What Teachers Do You Remember?

Bay Area California
Montessori Pre School
David
Tracy

Anderson Elementary 1st Grade
Mrs. Anderson (not sure if that is right -- same name as school? probably not)

Parkview Elementary 2nd - 6th Grades
2nd & 3rd Grade
Mrs. Lumby (my mom didn't think she had any personality, but I adored her!)
Mrs. Willis (much meaner!)
Mrs. Schubert (not the primary teacher, but in the group)
Mrs. Can't remember

4th Grade
one semester at Alex School in Alex, Oklahoma
Mrs. Dickey (yes, it was funny even back then) Her son was the replacement drummer in the Band "America." When I look back she read some funny books to us, but I think they would not be considered politically correct today...

2nd half of 4th grade - back to Parkview
Mr. Shiriyama (sp?)
Mr. Mitchell -- his reputation was as a mean teacher, but I thought he was nice (such a teacher's pet = me)

5th Grade
Mr. Higgins - great teacher, though his head was wayyyy too small for his body!

6th Grade
back to team teaching:
Mrs. Kopp (main teacher)
Mr. Shoppell (Shuh-PELL) - after lunch and recess he would read while everyone kinda calmed down -- back in 1978 he read "The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe" - had he not read them I wouldn't ever had known about C.S. Lewis (spring break that year I devoured the entire series in a week when I saw the books in a bookstore while on a weeklong trip with my mom, aunt M & her husband, Bob) . Yes, I was in a public school.
Mrs. don't remember didn't have much personality, as I recall. Taught the English portions of the curriculum.

MOVED to ARIZONA
7th & 8th Grade (jr. high! scary!!)

Mr. Stanton -- English Teacher - very hippie/granola/Birkenstock kinda guy. I liked him.
Ms. Foster who married my future high school algebra tutor (she later became the librarian)
Mrs. Young (easy to remember!) - Art Teacher - she had a horrible reputation as a mean teacher, but I thought she was pretty funny, actually.
Mrs. Music Teacher (would flip us off while "scratching her nose" and say, "My mama didn't raise no cross-eyed babies!" and put in our yearbooks, "Don't B #, Don't B b, Just B Natural" with the appropriate musical notations
Mrs. Schoenig - Typing Teacher (only class I ever got a D in - mom forced me to take this class under much protest from me! Glad I did now -- of course ;-) Touch typing on a manual typewriter. Egads, I must be 40!!
Mr. (Coach) Robertson - PE teacher from hell. But I still remember his name. Go Figure.
Mr. Carpenter - Science Teacher/homeroom teacher. Rumor had it he was 2nd up for the Challenger Space Shuttle mission (Disaster)
Mr. Kirshner - Never had him as a teacher, but will never forget the Halloween both he & Mr. Carpenter "dressed up" in 3-piece suits... you know, 'cuz you Dress Up for Halloween. Then they traded places for homeroom.
Mr. Math Teacher (nice, understood algebra at this time)
Ms. Math Teacher (nice, showed me that you could sometimes read the name of the person you liked whose name you'd scribbled over by turning the page over...)
Mrs. English Teacher (nice, older lady - didn't cope with this generation of hoodlums I went to school with very well)

That's all I remember right now from jr. high aka Middle School.

High School - SRHS 1981-1985

Mr. Fried (Freed) (pre-algebra) - loser -- He had a crew cut in 1981/2 -- not a buzz, not a standing up kind of hairstyle, but a 1950's crew cut. I also think he may have suffered from being colored blind, because holy cow the combinations of clothes he wore! Or just maybe he wore golf clothes to class...
Mr. Young - Algebra teacher - worse loser
Mrs. Ponchetti (Geometry) - worser yet, but at least was a nice person. Sucked on butterscotch candies all hour and talked about her red-headed grandchildren's adventures.
Mrs. Phillips - Computers, Senior year - dragon breath. More programming -- I didn't stick around long!!
Mrs. Johnson - Freshman Advanced English - read Princess Bride before it was movie - very cool
Mr. Collard - Art Teacher -- great great class. Every Friday we'd watch slides and he'd talk about artists and styles, and I loved it. I had an aptitude -- why did I listen to anyone and not major or at least spend more time in art classes....? (why is it we ask these questions at 40+?)
Mr. Fox - journalism/English Teacher
Dr. John S. Davis - Choir Teacher - influential - a great guy.
Mrs. Husted - Drama. Anyone who knows her name knows how awesome she is. Awesome. I only took the class for one semester (last semester) of my senior year... after having been directed by her as "Laurie" in the musical Oklahoma earlier in the year.
Mr. McPheeters - Southwest Literature 2nd semester Sr. Year. Best looking teacher in school.
Ms. Hiner - a class where we just brought our own books to read for an hour - I was in heaven. Technically we were supposed to give small, private reports to her after we finished a book. 1st Semester (I think) Sr. Year
Mrs. Muller - Senior English - actually read Shakespeare and wrote papers (not articles) She was the Senior Class Advisor and Student Council Advisor if I remember correctly.
Mrs. Valley -Grammar Review - thankful I took that class... lots of fun and I think I may have learned stuff ;-)
Mrs. Drudge - data processing. bs. it was easier programming, but I still wouldn't have made it through the class without Shel & RB. And if I were teaching high school, I would have changed my last name.
Mr. Bubany - Economics (sort of) teacher. I liked him - his rep was a dork, though. We had to bring a newspaper to school and read 10 minutes every day - he taught the principle that nothing is ever "Free" - you have to give up something (time, effort etc...).
Mrs. Irwin - Media something or another -- I don't remember much learning going on in the class... she was kind of wacky.
Mr. O'Donald - Chemistry. "Young sucking Face! Young's Sucking Face!" He didn't put up with hypocrisy -- now looking back I see that.... kids making out in the hallways but not wanting anyone to 'notice.' One of my favorite teachers... he was there every day after school and I was there just about every day trying to figure out the main formula and get the math right. At the end of the year he had a stamp for yearbooks, "To the best student I ever had." hee hee hee.
Mr. Kreamer ( pronounced Kramer) - coach - had him for summer school government because I'd heard horror stories about government teacher Mr. Powers (!) Kreamer was a good teacher and cool.
Ms. Piccone & Ms. Orosco - PE teachers -- Ms. Orosco was a kick in the pants, and Piccone was cool too.
Mr. Westfall - Driver's Ed. What a joke.


eta: yeah... I got out the yearbook!

