Well, there was packing and then a trip for Kids Know Stuff. The kids have to review the trip, but I don’t. I just pretended like I was Kate and used my precious twins for the free stuff they could get me. It was fairly satisfying. Part 1 of the kids’ review (Lincoln City, IN) is here, if you wanna know. Spoiler Alert! Abe Lincoln spent some time there as a young man. And there are several monuments so you can never, ever forget it.

Then I had to unpack and I got a new clothesline so I did all of my vacation laundry on my new clothesline. It smelled good, but it took a long time to dry. Stupid sun.

And then I vacuumed the basement.

And I might have cooked something and then cleaned it up. Aren’t you glad I skipped blogging for the week?

Tomorrow the kids and I will drive halfway up to Michigan to pick up my niece, Riley, for a nice long visit. Taylor isn’t coming for the long visit this year because she has a life. It happens. Cody never visits anymore, but I texted him and asked him if he would start visiting us again once he reached legal drinking age and he said, “duh,” so that’s something to look forward to. Riley’s still too young for a life. Except on Woogi World. Anyway, the kids have been squealing non-stop since before the trip and now they’re squealing again because Riley’s visiting. Thank god I didn’t finish all that tequila. That’s gonna come in handy.

Oh, and there are free guitars. I know the guitars are ruined by having Disney crap splashed all over them, but they are Washburn guitars! (Shh! Don’t tell Disney I said they splashed crap all over the guitars. They’re always listening). And you could put stickers all over the word parts and then you’d have a really cool painted Washburn guitar with your own personal stickers for flair. Hannah Montana does not own purple sparkles. Does she? She might, I guess. I would put this sticker on mine:

It’s a classic because it’s true.

*sigh* We watched Girls Rock last night at the Wexner Center and I cried all through it because it was awesome. And then I yelled at Bryan because, well, he’s a boy and he didn’t even have to learn that he rocks. And it’s not fair! But then, Dawn’s Girls Rock post makes a good point about boys and their struggles and whatnot, so I guess I won’t yell at him today. For being a boy.

The movie inspired my girls to play the drums (Liberty), play guitar and drums (Lena), and play guitar and drums and sing (Maya). And Bryan and I were inspired to pay for stuff that would enable those endeavors. Finally, the girls are doing what they’re supposed to by living out my dreams so that I can live through them. Er, maybe it’s not supposed to be about me and my dreams? I can’t remember. The world is so confusing after seeing Girls Rock.

Anyway, Kids Know Stuff is giving away a Washburn guitar soon and now I wish we could win it. Except it’s kind of ruined because it has either Hannah Montana or Camp Rock paint splashed all over it. I’m sure a kid would like it, but whatever.

We’re going to the Wexner Center to watch two more movies today: Jump and Children of Heaven. I’m sure Jump will inspire a jump rope purchase. I just hope Children of Heaven doesn’t inspire me to make the children share one pair of shoes. I’m easily swayed by visual media.

I’m looking forward to Thanksgiving for lots of reasons, but my number one happy reason is because, after it’s all over, then I can stop screaming obscenities at my car radio every time I inadvertently come across one of the stations that plays all Christmas music, all the time. It started on November 1st and I’m too lazy to re-set my pre-sets, so I keep stumbling upon effing Christmas music. Since the day after Halloween. It’s not right. And I will stab somebody. I know I should be thinking about effing Christmas. I know I have to buy people stuff. I know, I know, I know. I don’t need stupid songs to remind me. Kids Know Stuff is backfiring for me because, while I’m getting good gift ideas for my kids, my kids already have the stuff because they had to review it. I should’ve thought this through a little better. It works out well for you, though, because you could win a bunch of cool DVDs from my kids. You’re so selfish. I would try to win them, too, but my kids already have them. I can’t even re-wrap them for Christmas because that might be a touch meaner than usual.

