Vanity or health

As some of you know, my dear friend Kelly from Jennelle's Journey on my list is back in the hospital for round 2 of Chemo.

A couple of years ago, I decided to grow my hair out with the intention of donating it. Prior to this, I didn't know about certain restrictions on hair coloring. But, I knew that donated hair was used for many things so I decided to go forth with my plan. Well, a few months ago, my hair was finally long enough, but after spending so much time I wasn't ready to cut it. A few weeks ago, I decided that I had no style left in my hair, it was long enough, and my friend Kelly has lost her hair even though she has no choice about it. Maybe it was time to cut and donate it.

I spent weeks trying to decide if I should be selfish and keep my hair, or join her husband and son and cut it off. I finally decided to cut it back two inches and keep growing it. Part was a selfish desire to keep my hair. Part of it was the knowledge that if I cut the ratty ends and some of the strongest parts of color - what I donate will be better than what I could donate now.

Part of me was glad I decided to keep it when my dh told me I was - well, let's just say that he likes it long. I'll save my SIL's eyes from seeing her brother's words.

I still feel a bit guilty that I couldn't bring myself to cut it now, even though I know it was for a good reason.

HUGS Kelly. I promise I will donate as soon as I can donate healthy, lovely hair for people who need it.

Doing the right thing

I love my small town!

We had ordered a package with the girls Birthday Party stuff. It's due today.

I just had a knock on the door. It was a guy in a regular truck wearing regular clothes. He told me that after all the UPS drivers had left for their routes, he saw our box sitting there and wanted to drop it by. I didn't need it today, but I love that it was important to him.

It made my day!

Restlessness

Right now, I'm watching our two cats roam around the house a bit restlessly. Yesterday they were spayed, and we just got home a little while ago. They are not quite sure what to do with themselves.

As I watch the cats roam, I'm also watching the inauguration.

I am a democrat, I did vote for Obama, I wish that his race was not so much of an issue, but I'm not sure it can be, nor should be, avoided. I cringe a little every time I hear "the first woman/jew/minority" to hold. . . But, change hasn't happened as quickly as I think it should have. I heard a statistic this morning that Martin Luther King, Jr. anticipated that it would take 35 years before an African American was elected president - he was off by a bit, it took 47.

So, as we have nibbled away at the barriers that have made it difficult for many to pursue these leadership roles, it does bear celebrating when we have broken another barrier. We have many more barriers to cross on many more issues and I hope we don't forget that crossing these should be celebrated.

But, I don't view Obama as a savior, I don't think that all that is wrong will suddenly be fixed. I expect that he will do the best he can. And while people may be right and the media may have gone easy on Obama - well maybe it's like a sporting event where one bad call cancels out another. That the years that things were done just because someone was a minority is canceled out by this one being supported.

I hope that this is what we need. I hope that years from now we have a clearer picture of the Bush years (I think there were mistakes made and I think that some things were done that should not have). I think that Bush spent many years listening to the wrong advisers.

At this time, I have hope, but I'm a bit restless as I wait for the hullabaloo to die down and reality to set in. To wait for those who are bashing Obama simply because Bush was bashed and in spite of their comments that Bush was not treated well they are practicing an 'eye for an eye,' waiting for the people who are so vocal about how amazing Obama is to, well, tone down a little. Because the reality is probably going to land in the middle.

To pierce or not to pierce

The girls have talked about wanting their ears pierced. DH wants to wait until they can take care of their ears themselves. I truly don't care.

So, there is the possibility that the Claire's in town will close. If you go in when they have two people working, they can do both ears at once. The other place that pierces ears in town is Walmart. Not sure I completely trust that. Otherwise, we won't be able to pierce them until someone else we move back in town.

I mentioned the idea to DH about getting their ears pierced now. He said he didn't see any reason to get them pierced, but he really didn't care.

They are 6 and 9 (boy that is strange to write) - kindy and 3rd grade.

So, any thoughts?

I can't wait too long to decide. The manager at Claire's said that while they are currently meeting the targets they've been given, if they close they will be given one weeks notice. I'm not sure I'll hear in enough time.

I hate making pressure decisions. Then again, I would have done this long ago if not for DH.

A comfy place to nap

When Sydney and I got home after gymnastics today, we discovered that a deer had decided to nap next to our house. She was way too comfy there and didn't mind Sarah laying on the couch on the other side of the window. Later a friend joined her.

Darn and Double Darn

I've been counting the hours until the kids went back to school. I need the house to myself, the girls need their routine.

I woke up this morning, and happened to check my email. Thank goodness I did because - SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED!!

I guess I get to start my new life tomorrow. I've almost finished cleaning out my office. I have a few things left to finish organizing which I was going to do this AM, but it will have to wait. I also have to go in sometime to finish moving electronic files as we filled the drive and are waiting for someone to finish fixing things.

But, officially I work 8 hours a day from home and the rest of my life is my own. For the first few weeks, I'll work a bit more as ending the old job has affected my ability to keep up with the new.

AND, I want to CLEAN and ORGANIZE the house and my life. (and work hard at not reading too much of the exchange in place of getting things done!)

I guess tomorrow is another day. This may not be a bad thing, we got the girls up on time for the first time in a week and maybe they will have a chance to get used to this without the challenges of school.

Saturday Night In a Small Town

DH and I were talking about what I should make for dinner and we decided on "pickup" (aka leftovers). I mentioned to DH that I had some meatballs if he wanted a meatball sandwich, and that I would run to the store to pick up some bread. We noticed that there was a car in our yard, and a bunch of people hoping into another car.

We thought it was weird that they would have found a ride someplace after crashing into our yard but not bothered to knock on our door about the car in our yard. So, since no-one was around, I took a quick picture of the car. It doesn't show as well in this picture, but it's about a 45 degree angle that the car was sitting.

DH and I were trying to decide what the proper etiquette in this situation was - should we call the police and having the car removed or give the owners a chance to remove it themselves. After all, they didn't tell us where they were going.

By the time I got back from the market, there was a truck trying to pull the car out and a police car behind us. Being a small town, it didn't take long for the second, third, and for a few minutes even a fourth police car. Now, it was dark and having the police lights to keep the traffic from running into anyone was helpful.

It turns out the driver had taken our curve a little too quickly and lost control of the car landing in our yard. They were from the town about 45 minutes away and I guess someone must have been behind them and offered to take them to the gas station up the road so they could seek help.

And, since we took picture today, I wanted to share the picture of the ceramic tiles the girls made with my mom this summer and the frames DH made to put them in. They are all very talented!

And now it's her turn!

Silly (aka, my youngest child), lost her tooth today. She was so hoping it would be on the 1st! She's so excited to get her first dollar and her tooth is already in her pillow.

(picture removed)