Hair - Wash and condition day.  Less shampoo and conditioner daily, weekly VR and twice weekly deep conditioning seems to give the best results for the softest and shiniest results.  I still need product overload for ponytails and buns so any upstyle is very infrequent because mousse, hairspray, etc. irritates my scalp.  I've ordered small scarves to tie around ponytails and buns to make buns look fuller and because in some contexts it may look more attractive than a plain jersey/knit elastic tie.

Health - Scared the whole family with my recent health scares.  Didn't tell my in-laws because they're hypochondriacs (sp?) and I don't want to be the one to blame if my MIL's worries killed her.  Had blood tests done at gp.  She filled five of those glass tubes.  Sent them to a laboratory at a local hospital and a week later nearly all 26 things they tested for were clear.  I only lack D-vitamin.  Not atypical for none-native Danes in Denmark.  This might explain why I've been so fatigued I've hit the table several times on weekends when I've rested on the couch and tried to get up.

Smear test was clear too; no cervical cancer either but I still want bleedings outside of periods checked.  Typical; as soon as I got a gyno appt. booked, the bleedings stopped and I haven't had them since. ::)

I've also been hit by one infection after another.  That could explain why my lymph nodes were all swollen.  I really thougth it was some form of lymph cancer.  Still have gyno appt. and now I also have a ear-throat-nose appt. because of a swollen tonsil that hurts like hell but I've become accostumed to the pain so I'm not really conscious of it.  I hope they find nothing serious. I feel good for now.  

Today is the last day of pencillin.  When the gp/doc can't find anything wrong they take blood tests and put you on medication just because they can't think of anything else to do, I guess.

Other stuff- Been calling council regarding our oldest Autistic son who lost his respite care last October.  I've been lost in their phone system and for a long time they didn't reply to my e-mails.  Now I finally got an e-mail saying that we don't have the social worker we thought we have but we now have one we had before, before someone else replaced her replacement. ::)  Yesterday our "new" social worker wrote a short line saying she can meet us on either the 4th or 5th of May, she'll call us, and she's gone on Easter break.  No comment on all the stuff I've carefully writtten, researched and asked about.  I can guarantee her that we'll have a VERY LONG meeting!

Random thoughts - My aestetic tastes and future plans for interior design are so mixed that I thought it would be a good idea to make an image folder on our computer with images of things that fit my tastes so I could get a visual overview and see if there are any red threads I could use as a guideline.  I've sort of noticed that my tastes span the spectrum of romantic gothic, Victorian steampunk, brightly colored 1940s-50s retro/kitsch, and timeless country.  My husband only shares my classic country taste.  I'm not confused.  I just hate being restricted.

I find it easier to mix decades, styles and eras in my wardrobe and overall personal styling.  I just don't know how to translate my approach to apparel style into interior home design.  It doesn't help that our house is a modern, standard Type-house. ::)  

Here in Denmark Type-house means lots of open space, little wasted space, plain white walls with a heshan patterned wallpaper that goes up to the ceiling which is shaped like a ^ and in light colored wood, same light stained doors, door frames, moulding, white plastic framed windows and exterior doors.  Small bedrooms, small bathroom without tub/bricked up shower stall only, large livingroom/all purpose room.  Mix of terracotta tiled floors and fake wood laminates.  
Don't worry -  All entries won't be this long. :)

Hi Drear!  --Decided to start a journal, eh?   8-)  Good to hear from you.  *hugs*

Hair - Wash and condition hair day.  For the fun of it I tried to roll a pompadour at the front around a sock.  It took forever but it looked fine until I got to the top and didn't know what to do with the sock or how to secure the pompadour.  It's not as easy as they make it look in those tutorials.  I hadn't curled or product overloaded my hair either.  I suppose I have to sacrfice my sense one day and give the pompadour a try again.   So now my hair's just hanging and doing nothing and that's fine with me.  

Shopping - Saturday I finally got around to buying my dad's 9th of March birthday present. :-[  We've been hit by every infection out there.  

I'd gone into Tøj & Sko (simply Clothes & Shoes) because I was wearing these terribly tight fitting ballerinas that were pinching the sides of my wide feet so I just grabbed the cheapest DK kr.50,- white jogging shoes/trainers.

I had white socks, brown capri jeans that are just above ankles on me, white/rose/heather striped knit t-shirt with boat neck, ivory coat, hair in ponytail with antique lace trimmed scarf tied around it and a curl at the bottom, pearl studs and 50s/60s style plastic ivory/rose pink bead necklace. Full but "soft" pink retro make-up. Really simple and just sort of channeling a retro look.

Then as I sat on a chair and was putting on my new shoes a lady stopped right in front of me, bent down until she was eye level with me and said in a low but clear enough voice to be heard by others that: for all of your effort you're still not Danish and you'll never look white.

I just gave that sort of nod that doesn't mean this nor that. I didn't rush to finish lacing my shoes and I took my time gathering my bags and walked out of the shop "tall" with a smile on my face. I felt like a piece of litmus paper though and I don't know if anyone could tell how I really felt.

Easter Break - home with boys.  Two oldest went out to play first, I let the youngest play computer games.  Then I brought the oldest ones in to play and sent the youngest one out.  That seems to work best when there's only one adult around.  Our property isn't fenced in.  It's on a dead end and off to the side so we don't get traffic up here but I still stay vigilant and never let my eyes off whom ever is out playing.

Tomorrow we've got the present to mail, and I've promised the boys we'll bake so that means buying a package of powder to stir in some water, mix well and place in oven.  As much as I love cooking, I hate baking. ;D

I'm wracking my brains about what to do on Wednesday.  It'll rain the next couple of days but it's cold today.  Hub's off from Thursday.  

Quote:

Then as I sat on a chair and was putting on my new shoes a lady stopped right in front of me, bent down until she was eye level with me and said in a low but clear enough voice to be heard by others that: for all of your effort you're still not Danish and you'll never look white.

>:(   What the...?!   >:(  
How assinine and utterly pompous of that woman.  --Notice I did not call her a "lady" because she is defnitely no lady.  Argh, that makes me mad.

Quote:

Then as I sat on a chair and was putting on my new shoes a lady stopped right in front of me, bent down until she was eye level with me and said in a low but clear enough voice to be heard by others that: for all of your effort you're still not Danish and you'll never look white.

:o Unbelievable. I mean thinking such things and keeping them to oneself is one thing. But having the audacity to get in someone's face about it is crossing the line!
   Is that kind of prejudice typical of Denmark? I may have to reconsider traveling there one day. >:(

wrote on Apr 6^th, 2009 at 4:26pm:

Quote: Then as I sat on a chair and was putting on my new shoes a lady stopped right in front of me, bent down until she was eye level with me and said in a low but clear enough voice to be heard by others that: for all of your effort you're still not Danish and you'll never look white. :o Unbelievable. I mean thinking such things and keeping them to oneself is one thing. But having the audacity to get in someone's face about it is crossing the line!    Is that kind of prejudice typical of Denmark? I may have to reconsider traveling there one day. >:(

It's been 11 years since I had a similar experience in another part of the country so I'd like to believe it's uncommon.  Others might have different experiences.  In my younger years I was often faced with stupid questions or some very embarrassing situations.  They still happen from time to time but they're usually not intentional on the other person's part.  I can be as guilty as the next person of putting my foot in my mouth so usually I don't become upset when my "exotic" appearance leads to an embarrassing situation based on someone's assumptions about me.

In my younger years when I was larger and I only felt drawn towards romantic gothic and ethno gothic styles (which I still do but I also feel drawn to so many other styles and more colors) there was one lady at the kindergarten my boys have all attended who asked me on a daily basis how I could stand to wear all that black in the summer.  I can't recall what I answered but it was just variations of the same answer.  You'd think she'd eventually get the message. ::)  I recall my answer involved my hair color and how many people around the world in warm countries have the same hair color and live just fine with it.

I'm not into long answers anymore when people insist on being ignorant.  I give them a thought pause and a short answer or let their comments stand for themselves.  

The point of relating the second story was to illustrate the last sentence.

Ah, I see. It's somewhat reassuring to know that this isn't a common practice among Danes. But were it me, I would've at least made it perfectly clear to the, um, *ahem*  :-X her that she was being extremely rude. I may have gone so far as to point out some obvious way in which she was trying to be something that she wasn't. ::)

wrote on Apr 7^th, 2009 at 4:45pm:

Ah, I see. It's somewhat reassuring to know that this isn't a common practice among Danes. But were it me, I would've at least made it perfectly clear to the, um, *ahem*  :-X her that she was being extremely rude. I may have gone so far as to point out some obvious way in which she was trying to be something that she wasn't. ::)

The honest truth is that I don't posess great self control so the less I say and the less I do and preferrably saying nothing is usually the safest option for me.

((hugs))  Holy nasty people!  I would have told her to bugger off!http://www.smilieshq.com/smilies/mad0265.gif

Hair - It's reacting really positively to Gliss' yellow Oil Nutrive series.  I haven't sprayed leave-in conditioner on all last week.  

Clothes - I've ordered four skirts and two dresses all in 50s retro style.  I really tried to introduce colors.  I'm comfortable with more colors now but I always choose  black if it's one of the options.  The skirts are black, black/white plaid, turquoise blue, white/navy.  I think the dresses are black and a blue one.  I've got a white/black shirt, a white shirt, a purple shirt, and a purple/patterned shirt to go with the skirts.  I guess I'll be using black and white t-shirts with the navy/white skirt or one of two twin sets in red and white I got from my MIL.  I love home knits.  

I ordered black canvas flats to go with the dresses and skirts but I still want new shoes that aren't designed for hiking alone.  I'm trying to get away from hiking footwear. ;D  If I recall correctly I've also ordered some small scarves to tie around ponytails.  I don't know how often I'll be wearing the seemed stockings I ordered last winter but haven't worn yet.  I've got white ankle socks but that's so cliche´ so I'll probably be looking for knee highs or even ankle in bright colors.  Failing that, black will do. :)

Early in the winter I ordered summer knits that were on sale in white, fuschia and coral.  Those colors suit me really well so I might try to make them stables so that everything isn't some shade of grey or wine if it isn't black.  Nothing wrong with grey, wine or black though.  I'm also very attracted to "toxic" shades of green!

I'm happy to put away all the blacks, greys, and wines from winter.  I've always preferred my winter wardrobe and putting it away used to feel sad.  I threw a lot of clothes away from the past two summers.  After losing weight and having to replace my entire wardrobe I've made many mistakes that looked good but just didn't feel like me.  Most modern styles and anything that wasn't dark enough, white enough, deep or clear enough, went out!  Much of what doesn't work with a late 40s- 50s retro style went out too.  I prefer the 1920s-50s but I'm trying to narrow my day style down to little more than one decade.  I like lots of historical styles but I need something that works daily because I'm not of a very sociable nature.

Make-up - I'm wearing less black, grey, wine, and brown eye make-up now and trying to find ways to use pink, purple, green, coral, and red.  I'm not seeing any affordable deep blue shades.  I've got an olive green liquid liner.  I'm out of black, turquoise and pink liquid liner.  I'm out of blue and black nailpolish and I need to use my red and pink nail polishes up before they end up being a waste of money.  I can't find green nail polish but Tiger which is sort of a $1 shop might have it.  I don't recall the quality of their nail polishes being that good.  L'oreal and MF had some good deep blue nailpolishes a few years back...maybe that's many years now? :o  I want higher pigmented make-up so that it's more visible.

Gosh will definitely have both blue and green nail polish!  I'm determined to get a good deep blue and a dark green lipstick.  I just need to use a few of the lipsticks I already have up, to clear my conscience.

Easter Activities - Walked, played outdoors, baked, watched TV, the boys played computer games and then they played some more computer games for the first three days while we waited for hub to get off work.

We visited a chalk mine on Thursday.  The boys bought bats in the souvenir shop.  Some very kind German goths let my boys choose bats first. :)  The big boys chose standard, black, plastic bats but the youngest one fell in love with a small, stuffed, neon green bat with silver spots and red ears. :-*  

On Easter Sunday we ended up on a two hours killer hike.  That wasn't the plan, we simply lost our way and couldn't find the car.  The map wasn't to scale and some trails weren't even recognizable in shape.  ::)  The boys didn't complain once! 8-)  We got home in time for me to prepare the traditional Easter lamb.  

Today - Am I the only one who's happy to get all the Easter decorations down?  Anyway, I've got to get out.  Doc. took a blood test and all the things I was tested for were fine except D-vitamin.  So I need to get out.

Music - Dion Dimucci, Frankie Avalon, all the "Bobbies" - Darin, Rydell, and Vinton, Everly Brothers, The Awakening, Nox Arcana, Spleen United,  Patti Page, Peggy Lee, Roy Orbison, and Gary Numan these days.   I can't find my DCD box set. :'(  I haven't listened to DM for a few months now and I've not even missed them. :-[

Have you heard about www.modemerr.com?  I love their clothes!  I have most trouble finding retro/rockabilly shoes.  Do you have any sources to share??

Haven't heard of it.  Thanks for posting it.  I sent you a pm with more or less related links.  

There are also some reproduction shop but I can't remember what they're called.  I know they advice costumers on shapewear/foundation garments so perhaps they can advice on shoes too.

They sometimes have shoes and I forgot to include them in the links I sent you:

http://www.tangerineboutique.com/

i like your taste in clothes  ;)

Quote:

Then as I sat on a chair and was putting on my new shoes a lady stopped right in front of me, bent down until she was eye level with me and said in a low but clear enough voice to be heard by others that: for all of your effort you're still not Danish and you'll never look white.

Sorry this response is so late, as I've only just read this.  

If that were me...although clearly not.  I would've wanted to know what it was that gave her the audacity to even presume  that you wanted to look white in the first place? :-?

I totally understand what you meant when you stated that
Quote:

I don't posess great self control so the less I say and the less I do and preferrably saying nothing is usually the safest option for me.

because when I worked, people pretty much thought that I was a push over because I didn't always stand up for myself.  However in all actuallity, I was protecting myself and my position at my job.  I was always afraid that something could come out of my mouth in the throws of a heated situation that might get me in trouble.  So, like you, I basically wouldn't say much...if anything at all.

However, she was totally rude and clearly had issues.  I guess leaving it alone was the best option, but it would've really bugged me to no end to know what her deal was.  And since it wasn't a work situation, I would've asked. ::)  But again, I feel that you did the best thing because in the end, her feellings are her problem, not yours. ;)

La Diosa, one of the first things that entered my mind was exactly what made her pressume that in the first place then a bunch of explicitives went off in my head and I just knew that being beyond reproach was the best tactic.  I'm also working on being like the lady I want to look like and I'm...excuse, I know this is going to sound cheesy...trying to be a good Christian.  

Thanks dj.  

Hair - It's just behaving fabulously!  I'm not even sure I can encourage myself to try other products now.  I've just been leaving it down.  I don't feel motivated to put my hair up when it requires so many styling products to keep all hair up and out of my face.  The windy weather is driving me nuts though.  I'm a lipstick wearer but I hate it when my hair sticks to my lips.  Yesterday was a deep condition day.  Today was wash/condition and go.  I towel dry and shake my head.  Then brush when it's dry.

Health update - Went to see gynaechologist last evening 6:15pm.  It was up on the third floor in an old grand apartment building.  The interior was modernized with respect for the original architecture and it's clear that he cares about flashy design!  I'm glad hub and the boys waited in the car.  There were little glass tables, glass decorations, designer chairs and fine art every where.  I liked the grey toned theme with accents in lime.  There was also a fantastic sound system so I could listen to classical music and know that if someone else was waiting while I was in, then they wouldn't be able to hear the doc and I talking.

About the doctor - Past retirement perhaps.  Difficult to tell because he's that very vain type of older man.  Nothing wrong with that.  Just pointing it out.  He had a huge gold watch on and I had to control myself not to laugh at the thought of his watch getting lost "up there". ;D  I think he flattered himself thinking I was flirting with him.  So while examining me with the mechanical "salad tosser", taking a new cell scrape in case they missed something a month ago, scanning me inside and cutting away a lymph or something he'd found and showing me how he could flip the new chair up, down, and around he suggested that we go and have ourselves a little chat afterwards.  ;D  I wasn't laughing at the time.  I tell you, it's an awkward state and position to be thrown around in. :o  Well, he did a good job at examining everything and explaining it all.

Afterwards in his HUGE designer office, I got to see all his fancy technology and he showed how he can just send the tests directly, digitally to the lab.  Nothing new technology wise but the aestetics of the design had obviously been catered to beyond what you normally see in such a setting.  Cyber-Edwardian interior design comes to mind.

He said nothing looked unusual though and in worst case he may have to cut away the bottom??? or if they don't find any cell changes, he'll just freeze and burn it away.  He says it'll feel just like the examination but they'll take a little more away.  I won't feel anything.  I didn't feel him cutting anything out but I bled like hell all last evening and thought I was going to pass out in the supermarket when I went to look for post natal type pads because that's how much I was bleeding.   He'll call in two weeks and he looks forward to seeing me again.  Mhmm...there was just something surrealistic and comical about the experience.

My hair - Wash, condition, let it nearly air dry.  Got it into a ponytail with no use of styling products! :D  I've got an alice band over the top to keep the shorter hairs from flying into my face but I'm so happy I'm able to get it all out of my face without the use of styling products.  

The only good thing about products was that I was able to manipulate the bottom of my ponytail into a long curl without the use of heat or rollers or pin curls.  God knows I hate doing pin curls!  My hair isn't suited for it.  Did it twice.  Not worth the two hours, kinks from the bobby pins and frizz.  I can't find aligator clips in shops here.  I haven't found setting lotion either.

Purchases - 4 floral hair clips - 3 small in fuschia, deep turquoise, orange - 1 large soft pink rose, 3 scarves in blue, fuschia, and coral with some different patterns on each scarf.  It'll all arrive within the next 4 weeks from Denmark's H&M online shop.   I'll use the flowers either to decorate the sides of ponytails/buns or to just hold the front back.  I'm hoping they can be used for retro faux styles to create the illusions of rolls.  I'll use the scarves around my hair as bands or around ponytails and buns.

Now they have some other large roses I like better than the one I ordered but they don't have them in stock until June so I'll have to wait but I think I'll definitely buy a couple of those.

I'm treating myself to 1-5 hair toys nearly every time I go to the grocery store to motivate myself to do something with my hair.  I bought 2 barette clips and 2 slim alice bands.  My ponytail looks tidier and classier for those days I'll want to look more elegant than playful and the alice bands don't even hurt my head.  It's faster and easier than loading on products and trying to force everything to "glue" into place.  It looks more polished and natural too. :)

Life (and hair in general) - Hub was at the ham radio club last evening.  He goes there every Thursday.  That's nice for me because that means I can use the pc in the evening.  The boys are quite independent now and will help each other find pajamas, get the bathtub filled, find towells, brush teeth, take asthma medicine, etc.  I only have to help the youngest one reach his Pjs and take his medicine.  So it's not as hard and stressful as it was just a year ago with the youngest and a few years ago with the oldest.  

So I sat and crutinized images of vintage hairstyles which I know I won't ever wear because I know about the haircuts required (variations on the middy), the perms you need to get a good curl set because the natural perm look wasn't in so you still set your hair but the perm aids curl to hold and look nicer, brushing, teasing, setting and loading on of products, but I still appreciate the styles in their historical context and from an artistic perspective.  

As far as pincurls go I've had some pretty good luck with Got2B pomade.(it's orange inside and in a white can the size of your pam maybe $6 at kmart,walmart,ect)I use bobby pins(like 47 last time i tried) and it turned out wonderfully.But my hair was considerably shorter when I did this and the curls actually bounced. :)

Your hair would probably work with this if you tried. :) Good luck!

ForeverFay wrote on Apr 17^th, 2009 at 8:43am:

As far as pincurls go I've had some pretty good luck with Got2B pomade.(it's orange inside and in a white can the size of your pam maybe $6 at kmart,walmart,ect)I use bobby pins(like 47 last time i tried) and it turned out wonderfully.But my hair was considerably shorter when I did this and the curls actually bounced. :) Your hair would probably work with this if you tried. :) Good luck!

Thanks, but I'd rather use rollers from now on.  I didn't count the bobby pins but all of them were ruined afterwards.  Not worth it to me. ;D

Quote:

I'm also working on being like the lady I want to look like and I'm...excuse, I know this is going to sound cheesy...trying to be a good Christian.

Totally understand.  People like that are never worth sacrificing your peace and straying from who you want to be as a person.


Quote:

He had a huge gold watch on and I had to control myself not to laugh at the thought of his watch getting lost "up there". ;D  I think he flattered himself thinking I was flirting with him.  So while examining me with the mechanical "salad tosser"

You're too funny! ;D ;D


Quote:

I bled like hell all last evening and thought I was going to pass out in the supermarket when I went to look for post natal type pads because that's how much I was bleeding.

 

:o Did they say if that was normal?

Erh...no.  But the bleeding's stopped and I'm feeling okay.  Excuse the reckless way I'm handling my life. :-[

Hair - Wash, 1 min. "deep" condition.  I don't know if I really believe in that but I don't dare stop this weekly routine between regular wash/condition and wash/ACV/deep condition.  

Shopping - There are some supermarkets in Denmark that are allowed to be open until 8-10pm.  They're the ones with low profits and those in ports and the nearby town of Horsens happens to be a port so we have a couple of "late" open supermarkets there.  We bought the two oldest summer jackets, the middle one shoes, me some fish oil capsules, new school bags.  

I've just returned from buying cake mix for the middle one's 8th birthday on Friday.  He'll be allowed to bring a big chocolate cake to school.  Then I'll try to put together an icecream layercake for when he comes home.  Wish me luck!  I love to cook but I hate baking.

Council/county/social services - or whatever the equivalent is in your place.  They either don't answer their phones, the lines always seem busy or I get shuffled around before I finally get lost with some waiting tone. ::)  They don't always answer e-mails either and they don't let you know if your social worker has been changed.

We're not a social "case" as such but yet we are because anyone who lives with a mentally disabled person in their household automatically becomes a social case with own social case # and assigned social worker.  This is of course necessary but I feel uncomfortable about being a social case.  Our oldest son has Autism, the youngest one has automotoric retardation.  

Good luck with the baking!  Happy Birthday to your son!

Hair - Tried to wear a hat to go out.  Not so much to protect my hair but more my eyes because I can't wear sunglasses.  I can't afford prescription sunglasses and the optometrist has adviced against the clip on types and any type of "film" would add mm to my glasses and make them even heavier. :(  I'm not a hat hair fan and aside from making looking easier, the hat didn't do much for me plus it's windy.  My hair's down today with is becoming increasingly unusual.  I prefer ponytails and slim alice bands these days.  

Baking - forgot jam and cream (to whip) for tomorrow so went and got that.  Got a huge chocolate cake in the oven for the middle one to take to school.  I hope he'll bring some home for his brothers.  Not that they'll suffer if they don't get any because I'm also making an icecream cake and a regular layer cake.  

This isn't the norm around here!  I don't know what's gone into my head. :o

Oldest school - They have bon fires, play with water and all sorts of other stuff that leads to getting dirty and wet!  They've spent more money on the playground than on learning material.  I know he has autism and I can't expect the same of him as of a none-disabled child but I'm becoming worried about the "focus" at his school.

Middle's school - They're only in 1st grade and some boy has already been bullied out and is transfering "to a school that doesn't allow bullying".  This is one of two boys whom my son was closest to. :(  My boy's very popular.  All three of my boys are popular but my middle one knows who's good company and who isn't and will potentially be more trouble when they grow older.  He's already talking about that.  He'll be 8 tomorrow.

Kindergarten - Some girls have been trying to frame my youngest one for teasing.  He's no says the adults.  They say the girls are just attention seeking and my boy is more honest than is often good for him ;D so I trust the adults and my son.  

They've asked me if he eats with fork and knife yet and other questions as part of a test to see what they need to work on in his last year of kindergarten to prepare him for school.  No, he can't eat with fork and knife yet and his older brothers are only beginning to get a hang of it at their own initiative.  I've been completely honest and told the adults that I don't have the energy for stuff like that, which may be nice as far as manners go but isn't strictly essential.  JMO.

Saturday Hair - applied mousse to damp hair, rolled up on velcro rollers.  Waited 2 hours, blow dried for 15 mins.  got desperate.  Took velcro rollers out.  Blow dried hair, rolled hair up again, blow dried again. ::)  Waited for hair to cool off, took rollers out, sprayed hair, waited for hairspray to dry, brushed top over, finger combed the rest and it still looked wavish-flat for all of my efforts.  ::)  A slim alice band to hold the top back behind my ears and the top smooth kept me from looking completely rediculous.  

Sunday - Wash, vinegar rinse, deep condition 5 mins. while scrubbing face, body and cutting nails, rinse hair and air dry as usual before brushing.  Very well behaved hair.  Only found one hair that may have looked like it was close to splitting so I cut the tip off.  Nothing else looks damaged.  Hairs keep getting caught in my glasses side bars and broken off that way. >:(

Music - My dad's getting me DM's new Sounds of The Universe' off amazon.  I'm excited.  Other fans are saying I won't be disappointed the way many of us were with the majority of tracks on their last two albums; Exciter from 01' and PTA 05'.  I actually quite liked PTA but I wasn't impressed with all of the tracks which si very seldom I feel that way with any one album.

Some Hits albums with Roy Orbison, Bobby (Ridarelli) Rydell, Bobby Darin, and Dion Dimucci are the only ones I can think of right now where I feel good about all the tracks for lack of better wording.

Dad's also promised to look for some Jerry Lee Lewis and Dion's 'Heros'.  Believe it or not, but I don't own anything by Jerry Lee Lewis! :o  Strangely, I've got Frankie Avalon, Bobby Vee, (Stanley jr) Bobby Vinton, and other stuff most people wouldn't admit to owning even less listening to. :-[ ;D   There are other similar performers from the same period I don't feel I'm missing.

House stuff - No where near to throwing away stuff, re-shuffling furniture or changing decor on the scale I want to. :(  I doubt we'll paint as long as the boys are small.  Then we'd have to stock different colors.  Right now it's only one shade of "fashion" white we have  to stock.  "Fashion" white... :-?

I usually hate yellow for reasons I can't explain but right now I feel I need to be surrounded by the color in moderation so I found an old yellow/orange/red table cloth, some yellow candles, yellow bread basket liner and yellow cloth napkins. :)  I think that's all the yellow I can handle though and I like that it's concentrated in one area of the living room so it doesn't overpower my senses.  Sometimes yellow can make me very angry, aggressive or just irritable.

Council - They're not answering their phone and they'e not answered my e-mail. >:(

Hair - Wash, condition, air dry, brush, did kindergarten run, am now experimenting with casual styling that works in a modern context with my retro/vintage inspired style.  

Today: sprayed bottom with salt water spray I never learnt to like and applied mousse wax for layer enhancing I never cared for either.  Fluffed hair around with my fingers to create volume, smoothed top over with brush, then placed an alice band over the top.  Pretty neat and just a little less flat.  It's a bit matte in appearance.  I don't know why, but I associate matte hair look with retro styles and I think it gives hair an etheralness if done "right".  My hair still has movement.  

I just can't bring myself to just throw stuff away.  I won't buy new hair "stuff" when I've used this up though unless I find something that's both organic and affordable. Wish me luck!  I'll never use styling products daily or even weekly though.

Skin - I have blackheads on both of my cheeks and other break outs around my mouth.  I've tossed a lot of old cosmetics.  I'm very religious with gentle cleansing, oil free moisturizers and I'm only using a thin layer of MF mineral foundation but I don't have any blusher left and if I buy new blusher it has to be mineral too.  If my skin doesn't improve despite switching to mineral foundation, I'll quit using any foundation and blusher on my face all together and just use eye and lip make-up.  I won't go on the pill though some say it could improve my skin.  I'm just paranoid about other side effects the pill might have.  

I also need to ask my pharmacy for a sensitive skin, oil free, sun screen for face application.   La Roche Posay Anthelios XL Lait/Lotion was recommended to me by another Dane.  It's sold as a pharmacy brand here in Denmark.  It comes in spf 30 and 50 I think.

Council - On Tuesday I finally got through to them.  Got my social worker on the line just to be told she's quitting her position, doesn't know who's taking over but she'll write in our case file that we request a meeting and let her superior know. :o  

Other meetings - Had meeting at middle one's school Tuesday evening.  Not too bad, good in math but a very "weak" Danish reader.  I'm taking over the Danish tutoring from my husband!  He's an awful reader too.  Perhaps stupidly I thought they could both learn to read together.  Now my son reads words that aren't there, doesn't read words that are there, takes a really long time with each word and line and has strange breaks and pauses...just like his dad.

I'm prepping hub for a school meeting at the oldest one's school next Wednesday because it's at 5:15pm which is a really stupid time where I can't be there.  Yes, I'm a control freak but I'm tired of being the only one who knows anything.  So this is my poor attempt at letting go of some control.

Now we're trying to coordinate a meeting with a child psychologist at the oldest one's school at the end of the year to talk about what can be done to motivate him to learn things better.  Again, it's the Danish that's the serious issue here. :(  I hope this isn't just any school psychologist but one who understands Autism too.  Otherwise her examinations of him have been a waste.  Those examinations haven't been explained or forewarned to us either.  I'll definitely want to be at that meeting!

Hair - Wash, Condition, air dry, flip head over and spray through top but not directly at scalp with salt water spray, wait for it to dry while finger shaking hair, flip head back over and apply walnut sized amount of Pantene Whipped Wax For Layered Hair through top and lenghts, wait for it to dry while finger shaking hair, brush when dry.  At least this gives me the appearance of natural movement and body without too much lost shine and it's not greasy or coarse feeling.

Friday - Day off for everyone.  Big prayer day.  Erh...well the boys have given their prayers some serious thought.  I can't say the same for their mother. :-[

What language(s) do you speak at home?

Good luck with the reading.  My nephew has Asperger's and he's now 16 years old.  He only recently started to read up to level and I'm very happy for him.  Guess my point is, keep working on it and have faith!!!

Only Danish.  Hub speaks German as well and I obviously speak English but the boys will have to learn those languages in school.  I hope my oldest son will at least be able to read something by that age.  I have faith in the middle son's ability to learn to read up to level within the next couple of years.  I suspect he's a slow reader like many boys.  

Hair - Wash, condition, air dry, wax mousse through entire hair, air dry, tiny dab of shine wax for long hair smoothed over six strands of hair.  Feels and looks really nice.

Connection update? - It looks different, seems to work just fine but there's something that's different.  Even this page looks different. :-?

Mother's day here -  Woke up with a headache and feeling really cranky.  Hub suddenly drove into town and came back with a bouquet. :)  We don't usually celebrate mother's day or father's day but the boys appear to have decided that we're going to celebrate it so they woke me up with drawings and we've gone for a walk in the woods and had our first ice creams of this year.

Hair - rinse, vinegar rinse rose hip deep condition from Schwarzkopf.  I think I messed up with the vinegar rinse.  I usually use the plain cheap kind but I suspect it was the red wine vinegar I mixed with water and I'd accidentally mixed the vinegar with cold water *ough!*.   Hair's been looking and feeling great for some time now and I regretted having to put up my hair for the hike so it wouldn't blow all over the place because it's quite windy today.  Other than that, the weather's sunny and only partially cloudly with mild temperatures - 15-18C degrees.

Hair - Forgot vinegar rinse yesterday and I don't have time on week days for my rinse/deep conditioning routine.  Wash, condition, bun and go!  I'm praying for lovely waves before hub gets home. :)

Weekend - Lazy weekend.  Busy sorting through youngest son's stuff today and making his room more age appropriate.  He's 5½ and he may be retarded but he's not a baby anymore though you wouldn't know better if you'd looked in there this morning. :-[  Bad mom!H&M - They no longer live up to my expectations.  Two dresses and three skirts were too thin and too short.  Too this or that is of course a matter of opinion but I like a hemline below my knees because a) I'm no longer 20 and b) I'm not a Hollywood star and I don't look like one.  So I'm only keeping three summer shirts, two fabric flower clips/brooches and three scarves for tying around buns and ponytails, and a skirt which is of an acceptable quality and has a below knee hemline.  So I had to trek down to the post office and I'm no wise than to wear wedge sandals with hosiery. ::)  I don't know what I looked like wobbling down hill with a huge package. :-[ ;D  

I still want longer full skirts and shirtwaist dresses if I can find any retro styles that aren't too obviously retro.  I can't afford to prioritize crinoline petticoats now and quite frankly, in my small rural town it might look rediculous which is why I'm also foregoing hat and gloves.  I love vintage/retro styles from the late 1940s-early 1960s that mature women wore but I'm not a reinactor.  I'm too selfconscious for that and would have to live in a more anonymous metropolitan place to feel confident enough to go all the way out.  I don't care if strangers stare or glare but I'd hate for every nosy villager/townie to stop and ask me nosy questions on ever street corner whenever I'm out.  I'm very private and like to keep to myself.  

Last time I curled my hair I got the loveliest bends and volume but nothing that really resembled curls or waves.  I just don't know how to get the rollers in vertically.  I think it's too long for that or my arms are too short. :-?

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I just don't know how to get the rollers in vertically.

When I roll up my hair vertically (I'm assuming you mean a spiral type curl), I wind it on the roller starting from the center of the hair, not the ends.  So, with the hair hanging down, I'll place the roller on the center of the sectioned off hair.  Then, I start by spiraling the bottom half of the hair around the middle of the roller to the bottom.  After the bottom half of the hair is wrapped around the roller, then roll the rest of the hair up, spiraling it around the top of the roller all the way up to the scalp.  This gives me waves or spirals depending on the size of the roller.  

I'm always so bad at giving such instructions.  I hope they made some sort of sense. :-/

Hi, Drear!  I have these : http://www.amazon.com/Wrap-Snap-Go-Hair-Rollers/dp/B000UJ246Y
and I use perm papers to keeps the ends smooth.  Patience is required and be sure not to take too much hair in a section.  HTH

Thanks to both of you.  Ah!  It took me a while to imagine the technique but I think I've got it.  We've got five days off from tomorrow so I'll try it on the front section of my hair.  I want my hair rolled traditionally with the front, top and sides vertical and the back horizontal.  That's a very conventional rolling pattern.  

My retro 1950s plans might be down the drain.  Just spent 2 hrs. ironing all my cottons.  I'll keep the retro bikini and the two short jersey skirts I bought to wear with it but the two pleated flared skirts will probably go back, they're cotton.  I don't know what I was thinking.  We're actually broke.   It has nothing to do with any financial crisis.  This is a chronic state of our personal finanses.  I was less interested in vanity when I was younger.  Wish I'd become interested in a cheaper hobby. :-[ Can't even afford real vintage.
 
The boys have all torn holes in nearly all of their jeans.  *Grrr!*  As if we need more expenses now. ::)  So my skirts will go back so they can have jeans to wear and I'll do the indecent and very unlady like thing and walk around town in capris and shorts this summer. ;)   In my rural area I doubt anyone was ever "every inch the lady".  The area was more rural and life was tougher then so I can't even imagine anyone wearing heels or gloves in any of the towns around here!  All the way up through the 60s my family in the U.S. had a much higher living standard than my family in Denmark.  

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Thanks to both of you.  It took me a while to imagine the technique but I think I've got it.

No problem.  I hope your curls come out nicely. :)


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So my skirts will go back so they can have jeans to wear and I'll do the indecent and very unlady like thing and walk around town in capris and shorts this summer.

Too bad you had to take back your skirts.  I love weaing skirts and dresses too.  Although, I don't do so all of the time, as I'd like.  My husband prefers to wear athletic clothing.  So sometimes if we're going somewhere, he'll ask me to not "get all dressed up" so we don't look mismatched. ::)


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The area was more rural and life was tougher then so I can't even imagine anyone wearing heels or gloves in any of the towns around here!

I never thought of rural areas.  I'd imagine that you're right and not everyone back then dressed up like Donna Reed. ::)  

I have an old sepia picture, which I love, of my grandmother and a gentleman from that time.  They were dressed in old 50's style clothing, she in a dress and heels and he wore a suit and hat.  My mother said it was the common daily dress of the time.  Although, they were from the city.  

Yet, I'd imagine that back then, even people in rural areas were still more dressed up than people of today.

la diosa, what I see myself wearing is Swirl dresses and skirtwaist dresses.  Very ordinary.  I'm hoping that I can afford some real vintage dresses in those styles some day.  Getting the foundation garments right first should be my top priority though it's hard to be patient but I know it's a waste to get the visible clothing first if I don't have the foundation garments that gave them the shapes they had back then.  Swirls may work with modern panties and bras though.

Those of you who don't have to share your pc should be grateful.  I'm virtually out of touch with online connections real lives by the time Monday roles around because hub needs to use it with his ham radio stuff over the weekend. ::)

Hair - Wash, condition.  VR yesterday.  Did the cold water thing again! >:(  It's such a shock each time I accidentally mix the vinegar with cold water.  I'll never get used to it.  The question is; When will I learn to remember to use warm water??? :-?  Bunned it.  Unfrotunately my new scarves don't really match the paisley skirt I'm wearing today.  I found an old velvet scrunchie of mine that matches the petrol blue in the skirt.  I found earrings that match the olive green as well and a wine red eye shadow from a Chanel quad one of my SIL's gave me that matches the main background color on the skirt.  Black shirt and black sandals with olive green hose. :)  

The boys had four days off.  Well, two week days.  They spent a lot of time in the garden with their dad.  We're getting ready for a flag pole.  The hole has been dug and prepared.  Now we're just waiting for the pole!  I'll have to read the Danish flag laws.  No, I don't think Jolly Roger is legal.

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I found an old velvet scrunchie of mine that matches the petrol blue in the skirt.  I found earrings that match the olive green as well and a wine red eye shadow from a Chanel quad one of my SIL's gave me that matches the main background color on the skirt.  Black shirt and black sandals with olive green hose. :)

Drear, you are one funky chica. ;)


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Did the cold water thing again! >:( It's such a shock each time I accidentally mix the vinegar with cold water.  I'll never get used to it.  The question is; When will I learn to remember to use warm water??? :-?

What I do is mix up a vinegar rinse the night before so it will at least be air temperature when used. You can also leave it under the running water of your shower so it warms up a bit before you go to use it.

I know the last advice would make sense for me.  I always set it right outside of the shower.  Stupid me!

Worries - Got an important meeting today.  All nerves even though it's not directly about me.  It's regarding my oldest son who has Autism and isn't learniing to read so a psychologist has observed him and done some tests she wants to talk to us about.  I don't know if any of his teachers will be at the meeting.  I don't have it all together.  I have no idea which room or building the meeting will be in and I haven't been able to get a hold of the woman. ::)  Not sure whose fault it is and it's pointless to blame anyone now.  So I'm trying to look mature, pulled together and confident without wearing such personal style that it draws too much attention to me in the "I'm insecure" way though that's how I'm feeling.

Style today - Don't know why but I don't feel alice bands look professional.  Not even the slim ones so I bunned my hair with more product than I like to and tied a scarf around the knit scrunchy making sure no ends are left out.  I may be taking this all too seriously but this is the only element I feel I can control today.  Being a homemaker I'm used to being in complete control.  That's perhaps the only minus to being a homemaker.  Oh, and I can't take orders from other people anymore.  I'll bite their heads off!

Hair - I used a cheap, family sized shampoo yesterday evening to wash out some products I'd experimented with to make sure I could make this bun look good today.  It actually left my hair look really good but I still used my leave-in organic conditioner.  My hair was super well behaved and shinier than I'd ever seen it so I may go with this routine for a while and see if I keep getting the same results.  The conditioner is relatively expensive but so far it's lasted me a year and I've still got nearly half a bottle left.  I only need to use a few spritzes after each hair wash.  I'll still want to deep condition and vinegar rinse a couple of times a week.  

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Oh, and I can't take orders from other people anymore.  I'll bite their heads off!

And this is a problem because...??   ::)   Just kidding!

Trisha wrote on May 28^th, 2009 at 9:36am:

Quote: Oh, and I can't take orders from other people anymore.  I'll bite their heads off! And this is a problem because...??   ::)   Just kidding!

