So Long and Thanks for All the Fish

We went to see Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I was worried that it might not be that funny -- although I haven't read the book, I knew it was very quirky and funny in a strange sort of way. So was the movie!!! Very, very strange; very, very funny! Now I'm going to have to read the books to see if they are even better. In my experience, the books always are.

Baby Mommaz

Bratz Babies 

Oh-my-gosh!!! Bratz have babies now. I would rant about it, but Lileks does a much better job. As he said, "Bratz are the main reason I do not keep a supply of bricks around the house, because everytime the commercials come on I wish to pitch something kiln-fired through the screen so hard it beans the toy exec who greenlighted these hootchie toys."

My daughters know that Bratz are evil. They ask me all the time "Why would the toy makers make such bad toys? Why did they give them belly shirts? Why do they want little girls to be brats?" It becomes a problem when they go to a friends house and demand of the mother "Why do you let her have Bratz?" I'm a little embarrased then, that they have taken to anti-Bratz-ism with such zeal. But those little hootchies are just naaaaasty. And now, babies? Again, from Lileks, “They know how to flaunt it, and they’re keeping it real in the crib.” I believe he's quoting advertising material here. Flaunting it? Flaunting what? They're BABIES!!!! First, we create a doll trashier than Barbie, then give her a baby who is sexualized as well? That, again, is just naaaaaaaasty.

via Joanne Jacobs

Another WAHM question

Does anyone have any legitimate secret shopper sites? I clicked on a Yahoo ad this morning, thinking about doing some secret shopping, but it was basically a get-a-$1000-gift-card-if-you-participate-in-two-of-these-offers scam.

What month is this?

Remember that post from yesterday where I said we were finally seeing spring in Michigan? I got an alert from WDIV weather today for a WINTER storm warning!!! Here's the forecast:

Tonight: periods of rain during the evening, then occasional rain and snow overnight. Little or no accumulation. Lows 34 to 38. North winds 10 to 20 mph.
Saturday: Cloudy with occasional rain and snow. Breezy, colder. Accumulations around an inch. Highs 38 to 42. North winds 15 to 25 mph. 30 mph after noon.
Saturday Night: cloudy with occasional snow. Minor accumulations possible. Lows 30 to 34. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph.
Sunday: cloudy. Occasional snow during the morning, then occasional rain and snow during the afternoon. Minor accumulations possible. Highs 38 to 42. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation 60 percent.
Sunday Night: cloudy with rain and snow likely. Little accumulation expected. Lows 33 to 37. Chance of precipitation 60 percent.

At least we don't have soccer tomorrow, that would be very, very bad. Could we please have the 80° weather back? Pretty please?

New haircut today. Whaddya think? 

Online Homeschool Convention is On

Spunky's Online Homeschool Convention is up and running. There's a ton 'o stuff there!!!

My Son 

It's Spring! 

I found a neat thing in Picasa/Hello that lets you make collages! Now I can get more than one picture in a post (this is one way, at least!). We have springage here in Michigan finally. It got up to 80 Monday. It's a little cooler today, but still nice and sunny. So, pictures of soccer and the park seemed in order. I just had to put the picture of the angels sleeping in there too. I'm not sure what they did with the squirelly girls who normally sleep in that bed, but aren't they beautiful?

Working at home?

Are any of you WAHM's? I'm thinking of trying something at home to help with the finances. Dh works 2 jobs, one is per diem, kind of a contract thing; the other is ministry, which is not predictible either. I'm thinking it would be a whole load off his mind to know there's a little buffer coming in. I used to be an admin assistant, I'm thinking I could do some transcription. Not medical transcription, I don't want to go through that whole medical terminology training. I'm not sure what's out there or how to go about it. I'm thinking I've read a couple of blogs of ladies who do transcription, just not sure who it is. Anyone, anyone? Bueller?

UPDATED Phone message I never thought I'd get . . .

"Hi honey, just wanted to call and let you know there was a shooting here at the station, but I'm fine. Call when you get the message, but wanted to make sure you know I was OK."

What?! I called him back. This is where he works. Seems there has been this guy who keeps trying to get into the station over the past two years. Last week, he assaulted two employees. Today, he got into the outer door, but the receptionist kept him out of the locked inner door. As she was calling security, another employee (an editor with my hubby)was coming in the outer door and the wacko shot him! So, dh is supposed to get off work at 6:30, he's still there. We were going on a date tonight, it's on hold. But he's alive. Praise God!

UPDATE:
They have a guy in custody, I think he's been charged by now. He's possibly schizophrenic and was thinking the station was spying on him or some such. That receptionist saved so many lives! He probably would have come in blazing, he had a semi-automatic. Dh is fine, he came home around midnight, what a long day! He had worked a double the night before also, so he's bushed.

My little athlete! 

Wow, that looks a lot better than I thought it would! This little cheapo camera is impossible to focus or even figure out what is going to be in the shot! Still hoping for a great Mother's Day gift. (Hubby -- hint, hint, my wishlist is on the sidebar, specific camera listed there!)

Anyway, isn't she cute?! We had to miss practice last night, she had been running a 102° fever the night before and a low grade fever whenever she wasn't on Motrin yesterday. It's been warmer lately, but it gets chilly when the sun starts to go down. I didn't want her feverish AND chilled. She was so disappointed! Me, I would have been "Oh, good, now no one will yell at me for not being able to kick it where I'm supposed to!" I'm so glad she's not intimidated by sports as I was. And she's so darn cute in her soccer stuff!

