Chinese Water Torture

According to Wikipedia Chinese Water Torture is not as awful as everyone says it is. Actually, the Chinese never even used it. The phrase may have come from Harry Houdini's Chinese Water Torture Cell; a feat he created for an act in Berlin. Mythbusters investigated the "torture" itself, not the origins of the title, and found it was plausible for a person to be driven insane, but not definitive. No one was willing to be driven insane.

The misnomer of Chinese Water Torture; something probably not that bad, but nobody is willing to try. Sounds like Jacqui's opinion of everyday ordinary grooming habits. Jacqueline is opposed to anything that has to do with trimming her nails, washing her hair, combing or fixing said hair or washing any part of her body that needs it. Cute little pigtails are positioned on either side of those kissable ears and *yank* "No, I no like dem." Ooookay.

We can usually avoid the nail clipping encounters for about 2 weeks at a time. Sometimes, I can surreptitiously peel a pinkie fingernail off without her noticing while we read a book. But it always comes down to the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. You'd think I was pulling the nails out instead of just trimming them so she wouldn't have to register those daggers as concealed weapons.


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I really can't wait for her to be out of this stage. Her hair hanging in her face, catching any debris that doesn't make it to her mouth. I do keep it short, but it doesn't solve everything. Seriously, would I want to have to explain this in 15 years.

"Why Mom, why did you make me look like Scout?" I don't even have the excuse of "It was popular then."

So until Jacqui decides to cooperate on the grooming front, please don't mistake my little girl for some abandoned orphan. Or an extra from Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome. Thank you.

Recessionista Rocks

My sister and I went to a party last night. Funny story. So my sister follows this blog called Make it and Love it. The lady that writes the blog was hosting a Recessionista party. They sell shoes, jewelry, purses, some clothing; all for way low prices. Recessionista is to shoes & purses like Pampered Chef is to kitchen gadgets.

Back to the story, she's very excited about the party and decides to come to the 'Burg a day early just so we can go. I looked up the address; 5 minutes (if that) from my house. Also, Spencer's cousin is the gal that runs this Recessionista chapter. Way too small of a world. Katelyn is in awe. (you know them?) It's hard NOT to know any of Spencer's 437 cousins. Well, probably not that many, but he's got a ton. At least 50. I am not joking; on any level whatsoever.



So here's a pic of the loot I got. I wasn't so sure about any of it; I like some of the chunky stuff, but I'm not sure if I can pull it off. But I have a black dress and I just know that those pearls would look great at a Christmas party. (like I have a christmas party to go to) And the feathers & junk in my hair is a headband. Yeah, I look like a peacock. But a peacock that wears pearls and got it all for super super cheap.

Quaint

I find the Eastern Idaho AM traffic report wildly hilarious. Reporting the traffic includes everything from Yellowstone, Jackson, Rexburg, Idaho Falls, Pocatello and Twin Falls. Seriously. If you don't know, that's a north to south span of about 6 hours drive and a parallel distance of 3 hours. I can't fathom the speedster that needs the traffic report of 8am leaving West Yellowstone because he's got work in Twin Falls. Well, someone could do that, but even so, I don't think the traffic stop on 17th in Idaho Falls is still going to be relevant in 3 hours.

I just laugh because every day the report is "Traffic in Eastern Idaho is moving smoothly". A whole section of a state! This morning a traffic violation stop was reported in Idaho Falls, a fender bender in Pocatello and ice in the mountains.

"People in Rexburg, you'll want to watch out for the fender bender in Pocatello. Maybe leave a few minutes early for work because uh, traffic could get backed up 80 miles. There's a look at our traffic and weather for this morning."

Though they overlooked an accident on the main highway between Rexburg & Idaho Falls this morning. Saw the cop cars & fire truck, too. Nothing. I'm not saying it's not reliable, I'm just saying . . . . uh, yeah, it's not reliable.

Now, the traffic reports in D.C., those are nothing to laugh at. Though comparing Idaho to D.C. traffic, it is laughable. Cairo traffic is even worse than D.C., but they didn't have traffic reports for Cairo, or at least ones that I could understand. What are they going to say?

