Tomorrow evening I'm going to my first-ever crop. It's at Ever Remembered and I have to admit that I go back and forth between anxiety and anticipation. I don't know what I want to work on and I don't know what to bring....
At any rate, the crop will be an all-nighter. I figure I'll try to hang until 1:30 or so before I call it a night.
Oh yeah, I turned in the tag book I was making for the store and Terry and Monica loved it AND they officially asked me to be on the ER's design team! Yay! I'm excited. Just like KNK, ER has presented me scrap challenges that make me look at different things differently. I'd have never done a tag book but now I have and I am pretty happy with how it turned out.
Anyway, when Monica updates the ER site with the DT profiles I'll post a link.
Hmmm, what else? I am looking forward to the upcoming three-day weekend and cannont wait until this time next week when the big Anne Stevens meeting will be behind me. That's about all for now so
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Thursday, May 25, 2006
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Shout Outs
I gotta show some love to Shannon, Heather and Carrie. Apparently you ladies still check to see what's up in my boring "A" blog. Gotta tell you all, it made me feel kinda good that you left me some comments after my two-month hiatus. I mean it when I say, "You're the best!"
'K, so here's a little bit of what I have been up too. Lunch pails! Yeah I know I'm all late and stuff but I was experiencing much anxiety. You know the kind, "What if I totally screw this up and it looks like crap." Obviously I got over it and here are the results …
Need to go and check out KI's Uptown per Shannon's suggestion for the one I'm planning for Dave. Hey I'd better get right on that - I could get it done just in time for Father's Day!
Now that I'm over the anxiety of ruining the lunchpails/wasting my money, I'm beginning to stress over hosting another huge meeting at work with another top exec. Does it ever end?
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'K, so here's a little bit of what I have been up too. Lunch pails! Yeah I know I'm all late and stuff but I was experiencing much anxiety. You know the kind, "What if I totally screw this up and it looks like crap." Obviously I got over it and here are the results …
Need to go and check out KI's Uptown per Shannon's suggestion for the one I'm planning for Dave. Hey I'd better get right on that - I could get it done just in time for Father's Day!
Now that I'm over the anxiety of ruining the lunchpails/wasting my money, I'm beginning to stress over hosting another huge meeting at work with another top exec. Does it ever end?
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Monday, May 15, 2006
I'm on a Roll
Two posts in one day after none for two months. Oh well I just had to share that Dave wants me to make him a BasicGrey lunch pail. We were looking at my 3J pail and he said, "That's ... that's ... that's phenomenal!" Just like the guy in the Sprint commercial. Yeah, corny I know but he really likes it and he asked to make him one basically about his love of cars. Shan, if your reading this, do you have any PP ideas?
On a much more serious and sadder note, I went to Robert's mother's funeral today. I cried even though I didn't really know his mother. Me crying at anybody's funeral is truly par for the course. I got to see a few people that Dena and I went to college with. Good grief did some of them look, ahem, aged. I had to ask Dena if we look that, ahem, much like them. We, with our rinse-tinted hair, impeccably applied make-up, and control top panty hose had no idea how they let themselves go and agreed that we could both still pass for thirty-somethings!
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On a much more serious and sadder note, I went to Robert's mother's funeral today. I cried even though I didn't really know his mother. Me crying at anybody's funeral is truly par for the course. I got to see a few people that Dena and I went to college with. Good grief did some of them look, ahem, aged. I had to ask Dena if we look that, ahem, much like them. We, with our rinse-tinted hair, impeccably applied make-up, and control top panty hose had no idea how they let themselves go and agreed that we could both still pass for thirty-somethings!
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My Mother's Day ...
My Mother's Day was the best. In a way I guess I actually began celebrating it on Friday. I had a long weekend, as I took Friday off to attend the MegaMeet with Dale. Had a ton of fun. Spent a mint but that's okay.
Saturday I drove to Hamtramck and spent the day with my mother. I'd orginally planned to spend the actual holiday with her but decided that I wanted to spend that day vegetating.
Anyway I gave my mom the Maya Road coffee tin and altered chipboard flower book that I made her. She cried. It kind of caught me off guard. She looked through it and smiled and told me how much she liked it. Then she passed it to my father. He looked through it too and said it was nice, then gave it back to her. It was during her second look-thru that I noticed she was crying. I just kind of pretended not to notice. I'm glad I trid my hand at the lunch tins. They are becoming my favorite new thing to do. I've made five so far.
On Mother's Day I had breakfast in bed. Dave cooked bacon and sausage and eggs. Grits too. He bought coffee cake too. To drink I had coffee and orange juice. He offered to take me shopping or give me money but I said I was "good." After all, I did have the new Quickutz Sunshine set. That early gift was enough. The kids all gave me their school project gifts but I have to say that the one Justin's teacher came up with brought tears to my eyes. It was a poem about fingerprints and how children grow older and grow up. At the bottom was Justin's signature, his handprint and his spring school picture. Ms. LeBeouf must have found the picture frames at a dollar store or something - the frame was actually quite nice. I am still trying to decide if I want to take it to work and sit on my desk or put it on the mantle here at home.
Anyway, the only other thing I did on Mother's Day was scrap. I brought everything I needed into the bedroom and scrapped while Dave watched television and got some organizing done. I started working on the 7 Gypsies tag book that Ever Remembered asked me to work on. I took the Fancy Pants LO into the store on Saturday and Monica asked if I would mind completing another project for them to display. I was again honored and said "of course." Being on the KNK DT and completing projects for ER is what I like to refer to as "creativity on demand." Sometimes it takes me so far out of my comfort zone but I love it. I really enjoy being asked to work with paper and material that I might not have otherwise considered. I LOVE how the Fancy Pants LO turned out!!! I love some of the LOs I've done for KNK too and seeing how the other DT members use the kits. It's all so inspiring.
Anyway, I must have worked on the tag book for a couple of hours before my muse started napping so I moved on the the BG lunchpail that I wanted to make for Jared. I pretty much knew what I wanted to do with it so it didn't matter that my muse was slumbering. I got the pail and all of the inserts covered. I love it.
I loved my Mother's Day. I wasn't bothered at all by the gloomy, rainy weather. It was actually a great backdrop to my day. If it had been bright, sunny and warm I'd have felt obligated to go out and would not have been so productive.
Now back to the daily grind. I've been up since Dave's alarm went off at 4:00. Couldn't go back to sleep - started thinking about some things I need to get done at work. Also, checked my cell phone voice mail. There was a message from Dena that Robert's mother passed away and the funeral is today. I'm going to try and take a long lunch to attend ... How yesterday must have sucked for Robert, Greg and Vivian.
I'm not really looking forward to the workday ahead of me but by the time I get home I should have two boxes waiting for me - one from Rocky Mountain Hobbies and one from 4Ever Scappin'.
Can't believe its been more than two months since I last blogged. Haven't had much to report.
Oh well. It's 6:33 AM. Maybe I'll lie down for a few minutes before I have to get up.
