SLUUUUURRRP!

As the baby is getting over her cold/flu, It's now moved from a fever to a full nasal assault.

Which is kind of horrible, as any mother knows. Waking up with streams of snot down her face. Sheets covered in it, everything covered in it. She climbed up onto Marcelo's side of the bed and left a little streaking reminder. I pointed it out to him, and then I laughed.

And then this morning I was getting breakfast ready for her and I heard a loud slurping noise. I thought she was done with her milk, so I turned around to look at her. I saw a current of snot pouring from both sides. Ever so delicately she lifts her tongue up and SLUUUURRRP! Drinking it down super nice.

Delicious. Absolutely delicious. It's days like this that make me know that there is a God. Otherwise we would all be dead from our own nose bacteria.

Book Reviews

It's been a while since I did one of these. I thought I would put a few of my more recent books up here so you can see what I've been reading of late.


Enemies of the People: My Family's Journey to America by Kati Marton


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I need to stop reading all these cold-war books! I didn't mean to follow up Mountain of Crumbs with this book, but it just happened that way. But this book was just as interesting and informative. It tells the story of the Marton Family who grew up in Hungary and who were actively spied on by their own government. For nearly 10 years, they tried to find some dirt on this family and finally they "found" enough information to convict them of spying for the Americans. (The "trial" was really a sham. There were no witnesses, no evidence, and no jury. They were just presented with the charges, allowed to make a plea and then their sentence was given. Some kind of justice, right?)

The author of this book talks about how writing this and looking in the now available AVO (Hungarian Secret Police) files taught her many things about her parents and her family. Memories she had forgotten were spied on a written down for the files. Family ski trips, outings with her father, a favorite sweater. Good things she's glad she remembers. But also things she didn't know and maybe was better off not knowing. The infidelity of both her parents, the betrayal of those closest to her, and the broken promises of those who vowed to care for her and her sister.

Again, much like Mountain of Crumbs this book does not focus on the atrocities of that time. We know that they were going on. People were starving, being killed and even tortured by their own government all because of the perceived threat of America far far away. But this book doesn't talk about that. It talks about how her family did everything right and still were found guilty by their own country.

This is a quote from the book talking about that very thing: "One common superstition of totalitarian governments is that people will be more contented if they don't know the unpleasant things that are going on and that a regime will be admired in the outside world if it conceals its sins and stupidities. . . Espionage in such a a country is what the Government says it is." So just the fact that her parents were journalists reporting the news about Hungary made them spies in her countries eyes. (The author's mother's charges included talking about the price of eggs and bread to foreigners. I'm not kidding about that) They didn't want the outside world knowing anything, for fear the people inside the country would realize how they were truly living.

The other part that hit me was this: "My initial 'How could they!' has been supplanted by another question. How would I survive under such a system? What price would I pay to preserve my own freedom and my children's future?"

I think that's something that we all have to think about, especially when we judge others that have gone through systems like this. Things that I would never think about doing before I would consider now because of my daughter. You just survive.

Ultimately, I think that the author does a great job of telling her amazing and almost unbelievable story.


The Match King: Ivar Kreuger, The Financial Genius Behind a Century of Wall Street Scandals by Frank Partnoy


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I need to do these reviews as I'm reading. Because by the time I get to the end, I forget what struck me at the beginning. Anyway, this book touts itself as the story of Ivar Kreuger, the first Bernie Madoff of his time.

I can see how people would think that. Both men made crazy promises when it came to investments and returns. Both men got fabulously rich during a time of great prosperity in the United States. And both were terrific terrific liars to anyone who would listen.

However, there are definite differences too. Ivar was a very unique man with quirky tendencies. He was strictly regimented, and did everything with purpose. Not only that, but he really did make fortunes. It's just unfortunate that the crash of '29 happened. Because who knows where he would've gone.

Ivar is a very unique man. He likes to surround himself with other crooks. There is a great story about how when he was the manager of a bank, he found an employee who was making a "loan to himself." He of course had to fire the employee but then he immediately hired him as a member of his personal crew. The most redeeming thing about this crook? He looked exactly like Santa Claus. So Ivar thought that no one would suspect Santa carrying false documents!!

