Your Questions, Answered

Oopsie!  I've been ignoring my questions on Formspring lately.

Question: Can you define yourself in 25 words or less?

Answer: No.

Real answer: I am a work-in-progress, glass-half-full, people-pleasing, laugher, eater, mother, wife, writer, sister, penny-in-the-fountain wisher, and lover of hyphenated words. (Is that less than 25?)

Question: Pros and cons to short and long curly hair?

Answer: Oh dear, prepare yourself with some strong caffeine, I'm about to write about my hair. I've spent the last two years growing my curly hair out. I had been sporting short curly hair for more than a decade and decided that at 31 years-old, this was my last window to grow my hair out. I envisioned that I would spend the remainder of my thirties with long, (artificially) golden locks. (And then I will mark my fortieth birthday with a short haircut and the purchase of several pair of mom jeans.) So I started growing it out. For what purpose? Perhaps to be able to answer this question.

The pros of long, curly hair are that when the stars align and the Hair Gods are pleased with the sacrifices made, a mane of long curly hair can be kind of spectacular and lovely. (Think Felicity and Carrie Bradshaw.) However, the reality is that the Hair Gods are extremely fickle and harder to please than a Jewish mother-in-law, which brings me to the cons of curly hair: most days my hair looks a little meh. (Think various, un-named muppets.) Plus, long hair (curly or straight) is hot in the summer. Most days I am sporting the loose, french twist with a spray of curls at the top, which sounds way more attractive than it actually is.

Now, for short curly hair. The pros are that you get a lot more good hair days, it is easier to straighten, and it's ever so sassy. Plus, you use a lot less product. The cons? Hmmmm. Crap, I can't think of any. This explains my secret desire to whack my hair off again.

Alright, I'm done writing about my hair. If you are still reading this, pat yourself on the back because you deserve it, Champ.

Question: Do you get depressed?

Answer: No and yes. I have definitely felt depressed at times in my life, but I don't think I have ever suffered clinical, long-term depression. My lowest lows were during times of great stress and also postpartum. I have been through some tough crap, trust me. I'm remembering one time in my life in particular right now. Christian was a baby, Ryan was in graduate school, and I had taken a second job on top of my full time job to keep us afloat. I was a mess inside and out. I felt like I was failing in every single area of my life and also felt guilty for bringing a baby into the world, only to spend most of my days away from him. I was definitely on the roller coaster of postpartum hormones and first-time-mother insecurities. I had occasional? frequent? thoughts that my family would be better off without me.

Another unfortunate thing going on in my head was a fear of leaning on Ryan. He had suffered from depression in the past and I was fearful that if I leaned on him, we might both topple over. It was faulty thinking, and I regret it.

Here's another thing about me: I have a hard time recognizing that I need help, and an even harder time asking for it. I don't remember the exact circumstances, but one day I was taking a drive with my dear friend Angie, and I opened up to her. Sort of an emotional vomit all over the front seat of her little white Honda. That was a big moment for me. And she responded with kindness and concern. She was willing to help me get help if I needed it, or give me a shoulder to cry on it if that would fit the bill. I felt immediate relief. (Did I ever thank you properly, Angie? Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!) Everything was going to be alright, she told me. My unhappiness was temporary, she assured me. It was everything she said that made me feel better, but it was also the sweet relief of having someone shoulder my burden. And it meant the world to me.

If you need help, it's okay to ask for it. That's a message for all of us, myself included.

Question: Did (or do) you hope to have a third child?

Answer: Sometimes I have, and sometimes I haven't. Sometimes I do, and sometimes I don't. That's the truth. Ryan tells me that one of the most grownup things we can do in life is accept our ambivalence about things. Look at me, all grownup.

Alright, that's enough for now, isn't it? Thanks for asking your questions.  I'll be posting soon about another question that's popped up a couple of times in my inbox about how I got my job and how to go about finding freelance writing work.

Until then, happy weekend!

Formspring is the New Spring

On the marginal chance that I haven't revealed everything about myself here on my blog, you can ask me an anonymous question on formspring. Let's play Q&A.

I'll update this post with some questions and answers throughout the weekend.

UPDATE! Alright, the questions have begun:

Can I have your hair?
Well, they say that everybody has their price. Make me an offer and let's see if we can find mine!

Do you plan on having more kids?
Probably not, but we never say never. Honestly, it's hard to head back into that baby phase when the kiddos start getting older. (Max will be seven(!) in two months.) Here's a funny story on this topic: The other day we spent some time with another couple who had a toddler girl. Afterward, Christian shook his head and said, "Well, I've decided that I definitely don't want any more kids!" And Max echoed, "Totally!" Okay, then, I guess we know how they feel.

Name an author and a musical artist who inspire you in your writing.
Let's see...in the author category, the obvious choice for me is Natalie Goldberg. I've used her book, Writing Down the Bones, for years as my writing tutor, inspiration, and cheerleader. But I'm terribly fickle when it comes to my current favorite--it is always the one I'm currently reading. But the authors that have made a lasting impression on me are Barbara Kingsolver, Elizabeth Gilbert, and most recently, J.D. Salinger. And music? I've never thought before about music inspiring my writing. My musical taste as I've gotten older has become more and more broad. I really enjoy a little of everything. I don't want you to feel cheated if I don't give a specific artist, so I will say Billy Joel because I have loved him the longest. And right behind him will be the Indigo Girls, even though I don't know if they have produced anything recently.

What is your favorite guilty pleasure? That you're embarrassed to admit?
My inability to stop watching the Real Housewives of Orange County and/or New York. But I am TOTALLY above watching the Real Housewives of Atlanta and/or New Jersey. Wanna know which reality show is missing from the lineup? The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. Oh mama! Set the DVR now!

Beaches or mountains?
Beaches. With french fries.

Favorite book of all time?
Grover and the Everything in the Whole Wide World Museum. It still sucks me in.

Let's say you and I want to get some good Chinese takeout. Since you are the master orderer, what would you order for us? (from Ginnie)
How about some egg drop soup, Garlic Chicken and then some Fuji Beef? I will also ask for four forks, so that they will think four people are eating and therefore give us four fortune cookies. That way, we'll each get a spare fortune cookie in case our first fortunes are dumb.

What are three things you miss about Utah, and three things you love about the East?
Utah: I miss family and friends, a wide selection of good Mexican food, and the Sunshine Sushi Roll at Tsunami. (Do you miss me too, Sunshine Roll? Do you?) East: I love the landscape, the diversity of people (I'm friends with Jews, Amish, and Unitarians!), and so many great cities to explore.

Have you chosen a title for your novel yet? If so, how did you choose it?
No, I haven't chosen one yet. Titling is not my strength. One of my college writing professors renamed every single thing I wrote in his class. My titles were all terribly cheesy.

And now I have a question for you: Do you formspring? Share your link if you do. I'd love to ask you a question or two.