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Saturday I drove to Hamtramck and spent the day with my mother. I'd orginally planned to spend the actual holiday with her but decided that I wanted to spend that day vegetating.
Anyway I gave my mom the Maya Road coffee tin and altered chipboard flower book that I made her. She cried. It kind of caught me off guard. She looked through it and smiled and told me how much she liked it. Then she passed it to my father. He looked through it too and said it was nice, then gave it back to her. It was during her second look-thru that I noticed she was crying. I just kind of pretended not to notice. I'm glad I trid my hand at the lunch tins. They are becoming my favorite new thing to do. I've made five so far.
On Mother's Day I had breakfast in bed. Dave cooked bacon and sausage and eggs. Grits too. He bought coffee cake too. To drink I had coffee and orange juice. He offered to take me shopping or give me money but I said I was "good." After all, I did have the new Quickutz Sunshine set. That early gift was enough. The kids all gave me their school project gifts but I have to say that the one Justin's teacher came up with brought tears to my eyes. It was a poem about fingerprints and how children grow older and grow up. At the bottom was Justin's signature, his handprint and his spring school picture. Ms. LeBeouf must have found the picture frames at a dollar store or something - the frame was actually quite nice. I am still trying to decide if I want to take it to work and sit on my desk or put it on the mantle here at home.
Anyway, the only other thing I did on Mother's Day was scrap. I brought everything I needed into the bedroom and scrapped while Dave watched television and got some organizing done. I started working on the 7 Gypsies tag book that Ever Remembered asked me to work on. I took the Fancy Pants LO into the store on Saturday and Monica asked if I would mind completing another project for them to display. I was again honored and said "of course." Being on the KNK DT and completing projects for ER is what I like to refer to as "creativity on demand." Sometimes it takes me so far out of my comfort zone but I love it. I really enjoy being asked to work with paper and material that I might not have otherwise considered. I LOVE how the Fancy Pants LO turned out!!! I love some of the LOs I've done for KNK too and seeing how the other DT members use the kits. It's all so inspiring.
Anyway, I must have worked on the tag book for a couple of hours before my muse started napping so I moved on the the BG lunchpail that I wanted to make for Jared. I pretty much knew what I wanted to do with it so it didn't matter that my muse was slumbering. I got the pail and all of the inserts covered. I love it.
I loved my Mother's Day. I wasn't bothered at all by the gloomy, rainy weather. It was actually a great backdrop to my day. If it had been bright, sunny and warm I'd have felt obligated to go out and would not have been so productive.
Now back to the daily grind. I've been up since Dave's alarm went off at 4:00. Couldn't go back to sleep - started thinking about some things I need to get done at work. Also, checked my cell phone voice mail. There was a message from Dena that Robert's mother passed away and the funeral is today. I'm going to try and take a long lunch to attend ... How yesterday must have sucked for Robert, Greg and Vivian.
I'm not really looking forward to the workday ahead of me but by the time I get home I should have two boxes waiting for me - one from Rocky Mountain Hobbies and one from 4Ever Scappin'.
Can't believe its been more than two months since I last blogged. Haven't had much to report.
Oh well. It's 6:33 AM. Maybe I'll lie down for a few minutes before I have to get up.
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Saturday, March 11, 2006
RIP Oreo
Jared's pet hamster, Oreo, died today. Oddly enough, I feel just a tad bit sad for the little rodent. Not sure why though. I mean, I had to remind Jared every week to clean his cage. For that matter, I had to constantly question Jared about the last time Oreo had food or water. I was the one who thought enough of Oreo to cut up some apples for him as an occasional special treat - Jared never did that for him. Every other month or so, we had to buy Oreo a new water bottle because he'd chewed a hole in the old one. The fact is, I don't know how many times I thought to myself, "I'll be glad when that damned thing dies because Jared is just not responsible enough."
Jared and Jordyn came in our room this morning saying that Oreo looked really bad, like he was dead. I told Dave to go and check and could hear him say, "I don't think he's dead, but yeah, he's probably dying." He gave Jared a box that one of his paint spray guns came in to put fresh bedding in to make the hamster comfy ... and for burying. Poor Oreo died with Jared watching over him somberly. Kinda sad, ya know.
Anyway, I made a layout for Jared's scrapbook so that he'll never forget his first pet. Even though Jared wasn't the best pet owner and had to always be reminded to provide the most basic care for Oreo, I know that he really did like the critter. I must have too because I used my good Heidi Swapp ghost letters and a floral, a big Bazzill brad, and a ton of Primas on this layout about his death. Go figure.
R.I.P. Oreo Hamster.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
New Specs
FINALLY!!! After approximately seven or eight years of settling for glasses that I wasn't all that thrilled about I found two and bought two new pair. Yippee. Now that we have Heritage optical insurance I can go t DOC for glasses. Optim-eyes just wasn't cutting the mustard in terms of having glasses that appeal to me. Of course I'm walking around minus an arm and a leg because even with insurance that's what my new sexy specs cost me but I love them both!!!!
Yesterday was Dave's birthday. We didn't celebrate in a big way yesterday but over the weekend we managed to get rid of all three kids and we went out on a date. We had dinner and a movie on Saturday night and then brunch on Sunday.
We went to see Running Scared, starring Paul Walker(I never realized how cute he was in a raw and rugged sort of way - maybe it was the role along with the cinematography). What an incredibly action-packed and intense and suspenseful movie. In fact it was too intense for me. I got up to use the bathroom just so that I could breathe. I don't like movies that make my heart pound and my fists clench. I won't give away the plot but in short it was all about a guy being a day late and a dollar short throughout the whole movie. From the very first scene there was a ton of action. Needless to say, Dave loved it. I would have too but I go to the movie for entertainment and just found it hard to be entertained with my blood pressure elevated to that level. Other kinds of movies that do that to me are ones about racism, rape, and kidnapping. I don't find that subject matter entertaining at all ...
At any rate, it felt WONDERFUL to have a much needed break from my childrent and to spend time alone with Dave. We must find a way to make that happen much more often.
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Yesterday was Dave's birthday. We didn't celebrate in a big way yesterday but over the weekend we managed to get rid of all three kids and we went out on a date. We had dinner and a movie on Saturday night and then brunch on Sunday.
We went to see Running Scared, starring Paul Walker(I never realized how cute he was in a raw and rugged sort of way - maybe it was the role along with the cinematography). What an incredibly action-packed and intense and suspenseful movie. In fact it was too intense for me. I got up to use the bathroom just so that I could breathe. I don't like movies that make my heart pound and my fists clench. I won't give away the plot but in short it was all about a guy being a day late and a dollar short throughout the whole movie. From the very first scene there was a ton of action. Needless to say, Dave loved it. I would have too but I go to the movie for entertainment and just found it hard to be entertained with my blood pressure elevated to that level. Other kinds of movies that do that to me are ones about racism, rape, and kidnapping. I don't find that subject matter entertaining at all ...
At any rate, it felt WONDERFUL to have a much needed break from my childrent and to spend time alone with Dave. We must find a way to make that happen much more often.
