Mollyrazzi

I mentioned the other day on twitter that my 3yo, Molly, loves Lady Gaga and sings "Paparazzi" all the time; someone suggested I get her on video. It's a bit dark and grainy but I had to jump at the chance when it came. It takes about 14 seconds for her to get into it. For your enjoyment:




Don't feel bad if you can't make out most of the words, neither can I... Usually she dances while singing but I caught her in the chair and so I just saw the opportunitiy and went with it.

Perspective

It seems like I've been doing nothing but laundry lately. Especially with Ian being out of comission, that means I get to take back the folding and putting away aspect of it in addition to the washing part. I do a load of laundry every night, and several on the weekends. What can I say - 5 people live here, three of whom wear uniforms M-F.

Anyway, I was feeling sorry for myself (!) and got to thinking about how happy I was to see the washing maching the day after I got home from my trip to Uganda in 2005. I was so thrilled to see the washer and dryer I almost cried. (I did cry from sheer joy during my first shower once I was home, LOL, it was heavenly!)

Here's the backstory:

My parents had gone to Uganda in 2001 and came back with lots of great stories. When I decided to go with them in 2005, they told me a bit about what to expect. Here's what they said about the laundry: My parents stayed at the Archbishop's house. The nuns did their laundry and ironed everything - even their socks and underwear! I wasn't too sure how I felt about having my underwear ironed, but was glad I wouldn't have to worry about clean clothes. All I brought with me in that respect was a bottle of Woolite for my "unmentionables". The thing is, though, that for this trip we didn't stay with the Archbishop (which was okay because we did more stuff than we would have been able to do, and got to stay out after dark - yay!) So, because I didn't want the nuns to have to do my laundry, I asked where the laundry room was and I would do my own. She took us to a little room on the side and opened the door - to a water spigot and a bucket. Oooookayyyyyy. I was afraid if I asked where the iron was, she'd show us a rock and a fire, so I left that one alone. So, this is how I did my laundry:

Yup - that's my shower. And I'm washing my pajamas. Everything got covered in red clay-like dust, so I did a lot of laundry. I couldn't get the red out of my clothes, no matter how hard I scrubbed, so I asked the laundry ladies one morning what I could do. Their answer: Scrub harder.

I did figure out they were using something called Oxo, which, once I'd cleaned my shoes with it, realized it's an awesome soap (I think it's got lye in it?) so once I bought a bag and started using it on my laundry instead of the Woolite things got better, LOL.

And here I'm hanging up my laundry - the ladies were so kind and let me use a line to dry (I had been hanging them over my suitcase and chairs, but the red dirt was all over my luggage, which kind of negated my washing the clothes.

So yes, when I got home I almost kissed my washing machine. Oh, how happy I was! It really is all a matter of perspective.

Just for added LOLs, here's a pic of the sitting area of my room. To dry my clothes I would lay my suitcases out and hang clothes over them, as well as the chair and the table. Note the bottles of Diet Coke on the table. I knew there would be no Diet Coke in Uganda (I was right, btw), so I packed two 16 oz bottles for every day we would be there. THAT's why I didn't have a ton of clothes, LOL, my suitcase was full of Diet Coke! (I told you I was addicted - didn't you believe me?) Oh, and I did buy a bottle of "Coke Light" at the airport in Belgium.

Quick, Fun Ian update

I know I haven't been around much lately, and when I do it's usually an Ian update, but for those who haven't seen him lately - here's your update. Warning: the 2nd picture is a bit graphic for those with weak stomachs!!!

I took this picture because he's going back to school tomorrow but he hasn't shaved for about two weeks so I've never seen his face with this much "beard" on it before! He's got to shave tonight but I wanted to catch him before he did it. Sadly, the supershort haircut he accidentaly got two weeks ago doesn't seem to have grown as fast as the facial hair, LOL! (Needless to say he was squirmy and uncooperative in giving me this pic!)



Okay, hopefully I've scrolled down enough that this pic won't be obvious unless you want it to be.

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Here's the leg after they took the staples out. I didn't get the hole near the top of the leg and you can't really see the hole on the other side of his knee, but here's the main cut. It doesn't look huge in the pic but keep in mind he's about 6'3" so that's a good chunk of leg there.

Oh, my baby!!!! He is getting around better so I'm pleased with the progress. He's back to being a crutch ninja; he's hopping around all over the place and you should see how he gets his pants off - he's so silly!

I just realized....

It's 4/20!!!!

Happy 4/20 day, man!

Sensory Overload

First, are you watching Treme on HBO? If not, you should be - it's really good. It's a very realistic snapshot of life in New Orleans 3 months after Katrina. Tonight was the 2nd episode so there's not too much to catch up on yet if you've missed it.

