Garth Brooks Rocks!

Through a bizarre set of circumstances, I ended up flying to Nashville to attend a Garth Brooks charity concert.

And wow. Just…wow.

He was AMAZING. A. MA. ZING. He did a 2-hour show which included (I think) three or four encores.

It was an awesome experience. Especially since I haven’t gone to many concerts in my time… But to hear ~16,000 people singing every word to every song just blew me away. And his energy? Holy crap. I was exhausted just standing, singing, screaming, and applauding for two hours…he had to be dead. But he just kept going and going and going. As I said in my Facebook post, he was “balls to the wall for two straight hours.”

It was just pure awesome, and I am very thankful to how everything worked out in a matter of hours…and how things all came together in the end!

  1. Seeing Garth on Oprah and thinking how I’d love to see his acoustic concert in Vegas.
  2. Me tweeting that if anyone wanted to know what to get me for Christmas, it was “Garth Brooks Vegas.”
  3. A friend of mine from Alabama, Jen, posted a reply that she had an extra ticket for one of his Nashville shows if I wanted to fly down.
  4. My dad and stepmom were planning on being here anyway on that date, so they would be able to babysit (Tom had to work).
  5. Tom agreed I could spend the money—Merry Christmas to me!
  6. A week later I tweeted that I arrived in Nashville—and my friend who lives in Nashville (Laurie, who I graduated high school with) called me to say “I didn’t know you were coming to see Garth HERE! We have to get together!”
  7. My friend with the extra ticket had another extra ticket for MY friend…so we all went together!

Everything was apparently meant to be. And I am a very, VERY happy woman!

Facebook Updates

  1. Two fried eggs, 6oz blueberry yogurt, a handful of Cheerios, and 8oz water. Typical toddler breakfast, or just for my beast? #hungrytoddler
  2. Ahhhhhh, morning snuggle time with my little one. That’s the good stuff.
  3. Owen just pulled his comb & brush out of a drawer and is playing with them–using them on his hair!! I just love watching him! #cutetoddler
  4. I am attempting my first non-recipe potato soup. Winging it, as they say.
  5. Apparently I bought the wrong size underwear. Damn trying a new brand. #wasteofmoney
  6. Cat vomit! Yippee! #sarcasm
  7. There’s really no better way to start my holiday radio listening than Noel by Josh Groban. #ilovechristmas
  8. I just finished watching Rudy for the first time. Man, is it dusty in here.
  9. I just shared a bowl of Lucky Charms with Owen! Soooooo fun!
  10. I am sick. I just realized we missed using a $50 sushi gift certificate to one of our favorite places. I hate GCs with restrictions.
  11. I just made an executive decision to delete the (as of yet unwatched) second season of Colony from our #TiVo. Ahhhh, feels good.
  12. Good news, script didnt change so no new glasses cost! Still have to buy a year’s worth of contacts though.
  13. I just love watching my little man play in his crib, seemingly wide awake, then start slowing down…lay down…thumb in mouth…then out!
  14. Backyardigans just had my favorite knock knock joke from when I was a youngster. Think oranges and bananas. #hee
  15. I found my missing library book with a day to spare. Yay!
  16. I just realized our post-construction corner will not have left turns at all. It’s not just temporary. We’re getting Michigan lefts. Yuck.
  17. There’s nothing quite like wailing “All That Jazz” with the windows down. I ♥ Chicago! #singinginthecar
  18. Hot chocolate w/coconut flavoring #ftw. Oh, and banana chocolate chip coconut muffins. Breakfast of champions. Or chocolate/coconut lovers.
  19. Really, City, you have to mow the park on what might be the last nice day of the season? Leaves, twigs, dust flying everywhere is not safe.
  20. I love the feeling of a sun-warmed car on a chilly day. #hmdwl

The disease called “Perfection”

http://www.danoah.com/201…perfection.html

This is an article EVERYONE should read. Immediately.

As a warning, the following post was written in complete desperation. I have recently learned some very sobering truths from people that I love dearly. These truths have set in motion a quest within me to do whatever I can to make a change. Today is not geared at funny. Today is geared at something greater. Read it to the very end. I promise you will be affected in a way you have always needed to be. I spent more than twelve hours writing this post because its message is that important to me.

I wonder. Am I the only one aware that there is an infectious mental disease laying siege on us right now? There is a serious pandemic of “Perfection” spreading, and it needs to stop. Hear me out because this is something for which I am passionately and constantly hurting. It’s a sickness that I’ve been trying to put into words for years without much success. It’s a sickness that I have personally struggled with. It’s a sickness that at times has left me hiding in dark corners and hating myself.

And chances are it’s hit you too.

To keep reading and/or see the full post on the author’s blog, click the link above.