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Friday, February 17, 2006
Waiting to Exhale
I feel as though I've been holding my breath for the last 2-3 weeks as I planned for yesterday's big meeting. I don't know how many times I went over the details in my head. Last Thursday night I dreamt that I showed up an hour late for the meeting, the AV equipment was broken and the meeting ended before Jim Padilla got there. By the time he showed up everyone was filing out of the Grand Hall and he was asking my director, what the hell was going on. All the while I was shrinking and wondering to myself how much my unemployment checks were going to be.
Anyway, there were a few timing logistics that we had to work through but overall, everything went off very very well. I'd say that there were a good 800 people in attendance and Mr. Padilla's presence and his presentation - well they were great. He's such a dynamic and enthusiastic speaker and he always connects with our employees by mentioning his past connections with our organization and our building.
The F-150 Chief, Matt O'Leary, gave a great presentation too. He seemed very personable, and was easy on the eye. My Director, Bob, also did very well. Yep, everything came together the way I hoped it would. The way I planned it. I had a good day.
Now I've got to focus on the KNK weekend online crop. I need to get cracking on some examples for the challenges, but I don't want to just throw somthing together. With the crop coming so soon after yesterday's meeting, my brainpower is zapped. I've got a few ideas but for whatever reason they aren't translating all that well when I go to put them on cardstock. I can't let my dt girls or Angela down.
Did I mention that next week Dave has to go to OK for his job? Jared and Jordyn will be on mid-winter break and I will have to drive to my parent's every morning before coming to work? That means passing my job by 15 miles to drop the kids off, and then going that same 15 miles out of my way at the end of the day to pick them up. Instead of communting 60 miles a day it will be more like 120 miles a day. By the time I get home next Friday evening, I'm gonna be one mean momma. I guess in a way, I'm still waiting to exhale.
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Anyway, there were a few timing logistics that we had to work through but overall, everything went off very very well. I'd say that there were a good 800 people in attendance and Mr. Padilla's presence and his presentation - well they were great. He's such a dynamic and enthusiastic speaker and he always connects with our employees by mentioning his past connections with our organization and our building.
The F-150 Chief, Matt O'Leary, gave a great presentation too. He seemed very personable, and was easy on the eye. My Director, Bob, also did very well. Yep, everything came together the way I hoped it would. The way I planned it. I had a good day.
Now I've got to focus on the KNK weekend online crop. I need to get cracking on some examples for the challenges, but I don't want to just throw somthing together. With the crop coming so soon after yesterday's meeting, my brainpower is zapped. I've got a few ideas but for whatever reason they aren't translating all that well when I go to put them on cardstock. I can't let my dt girls or Angela down.
Did I mention that next week Dave has to go to OK for his job? Jared and Jordyn will be on mid-winter break and I will have to drive to my parent's every morning before coming to work? That means passing my job by 15 miles to drop the kids off, and then going that same 15 miles out of my way at the end of the day to pick them up. Instead of communting 60 miles a day it will be more like 120 miles a day. By the time I get home next Friday evening, I'm gonna be one mean momma. I guess in a way, I'm still waiting to exhale.
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Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Sometimes I Wish ...
I could stop the world and get off. Just for an hour. Maybe two. What would I do? I don't really know but I think it might involve a bit of screaming at the tip top of my lungs. I think it might also involve crying some serious tears too. Sounds to me like I'd take the opportunity to throw myself a pretty pity party.
The thing is I feel so much guilt about having these thoughts. What have I got to feel so bad about. I have three healthy and beautiful children. A husband, who despite getting on my last nerve as of late, he loves me and I love him. I have a fine home. I didn't lose my job two weeks ago unlike a few close friends of mine ... From all outside appearances, even from the view that only I am privy to, it would seem that I have no need whatsoever to throw a pity party. But the fact remains that I want to stop the world, get off, scream, cry, maybe even puke.
Aaaargh, there I go again. Oh the melodrama! This is why there are such lapses in my blog - I guess I just don't want others to know how crazy I feel sometimes ...
I know a large part of this has to do with the fact that I am planning a HUGE meeting at work where the president of the company will come and address our employees. So much planning. So much checking and re-checking. I so much prefer my writing role at work to my PR role. On top of the stress at work, Jordyn has some kind of stomach bug. It started at 2:30 AM night before last and it's still going on. She's getting a bit better but I hate it when my kids are sick AND my sleep has suffered which only compounds my anxiety and irritability. If I can just make it til next Friday, the meeting will be behind me... If!
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The thing is I feel so much guilt about having these thoughts. What have I got to feel so bad about. I have three healthy and beautiful children. A husband, who despite getting on my last nerve as of late, he loves me and I love him. I have a fine home. I didn't lose my job two weeks ago unlike a few close friends of mine ... From all outside appearances, even from the view that only I am privy to, it would seem that I have no need whatsoever to throw a pity party. But the fact remains that I want to stop the world, get off, scream, cry, maybe even puke.
Aaaargh, there I go again. Oh the melodrama! This is why there are such lapses in my blog - I guess I just don't want others to know how crazy I feel sometimes ...
I know a large part of this has to do with the fact that I am planning a HUGE meeting at work where the president of the company will come and address our employees. So much planning. So much checking and re-checking. I so much prefer my writing role at work to my PR role. On top of the stress at work, Jordyn has some kind of stomach bug. It started at 2:30 AM night before last and it's still going on. She's getting a bit better but I hate it when my kids are sick AND my sleep has suffered which only compounds my anxiety and irritability. If I can just make it til next Friday, the meeting will be behind me... If!
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Saturday, January 21, 2006
The Calm Before the Storm
This time next week I should know if I still have a job or not. On Thursday, the possible reality of the situation really set in and I packed up a box of my personal belongings and brought it home. I did the same thing yesterday. Ironically, as this potential reality set in I became incredibly and increasingly calm. I listened to remnants of conversations as they passed by my cube or as I passed them in the aisles. So many people are so worried. Me? I would describe myself as "wondered." I wonder if I will lose my job. I wonder what I will do if I do. I wonder what I will do if I don't. I wonder just how calm I will be one week from now ...
Fortunately, because of my time with the company, I am eligible for a severance that will help sustain us for more than a year, but after a week or two of chilling, I'd be throwing myself full force into a job search, which the company will provide assistance with for six months. Call me Sniff or Scurry but I'd be on the lookout for new some "cheddar." Yeah, I pulled out Who Moved My Cheese the other day.
I took my mom back home today. She spent the week with us and cared for the kids after school. I planned to just drop her off, say hi to my dad and then head back home. I wound up staying for several hours.
I don't know how, but me and my dad got to talking. He told me that by the time he entered the tenth grade most people thought he was only entering sixth grade. He said that he was very small for his age back then and it really bothered him. He said that his mother was approximately 5' 4" and that Granddaddy was only 5' 6". Luckily Daddy went through a growth spurt and eventually reached 5'10" or is he 5' 9"?