It's not a problem for me, it's just a problem for everyone else. ;)

Hair - It's hot and humid and I've overdosed on conditioner after having a good VR and conditioning yesterday late in the evening.  Then this morning I didn't wash but just used what seemed like a small amount of conditioner.  Result; greasy film and flat hair the rest of the day and itchy scalp. ::)  Not very attractive and I didn't have time to wash again before going to my ILs.    Washed as soon as I got home.  No conditioner right now.  I'll rinse and condition tomorrow and hope my hair will look and feel alright.  Of course it will, because I'm not going any where tomorrow. ::)

Clothes - Got a "strolling suit" (directly translated from Danish) from my MIL that's a couple of sizes too big and a bit drap looking.  You know, boxy suit jacket and straight skirt.  I'm hoping I can style it a bit modern and look cool anyway.  I'm thinking cute chemise and some cool wide belt if I can find one.  I might use the parts separately instead.  If I was going to wear it as a set the size would have to be right and the cut more figure flattering.  I don't mind classic and timeless but this just screams "old lady" in the uncool, unvintage sort of way...for lack of better term.  Got a heather/wine colored knit belt that goes with a knit set she gave me in the winter but I'm thinking I might try it with the strolling suit to see if it updates the whole look.  

I wore denim capris in a modern cut with a cute home knitted ivory short sleeved top my MIL gave me last winter as part of two twin sets.  I kept the make-up colorful in blues, purples and pinks.  Everyone approved and I like it when I get a positive reaction from MIL when I style her old clothes in a way she wouldn't have thought of.  Dolphin necklace from dad and multi-colored charms bracelet from mom.  How diplomatic is that?! :D  White wedge sandals...erh...even I can err on the style clueless side. :)

On this hot, humid day they prepared lamb roast. :o

Hair - Can anyone honestly say that their hair looks good hanging loose when it's hot and humid?  My hair acts up these humid warm days no matter how little or how much I do.  Dosing the conditioner is a very tricky one.  Not conditioning isn't an option!  I've bought a huge bottle of vinegar btw. :D  My scalp itches horribly.  Low pony, sharp parting, alice band.  

Vacuum - When the good old Philips broke down we bought a cheap supermarket vacuum cleaner that was supposed to be smart because you can either use a vacuum bag or if your budget's tight, use the included vacuum box with filter.  Now they've discontinued the bags in the size I need so now there's really no option. >:(  For the past few months I've had to clean the box weekly *yuck!*. ::)  At least we don't lose all the boys little Lego parts.  

Cosmetics - I'm not using anything on my face.  It's going to take some getting used to but my skin seems to appreciate it.  Still can't bear to leave my eyes, lips, and nails natural.  I'm experimenting with colors, shades and finishes I'll usually pass by like deeper "nudes", bronze and gold, and frosty pastels.  They actually look fine on me I just need to get used to them.  Bought Gosh eye quattro in Q23 Goldfinger and a few x-mas' back I got Chanel Les 4 Ombres in 79 Spices.  I like the bottom left color next to the gold in the Goldfinger and the burgundy in the Chanel Spices.  I own a pastel pink nail polish for the first time.  Eerie looking if I must say something positive.

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I'm not using anything on my face.  It's going to take some getting used to but my skin seems to appreciate it.  Still can't bear to leave my eyes, lips, and nails natural.

I can't bear to wear powder or foundation; I feel as if I'm suffocating!  I do, however, use mascara and the occasional lipstick.  And yes, I bet your skin does appreciate being naked for a change!   :)

Hair - My poor hair deserves a better owner.  It's another pony day after washing, deep conditioning, then I looked out of the window and saw the rain and wind.  So up in a ponytail, smooth over with some shine, none stiffening wax for long hair.  I'm not sure how I'm supposed to use it and I regret buying two pots of it last year because I've hardly used any of it but I think a few fingers dabbed into it and just run through the hair is enough of this stuff.  It's that Poly brand.  It's hard with a liquid surface, yellow with gold flecks in it.  I think I'm going to have to let go of my pride and let go of these styling products.  Aside from the waxes and the mousse wax, everything else has alcohol denat in it.  Strands of my hair is a bit lighter now than it was last year.  

Sun bleached?  Product damage?  I don't know if that's from the few days we've had sun where I've not even been out for an hour at a time or if it's the use of styling products I've never been addicted to?  I'm not a fan of sun streaks in my hair.  I'm not passing general judgement on sun streaks, I just don't want them in my hair.  The "sun streaks" are very dark brown but next to the rest of my natural "black" or black/brown hair if you insist on being pedantic, it's quite visibly lighter than the rest in some light.  

Part of me is tempted to jump in the deep end and have my hair chopped off right below my shoulders and grow it all back to one length in September or whenever I can afford to pay for a chop.  Last October that was the length of the bottom of my hair so it'll be June 2010 before it's 20" again.  I need to give this some serious thought.  Maybe I should just stick to my original plan of losing an inch or so of the bottom every 3 months.  The progress will be slower but it won't be so drastic a change.  Recently I thought of going only every 6 months and having all layers trimmed.  

I'm confused.  I carefully looked at the back of my hair in the hallway mirror in good lighting conditions and I can hardly tell the layers anymore.  I've also noticed that my hair grows about 1/4" less each month than it did last year.  I hope this is my hair wanting to even out the layers so I don't have to go for a big chop.  I could go for a 3" chop when I built up the courage and then just continue to trim off ½-1" every three months until it's all one length and then see how often it needs trimming after that.

Hair - Wash, condition, didn't do anything to it.  Looks its normal self and I'm not seeing highlights.  Must've been imaging stuff.

Hair - Another wash, condition and leave it alone! day.  I rolled my hair up on velcro rollers last evening for practice.  It gets easier but I have no real desire to set my hair anymore.  The foam rollers aren't working for me.  My hair slips off them, the frames fall off and they're hell to get out.  I break too much hair when I use the foam rollers.  The curls from foam rollers turn out super frizzy too regardless of whether I set wet, dry with or without styling products.  I like the waves created by buns.

Holiday - Today is constitution day and to be completely honest, I don't have a clue what our consitution says.  It's not an easy reader like the American constitution which was interesting to learn about in high school and later on again at comm. coll.  I forgot to check where and when there would be speeches today.  Everyone's got their garden flags up around here and at least we're able to join in because we finally have a flag pole.  :)  We usually have the long, slim one up for which there are no laws that say you have to take it down.  That one's allowed to stay up at all times.  

Our neighbor has actually experienced that people in the neighborhood have called them late in the evening or night to complain that their flag was still up. ::)  I know it's because the law says you're not allowed to flag for Satan.  Flag laws - I should make it a point to read them. ;)  Seriously, flagging is a responsiblity I'll leave to hub.  

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I know it's because the law says you're not allowed to flag for Satan.

:-?

wrote on Jun 5^th, 2009 at 4:56pm:

Quote: I know it's because the law says you're not allowed to flag for Satan. :-?

Exactly my reaction.  I deleted the next three paragraphs I'd written on my thoughts regarding that law and a few other laws.

Hair - I'm nearly out of Gliss shampoo and conditioner so I decided to give Nivea a chance because it's the same amount in each bottle but at a slightly cheaper price.  Nivea has long been a favorite skin care brand of mine so I hope the hair care line won't disappoint me.  I bought the diamond Gloss shampoo and conditioner.  I forgot to buy deep conditioner.  Back in the 80s L'oreal appeared to be the most sold hair care brand in our supermarkets. I'll be okay as long as they re-stock all Gliss lines in case Nivea's hair care lines disappoint.  I haven't tried Pantene in a long time.

Saturday - Sudden extreme rain and hail here.  My scalp doesn't like it when it gets partially wet.  Then it gets itchy the same way as when I sweat.  Did extreme supermarket shopping and ordered three new bikes for the boys.  Standard, sturdy ones with just three gears.  Nothing fancy here.  We've bought bicycles at our local supermarket which is part of a Nordic supermarket chain called COOP.  The quality of the bikes is fair for what you pay and certainly meet our needs for occassional leisurely rides on weekends or the rare school bicycle trip.  The way I see the kids throwing and pushing each other's bikes outside of the school I don't want to pay so much we'll be sorry.

I'm on hub's laptop so I don't have access to my favorites and I have to type everything in and log onto all forums.  His ham radio also zaps the online connection so I'm lying on our bed which isn't very comfortable.  I hate using different keyboards than the I'm used to so that's all for today.  I'm just going to browse for the rest of the day.  

Hair - Felt sweaty and yuck so before going to bed yesterday I washed and VR.  I only used a bit of my organic leave-in conditioner before going to bed.  This morning I deep conditioned with olive oil for the first time in nearly 2 years.  We'll see how that works.  Washed it out after 40 mins. I waited for my hair to completely dry to see how it felt and looked before I decided if I needed to use any leave-in condition spray.  It doesn't appear so.  Right now it's so shiny and smooth I can't believe it! :)

Why is the shampoo bottle larger than the conditioner bottle in most brands?  I only need a small dab of shampoo to get any dirt or grease off my scalp but I use at least twice the amount of conditioner every day.  

Sunday - Today is some sort of election day.  Hub's gone to vote.  I'll go later so we don't have to wait in line with kids in tow.  I've just deleted a long rant about my neighborhood but I'm stressed.  I no longer feel that we fit in and people who live in another corner of our street (small streets with the same name, part of a neighborhood with similar streets named after poets)  make us feel unwelcome.  They are younger families who've moved to the neighborhood within the past five years and they don't have the same sense of community, friendliness, helpfulness, and tolerance that the older neighbors have.  Long story.....but I guess I have to accept that this isn't the place that we're going to grow old in after all.  

Hub's gone to buy outdoor pot flowers.  I've been missing that all Spring but we had "issues" to handle.  An ant just peed on my youngest.  He used to think they were cute and played with them.  I guess he doesn't feel so anymore.  I'm trying to teach him to leave the snails alone.  He's not trying to harm or kil them but he is moving them around.

Maybe this is irrelevant to anything but the text is slightly off on the top posted threads.

Hair - My hair's so fantastically shiny and well behaved after I've dumped everything I don't strictly need for cleansing and conditioning my hair and I've gone up to VR twice a week where it was once a week before.  The olive oil deep conditioning once a week seems to help too.  

Sadly, I had to put my hair up today because it's windy as hell.  I have a school pot luck to go to in the late afternoon-early evening and we're supposed to sit outside and eat.  The weather has better change its mind or I'll do my best to encourage a move inside! >:(

School party preparations - I'm making meat balls of minced chicken.  I'm making them relatively large because I'm lazy and I'm preparing them in the oven. :-[  Hey, other parents just order pizzas and bring them in their cardboard boxes.  They don't even pretend to have baked the pizzas themselves. ;D  

Other activities - My middle one comes home from having spent the night in a scout cabin with his classmates.  They're 1st grade so this is a test to see how they'll cope and what adjustments need to be made.  I suppose it's also a test of the parents packing skills. :-[  I forgot both flashlight, teddy bear and a bed sheet but I packed towell and a foam matress which wasn't mentioned. :D  He's thrown his rain pants (two piece set) away.  Oh well, tough luck!  He already had a cold on Monday.  

The youngest one gets a ride home from having spent the day at another scout cabin.  They're just spending a couple of days there but coming home every afternoon.  

I hope I can find a few minutes to watch some youtube videos on paranormal documentaries.  I like the Haunted Britain, Strange But True?, Paranormal State and some random ones.  Ghost Hunters on occassion though I find the series a bit boring.  I watch make-up tutorials and listen to music as well.  

I'm going to prioritize my own interests more even if it means I have to fit it into the hours I'm home alone during the day.  There's no time for me from the late afternoon, until I hit my pillow, the mornings and any time anyone wakes up at night aren't mine either so I don't feel terribly guilty for relaxing while others are working.  Not much anyway. ;)

hope I can find a few minutes to watch some youtube videos on paranormal documentaries.  I like the Haunted Britain, Strange But True?, Paranormal State and some random ones.  Ghost Hunters on occassion though I find the series a bit boring.  I watch make-up tutorials and listen to music as well.   '

I am a big fan of Paranormal State!  It the only ghost type show I can beleive to be real as I know Lorainne Warren from way back. I get my pants scared off watching it! lol!  I like the make up tutorials too!  My faves are Mentalshiver and Panacea (sp?)

Isabelle wrote on Jun 10^th, 2009 at 12:28pm:

hope I can find a few minutes to watch some youtube videos on paranormal documentaries.  I like the Haunted Britain, Strange But True?, Paranormal State and some random ones.  Ghost Hunters on occassion though I find the series a bit boring.  I watch make-up tutorials and listen to music as well.   ' I am a big fan of Paranormal State!  It the only ghost type show I can beleive to be real as I know Lorainne Warren from way back. I get my pants scared off watching it! lol!  I like the make up tutorials too!  My faves are Mentalshiver and Panacea (sp?)

PRS aka Paranormal State appeals to me because they seem genuine and passionate about what they do and will try to help the people who have to live with these hauntings if that's what they want.  I would've never heard of the program or any of my favorite British ones if it hadn't been for youtube.

Panacea is one of my favorites too.  I've begun to watch some of the Asian ones too because they address some issues that Lauren (Panacea, Lauren Luke) can't address.  One Asian lady has copied some of Lauren's looks which helps me to get a better idea of what the look could look like on me seeing as I don't have big, beautiful, green eyes with perfectly separated large amount of lid above my eyes. :(  A few of them also have a complexion that resembles mine though some of them are much fairer.   I'll check Mentalshiver.

Nothing to say about my hair.

I've got the middle one home with chicken pox.  The worst with the itching and burning is over but I'm keeping him home this week.  I hope the others catch it soon.  I'm in doubt about whether they've already had chicken pox or not because some children are hardly affected by it and I may have passed off red spots that got that scraped look on them later as small play injuries.  Well, we'll probably know if they've had it or not in 1-3 weeks.  Hub and I had it when we were around 3-4 in 1972 and 1980.  Hub was very sick in bed.  I had a high fever and was covered in spots all over.  I had to stay home from kindergarten for a week but I was outside playing in the garden all the time and didn't seem affected at all.

My vaccum cleaner is broken.  Everything's breaking down this year. ::)  Of course everything breaks at once when we're absolutely broke as well.  It's called lilfe and it's not the worst thing that can happen.  The good thing about having gone through so much crap is that it helps me to put more or less bad situations into perspective and not obsess or break down.  I still can't stop anxiety attacks when one of us has a health issue.   It irritates the hell out of me that I suffer anxiety attacks as soon as someone has something with a cough or their asthma.  I'm still able to care for the sick and it doesn't remove leave me imobile on the floor the way it used to.

nvey and Logona are supposed to be good organic brands but they aren't in the cheap end.  As much as I want to shift to more organic products it's not easy when I can't afford the organic brands.  I can't imagine completely foregoing any use of lipstick or eye make-up and the supermarket hair/body brand isn't working for me.  My hair and body require more moisture and something to trap the moisture than these organic products can provide.

Hair - Wash, condition, half up-do just to keep my hair off my face in the wind and rain.  Been thundering a lot too.  Carefully used a french clip.  I don't use them very often and I place them over a scrunchy the way I always used to.  I don't know why I forgot that detail when I began to use french clips again.  It's an attempt to safely and comfortably put my hair up but have it looking slightly nicer than a bulky scrunchy.

Boys - Middle one's in school.  They've not called.  He's the one who had chicken pox.  Then yesterday on the way to the dermatologist, the oldest one's school called to say he was sick and throwing up so hub left me in the parking lot and raced over to the school to pick him up.  He brought the boys back to the parking lot right as I'd finished at the dermatologist.  The youngest one is fine and is in kindergarten.  I'm keeping the oldest one home just because I know the school won't believe he's not sick.  

Danish law says that if your child has too many sick days (which isn't defined in the law) then the school is obligated to report you to social services even if you've been a good parent and not abused sick days and kept them notified each time your child has been sick. ::) >:(  So parents will try to send their children to school anyway to avoid being reported to social services.

Other stuff - The dermatologist doesn't think my "spots" look suspicious but wants to see me again in 4 months because I'm a darker person with a lot of spots and my skin isn't sun used the way it would've been had I lived in a sunnier climate so I still need to take the same precautions as fairer people and wear at least spf30 in the summer and some spf the rest of the year.  Health care (except for dentist) is free here so they're not after my money at the clinic.  I'm having my tonsils removed in September so it'll be October 22nd before I see the dermatologist again.  The dermatologist was model "perfect", with a smoth complexion. ::)  It sure didn't make me feel very attractive to have my skin scrutinized by Barbie in person! :o

(((hugs)))  I hope your tonsillectomy goes well.  I had mine taken out when I was 19 and had a lot of complications, some fluke blood thing and then it changed my singing voice for years.  I hope your result is complication free!!!

I'd bet Barbie didn't always look like Barbie before you met her.  Good luck with your spots.  Maybe they're like a leopards spots-beautiful?

Thanks Sakina.  I should adopt your life outlook.  It would probably be the best thing to happen to me. :)

Hair - Forgot vinegar rinse.  Used Garnier's Olive and lemon deep conditioner and now I remember why I never became a fan.  It doesn't do this or that for my hair.  So I'll just quickly use this one up as a daily conditioner and deep condition with regular olive oil even though that takes a little longer.  

Shopping -  Bought two new summer dresses and a new night "gown" because I just can't visit my mom for a week and sleep in my holed nighties.  I don't care at home but it seems tacky to bring holed nighties to stay at mom's even if she is just mom.  When it's too hot and humid for capris with short sleeved shirts or polos I prefer to wear shorts with chemises or simple no fuss dresses in soft, thin polyester.  Style goes out of the window when my scalp suffers due to humidity.  It's not been very warm or indeed anything that resembles summer but we've had some unbearably humid evenings.  

Hair - It's really irrelevant in the context of what's going on around me but of course it's really well behaved because I'm house bound. ::)  I wish I could say the same for my scalp but I know it's going to be this way as soon as it gets warm and humid.

Stuff - The youngest one is home with chicken pox.  The oldest one burnt one of his feet yesterday on the beach when he was there with his school.  They let him take his shoes off and he was running around in the sand and didn't see the white ashes from a bonfire from the evening before.  They quickly took my son out into the ocean, drove him back to the school where he sat with his foot in a bucket because his school bus took him home.  In the bus he sat with a wet, cold towel around his foot and the driver carried him all the way into our livingroom where I had a bucket of cold water waiting which he sat with his foot in for five hours.  His foot was bare and dry overnight and he's wearing a sock now.  I'll take his sock off and check him from time to time.

Sankt Hans - Tuesday evening was Sankt Hans Evening and that's when we burn witches off and send them to a mountain in Germany called Blocksbjerg in Danish. ;)  Due to the pc brigade most people just have bonfires but without the witch doll on top.  None of the women (don't know why I don't know any men) who have a nature based belief and call themselves witches have ever taken offense to this tradition of burning off a witch doll and some of them delighted in making these dolls themselves for bonfires.  They all celebrated Sankt Hans Evening with the rest of us.

We were tired.  Went to bed early without seeing any bonfires.  Hub had been on the road all day and I was exhausted from caring for a chicken pox sick boy and dragging him through town to pick up his middle, older brother from school and just trying to keep it all together until hub got home in the evening.

Hope both of your boys are feeling better!

The boys - They're actually feeling too good and I have to remind the oldest one not to walk on his burnt foot because it's thankfully healing nicely and he's not feeling any more pain. :)  Now I just have three hyperactive boys at home but two of them are still getting a few new spots so I can't let them out just yet.  I'm going to go out of my mind though. ;)

Hair - I wash and deep condition nearly daily now.  Even though I use conditioners or products with UV protection, my hair always gets that brassy look that shows in some light.  I've booked an appointment for the 9th of July.  I was going to wait until September but I guess I can't go six months without a trim.  I found 10 spits yesterday.  They were all in the back, in the same place so I'm reviewing what I'm doing to my hair so I can prevent more stress to that section of hair.  Generally, my hair still appears to be in good condition though.    I had my last trim on Friday, 13th of March.  I hope they don't have to take off more than two inches.  It's not the salon owner I've booked this time but one of her assistants.  She's a fully educated hairdresser like the salon owner.  She only has one trainee and the chemistry between her and I isn't good and my husband had an awful cut by her, she also upset my boys.  All the others are nice.  We only booked the trainee for hub and the boys because she's ½ price.  Here's really a case of "you get what you pay for".

I know we all have to start some where.  I just don't want the assistant to start learning on my hair!

Hair - It was too warm and humid to sleep so some time after midnight I S/D but only found ends that looked suspiciously like they might split or have recently been part of split ends.  VR this morning.  Deep condition.  Leave-in condition.  Still not satisfied so I used a tiny dab of the Garnier olive/lemon deep conditioner as a leave-in and that did the trick so I think I'll continue to use the deep conditioner as a daily leave-in the rest of the summer or until it's used up.  I need to stick to the heavier cream products.  Sadly, we don't have that Pantene balm everyone in the U.S. is recommending that I try.  Someone suggested that I use regular sun screen in my hair and braid it but my hair isn't long enough to braid and I don't know if there are harmful ingredients in the body sun screens that might hurt my hair.

Boys - It's like the oldest and youngest are having a second wave of pox because Friday I thought they weren't having any new spots but last night I saw new spots on both of them so I still can't send the youngest one back to kindergarten.  That means we get to sleep in tomorrow. :)

Hair - Wash, condition, spray leave-in, dry hair in towel, run a tiny dab of deep conditioner through hair when it's nearly dry.  This has become my routine on sunny days where I'll be outside.  I still deep condition twice a week with a one minute conditioner or olive oil and I still VR once a week.  Dusting again and found two split ends.  I'm actually looking forward to my trim on the 9th of July.  

Boys - I hope we can send the youngest one back to kindergarten tomorrow.  There are no new spots and they all look like healing wounds now.  I need to split up the oldest and the youngest as much as possible.  Their different mental disablities are incompatible.  One's Autistic and the other one is retarded but very social.  The communication between them is sweet and funny when they get along but it's hard for the oldest one that his youngest brother loves and admirers him so much that he wants to be around his oldest brother all the time and drives the oldest one up the wall with his talking and the youngest one suffocates the oldest one with his frequent displays of affection.  They draw lots of depictions of each other and hearts all around so I'm sure they love each other in that brotherly way through good and bad. ;D  The middle one has a normal brotherly relationship with both of them through good and bad but mainly good too. :)

Thank God for small favors!  Having brotherly calm is so important when other factors come into play!

Hair - Of course it's only after my ends on all layers are fried and split despite my attempt to care for my hair, that the grocery stores begin to stock common brands shampoo and conditioners with UV protection for other than dyed hair.  Last year I had the sense to use the kind for dyed hair even though my hair wasn't dyed.  I lost common sense this year and it's also only now that the hairdresser stocks (very expensive) hair UV protection spray. ::)  

So for now I'm putting the Nivea Diamond Gloss shampoo and conditioner away for Fall and I'm going to begin to use Gliss shampoo and conditioner again.  Not the oil nutrive but in the wild rose oil repair UV series.  I've used the deep conditioner before but I could only afford the regular shampoo and conditioner today because the boys are running out of sun screen and mosquito stick.  I've got my priorities straight!  We've had so many unexpected expenses this year that anything relating to my vanity is of a very low priority.  I only prioritized sun screen for skin because that's not just an issue of vanity!

Scapped lip -  Around midnight I woke up because a zit was pressing painfully on my upper lip on the right side.  I thought that by applying some zinc zit zapper (erh...it's Garnier but other brands make these gel zit zappers too) and carefully squeezing it out, that it wouldn't be too bad and wouldn't cause more than a needle point scap which I've had before and isn't a big deal.  This time the zit was quite deep and large it turned out so I woke up this morning with two scaps on either side of where the zit had been.  I must've pressed too hard.  I don't need anyone to tell me how well deserving these unsightly scaps are I just need someone to tell me the dos and dont's and any tips on how to make scaps on lips heel faster are welcome too!

I'm going to bed early.  I'm drinking loads of green tea and eating fruits and vegetables.  I don't know if it was stupid or just useless but I dabbed a bit of honey on the scap and just wore sun screen stick on my lips today.

I'm happy you can get your Gliss again!

Drear, the word you're looking for is scab, not scap.  Ouch!  Right on the lip!  If you have long fingernails, you can wrap your fingertips in a tissue to be more gentle to the skin.  Also, I think you could take cotton swabs and use the tips to press the skin.  I guess keeping the skin clean and moisturized will help with healing faster.  I hope it heals quickly!!!

Sakina wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2009 at 1:35pm:

I'm happy you can get your Gliss again! Drear, the word you're looking for is scab, not scap.  Ouch!  Right on the lip!  If you have long fingernails, you can wrap your fingertips in a tissue to be more gentle to the skin.  Also, I think you could take cotton swabs and use the tips to press the skin.  I guess keeping the skin clean and moisturized will help with healing faster.  I hope it heals quickly!!!

;D  You should hear my Danish today. ;)  I'm overtired and stressed.  I know you're right so thanks for the correction.  My boys have been correcting me too.  I've cleaned it and just letting it get air and leaving it alone.  Accidentally got some of my facial cleanser on it which irritated it a bit so I cleaned it again.  *ouch!*

Poor Drear!  Sounds like you could use a vacation!!!  Indonesian is my husbands first language, so I am often correcting him and it has become a habit.  

Hi, Drear, any antibiotic creme will help zits heal faster, if you are willing to use it.  I, thank the goddess, am past the age of having zits, but when I did have the occasional one, putting antibiotic creme on the incipient spot somtimes prevented them.  Good luck.

Hi Drear, I sympathize with you on the pimple.  I never had acne as a teenager, but as an adult I do get the occasional breakout.  Last month we had the worst "June Gloom" every day and the humidity gave me the worst breakout I think I've ever had!  I bought a tea tree oil blemish stick by Burt's Bees and gave it a try.  It seemed to work on certain types of pimples but not all of them.  
Pimples on the edge of the lip are the worst!  They hurt so bad when you try to squeeze them.  

Hmm...I'll have to look into anti-biotic cream.  I've been using honey.  It's fine now, it was fine all evening and night but as soon as I come out of the shower it's soft, swollen and has something slightly oozing from it so I have to clean it up with propanol again and that hurts like hell.  After a few minutes it looks fine but I don't know how long it'll take to heal.  

My Danish was haulted at 8th grade when I left Denmark and my English is so-so.  My written English is actually better than my spoken English.  For all in the world I can't learn how to pronounce rolling "r's" "th" and "w" the way you do in English so I have sort of a slurred accent and when I was in high school many of my school mates really just thought I had a slur.  So I suppose you can say that I don't speak any language fluently which can be quite frustrating because it probably makes me seem more stupid than I really am.  

MichelleR, I'm getting them in places I never got them in my teens. ::)  I never had blackheads as a teenager but I have them now on my cheeks and I'm sort of a medical guinea pig for my doc. ;D  I'm also using a Neutrogena face wash for black heads and there regular 2-1 wash/deep cleanser for blemishes once a week and I never thought I'd be needing astrigent cleanser in my 30s.  I still use oil free moisturizers and I try to find grease free facial sun screens.  

Yeesh. Perhaps now you have some insight as to why you're never supposed to pop or squeeze zits. Not only will they ooze and scab over, the pus is loaded with bacteria, which can infect the surrounding pores, resulting in more zits! It also causes scarring. Not smart.

Different treatments work for different people, but honey won't do a thing for blemishes, babe. Sorry. You should try salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide...or tea tree oil, if you insist on the natural route, though I have no experience with it.

Also, there is no age limit for acne. It's not just a random product of your teenage years that disappears as soon as they do. It is a chemical reaction that can happen at any time for a myriad of reasons. So yeah, no need to be embarrassed about using products that work for you...I'm 29 and still using Clearasil. ;)

I've used Cetaphil cleanser for years.  They have a formulation for oily skin.  It cleans beautifully and is so gentle for your skin.  My skin feels so good after I use it, sometimes I don't even need a mosturizer.  It won't do any harm and it might help, if you can find it and if your dermatologist approves.

Also, there is no age limit for acne. It's not just a random product of your teenage years that disappears as soon as they do. It is a chemical reaction that can happen at any time for a myriad of reasons. So yeah, no need to be embarrassed about using products that work for you...I'm 29 and still using Clearasil.  

42 here and still getting zitty! :D I use Clean & Clear gel.

Quote:

Yeesh. Perhaps now you have some insight as to why you're never supposed to pop or squeeze zits.

I actually knew better. :)  Perhaps if I wasn't going through a period of very disturbed sleep and general stress and concerns I wouldn't have overreacted to something like a zit.  The times I've accidentally scratched out a zit in my sleep, quick disinfection of the area where the blemish was usually works.  

The honey was just to help the scab heal by disinfecting and keeping it soft.  I'd already cleansed and disinfected the area after the blemish was removed.  Appears to be healing relatively nicely so now keeping the area clean is all that matters and then not think too much about it.

Some people have no blemishes for a few years after their early-mid 20s for the blemishes to return again in their 30s when hormonal changes occur.  That's what I've been told and it could appear as if I belong into the latter category.

It's 11:40am here, I got up late after another disturbed night.  I need something to wake up on!  Coffee, quick!  I'm somewhat distracted and irritable and just want to read you ladies journal entries while I try to collect myself and relax. :)  If I sound rude and short in my responses, then it's not intentional. :)

Cetaphil and Clean & Clear aren't familiar brands here but the products I use are all for oily skin that's easily irritable and treats blemishes of all kinds. ;D  Burt's Bee's is hard to come by.  I'm even going to switch to a slightly costly pharmacy sun screen that's oil free and safe for all skin types including very sensitive types and children.  

This weekend - It's still hot and humid so I'm not motivated to do anything.  Hub's away for a 24 hrs. ham radio contest but it's nearby.  

Hair - Was and condition with the Gliss rose oil UV shampoo and daily conditioner.  Feels different than when I used the oil nutrive Gliss series which I expected even though they're both Gliss series, it just takes some getting used to so it's too early to say whether I like it or not but my hair looks fine, feels okay and as long as the UV protection really works then I'm happy because it's a cheap brand.  

Update - Been grocery shopping.  For a combination of reasons I forgot that I had moved my purse from one handbag to another because I have three fabric ones my dad bought in a Fair Trade shop I like to use in the summer and they all meet different needs.  So we ran back and forth like mad with three boys in tow but they were just glad to be out and about...until those "thunder flies" decided to swarm in over our town.  They're small, black, and they "pinch".  Saw a father drive around with his obviously new "toy" car with two sons on the front seat. ::) >:(  The police never come out to our rural area.  You won't dream of the stuff I see!  WE had ice creams for lunch and the boys are havin hotdogs for dinner.  They had oatmeal for breakfast.  We do cook them real food most of the time. ;D  I'll settle for steamed cod and salad.  

The neighbors just gave us a photo of her youngest daughter at her communion.  It's at 13-14 here.  I really liked her outfit.  There have been a few years where I thought the communion styles were too sexy and inappropriate for church.  

Their youngest daughter wore white leggings with a short, simple white empire dress and a blue alice band with a blue flower on the side, a cute "Victorian" inspired necklace, and white ballerinas.  Just enough to add personal detailing and add some interest to all the white stuff.  All white is lovely too.  Her hair was simple and if she was wearing any make-up it was very natural looking.  

Our middle one is style conscious and interested in apparel and jewelry designs so I wonder what he'll choose to wear for his communion...I hope he understands that it's not supposed to be a fashion show but that he can slightly change his suit/outfit when he gets home for the family party.  We'l take that one when it becomes relevant. ;)

I am pretty sure that you could find Cetaphil and Clean and Clear (a Noxzema product, I think) on-line and order that way, if you wanted.

melusine wrote on Jul 4^th, 2009 at 5:10pm:

I am pretty sure that you could find Cetaphil and Clean and Clear (a Noxzema product, I think) on-line and order that way, if you wanted.

I just thought of checking the ingredients and seeing if I can get something like that around here if the stuff I'm using isn't similar.  I'd have to buy it from an EU based site or extra VAT/tax is placed on the package if it's from outside an EU country. ::)  So far, I'm pretty happy with the stuff I'm using.  :)

Hair - Wash, VR, and regular condition today because I'm alone with the boys.

4th July - We don't celebrate it here but there were lots of garden parties last night with loud music.  Most Danes are aware that the Americans celebrate something on the 4th of July and since it fell on a Saturday, I think most people used it as an excuse to host loud parties.  This wasn't the warmest weekend we've had and rain and thunder was forecast which we did have a bit of but not enough so it quickly became yucky again. Despite it being very warm and humid, I couldn't open any windows until 1:30am because the music would've woken the boys up and no one played music I like anyway.  So I tossed and turned and when I finally could get some fresh air into our house, I didn't feel like going straight to bed but wanted to enjoy that it was warm enough to sit in the quiet darkness on our patio.  I had about 4 hrs. of sleep but I'm not tired...yet.

My middle one slept with his head in a Lego box.  I moved him back into bed twice before I fell asleep.  They were all up, had eaten oatmeal and toast and were getting dressed when I woke up.  They're really good with that and I'm proud that they help each other so that the one's who have difficulty with one or the other thing gets breakfast and clothes anyway.  Unfortunately, I could see they'd been over by our office table which we don't want.  Hub had left a basket out which has the thing for testing batteries so the two oldest nerds tested batteries in anything they could find with batteries in. ;D  It's not the worst thing they could do.  

Hair - Wash, condition, leave with hair in a wet mess.  For some reason, when I'm rushed, the shampoo and conditioner seems extra stubborn but doesn't work as well as usual.

Morning - I take the reward for bad mother!  I woke up at 8:30am when the youngest one is supposed to be in kindergarten.  The boys were already up, dressed, fed themselves and ready to go. :-[  I just can't bear to leave before I've had a shower and I had to pack his lunch and rush around and find rain overalls that weren't fleece lined.  We only have one pair of rain boots that fit him and apparently they're fleece lined too.  We get a lot of free clothes and footwear for our youngest one because their son who's younger than ours, grows faster.  Sometimes, my oldest ones inherit shoes from their boy too even though our older boys are 5-7 years older than their "little" giant. ;D

Hair - Wash, deep condition, just a quick coating with UV daily conditioner, air dry and throw on an alice band!  I think I've given the rose oil Gliss enough testing time and while I wasn't thrilled at first, I'm really happy with the way my hair looks and feels now.  It doesn't look artificially shiny, my hair doesn't have that nearly but not quite greasy softness most conditioners give me because less leaves my hair static and feeling very coarse.  It feels naturally soft too. :)
I'm really excited about getting that long scheduled major trim tomorrow so I can finally get my hair into the shape I want it to be long term; Blunt, one length, and center parted.

Vacation - week 30, 31 and 32 we'll do some things with the boys.  Week 30 we've rented a holiday house, week 31 we'll be at my mom's.  She has a holiday annex people can rent but we'll stay for free.  She lives in the harbor town of Gilleleje which always attracts large numbers of tourists in the summer.  The old fish factory is now an art gallery, different shops and restaurants, and there's a long beach.

There aren't any one site that has good images of Gilleleje so this is just from google: http://images.google.dk/images?hl=da&q=gilleleje&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

These are from last year:

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/3620/dsc02747w.jpg

http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/6384/dsc02744.jpg

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/2186/dsc02745.jpg


I think they change the exhibition each year.  Gosh, my hair was so short a year ago!  Don't worry, it won't be that short tomorrow unless the hairdresser misunderstands me. :o

The pics are great!!  
Here's hoping your hairdresser listens to what you're saying!!

Gilleleje looks lovely.  Have fun!

If that was your hair a year ago, I'd love to see a picture of how long it is now.  :)

MichelleR wrote on Jul 8^th, 2009 at 8:22am:

Gilleleje looks lovely.  Have fun! If that was your hair a year ago, I'd love to see a picture of how long it is now.  :)

The bottom back layer is APL.  I don't have a new pic and I doubt I'll be in a mood to have my picture taken tomorrow. ;D  

Hair - Back to 17,5" but that major chop was the best thing I've had done to my hair in a long time!  It's all one blunt length in the back now and there are only those two shorter "tendrils" at the front I've described before.  I got the center parting I wanted too even though the hairdresser asked why I wanted it, as if she thought it was a bad idea.  I told her that it makes it easier to change parting.  She accepted that explanation.  She also wanted to maintain a u shaped back which she didn't get her way with.  She pushed a few buttons and I had to tell her quite frankly that when I get an idea into my head about how I want my hair, then it's best to let me have my way and let me learn from experience!  I'm glad she didn't take off as much as I feared was needed or as much as it felt like she was cutting off.  

She respected my wishes in the end and was careful to leave me with the visual impression of long hair by leaving it just below shoulder and collar bone length.  I'm glad to be rid of all sun damaged hair and split ends.  My hair looks much healthier, shinier and fuller now.  

While I understand that a salon has a reputation I won't be coaxed into something I'm not happy with no matter how well it may suit me.  I'd rather be turned away.  I said that I want her to keep trimming the ends until it's all one length and then I'll decide when I think my hair is the final length I want it to be when I get there.

I didn't let her wash, dry and straighten my hair which is what most Danish hairdressers insist on doing when they cut straight hair so we reached a compromise and she only got to straighten my hair a bit because I'd already overmoisturized and heat protected my hair from home.  But all in all I'm happy with my hair and now that it's just a matter of cutting a straight line, it doesn't matter which of the hairdressers in the salon that cuts my hair so I'll just keep trying different ones until I find someone more sympatic which might be the first lady who cut my bob when the salon first opened.

Last evening I washed out some gooey stuff she'd applied to the ends and deep conditioned my hair as well.  It looked much better air dried and unstyled afterwards and this mornign I just washed and conditioned my hair.  I'm so glad to be rid of the side parting which I had to find and put in after each shower before.  The center parting just stays there.  The hairdresser also thought I was really fussy about getting that center parting absolutely centered and straight.

My husband says he'll cut my hair for the same price the hairdresser charges.  I told him he isn't worth it. ;)  

Hair - Wash, deep conditioned but forgot to VR.  Looks and feels just fine.  I like not having to consider where the parting goes any more.  

Stuff - House is a mess, laundry's piling up, thankfully the boys can fix their own breakfast and dress themselves, my sleeping pattern's messed up and I wake up thinking about coffee and I get a migraine if I don't drink at least 3 cups a day now.  I need to get back to normal and at least go to bed at a reasonable time as if I had someone to get out of the door and someone to walk to kindergarten.  

Hair - I can't get over how much I love it now that it's ironically the simplest it has been in over five years.  It just behaves, and behaves, an behaves...so darn well! :D  I like that it feel soft, hydrated, healthy and full to the very tips.  I won't try to go more than 3 months without a minor trim any more.  My hair doesn't break easily but I guess I'm prone to split ends.  Without layers it looks so much fuller and healthier.  Even the hairdresser had to agree with me afterwards though I could tell she was reluctant to do so.  ;D  Wash, condition, air dry and just a quick comb through once my hair had dried.  It was so windy outside but my hair was still tangle free when I came home and that center parting just stays perfectly straight.  I used to have to keep adjusting my side part.  

Vacation - All three boys are off now.  Hub has to work one more week, then we have three weeks together.  It's tough having three boys home when they're all well. ;D  They're being real good and helping out and it's nice to be together with them like that and feel proud that I've taught them some practical things.  Little one was a monster in town though.  He's so spontaneous and gets excited over little stuff and can't stop goofing around.  I just have to look at old photos of my mature, sensible husband to know where my boys get their goofy gene from. ;)

I can't find the time to buy a replacement for my once wind and rain proof jacket before we go on vacation.  I found some cheap trekking sandals though.  They look cheap too but they're very comfortable and I dare say the quality is decent.  I just wish I could have afforded some that weren't white/red.

Hair - Last night I washed and just sprayed some leave-in conditioner in my hair before going to bed.  It had been another miserable day weather wise but this is supposed to be the last one of warm, humid miserable days and it's supposed to end in a big bang this afternoon.  We've had a lot of thunder and lightening so I've not been out much but due to the sweat I still need to wash my hair twice a day.  Wash and conditioned this morning.  I'm using a very deluted amount of shampoo because of the frequent washing.  

Week 30 - Actually, starting tomorrow we'll be in that holiday home we've rented a few hours away.  We'll try to time it so we don't have to drive in the worst rain and lightening.  The car isn't a bad place to be in during lightening, that's not my concern but I am concerned about the roads and visibility during the heavy rains we're supposed to get tomorrow.  After three weeks at home with the boys, the boys and I are feeling cabin fever so it'll be nice to shift to another cabin. ;)  We haven't decided if we'll drive directly over to my mother in week 31 or if we'll do a short laundry and re-stock stop at home first.  I don't know if we can find an internet connection at or near the holiday home and it's not very important to me.  