Facebook Status Updates

  • Jennifer Hudson has learned that Maggie can open the screen door to let herself in if you don’t do it in time.
  • Jennifer Hudson really wishes people would pick up after their kids at the park. This is not your personal trash can.
  • Jennifer Hudson Finally. After almost nine years I have a wedding album!
  • Jennifer Hudson hates when I FINALLY decide to buy something online because I can’t find it locally…then two days later I find it locally…on clearance.
  • Jennifer Hudson has cut the 750+ photos from this weekend down to 333 on the first run through.
  • Jennifer Hudson is exhausted. Owen decided not to sleep last night, and instead scream every time we put him down. I ended up in the rocking chair with him—he slept, I didn’t.
  • Jennifer Hudson just took 600+ pictures of Owen in his pool with his new garage-sale slide. Sooooo much fun!
  • Jennifer Hudson is having a hard time reconciling Mr. Noodle being the creepy serial killer on CSI.
  • Jennifer Hudson just saw this response to a news article: “It just babbles my mind.” I’m not sure whether to laugh or be dumbfounded at the stupidity.
  • Jennifer Hudson just heard a loud clunk from upstairs–which means the little man is up and tossed the wipes off the dresser.
  • Jennifer Hudson is bummed that 1) LOST is over and 2) they ended it like they did. But mostly #1.
  • Jennifer Hudson knows road work has to be done, but I hate living in the middle of it—our main intersection is predicted to be janked through November and our neighborhood until August. BOOOOOOOO!
  • Jennifer Hudson had the king-sized bed covered with three cat-puke-prevention towels while we were gone…and the damn cat managed to barf in the 1/2″ seam where there was no towel.
  • Jennifer Hudson needs another Margarita.
  • Jennifer Hudson had a dream about John Casey last night. IBIMB.
  • Jennifer Hudson has a crankopotamus for a kid today.
  • Jennifer Hudson just bruised her arm and almost threw out her back trying to open a >:XX window. I hate this house sometimes.
  • Jennifer Hudson is being driven absolutely insane by our exceedingly intermittent internet connection.
  • Jennifer Hudson thinks the toddler shoe aisle is the mist frustrating place. Nothing in the right place, single shoes everywhere, shoes in wrong boxes. I hate people who disrupt aisles like that.
  • Jennifer Hudson 1) Harleys should NOT be allowed to run before 7am. Hell, 6am. Thank you SO much, neighbor. At least I finally fell back to sleep. 2) Stepping in cat vomit is NOT a good way to start the morning, especially when you’re carring a kid. 3) M-O-N-S-T-E-R-C-L-U-B-HOUSE.

RIB|NFLANNKE

This will always make me laugh. Any non-Grayling peeps want to guess what it is?

  • Scott F—Bowling alley?
  • Jeff P—That is hilarious. I won’t ruin it though.
  • Heather WT—WOW….what is it? I don’t remember that!
  • Heather WT—Nevermind….I know now! LOL took a minute! Thats funny!
  • Sue Ann R—I don’t know what it is now … but it was a Ben Franklin at some point in time.
  • Ryan H—Ben Franklin……Wow….they tried to make it like Volkswagen or something?
  • Sue ML—rib n flankke, like ribs and flanks, a steakhouse?
  • Jennifer H—Sue Ann–you got it! It’s an old Ben Franklin store downtown on Michigan Avenue! It’s been empty for a long time and sone unknown person(s) changed the letters around. It’s now been like that for YEARS.
  • Janet P—I live here and years later it is still driving me out of my mind to go by it and look at it that way!!!!!!!!!!

My new color and cut!

home

My Yelp Review

To be upfront and honest, I only tried Flip because of their recent Groupon deal. I have a regular salon that is five convenient minutes from my house, but I just couldn’t pass up Flip’s awesome deal–color isn’t cheap, you know, and I’d never do it otherwise. So I drove the 25ish minutes there (rush hour traffic, you know) and luckily found a parking spot close to the salon. I fed the meter with two hours (maximum allotted time) and set off.

I was a bit early, and was welcomed nicely. I took a seat to wait, which only turned out to be enough time to look around, snap a few shots for Yelp, and then Chelsey was calling me back. She was really very nice and offered me a beverage, then asked me a TON of questions about what I wanted, what I liked, what my hair normally does, how I normally style it, what type of products I use, how much time I spend on my hair, etc…and was thrilled I brought my own pictures to show her what I was thinking (from past hairstyles and colors). I was really surprised at all the questions–I’ve never had a stylist ask so many questions before, but it was nice to see she was REALLY paying attention and trying to get a handle on what exactly I wanted to make sure I was satisfied. She actually suggested a bit different highlight colors than I’d had before and explained why, and I definitely agreed.

Score one for Chelsey.

