The sickness invades

The sickness has entered my house. And it'll be an unwelcome guest for at least a week.
Sydney came home from school yesterday with a very definite runny nose. I felt a little something in my nose as well, and Brian had a scratchy throat. This morning, while Brian and I were somewhat able to fake healthiness, Sydney had a snotty nose that wouldn't stop running, and the distinct sound of a plugged nose in her speech. She's a real trooper though, and didn't let it slow her down much. I did need some additional cold-relief fire power for the home though, so, armed with a list and one very cool suggestion from Josh, Sydney and I traveled over to Target for some medicines.
Our sickroom purchases:
1.) Any kind of medication that she can take now that she's three. However, there is no cold medication that she can consume at her age. The Pedia Care that I thought said "three" in Target, said "four" at home, so it sits unopened on the bathroom counter. Funny side note: I was ID'd at the register for buying the stuff. Apparently, "these ASU students are drinking the stuff," so the store is scanning every ID that buys any cold medication. Honestly, she couldn't look at the toddler-sized snot monster in the cart and just let me buy the medicine with no hassle?
2.) Children's Tylenol in "Very Berry Strawberry." If I can't drug her into feeling better by tackling her cold symptoms themselves, I'll give her some pain reliever medicine that'll just make everything feel a bit better. She chose the flavor herself, and seemed to enjoy it when she drank down her 1 tsp. tonight. Please, let it be a bit of a sleep inducer.
3.) Kleenex with super soft aloe and lotion. The Puffs just weren't doing it for us. We'd only been dealing with this runny nose for 24 hours, and already she was telling me that her nose hurt. Bad sign for the current tissues, I say. Two boxes of softer Kleenex strategically placed in obvious spots so they'll be available for any evidence of snot? Check!
4.) Vick's nighttime, waterless menthol- and eucalyptus-spewing air diffuser and nightlight. This was Josh's suggestion, and oh my, is it a good one! I got the machine all heated up for about an hour before Sydney's nap, and by the time she crashed, the room was a pleasant Vick's-ish heaven. And when I got her up about two and-a-half hours later, the room cleared my nose the second I opened the door. She slept well with it. That's my goal!
Hopefully, with the Vick's, Tylenol and tired body, she'll get a decent night's sleep!

This one seems a bit ... much

In my quest to make this home absolutely perfect ... just in time for us to move out ... I tackled another one of my peeves about the house. There's no way of prettily setting this one up for you, so I'll just throw the facts out there, and you can put them together: The house has a side access to the backyard that is ungated and unsecured.
Hmm... I guess it didn't require a lot to set it up. What good is a backyard that just anybody can wander into? Mine is cleverly blocked with an old baby gate, which does absolutely nothing but keep my dogs in the yard. True, a very important task, but again, it doesn't do much for security. In wandering through the neighborhood, I've noticed that a majority of the houses have, conveniently, gates blocking access to the backyard. So! They DO exist!!
My quandary: I've asked the owner and property manager for a couple things since we moved in, and all I've gotten permission for is the grass. Honestly, I didn't think that they would allow me to have the gate installed, so had planned on having it put in without telling them. However, the $626 bid for the gate this morning made me nervous. I knew I'd be able to handle half that, but the whole amount was a bit much. After listening to some whining on my part, my "Better Advice Fairy" suggested I go ahead and ask the owners to split the cost with us, as the fence was a permanent improvement to the home.
Happily, the owner and property manager got back to me quickly with some good news! They're splitting the cost of the gate! Exciting!
Tomorrow, I'll call and tell the gate company to move forward with my job, and commence the waiting game. They tell me it'll be three to four weeks, but I'll hope for sooner.

I miss Buffy ... I really do

My television-viewing schedule is getting a little lighter. Sadly, two of the shows I'm liking this season are going away: Dollhouse, starring Eliza Dushku, and Eastwick, starring Rebecca Romijn, Lindsay Price and Paul Gross. Dollhouse was my Friday night on Fox, and Eastwick perfectly topped off my Wednesdays on ABC.
But did you notice that up there? Both these shows are centered around strong female characters. I tend to gravitate towards those kinds of shows, as evidenced by my incredible love of Buffy. And it breaks my heart when enough people don't appreciate them, or watch them, or thoroughly enjoy them as they should be enjoyed. There simply are not enough strong female characters on television, and it's so wrong when the shows get canceled.
But, on the flip side, now I can get to bed a bit earlier on Wednesday.

Happy 18-year anniversary, my dear!

