Diary of a Metal Mommy

This is normally what happens when I am in “In Search Of” mode. Not only am I obsessed about whatever it is I’m searching for, but often when I think I’ve found it I can’t shake that nagging feeling that it’s still not The One. (I’m sure a psychiatrist would have a hey-day with that one…) Remember how I *thought* I had found the perfect winter coat? The sleek black Eddie Bauer jacket that I bought in black, even tho I sort of pined for the impractical white? Well…what I failed to mention is that there was also a ‘caramel’ colored coat that was also originally in the running, but even though I LOVED that color most of all and did indeed LOVE the style, I talked myself out of it because it was a: more expensive. b: dry-clean only. c: maybe a bit warmer than I thought I needed. So I get home and show my husband my new coat. He takes one look and says, “yeah, it looks like you. but….do you think it’s warm enough? look at the one you’re replacing, it’s warmer than that one….” Eeeeek! He’s right! I should have gone with Ms. Caramel after all! Before you can say ‘return’ I was back at E.B. doing an exchange. And may I just say that they have great customer service? I had used a coupon from the catalog which I figured I had probably lost, but they still let me apply it to my other choice. Nice. Now I can say that I am truly happy with my coat. Really. I mean it. This is The One. (until next year…???)

Still looking for the Holy Grail of foundations. The Lancome was not the right color match, per Stephanie, who I completely trust when it comes to suggestions with anything fashionable since she is the HG of beautiful, fashionable women. So! For now I am back to my Neutrogena brand that I originally bought but wasn’t sure about, until I can get back to the make-up counter and try an Estee Lauder kind, also per Stephanie’s suggestion. We shall see….

But enough about that. Yesterday we took another trip to the Science Museum, which was a reward for Sullivan earning his chore chart goal of 40 stickers. I love that place! This time we breezed right passed the anal probe–been there, done that–and went right to the rock exchange counter. This is very cool. A kid can bring in a rock and trade it in for points that can be spent on something they have behind their counter. Let me tell you, chances are their rocks will be cooler than yours. The more you can tell the museum folk about your rock, the more points you get. Our guy was very generous to Sullivan–Sullivan’s knowledge of his indistinct rock was that it ’stood up well’ and ‘had scratches on it’. He couldn’t even remember where he found it. (no surprise there…he has a huge box of rocks.) I think at one point Sullivan mentioned that it wasn’t a ‘conglomerate’, or something of that scientific sort and that earned some huge points. Then because it was a Halloween thing, that we knew nothing about, the counter guy told Sullivan if he could make a face or something he could earn even more. A dance in my sunglasses got him up to 3500. Before he knew it, Sullivan was the proud owner of a Cephalopod fossil and a beautiful shiny chunk of pyrite. He’s been carrying them around ever since.

Remember these things? They used to be called “Mexican Jumping Beans”, but in our PC world, now they are simply “Jumping Beans”. Ridiculous in my opinion, because they do indeed come from Mexico–so what’s so offensive about that?! Anyway. I had some as a kid and they were just magical to me. Even though I know what they really are now, they are still magical. I can tell I REALLY need my puppy to hurry up and get here because I can’t stop holding and talking to these stupid beans. The sound of their little ‘click clicks’ they make as they move around in their container is quite comforting to me. I don’t even care that they are really little worms inside nuts that have fallen from a bush. Indeed, Jumping Beans are actually little seeds or nuts and have a caterpiller worm inside, and the noise you hear is them moving around in there. Eventually, if one is lucky and with proper care, they will actually transform into a tiny ‘Mexican Jumping Bean Moth’ . They’ll make a hole in the nut and fly on out of there. Cool! Who knew there was so much to these little guys?? I never even knew you could find them anymore, so I was thrilled to bring some home again. Totally retro!! Blast from the past, fo sho.

Yay! Another podcast! The ladies came over last night and I have to say, it felt good to be back down in the naughty pine. It seemed like it had been forever since we’d recorded our bawdy laughter. I didn’t even miss the fact that I didn’t get to watch my usual three “Sex and the City” episodes before bed.

I did some shopping at the mall this morning. As usual, I’m in an “In Search Of…” mode right now. In Search Of the perfect winter coat, and the perfect foundation. I *think* have found the coat–I mean, is there really such a thing as perfection??–at Eddie Bauer. (I know, how very preppy of me..!) I wanted to replace a blue down coat I’ve had for years that, no matter how much I wash it, it just looks a bit dirty and shabby. It was a quandry because I wanted my new coat to be casual, yet funky. Down, yet svelte. Look expensive, yet not. I bought one at Land’s End–too boxey. Then I went to Burlington Coat Factory–that may have just been a case of just TOO many to choose from. Overwhelming! I had received a coupon in an Eddie Bauer catalog, so that was a good incentive there. Went, tried some on, ended up with this. I love it! Oh, part of me really wanted to get the white one. I’m into white these days, verses the ever-popular black. But I knew me, and knew the moment it got a tiny speck on it–which would be in precisely one minute after putting it on, I’m sure–I’d be irritated. Function won over form this time, I’m afraid. But it’s okay. I like.

Then I made my way to the make-up counter. Any woman out there who wears make-up can feel my pain in my search for, as they say on MakeUp Alley, the HG (Holy Grail) of Foundations. Good coverage, but not thick and cakey. Blends, but hides. Looks natural, but not shiny. (at least I don’t like the shiny look…some people do) I won’t bore you with the sordid details of my cosmetic counter whoring, but the other day I was at Shiseido–nope, too orangy/pinky, too cakey–and today I hit Lancome. I left with one kind on the right side of my face, another on the left. I can’t tell them apart! But so far, so good with either of them, I guess. I’m still getting used to the whole liquid foundation thing. Only recently had I even tried it. Another fun thing about 40, your skin starts drying out like a prune….hence needing the liquid now. One thing I did discover that I would totally recommend to anyone using a liquid is that the foundation brush is our friend, no matter what brand you end up with. It sounded totally wacky to me when I first heard about it–basically painting your face with a brush!–but it really does go on smoother and just seems to settle into your face better. (for lack of a better way of describing it) For those who are interested (which may be anyone of the female persuasion who has stayed with me throughout this very girlie post) I recommend the Benefit brush. Good brush, good price at $20.