This Thanksgiving, I’ll be running the Turkey Trot 5-miler for the 3rd year in a row. This year is different, though, because Mechelle won’t be here (boo!), and my husband is running it with me (yay!) Bryan is a natural sprinter; he does not “try to kill himself” by running more than a few miles at a time at super-sonic speed. The one time he tried to run with me, he had to shorten up his stride so much in order to stay slow that he got injured. I’m slow and short, with no competitive edge, enabling me to run long(ish) distances without ever having a heart attack. He’s fast, tall, competitive, and generally has ants in his pants, so it’s hard for him to pace himself. This should be interesting. The best part is, I don’t have to use my endorphins as energy for cooking Thanksgiving dinner because Kristen is doing that! Isn’t she sweet? That means I’ll be able to use that energy high for things like drinking. And pouring drinks. Should be fun. Also, Kristen‘s husband and son are running with Bryan and me. I hope they remember to wait for me when it’s over. And I hope Bryan doesn’t weep because he doesn’t come in first. The last time he ran races regularly, he usually came in first and colleges watched him and sent him letters promising money to him for the pleasure of enjoying his long, lean legs and his powerful stride. Or something like that. That’s him winning. *sigh*

]]> http://sundayswithstretchypants.com/index.php/2008/11/two-more-days-until-i-can-stop-hating-christmas-music/feed/ 7 http://sundayswithstretchypants.com/index.php/2008/11/my-type/ http://sundayswithstretchypants.com/index.php/2008/11/my-type/#comments Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:58:48 +0000 Abby http://sundayswithstretchypants.com/?p=445 I found this blog personality type analysis thingy at Wonkette, which is where I find everything of questionable value in my life. And since it must be your lucky day, I’m posting my results here for you along with the results for Kids Know Stuff.

The analysis indicates that the author of http://sundayswithstretchypants.com is of the type:

ESFP – The Performers

The entertaining and friendly type. They are especially attuned to pleasure and beauty and like to fill their surroundings with soft fabrics, bright colors and sweet smells. They live in the present moment and don´t like to plan ahead – they are always in risk of exhausting themselves.The enjoy work that makes them able to help other people in a concrete and visible way. They tend to avoid conflicts and rarely initiate confrontation – qualities that can make it hard for them in management positions.

In case you’re wondering, and you don’t know me in real life, that is an actual picture of me. If you do know me in real life, it’s still an actual picture of me, it’s just the one that Bryan keeps in his head. For special occasions. And obviously, none of that analysis is true except for the part about it being hard for me to be in management positions. I’m extremely coachable, but I’m a horrible coach. Uh, so good thing I homeschool? Shit.

Anyway, here’s Kids Know Stuff:

ISFP – The Artists

The gentle and compassionate type. They are especially attuned their inner values and what other people need. They are not friends of many words and tend to take the worries of the world on their shoulders. They tend to follow the path of least resistance and have to look out not to be taken advantage of.They often prefer working quietly, behind the scene as a part of a team. They tend to value their friends and family above what they do for a living.

No, that’s not an actual picture of any of the children. And, I think, not even a picture anybody would ever have in their heads. Of anybody. Ever. However, the analysis is definitely true. My babies are precious little sweety punkins. They’re vulnerable and quiet and they definitely wouldn’t think it was funny to burp on camera or anything like that.

Speaking of artists, I know some. My friend has some photographs in the C-note Art Show. And maybe vote for her stuff because it’s good. I wouldn’t try to make you vote my way, though. No, I would never do that. I think voting should be private and not talked about at all.

*cough*

I know another awesome artist in that show, too: Sharon H. Bell. You could vote for her too if you wanted to. I know it says one vote/IP address, but sometimes that’s a lie. Sometimes it’s not, but you should try to vote twice like I did in the presidential election.