Here's something for you:
Today is the 18-year anniversary of Brian and I becoming "Brian and I." I don't profess to hold this anniversary in as high a category as our wedding anniversary, but it is a date that I certainly remember every year. When I tell Brian, he always says to me, "Do I really have to remember this one anymore? I remember the wedding one." I agree with him, because like I said, this day isn't as big a deal as the coolest wedding ever. But still, I think this day should continue to be an important one. I mean, damn! We've been together as old as a voter! Or a legal adult! That's a LONG time!
Jeez, 1991 was a long time ago. Sure, a lot should happen in 18 years, but when you look at it as far as time spent together, and progress that's been made, it's amazing what we've managed to accomplish, tackle, create and learn in that time.
And hey, we can still make each other laugh!

That's a weird pose, isn't it?

Well, I did it. I finally got through that stack of magazines and catalogs. And now, I've got a substantially thinner stack of magazine and catalog pages, upon which are Christmas gift ideas. I'm starting to feel kind of good about the ideas, though the actual shopping has yet to commence. But it's all about creating the gift shopping list, right? Once that's done, it's nothing but hitting the mall and other stores. So really, a lot of the hard part is over. ... Er, who am I kidding, all of it is a bitch and a half to get through.
Randoms: 1.) I had to re-pot one of my spider plants this evening, as it had gotten all root-bound and unhappy. The only bag of potting soil around the house was an older bag that was in the backyard when we moved in. It wasn't the best, but neither was the soil the plant was in originally, so it should move along just fine now. 2.) After reading last night's tangent, the judge dealing with the Jennifer Lopez case obviously took my advice and barred Ojani Noa from selling the tape ... for now. 3.) Let's all say goodbye to Aaron Carter, who left the dance floor tonight, fifth in line for the mirrorball trophy. The kid was likable enough, I guess. He kinda creeped me out through, and there's no room for creepiness on a ballroom dance floor. I will be heartbroken if Kelly Osbourne doesn't win this competition. In all honesty, I don't think she will, but it'll really upset me when she's asked to leave. 4.) Is it 11 p.m. yet? I'm tired and ready to go to bed.

Why can't he be arrested for this?

I feel for Jennifer Lopez. Her ex-husband is trying to sell a video about their lives together, featuring home videos of many social situations, but also some footage of her in sexual situations, notably from their own honeymoon. Lopez has been fighting against this guy, Ojani Noa, over the last several years, trying to keep him from cashing in on their history together. His first attempt was a ghost-written tell-all book a couple years ago, that he tried to get her to pay $5 million to keep from being published. Today, Lopez won a court order to keep the video from being sold. Until tomorrow anyway, when a hearing will decide whether the video will stay under wraps, or Noa will be allowed to sell it.
I come down firmly on the side of this being a totally trashy thing for this dickhead guy to do to her. Dude, you messed up, and you're not married to the girl anymore. Get over it. And leave her alone.
And on what planet is it, in any way, okay to sell personal and private video of anyone without their specific and written permission? I mean, these are intimate and personal pieces of her life, and she (or anyone, for that matter) should never, ever have to worry about such a thing making its way into the commercial marketplace. I absolutely hate these aspects of our celebrity culture. That there is a market for this is ridiculous. If no one cared, or would buy it, then no one would try to sell it. Cheers to Lopez and her attorneys; give him hell!

My Dancing with the Stars voting (5 votes allowed):
Kelly Osbourne ~ 2 votes. Osbourne's personality is going a long way with me with this season's competition. I am loving her! And the fact that her dancing is improving, makes it all the better. I hope she makes it into the finals. And wouldn't it be lovely if she won? She'll be getting all my votes.
Donny Osmond ~ 1 vote. I'm not a huge fan, but I love that he has very little modesty. And Kym is rocking his world with her choreography. I'd love to see her win!
Mya ~ 1 vote. Mya's personality is a bit off-putting, and she doesn't seem to connect with the audience (or me) much. But she's, technically, a very good dancer.
Aaron Carter ~ 1 vote. I'm not sure what it is about Carter that I'm not liking, but to his credit, I like him better than I do Joanna Krupa.
Joanna Krupa ~ 0 votes. I'm sorry, but this girl does absolutely nothing for me. And if she wins, I'll declare shenanigans on what is obviously some kind of conspiracy in favor of anyone who doesn't have the last name "Hough."