I apologized that my hair was a little greasy–I’d straightened it that week and it always lasts at least 3-4 days, but since I knew I was coming to the salon, I pushed it to six days, but it was definitely past its prime. So imagine my surprise when she said it was actually GOOD that it was a little oily, because it would help during the coloring, as the oil provided more of a barrier and my hair wouldn’t dry out as much. Interesting. And definitely an interesting tip I’d never heard before.

Score two for Chelsey.

Now, admittedly, I’m not much of a small-talk person, so salon visits always make me a little anxious. You never know if the stylist is going to talk your ear off or if you’re going to sit there in silent awkwardness the entire time…but Chelsey was awesome. Nothing ever felt strained and I felt relaxed the entire time–the snippets of conversation here and there felt extremely natural and never forced.

Score three for Chelsey.

She worked consistently and quickly and I just sat and relaxed, not even reading a magazine or playing on my phone–it was nice to just be out of the house and not. have. to. do. anything. but. sit. there. (I’m a SAHM so getting out of the house ALONE is great on its own. Being pampered is another level of excitement.)

So there was highlighting and sitting under the dryer and washing and conditioning then adding toner then sitting under the dryer again. By the time we were ready for the haircut, I’d actually been there almost 2.5 hours–and I suddenly freaked out that my meter had run out and I was probably going to get a ticket. I asked Chelsey if the parking police were bad and she said yeah, pretty much–then OFFERED TO GO FEED THE METER FOR ME!! Wait, what? SHE was going to run out herself? Whoa. She even said she’d grab quarters if I needed them, but I had change in my pocket. But, seriously, WHOA. That is service.

Score four for Chelsey.

I was getting a little nervous because it was nearing 9:00 (closing time) and we were really no where near being done–she was still cutting my hair, and it still had to be blown out straight (and I have a thick head of hair). I made some comment to that effect, and she said if I wasn’t in a hurry, she wasn’t either. Awesome. I mean, I didn’t really expect her to cut me off mid-cut or mid-blow dry at 9 on the dot, but I was a little worried that she might rush through it and not do as good of a job. I should not have worried AT ALL. She continued to do an amazingly thorough job, and she was finishing up about 9:45! And it was GORGEOUS. Great color, great shine, and full of movement! It was one of THE best haircuts (and colors) I’ve EVER had. And you could tell she was honestly thrilled that I was thrilled.

Score five for Chelsey.

Checkout was a snap and just took moments. (Note, you CANNOT put tips on your credit card…so it was a good thing I had a stash of emergency cash in my wallet.) I also had no problems using my Groupon coupon from my iPhone (I didn’t print anything out). It was a good deal, too–I don’t get color a lot, but from prices I have seen elsewhere, it didn’t seem terribly expensive (especially for the level of service received).

Overall, I had a really great experience from start to finish, and I am so glad I tried this salon…and Chelsey was amazing. Flip definitely gets five solid stars.

Facebook Status Updates

  • Jennifer Hudson is currently restoring 97,600+ files via Carbonite onto her new 1TB hard drive with a new Windows 7 install.
  • Jennifer Hudson likes the thought and spirit behind “We Are The World 25” but it doesn’t even compare to the original.
  • Jennifer scored a BINGO in SCRABBLE with the word TOLLERS worth 81 points!
  • Jennifer Hudson was not excited at all about the Olympics, until watching an hour or so of Olympic preview-type broadcasts. Now I can’t wait. BRING IT ON!
  • Jennifer Hudson just realized it’s Friday night. Being a SAHM with a husband who works six days a week kinda lessens the impact of a weekend.
  • Jennifer Hudson woke up and was depressed her dream about seeing Roger Mitchell and Ursula Mitchell wasn’t real…but was glad her screaming match with Jean L. Schwalm and Tom Hudson wasn’t real.
  • Jennifer Hudson—The boy is 12 months old and still sleeping with his burpie over his face. I wonder how long he’ll continue to do it?!?! I wish I could ask him why he loves it so!
  • Jennifer Hudson is ready to throw the Windows7 Upgrade right out the window.
  • Jennifer Hudson never gets as much done during Owen’s nap as she hopes to.
  • Jennifer Hudson is happy to celebrate Valentine’s week by sharing a photo of hubby and me…we first met 2/7/97 and started dating 2/14/97…so we’ve been together 13 years and married eight.
  • Jennifer Hudson is finally watching the season premier of Lost!
  • Jennifer Hudson just downloaded and tried Google Chrome. They need to work on Tab issues before I switch.
  • Jennifer Hudson thinks it’s hilarious that I have Shazam’ed the same song now THREE times. 😐
  • Jennifer Hudson has decided life is too short for uncomfortable socks! In the garbage they go!
  • Jennifer Hudson wants someone to stop her the next time she wants to subscribe to Cosmo because it’s a good deal.
  • Jennifer Hudson thinks that the Chocolate Cheerios were a waste of money. Blech.
  • Jennifer Hudson just got Owen to wave back at her! YAY OWEN!
  • Jennifer Hudson was having fun watching Owen dig around in his toybox, leaning completely over with his feet off the ground…until he fell in and started crying.
  • Jennifer Hudson thinks she needs to take a break from Scrabble. I seem to be getting worse the more I play (instead of better) and it’s frustrating me terribly.

