Richard Nixon's Nickname

Before telling this humdinger of a tale, I'd just like to warn you that it's, um, slightly blue in nature. Okay? Okay.

Spencer and I were outside this afternoon playing in the backyard. She was picking buttercups and I was watching her squeal in delight. My elderly next door neighbor was also outside enjoying the beautiful day underneath of her patio umbrella. She was talking on the phone and I couldn't help but hear her booming voice- my buttercups and her patio are right beside each other.
I'm helping Spencer make a bouquet of the flowers when I hear this from my 75 year old neighbor- "I only put store bought meat in my mouth, I don't put [insert Richard Nixon's nickname, otherwise known as a slang term for the male genitalia] in there."

A little old lady, just like this!

I don't think anyone would consider me a prude, I'm definitely not, but I think my eyes would have bulged out of my head if it were possible. I tried to reconcile what I just heard with the knowledge of who said it, my mind reeling- it's still reeling as I write this. I was so embarrassed that I had heard her, I know I turned eight shades of red, but at the same time, she had to know that we were there and could hear her!
My first instinct was to try and skulk away, whispering to Spencer that if she stopped picking flowers I'd give her some ice cream as soon as we got inside. I just wanted to escape as quickly as possible. Miraculously, she obliged and ran to the porch to await her Haagen Das vanilla treat. Spencer rarely does what I ask her to do the first time- she usually gauges how serious I am and then reacts accordingly- but today she listened. (Insert the Hallelujah Chorus)

The whole scene keeps popping back into mind, along with an involuntary shudder. I know that I didn't do anything wrong, but I feel like did. Although I am VERY grateful that Spencer wasn't paying attention to her, because she's turned into an excellent mimic, and that's the LAST thing I need her repeating over and over again! Can you imagine??!!
We don't have all that much interaction with this neighbor, but we see her every single day and usually say something "neighborly" to each other. Am I making too big a deal of this, because I've been known to do that before? I'm sure that I might have found it amusing had Spencer not been there, but she was there. And it was just yesterday that she ran around saying "damm it" after I said it when I stepped on one of her magnetic letters that she'd thrown on the floor. I'm pretty certain if she went around saying Richard Nixon's nickname, someone would call CPS.
Before the above events occurred, I did manage to take these super cute pictures of Spencer. I have the overwhelming need to end this post with them.

How I Plan to Stimulate the Economy Through Shopping

I recognize that it might seem a tad ridiculous to be wanting anything in this current economic climate and especially so soon after Christmas, but it never hurts to just look! Plus, someone needs to stimulate the market, right?

I don't actually plan on buying any of these items right now, I'm currently stalking them online, waiting for the prices to drop. So which these items is your favorite? Which one(s) would you buy first?







My kitchen is red, thus I need a red KitchenAid. Haha, okay, NEED may not be the correct word, but I really WANT one. I'm pretty sure that if you buy this one in February, the proceeds go to the American Heart Association, so it would be a win-win situation for everyone- except my bank account. But this is A LOT more likely to become mine one day than the Vita-Mix- see below.

The Vita-Mix. Alas, it's just wishful thinking that I will ever be able to afford it. If you ever watch the commercials for it, you'll want it too!

Anthro lamp

Magnetic Chalk Paint! How cool is that? My plan is to paint Spencer's toy chest with this and then she can put stuff up there and write on it in chalk. I think it will be really great when we are practicing her letters and words. You can see an example of what I'm talking about HERE.

The Audi Q7- A Hybrid SUV. Man oh man do I want this one!! It's not even sold in the US yet, so not only is it fiscally impossible to own it, it's ACTUALLY impossible. I really need a new car, well new to me, as I am without a car of my own due to the uninsured driver who totaled my car last year. My parents have given me their 2002 Ford Explorer, 150,000 miles, to drive for now, but it's on it's last leg of life. The alternator just ate my brand new battery up in just 2 days, 25 miles of driving, so it needs to be replaced AND it's quite possible that it needs a new transmission.

Now that I have Spencer, car safety is the most important thing I'm looking for, then comes gas mileage and exterior design. The Q7, the non-hybrid sold in the US, has consistently been listed as one of the safest cars available. I would really like a hybrid SUV, especially with the constant gas price fluctuations; and of course I'm trying to be environmentally responsible

Do any of you have an recommendations for a safe, hybrid, doesn't break the bank, SUV? It doesn't have to be an SUV, but it does need to be roomy enough to cart all of our stuff, especially things like her stroller, etc.

I really wish they made a hybrid Volvo, that would be the best! I'm sure you all know they're the safest car out there, but just in case you didn't- they are the safest car to drive. A neighbor of ours was in a terrible car accident a few years ago. When the official accident report was released, it said he most certainly would have died had it not been for the Volvo he was driving.