Meme-ing

I found this meme from Coffeegal over at La Vida Dulce

In your entire life, have you ever...

gone on a blind date? oooohhhh yes. Some of my best stories are bad blind dates! (probably a great topic for Thursday 13 some day)

skipped school? Yes

watched someone die? No

been to Canada? nope

been to Mexico? Yes

been to Florida? Yes

been on a plane? Yes

been lost? Lost as in absolutely no clue where I am or how to get out if it, no. Turned around and thinking I was going one way when in actuality I was headed the opposite direction...? That describes my first year of driving in Kilt Country!

been on the opposite side of the country? Yes

gone to Washington, DC? Yes! I love DC... got to see it with Cherry Blossoms in full bloom :D

swam in the ocean? Yes... Pacific, Gulf of Mexico and have been at the beach on the coldest, windiest day ever Atlantic Side, so didn't stick a toe in.

had your booze taken away by the cops? No!

lettered in a high school sport? I was a choir and I have a choir letter ;-)

cried yourself to sleep? Yes

played cops and robbers? Does playing Charlie's Angels count? 4th grade - I was Jill. The only episode I knew was when they were undercover in jail (episode with a not-yet-famous Kim Basinger...) and Jill fakes food poisoning to get into the infirmary. It was the only episode I knew because it was on at 9pm and my bedtime was like, 7:30 (!)

played dolls? Yes -- dolls and barbies

recently colored with crayons? No, but on choir tour in college I took a coloring book and crayons on the bus to help pass the time -- and have colored with my niece when she is here.

sang Karaoke? Yes... one of my nicknames, actually. "I've Never Been To Me" & "I Could Have Danced All Night" are the geeky songs I sing.

paid for a meal with coins only? Yes... and I was even done with college!

done something you told yourself you wouldn't? Yes

cheated on an exam? Yes. And that's all the detail you'll get.

made prank phone calls? Oh yes! Caller ID put an end to that didn't it?

laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose? Probably.

caught a snowflake on your tongue? Yes

danced in the rain? No

written a letter to Santa Claus? Of course!

been kissed under the mistletoe? Yes

watched the sunrise with someone you care about? Yes/No... kinda sorta. The sun rose, I didn't much care...

been arrested? Never

blown bubbles? Yes -- I love blowing bubbles!! I thought it was awesome when weddings had bubble blowing rather than rice/bird-seed throwing!!

gone ice-skating? Yes -- badly -- a long long long time ago.

been skinny dipping outdoors? Yes, several times. We had a spa ;-) Now we have a pool!

had a nickname? Care-Bear, Blondie, Carrie-okie (Karaoke)

been to Africa? No... but would like to help a friend at church do stuff with a school in Ghana maybe one day.

eaten cookies for dinner? Absolutely, as a side to dish to ice cream.

been on TV? I was an audience member (back to the camera) on Win, Lose or Draw game show... the only contestant I remember was Mario Van Peebles (oh babe-ee!! cutie cutie cute-ee!!).

stolen any traffic signs? Do "Blinkies" count? If not, then no.

been in a car accident? Oh yeah. Stopped traffic on the 101 heading east in the valley. Really really sucked. No one was cited at the time, but yet I was sued... but nothing happened cuz the guy on the motorcycle with wearing shorts, a wife-beater t-shirt, no helmet & Flip Flops for shoes... and and who went through 3 lawyers *after* I unknowingly spoke to the first one and told that lawyer exactly what happened (no one told me not to talk to anyone but my insurance company....) and he rejected the case... well, after 6 months of not getting more than his medical stuff paid for... you get the idea. I have always watched out for folks who ride motorcycles -- I know too many people who ride them -- this guy was sort of an idiot.

And I was a passenger in a car that got rear-ended on PCH - we were at a dead stop and were hit by a guy going probably over 30 mph... nothing serious - had our seat belts on -- car was an oldie but goodie that was solid.

And yep, some fender benders.

What is your...

mother's name? Norma

favorite drink? water, raspberry lipton tea, oreo milkshake

birthplace? Chico, CA

favorite vacation spot? Northern California

favorite salad dressing? Ken's Balsamic Vinegrette

favorite pie? Cheesecake

favorite number? 20

favorite movie? Oh so many...can I have one per genre? For the moment I'll go with Notting Hill or Love Actually. On Golden Pond is always in the top.

favorite holiday? Christmas

favorite food? Macaroni & Cheese. Garlic Mashed Potatoes. Ice Cream. Cheesecake.

favorite day of the week? Any day I don't have to go or be or do!

favorite brand of body wash? Olay with Shea Butter

favorite toothpaste? Crest - original flavor (hard to find anymore!)

favorite smell? cinnamon rolls, orange blossoms, desert after the rain

Do you have any...

tattoos? no

body piercings? Ears

Do you drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? 4 door PT Cruiser (and mini van)

What do you do to relax? veg out - pool (huge grin!), tv; read (has been too long though); play Freecell; read blogs.

How do you see yourself in 10 years? Excellent question. Right now I just hope I'm exercising regularly :D

Play along if you'd like (and let me know please...!)

Some Perspective

I know our gas prices are way-high... I've always said I wouldn't complain about any price of gas over here until we start paying +$5 a gallon... in Scotland 4 years ago that is what we paid per gallon of petrol. And ya know what? Their gallon is smaller than our gallon. We are creeping up on that number... and I'm not saying that this is a positive thing... just consider:

1 UK Gallon = .833 US Gallon

I just did a check on what the price of petrol is going for over there now... 4.10GBP (Great British Pounds). 1 UK gallon of petrol (aka gasoline) = 4 pounds 10 pence.

Today's conversion rate (from this website) is:
4.10GBP = $8.05 USD

Dang.

Here is the article from the Scotsman newspaper... and if you read near the bottom you'll see the town I lived in (home of BP in Scotland) is mentioned.

So... just a reminder tha it can always be worse, or... get worse.

Cardio dying... a good thing

Have I mentioned how much I hate sweating? How much I love my new pool?

I took today off from work, did some client scrapping (6 pages), ate lunch while watching tv and then had a little snooze. I'd turned DOWN the cooler (can't believe this is *ME*) and then, had to put on a little blankie for my snooze because I was cool.

un -- be -- lieve -- a -- ble

[of course, it was only 96 degrees today]

I worked out Tuesday, Wednesday & today with my trainer...

He killed me with cardio on Wednesday - but I burned 300 calories - 200 for 1/2 hour on the elliptical and 1/2 hour on the treadmill. 200 cal burned on the elliptical ... 100 cal on the treadmill. Hmmm... which one is easier on me AND burns more calories. DUH.

But today trainer did 5 minutes climbing at like, __ 13 __ (!!!) incline and 3 mph on the stinkin' treadmill... but I quickly proved that I'm a wuss and battled him... took it down to an incline of 6 (which is still hard for me) and 2.5 mph. After lifting weights we came back to the treadmill and he left me where I'd left off, for another 5 minutes... more weights then another 5 minutes on the treadmill with slightly higher numbers.

I'd much rather do longer length of exercise at a pace I can keep up with and enjoy (thereby making a lifestyle change that will last) than too much too fast that will keep the "I hate to exercise" thought in my head forever.

Make sense?

Things have been much calmer but still busy at work.
I'm going to be painting more garden art in the future...

Keychain I bought at the dollar store

"So much to do, so few people to do if for me."

my new favorite quote

Happy June 2nd ~ month of many birthdays in my family!

I'll post pix of the pool fun when I can get the photos off of my camera... my card reader is hiccuping.

Went to church today... third time in a row, but the first time at the church I'm a member of for at least 3 months... it was o.k.

Went to Michael's and spent $50 -- they were having a 25% off your entire purchase, even things on sale -- and I only spent $50!! Oh the self control.

I'm going to be painting more rocks soon. I know y'all are waiting with baited breath!

Talked to my dad for an hour lounging in the pool yesterday. It was great. :D

Craft class yesterday went really well -- would post pix of the very cute masculine (isn't that an oxymoron - "cute masculine") vest cards for Father's Day... if my card reader would work.