Will Owen be The Cute Kid for December 2009?

http://www.thecutekid.com/

Since everyone and their brother keeps telling us how cute Owen is (and of course we think so, too!), I finally decided to enter him into a Cute Kid contest. Below are the two pictures I entered for December—and if he wins that (fingers crossed!) he would be in the running to win Cute Kid 2009! I would have entered a hundred more photos, but it costs $20 a picture to enter. XX(

TheCuteKid™ awards over $5,000 in prizes monthly!

Each month, our panel of industry professionals carefully reviews all contest entrants to select each Category Winner (Baby, Toddler, Pre-School, Big Kid, Pre-Teen & Multiples) with the top scorer from our VoteTracker™ scoring system being awarded that month’s “CuteKid™ of the Month” prize winner. Keep in mind, by entering your child’s photo, it WILL be seen by industry experts and agents who often cast for modeling and acting roles.

We should know something by mid-January. Keep your fingers crossed!!

Facebook Updates

  • Jennifer Hudson thinks 6am is too early, no matter what time you went to bed. Ugh.
  • Jennifer Hudson is really enjoying Kathy Griffin’s autobiography, my current guilty pleasure.
  • Jennifer Hudson is drinking wine and listening to Christmas music.
  • Jennifer Hudson is hearing zerberts from the crib. The boy is up. 🙂
  • Jennifer Hudson HOLY CRAP! I just learned that my favorite vodka, Ciroc, is from Puff Daddy/P Diddy/Diddy!!
  • Jennifer Hudson just got home to see the USPS lady in my driveway, arranging and sorting things in her truck, apparently oblivious to the fact I was waiting in the middle of the street. I should have opened the garage door and freaked her out. Damn hindsight.
  • Jennifer Hudson just figured out my average MPG for the past few months is 13. THIRTEEN. It’s a good thing hubby’s car gets 40+.
  • Jennifer Hudson just scheduled the H1N1 vaccine for the boy this afternoon.
  • Jennifer Hudson has been craving a tuna sandwich, so I finally made one today and wasn’t thrilled. Either I forgot how to make a tuna sandwich, or I’m not a fan of solid white albacore tuna.
  • Jennifer Hudson in enjoying a post-nap cuddly boy, snuggling and watching Sesame Street.
  • Jennifer Hudson just bought Owen’s Christmas presents, even though I said we didn’t need to get him anything because he won’t really have a clue. Oh, and a birthday present, too. 🙂
  • Jennifer Hudson is thankful every single day that Owen sleeps for at least 12 hours a night.
  • Jennifer Hudson is watching live TV. I know, right?
  • Jennifer Hudson has a thoroughly freaked out dog because we tested the new CO detector. Poor dog.
  • Jennifer Hudson vows no more Costco on the weekend until after the new year. Man, it was busy.
  • Jennifer Hudson just increased our monthly retirement savings by 1%. Baby steps, right? In a few months, maybe we’ll be at 10%. 🙂
  • Jennifer Hudson just had a fun, pre-USMC Birthday Ball drunken chat with Tom Trimble…miss you, bud!
  • Jennifer Hudson is on her way to visit her cousins and introduce Owen to his cousins!
  • Jennifer Hudson is enjoying a bowl of Peanut Butter Captain Crunch, just about the only fun cereal from my youth that still tastes the same.
  • Jennifer Hudson is attempting to fall asleep tonight without the help of drugs.
  • Jennifer Hudson has a stone-free husband! Yay!
  • Jennifer Hudson If you and I woke up in jail together, using ONLY 4 WORDS, what would you say to me? Copy and paste this and see what kind of responses you get.
    1. Jannie—Holy Crap girl WOW
    2. Kelly—Pfft. I’d only need two words: ‘JAIL KNUCKLES!!!’ 🙂
    3. Kelly—Alternate response: ‘who has bail money?’
    4. David—“I shouldn’t drink absinthe.”
    5. Robin—Here are your clothes.
    6. Jennifer—Where’d we leave Steve??
    7. Sue Ann—What happened this time ?
  • Jennifer Hudson apologizes for not updating again. Hubby is home, he refused surgery, so now it’s a waiting game to see if and when it passes on its own.
  • Jennifer Hudson had a so so night and is about to go get my morning smiles from the boy!
  • Jennifer Hudson hates that hubby is in pain and at the hospital, but I am hoping I can get a great night’s sleep in a quiet house.
  • Jennifer Hudson is on her way to the hospital to see hubby.
  • Jennifer Hudson just got hubby’s diagnosis via text: kidney stones. Lovely. He’s drugged up awaiting a cat scan now.
  • Jennifer Hudson wants stronger meds to try and forget about her back pain.
  • Jennifer Hudson just got about $150 worth of Shutterfly products for $60. Gotta love stackable coupons! WOOHOO!
  • Jennifer Hudson is sad that she had to throw away a great pair of shoes because the soles finally gave out and couldn’t be repaired (although the Gorilla Glue got me through the night at the Ball). Of course, they are 8+ years old so can’t be replaced.
  • Jennifer Hudson has the clingiest dog ever today.
  • Jennifer Hudson really, actually, honestly, might NOT get out of her PJs today.
  • Jennifer Hudson is listening to a spanish song on Sesame Street and now has a hankering for mexican food. Hee.
  • Jennifer Hudson is wondering why she can’t find the new episode of Sesame Street that is supposed to start today.
  • Jennifer Hudson is supposed to be sleeping because I am exhausted. But apparently even TWO Tylenol PMs aren’t helping. Sigh.
  • Jennifer Hudson Helmetless face plant with butt in the air. Degree of difficulty: 2.0. Degree of cuteness: 9.9. 🙂

