following up on the last post...

If you've seen any recent pictures of Reese on his blog, you may have noticed that his hair has grown quite a bit. It has now taken on a very late 60's look, being very long and fluffy.

So, the other night he was on the computer and I had grown bored of whatever activity I had been doing. I decided it was time for his head to be covered in little pony tails. If one's hair is long enough to be played with, it ought to be from time to time.


There are five of these on his head. The one in front may look a bit silly, but believe it or not, I've seen quite a few Japanese girls and young women sporting something similar.






Then after that I decided to get bold and try something I've never tried before. I jokingly said that I should braid it next, and he said why not? The results of my first ever attempt really weren't too bad.






Not bad, eh?
But wait, it was so fun, we did it again last night! With better results.
















His hair doesn't hold it very well because of it's smooth texture so it's hard to get it to stay. I did it a second time last night with gel so he could wear it to school today. I think the kids will go crazy. It'll be interesting to hear what the teachers did. I'm putting my money on double takes and then pretending they didn't notice anything at all, as is so typically Japanese. Of course they'll talk behind his back, and also likely, in front of him because they forget he can understand most of what they say.


Anyway, fun times here. I do have to say though that I have a new found admiration for hair stylists who have to stand all day long. They also have very strong fingers and hands. Mine were pretty tired by the end of this. Because of inexperience and rebellious hair, it took me between an hour and a half and two hours each time. Quite a project for six little braids.

boredom sparks creativity

Question: what do two people do when it's too cold to go outside, you don't want to read, you've watched all the movies, you've played cards way too many times, and you're completely bored? Answer: You make your own monopoly game! Yes, that's right. We decided to craft our own game after having passed up buying the overpriced board game at the Saga Toy R Us, and having a failed online game attempt. We looked up the Seattle version of the game and then exchanged a few of the properties for a few of our own ideas. Additionally, Maurice rewrote all of the chance and community chest cards. Hours and hours (spread out over three days) of cutting, idea tossing, coloring, pasting, handing cramping writing, etc have ended in a nicely polished game that is so cool it will be going home with us in the end!!

Check it out!















Also, you gotta read some of these cards that Reese wrote. I contributed a few ideas, and a special thanks to Brittany for a few of hers, but most of it is the cleverness of my husband.

Community Chest selections:
-Settle a lawsuit out of court. Pay $150 and buy them a new dog.
-Got inspired by President Jimmy Carter! Start and endowment. Pay $100... and get liberal college students on summer break to build your next house.
-Low wages! No benefits! Yesss! Move labor overseas. Due to reduced costs, Collect $145.
-Your shady dealings finally catch up with you. Go to Jail, punk! And don't even thinkg of taking $200 for passing GO.
-"Help to governor with a "problem". Someday you may call upon him to do a favor. Get out of Jail free. (and that day may never come).

Chance selections:
-Caffeine time! Go to Starbucks and get your fix! Pay $15. (thanks Britty).
-One too many dead bodies, cat-sized rats, and fires are found in your establishments. The city's got to condemn it. Sell back on house/hotel back the bank at half value.
-Schmooze a rich powerful windbag you secretly despise. Pay $25... and plot his comeuppance!
-Time to be a weasel! Strike a deal with the justice department to cover your own butt. Send another player to jail.
-Goose liver! Brand names! Fish eggs. Eurocrap! Only the best for this guest. If it's gaudy, firvolous, or wasteful, they need it! Pay an extra $50 to the owner of the next property you stay at.
-You acquire a picture of one of the other players commiting an act so foul their own mother would punch them in the mouth. Don't pay rent on the next property visited. ...oh, it's foul...
-Activists demanding envirofriendly facilities. Pay $25 per house, $100 per hotel... for solar cells to shut the hippies up!
-You're caught speeding. ...and not wearing a seatbelt. ...and carrying a kilo of pure columbian coke. Go directly to Jail. No passing GO for you!
-Insider tip on starter company's stock pays off! Collect $150. ...and once again fight the realization you are an immoral selfish, materialistic, shallow, shell of a person.

Those were just some of my favorites. :D

I got my booty kicked when we first played, with two players a piece. Perhaps tonight I'll do better. Oh yeah, and an intruiging extra rule:
when there is more than one player per person, there is a role of the dice when trading goes on between that person's players in order to avoid sketchy trading between companies owned by the same person. The role determines whether the business transaction went unnoticed, or whether the dodgey trading IS noticed and the players are sent to jail, the companies are confiscated from both players and then auctioned off. Ohhhh... tricksy!!