Himself's not been smoking for over 4 weeks now... I'm so proud!! He's not been grumpy -- he has been a little more irritating in ways when he thinks he's being cute and funny, but not really... ya know? But I can only imagine how hard quitting is -- and I'm really really glad for him :D And he bought AND assembled my pool. I love him very much.

Went to a memorial on Friday afternoon -- have been to what seems a lot more funerals in the past two years -- this gravesite memorial gave me the opportunity to think about what I would want at my funeral (sounds morbid, but I don't mean it to be...), and to have that talk with himself... along with setting up a will.

Will be scrapping tomorrow!

at last!

I have a poo-ool... I have a poo-ool... with floaty toys and everything....

*HUGE SMILE*!

I shouldn't... but I do

Finally!

Derek & Meredith... Grey's Anatomy... 2-hour season finale.

Guilty Pleasures.

* * * *
Back to my trainer after two weeks off - gonna hurt tomorrow.

Work is still busy but no looming "Do or Die" Deadlines.

Heading to see mom with friends for the Memorial Weekend - himself will be at home with Rascal.

Haven't felt much like blogging, but am reading a lot!

peace.

The countdown begins

...until May 20th when I can relax a little with no looming deadlines (except the advanced choir leaving for europe June 1st, but I'm not going... so that isn't as stressful for me as it is for the Artistic Director!).

The TGC concert went really well.

I've had a hellauva week.... good news: himself quit smoking a week ago Wednesday and is chewing Nicotine gum. The bad news is that the morning after he stopped smoking we discovered someone tried to steal our van -- from our driveway -- dog didn't make a sound.

We'll get the van back tomorrow -- luckily they broke it too much for it to be drivable -- something about the ignition having a computer chip that is fragile and if broken the vehicle doesn't run. Yay!

It's been an emotional mother's day weekend -- got my mom a really pretty scarf -- haven't given her anything in a couple years, so a card and a scarf, before the actual day... I feel like I accomplished something. I'm still hanging out with a lot of emotion regarding the whole lack-of-communication thing... mostly because I know my mom's putting up with a lot on her side of this situation.

Time for sleep

Hit Song on the day and year you were born...

How fun is this...

on November 25th 1967 ~ Incense and Peppermints by Strawberry Alarm Clock
I didn't think I knew the song, but when I heard the tune it was familiar.



Himself... February 14th 1966 ~ Lightnin' Strikes by Lou Christie
(didn't think I'd know it... but it is familiar)

My mom... June 26th 1939 ~ Wishing (Will Make It So) by Glenn Miller
My dad... June 13th 1941 ~ Maria Elena by Jimmy Dorsey

Himself's and my anniversary... June 20th 1998 ~ The Boy is Mine by Brandi & Monica
Never heard it before.

Graduation 1985 (gonna guess the date...) June 3rd ~ Everybody Wants To Rule The World by Tears For Fears

Here's the website... fun stuff! (and it will link to itunes so you can hear a snippet of the song)

My Week

I don't remember much, to be honest...

I went in late on Monday -- (which is been approved, and is a habit I'm trying to keep) -- but have been hustling ever since.

Work is crazy busy with end of the year stuff -- who will be coming back to chorus. How do we communicate the increase of tuition and new payment system (quarterly rather than monthly). Auditions are coming... need to make sure all the small details we've thought of ever since the last audition gets included. I had a dream night before last about re-wording some of the information -- that when you join the Tucson Girls Chorus you're investing in your daughter as well as the organization... it isn't just dropping your kid off for an hour or so every week... and the ROI (Return On Investment) is the growth and confidence built that you see in your daughter.

There's making sure all 120 families are caught up on their accounts -- which is a nightmare because our accounting system is a screwed up mess -- it confuses everyone, including us... so trying to explain to parents is just a nightmare. bleh.

Then there's the program layout -- which I love doing but takes a million hours and I condense it into half a million. And the flyer distribution to the zillions of schools in the 7 districts that are in town... and getting it together for parents to come and deliver a handful of flyers to their local schools --

Ahh... you'd think I've only been working.

And mostly I have. Was in today from 11:30 to 8:20. And I'll be there tomorrow... and no going in late on Monday this week. :-(

Our van was broken into and someone(s) attempted to steal it Wednesday night/Thursday morning -- so Thursday was pretty much shot dealing with Police, Insurance, Car Rental and my wonderful himself who, the night before had finished smoking all his cigarettes and bought nicotine gum and is quitting smoking... great for him to find out Thursday morning about the van.

Dog didn't make a sound.

I did work out twice this week, and went and visited a small singing group called "Desert Tones" -- it was fun, low-key... this small group of women gave our girls a substantial donation -- and with the challenges we're running into in the tour cost for the Advanced Choir because the dollar has taken such a dive, along with the rising cost of fuel, well -- lets just say the timing is beautiful.

May 2oth... that is when I can breathe.

How has almost a week gone by?

And what was I doing?

I've worked out twice (yay me!!)

Work has been less crazy but just as busy.

I want to go to the county fair tomorrow (and I've not wanted to go to the fair in years).

I am eating a lot more salad... always a good thing.

We're not going to build the Arizona room this year. We need to save up for the things we want... and before we do anything we need to get our emergency fund back up to a decent amount.

I have another workout buddy (Yay!)

I haven't managed to go to bed very early lately... and it is key to getting up early!

I really really need to clean my car. Inside and out.

I finally loaded up my ipod -- and figured out itunes on my pc. I'm entering the 21st century ;-)

I refuse to text. I understand the value of it... but hate pushing a key on the number keypad more than once to get the letter I need. It bothers me to just find a name of someone to call (!)

There is nothing more I can think of to write.

A Good Reminder

"Be Kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Attributed to Plato

"Without music, life would be a mistake"
Neitzsche

"Change your thoughts and you change your world."
Norman Vincent Peale

"That which does not kill you makes you stronger."
Neitzsche

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
Jesus Christ

"What goes around comes around" OR "You get what you give"
Proverb... cliche'...

"Life is short, eat real sugar."
me

"When you follow your bliss... doors will open where you would not have thought there would be doors, and where there wouldn't be a door for anyone else."
Joseph Campbell

"Music doesn't lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music."
Jimi Hendrix

"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."
Calvin Coolidge

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then is not an act, but a habit."
Aristotle

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, 'Who amd I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God... It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates other."
Maryann Williamson, used in Nelson Mandela's 1994 inaugural speech

*Bonus
"They may forget what you said. But they'll never forget how you made them feel."
Carl W. Buechner

* * * * * * * * * *
So my Thursday Thirteen is on Sunday... "whatever!" :D

Bizzare Websites

Of all the weird stuff on the 'net, once in awhile my mind wanders to the three more bizarre (therefore memorable) sites I just happened upon by accident.

Knowing I wanted to post these on the blog, naturally finding them again has taken 20 minutes (so much more information out there now!)...

Why Does Corn Show Up In Poop? The original page I found on this site, but this site has some interesting thoughts as well.

Life Gems. I'd never heard of this until I came across this site.

There's one more but I can't find it and I've got to get going.... maybe later.

Kinda Cool...

