It works!

Hey! The laundry soap works great! I made a dry version--got the recipe from my blog buddy Melissa, and it is doing great so far. I washed Handyman's winter carhart overhauls (ewwwww), some bathroom rugs, sheets, regular clothes, etc. No issues yet. I love the fresh smell of the Naptha--sort of zippy. Of course there are no suds, which is a mental hurdle for most of us. But my new washer ($175 on clearance at Lowes)does this funky, slinky little agitation, VERY quietly, that stops whenever you lift the lid. Soooooo, I've learned that I can't watch it anyway, so I just don't think about the no-suds thing. Everything's clean so far.

This is a big weekend in our neck of the woods--large auto race in the neighborhood. The great part for us is that the flyover jets cruise over our house 4-5 times every time they perform. Last year, I swear they changed their course to buzz our house, after they saw me and the dudettes wearing black and white and waving wildly in the field. They went over today several times for their practice and they went over last weekend for the qualifications weekend or the Vietnam Vet commemoration, not sure which. Anyway, tomorrow, we'll be out there, waving again.

Today was the big parade downtown and Handyman had a big role in shooting it. I remembered that several years #1 has gone with him and gotten to watch firsthand. So, this year, he took #2, since #1 was at a special Jane Austen themed sleepover. Well, if it wasn't the bees knees! They left the house sometime around 4:30 am to head to their position downtown. #2 got to sleep some in the truck (with the butt warmers on) while Handyman set up. Several of his close friends were working the broadcast booth all day and I had heard that Julianne Hough from Dancing With the Stars was going to be making an appearance in the booth. I asked one of our friends to try, please try, to get two autographs from her, for #1 and #2.

Now we watch Dancing With the Stars. Other than NFL, some NASCAR and the late news, that's all the tv we see. And the only tv that receives any signal is in our bedroom. This was our second season to watch it. We watch movies of our choosing, but not even that, frequently. So, we're pretty conservative with the tv, and how we got started watching DWTS is all my fault. Somehow, I can make the leap that it's still worth watching.

There is plenty about Dancing with the Stars that I do not like. We talk a lot about the skimpy outfits, and Handyman and I have them close their eyes/ears for most of the commercials (the Bachelor, Lost, Desperate Housewives, etc.). There are some dance moves that are pretty objectionable and we talk about those too--"yikes! That sure isn't pretty! What do they think they're doing?!"

But we like watching people work at it and improve (or not) and be critiqued and be motivated. And we like watching the pros and the live tv angle is pretty cool too! (We saw Marie Osmond faint!) Even Handyman watches, although he tries to pretend that it's because he wants to go to bed and we are all there in his way. My kids know who Jason Taylor plays for now and that the NFL theme song is a Paso Doble. #2 asked me about a particular star and who was she, really...when I answered "Elvis' wife", she was shocked. "I didn't know he was even married!" ;)

Anyway, all this to say, that #2 got to meet someone she greatly admires--Julianne Hough, the 2-time season champion of Dancing with the Stars--last year with Helio Castroneves (race car driver) and the previous season (which we didn't watch) with Apolo Anton Ono. Julianne did come to the booth and spoke graciously to #2 and we are anxiously awaiting the photo to be emailed to us (since I did not get up at 4am to locate my camera--loser Mom!)

#2 was VERY thrilled. I think this is her first celebrity. I'm glad it was someone so nice. Handyman meets and works with LOTS of celebrities. He refuses to be impressed, for lots of reasons. Mostly because a lot of them aren't impressive. Secondly, because it is unprofessional to be in awe, I guess. I still haven't forgiven him for not introducing #1 to Peyton Manning last year on a shoot. They were right there, together!

I'm sure she'll be wanting to work with him again soon!