Wednesday, February 07, 2007

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Intro

In an effort to balance my Qi, which is currently all out of alignment, I present to you:

THE GOOD, THE BAD, and THE UGLY
Here's my plan - To blog on a quasi-frequent basis about something that makes me happy (The Good), something that makes not-happy (The Bad), and something that makes me go hmmm (The Ugly).

Hopefully, this will be a little longer lived than my career as a movie critic. So, off we go.....

The Good

It seems like it's been forever since I asked you all for help on my basement project. Well, it pleases me to say that I decided on a floor, picked out colors, and work has begun. 2 days in, and here's what we look like.












That's right, 1 little pipe busts in the wall - several insurance checks later, and the basement has been gutted. Thanks again for the input! I'm excited that this project is finally underway, and I think the finished product is going to be great.

I'll get some pictures up when its all said and done, but until then it's classified.

The Bad

I'm at a little bit of a loss in regards to our childcare. My wife and I decided long ago that one of us staying home was not an option. Well, 2 kids later and we're basically financing a $300,000 home with what we pay for daycare.

We recently got a brochure from Au Pair in America. It looks like an Au Pair would run us around $282 a week. $297, if we wanted one with a 2 year degree.

I don't really think we would ever have someone from a third world country, who speaks quasi-English, live with us, but the savings would be nice. We have seriously considered a live-in nanny, but I would hate to not have Lil' Dude and the other one (no second child syndrome here) lose their social outlet of daycare.

Our little guy loves going to daycare though. I say that, even though this morning, his teacher had to pry him off me kicking and screaming, but he really does like it there. He gets to go and play with friends everyday, and they teach him a little sumthin' sumthin' daily. For example, this week is Dentist Week, where he is learning all about going to the Dentist. Hopefully, he's learning how not to have root canals and crowns.

It was tough when we left Wisconsin and moved here. All of our daycare teachers have been great. I've never once questioned the degree for which they look after our children. I can see their excitement too when they go to see their teachers. I just felt so bad for him. On his last day, he was too young (18 months) to understand that he would never see any of these people again. People, who had looked after him since he was 3 months.

He smiled at them his last day and waved goodbye (one of the many things they watched him learn) like he always did. Who knows if he would even remember them today. And maybe I was just sad for me - at that early of an age, I had already learned that I wouldn't be able to protect him all the time. Because, even if he didn't know it at the time or would remember it months from then, he had just experienced loss. The fact that he didn't know at the time and probably wouldn't remember it only made the situation that more perplexing for me.

The Ugly

First things first - Lisa Marie Nowak. It's scary that a woman, who's obviously off her rocker, managed to become a NASA astronaut. I would make the assumption that if you're crazy enough to wear a diaper in the car so you can make it from Houston to Orlando quicker, in order to maim and/or kill another person, you have probably been whacked out for some time. Just what sort of screening process are we putting astronauts through that this chick made the cut.

Secondly, if you missed last night's American Idol, you spent your time a lot more wisely than I. But, if you did happen to see it, can you please help me understand what in the hell was wrong with Jasmine Holland.

Jasmine weighed every bit of 300 Bills, and was very quiet and shy (at first). She comes strolling in wearing what had to be a homemade white tank top with a pair of red spandex pants cut off just below the knees. Not really a good look to begin with, but when you factor in the enormous camel toe she was rocking, it was just disturbing. Simon and Randy started laughing at her the second she walked in the door. They tried to compose themselves, but they just couldn't stop laughing. I honestly felt sorry for he at first, because she seemed a little slow.

I should have known to look away when her family was standing outside with Ryan holding a "Jasmines are next American Idol" sign.

Jasmine proceeds to sing very poorly causing Randy to choke on his water. Yada Yada Yada, Jasmine is crying. She rejoins her family, who crafted the masterpiece "Jasmines are next American Idol" sign, and proceed to bash the judges. In true "are next American Idol" fashion, who of the family members says, "Simon needs to go back to British." Yes, that's right. Not back to Britain, but "back to British."

