More Congratulations to Sarah Palin -- Soon to Be Grandmother!!

No wonder Bristol (far R) looks stressed out in this picture!

(from the AP 9/1/08) Sarah and Todd Palin say their 17-year-old unmarried daughter is pregnant. John McCain's running mate Sarah Palin said Monday that her 17-year-old unmarried daughter is five months pregnant, an announcement aimed at rebutting Internet rumors that Palin's youngest son, born in April, was actually her daughter's. A statement released by the campaign said that Bristol Palin will keep her baby and marry the child's father. Bristol Palin is five months pregnant, and the baby is due in late December.

As long as we're checking out the daughters, Willow looks like she's wishing she had a different kind of drink in her hand!!

Now: what are the odds that in one calendar year you can (1) have a baby (2) be selected as the first ever woman on a Repubbly ticket and (3) have a grandchild?!?!?! Pretty slim chances I'd say. This is one for the history books. And the pro-lifers.

LoSpace Congratulates Fellow Vandal Alum

... Sarah Heath Palin for her meteoric rise from the University of Idaho Class of 1987 (just two years ahead of Lo's own 1989 Centennial graduating class) to the hallowed aisles of John McCain's Straight Talk Express campaign tour bus.

All I can say is that I thought McCain might do something mavericky (you read that here first though I won't be surprised if Stephen Colbert thinks up the same word) in his veep choice but this really comes out of left field -- or the left side of your United States map.

I don't recall meeting Sarah during the school years we shared in Moscow, Idaho, perhaps because she was studying rather than visiting the Garden or Mikey's Gyros, but in closing may I say "GO VANDALS!" with a straight-arm fist pump . . .

Hey SUV Drivers!

Check it out . . . oh, what? Yes, I'm sorry, this photo is a little blurry, but look closely at that number on the right . . . it's my 4dr Civic hybrid averaging 56.9 mpg (personal best). So when you blow by me on the freeway in your 15 mpg highway Suburban please wave because I won't be seeing you in line at the gas station. Nyaah nyaah.

Move Over DIY, It's RYW

Two weeks ago I assigned myself a project: repainting a 2nd hand CL (craigslist) dresser for Laney. This is what I call a "Ruin Your Weekend" project because what with trips to the store, the prep, and the actual work, your weekend is pretty much ruined. But back to the dresser: the person selling it described it as "shabby chic," which was what the prior painter had attempted to achieve; however the outcome would be better represented as "just shabby" mainly because the paint looked like they had stalled at the primer stage. Then it had numerous distressed areas, some clearly planned, others more haphazard, the latter of which, on closer inspection were probably the work of a family pet or large rodent. ANYway . . . the CL set included 2 dressers, and the second serves as the "before" picture since I don't think I have a copy of the original anymore . . . and in my RYW efforts, I decided to go ahead and do something pretty creative, which was to coat it with sufficient quantities of paint to achieve complete coverage (shut up Myra, I know what you're thinking...).

BEFORE

The schedule for ruining my weekend was as follows:

Saturday am Go to Home Despot (you can do it; we will MAKE you) and buy paint, sandpaper, brushes, etc etc. Discuss at length the paint shade and type with HD paint guy. Wait for paint mixing and browse the doorbells (hey, they're right around the corner). Buy materials. Proceed to Manny's parents to borrow sander(s), tools, gloves, steel wool, more sandpaper, and commiserate about how much this project is going to ruin my weekend. Return home and start sanding. Send husband back to HD for spackle to fill most obvious rodent/dog distress marks. Quit sanding at 1130 because garage temperature is approaching 98 degrees. Wipe dresser with steel wool in final feeble attempt to do something as cool as Andrew Dan-Jumbo of HG TV. Complete prep work and collapse, dehydrated in the house, complaining to family of possible heat exhaustion. Render self useless for remainder of day.

Sunday am Arise by 700 with every intention of starting work ASAP. Make coffee and peruse the Sunday paper. Hit the garage promptly at 830 to continue sweatbox torture conditioning. Wipe, steel wool, and blow dust off paintable surfaces. Paint first coat; ask passing neighbor for advice, agree on need to change brush size and direction. Hope this end of dresser will be facing away from high traffic areas. Paint three coats with 1 hour drying intervals and call the job good when garage reaches sauna conditions for second straight day. Fantasize about finding cute girly coordinate drawer knobs for less than $4 each, which has thus far proven impossible. Retreat to air conditioned house and chug gallons of water while texting friends and family of triumphant project completion. Return to garage after dark to reinforce and WD40 sliding drawer hardware.

AFTER

Monday am Move repainted dresser into Laney's room and resolve to re-post companion dresser on CL rather than attempt repainting it as well. Rationalize that one 24 lb kid does NOT need two dressers and a full-sized closet with shelves! See "after" picture above -- cute affordable drawer knobs still pending (call me a cheapskate but for some reason I cannot spend $50 on cute knobs for a $75 dresser, I just cannot!). I am thrilled to observe that Laney's store-brand pull-ups actually coordinate with the room decor. Life is GOOD! Plan next RYW project: repainting Roman's bedroom over Labor Day Weekend. Crap - viewing this picture just reminded me I wanted to change out those shlumpy bun feet.

Postscript: that "before" picture is actually very flattering: the thing looks much worse in real life. Hmmmm maybe that's the photo I will be posting on CL to get that shabby chic piece out of my garage!!!

LulaBelle Turns Two -- and Says It!

How do you know it's the second kid's second birthday?

Small manageable family party. Minimalist gifts. Cake, not ordered ahead . . . so the plan is next year Roman gets the low-end party!!! While Mom (the irresponsible one) considered getting an ages 3 and up Dora block set with choke hazard-y little pieces, Dad (the consumer safety conscious one) campaigned for a baby dolly. So, Laney has the new "Dolly Lama" baby with two sets of jammies. Sadly, in the first 72 hours, we have already laundered doll jammies three times. Hmmm...kinda like a real baby (and no, we're not having any more). Laney can say "I TWO!!" and hold up one finger. Classic.

Two great birthday girl pics (the first taken by Roman!):

Just for grins I had to add this picture of Roman at 18 months . . . do these kids look alike?!?

Never Tie Your Shoes Again!!!

So claims the box for Roman's new Skecher "Z Straps" which of course are soooooooo cool for the 5-year old starting kindergarten next Monday. When I read him the slogan on the box, he bought into the bonus of that feature right away -- because, as you might have guessed, he has never tied his shoes YET! He doesn't know how, and now, why learn?!?! I bought them anyway because really, you only start kindergarten in cool new shoes once, right?

Missing: Portions of One Green Popsicle (and That's Not Good)

Several days ago an irate two-year old demanded a popsicle in the first-floor kitchen of our home. She proceeded out to the patio to eat same, as is her usual habit. Her mother went about preparations to leave for work (yes, she had a popsicle before 8 am -- so WHAT?!?!). The toddler eventually returned to the house sans popsicle. Her mother quickly checked the backyard for popsicle, wrapper, or stick and found none. Then checked the playroom. And the bathroom. The whole first floor. No popsicle, sticky spot, or popsicle-remnants were visible. Argggggghhhhhhhhh!!!

What happened to that thing?!?! Did it melt under a couch cushion? Was it abducted by alients? Did she actually finish it all? The toddler's mother is equal parts relieved and concerned that after one week, the popsicle and any portions thereof have not resurfaced. Also, the housecleaners did not find it three days later, which is also good. I hope so anyway . . .