1. Man, what a week. We were lucky down here in middle of NC to only get some rain and wind from Hurricane Sandy, although our mountains got hit with snow and our beaches damaged from the water. I’ve watched the coverage of New York and New Jersey and just feel SO helpless that I can’t somehow send some of our power, our generator, our normalcy up there. I know from hurricanes and ice storms we’ve been through how tough it is to keep your spirits up, especially after those adrenalized first few days. People will be okay, and will rebuild. But they’ll need our help. If you can donate to the Red Cross, please do.
2. But then there’s this:
I have no reason for posting this other than it makes me laugh. This is Will, who works for my husband, holding one of our furry footed chickens. Apparently, something is hysterical. They laugh a LOT while they are working. Boys.
3. In other picture news, I have finally updated my author photo. It was time. I got the last one taken back in 2008, right before that election. Since then my kid has grown and changed, and it shows on my face, which is a BIT more weathered, by which I mean, TIRED. Since I hit forty, when I first wake up in the morning I look like I’ve taken a frying pan squarely to the face. It’s not pretty, folks. But luckily my friend Kristin, who runs a company called KPO Photo, can work magic with light, lenses and Photoshop. We took a BUNCH of shots, and narrowed them down to a top four. This is the one I finally went with:
I like the orange behind me: it reminds me of Tang, that powdered drink that was all the rage back in my childhood in the 1970s. The astronauts drank it! Remember? Okay, maybe not. Anyway, this will be the shot on my new book, which I am HOPING I will able to tell you more about (and share the cover!) very, very soon. Fingers crossed. And no frying pans. Please.
4. We are FINALLY past Halloween, and I have to say, I’m kind of relieved. I was never one to be big into the whole costume thing: after college, I kind of phased it out, preferring instead to focus on the candy part of the holiday. Once I had my kid, though, and she was old enough to get into the swing of it, I was sucked RIGHT back in. No choice in the matter. In fact, we celebrate Halloween around here ALL YEAR LONG, with a haunted house pretty much constantly set up on our second floor. This is what I see whenever I pass the guest bathroom:
Why, yes, that IS a giant giraffe wearing a zombie mask. It has been in the bathroom since June, and STILL scares the crap out of me every single time I walk in there, especially when it is dark. I have tried to remove it, only to be resisted totally. My nerves are worn thin, to say the least. But anyway, this year we decided to go with a royal theme, since my daughter is princess obsessed and was dressing as Sleeping Beauty. I was Snow White, and my husband was a king, with robe and scepter. Because my “Sassy” Snow White costume was a BIT shorter than I anticipated (why, oh WHY are all women’s costumes partially or totally slutty? I don’t get it) I wore it with leggings and flats instead of the heels I’d planned. I got some odd looks, especially when we were out for dinner. But there are worse reasons for people to stare, I guess:
Coco is behind me, functioning as the eighth dwarf: Crazy. But I guess that could apply to me as well, especially this week. Anyway, at least there is candy.
5. Speaking of candy, though, this week we went to the dentist and my kid has TWO cavities. Oh, the horror. And the shame, considering this is an open office and everyone can hear the hygienist lecturing you about 1) not getting xrays for your five year old and 2) not flossing her teeth enough. I was so guilt ridden, it was like I’d spent a week with my family. (I’m joking! I love my family. And I don’t need them to feel guilty, I do that All On My Own, Pretty Much Constantly.) And then the news about cavities, and I just wanted to crawl under the closest chair and hide. Sigh. This parenting thing, it’s not for wimps. I’m honestly doing the best I can, under the circumstances (as Owen Armstrong would say) and the circumstances are always changing. It’s like aiming for a moving target: you just get as close as you can, pull the trigger, and hope for the best. I’m trying to limit the candy from her treat bag, floss more, and brush multiple times a day, even if it is too little, too late. Nobody can say I don’t give my best, even after the fact. At least, they better not say it in earshot.
6. Yeah, I know this is a Five, but like I said, it’s been a long week. And I know a lot of folks up north don’t have much to smile about. When I’m down, I find a little Carlton Dance can always cheer me up. So if you have power, take twenty seconds and watch this. I don’t think you’ll regret it.
Have a good weekend, everyone!
I look like I’ve been hit with the toaster whenever I wake up. Ugh. And I have had to bring my kid in to get two crowns. SUPER SHAME. Fortunately, kid #2 is cavity free. (He didn’t scream whenever I brushed, so perhaps that is why.)
Love the pic, and can’t wait to hear about the book news!
Sasha just had cavities in her baby teeth, right? That means there’s plenty of time for her to grow healthy adult ones and for you to teach her about brushing and flossing! It’s not too late at all.
Your Snow White costume is adorable!
Love the picture, it turned out great! I have to say, I can barely brush my 2 yr old’s teeth ONCE a day, let alone floss. I do not get how you’re supposed to floss a little kid’s teeth. And standing your ground about the xrays shouldn’t make you feel guilty- you should be proud! You’re the mama and have to do what you think is best for your kid.
Oh, and thanks for the carlton link. I needed that today. In fact, I have something tomorrow that I’m very nervous about and have decided I will just pull that up on my phone everytime I start to feel to anxious, lol.
I had forgotten how funny Carlton Banks was! Thanks for the laugh!
Don’t feel bad about the cavity. It is only by good genes and sheer lucky that my 7 year old hasn’t had one. His idea of brushing is putting the toothbrush in his mouth and then dancing around–like Carlton. No actual brushing takes place unless I do it for him, which I feel I shouldn’t have to do because he’s 7! Those little flossers work well and make it easier for kids to floss, though. I only know this becuase my 10 year old IS a good brusher and flosser!
The only time frying pans are awesome is when they’re frying food or being used in Tangled
Love the new author photo and CAN’T WAIT for the new book!