He told me that he and nine his siblings used to attend the church down the street from their home but his parents went to two different churches and that he often would walk to meet his mother and walk her home. He said he was the only one who would do this. I could see the pleasure and the pain in his face as he recollected those days. She died January 16, 1960, four and a half years before I was born. Daddy was 24 then.
Eventually my brother stopped by and our conversations became very lively. Lots of laughter. Lots of fun. It felt good. It felt great. Like it used to be before the big falling out of 1991. It feels good to have released so much of the bitterness. Occassionally it tries to creep back into my heart. Occassionally I remember the pain. Thank goodness those occassions are increasingly seldom.
I suppose not all memories can be happy ones but they can be cherished for making me appreciate the happy ones all the more and for helping me keep things in perspective.
Oh well, I'm home now with Dave on the couch in the family room. Jared on the other computer. Jordyn and Justin finger painting. Me blogging. Life etc. happening.
td
Fortunately, because of my time with the company, I am eligible for a severance that will help sustain us for more than a year, but after a week or two of chilling, I'd be throwing myself full force into a job search, which the company will provide assistance with for six months. Call me Sniff or Scurry but I'd be on the lookout for new some "cheddar." Yeah, I pulled out Who Moved My Cheese the other day.
I took my mom back home today. She spent the week with us and cared for the kids after school. I planned to just drop her off, say hi to my dad and then head back home. I wound up staying for several hours.
I don't know how, but me and my dad got to talking. He told me that by the time he entered the tenth grade most people thought he was only entering sixth grade. He said that he was very small for his age back then and it really bothered him. He said that his mother was approximately 5' 4" and that Granddaddy was only 5' 6". Luckily Daddy went through a growth spurt and eventually reached 5'10" or is he 5' 9"?
He told me that he and nine his siblings used to attend the church down the street from their home but his parents went to two different churches and that he often would walk to meet his mother and walk her home. He said he was the only one who would do this. I could see the pleasure and the pain in his face as he recollected those days. She died January 16, 1960, four and a half years before I was born. Daddy was 24 then.
Eventually my brother stopped by and our conversations became very lively. Lots of laughter. Lots of fun. It felt good. It felt great. Like it used to be before the big falling out of 1991. It feels good to have released so much of the bitterness. Occassionally it tries to creep back into my heart. Occassionally I remember the pain. Thank goodness those occassions are increasingly seldom.
I suppose not all memories can be happy ones but they can be cherished for making me appreciate the happy ones all the more and for helping me keep things in perspective.
Oh well, I'm home now with Dave on the couch in the family room. Jared on the other computer. Jordyn and Justin finger painting. Me blogging. Life etc. happening.
td
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Lucky 13!
it was raining cats and dogs as we were waiting for the limo to pick us up. a random vegas tourist who noticed us asked if we were going to be married and when we told her that we were, she said, "it's supposed to be very good luck if it rains on your wedding day." again, it was raining cats and dogs (the size of tigers and great danes) so i considered her comment to be a very good omen.
january 18, 1993, thirteen years ago today, dave and i flew to las vegas and got married. just the two of us. it was one of the very best decisions of my life. sometimes people ask me if i regret not having a big wedding and my answer is still "no." i have never liked being the center of attention of large crowds. even at my bridal and baby showers, i felt uncomfortable so a big wedding just would not have been me. big weddings are beautiful and i like to attend them, but i'm much too simple a gal for one. having said that, i would like to renew our vows on our 25th anniversary in a church, in the presence of a small circle of family and friends with a small dinner party to follow. now that will be worth celebrating. in a day where so many marriages end in divorce, i think there should be more fanfare at a milestone anniversary. any two people can get married but not many can make it work for very long, but that's just my humble opinion...
anyway, three kids, two houses, several cars, and many gray hairs later here we are. still married and happily so. 13 years. i feel so lucky! so very blessed!
january 18, 1993, thirteen years ago today, dave and i flew to las vegas and got married. just the two of us. it was one of the very best decisions of my life. sometimes people ask me if i regret not having a big wedding and my answer is still "no." i have never liked being the center of attention of large crowds. even at my bridal and baby showers, i felt uncomfortable so a big wedding just would not have been me. big weddings are beautiful and i like to attend them, but i'm much too simple a gal for one. having said that, i would like to renew our vows on our 25th anniversary in a church, in the presence of a small circle of family and friends with a small dinner party to follow. now that will be worth celebrating. in a day where so many marriages end in divorce, i think there should be more fanfare at a milestone anniversary. any two people can get married but not many can make it work for very long, but that's just my humble opinion...
anyway, three kids, two houses, several cars, and many gray hairs later here we are. still married and happily so. 13 years. i feel so lucky! so very blessed!
I've Been Tagged Too - Thanks Shannon
My pal Shannon "tagged" me so I get to tell you the following interesting facts about yours truly ...
4 jobs i've had
Communication Specialist (Ford Motor Co.)
Internal Communications and PR Specialist (fomoco)
Vehicle Programs Specialist (fomoco)
Central Contorl Operator (fomoco)
4 movies i could watch over and over
50 first dates (sappy i know, but love the concept of making someone fall in love with you every day)
the incredibles
shawshank redemption
kill bill 1&2 (violence to the nth degree but that Beatrix Kiddo is one bad mamma jamma and i love her and yeah, i know that makes 5, not 4 movies)
4 places i have lived
detroit, mi
hamtramck, mi
ypsilanti, mi
tbd
tv shows i like to watch
house
desperate housewives
csi (heather knows which ones)
good morning america
places i've been on vacation
florida
vegas
NOLA
Northern VA
websites i visit daily
knk
sbc yahoo
cnn.com
tv guide entertainment news
4 favorite foods
cheesecake
reuben with swiss, slaw, and russian dressing
deep dish pizza
chili
4 places i'd rather be
on the beach
in Dave's arms
someplace warm
scrappin a masterpiece
4 bloggers i'm tagging
meg
i don't know any other bloggers who haven't already been tagged
4 jobs i've had
Communication Specialist (Ford Motor Co.)
Internal Communications and PR Specialist (fomoco)
Vehicle Programs Specialist (fomoco)
Central Contorl Operator (fomoco)
4 movies i could watch over and over
50 first dates (sappy i know, but love the concept of making someone fall in love with you every day)
the incredibles
shawshank redemption
kill bill 1&2 (violence to the nth degree but that Beatrix Kiddo is one bad mamma jamma and i love her and yeah, i know that makes 5, not 4 movies)
4 places i have lived
detroit, mi
hamtramck, mi
ypsilanti, mi
tbd
tv shows i like to watch
house
desperate housewives
csi (heather knows which ones)
good morning america
places i've been on vacation
florida
vegas
NOLA
Northern VA
websites i visit daily
knk
sbc yahoo
cnn.com
tv guide entertainment news
4 favorite foods
cheesecake
reuben with swiss, slaw, and russian dressing
deep dish pizza
chili
4 places i'd rather be
on the beach
in Dave's arms
someplace warm
scrappin a masterpiece
4 bloggers i'm tagging
meg
i don't know any other bloggers who haven't already been tagged
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Blah-humbug!!!