Facebook Updates

It seems like I’m always writing about Owen these days, but really, not much else is going on for me to write about here. I mean, just take a look at my recent Facebook updates…most of them have to do with the boy!

  • Jennifer Hudson has a boy covered in banana. He loves banana in the mesh feeder but MAN does it make a mess. And the banana wasn’t even fully ripe. Egads.
  • Jennifer Hudson asks the peeps: is Glee worth watching? I’ve been recording but missed the first few so would have to watch them online.
  • Jennifer Hudson says babywearing + grocery shopping = not a great idea in actual practice. It’s a total PITA to try and lean over, bend down, get stuff out of the cart…but he was a good boy the whole time!
  • Jennifer Hudson likes Sesame Street for showcasing a wide variety of people, but seriously, they have some of the homeliest people and ugliest babies I’ve ever seen. /shudder/
  • Jennifer Hudson just momentarily freaked out when I thought I lost all my Roboform info.
  • Jennifer Hudson is glad that Owen takes a good morning nap, because that’s when I shower. But sometimes I just don’t feel like showering this early. But I have to, because you never know if you will get another good chance.
  • Jennifer Hudson hates having bad dreams, then waking up with a racing heart.
  • Jennifer Hudson forgot to give Owen Motrin–hope he doesn’t wake up screaming.
  • Jennifer Hudson just figured out a cool new way to use Shazam – for all those songs in iTunes that somehow don’t have info and I don’t know it!
  • Jennifer Hudson hates days with appointments in neighboring cities. Naps get SO screwed up. 🙁
  • Jennifer Hudson is sitting in the parking lot waiting for Owen’s helmet appointment (we’re way early), letting him nap, and using KFC’s free wifi from across the street.
  • Jennifer Hudson hates clueless old drivers. Some guy almost backed into me in a parking lot because he didn’t look behind him first–and kept going even after I honked at him! I actually had to quick back up because he was NOT stopping. Asshat.
  • Jennifer Hudson is thinking her epsiode of acid reflux the other night wasn’t from the margarita…because I’m experiencing it daily now. 🙁
  • Jennifer Hudson wonders if it was the Tylenol or just being tired, or a combo of both that let the boy nap for 2.5 hours?
  • Jennifer Hudson wonders if anyone else has ever had lotion turn into [for all basic purposes] water? Apparently that’s what happens when you never use it and keep it for ~8 years.
  • Jennifer Hudson really needs to figure out her sleep number so her back doesn’t hurt every damn morning. That said, my back just hasn’t been the same since I was pregnant so maybe the sleep number is useless at this point.
  • Jennifer Hudson is going to bed early, yet still 17 minutes later than I’d planned.

Parent Teacher Conference Should Be Hilarious

http://emailsfromcrazypeo…d-be-hilarious/

I am just nutball enough to be this mom. Eventually. 🙂 (Found on a great site called Emails From Crazy People.)

Dear Mrs. X:

In just over a week, you will be my son’s Grade 1 teacher. He is ever so excited to be under your tutelage. Why, since the last day of kindergarten, entering your class was all he could talk about. He gleefully thrust a piece of paper into my hand on that June afternoon, and said, “Here’s a list of the stuff I need for school next September!”

And I have to admit, I, too, was excited. I’m a school supplies geek from way back. And so, in early August, I set out to buy the items you’d listed.

It was on my fourth store that the realization began to sink in.

You’re a crafty bitch, aren’t you?

This list was a thinly disguised test. Could I find the items, exactly as you’d prescribed? Because if not, my son would be That Kid, the one with the Problem Mother, Who Can’t Follow Directions.