The hair routine is going to have to rest for a few weeks and I'm only bringing my regular shampoo and conditioner.  For now that's the rose oil series from Gliss with UV filter.  

Enjoy your vacation!   8-)

Back - Home for the weekend.  Loads of laundry even though I did quite a bit during the week and we'll spend tomorrow re-packing before driving to my mom's on Monday.  Nice to be back and have my own stuff.  Know what TV channels we have and where they are.  Really missed being online.  Creature of habit...Can pack much of the same stuff again.  Thankfully we don't have to bring towels, bedding and cleansing stuff this time.  Boys seem to enjoy being back home with their toys.

Thyholm - Was fine.  The holiday home was from 1992 and for a luxury creature like me, a holiday home from after 2000 is really more my thing but everything was okay considering the price and the fact that we only used the house as a base to sleep, eat dinner, do laundry, shower and relax in the evening.  It was near the ocean but hidden behind trees.  There were swings, a sandbox and a playhouse.  There were two showers, a spa bath, a sauna, washer, dryer, dishwasher, a poorly equipped kitchen.  Mainly stuff for baking, not much for cooking and what was, was so well hidden that I only found them last evening. :-[  I'm a little too tired to go into details.  The water was too salty to drink so we had to buy everything we drank.  We went on lots of daytrips.  We visited a bunker museum, medieval fortress and happened to walk into a medieval fair, they always advertise these in town centers where they always disappoint but this one was really good though small.

We spent half a day at a flower- and amusement park where we watched a 4D film on dinosaurs, The film was recommended for children over 7 y.o. but our youngest (aged 5½, mental age 3) found it hysterically funny anyway.  Entertainment overload!

Did a spot of shopping on the only rainy day.  I bought jewelry making stuff for my collection of semi-precious beads, two fabric covered notebooks which is the kind of useless stuff I'm a sucker for and a mini trekking "backpack" with just enough room for car keys and coins.  Cute though.

Yesterday we visited the ancestral area of my father in-law's family, there are large farms and a street named after the family, nothing spectacular and they were always poor but it was quite an emotional visit anyway.  We stopped by a watch tower (erh...one of those things so ships don't hit ground) museum and drove to a harbor town for fish, fries, antique window shopping but no buying.  Hub was boring and had a chicken salad that looked much better than my fish and fries but I'm sure my fish and fries were better! :P

Well, there wasn't really anything to complain about that holiday house.  It's just that I'm so spoilt that I've tried the luxury variety of this kind so now I'm difficult to please.  It didn't help that we arrived in rain and on a cool day.  I was irritated over the kitchen but other than that, there was everything I needed and the boys don't care for luxury.  So I've got nothing to be ungrateful for.  I was happy to camp under very primitive conditions growing up.  I don't know what's happened since. ;)

Hair - With the water being so awfully salty I suppose it shouldn't come as a surprise that my suffered a bit and doesn't look its best in any of the photos we took.  It was wash and condition every day with UV protection and on the rainy day I just used a leave-in conditioner I also used after evening showers.  I'm finding faults in the last hair cut but unfortunately I can't afford to have it adjusted now.  It looks like there are two layers instead of just one length in the back and I'm not entirely convinced that it's perfectly straight in the back.  The sides aren't even with the bottom yet but my face is too round to cut all of my hair up to the length of the shortest hair in front.  I think I've also spotted some split ends in the top layer she didn't cut away even though she promised me to take them away.  I suppose I can tolerate it for a couple more months.  Overall, my hair's still looking its best in ages.

Face - It's looking awful.  I forgot my cleansing stuff and only had a face cream for my face.  I hope I can get it in better condition the next couple of days with some cleansing masks and oil free moisturizers and of course it's the most important things to bring to my mother's.  Oh, and the sun screen.  

A Light House is what the watch tower is called.  Your fish & chips sound yummy to me!!!

I'm so sorry you forgot your cleanser!  I've had that happen, and really was miserable!!!  I hope your skin turns around right quick!!!!!

I have forgotten cleanser, too and used hotel soap, with copious amounts of moisturizer afterwords.  Fortunately my skin is less sensitive than my hair.  :)  Your skin should be back to normal in a few days.

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It's just that I'm so spoilt that I've tried the luxury variety of this kind so now I'm difficult to please.

Ugh...I know what you mean.  I hate feelilng that way.   Nothing like counting your blessings and finding things to be grateful for (no matter how small) to help brighten your attitude.

Hair - Got back in shape after a weekend at home and the water quality is better at my mom's than at the place we were the week before even though she lives near the ocean too.  VR as soon as I got home and deep conditioned the two first days I was back.  My hair is so soft and smooth now.  Mom says there's nothing wrong with my cut and that the bottom looks sharp and straight.  

Skin - Still problematic since last winter but back to the condition it was before I went to the holiday house.  I remembered to bring all my cleansers and oil free sun screen for face to my mom's.  

Mom's - Did all the usual stuff we do when we're in Gilleleje which includes large consumptions of icecream, ordering food at one of two stalls at the harbor and enjoying the meal on a bench overlooking the commercial fish trawlers and luxury yachts.  Lots of walking and some shopping.  

I bought new ECCO sandals from their Charm collection.  I won't buy any other brand than ECCO.  The quality is good, the price is fair and it's the brand I've had to most positive experiences with.  Well my feet like ECCo's classic and basic footwear lines.  I've been buying their sandals too large though and couldn't understand why I wore them out so quickly because usually ECCO is very durable.   My mom insisted on buying me some casual flats that look just a bit more feminine than the usual functional footwear I go for so now I have a pair of mary janes that are super cute but they're of some brand I have no experience; Tamaris from their active collection/line.  From what I could find out online it's a decent quality German brand in the same price range as ECCO and they feel just like ECCO shoes on my feet.  I still want to buy a pair of ECCO shoes, possibly ECCO Charm with laces.  Black of course.  I rarely buy footwear in other colors.  Found a quality short sleeved grey knit t-shirt my mom insisted on paying for too.  I found two dirt cheap bras and my mom bought me new black leggings because she was shocked that, that's the only color I don't own leggings in for summer use. ;D So all in all I'm very pleased with my sale finds.

This week - Laundry, gardening, tidy up this house.  Won't bother to clean before everyone else goes back to school and work.  Continue caring for my face skin.

I'm too tired to upload photos.  It may have to wait until next week.  

 

Hair - Wash, condition, this is going to be a miserable day for my scalp because it's supposed to be hot and humid before the thunder arrives.  

Ree Safari Park - (copied from a mail to my dad and only slightly edited) It's hub's birthday today but the weather forecast was better yesterday so we moved the celebration to Friday instead of Saturday.  So today we're just staying home and I'll prepare something special for dinner.  Yesterday we went to Ree Park Zoo with his parents.  It was really spectacular and I was positively surprised.  I didn't know what to expect.  It's a really big place and we didn't feel crowded at any time.  I'll upload photos when the boys are back in school from all three weeks hub, boys and I spent together.

Here's a link to the park's homepage which sadly doesn't do justice to the park:  http://www.reepark.dk/  It's divided up in animals according to continents.  North America was impressive with the all the wood.  We walked across a long wooden hanging bridge and I recognized the scent of that new red toned wood (don't know if it really was red wood) and some of it had already greyed which I always thought lent it a rustic charm.  We saw a hawk show too (I doubt the boys remember seeing a similar show five years ago in nord Jylland).  The youngest asked if we'd let him in with the leopards in Africa; "No!".  I saw black swans for the first time ever.  It helped that the weather was fantastic.

Quote:

I saw black swans for the first time ever.

I saw black swans for the first time a couple years ago at the Kansas zoo.  They're beautiful!

Hair - VR, wash, deep condition.  Forgot to comb my hair today.  It's hot and sticky and just about to change.  brushed my hair in the afternoon.  Looks okay, not sure about the feel.  I'm using this Garnier olive and lemon deep conditioner until I've used it up.  Then I won't buy it again.  I'll go back to Gliss Rose Oil deep conditioner from the same line I use daily.  My hair photographs awfully.  It's a stupid length and coarse hair can look bad in photos when it's a medium length.  Well, my hair has always looked awful in photos when it's medium length.  

Sunday - A bloody scare on the toilet, generally feeling dizzy and stomach cramps landed me at the doctor on call's office at the nearest hospital.  Some tear, nothing serious, and I was reprimanded for stopping D-vitamin supplement intake in the summer. :-[  The man's obviously taken the time to read my medical history. :)  He read the D-vitamin deficiency and I admitted that I'd quit taking the supplement out of ignorance.   I suspect the red wine and beef from the night before might be the culprits for the stomach pains.  I'm only a social drinker.  I think I might be among those of Asian origin who lack an enzyme to digest alcohol.  Red meat is difficult to digest for many people.  We don't eat red meat too often for that reason.

I didn't prepare the one in the picture but it's the same I made and no parts were red when we ate it:  http://www.maduniverset.dk/images/R%D8DVINSM%D8RBRAD.jpg  It was well done all the way through.  That's what hub wanted for dinner on his birthday, Saturday.


Hair - Wash, condition.  I've been using a comb when I'm out but I'm so used to brushes now that I bought a purse brush today.  Hair looks and feels good if you disregard the stupid length.  It's definitely not photogenic at present length.  But with my hair being so well behaved I'm not complaining.

Back-to-school - Well, for the oldest boys anyway and the youngest one's back in kindergarten.  He's been wanting to go back for the past three weeks.  I don't think we're bad parents. ;D  I've dusted, vacuumed, been to the pharmacy and grocery store, cleaned up the war zone in the oldest boys' room and that took half a day, and I've still got the kitchen and livingroom to vacuum.  

OOH that does sound scary!  Glad to hear it was nothing serious.  You're probably right about the stomach cramps.  If you don't eat very much red meat, it can definitely give you some trouble.  

Hair - Who cares!  I have bigger problems!  Seriously, this is just a wash and condition day.  I haven't given my hair any thought.  I didn't care what my hair looked like when I had a meeting with social services today.  I didn't even look in a mirror.  Judging by the hair of the guy we had the meeting with, I don't think he cared what his or anyone's hair looks like. ;D  

Social "Services" meeting - With some old guy who retires at the end of the month who could only apologize for the situation; Us being lost in the system, completely forgotten and not getting a meeting in (he said six months but he's wrong) over 8 months.  So now we're supposedly back in the system - they'll try to remember who we are and he'll send his recommendations for our oldest son's needs but we still have to keep contacting them and reminding them of our needs.  In other words; we're expected to hold social services tightly by their ears. ::)  He was very sympatic to our situation having worked in the field to help families like ours for over 30 years but he's only been in our county for a month and he was only employed as a substitute for a real social worker until they find someone who actually wants that position permanently.  Looong story.....This is the actual reason why we haven't been receiving any help and haven't been able to schedule a meeting.  No one wants to be a social worker for families with one or more mentally disabled members.  I suppose I don't blame anyone for not wanting that job.  I wouldn't want that job but that doesn't change our dire needs.

Skin - Bumpy rashes.  Don't have time to give it any thought, schedule an appointment or try to treat it in any way.  I'm too pre-occupied with the family situation here and the boys needs.

Hair - Wash, deep condition.  My hair's looking so good I completely passed up on the make-up.  On days when my hair looks its best I don't care about the rest. :P

Cold - I'm treating it with every known household remidy.  Good Danish honey, green tea, taking my vitamins, eating healthily, sleeping well and sweating it out.  Dressing like it's already Fall.  I'm so annoyed because I can't have a throat infection from two weeks before I'm supposed to have my tonsils removed and the surgery is scheduled in three weeks and I have an examination on the 25th of this month. :(  I've been keeping my hans off railings, being fantatically hygienic; carried disinfectant with me every where and washed my hands at every opportunity.  The weather's acting like it's Fall. :(

So if in the end they won't remove my tonsils and my itchy spots end up covering my whole body, at least I'll have great looking hair! :D

BREATHE!  Come on, right now...  In with the good, out with the bad.  In with the good, out with the bad.  *hugs*  Everything WILL get done, you'll see.  

Trisha wrote on Aug 13^th, 2009 at 11:01am:

BREATHE!  Come on, right now...  In with the good, out with the bad.  In with the good, out with the bad.  *hugs*  Everything WILL get done, you'll see.

;D  Cold appears to be over, skin's somewhat better, I'm taking none-prescriptive antihistamines and using a prescription cream, but my hair feels like fish line nylon. ::)  So now I'm trying to distract from my hair with a colorful, frilly, busy, retro inspired style a'la that Melinda Gordon character.  My make-up's much more colorful than that character though.  Glittery greens, purples, and a blue-pink-purplish eyeshadow with shimmery green and plum eyeliner plus three layers of mascara.  All topped off with an old MAC Vivacious pink lipstick.  As soon as my hair's dry, I'll grab a scarf and tie it into a low ponytail.  That'll be a very colorful scarf too!  Proportions and balance aren't in my vocabulary!  We all have our ways of dealing with our insecurities.  

Hair - Clarifying, then deep conditioning sure helped on the feel of my hair.  It' feels naturally smooth now.  No synthetic stringy feel.  

A none-wasted-lazy-day - Omg!  It's just past 5:15pm here and I've sat on my flat since 9am something.  I've watched the extra material on Dion Dimucci's Heroes, Dion Live from 2004, Ricky Nelson Greatest Hits DVD, The Carpenters Gold Greatest Hits DVD, and Depeche Mode SOTU extra material.  The Dion stuff really had me entranced.  I could watch Dion Dimucci talk about his music, history, guitars, life experiences, etc. over and over again.  

Sounds to me like you had a soul nourishing day.  Good for you!

I'm glad your cold is gone.  I'm afraid that I'm going to get sick now that I'm home.  

Do you do deep treatments on your hair?  If so, how are you doing them and what are you using?

Sakina wrote on Aug 16^th, 2009 at 1:46pm:

Sounds to me like you had a soul nourishing day.  Good for you! I'm glad your cold is gone.  I'm afraid that I'm going to get sick now that I'm home.   Do you do deep treatments on your hair?  If so, how are you doing them and what are you using?

I'm not sure I'm happy with the deep treatment I do on Sunday.  After clarifying I use Garnier's olive and lemon deep conditioner right now.  I think it might work better on less coarse hair.  I'll go back to Gliss rose oil deep conditioner when I've used this one up.  I use Gliss 1 min. deep conditioner for deep repair on Wednesdays.  I've given up on using pure olive oil because the results are so inconsistent.  I've used some monoi oil in the past but that's too expensive.  I'd leave it on for 20 mins. then wash it out.  

Hair - My scalp suffered miserably yesterday when it was hot and humid.  Relief didn't even come after thunder and lightening that was like nothing we usually have around here and it had to start in the evening when I was home alone with the boys.  Thankfully two of them slept through it.  Today was just wash and condition.  It feels like my hair is growing very fast these days but I won't wave from my decision not to measure until Jan.2010.  I'll need 1-2 trims before that.

Skin - It's a itchy hell with urticaria.  Got Locoid cream and Telfast.  However, every three days it acts up miserably and I can't resist from itching myself into a bloody mess.  If I don't do it while I'm awake and conscious I'll do it in my sleep.  Had the same experience between x-mas and NY 07. Except the rashes were in a different place but the itching at night if I'd actually been able to resist itching during the day, was the same back then.  For months after I had huge blotches of beet red "scars".  It's actually gone away.  Couldn't get a dermatologist appt. until 21st of Oct.  I've got the surgery before that.  This is just hell!  

Saw the doctor on Wednesday and all she could do was to perscribe these Telfast anti-histhamines a new perscription of Locoid hormone cream and write a referal to a dermatologist.  

I'm keeping a diary of what I've eaten and what ever else I've encountered or used on days when it's really bad and generally writing down my suspicions.  I don't search the net much.  Every time I look up symptoms for one or other ailment, it always leads to results saying it looks like the symptoms of this or that type of cancer.  If that is the case then I want a doctor to diagnose it pronto but I don't want to morph into a cyberchondriac.

I guess you could say I had a confused 1950s and 70s thing going on the other day  while vacuuming and 90% of my clothes either being in one of three stages of laundry so I was in a short sleeved knit top, knit slip-over, and pin striped pants, straight loose legs with crease (not flared bellbottoms). I think some women wore that style of pants in the 70s. My hair was straight and center parted the way I prefer it until it's grown longer. Then the doorbell rang and a man I'd never seen asked:

"Are your parents home?" I was smiling from ear to ear.

My reply: "I am the parent at home!". I hope I didn't sound offended. He apologized profusely three times; Right on the spot, when he later spoke to my husband after he came home from work and again before he left our house. I kept repeating that he'd caused no offense and that I was very flattered.

I couldn't keep away from th pc regarding my allergies/intolerances any way.  I'm being more careful with the search words I use to try to zoom in on relevant information.  So, a prick-needle test may only be able to prove so much and that may be why despite my sufferings in the grass season and any time I get in contact with pine, I have terrible nettle breakouts.  

Perhaps I need to get some control over that irritated stomach and avoid things like almonds and tomatos which seem to be especially irritating to my system and skin.  Apologies, I'm itching, feeling like hell generally and trying to write this in English.  I'm not sure for who's benefit I'm writing this.  I just feel a need to get my thoughts out in writing.  

I'm hoping that by excluding foods that grass and "bynke" allergics often have problems with, will give the system time to recover so I don't break out again just from touching a child's plate covered in ketchup.  D*****!  I wasn't conscious of it at the time.  The irony is that I've never been a believer of food intolerances and I'm not sure I am convinced yet and I try to put it down to psychological in most people's cases but right now I just don't feel like gambling any more with that mast cell, histamines, erh...that thing that becomes irritated if it's not tight, my skin, etc. all that's making my life a desperate and very distraught experience these days.  

Never did I imagine that anything could feel worse on the outside of my body than the often bloody scalp and eczema I had when I was younger.  Can't keep my skin moisture tight either.  This just motivates me to take extra good care of my hair and to stay in shape so I don't lose my sense of "attraction" completely.  

The thought of a life without fresh fruits and vegetables, and free roam in the great outdoors is unbearable.  I'm really not a suited for metropolitan living too many city trips and large crowds for several hours.  

Quote:

"Are your parents home?" I was smiling from ear to ear.

Wow, who would take offense to that? :D


Quote:

The irony is that I've never been a believer of food intolerances

I wasn't convinced of food intolerences either but I know they're real.  I can't eat too much soy.  I don't break out or anything, but too much really bloats me unlike anything else.

wrote on Aug 21^st, 2009 at 5:38pm:

Quote: "Are your parents home?" I was smiling from ear to ear. Wow, who would take offense to that? :D [quote]The irony is that I've never been a believer of food intolerances

I wasn't convinced of food intolerences either but I know they're real.  I can't eat too much soy.  I don't break out or anything, but too much really bloats me unlike anything else.[/quote]

As far as I can tell from what I've read, lots of people don't realize that they have food intolerances that show its symptoms through overweight and/or bloating.  I cut out nearly all wheat when I wanted to lose weight and most cheese too.  I began to gain a few lbs. and suffer with the itching after I thought: "oh, a bit of white bread and cheese here and there isn't harmful.  My dietary habits have become hysterical".  I've generally been eating too much fastfood and cake this summer.  Not daily but one or the other or too much bread every week.

People with citric allergies (not just intolerance and I'm not the right one to explain the difference) can't use many shampoos or conditioners either.

Hair - Wash, 1 min. deep conditioning treatment.  A little more than regular conditioner, a little less effective than a real deep conditioner.  Fine mid week.  

Life - I'm so busy, stressed and pre-occupied with my health that I just don't have the energy to write much.  If I rant, at least I'm coping.  I go silent when I don't think I can cope, at least not for much longer.

(((hugs)))

When you get overwhelmed, breathe slow and deep.  I hope you find a positive way to deal with your stress.  And remember we're here to listen to those rants!!!

Well, in 1½ hr. I'll be sitting in the doctor's consultation or probably still in the waiting room. ::)  It's a start...Thanks Sakina.

Doc - It was worth the ½ hr. wait.  I'm glad I booked a ½ hr. double consultation so she had time to read my 4 pages of typed observations and speculations and demands for serious allergy, intolerance, blood and organ examination!  So she filled seven tubes and she couldn't even read off the long list of tests she's going to have done on me.  Examined some more private parts but didn't find anything obviously wrong there.  I've told her that week 43 is too far away and it's hell when I can potentially react to anything in my every day life that I either touch, come too close to, prepare for someone else or eat.  I've got a referral to an "allergolog" too who's going to get the blood test results too.  The first results will be back next week earliest, some won't be back for several weeks.  

Rant - I've always had extremely dry skin as if I have no natural moisture barrier, I've always had recurring bad eczema, nettles/hives have come in adulthood, and greasy skin on my face but often times itchiness and eczema under the grease and I look like a mess on my arms, legs, and face.  I don't even know what my scalp looks like.  That's so cronic I don't even think of it.

What's frustrating me is this attitude that despite the skin being such a large organ, skin conditions are examined and treated separately as if the skin condition has no connection to any internal organs but I think this historical traditonal way of thinking is wrong!  Never mind how sick I am of hormone creams (okay, only 0,1% but I'd still rather go without for longer periods) and now some really expensive anti-histhamines.  We really can't continue to afford this.  

Excuse me if I'm repeating myself but I'm afraid that all these negative reactions to ordinary foods are causing vitamine and mineral deficiencies I didn't have before August aside from the D-vitamine deficiency.  I had to go off fish oil and last time my skin was this bad was before I began taking fish oil supplements so they can say what they want but there has to be some sort of connection to what we consume and the allergic or intolerance reactions we have even if it's a skin reaction. I think they're only taking my skin reactions seriously for the first time in my life because I've also got other more classic intolerance and allergy symptoms.   Typical cock sure medical experts! >:(


Organic vs. hypoallergic - The media etc. keep touting organic products especially the high end ones.  However, organic doesn't mean that it's hypoallergenic and we have at least fragrance and paraben free hair and skin brands at very cheap prices in our supermarkets here in Denmark that get very little mention.  Quite frankly, while organic too would be nice, right now I'm more concerned with not setting off any more histhamines and causing reactions to things I've never reacted to before.  Urtekram comes closest to both low price, organic and some products are completely free of any forms of fragrances!  Some organic, nature derrived fragrances can cause allergic reactions in some people.

Hair - Oh, and my hair's fine despite all the changes but I'm going to use up the more synthetic, paraben and fragrance including ones before I shift. ;D  Of course, if I begin to suffer bad reactions from the short times they touch my hands, they're going too.  Too bad about the money then.

Hair - It was in fine condition this morning but after I wore a rain hood, it just looks limp.  Part of my hair got wet any way.

Stuff - There's been a technical error with the blood tests I've waited a week for so now I have to get a quick appointment with the nurse (apparently they have one now) to have her take them again.  I hope they get it right this time.  I only have tomorrow and Monday, then Tuesday I'm having my tonsils removed if all goes according to plan.  Then it'll be at least a week before I'm well enough to go and have new blood tests and the allergist appointment is on the 23rd of Sept. plus it takes some weeks to get all the blood tests back so I worry that all the results won't be ready for the 23rd and that the allergist appointment will be a waste.  I already got them to move the allergist appointment one week because the original appointment was too late in the afternoon and too soon after the surgery.  

There are so many little things that are irritating me that I'm not getting around to other important stuff like calling social services to ask who our new social worker is and so many other things.  I'm just feeling drained and I know hub is with work too so he's no help.

I too would be irritated having to go back to the hospital because they made a mistake.

You really have a lot going on right now. I'm wishing you the best. :)

[b]Mother in-law-[/b]I told my family I was going to relax this weekend and not answer phone calls (because I knew it would stress the hell out of me) so predictably mother in-law wrote an e-mail with some unsolicited advice regarding what I should eat post surgery! >:(  Hello!  All good intensions and so on but I'm 32; Doesn't she think I have a brain cell in my head?!  I'm proud to have a MIL who's fully there physically and mentally and very active but she also has this "superior" know it all attitude and has this (insecure???) need to be the one who rescues the day, has all the right answers and thought of the sollution, be the hero, etc.  I am so fed up with that!

Initially my response was to mark all e-mails as unread and ignore it.  But it really got to me because none of her advice were anything I hadn't thought of myself.  I finally lost my patience and called her up and I don't think I concealed very well how irritated I was.  I am grateful that they'll be watching the boys for a night and I'm not ungrateful for all the things they're willing to do for us and they'd probably do more if we'd let them.  Her need to be in focus and have the light shine on her halo is just so *ough!*.  Well, consider me immature but it just makes it very difficult for me to be as grateful as I want to be.

Bloodtests - Well, the nurse can't do the blood tests until Tuesday the 15th and my allergist appointment is on the 23rd so I worry that, that appointment is a waste if the blood test results aren't ready.  I'll have to call my doc. on Monday.  

Weekend - Hub's at a 24 hrs. ham radio contest so I'm alone with the boys.  Won't be doing much of anything.  I'm preparing a huge dish with coconut milk, chicken, egg noodles, vegetable broth and a can of tomatos.  I'd usually add squash but I don't have any.  Garlic is supposed to be blood thinning so I won't add that this time.  I had my last clove of garlic yesterday.  I'm also leaving out the curry paste.  I'm not sure my stomach's ready for that after all the problems I had in August that I still have no explanation for.

I'm going to try to get in a better and relaxed mood after dinner by re-watching my Dion Dimucci and Carpenters DVDs.  

Shopping- A few years ago I only had slumber clothes and nothing to wear out, not even nice casual wear.  Now I'm in the opposite situation and my leggings and tunics are all down to their last threads so I've ordered three pairs of leggings, two knit dresses and two long turtleneck sweaters that I can't really afford and I've no idea how I'm going to pay for them.  :-?  My favorite wool dress is ruined :-/  I've worn it to pieces because it was thin, soft, classic cut, and so appropriate for informal dinners,  day wear and lounging about.  

Hair - Looking decent for the first time in a week.  Couldn't really wash it properly when I felt like beat meat.  

The uninteresting stuff:

Tonsils - Had them out last week.  I for one am grateful to be among the first four patients to be given a shot of cortizone.  Seems to aid healing and make recovery less painful.  

Tuesday 8 - Came in at 12:50pm, surgery at 01:00pm.  Came around and was only drooling a bit of blood around 2:30pm in the clinic.  Shortly before I woke up in recovery I dreamt that I'd slept over and missed the surgery.  No pain but that was probably the drugs.  Refused to try to talk.  Home in bed by 03:30pm.  Later that evening I had ice water and loli ice.  Felt guilty about money spent on prescription painrelief so decided to try some.  That made me nauseus and the ice cubes worked fine as painkillers.

Wednesday 9 - Woke up feeling generally sore.  More ice water and ice cream.  Felt I should try the other prescription drug.  This one lodged itself in my throat.  Really unpleasant to say the least so aside from two regular none prescription painkillers for a headache, I didn't take any pills.  Still living on ice lolis and ice water.  Great diet. ;)  Still in bed.

Thursday 10 - Had some "breakfast" of soft, cold foods I sampled to find out which would lodge itself to the shortest and least painful time in my throat.  Yoghurt burnt so that wasn't an option.  Stayed in bed.  Mom came around in the evening with a colleague and a bunch of clients waiting in a car outside so she just popped in to check on me and drop off some bottles of wine.  Erh...thanks.  I'm not sure how that was supposed to help me.

Friday 11 - Lay on the couch most of the day.  Still not really saying anything.  Same "diet".  Same ice water and ice lolis.  I've never watched so much day time crap! ::)  Couldn't concentrate to read.  Had a general feeling of soreness sort of going out to my ears and that nasty taste and smell of metal that still won't go away.  

Saturday 12 - My memory's quickly getting blurry because the days were pretty much repeats of the day before with some improvements.  Talked a bit.  Hard, didn't sound myself, and hurt like hell just like swallowing, sneezing and couching does.  Other than that, it's just been overall discomfort and soreness.  Worse was and is actually my lower lip which the surgeon some how busted.  

I didn't have the swollen tongue some people have described so I assume they had something clamped on my lip because the left side hurt like hell and was swollen badly, then the inside cracked after a few days.  *Ouch!*

Sunday 13 - On the couch again, this time watching a lot of Disney DX premier with the boys and watching the repeats again the afternoon.  Talkied too much and even had to attempt to shout at the boys once while their dad was taking a nap. He's been fantastic for me.  Tolerated more stuff beign stuck in my throat until some higher power took mercy on me and let me swallow it.  Soup burns a bit too even when it's cooled off.  Was burnt out at 8pm.  Then my dad called at 9pm and I just let him do all the talking and sort of nodded off to sleep with the phone next to my ear.

Monday - Hauled into the clinic at 12pm for check up.  Was told everything looked just fine and that it will be yet another few weeks until the scabs, soreness and smell goes away.  Have read others blogs and know that for some adults it takes a month to recover completely.  Still don't sound myself and don't care to talk to much but when hub broke some glass in the kitchen I some how found the voice to shout at the boys to stay in their rooms.  Hurt like hell!  Didn't say a word after that.

Tuesday - Went to doc to have blood tests re-taken after the last technical error with a note saying: "I had my tonsils out a week ago so I can't talk too much".  Home now.  Dead tired.  Long walk.  Gonna rest until I have to pick the youngest up from kindergarten.





 

Wow! :o  I hope you feel better soon!!!  ((((hugs))))

(((hugs)))  I know it totaly sucks having your tonsils out.  I had them out when I was 8 years old and I still remember how much it hurt.  I found Jello to be a very soothing thing to eat.  http://freesmileyface.net/smiley/Manga/japanese-005.gif

My goodness!  I thank my lucky stars I've never even had so much as my wisdom teeth out yet.  Have you ever listened to any of Bill Cosby's old records?  He has a hilarious account of getting his tonsils out as a child.

Hope you heal quickly and feel better soon. *hugs*

:-*  Hang in there, honey.  

When I'm in pain, I like to listen to music.  I hope you're recovery is a speedy one!

Awww...poor thing. :-[  I never knew that getting tonsils removed was so painful.  My only reference was seeing kids on sitcoms having it done and eating lot's of ice cream afterwards.  Apparently, that's not a very realistic portrayal.

Hope you feel better soon.  

Thanks to all. :) It's apparently one of those things you always remember.  Definitely stay off the creamier types of ice cream which can get stuck at the back of your throat which I imagine will feel really gross.  Am listening to music today.  For once following good advice; Resting, resting, and more rest.    Bill Cosby never features on Danish TV anymore. :(  We don't have Jello in Denmark. :'(  Was a little too brave/stupid and tried to eat white bread with the crust on.  *ouch!*  Just like I thought I was ready for meat balls yesterday *ouch!*.  Excuse the lack of quotations.  I'm still a bit unfocused.

Hub's colleague had his out, then went to work 3 days post surgery.  Was sick for 14 days after that.  Don't overestimate yourself!  Let your immune system recovery<<<unsolicited advice, I know.

Just crusts left in my throat.  Things are falling back into place.  Got soreness and ear ache though but that's normal too.  

Oh no...no Jello in Denmark?? ((((hugs))))

Drear wrote on Sep 16^th, 2009 at 6:11am:

Hub's colleague had his out, then went to work 3 days post surgery.  Was sick for 14 days after that.  Don't overestimate yourself!  Let your immune system recovery<<<unsolicited advice, I know.

You are absolutely right!  

No Jello?  Not even gelatin of any kind?  Wow!  It's always interesting to find out about other countries and what they  have and don't have.  I'm sure you guys have wonderful treats that we don't have.  

Glad you seem to be feeling better and healing steadily.  :)

Sorry Michelle, I haven't thought that far.  I'm definitely not venturing out to the grocery stores now. :)  I wish I'd thought things through pre-surgery.  

Recovery - Everything was fine yesterday until I went to pick up the youngest one.  He drained me of all my energy and I passed out on the couch for a couple of hours after we got back from his kindergarten.  His reaction is quite understandable for someone with his mental disability which means that even though he's nearly 6 y.o.  He has the mental age of someone aged 2,5 in some areas, 3,5 in most areas.  

He can't understand the dangers of post surgery until recovery is complete.  He just knows that mommy isn't really herself.  She can't talk much and he can hardly understand me now or recognize my voice, he can't kiss me because I smell and it would hurt, and he can't hug me as tightly as he'd like to because that hurts too, we can't play hide and seek and the kindergarten when I pick him up and mommy just lies on the couch or in bed most of the time.  

I see improvements every day but it takes very little to set me back yet I recover from set backs pretty quickly too so overall I can't complain.  My lip's looking normal and you can hardly tell it was cracked on the inside.

It's early pre midday here and that's when I have the most energy and at least try to do some of the laundry so hub has less to do.  He's asked me not to do it but I don't want to be responsible for making him sick with all the things he has to do.  No, help from family isn't the sollution, they'd just stress the hell out of us and make us both sick!  

Hair - Remind me to have a new photo taken after my next trim in late Fall/early Winter.  Because my hair was quite a bit longer than in the picture when I had all the layers cut away I'm not sure it's going to look much longer after next trim.  I decided not to measure until January 2010.

Hair - I don't know what to make of it.  My hair has suddenly decided that it likes the Garnier Olive and lemon deep conditioner.  I really like the look and feel of my hair today.  VR for the first time in a few weeks.  I always vinegar rinse before a deep condition so I haven't actually done anything different.  

Make-up - Played a bit with lipstick and gloss because it's only in these products I have anything that's seriously moisturizing.  Other than that I only have supermarket lipbalms and while they've improved greatly since the 80s and 90s they aren't quite hydrating enough.  I'm also experiencing a maturing of my skin so on the upside it's not as greasy as it used to be, on the downside my body and lips require intense moisture care.  Nothing water based like lotions.  Must be grease and oil based.  Sadly, those heavier products are usually costlier too.  No more supermarket value sized body lotions for me. :(

I don't know why I feel so old this weekend. ::)

Lazy -I've sat and watched hours and hours of Creepy Canada Season 1 on youtube.  I've made time to listen to The Carpenter's, Patti Page and Emmylou Harris as well.  

I was writing a long entry here last evening but I can't remember what I was writing because my husband suddenly came running into the livingroom saying that his sister had been hit on her way to work on her bicycle.  I feared the worse and was confused that after having been taken to the A&E, she was now home.  Turns out that the in-laws had communicated unclearly (possibly shocked themselves) and that she'd been on foot and had been hit by a cyclist but I know that in the cities cyclists do ride fast and even if a kid accidentally hits me at slow speed it still hurts like hell so I can understand that she was in terrible pain and staying at home in bed.  She's got a bruise on her neck.  

Hair - I'm curing an itch for a crop by wearing it up as much as I can stand the feeling of my hair up.  I like all sorts of hairstyles on other people.  I've seen "outgrown" crop styles that look good on round faces.  I just remind myself of the styling time, that styling products upset my scalp, the cost, and how restless and tired I soon become of a new hairstyle when I feel an itch for a major chop.  

A Wasted Day - Yesterday I went to the allergist and they only confirmed what I already know; that I'm allergic to dust mites which isn't a problem in our house.  They eased my mind by confirming that I don't have any dietary allergies or pollen allergies but I'm still left with a bunch of questions and I knew at least as much as the allergist so we were talking on a high academic level and my hubby looked completely confused the whole time. ;D  

Do you have nutritionists available to you?  If you still have issues with certain foods and products, it could be a sensitivity as opposed to an allergy, and a nutritionist can often help you pinpoint that.  

For example, my boss's wife was having terrible problems with digestive upset, weight loss, diarrhea, stomach aches, etc.  She went to many different doctors (one of whom told her she may have cancer) and was at the end of her rope before going to a nutritionist in desperation.  This nutritionist tested her for Celiac's disease and sure enough, that's what it was.  It's basically an auto-immune disease and I believe it has something to do with the body lacking the enzyme to digest gluten (wheat product), so it causes the body to attack itself.  Technically this is a sensitivity or an intolerance, not an allergy and can't be tested by the traditional allergy test methods.  She follows a gluten-free diet now and is totally fine.  

Not saying that's what you have, just holding it up as an example of how there could still be an explanation even if an allergy test comes up clean.  

I've thought of the nutritionist option too and I've given celiac disease some consideration as well.  I understand the difference between allergy and intolerance so even though I don't have a wheat allergy I could have a gluten intolerance; Celiac's disease.  From what I've been able to gather online about Celiac's disease I don't really recognize the symptoms described.  Many people have Celiac's without symptoms and there are other complications that lead to a diagnosis.  

Hair - It's actually better behaved now than it was in the summer.  I don't sweat and I don't have my hair flowing loosely when I'm outside either.  Wash, rinse and condition routine is the same year round.  No matter where I try to part my hair, I have little stupid hairs sticking up along the parting line.  So it's my opinion that those little stupid hairs look less stupid when my hair's center parted than when it's side parted to one or the other side.

Crazy shopper - I thought I needed more knits and leggings but then I saw two wool coats for $68 each on sale from another online shop and ordered them instead.  They were originally $156,50 each.  One's a red duffelcoat with hidden zipper under the traditional closing and with hood.  The other one's dark chocolate brown and belted, no hood just a classic collar.  I have poor experiences with finding affordable, functional coats or jackets in high street shops or malls here in Denmark.  When I get rich, I'll go to a sports shop and buy a ski jacket that'll last me for decades.  The way our winter climate's been the past few years, maybe I won't ever have to buy a ski jacket.

Hair - I watched The Tender Trap on TCM yesterday and one female character (Debbie Reynold?!) had long hair in a snail bun and just rolled under bangs.  I don't have bangs and my hair isn't long enough for a snail bun yet but it would be a nice retro style if I grow my hair longer.  I want that book from the 50s called How To Handle Long Hair.  I think I saw a few other extras that were a bit older than Debbie with similar long updos.  I know it wasn't the trend but as long as it's period correct I don't care for trends.  I'm pretty sure that had a I lived in the 1950s I would've been no more trendy than I am now which is absolutely untrendy! ;)

Hypocricy?!  - Talked to mom yesterday.  Between more serious issues she mentioned that she'd bought a very useful sequin vest.  Good for her!  I mentioned the two wool coats I'd found at 50% off online and that I had ordered to pay for later after having tried them should I decide to keep them or one of them.  She reacted with shock that I'd ordered two coats.  I told her I didn't want to ever only have one jacket again like I have for most years, that I suddenly find is worn down completely and then be forced to buy something that doesn't meet my needs or I can't really afford the former being the case with the thin down jacket I have now.  She just seems to think that it's money out of the window.  

I don't want to get into a political hot debate but lets just say that I do have another winter coat I felt pressured into accepting and I really do think it's beautiful but I don't feel as good about wearing it as most Danes do now, whether young or old.  I'll wear it around my family in-law because one of my SIL's gave it to me but it'll never become my every day coat.  My mom knows I have that coat but she doesn't understand about the cost and care of more formal coats and she doesn't have an issue with it so she would of course wear something like that all the time.

I'm 32 and hub's 41 but our parents can still push those buttons!

Hair - I'm still forced to get my hair trimmed every 3-4 months and shouldn't put it off too much longer but I can't afford it right now that hub and the boys desperately need cuts too.  Unfortunately, some of the hairs aren't quite long enough for me to pull them far enough in front of my eyes to see if the ends look like they need trimming.  

Exercise - I've completely neglected walking this year.  I haven't got on my bike at all.  I used to be addicted to walking for at least an hour a day come rain or snow but now I'm coming up with all sorts of excuses for why it's inconvenient to go for a longer walk.  I haven't been able to do any form of exercise for the past three weeks but I've slowly started up this week.  

Family - My brother's gone missing for some months now.  It's a long story.  I don't know what to make of it and I can't find any activity online of his either which isn't really a surprise because he's completely dyslexic.  He can strangely write a bit of English because we've caught him on Skype but he can't read or write Danish at all.  He's only my half brother on my mother's side so he doesn't have any English speaking relatives and never learnt any English in school.  

We know he wanted to go abroad.  We know he's been chatting on Skype with a girl from China for the past two years.  It is possible that he's gone to see her.  His dad got a letter from the county saying they'd found out that he'd "wandered out to China".  What a strange way to phrase it.  We don't know what the visa laws are like in China now but some 25+ years ago when his dad was there, you could only get a three month visa and my brother's been gone for longer than that.  He's ignored my mother's request to be added on facebook.  We're not on facebook but we've got him on Skype but we can't get him to tell us anything and often he'll ignore our "hello!" or he'll clam up as soon as we ask where he is or what he's doing.  Since he only writes a little in English and won't talk directly to us, we actually have no way of knowing if it's really him we're communicating with.  His profile pic has been updated regularly so he must be alive.  He's 19.  

