My Spot

So, like everyone else in the world I hate it when people reveal they are idiots when they park. Like putting their tiny little coupe in two spots and it isn't even one of those really nice cars where you can tell they just didn't want the commoners to ding their super fancy car. When I had foot surgery several years ago I realized just how many people think the handicapped parking is in fact an express lane at the grocery store.
No, it's actually for handicapped people, not some crappy blonde lady who has her kid run in the store while she talks on her cell phone to avoid looking at people.
The first time I saw little cards on etsy I thought they were funny. Then like everyone else who has been to a parking lot I was enraged.  I think it was probably the next day.  I wanted those cards.  They are even laminated for when people make you walk longer in the rain. I think if I actually had them I wouldn't be able to give them out because I would cherish them too much.  But they totally capture how I feel a LOT of the time. Maybe it's like a friendly alternative to ramming them with your car over and over when they pull into the spot right in front of you.  and it's definitely less likely to get you arrested. Please tell me I'm not the only one who wishes they had ramming rods on their car some day...
Then the other day at the gym I realized something.

I was parked right on the line. No one was next to me.
This was a separate time from when my friend made me re-park for being over the line.
I think it was the second time in one week I had majorly failed at parking.
and not straightened myself out.
I swear I went to driving school, and at one point I could even parallel park. Or pull into a spot without being super crooked.

It's not nearly as funny when you look at the parking lot and the car that needs the stupid parking cards is your own car.

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Positive Post #7

image from All-Pie-Recipes.blogspot.com

Today wasn't a day where I felt the most positive to be honest. (cue sad music) Tuesday I didn't end up going to Utah because I didn't feel good and Danielle had a fever. Now Mark has been screaming at me all day and wanted to be held. And I'm a walking disaster. Everything I touch seems to break. For example- I over corrected to get off the curb at the bank and rammed my car into a post. I damaged the paint and two panels of my car.
I have a history of hitting poles, but I thought I moved past that stage in life in high school, where I hit stationery objects over five times my senior year. It is so hard to focus when my kids are screaming at me the whole time. Poor Nichole probably wonders what the heck is wrong with me. I could have been at a shop hop and eating Old Spaghetti Factory with my family, who loves me. I wouldn't have hurt my car if I wasn't driving it. I probably wouldn't have had a mini panic attack last night either. boo on that crap.
reflective segue
Maybe I'm being punished for promoting childhood obesity by taking my children to McDonalds and feeding them chicken nuggets. IT IS MONOPOLY TIME THOUGH! I could win. OK probably not but I love monopoly time. a lot. and Danielle had fun on the play place. Mark didn't like it. So he threw chocolate milk on the floor. and ketchup. and ranch dressing, and nuggets, and fries, and everything he could get his hands on. He practiced his screaming skills. I should never chicken out on a trip again.

cue dramatic music:

Then a miracle occured: my children took a nap. Not Child as in Mark but children. They both slept together at the same time. For Two hours. Danielle never takes a nap anymore but I knew if she didn't it would be disastrous for us. As in I shouldn't be around people when I want to curl up in a ball and die or cry. and she went to bed. I cleaned up all the kid stuff and vacuumed.

I don't remember what else I did, but I think it involved nothing productive which is perfect. Milk Duds might have been present.

Then Sister Lord invited me over for apple pie making. I was supposed to bring a young woman but she canceled and I was still invited. So I went. Right now I am eating that apple pie. Some people have told me I wouldn't get along with Sister Lord- but I'm convinced they are wrong. The woman knows how to do a lot of things I want to be able to do. I've decided we are going to be new best friends. I'm going to learn how to smock. I don't have a ton of interest in learning how to cook- if I did I would have learned it from my mom, but I do want to know about French embroidery technique.
I wonder if my mom and Sister Lord would get along... My mom's pretty neat you know, even if she doesn't really like apple pie.

End Positive Post #7

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Grease Monkey

Many greasy things have happened in my life recently. John replaced the alternator in my car today. I think that is pretty brave. Haven't posted in a while. I was sick this week. and my car broke. Who wants to post about stuff like that. Danielle wanted to help a lot and she got her hands pretty greasy grabbing something- I have no idea what.
Danielle sometimes sneaks into the bathroom on the main floor and puts soap all over herself. Like in her hair. We visited a friend and I captured her greasy hair. I wonder if this is part of her master plan to constantly be taking baths. We have to limit her to one bath a day. She also likes to put lotion in her hair occasionally. Today it was really hot on the way home in the Prius and she covered her head with her blanket to fall asleep. Sweat also causes greasy hair. Then the light for the hybrid system in the Prius came on. So we could possibly be able to spend even more money fixing cars.
Danielle is getting better at opening doors. The other day I took Austin to go to the bathroom in the front yard and she dead bolted the front door. She was able to unlock the deadbolt though, which was a good thing since I didn't have shoes on. Or a phone. Now we know she can escape the house at any time.
And I broke my tooth. Possibly two teeth. I guess one tooth a pregnancy so far. Why did I get a white gold crown? Yellow gold is clearly classier, don't you think?

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Car Shopping

On Saturday John and I avoided cleaning our house by going car shopping. I discovered that I never want to go car shopping again, and I am the most greedy irresponsible person alive. Rather than just showing up at a dealership and going home three hours later with a new car and a father in law who would never trust our judgment again, we decided to be "logical" about it. The first thing that we deduced was that we should not be getting a loan. There went every car I've ever dreamed of owning next. We thought about getting a bigger car since our family would be getting bigger- if I have a baby in September (probable) and then another one while John is in medical school (this would mean I would be hating my life of course) that will be three children. With Austin in the back suddenly the Outback would be very crammed. John could ride alongside the car on his bike but it was stolen a while ago.
Our budget isn't really big enough for a minivan or an SUV so I didn't have to go through the existential debate about which one I wanted. We did test drive a mini van. Danielle fits in the minivan. She also fit in the Yaris we drove though.
I hate taking a child car shopping. The only positive thing about it is when the prepubescent salesperson is getting too annoying you can just leave and blame it on the baby. They don't try to get you a better deal on the 99 Avalon they thought would be perfect for you. Danielle really wanted nummies while we were on our shopping outing and she wanted to put them on the car seats and hopefully kick the chair in front of her. Where Sahid who works at a dealership on 309 is sitting- he could have maybe helped us if I could have heard him over the screaming. We told him what we wanted to spend, which of course we say less than we want to spend, and he promptly showed us cars that were 30-100% over out budget. I like his style. and his 06 Camry with leather seats and almost no miles.
I've discovered a few things- John and I for sure want different things in a car. John is like my dad and his dad about buying cars. So practical it almost hurts my feelings. First we researched cars online for like a million days. Toyota's and Hondas get really good reliability ratings. Minivans don't retain their value as well as SUV's blah blah Toyotas are the best cars in the world except the new Camry, which has only average reliability. Also it comes in the most beautiful blue color I have ever seen and I want one.
At the end of one week of constantly looking online and one day of actual shopping I have decided I quit.
We can get a super nice couch for the amount we budgeted for a car. From Ethan Allen but not from the Floor Sample Sale nice. I think I have found the car I want in our budget.

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