For example, the glue sticks you requested. In the 40 gram size. Three of the little buggers. (What kind of massive, sticky project you’ve got planned for the first day of school that would require the students to bring all this glue, I cannot imagine.) But the 40 gram size doesn’t come in a convenient 3-pack. The /30 /gram size does. But clearly, those would be wildly inappropriate. So I got the individually priced 40’s, as per your instructions.

Another bit of fun was your request for 2 packs of 8 Crayola crayons (basic colors). The 24 packs, with their 24 /different /colors, sat there, on sale. I could have purchased /three/ of the 24 packs for the price I had to pay for the 8 packs. (Clearly, you’ll not be teaching the youngsters any sort of economics lessons this year.) Even the cashier looked at me, as if to say, “Pardon me, ma’am, but are you slow?” as I purchased these non-bargain crayons. But that’s what the list said. And I was committed to following the list.

But the last item, well, now, you saved your malice up for that one, didn’t you? “8 mm ruled notebooks”, you asked for. Simple enough. Except the standard size is /seven /millimetres. One. Millimetre. Difference. Do you realize, Mrs. X., exactly how infinitesimal the difference between 7 mm ruling and 8 mm ruling is? Pretty small, I assure you. The thickness of a fingernail, approximately. But that millimetre, that small bit of nothingness, made me drive to four different stores, over the course of three sweaty August hours. And when I finally, finally found the last remaining 8 mm notebooks, I took no pleasure in my victory. I merely shifted my focus. To you, Mrs. X.

You wanna dance, lady? Let’s dance.

Because I am just batshit crazy enough to play your games. And, in turn, come up with some of my own.

On show and share day, my son will be bringing the video of his birth. It will be labelled, “Ben’s First Puppy.” Enjoy.

He will be given a list of words, and daily, he will ask you what they mean. Words such as, “pedophile”, “anti-semite”, and “skank”. Good luck with those.

At some point, you will attempt to teach him mathematics. And I’m quite sure that, like most of your ilk, you will require my son to “show his work”. And he will.

Through interpretive dance.

Because that is who you’ve chosen to tangle with, toots. A stay at home mom who is not entirely balanced, and has altogether too much time on her hands. But is, most certainly, A Mother Who Can Follow Directions.

Sincerely,

Ginny

Craiglist Idiots

When we first moved here, we had great luck with things we listed on Craigslist. No morons asking for 50-80% discounts, no one asking for us to ship items (when it clearly says PICKUP ONLY), no one haggling at all. It was heaven. Sigh.

But now, the idiots are out.

  • One person offered less than half of what we were asking for a set of DVDs. Now, I do leave room to haggle, but starting out offering a pittance will get you nowhere.
  • One person told me he could buy an older version of a remote control for much less. Well, yes, an older version doesn’t have the features MY newer version has…which is why mine costs MORE. Duh. :crazy:
  • One person told me the shower curtain I was selling should cost less because the item is used AND discontinued—and I wrote back and said it should actually cost MORE because it’s an in-demand item and I’ve seen them go for twice as much as I was asking.

But this is the current email conversation I’m having in trying to sell an old stereo receiver (the listing is VERY detailed):

Craigslist Idiot: do you still have this?

Me: Yes we do.

Craigslist Idiot: These are 10 year old models. Does all of its features work and can it be demoed?

Me: As I stated in the listing, we can show you that it can power on, but it cannot be demoed since we already have a new receiver hooked up. Please check my ebay feedback (as also stated in the listing) if you are concerned about our honesty regarding the status and quality of the product. Thanks!

Craigslist Idiot: I am just asking if the unit is 100% operable?

Me: Yes, it is. [By the way, this is clearly stated in the listing.]

Craigslist Idiot: Since it can’t be demod, can I pay with Paypal?

At this point I am so irritated with him, but I really want to get rid of this thing. I figure it would just be like an ebay transaction except with local pickup.

Me: Yes, that would be fine. My paypal email is the same as this.

Craigslist Idiot: [Two days later] Could I paypal you $100

ARGH!!!!!!!!!

I really want to tell this guy to take a flying leap. But I really want the money—and this thing—out of my house. But it just irritates the >:XX out of me that NOW he asks for a discount. I am tempted to email him back and say there has been other interest in the item, I can maybe go down $25 if he wants to come get it ASAP…and see what happens.

— time lapse —

Me: $100 cash or $125 via Paypal.

Craigslist Idiot: Why so much more for paypal? do you come out closer to Novi at all?

Me: It’s not so much that it’s more for paypal, but moreso that it’s a discount for handing over hard cash. I’m already discounting it by $25 for Paypal or $50 for cash. That said, Paypal is more of a hassle for me to get the cash in my hand.

[You notice I didn’t even address him wanting me to deliver it now?]

