Piano Part Two

The 12 year old won’t drop it.  Now that she’s entering Middle school, and won a spot on the cheerleading squad, she’s pushing her pom pons and proclaiming there won’t be enough time for piano.  I’ve pretty much put my foot down and said, “OH YES YOU WILL.”  Today, though, I’m starting to crack.

The two of us were riding bikes talking about cheerleading when she hit it again, “Mom, I’ll have practice and games, and there won’t be time for piano.”  Last time she tried to argue that as someone who has free will, she should be able to decide.  The time argument is better, because I can see me running ragged, not just to get her where she needs to go, but nagging to get her to get some piano practice in.

I came back with the great argument that she would regret quitting now, later in life, when she sat down to the piano and yearned to play it.  I also pointed out, she is limiting her options as to careers and hobbies. I got the argument, “Mom!! I’m not going to be a singer.”

“I’m either going to be a marine biologist, a teacher or a banker.”  Lexy tried to convince me.   Then the bottom really fell out when in a nearly inaudbile voice she said, “or a news person.”

I pretended I didn’t hear that one, and went on to say, well what if you decide to enter the pageant world?  What will do you do for talent competition.  That’s when it dawned on me, that she’s clearly thinking this through.

“Well, I’m awesome at hula hooping.”    So being Anita Cochran, I’m just gonna leave it at that, because that’s what SHE really wanted to say.

 

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Four Hour Work Week

One of my twitter friends (@jeffroberson) recommended another good read.  This one is entitled “The Four Hour Work Week.   “Not four days, four HOURS.  I was kindling that so fast your head would spin.

Turns out I’m already on this track too, and I’m only a few chapters in.   I guess when people entertain the idea of going out on a limb, quitting a good paying job is always the first step, and Breaking News Folks:  I’m Broke because that’s what I did.   The great thing is the book is actually reinforcing for me that what I’m finding on my journey of living with less.  Many others have already travelled this path, and they two have discovered money isn’t power, time is.

Now delving into the reviews of the book, many people claim they don’t want a 4 hour work week, but I think they just don’t have a good idea of how they might spend their time otherwise.  I didn’t realize that while money would be tight, with time more plentiful the way I choose to spend my time would change.  For instance, I don’t hate cleaning my house.  I hated chores when I was working, because it felt like I was always working.  Now I can see the value and the rewards of making a home.

So while I haven’t finished the book yet, I’m pretty sure the author, Tim Ferriss, is on the right track, at least for those of us seeking more than what we’ve always been told we must want.  Breaking News Folks, I’m Anita Cochran, and I may be broke, but for the first time I’m really happy, and it has a lot more to do with how I’m spending my time, NOT how I’m spending my money.

 

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2.99, Yes They Are Out Of Their Minds

It’s done!!  The Spangles commercial featuring yours truly is ready to air, you’ll find it posted on anitacochran.tv, and of course on TV stations near you  soon.  The question probably begs to be answered, how different is it to be on camera for a 30 second commercial, versus a 30 minute newscast?  VERY.

   The biggest difference is the camera itself.  For 20 years, I was asked to talk to the camera, for this little dittie, I was to ignore the camera, and talk to myself.  Now, a lot of you might think I’m crazy, and we all know I talk a LOT, but I rarely talk to myself.  Really, someone is usually in the room at least ignoring me, giving me something to focus on.  So there I sat at Spangles, ignoring the camera, the camera people, Rene Steven, and customers, TALKING TO MYSELF.  I never felt more nutty in my life.  (Except maybe for when I was singing with Cindy Klose and Susan Peters at Gridiron!!)

   As for the next biggest challenge, it’s the bite and smile shot.  Next time you eat a burger, try it yourself or better yet, have someone video tape you.  You smile, take a big OLE yummy bite, then chew and smile again all at the same time.  Oh, and you have to keep your mouth closed so no one can see the food in your mouth.  Go ahead try it, hope you don’t choke on your burger!

  That said, it was a blast.  While I’m in no way qualified to replace Rene as the Spangles Spokesperson, it was such a thrill to step into her shoes, or more accurately, bite into her burger for a day.  I also found that Breaking News dudes, since I’m BROKE, the 2.99 deal for a full meal, really is good for the budget.  It’s even better for your budget if you star in the commercial, since I had trouble smile, chewing and smiling, it took me three Classic Supremes to get the shot.  Now, really Rene, did you think I was stupid?  No, I was milking it for free food, and if you’re really out of your minds you’ll ask me to do it again.  I’m Anita Cochran, you’re listening to KKRDonline.

The Nose KNOWS

Had to update you on the BFF’s nose ring.  It hasn’t been all smooth inhaling since she decided to pierce her nose.  Melissa you know, is a hairdresser, those girls can get away with ANYTHING.  I don’t even have a picture of her with it in, because ever since she decided she had to have it, it’s been in, out, down the drain and now perhaps, up her nose.