My brother could at least have told us that he doesn't want us in his life or whatever and that he wants us to leave him alone while he travels to where ever and roughly when he expects to be home and just once in a while give word so we'd know that he's okay.  I understand that he's at an age where he wants to declare his indepence and show that he can manage on his own and that it's common at that age to think that your family's done you wrong,etc.  but he's wrong if he thinks we don't care.  We're worried out of our minds.  

Hair - Wash condition day.  Couldn't think of anything to do with it.  Scalp is less itchy now that I frequently VR but I'd be a lot happier if I didn't have all those short hairs sticking up every where.

Exercise - Did lower body yesterday.  Did upper body today.  Stretch and vein pump exercises every day.  

Doc - Called and was on hold for 30 mins. but it was worth it and I could sit and listen to my Jo Stafford 4 CD box set so I didn't really mind.  Well, nothing's shown up as suspicious or alarming in any way in my extensive blood tests.  Might as for a new print out now that the allergist kept the first print out.  There are some results in I didn't have back then.

Purchases - Sending back brown coat.  It's dark brown but not a really dark chocolate brown and I've realized that I'd be annoyed with the belt.  Brown has to be quite dark a purple/brown or a grey/brown to suit me.  I'm keeping the red duffelcoat.  Alright quality for $68.  Finishes aren't the nicest but you can't expect much for $68 or even the original $159.  I'm also keeping the grey wool skirt.  I have this obsession with wool skirts.  I believe you can never own too many.  I don't even know any grandmothers who wear these any more.  Which I hope is to my advantage; I hope I'll see high quality ones sold very cheaply in thrift shops.  I did last year.

Well, if there were a world wide quote of wool skirts for every woman, I'd give you mine.  I cannot wear wool.  It cannot touch my skin or I am miserable and in pain.

Good for you on your exercise!  Keep up the good work!a

Drear wrote on Oct 2^nd, 2009 at 9:38am:

Doc - Called and was on hold for 30 mins. but it was worth it and I could sit and listen to my Jo Stafford 4 CD box set so I didn't really mind.

Oh, Jo Stafford...  didn't she have a dreamy voice?   8-)

Trisha wrote on Oct 6^th, 2009 at 9:24am:

Drear wrote on Oct 2nd, 2009 at 9:38am: Doc - Called and was on hold for 30 mins. but it was worth it and I could sit and listen to my Jo Stafford 4 CD box set so I didn't really mind. Oh, Jo Stafford...  didn't she have a dreamy voice?   8-)

Absolutely!  

Sakina, I'm actually the same way but they're all lined and so is my 3/4 sleeved wool jacket and duffelcoat in wool.  I wouldn't be able to wear them otherwise.  I've also always got an extra layer between myself and the wool anyway just for extra measure.

Hair - I'm having a strange day where everything seems to be moving in slow motion and I just can't get my act together.  I was running late, had to drop the youngest one off at kindergarten, my hair was still wet, I didn't want to risk getting a cold so I very unusually got the hairdryer out.  I didn't blow my hair completely dry but I could tell a difference from air drying my hair and I have to admit that I like the way it blow dried better so I can understand why other women might become attached to their hairdryer.  Thankfully I know the damage it may eventually cause so I'm not worried that blow drying could become a habit.  

So close to APL so it's a shame that I'll soon need a trim.  Well, I can't see any damage unless you count all the little broken or new growing hairs?!  Not really seeing any split or worn ends that could warrant a trim.  Ideally, I'd like to wait until January when I know I can definitely afford it.  

Blah - Occassionally feeling a bit sickly without a fever, lack energy, don't feel social at all.  Not in a bad mood or any such thing.  Have been walking a bit but not as much as I should.  Went to bed just past 8pm yesterday.  Feel better today.  

Hair - I guess I was wrong as usual about the condition of my hair.  Finally stood in front of direct sunlight and took a good look at it.  There are indeed split ends and I even found a hair that was split up a couple of inches. :o  Some are faded at the bottom 1-2" as well.  I've been using sun protection all summer long, I've been tucking my hair into my jacket on windy days.  I don't know what else I can do.  I've also had some health issues this year and I had a couple of surgeries.  Don't know if all of that has upset my hair.  It's just up in a ponytail so I don't have to think about it.

Skin - It's never well behaved but how bad it is varies.  Today I had nettles and a terrible itch on the inside of my lower arms so that was really disappointing after I've gone out of my way to eat healthy and varied, get enough fluid, sleep, use fat or oily moisturizers at least twice daily and some antihistamine pills which I'm supposed to take preventively.  Absentmindedly scratched my arms while I was still just waking up so now I've got these ugly red streaks down my arms.  

Hair - Usual Sunday routine; VR, wash, deep condition.  Around noon I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror.  I don't usually care what I look like on Sundays.  But since I'm channelling the 1920s today I thought that my straight hair that isn't really long didn't go with the era so I tied my hair off in a side pony.  Easier said than done.  Then twisted into a bun and secured it off with a large fabric flower on an alligator clip of sorts.  Looks fine to me.  I would've made it lower and ear hugging if my hair had been longer.  

Asocial - Didn't want to go for a walk.  Wouldn't answer the door when the bell rang.  Hate unannounced solictors and unannounced visitors.  In-laws just wanted to drop off some clothes for the boys.  Hub finally answered the door but I didn't even feel like popping my head around the door to say hello and thanks.  Don't know what the hell's wrong with me. :-?  I've always had problems with unannounced company.  It's my mom's birthday and I don't feel like calling but I guess I'd better make the effort.  My dad always calls on Sundays and I've already decided that I'm not going to answer the phone this evening.

To make matters worse, my stubborn old father in-law who's the exact opposite of me and probably fed up with me again, left mother in-law standing in the door and drove off. ::)  This unannounced visit and father in-law's strange behavior completely threw two of the boys off.  I knew that staying put in the livingroom was the best I could do so hub could send the boys in to me instead of having me suddenly do something unexpected like having to invite mother in-law in when the boys weren't expecting it, and then hub had to jump in his car and drive after his dad.  *Aaargh!*  

Yesterday was bad too.  Picture yourself in a huge supermarket with three boys who need to try on new footwear.  You know kids hate this but it's a necessity.  It's the only thing I can't buy them without bringing them along.  The oldest two were well behaved but I could tell the stress wasn't suiting the oldest one (autism) and the youngest one went off the rails (retardation).  Unfortunately, the youngest one is also very charming and some old lady couldn't keep herself from hugging AND kissing him while we waited in line. ::)  He didn't tell me she'd hugged and kissed him until I'd hugged and kissed him moments later. >:(  Lets hope we don't catch anything.  Just the thought of reeking of her perfume is bad enough.  So as you can probably imagine, this wasn't a pretty picture of a family out shopping. ::)

Some people will probably think that my behavior today warrants an apology.  I don't think so.  I didn't cause this situation.  No one informed me so I could prepare the boys and I handle things the way I know is best with my boys.  FIL needs to grow up and get his own life!  Go on tour with that old boys band!  Go on a global tour for a year!

Rant off!  I know my last outburst is childdish but...I am just so fed up with all the drama around me.  As if worrying about hub's chronic health problems, now a tax problem and the ungoing battle to get my boys needs met, isn't enough!

You really have your hands full!  I don't think you have anything to apologize for.  People who aren't dealing with what you're dealing with have no clue.

In answer to your question, " What the hell's wrong w/me?" I must say you're way over taxed by your responsibilities, stressed out and don't have enough support to balance it out.

I'm sending giant hugs OOO to you.  You're doing your best in a really tough situation.  I hope divine help comes your way soon!

Thanks Sakina, if I could only make a psychic connection between you and other people so I could get them on a similar thought trail!

Hair - Think I've goofed up this morning.  Wash, condition, thought I'd apply some leave-in because it worked really well yesterday.  It seemed fine at first too.  I think I should only use a leave-in on the very tips every other day or less.  Then suffer in between.  

Having gone more than three months without a trim doesn't work.  I can't banish the split ends completely no matter how careful I am with my hair.  I just haven't had the time with unpredicted expenses, surgery, etc.  

Right now, hub and the boys are first in priority line when it comes to hairdresser expenses but if hub buys electrical trimmers and can actually learn how to use it ;D then perhaps I could afford to go in every 12 weeks for a mini trim to keep the ends from looking too split and worn.  

Hair - I put it up in a ponytail yesterday afternoon.  Don't like it down anymore.  So now I'm back to ponytails and buns with slight variations and loose ends allowed to hang at each side of my face the way my hair was when hub met me.  He seems to like that.  

Today I only washed and conditioned.  I'm a little more careful with only applying the conditioner from 1/4 down from my scalp.  When it had dried I first put it up in a ponytail, then used the scrunchy to pull the ponytail through once, wrapped the ponytail around itself and part of the scruncny, then used the remaining part of the scrunchy I was holding with the other end to secure the bun.  Loose featury ends are sticking out here and there with just parts of the velvet showing between my hair.  I think it looks cute. :)

Weather - Cold and clear.  Was supposed to have taken the boys for a long walk but I slept in and we didn't have time for a long walk if we're going to bake too.  Besides, the oldest one had put on summer pants and I wasn't in a mood to take up the conflict with him so we briskly walked to the supermarket and grabbed three boxes of ready mix baking packages.  I only wore my duffel. I didn't wear a knit hat and the duffel hood doesn't close tight so I had to hold the hood tight with a hand, handbag over arm, the youngest one by my other hand.

Baking - We'll be baking wholegrain biscuits and scones today.  I hate baking and I'm only doing it for the boys.  They always say they want to bake when they're on break but they always lose interest and I end up alone with dough and flour every where.  

I'm sending you big hugs with Sakina, honey.  Stress can cause all sorts of physical ailments, so don't discount it.  Would meditation help or something like that?  *hugs*

I don't know about meditation I always fall asleep and have weird dreams when I try. ;D  For now, I get the youngest one's bedroom for a while in the evening so I can sit by myself and listen to music.  In return, he gets to watch cartoons in the evening for a while. :)

Hair - Wash, 1 min conditioning treatment, leave-in on the ends.  Not putting it up today.  Think the ends are growing uneven now.  It looks as if I have layers cut into the bottom even though I know for sure that she cut it off to one blunt length at the beginning of July.  I'd have to have too much cut off if one blunt length is a priority.  *sigh!*  One thing is what I think I want and another thing may be what works for me.  So maybe one length isn't right for me.  I'll think about it until December.  At least my hair looks shiny and not the least brassy today I just think my natural hair color when examined under a good light has some dark auburn tones to it.  I don't mind in the least, I've always envied that multi-tonal look.

Yesterday - Shopping, baking biscuits and scones, helping the boys agree on what movies to watch, which games to play and vacuuming was too much and my expectations were too high.  I'll break it up between 2-3 days another time.

Today - I don't care if they watch TV and play computer games all day long!  I'm going to sit here for quite a while too.  I'll be looking at hair galleries to see if there are any long hair cuts that work with the pattern my hair appears to grow in.

Drear wrote on Oct 14^th, 2009 at 3:15am:

Today - I don't care if they watch TV and play computer games all day long!  I'm going to sit here for quite a while too.  I'll be looking at hair galleries to see if there are any long hair cuts that work with the pattern my hair appears to grow in.

They'll be fine!  You guys are always taking walks and doing activities and staying busy, so it won't hurt them to watch TV for a bit.  :D  You deserve some down time to do the things you want to do!  

Hair - Wash, condition, just gonna watch what it does on its own today.  Staying indoors.  Rainy.  So far it feels fine.  Typical when I don't have to go any where.

Yesterday - Got all the boys trimmed and there were no problems with anyone's behavior in the salon.  Even the little one only talked too much.  They look good newly trimmed.  Hub got trimmed after work.  Once I find out if I can afford all the moisturizing stuff my skin needs, antibiotics to keep nettles down, then I'll decide if I can afford a trim sooner than December.

Had chocolate cake when we got back.  Baked it before we went for their trim and threatened to put it in the freezer if they didn't behave! :D  I wasn't worried about the two oldest but the hairdresser and I just kept reminding the youngest one about that chocolate cake.  Nothing makes his eyes light up like the word "cake".  

Hub read on our salon's homepage that they're being sold to someone new but the employees will be the same.  I don't hope there'll be reason to switch because I like that we can order appointments online and tick the treatments we want.  Not that we can afford anything other than cuts...

Hair - I'm hopeless!  It's back up to the July length or maybe the longest parts are a bit longer but I did order her to cut off anything that wasn't healthy.  Got it cut on Monday.  On a positive note, I'm glad I didn't reject the idea of long and face framing layers.  She knows and respects that I don't want a shorter or above shoulders style.  I'm really loving my layers this time.  This hairdresser knows what she's doing!  She also custom blended some leave-in conditioner in a tiny pot that I use a drop of a day.  The leave in should go a long way. :)  I can't complain about the look and feel of my hair.  

I don't brush my hair frequently throughout the day in frustration.  I only comb morning and evening.  It really just takes care of itself.  Need a new deep conditioner, oil, and I've tossed all the questionable hair brushes.  

I just want to scream at my brother!  I'm both worried and frustrated with him.  So, we've found out that he's in some province of China that I can't spell.  We only found out because his mail gets sent to his dad and his dad couldn't resist opening some mail because we haven't heard from my brother in so long and had no clue where he was.  Well, there was a letter from the bank.  We can see that he's withdrawn all his money over in two portions within recent time in China.  

He's 19.  Thinks he's so grown up and all and has something to prove or whatever.....He could've just said the family's getting on his nerves, he wants some space and he's going to China for a while, from roughly x date to y date and roughly where and how he intends to finance this trip.  It would also be nice to have had an address or a phone number we could call in case of an emergency.  We wouldn't abuse it and invade his privacy.  *Grrr!*.

Hair - While I got layers again mainly to get rid of as much damage as possible without losing too much length but also to satisfy that itch to change something without going drastic, I haven't completely given up on my hair.  I need to prioritize a satin or silk pillow case because I suspect that I do the most damage while I'm sleeping.  I toss around a lot.  Next year, I also need to upgrade the hair sun screen I use even if it's going to cost me a bit more than I think these things should cause because I obviously have very porous hair.  If the hairdresser wants me to begin to pay for the costum blended leave-in, then I'm prepared to pay but she's going to have to blend a bit more than just a little pot in return.  A dab of that stuff makes my hair so soft and smooth.

Is there an astrologer among the longlocks members?! ;) - I seem to have completely lost my communication abilities.  I can't say anything to anyone without being misunderstood.  I wade from one conflict into the next! ::)  I've also got back into the bad old habit of apologizing for things I haven't done just for the sake of peace.  At times I'm not conflict shy at all and at other times I sense I'm just feeling too sensitive and fragile to fend for myself. 

Mom - She's being unusually generous.  She calls a lot.  Shows genuine interest in my life.  Transfers money to my account, and now she called to ask what size I wear because she wants to buy me some tunics. I think she's finally realized that I'm pretty much all the family she's got left.  My brother's "run away" (he's 19 so it's not illegal) and we've never been a close knit family where we stick up for each other so it doesn't help that we quite possibly have a lot of blood relations to my mother (I'm adopted) spread around the country.

Wardrobe reconsiderations - When one finds oneself with very little to wear each season despite having updated one's wardrobe the previous year, perhaps it's time to reconsider the way one wears one's clothes. ;)  Yes, there's something I'm having trouble owing up to. ;D  So I'm going to stop this nonesense with trying to stick to one style and clean out everything else.  Mixing fx. boheme/retro has always fallen quite naturally to me and is perhaps the style most people associate with being "your style".

I want to see how those tunics my mom wants to buy me look like tucked in with some of my wool skirts, belts, and either worn with leggings or colorful thighs and ethnic inspired jewelry.  I'll save classic and vintage knits for jeans and vintage costume jewelry.  For a long time I've felt like I had nothing to wear with jeans if I wore my knits down to the last thread because I was always wearing them the classic way with wool skirts.  I don't own any casual blouses or shirts I could've worn with jeans.  I wore out the tunics I bought two years ago along with most of the leggings I bought at the same time.  I was also afraid I'd wear the skirts out too fast and I prefer to save the old leggings for casual wear with retro 1920s inspired styles on weekends where I just want to be comfortable while lounging around.

Hair - Forgot vinegar rinse but remembered to deep condition.  Leave-in is working really well though it's very runny and I need to watch it that I really only use a tiny dab.  My cheeks are acting up again so once again the layers are doing a great job at hiding my cheeks until they clear up.  I like the shape of my hair I just hope I can keep it and still grow it longer.  I'll have a mini trim at the end of December.  If she objects to only mini trimming this style, then I'll switch to one of her other colleagues and work my way back to one length though that didn't really make me happy either but  I'm not willing to give up on this hair growing project nor am I willing to live with long hair at the cost of anything else; condition, how the shape works for me, etc.

Halloween - Passed without incident.  We even forgot to turn the TV on for a widely advertised children's Halloween movie. :-[  Halloween in Denmark is just so...well, it makes me feel the way Christmas made me feel in CA;   I just couldn't ever get into it there and I just can't get into Halloween here. :(  I find it embarrassing when they try to make a big deal out of it on TV but when I look outside of my windows, everything's just pitch black except for street lamps and I think that pretty much describes how most Danes feel about it.

We have our own costume celebration in February so it's not like the kids get cheated out of dressing up completely. 

Health again - I feel like a complete hypochondriac but I just feel that it would be unwise to ignore chest pains even though I can't really localize them or say if it's the breast, the heart or some hidden muscle.  It can feel sore and I've had a few stabbing pains but it is left sided so I've booked an appointment with the doc just to [hopefully] be on the safe side.  I couldn't get an appointment until the 10th of November and it's the doctor I like the least but he is a doctor and he's been there for over 10 years so I have to assume that he's alright.

So you are going to slowly clip the layers even? I can't quite envision what micro trims would mean.  They way I got into my layering predicament was by having the layers lengthened at each trim. No loss of overall length, but shortest layers kept being chopped back up to my chin, and the rest spaced out within the two distances.

Your Halloween sounds similar to what our neighborhood is like most years, but for some reason, this year the spirit was more lively. We actually had, like, four groups of kids ring our doorbell. Shocking! Usually we get candy just in case, and end up eating it until Easter since nobody rang the bell.

I'm really sorry to hear about your chest pains!  I hope nothing is wrong and you start feeling better soon. I personally had a few chest pains earlier in the year, but they were fixed(?) by getting new bras that fit me better.

I certainly hope the chest pains are nothing serious.  I remember having some unlocalized weird pains when I was going thru the change, but I researched and found that random chest pains were associated with menopause and went away after a while.  Which is what happened with me.

We had about 20 kids for Halloween, double what we had last year.  Since the two large families in the neighborhood moved 3 yrs. ago we just don't get as many kids.

How long is it dark there during the winter?  It would seem to me that the darkness would be perfect for Halloween.  More scary. :D   

I'm admitting to being somewhat of hypochondriac too, but if you're having chest pains, get them checked out.  Never be afraid to have a checkup if you think that something is wrong. You'll never know what it is unless you do.    

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So you are going to slowly clip the layers even? I can't quite envision what micro trims would mean

No, I'm going to continue to trim the layers too.  At least for a while.  For some odd reason, my hair behaves better with layers.  It wasn't always this way.  I don't know why or when this change happened.  I won't lie, while I like the look now, it does irritate me that layers work best but I'm not willing to go for an overall shorter length to avoid layers.  Not again.


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I remember having some unlocalized weird pains when I was going thru the change, but I researched and found that random chest pains were associated with menopause and went away after a while.  Which is what happened with me.

I'm such a cyberchondriac that I've resisted researching this.  Thanks for pointing out that possibility though.  I started precocious puberty so why not precocious menopause?  I'm 32. 


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How long is it dark there during the winter?  It would seem to me that the darkness would be perfect for Halloween.  More scary.

On one of our national TV stations news sites says that sun rise is at 07:30am and sunset is at 16:34pm.  Of course there'll be some regional differences from east to west. 

My hair looks better with some layers too.  Mine is fine and mostly straight with some body wave (although it seems to have gotten more wavy in the last few years) and it looks really bad if it's blunt cut. 

I hope your chest pains are something minor!  I think you're doing the right thing by going to the doctor, and also not freaking yourself out by researching too much on the internet. 

Thank you all for supporting my decision to have the doc check it out.  I don't feel quite as crazy or guilty about being concerned as I initially did.

Hair - My preferences have changed from very tidy and tight updos to preferring the feeling of layers framing my face and low, loose, updos if I must put my hair up so for now layers work best.  When my hair is down, which is how I prefer it most of the time, then layers flatter my face best.

Ordinary wash and condition day.  Since the layers are still relatively short around my face, I've yet to find out whether I prefer to just smooth out the layers after I take off my knit hat when I come in or if I prefer to tuck my hair behind my ears and just have two smooth waves on either side of my face or little cute kinks if I leave it down.  I'm odd, I think hat hair is cute. ;D

Grammar - It's not entirely accidental but I don't try to correct my grammar either.  Neither when speaking Danish nor when speaking English and the same goes for my writing.  It's just a personality quirk.  In case anyone was wondering or itching to correct me. ;)  Go ahead and scratch that itch but I won't promise that it'll change anything. :D

Did the whole hair thing.  Wash, VR, deep condition, leave-in.  I love my hair on Sundays because I don't usually have to go out so it stays that freshly washed way the whole day.  I just wish I could find a way to make my hair look and feel like that every day.

I'm on hub's laptop which I hate so that's all!

Hair - First time I was out I had a good hair hat moment when I came home.  I just came in for the second time and now I'm having a bad hair hat moment.

Doc exam. - Just my muscles behind my breasts due to unfortunate habits.  This doctor isn't my favorite because he's shouted at me and hub in the past, run out and kicked patio pots in the middle of consultation and cusses a lot but he was very interested and attentive this time.  Well, I've been avoiding him for over 6 years so I suppose he's had time to change.

Then he gave me a long lecture aboud the inbred gene pool in Denmark and how fortunate I am to be adopted from another country, ranted about this, media hysteria and traditional lifestyles.  Okay, okay, lets all calm down! :o  I'm not going to post his whole rant.  Heart complications usually happen later in life if they happen and in young people they're usually born with them and I would've been diagnosed a long time ago, blah, blah, blah, and more ranting. Okay, old habits die hard. Here's finally someone who talks more than me! :D 

Why do all he doctors who examine me seem like total loons?! :-?

Vaccination - Talked back and forth with the female doctor who knows our family health background the best and decided that all things considered, she thought it was best if we had the A-vaccine.  You get it in two portions here.  Don't know if it's the same around the world.  So we have to come back in three weeks. 

I forgot to ask if the vaccine needs to be repeated every year or if the experts expect it to give lifelong immunity?  3. They don't have a clue?!

The oldest one was home all day because the school cab won't pick up or deliver out of hours so I had no other choice.  He'll also have to take the 2nd of Dec. off.  Hub picked the wet and dirty middle son up from school and the oldest and I picked the youngest one up wet and dirty from kindergarten. ::)

Tomorrow I intend to relax a bit and read everyone else's journals just to get up-to-date with ya'll.

Whew! I'm glad to hear it was just a musculature problem, and not a heart problem! That being said, I still hate musculature problems. I take it the prognosis was good?

Your doctor sounds like a hoot! Is there no chance to switch to another doctor? Anyway, I think I would find him pretty amusing. We'd sit together and share conspiracy theories!  ;D

I'm not familiar with the A-vaccine. Do you mean a vaccine for hepatitis A?  :-?

And yikes! That sounds like a lot of mud! Sounds about similar to what happens to all my friends when they try to play soccer here in Pittsburgh. They show up rain or shine, and more often than not, it's rain.  :)

Well, I'm glad it's not a heart problem!  Since it's muscular, can it be remedied with exercise or some kind of physical therapy?  Your doctor sure does sound like a character! 

Glad it's just muscular!  Although that can be painful too!

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Doc exam. - Just my muscles behind my breasts due to unfortunate habits.

Thank goodness it wasn't anything more serious.


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This doctor isn't my favorite because he's shouted at me and hub in the past, run out and kicked patio pots in the middle of consultation and cusses a lot but he was very interested and attentive this time.  Well, I've been avoiding him for over 6 years so I suppose he's had time to change.

;D Boy, does he sound wacko and I'd imagine very entertaining, but not if he's your doctor. :-?  Good thing he changed.


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Then he gave me a long lecture aboud the inbred gene pool in Denmark

Is there any truth to that? :-?

I am very glad it wasn't heart.  You are much too young for that.

The way it works out here in our rural area is that we have a doctor house and several doctor's connected.  If you have patience, you can select your favorite doctor for each consultation but I really wanted this checked ASAP.

Reg. vaccination; it's for N1H1, my brain just wasn't working last evening.  I was in so much muscular pain from the vaccination and breast examination. 

The doctor did make me laugh and relax and I do appreciate that he didn't just push me out of his office with a short "well, it's not breast cancer and it's not your heart" and no further explanation.  His nature is just....colorful!

One of my SILs is a physioterapist.  I'll talk to her next time I see her.  I hate going back to the doc to get a referral to a physioterapist in some other town.  For now, I'll just mind the left, upper side of my body, shoulder, and arm.

I don't know if his argument that native born Danes are generally inbred works in practice. 

Hair - I have no sense of time this week so I've completely messed up my routine.  My hair seems fine though so I guess I'm doing something right. I still want a mini trim in December before I measure again in January. 

I tried using my kitchen grade oils as deep conditioners.  They don't seem to do anything for my hair and strangely, I seem to have allergic reactions to everything I eat in the immediate hours after applying oil to my hair so I just have to find a better deep conditioner.

I keep my hair under my coat and knit hats, I don't wash my hair as such, just use enough shampoo to get any dirt off my scalp, condition, deep condition a few times a week and use a leave in conditioner that makes my hair look and feel fantastic.

Unfortunately, it still takes just 4 weeks from a trim before I see little white tips on some of my hairs.  Being able to see those white tips also depends on the angle and lighting I hold the tips on. ::)

Birthday Marathon - Uhm...wow!  Time flies.  Yesterday was the youngest one's birthday.  It was a marathon of cake and biscuits for the kindergarten.  Then home to more biscuits, dinner and layer cake.  I saved the last batch of biscuits for today. 

He got a bean bag chair, McQueen pillow and more Mcqueen bedding than he already has.  Duplo Lego (needs the larger ones for smaller kids due to his automotoric developmental retardation)  a giant plastic "foam" elephant from my mother. :-?  Well, he thinks it's brilliant so that's fine with me.  A few large plastic cars to add to his growing collection and some big plastic boxes with lids and wheels.  He's got more presents waiting at my IL's on Saturday.  *Sigh!*  "I will survive!"

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/553/dsc06736y.jpg

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/9716/dsc06737.jpg

See, it's not that bad:

http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/5751/dsc06745c.jpg

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/8093/dsc06751.jpg

Your son is adorable looking!!!!

Aw, he is a cutie!  What a smile!

Hair - Some Sundays I'm just too lazy or overtired to want to attempt to vinegar rinse and deep condition.  After a scalp shampoo I only let the deep conditioner sit for a minute.  My hair still looks and feels good and I've not applied any leave-in yet.  I will before I go out.  It's cold, raining and windy so I'll tuck my hair under my jacket and knit hat very carefully.

Yesterday we visited my in-laws for a late celebration of the youngest birthday and after I carefully asked how often my SIL had her bob trimmed.  I agreed with her that she looks best with her bob a bit shorter than it is now because if that's the cut she prefers, it looks best on her neck short.  She complimenteed me on my hair too so I thankfully lost the urge to give up and give in I've had this past week. 

Others think my hair looks good, it feels good, so I must be doing something right and it seems worth trying to keep it long.  I find it easier to care for my hair at this time of the year than I do in the summer. 

Make-up -  I'm wearing some make-up again.  I'm not feeling for foundation these days so that affects the colors and formulas of eye colors I wear.  I do wish I could afford to prioritize a concealer.

Yesterday my SIL gave me a Chanel stylo yeux in 'violine' which is purple.  It looks just as good as the navy and jade green stylo pens she's also bought me over time.  The jade green is easiest to apply visibly so I've nearly used it up. 

Aww...your son is just too adorable for words! :)

An Error Has Occurred! The last POST request from your IP was less than 120 seconds ago, and was blocked to prevent overloading the forum. Please try later.  :-?

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An Error Has Occurred! The last POST request from your IP was less than 120 seconds ago, and was blocked to prevent overloading the forum. Please try later.

Oh, that happens to me all the time on different forums because I type fast, read fast then move on too quickly to post on another thread/journal. 

Hair - Wash, one minute treatment, leave-in and then out of the door with a knit hat on.  Within 15 minutes of returning, my hair usually falls back into place so it's not a huge issue. 

Tuesday - Lots of crap because of county bureacracy.  Then our front door handle got jammed and because I'd left the computer turned on and therefor online as well, I couldn't call from the phone in the shed. ::)  Luckily our neighbor had just got home so I could use her phone and camp out until hub could come from work and get a lock smith.  Youngest one desperately needed to use a toilet as well.  The lock smith drove to a wrong town on the other side of one of our major lakes before realizing his mistake so extra time was wasted.  Suddenly all five in our household were camped out in the neighbor's house. :-[

Our door has a plastic frame, glass window and it's practically break in safe.  The lock smith spent 2½ hrs. trying to get it up.  I'd returned at 3:15pm and we weren't in our own house before 6:30pm.  A real drag.  Hub's been wih a cold and his astma has been terrible since Thursday last week.  He forgot to bring medicine with him to work, had none in the car, it was of course in our impenetrable house!  My cell phone was having its batteries charged on the kitchen table as well.  *sigh!* 

When we finally got in and realized there was no way we could hide from our in-laws what'd happened and seeing that we just wanted to get the explaning over with, hub called his parents to explain the situation.  Well, I don't know what transpired and what's been zimmering for some time but my FIL was a real jerk and made all sorts of accusations against my husband about completely unrelated stuff. 

Wednesday - I wasn't sure if they'd actually come to our youngest one's kindergarten for the Christmas decoration cutting party for grandparents and he'd been looking forward to having them visit him in his kindergarten.  I'm glad they grew up overnight and decided to go and act civil.  However, I did prepare the kindergarten a bit without letting out too much.  Just in case they had a disappointed, crying boy to deal with.  Glad that scenario didn't take place.

When they returned our youngest after the party, they were so sheepish but they weren't honorable enough to apologize for some misunderstanding they'd had with hub. No; Instead they blamed my SIL!  Their daughter! :o >:(  I don't trust people like that and I very dramatically threw my hands up to my ears.  I've always known him to be a bully, now I know he's a coward too.  Not really a surprising combination. :(

I did smile, listen, shake hands, and comfortingly try to put my arms around them, tell them everything's gonna be alright.  Everyone knows everyone really has a good heart (this was more a case of me wanting to convince myself) and stroking their arms.  So they finally left in peace. :)  Instead of playing a martyr I tried the guilt trip: (to my FIL) "you do know that your son cares very much for you, don't you?!".  I kept repeating that a few times.

Hair - I think I've found a new routine that involves applying a good dab of leave-in conditioner before bed time.  Then wash and condition as usual the next morning and use a tiny dab of another leave-in, in the morning.  Even the knit hat didn't upset my hairstyle the least.  I could do this routine 2-3 times a week. 

Other - The weather's really cold here in the morning.  It only gets up to 5-7C in the afternoon.  Sorry, I'm too lazy to do conversions.  I'm wearing a dune jacket under a wool duffel coat.  I can't do with less. 

My mom made advent calenders for the boys and hub and I get a daily calendar present but smaller than the other ones.  Got some apricot seed oil for face and body today.  That's interesting.  It's in a very small glass bottle.  I'm not sure how to use it.  Maybe just face and hands?

Hub's got a doctor's appointment.  He's got some strange pains sometimes on the right side of his stomach.  I'm more worried than I'm letting off but I couldn't hold back tears yesterday when he came home.  I don't know what triggered it.  There's nothing he can touch or grab and there's no blood when he goes to the toilet.  At least yesterday the symptoms didn't go away for a couple of hours if he ate but it wasn't there constantly either.  I'm not sure if anything's changed.  I just gave him some details over the phone so he could call the doc.

My dad's with a bad flu and so is his girlfriend and they've bought none-refundable flight tickets to Denmark on the 20th of December so even those this flu or infection of sorts has lasted nearly 2 weeks now, I hope this still gives them enough time to recover.

I've been watching several Coronet educational films from the 1940s-50s.  I know they're unrealistic, poorly scripted, badly directed, and painfully unconvincing in acting but I love them for that kitsch/camp effect.  Drop and Cover!

First let me say that youngest son is ADORABLE.   :)  I wouldn't mind having some of those legos to play with!!  I'm sorry your FIL can't be more of an adult but, hey, that's on him.  And last but not least, I hope everything is all right with your hubby.

Thanks Trisha, hub's got the unusual doc. appt. time of 6:15.  We'll see if they have the blood test results back, if anything shows up on ultrasound or if the doc just refers him to someone else. 

N1H1 vaccine - Just got back from the second part of the N1H1 vaccine.  I don't know if it's divided up in two parts else where but here in Denmark they say your immune system can't handle the vaccine in one portion so they give it to you in two portions with three weeks space between the two portions.  Don't know why the three weeks is necessary. 

Over here the vaccine is only available to critically ill, people in "key" positions and people with respiratory problems.  Hub and the boys have respiratory problems because of their astma, I'm a "key" person. ;D  Actually, they have too many vaccines and not enough are asking for it so they're allowing for people who aren't in the risk group to get the vaccine.  Usually you have to pay for a vaccine but this one if for free if they decide you have some ailment or illness that's critical or that someone thinks you're a key person.

Didn't feel a thing.  Maybe a muscle felt like it was being pulled while the fluid was injected.  Had no side effects last time.  Hub felt a bit neauseus for the first hour.  We're not feeling anything now 45 mins. after the vaccine.

Hair - I had the choice of getting my hair frozen off or fried off when my hair wasn't dry and we had to go.  It's freezing outside and I'd used a one minute treatment which usually means my hair takes longer to dry.  I don't know if I made the right choice but I chose to fry my hair instead of have it freeze.  I had it on low heat and just did a quick blast around my head.  We're talking max. a whole minute.  I sleep with some leave-in conditioner tonight. 

Drear, your son's a real charmer!  I'm glad he had such a nice birthday.

I think you new method of conditioning at night will go a long way to get your hair through the winter.  I hope it works all winter long for you!

When I was in Denmark it was March and not so cold, but quite windy.  I can't imagine handling long hair every winter.  I guess I'd have to keep it braided all the time or a hat wouldn't stay on my ears.

I think I've got a working Fall/Winter routine.  The most damage seems to happen in the summer.  I just haven't found a hair sun screen that really works. 

Hen mother? - I'm keeping all three home today.  They started the morning cranky with sore muscles, shaking and headaches.  Then the oldest one threw up half a pill because he couldn't figure out how to swallow it.  That just did it for me!  I just couldn't cope with all of this.  All over the bathroom and overnight I've contracted the worst cold in a long time.  I'd just rather that they're here today where I can observe them. 

Hub - Went to doc.  Blood tests were fine so the doc wouldn't ultrasound him which I don't understand because it couldn't have been that much trouble.  Hub's been fine for a few days though.  Of course the doc just says to come back if things get worse.  The usual.....

Some doctors can be so frustrating, like law enforcement who can't do anything until something bad happens.   :( 

Drear wrote on Dec 1^st, 2009 at 3:58am:

Hub's got a doctor's appointment.  He's got some strange pains sometimes on the right side of his stomach.  I'm more worried than I'm letting off but I couldn't hold back tears yesterday when he came home.  I don't know what triggered it.  There's nothing he can touch or grab and there's no blood when he goes to the toilet.  At least yesterday the symptoms didn't go away for a couple of hours if he ate but it wasn't there constantly either.

I'm sorry to hear that your husband isn't feeling well.  :(
At least, since it's on the right side, it's unlikely to be appendix related. How long has he been hurting? Does he usually hurt more or less if he eats or if he is hungry? I'd really suggest your husband start a food diary for a while and record what times of day he hurts and what he's been eating. If it's food related, it could be something like food sensitivities, ulcers, excess gas, etc.  You'd be amazed at how painful intestinal gas can be. Then, maybe, the doctor might have more to work with.

I also don't really blame the doc for not using ultrasound. I've had ultrasounds done of my bladder and kidneys and there was prep I had to do a day or two before hand. I've also had cat scans done of my intestinal tract. Both times, even though I'd been having regular inflammation and trouble with those organs, nothing showed up.  Maybe if you call back in to request, they can reschedule him for ultrasound with the correct prep work.

I'm also sorry to hear that your children are sick, too! Does Denmark have chewable cold tablets? I had a friend who couldn't swallow pills, so we always got him the kids' chewable pain/cold relief tablets from the grocery. Grape flavor, if I remember correctly.  ;D

Feel better soon!

I remember that point as a kid where I was old enough for the adult pills and didn't have the option of chewable or liquid medications anymore and I had to learn how to swallow pills.  I used to practice on candy, like M&Ms, Skittles or Tic-Tacs. 

Hope your husband continues to feel better and doesn't have a relapse.  And I hope you and your kids feel better soon!

Drear wrote on Dec 3^rd, 2009 at 2:16am:

I'm glad the air is cleared.  Gosh, I should be the last one to point fingers at anyone ranting.  I don't expect people to read my entries but sometimes I just need to see my own thoughts in writing.  Sometimes I suddenly see things in a different perspective.

Drear: I always read everyone's posts, no matter how long they are, even if I don't reply.  :)  Sometimes I just don't know what to say, but I always care.  :) 

Wow, everyone sick at once. :o  I hope you guys have a speedy recovery and that your husband is okay.

Hang in there, Drear!

Thanks to everyone for replying.  I've just been too mentally exhausted to get back.  First all that sick stuff, then a conflict filled weekend, yesterday I was trying to pull my home back into a presentable state, today I'm doing my nails an nothing else!  Well, not all day long.


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I remember that point as a kid where I was old enough for the adult pills and didn't have the option of chewable or liquid medications anymore and I had to learn how to swallow pills.  I used to practice on candy, like M&Ms, Skittles or Tic-Tacs.

  Oh thanks Michelle, I'll try that one with him. :)

Regarding hub - I know not everything would show up on a scan anyway and blood tests are pretty certain if there are no human errors so I trust the results.  Hub seems much better now in that area but he's with a terrible cold that's messing with his asthma.

The boys - colds come and go like they do with kids at that age who are around so many other kids.  I sent them back to school on Friday and everyone was fine.  We have children's paracetamol (or similar) for anal injection only as far as I know.  It causes such a scene each time I have to use one to reduce fever long enough to get someone well enough to eat something which is why they have to be very sick before I'm desperate enough to use them.

Weekend - Saturday and Sunday the youngest one was just sooo irritating!  He caused quite a fuss in kindergarten yesterday.  Then exhausted himself and finally fell asleep in the middle of a rage and hit one eye against a table top.  *Sigh!*.  Nothing serious though. 

Uhm...my mind's still in a whirl which is why this post is so unstructured. 

Hair - My wash, condition, leave-in and sometimes more leave-in before bedtime routine is working really well.  It's just paramount that I don't neglect the weekly vinegar rinse!

It's now 19" and I'll wait 'til it's just past 20" before going for a maintenance trim and I hope my hair will still be 20" when she's done trimming.

I've been toying with the jersey ties and only one velvet scrunchie today.  My hair is as smooth and shiny as ever but the scrunchie won't stay in and my hair looks greasy and thinner when put up. :(  I could smooth over with a brush but hub's brush has wax on it *yuck!* so there's only my old bubble tipped brush and I read some where that they actually damage your hair.  How, I'm not sure I understand.

I only ever liked the velvet and soft lace scrunchies.  I haven't seen them around here in ages.  I can't remember how I kept them in my hair; Kept them from sliding down.

Hmmm...I feel a thread coming up.....

Our new dining table lamp just arrived with the mail.  I hate the tacky clear plexi plastic lamp shade we have now.  The plastic has even developed indentions over time and it's impossible to clean off.  It's just a large clear disc over a small blue disc we bought in IKEA eons ago when I accidentally kicked the box that had our matte glass lamp in it. :(  The matte white glass lamps are probably the most typically found over Danish dining tables. These are very popular: http://www.tilatbetale.dk/images/Palermo%205%20pendel%20copy.jpg

The next most common are the cones and the halogen chandeliers.  But then we found this assemble it yourself lamp that looks okay in design, I hope it'll spread the light nicely so I said okay when hub really wanted this little project:   http://stormagasinet.dk/makethumb.php?pic=images/produkter/flight/4-flight-35.jpg&w=400

So now he knows what to do with this evening!

