Running Red Momma

The season is over and radio stations are returning to normal music. I just thought I would list some of my favorites. I thought it might help for me to confess secret songs I actually like. Sting (I saw three ships) Barenaked Ladies w/ Sarah Mclachlan (God rest ye merry gentleman) Nat King Cole (anything) Handel's the Messiah Jewel (Silent Night) Wham! Last Christmas Band Aid (Do they know it's Christmas time?) Josh Groban (Believe, Ave Maria) Natalie Merchant (Children go where I send thee) And now the confessionals: Christmas Shoes (sometimes I laugh, sometimes I cry) The forgotten carols (Jenny go ahead and laugh) Kurt Bestor (Prayer of the children) Short and Sweet and Confessional

I'm not sure how this will work. But, I would love to include some pictorial examples of joy in our life. Specifically, I would like to document the joys IJ finds each day in our home. What?! You mean eggs don't fly???

I have been reading a great book, Packaging Girlhood . It has been thoughtful and unsettling at the same time. For example, I am now feeling guilty for buying my six-year-old a cheerleading costume from High School Musical. The book confronts messages that young girls are hearing from media, stores, music and anywhere from contemporary culture. It critically examines how the concept of "girl power" has been used to market specific identities to young girls. Part of the book includes discussion of how parents can work with young girls to be more thoughtful regarding advertising, culture and our own conversations. They even give an example of subtext female conversations: One might say: These are the huge thighs of the Nelson family. She hears: We bond or belong by putting ourselves down. Your body (whether the thighs are huge not) will become a great source of disappointment to you. Suggested You Say: Look at these thighs. They're just like Grandma's . ...

Yesterday was Thanksgiving. After escaping years of cooking, I was stuck with turkey duty. This has never been part of my plan. I felt I had nothing to prove by making a turkey. However, the serious facts of life required a turkey to be made or a visit to the local buffet to be done. With much apprehension, I enlisted the help of every adult in the home. My husband was clearly informed that he held the same information that I did. Hence, he would be required to be fully "on deck" with the rest of us. Preparation of the stuffing was hilarious. Stuffing is serious business in my family and I have carefully avoided it for decades. After faithfully following my mother's directions, I was sure we had been deliberately led down a false path. How bitter?A beyond belief, kind of bitter that makes you squish up your face and shake your head with a wincing look. Of course, my sister said we had to use sage in the non-powder form. Clearly, that was the problem. We us...

As I stood in line at the post office, I wondered if my life could follow the same rules. 1. If I am not "ready" for my work I can simply place a sign in front of me that reads Next Window. 2. Although people are lined up to the door and it is quite busy, I can take my lunch break because it is time. 3. My job would have very specific hours and days. 4. I could wear a uniform every day and stop debating what would not emphasize the fact my body is sliding to 40. 5. I would solve one problem at a time by yelling "next!" 6. Instead of being a snoop, I could ask everyone personal questions about the contents of their packages. 7. I when I have a bad day, I am simply going postal. However, I bet no one, after the purchase of stamps and bubble wrap, holds a postal clerk's hand and tells them they love them. Hmmm, guess I won't quit my day job.

After hearing my daughter so easily deter my husband from getting in "trouble", I was reminded of how tricky they are. Children are very clever at using phrases such as "but why doesn't", or "but he didn't do either" ... I reminded him that when one is disciplining a child, one must always "stay on target". This got me thinking, can one parent only by evoking the wisdom of Star Wars? I think so. Wonderful girl--Either I might try to kill her or I'm beginning to like her. What can I say? Kids are a pain in the bum, but gosh they are the cutest. I find your lack of faith disturbing. My kids aren't always sure I know where to drive or how to do something! Aren't they still young enough that I should be in a godlike state for a few more years ?!! Use the force. Sometimes forces is necessary. If you have kids, you have to forcefully (ha-ha) carry a screaming child away from a store or neighbor's house. Don't be shy,...

Dear Desperate, Sad Dude, You must have been trapped to take my purse. Frankly, I can see the lure of using my checkbook to write bogus checks to Maverik. But did you stop to notice the life story in my purse? Let me tell you. I had a passport that finally contained a fabulous picture of me in it. I had to wait ten embarrassing years to stop showing those enormous bangs from the 80s. I actually looked radiant and you took it. It also contained a visa from a once-in-a-lifetime family trip to China. That visa was sentimental to me and is irreplaceable. Sadly, my driver's license looked great too. I told my tragic story to the DMV photo lady. She still made me take a new picture. I actually begged for my old picture to a woman I've never met. Of course, this was the DMV she did not change her mind. I had a gift card to Gymboree which represented guilt-free, matching outfits for two of my daughters. You took that spree! I had just got my Nike running watch fixed. I h...

It may not be ethical to fake all things. But, faking you have it together can be a useful skill. For example, I have two very sick kids who have kept me from sleeping the past week. I am so brutally tired that my preferred activity is to sit in my bathrobe until noon and babble to myself. Normal activities are sliding to just surviving the day. I have been so exhausted and time confused, showering has been ignored. Hence, enter "faking it". I use a great smelling body spray, put on one of my hipper shirts and use bright lip shade. Presto! No one is aware the sink is full of dishes and that I could use a good dip in the bath. Because I have curly hair, I fake this with a number of bright headbands with ponytails. I like to think of this as evoking the glamor, or should I say glamour, of the sixties. If one is a tired man, I would recommend a bright tie, heavy cologne and the current messy hair look.

So, last night I went Halloween shopping with my daughter. My question, why is Halloween the excuse for every woman to dress, cheaply. (So, to speak.) I couldn't find a decent costume for me to wear. When I get shocked by these costumes, it certainly makes me feel like an older woman.

Who got that red hair? So, I am getting older and I had my third baby. There was only one answer, I had to dye my hair and run a race. When I gazed at my magenta head, I lost confidence. The picture does not really capture the Easter Egg nature of my hair. As I thought about it, if one cannot handle bright hair then what could I handle? My Dad asked me if it was "trollop red". My response would be to run off and dye it green.

I just can't help how fun this is. This is my first time writing a blog. I love it! I finally have a medium which links my random brain and my new picture taking cell phone. For example, I took this shot when I went running. I love the agility of taking spontaneous pictures when I am about "the town".