Online Homeschool Convention

This is a GREAT idea! I'm a very new homeschooler, so won't be contributing, but many of you are. Some of you are incredible writers (yes, Ann, I'm talking to you!), and would have very valuable contributions to make. I can hardly wait until Thursday to go read all the wisdom!!!

ESFP?

Well, I went here to find my personality type for Marla. I did the test, but I'm not so sure. Here's my results:

Your Type is
ESFP
Extroverted Sensing Feeling Perceiving
Strength of the preferences %
22 12 62 11

I don't know about the E. I am an actress, but like many performers, the character is a shield. I'd just as soon read a book as go to a party. Once at the party, I enjoy it though and like spending time with people. But then I like to be alone to recharge. Maybe that's why I'm only 22% E. Marla mentions that all the S's she knows have immaculate houses because they are so aware of their surroundings. Not now! This house usually looks like major tornado went through it at any given time! I think I'll have to find some more testing sites and try them out to double-check.

I know I did a Meyers-Briggs in college as part of our pre-marital counselling, and again about 6 yrs ago or so with church group. Hmm, I wonder where those results are? I'll have to look. Anyway, Marla's Type Blog looks like a fun way to find others with personalities like your own. Unless you're a weirdo like me! I'm the only one so far. Any other ESFP's out there?

Yep, still alive!

Sorry (yeah, because you were waiting with breath held), it's been busy around here. That, and I think I've just had a short spell of mild depression. Just want to sit around in my slippers and robe. However, children have a way of dragging your butt out of that sort of thing.

To all who have been concerned: My tailbone has recovered. I'm feeling much better. Still have a twinge now and again, but nothing like it could have been. The rugburn is nearly gone.

It's official! I am a soccer mom. We got the van a couple of weeks ago, and DD6 had her first soccer practice this morning. She was so cute, she had her shirt, shorts, shin guards, socks, and cleats on as soon as she got up! Now, DH and I are both artistic. He's a singer, I sing and act. I do not do sports. Never have, never will. The closest I've ever gotten was my swimming and weight lifting credits to get through college! We never expected any of the kids to have any athletic inclinations whatsoever. DD6 and DD5 have both been dancing since they were 2, DD5 sings and songwrites already, and Baby Boy sings and does the butt dance whenever he hears music. But DD6 seems to have some throwback genes. She looked so natural out there, dribbling the soccer ball for the first time. Realize, some of these kids have been doing this since they were 3. She's technically 3 yrs behind. I would have looked like a total dork out there -- she looked like she was having a (gotta do it!) a ball!. Plus, Baby Boy was so cute! My sister came with us, and they ran all over the vacant field with his little mini soccer ball. He hasn't really started talking yet, but kept saying "Ball!, Ball!" He was so sweet. Of course, I brought a camera, but only my film camera. I didn't even think to bring the crappy digital. Well, we have plenty more opportunities for pictures. Since this is a short season (will be over by June 4), the kids will have 2 practices (I keep saying rehearsals!) per week for the next 2 weeks, then 2 games and a practice each week after that! Blogging may be very scarce!

To Blog or Not to Blog

Yeah, I'm sure no one's ever used that title before! Do you ever have events that you think "Oh, I am SO blogging this!", but then think "Well, maybe not."? OK, I'm just going to go for it.

Last night, I was sleeping peacefully, well, that is between bouts of the stuffed-up, miserable, teething baby's crying. I'd get up and hold him, he'd pass right out, I put him back in the crib, then an hour or so later, back through the cycle. Anyway, during the sleep portion of this cycle, a little after midnight, I hear "Mommy, I need you!!!" (yes, with three exclamation points) from the bottom of the stairs. Our bedroom is the entire attic space of a 1940's bungalow. I hop out of bed, stark naked (don't think about that too long, it will burn your retinas), grab my robe and sail around the half-wall barrier to the stairs. DD5 is at the bottom of the finishing her wail from earlier "I have to go potty BAD, can you turn the light on?" My robe catches on the handrail (whose screws are just sitting in the holes in the wall not attached to anything) as I go around the corner, I hit the stairs, my heels slip on the carpeted steps and DOWN I go! Can't grab the rail, it's not attached. Bump, bump, bump, bump, at least 4 steps come in painful contact with my tailbone (which has been cracked before). I'm curled up at the bottom of the stairs, moaning, Dd5 is saying "Mommy? Mommy? Are you OK?" I'm saying "Just go, go potty NOW!", envisioning wet carpet soon. Dh, who has to get up at 1:30 to get to work by 2:30, is calling down "Are you OK? What's hurt?" And truly? Naked, curled at the bottom of the stairs, I'm was thinking "I am SO blogging this!" My next words were "Get my robe in case my sister comes up to see what happened." Yeah, she's my SISTER -- like she's never seen me before. Dh helps me stand up, I get Dd5 back into bed, he then helps me hobble up to bed and brings me some Motrin. Toss, turn, find some sort of comfortable way to try to go to sleep. Moan, cry, turn some more. Finally drift off . . . Dh's alarm goes off, I get up and pack his lunch box. Back to bed, Ds is up 3 more times before finally deciding it's morning at 5:40. Family nap time will be at 1. NO ONE call!