the kids are alright

let me tell you what my little bros were like when i left home for university.

josh: (8)

• secretly watched pokemon in the basement (highly inappropriate for an eight year old if you asked his siblings)
• faked whiplash to get out of grade two (and our mother believed him!!!)
• wore a speedo whenever possible.

nathan: (11)

• was in his harry potter glasses phase
• had an italian girlfriend named little linda (we're pretty sure her family were mafia)
• liked to quiz (embarrass) american missionaries on their (spotty) knowledge of US history.
  

they didn't:

• do chores.
• do dishes.
  
• put their fruit snacks wrappers in the garbage.
  
• put their sports equipment, including jockstraps, away after use.
  
• listen to me when i told them to clean up after themselves (possibly most annoying of all).
  

and all these things (combined with an overdose of freshman feminist studies) lead me to the conclusion that my bros (while interesting and smart) were pigs who think that women should clean up after them.

but it turns out ten years changes a lot and the truth is mom your boys are alright and not just because:

• josh does the dishes (without being asked or bribed).
• nathan cooks dinner for the entire family (his fish tacos with kiwi mango salsa were a revelation).
  
• they put their stuff away (more than they did)
• they do what they are told (most important quality in a future spouse)

i don't know what happened in the years i've been away--but whatever it was-- you done good ma!

(whitefam--az 2011--josh's 20th birthday)

junk i buy that i don't need

i've been doing a little bit of organizing (and when i say a little, i mean 20 minutes worth yesterday afternoon). here is a sampling of what i've collected in the past year and a half:

12* pairs of jeans
11 white t-shirts
10 empty notebooks, presumably for when i become harriet the spy.
9 bottles of sunscreen
8* candles
7 kinds of shampoo for people with "red" hair
6 bottles of body firming lotion
5 black skirts
4 colours of foundation
3 yoga mats
2 boxes of ribbon
and a partridge in a pear tree (no seriously)

i'm kind of horrified. i don't need all this stuff. i certainly don't use much of it.

from here we could probably launch into a discussion about what a nitwit i am and how this post should really be called "junk she buys to distract herself from her lame little existence." ya we could go their, and there would be a lot to say, but i'm feeling charitable with myself this morning, so instead i'm giving myself a little challenge.

mercedes r. white is it possible for you to go one week without buying a darn thing? you can't spend one red cent. not even on gas.....

CAN i do it? the safe money is probably on no. in fact, judging from the success of my little no pants no problem experiment, i'll probably make it to day 4 and then give in and buy new shoes. on the other hand in abstaining, i may find meaning, world peace, and my tweezers....

or maybe i'll just save some dough (which would be an equally huge shock to my system).

so any tips for junk buying addiction recovery? any tips for living the good life without paying for it?

*numbers maybe slightly exaggerated.