However, he also likes to surround himself with people that he can manipulate and woo. This is especially true of auditors and accountants who have to review his books. There is one particular character who he has trailing along after him like a lovesick puppy dog. It's quite sad to see the extend to which he can play him.

This book was rather slow in moments. An exciting part was right at the middle when they started talking about the Crash of '29. In your mind you are thinking "ohhhhh!! this is it!! it's all going to hit the fan now!! where is he going to get the money he promised? Ohhh!! here it goes!" And things kinda pick up. And then they slow down again. But there is a big finish!! It really pulls it out in the end.

Finally, this book reminded me of "Catch Me if you Can". The forgeries, the desperate need to always be admired, the persona that he wanted to carry around all the time. It all seemed to be the desperate actions of a man who never felt like he was good enough. In the end, we should be happy for him. Due to his actions the way Americans trade, acquire and report stocks all changed. Securities laws were passed with only him in mind.

All in all this book was written by a lawyer,and sometimes it reads like a law review book. Dry and not much story telling. But still a good read. And a compelling story. Very practical and easily likened to our times. Lots of problems that everyone wants to blame on someone else. "It's Enron's fault. . .It's Madoff's fault. . .It's the banks' fault" We want there to be one BIG BAD problem causer. But in the end we need to realize that we all have a little part in the financial demise of this country.


How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really liked how this book moved along. The pace was not at all grueling, even thought the author would start talking about pre-frontal cortexes and amygdalas. I think it's because he had such great stories to back up his ideas. And you were truly invested in the stories.

This book made me think about the decisions I make. Why do I make them? How am I feeling? And it told me that I should really trust my gut more.

I enjoyed every moment of reading this book and was sad to see it end. I would've liked to hear more stories about poker playing physicists and airplane pilots with nerves of steel. You should all definitely read this book.

You Give Me Fever

Ahhh, Valentines Day! This is one holiday that gets some respect in our house. Because in Ecuador, it's the Day of Love AND Friendship. So much like elementary school, people celebrate the day with everyone around them. Sending cards, chocolates and little trinkets to everyone. No one is left out. It's a good day for all.

So, that's why we spent Valentine's Day together as a family. Marcelo and I decided to go to our favorite Thai restaurant in Orem on Saturday. We tried to volunteer to babysit our friend's kids, but they didn't call us back until we were already at dinner. (They did invite us to go to a movie later, but it was a dollar movie so the tickets sold out almost immediately. It didn't happen and we were sad) So we just spent the day together as the Loor family.

We did take a side trip to Costco at the same time and saw the mad rush for chocolate cake and flowers. We did not partake but we did buy birth control and diapers. I think that is a very funny and ironic coupling of items. You shouldn't need the one if you used the other properly in the first place. Some other funny pairings? Buying a case of beer and card for your child who is just leaving on a mission. Buying a can of rat poison and a rodent cage. You think of some more. I'm going to get back to my story.

So after dinner (which was delicious. We even got Evi to eat some of everything!) and the movie was a bust, we went home. We did the normal nighttime routine with bath, dressing, praying and finally books right before bed. However, as I was reading to the Bibbers, I notices that her head was a little warm. Not her cheeks, or her neck or her hands or body. Just the forehead and top of her head. Marcelo felt it and said it was nothing. And I believed him.

NEVER TRUST YOUR HUSBAND!! TRUST YOUR MOTHERING INSTINCTS!! Nothing terrible happened. She slept just fine, but woke up on FIRE. Super hot, and just feeling crappy. She cuddled in bed with us for about a half hour. (Funny side story. When she comes into bed with us, she will flop on top of us and ask for her back to be rubbed/scratched. Oh, did I say "asked?" I meant "pointed to her back and made grunting noises". But this morning she was too tired to do even that. The moment I stopped moving my hand, she would do just a little "uh uh" in my ear. Very soft, almost nothing. She couldn't do more than that. Marcelo and I loved it)