You Are a Comma

You are open minded and extremely optimistic. You enjoy almost all facets of life. You can find the good in almost anything. You keep yourself busy with tons of friends, activities, and interests. You find it hard to turn down an opportunity, even if you are pressed for time. Your friends find you fascinating, charming, and easy to talk to. (But with so many competing interests, you friends do feel like you hardly have time for them.) You excel in: Inspiring people You get along best with: The Question Mark

What Punctuation Mark Are You?

Workout #3!!

Well... I could hardly put my left side hand on my hip today... my arm muscles hurt so bad.

I worked out again with my personal trainer today -- 5 minutes walking, 40 minutes weights, 4 minutes on the elliptical and 20 minutes walking -- mostly right around 2 mph. The difference today was that I spent 15 minutes stretching. Oh it hurts so good!!

* * * * * *
Nothing major going on except I was a crabby b-word pretty much all day... couldn't get anything done between the phone, email, talking to people who were coming into my office, and the pile of crap on all three surfaces that I'll generously call a desk being covered with papers and more papers and calendars and calculators... ack!!

After Saturday things will be better.

I really want to vent about this Combined PR Event We Are Doing experience in the worst way... but I wouldn't be nice, or even funny, really... and I really do want to KMMS... (Keep My Mouth Shut) as it has managed to get me into trouble a number of times in the past, and I need to just Get Over It Already.

*********
I'm going to hang out with some fun and funny people tomorrow and crop and scrap... which will be much fun!!

How To Catch Wild Pigs

Found this story on another blog, and rather than put it all here... I'll put a link to it instead.

It is a political analogy... and if you know how a frog won't jump out of water that is heated until in eventually boils to death, you get the gist.

A good read, anyhow.

Work out, then chocolate ice cream - nothing incongruous there, is there?

It's hot. When its hot I eat a lot of ice cream. I tried to do frozen yogurt one summer with a cheap freezer thing-a-ma-bob, but it broke and wasn't all that great... and took way-hay too long to freeze up the yogurt.

Yes, my second workout with weights today... yi-yi-yi!!! I was really in pain last Friday and Saturday... and I know it is a good pain, so I was enthusiastic when I groaned and moaned... ;-)

I need to get in the habit of going every day - and tomorrow my goal is to go after work and just do 20 minutes on the treadmill. I also want to take advantage of the food plan that the personal training program gives me. I've resisted for so long being told what to eat... and that hasn't worked spectacularly for me... eating when I'm hungry and eating what I want to eat works for me, when I focus on actually doing it.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

So... on my way to the fitness center after work, I'm heading south and turning left to get to my gym. In my town our green arrows in most intersections come after the main green light... so I was in a line of left-turning cars and as it got to my turn to actually make the left, I saw what had been hidden infront of the tall SUV in front of me... a blind man was crossing the street in the middle of the intersection!

I saw a man who had obviously seen what was going on and was running to him to let him know that he was *standing in the middle of 12 lanes of opposing traffic.*

It looked like the blind man thought he had crossed the entire intersection (West to East) when indeed he'd only crossed 4 lanes, came to the island that separates the dual road, so he turned to then cross North to South. Holy Crap!!!

I said a prayer of thanks for the guy who was running to help him out. I said a prayer of thanks that everyone so far had seen him and wasn't honking obnoxiously at him (which only would have confused him, I'm pretty sure). Then I said a prayer of thanks for my health and my sight. How easy it would be to make that mistake, especially if my mind was on something other than crossing 6 lanes of traffic.

So... if you're reading this, give thanks.

Dumb Laws website

I thought this was a fun find on the world wide web this morning...

Dumb Laws; Stupid Laws

Have a dumb-law free day ;-)

Tucson Desert Harmony Chorus going to International Contest 2009!!

Wahhhh-hoooooo!

I had a slight twinge of regret... not being a part of going up and getting that Region 21 blue ribbon medal... I know I'm doing the right thing, but that is something I'll never be a part of ~ that first blue ribbon...

But I have every intention of going back to chorus after the weather cools down and I'm firmly entrenched in a regular workout/exercise routine.

Today I'm in organizing mode -- I'm revved up from contest yesterday and inspired... hard to stay motivated and inspired... that is my constant challenge. (or, as Beth would say, OGAD - another "Opportunity for Growth And Development" ;-) I'm also in a clearing the crap mood -- getting rid of some clothes first. Going and getting next year's calendar second, then coming back and putting some craft stuff away. In 15 minute increments. I may stop at the fitness place and do some walking on the treadmill.

I signed up (finally) onto itunes and am switching over my music to my ipod ~ it is taking awhile... but I've already made one 1-hour walking music playlist... and will make a few. I also want to go and see about the podcasts and listen to some of those.

Oh Why Am I Not Asleeping?

Big Mama's blog post today cracked me up -- inspired me...? or just made me envious about being able to write a post that would make himself's quirks lovable. Like how he balls up his socks to wash them. you know, like you pair socks up after you've washed, dried and sorted them -- getting them ready to put them away? Well, he balls them all up before washing them, in order to prevent single sock syndrome. I have a sneaking feeling that this prevents them from getting the cleanest clean possible.

I'm sure I can come up with more ~ but it is late, I should be sleeping.

Speaking of Himself ~ our first of the two wedding anniversaries was Monday, April 6th. I know I have so many people reading my blog -- anyone venture a guess... quite a few people know, I know (how many times can I write/type know??)... no prize offering, sorry.

I went to my chorus "Friends & Family Night" where they do their stuff over and over in preparation for the big contest on Saturday in Phoenix. They rocked! I think I'm going to ride up with friends to watch for the day -- I came home tonight and watched a bunch of barbershop on You Tube.

like this:



Yep, revealing a lot about me today.

I went and signed up with a personal trainer - 20 minutes on the treadmill with hills yesterday kicked my butt. But I have a goal! Thursday I go in for weights. whoo hoo.

I am excited about working out -- it is cutting back on the fat in my diet that sucks the big one. whine whine.

A Day of Rest

After a 13-day work stretch I'm thoroughly enjoying today. I slept in until 10 am, cleared off the dining room table, took a shower, irritated himself doing taxes, helped himself with taxes (brought it from paying the IRS to them paying us $37 because of what I spent on craft supplies for my business... any other day he would have been upset at the spending. Ah-hah! now I know when to reveal my receipts from JoAnn's, Michaels and other craft sources!! :-), organized receipts from Jan-Mar of this year, and started some laundry.

My goal for today was to plan 3 weeks of weight watcher meals and shopping lists for us... it is now 6pm and himself has gone to blockbuster to return videos and get new ones, then heading to the grocery for some supplies, and we'll settle down, eat some pizza and watch movies.

I'm hoping to get a week done for the shopping/eating plan.

I went and talked to Better Bodies on Friday after work and got an idea of how much they charge -- cough cough. $70 an hour which, like most things, goes down the more sessions you buy up front -- even then, however, it is 36 sessions for $55 which would cost $1,980.00. I'm not saying it isn't worth it. Their literature does say that if budget is a primary concern, then they probably aren't the ones for you.

I left a message for the guy at Snap 24 Fitness ~ I'll get my training in with him (free for the first time), and then talk to him about having a trainer maybe once a week. I'm ready, but just couldn't afford the Better Bodies Budget.

And the reunions coming up have absolutely nothing to do with my motivation.

Really.