The engine in the Volvo is designed to "drop out" if there is a frontal collision- this way the engine doesn't come through and crush the passenger. The steering wheel also collapses away from the driver as the air bag is deployed to prevent being crushed that way as well! Yes, it's the A-One standard of safe cars, just completely unaffordable.

So that's my current gluttonous list of needs, er, wants, haha. What are you currently wanting to buy? Remember, we must all do our part to put money back into the market- at least that's what I tell myself!

Save Handmade Clothes and Toys

Recently Congress passed the Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act which goes into effect in two months and will completely shut down small toy manufacturers, independent artisans, and crafters who have already earned the public trust. This means that you'll no longer be able to buy your daughter hair clips from Etsy or wooden blocks for your son. When you go to an art fair or bazaar, there will be nothing there for your children. Basically, everything will now come from China, which is ironic seeing how it was their sub-par safety regulations that was the catalyst for this piece of legislation in the first place.

Mom 101 has a really moving post about handmade toys and clothes here. I'm all for ensuring the safety of items that are around children, I get emailed every time the USCPSC issues a recall on something. But as long as I have been receiving these emails, the recalls were always for mass produced items.

There are so many SAHMs out there who have started small businesses revolving around their children and I trust these moms more than I trust any greedy corporation. Sorry if this is a bit of a rant, I just can't help myself! To sign the petition to reform, not overturn, the CPSIA, go HERE. To send a message to the CPSC, go HERE.

Thanks for all your help! Save children's Etsy Shops!

Vietnam Veteran

I normally watch The View, but I couldn't find the remote this morning. Being the lazy ass that I am, I just watched the channel that was on, which was NBC. I wasn't really paying attention, but then I heard this older man start speaking, and I could tell he was choked up.
I watched the segment, crying almost the entire time. I don't know if I'm just extra emotional today, but this story was really moving. I dare you not to cry!

Boost Your Brain Power

1. Use your non-dominant hand when possible, ex. put your fork in your left/right hand while eating.
   
2. Get a lot of sleep and power nap when possible
   
3. Block one of your senses, ex. Watch tv on mute, eat blindfolded, watch tv blindfolded.
   
4. Learn how to juggle.
   
5. Stand up straight
   
6. Start a hobby
   
7. Create lists that go beyond the grocery store, ex. Top 20 Favorite Songs, If my life were soundtrack it would be..., 100 Things to do Before I meet JC
   
8. Take something you really believe in and argue against it
   
9. Turn your desktop wallpaper upside down
   
10. In addition to crossword puzzles, do logic games, mine sweeper, risk, and sudoku
    

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My Papa on my mom’s side died of Alzheimer’s Disease, as did my Grandma on my father’s side- not to mention the many other great aunts, great uncles, and cousins who also met their fate through the terrible disease.

I figure the odds are stacked against me genetically, but I’m going to do everything humanly possible to try and not let it get me. My brain in probably my best asset, next to my eyes, and the idea of losing control of it scares the shit out of me. So I’m always looking for ways to increase my brain power- I do multiple crossword puzzles day- and look for ways to put of the age at which I get the BIG A.

Books That Were Once Banned

I just read an article about books that were once banned and for what reasons. It really intrigued me, so I decided to look up other books that had once been banned, and it’s pretty shocking. Here are my top 5:

1. Brave New World. Aldous Huxley.

Banned in Ireland (1932). Removed from classroom in Miller, Mo. (1980). Challenged at the Yukon, Okla. High School (1988); challenged as required reading in the Corona-Norco, Calif. Unified School District (1993) because the book “centered around negative activity.”

2. Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl. Anne Frank.

Challenged in Wise County, Va. (1982) due to “sexually offensive” passages. Four members of the Alabama State Textbook Committee (1983) called for the rejection of this book because it is a “real downer.

3. James and the Giant Peach. Roald Dahl.

Challenged at the Deep Creek Elementary School in Charlotte Harbor, Fla. (1991) because it is “not appropriate reading material for young children.” Challenged at the Pederson Elementary School in Altoona, Wis. (1991) and at the Morton Elementary School library in Brooksville, Fla. (1992) because the book contains the word “ass” and “promotes” the use of drugs (tobacco, snuff) and whiskey. Removed from classrooms in Stafford County, Va. Schools (1995) and placed in restricted access in the library because the story contains crude language and encourages children to disobey their parents and other adults.

4. A Light in the Attic. Shel Silverstein.

Challenged at the Cunningham Elementary School in Beloit, Wis. (1985) because the book “enourages children to break dishes so they won’t have to dry them.” Removed from Minot, N.Dak. Public School libraries when the superintendent found “suggestive illustrations.” Challenged at the Big Bend Elementary School library in Mukwonago, Wis. (1986) because some of Silverstein’s poems “glorified Satan, suicide and cannibalism, and also encouraged children to be disobedient.

5. The Lorax. Dr. Seuss.

Random. Challenged in the Laytonville, Calif. Unified School District (1989) because it “criminalizes the foresting industry.”

info via http://title.forbiddenlibrary.com/