Anyway, I can never get her to sleep with us in bed. Once she's up, she's going going gone. We gave her some medicine, and she seemed to perk up. At least her fever went down. (not before puking all over the couch and carpet, though. Great way to start off your Day of Rest, I'll tell you that)

We said no to church. Because I've worked in the nursery, and I wouldn't like someone to come in, drop off their kid to me and say, "well, she puked this morning and had a fever, but we thought she would miss out on her friends if we didn't come. ENJOY HER!!" We made an executive decision. Which was a good idea, because it spiked again after her afternoon nap. It was up to 103.6. But again, it responded with the baby ibuprofen. Marcelo kept trying to force me to take her to the Dr. office, and finally I had to read to him that "fevers are normal and the way the body responds to infection. If fever lasts more than 3 days or does not respond to medicine, please bring her in". We were less than 24 hours so we didn't meet any criteria. He finally shut up about taking her.

So that's how we spent our Day of Love and Friendship. And I want to wish a happy L&F Day to all of you. I'm guessing your day went better than mine. If you didn't catch your daughter's puke in your cupped hands, then your day was infinitely better than mine.

P.S. When I looked for a cool picture to put with this post, this is what I found:

Ummm, i think we need to talk about the awesomeness of this album cover. Animal print blanket? Check. Handkerchief matching lipstick color? Check. Rad 80's graffiti-esque font? Double AND triple check for all 3 colors used. Please tell me what is your favorite part about this album cover?

Uncomfortable

I am very awkward. I am clumsy and I drop things and I'm just all a whirl all the time. Add to the fact that I'm ridiculously self conscious, and you have a great recipe for the world's more uncomfortable person to be around.

Today's awkward confession: Hugging. I like hugging my family, but not really anyone else. Close friends, close family members sure. I'll tolerate it. But everyone else? I'd rather just stand a few feet away and wave at you. I came to realize this last month when I was doing visiting teaching. My companion would give our teachees a hello hug or a good-bye hug and I didn't offer a hug of my own at the end. I just stood there like a moron watching. I mean, I could've given each of them a hug of my own after my co-teacher was done, but really, I didn't want any part of that.

I don't like hugging in front of other people. Like at my wedding, after we cut the cake and did the obligatory feeding of each other, I gave Marcelo a high five. Yup, you read that right. I didn't kiss him, didn't hug him, didn't show any love or affection in any way. We high fived. That's the kind of girl I am.

People must think I'm horribly cold and distant. But the truth is that I just don't like hugging people. I get self conscious, I think about their hands: Where are they? What can they feel under my clothes. Should I suck in my gut or lean to the side so they don't feel my love handles? I want out of this hug NOW!

Then I think about my hands: where do I put them? On the waist? Over their shoulders? Or under their arms? Do we do that "over one shoulder and under the other" type hug? Do I pound on the back? or maybe a soft caressing rub (very consoling)? open hand on the back? closed fist that they might possibly feel and think that I'm about to slug them? CURSE MY USELESS HANDS!!

And then the hug breaks and where do I go? Do I say close to them after breaking away from the hug? But that could make them (and me) feel weird due to close proximity. I don't want someone that close, possibly able to see the boogers up my nose. Or do I take a step back and maybe make them think that I didn't enjoy the hug? Give them a little shove as I break away? Or is it NOW that I should do the little consoling arm rub/pat? So that means I need to say in close proximity, right? But not too close, naturally.

Oh my gosh, I hate hugging!! So if we are long lost friends and I haven't seen you in 5 years and we meet up again and I don't hug you? Please don't be offended. I just plain don't like hugging. But feel free to give me a high five!

Afternoon Delight

What do you give your child as an afternoon snack? Piece of cheese? An apple? Maybe a glass of milk and some crackers? Do you give your child frozen bread?

My child love LOVES frozen bread. See, since the diet started, I've been eating less bread. So I freeze the loaf so it doesn't go bad. (You can easily break off one individual piece and toast it if needed) Another thing about the freezer, we have one of those pull out drawers. Which a 26 pound 20 month old can open with super ease. Especially after she figures out how to use her body weight to open it. So when she wants a piece, she opens the freezer and brings me the bag.