This guy is SOOOO irritating me, yet I can’t wait to see what he says next. I just can’t believe he’s bitching when I am offering him either a 20% or 33% discount!!! I really want to tell him to shit or get off the pot because this back and forth is ridiculous—you either want it or you don’t—but I want the money.

— time lapse —

Oh. My. Gawd.

Craigslist Idiot: I get paid today and will have $73-76 free after my insurance payment. Will that work.

Me: I’d like this deal to get worked out, but I cannot discount it that much. My last offer would be for you to pay half now (either $50 cash or about $63 Paypal) and I will hold the receiver (take it off Craigslist) until you have the rest of the money. If you then decide not to purchase it, you would lose your payment.

As an additional note, I do have someone else possibly interested in the unit, although no deals have been made.

Please let me know what you’d like to do.

Craigslist Idiot: What if I paid you the $70 I’ll have cash and $30 on paypal?

Me: I guess that would work. When can you pay me and pick up the item?

Craigslist Idiot: I am at work in Brighton. Can we meet in Novi or such?

Me: No. My ad clearly stated pickup only and I’m firm on that. Sorry.

At this point, I’m expecting him to come back and change his offer to $74.50 + package of licorice + Boyz II Men CD + some pocket lint.

— time lapse —

Well, I just decided I had had enough, and I wrote him back and told him the unit was taken (we will probably donate it and then write it off our taxes). I swear, I have never experienced so much run around on a stupid Craigslist item…EVER.

And I certainly don’t plan to do it again.

Facebook Updates

  • Jennifer Hudson enjoyed the grilled pizza: turkey, shallots, garlic, parmesan, provolone, mozzarella, and Alfredo sauce. Mmmmmmmmm!
  • Jennifer Hudson says there goes this pair of pants. Thanks, kid.
  • Jennifer Hudson hates it when she’s smarter than a word game. Bookworm on the iphone doesn’t think rut, goes, or squaw are words. Seriously?
  • Jennifer Hudson says the dog is shaking like a leaf so there must be another storm coming.
  • Jennifer Hudson just got home from another successful (and fun!) mom’s group!
  • Jennifer Hudson is really fed up with the NC Employment Security Commission right now.
  • Jennifer Hudson wonders what the NC Employment Security Commission is trying to tell her…the website has been wonky all day, meaning I cannot file my weekly certification.
  • Jennifer Hudson just put the boy to bed and is watching him play with his feet on the camera.
  • Jennifer Hudson feels like she’s back in North Carolina. It’s 70% humidity and already like 86 degrees, with a high of 94 expected. YUCK.
  • Jennifer Hudson is watching a guy at the grocery store twist off each apple stem before he puts them in his bag. Freak.
  • Jennifer Hudson is watching an old Gilroy Garlic Festival Garlic Cook Off on Food Network.
  • Jennifer Hudson just discovered last night’s hamburgers in the microwave. >:XX
  • Jennifer Hudson is thrilled the boy slept through the night again…it’s happening more often than not these days!
  • Jennifer Hudson just made what she hopes is THE most delicious garlic bread, EVER. Stay tuned. —time lapse— Well…it WAS yummy but not as wonderful as I’d hoped! That said, I think I need to bake it at a higher temp so it gets more bubbly/melty (I just guessed and didn’t refer back to the recipe). But I made extra so we have some in the freezer to try again. I would definitely make it again, though!
  • Jennifer Hudson really really really really really REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY misses her Jacksonville friends. I had a dream about them last night, where we had to say goodbye again, and I woke up with tears in my eyes. Sniff.

My Life According to Garth Brooks

Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions. Try not to repeat a song title. It’s a lot harder than you think!

Pick your artist:
Garth Brooks

Are you a male or female:
Hard Luck Woman

Describe yourself:
Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)

How do you feel?
I’ve Got A Good Thing Going

Describe where you currently live:
On a Prayer

If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
The Night Will Only Know

Your favorite form of transportation:
Sleigh Ride

You and your best friends are:
Friends in Low Places

What’s the weather like?
The Thunder Rolls

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called?
Unanswered Prayers

What is life to you?
The Wise Men`s Journey

Your relationship:
Two of a Kind, Working on a Full House

Your fear:
Ain’t Goin’ Down (’til The Sun Comes up)
Burning Bridges
Snow in July

What is the best advice you have to give?
Two Pina Coladas
Love Will Always Win

Thought for the day:
Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy

How I would like to die:
Kickin’ And Screamin’

My soul’s present condition:
Do What You Gotta Do

My motto:
If Tomorrow Never Comes

Owen needs a helmet!

As we were predicting, the physical therapist recommended a helmet for Owen. She checked out his abilities and for the most part he’s right on track—reaching, propping himself up on his arms, head and neck strength—but he’s a little behind in some areas because he hasn’t spent much time on his tummy (which we all know he HATES, although he’s getting a little better).