That's how much I move when she's sleeping

I have a stack of catalogs about eight inches tall sitting on my reading shelf right now. And yet, while this collection is a preemptive strike on my Christmas shopping, I sit here staring at the pile, having not made a move to look at any of the catalogs in it. I've got my list of people, my tentative budget, and some basic ideas for which catalogs for whom as well as actual gift ideas. What I don't have is the patience and motivation to dig into the, let's face it, monumental task of Christmas shopping right now.
I'm actually a huge fan of avoidance lately. Not so much a fan, more like a practicing avoider. You may think I'm sounding kinda proud about that. On the contrary, I'm pretty embarrassed. My Facebook status today, at one point, was, "Kimberly would like to be less lazy, please. Will someone take care of that?" The question, of course, made the status more of a joke, but the general feeling behind it is truth. I am lazy lately, in every way possible: mentally, emotionally, physically, motivationally. Again, not at all proud. Not even sarcastically. Instead, I'm struggling with finding my, let's call it a "Fourth-Quarter Catalyst," for getting through the next couple months, and building the strength to attack the beginning of next year. I am getting excited about our plans as they develop, but in day-to-day getting up and doing, my head just doesn't seem to be in the game.
Is it that I haven't been getting enough sleep? I think I'm just too easily distracted. I also think I enjoy sitting on my ass in front of the television with this devil computer on my lap more than anything else ... while Sydney's asleep, of course.
When she's awake, I enjoy playing Memory. I'm getting better at it.

p.s. Let's play a different game! I invented two (2) words in tonight's post! What are they?

Shampoo and underwear in the same post?

I don't like it when I try something new and it ends up being inferior to something I know I already like. It's why I eat a lot of the same things in restaurants. I fear the disappointment of the unknown, and how bad it might taste. When I go out, I want to know that it'll taste good and that I will want to eat it all. But that's restaurants. I've been struggling with two new changes in my life, and neither is working out as well as I'd like.
1. Since I'm officially coloring my hair more than ever before, it's been suggested that I use a color-friendly shampoo. Mom gave me her Enjoy stuff, and while it worked well, it wasn't my Paul Mitchell, so I went about finding the color-friendly Paul Mitchell. In using it, I discovered something off-putting. In my head, it smells very distinctly like something I dislike immensely. Yes, my shampoo stinks of tanning salon and its after effects.
Do I deal with this and use up the shampoo until it's done? Do I go out and buy some more of Mom's Enjoy shampoo and just pitch the Paul Mitchell? Do I not bother with the color-friendly stuff and go back to my normal stuff? How important can specific color-friendly stuff be anyway?
"Yes" to the second one, maybe.
2. I need some new underwear -- the plain, boring, cotton variety. In my search for some panties that are a bit less expensive than my Jockeys, I found my way into the underwear section of Target. In my research, I bought a package of Fruit of the Loom and a package of Hanes. Judgment of the Fruit of the Loom: cotton is too thin; elastic waistband is too thin, too, and is scratchy. Judgment of Hanes: sure, like the commercial says, there are no wedgies, but the lack of staying up ability is a huge negative; the waistband is comfortable, but would be more so if the panties would STAY UP; cotton thickness is perfect.
Do I live with these uncomfortable panties? Do I trash them and go buy the brand I prefer?
"Yes" to the second one. As now I am, apparently, a proponent for Jockey.

Ugh. Yuck. Bleck.

And once again, the joy of being a Red Sox fan takes on the despair of being a Yankees non-fan, as in a situation like tonight, when you can only sit back and hope for another team to send the team you really don't like back home with their tail between their legs. It's disconcerting to put your faith in a team you really care little about, in the vague hopes that that team can beat the Yankees. If it were the Red Sox, well, we know that they can beat the Yankees in a high-stakes game or two. Depending on the Phillies to embarrass the Yankees makes a Red Sox fan feel so ... well ... impotent. Ugh.
And now we have to deal with the Yankees being world champions all year. Crap.

More pictures for the box in the closet!

I've been in a weird anti-photo printing phase lately, and for those of you who know me best, you'll appreciate how difficult this has been for me. Confession: I haven't printed out any photos since June.
Oh, I've got a ton in my iPhoto, and have taken just as many as normal over the last few months, it's just that I've been averse to "wasting" the paper to print them, or spending the money to buy them. I've got nothing but a pile of photos, unorganized as well, waiting to be put into a photo album. They're at least piled in a photo box, if that counts for anything.
Of course, Sydney's birthday and Halloween change everything, also, the fact that Mom didn't use her camera once for those two occasions, and the incredibly effective whining she's been throwing my way over her lack of good Sydney pictures to carry around with her.
So, tonight, I spent the hour online with Walgreens uploading the 300 (!) photos that have sat languid on my computer's hard drive for the past several months. I placed my order for myself, and, since she's crazy impatient, I placed a separate order for Mom to pick up at her own local Walgreens.
... ... ... ... Ah. ... ... ... ... [crickets chirping]
... ... ... Can you hear that? ... ... ... [more crickets chirping]
That's the sound of my mom trying to find something new to bug me about!!
I LOVE YOU, MOMMY!! Crazy chick!!

