My Hair History

I've had a lot of bad hair days.

Once I figured out that I had no hair skills, I settled on one of two hair styles between which I have alternated over the last 40 years. The beauty was that each required only one implement (and no product) to achieve; on the left, a look I like to call my "Skater-boy Bob," and on the right, a little number I like to call "The Brillo Pad." I needed only a comb with which to achieve my razor-sharp part for the one, and for the other (believe it or not), just a hair pick:

My plan was always to distract people from my hair with my snappy eye wear.

The other day I mentioned my decision to get a new perm to Clare and she was not encouraging. But I talked her in from the ledge and assured her that I wasn't going for the old "wash and wear" look. I found a picture to show Emily Watkins, my hairdresser, and today we did the deed.

To Emily's credit, she had it styled a lot "hipper," but I came home and fussed with it until I had achieved tidy, grandmotherly perfection.

Today is a good hair day!

Thank you, Emily W.!

***On a side note, why do self-photos always look like they were taken in a fun house and, yes...I know I am looking more like Grandma every day.

A Few Things That Baffle Me

Yesterday I went to church by myself since Bill left very early in the morning for Washington D.C. (It's Emerson business--he is not assisting with the financial crisis negotiations.) Since I was not occupied with trying to keep him awake (just joking) I found my mind wondering a bit (when I wasn't listening to an excellent talk on prayer by Andy Waite).

I am baffled by the following:

1. How does a woman wearing 4" stiletto heels walk (quickly) out of church with a screaming, squirming two-year old, without tripping? I know I couldn't do it.

2. What does it mean when someone says, "I don't sing?" I tried to share the hymn book with the sister sitting next to me and she declined with that response. I know what it means when someone (me) says, "I don't sing well," but she apparently doesn't sing at all. She speaks...why doesn't she sing? I can't imagine not participating in the congregational singing. It's one of the best things about church.

3. How do parents sit next to their teenage kid and not realize that they are texting their friend across the aisle throughout the whole meeting? Are cell phones the new Cheerios?

Just a few things that baffle me...

Two Thumbs Up!

"He sees dead people...and they annoy him!"

We went to see "Ghost Town," starring Ricky Gervais, Tea Leoni and Greg Kinnear this weekend.

Totally entertaining!!!

From the barren wasteland of what has been this summer's entertainment emerges this little gem.

You'll laugh (a lot), you'll cry (a little), you'll feel like your time and money have been well spent.

Nothing to Fear But Fear Itself?

Recently, I read a reprint of this article in The Reader's Digest.

http://www.nysun.com/editorials/why-i-let-my-9-year-old-ride-subway-alone

The author, Lenore Skenazy, seems like a very sensible person. Her thoughts echo many of my own. I would be very interested to hear the thoughts of other moms. Are we scaring our kids in the name of keeping them safe? Is it possible to go too far in protecting our children? Or does the safety factor outweigh any potential harm? I would love to know what you think.

Match Game

On the left we have Morgan Clement, age 2 (in November). On the right we have Sarah Reed Taylor, age 3. Does anyone else think we've found a match?

I Love to See the Temple

Here's a recipe for disaster:

Seven hours in the company of twenty teenagers; many of them tired, all of them hungry. Add to the mix wet hair, runny mascara, ill-fitting jumpsuits, cell phone withdrawal, and several sets of siblings. What do you have? The perfect little petri dish for growing a good crop of adolescent angst, teasing and general crankiness. Right?

WRONG!!!

It 's unusual for me to spend that much time with a bunch of teenagers and be irritated by NOTHING. I'm sure if we had spent the day at the beach, or water skiing on Lake Buena Vista I would have been trying to poke out my own eyes about hour 2, but that is the miracle of the temple. I was very pleased with the spirit that our youth brought into the temple and maintained while doing baptisms for the dead today. They were patient, helpful and reverent. While waiting their turn they were contemplative, many of them reading their scriptures. It was good for me to see this side of them because Wednesday night is WATER GAMES and I'm sure I will go back to being irritated. In the meantime, I will bask a little longer in the miracle of the temple.

Grandparents, We Salute You!

It was a sea of gray hair this morning at Veteran's Elementary School where grandparents were honored with coffee and donuts (not a menu planned by diabetic Mormons), special poems and songs, and classroom tours. Spencer was the only child in his class to have four grandparents in attendance. We made a patriotic windsock with him and enjoyed looking at his art work on display. We were very happy to see his picture posted on the "Thank You" board. Spencer is doing very well in kindergarten and is well-liked by his classmates and teacher, Mrs. Cornford.

Spencer--thank you for sharing your school with us!

Who Is That Short, Dark Stranger?

Liza asked me to take a picture of Clare's new hair color and post it--I guess she's not in love with the photo quality of their web camera! Look--now the Rossettos match:

Friday Night Lights

"Endless Shrimp" at the Valencia Red Lobster...$50

Diet Cokes for the late night drive home...$1.98

A temple date with my sweetheart...priceless!

Jury Duty Journal--Day Four

"You do not have to report for jury duty. Your jury service is completed."

Sigh...

Jury Duty Journal--Day Three

Curses!!! Foiled Again!!!

Jury Duty Journal--Day Two

"Please check back on Wednesday, after 5:30 pm."

Only two more chances.

Jury Duty Journal--Day One

The courts were dark today, so I didn't have to call in on my jury duty until tonight. I was so excited! At 5:01 pm I made the call..."Please call in again Tuesday, after 5:00 pm."

Bummer!

I only have three more chances. Oh, well. I will sew a dalmation costume tomorrow and try again tomorrow night. The judicial system's loss is Ellie's gain.