What is it with frozen food? I can't get my child to eat cooked peas, but frozen peas? She'll eat enough to turn her poo green. Berries on her french toast? No way. But frozen berries out of a bag? I have the stained clothes to prove how much she loves them.

Another item of baby business. I have 2 private times to myself. The first one is shower time. I have no problems locking the door and putting on a video and enjoying a nice hot shower. The second "me" time is when I'm pooping. I get to poop in peace!! I do NOT feel badly as I close the door and I hear my little girl knocking on the door while I poop. It's my 3 minutes! I get 3 min of pooping time to myself.

However, one day I forgot to shut the door when I went into the shower. I enjoyed my blissful body cleaning time in peace, even though I could hear her rustling about outside the door. And when I got out, this is what I found:

I'm sure all of you have had moments like this. I'm sure your pictures are much better. And I'm sure just like me (if you are cheap and poor) you spent 7 min rolling it back up onto the roll again.

Next, my little baker. I'm putting her to work and going making some money off of her.



Excuse my horrible voice. I'm much closer to the microphone than she is.

Ok, that's all for now.

Please tell me you agree with my "bathroom time". I know you are considered a "bad mom" if you let your child cry right outside the door. But seriously! I don't need my child pointing to the faults of my naked body. AND THERE ARE SOME HUGE FAULTS.

TCOB

In on of my favorite episodes of Sunny (ok, let's be honest, they are all my favorite) Sweet Dee has a heart attack. Mac and Charlie decide to get jobs solely for the health benefits. When they arrive for a job interview, they only have one resume to share between the two of them. They say it's because they are "going green" and it's easier to just have the one because they are basically the same. And one of their lists of accomplishments is that for the past 10 years they have been managing every aspect of their own lives. "You know, TCOB. TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS".

I must agree with them, I also am TCOB today and mostly every day of my life. And right now I am taking care of some bloggin' business. Just, you know, random bits of my life. As if you cared.

My mouth felt really dirty about 5:30 pm in the afternoon the other day. Probably because i was taking a nap in the middle of the afternoon and you know about sleep breath. Anyway I got up and decided to do the whole mouth cleaning cycle. I flossed first, then brushed firmly but not vigorously, and then used mouthwash. It's my special "Crest Nighttime" mouthwash, guaranteed to "protect your mouth" for up to 8 hours.

See, I made the mistake of doing this about 30 minutes before dinnertime and was very alarmed to discover that all my food tasted really weird. I immediately knew it was the mouthwash, and so went and rinsed and even re brushed my mouth. But there was no getting rid of it. It was there for the next 8 hours. I will tell you this: CREST IS NOT LYING!! They will never be dragged into court for false advertising.

It made everything I ate for the rest of the night have a weird "chewing on a piece of tin foil" mixed with a "2 hours post-dentist, mouth just coming out of Novocaine deadening" taste to it. It seriously ruined my night. Because I'm really restricting my calories and I get really hungry for dinner. And then all my food was ruined? CURSE YOU CREST AND YOUR EFFECTIVE CAVITY PROTECTION!

Next item of business. I have been reading lots. And all good books (mostly) but listening to books as you are at the gym running is SUPER less effective when it comes to keeping you motivated. I know that they always say to listen to good music to keep you going, and there must be some truth to that. I always go to the gym's very dark "cardio cinema" room (Motto: Created with Fat Girls and Old Men Who Fart While Working Out in Mind) and watch a movie in near pitch black while I try to not fall off the treadmill. However, many of the movies are NOT good for gym time. Examples: 50 First Dates. That's Raven Symone movie about a road trip to see colleges, Pink Panther 2. Not great movies to keep you pumping.

Yesterday the movie was "Pearl Harbor". While Citizen Kane it is not, it does have a good amount of action and suspense in it. Especially if you've forgotten what happens in it because you saw it 2 months before your mission. (Remember that, Amy? Remember how I was at your house for like a week and we saw like a bazillion movies before you left for Brasil? Awesome) Anyway, great acting? No. Suspenseful with air jet fighting? ABSOLUTELY!! I ran constantly with my treadmill at a 1.0 incline (don't judge. I'm very large. Please congratulate me for running at all) for about 20 min and didn't even realize it.