Yep, I mean it. :-)

The big event yesterday for work went pretty well -- I was tired and crabby, but think I faked it okay. We had over 21 kids show up for StarKidz 2008 -- with almost no advertising. This was the 2nd year, and by next year I think I'll be okay to chair the whole thing and organize it (with the expectation that I'll have some office help by then).

It still is crazy between now and May 20th, but there's a little breather for the next couple days... little.

States I've visited/driven through

Blatantly stolen from Happy Hours Blog :-)



create your own personalized map of the USA

and I have been through Alabama... the snowstorm of '93 and I lost and found my camera
in Anniston -- at a Waffle House (great grits!!)

It says I've been to 45% of the US (23 states, really 24 - though)

Do Unto Others

So ~ Today I spent 25 minutes in the post office -- more like wasted 25 minutes in the post office... 25 minutes I'll never get back.

I have a few observations... I don't remember when I noticed it, but quite awhile ago I noticed that the post office doesn't use the number tracking thing anymore. A notice that was posted at the post office I was at today stated that they'd stop doing the 'take a number' system mostly due to customer feedback. That the take-a-number system wasted time, and made customers feel like they were 'just a number' rather than receiving the care and courtesy they feel they deserved.

The post office, being known for its counter help speed and efficiency, decided that they would listen to the customer and take away the number system.

There was also a notice/sign at an un-manned window that this window was for disabled customers. And in the same notice about the take-a-number system being done away with was something about how fairly and timely disabled customers would be handled without them having a number. To be honest, this notice was a full length, 12-point type and had like, 6 long paragraphs. And, while I knew I had time to read the entire lengthy explanation on why and how they took away the take-a-number system (for there were only 6 people in front of me in line, and one of the people whose turn had just come up had a box lid full of very full large manila envelopes that all needed to be weighed etc....), to be honest, I don't remember everything about the disabled information because [1] it didn't really apply to me today and [2] I was greatly annoyed that the take-a-number system had been taken away.

Why...

Well -- the take-a-number system allowed me to not have to wait in line. I could find a wall to lean against, or take an open spot on a bench when someone else's number came up and the seat was vacated... or I could stand somewhere and fill out a form at table... or make a phone call in the privacy of a corner of the room and just keep my eye on the number display.

Now I have to stay in a queue -- stand in line and keep my place in line. There's nothing to lean on, nothing to do, nothing do see but the person in front of me, who isn't friendly.

sigh.

The other thing I noticed that annoyed me even more is that after 10 minutes of me standing there waiting, and the line not having moved once... a gentleman came in and he was holding what looked like a disabled parking tag thing-a-ma-jig. He walked past the now even longer line that was forming behind me, and meandered over to where a bench was -- that was kinda close to the disabled window where no one was working.

Now, I know he came in after I did, but I have no idea where his "place" in line would have been had he been able to stand in the silly line like the rest of us... but I, being the cynic that I am when it comes to how the majority of our society treats the older generation, I figured the person who was in front of him would not say anything to anyone who came in and stood in line behind that person like, " Just so you know, that elderly gentleman seated over there came in just after me, but isn't able to stand in line, so I'll be sure and tell the post office employee that he'll be next after me."

Just don't see it happening... and maybe it would be because that person would have his or her nose in a book and would not have even seen this gentleman come in. The take-a-number system eliminates this awkward situation altogether.

I know the postal employees are busy taking care of each and every customer in an individual and customer service oriented manner (as stated on the notice of why they got rid of the take-a-number system in the first place), so they're not going to see when a disabled person sits down to patiently wait his turn.

I was there to pick up a certified letter that was addressed to one of the TGC Board members.

Fortuitously, there was a postal employee who was just helping those of us who were 'just picking up.' The gentleman who went forward to pick things up before me mentioned to her that another disabled customer; who had slowly made her way across the room (because naturally the window for the disabled is across the entire room from the door where you come in) with a cane in one hand and an armful of things to mail in the other -- had gone to the disabled window, saw there was no one there, asked the postal employee who was helping someone else if anyone was working at the disabled window and after she got his attention, he just said no; so she walked all the way out of the room and I couldn't see if she got in line or if she left.

The woman doing the pick ups asked the same postal employee if anyone was working the disabled window and he didn't really answer or respond -- if anything I guess he said no.

The elderly gentleman with the disabled tag was sitting on the bench, which, to be fair, was near the disabled window. And here is what made me actually write this today... on the bench with him was a woman with a baby in a carrier, which she had on her lap, and a 3 or 4 year old little boy, who was sitting on the bench beside her.

In days of old, the mother would have told her child to stand up, and would have said to the older lady, 'ma'am, there is room here on the bench if you'd like to wait until someone can help you.' But this young woman and child didn't bat an eye. The little boy seemed calm, and probably would have been absolutely fine with giving up his seat. It wasn't in a crowd of people, it was set away from the line. Really, in my mind, no reason for him not to give up his seat for someone older and in bad health.

All the other stuff just annoys me, but that lack of awareness, manners, consideration, whatever it is called -- it just really chapped my hide.

When I got up to the window I mentioned to the woman that the gentleman sitting on the bench had been waiting awhile as well. To be honest, I'm not sure if I would have said anything had the man in front of me not mentioned it first. And I don't always do the right thing... but I do make an attempt.

The point? We're all going to be old one day. We all, at one point or another, will rely on the kindness of strangers, and I firmly believe that what goes around comes around and you get what you give.

When in traffic let a few more people in front of you. It's just good karma and the right thing to do. Are we really in that much of a hurry? Is it really that important that you can't wait another 3 minutes for a signal change? Sometimes it is... but for me at least, most days it isn't. And if I had a life that most days it WAS that important, I'd hate my life and I'd change it.

And at the end of all this, she wouldn't give me the certified letter because it wasn't addressed to me. Which, I'm actually thankful for -- glad to know the post office cares about who is picking up mail and checking ID.

And I'm really not knocking the post office -- I like and respect what they do very much. My postal carrier at work is great, and the one at home is wonderful too. I know when I go to the post office that I'm going to be there awhile, and I'm okay with that.

I'm knocking a generation that isn't raising young people with manners or respect for the older generation. I'm knocking lack of awareness. I'm knocking how unkind it is out there in the world.

Pissing & Moaning

I'm very tired, which makes me crabby and really grumpy.

Himself told me that when I vent I irritate him. That sucked. Couldn't even talk about my sucky last 2 or 3 days right.

Tears, Man.

I was excited about the 'doo' tomorrow, not so much right now.

We're all tired and I'm not going to be stopping until May 20th.

So, if I haven't posted, you'll know why.

Rock Painting Step-by-Step

Step [1] Step [2] Step [3]



Step [4] Step [5] Step [6]



Step [7] Step [8] Step [9]



Step [10]

I'll post the "goal" picture and how this looks in the sunshine, with more details in another post.
Suffice to say I'll be painting more, this was very fun!!

Monday Movies

So... last night we watched "Van Helsing" with Hugh Jackson.... very tongue-in-cheek with all the bad guys ~ Dracula, Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde, The Werewolf... well-done in the cheesiest way!

The other night we saw "The Road to Perdition" with Tom Hanks & Paul Newman. Jude Law does a great job too -- worth seeing for all the performances.