So we have a list of exercises to do with him and we have another PT appointment next week…and he goes in to get measured for a helmet hopefully next week. The process isn’t nearly as bad as we thought it would be, either—all we had found online was a casting process but we actually met with the orthotic specialist today and they have one of two head scanners in the entire state—the STARscanner uses eight cameras and four eye-safe lasers to capture head shapes in less than two seconds:

So, he will have to wear the helmet for 4-6 months (depending on his progress) for 23 hours a day, plus have an appointment every other week to measure his head again to reconfigure the helmet.

I know he won’t remember it at all—and I know it’s what’s best for him—but it still kills me that we have to do this. But, I guess in the grand scheme of things, he could have MUCH worse problems, so we should be grateful.

Facebook Updates

  • Jennifer Hudson really wants a squarespace website, but just can’t afford the version I want. Oh well. Life goes on.
  • Jennifer Hudson just got attacked by a tray of brownies. For realz.
  • Jennifer Hudson was slacking at the computer and missed the Vine newsletter when it arrived…so got squat this month. Boo hiss.
  • Jennifer Hudson liked Bert & Ernie better as puppets, not claymation.
  • Jennifer Hudson thinks maybe she will make brownies when the kid goes down for a nap. Which should be momentarily.
  • Jennifer Hudson loves a strawberry smoothie on a hot day.
  • Jennifer Hudson says “Seriously, ThinkGeek? You call THIS a women’s 2X? It’s waaaay smaller than my husband’s Large tee-shirts.” Booooooooo!
  • Jennifer Hudson really needs the boy to take a longer nap. None of this 30 minute BS. 🙂
  • Jennifer Hudson has a smart dog. I started taking away pieces that she had chewed off, and she grabbed the toy and ran into the other room!
  • Jennifer Hudson finds it hilarious that the boy loves to turn on his mobiles himself by rolling down the crib and kicking the buttons with his feet. Swear to god he looks like he’s aiming. 🙂
  • Jennifer Hudson should have napped with the boy, but I never would have guessed he’d be out for going on 2.5 hours. The story of my life.
  • Jennifer Hudson is trying to figure out the fun that is RTM—syncing, gmail, bookmarklets, firefox addons, etc.
  • Jennifer Hudson hates driving anywhere anymore because of all the freaking idiots and douchebags on the road. Everyone seem to think they’re the ONLY car on the road. Grrrr.
  • Jennifer Hudson really wishes she had chips to go with her sandwich. Yes, I’m eating lunch at 10:40.
  • Jennifer Hudson loves when the boy falls asleep on her…sooo sweet. Now off to shower and start laundry! YAY!
  • Jennifer Hudson says YAY! We can to go Kentucky with the fam! It’s a good day!
  • Jennifer Hudson wishes mint.com would actually update/refresh.
  • Jennifer Hudson loves a sleeping baby. So cute. So quiet. So peaceful. So needed. 🙂
  • Jennifer Hudson says Owen either needs to nap, eat more, or poop, because mom is tiiiiired of the cranky.
  • Jennifer Hudson is getting closer to getting her hair cut. I think I might get it trimmed one more time, then chopped. So maybe in a few more months?
  • Jennifer Hudson just fed the boy a teaspoon of oatmeal cereal! He’s getting better!
  • Jennifer Hudson woke up to check the monitor and see…Owen on his stomach! OMG!
  • Jennifer Hudson wonders who the #$%@ thinks it’s a good idea to cut down a tree and shoot fireworks at 8:30 on a Sunday night? Seriously. GET OFF MY LAWN!

Scheduling Rant

So, Owen has a flat head. Positional Plagiocephaly they call it.

plagiocephaly

Anyway.

So the pediatrician wanted us to see a physical therapist. Fine. She said it’s easier to treat the younger you start. Fine. So she wrote us a prescription and gave us a phone number. Fine.

Well, it might have been nice for the pediatrician to warn me that it might take up to a month to even SCHEDULE an appointment. Ugh.

Silly me, I thought it would be like any other appointment—I call, read them the prescription, and they make an appointment within a few days (like has happened a few times so far). So I waited about two weeks (my fault, but life happens, I lost the number, forgot about it completely—and besides, I didn’t think it was THAT big of a deal) and then finally called and oh, you have to bring us the prescription (not just give it over the phone like I’d done before). Fine. Then they said it would take 1-2 days for the paperwork and then someone would call to schedule an appointment. Fine.

Well, a week later with no phone call and I called back and she said oh, so and so hasn’t looked at it yet and it’s still going through the insurance process (or whatever) so it might take another 1-2 weeks until I call you back…to schedule the appointment. Schedule. Which means the appointment could still be WAY off.

>:XX

I guess I’ve just been spoiled with close-to-immediate scheduling before this. My bad. Lesson learned.