p.s. ~ I didn't vote on Dancing with the Stars last night, and can therefore not rejoice or complain about tonight's eliminations. Though I will certainly comment. I'm glad that Michael Irvin (left) was asked to leave simply because I was getting so tired of listening to the judge's be mean to him. He had such a good attitude about the competition, and was such a great sport. It's a shame that they (the judges) took such pleasure in making him out to be a jackass on the dance floor. Now, as for Mark Dacascos (above), you might remember that he was one of my early favorites for the show's finals. I like him a lot, and wish that he was able to do better. I'm going to sport a little blasphemy right here and say that I think he may have done better with a different partner. I dig Lacey, I really do, but a pro with more experience on the show would have showcased him better. How's that for making excuses for someone? Only five more contestants to go! And if Mya or Joanna Krupa win this whole thing, I may boycott next season!

"What's your damage, Heather?"

~ Um. It's November already. Dude. This year has flown by wicked fast.
~ You know how I know that I am a true-blooded Red Sox fan? I am HATING the Yankees in the World Series right now! Why can't they just LOSE? Isn't it bad enough that I have to cheer for another team, not the Red Sox, in the World Series, simply because I want the Yankees to lose? Brian and I did a very real and heartfelt high-five over the Phillies' tying run tonight, only to be crushed by that damn team and their scoring runs in the later innings. Why is the world so wrong for us Boston fans? Ack!!
~ I read an article on how to make my bob a "sexy" hairstyle, and in so doing, I realized that, once again, I'm just a lazy person when it comes to hair. Barrettes and random hair ties are the extent of my styling on any given day. This, sometimes, makes me feel like less of a girlie girl. What I need is for someone to take some time and show me some cool "do's" that will only take a couple minutes in the morning. I can not spend time with a hair dryer or curling iron. These styles must be completed with accessories of some kind and minimal arm lifting. And they have to be comfortable, thereby removing any desire I may have to run my hands through my hair, or fuss with the pins and whatnot. Someone please fix this for me.
~ I hate, hate, hate it when the clocks move back in the fall. Mainly, because Arizona doesn't change their clocks, and ... seemingly ... the rest of the world does. Now I'm an hour ahead of the Californians. The Daily Show will now be shown at midnight on Comedy Central, instead of 11 p.m., because the channel refuses to accommodate us (as does Noggin ...er, Nick, Jr.), making it impossible for me to catch even a glimpse of before I go to bed. And, well, I just hate being on a "different time zone."
~ It's forecasted to be 89 degrees tomorrow, and 92 degrees on Tuesday. Where the hell is November weather?
~ And I'm playing croquet this month, too. You know what I think of now every time I see croquet? The movie, Heathers. I wish my avatar's ball was red.

Fwooping witch scares mermaid

As far as Halloween events go, the last few days were just wonderful.
I had always thought though, that when we made our way into a house in a neighborhood, we would be amongst other families, and trick-or-treating would be a fun neighborhood activity. But with this particular community, we, as a family, are the extreme minority. Our neighbors are much more grandparents than parents and kids. Because of that, we had to find our own entertainment for my beautiful little girl, costumed as the most adorable pig ever.
Our ultimate destination: "Howl-oween" at Phoenix Zoo.
What I most liked about this venue was that each different area on the Zoo's trail was graded for scariness via skulls. One skull = good for Sydney. Two skulls or three skulls = not good for Sydney. I got us a bit lost at the very beginning of our adventure, but we ultimately ended up on the proper path to the Trick-or-Treat Trail. I forgot to bring a bag for Sydney, so she ended up treating with my purse. It worked out okay, though when the treats are provided by a grocery store, you're as likely to get a granola bar as a candy bar. She rocked the activity though, announcing her "Trick-or-Treat" loudly and proudly.
Brian and I got creeped out by a witch there, though. You know how places like that have random people in costume hiding in random places? There was a witch, perfectly hidden beneath the dark limbs of a large tree, all in shadow. As we wandered past the tree, she cackled at us. It was kinda low and not too distinguishable, but I heard it out of the corner of my ear. I turned and barely made out her form beneath the tree. Then, she cackled again, and moved a little bit. She had a long, flowing cape that lifted in the breeze perfectly. I grabbed Brian's hand and had him turn to see the witch, too. When we looked back, she had sunk down into a kind of puddle of black cape, and cackled again. Then, she did the weirdest thing! She kinda lifted up and moved a foot closer to us, all under her cape, which kinda fwooped around her. The effect was so creepy! Then, she did it again!! CREEPY!!
Then, I looked at Brian again and was all, "Okay, that's looking too creepy. We should keep moving before she scares Sydney." And I grabbed Brian's hand to walk with him.
Then the witch fwooped again!
And Brian was all, "Okay, let's go."
Once back in the car and driving from the parking lot, we got a huge giggle out of ourselves. The witch had freaked us out! Sydney didn't even notice her! And Brian and I were all, "We've got to get away from that witch before she scares Sydney!"