Second, I had a great time yesterday at a booksigning - I got to meet three Young Adult authors and a fellow New Orleans-area blogger. That story is over at my other place.

Third, an Ian update: He's still having a lot of pain, which I am a bit concerned about as the doctors seemed to think he'd be headed back to school any day now. He's having a really hard time getting up and down off the couch or chair or bed, and his brace won't stay up. It slipped yesterday and pulled some of his dressing down with it, so he got to see his wound for the first time and my poor baby almost passed out. It's quite a long scar and it's still all stapled together with a few extra spots where they put in the surgery tools. He's got an appointment Thursday so if he's not doing better we'll at least get a professional opinion then.

And, I'll leave you with a laugh:
Ian: I really need to shave, look at all this scruff on my face.
Me: Chicks dig scruff. Look at Gerard Butler.
Molly: Don't say "butt", say "bootie".

Ian Update

As of last night he was still sleeping (snoring!). He'd gotten a few doses of morphine and anti-nausea meds which are keeping him very, very sleepy.

He was in surgery for about 5 1/2 hours. Both doctors seem to think the surgeries were a success. The first surgery went well and the doctor even brought out pictures for Ian (he had asked us before the surgery and we laughed and told him no chance) - the ligament was fixed and everything else seems to have healed. The second surgery was the one we were really nervous about (pun intended). Due to this surgery he's going to have a huge scar but somehow I think he'll get over it. They took out a bunch of scar tissue from around the nerve and cut through the scar tissue on the nerve to "unclench" it, and when they closed blood was flowing nicely and it was a better color than it was when they went in, so they're hopeful that he'll get some function back. Not all, but hopefully some - it will be several months before we know anything.

In the meantime, he's in a giant bent half-cast (see pic above) to immobilize the leg and will hopefully come home today. Thanks for the prayers and well wishes!

Ruff and Tuff with my Afro Puff*

*The Lady of Rage f/ Snoop Dogg

Nothing new to report. I've been trying to post a video of Molly singing Lady GaGa's Paparazzi but for some reason it won't load. I got it transferred from my camera to my laptop no probs, but for some reason Blogger shits its pants when it sees me looking at it. Hmmmm....

Of course I'm so nervous about Ian's surgery tomorrow but he's cool as a cucumber. I asked him about it last night and he's all "Whatev. It's not like there's anything I can do about it." I'm pretty sure he's not my kid and was switched at birth. Except for the fact that he looks just like me. I think he's just excited about reading his new book and watching True Blood and Spartacus while he's home from school recovering. (Is there a *jealous* font?) Many thanks to Mom and Dad for taking the girls tonight so J and I can just take Ian straight to the hospital tomorrow.

The weather was gorgeous this weekend and Jerrod took Bridget out on the motorcycle for a nice ride - a little father/daughter bonding is always good.

Other than that, all is well. I should leave you with a Molly quote. First you must know we've come across a little stumble with her potty training (which we thought was done) but she's had a few accidents recently.

Me: What do you do at the babysitter's house all day?
Molly: Just nothing. (she never says "nothing", it's always "just nothing")
Me: Nothing? Just sit on the couch all day?
Molly: And pee in my pants.

Happy Easter!

I am a Top-40 Gangsta Lesbian*

*according to my son and husband regarding my ipod contents.

Let's start with Big Man - Ian got his wisdom teeth out yesterday. It went quickly and we were in and out in less than an hour. The only thing I didn't like is that the anesthesia seems to really mess with his head. He was miserable (and bloody) yesterday but today he's back to his usual self. Of course the girls were jealous that big brother got to eat Frosty's and ice cream all day. He's got his ACTs next Saturday and then his knee surgery on the 13th. So, if you're the prayin' type, they would be appreciated. If you're not, just send positive thoughts his way!

Easter kind of snuck up on me - I just picked up stuff for baskets yesterday (that's right, I'm a fly by the seat of my pants kind of mom!). I think we're having dinner at my future SIL's house so that will be fun.

As my birthday approaches, I'm feeling a bit conflicted. I don't feel almost 40. I remember when I was a kid and I figured out I'd be 30 in the year 2000 and I thought that was OLD! I know, I know, 40 is the new 30 and all that crap, and it's just a number, but I'm having a hard time with that particular number.

Nothing else really going on. I could talk about how work is fucking with my head, but I'm not gonna go there. BB got straight As on her report card. Molly says things like "Boo-ya!" to her sister. Life is good.

*thumps chest and flashes peace sign* PEACE OUT BIYATCHES!!!