Really?

I'm still undecided on the gross out factor on the episode I'm about to tell you about. And whether or not I should do anything about it. So, I'll put it out there to see if anyone has anything to say about it.

Late last week I went to one of those beauty super stores to purchase some shampoo and conditioner. With the change in environment, water, hair color, etc I've been on the hunt for a new shampoo for the last few months (this is common when we relocate). Beauty super store's policy is that if you don't like the shampoo that you buy you can bring back the unused portion and exchange it for something else. I've always been aware of this, but have never been so dissatisfied with a shampoo to actually bother doing it. I'll just go ahead and use it up, toss it in my travel kit, or make Travis use it.

So I buy the new shampoo last week and it was AWFUL. So, Sunday afternoon, I went back to exchange. Other than slightly dim staff the whole process was totally painless. Now, here's the part where I start to wonder...

Making small talk during the exchange I ask the cashier, "What do you do with all the returned shampoo?"

"Well," says the cashier, "Often the bottles are almost used up and we just put those in the back and sometimes they get used in the salon. But this one, you used it, what, once? We'll just put it back on the shelf."

I blink. Seriously? So someone is going to pay full price for the slightly used bottle of shampoo that isn't full and got all wet and soapy in my shower? OK, now our shower is nice and clean, but that sort of grossed me out. I'm a bit fuzzy brained due to the household cold we've all got right now, so it took me a few beats to sort it all out, but after getting home I bounced it off Travis to see what he thought. He asked if it went into a discount pile with other gently used shampoo. Nope, right back on the shelf with the new shampoo (as I pulled away I watched her put it there). Discounted I'd be OK with, you know, like scratch and dent shampoo. But full price? I'm going to start looking at those price tags to see if they look like they got wet...

I can't believe that it's the beauty super store's corporate policy to do this, so who decided it? And why? And at what point is too much shampoo used up to put it back on the shelf?

OK, so I know in the grand scheme of life, the world, and everything this is a seriously insignificant problem. It's one of those annoying bits of daily life that make you wonder about the future of customer service and what really goes on behind the scenes.

Naughty Kitty

FFM's got a nasty whammy of a cold/strep/earache right now and he's having a hard time sleeping. He's also been pacifier-less since Jan 1, and while we're excited about that it hasn't made for smooth bedtimes every night. Add to that a very creative budding imagination and you get our conversation tonight:

Two things you need to know - 1) he sleeps with a gray stuffed cat every night and 2) this whole conversation started when I went to check on him 30 min after I've put him to bed because he's singing at the top of his raspy little lungs.

Me: F, it's time to be quiet.
FFM: Mommy, not me! Kitty!
Me: Oh really? Kitty?
FFM: Naughty Kitty. Tell Kitty be quiet, go to bed.
Kitty being too noisy. Naughty kitty, Mommy!

At this point he thrusts Kitty toward me for 'punishment.' I'm having a VERY hard time to maintain my serious parental composure.

So we ended with a quiet bedroom, Kitty on patrol against monsters like she's supposed to be, and everyone's asleep now. Me, I'm wondering if my little storyteller is being creative or learning how to prevaricate...

Watch Out for People Walking

One of the super-duper-nifty-licous things FFM got for Christmas was a set of blocks from his cousins Ryan and Skylar (and their parents Byron and Melinda). Along with the oversized blocks, which make really great roads and bridges, came a set of wooden cars and road signs. Curious little bugger FFM had Travis explain to him what all the signs mean. Now while we're driving around town to our umpteen billion appointments this month he makes sure that I'm paying close attention to all the signage.
"Mommy, watch out for people walking."
"Mommy, let other people go first." (this for ANY yield, our lane or not)
"Mommy, STOP SIGN. STOP."
"Mommy, watch out for bikes."
"Mommy, don't go too fast." (for speed limit signs, especially flashing school zones)

Add this to:
"Mommy, go left."
"Mommy, go straight.
"Mommy, go right."
"NO MOMMY, GO THIS/THAT WAY!"
"Mommy, red light."
"Mommy, green light."
"Mommy, redyellowbluegreenorangepurplewhitesilverindigo car."

And counting, he counts the cars at stop lights, counts his fingers, counts anything he can think to count.
It's very noisy in the car.

But my favorite every time is the ever helpful, "Watch out for people walking!"