The devil we DO know!

Okay, I'm officially sorry that I don't have any kind of costume for tomorrow. I suppose I could roll with Brian's scrubs and a stethoscope and go as a doctor, but I've done that before. I wish I had my awesome poodle skirt ensemble, but that's at Mom's house. I should check under my bed, I may have a costume or two in storage under there (Belle or an astronaut?). And then, the big question, do we dress for the holiday all day tomorrow?
But you know what the big messed-up thing is for me right now? I am so over candy. I haven't eaten even a fraction of what I normally do, and I'm sick of eating it. I can have, like, one of the fun-size 3 Musketeers bars (which isn't even a real portion of candy) and call it quits on sugar for the rest of the day. It actually makes me kinda nauseous. This is not at all like me. I used to be able to eat at least a quarter of a bag of candy in one sitting. This year, thinking of it makes me physically ill! Dare I say that my body has learned the portion control that my head is refusing exists? Ack! Thank goodness there are no Twix bars in my give-away basket. To part with them because I couldn't eat more than one of them at a time would be the darkest depths of sorrow.

Angels are as angels do

I totally almost went to bed tonight without posting anything to the blog! The horrors! The disappointment! I could never do that to you! Actually, I could, and I often do. Sorry.
I was watching The Vampire Diaries tonight, and noticed something both interesting and repulsive. Jasmine Guy, she of Whitley Gilbert fame in the show A Different World, played the part of one of the high school character's grandmother. A grandmother? How is that possible? Didn't she just marry Dwayne Wayne and live happily ever after?
Don't you hate it when you get smacked in the head about being older than you thought you were? Guy is only ten years older than me, and she's playing a grandmother? Logical, I suppose, if you just look at the numbers, but still.

I fight the/my cold ... and the Yankees

~ As a Red Sox fan, I find that I am as pleased to see the Red Sox win as I am to see the Yankees lose. So tonight is a tentative embarrassment of riches (not really, since the Sox didn't win the game) to see the Phillies take Game 1 of the World Series from the Yankees, in the new Yankee Stadium. I think that I shall root for the Phillies to win the Series for the simple and singular reason as to see the Yankees lose. That makes me a real Sox fan.
~ It was cold in the desert today! I could have worn a sweater over my long-sleeved shirt at lunch, but didn't, and was too cool. I should have brought a jacket with me to dinner, because I got cold walking from the restaurant back to the car. I'm pleased to say that I even turned the heater on in the car, and flipped on my seat warmers! When I took something out onto the back patio this afternoon, the chill in the air smelled slightly of Boston! And when Oliver went outside to rest a bit in the sunshine, his body was a bit cool when he came back inside -- not hot and toasty! This weather, of course, is temporary. The great meteorologist says that the temperatures will be back into the 90s this weekend. I'm so over this summer weather!!
~ Ever since Tara bustled off to Honolulu, I see her quite rarely. Imagine how excited I was to hear that she would be in town this week! And then to learn that she would be able to lunch with us this afternoon! Lovely!
~ I'm feeling a bit better today. I think the cold is departing my body. Did I not tell you? I've been dealing with a bit of a cold over the last couple days. The snotty nose and general achy-ness are bothersome, and seem to be sapping my energy. I hate colds. Given the fact that Syd's runny nose seems to be gone entirely today, I'd rather be the sick one and take it all on myself than have her catch any more of what I've got. After all, she's got birthday activities at school tomorrow, and the Halloween festivities at school on Friday.
~ I have so much television to catch up on. List of what's on my DVR right now: The Good Wife (10/13, 10/20); The Office (10/22); 30 Rock (10/22); and Eastwick (10/28); as well as several episodes of Gossip Girl and Jungle Junction.