The "Hvidkløver" aka Flight 55 is the most sold and well known one of the cheap cones in Danish homes but I just felt for something a little different than a standard cone.  We can always change it in the future.  There isn't much of a price difference between the three lamps.  The Flight 28 is a bit smaller than ours but the same shape.  The plastic is supposed to be color proof and stay white.  Supposedly the plastic is of some sort that doesn't attract dust.  Only time will tell...They're all three designed by a sculpturer named Bjarne Urhammer. 

Trust me, anything will look better than what we have now!

They had one of the big Danish designer cones by Henning Poulsen in hub's company.  "Someone" actually broke in and stole it.  This has been happening around Danish companies that have the large PH cones: 

http://www.euroinvestor.com/newsstories/image.aspx?f=QxoImages&w=630&fn=phkoglen.jpg

PH are just out of our price range: http://www.denstoredanske.dk/@api/deki/files/12032/=319005404.801.png 

To be honest.  My taste isn't very Danish in design.  I'd like something colorful and/or antique with some charm.  I even like Tiffany lamps.  Danish lamp design is mainly about the light and discrete lamp design.  Each to their own...But if I received it as a gift, the PH 5 from 1958 wouldn't look bad over our dining table.  The PH 5 and all its copies used to be a standard over Danish dining tables and it would go well with the mid century modern stuff I'd like to collect in the future along with so many other styles that I fear my home will end up looking like a living history museum. ;D

I just intended to write a short post about this funny new assembly lamp but some how I managed to turn it into a nerdy post about Danish light and lamp culture and history. :-?

Lamp - Hub put the lamp together last evening.  It only took a few hours which was way less than I thought it would take.  I thought he's be assembling it from he got home around 5pm until 10-11pm but he was done before 7pm.  Unfortunately he broke one of the "locks" on one of the leaves so that's taped to another "leaf" from the inside and you have to know where it is and be looking from a downward diagonal angle and looking upward to see it.  All in all it's not as bad looking as I'd feared. 

Sure it looks assembled close up but you don't have to stand very far apart or sit very far below before it all looks fine and the light that projects from it is fantastic and just makes it worth it all!  The light is so soft yet it illuminates perfectly over the entire dining table. :)  Okay, enough lamp for now!


Hair - It was feeling so perfect yesterday.  I'm not sure I like my 1 min. treatment anymore.  I might use the deep conditioner mid week instead.  I want a better deep conditioner too.  I've got quite a bit of the leave-in the hairdresser mixed for me and I've finally learnt to dose and apply the Nivea leave-in correctly but I hate the smell at first.  It's too strong.  I prefer the slightly gelly liquid leave-in conditioner consistency I can just dab a finger in and apply alll over my hair with the mildest of fragrance if anything.

At least headphones and knit hats no longer leave any marks.  I miss having the ends do their funny little things though.  That's going to happen less and less as my hair grows longer.  I just don't like the very tamed look on me anymore.  I prefer looser soft, quirky, romantic styles on me these days. 

Surprise birthday party and school problems - Yesterday hub went to pick up our middle son from his recreational club at school after work as usual, just to be told that all the boys had gone to a birthday party.  Luckily the teachers knew where the party was and all of his stuff was gone so we assumed he'd taken it with him and it was.  We've no idea how he got to the party.  I was so angry with him yesterday for not telling us he had this party to go to and when to pick him up that I forgot to ask how he got from the school to the birthday boy's home. 

Never mind it's dark at before 4pm at this time of the year.  We were apparently supposed to have picked him up at 5pm but before hub got there it was 5:15pm.  I'm glad the host family didn't put our boy out on the street.

Things weren't helped when some boys from the parallel class (he's in 2A the birthday boy was from 2B and you either invite everyone from your class or all the kids of your gender from both parallel classes) began to tease him shortly before hub found the place and picked him up late so our son was in tears and throwing a fit.  It's a new neighborhood, it doesn't show up on GPS.  The two cellphone numbers I found to the parents online didn't work either.

Our boy is very polite, gentle and sensitive and I think other kids pick up on that and that makes him an easy target.  He was spat on, hit and kicked the first week of school the first year in school, then he's had stuff stolen from him/hidden from him and there's always been small episodes but generally he's a popular boy there are just a few bullies who make life miserable for everyone once in a while and sadly this little hard group is the reason why so many kids from both parallel classes have transferred to other schools but we can't afford that option or logistically make it work. 

Sorry, got carried away, again, again.  Thankfully, I'm a fast typist so this doesn't take much of my time and makes it easier for me to focus on getting stuff done the rest of the day. :)

I'm sorry middle son has to deal with that crap.  I wish I had some advice but I don't.   :( 

Hair - Hmm...don't know what makes the difference on some days.  I do the same on most days yet on some days I think I have the most gorgeous hair and on other days it's either yucky or just bland.

More crap - Had to empty middle one's backpack, turn it inside out, wash and dry it.  There was a leaking sour milk carton in his bag.  They get the small ones in school.  He says he didn't put it in his bag.  We only have his word for it but I can't think of any reason why he'd lie.  He only once naively thought a milk would be okay in the carton from lunch hour where he didn't drink it and until he got home in the afternoon.  That taught him that it ruins his backpack if the carton breaks.  This smelled old!  I know it wasn't in his bag on Tuesday.   Someone else's prank?  Who knows...

Hair - Well, at least one thing is under control in my life!  It's been behaving itself very well since I added some more leave-in to my routine, and am more religious about the vinegar rinses.

Irritant - Oldest son dragged his backpack and clothes changing bag along the ground and tore holes in both of them.  He quickly hid his bags when he got home on Friday so we wouldn't notice.  Of course I noticed Monday morning when I went to check that everything was packed. ::)  I had to lend him my backpack which is a good 13-14 years old now and looks as good as new.  Lets see how long this lasts!  The shops don't have backpacks now unless you have a fortune to spare which we don't but hub ordered one online.  It'll be here on the 23rd. 

Health - Whatever was upsetting my husband's stomach is back again.  It might be some type of stones anyway even though blood tests excluded that because he feels the pain from one place in the front and directly in the same place in the back if you could draw a line through him.  It might be ulcers as well because they can create the same pain.  So he's got a referral for a scan which I have to pick up later today and a prescription on some type of ulcer medicine which should work quickly. 

We're of course unhappy if it's either and especially this close to the holidays but I pray that it's nothing more serious. 

I don't know if it was a mistake to get the second shot of N1H1 vaccine but we're all fine now.  Iv'e read in different places that they've stopped giving children the second shot many places and many adults are opting out of the second shot to get the other half dosis of what's recommended.  Well, what's done is done.  I've read that others were much more ill for days or weeks than we were. 

Today - I've got the youngest one home today.  His carers are taking some class today.  That's good.  Anything that improves their skills in handling special needs kids is good.  We've got to mail a package to my mother and pick up that referral. 

Vanity - LD made me feel very guilty for neglecting my nails ;) aside from cleaning them a couple of times every day because I'm paranoid about that stuff.  So I grabbed the clippers, polish remover and just applied a couple of quick dry nearly clear rose polish.  There!  Looking pulled together. :)

Haha!
That reminds me of silly things I'd do as a child, to keep my parents from knowing the stupid things I'd done. Like cutting off hanks of hair close to the scalp when I got pine sap in my hair from climbing trees. As if my parents and all the rest of the world could somehow fail to notice the tuft of new hair sticking straight up when it started growing out again.

I'm sorry that your husband is feeling bad again. At least, if it is ulcers, they should clear up pretty fast with a course of antibiotics. I think they also have really non-invasive methods for clearing out stones, too, if that is the problem.


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So I grabbed the clippers, polish remover and just applied a couple of quick dry nearly clear rose polish.  There!  Looking pulled together.

Isn't fresh clean nail polish so nice? That shade sounds lovely.  :)

;D KNS.

NHC - Yesterday hub called the hospital he got a referral to, to ask how it all works.  got told he could just come in from the street at 8am today.  That sounded great and simple.  Not so!  They only do x-rays like that, scans have to be scheduled and they won't have an available appt. until next year.  Not that far away you might think but with the pains he's in, any day feels like one day too long.  So he called the private HC and got told that they only have to give him an answer about where he can get a scan within 48 hours.  So that'll be Friday.  I don't know if private (or public) hospitals shut down for none emergencies over the x-mas holidays.  I'm really disappointed in both the public and private health care system.  We don't know and for a while won't know if this is something critical that needs to be treated as an emergency.  He's very hungry all the time but can't drink or eat without feeling tremenderous pain while eating and for quite a while afterwards.  If our general doc could do the scan himself he/she probably would've.  I think the first doc seeing him promised something he couldn't deliver over the phone. 

Hair - Why are shampoo bottles always nearly 1/4 larger than the conditioner?!  I use about 1/3 more conditioner than shampoo. 

Youtube - Waylon Jennings autobiography, a bunch of Dion Dimucci, Frankie Avalon(old TV stuff), Bobby Rydell - love his voice, Class of 55 from 77 and 85 with Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash. GL and GA paranormal stuff.

Reading - Old Carl Bunch interview: http://www.mybestyears.com/InterviewSpotlights/BUNCHCarl020109.html ; I've been thumbing through my costume jewelry books too.  I just need to take my mind off things and I'm letting the boys run a bit mad in the evenings because we have so many Christmas calendar TV serials but the boys don't all want to watch them all so there's always at least one boy running around and playing.  That's fine!

Family diplomatics - Our youngest is psychomotorically retarded.  I don't know what the correct term is in English.  On many levels his development is no where near what you would mentally expect for a 6 y.o.  It's close to 2 y.o. in some areas.  He's unpredictable, spontaneous and completely untrustworthy. 

Both my in-laws and my mother nearly had to learn that the hard way.  He could've actually drowned this summer while my mother wouldn't assert herself and just grab him by his hand and hold on to him.  Same situation with the in-laws except my mom and I were with all the boys in a bird park with lots of ponds and the ponds could look like flower beds to a small boy who doesn't know better.

So while I was looking at one thing with the older boys and my mom was supposed to mind the youngest (she works with special needs people so I thought she'd know better) he got angry with her, ran off and she completely lost sight of him.  When she called my cell phone, I went hysterical and panicked.  I really feared he'd drowned.  Thankfully he'd just wandered off to a gravel trail and was talking to a gartner who heard my mother "Gustav" and the gartner asked him if his name was Gustav to which my son answered spontaneously and honestly. :)  So Gustav was returned to grandma.  I was still furious with her though.

Then a month ago my SIL nearly got herself and our son injured or killed in my in-laws kitchen when she let him dry off and handle the sharp, pointy utensil knives.  Hub wasn't there.  I only found out because he went out of sight and I know that's a no-no!  But jumping in stopping the situation assertively could've escalated things.  He was waving with it in his hand while talking when I walked into the kitchen and not holding the towel or knife right.  She wouldn't listen to my calm explanation and how I wanted her to stop the situation so she escalated things herself by attempting to wrestle the knife from him to show him how to dry it off.  Btw. talked to kindergarten where personel don't think 6 y.o. especially immature ones shouldn't be handling something like sharp and pointy utensil knvies.  SIL's attitude was that if they got cut, then he'd learn from that.  Well, that's not acceptable to me and it's MY boy!

Later I tried to talk to her over the phone but she wouldn't listen.  I finally felt I had to tell hub.  He was livid but I begged him not to confront her because she's very sensitive and also very stubborn (and immature).

I guess things finally bottled up over a month and last evening hub called his sister to make a few things perfectly clear.  Of course his sister wouldn't listen, thought she knew better but hub had enough and told her to: "shut up and listen!"  He gave the two stories with our parents and an example of something with a nail, board and hammer and how he might on impulse/out of curiosity start hammering on something else or someone and you just can't be close enough or fast enough to stop the situation.

It sounds like she finally accepts that we set the rules the boys  (and others) safety while we of course accept other people's house rules.  At least she admitted that she only studied this stuff theoretically and very superfically when she studied to be a school teacher and later a physiotherapist and that she doesn't know anything about kids.  Good!  Now lets see her act according to her own admission and hopefully responsibly. 

This is not the first nor the last time I have to deal with people who don't understand my boys disabilities and won't respect that they have to accept and be mindful of their disabilities.  It's flattering but simply not good enough when someone says: "but I just take them as I see them and I see them as lovely boys".  There's some truth to that but it's not the full truth nor is it acceptable if you've been told differently to ignore their special needs.

I don't expect my SIL to love and care for the boys.  She chose not to have children of her own and that's fine.  But she just wants to borrow ours when we get together so I think it's a given that she accepts the rules we set whether she finds them reasonable or not.  She really doesn't have the competence or experience to judge us or to assume anything about our boys. >:(

This is really stupid.  SIL and I have such good chemistry and talks at other times.  I hate for this to come between her.  I don't know how she handled the tough talk.  I'm not getting involved again though.  This'll have to remain between her and her brother (my husband).

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LD made me feel very guilty for neglecting my nails

::)

I guess your family wants to ignore your son's disability...maybe that makes them feel better about it. :-?  It's completely irresponsible though.  Hopefully, they'll realize it and soon.

Yeah LD, if it was just one of those cringe worthy disagreements then I could overlook it around them.

Snow - Every year the snow (when/if it comes) comes as a shock to millions of Danes!  Public transport including trains service aren't prepared, the roads aren't cleared, people are still on summer tires except hub who has the sense to get them on by late Fall.  The kindergarten had to send the youngest one home so ½ hr. after dropping him off by car, I had to send hub back to fetch the youngest.

Hub - The private hospital boasts no waiting lists for scanning but they can't scan him until Monday next week.  With his unbearable, unexplained pain he's been having for nearly a month now, that's so frustrating.  It's as if someone along the line didn't understand how critical this potentially is.  He's taking sick leave for the rest of the year.  Well, he had two work days left.  This just isn't the way we wanted to celebrate x-mas with my dad coming over and all.  If necessary, we're prepared to have hub spend x-mas and NY eve in hospital if things worsen.  I haven't told my dad yet.  I was hoping things would sort themselves and for a week it seemed that way.  The ulcer medicine doesn't seem to be helping so that's probably not it and he didn't test positive for any type of stones in blood tests so I don't know what to speculate.  He had so many blood tests that cancer, etc. should've shown up too. 

I find it hard to get my act together and do anything with others around the house.  I watched a music documentary about blues, hillbilly, honky tonk country, R&B and rock'n'roll.  I missed the first 15 mins of this 50 mins. documentary on BBC Knowledge music.  They're usually good about re-running these things so I'll have to catch it a few times until I've watched it all.

Hair - The next few days I'll try to use up what's left of this year's shampoo and conditioner bottles.  I take care to tuck my hair under my knit hat and coat but a few sections always manage to free themselves in the front.  I've booked an appt. at the hairdresser on Monday because I feel I deserve some pampering with all the stress and stuff that's going on.

Snow - Hub got out of bed and went out to shovel snow and the boys sleighed for a couple of hours.  Yesterday I fell no less than six times while out but today I only nearly fell four times so I'm getting the hang og gaining my footing before falling or maybe it was just luck today.

I had to buy some essentials for the Christmas Eve dinner on the 24th when we celebrate Christmas because there's supposed to be snow storm tomorrow - Thursday.  So I don't know if I can get out again, if the stores will be able to re-stock their shelves or what's going to happen to hub between Christmas and NY Eve. 

Because of the snow storm warnings I've already written a new mile long list of stuff I need to buy for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Christmas day.  I hope all of this snow storm chaos is over before NY Eve because I don't know how many times I can handle carrying heavy bags home from the supermarket and uphill.  I had a migraine after shopping today.

So this means I won't have any guests tomorrow which I don't mind all that much because I'm not feeling very social since I can't stop worrying about hub. 

Dad - With the snow storm warning for the 23rd, I've no idea if my dad will be able to drive over here from the eastern part of the country where he'll be with his girlfriend for the first couple of nights in Denmark.  It'll be so sad if we can't meet up now that I haven't seen him in five years, the youngest one can't remember grandpa and I've no idea when we'll get a chance to see him again.  I told him I thought a Christmas visit, while lovely, was a bad idea!

Finished decorating our house and I assembled our dinky, plastic, x-mas tree because my skin reacts badly to pine and I got the tree, our small indoor birch, and our troll branch that hangs from nylon wires from our ceiling decorated and hung lights around the "tree" and the troll branch :) 

Glad you got to finish decorating!  We got hit with a snow storm here in the eastern part of the US yesterday.  It's still coming down lightly,but it's a winter wonderland outside!!!!

Curlgirl64 wrote on Dec 20^th, 2009 at 2:15am:

Glad you got to finish decorating!  We got hit with a snow storm here in the eastern part of the US yesterday.  It's still coming down lightly,but it's a winter wonderland outside!!!!

I know.  My dad was supposed to fly to Denmark from NY (must've flown SF-NY yesterday) today but he's stuck at the airport.  Well, I did warn him!

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I find it hard to get my act together and do anything with others around the house.

Ugh, I'm the same way.  I get so much more done when I'm alone.


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Yesterday I fell no less than six times while out but today I only nearly fell four times so I'm getting the hang og gaining my footing before falling or maybe it was just luck today.

Yay for only falling four times!!! ;D

Hopefully, your husband won't have to be hospitalized and your father won't be in the airport much longer.  Being stuck at the airport sucks. :P

Thanks LD.  They found nothing wrong with my husband during the scan which is both good and bad.  Well, they can't actually scan his stomach but the doc was very thorough and felt the front side, sides and back for tumors as well as this would of course be a major concern but nothing was found and if it was cancer the bloodtests were supposed to have shown something. 

Dad - There's been a misunderstanding.  They never made it to NY because it was too foggy to fly out of SF.  They'll try again tomorrow, hopefully fly in to CPH on the 24th.  Won't be here for Christmas Eve which is a heart breaker for the boys who'd been looking forward to it and Christmas day just isn't the same thing to Danes that it is to people who celebrate Christmas on the 25th so it's very little consolation that grandpa may show up a day later. 

One of the oldest boys teachers drove all the way up to our place which considering the weather conditions really wasn't necessary.  She just wanted to drop off some presents he'd made and he's just told me that he'd made presents for grandpa. *Sigh!*  I'm trying to sell the idea of celebrating Christmas twice.

Birthday - Got a soft lavender eyeliner which isn't very visible but the effect it has on making my eyes pop is AMAZING!

Got two tunic dresses, a purple cardigan, skirt and shirt from my mother. 

Fleece lined gloves and knit hat from my in-laws that will smooth all of my hair down but at least not create a crease ring around it.  It's the same style as kids wear with the ears covered and you can tie it under your chin but I think I'll just let it hang loose.  So no more sinus or ear infections.  I really like it.  Oh, they gave me/us calcium vitamins too.  I can't drink milk and I can't eat enough cheese without "side effects".

I got Blue and turquoise towels and shower curtain from my husband a few weeks ago which I actually picked myself because I thought it would be a nice contrast to the terracotta tiles in the bathroom.  I also wanted it to be more exciting for the boys when it's bath time so I stayed off the red and purple I initially wanted which is only my taste. Soft or bright Blue/green color combinations is probably the only color combination we can reach some agreement on. ::)

The pictures of the shower curtain and my crappy attempt at a bouffant with flip trial are still in my cell phone.  I'm an idiot with technology so I still don't get how I'm supposed to upload them to the computer. :-[

We've been snacking on nuts, burnt almonds ( I know they're nuts too), clementines, and a few chocolates.  I don't feel like baking.  Don't think I have anything to bake wit and it's not safe to go out into the snow storm to buy anything.  We've got lots of sweet snacks around the house anyway.

We're just having tortillas tonight because I love homemade tortillas.  The youngest one will only eat them with jam fill.  We've had a lot of salmon lately which is my favorite dish in any form so it's a little too early to have salmon again.

MIL just called to ask if hub had got home because of the weather, blah, blah, blah.  Hell!  People are adults here!  They can make their own decisions and if he chooses to miss my birthday and find himself stuck in the snow overnight then that's his problem!  I can't stop my dad from attempting to fly over here for Christmas and I can't stop my husband from going to work.  I thought the uneasy phone conversations were over when I took the initiative to call and say thanks for the presents.  I know she's concerned for her son but dammit she needs to let her kids who are all in their 40s grow up! >:(

Scan - They couldn't scan all parts but the doctor was experienced and felt all parts front, sides and back and felt nothing feeling like a tumor nor have the blood tests indicated anything that could hint at any form of cancer which was of course our main concern.  If it continues to hurt the next step is obviously a ...scopi.  That's rather drastic and hub doesn't want it but surely you can't avoid eating or sitting up for the rest of your life. 

Hair - I felt like what the hell yesterday with all the crap that's been going on!  Drastic cut but after adjusting my eyes to it I'm really happy with it.  I never thought I'd agree with this; but cut right, bangs look best on me and top layers look better than bottom layers.  They're long soft layers, there are many of them but they blend in with each other smoothly.  The layers are good for someone like me who doesn't like to have my hair put up but has a round face that's aging at that too.  I've got my left side part back and I like to part the bangs at the parting.  Instant facial rejuvenator and much cheaper (probably safer as well) than a face lift.  The bangs will look good longer too.

The hairdresser chopped off the length of my thumb from the bottom of my hair which is about the growth from October.  It's still below shoulder length so I'm happy. 

Both the hairdresser and I agree that the ideal length is a bit longer than she cut it but there was some issues with the bottom I insisted she even off so that I only need to maintain top layers and bangs but don't need too much shaping at the bottom aside from mini trims.  She fully agrees with this and doesn't want me to ever go as short as she's seen me in the past with various bobs. :) 

If I should regret this cut which I can't imagine I will now that I've seen what it can do for the appearance of my face she says it'll look just as good all grown out with just maintenance trims to the tips.  This would only become an issue when I'm short on money or if she thinks of an even better way for me to grow the back length of my hair longer and still keep some shaping layers in the top and bangs.

I like this lady.  She's a bit more gutsy and honest than her colleagues who've cut me in the past.  I love the movement, volume, lightness without appearing thinned, my hair actually looks fuller.  I can style it but if you know me, I only do this a couple of times just to prove to myself that I can.  We don't agree on the need for daily styling which she claims is the most important part with my hair coarse, straight hair texture but I know I'll look just fine wash & go.  I've never known a hairdresser who advocates wash and go "styling". ::)

Yesterday evening while I still had enough hair gunk in my hair to make my cut bigger than the state of Texas and hurricane proof as well, I used large (don't have jumbo sized) velcro rollers at the crown and bangs.  After blow frying, I grabbed the round brush that's also too small in diameter and lifted the bouffant even further, making teasing nearly unnecessary so I only pushed the layers underneath a bit, then rolled the ends the other way to create a flip.  Voila; a pretty good trial of what a bouffant with flip could look like. 

Today I washed, washed, conditioned, deep conditioned, applied leave-in as usual, only dried my hair with the blow dryer lightly until it was still slightly damp with my head down, then lifted the roots a little with the round brush and blew with cold air at a distance to lift a bit.  Waited for everything to dry completely then smoothed it out.  I just wanted to prove to myself that I can wield a hairdryer as well as the next hairdresser.

I don't need a curling iron, straightener or hot rolls.  I need therapy for my need to prove myself! 

For special occassions I think the travel sized mousse and hairspray my mom bought me is enough.  I won't use it daily or even regularly so I see no need to splurge out on styling products which I've just thrown a load away of because I hadn't used it in over a year.  My scalp won't be happy either if I style my hair regularly.

Hair - Wash, 1 min repair conditioner, air dry.  Hair looks and feels good.  I haven't combed it again and again through the day like I usually do.  I've not been adjusting and re-adjusting a ponytail to finally give up on it.  For now this really seems to work because my cut flatters me without any hassle and I'm not even itching my scalp.  Getting my hair lifted a bit off my scalp seems to have helped.

Blah - Alone with the boys.  Tidying up after the present extravaganza yesterday. ;)  Got a bunch of presents to wrap for my dad because he won't have time to do it himself if he gets himself here at all the day after tomorrow.

Might've messed up on the duck.  Was supposed to have taken it out of the freezer and placed it in the fridge yesterday, didn't remember until evening.  Panicked and set it on the kitchen table overnight.  Might've thawed a bit too fast but it's not completely thawed and I put it in the fridge in the morning so I hope it'll be okay and safe to eat after three hours in the oven tomorrow. 

I also messed up and placed the duck in a deep plate which I set directly on the wood top kitchen table which hub had just sanded off and oiled.  I can't reach the wood oil in the shed so I've liberally been dousing the damaged area with a ring with olive oil. :'(  I was just overtired yesterday because I'd shovelled snow for two hours and been alone with the boys all day. 

I placed the pork roast in the fridge last evening so I hope that'll have enough time to thaw.  I don't know what the hell's wrong with my head.  Well, we've had a lot to worry about.  I'm not half as organized for Christmas Eve as I usually am.

Update - Apparently it's called roast pork with the rind on in the U.S.  I'm not doing the super slow roasting that takes 5 hours.  It'll just be a medium slow roast 2½-3 hrs.  I intend to make the duck at the same time now.  I've read enough online descriptions to make them at the same time but not as fast and at as high temperatures as is recommended. 

I'm one rack short so I may have to place the duck on top of half potatos, onions, apples and prunes.  The duck will also be stuffed with apples and prunes. 

This is starting to fill a lot in my head and I've had two panics in one hour where hub has been shoved out of the door and back to the grocery stores for stuff I've forgot that I need tomorrow.  If we eat around 6pm at the latest- 7pm if everything goes wrong, I'll probably start in the kitchen around 1pm. 

I need a pot for potatos, one for the duck broth, and two sauce pans for the two types of gravy plus I need to be able to heat the shredded/pickled red cabbage which I bought in a plastic bucket to save me time.  I couldn't even afford to buy it ready made on glass. :-[ and while the two roasts rest on the dining table with everything else, that should free up one stove element to prepare the browned/sugared potatos on.  I'm using potatos from glass to save me time and to make sure they're perfectly smooth so the coating will be even.  Did I leave a free element for the regular white potatos?! :-? 

Okay, I prepare the potatos in the morning, then re-heat them in the after heat when I turn the oven off after preparing the roasts! :)

Please tell me this is a working plan! :o

My goodness!  Sounds like an excellent feast, even if you forget something.  It seems like every Christmas/Thanksgiving/Easter feast I had with my step-mom during my childhood, something got forgotten in the fridge, but no one ever noticed!  I'm sure everything will go well.  :)

Drear wrote on Dec 22^nd, 2009 at 9:00am:

I know she's concerned for her son but dammit she needs to let her kids who are all in their 40s grow up! >:(

Heh...  I hate to tell you... My husband just turned 49 and his mother, who is soon to turn 69 herself, sometimes STILL treats both her sons as if they were 6.   ::)  She doesn't mean to insult their intelligence but often comes off seeming that way.  Some mothers just can't seem to let go of the concept that their children are no longer that.  *hugs*  Hang in there, dear!   8-)

MichelleR wrote on Dec 23^rd, 2009 at 12:46pm:

My goodness!  Sounds like an excellent feast, even if you forget something.  It seems like every Christmas/Thanksgiving/Easter feast I had with my step-mom during my childhood, something got forgotten in the fridge, but no one ever noticed!  I'm sure everything will go well.  :)

I agree!  It took me many years to figure out that "perfection" has no place at holiday gatherings.  It's impossible to achieve and striving for it drives normally sane women to the brink of a breakdown.  Who cares what anyone else thinks?  If you're happy then everybody else needs to shut the he$$ up.   8-)

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Heh...  I hate to tell you... My husband just turned 49 and his mother, who is soon to turn 69 herself, sometimes STILL treats both her sons as if they were 6.     She doesn't mean to insult their intelligence but often comes off seeming that way.  Some mothers just can't seem to let go of the concept that their children are no longer that.  *hugs*  Hang in there, dear!

I have to co sign on that.  My father treats me the same way.  It angers my husband but I find it amusing. ::)

Did I miss your birthday? :-?  If so, happy belated.

Thank you all for your trust in me.  Thanks LD.  33...on the 22nd.  Trisha, it's actually a relief to know that other mature women (which I sometimes consider myself) notice these things with their MIL too. 

Christmas - Well over and a success.

Meal - Well over, a success but I'm not following someone else's recipe again.  My way is better!  I'll improve the gravy slightly tomorrow; I'll do it my way!

Dad - He and his girlfriend landed safely.  Nearly missed flight out of LA because flight out of SF was late.  Had a miserable experience in Heathrow, London, finally got tough, moved some chain posts and made a run for the gate!  Thank goodness or they would've missed the final flight to Kastrup, CPH, Denmark.  Because it's Christmas here they only found a couple of day old sandwiches in a 7-11.  Their luggage is lost but if it's found it'll be sent directly to my address.  They'll drive over here tomorrow.  They've promised snow storm and the rental car doesn't have winter tires on.  I couldn't stress the importance of that enough to my dad to make him insist on winter tires even at an extra cost.

Presents - Boys got toys, hub got some photo and film display frame from my mother,  home baked goodies from the oldest one.  I got home made sweets from the oldest son and skirt, top, cardigan and a 15 nailpolish pack from mom.  Hub and I decided we'd had so many extra expenses we didn't want to buy each other presents and I'm glad we both stuck to it. 

So we're celebrating Christmas again tomorrow.  Minus the kitchen stress.  Just new potatos, vegetables (okay, potatos are vegetables too, gravy and desser which is cooled of rice pudding with whipped cream stirred into the rice pudding, vanilla, sugar, peeled and chopped almonds served cold with warm cherry sauce.  I'm heating up ready made cherry sauce. 

Pork bellies turned out nearly fine except one end where I accidentally spilled some grease on from something else so that end wasn't dry enough to pop and turn crisp on the spilt part.  But we don't really eat it, I just wanted to demonstrate it to dad's girlfriend (dad doesn't eat red and white meat) so I quickly wrapped the good ones in kitchen towel and foil so they just need to be heated on high heat in the oven to keep them crisp.  Well, it's worked in the past.  Keep an eye on them!  Some people get them perfectly crisp while they're on the roast.  You have to cut them off the roast afterwards anyway so many people give the pork bellies a short blast under the grill.   

I'm tired!  It's past midnight and I've just finished the third dishwasher load. 

I look forward to reading about everyone else's Christmas. :)

MichelleR wrote on Dec 23^rd, 2009 at 12:46pm:

My goodness!  Sounds like an excellent feast, even if you forget something.  It seems like every Christmas/Thanksgiving/Easter feast I had with my step-mom during my childhood, something got forgotten in the fridge, but no one ever noticed!  I'm sure everything will go well.  :)

I didn't forget anything and we still don't have enough room in the fridge or freezer even after having eaten much of both roasts.  Luckily for me, we still have snow so I placed a bunch of stuff out there.  Never had a problem with that.

Unlike the year we celebrated my birthday and Christmas up at Arnold and a racoon ate my birthday cake!

English r's - Why didn't anyone ever tell me that they're pronounced from the front of the mouth right behind the teeth near the alveolar ridge (sp?) and not from the middle of the tongue towards the roof of the mouth like Danish r's?!  Even my dad just used to make fun of me and that's when I became aware I was mispronouncing them but no one ever tried to help me.  I even asked but I suppose that's impossible for most natives to explain.  Most native English speakers probably aren't even conscious of it. 

Like some people with a speech impediment among native English speakers and some Asians, that erh...whatever under the tongue is too short for me to mechanically get the pronounciation of rolling r's correct. 

Well, I'm working on trying to remember to at least attempt to pronounce the rolling r's at the front and take my time.  I'll probably both look and sound stupid.  I just don't like the idea of getting a snip under my tongue.   
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Hair - The cut is really growing on me and I like the way it's growing in to place.  The layers don't affect what I do with my hair and they aren't very obvious but the effect is big on how my hair appears and how the long side bangs flatter my face.

Dad came and went.  the 25th was really nice.  I wasn't sorry that they couldn't get their rental car the way the weather was.  They took the train, hub picked them up and drove them to and from the hotel every day they were here before they went back to Copenhagen and spent a few more days there before flying back to the U.S.

Their luggage didn't get here until the 27th at 10pm at our address but hub had to drive down to the main road to pick up their bags because the lady couldn't drive closer to our house.

Apparently their flight out of O'Hara in Chicago got cancelled and they panicked for a while but managed to get on another flight, just to find that their luggage didn't arrive back with them in SF. ::)  Luckily it was on another flight.  They flew back on the 1st of January so if you've been keeping up with the news, you probably know that there were extra checks and new rules to stress them as well.

After all the stress and being tired from driving from SF to Lodi, my dad who was overexhausted slipped from one end of his tub to the other, fell out, hit his head against the sink cabinet.  He's fine though but he'd also fallen twice in a supermarket in Lodi before flying over to us and had a bad knee and ankle while he was here so I'm a little worried about this 6'4"ft man falling again.

We only got to see my dad for three evenings after not having seen him for five years.  Strange...

Weather - It's still miserable, causing problems all over the country, I guess it's the same in other European countries and all the way over to Texas in the U.S. 

I've been busy filling out forms about my observations regarding the youngest one's disability and asthma.  I don't usually observe him, I live with him and make it work! 

Yesterday we experienced psychological terror at the blood test lab at a hospital where we'd gone for asthma check on the youngest one and to talk about the middle one's possible hidden asthma.  The middle one needed to have an allergy blood test done.  You take a number, sit and wait, they have some prioritizing system that's top secret so there's no logical order in which numbers are called up.  They lost control of the situation at the lab, the computer system wasn't working right, they were arrogant and rude and people were confused and it was miserable sitting there on the type of chairs they have in those places with the boys and I don't know how the elderly felt.  The attitude of the nurses and their in-arguments was the worst. 

We took the boys to Burger King to thank them for being so patient in the waiting room though the youngest one nearly came unglued towards the end.  I nearly did too.  I wanted to lie on the floor and kick around too. ;D

We're getting a new dishwasher today. :)  The old one went with a *Poof!* and a small flame Saturday evening.  Luckily I'm of an older generation and remember how to do dishes by hand. ;)  Dishwashers only became common towards the end of the 1980s in many Danish homes.  I've seen American pictures of dishwashers from the 1950s.  Apparently some of my high school classmates never tried washing up by hand.  I had to teach some of them how to do dishes by hand in food science in 1994.

Man, you've been busy!  Hope your dad is ok and the boys test results are what you hope for!

Thanks curlgirl.  I can't even bear to think of hub's health right now.  He seems to be doing okay.  I haven't asked too many questions.  I know that's selfish but I'm not expert.  I tend to worry too much, can't keep my concerns to myself and end up blowing things out of proportion and worry others more than needed. 

The soles of hub's winter boots were a "Monday edition".  The rubber simply "burnt" away for lack of better wording.  They were a 2000 model of the good brand ECCO and we bought new Ecco boots for him again because it's still our favorite footwear brand, they were just unfortunate with the soles of some winter boots in 2000. 

Funny how we tend to pick things that had faults some particular years.  Like our dishwasher 1999-2005 an we bought it in 2000. ::)

Drear wrote on Jan 13^th, 2010 at 1:56am:

...Apparently some of my high school classmates never tried washing up by hand.  I had to teach some of them how to do dishes by hand in food science in 1994.

:o  Are you serious?!  We're still doing our dishes by hand!  Wow....that blows my mind.

Great goodness! That doctor's visit sounded awful. Why do they bother doing that weird ordering? Here in the US, when I go in to do blood work, they just go straight down the sign-up list.

Hubby and I did all our dishes by hand until we moved into our current apartment two or three years back. Even now, we still do all of our pots by hand. Dishes aren't that different!

People doing washing up by hand in 2010?!  That's truly shocking! ;)

I don't own anything that can't go in the dishwasher and I've even been guilty of placing wooden utensils in the dishwasher when I was younger. :-[  "You" live and learn...

At all the other hospitals we've been to, it goes by number, so you take a number and you know that you'll be called in, in a logical chronological order.  I've never had to wait more than 15 minutes at any other hospital. 

Hair - I've been washing my bangs every evening.  I can't wait for them to grow longer so they fall to the side more naturally but they do flatter my face.  I'm not sure I care for the Diamond Shine Nivea shampoo and conditioner I'm using now.  It's neither doing this nor that. 

Disability diagnosis change - I lost a note I wrote on my youngest son's diagnosis which a psychologist informed me had been changed, over the phone.  It's the same boy, same disability but the diagnosis is called something different now and I don't mind because it actually defines the disability correctly and doesn't need changing as his disability might change in the spectrum as he grows older.  Well, it's a neurological spectrum disorder of some sort.  I'm pretty sure it's neurological developmental disorder.  That's what we call it here.  Before it was called psycho-motoric retardation in Denmark.   That was sort of a "whatever..." diagnosis term.

Hair - Keep forgetting to VR.  Did deep condition.  I prefer my hair on Sundays but I need to remember the VR to keep my scalp feeling good.  Moved the part further to the left.  I like the sweeping bangs to fall over more of my forehead these days.

Activities - What I like best about Mondays is that I can get back on our regular PC and off this laptop.  I'm becoming more used to it but I still don't like it all that much.  I've been listening to Coast-to-Coast radio interviews on youtube.  I haven't listened to much music this weekend which is highly unusual.  Haven't missed TV either.

Had an extra pork roast with rind and bones in the freezer taking up space. ::)  The rind wasn't even cut and I would never have bought one with the bones in it but this was a Christmas "gift" from the in-laws.  I love slow cooking but this isn't my idea of enjoyable slow cooking. 

We were supposed to have gone to see some lights being initiated on a tower this afternoon but I had to send hub alone and the boys didn't want to go.  I just didn't feel good about leaving the roast on its own.  There are also some steps in the roasting process I have to be home for.  The company hub works for donated the lights to the tower which is the highest unnatural point in Denmark from sea level.  The highest natural point is officially another spot not far from the tower but actually it's a property where a privatge farm sits.  I guess the owner doesn't want a lot of tourists parking on their property.

Hair - Odd.  Hair's just fine today despite not having made any changes in shampoo/conditioner routine.  It's difficult to judge my hair when it's warm and dry inside, freezing outside and I'm always wearing a tightly fitting, fleece lined knit hat.  This style:http://4alpaca.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=101 ; I would've chosen something more colorful but it was a birthday present from my in-laws and they must've run out of them in the shops because I went around every where looking for that style. 

Blah - Been a bit down with some sinus and ear problems.  Haven't been getting enough sleep.  That's the only thing that's been different and that makes me so vulnerable to infections from experience so I went to bed at 8:30pm last evening.  Hub's stomach problems keep coming and going.  The boys are only slightly snotty. 

Laundry - What do you do when you've loaded the washer with everyone else's clothes just to find your favorite blacks and purples at the bottom of the laundry basket?  You unload the washer, stuff your own clothes in first, the what can fit in of everyone else's clothes! :P

Clothes - I thought everything was looking a bit unflattering in my wardrobe.  The year I lost weight, browns, greys, and ruddy wine reds were fashionable.  That's okay if you "belong to a warm season" but I'm a "winter".  Grey looks good on me though.  Along the way, mom and I have found various styles of tops in deep purple.  I've washed a ruddy wine red sweaters so often that it's nearly a clear, more red than purple, violet.  I'm sure that made sense. ;)

When I finish my laundry, I'll be in no shortage of blacks and purples.  I'm still craving other deep jewel tones of blue, green and red.  I find shopping for winter clothes so much more satisfying than shopping for summer clothes which is usually a compromise colorwise and regarding quality. 

Hair - Wash, wash, 1 min. conditioning treatment.  For some odd reason I don't really have a part in my hair today.  It's neither this nor that.  It doesn't really matter as long as I'm wearing my earflap knit hat when ever I'm out.

Doc - Going to have my ears checked.  Really painful Monday morning and a couple of times in the evening.  Felt like electrical shock.  Worst on right ear.  Yesterday I had some discomfort but only felt that shock pain once or twice.  Today my head feels a bit stuffy and there's a general discomfort at my ears but nothing as bad as it used to be pre-tonsil surgery. 

Snow - It's been icy on the roads, streets and trails but that won't be a problem today.  On one hand that's good, on the other I'm not all that happy about having snow blow around my face.  It's snowed for over a month now over different parts of the country.