"This morning, Ahmed left his donkey in the middle of the road while he went upstairs to have tea with his brother-in-law. Traffic slowed to a crawl around his cart and then picked up for a block. Then Sherif decided he needed to turn left when he's in the far right hand lane. Picking his way across 5 lanes of traffic, he finally succeeded, but clogged traffic all the way back to Ahmed's cart. And we're back where we started."

*for emily! to see cairo traffic*

Anyway, just something that made me laugh this morning.



NaBloPoMo update:
**seriously, i am barely hanging in here, people. i'll say it again, i'm all about quality, not quantity. i'm a perfectionist. and really, why did they have to pick november? why not september or march? the months where a major holiday doesn't occur? couldn't they see that june was lonely? i'm trying my best to get things in order, write blog posts and pack. visiting grandparents that don't have access to the internet could pose a problem for me. but don't worry, i'm determined**

A love affair

Books and me; we've always been bosom buddies. The printed word in any form; magazines, books, newspapers or billboards. I adore them. That's how my mom figured out I needed glasses. I quit reading all the advertisements and billboards. I'm sure it was a bittersweet moment.

I was always impatient at school. Meaning, when the teacher read a book, chapter by agonizing chapter, only one a day, it was torture. I got fed up and would go check the book out from the library, finish reading it that afternoon, and then be at peace for the rest of the month while she read it to the drooling masses. I was perplexed as to how they could just be satisfied with that one measly chapter a day.

And magazines, oh my magazines. Well, not mine, my parent's when I was a kid. National Geographic, Reader's Digest, Highlights, Ranger Rick, The Friend; I could go on and on. That was one of the first things that made me feel 'grown up'; when I got my first magazine subscription to my own place. My address there in the white box. But magazines were my enemy a bit. I still don't understand why the November issue comes out halfway through October. (for some magazines) Other mags would come the first week of the month, but I would have to pace myself or be doomed to remaining new magazine-less for the other 3 weeks of the month. "Okay, only Highlights this week. Then National Geographic next week." And it would be like Christmas, waiting to peel open the cover and see if they really had discovered another Mayan ruin.

And that's how we come to the digital world. I read a lot online. A lot. Mostly my news, but there are other sites (truecrimelibrary.com) that have books & stories. I'm still not completely converted to reading all digital, all the time. I love curling up on the couch with a new read; something to look forward to all day while I shuttle kids or sort laundry. I've been told the Kindle is really great. You can put books, newspaper & magazine subscriptions all in one little device the size of a piece of paper and thick as a cell phone. I have my doubts, but that looks like the future of my books, magazines and newspapers. Though, just one fantasy thought (for me), I could take 10 different books and just as many magazines on the plane with me and have it all in one place. Ooh, the possibilities!

YouTube Tuesday: Appropriate?

Yes, yes, I know. Why am I posting twice? Well, I couldn't put off posting about the riveting weather forecast any longer and duh, it's YouTube Tuesday. Two huge labels for one tiny post. Is this appropriate? I dug out a wonderful clip from a recent Soup show. Oh my, Joel McHale, you are my hero. You rock.

W-w-winter is h-h-here

Like a swift kick in the pants, winter is here. Some may say that it's always cold in Rexburg, how is this any different? I'll tell you. Since September, we have had a roller coaster of weather. Frequent typical fall weather; need-your-coat cold in the morning and tying that same jacket around your waist in the glow of a pleasant afternoon sun.

We had snow a bit early, October 5th, I believe. The last week of September, I felt a chill creep in. The next week was the snow and we shivered for a month. Then, Oct. 14th, the day Spencer flew in, he must have brought the warm weather with him from Baghdad. It was still 'cold' for him, but mid 60s felt downright balmy to us! Beautiful fall weather prevailed again and the day before Spencer left, we were digging out the cold weather coats. Even the season was sad to see him go.

