The Sarah Palin in me

With Sarah Palin being fresh on my mind, (how could it not, given the news of the last few weeks?) I've often wondered how she holds it together? Her accomplishments, her family, her beauty (how does she have time to work out?) - how does she keep going? And what about all the negative attention? If I'd received one of the public criticisms she's been getting I would crawl under a rock and slink back to Alaska. She's a woman. I'm a woman. What is so inherently different between us that she keeps it together and I'm always on the verge of a meltdown? When I find myself in a potential break down moment, I find myself wondering, "What would Sarah Palin do?"

I found myself in one such moment on Wednesday trying to get out the door for our newly ressurected park day (see previous post). In order to pick up my friend on time at 10 am I had gotten up a little earlier than usual to make sure my house work was finished before I packed lunches, towels, water and then the kids into the car. Feeling proud of myself for having made it happen, I backed out of the garage at 9:50 with enough time to spare to grab a diet coke. (I love the McDonald's summer savings: $1.00 for a large soft drink. It's still summer here.)

But the garage door wouldn't go down. Inspecting the door lead me to discover that the top wheel had come out of the track and the top corner of the garage door was hanging limply in mid air. I did what any woman would do... panic! Spouse was on the phone within a minute trying to get me to explain in his terms exactly what the problem was. "You know, that little wheel is not where it's supposed to be. It's hanging down! No, I can't fix it. It's broken! You want me to what?!? I will not get a ladder and hammer! It's greasy and I'm sweating. It's hot and I'm in my swimsuit. This is a man's job! No, I will not stop crying! Now I'm late and I was supposed to pick up ---- 10 minutes ago. #3 is screaming in the car!"

Then something came over me. Reason triumphed over emotion. The only way I could leave my house is if I fixed the problem. As impossible as it seemed, I knew what I had to do.... or at least get greasy and sweaty trying. Keeping the self pity choked down was almost as hard as dragging the ladder and hammering and bending the steel of the garage door track. I held the heavy door up with my bare shoulder so I could work. I pushed. I pulled. I sweated. After 15 minutes and one final pound, the wheel budged into the track. I had fixed it! I wanted to ROAR! These Peggy Lee lyrics came to my mind:

I can wash out 44 pairs of socks and have 'em hangin out on the line
I can starch & iron 2 dozens shirts 'fore you can count from 1 to 9
I can scoop up a great big dipper full of lard from the drippins can
Throw it in the skillet, go out & do my shopping, be back before it melts in the pan
'Cause I'm a woman! W-O-M-A-N, I'll say it again

This is what Sarah Palin must do everyday, over and over again. No wonder she is confident! Maybe I'll run for PTA office someday. And then maybe I'll go for the city council and who knows, it could be me oneday becoming a mayor. Perhaps I'll shoot for the moon and get elected governor and then some crusty old man will need me, ME, to help him get elected President. But I don't want all that. I just want to have a Sarah Palin moment once or twice a week; a reason to roar and pound my chest and then go inside and saute some onions for dinner.

The Cocoons are Hatching

The strange month of September is nearly over. And hopefully so are our days over 100 degrees. This means we are breaking out! Breaking out of the air conditioned cocoon that has protected us from the unnatural heat of Phoenix. Fly free little butterflies! Fly free!


Park Day has officially been moved outside again. All were happy to partake of the warm sunshine without profuse sweating.

Dear Mr. Rat

Dear Mr. Philbert O. Rat,

Please stay out of my daughter's hair. Can't you find a better place to make your nest?

Thank you,

JLJ

Deep Thoughts

Does anyone remember that SNL segment from the 90's, "Deep Thoughts?"

Doesn't this stimulate your sensitivities? "I hope that someday we will be able to put away our fears and prejudices and just laugh at people."

Or this sage advice: "If you ever drop your keys into a river of molten lava, let'em go, because, man, they're gone."

You may even hear this one on the campaign trail this fall: "If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down? We might, if they screamed all the time, for no good reason."

Every now and then #1 evokes similar deep thoughts: "Who is Heavenly Father's father?" I don't know. That's a good question. "Why is that a good question?" Because I don't know the answer to it. "So if you know the answer it's a bad question?" - uhhh.

"How do you get buried?" After you die, your body is laid in a box called a coffin. Some people dig a deep hole and put the coffin in. Then when it's covered with dirt they put a little stone or statue there with your name on it. "Oh, I love those! They are so lovely! I want a windmill."

"Heavenly Father, why did you let all those people die in China? Please bless that only bad people die." (shock!)

Do you have any deep thoughts?

1st day of school (you all knew this post was coming)

We made it! 1st day of school, done. We had a calm morning. Spouse went in to work late so I could take #1 to school without the distractions of #2 and #3. #1 was a little nervous, as you can see by her face in the pictures. But when the time came to separate she was brave and just turned for one last wave. It broke my heart. By noon I was done crying. Only 3 more hours till I could pick her up. After school #1 was in manic excitement, beyond giddy. She loved it!

Except for the crying headache, I think the day was a success.

Side note: The new school grounds were flooded last week during the 'microburst', so they had to temporarily relocate for the first couple of days. (In case you were wondering about the cheesy faux wood paneling in the background of the pictures)


I'm a bit late posting this picture of #2's first day of preschool, three weeks ago. I just love his teacher. Her personality and teaching style is a perfect fit for #2.