104th National Western Stockshow

For those of you not in the know, the National Western Stock Show is, well, a big show. It's different from our State Fair which is in the summer, and focuses really just on livestock. The Stock Show takes over a big arena complex aptly named the National Western Stock Show Complex (random fact, Travis took his PE exam there during non-stock show time many moons ago) in the middle of Denver for two weeks every January. Cowboys, cowgirls, rodeo-ers, ranchers, and pretty much anyone who sells anything to do with cattle, sheep, horses, pigs, chickens, rabbits, tractors, fences (you get the idea) come from all over the western US to compete, sell, or just be entertained. They come from places like California, Wyoming, North Dakota, Texas and everywhere in between. Oh yeah, and even a few Coloradoans, too. There are pro-rodeos and Mexican rodeos and dog shows and horse shows and fiddle championships and tractor races and everyone's favorite, mutton bustin'.

With just a few hours to spend at the show we didn't have time to see everything so we did the mandatory cruise through the chickens, rabbits, etc as well as the cattle and horse sheds. For mom and dad we meandered through the Coors Western Art Exhibit.

The first tough decision of the day came when FFM had to make the difficult choice between the train ride and the pony ride. Ponies won. FFM was first out of the chute in his group of riders and he picked 'Twinkle.'

AFTER the pony ride he figured if he asked about the train enough times we'd cave. No. We are tough parents. Off to see the art kiddo.

OK, you did so well at the art exhibit we'll stop at the tractors on the way to the next thing...

This one Daddy, I think we should take THIS one home. See, it's just the right size!

And that was the end of the interest in animals for the day. After that, the tractors, diggers, and other industrial equipment just got bigger and better.

"DADDY, it's THIS BIG!"

"Mommy, THIS ONE. TAKE THIS ONE HOME PLEASE!"

We wrapped up with the rodeo but only stayed for part, it was way past naptime and FFM was trying mightily to behave but was losing the battle. After getting excited about calf wrestling and kicking the lady in front of us with his hiking boots we called it a day and headed home.

Oh my aching shoulder

FFM and I have been getting back into the swing of regular routine life. I've been seeing an orthopedist and a physical therapist for my shoulder since before the holidays and the PT has kicked in full steam. I go twice a week and after a slow and painful start (wrong therapist, wrong exercises, wrong wrong wrong) things are on track now and I'm starting to see some improvement. My shoulder only grinds a little tiny bit instead of all the way around, and I'm getting some strength and mobility back. I can move my head and look right now, handy for when I need to change lanes and pass snacks back to FFM. Although that's pretty tough since it's hard on my rotator cuff... he's getting pretty good at catch-the-snack if he needs a snack in the car.

With all the doctor appointments and PT I had to find childcare for FFM. All hail drop in daycare. We did one day a week daycare in Perth and I'd just make all my appointments for that day. Now I just buy a package and can drop FFM off for a minimum of 3omin up to 6 hours whenever I need to. It's a perfect solution for mom's like me who end up with random appointments and just need bits and bobs of daycare. Last time I picked him up he cried because he didn't want to leave.

Through a bizarre scheduling mix-up at our rec center (cancelled then uncancelled swimming lessons) we ended up with swimming lessons AND gymnastics for FFM this month. Now we have: PT Mon and Thurs, swimming Tues and Thurs, and gymnastics Tues. Toss in haircuts, grocery getting, etc and I'm feeling like the ultimate suburban mom. Even more so since I'm driving my mom's borrowed Chevy Tahoe all over town since my little car is rear wheel drive and our street's been snow packed since, oh, about October. We've had about three days of 60F weather and I could drive it home now (it's only the small shady neighborhood streets that are snow packed, all others get clear the day after a storm) but I bet as soon as I go trade cars with mom it snows again.

Speaking of cars, we did buy one. We just had to order it. Turns out we have pretty specific requirements and the one we want wasn't available on any lot within 1,000 mile radius of here. That covers car lots from LA to Chicago, so GMC is building a car just for us. Yippee, we'll get just what we want, we just have to wait 4-6 weeks for it. We ordered it before Christmas, so tack on another week since the plant closes a week for the holidays. We're very happy to have family willing to loan us cars and it's nice it's a short and easy bus ride to work. Hopefully soon Travis will have time to figure out a route to ride his bike, but again the snowy neighborhood streets make that challenging.

And there's news on our shipment! Word is that it's landed in LA. and is awaiting customs inspection. Who knows how long that will take, but it's nice to know it's at least made it this far. There's a chance we'll see our stuff before March after all.

Off to the National Western Stockshow tomorrow, taking advantage of Travis' Friday off to do fun things on a weekday!