Yeah, word today as we Starbucksed was that she thinks the one she lost that didn’t fall down the sink, she may have actually inhaled during her sleep.   I’m starting to grow attached to the little jewel, not only does it give me something to concentrate on while I talk to her, it is a constant source of material.  Somedays when it’s kind of red, bordering on infection, I like to tell her she needs some Neosporin.  Other days when it’s got make-up caked around it, I honestly proclaim, it looks like a zit.  Then there are those days, when it’s kind of cute, but honestly, it is just soooo not her.    Melissa is a good girl she just looks like a party on wheels.

Today she says she’s done,because one of the nose jewels may be permanently embedded in her brain, or hanging somewhere along her esophagus.  Melissa, says she won’t be putting it back in, but give her a day and some wild hair will blow in her face, and she’ll think, I just don’t look hot enough unless I have a jewel in my nose.   Gotta admit, it makes for good stories, so I think I’m gonna show her the cleavage piercings afterall cause I bet the mileage we get out of those will be like twice as good!!!  I’m Anita Cochran, and I told her so, or at least, I should have because back when she said, I’m gonna get my nose pierced,that’s what I really wanted to say.

 

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We Shouldn’t Have

Let me step into the confessional and just say we shouldn’t have eaten out last night.  I think the hardest part of living with what seemed like an endless supply of money and NOT living with an endless supply of money, is that we have bad habits that are proving hard to break.

For us, celebrating often means going out to eat, and with the girls winning their golf championships we needed to party.  I sat there enjoying the whole show at Osaka’s but was mentally adding up  the bill as the shrimp began to fly, and apparently I can’t add any better than I catch shrimp in my mouth.  I kept thinking well, with two extra kids, the girls brought friends, and me only getting fried rice, we were probably doing a good 50 bucks worth of damage.  WRONG.  It was a 90 dollar bill, that at least included gratuity!  Now, to say I pulled out the debit card so fast your head would spin, would be an understatement, We shouldn’t have done it.  I knew that going in and I did it anyway.  I guess I need a good spanking, because   Breaking News Folks…I’m Anita Cochran and while I knew I was broke, after last nights little spending spree, today I’m even broker.

 

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What’s A Mom To Do?

They did it.  My 8 and 12 year old daughters won their 3 and 5 hole golf championships this week.  It’s a second title for the little one, and a third title for the big one….Momma is proud.

The thing is with five golf trophies in the house, the only one who can’t win in the future is me.  Take for instance this year. I was trying to be supportive so that the girls wouldn’t be under pressure to perform.  My nice comment went something like.  ”Hey if you don’t win, so what….you already have TWO titles!”  Lexy fired back with a semi-spiteful, “You don’t  even think I can do it!”  Ugh.

Of course, I hoped she could do it, but having been knocked down about seven billion times in my own life, and getting bloody noses, knees and other assorted body parts, I also know what it’s like to lose.  So far, my daughters don’t.  Every little victory of theirs makes me wonder how painful the big first loss will really be, and… maybe part of me does just want to get it over with.    The other part of me knows I’m not equipped to deal with their losses either.  So far, I’ve found my daughters successes have been much sweeter than my own, maybe I am just terrified their defeats will be even more devastating too, and frankly, I don’t know if I can take it, OR kiss it enough to make it better for them to get through it without tantrums, deep depression or at the very least major drama.  Oh well, at least for this golf season we’ve escaped!  Congrats Lexy and Tanza, would it have helped if I told you earlier, I expected you to win all along?  I’m Anita Cochran, and that’s what I really wanted to say.

 

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Upkeep Costs

So darling you look fabulous, I must know you’re secret.  Actually I’ve heard that a time or two, sometimes I could thank dieting, sometimes a good day at the pool gave me a tad more color, and in the old day Botox was my drug of choice, I give it a lot of credit.

So one of my former co-workers, yes you would know her, but I’m not divulging the name, asked me recently, how is this new money thing is going with my obvious high maintenance upkeep costs?  Well, Kelly Duffy, just fine thank you!  But you may be asking too, how can I afford the hair, the makeup, the botox.

The hair, always a good idea to keep a hairdresser in your back pocket.  Weird thing is, several of my closest friends are hairdressers, who I never went to in the TV days, because we had arrangements to go elsewhere.  For me, Melissa, the BFF now does what I want  her to do with my hair, for free.  Okay, I do her toenails in exchange, and trust me,  she gets the better deal, but its a barter system that I’m very fond of.

I haven’t bought new makeup since I left the TV job, I’m way low, so in a couple weeks if I look tired you’ll know why.  I also have given up the botox, for the last year, I haven’t touched it.  Not because I don’t want to, but because I can’t afford it.  Thing is, I no longer crave it, like I used to either.   Now that I have time to enjoy my wrinkles, I’m sort of actually growing fond of them.  Which isn’t to say I’ll be this way forever.  I’m working on a deal for a Botox barter than I think will be good for all of us, yes, you’ll be totally in on this deal too.  But for now, Breaking News folks, I’m broke, so if Anita Cochran looks even halfway decent, you better credit clean living, cause there ain’t enough money for it to be anything else.

