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Guest Drive: Samantha Ford and Karen Rani of Craftastrophe.net
Sep 17 2009 by Kristin Varela
Let’s be honest, not all craft projects are good ideas. Sometimes they’re downright cheesy and tragic. On a Valentine’s Day date, I was taken to see the hilarious “Girls Only” The Secret Comedy of Women” at my local theater. During the comedy, the actresses made angel ornaments out of tampons (romantic, huh?). The hilarious blog Craftastrophe by Samantha Ford and Karen Rani, our snarky neighbors to the north, take aim at tampon angel ornaments and more.
In this Guest Drive, Karen and Sam give us a glimpse into their Canadian mom-lives. Sam has three boys, ages 31, 4 and 1, and drives a Chevy Malibu Maxx. Karen hauls her boys, ages 40, 10 and 5, in a green Ford Taurus mom-wagon — aka the Green Monster — that sports a rear-facing jump seat. We all aspire to drive one of those, eh?
What characteristics of your car embarrass you or your kids:
Sam: My kids are too young to know any different. Heck, they wouldn’t care if it were a wood-paneled station wagon at this age. What embarrasses me? The mess. Although it’s not the car’s fault. I am just lazy. The car can’t help that.
Karen: Nothing. The car has the rear-facing jump seat, and when my 10-year-old is back there with a friend, the friend is always like, “This is so cool.”
If you could design your own car, what would it look like and what features would you add?
Sam: My ideal car would be very sporty with a dark tint (so you can’t see me in my pjs as I race my kids to daycare on my day off). I’d have stereo capabilities in the front while they could watch DVDs in the back. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve listened to “Finding Nemo.” I can visualize the entire thing, I swear. What about a soundproof glass barrier? Is that pushing it?
Karen: I second the soundproof glass barrier. Also a rocket booster. My family is four hours away through Toronto on [Highway] 401, and it takes up to seven hours sometimes with traffic. Wings, too. Can I get wings?
Does your family have a favorite pastime to endure long road trips?
Sam: No secrets here. Movies and snacks. Take pee breaks, and invest in a good set of ear plugs.
Karen: Singing. We could totally be the Partridge Family with electric guitars.
Do you have any concerns specific to young drivers/passengers?
Sam: Texting and talking while driving. Hands down. Mind you, that isn’t just for new and/or inexperienced drivers. There’s nothing worse than drive alongside someone on the highway at 75 mph, and they’re not even looking at the road.
Karen: I text and drive. Totally busted. Young drivers don’t scare me; it’s the business suits that are doing 18 things at once while going 120 km/h down the 401.
Do your children have a favorite car?
Sam: Does Lightining McQueen count?
Karen: 10-year-old Dylan loves the Lamborghini Diablo, and 5-year-old Thomas says his Hot Wheels cars.
Do you consider yourself a multitasker while driving?
Sam: Ugh, yes. I limit my multitasking to talking, serving snacks, changing movies, eating, drinking and mediating. You’d almost think I was a flight attendant.
Karen: Yes, texting (I know, I know) and singing.
What is your favorite thing to listen to in the car? Do you rock out or do you enjoy the quiet serenity after drop-off?
Sam: Definitely rock out. I like it loud enough to drown out my singing but a few decibels below making my ears bleed. Karen, on the other hand, likes to have ringing in her ears for days after.
Karen: The louder the better. I love to sing.
