HOA Revolution!

We got a flier on our door about a week ago stating that our doors would be painted on a certain date and time, and we were to be home to allow the painters access, etc. That day was today and yesterday. The painters painted 7 doors yesterday. The doors were being painted red and yellow; one door red, the next door yellow, etc. Kind of a golden, iradescent yellow. Disgusting. The exterior of our buildings are grey/taupe, earthy tone. The doors have all been black up to this point and look simply smashing. Since we're part of a home owner's association, and no home owners actually remember voting on drastically changing the appearace of our homes, we started a revolution. I opened my door to the painter this morning at 8:30, and told him I didn't want my door painted. I knocked on several other doors and told them not to let their doors be painted. We called our management company, HOA president, and knocked on doors to get people riled up. Apparently our HOA president and one guy at the management company decided to paint the doors these wretched colors without telling anyone. Excuse me? Is Ronald McDonald taking over here? We all met out on the street this morning, HOA president, management company guy, and a mob of angry homeowners. It was fabulous. The HOA president acted like the victim, crying that no one appreciates all he does for us, blah blah blah. The moron from the management company tried to patronize us by "explaining" that this is how it works, and this is how government works, too, stupid-stay-at-home moms. We explained to him that in government there are checks and balances, thanks. Long story short: our doors are staying black.

Thank you, and remember to FIGHT THE POWER!

My Friend the Freeway

On my way to the gym today, while on the freeway, the car in front of me swerved out of the way. Out of the way of what, you ask? Why, a mattress. I didn't have time to swerve, so I hit the mattress. It got stuck under the van so I had to pull over. Hmmm. Me, the kids, the freeway- it's all sounding familiar, don't you think? I got out to assess the situation, and the mattress was stuck under my van. Then I smelled smoke. I turned off the vehicle, got the kids out, and waited for it to blow up. Springs were everywhere. About 2 minutes passed and a highway patrolman stopped to help me. He assured me the van wouldn't blow up, so we all got back in, and he was able to shimmy the thing out somehow after about 10 minutes. Holy crap. I'm not driving anymore. Some moron is probably looking for their mattress right now- I hope they have to sleep on the floor for awhile.

Happy Birthday, Nils!

Today is Nils' birthday. He's 28, just like his old woman. He makes fun of me often because I'm 7 months older than him. Punk. Anyhoo, we went to lunch at Brick Oven today, and it was yummy. I have had a horrible headache all week. I thought it was getting better yesterday, but this morning I started getting extremely dizzy. I feel carsick. We're supposed to climb Mt. Nebo tonight. The plan is to leave at 2 a.m. so we can be at the top by sunrise, and be home before it's too hot. Harmony and Ben are sleeping over so we can do this. That is, if I'm not too ill.

For Nils' birthday, he got a TV tuner card, and a Bonsai Tree. Let's talk about the tree, shall we? He took a sudden, strange & obsessive interest in Bonsai trees. He asked his parents for one, and pretty much the next day we had one on our doorstep. He's named it Bonsie. He feeds it with a sippy cup. He refers to it as one of the children. Should I worry?

On a different subject, I think I'm getting released from my primary pianist calling. I can't even to begin to say how happy that makes me. It's been well over a year. I didn't mind it so much for a long time, but the last couple of months have been close to torture for me. I am so bored. I miss Relief Society tons. I have about 45 minutes when it's sharing time for Jr. and Sr. and I have nothing to do. This is inbetween when Sunday School ends and Relief Society begins, so I don't get to hear any sort of lesson. I usually catch announcements in RS and then have to leave. I heard through the grapevine that they have a replacement for me and everything, but I haven't officially been told that I'm getting released. I wonder if it will just happen during sacrament meeting, or if I get called in and they do it personally. I don't think I've ever been officially released before. We always move first. Either way, do it, and do it soon, people!

High School

This Saturday is my 10-year high school reunion. Weird! I've been looking forward to it for quite sometime, but now that it's approaching, I'm feeling a bit anxious. It's really retarded, but all of a sudden I feel like I'm in high school again. There are several people in my ward that I graduated with- strange coincidence. One in particular is driving me nuts. She's seriously stressing about what she's going to wear, how her hair looks, and that she's gained weight. I think it's safe to say the vast majority of us have gained some weight. Especially those of us who have born children. We're 10 years older, for crying out loud. Anyhoo, I thought that ten years later people would be mostly over the whole high school image thing, but this girl is making me have a complex. It's really not healthy. Which brings up another point:

I feel that there is undue pressure on people to look a certain way, be a certain way, have certain things at a certain time, etc. I know it's cliche- society makes it so. I guess I'm feeling it pretty bad at this point in my life. I don't get it, though. I know I'm blessed. I have a wonderful husband, two great kids, a nice little home, cars that work, etc. A lot of people around me totally obsess about appearance, and it's really bumming me out. It's making me actually think these shallow things are important; I don't like it. When are you thin enough? When do you make enough money? When do you have to stop upgrading? It's so dumb. I can't even think about it anymore. Maybe when this stupid reunion is over I'll feel better.