Smog Check

The seventh circle of hell is reserved for the violent sins which undoubtedly took place in, around, or because of the DMV. Let's just be honest: had Dante known about DMV's he probably would have held a circle in reserve for that accursed place.

Well yesterday I HAD to have the car smog checked in order to import our car. We've put it off too long and the temporary registration on our car is up so we HAD to do it yesterday. There are about 2-3 smog check places on every street it seems like. With that much competition around I figured all the prices had to be around the same. So I pull into one on the main drag. The guy says 20 minutes. Their smog equipment is broken so he has to run across the street, he points to the other smog check place, and it will take 20 minutes. It's 12:00 and already past Jackson's napping time, but that's okay. I didn't pack any food for him or me because I knew it would take 20 minutes. If he couldn't fit me in right away, I'd find another one that could. So we walk around the block.
All of the houses have chain-linked fences or sharp posts around their yards, the street has 2-3 strays that I can see, the dogs in the yards look like they eat mange for breakfast and I'm looking forward to having my car done. Jackson and I walk a couple of blocks during which time the poor kid decides to lay on the concrete sidewalk and twirl his hair because he's so tired and is getting increasingly upset when I won't let him play with the weepy-eyed dogs. On the way back to the shop there's a kid, 8th grader, kicking a ball against his garage in an alley. He was so nice and let Jackson play with the ball and even kicked it to him a couple of times. I was making chit-chat with the kid and said, "What grade are you in? Oh, really. What school?" He pointed and then proceeded to tell me that this was his first day outside and he hadn't been to school all week because he had a cough that caused his face to turn red everytime he coughed. "Hmm. Great! Wow, look at the time! C'mon, Jackson! The car's done," I say as I lead Jackson away. I inwardly cringe as I think of the ball and Jackson picking it up and licking it and doing whatever else.
We only get half a block before he lays on the concrete again. I've about had it. So hefting the tyke I walk the remaining block back to the shop. It's now 12:30. The mechanic says there's something wrong with my steering so they fixed that and it'll be done in 10 minutes. I wait. 12:45. Still no car, but it'll only 10 more minutes he says. At 1:30 and after several more "10 more minute" assurances the other people waiting for their cars start to voice my thoughts. "10 more minutes he keeps saying." Well at 2:00 there is still no car. By this point Jackson has found a very dirty spray bottle top, rubbed it all over the top of his head, smeared his face and hands over 2-3 of the dirty cars in the lot, tried to roll around in oil, found a standup mirror and promptly kissed his reflection, made a fast break for the street three times, and is alternating between wailing and going boneless when I won't let him do what he wants. 2:30. No mechanic. 2:45. I hoof it across the street and walk to the other shop (Jackson decided to go boneless in the middle of a crosswalk). I'm sweating, tired, and fed up. I'm going to demand my car back. Colby couldn't help out at all because he was in another city and carless. When I get there, I'm there but my car isn't. I glance back at the original smog shop and there's my car.
So back I go carrying my awkward pregnant body and my wailing baby. Colby recommended I make sure that I had the keys in my hand and the certificate before I made a stink. Hence one of the reasons I waited so long. 3:00. Back in the shop. I've got everything in hand. I have to wait 5 more minutes before someone comes in and I can argue about payment. I could have just walked, but that would have been dishonest (in my opinion). How much I ask. $60. I say, no way. I say, it should be free. You said 20 minutes and now it's 3 hours later! He said I was your car's fault. The steering was out and I couldn't get a smog check on it. I say, "Nothing was wrong with the steering! You didn't keep up your end of the bargain and so I'm not keeping mine!" They tried to explain that there was nothing they could do and they had to take it to 3 different smog check places to get a reading on it. Looking back, now that I realize that they had taken my car to places that I didn't know about, I shouldn't have paid them anything. In the middle of arguing (I was holding firm at 30, then), Colby called and I was the middle man. Colby fortified my resolve and I hung up and resumed arguing. I felt like DeNiro in this clip from Stardust only angrier!

The mechanic said I'll go $50 because I have to pay the State of California ten for the certificate. I said, "The shop across the street only charges $50 total. I was over there and it's on a sign outside!! Thirty." He said, "$45". I said, "30." Finally I said 35. He said, "Okay and ten more for the certificate which is $45. " I said, "Then it's thirty." He was about to counter when I played the pregnancy and kid card. Not only do I feel like I'm the size of a cow, but now I'm as mad as one. I start throwing my arms out saying, "I've been here three hours, I've got other things to do, my kid is tired and hungry and filthy, I'm pregnant..." and that's as far as I got. He said, $40 and I said, "Done!" I gave him my credit card and when he informed me it was an additional $1.50 to use credit, I grabbed it back and shoved my debit card at him!
I roll out of there around 3:30-ish. Colby recommends I buy something I want like a frosty or something. I would have but already felt guity and sugared out because I ate all, yes all, of the sugar cookies our home teachers gave me at 11:50 as I was leaving the parking lot after an RS function. In my defense, I was hungry!
Today I told him to thank the Joneses for the cookies. When he asked, "What cookies and how many did you eat?" I said, "Home teaching cookies and I lost count after 4 and I'm too embarrassed to really count." They were good. Anyway, that's our Saturday Saga!
Curse you DMV for requiring a smog check.

