Ameri-I-CAN!!!

Today Marcelo called me out of the blue and said, "I was on the freeway and something had fallen out of the back of someone's truck. There were police officers out there helping and cleaning up the mess so that no one would get hurt."

I thought this is where he would complain about traffic being backed up, or about how people are stupid for not strapping down their crap on their trucks. But he surprised me. He said, "I'm just so thankful to be living in the United States where the police officers help you to do that. I'm so thankful to be here where they take care of the roads and help clean up when there is something dangerous."

Sometimes I forget about how great it is to live in the US and all the great things we have. I like to look at it from the eyes of a foreigner and remember just how great we have it. And I'm thankful for my husband for bringing it to my attention. He's good to have around for that kind of stuff. I think I'll keep him a little while longer. . . maybe forever!

Zoning Out

When I was in Elementary School and High School, a classmate of mine was hearing impaired. She's been deaf since birth but she is an EXCELLENT lip reader. Actually, it was quite disconcerting to be talking to her and having her stare at your mouth the whole time. It made you very aware of what you were saying and how you were pronouncing things.

However, her parents paid a full time translator to accompany her to all her classes. The translator would sit up at the front of the classroom on a stool and sign everything the teacher was saying. And she was very distracting. Oh, after a while you got used to her, of course, but if you wanted to, you could lose whole class periods just starting at her hands moving like lighting.

And this is the first time I realize that I repetitive motions made me sleepy. I would stare mesmerized at her translator the whole class period and then realize that I hadn't taken a single note in class. Luckily this was Jr. High: the land of handouts to take home. So you really didn't have to stress too much about it. But then as the classes got more advanced, so did the signing.

I took an Anthropology class my sophomore year and I felt so horrifically sorry for the signer. I mean, most words have a sign and are quick to do. However, words that are spelled differently or are not used frequently don't have a sign for them and so have to be spelled out laboriously. The poor woman would have to spell Australopithecus and Homo Neanderthalensis over and over. And she was pregnant too!! She would heave herself up on her little stool and go non-stop for 50 minutes. Luckily she was a nice person and the teachers liked her and would ask if she needed them to slow down. But she never did.

But my point is that she was hypnotic. The next time I encountered this was when I worked at the MTC on the docks. Yes, the MTC has docks. It was the best job possible at the MTC because #1 I didn't have to wear a hairnet, #2 I didn't have to wear church clothes, #3 I got to corrupt. . .er. . .I mean CHAT with the groups of missionaries twice a week who would come in do service for us, and #4 I got to hang out in the bakery between truck deliveries.

The MTC bakery makes almost every baked good that is served there. The only exceptions are the bagels (delivered to me at 5:15 MW&F), bread (delivered to me at 5:20 am MW&F) and doughnuts. But the doughnuts were made by BYU (you know, the Sugar & Spice doughnuts) and just dropped off at the MTC so maybe I should half count those.


But the Bakery made everything else. The ladies there (there were 3 of them full time) made pumpkin pies, cornbread, jello, honeybutter, muffins, cakes, cobblers, etc.

They had those big industrial ovens that you could shove a 6 foot tall rack into and it would lock them into place and spin them around and cook things evenly. Also, they got to listen to the radio in there. (only 100.3, though, of course. The "BYU Approved" station that they also play at the Cougareat.

Anyway, the bakery was like the vortex of hypnosis. Especially Jello making. Because they would lay out the cups on the big trays, then fill them with the Jello. This process alone was awesome to watch. And then there was the Whipped Cream at the end!! Don't even get me started on the awesomeness of those WC applicators! I think while watching Honey Butter being made one day I zoned out and had a dream about lions. Awesome Jello-making lions.

It's the only good memory I had from working at the MTC. And thinking back on it now made me wonder why I ever quit. Oh yeah, I decided that $6.95 an hour might not be the best way to support myself AND my husband before he got his work permit in the country. Meh.

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.