Trying to bang(s) it out

(such a lame title. please forgive. the rest of the post doesn't get much better.)

My hair has needed love. For (easily) weeks. Here is the conundrum: My bangs have really sucked. I've had an inner monologue focused around this every time I look in the mirror:

"Man, my hair looks haggard. I really need a haircut. Maybe just my bangs. Maybe I could call my friend XXX to see if she could just do my bangs. No, that's lame. If I'm going to get a haircut, I'm going to get a hair cut. But I'm style-lazy and growing my hair out, so that just seems like a waste of money. Just the bangs, then. But Jesse hates bangs. But I love bangs. Gah! I was 15 minutes behind when I started this monologue, what am I doing? Just do your makeup. Your hair will look better when your makeup is done... Nope, still crap. Just pin the bangs back."

Anyway (if you are still reading after that lengthy detour), I convinced myself that it wasn't so bad and went about my business. I was wrong.

Today I went to Target to pick up a few items, and the sweetest woman in the world was ringing me up when she kept mentioning the weather. I finally said something generic but polite like, "yeah, it sure is warm, but it is windy out there!"

She jumped on the chance and said, "I bet you wish you were a man with short hair today -- they sure don't have to worry about how bad the wind makes their hair look!"

She was sweet, so I brushed it off until I got out to the car and could look at my reflection in the window (yes, this is about the extent of my beauty routine these days). I couldn't blame her for the comment. My hair really looked awful. So I came home, realized that I own a pair of scissors and cut the bangs myself. (Unfortunately, I do this a lot. Like when I blogged about it four years ago.)

I have now added some new items to the list of things I want to do when Jesse graduates and starts working:

1. Cash his first check in quarters and build a reserve for a swimming pool built out of quarters à la Duck Tales.

2. Use said quarters to pay off student loans (it's going to be an Olympic-sized pool).

3. Yeah, yeah, house/cars/grown-up stuff.

4. Get a real hair style.

5. Take a class on how to take good photos of yourself (I believe Paris Hilton might be teaching one by that time).

I think that about covers it. (I don't dare share the 90 bajillion totally shallow, selfish things I think about wanting.) Until then, I might want to invest in some scissors that were purchased after 1996 and don't live in my home office...

Overheard at our house

(while making dinner with the TV on in the background)

Me: Ooh, they're doing a couples' edition of Wheel of Fortune! We would KILL at that!

Jesse: Yeah I would!

The best part of waking up

In case you don't know yet, naps are heaven sent. Of course I enjoy my hours of alone time (aka the only time I have to clean up before the next wave of crazy starts), but what's even better is that the baby always wakes up a different -- generally happier -- beast than she was when I put her down.

If you are in our house, you will most likely find her like this after a nap. I guarantee that you cannot stay frustrated when you walk in to the little face.

And while I would love to tell you that Penelope always wakes up all smiles and sunshine, that really isn't true. Sometimes she wakes up like this. Congested, runny nose, exhausted, miserable.

That's what happened in our house this week. But we spent the whole day like two little slugs, watching Gilmore Girls (the ultimate sick day TV programming. Penelope would back me up on this one), manually removing snot from a baby's nose, and comforting said child from the agony of her first head cold.

Sometimes, however, you put your child down for a nap just to get a break from her cranky, teething attitude. And after deciding you are slightly less exasperated, you might peek in to see her peeking right back at you.

And then you immediately take a photo to document her beautiful, raw silliness.

No matter what, it truly is the beginning to a new day (or afternoon, or two hours until the next nap).

NOW FOR SOMETHING ENTIRELY DIFFERENT

husband: What is that?

me: It's the Halloween costume I got for Penelope.

husband: Yeah, but what IS it?

me: It's a peacock.

husband: That's NOT a peacock.

me: Why not?

husband: When have you ever seen a peacock with a human face peeking out of its neck? It's terrifying!!!

Conclusion: Our difference of opinion wasn't resolved. However, we did agree on a new costume for the baby. Pictured peacock costume has been returned to the store. (But I still claim it is awesome.)