pictures of Jackson and Things That Keep Me Busy

The heart wreath is a project that I've been working on a for a few days. I saw it on another blog (theidearoom.blogspot.com). It's just felt circles pinned to a heart wreath.
The other pictures are Jackson coloring, vegging out, and coloring in the tub. I think he looks really old in the picture with the hat. He's so cute! He still jabbers and jabbers and won't say any words. He does give good hugs now and has a new mischievous laugh. He'll drop his jaw as far as it will go and shake his body up and down and "hah, hah". He'll draw on walls with chalk (even though he knows he's not supposed to) and will laugh at it.

Cake Pops: Thanks, Bakerella!

Well, I did it. I saw something on a log and made it myself. Let me introduce "Cake Pops" from bakerella.com.

On this website there's the recipe and how to's as well. It's really easy, you just need the supplies. You don't have to use the lollipop sticks if you don't want to and can just make "Cake Balls". They are really rich because it's just cake, frosting and chocolate. All sugar. I made them for all of Colby's families and for my VT's. Pretty fun and easy. I'd only ever have one at a time because they are so rich.

The group of cake pops is one from her site and look much cuter than mine did. We had a devil of a time taking a decent picture. Bakerella, I salute you!

We Don't Have Cable, but we do have Hulu

Let me introduce you to the two TV shows that we don't watch on TV: House and Castle. If you haven't seen Castle, go to casttv and watch Season 1. It's about a mystery writer who shadows tough girl cop to get inspiration. Guess whose favorite that one is! Then House, the snarky sociopath genius who solves mysterious diseases. Colby got hooked after it was a required homework assignment to watch an episode and then write a paper! This is graduate school?

They Just Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To

Colby and I have always been big into movies. I was really disheartened to move away from the Orem Public Library because they have a gigantic collection of all sorts of movies. I am pleased that our new public library has a pretty good movie collection as well. I don't ever have much time in the library because I walk there with Jackson and he quickly gets bored of seeing rows of books that he can't pull off, so I do a quick snatch and grab and go on my merry way. Recently, I grabbed "The Sting" starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford. It won Best Picture in '79 and if you haven't seen it, go out and get it! It's a great movie. Well, we decided that we'd watch all of the winners for Best Picture that we could. So I grabbed "From Here to Eternity" (that movie with the two people rolling in the surf kissing), "Rebecca", "Bridge on the River Kwai", and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". We've come to the conclusion that while we don't always like these movies, they are always interesting to watch and provide excellent conversation for days to come. For example, we didn't like "From Here to Eternity" because it was a rah-rah-army movie about Pearl Harbor. We concluded it was merely because we were from a generation that doesn't glorify war or the army, but the acting was phenomenal! Frank Sinatra did a great job as a plucky private and Burt Lancaster! I'm a fan!
"Bridge on the River Kwai" has actually turned out to be one of Colby's favorite movies. Now he knows his obscure actors because this movie features the pirate from Disney's "Swiss Family Robinson" as the main antagonist and Alec Guiness (Obi Wan) as the main protagonist. It's got some great situations that really get those ethical gears moving and unlike "Eternity" depicts war as I think it should be. It shows a situation and lets the viewer try and come up with the rest.
"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" was my favorite so far! I've never really liked Elizabeth Taylor, but what a beautiful lady! As Maggie the Cat in Tennessee WIlliams' Pulizter Prize winning play, Colby and I were fascinated. The drama that unfolds between the characters is sultry, tense, and very real (without being overwhelming). The characters are so dynamic and Paul Newman and Burl Ives do a great job! If I could choose a part to play though, I'd choose Mae, the naggy, "breeder" who is pushing so hard for an inheritance and her children are just terrible "no-neck monsters". This movie was so character driven that it left us sad to think that today's movies rely more on gore, special effects, and steamy/awkward sexual situations to entertain.
"Rebecca" is next and although I've seen it before, it's been years since I have. I'm excited. Who knows what out next movie night will bring! I've never really wanted to watch these movies when I grabbed them from the library shelves. In fact, I grabbed them just because I recognized the title and knew it was famous. Well worth the hours spent!
And by the way, there is a new Tennessee Williams movie coming out called "Loss of a Diamond Earring" starring the guy from Fantastic 4 (Fireboy) and Bryce Dallas Howard. We'll see if it lives up to "Tin Roof". I don't think anything could really beat Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor, though. What a movie!
They just don't make 'em like they used to!