It's eight days into the new year and I feel about ready to throw in the towel. I'm officially in a rut. I just can't seem to get my sh** together. Yet, if you were to ask me what is wrong, I'd have a hard time putting my finger on it. I just have this huge cloud of discontent hanging over me. I feel like I'm spinning my wheels. Churning. (How's that for a corporate buzz word - or maybe it's just a Ford thang.)
Could I be going through a mid-life crisis??? Could it be cabin fever (if it is, it's early this year - doesn't usually set in until late February/early March). Maybe it's just me coming down from the holiday high. At any rate I don't like how I am feeling. It might help to try and scrap it out. Yeah, I suppose that would be somewhat therapeutic, but again, I'm having such a hard time identifying the cause of this blah-ness.
I am giving some thought to going back to school. No, not for another master's degree or Ph.D, but just to take some "fun" classes at the local community college.
Been also thinking about bugging Dave to bring home the treadmill his dad said I could have. Am considering buying a new recumbent exercise bike too. Excerise would probably help with the blahs while also helping get rid of the 20 pounds I really need to lose.
Yadda yadda yadda. All this thinking and considering ... I need to quit thinking, and talking about about it and just BE about it.
To the few fairly regular readers of my boring blog, this entry has got to be about as exciting as watching paint dry. Sorry. Let's just hope I'm PMS-ing and will have something more interesting (or at least something less blah) to report next time.
ttfn
td
Could I be going through a mid-life crisis??? Could it be cabin fever (if it is, it's early this year - doesn't usually set in until late February/early March). Maybe it's just me coming down from the holiday high. At any rate I don't like how I am feeling. It might help to try and scrap it out. Yeah, I suppose that would be somewhat therapeutic, but again, I'm having such a hard time identifying the cause of this blah-ness.
I am giving some thought to going back to school. No, not for another master's degree or Ph.D, but just to take some "fun" classes at the local community college.
Been also thinking about bugging Dave to bring home the treadmill his dad said I could have. Am considering buying a new recumbent exercise bike too. Excerise would probably help with the blahs while also helping get rid of the 20 pounds I really need to lose.
Yadda yadda yadda. All this thinking and considering ... I need to quit thinking, and talking about about it and just BE about it.
To the few fairly regular readers of my boring blog, this entry has got to be about as exciting as watching paint dry. Sorry. Let's just hope I'm PMS-ing and will have something more interesting (or at least something less blah) to report next time.
ttfn
td
Saturday, December 31, 2005
2006 Ready or Not, Here it Comes!
Another year has come. And gone. I am another year older. Wiser? Well I suppose that is debateable, but I can't think of any major mistakes or regrets associated with 2005 so I'm good. Actually, I'm so much better than good. I am truly blessed. Just like New Year's Eves of the recent past, I am overwhelmed and overcome with how GOOD God has been to me and mine. Being the me that I am, it would be way way way too easy for me to get philosophical and sappy about my husband and children and parents and brother, but I won't do that. Suffice it to say that given everything that is going on in the world today, I try not to take anything for granted - there but for the amazing grace of God, go I.
Resolutions? Well I gave up making them several years ago because I seldom, if ever kept them. I have thought and thought and thought some more about making some for 2006. I still hesitate to be specific but I will say that I resolve to take care of myself in the new year. Less self-guilt. More self-love. Less self-doubt. More self-praise. Less, "I wonder what they will think." More, "I have to do what is right for me." I have this awful habit of making life harder than it has to be and putting myself through entirely too much undue stress. Wish I knew why, but that really isn't the issue. In 2006 I just plan to do less of this.
It's been a very long time since I posted any pics to my blog. So long in fact, that I may have forgotten how. Let's give it a try ...
Okay so it appears that my pics are at the top of this entry whereas I wanted them directly above this paragraph. Anyway, they are pics of my "new" scraproom which is a work in progress. It used to be cement white (both the walls and the floor). As you can see it is now a shade of blue that is the result of me combining the lovely shades of blue and green that I recently painted Jared's and Justin's respective bedrooms. I also now have a 8' x 12' piece of carpet on the floor - so you know how big (or small actually) my room is.
Where I used to have a farily large table at which to sit and scrap, I now have a new Craftsman workbench at which to stand and scrap. Where I used to have my paper and cardstock horizontally laying in the "Target cubes" I now have the Cropper Hopper vertival storage trolley. I also have that other Cropper Hopper drawer storage thingy too where I used to have a couple of Serlite drawer storage thingies.
My ever-present and all-important stereo is sitting atop the white cabinet that will eventually go back up on the wall to hold some of my scrapbooks as it isn't large enough to hold all of them. In my stereo, you know I have some jammin' cds - currently my main man Will Downing (so smooth), Sting (so cool and mellow-jazzy), Mariah Carey (so "hip-pop"), Babyface (also smooth, but in a different way from Will) and Jill Scott (so raw without being profane).
I still have a TON of stuff to bring back into my room but I'm taking my time so that I can find a permanent place for everything and so that I can remember all the new permanent places KWIM? Unfortunately, I need Dave to do a few things before I can move so much back in there. This is unfortunate because he is the KING of procrastination and of unfinished projects. Who do you think painted the room and put the workbench together? Yours truly. It is no fluke that one of my favorite sayings is, "God bless the child that's got his own." In this case I'm referreing to my own tools and ambition to get the job done!
Plans for tonight? Nada special. More simplicity over complexity. More of less being more. More chillin' with my man and my rugrats. More life etc.
Happy New Year!
td (tracydacy)
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Merry Christmas
Well almost ... in two minutes it will be Christmas Day and here I sit up in bed on the laptop wide awake while not any other creature is stirring in the house. I know that it will be a while before I am able to drift off. Why? When were out earlier my allergies started acting up and I took a Benedryl. We got home around 6 or so, I cooked at ate dinner, showered and decided to climb into bed and browse some scrapping mags for inspiration with the January KNK kit, which was waiting on my doorstep this evening. Before I knew anything I was out like a light. I totally forgot about the Benedryl, only knew that for some reason I could not stay awake. Even if I had thought about it, I'd have thought that some two hours after I had taken it, the sleepy effects would have worn off. Guess I'd have been wrong on that count eh?
Anyway, I'm just trying to decide when to go downstairs and do the Santa thang. Shortly I supposed. As usual, the kids are getting a bunch of stuff but I can't wait to see their faces. Especially Justin's. Can't wait until he opens that "Chicken Wimbo" which of course is Chicken Limbo. I noticed today that my baby is now pronouncing his "L's" correctly. When did that happen? I'd say within the last two weeks or so ...
