Update

I'm going to try and update this page every day with a log of how Alan and I interact.

I'm still having troubles with Alan, but not as much. Maybe I'm glossing over it because I'm just too tired to deal with it. I still have to ask him if he's brushed his teeth, his hair, and has deoderant on before school. And homework continues to be a battle.

Today he woke up yelling at Grace to turn off her alarm clock. Grace corrected it, but not without some words from her. Alan's alarm doesn't go off again. He and I argue about the time it should be set (he:6am me:6:30am) and thus he messes with the controls to where it is totally screwed up.

I finally get up and ask what he's doing - playing with the dogs. He's brushed his teeth and hair, but hasn't got any shoes nor deoderant on. And his notebook is still on the table waiting to be put into his backpack.

Once again, I tell him about the basic chores he needs to do and the magnet board in the hall that has the reminders for him. He jsut says he forgets.

Grace got her report card and did very well. She had all A's and two B's. She's doing well in volleyball too. They moved her to B team but she's getting more play time. It's better being first string on the B team that being second string on the A team. Now the season is over and the A team plays in the tournament. Grace might get to play, as some of the A team kids can't play due to poor grades. She'll find out today.

Cinnamon Buns, Fragrant EOs, and Shampoo Update

I'm not very good at doing cinnamon buns - the kind that lay flat against your head. Mine tend to go vertical on me and then become a bee butt. So I've been trying to make an attempt at cinnamon bun whenever I put my hair up. It ain't easy, I think I'm winding too tightly. This morning, however, I had just washed my hair and so it was wet. I combed it out and decided to put it up anyways. I got a good looking bun in two attempts. I used hair pins to hold it up and then a hairstick with a connecting dangle for decoration. I just got this stick (I can't remember where though!) and wasn't so sure about how to wear it. But I've got it in and the dangle is hanging below the bun. It looks nice I think. I'll keep playing with it in the hopes of finding a great look.

Sorry, but I don't have any pictures today.

This past weekend I bought my favorite perfumes, Ombre Rose and Cool Water, from the International House of Fragrance and it came to me that I could use the fragrances in my hair! It is a waste for me to wear normal perfumes and colognes because the scent disappears so quickly. My dad found this guy (retired from Fabrege) who made reproductions and I've been a loyal customer ever since -- and this was back in '80 waaaay before repro fragrances were popular. Anyways, I added 10 drops of Ombre Rose to my daily shea butter jar and it smells awesome! I use the shea butter on my freshly shaved legs, on my dry face and elbows and now I'm smelling great too.

And I've been trying something new in rinsing too. Usually I shampoo standing up with my hair down my back. Then I'd rinse bent over with my hair in front. I always felt I was ignoring the front part of my hair even though I made a determined effort to rinse well. So I've decided to rinse in the same position as I do the shampoo. That will ensure the front is rinsed well which is the problem area. I did it today and I haven't seen a flake yet! I'm holding my breath though. I sure hope this is a solution.