Mag Ruffman

and "A Repair To Remember" ~ himself & I enjoyed watching this Toolgirl show in the UK, she's Canadian and worked as a licensed contractor. She has a book titled "How Hard Can It Be?" and I just wanted to post it here so I can always find it...oh, and also to share in blogland.

The show was fun to watch!

Happy Easter

This is the earliest Easter Sunday since 1940, and we won't see another Easter this early for 200 years. That must be true, my morning radio show hosts said it :-) We are doing absolutely nothing to commemorate this Holiday. I did not go to church. I've not done a single card, or done a small basket for my adorable himself... nada. I did buy some Cadbury Chocolate Eggs, and some Cadbury Creme Eggs for people at work... and our awesome realtor, Karen Barrera & Associates left us some yellow bunny peeps.

I did the craft class yesterday, "Flower Fairies" - which wasn't as well attended as it would have been as next Saturday because of the Easter Weekend, but they still turned out cute. That's as close as I've come to doing anything crafty for Easter.



- - - - -

I did get to a crop on Friday night, and scrapped 6 pages - very very very uninspired, but the pages are there, and lots of journalling to do on them! I did journal 2 of the 6, but it was just writing out what the back of one of the postcards said, so like I said, realy really very very uninspired. I had fun at the crop however!!

* * * * *

"Wild with a Glue Gun" ~ Getting Together with Crafty Friends by Kitty Harmon & Christine Stickler (c) 2004 is a book I got from Amazon not long ago. Some of the reviews on the site panned it, but this is something a fellow crafty friend, T, and I would certainly enjoy doing -- and it was way cheap on the 'used' Amazon aisle ;-).

Regular Crafting at my house would: [1] inspire (motivate/get my rear in gear) me to keep my house clean (reason enough, really) and [2] help me increase my range of crafty endeavors (always fun), and [3] possibly meet some new peeps!

To have a weekly craft meet would be so very fun and cool! Bring your own thing -- scrapping, cardmaking, quilting, yarn fun, things-that-require-glue guns... or maybe twice a month do your own thing, twice a month we learn something new... I dunno, I'll read this book, discuss with T and see what we think :-)

- - - - -
Artists vs. Crafter

Consider this quote by Thoms Minotaur ~ “I think being an artist comes from within, like a state of mind. … an artist is anyone who can express what is going on in their head/soul through any creative medium, whether it be spoken, written, sung, played, danced, or put on canvas. It is the act of releasing and documenting thoughts and feelings that makes one an artist.”

I think that is a great definition of an artist. So many bloggers are artists in the comedic release of their joys, sorrows and attitudes of rearing children and of life. I would add photography to the above, for certain, for there is emotion and expression in photos, and I think to be a good photographer, it requires a way to access your own emotions to really be able to capture it in others.

So -- all us knitters (I don't knit but aspire), scrapbookers, cardmakers, beading enthusiasts... I think many consider themselves artists. And some might be, and many certainly are. But I know for certain that when I'm putting stickers and paper on a page of photos, I'm not expressing how I'm feeling, I'm thinking (key: thinking, not feeling) about the photos.

On this craft forum, there are creative people, for sure. And I think some of them are artists... they create things that express something (!)

I don't have a lot of regular readers of my blog, but I would ask this question - when can you call yourself an Artist? vs. a Crafter or a Crafty Person?

I would put forward that all Artists are Creative, but not all Creative People are Artists. I started thinking of this, and got the above quote from this About.com page, which has other more open and broad definitions of when would someone call him/her-self an Artist.

I'm in the middle of painting my first rock (!) and really having fun... went digging around the world wide web for more information on Acrylic Painting and have been surfing for an hour... I'll post photos soon... I'm having a grand time!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen things I want to write 13 Things about...

1. Favorite Musicals

2. Favorite Singers

3. Earliest Memories

4. Themed Scrapbooks

5. Books I want to read

6. The Teachers I've had

7. Performing Experiences (choir/theatre)

8. Ways to Spoil Myself

9. Habits to cultivate over a year

10. Organizing Goals

11. Favorite Quotes

12. Best/Worst Gifts I've received

13. Influential People in My Life

How's that for cheating on the Thursday 13?!?!?

Bloggy Giveaways...

I've never really participated or even pretended to be interested -- but I was at BooMama's site and she is giving away 10 Dave Barnes CD's. I'd never heard of him, but went and found him on my favorite music whatchamacallit, Rhapsody -- listened to 3 songs (On A Night Like This, What Am I Gonna Do and Until You) and really like him!! So I went to YouTube and found my favorite rendition of "On A Night Like This" -- and it actually was played on an episode of "The Office" -- and here it is:



Enjoy! And I hope a win one of his CD's!!

Anonymity -- eh... not really

Y'know, I can be all kinds of sarcastic. When telling stories that are negative... usually about how stupid people are... which doesn't show a very nice or kind side of me. [voices in my head going "but... but.... BUT!! These people are not smart! actually the voices are saying "these people are idiots!"]

I've been reading some absolutely hysterical blogs lately (I've added links to what I read on the column on the left)... and while I know having a sense of humor in writing doesn't always play out in person (and vice-versa), I would absolutely love to get some of these women together for coffee... we get the whole coffee house to ourselves and put 4 of us together at each table, rotate every hour or so and let the fun begin.

The other thing is that (as my father, who reads my blog - "hi dad!" told me) things you put on the internet never go away.

So - things we post on the 'net never go away. [*Full Stop] Check.

So I don't post the funniest things that happen because too many people know who I am, and I don't want to hurt any feelings or worse, **piss anyone off. This is not an anonymous blog.

I guess that is my rambling for today.


*Full Stop is what we would call a Period at the end of a sentence.

**I'm more afraid of what opinion would be of me for doing something wrong than actually doing something wrong. I guess this is good in a way because it has stopped me from making unwise decisions, but it also has stopped me from other things that who know, might not be so unwise.

7 Random Things About Me

1. I love Nag Champa incense. I burn incense when I'm spending time in my craft room and am going to be here awhile (not just checking email...). I like candles, but I'm more likely to burn a stick of Nag Champa than light a candle. Himself calls it my Opium Den when I'm burning incense.

2. I make really excellent cookies. The original recipe calls them "Flying Saucer" cookies, so-named because of the size of cookies the children would created with the recipe. I've modified it somewhat -- and I call them my "Healthy Breakfast Cookies" because they have it all: oats, cornflakes, coconut, raisins & nuts (and of course chocolate chips -- but they aren't part of the breakfast concept) I even took pictures of the cookies that I made for the TGC Fun Day we had yesterday at work (a la CoffeeGal), but my pictures do these fabulous cookies absolutely no justice.

I want to play with the recipe and see what 'healifying' the recipe would do -- you know, applesauce for oil; baby prunes for oil... I'll be sure and post my results when the time comes.

3. I love the smell of doing laundry -- the smellier the detergent and fabric sheets, the better. I recently read about the invisible film build-up if you don't wash the dryer lint trap with soap and water regularly -- and on this site it tells the story and it is a 'truth or legend' website, and says it is true. (just some helpful information in exchange for your wasted time reading blogs...)

I feel clothes are certainly cleaner if they smell good. (Yes, I know that isn't true, but that's okay)

4. I thought I was really going to get into beading... but I'm not. I like knowing a little bit for accenting my paper clay stuff, and for the one off project perhaps, or accenting fabric creations... but I'm thrilled to say I'm not going to have to have another "area" in my craft room just for that stuff. It all fits okay into a plastic painter's tray on a shelf. Whoo Hoo!!!