I wouldn’t sweat the kid-cavity thing. A dentist friend of mine told me it’s just being discovered how some people have a genetic propensity for cavities due to a variety of factors, like acidity in the saliva (sorry to get gross). But parenting definitely isn’t for wimps either way.
We had no Halloween in NJ – second hurricane cancellation in a row! Thanks for your words of sympathy. Where I am it’s all trees and power lines down but when I see the images of my seashore town I want to cry. The Jersey shore is where most New Jerseyans spend their childhood summers. We aren’t allowed in yet and I think our house was mostly water damaged but the town was hit so hard. So sad.
I also have family on the East Coast. Actually, I had to fly out of Washington D.C. to get home to Colorado, because I was visiting family in New Jersey. I am utterly terrified and I am praying for each and every one of those 60 million people that is/was affected. Best to all of you, and have a great and relaxing weekend!
Aw, I really love this post! Especially the 6th. I love the Carlton dance. And I live in Pennsylvania and am thankful to be safe and sound with power and nothing damaged, however my town did get hit pretty hard with winds in the upper 70′s. I’ve had off from school this whole week and so I’m ready to go back. But it seems so hard to watch all the coverage of the hurricane, especially web it hits so close to home…literally. I mean, it’s the beaches and boardwalks I’ve gone to since I was little – including the one that where I first went in the ocean. Not to mention NY, my favorite state and where I loved to visit friends, family, shows and concerts…but on a happier note, I also loved your Halloween update. Your costume doesn’t look so short but I do agree with how I don’t understand the slutty side of costumes:/ but I was Snow White last year (with the long version). But really, thanks for putting a smile on my face with this post. And thank you everyone for keeping the east coast in your thoughts and prayers
I enjoyed watching Carlton. Thanks for that!
Love the new book photo Sarah! You look pretty and I love the pop of orange.
My night just got infinitely better because 1. that Carlton dance 2. the Owen reference. Just what I needed to perk me up during this stressful time. As always, thanks Sarah!
My father is a dentist and he would never xray a child so young. His best advice is to brush your teeth very very well before going to bed and also brush for at least two minutes to clean the plaque that causes cavities. Flossing for young children is down on his list. I bought my kids the oral b electric toothbrush, you can purchase them at Target, Walmart etc. Make sure you buy one with a two minute timer, the toothbrush makes a noise after two minutes. If you can’t find one with a timer use a sand timer like my father did,I know old school or some kind of electric timer. Also your picture looks great! Now that I gave you advice about teeth brushing, I think you should keep your hair at its length, but have a side fringe ,by that I mean a side bang. Hope I have not stepped out of line.
I love that you are an advocate for helping those hit by hurricane Sandy. It’s always nice to know your favorite author is also an extraordinary person.
I LOVE that picture of Will, it made me laugh when I saw it! On the other hand, your new author picture is SO pretty. I really like it
Thanks for the great blog post, can’t wait to read more next week!
Sarah, perhaps honey would be better instead of sweets, considering the health of teeth ?
As a consolation, probably the causes of cavity are not well known …….
1. Your author photo is gorgeous!!! Nice work! (This makes me nostalgic for the very early days of your blog, when you would debate about the closed mouth smile and your dislike for the open mouthed smile … and look! It turned out so nice!)
2. My mum didn’t take me to the dentist before I was 6 or 7 because she hated the dentist so much … so you’re ahead there!
3. I feel like it is so easy to feel criticized, to feel like you are doing things wrong and that there are so many things you should do better. At least that is how my nervous, insecure self feels. I feel like people often point out when we are doing something wrong, but are less inclined to just point out when we are doing something right. Or maybe they are saying it, but we just don’t hear it. Anyways, my anecdote to this is trying to look at the bigger picture and listening to Dar Williams “You’re Aging Well” on repeat. Hang in there; I don’t know you in real life but you seem like you are doing a great job.
Love your costume and the zombie-giraffe!
Anticipating your new book….. (WAITING………:( 
Okay, so I have been reading your blog for a few years now. Off and on to see updates on your upcoming books, but I’ve NEVER commented before
I love reading your Friday Five… And I have to say that I’m so glad you updated your Author Photo. Your old one was good too, but this new one is great!
That zombie giraffe is terrifying! I don’t blame you for wanting it removed.
On another note, your new author picture is so pretty! Your hair and skin look so soft.
First things first, my nine year old brother decided to leave his tomahawk from Halloween in our share bathroom, in the laundry basket, so when I went to go take them to the wash, I was scared pretty much to the point of having a heart attack. So, I can completely relate. About the chickens, my Great-Grandma-Maw wanted peacocks, so we got her baby ones, and she loved them, even the one with the fuzzy tuft on his face. And you make an awesome Snow White. Just saying, it’s so much cooler than me- a sock monkey. ‘Nuff Said.
I know, I know, totally awkward to post twice in a row, but this is super important!! Mrs.Sarah,I don’t even know if you’ll read this, but… I just wanted to know if in the next five, you’ll add a list of songs that go with each book? Pleeeeease? It would make my week, not that you’r blogs don’t already, and it would help with this report I’m doing on Someone Like You! Thanks, if you’ll do it, whatever if you don’t. Just had to ask.
re: the allergy thing; there is a strong school of thought that holds that allergies are linked to insufficient exposure to potential allergens at a young age. Ever heard the old saying about ‘eating a peck of dirt before you die’? Anyway, if you keep things clean without going all Napalm-y on the dirt, keep some kiddie sudafed or whatever on hand just in case, and keep a careful eye on her symptoms just in case things get a bit dodgy, you ought to be just fine, and are probably helping her future immune system.
Love your picture. Looks great!
Can’t wait for Christmas (not a big fan of Halloween, even though I went out as a Surgeon).