Oh well, at the risk of sounding really hokey and even a bit cliche, I plan to spend Christmas enjoying the most wonderful gifts, my husband and my children. We'll have a few folks over but Christmas has been a veg out holiday for us for the last four or five years and I am so looking forward to it - enjoying the simple things but oh so important things and that's it. No fancy stuff. Sweats, not sequins. Wing dings and cheese sticks, not ham or turkey and all the traditional holiday fixings. Simplicity, not complexity. It's like that, and that's the way it is. And how I prefer it.
Merry Christmas to all (and to all a good night!)
ttfn
td
Anyway, I'm just trying to decide when to go downstairs and do the Santa thang. Shortly I supposed. As usual, the kids are getting a bunch of stuff but I can't wait to see their faces. Especially Justin's. Can't wait until he opens that "Chicken Wimbo" which of course is Chicken Limbo. I noticed today that my baby is now pronouncing his "L's" correctly. When did that happen? I'd say within the last two weeks or so ...
Oh well, at the risk of sounding really hokey and even a bit cliche, I plan to spend Christmas enjoying the most wonderful gifts, my husband and my children. We'll have a few folks over but Christmas has been a veg out holiday for us for the last four or five years and I am so looking forward to it - enjoying the simple things but oh so important things and that's it. No fancy stuff. Sweats, not sequins. Wing dings and cheese sticks, not ham or turkey and all the traditional holiday fixings. Simplicity, not complexity. It's like that, and that's the way it is. And how I prefer it.
Merry Christmas to all (and to all a good night!)
ttfn
td
Monday, December 05, 2005
Christmas Is Coming
I don't think I am necessarily trying to avoid or resisting getting in the Christmas spirit, it's just that it's not happening as readily as it normally does. I mean, I'm just not feeling very festive but my hubby is changing that. Yesterday he got out in the snow and hung some of the Christmas lights. I felt so bad that he was out there in the snowy cold that I went and stood out there while he worked for support. He was pretty chipper and cheerful the whole time, even having to work with the ever-stiffening rope lights. Even when I went in for a warm up break he didn't make a wise crack.
Then, between 8:30 and 9 PM last night he decided to put up the new fiber-optic Christmas tree. As I sat there watching him put it up, he got somewhat philosophical and started telling me how some of his co-workers complain so much but that he is really happy. Yeah, he knows that nothing is perfect but he is genuinely happy with his life and with me. I told him that I think that our marriage is the epitome of what a good marriage should be. From time to time we get on each other's nerves and piss each other off and just don't feel like being bothered with each other but the vast majority of the time we enjoy each other's company. We enjoy talking to each other. We make each other laugh. We look at the kids, and each other and we smile from the inside out and recognize how truly blessed we are.
I took a bunch of pictures of him putting up the tree. I'll do a LO of him once I get my scraproom back in order.
As I dozed off last night I thought to myself that spending the day with Dave in our junky home, with our loud unruly kids and slowly giving in to the Christmas spirit more than made up for the crappy mood/day I had on Saturday ...
ttfn
Then, between 8:30 and 9 PM last night he decided to put up the new fiber-optic Christmas tree. As I sat there watching him put it up, he got somewhat philosophical and started telling me how some of his co-workers complain so much but that he is really happy. Yeah, he knows that nothing is perfect but he is genuinely happy with his life and with me. I told him that I think that our marriage is the epitome of what a good marriage should be. From time to time we get on each other's nerves and piss each other off and just don't feel like being bothered with each other but the vast majority of the time we enjoy each other's company. We enjoy talking to each other. We make each other laugh. We look at the kids, and each other and we smile from the inside out and recognize how truly blessed we are.
I took a bunch of pictures of him putting up the tree. I'll do a LO of him once I get my scraproom back in order.
As I dozed off last night I thought to myself that spending the day with Dave in our junky home, with our loud unruly kids and slowly giving in to the Christmas spirit more than made up for the crappy mood/day I had on Saturday ...
ttfn
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Ho hum ...
The saying goes, "No news is good news." I suppose this is true but no news can also be boring and that pretty much explains why I have not blogged in such a long time. In fact, I don't have any new news today either ...
Well there is some good news. Since I last wrote, Angela of KNK invited me and six or seven other KNK members to be the new KNK Design Team. I still remember my reaction to her initial email inquiry. I thought to myself, "Wow, she much kinda like my LOs eh?" It was such an honor to be asked and to serve on the Team with such talented other ladies. December is the first month that our creations will be feature in the newsletter and I adored that Fancy Pants kit!
The other news is not so good. Ford is supposed to "involuntarily separating" quite a number of salaried employees during the first quarter of next year. Can I just say how sick and tired I am of wondering and worrying about the status of my job?!?!? I can say that 90% of the time, I just go with the flow and think, "whatever" because I know that it is out of my hands and that there really isn't much I can do about it one way or the other. It's just the other 10% of the time when I worry and let my imagination run away with me. After I feel about ready to scream about it, my common sense and spirituality kicks in and reminds me that the Lord will provide - whatever the case or scenario.
I am feeling bummed today. Can't really put my finger on why, but I am. Part of it is that I really want to work on my scrap room but can't. I'm in the middle of totally redoing it, but I need Dave's help. Hopefully he'll do the tiny bit I need him to do tonight and then I can stucko it tomorrow or soon thereafter. I think I'm going to LOVE it when I get done. I got a new Craftsman workbench to go in there and I'm going to paint the room the same wonderful shade of green that I recently painted Justin's room. I ordered some Cropper Hopper vertical storage holders this morning and I going to look into getting the trolley too. I'm excited about it all, but as I also said, today I am feeling kind of blue. Kind of sad. I wish that Dave were here to hold me right now and tell me that everything is going to be just fine.
What else?? Christmas is three weeks from tomorrow. I am looking forward to being off and to seeing the kid's faces on Christmas morning, assuming that Santa actaully visits them. They have not been on their best behavior so it's quite possible that they will get nothing more than a lump of coal for the holiday. I can remember trying to be so good during the days leading up to Christmas when I was a little girl, but my kids just keep being bratty. Go figure.
See, told you I didn't have much to say here.
ttfn
tracydacy
Well there is some good news. Since I last wrote, Angela of KNK invited me and six or seven other KNK members to be the new KNK Design Team. I still remember my reaction to her initial email inquiry. I thought to myself, "Wow, she much kinda like my LOs eh?" It was such an honor to be asked and to serve on the Team with such talented other ladies. December is the first month that our creations will be feature in the newsletter and I adored that Fancy Pants kit!
The other news is not so good. Ford is supposed to "involuntarily separating" quite a number of salaried employees during the first quarter of next year. Can I just say how sick and tired I am of wondering and worrying about the status of my job?!?!? I can say that 90% of the time, I just go with the flow and think, "whatever" because I know that it is out of my hands and that there really isn't much I can do about it one way or the other. It's just the other 10% of the time when I worry and let my imagination run away with me. After I feel about ready to scream about it, my common sense and spirituality kicks in and reminds me that the Lord will provide - whatever the case or scenario.