5. I want to travel the USA in a camper truck.... for at least 6 months, preferably a year... and visit every state and see -- at least -- the top 13 things (making that number up arbitrarily right now) that the state is known for. I bought a 1988 Reader's Digest Book titled "America's Historic Places" - 'an Illustrated Guide to Our Country's Past' and want to use that as a starting place. A Random Flip into the book puts me on page 275 - Texas, part of the "South Central States" and #6 in Texas is The Alamo. Second Random Flip leads me to page 114/5 in Georgia - "The Southeastern States" and number 4 is Stone Mountain Park, 5. is The Wren's Nest (home of the author of the Uncle Remus stories and so named for the bird found nesting in his mailbox), and number 5 is the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site.

I would scrapbook along the way -- and do a blog, too. I'd visit everyone I know who lives all over the country.

And I don't want to wait until I'm retired. And it would be great if Himself wanted to come with me, but I also would enjoy the trip by myself.

6. I believe everyone should sing. I believe everyone can sing. I also believe not everyone should have to listen... that audience members are just as important as those up on stage, for without them those on stage would be alone. More and more science studies are proving that there is a harmonious balance that happens when we sing -- it is already proven that singing is better for your vocal folds than speaking -- much easier!! And if singing correctly you should be able to sing far longer than you can speak.

7. I always want to go back to college. I really think I ought to have been a teacher -- I love the idea of learning new things (that I want to learn... not necessarily about the things I am not interested in, such as chitin, or statistics (well ---- maybe stats for dummies), or Glycosaminoglycans, or even complex archeology (though I do remember at one point in my growing up times thinking being an archeologist would be fun -- me, who believes roughing it is staying at the Motel 8 instead of the Holiday Inn Express....!)

Caught My Fancy....

Painting on Rocks...

I watched a 2005 Carol Duvall show last night and Lin Wellford demonstrated painting houses on rocks... well ~ I'm inspired now! Talk about the perfect garden (she has a 'paint flowers on rocks' book as well as a paint garden art on rocks book)! Here in Arizona especially... no watering, it is movable....

- - - - - - - - -
I also was researching above ground pools, portable pools.... and found an "endless pool" for above-grounds! This is great -- small pool, can take it with you if you want and is the exercise/cooling down I'm looking for.

Unfortunately, we're kinda broke at the moment so no pool this summer. Bummer

Thursday Thirteen - TV Theme Songs - belated

Thursday Thirteen - Fave TV Theme Songs (with a link to go and listen)

From November!

I did this today, but since I had it in the 'drafts' section of the blog, it published it in November, so I'm posting the link today...

eta:
*The Greatest American Hero

I love that song!

I should be crafting and organizing, but I end up reading about crafting and organizing.

There are tons 'o blogs out in blogland -- yesterday I found a site dedicated to crafty storage. It was so fun to look around at a bunch of different craft rooms and studios... but it doesn't get MY room more organized.

I want to continue scrapping my college albums and get them done -- the end of April is the retirement of the Tech Director at Pepperdine who has been there 25 years... he put the word out and I think a lot of former students might show up -- I'd love to have my albums there for perusing... along with a reunion in June.

Then there is the organizing part -- labeling, putting things away and then knowing where I put them... making page kits for faster scrapping when I actually to get to go to crops... making some cards with the cool new stamps and supplies I got -- I get inspired by these blogs but then spend hours on blogs and not on my own stuff.

It reminds me of that saying -- something about people who watch, people who do and people who wonder... I used to be a doer, now it seems I'm becoming a watcher.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Went to see a high school production of Little Shop of Horrors Friday night --it was really excellent. The voices on those kids were terrific. This high school has quite a bit of money among the student population, and they obtained quite a bit of community backing so the sets were fabulous -- it really was a high quality high school show.

Next week some friends and I will check out a newer local musical theatre group, because I'm curious -- Cabaret. I've never seen the stage show, just the movie -- and I it is always different, so I'm looking forward to seeing it for a number of reasons.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I'm getting the name of a well-spoken of voice teacher -- thinking I need to get back into 'legitimate' voice coaching/lessons for reminders of things I learned 20 years ago but have been out of practice with.

The only time I've ever lost weight was with the secret hope that I may get a certain part in a musical while I was in college. Maybe another carrot like that is what I need to get my rear in gear back to a fitness routine.

Trader Joe's

We have TJ's here in Arizona (all the California transplants probably demanded it, and I'm very thankful!)... so tonight I went in and shopped for dinner, knowing I wanted to make homemade Chicken Noodle Soup and knowing I needed chicken and noodles and more chicken broth, and the rest could be improvised once I looked up my favorite recipe site: www.allrecipes.com .

I tend not to call TJ's my 'regular' store -- it is small, with too many carts it is a pain to get around in, but it isn't that expensive and they have extremely cool stuff. This is where I get marscapone cheese and I think they have the best cinnamon graham crackers around -- a little marscapone on a TJ's cinnamon graham and it is like a wee slice of cheesecake. Yum.

I was happy tonight with what I found and the prices I paid, so definitely will be going more often on my way home from work. :-) And the Chicken Noodle Soup was awesome!!

Found this quote that just flew at me and stuck today:

"One half of knowing what you want is knowing what you must g i v e u p before you get it." ~ Author Unknown.

I've been thinking about my quartet and how much I miss singing harmony, but how much I'm enjoying not having to be responsible for it. I've been thinking about how changing our lifestyle and eating habits is going to take me giving up sitting on the couch vegging out watching the boob tube for 3 or 4 hours a night after eating frozen crap for dinner. And as much as I don't want to give up music right now - my health (our health) needs to be the priority, and it is hard to make changes.

Sacrifice.

Self-denial.

It isn't just about making right eating choices, it is all-encompassing. What do I want and what am I really and truly willing to give up in order to get it. Do I want it enough... whatever "it" is.

Start with the end in mind, as Stephen Covey says.... what do I want people to say about me at my funeral? How do I want to be remembered? "It" isn't all about me... what positive energy/vibe/influence do I have? How am I going to live my life once I know what my end result should be?

Tricky.

All the messages we get from advertising, media etc... is that we can have it all -- we shouldn't have to give anything up. I don't agree. Giving something up makes us stronger. And I am so weak. So very weak.

I haven't formed any conclusions. I am not sure where I'm headed in this self-discovery. I'm not even sure that I haven't thought it before now... and I'm just being reminded.

What am I willing to give up? In order for me to reach goals I have, I need to give up time, and time is so precious. hmmmmmmmmmm.

Feeling Better

Still have stuffy nose and head, but the fever off and on again is off... most of the aches are gone, and I can think a bit better. Not much, but a bit.

Got my hair cut before the Open House....



This is 6 inches of hair on the floor... It is a great cut, and feels good. I go back and forth with keeping it short and growing it -- I think I'll keep it short for awhile.

We watched Ratatouille (sp?) tonight -- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix at some point this week... and Jungle Book played pretty much the whole time my 5 year old nephew was here...