Physical condition - I've gotta start watching what I eat if I can't get out and walk.  I don't use the mini stepper much because it's difficult to discipline myself when I can't see a goal ahead.  Fx. I know when I've finished walking this round about time for an hour, I'm done for the day.  If I can't do anything else, I usually pop some earphones on, go into the youngest one's room and dance or do strenghtening exercises for 15-30 mins.  I'm still my regular size in clothes, I'm just feeling sluggish and that's what's really bothering me. 

Once the weather changes and everyone gets out I'll have to put up with the "be careful you don't run so fast that you disappear!" comments. ::)  I know that even at my slimmest, I was in fact right in the middle of the weight range that's healthy for someone of my height and built.  The adult misses start at 34 over here.  Some add an adolescent/not quite adult size 32 on the lower end.  I was on the borderline of a 34/36 when I was slimmest.  I'm smack in the middle of a size 36 which is fine if you're at least 5'4"ft but I'm not.  This is of course not taking vanity sizing into consideration but I haven't had to grab a smaller size yet in any shops without losing weight so I don't think the problem is that big over here. 

I've always had good muscle tone which is another reason why I prefer walking or riding my bike rather than get on the mini stepper.  After a lazy month, I surprised myself at running down to the kindergarten and back again without running out of breath.  I think all the "dancing" is doing some good but it's not quite enough to beat that blah feeling.

Our youngest son has inherited my slim but bulky muscular built.  People who suddenly see him in shorts and t-shirt in the summer are always surprised that he isn't all skin and bone because he just appears very fragile when he's fully dressed.

Hair - I've got an ear infection so I've got to be careful with getting water in my ears.  I'm a little worried about getting the scalp behind my ears washed and rinsed well enough.  I may have to go to the pharmacy and buy some ear plugs.  I don't know if I'm supposed to boil the plugs after each time I've used them as long as I have an infection?

Infection - It's in the first part so eardrops are supposed to work.  It's cold, ticklish and it hurts on the right ear.  Even though I lie with my head on either side with ear up for 30-60 secs. some of it still trinkles out which probably isn't such a bad thing because I don't know how to administer exactly three drops, into my ear, without having the plastic pipette touch my ears at all.  I had hub do it this morning because I lost my patience.

School sign up - It was the deadline today.  I'd filled out the form long ago but just forgot it until this morning.  Walked down to the school's office.  I have to sign the youngest one up there because it's our district school even though he may not be placed there by the people who are assessing his educational needs and decide where that can be best achieved.  I just worry about a new mix up and a call on the first day of school when he doesn't show up at our district school.

Last year when he was actually elligible to start in school I was summoned like a bad student to the secretary's office because they claimed I hadn't registered him the way I should've.  I'd been told by the kindergarten not to register him because he wasn't ready and that they'd let the school know.  This year the school got their act together and made a new form for those wishing to post pone school start either because the parents or the kindergarten doesn't think the kid is ready.  Then it's up for evaluation but that's not our scenario and the form didn't exist last year.

Ouch!  I hope your ears clear up really quickly.  I used to get earaches frequently as a kid, and remember the weird cold fingers behind my eyeball feeling when my mom would put the drops in my ears.  It is definitely a two person job!

Perhaps using a wash cloth to get the scalp behind your ears clean will help control the water around your ears.  At the beauty supply store I got some little plastic ear covers they use for dye jobs.  They're like little shower caps for your ears.  Maybe you can find some near you.

Feel better!!!

Sorry about the ear infection!
I haven't had one since I was a kid, but of what I can remember, they weren't fun.

Are you taking any ibuprofen to help with the pain?

I'm not on any pain relief and it doesn't hurt much but when it does it's like electric shock.  I never had problems as a kid and I never wore knit hats.  Now I wear knit hats 6 months out of the year (perhaps a slight exaggeration) and I have nothing but ear problems but the doc said this had nothing to do with cold or wind. 

I'll ask my dad to look for the ear covers.  There's a greater chance of him finding them than me.  Thanks.


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It is definitely a two person job!

Thanks, I feel less incompetent now. 

Yup. That's how I remember them, too. Nothing, nothing, nothing, OW! And then you jump involuntarily out of surprise/pain.

Hair - I'm losing fewer hairs.  I'm not itching as much as I used to after the last hair cut.  I've noticed that a local newscaster who looks like she's adopted from Korea and two other possible Korean adopted designers have the same cut as me except their hair's longer than mine.  I wonder if this is the only haircut Danish hairdressers feel confident doing on Asian hair types? ;D

Ears - Well, I dripped them on my own this morning because it was still dark and I could do it at the kitchen window using the window as a mirror.  But I've yet to find a way to make the drops stay in the ears.  Perhaps that's why the instructions say 3 drops per. ear because they're counting on some to drip out?!  Hub can't drip them so the drops don't fall out either and staying with my head on one side for five minutes before doing the other ear doesn't help.  He says it's the snarkly shape of the inside of my ears that makes it impossible for the drops to fall all the way down. ;D

I had to do ear drops for an ear infection about 6 years ago - it was the pits!  It was hard to get the ear drops in so they went all the way down to the eardrum.  I'd lay in bed or on the couch for 20 minutes hoping that would be long enough, since as soon as I sat up it would all run out anyway.  I think that's just the nature of ear drops.  Of course, the pain got worse and worse over the next 2 days until I ended up crying in the emergency room at midnight.  Turns out the first doctor misdiagnosed a middle ear infection for an outer ear infection and thought the drops would be enough.  The ER doc explained that since the infection was inside the eardrum, the drops wouldn't do a bit of good and I needed oral antibiotics.  By that time I needed a pretty heavy duty narcotic pain killer as well.  Ear infections are a bummer!

I hope your infection clears up soon!

Tired of our health issues - I've been plagued by middle ear infections all of my life.  I was actually kind of surprised when the doc said it was an outer ear infection.  Never had one before.  Today is the last day of drops.  I'll wait until next week to call the doc if I'm still not feeling better.  The worse you are, the more likely they are to actually get the diagnosis right. ::)

Random infection - I've got the middle one home sick, youngest one's home against his will because I can't force the middle one out to walk to and from kindergarten.  I'm really irritated with the school.  It's cold over there and he's been sitting and shivering through all of his classes on Monday.  I told him he should've asked if he may go get his jacket and put it on.  Well, that's too late now.  I know cold alone doesn't make you sick but if there are bacteria and you're a little low because you're cold, tired, or whatever, then you're more likely to contract something.  I'd been so proud that we'd actually got off lightly this F/W. 

We've got a bank meeting tomorrow.  It's planned during the boys school hours.  Typical for something like this to hit us whenever we have an appointment some where. ::)

Hair - Wash, 1 mins. repair condition.  Again, it's not a knit hair day so my hair's feeling and looking great.  19".  ½" growth in one month at this time of the year probably isn't something to complain about.  My measurement might even be on the conservative side.

Nails - I still haven't got started on the 15 nailpolishes my mom got me in a pack for Christmas.  I haven't got started on the oyster pink nailpolish I got as part of the calendar gifts and I doubt I will for a while.  I bought three pink nail polishes last Spring that I'm just rushing to use up because I'm over that pink phase I went through last summer.  Those phases come every few years. :-? 

I'm really craving deep blue nailpolish.  That color of course isn't in the 15 pack.  At least there's a black and purple which is more than one can expect of most standard packs of nail polishes.  There's even silver and gold.  I've never owned gold nail polish so that's a new one.  My first ever nail polish in the early 80s was a glitter silver with flecks of blue and purple.  By the late 80s I'd gone conservatively shocking pink like everyone else but at least my hair gel was still green and purple and really left streaks in my hair.  By 1990 I had "that" purple gel but it doesn't have a tint to it.  I don't use gel now. ;D

Something like Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Navy Baby?   8-) 

http://www.walgreens.com/store/store/product/product_details.jsp;jsessionid=BhnwbnwZCNdYSqqkW7XKGA**.p_dotcom13?skuId=sku6009290&id=prod6010356

Thanks Trisha, now I need to check if we can buy it here.  Else I'll have to ask someone to walk into a Wallgreen's for me, ship it and I'll buy them something in exchange rather than transferring money.  I'm going to check if Gosh has one as soon as I can get out of this snow and into some town.

Hair - I remembered to VR my hair for the first time in a month.  Washed and conditioned as usual.  I'm on the last bit of my custom blended leave-in.  I have a bottle of cheap leave-in I bought last year and need to get started on soon. 

Now I'm the one with a cold.  Youngest and oldest one's have colds.  Hub might be coming down with a cold.  The middle one's back in school so all in all, we're fine.

Car - We thought the car had brake problems which you obviously don't want when there's ice and snow every where and you live in a hilly area but the automechanics can't find anything wrong and it's been through all tests.  Hub only felt the brakes were soft once but it scared him because he felt it rolling down our driveway.  We live up at the end of a very sharp "L" and some neighbor's son parks on the street and people driving to the daycare at the end of the L before it turns up to our driveway, are always parked on the street in the morning. ::)  Hub's boss said it might've been a bubble in some fluid.  Lets hope that's all.

Make-up - I don't know how seriously I need to take those expiration dates, if any are listed on the cases.  I have a Chanel quad that's over 2 years old and it expired 6 months ago but I'm still using it.  Obviously if my skin or eyes began to react I'd toss it immediately regardless of what it cost my SIL to buy it for me and I once had a purple trio for five years without any problems.  I don't think any of my lipsticks are over 2 years old.  I tend to layer them and I apply them directly from the tube because that's the method that's easiest for me.  I replace mascaras every 6 months which may be a few months over due but I've never had any problems.  I have eyeliners that are 2 years old but perhaps they're okay because I sharpen them?

Drear, you should be able to find the SH nail color in any decent "mart".  Like over here, I buy mine at Wal Mart, etc.  --Not sure what sort of stores you have there.  I hope you can find it.   :)  LaDiosa springs to mind when makeup is mentioned, so hopefully she'll chime in to answer your questions about that. 

Our "equivalent" of Wal-Mart is Bilka and the closest thing to Wallgreen's (after checking their homepage) appears to be Matas.  There's more of a chance of hub driving me to Bilka in the near future than us actually getting in to a town where they have Matas.  The nearest town has three or four Matas stores.  Matas has an online shop that has some but not all of their stuff.

Car - Nothing.  Well, I think and hope that's good news.  Hub's not had any trouble aside from that one time but there's a particularly bad snow storm on its way today.  1½ months of this!  I'm so fed up with snow and ice.  I've always loved the look of it but it's so darn inconvenient! ;D  I mind icy roads, sidewalks and slopy trails the most.  I can't go around those slopy trails around here. 

Beauty therapy - I finally finished off one bottle of a medium light pink nailpolish.  Not a bad shade in itself.  I quite like lighter shades on other people (women in most cases) but I only suit the icy pastels if I go for light colors.  This one is neither icy nor bright enough.  I finally unpacked all 15 nailpolishes my mom bought me.  As soon as I use the hot pink up, I can't wait to get started on the deep reds, purple, and wine on my toe nails.  It's impractical on my finger nails.  I'll stick to clear or icy pastels on my fingers most days. 

It's sort of therapeutic to assess my make-up and clear some of it out while discovering new stuff.  I'm grateful for the x-mas calendar with cosmetics and skin stuff and the nailpolishes for x-mas because I can't afford anything for the news 3-4 months. 

I'm tired of most of my lipsticks so I'm having fun custom blending until I've used the oldest ones up.  They're close to two years old.  I got a few new ones last year that I still feel are safe to use for at least another year.

Hair - My scalp is again behaving itself after a few itchy days since I VR yesterday.  My hair seems to like knit hats.  It looks better every time I take my knit hat off. :-?  I worried that this cut wouldn't work with tight knit hats. 

Drear wrote on Feb 2^nd, 2010 at 4:02am:

Beauty therapy - I finally finished off one bottle of a medium light pink nailpolish.  Not a bad shade in itself.  I quite like lighter shades on other people (women in most cases) but I only suit the icy pastels if I go for light colors.  This one is neither icy nor bright enough.  I finally unpacked all 15 nailpolishes my mom bought me.  As soon as I use the hot pink up, I can't wait to get started on the deep reds, purple, and wine on my toe nails.  It's impractical on my finger nails.  I'll stick to clear or icy pastels on my fingers most days.

So you only use one color at a time until that bottle is finished?  That would drive me crazy (er, craziER   ::)  )  I have a couple of bottles going at the same time.   8-)

No, I tend to do it theme wise; Colors that suit the season and clothes I wear at the time.  These bottles are just getting old and I really never cared for that one shade on me.  I usually have 2-3 going for toes at a time and 3-5 for finger nails.  Right now I'm using one bottle up on my toes though.

Yesterday - There was a big snow storm which wasn't the worst in our area but it was bad enough for the oldest one's school to send him home with the mini-bus early, so I had to rush down to the kindergarten when the storm was worst and pick the youngest one up in time before the oldest one came home.  Hub and his colleagues decided to leave work early so he picked the middle one up early and brought him home.  On the news they said that many children had, had trouble getting home after school and their parents had trouble getting to them.  We as a nation are running out of road salt.

National road salt situation - People, including hub have resorted to using dishwasher salt so the grocery stores are running low on that too.  This is so typical!  We know that while it usually doesn't snow much in Denmark any more, or at least it's usually very regional.  It's very possible that the entire country can be covered in snow and we don't know for how long so this situation shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone.  Ambulance services are understandable poor at present for no fault of theirs.  Same situation with garbage collection.  One of our main islands Bornholm was shut down in every sense last weekend.  Same situation in some rural areas and on small islands and we have at leat 430 named islands in Denmark but I don't know how many are inhabited.  Apparently Sweden have at least 1000 named islands so I guess we're better off than them.

Not all roads are being cleared of snow because most councils (equivalent of public city/county services) have already overspent their road clearing services by several million DDKroner/would be several million $ as well.  I'd rather they leave the snow than walk on ice but I can see why motorists might feel otherwise.  The road salt doesn't always thaw up all the ice.

The oldest one had to wait for his mini bus for ½ hr. this morning and they demand that the kid stands outside his house, at the end of the driveway at 7am in any case.  They won't accept that I look out of the window and send him out as soon as we see the bus round the corner up at the other end of our street. ::) 

Safety concern - If the youngest one (ADHD- but not very hyper/only predictably situational, mainly ADD) has to begin to take the mini bus to school as of next school year, then there's no hell way he'll be allowed to stand and wait for a bus on his own, not even with his brother so I'll have to stand out there with him.  I absolutely don't trust the youngest one in traffic at all.  We and the people at the kindergarten are already making it clear to social services that are finding a school to place him in and to the cab service, that he can't be trusted to walk from our house and down the driveway to the cab on his own nor can he walk from the cab to class or from class to cab or from cab to our house! 

He needs to be escorted from door to door and it's not up for discussion!  I'm glad both the child psychologist and the people who see him daily in kindergarten are supporting us on that stand.

Missing people - I keep hearing helicopters fly over us every few days and every time I've heard a helicopter, I've heard about a missing person on the news in the evening. :(

Well, I think most Danes feel grateful we don't live on Haiti right now and I know most of us feel guilty about our snow complaint.  I do think the emergency and missing people situation is concerning though.

Hair - Either I've used too much leave-in or the custom blend is past expiration date because I've got that irritating coated feeling today.  If it wasn't so darn cold, if I wasn't wearing so many layers of clothes because "someone" in town turns the heat down during those days hours where most people are at work (never mind those on maternity leave, elderly and who ever else might be home with a flu ::)) and if I hadn't been so creative with the make-up I've begun to wear again, then I'd go wash my hair right now. 

Weather situation - Well, apparently the law says we're supposed to shovel snow off our sidewalks morning, afternoon and evening.  Bet most Danes didn't know that until the news yesterday.  Apparently the Prime Minister didn't know because he's not cleared the sidewalks in front of his private home.  Actually, he's abroad and his son sheepishly came out and began to clear the snow off their sidewalks when he saw all the news crews. ;D  Fortunately, we don't have sidewalks in front of our house.  Our driveway runs right down to the street and that's the city/county/someone else's responsibility plus we're at a dead end so no one just happens to come by our house.

Wow, sounds like exciting times where you are at!

I hear you about the snow excitement. Pittsburgh gets snow every year, but this weekend we're scheduled for 6 inches and I swear, everybody here is treating this like it's going to be a major disaster. Apparently gas stations were being swamped and the grocery stores were running out of supplies.  :-?

What kind of treatment are you using in your hair? I know that some oils like coconut oil WILL freeze/congeal in the cold weather!

I don't know what the leave-in is mixed from but the weather thing could make sense but I always wear a knit hat outside and the rest of my hair is under my coat.  Maybe it's that combination.

Hair - Washed and just conditioned the tips.  My hair oddly won't dry at all today it seems.  I've not gone out and I won't because I'm home with two of the boys. 

Boys - Oldest one is sick and the youngest one is home from kindergarten so the oldest one doesn't have to go with me to bring or pick up his brother.  Middle one's in school but they have a substitute who lets them sleigh all day long.  I hope he doesn't catch a new cold.  He's been coming home with all of his clothes; jacket, overall pants, etc. wet every day.

Comforters - I'm about to get really mad at the Nordstroms of Denmark/equivalent.  They also have a home department where my dad bought two comforters on sale on the 29th of December and his tracking details show that they haven't shipped it yet! >:(  He's been on their case for a while now.  If they thought they could con a senior American tourist they have another thing coming with his Danish daughter!

Jewelry - I've been digging out old pendants and single earrings where the other part to the pair is missing and attaching them to the locks of pearl necklaces and bracelets my boys have made in leisure club or kindergarten.

Angel and Kitten's journals reminded me:

Snacks/dips - I used to be responsible for nachos, guacamole, sour cream and tomato salsa.  My friends who were already very skilled in a kitchen would make a variety of dips, pakoras and samosa.  I generally thought the pakoras dips were better suited to the nachos than what my not very cultured family considered standard dips for nachos.  I shortly worked at an American restaurant in Denmark over a summer but the restaurant has since clsoed.  They made their own nachos because at the time you couldn't buy nachos here.  This was in 1996.  I think it was after 2000 before you could buy nachos in Denmark and at the time they were very overprized.

Thankfully, while travelling with my parents as a kid, I was generally exposed to food from many more different cultures than most people were back in the 1970s-80s.  Well, I don't know if CA was always more international than other places when it comes to culinary choices.  I've recently chatted with a woman in the midwest whose family migrated out of Denmark a couple of centuries ago.  Their food is still so traditionally "Scandinavian" (whatever she means by that *slight irritation*) that we probably wouldn't recognize the food as Danish here. ;D

The apple and the tree -  Had talks with the child psychologist who diagnosed our youngest and who knows the school psychologist at the oldest one's school.  They can definitely see aspects of Autism and ADD in me.  That's what the lady who diagnosed the oldest one hinted at too.  Well, not just me but hub too.  I guess in our case, like attracts like.  No we didn't know anything about mental disabilities before our boys were all born and we're still just learning.  I'm tired of having people throw at me that we shouldn't have had kids as if they assume we knew anything from the start or before it was too late to have more than one. ::)  Hub and I have been told that we're too well functioning for anyone to want to bother to officially diagnose us. ;D  I don't know why I find that funny.

Hair update - While sitting here and typing in between watching GHI on youtube because nothing else has been uploaded, my hair has finally dried and is looking and feeling good.  Of course it is, because I've no where to go to.

Hair - Only washed and conditioned.  No leave-in.  Think my hair's a bit overconditioned or isn't responding well to the leave-in anymore for one or other reason. 

PC Conservatism - I'm on the dreaded laptop.  There's nothing wrong with the laptop, it's just that I'm resistant to change.  Change isn't usually a problem, I just hate it.  I just don't like the feel of the keyboard and I like a mouse but the mousse we use with the laptop is an old dinosaur.  We've had small, lightweight plastic ones too but I usually lose my temper at some point. :-[  So they never last long.Fastelavn -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnival_in_Denmark
Falls on Valentine's day this year.  We'll be on our way over to my mother if everything goes according to planned.  The two oldest get dressed up for school on Thursday, the youngest one will miss the fastelavn celebration in kindergarten on Monday so he'll have to get in his costume on Sunday at grandma's and have his photo taken there.  We'll have fastelavn's biscuits on Saturday at my MIL's for an early celebration of her erh....73 birthday.  I'm looking forward to the biscuits and food.  I'm not looking forward to the company.   I don't thrive on family dramas like some people do.  Yes, the prospect of a day at the in-laws is already affecting my mood.  I'm sure that's transparent in my posts as well.  It's not my intention to take it out on anyone else.  We don't have the extra energy required for homemade costumes and I don't have any sewing skills though I know that isn't a requirement for all types of costumes.  The boys are happy with the ones we buy each year and they get many play days out of them too so that's fine with me.  The boys like to make their own accessories some years to personalize their costumes or paint their faces.  This year they're all wearing masks though. 

I guess I'd better get started on that calf roast even though it's only 5:30 here.  I definitely need to get going within 30 mins.

Ohh! That looks like a fun festival, Drear. I must be hungry, but the pictures of the biscuits looked delicious.

If you don't like the laptop, you could always hook up a monitor and external keyboard + mouse to it, f you have old ones lying around. I always do this when I am at my desk.  :)

To be honest, though, the comfort of being able to curl up on the couch with my forums is just too nice.

Yeah, KNS.  We have a soft keyboard the boys like to use and I'm using an external mouse now.  This is okay.  The world and even I have bigger problems. ;D

Hair - Finally got around to VR whatever was causing that coated feeling completely out of my hair.  Used a bit of the lemon/olive Garnier mask and my hair is fine again.  I'll throw the rest of the leave-in out and move on to the cheap supermarket Nivea leave-in which I think I've finally figured out how to dosage and apply. 

Fragrances - I can't use them directly on my skin anymore but the effect of spritzing into the air and walking through the mist seems to have a longer lasting and not quite as overpowering effect on me.  Something in my chemistry makes most fragrances smell heavier or harsher than they do on other people.  I have dry skin but I thought this was something experienced by people with well hydrated skin.  That's what I've been told in the past. 

Anyway, I used Euphoria up.  It only works with my chemistry if it's freezing outside.  With nearly 2 months of frost I've been able to liberally spray it and not overpower people around me.  Well, no one's kept their distance.  I like the flacon so I'll keep it but I won't re-purchase.

I have a couple to use this upcoming Spring-Summer and fragrances isn't something I want to spend money on right now.  It's not essential for me to wear fragrances.  Hub's the one who got me into it when we met.  I never cared before.  Of course I've always used deo. 

Actually, I prefer to smell of cheap Yves Rocher tiara flower and coconut oil.  I can't remember what it's called.  I've used my last bottle up and re-purchase will have to wait.

Music - It's a Dion Dimucci listening Sunday for me. Mainly post Belmonts and the Belmonts phase was so relatively short anyway.  No mentally taxing reading, just random forum and site surfing.   

Sunday so far - I'm trying to relax after having to wash a bunch of jumbo lego blocks up after the oldest one's cold and asthma acted up on him and he couldn't keep it all inside until he got out to the bathroom.  So I had a bit of a mess to clean up all over the sitting area near the TV. 

Quote:

Music - It's a Dion Dimucci listening Sunday for me. Mainly post Belmonts and the Belmonts phase was so relatively short anyway.

Tee hee. My father's band used to do a few Dion songs back in the day. They sound even better with two singers. ;)

Angel wrote on Feb 7^th, 2010 at 1:49pm:

Quote: Music - It's a Dion Dimucci listening Sunday for me. Mainly post Belmonts and the Belmonts phase was so relatively short anyway. Tee hee. My father's band used to do a few Dion songs back in the day. They sound even better with two singers. ;)

While on fathers...Dad called.  Had long talk about music, my inheritance ;) and more music.  We reminisced over The Grassland Bluegrass festival he's taken me to in the past.  Actually, very little of the country I've listened to could've been from the 70s aside from EH.  It would've been the same bluegrass and country my dad listened to growing up.  We talked about the guy with the big "loud" hats uhm...the guy with the country show and Dolly Parton in the early 60s.  'I'm Gonna Sleep With One Eye Open' is also stuck in my mind right now.  I'm so bad on names but whenever my dad mentioned someone I jumped in my chair and exclaimed: "oh yeah!"  I wasn't putting on an act, I really wish I could listen to Flatt&Scruggs, Ralph Stanley, Bill Monroe and Foggy Mountain Boys.  I had to ask my dad to send me an e-mail list of other names so I could google them because there were so many "oh yeahs!" and a bit of humming but I couldn't exactly tie the names to songs. 

I'm no expert on anything and I know even less about fx. Honky tonk.  Of course I've heard Hank Williams, George Jones and Ernest Tubb but I really don't know much. 

Other country I used to listen to was Merle Haggard, Dwight Yokam (relatively "new", all is relative), early Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris, Alan Jackson had his phase in my life too as did that guy who was in one of Emmylou Harris bands but I can't remember his name (ex son in-law to Johnny Cash I think).  I was REALLY big on Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris pre-teen years.  Btw. just been listening to some parts of an old radio autobiography by Waylon Jennings.  Not exactly country by many people's standards but I enjoyed the interview anyway.  I'm pissed off that someone pissed off the uploader so the person won't upload the last chapter. >:(

I really tried to like Leann Rimes, Shania Twain, Brooks and Dunn and Garth Brooks when I first heard them in the 90s.  I gave them a real fair chance and bought more than one CD with each but I don't listen to them now.  Actually, I don't listen to either ladies at all. 

Oh, this is a hair journal! :D

Hair - Wash, condition, no leave-in for now.  Moved my part a little further left.  I find that if I keep my part in one place too long my hair begins to look unflattering.  completely pulled back or center parted didn't work at all.  I've always had a bit of hair in my face but instead of random different natural lenghts, I thrive with the long angled "bangs" for now. 

The oldest one is home with some asthma, coughing and occassionally he throws up.  I hope I can turn this around to send him to school within the next few days before the winter vacation next week. 

Inheritance - My dad keeps talking about those four banjos, the guitar and the pedal steel guitar.  I find the prospect of learning how to play, not to mention tune a pedal steel guitar very intimidating.  Lets just start with the guitar.  He had a three tone starbust guitar (can't remember brand or make) that he sold to a friend.  Now he's got a "cheap" $1400 black Gibson with fiber something body but the neck is wood that plays both as an accoustic or electrical.  He thinks it would be a good beginner guitar because "it plays itself".  Yeah right, until I get my hands on it. ::)

Hair - I'm not doing much more than wash and condition in the morning.  I'm using less conditioner because I like a more voluminous look these days but I use a bit of leave-in on the ends before going to bed. 

Sick care - The kindergarten called yesterday and said the youngest one was sick.  I already had the oldest one home to observate the development of his asthma so that stressed me.  Thankfully they offered to drive the youngest one home.  He was so sensible about what he needed.  He asked to go to bed, woke up and asked for water, asked for his lunch box later on.  Moved onto the couch but asked us to turn the TV down.  He skipped dinner, asked for his asthma medicine and pjs. :o  He seems better but still a bit warm this morning.

Dinner - I made a very hot quick gullasch(sp?) yesterday.  I used some frozen, spiced tapas vegetables to speed things up and not have to peel and cut everything first.  It turned out really well.  Very hot but not too spicy.  Good for our throats and noses but not allergy inducing. 

Nails - The hot pink and frost pink really look like they're close to expiration so I hope I've used them up by the end of this month, else they go out regardless.  I apply the frost pink so thinly that it looks white which I feel more for right now.  In dull light, I like that the hot pink looks redder than pink.

Drear wrote on Feb 8^th, 2010 at 5:12am:

We talked about the guy with the big "loud" hats uhm...the guy with the country show and Dolly Parton in the early 60s.

Might you be referring to Porter Wagoner?   :)

Trisha wrote on Feb 12^th, 2010 at 12:01pm:

Drear wrote on Feb 8th, 2010 at 5:12am: We talked about the guy with the big "loud" hats uhm...the guy with the country show and Dolly Parton in the early 60s.  Might you be referring to Porter Wagoner?   :)

Yes, that's him!  Thanks for jogging my memory Trisha.  While on music, I was on a Jimmie Rodgers theme yesterday.  Haven't listened to him in ages. 

Hair - Due to stress, I didn't get everything rinsed out, then while putting my knit hat on, I wasn't careful and twisted my hair completely under it, so when we arrived at my ILs an hour later, my hair was in the worst state either.  I pretended to badly need to use the toilet and did a rush job of wetting my hair and brushing it.  *Ough!*  This is the first time they've seen my hair since the layering so I'm disappointed that, this is how they saw it. 

Visit - On the way to my ILs we saw a tire blow on a truck going in the opposite direction and skid out.  I hope there was no accident and that certainly no other cars got hit.  It looked really bad.

After four hours, hub was thankfully tired of our in-laws and SIL's company.  We had deer roast which was perfectly tender but not many pieces were as juicy as I'd like them to be.  MIL makes really good icecream layer cakes so I ate too much.  I also ate too many Fastelavns biscuits. :-[  Believe it or not, but we also had dinner.  I can't believe where my boys hide all that food, they're very slim. 

Body state - I've gained a few lbs. over the winter.  Not so much because of what or how much I eat but due to inactivity relative to how active I usually am.  I don't want to have to lie with a leg in a cast while everyone's out having fun when Spring comes.  They're not very good about doing anything about the snow which is becoming very hard and slippery and the ice around here.  I try to make it safe for garbage collectors and post man/woman to walk onto our driveway.

Winter Break - Driving over to mom's tomorrow.  Will be a 3½-4 hrs. drive if we don't stop, there isn't much traffic and no snow chaos.  We'll be going hom on Friday to avoid the overcrowded freeways on next Sat-Sun. when everyone else drives home to their respective parts of the country.   

Have a safe trip!  Enjoy! :)

Hair last week:

Sun. 14.02. - No time to rinse or deep condition.  Hair was alright though.

Mon. 15.02. - Woke up at mom's.  Her water is hard.  My dad said how soft the water is here.  He lives in a valley, she lives near the ocean, last time I stayed near the ocean the water was hard too but that doesn't explain why my dad has hard water or if faucet water is often hard if you live near th ocean. :-?  Hair was fine though.

Tue. 16.02. - Uhuh!  My hair wasn't happy and I was unable to rinse out all the conditioner.  On top of that my skin acted up and she had additional guests coming to stay for the night.  Typical!

Wed. 17.02. - Only conditioned the bottom of my hair and rinsed for much longer.  Hair was much better looking and feeling again.  Because I did no cooking, I didn't suffer my usual greasy sidebangs by the end of the evening.  Yay!  Gotta get people to cook for me more often. ;)  Skin was worse. 

Thu 18.02. - *Ough!*  Mom insisted on taking my picture in a dress she bought me and my skin was the worst it's been in a long while.  Remembered that I only had one conditioner with me and that I hadn't had my usual 1 mins. repair treatment the day before.  Kept fingers out of my hair.  The air was inconsistently cold or warm in my mother's house and the furnace near the dining table made that area very hot and dry.  Little combing and no touching my hair!  By then my hair had a tendency to static.

Fri. 19.02. - Going home.  Last morning of hard water.

Sat. 20.02. - Home, tired.  Washed hair and conditioned regularly.  Too tired to VR rinse.  Hair looked much better and was much softer and looked "lighter" even though I'd conditioned it from top to bottom.

Sun. 21.02. - Still too tired to rinse but did deep condition.  My hair really seemed to need it.  I didn't realize until I got home to my soft water.

Mon. 22.02. - Over tired, lousy night, had to get boys ready for school and youngest to kindergarten.  Hub's home with a chest infection.  So wash and cond. again.  Too busy to do anything about my hair.  Still very soft, doesn't seem stressed from the extreme temperatures at my mother's house.  Rinse will have to wait until Sun. I'll be more than usually busy this week with hub being sick.

Hope your hubby feels better soon!

Thanks Curlgirl.  Hub's threatening to go to work tomorrow just because his antibiotics are beginning to work.  I fully understand the employment/unemployment concerns people have these days, I understand that no one else does his work for him and the thought of stuff piling up is stressing him.  I'm just worried this could backlash.  It's nearly midday and he's been sleeping for a few hours.  I hope it does him well.

Hair - Odd.  Overshampooed, rinsed well though, 1 mins. repair treatment.  Put on a knit hat before it was even completely dry, yet when I got back from the kindergarten, I didn't have that compressed hair look my tight fitting knit hat usually gives.  Well, the compressed looks beats the indented ring look which is much harder to smooth out. 

Make-up -   Still fine with going out bare faced without feeling self conscious.  I Don't use foundation anymore and my skin appreciates it.  I still can't keep the blemishes away at that time of the month.  My skin wasn't happier when I switched from liquid foundation to powder mineral foundation.  As long as I have a winter complexion I can use a Rimmel 02 Sand to cover discolorations and blend it well into my skin.  I might have to change concealer in the summer. 

My Chanel Spices quad from my SIL is experiencing a revival on my eyes with deep purple or navy liner.  I always blend different colors of lipstick because I don't have any one lipstick I'm truly happy with.  My other two quads are Rimmel 002 Smokey Brun and Rimmel 014 Bold Behaviour.  Smokey Brun is for meetings where a more conservative look is most appropriate and I haven't opened the Bold Behaviour yet but I can't imagine that the colors would look bad on me.  I don't have a black liner or a white liner for the waterline.  Really strange, this has never happened before. :-? 

Weather -   Overcast again.  New snow to the southern parts of the country later this afternoon according to the weather forecast.  Well, if it's not going to heat up and melt the snow that's already on the sidewalks and trails that people can't get to the bottom of and the erh...road clearing services are way over budget and can't afford more salt, I'd rather have some new snow to walk in than the hard, thin layer of snow I'm skidding around on when I'm out walking because I have to walk down to the kindergarten in the morning and afternoon.

Soup - I hope it's alright to use the left over chicken meat from yesterday that I stored in the refrigator immediately after dinner last evening in the store bought frozen soup today as soon as the soup is thawed and heated up of course.  I'll let the meat cook for an hour to be on the safe side.  I'm not feeling well enough to make my own soup today. 

Mail - Just received the cream and two bottles of body lotion I ordered yesterday.  Even with P/H it was cheaper than buying the same amount in town for my skin care needs and I couldn't even drive in to the nearest town and buy it in one of the physical shops for less if you calculate gas and parking.  Public transportation is a joke around here. 

Hair - Wash, condition, leave-in.  I had hat hair when I came back but it was easier to fix than usual.  I'm going to do what I can to get this bottle of Nivea leave-in used up because I hate the obviously synthetic and quite harsh "fragrance".  The fragrance does disappear after a short while but it smells toxic and stings in my nose at first.

Make-up - My eyes really look best when I start the line right where the iris starts on the side closest to my nose and flick it slightly up at the outer corner towards the crease.  I don't have very deep set eyes so it's not as dramatic as it might sound.  Used the Spices quad again but the navy liner.  I don't know why everyone raves about the effect of purple with brown eyes.  I think my eyes look better with deep blues.  Even pink eyeliner (I had a deep pink liquid liner from Biotherm) or shadow (frosty pale or deep matte) looks better than purple but I've just come out of a pink phase.  I'm sure hub's happy. :)

I can hear my cellphone making the sound for recharge but I can't find it *Grrr!*

Soup - Hmmm....I prefer my own homemade soup I just wasn't in the mood for it yesterday.  I usually aren't if I'm with a cold.  Cooking the hen with the soup is certainly better than adding left over chicken but it was edible. 

On my mind - So much stuff regarding the oldest and youngest boys situation that it would be too much to write about here.  I spend all my time worrying, writing up drafts for meetings because it's my experience that I need to take charge if I want anything to happen!  When I find my cellphone I've got people to call and txt.  Then I'll probably mail them too.  In worst case, I end up sending a letter with a resume´ of what the msgs. and txts. contained. ::)  Been there, done that and it's no guarantee that anyone A) gets back to me.  B) Can remember anything after they've listed to a msg. or read a txt. mail or letter.  *Sigh!*.

My mom's town Gilleleje in the winter:

Mom's livingroom dining area:
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/7821/dsc07149g.jpg

Part of the shop area:
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/1913/dsc07152jd.jpg

Harbor with part of the old section in the background:
http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/369/dsc07161o.jpg

Drying the boys boots:
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/3006/dsc07164m.jpg

Gilleleje beach:
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/7840/dsc07155eu.jpg

Street view from mom's gate:
http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/3014/dsc07176i.jpg

If you can't think of anything else to do:
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/8775/dsc07178mn.jpg

Mom has several wicker baskets with old toys from my brother, there's TV and there's laptops so it's not as if they didn't have anything to do when we weren't out.  Also, mom usually can't resist the toy shops when they're there so they got two boxes of Lego and the youngest got a 'Sid' from Ice Age teddy, airplane keychain and plastic frog.   

Pics are  great! :)

Um, I hope you find you phone!

I really enjoyed your pics-thank you for sharing them.  The outdoor ones reminds me of Norway.  It was just rainy and chilly when I was in Denmark.  I like your mom's chandelier and the picture of the girl w/blue hair is interesting.

Hope you're staying warm!!

Thanks Curlgirl and Sakina.  Mom's no prude but she didn't want to paint a nude for her painting class so she protested by giving the lady unnatural colors but at least she matched the colors to her chandelier. ;D

Hair - Can't wash, condition, or even rinse.  So it's second day hair.  I've no experience with this.  Washed up at the sink with the bit of cold water I could get out of the sink faucet.

Plumbing - Got a leaking pipe.  It's in a cabinet.  The cabinet was dry and fine in December.  Must've either happened this month or in Jan.  We're worried about the water bill and repair cost.  Hub called the guy who originally installed the pipes.  He has to attend a meeting today and seemed a bit annoyed but he's promised to call me back, see if he has time to assess the problem before the meeting and fix it some time later in the afternoon.  They're the only plumbing company we could find in the area.  I'm a little surprised.  We're not taking a chance with small, one man plumbing services we don't know the reputation of and we can't wait for someone to get materials on Monday. 

Hair - Finally got my act together and did CVR on Sunday.  Uhm...how do I make the text here permanently black so that it'll be easier for me to read my own stuff?!  Deep conditioned and applied a deep cleansing mask at the same time and while I had that stuff in my hair and on my face, I exfoliated for the first time in 6 months.  My skin has been too sensitive and I've had to switch to a gentler scrub and go easy on my skin.

Today was an ordinary wash, condition and leave-in condition day but my hair's always much more cooperative in the first 2-3 days after a CVR. 

Plumbing - The plumber fixed the pipe but hub spent the weekend fixing another leak in the bathroom and replacing the faucet there too.  Some men think they can do this better than the plumber.  I told hub I hope he's right because the plumber can refuse to work on anything hub might screw up not to mention the whole insurance issue if he couldn't fix things himself.  Hub claims everything's working the way it should now and what do I know?!

Hair - I've not done anything different from usual but everything's wrong today.  It's a bit "warmer" than it's been for the past 2½ months so I've been wearing a thin angora knit hat that leaves that stupid hat ring and does something to the feel of my hair that I don't like. 

I like how my hair looks multitonal when I stand at the mirror by the front door because of the way the light comes through the window and hits the side of my hair.  I also like it flat black in other lighting.  But the contrast is stark.  Haven't been able to capture the two effects with my lousy cellphone camera.

Even though my hair's straight it varies from wet to dry length between 1/4"-½" so I'm guessing my hair's right around 20" +/- 1/4".  I'm trying not to be too bothered about it but "everyone" wants to get past the teens! ;)

Other - I'm supposed to compile a list of goods and bads regarding my oldest son so he can be recommended for a waiting list for a respite care home every 4th weekend, not even every other weekend and if I've understood everything correctly, he can't be placed on the waiting list fo another two years. ::)  We thought the council was going to build another respite care home nearby but the council members couldn't vote for or against it. ::)  So the nearest option is now this place that's further away and I hate that there's no way around this Vejle bridge that has so many serious accidents. 

It seems like every cashier and sales clerk has a bad cold.  Another mother coughed me right in the face as I was coming through the kindergarten gate yesterday.  I thought some of us were responsible adults.  No wonder none of the other kids cover their mouth or turn their heads when they cough.  Mine did, until they started in kindergarten.  I had to teach them so many simple things like that and washing hands after the boys started in kindergarten.  The oldest two don't need reminding anymore.  The youngest one is less forgetful these days but what does that help when he's in a small special needs group and one of the other boys is always snotty, in thin summer pants and bare feet?! :o ::)

Typical of me to quietly attempt to fix the bigger problems in life while loudly complaining about all the small irritants. 