Catch Me: Book

So I did finally settle on a new book, but it was something I really hadn't expected. I don't normally go in for non-fiction but this is a great read. It's fascinating. I was a little disgusted at Frank Abagnale's obvious lack of morals but amazed at how easily he swindled everybody. This book reveals more than the movie (they usually do), but I was pleasantly surprised because I didn't even really like the movie. A great and fast read!

Canadian Christmas 2009

Most of this post is thanks to my mother. I stole it from our family blog for this one. Thanks so much and it was great visiting you!

What made Christmas 2009 special? In random order...

#1 We were able to talk to Sister Annelisa High on the phone! Unfortunately, the fax line she was on created a bit of a problem getting a hold of our missionary at 9am, but at 9:18 am we were all crowded in the master bedroom kneeling around the phone listening to Sis. High's news.

#2 We were able to once again, have the missionaries over for fun and frolic. It's been tradition to have the missionaries over for Christmas for years. We also played the tradition "Presents Game" where you toll the dice and try to get 7, 11, or doubles. If you do, you get to unwrap presents--with oven mitts. Of course there's trading and stealing and bartering. It's so much fun! Jackson particularly enjoyed visiting with Elder Barber. It's most enjoyable to laugh at Christmas.


#3 As usual, the ladies of the group tried to show off their best Christmas head-wear.


And for some reason, Colby said his hands were cold all through the game, and he kept wanting to put his blue mittens on.


#4 Becca, Nana, and Bryce enjoyed getting to know a new guy that wore a mask most of the night. He seemed to fit right in.

Note: We learned an important tip for the Unwrapping Game for next year. Do not follow Grandad's rule of only wrapping the gifts 3 times in white paper because it makes for a smaller pile at the end of the night. Still, there was plenty to throw around and play in. What would the game be like without the classic arial view.


#5 We learned that important people were missing from our "wheel" this year. They were Megan, Jared, Logan, and Annelisa. Our only group picture of the whole Christmas holiday had a few gaps in it because they weren't there with us.


#6 We discovered new things about ourselves. We learned that even though some family members were in Utah, we hadn't lost our appetites. As a result, we wasted no time feasting on Christmas Day. It is safe to say that from Dec. 23rd to Jan.4th, we had enough food to go around: Mexican Christmas Eve, turkey and all the trimmings on Christmas Day, special New York style corned beef sandwiches, French onion soup, Chinese food, and seafood. Nothing much went to waste, and too much went to waist. (Oh well, that's what New Year's resolutions are for!)


#7 One of the highlights of opening presents this year was opening gifts from Annelisa. She had planned ahead and started making or buying her gifts in May! She had taken pictures of herself with the gift too. We all missed her being there so that we could give her a hug and thank her personally. We did take pictures though, and sent her copies in a letter. And although you won't be able to see this blog for 17 more months we just wanted to say thanks. Thanks Annelisa from...

Mom for the excellent garden gloves...

From Colby for the Swiss Army knife. (Poor Teddy almost was beheaded, though!)

Thanks from Dani for the card making supplies. I think she got the message that you wanted her to write her!


Thanks from Nana for the beautiful pictures of dried flowers and the frame (not shown here)


Thanks from Grandad for the gift card to Michael's for art supplies.


Thanks from a very surprised Becca for the T-shirt quilt you made yourself so that she could enjoy all the T-shirts that had been up in her closet for several years!


Thanks from Bryce for the bird house decorated with flowers you had dried. It is currently outside with birdseed in it.

#8 Family pictures are fun. We look forward to new baby Gage in 2010!


#9 Jackson was adorable in his starring role as nephew, grandson, great grandson, and great great grandson.








#10 We were very happy that Grandad was looking well. He had been sick with an infection and was trying to keep well so he could have an procedure on Jan. 4th. (At posting time, Grandad is recovering nicely in the hospital, and the doctor said everything went well and he'll be just fine.)


#11 We're grateful GG is still GG - funny, spunky, shrinking, and alert. After all, the world needs more "lerts". (Groan). GG will be 92 in the year 2010. Her doctor recently said she'll live to be 100. We can hardly wait!!!! (Warning: as of posting date, GG had renewed her driver's license for not one, but TWO MORE YEARS!)


And so, as 2009 has come and gone, we are grateful for all the blessings we've been given. How blessed we all are for family, friends, health, prosperity, peace in our lives, the gospel, and the gift of the Savior Himself and His atonement and resurrection. In addition, temples are glorious, the scriptures are witnesses, and the gospel is true. What more do we need?