Now go! Shop! May you all find the Holy Grail of foundations–I’ll let you know when I find mine, I’m sure you’ll be waiting with bated breath–and the perfect winter coat, if your climate permits. Hey, there have got to be benefits to living in a place with a butt-cold winter.

So this morning I had this total “Sex and the City” moment. There I am, waiting in line to check in for my appointment at my urologist’s office, and I run into an old boyfriend. Of all the places!! It was hilarious. I guess it wasn’t completely like a ‘Sex’ episode, as he is a current friend of mine and it wasn’t awkwardly sexual by any means–I guess just a bit awkward for the fact that we shared the underlying knowledge that anyone visiting a urologist is dealing with some sort of issue that’s south of the border. Me, two different episodes of kidney stones in the past (not nearly as fun as a Sex in the City episode, let me tell you) and he, a vasectomy. (that’s probably not a barrel of laughs, either…) I will keep his name anonymous, as I’m sure he appreciates. But I sure giggled about that one for quite a few minutes in the waiting room.

Hey, check it out: catching up on my Warbride forum, I noticed someone posted that we’re listed on this “Women Who Rock” site. Nice! Who knew women with stones could rock?! I guess it does kind of make sense….

Have I mentioned that I’ve recently been completely hijacked by “Sex and the City”?? Kim’s friend Bev is letting me borrow her entire complete collection for my viewing pleasure. (and I must say a thank you to BEV, not Cheryl, who I had given credit for earlier…gotta give credit where it’s due!) There they are, very appropriately stored in a brown paper bag. Every night now, as soon as I get the kids to bed, I scamper downstairs for my guilty pleasure–I usually watch about 3 episodes before I head off to dreamland. I’ve had them a couple of weeks now and am still only in the second season! Yeah! Thank you, Bev! I’ve always been a fan, but not having HBO I’ve only caught them here and there on TBS, and the edited versions at that. So this is truly a treat!

And speaking of Sex and the City, last night I had my very first Cosmopolitan! (it’s what the ladies are always drinking on the show) My friends Darcie, Anne, Sara and I went out for a day of shopping and eating in Stillwater. It’s such a fun town, with many antique shops to peruse. We had a lovely dinner at Marx Wine Bar, and the waiter brought us each a cosmopolitan on the house! Nice! I wonder if it was a cleavage discount?? Hmmmm…I don’t think any of us were showing any. A saleslady in a store did notice Sara’s breasts, however…as Sara attempted to fit a top she was thinking of buying over the long-sleeved T she had on, the woman says to her, “you’ve gotta take that other shirt off, honey, it will never fit! Take a look at those cans!!!” !! Classy. Back to Marx, tho…check out this sink! I went to use the loo and had to bring the ladies back to show them, wondering if I had gone mad…this was indeed a washing area where the water hit the counter top and just ran to the back. Very bizarre!

Thankfully before I left for Stillwater yesterday, I got a couple of new photos of Digby!!!! My little boy, at 8 weeks. Soon, very soon, he will be in my arms for a puppy-snuggle. (of course, not soon enough for me!) A couple more weeks, possibly? We still haven’t narrowed down the exact date, but believe you me, you will know when he is here.

Sullivan’s Family Fun Night at his school, “The BFG” at the Children’s Theater, a gourmet dinner night with our dear group…it’s no wonder I haven’t posted for a while. Whew, busy! But all good.

Yesterday I told you about how watching that Gene Simmons show made me feel old. Turns out what also makes you feel like a geezer is watching “Pimp my Ride“, which came on after. Personally, I love that show–I love Xzibit, and the way he takes someone’s old jalopy and ’surprises’ them (again, who’s fooled by the ’surprise’?!) by having a team of rock-star type mechanics turn it into a kick-A ride. I love the ridiculous things they do to the cars–the funky paint jobs, the kickin’ stereo and entertainment systems, the snow-making machine that sits on the roof of the car….kid you not. I always turn it off and dream of Xzibit coming to my door and handing him my keys. As you can probably imagine, I do not consider myself too old to have a funky pimped-out car.

After watching this show the other night, I got to thinking about the Coreman’s ride. I have the Scion, which is already pretty darn cool. (all right, so it doesn’t have a snow machine, but I guess I can live without that. I am in Minnesota, after all…) But the Coreman…in trying to be frugal and smart, he bought his Mom’s Buick LeSabre for next to nothing and let me tell you, it’s basically a Grandpa car. Most of the time he drives it without complaint, bless him, but I do remember him coming home from work one day saying he was actually mocked by a co-worker for his ride. Ouch! (this is when one of those ‘maybe he’s just jealous, honey’ speeches just doesn’t fly…) Wouldn’t it be so hilarious and cool to have ‘Pimp My Ride’ come and do a number on the LeSabre?? I mean, it really is a well-made car, but it could certainly use some bling. I decided to check out how to get yourself on the show.

Well, come to find out the age requirement to ‘audition’ was between 18 and 28!! So, according to the Pimp My Ride execs, it turns out we are indeed to old to have a funky pimped-out car… say what?! How lame is that?? Don’t they remember that part of being 40 is the attitude that goes along with it?? And a pimped-out car is attitude, no doubt about it. You certainly don’t need to be 20 to have attitude…!