I am feeling bummed today. Can't really put my finger on why, but I am. Part of it is that I really want to work on my scrap room but can't. I'm in the middle of totally redoing it, but I need Dave's help. Hopefully he'll do the tiny bit I need him to do tonight and then I can stucko it tomorrow or soon thereafter. I think I'm going to LOVE it when I get done. I got a new Craftsman workbench to go in there and I'm going to paint the room the same wonderful shade of green that I recently painted Justin's room. I ordered some Cropper Hopper vertical storage holders this morning and I going to look into getting the trolley too. I'm excited about it all, but as I also said, today I am feeling kind of blue. Kind of sad. I wish that Dave were here to hold me right now and tell me that everything is going to be just fine.
What else?? Christmas is three weeks from tomorrow. I am looking forward to being off and to seeing the kid's faces on Christmas morning, assuming that Santa actaully visits them. They have not been on their best behavior so it's quite possible that they will get nothing more than a lump of coal for the holiday. I can remember trying to be so good during the days leading up to Christmas when I was a little girl, but my kids just keep being bratty. Go figure.
See, told you I didn't have much to say here.
ttfn
tracydacy
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Pride & Joy
On the KNK message board, someone asked if you ever feel guilty for scrapping one child more than the other(s). I had to admit that I do (scrap one kid more AND feel guilty about it). Lately I have not scrapped Jared very much, due in large part to the fact that he so into himself and things that he wants to do that he's not really around for me to snap him picture very often. This weekend I deliberately made it a point to get a few picture of him - he's so handsome. Anyway, I turned one of them black and white and scrapped it. I call the LO, "Pride & Joy." It's really a very simple LO, but I love how it turned out! Here it is ...
Gotta go - ttfn!
Monday, September 26, 2005
Justin's First Kiss
When my mother picked Justin up on Friday afternoon he informed her that he has a girlfriend. When I called her to check in after she picks him up, she passed the news along to me. I asked her a few questions but she didn't know the answers, so I waited until that evening to probe Justin myself ...
I asked him how he wound up with a girlfriend. He said that at naptime he and "Haley" were laying next to each other and she told him that they were boyfriend and girlfriend now. I asked him some more questions like if he really liked her and if he thought she were pretty (his response to both of those questions was "yes"). Anyway I forget how it came up, but he told me that he kissed her. I couldn't believe it. My five-year-old baby has had his first kiss with a girl?!?! How could that be?!?! I asked him where he kissed her. "On the forehead?" I asked. Pointing to his lips, he said, "Here." That sealed it. It really was his first official kiss with a girl. Not that I'm afraid they'll elope, but I had my mother tell their teacher to separate them when she dropped Justin off this morning. He is definitely David's son ...
After Justin's revelation, I just kinda sat there lamenting how fast kids grow up today. I don't know if I looked sad or perplexed or what, but my expression caused Jordyn to ask what was wrong. I told her that I couldn't believe that her younger brother had kissed girl. And do you know what she told me???? She told me that she had kissed a boy too. I needed to find out if hers had been official too, so I asked, "Where did you kiss him?" I added hopefully, "On the cheek?" Her response let me know that her first kiss had been official too. So I asked her the boy's name - the name she told me escapes me right now, but she only gave his first name so I asked her his last name. And do you know what she told me??? She said she forgot because it happened two years ago when she was in kindergarten! What the??? Is Kissing 101 part of the kindergarten curriculum these days???
No, I'm not mad because my two youngest children had their first kiss at age 5. It's all innocent enough, and I'm particularly pleased that Justin's was special enough to come and tell Mommy about it. However, like I've already said, it does make me wonder why they have to grow up so fast.
Oh well, according to Jared, he's made it to the sixth grade without his lips touching anyone else's that wasn't a relative. At least that's what he says. I believe him too. He's showing little to no interest in girls - he still thinks their pretty gross, except for one girl in his class that he made me promise not to tell his dad about. When I asked him if he'd like to kiss her he blushed, and didn't deny that he would. But he's shy about those things so I think it'll high school before his lips ever make it far - at least I'm holding out hope for that.
Speaking of Jared, I made one of my most favorite scrapbook LOs of him over the weekend. I'll post it later.
ttfn
I asked him how he wound up with a girlfriend. He said that at naptime he and "Haley" were laying next to each other and she told him that they were boyfriend and girlfriend now. I asked him some more questions like if he really liked her and if he thought she were pretty (his response to both of those questions was "yes"). Anyway I forget how it came up, but he told me that he kissed her. I couldn't believe it. My five-year-old baby has had his first kiss with a girl?!?! How could that be?!?! I asked him where he kissed her. "On the forehead?" I asked. Pointing to his lips, he said, "Here." That sealed it. It really was his first official kiss with a girl. Not that I'm afraid they'll elope, but I had my mother tell their teacher to separate them when she dropped Justin off this morning. He is definitely David's son ...
After Justin's revelation, I just kinda sat there lamenting how fast kids grow up today. I don't know if I looked sad or perplexed or what, but my expression caused Jordyn to ask what was wrong. I told her that I couldn't believe that her younger brother had kissed girl. And do you know what she told me???? She told me that she had kissed a boy too. I needed to find out if hers had been official too, so I asked, "Where did you kiss him?" I added hopefully, "On the cheek?" Her response let me know that her first kiss had been official too. So I asked her the boy's name - the name she told me escapes me right now, but she only gave his first name so I asked her his last name. And do you know what she told me??? She said she forgot because it happened two years ago when she was in kindergarten! What the??? Is Kissing 101 part of the kindergarten curriculum these days???
No, I'm not mad because my two youngest children had their first kiss at age 5. It's all innocent enough, and I'm particularly pleased that Justin's was special enough to come and tell Mommy about it. However, like I've already said, it does make me wonder why they have to grow up so fast.
Oh well, according to Jared, he's made it to the sixth grade without his lips touching anyone else's that wasn't a relative. At least that's what he says. I believe him too. He's showing little to no interest in girls - he still thinks their pretty gross, except for one girl in his class that he made me promise not to tell his dad about. When I asked him if he'd like to kiss her he blushed, and didn't deny that he would. But he's shy about those things so I think it'll high school before his lips ever make it far - at least I'm holding out hope for that.
Speaking of Jared, I made one of my most favorite scrapbook LOs of him over the weekend. I'll post it later.
ttfn
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Why Am I Still Up?
Five minutes until midnight and I have to get up and go to work in the morning. Why am I still up? I feel restless but don't think I'll have any trouble to sleep once I get in the bed...
I've had so much on my mind lately. Actually "lately" isn't really the right word because I always have a lot on my mind. I can say that lately much of it has to do with whether or not I will have a job this time next month. I am assuming that the re-org will have been announced by that time. Am I worried? Honestly? No, not really and it's not because I feel so secure, because I don't. Not at all, but it's one of those things that I realize that I cannot change one way or the other. So weird because my inability to change certain situations has never stopped me from worrying about them in the past. To some degree I equate the possibilty of being unemployed with the possiblity that a publisher might actually like the book I wrote and rather than second guess myself, I should submit it.