Now, I don't claim to be a grammar expert (well, at least not all the time). If I am going to hold a sign on national TV, though, I'm going to go ahead and make sure the spelling and grammar "our" correct m'kay. I guess coming from people, who think it's okay to rock a massive camel toe for millions of people, the little grammar issue was not a big deal.

Baba Ganoush, OUT!

12 comments:

Dan-O said...

Mr. G......That was no camel toe, sir, that my friend was a moose knuckle.

Angel said...

the camel toe was super gross!!! What is the world is wrong with these people? Do they really want to be on tv THAT bad that they do this to themselvs? I just don't get it!!

My boys went to pre-school and loved it. I worked a few jobs here and there, but I'm lucky enough to be able to stay home. I think your kids will do fine, but I know the expense has got to be killing you!

Baba Ganoush said...

Dan-O - Moose knuckle. LOL. I like that!

Beth - I tell you, when they start school, it'll be like hitting the lottery!

JLee said...

That daycare expense is rough! Fortunately I'm seeing the light at the end of that tunnel with next year being the first my daughter will not attend. I can get a new car! whoopeee I did watch "Idol" but somehow missed the Jasmine experience. Maybe it was early in the show.

Baba Ganoush said...

JLee - Yeah, I don't really want to rush my kids getting old, but that is one milestone that I wish would come a little earlier.

I'm thinking about beachfront property myself.

Angry Ballerina said...

I just watched it on youtube...Only made me feel only slightly more throwupy than I already feel. I honeslty think that American Idol is rigged. Like, I KNOW I can't sing, so there is no way in HELL i am going to go stand up in front of the like of Simon and such and belt out some creppy poppy pop song. Ug, I think I may vomit again....And I'm not even gonna go there on the Diaper Lady...

Jenny! said...

My fav part about Jasmine's camel toe was how they zoomed in at when she was getting her number.

Have fun with your basement, that is so exhausting but so rewarding once its finished.

When my fiance and I had our son, we decided that one of us would stay home...at first the plan was for me to be the stay at home, but it turned out the other way around. My fiance is a full time stay at home dad and could not be happier. I do worry that my son isn't getting a lot of socialization, but I think the TV does an okay job! Just kidding! Daycare is so so expensive and there are wonderful nannies out there, it just takes a lot of screenings!

Sorry I rambled on for so long!

Dan said...

even though this morning, his teacher had to pry him off me kicking and screaming, but he really does like it there.

You sure she wasn't really tring to pry you off your son so that you'd get your butt to work? :)

Baba Ganoush said...

AB - Yeah, you can tell the people who really have no talent and know they have no talent.

It's the one's who think they do, but don't who make me want to look away in fear.

Jenny - I had to rewind my DVR just to make sure I saw what I thought I saw. Yep, wish I had just left it alone.

There was a time when I was going to be a stay at home dad. Actually, if we have another one, I will most likely stay home.

My wife is part of a mom's club. Most of the mom's stay home, and they have daily activities, so the kids can still socialize.

And you can ramble here anytime you like!

Dan - Probably trying to get me out of there. I tend to hand out sometimes - the only thing that beats nubile Bed Bath and Beyond workers, are nubile daycare workers.

Eve Grey said...

Baba G, i can so relate to the childcare issue. What you wrote was so poignant about leaving daycare. My twin sons went to this amazing daycare since they were 2 & they started JK this year so finished with daycare b/c it was $1300 a month for 1/2 day. Anyway, i so keenly felt the sense of loss for my two sweet little guys & the teachers too. Now, months later they still talk about their "old school" and "Teacher Eva" & "Teacher Rosa". It breaks my heart.
Whew, the end. And a hand slap for your comment to Dan! (:

Baba Ganoush said...

Sassy Brown - I just found out (because I don't pay that much attention) that most of the kids in Lil' Dude's class are new. Most of his friends have moved up to the next class. That might explain his lack of interest in going to school.

This morning, I asked him what he wanted for dinner (pizza). So, I told him that if he was a good boy all day, we'd have pizza. It seemed to work. I actually had to get his attention to say goodbye.

Thanks for the hand slap. I need those from time to time on here!

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