 

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Girl Meets Boys

Holy Schmoly, I think I figured out why God never gave me a boy.  At one point in my life, I wished for boys only, so that I could be the Queen of my family.  Turns out I’m the Queen anyway and thanks to two daughters have at least some idea of  what I’m doing.  Today at golf, overseeing three 8 to 10-year old boys was an eye-opener.

First off, little boys talk….a lot.  I could barely keep things straight because two of the three would be telling me stories.  Obviously both were looking at me at the same time!  Are you telling me they couldn’t see my head bouncing back and forth trying desperately to keep up, did they honestly think that was normal?  I ended up letting them blabber and ignoring them, like the men they will become, they didn’t even notice!

Then there’s this thing called, cheating.  Okay, maybe they were just in a real hurry, but as each kid got to his golf ball, he’d whack away, to heck with golf etiquette and who was suppose to go NEXT..   Then I realized what they were really doing was trying to get in a few swings I wouldn’t see and thus count on their score card.  I let them know right off who was in charge, and they didn’t try that again, their future wives can thank me in 20 years.

Finally, there’s this little item of keeping score.  Don’t get me wrong, little girls are keeping score, but when they ask what they got on the last hole, they aren’t sure.  When little boys ask, they’re testing you.  First they want to see, if you maybe missed a swing or two (remember the cheating) then they challenge you, to make it appear like you are wrong.  Dudes, I’m a 45 year old cougar, while I may be new at little boys, I know exactly where you’ll end up, and it won’t be with me saying, OOPS, you’re right!   Because here’s what the little boys didn’t know.   I’m Anita Cochran, and I once was a little girl, which makes me right from the get go, and that’s what I really wanted to say!!

 

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I’ve been PINKED

Those of you who follow me on Facebook have probably seen every outfit I own, because I’m kind of into posting pictures.  Back in the day, if it was Facebooked I wasn’t wearing it again…..but now that I’m un- I mean self-employed that rule is out the window.

Luckily for me, one of my favorite stores has moved to Wichita.   The one time El Dorado staple has hit East Wichita.  Now, thanks to Brooke at Pink Saloon you won’t have to drive any further east than the corner of Douglas and Oliver, to get  pinked?

What exactly does that mean, that means the new outfits you noticing are styled by Brooke with clothing, only she could hand pick at market.
And yes some of the funky jewelry you see, comes from there too.   Best part is, much of it is  affordable.

I can’t really say that about  her jeans selection though, she carries my favorite really expensive kind which so far I’ve resisted!!

So far, I’ve had the pleasure of  hitting the red carpet in a Voom Dress, worked on a TV show teaser in a great Shirtdress,

and shot a Spangles’s commercial with a saucy little black and blue check shirt.    Who knows what I’ll be wearing next, but as I mentioned if it’s worth photographing, it’s probably from Pink Saloon, because if anyone’s shopping in a saloon, it would have to be Anita Cochran, and for along time, that’s what I really wanted to say!  See ya at the Saloon!!

 

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Tomato Test

Okay, this is a test, a test of the taste of homegrown tomatoes bought at the Farmer’s Market in West Wichita Saturday.   Because I’m pinching pennies, I’m actually paying attention to prices, and I remember last year going to market picking up tomatoes and dropping 20 bucks.  Thing is back then I’d pay it, well, duh, I did pay it…..but I’d do it again, if they tasted good.  They did not.

SOOOOOO, this year, I bought from three different stands, at three different prices and wanted to see which tasted the best.   If this sounds alot like the test of my new bedding, stay with me, it ends the same too.

Of course, the big beauties I bought, a total of four tomatoes that cost me six bucks, tasted a lot like ….um, nothing.  Yep, too pretty to have any taste, the guy says they were raised up NORTH, but I forgot to ask if he dug them down south, like from THE GROUND, or were they grown in sawdust.

I had high hopes for my 2 dollar bag of  seven smaller tomaters, but that was not a love affair that would last, once I pulled them out of the bag, I had to cut so many holes out of them you’d swear they were swiss cheese, the taste was pretty good, but it made slicing up a plate and having them for lunch let’s say….difficult.

It was the three medium size tomatoes I spent three bucks on that tasted like the tomatoes we ate fresh off the vine down on the farm… Those puppies  were grown in the ground near Manhattan (yes I asked! and I know exactly where the booth is located.)  SO here’s my advice tomato lovers.  Don’t buy too big, don’t buy too perfect, and always ask whether the roots got dirty, if they didn’t put the tomato down and walk away, because breaking news folks:  I’m Anita Cochran, and I’m broke,so spending money on tomatoes that don’t taste like tomatoes would be dumber than ever don’t you think?

 

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