It was still moderate for the next week; but progressively sliding to the colder end of the spectrum. Last Thursday, it snowed in the evening, leaving us with about 3/4 of an inch on the ground. When the sun rose Friday morning, the snow did not melt with it. Off and on, all day, the gray cover of clouds sprinkled snow down on the town.

Saturday morning, a cloak of clouds still remained, spluttering flakes here and there. All in all, we only accumulated an inch, tops. By evening, the cloud cover blew out and the wind was howling. Oh, it's been a long time since I felt that bite. The wind so sharp it cuts through to the core. Though I have to say, I am LOVING my new winter coat. I don't feel the chill. I notice it when I'm lazy and just throw a hoodie on over my t-shirt and cardigan. Layers help, right? Wrong smartypants. There aren't many barriers that can keep Jack Frost at bay.

My marvelous mother & father in law took the kids on Saturday afternoon and I had some time to myself. When I went to pick them up that night, we stepped out onto the porch, and into the wind, to say goodbye. I looked at my father-in-law and stated, without a doubt,

"Winter is here. Isn't it?"

He nodded his head solemnly, "That it is, my dear. That it is."

And even though the clouds have been gone for 2 days, the high today was only 31F (0C). Chilly chilly, willy the penguin.

Brrrrr. . . .

Movie Review Monday

Don't know if this'll be a pattern, but I have to review a good NEW movie when I see one.

2012

Starring: John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt, many others and most memorably, Woody Harrelson


I had heard rumors of the movie floating around, but I wasn't really interested. Oh great, another end of the world humans ruined the environment movie. No thanks. But then I looked at the line-up of actors and I was enticed. And there was nothing else worth seeing at the theater and I had a kid-free evening!

Warning, it may put some people off, it's a long movie. 2 hours and 48 minutes. But I didn't glance at my watch out of boredom once. (I only looked because I really had to go to the bathroom, but didn't want to miss anything. I still had an hour left. Awesome.) I like long movies, if they're good. I love getting involved in the movie, then, worrying that it's almost over, I look at my watch and breathe a sigh of relief, "Whew, still another hour and a half." That was me watching LOTR: Return of the King.

I have to say, I like John Cusack. It probably all began with the movie, "The Journey of Natty Gann". His character Harry was a bit like a protective big brother. He wasn't my first movie crush (that place will always be held by Jim Craig, THE Man from Snowy River) but one of the first. John Cusack has great screen presence, in my opinion. Always completely in character, and an underlying command of cool-ness. Another Cusack great? Grace is Gone. Definitely slipped through the cracks. Or maybe not, I think it came out while I was in Egypt.

Next in line for kudos in this show? Woody Harrelson. He plays this crazy mountain man that has his own AM radio station broadcasting his "predictions" on the end of the world. And penchant for pickles. He plays crazy very believably, without going overboard. But is he crazy?

This isn't an environmental movie. Alham-dulah-freakin'-Ia. I was completely wrong about any preconceptions. I thought it was going to be loooong and boring. Wrong and wrong. The special effects? Truly amazing. Realistic. All in all, I think the movie did a good job at keeping the line of believability and plausibility at bay. It was only crossed once or twice. But even then, flying into a burning, gaping maw that used to be Pasadena? Priceless.

I'm not going to lay the movie out for you. For most of my favorite movies, I was completely clueless as to what it was about and ended up in love. One of my notorious 'hated' movies? The Italian Job. Spencer kept trying to convince me that we should buy tickets, he'd read about it (this was all going down in the theater lobby). I told him I didn't want to see some Mafia shoot-em up Godfather wanna-be show. Boy, was I wrong. I'm sorry I ever doubted you Marky-Mark. Another wonderful sleeper? Knowing with Nicholas Cage. **

So, this may not be a conventional movie review, more of a friendly suggestion, really. I love to share new, good things with my friends. I don't want to shove this down your throat, but you HAVE to see this movie. Love love loved it, see it when you can.



**Will post hilarious story about when we went to the theater to see 'Knowing' next week. I can only promise that because it's NaBloPoMo.**