And today was the last 40 min of "The Dark Knight" which is also super suspenseful. And kept me focused so I didn't notice my legs throbbing and how I was gasping for air. Really, it works!! the adrenaline pumping in your veins really keeps you focused. EXCEPT for one type of movie. The HORROR movie. They will show PG-13 horror movies (no slasher types) which are all played up by the suspenseful music and then having something jump out at you. Someone ALWAYS falls off a treadmill whenever that happens. One guy fell off a stationary bike the other day, but poor kid was like 4 feet from the screen, so I can't blame him. But why do they do this? I have a secret suspicion they are taping us and there will be a Youtube video up soon called "Hilarious morons at Gym!" I will be playing the part of moron #4.

Have you ever been that person falling off the treadmill at the gym? Please tell me your best treadmill biffing story. I love a good wipeout.

That's all my business for today. I'm going to try to blog more. I don't promise GREAT blogs. But I do promise more. Please let me know if you want me to go back to the "Quality not quantity" method. Oh wait, my blogs were never very quality. Nevermind.

Hoarders

Do you watch the show "Hoarders" on TV? That show really REALLY scares me. Mostly because it's my legacy.

See, my maternal Grandma was a hoarder. A serious kind. The only think that kept her from living with 8 foot walls of trash in her home was my mother. My mother would go over to her house a few times a week and every time she would leave she would pack up a few bags of trash and leave them on the back porch. She couldn't let my grandma actually SEE her take them out of the house, because she would freak out. So she would put them outside, and then say her goodbyes and leave and then sneak around to the back and pick them up. It was just necessary.

Of course, things were much worse before we moved to Eureka. Before that happened, we would go to my g-ma's during the summer house and just be there in the muck. She had a 4 bedroom house, but the biggest bedroom upstairs(the size of the master and another room put together) was closed and locked. Not only that, the upstairs hallway to get to the room was locked too. One day I found the key to unlock that room, and I showed it to my mom. She got all quiet and then really REALLY excitedly said, "seriously? Can I see it?" I handed it over and she ran right up the stairs. Bashed her way around the boxes and unlocked the door. Only to discover that the room was so full of boxes that the door couldn't even be opened. That's the way my grandma lived.

And that's my heritage. And so whenever I see homes like that I have to blame the other spouse for a little bit of the problem. A person will get away with as much as you let them. So as long as the non-hoarding spouse keeps their mouth shut or in some other way acquiesces, it will continue. Why not just grab a bag one day and fill it with as much crap you can find? Take it from the bottom of the stack I mean that stuff hasn't been seen for years, so there is no way the hoarder can say "But i was USING that!". Also, if the hoarder claims that there are "special keepsakes" you can say "well, they obviously aren't that special to you because you have piled trash on top of them". I'm basically saying there is no excuse that can't be proven to be a total justification for their actions.

Because I'm afraid of becoming a hoarder, I tend to like moving. It helps me keep my house clean. I always do a purger as I'm packing up my stuff. And I loveLOVElove to throw things out. Even clothes. Like if I get a new shirt, my rule to myself is that I have to get rid of an old one. If I buy 4 shirts, I have to get rid of 4 shirts. This usually isn't a problem because I always have clothes that I end up not wearing for quite a while. It just makes me keep myself in check. And keeps my closet from being over run. (but then I look and see how many more clothes Marcelo has than me and I get seethingly jealous. Maybe I should re-think this whole "get a shirt, lose a shirt" idea)

So don't be surprised if I come over to your house and start throwing things away. It's what I've trained myself to do. And I'm sorry if I throw away your prized afghan that was crocheted for you by your great grandmother. I don't care if it's your nakey blankey or not. Becuase seriously, it had to go. It had mysterious stains on it and smelled like 3 day old Ecua-Cheese. You'll thank me later.