I never thought that my first book would be a children's book but it is. I always wanted to write a book that I thought was good, not one that I wrote for the sake of writing and being published though even then the book would have to be good right? At least good enough to catch a publisher's eye - well no, not necessarily as I have read a few bad books in my day. Anyway, I am very pleased with how it turned out and the fact that it is based on an actual conversation I had with Justin, that's just the icing on the cake.
What else is on my mind? My mother. Her memory and the loss thereof. As I was telling Dena, it makes me angry. It makes me sad. I am starting to struggle with aging. Not because of vanity and the inevitable decline/deterioration of "beauty" but because of the physical and mental decline/deterioration of the body and mind that is also inevitable, or so it would seem. Not to mention the whole death and dying thing. Being a Christian, I find some comfort in knowing that I will see some of the people I knew and loved and miss again in heaven, but that doesn't stop the longing in my soul to see them again. It doesn't stop the dread in my soul, knowing that if I live long enough that I will lose people who are closer to me than anyone that I have ever lost in the past. I have so many questions that I want to ask God ...
My scrapping mojo appears to be missing in action yet again. It is coming and going so frequently here lately. It comes, stays a few days and then it's gone again. I could really use that mojo to keep my mind occupied with creative processes rather than the depressing, mundane, discontent that seems to have set up shop there.
I brought home a Lincoln Navigator tonight. Maxine arranged for me to get it as a way to show her appreciation for the work I did with the Production Creation picnic.
I really need to get off of the 'puter now and try to get some rest so ...
ttfn
I've had so much on my mind lately. Actually "lately" isn't really the right word because I always have a lot on my mind. I can say that lately much of it has to do with whether or not I will have a job this time next month. I am assuming that the re-org will have been announced by that time. Am I worried? Honestly? No, not really and it's not because I feel so secure, because I don't. Not at all, but it's one of those things that I realize that I cannot change one way or the other. So weird because my inability to change certain situations has never stopped me from worrying about them in the past. To some degree I equate the possibilty of being unemployed with the possiblity that a publisher might actually like the book I wrote and rather than second guess myself, I should submit it.
I never thought that my first book would be a children's book but it is. I always wanted to write a book that I thought was good, not one that I wrote for the sake of writing and being published though even then the book would have to be good right? At least good enough to catch a publisher's eye - well no, not necessarily as I have read a few bad books in my day. Anyway, I am very pleased with how it turned out and the fact that it is based on an actual conversation I had with Justin, that's just the icing on the cake.
What else is on my mind? My mother. Her memory and the loss thereof. As I was telling Dena, it makes me angry. It makes me sad. I am starting to struggle with aging. Not because of vanity and the inevitable decline/deterioration of "beauty" but because of the physical and mental decline/deterioration of the body and mind that is also inevitable, or so it would seem. Not to mention the whole death and dying thing. Being a Christian, I find some comfort in knowing that I will see some of the people I knew and loved and miss again in heaven, but that doesn't stop the longing in my soul to see them again. It doesn't stop the dread in my soul, knowing that if I live long enough that I will lose people who are closer to me than anyone that I have ever lost in the past. I have so many questions that I want to ask God ...
My scrapping mojo appears to be missing in action yet again. It is coming and going so frequently here lately. It comes, stays a few days and then it's gone again. I could really use that mojo to keep my mind occupied with creative processes rather than the depressing, mundane, discontent that seems to have set up shop there.
I brought home a Lincoln Navigator tonight. Maxine arranged for me to get it as a way to show her appreciation for the work I did with the Production Creation picnic.
I really need to get off of the 'puter now and try to get some rest so ...
ttfn
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
The Unofficial End of Summer
Summer is over. Well technically we have sixteen days until the autumnal equinox according to the calendar, but unofficially it was over last Tuesday when my two older kids, Jared and Jordyn, went back to school.
How is it that I have a kid in middle school now??? I swear, I remember cradling Jared in my arms for the first time like it were right now. That kid is getting so big. I predict that within 18 months he'll be taller than me - probably sooner.
Jordyn is a second-grader now. She's getting big too and is sassy as ever.
And then there is Justin, my kindergartener.
All three of them seem to really enjoy going to school. I was a very good student, but I can't say that I really liked school. It was okay, but I wasn't happy to get up and go every day. My kids on the other hand appear to anticipate each school day with enthusiasm. Admittedly, I think the boys, well at least Jared, is more into the social aspect of school than the academics (he is a pretty good student though). Jordyn, despite being so sassy and in-control here at home, is actually kind of shy and reserved so she seems a little more into school for the learning, though she has her freinds too. Justin, enjoys the social and academic aspects of school.
Other indications that summer is ending are:
- ads for the new fall television season
- it's dark at 8:30 now
- I'll be starting my school year work schedule again
- not running the A/C as often
- the kids could have used a light jacket this morning, even though they refused one
I'm off this week and it feels great to have the house to myself. There so many things I need to get done - I even need to do a few things for the job. Right now I have no motivation though. I don't see that changing either. I know that how much I get done will depend on how well I "just do it." I could spend a bunch of time planning and allocating time for this and that but in the end, I have to get up off my behind and just do it. Speaking of my behind (which I would rather not) it's growing. I have no motivation to eat right and exercise to get rid of these extra 20 pounds. At this point I am finding it harder and harder to maintain my weight, let alone to lose any...
Well that's all for now. I'll try to blog more often, even though my entries aren't particularly interesting ...
ttfn
How is it that I have a kid in middle school now??? I swear, I remember cradling Jared in my arms for the first time like it were right now. That kid is getting so big. I predict that within 18 months he'll be taller than me - probably sooner.
Jordyn is a second-grader now. She's getting big too and is sassy as ever.
And then there is Justin, my kindergartener.
All three of them seem to really enjoy going to school. I was a very good student, but I can't say that I really liked school. It was okay, but I wasn't happy to get up and go every day. My kids on the other hand appear to anticipate each school day with enthusiasm. Admittedly, I think the boys, well at least Jared, is more into the social aspect of school than the academics (he is a pretty good student though). Jordyn, despite being so sassy and in-control here at home, is actually kind of shy and reserved so she seems a little more into school for the learning, though she has her freinds too. Justin, enjoys the social and academic aspects of school.
Other indications that summer is ending are:
- ads for the new fall television season
- it's dark at 8:30 now
- I'll be starting my school year work schedule again
- not running the A/C as often
- the kids could have used a light jacket this morning, even though they refused one
I'm off this week and it feels great to have the house to myself. There so many things I need to get done - I even need to do a few things for the job. Right now I have no motivation though. I don't see that changing either. I know that how much I get done will depend on how well I "just do it." I could spend a bunch of time planning and allocating time for this and that but in the end, I have to get up off my behind and just do it. Speaking of my behind (which I would rather not) it's growing. I have no motivation to eat right and exercise to get rid of these extra 20 pounds. At this point I am finding it harder and harder to maintain my weight, let alone to lose any...
Well that's all for now. I'll try to blog more often, even though my entries aren't particularly interesting ...
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