Hair - Back to the earflap knit hat.  If I need to switch to a thinner knit hat then I have to remember to pull my hair behind my ears.  Wash, 1 mins. repair conditioner, leave-in.  Looking and feeling fine.  I don't know what the problem was yesterday.

Hub - The anti-biotics worked quickly, he'd just recovered from the back ache from lying under the bathroom sink all weekend long, when he fell against the railing at work and he thought he heard a rib snap.  He thinks he's bent it.  "Of course" he refuses to see a doctor.

OMG!  Why are men soooooooo stubborn? ::)

Curlgirl64 wrote on Mar 3^rd, 2010 at 12:05pm:

OMG!  Why are men soooooooo stubborn? ::)

Yeah, and now it's hit the "What pain?  What bent rib?" stage. ::)

Hair - This is the first time I've used more shampoo than conditioner when I've bought the bottles at the same time.  I think I need to go easier on the shampoo.  Didn't notice I'd been overdosing. 

I've now mastered knit hat wearing without getting hat hair! :) 

Do share your secret for not having "hat hair"!

I'm afraid there's no secret to share.  It's just luck and it probably helps if I'm only out for short walks so the hat doesn't have time to do its thing.  It's not really awful on me with hat hair if you like a messy layered style but that's not the look I want.  Ideally, my hair would just look (and be) well kept, classic, timeless and look fabulous all the time. ;)

Hair - Wash using shampoo sparingly.  Condition, leave-in.  I think I've overshampooed, not conditioned enough, got my hair caught in zippers and the dry, hot heat from my mom's stove which was diagonally behind the dining table because I'm seeing split ends that don't go up the shaft as far as they usually do but I've got ends that are split 5-8 ways.  No kidding! :(  Been dusting a bit but I need to get a trim, at least by next month, so I'm saving up now.  I'm going back to the Gliss Oil Nutrive products when I've used the Nivea products up I have now.  I've started using the leave-in daily too late I guess.

I think I was too quick in judgement when I thought the Gliss Oil Nutrive products were hiding damage.  My new theory is that it's the best line I can afford and that switching to lighter formulas, no matter how popular with other women, quickly deteriorate the state of my hair.  I guess I just have to accept that my har prefers the heavy formulas that weigh down and make even most medium thick hair look greasy.

However, I'll still be looking for something better in the supermarket range because while it's not a bad line of products I'd actually like the conditioner to be a bit heavier/thicker.

Hair - For the past couple of days I've been treating my hair the same as I did before the bob in Dec. 07.  I've only used shampoo sparingly, used more conditioner, and a good sized dab of leave-in conditioner which I didn't back then.  It's not even leaving a nasty coat on my hair so I think my hair needs it.  CVR, deep condition, regular conditioner on the ends and finally leave-in on the bottom 1/3 of my hair.  My hair hasn't been feeling dry or looking unhealthy, I just want to make my hair less vulnerable to split ends.  The round diameter means my hair easily absorbs moisture but it also loses moisture fast. 

Weekend - Lazying around.  Ate too much cake today and had too much dinner last night.  I'm paying for it now.  So I'm drinking a lot of water and green tea.  I'm glad I began to walk again last week and I'll just pick up walking again tomorrow. :)

Hair - Had "perfect" hair yesterday.  Then I absentmindedly ran my fingers through my hair while washing some greasy dishes up.  CVR, deep condition, leave-in.  Woke up with perfect hair should've left it but no; Wash, condition, leave-in, rush out the door in freezing temperatures and hat.  Wrong hat, stupid deep kink on the right side only. :(

Oscars - Didn't watch them, didn't want to, spoke to dad on the phone who didn't want to watch them either so he'd invited my aunt and BIL over to watch 'A Mockumentary'.  I'd really like to watch that one too.  Woke up this morning to find out that some Danish short film I've never heard of won an oscar - 'The Tenants'.  The news people talked at length about it.  *Yawn!*  What else happened in the World while I was asleep? 

Pampering - Took good time on my nails, hands and feet yesterday afternoon while the boys were playing quietly and hub was taking a nap.  Small stuff that makes me feel a little pampered and lifts my mood for a while.  Still trying to use up a deep/bright pink polish I'm tired of.  I'll toss the bright pink one at the end of the month whether I've used it up or not.   :-[It's nearly past expiration anyway and I feel it's changed a bit. 

Hair - Wash, condition, finger comb.  Couldn't find a brush and I seem to have lost my combs at my mom's but she can't find them either. :-/
So I decided to forego the leave-in which would just look greasy if I can't comb or brush my hair once it's somewhat dried into my hair.

The salon I go to is on the way to the supermarkets.  I asked for a cut that would suit my facial features and give the greatest amount of natural movement and volume.  They must think it's strange that I've had my hair compressed under a tight knit bonnet ever since my last hair cut.  When I get home, I always use a bit of water on the ends as I run my fingers through the lengths, a bit upward and away from my face.  Quickly fixes any funny bends if I'm not in a mood for cute unruliness. 

Blah - I had to go to the pharmacy anyway so right after that I went over to the supermarket and bought a comb.  Needed a new tea egg too.  Absolutely broke but I can't live without a comb and a tea egg! 

Uhuh - Hub think he got flashed by a speed camera yesterday.  He was only following traffic and may only have been 2 miles over speed limit but he saw the camera flash. :(  He was behind a truck and though he knew the camera was coming up and he was really watching his speed (he's not a regular speeder) he couldn't see the camera in time to brake and get way below speed limit.  They often put these cameras up where you come over a hill or around a corner or where the speed limit suddenly changes drastically so anyone unfamiliar with the area won't know they're there.  I thought these cameras were supposed to have a preventive effect and not just trap people.  Hub's only been in that part of the country on seldom occassions. 

Back home - I've been really bad and I also treated myself to a "shooting" star which is a toast bread with a fish filet, "caviar", asparagus ad some other stuff, at the supermarket so that's my lunch. :)  Tried to wet my hair a bit and apply some leave-in.  Not sure that was a smart thing to do.   Hope my hair dries soon.  Otherwise, I'll be vinegar rinsing earlier than usual.

Hair - Wash, 1 min. repair cond., leave-in which I'm still only applying to the last 1/3 because I worry  it'll otherwise look greasy.  I'll probably apply it right up to my scalp when/if ever it gets sunny and warm.

Rushed - Can't get anything done on days where I have to pick the middle one up from school and the youngest one up from kindergarten early because the middle one doesn't want to walk home and then down to the kindergarten.  So I cleaned my bathroom last night. 

The youngest one got dropped off at kindergarten early this morning to buy me a little time.  He's been acting up like he promised to do to act really small because he doesn't want to start in school at the end of August.  *Sigh!*  It used to be a pleasure to pick him up from kindergarten.  Now I dread it because I don't know what kind of mood he's in or how long the "list" of bad things he's done is going to be.  I'll hear about it, try to be sympatic and then have to read about it again in his contact book when we get home.  So in some sense, there litterally is a bad list. :(

Photos - Mom sent me a mail with photos she took while we visited.  I wasn't even aware of some of the photos being taken.  When I get time I'll transfer them to our computer and then post some here.  It might be a little while.  I'm not in a mood now.  I just want my coffee!

Then I'll listen to some Jimmie Rodgers and Patti Page.  It's gotta be absolutely easy listening.

Hair - Condition, leave-in.  It's still drying.

Feeling strange - Can't really wake up.  The coffee helped keep me physically awake but my brain's feeling the same way I often do if I take a long nap and wake up groggy and stay that way for a while and I feel like I'm still partially dreaming.  I guess that's why I didn't notice that I didn't wash my hair with shampoo but I read some where that unless your hair's really dirty, the conditioner will usually be enough to rinse anything off.  My scalp is a bit dry so I don't want to overload on the shampoo.

Yesterday - It wasn't as bad as I'd feared.  Youngest one had been reasonably good and only a tiny bit upset a couple of times.  The oldest one was at the movies for the first time and he'd been good and quiet.  I had to pick the middle one up and it's the same again today.

Today - Got several loads of laundry to get through as usual and that's all I'm going to have time for because I have to get the groceries too.  I usually mail hub the grocery list and then he gets it after work but he's at a trade fair this week. 

More photos from my mom.  She took these ones.

Sort of defeats the purpose of the bird house
http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/2629/hpim0696h.jpg

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/2171/hpim0695a.jpg

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/2420/hpim0704.jpg

First pic: aww, cute kitty!

Second pic: Nice pic.  I think you're very pretty!

Third pic: hey!  your hair's getting long!

Finally we get to see your pretty face!!  I had to look twice at the bird house photo, then laughed out loud when I spied the cat.   ;D  By the way, your hair is lovely; very shiny and healthy.  Thanks for sharing!

Thanks Trisha and Sakina. 


Quote:

Third pic: hey!  your hair's getting long!

I can see a difference between the photos taken at Christmas and these photos so I'm optimistic. 

Hair - I think now that I'm more aware of how much shampoo I use, and I've cut down, my hair looks better than it did in those photos.  There were other photos I was going to post but it could be camera angle but either my hair looked messy or the outfit I was wearing didn't look as flattering from the camera angle as it did "in real life". 

My parents are both good amateur photographers but sometimes they don't understand that people might be vain and they don't pay attention to which angle might be most flattering to the live subject being photographed. :(  That's the nicest way I can think of putting it.

It could be wishful thinking but I think I can tell that my hair has grown in the few weeks since the photos were taken.

This weekend - I'm not doing any laundry, I'm sick of laundry!  So everyone's gotta make their clothes work for two days and since we're not doing anything because this past week has been so busy and stressful for all, this shouldn't be difficult. 

I'm just sitting here listening to various Emmylou Harris live recordings of 'Beneath Still Waters'.  Sadly, none of the recordings are very good and I regret to say that I've probably thrown the old tape out it was on and we don't have a tape player.  I'm sure it would be more pleasurable to listen to that way.  I find an alright upload of 'My Songbird' to listen to with EH.  Some of my favorites to listen to are still 'Two More Bottles of Wine', 'Leaving Louisiana', and 'Even Cowgirls Get The Blues'.  Brings back childhood memories of where I was some of the times my dad played his EH tapes while we were in his apartment or out driving when he still lived in Denmark.  He lived here for 12-14 years.

Gotta fix lunch for the boys then I think I'll just sit here and listen to some Danny And The Juniors.  I'm in that kind of mood now.  Was going to walk but the weather's changing. "Danced"/hopped a bit around in the youngest boy's room earlier this morning for about ½ hr. so that's gotta count as exercise. ;)

I'll do a face mask and my nails this evening.

Tomorrow - Have to sort through the boys clothes and dump a bunch of old clothes and broken toys.

Awwww, kitty! :D

Your hair looks nice, Drear. I've always envied Asian hair. So pretty...

Thanks Angel, I'm glad you noticed the cat too. 

Hair - CVR, deep condition.  Beautiful and fantastic today, a sunny Sunday with no plans and I'm certainly not putting on a knit hat or bonnet.  I'm going to stay in and enjoy that this is a very seldom occassion where I've nothing to complain about in regards to my hair.

Yesterday - Of course I didn't do any of the planned things.  Well, listened to all of the music I said I would and everything else in my youtube playlists.  Then I watched 'Coma' on TCM and forgot about my face and nails.  Did the face mask this morning while the deep conditioner was in. 

I think we have a routine now with me doing my CVR, applying face mask and deep conditioner, hub takes his shower, and when he's done I can get in and rinse off.

Today - I will have to get through the piles of laundry, clothes sorting, etc. I said I would.  No choice there so that's all for now. 

What a cute kitty and a great pic!  And it's so great to see a picture of your pretty face!  Your hair is so shiny and beautiful. 

I love your pictures, Drear! :)  Especially the ones of the cat in the bird house or feeder, the chandelier in your mothers house, the scenic views from your side of the world and most of all the pictures of you!

Sometimes, with everything that you have going on, I forget that you are a young woman.  You are very pretty too, nice to see you! ;)

Thanks La Diosa.

Tinnitus - I've been usually busy and quite honestly not felt I had anything to share.  I was actually in a good period.  Now I'm very affected or certainly aware of tinnitus.  It's not been diagnosed.  I've always been hearing impared, those ear hairs or hearing cells are damaged and have been since I was a baby, I've probably also experienced tinnitus in varying degrees all my life.  It could be stress, and a combination of factors that's making it hard to live with.  I know there's no cure because the reasons and experiences are so different from person to person. 

The tinnitus is worst if it's quiet and it's usually in the left ear or just loudest on the left ear so I'm not conscious of it on the right ear.  Come to think of it,  as a kid I'd turn on the TV or music all the time to escape the so called silence.  It's always been unbearable with complete silence.  I don't know if this heightened awareness is what's affecting me mostly on the psychological level.  I can already see I'm going on and on about it in this journal entry.

Aside from the hearing loss I'm born with (or so it seems) there's "of course" also been noise levels from kindergarten, school, work, music, both being on stage with loud music and in the 80s those in-the-ear earphones were so damn trendy!  I still use earphones when listening to music but they sit on the outside of my ear and I don't turn my music way up but perhaps the damage has been exacerbated by noises I don't detect but that cause damage anyway.  Coffee makes it worse, especially if I drink too close to bed time like I did last night.  I slept for 8 hours but I don't feel like I've slept at all.  I can drown out the tinnitus with regular noise and running water fx.  Sometimes it's so unbearable I can perfectly understand people who erh...choose not to live with it. 

Hair - It's been good.  I've had days where I didn't need a hat but I've kept a hood tightly over my head anyway to shield my sensitive ears.  Hearing impared, ear problems, tinnitus...*sigh!*.  Anyway, nothing's impacted on the appearance of my hair.

Hubby also has tinnitus, so you have my sympathy.  As you mentioned, I'm wondering now if he's had this all along but the condition has just gotten bad enough in the past couple of years for him to really notice?  For example, he's always wanted a fan blowing on us while we're sleeping.  I'm now thinking it's more for the white noise of the motor than the cooling effect.  *hugs*  Sorry you're having to deal with this.

Trisha, that could be it if it's not a temperature thing.  I can't imagine what it's like if it's constantly loud.  This morning I woke up and wasn't even sure I was hearing anything except the faintest of sound and that could just be regular body or house sounds I'm suddenly oversensitive to.  Unfortunately, I've read of people living tolerably with it for years until it suddenly gets unbearable and out of control.  Since there are so many reasons why people experience tinnitus and they experience it so differently, the "experts" say they can't find a cure but only help you to live with it. 

Hub's a ham, there's me making noises in the kitchen, the boys, the TV, I've lived in a commune house, I don't know if the tinnitus or need for music or some audial distraction came first so perhaps this is what my brain does when it's too quiet for it. :-?  It's exacerbated by stress and fatigue, especially coffee close to bedtime is a real bad thing.  Last time I experienced bad tinnitus I had that ear infection.  I've got an appointment with the doc tomorrow just in case there is something physically wrong with my ears.  Mainly my left ear. 

I've been so tired for no apparent reason the past 3 days.  I'm keeping active, eating well, getting out if there's a ray of sun, and going to bed latest at 10pm.  Have to be up at 6am.  My appetite has gone from a bit out of control on-off the past ten months to having to be very conscious of eating well when I feel hungry because I don't feel very hungry most of the time these days. 

Hair - Forgot I was going to switch to a rinse and only shampoo 2-3 times a week but condition daily.  I want to see if it'll actually improve my scalp condition if I give it a month.  That's only if I can stand it for a whole month.  So I washed, conditioned and applied leave-in as usual.

I'm sorry to hear about your tinnitis!

Sorry, that I cannot help, but I do have two funny-ish stories about tinnitis.

A coworker went to visit his father-in-law at their place for the first time and immediately noticed that there was a strange high-pitched noise in their house. He tried to ignore it, and after dinner, his FIL mentioned how bad his tinnitis was getting! Coworker was like, "oh! You mean that horrible high pitched noise that I noticed when I walked in the house?" FIL is astonished, so the two walk around the house and identify the culprit (I forget what it was), and turned it off. Instant relief! FIL never realized that it was some electronic gadget that nobody else could hear but him, and figured he had tinnitis.

Second story:
As a youngster, my family and I went to visit a cave. In one room of the cave, the tour guides asked everybody to be as silent as possible, because if nobody moved or spoke, the cave was literally one of the quietest places on earth. Within 5 seconds, most people had buzzing ears from the deafening silence. It was really quite fascinating.

:)

Thanks for the stories.  Sometimes I think I can finally hear things I could never hear before and am just bothered because I'm unacustomed to them.  Other times I'm convinced it's my brain's way of compensating for the silence.  I really can't remember if I've always heard this and then why would it bother me now?  Or if I've always "heard" what everyone hears in silence but now I'm ALSO hearing something new that the brain makes up where it can't hear sound. 

Doc couldn't find anything wrong.  I just know I've got soreness, sometimes pain and damn tinnitus.  I thought along with the hums of freezer desks in the supermarket, the running water in our bathroom (but not in our kitchen) and when a scooter drives by, I also hear a high pitched tone.  Not painful but certainly new to me. 

Doc said I could call an ear specialist but of course they were out of hours when I got home and they only answer the phone Mon-Thur 8-11:30am or so. 

I try not to think or talk about it. 

Hair - Am washing, conditioning and applying leave-in until I've used my current bottles up.  Then I might change my regimen.

Easter - No plans.  I want this house tidied up though before I'll begin to decorate.

I'm just listening to The Belmonts cover of 'Don't Get Around Much Anymore'.  Previously I've only heard Patti Page on it.  Think I like both covers.   

"Missed the Saturday dance..."

Quote:

"Missed the Saturday dance..."

Yeah, I'd like to get together with a bunch of other people who can't dance either and do some "movements" to danceable music. :D

Hair - I can do with a hood most days so my hair isn't affected by any hat and when one is needed the thinnest one that doesn't leave dents or compress my hair is all I need.  I'm out of 1 mins. repair treatment but I don't know if it ever did much for my hair; Kept it from breaking and my dad's just sent a package which I'll probably have to pay half a fortune for before the post office will let me walk away with it due to tax laws. ::)  My dad's point of irritation is that if we lived closer by each other, we'd exchange gifts without any costs to us. 

Neither one of us are going to profit from the contents of the packages we send each other.  This is old stuff like my dad's old toys.  Even in the case where we buy something new for each other it's not the same as ordering something from a shop in the U.S. or Denmark and even then, it's not my fault if there's stuff I'd like that they don't sell over here or in another EU country so I think it's unfair if I'm punished for choosing to buy something in the U.S.  I don't because I can't afford surprise s/H/duty costs.

You could host an Improv Jam and play whatever music you wanted.  Since its improv, you could use all kinds of movement!

I'm sorry its such a pain for you to send and receive packages from Denmark.  How frustrating!

Hair - If I like a hair care line or just a brand, I can be guaranteed that regular supermarkets will discontinue them. :(  Gliss long hair care line has been dropped from the supermarkets, Pantene has a classic line, volume and???, and smooth something???  I haven't used Pantene since returning to Denmark.  I'm not switching to GF and I've never tried Sanex.  There's of course every supermarket chain's own brand. ::)
So I've begged hub to take me to a larger supermarket in the nearest city tomorrow evening.  If they have Gliss long hair care line I'll stock up for the rest of the year.  If not...I'll stand in the hair care aisle for 15 minutes and debate with myself.  I suppose I could try another Nivea hair care line.  The diamond shine is so-so.  I need real hair care and not just cosmetic enhancement of my hair.  I'll continue to use the Gliss 1 mins. repair cond. on Wednesdays as long as the supermarkets stock the repair line.  I just ran out.

Update - I can see that both Gliss, Niveau and Pantene carry lines our local supermarkets don't stock.  Pantene's Repair & Protect sounds like something my hair might like or Nivea Nutri Cashmere.

Hair - Wash, cond. leave-in.  I can't afford a better leave-in so when I've used this one up, I'll be buying the same one again.  Nivea Repair leave-in.  Blue with orange top. 

Morning - I woke myself up "singing": 'Even Cowgirls Get The Blues'.  Luckily hub was already in the shower.  It woke up the youngest one too.  He stated matter of factly that mommy can't sing but he can.  He's so right about that.

Laundry - 3-4 loads just because I was lazy yesterday and skipped it all together.  One day of skipping and this happens!

I didn't feel like going shopping over the weekend.  We our first real Spring weekend this year so I chose to be outside instead.  It's going to get cold again.  So I'm making the most of it while we've still got warmer temperatures.  According to the dermatologist, unlike most people, I'm not getting enough UV rays and that's part of the reason for my skin issues because I've been sun/UV paranoid like all my fellow fair Danes.  I still need to wear sun screen like everyone else, just not SPF 50 and above like others and right now I'm only using spf 8 on my face.

Hair - Everything was fine until last evening.  I panicked over something in the oven that had got stuck so I forgot to turn off the hot air mode and I worried that the front of my hair got fried so immediately after tackling the situation I went and rinsed my hair and applied a big gob of leave-in conditioner.  This morning I think I condition overloaded so I don't like the feel of film on my hair. 

Christmas again! :D - Dad sent me a package with five, no less than 5 view-masters!  There's one from the 70s that looks the way I remember them and the other four are from the 90s or so.  The reels are from 1946-1996.  The boys love the but there are strict rules for playing with these view-masters :exclamation

Hub got some multi-tool (apperently men can never have enough of these) and a ham radio magazine.

I got interior decorating magazines :-?  I don't know what dad's implying and vintage costume jewelry.  Seriously, I think my dad noticed my keen interest in thumbing through brochures and magazines again and again of various home decors, paint catalogues, kitchen & bath brochures and all things interior and home related.

I don't have time or the right lighting for photographing the jewelry yet but there are some jj cat pins, a small hobe´ pin and other cheap unsigned pieces, some with cats. 

Hair - The amount of leave-in I used yesterday turned out to be just right after I came home from a walk in the sun.  So I'll use the same amount on sunny days and about ½ the amount on overcast days. 

School - Got a thick report on my oldest son to read through before a 6pm meeting this evening.  The school's in the nearest city/large town so we'll all drive there.  I usually miss these meetings and stay home with the other two and hub misses meetings at the middle one's local school.  This isn't a good development so they'll just have to put up with the whole family because we've got no one to care for the youngest two in our area.

Clothes - I hate ironing.  The cotton tunics my mom bought me are really cute and not difficult to iron but I would've never bought them myself.  However, I love the wind/rain proof jacket I bought from the same place as the tunics.  I like that it's very basic and timeless.  I bought it in navy, it has more buttons than velcro which is a good thing because I got so fed up with the velcro in the sleeves of my old jacket catching on everything.  There's a two way zipper which is great because tunics, dresses and skirt don't get caught in the bottom and ride up.  It's slightly figure cut and it has a hood unlike another Spring/Fall jacket my SIL gave me.  Anything without a hood is useless for my walks.  I like my overcoats and jacets to be functional, simple, and timeless. 

My transition down jacket with duffelcoat combination for winter isn't especially simple in use but it'll have to make do for a few more years and the jackers can be used seperately.  The're both timeless.  The down jacket's black and the duffelcoat is red.  I'm staying away from light and bright colors when it comes to stuff I have to wear on the outside every day.  My last all purpose jacket was a bright lime green.  Bad choice on so many levels even though the color suited me.

The only thing I need now is t-shirts.  I can't believe I don't have any.  I've got blouses, polos and shirts but they all require ironing to some degree. 

Hair - Wash, cond. leave-in.  It's looking and feeling great so I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts.  Yesterday my hair suddenly turned greasy and unmanageable in the car on the way to a meeting.  Probably due to stress.  Typical!

Meeting - The whole family; hub, boys and I showed up for a meeting regarding the oldest one at his school.  I'd spent a better part of the day reading a progress report about him.  Things are developing much faster and in a more positive direction than I could've imagined so this wasn't the painful meeting I thought it would be.  It was also good for the teachers to see the boys together so that they can see why the oldest one shouldn't be made to feel like he has to take responsibility for his brother and that he in fact can't and that his own school life apart from his brother is very important too. 

The meeting was scheduled for 6pm and it was 7:30pm before we got home and dinner was so late despite just having potato salad and hotdogs that it was difficult for all of us to settle down and the boys had to go to bed nearly immediately after dinner. 

School Admission - The school the oldest one attends is the best one in our region for children with normal intelligence who either have ADHD or  Autism.  The application and assessment process has been really long.  Especially the last five months were really stressful so it feels like we've won the lottery for a second time by getting two boys into the same school. 

It's not snobbery it's just a fact that there are more of these special needs children than the regional schools can take and not all the schools have these ADHD/Autism center classes and Højvangskolen in Horsens (nearest city) is the best so to get your child with ADHD or Autism admitted must feel similar to getting your child into some prestigious first choice private school. 

I'm so relieved that we won't have three boys, in three different schools in three different towns!

That's great news about your oldest!  You must be soooo relieved that all three won't be in different schools. :)

Awesome news!!!

Curlgirl64 wrote on Apr 15^th, 2010 at 3:14am:

That's great news about your oldest!  You must be soooo relieved that all three won't be in different schools. :)

The oldest one has been there since...I think 06'  the youngest one is the one we just got admitted. 

Thank you both. 

Hair - Nothing new.  The only thing I mind about the front side bangs is that they tend to get greasy and aren't quite long enough to tuck behind my ears yet.  I know it suits my face better than without according to people who have commented and I've always had hair at the front that doesn't grow as long as the rest.

Sun screen - It's that time of the year again.  However, the doctor, a doctor on call and a dermatologist have told me that I'm overprotecting and not getting enough D vitamins so I'm taking supplements for that but my skin is also suffering horribly because I'm not getting enough UV rays and I can't afford a weekly UV session at the dermatologist nor do I have the time to commute back and forth so I've got to make the most of it when there is some sun. 

I've only just begun to use spf8 on my face, I won't go higher than to spf15 this year and when it gets warmer (if indeed it does) I'll go for a walk before noon before applying sun screen.  We'll see if that improves the state of things.

Thanks to vulcano eruptions hub may not be able to fly to Germany at the end of the month which I quite honestly don't mind but I do mind that it means that he may have to drive the whole way.  A lot of driving, busy work schedule and late sleep isn't good for his hypertention.  He won't forget his medicine this time because I got really angry last time he went to Germany and hadn't double checked that he'd packed his Selo Zok or whatever it's called "blockers".

Nails - Finally threw away the last bottle of hot pink.  I'm really tired of that color now and I'll have to re-do my toes because the finish doesn't look good.  Finger nails are a dark grey, neither shiny, shimmery nor exactly matte.  I don't know if I'd call it pearlescent either. A bit like some auto paint jobs.  I'm quite liking it. 

Hair - I forgot to CVR yesterday so my hair's just okay. 

Home secretary - Some clown at the county has screwed up and sent out some standard formula that doesn't really relate to our situation ::) plus they've forgot to tell us what certain things will cost next year when hub's income and number of kids needing this school service is all calculated.  This is just so typical Danish;  Nothing's very simple.  They like to patch any system flaws rather than give "the system" an overhaul to simplify things. >:(

So I'll be spending the whole day trying to a) get through to someone at the county b) get someone to direct me to the right person and c) get some answers!

Hair - It was fine at the end of yesterday so overloading a bit on the leave-in and creating that film cover seems to make it just right and soft by the end of the day.  No one really sees me until then so I don't mind much.  On the other hand I mind that I had to wear a knit hat again this morning.

Weather - Freak winter day.  At least it was -4C this morning.  You'll have to use a temperature converter online...So I had to find everyone's winter garbs I'd put away. ::)  It was a calm before the storm at the end of this morning when I dropped the youngest one off in knit hat, winter overalls and boots at kindergarten with a few + C degrees and sunny weather so we got a few strange looks but I know better!  I'll let you know tomorrow if it turns out I was just hysterical. 

Uhuh! - I didn't like the situation I arrived to at the kindergarten yesterday.  The child psychologist was there and I'd forgotten she was coming.  She sat with her back to me and didn't correct my son when he mispronounced his name.  Perhaps she just didn't want me to let him know that I know what she does there because he said she was just someone who sometimes visits them but there was a gentleman with her whom I hadn't been notified would be there and he wasn't introduced to me.  He was in a suit.  Very unusual in a kindergarten!  Public employees don't wear suits in Denmark, and hardly anyone, not even older people go by Mr. Ms. or Mrs. anymore.  Yet my son said Mr. Something-probably-mispronounced.  Well, we got the admission papers.  He can't change that but if he changes anything in my son's diagnosis or plans for his school start without us being notified and allowed to have an influence it won't go down without a fight from our side.
*Deep breathe*  Regular employees weren't there this morning but when I catch one of them I'll ask.

How fustrating!!!!  I hope there's positive results soon and your son will move along smoothly!

Thanks curlgirl.  someone regular was at work today but alone with a large group of kids so I didn't feel it was right to bombard her with questions.

Hair - Forgot to use leave-in when my hair was still damp.  Hat day again so I dampened my hair when I got back from kindergarten and applied the leave-in.  Greasy film feel right now.  Hope it passes.  The overall condition is what matters. 

Hormonal - I'm terribly ruled by my hormones at this time of the month.  I've finally reached a point where until a few days before the period I'm aware of it or react positively when someone reminds me of my "unstability" ;) but the closer I get to my period, the less I connect my down feelings to anything hormonal and the less willing I am to accept it when someone kindly tries to remind me.  Seems it affects my tinnitus too.  I've adopted the attitude that it may be symptomatic of something but T isn't dangerous in itself, sure it's annoying but it doesn't hurt.  Don't tell me that when I'm tired and stressed!

(((hugs)))  In the past, evening primrose oil was helpful for me with hormonal fluctuations.  I hope you feel better soon.

Hair - Running very low on shampoo and conditioner.  So I bought Gliss Cell Repair shampoo, conditioner and 1 min. treatment.  I've had the 1 min. treatment for years now.  I hope the shampoo and cond. is as good as the treatment.  It was on sale so I'll chuck it if I'm dissatisfied.  I didn't buy more leave-in.  I'm hoping this formula is heavy enough without being greasy so I won't need a stinky leave-in.  Can't afford the better ones these days.

Other - Bought more "fat" cream.  I don't know anyone who spends as much on body moisture creams and treatment creams as I do even though I buy the cheapest, safest I can find. ::)

Phone - Mom managed to insult my attempt at retro/vintage styling again.  "You're not old like your mother in-law you shouldn't accept her old clothes, you should dress like a smart young woman".  Ideally I'd be quite ordinary in my taste and not draw any attention to myself or stand out in any way but that's not who I am.  I really wish I had a taste in clothes that didn't provoke people to unsolicited comments and advice. >:( 

Mom's going to the hairdresser today for cut and color.  She prefers to do it herself.  She has an issue with anyone splurging out on themselves.  I told her I go for a trim at least 1-2 a year.  Sometimes I need it 4 times a year.  "Oh no, please don't cut your hair, it looks much better long".  Well, I never said anything about going short and I got really childdish and defensive so I argued the healthy looking ends argument to death.  I didn't manage to comfort her by saying that it's still my goal to grow it as long as possible. 

My real issue is that it irritates the hell out of me that I still give her views and advice so much power because of course her words wouldn't have that much importance unless I allow them to. 

Drear wrote on Apr 20^th, 2010 at 5:11am:

Uhuh! - I didn't like the situation I arrived to at the kindergarten yesterday.  The child psychologist was there and I'd forgotten she was coming.  She sat with her back to me and didn't correct my son when he mispronounced his name.  Perhaps she just didn't want me to let him know that I know what she does there because he said she was just someone who sometimes visits them but there was a gentleman with her whom I hadn't been notified would be there and he wasn't introduced to me.  He was in a suit.  Very unusual in a kindergarten!  Public employees don't wear suits in Denmark, and hardly anyone, not even older people go by Mr. Ms. or Mrs. anymore.  Yet my son said Mr. Something-probably-mispronounced.  Well, we got the admission papers.  He can't change that but if he changes anything in my son's diagnosis or plans for his school start without us being notified and allowed to have an influence it won't go down without a fight from our side. *Deep breathe*  Regular employees weren't there this morning but when I catch one of them I'll ask.

Well that's just plain rude--not to mention unprofessional and a bit "off" feeling.   >:(

Drear wrote on Apr 22^nd, 2010 at 6:09am:

My real issue is that it irritates the hell out of me that I still give her views and advice so much power because of course her words wouldn't have that much importance unless I allow them to.

Let's face it, no matter how old we get, we are still children in the eyes of our parents and their opinion matters.  *shrug*  On the other hand, your choice of clothing style is just that--YOURS.  Wear what makes you happy.   :)  The next time she comments, just say, "Well, mom, that's your opinion."  Say it nicely and with a smile, then change the subject.   8-)

I was alone with the boys for a week and last week was hectic too.

Hair - Out of Nivea shampoo and cond.  Used a Tresemme´moisture rich shampoo and cond. sample.  Felt a little better than your average drug store brand at first but when it had completely dried I still reached for the leave-in cond. and got my hair damp again before applying the leave-in.  I'll start on Gliss Repair shampoo and cond. tomorrow and tell you what I think of that.

It's over 5 months since I last had a trim and I'm beginning to see a few (less than 5) splits so maybe I need to have something done soon.  Side bangs were cool and easy to live with in the hat season but no one prepared me for the irritation of windy weather in "warmer" temperatures. I've always had hair flowing losely around my face and prefer it that way but when side bangs fly the wrong way it's so annoying!  So a micro trim of tips is definitely in order and perhaps a change in my bangs. 

The other thing that's been irritating me about my bangs is how they get caught in the hinges of my glasses.  Without bangs that would be an issue too.  I tried wearing my hair in a ponytail yesterday and it made the flying bangs less of a problem.  So maybe I just need to do like every other 30+ mother around here. ::)

Hearing - Got an appointment at a hospital with an audiologist 1st of July.  Actually the original appt. was for the 22nd of Sept.  I called and quickly, politely and clearly explained as apologetically as I could why I needed the appt. changed because it was at 7:45am and 2 of our boys need to wait for a school cab, another one isn't allowed to arrive at his school more than 30 mins. before school starts and I can't leave the 2 standing alone on our driveway.  The receptionist got angry and said appts. don't hang on trees.  I said back very sharply that I know that but I have boys that need to go to school! 

I know that a lot of work goes in to planning consultations but people can't always change their own plans to suit a consultation no matter how important and in any case, it's part of her job to change juggle appt. schedules plus our taxes pay her salary so....I don't really care what anyone else thinks or who you agree with, I'm just won't tolerate attitude from anyone!  I've never thrown attitude at anyone no matter how disagreeable a customer/guest/resident was at any of my jobs.  Part of my problem may be that I sound very young even though I don't have a high pitch voice and it wasn't until I gave her my cpr # which has my birth date as part of the # (it does for everyone here) that she began to talk to me adult-adult.

Anyway, it looks like, that if I have the time, I can shop in a city I've not really spent any time in before on my own after the 11:30pm appt. while hub and the boys do something else because they'll be on summer break. 

The ear-nose-throat specialist who was so great when I had my tonsils out was so disappointing this time.  The hearing test was bogus and short.  I think it's a formality they have to go through to refer you to an audiologist.  He didn't really seem interested in my tinnitus or apparent hearing loss from birth.  Waiting around took the longest. ::)

Weather - Feels like Fall here.  Hub's at some HAM meet and the boys and I are just lounging. 

Nails - I tried toing French nails for fifth or so time.  I need to get the strips.  I was too lazy to remove all the polish so I applied a beige polish and did wide grey tips just for the heck of it.  Hub and the boys actually complimented my nails. :o

I totally relate to your hair getting caught in the hinges of your arms on your glasses!!!  My hair is all one length and this happens alot when my hair is down or the wind blows hard and dislodges some wisps when I wear a bun or braided ponytail.
I wonder if there is any solution or remedey for that?  A headband works,but isn't always appropreiate.

Curlgirl, headbands can give me headaches sometimes and I don't think they really flatter my face.  There are times when I'm self conscious that my scarves, headbands and ponytails do nothing to improve my "image".

Hair - Gliss Repair 19 shampoo, Garnier Olive and lemon deep cond.  Nice and sleek.  No leave-in today.  I think that would be overload.  I think I need to be careful with this Gliss Repair 19 shampoo and cond.  Using the usual amount might be too much even for my moisture hungering hair. 

Nails - Gun metal grey finger nails.  I think my toes are just beige.  I tried doing French nails again and I don't know if I'd actually like them better if I could do the white tips nicer if I had those strips but something in my brain just want the tips to be darker.  Last time I ended up painting the tips gun metal grey and I quite liked it that way.

It's mothers day here but I'm ignoring it.  I'm just going to pretend like I forgot.  Otherwise, others are just going to try to guilt trip us in to a visit soon and I really have too many other things I'd rather do the next few weekends this May.  If I do anything today, I'll just go for a walk.

Hair - First day of Gliss Repair 19 shampoo and cond.  no leave-in today because it's overcast.  My hair is really bouncy and soft and it's almost like it has a volumizing effect on my hair which was unexpected because I thought it was a heavy formula and I feared it would leave a greasy film on my hair.  Lets see if I stay happy with this...I'm going to book an appt. for a trim mid June.  Still haven't decided if I want the top and bangs adjusted or not. 

Walking, walking and getting out there to walk.  It's healthy and therapeutic.  It's all the therapy I can afford money and timewise. ;D

Talked to dad on the phone last evening as I usually do on Sundays.  Okay.....so someone who's no part of our life, who knows someone, who knows someone, who knows my dad's neighbor, got herself caught admitting to gossipping about my dad!  Of course she claims she only says nice things about him but I doubt it.  I don't want her to get a toe back in to our lives in any way!  That woman was so toxic and nearly cost me my "relationship" (familial) with my dad! >:( 

When my dad and I talk about how we deal with the situations we face, I can really see how much I resemble my dad.  But I have learnt from observation and with the risk of being accused of being smug, I dare say that there are many situations I handle much better than he did at my age or even now. :)

A bad day so far - I need to rest and it's not even 10am here!  First I discovered gold paint on different parts of my new all weather jacket which would't come off without a rough sponge and it's not completely gone but I have bad experiences with washing waterproof jackets in the washer so now I have to tolerate that fussy look to some spots of the nylon fabric.  >:(  Not an expensive jacket but it's timeless, looks good and I'm broke anyways.

Less than a minute later I was standing outside the front door with the youngest one on our way to his kindergarten when I hear a loud rumbling sound.  I went back in and right where I'd been standing, inside our bedroom, right by the door checking my jacket in the mirror, lies our TV!  I never thought it was smart to have that big heavy thing up on that arm but miraculously nothing happened for 10 years, until it crashed down onto the floor this morning. 

Hub's talking about contacting insurance.  I'm so embarrassed that I didn't insist way back when on placing that TV some where else and certainly not up on that arm. :-[  I don't really want anyone else to know.  Which is also why I haven't told our youngest one exactly what's happened to our TV because I don't want him to "brag" to everyone down at the kindergarten about it. 

Hub's overstuffed the shed so I can't get to any garden gloves.  I used old pieces of denim material to hold the TV and turn it over, shovel everything into the TV box and it's now standing in our utility/entrance room.  I remembered to take pictures of everything before cleaning the mess up. 

I'd actually made a real lady-like effort with my appearance today.  I must look totally comical cleaning up in this outfit but I couldn't get in to our bedroom to change before I'd picked up the broken TV and broken glass.

There's a dent in the bedroom door, some black paint or whatever on the door and our floor and the grout in the tile floors in the hallway is cracked.

Hair - Still really happy with the Gliss Repair 19 line.  Got a thin alice band on with the bangs free.  A bit childdish but I'm happy I did it because it made it a little easier to see what I was doing while cleaning up.  My hair stuff is also in our bedroom.

Sorry about the t.v.!  Glad no one was hurt!

Egad. :o One of my family's TV's is up on a metal arm...hope it doesn't have the same result!

Wow, it's weird that it decided to fall after 10 years. :-/

It's funny, I actually like doing work in nice clothes.  It reminds me of olden times I guess.  Like on the Donna Reed show.  She did almost everything in dresses and heels. :D Although, I don't know if it was like that in real life, as my mother had to explain to me that in real life married couples didn't actually sleep in seperate beds. :P

Quote:

One of my family's TV's is up on a metal arm...hope it doesn't have the same result!

I was surprised it didn't fall down the first night 10 years ago.  Well, something good might come of all of this.  We'll shift the bed around and hub's talking about buying a flat screen that can stand.  Don't ask me where we're going to get the money from. :-?