You would think that just the fact that I’ve been reading all of these books would tip me off to my new genre obsession, but it wasn’t until I saw that Neil Gaiman linked to Lena’s review of Coraline that I realized my true feelings. The thrill I felt upon seeing that was completely uncalled for. First, I did a little dance. Then, I sang a little song. Next, I reserved more Neil Gaiman from the library. Finally, I admitted to myself that I am a sci-fi/fantasy fan and it’s time to watch Battlestar Galactica and the complete X-Files.

I’m just surprised because I usually read Ya-Ya Sisterhood-type books, you know? Because that’s who I am. But it’s super refreshing to read these books with plot points that don’t revolve around an abused woman/child who finally learns her worth and sets her husband/father on fire or something. It’s a whole new world.

So fill me in. If I like Neil Gaiman, who else will I like?

And another giveaway at Kids Know Stuff will post today at noon. I’m not revealing anything, but it will have something to do with super healthy, tasty and fun Goji cereal. (Cereal for Christmas? Shut your mouth!) Trust me, you want to win this giveaway!

Ok, so I’m pimping Kids Know Stuff again because we’re going to be doing lots of giveaways over the next couple of months and I love you guys and I want you to win some stuff so you don’t have to buy stuff for the holidays. We’re running a two-fer right now even! Dawn made the site all gorgeous. Thanks Dawn! (Dawn from Open Book Strategies, not Dawn from This Woman’s Work. Wait, maybe they’re the same person. Come to think of it, I’ve never seen them in the same room together even though I’m good friends with both of them. And they both have the same last name. Weird. Must look into that.) Anyway, go look at what Dawn can do. And then bow to her.

Sometimes it doesn’t matter if it’s a boring book. It’s important to learn about important people in history. And now that he’s our president, I felt comfortable putting it on Kids Know Stuff. I didn’t feel comfortable before because I thought somebody would see it and then make me review that John McCain book by his heir-head daughter. I just can’t support Meghan McCain. As a daughter from my dad’s first marriage, it enrages me that she excluded Sen. McCain’s first marriage and her own half-brothers (half-, not even step-) from the book. Plus, she’s super rich and not that talented. I heard her once on NPR and she was all, “Like, yeah, it was super sweet writing that, like, book about my, um, dad and stuff?” And then I punched the car radio in the face.

Why am I still talking about politics? I’m not, I’m talking about my kids. That’s why this post is going under the “I Homeschool” category and not “I Like Politics?” I homeschool. And part of homeschooling is Kids Know Stuff. And part of homeschooling is being called racist by your mother. They have to learn.

In the meantime, go sign up for the giveaway at Kids Know Stuff. I’m sure there are kids in your life that you don’t really like, but you have to buy something for for whatever winter holiday you celebrate, right? Perfect! Win something and then you don’t have to waste your money. I’ll never tell! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling the kids what your favorite children’s book is and you could win The Bill Martin Jr. Big Book of Poetry. You can even have your kids leave a comment, too.

By the way, my husband got to the polls (at Overbrook church for you locals) this morning at 6:15 and didn’t get out of there until 7:10. I voted weeks ago and couldn’t convince him that the lines would be horrible. I’ll be gloating some.

Last night, we checked out the new Sprout Soup mother, baby, and child store. It gave me baby lust. Well, baby product lust, anyway. The slings, the diapers, the baby leg warmers. *sigh* It all makes me want to start over with a brand-new, fresh, un-ruined baby. Especially the baby leg warmers. If you are having a baby and I am obligated to buy you a gift, it will be baby leg warmers. And don’t tell Maya, but I’ve got my eye on the Wooden Spinny Speller for a stocking stuffer for her. Actually, I think she might outgrow 3-letter words by Christmas. Maybe I’ll go get it today. I don’t want the last baby to outgrow Sprout Soup before I have a chance to buy up the joint. They also have some cool stuff from Baying Hound, another local entrepreneur. Local! And for those of you who aren’t local, don’t buy local! That’s silly. You’re not helping anybody when you buy local. You could just buy from the sites that are local to me.