cost of a card? You go girl!

With all of the crap available to celebrate with tomorrow and through the weekend, let's just remember to show love as well. Do service for someone, write a heartfelt note and not a bunch of glittery sappy goo. Take time to visit with someone.

OK, I'm done ranting. You can return to your regularly scheduled programming.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

I think maybe

Some days, I think maybe God loves me. I was able to accomplish so much today, even though EVERYONE kept throwing wrenches my way. I wasn't even home more than 2 hours, and I still got TONS of work done. And I made Rebi and Ellie happy by dragging them around and I wore bright eyeshadow again which is starting to make people worry and New Beginnings was a hit (Oh Naomi, I need some photos!) and I didn't get crushed by a garbage can lid and it's not even midnight yet and I'm going to bed. . .

And I think maybe I need to lay off the pain killers, but I feel so GREAT!

Monday, February 11, 2008

Evan for President

Mom: You're pretty quiet today. What's up?
Evan: Nothing, just thinking.
Mom: It always scares me when you think quietly. I'm worried that you're plotting how to take over the world or something.
Evan: Nah, that's easy. First, you have to force Britain into submission. Then, align yourself with Russia until you gain full control. Once you command their troops, you lead them into the middle East to shore up the fighting and overthrow the government there. And while doing that, annihilate China. That should keep the rest of Asia under control. No one else has enough power to do anything.
(Pause)
I was thinking of something much harder.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Worthwhile Investment

For less than $1500, I've gotten HOURS worth of piano playing today. What a bargain!
I should get a new piano every month.