Quote:

Although, I don't know if it was like that in real life, as my mother had to explain to me that in real life married couples didn't actually sleep in seperate beds.

Stockings would've been on but they could've worn swirls over their day dress but in the few every day pics of seen of women cleaning or doing more than just dusting and vacuuming, it looks like most of them are wearing the same casuals as teenage girls might've changed into after they came home from school or perhaps their husband's old work clothes. 

Thanks Curlgirl.  I thought of all the worst case  scenarios such as me lying injured or dead under the TV with the youngest one injured or getting injured if he tried to touch anything and all our neighbors are at work.  Which reminds me we need to drill with the boys what you do in case you need to call 112 (our 911) and what to say.  It's actually a few years ago I told them and I don't know if they remember. 

Hair - Wash, 1 min. cond.  This combo is good too.  I've never been too particular about using products from the same line on days where I deep condition but I can see the point now.  I've never had hair before that was bouncy, soft, shiny and well conditioned at the same time.  It's always seemed like I had to choose 1 or a few priorities regarding my hair. 

I think a refresher for an emergency is a good thought!

I am glad no one was hurt, and hope the new tv doesn't cost too much.

Things like that are really startling.  I remember coming up the stairs from the basement, and having the rod in the front closet crash to the floor just I reached the top step.  (The stairs come up beside the closet, so the crash was right next to me.) I nearly fell down the stairs, I was so startled. :o

Thanks Melusine. 

Hair - I messed up my hair routine and my hair is as conservative as me so it's really unhappy with this! ;D  I'll CVR tomorrow and try to rectify things.  It's neither dry nor greasy it's just *blah!*

Mini-holiday - Nothing!  Rained out and cold.  Can't do the gardening we'd planned.  I don't actually like gardening but I like to enjoy the results.  I'm fine with potted plants but I hate mowing lawn and weeding which I leave to hub anyway but he's down with a cold.  The oldest and youngest are really sad that we can't get out and garden.  This gardening gene must skip a generation on their dad's side.

The only thing I miss about our previous house was the bricked patio with a large flower bed at the end and fence all around.  That's my kind of "garden".  I'm not into a lot of lawn, flower beds that require regular weeding and hedges.  I hate hedges!  Oh, no need to become so emotional, hub does the hedge cutting too. :P

May 15th, 1999 - So it's our 11th anniversary and I only just realized when I looked at the calendar to check some meet dates.  Hub's excused for forgetting.  I'm not especially sentimental anyway.  It's the celebration, enjoyment and just gratefulness for everyday life when it's [nearly] problem free. :)

The only thing I'm doing in the way of celebrating is cooking a pot of something colorful, spicy and garlic filled.  That's mainly in an effort to shorten hub's cold though.

Happy anniversary, Drear. Sorry to hear that your husband's sick. :(

Happy Anniversary,Drear!!!  Whatever you and hubby do I hope you enjoy!

Thank you both. 

Hair - I'm glad I did CVR today.  My hair's back to soft, shiny and bouncy.  Deep conditioned as well.  I'm mainly using this the deep conditiner to use it up.  I've no idea what I'll replace it with.  I may just use the leave-in as a replacement for a while since I'm also just looking to use that one up as well.  Gliss has a new line, I could try the deep conditioner from that line so that when it becomes time to replace shampoo and cond. again, I'll know if I want the Deep Repair again or the new one I forgot what's called. 

Dinner - I cut one of those long pork??? things up, and added wok mix greens and a pseudo, spicy, garlicy, Asian sauce to it and let it sit for an hour.  It was good.  I just sort of grabbed everything within reach that I thought might be commonly used in some SE Asian cooking.  What do I know...We had whole wheat pasta and multi-grain garlic baguettes with it to make sure everyone ate something.  Our boys even prefer brown rice over white rice now. 

Hair - Wash, cond. Leave-in.  Will probably try a ponytail later if it becomes windier than it already is.

Right now my rural neighborhood sounds like a construction site in a metropolitan area.  I'm not enjoying it.  This is one of the reasons why I prefer to live in a rural area!  However, we do have a window factory in town so I'm used to a bit of noise when I'm out walking but this is like right in my back yard.  It reminds me of when I gave birth to our youngest and they were re-buildning parts of the hospital and they were using power drills right outside the window from the rooms in the ward I was on. :(  I think we only stayed for three days.  I couldn't get home fast enough.  The middle one was premature and the oldest was difficult to learn to breastfeed so going home the same day as I gave birth wasn't an option.  Mom went home on the day or the day after she gave birth to my brother who's her only biological child.  Oh, I'm trailing off.

Gardening - I've got as far as weeding this year.  Spring has been late in arriving and hub has only mowed the lawn once.  Then he felt too sick to mow the lawn and I'm no good at it.  He has to drive around to clients this week so he was forced to go to work even though it'll probably slow down his recovery.  His asthma and hypertension are both a bit unstable.

Update - Ended up with rollers in my hair.    Even after brushing I still thought it was too curly.  I love curls but as soon as I achieve them I find myself rinsing my hair until it's straight or brushing until it's wavy.  I've had curly perms in the past but I've never been quite comfortable with seeing curls on my own head. 

I think a psychologist would say my discomfort with curly hair on myself is quite apparent in the first line of the top paragraph.

I only had a bottle of mousse that offered UV protection and it's warm an humid today.  So luckily the curls fell out on their own.  I made a sharper side part and tucked my hair behind my ears for a soft 60s look. 

Update - Need to do this while I remember so I can remember that this regimen isn't for me.  No more hairloss than usual, no split ends.  But while I realize that some people are happy to use 2-3 styling products and blow dry daily.  Even though I didn't use a blow dryer and only one styling product, this sort of look and feel isnt' for me. 

This evening I washed, deep conditioned and applied leave-in again.  I really checked my hair carefully both before and after the shower.  I'm happy to let loose ends flow free and for random strands to fall out of ponytails. 

I guess I've changed over the past six years.  Six years ago I had a very short hairstyle and used wax and a blow dryer every day.  Three years ago I had a bob I applied mousse to and blow dried nearly daily.  12-15 years ago I preferred the tight full updos, usually done in wet hair.  Now the decision to wear my hair in a ponytail is a major one each time and I usually end up regretting it.  Tomorrow may be such a day.  It's going to be warm and humid again. ::)  Alice bands are out.  Scarves are just tolerable when used as hairbands.

I should probably be realistic about how long it's sensible to let my hair grow if I find the feeling of having it gathered or pulled up uncomfortable.  I'm going to see if I in the future can afford to try some of the things others have recommended on here to pull one's hair up or away from the face. 

Hair - Wash, cond.  Ponytail.  I'll be glad when I get out in the humidity that my hair's off my neck but my scalp will probably itch like hell within a few hours. ::)

Yesterday - I would've happily missed yesterday.  I thought it was going to be an easy day but I was wrong.  Hub was out driving for his job.  Then while I was watching English ESL pronounciation of "R" tutorials on youtube and else where on the net I got a call from the kindergarten.  Apparently the youngest one was very unwell with a hurting throat.  So I dashed out in shoes, didn't even think to put on sandals though it was quite warm.  I also had to pick up the middle one from school so I'd have to pull him out early and I had to buy medicine for the oldest one.

Of course nothing went according to plan.  I got down to the kindergarten just to find the so called unwell boy, doing just fine, hiding in the top of a tree and shouting his throat doesn't hurt.  They still insisted he wasn't well and I couldn't assess him in the top of a tree so while they worked to get the boy to climb down I walked down to the school and stopped at the pharmacy to pick up the medicine.  All the lower classes were out of their building and bags and jackets were gone too. :o  Someone had forgot to tell his mother something! >:(  So I raced around on the school grounds but could only find the older kids and no one knew where the smaller classes had gone.  I mean...for all I know aliens could've abducted them. ;)

So I got back to the kindergarten.  Youngest one was then inside and playing happily, quite well, no hurting throat.  I stayed until 15 mins. before school got out, then dragged the then exhausted little boy down to his older brother's school and thankfully the younger classes had miraculously got back.  I'd sat and talk to some adults about some conflicts at the kindergarten and everyone had forgot to get something to drink.  So I brought home two dehydrated boys.  The middle one still can't explain where they all were.  No, I don't think aliens really abducted them and I don't want anyone to contact WOW.
So a whole day was wasted. 

Today - I've now got piles of laundry a bathroom that needs cleaning and at least I'll definitely make time for that but it's already warmer and more humid than it was yesterday.  The middle one forgot his lunch box and drink bottle and hub insists I bring it to him if he forgets him because the whole point in learning from experience is lost on hub.  I'm also a little worried the middle one will be dehydrated if tab water's all there is on hand.  Sinks and such in schools aren't usually very inviting to drink by.

Wow!   It sounds like yesterday was a real pain in the **)*!! :o
I hope today is much better for you! :)

Here's hoping the rest of the week and the weekend run more smoothly for you!  *hugs*

Thanks curlgirl and Trisha.  It just got "better" today. ::)  I'm exhausted and a little too upset with someone to write more right now. :(

Aww, I hope you're ok!

curlgirl, I'm fine thanks.  After a night's sleep it's just a point of irritation now.  It had to do with having to run to the middle one's school not once but twice because he'd forgotten two things and I'd reminded him over and over again in the morning.  On my way there with the lunch box and drink bottle which was important yesterday with the heat, the teacher had lent him her cell phone to call home to me but I was already on the run so I had to run back after his gym bag.  The point of learning through experience is lost on hub so he insists the poor thing can't go just one day without his lunch box and drink bottle if hub and son don't see to that it's brought out into the car in the morning.  I was going to ride back to the school on my bicycle but the lock had decided to rust itself stuck. ::)  So I ran back.  It's at least a couple of miles round trip each time, it was warm and I hadn't had time to eat breakfast or drink before dropping the youngest one off at kindergarten.

I'm getting ahead of myself.  The first time around the teacher must've thought I was an older student because she happened to come out of the classroom when I walked in to the building and told me I couldn't be in the lower students building and go back to where I needed to be. :-?  I told her who I was and since my son was standing in the wardrobe with her cell phone I could hand it to him without disrupting the class.  Usually I just quietly set it on his wardrobe space without disrupting anyone.  It was then she ordered me to go home and get his gym bag.  As if she assumed I'd been careless.  I was upset with three people there for putting me in a bad light! >:( 

When I came back to the school I was in a real foul mood (partially because I had to walk back with bike being unavailable to me) so I marched in to the class, over to my son's table, said that they'd taken some of my time so now I'd take some of their time, then I leaned down and whispered admonisments at my son but I think my expressions and gestures were very clear.  Then I marched out!  Okay, childish perhaps and I'm going to let this one rest and try to behave like an adult, in other words as if nothing has happened, if I meet that teacher again and greet her, etc. 

When hub called home to tell about his small computer problem at work I was in no mood for it and when he got home, he and our son both got to hear a few truths of what I thought of my day! 

Hair - It survived a whole day up in a ponytail.  No itching, no headache. :)  A mid height, not too tight ponytail with a smaller hair elastic is what works best for me.  The larger the hair elastic, the tighter it needs to be, hairs are more likely to break and I'm more likely to think the whole thing is too tight and itchy and have a headache.  Same thing today and probably tomorrow.  Then it's going to get cooler again.

Wow!  What a rough day for you!!   (((hugs))) 
I'm glad your ponytail held up for you and didn't give you the itchiness or headache.  Something positive always happens even in the midst of all the aggravations of life.

Hair - I've survived three days with ponytails now. :)  Forgot to CVR but my hair doesn't feel like it really needs it right now so perhaps I can put it off until next Sunday.

Weekend - It's a three day weekend here and we have Monday off too.  We're supposedly celebrating Pinse. :-?  I think everyone else are as clueless as I am so everyone's used the weekend to garden, it seems.  Saturday I went shopping while the boys and hub gardened.  I went looking for basic t-shirts but didn't find any.  Bought two short sleeved jersey blouses and two short sleeved cotton shirts.   Basic, no style. ::)  I did find two cheap short, A-line skirts. :)  I also bought bronzing powder which I hope will look better as blush than blush usually does, or that when blended out, at least gives me cheeks a bit more definition.

Today I planted some flowers and did a bit of weeding but decided that weeding isn't for me so I'm going to take a big shovel next weekend and turn the soil around in the flowerbed in front of our patio!  I don't know what I'll put in place.  More grass for hub to cut? ;)

I'm going to look for some t-shirts online instead.  Danish H&M has an online shop.  I usually prefer online shopping as opposed to brick and mortar shops. 

Hair - I thought I could leave my hair down today but it's going to be terribly windy, cool again and I've got an afternoon meeting. 

Meeting - It's at the kindergarten.  Some people from the school are coming to observe our son in his "elements" and then we're going to have a meeting compare our impressions of him with the staff at the kindergarten. :-[ 
Weekend - We had three days off.  After a day of shopping, a day of gardening, and a day of rest, I feel ready to take on this week.

You go,girl!
I hope things turn out well for your son! :)

Thanks Sakina, the weekend was easier and it was three days.

Hair - Wash, 1 mins. Deep Repair Gliss treatment.  Windy but I'm leaving it down.  Don't like to wear my hair up too many days in a row. 

Thank you curlgirl. 

Meeting - Exhausting, can't even remember what we talked about. :-[  Someone else took notes and will be at the final meeting at the school.  I told hub he has to be at the meeting  even I'm responsible for remembering everything and I'm also responsible for making sure everyone has the same information and understanding of the information. 

They found no melanoma in a dark spot they removed from hub's back but it's been healing slowly.  His hypertentions is unstable, he's upped his dosis, he keeps swinging between headaches and migraines.  I've told him to see a doctor but you know men.....some men anyway. ::)

I'm going to try to talk to the pharmacy for "my sick aunt" to get them to let me pick up the asthma medicine he paid for yesterday that they didn't have in.  I didn't remember to get his NHS card but I know his SS# which is what they look for on the NHS card and of course it has to match the name you give.

Somen men?  I think the majority of men!!! lol  Maybe if you keep working on him (gently) he'll succumb!

I thought I was going to relax on Friday and read everyone's journals but that was not to be.  I can't remember what got in the way.

Party - We went to a school party at the oldest school last Wednesday and I brought too much food and cake with me.  So hub had a giant cake with him the next day to work.  Of course they wanted to know what the occassion was and they said they'd like a cake like that more often.  I'd just mixed two packs of ready cake flour stuff. :-[  I love to cook but I hate baking.

The youngest one got a tour of the school while we were at the party.  I regret that I forgot to bring my cell phone to the party.  Hub and I were running in opposites direction after the tour trying to find the oldest boys who'd run off to play while we were given the tour.  I was sweating buckets by the time I'd collected all three boys and got them to the car.  Hub had been at the other end of the school because he heard "some kids" ::)  well, not our kids.

Gardening - We did a lot of gardening over the weekend.  That was nice.  Alright, I'll be honest, hub did a lot of gardening, I minded the boys.  I'm not big on gardening, I just want to enjoy the results.  I pampered hub and made good lunches and brought him fluid because it was a warm weekend. 

Monday - Today is cool and rainy and I spent an hour trying to find the middle one's class because we'd discovered too late online, that it was a special PE day for all the lower classes.  Turned out they'd been bussed to another town.  I must've looked like a completely incompetent mother to the secretary and principal. :-[  The thing is that they put the schedule out online any where between Friday evening and Monday and we haven't received any notes about a PE day so I don't know if our son just forgot to give us a note.  The secretary and principal don't know how the teachers inform parents of changed schedules.  I'm really unhappy with that school.  This is the umpteenth time I look like a *beep!* because of their strange notice and schedule informing system which I won't bore you with but they sure don't make it easy to check and we never know when between Fri-Mon they'll update the class schedule.  It's not as if we waste our weekend checking their sub-site within the site every few hours.

On top of that, our stupid printer isn't working with regular paper any more, only envelopes so hub can't print out the schedule until Monday at work which is fine on regular weeks where we're just checking homework. 

Yes, we have bigger problems in life too.  All these small problems just add to stress and discontentment.

Us - Doc didn't find out why hub's hypertention is unstable and offered no real sollutions.  My skin is breaking out horribly in hives again despite using prescription cream and taking strong anti-histhamines.  I wonder if skin conditions can be stress related? 

Expenses - A vertical line in one of our panorama window frames is broken.  We chose plastic because we wanted something low maintenace.  The window factory doesn't exist any more and they're not from our town's window factory.  It's beyond me why another supplier was chosen.  I was 23 or so and didn't know the first thing about buying and having a house built in 2000. 

The last car repair bill was a real schocker.  Danish law says that you have to give the price including tax to private people.  Well, the price hub had been quoted (word of mouth) was without tax so the amount we actually have to pay is much higher.  They might be able to get away with this with others who don't know better.  Just another battle.....I didn't ask hub why he didn't get the quoted price in writing.  I guess he feels that since we've gone there since before we owned this car and for over a decade now, he thought we could trust them.  I'm not going to make him feel awful by telling him he should've got the quoted price in writing.

Hair - CVR, wash again because I used mousse with sun screen this weekend and I used the deep conditioner as a regular conditioner because I just want it used up.  My hair would've probably looked great if I hadn't had to wear a hood and the front didn't get soaked any way. 

Drear wrote on Jun 7^th, 2010 at 4:00am:

I wonder if skin conditions can be stress related?

Stress can manifest itself in many different ways, including (and sometimes especially) physical ailments.

Quote:

I wonder if skin conditions can be stress related?

Abso-bloody-lutely! Stress can cause all kinds of skin problems. Acne, hives, shingles...you name it. Not sure how long you've been taking prescriptions...sometimes they take awhile to kick in. But if you've been on them for a few months and you're still getting hives, they clearly aren't working.

Angel, I've been off them for a while but I usually take them for a few months.  I was recommended that I take them as two months treatments either prior to a period where I predict I might be susceptible or as a treatment for a current "attack". 

That explains it then.

The thing is the allergist told me to take them as two months treatments and not to be on them continuously though that's tempting.  It seems like I need them the most from late Spring through summer. 

Hair - Wash, 1 mins. cond. treatment.  It's a rainy day again and my rain hood is again making my hair sort of bland and flat looking.  Might as well just pull it up in a ponytail.  I played around with half updos the other day.  They look good on me if I can create some volume on top and because I still have the lenghts on the sides and back that slims my face. 

Because Spring arrived late and we were sick when it finally got warmer, I was ashamed of our garden and couldn't enjoy it.  What others have spent nearly three months doing to get their gardens summer ready, hub's done in two weekends. :)  I'm so proud of him.  When he says he's going to do something, he does it and finishes and usually does a bit more.

Hair - Had the dreaded trim.  It doesn't look like she took off a lot but it's about twice as much as I was hoping for.  1/4" would've been nice, ½" tolerable, but I think she took off 1" and did the same through out the layers in the back.  We're letting the side layers grow out.  That's a bit of a sore sight right now.  I also had my bangs changed.  I never could make those side bangs work for me.  I think side bangs are way overrated as far as easy wear goes.  That's just me.  So now I've got "regular", over the brow, not too wide, with uneven ends bangs that slant slightly downward at the temples.  They're wash and go, unlike side bangs they never blow the wrong way in the wind.  In fact, I don't care to adjust them most of the time when I come back in and it's just a shake of my fingers if I do care.  Even if they get greasy and I want to rinse them and clean my forehead, they dry super fast.  I often forget I have them during the day but I'm super pleased when I look in the mirror. :)  They're not thick so should I tire of my bangs, there isn't a lot to grow out.  Right now, I just don't feel like being bang-less. 

We don't have anything like supercuts here.  A cut is $51 where I go and they charge $9 for bangs alone.  This is very cheap by Danish standards and I think their service and skills are good.  They have a flat screen where kids can watch DVDs which I think is a good thing. :)  The youngest one always order them to turn some music on.

Before my trim the same son said that I should get the same short haircut as him because: "I look so good!".

Family - My better knowing 19 y.o. brother is doing his parents in and getting on my nerves!  I've not bothered to talk to him the past few times he's called us up on skype so my good husband tries to be a role model and someone he can look up to.  If my brother thinks I'm not around, he tells my husband things he won't say if he knows I'm around.

Stuff - So far it seems like the antihisthamines are helping my skin conditions.  Hub's blood pressure has been stable for a few weeks now.  Colds come and go but hey; This is Denmark and we have that infamous, unpredictable, ever - and quickly changing weather. 

For three days, the youngest one has been spending the day with the entire kindergarten at a cabin in the woods.  They come home every afternoon but I've still had to pack a bag of changing clothes for staying away for a whole week.

I don't understand this.  I thought I recently just bought new jeans for the oldest boys.  When I bought those jeans, I thought I'd just recently bought jeans.  Now I need to buy them more jeans again because a) they've grown, b) they're worn out, and c) some are missing! :o

Thursday - Gonna do my nails and watch some documentaries online or on TV while hub's at his radio club.  I'm gonna bribe the boys with ice cream.  Heck, I'll probably treat myself to a big ice cream. 

Hair - I hope the uneven sides with the left overs of old side layers will have caught up with the rest by the end of this year or at least hang down heavy enough so they're unnoticeable.

Wash, condition, leave-in, mousse until my bangs are completely trained in to their place.  I pretty much just hold the long end back in the shower and rinse the bangs in to place or if I forget that, then It's just a matter of shaking my hair a bit and gently shaking them in to place with a towel or my fingers, then letting it air dry. 

It irritated me yesterday when I mistakenly bought another bottle of mousse but perhaps I don't need the hairspray yet.  I'll give it another week.  I've never used hairspray on bangs, I don't demand that my bangs hang pokerstraight down all the time either.

Nails - Did French nails free hand.  The brush is too wide so most of the white tip lands under the nails on my fingers.  I did really well this time though but I'm tired of French nails.  Not sur it's really my thing.  At least not in the classic form.  I like doing soft pink with gun metal grey tips though.  I think I'll try using the black and silver for tips with the purple and deep wine shades.  I think I'll definitely like that.

Today - I'd like to go for a walk because it's dry even though it's cool and windy so that actually suits me fine.  Windy's not ideal for my ears any more though.  But I promised to wait by the phone in case our youngest is too exhausted to function in kindergarten today after three day trips to a wood cabin and lots of woods and open space to play in.

Hair - Wash, CVR, deep-condition and for some odd reason I applied a big gob of mousse.  I'm functioning a bit on auto-pilot on this lazy Sunday.  Played a bit around with my bangs but I prefer them just air dried, no styling.  The same as the rest of my hair.

Weather - Cool, pleasant.  Had a sunny warm spot on our patio this morning from where I could sit and enjoy the blue skies right above my head and the different shades of grey in the distance.  It's so beautiful with a few faint sun rays peaking through the dark grey clouds.  Now it's nearly overcast and the rain is pounding down quite hard.  Occassionally it stops so I can enjoy some bird song.  Perfect, not too quiet. 

Sounds wonderful!

Hair - Wash, 1 mins. cond treatment. deep condition. 

Sankt Hans Evening - We'll be BBQing chicken, some beef roast, and of course hotdogs for the boys.  I'll make some mixed salad and serve with potato salad and some whole grain baguette. 

We'll probably drive around the country side and count bon fires.  They usually start pretty late because even though the longest day was two days ago, it's still somewhat light at 11pm.  I hope some will start their bonfires before 9pm for children's sake.  We've never cared for our local town bonfire but perhaps that's all we'll walk down and look at. 

I'm not making a big deal out of this day because the schools and kindergarten are doing the traditional singing stuff and bread on sticks over bonfire after they've burnt the witch off first. ;)  I saw the witch they'd made at the kindergarten yesterday.  She looked really cute.  Almost a shame to burn her off. 

Ironically I sort of look like a stereotypical witch with black hair, black t-shirt, black leggings, asymmetrical rayon "chiffon" skirt in neon yellow and grey streaks.  I hadn't consciously thought of it when I put my outfit together. 

Growing up, the other kids thought I was a witch for whatever reason (being an introverted nerd???!!!) and said that someone was going to put me on the bonfire or inside the bonfire and light it so for several years my mom couldn't drag me to watch the bonfires!  I was really terrified. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midsummer

I think your outfit sounds cute, witch-like or not!

In elementary school kids called me "witch hands" because I have lots of lines on my palms and my nails grow really long.  I offered to curse them if they didn't leave me alone.

Thanks Sakina.  I wish I'd been a little quicker with the smart replies when I was younger.

Hair - It's being Saturday silly.  I think it'll be fine after the CVR tomorrow. 

Friday - The youngest one has finally lost the support wheels on his bicycle but yesterday evening hub was going to take him down to the flat and level paved trail behind the kindergarten.  I don't know what went wrong but suddenly I see hub and son ride past our house on our street which is anything but flat and even.  They didn't come back for quite a while and when they did hub was pulling both bikes and the youngest one was quite upset.

Apparently our son had hit the plastic fender on a car with his bicyle tire because he didn't hear his dad yell at him to brake several times.  I'm glad nothing seriously happened to our son and he only got a few scrapes.  Nothing happened to the car either and the owners were very understanding and concerned for our son.  But I was still quite pissed off because of all the things that could've happened and I don't understand the decision to take him out on our street because people speed up and around the corner to gain enough speed to get up their driveways if they live in our dead-end corner, in the first place so it's only here shortly before noon I'm talking to hub again.  He feels quite bad about his decision anyway.  Fine with me.

Graduates - The day after high school graduation the graduates ride around in open trucks, army trucks, pulled on carts after tractors, etc. and then they drive around to the graduates parents house and drink themselves silly at each house and shout and honk the whole way.  So there's a lot of noise in our neighborhood today. 

Glad your son is ok !
A good pair of earplugs should help with the noise if it gets too much for ya! ;)

We survived all the graduation parties.  Unfortunately, several graduates must've been given scooters and mini motorbikes for graduation. ::)  They're noisy as hell. 

Hair - Wash, 1 mins. condition.  The trick is to just squeeze the excess water out, then let it air dry flat against my scalp, especially my bangs.  Then when it's completely dry, I comb through it once.  No messing with it until it's completely dry or the independent streak in my hair will wake up!

Hats and lips - Dad's sending cheap summer hats he found at WalMart.  I couldn't help mention that he lives near a Walgreen's and Target and that they have Burt's Bees and EOS lip balms everyone rave about. :-[  I also mentioned that Revlon has been discontinued here in Denmark but I'm feeling for some of the shades I liked in the 90s and I'm just curious if I still think they suit me. Aside from classics like Fire & Ice and Cherries In The Snow which were stables in my make-up wardrobe, most of my lipsticks had words like wine, toast or berries in them.  I loved Black Cherries but it looks so dark in the tube I don't think I can talk my dad in to buying it for me. 

Others hair - I took the two oldest to the hairdresser this morning and it went well as usual.  They  have a flat screen and DVD player and the kids can watch cartoons while having their hair cut.  They've always liked having their hair cut.  I'm taking the youngest one at 5pm. 

Weather - We're finally having a cooler day with misty rain and wind.  We had a couple of hot days.  I sent the youngest one to kindergarten with sandals and forgot to drop off with some shoes and rainboots after the haircuts. :-[  I've gotta pick him up in 45 mins. 

Tomorrow - I'm having my ears checked.  Used to like this as a kid.  Now I hate it.  Don't know what to expect, not sure I want hearing aids and I'm worried that they may not be aware that my tinnitus is the main reason why I'm seeking help.  I had to fill out a piece of paper with x boxes  for yes or no questions.  I hate that.  I wrote a bunch of side notes I'm sure no one will read.

Hope all goes well with having your ears checked.

Ears - Right ear is bad but I'm used to it and that's not the ear I suffer the most tinnitus on.  Left ear appears to have normal hearing until it suddenly drops but at an end where it doesn't really matter.  I'm no good at putting in to word what I'm reading off the graph I got the ear doc to print out.  I could call a place for a pillow for tinnitus at night.  He doesn't recommend hearing aids now, anyway it would only be for the right ear.  However, I've got a referral for a head scan, just in case. 

The drive and the waiting to the hospital was the worse and I feel guilty that the boys had to come with me because they're on summer break now.  The youngest one has one week left in kindergarten. 

Next week we're sending the two oldest up to my in-laws between Mon-Thur. 

Hair - Wash, cond. leave-in.  Ponytail.  It's hot.  Forgot to measure.  Had a trim on the 15th of June.

I'm no good at farewells so I said mine to the kindergarten supervisor/leader/manager alone and I'm sending hub to her reception this afternoon.  I don't want to be a total blubber in public. 

Nails - Okay, this is just plain masochistic!  Out of the 15 or so nail polishes mom got me for x-mas several are light beigy/rosy pastels that don't do neither this nor that for me and then there's the french nail stuff which I honestly don't care for though I'm doing alright freehand now, even with the too large brush.  So this summer my nails are shell, beigy, pinky, rosy, pearly, and gun metal grey!  I like the gun metal grey.  The deep reds, silver, gold, and purple will have to wait until Fall. 

Hair - Wash, deep condition, ponytail hot weather routine.  Now that I have bangs I think updos suit me better than with my hair down.  Without bangs, updos look severe on my combination round/square face. 

Weather - It's still too hot for my taste but at least we have some relief in form of changing cloud cover and a cool breeze.  According to a weather converter it's around 80F today.  It was nearly 90F yesterday and humid which is absolutely unbearable!  No clouds, no breeze.  At the end of winter I look forward to some bright sunlight in spring but by summer I'm sick of it.  Yeah, I'm ungrateful.  The weather is always a hot topic here and we're never satisfied.

I don't have enough clothes for this time of the year, the quality of summer clothes is poor in my budget range and I just can't bring myself to prioritize summer updates every summer because I wear my summer clothes for such a short time and I never pack all of my cool weather clothes away. 

Hair - Wash, cond. leave-in.  I think I remembered to comb my hair.

Boys - Washed, dried and packed their few summer clothes until 1:30am last night.  Got up at 7am and sent them up to their grandparents/my in-laws this morning.  They'll be there until Thursday evening if all goes well.  Then hub's supposed to pick them up and then we're seeing in-laws at some museum on Saturday.  The  youngest one looks forward to having his parents to himself.  It's his last week in kindergarten. 

I've been trying to pull my act together on my fitness and diet.  I'm not on anything temporary I'm just trying to bring back the diet habits and fitness level I had until a major depression or something hit at the end of summer 08.  I need to take responsibility and take control over the few things I can control.  I imagine like most people, I have plenty of responsibilities over things I have none to little control over. ::)

I pruned some rose bushes that were growing those long wild shoots that don't grow any rose bulbs. 

Looked at photos from my brother's trip to China while he's there and uploading them to his travel homepage.  He's 19.  He went there last year too but for several months and without telling anyone.  I was mad at him at first but I understand why he had to do it that way.  No one has much confidence in his abilities to do anything and we'd surely have tried to stop him if we'd known.  He's more capable than we thought and I'm proud of him.  He's really grown.

Hair - CVR, wash, cond. leave-in.  Feels nice but looks stupid now that the side layers I'm growing out are in an odd stage.  Don't feel like wearing a ponytail today but it's really all I can do these days so I don't have volume at the sides of my round face.

Survivor - I survived an hour with five disabled boys in our house and garden.  It looks like we had 25 kids here.  It was loud, there were loads of conflicts and confusion.  All to be expected but it's different when it finally happens from when you just mentally try to prepare yourself and your kid for something like this.  All in all, everything went well. ;D  Friday is his last day in kindergarten so we won't need a repeat of this. :)

Whenever we have kids over I always tidy up first so that they can see that we have a certain standard here and will help to pick up before they leave.  My mom did it, it worked, so I do it too and it works.

I had depression really bad about 10 yrs ago and took antidepressants (Paxil, Effexor, and one other that I can't think of) for about 2 yrs.  Stopped taking them because they suppressed the highs as well as the lows and played hell with my sex life.  Now I take St. John's Wort, Omega 3, and Black Cohosh and feel just fine.  I still cry easily, but put it down to my Irish genes.  Depression does come from my mother's family, both she and her mother suffered with it. Since I started the herbs, I have no black moods or thoughts of ending it all, which I did have. 

You might try these and see if they help.  Herbs are much less expensive than drugs, and easier to get, too.  If you try them, give it a month and be sure that all of the drugs are out of your system before you start.

I think I've had several periods of depression in my life.  Worst was between 94-97 but I've never asked for help.  I think keeping active, changing my diet and including more herbs/vegetables/fruits and taking my omega3 has helped so many things.  Oh, and drinking green tea.  Just focusing on sitting and sipping quietly it almost brings me in to a meditative state.  Thanks for the advice Melusine.

I have some very unpredictable mood swings.  Always have had.  When I started precocious puberty everyone probably thought it would pass once I got past my puberty but that's not happened and sometimes I'm so embarrassed at my own reactions. 

Hair - I've changed my routine a bit.  I'm not sure I've found an affordable UV protection product that really works on my hair but I'm trying a combing cream that claims to do that.  So did this shampoo/conditioner series, so did the mousse I just stopped using so I'm not too optimistic.  I like the way it makes my hair feel and look though.  I still use my leave-in conditioner as well.  I've begun to take dusting more seriously too.  Had my bangs trimmed 8 days ago. 

Back - Just got back from four days of pampering at my mom's.  Love her garden this summer.  Will upload photos when I get time.  Because some stupid carnival is coming to town the regular art display in the fish factory was closed when we were there. :(  The displays change each year but at least I found an art fair in town.  Couldn't afford any of the art though.  They were all locals too.  Walked along the beach, did some shopping, ate down at the harbor and did a lot of just lounging around in mom's garden, her patio or in her small court. 

Mom gave me some clothes, a lot in fact.  She prefers dark colors like me so now I can feel comfortable in my summer clothes as well and some of it can be worn year round.  Her style is very different from mine but I can style the clothes she gave me to suit my taste or attempt at a more functional, comfy, casual style.  Mom's style is very boheme and casual, I've always been more formal, conservative and at times (too often) OTT. :-[  So a nice balance has been struck. :)  But we both like iron free clothes, dark colors and lots of black basics.  Mom's good at picking clothes in unusual cuts, unusual fabrics or some quirky details.  Often times I'm certain something isn't my taste and won't look right on me but mom's able to see how something will suit me even if I can't.

However, I will not allow my retro style to get lost as much as mom would love that because she just sees it as boring and dowdy.  She's very afraid of her or me looking old.  I just like to mix things to suit my mood and whim so I prefer very varied styles that are easily mixed.  At least mom and I agree on my hair.

Hub's allowed to hang temporary wire antennas all over mom's property when we're there.  He's a HAM.  The boys usually get new Lego and that happened this time too.  They also played in a small inflatable pool.  It was too hot for my comfort but mom loves it that way. 

Glad you're back!  Even better that  you had some pampering time! ;)  Always a good thing  to go and relax somewhere.

Thanks curlgirl.

Hair - It was suffering.  I've bought a new deep conditioner I've never tried and I'm using that combing cream or whatever you'd call it in English.  All Matas own brand.  Cheap and seems to be working. 

Weather - We enjoyed two cooler days but now it's miserable again.

Shopping - The realization that the pastel theme is continuing in to Fall and Winter but in more ruddy/dusty shades than the clear ones we've seen this Spring/Summer is a bit frustrating to me so I've decided to take it out on hub's work laptop and order some black chemises, a black tank top and a black knit bolero.  I won't be receiving it until Mid October.  Last winter mom made sure I'll never be without black leggings again.  I need to stock up on black basics because everything else is berry or wine red, grey or purple but all the reds, greys and purples are different shades of the same colors and don't easily mix.

I was really hoping for deep, clear, jewel tones. :(

Hopefully I'll be able to post photos from last week and this week some time next week. 

Home - We're back after a week at a rented holiday home in Hou which is in the NE part of Jylland/Jutland.  We live in the SE part of Jylland.  It was just a two hours drive away.  We love to rent newer holiday homes because of the convenience and still good condition of the homes.  I'll upload photos as I promised to do but it'll probably be later than planned because I'm still feeling worn out and I've got piles of laundry to work my way through when I get my act together on that.  At least I learnt my lesson about unpacking and I did that and the first load of laundry as soon as we got home yesterday.

Hair - I've got some fried -and split ends and I'm dusting nearly daily because I can't wait 'til I can get to the hairdresser when the boys start in school after next week and just when I think I've caught all the damaged and split ends I notice some I didn't see the last time I dusted.  It's always a problem at this time of the year regardless of the UV protection or hair cover I use.  My straw hat needs to go too.  It tore too many hairs in Spring and I haven't used it since. 

As soon as we got home yesterday I applied a heavy amount of leave-in, I've deep conditioned this morning and just generally upped the amount of moisture on my hair so that the damage doesn't get any worse.  I'm so angry with myself for forgetting my leave-in conditioner.  My hair can't do without it on sunny days.

My hair is already looking and feeling much better but I'm not kidding myself because I know you can't really repair hair (unless you know something I don't know) so I'm just trying to bring my hair to a state where I don't have to lose several inches at the next trim.  I'm not shy of losing a couple of inches though. 

Next summer I won't think twice about spending a bit more on better UV protection products or worry that I look silly covering all of my hair with a scarf.   

Home - I love to get away and not have to think about the usual responsibilities, not having to look at house work or the garden but I appreciate our home more when we've been away. 

Hair - Every time I stop to dust, I'm seeing fewer damaged and split ends so that's good.  Hair routine is back on track and it's amazing how quickly my hair's already looking better and feeling softer.  I'm sticking with Gliss Repair 19 for the rest of the year.  I wanted to try some other lines but right now I know this line works and I don't want to screw up a good thing that works just fine when my hair isn't in super condition!

Don't have a comment, just wanted to pop around and say howdy.   8-)

Aw!  Thanks Trisha. :)

Hair - I can hardly bear to think of it any more.  I just don't know how I'm going to get through summers without having several inches trimmed off after each summer.  It's the same story every year.  Yeah, yeah...gonna have to let my scalp suffer and wear hats and scarves. ::) ::)  Too late this year.  I don't feel like measuring now, I want a trim some time soon and just lose whatever needs to go.

Wash, cond. leave-in, comb cream with UV protection.  I wish I'd brought along my shampoo, cond. leave-in and the comb cream last week when I was at the vacation rental home.  Perhaps things wouldn't have been this bad.  I remembered everything last year and I still had fried ends.  I guess a physical hair cover is my only option.

It must be the thick, coarse texture and round diameter that makes my hair prone to drying out and becoming damaged from the sun. :(  I don't know if other Asians hair is this sun sensitive.  I never did anything to protect my hair in CA when I was a teenager but I think I've mentioned before that perhaps I just didn't care or know much about hair care back then.

Weather - temperatures have drastically dropped which I like but unfortunately it means I've caught a cold which I often do if the temperatures suddenly drop even if I dress for the changing weather.

Chores - Laundry, more laundry, gotta get on the boys case about their rooms to get them ready for next week when they go back to school I just can't get my own act together on this house as long as they're still home, will get the bathroom cleaned because I hate dirty bathrooms and kitchens.  I absolutely can't stand it.

Hater of dirty bathrooms and kitchens,too!

I second that. Cleaning mine right now as a matter of fact. :P

Hey, I wanna know where the men were when "The Powers That Be" were handing out the gene that hates dirty bathrooms and kitchens?! :-/ :-?  I know!  They were on the line that puts their brains up their(fill in the blank!)

*Thumbs up!* ladies. ;D 

Great!  In-laws being dumped on me already tomorrow when I was prepared for them on Sunday.  I'd psyched myself up for that.  Hub didn' buy a roast we could all eat so now I'm preparing salmon and chicken because MIL doesn't eat seafood.  I hate change and impulsive "plans".  Well, it doesn't suit our current circumstances.  This could turn in to a very long and nasty rant. 

Hair - I had enough of dry ends last night so I applied a handful of olive oil, watched Criminal Minds and took a shower, applied regular conditioner.  Feeling better this morning.  Washed, 1 mins. cond. and leave-in this morning.  I'm thinking of having a 2" trim next month so I'm sure my hair's cut a bit above any split ends and the driest parts come off.  I can't see or feel the damage in plain light anymore but when I look at my hair through light I can see where the color and internal structure is damaged.

I feel you on the impulsive family bit!  My sis in law who lives about 12 hours away, is coming in for a quick visit.  Only problem is we have friends from out of town who were supposed to be staying here the same day.   :P  It sounds like you handled your MIL with grace and respect though, sometimes it's hard when people do crazy things like showing up a day early unexpectedly!