Need to get back into my routine now -- the house is in a bit of order -- need to make menus, get into an exercise routine and get back to scrapbooking. I'm missing it.

sick

achey.

head.


nose, stuffed.

sore nose and face from blowing...
dry mouth from sleeping with stuffed nose...

body hurts.
peeing every hour on the hour at night

Gilmore Girls Fest....

We survived -- and thrived -- and had a great time :D

And had a fabulous time.

I think I'm sick now, though -- this flu thing that everyone has had may have touched me - I'm hot, I'm cold, I'm headachey, my throat is scratchy and I'm wanting to cough. I'm achey and really exhausted.

Happy and Sad -- when I'm this tired I cry -- I cried during the Oscar speeches, I'm such a flippin' wuss.

So awesome to see my relatives -- less folks than last time at my Open House - but I'll blame it on the busy busy town Tucson is in February, March & April.... it IS Rodeo Weekend, anyhow!!

I do love my family, and appreciate them so much. And there is a possibility of being Oklahoma Land Owners in our future... lots to consider and think about in the next year or so.

sleepy time now

It is what it is.... letting go... procrastination finds another face

I have people coming to s t a y IN my house -- the kitchen is a mess. The guest room isn't even funny. My studio is obscenely neat on one side and tornado-hit-it on the other. Himself's bathroom is vile. I haven't grocery shopped. The back yard is a mess. I'm going to see the Putnam County Spelling Bee tomorrow night -- and while I have Thursday off and Friday off -- and my sister doesn't know it yet but she's going to (hopefully) help me with the finishing touches of getting my rear in gear for Saturday... I still will be a raving maniac in the meantime.

Not enough to do anything about it, though.

I'm "letting it go" -- and "it is what it is" -- which just means really, "I can't be bothered" -- but my little inner guilt voice is nagging and whining... and the judgement that will be upon my head because my house is d i r t y .... well... I'm not sure how my recovery will go.

Will it be with copious amounts of colorado bulldogs....
Gilmore Girls Fest (Season 1) -- or West Wing Fest (still haven't opened the last 3 seasons... and I missed a lot of stuff in there)... or other guilty do-nothing pleasures?

I need to wash my clothes -- I need to buy food and while I've sketched a menu I'm still unsure how all that will go.

ack.

COLD!!!!

Today is Freakin' Cold - yesterday it rained pretty much all day -- I had some great Volunteer Management Training -- went home early and went to a crop where I punched tons of Sizzix Birthday dies for Craft Class today -- am still in my pj's, with pants on and my robe, drinking coffee and procrastinating getting the rest of the stuff ready for class.

Himself was upset that there is a tiny imperfection in the cover of the console in the two-seater couch, so he made me call Sam Levitz and get a new one -- he was hoping they'd offer a price reduction, but since he didn't talk to them and I'm not the haggler/negotiator, we're getting a brand new couch delivered today.

We have to finish clearing out the guest/himself's room and set up the double bed and make it presentable for guests -- I'm so excited that we're going to have 6 people staying with us for a weekend -- it'll be crowded but I think we'll all have fun. Family from Oklahoma and California coming for the Open House a week from today. :D

oh, and I'm enjoying triple chunk brownie from Betty Crocker for breakfast with my coffee. yum!

Valentines Day 2008

I'm so lame... I punched out over 1,000 hearts for work and am so done with hearts... don't have a card - valentine or birthday for my wonderful himself who has given me the entire series of "Gilmore Girls" on DVD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So unexpected and so wonderful!!!!!

So I'm fixing a favorite dinner -- Safeway meat lasagna, salad in a bag, pre-made garlic bread, I'll make triple chocolate brownies and bought wine and Kahlua with half and half and whip cream & Dr. Pepper for our favorite drink "Colorado Bulldogs" and got some ice cream too --

I was going to make him breakfast in bed this morning, but that went out the window when I didn't go to bed until 11pm.

Ack. I'll have to make up a real home-made dinner after the Open House and when some of the work madness is in a lull.

*sigh*

Catching Up!

I've been away for awhile -- work has been crazy busy with an over-500 person Valentine Mailing... with yours truly Sizzixing over 1,000 hearts -- I was reimbursed $146.00 for the supplies and stuff -- and I can't believe I heard myself say... "I'm tired of going to JoAnn's" (!)

With the addition of another 180 names -- we decided that store-bought valentines would do -- and wow -- it has been awhile since I bought children's valentines. Things have come a long way baby! I bought Hello Kitty, Tigger (so cute!), Shrek, and Strawberry Shortcake -- I refused to buy Barbie Valentines... but they come with stickers -- and kids get to fold them and do more than just write their names! I remember when I was in 2nd grade and I think mom and I must have chosen a Disney Pack -- and I saved the best valentine (Snow White) for my best friend Laura -- the teachers didn't want kids picking through his or her stash for the best one to give to best friends, you had to rush around the Valentine Circle -- but I remember taking Laura's out and putting it at the bottom of my handful so when it came to her I just grabbed from the bottom.

But I digress.

Since many of the hearts were run through the Xyron machine, I kept those scraps for other smaller projects -- that adhesive is expensive -- but oh-so-wonderful. A mom who came in to volunteer at TGC... I put to work using the Xyron and the Sizzix... and unbeknownst to me she is a card maker/stamper who hasn't had a chance to get together with people who do that since her friend who got her into that moved away. awwwwwwwwww.... so I'm walking her down the garden path to the papercraft craziness.... I'll be sure and invite her to the next gathering *heh heh heh* She says she has hundreds of Stampin' Up Stamps -- I can't wait!!

But I digress again.

At Coffee Gal's blog she always does such a nice job of posting photos of things she is working on... I'm such a copy cat that I'm going to post a few of the things that I've been doing since January... along with photos of my "Studio" (studio sounds so much nicer than craft room, or even office -- doesn't it?)




The first image is of a paper clay pin -- paper clay is clay that once dry, is like paper -- you can color it with chalks, pens, pencils etc... add glitter, beads or whatever, then a final layer of glaze for protection and to help it last longer. I'm self-teaching myself a little about beading, so the hanging beads are just me learning how to do that and use the beading tools etc... very fun!

The second image is the Stampin' Up Demonstration I went to at my friend T's last week -- we also decorated a frame -- though like my craft class for seniors -- while it looks great, we didn't do a lot of creative stuff with it, we just copied the demo. I like the results, but I like taking the ideas myself and doing something different (I'm such a rebel)... the card on the left is an example of what I tend to do -- it is kinda different from the sample that was shown. I love the card on the right -- but it is pretty much exactly the sample that was shown at the class.

I try to give the seniors in my class options within the framework of what we're doing -- next week we'll be doing a pop-up card... I'll have all the stuff for the 'kits' - but leave the decisions on which paper they'll want to use, and which 'Happy Birthday' greeting pre-stamped or printed they'll use. That way they're all making the same card, but with their own 'stamp' of creativity on it. Some of them don't want to choose for themselves and do it exactly like I've done it -- but I encourage people to 'create out of the box' and do something different.

There is a balance, however -- too many choices leads to being unable to make a decision -- and we only have an hour. It is a fine line -- and sometimes I've been rigid in what they're making, and other projects give them tons of creative choice. The prep-time is longer for me/us when we're getting ready for the class, but I believe in the process and want to give them all the options I can.

Now for my Studio:



Picture [1] is what you see almost immediately upon entering; Picture [2] is the far wall, and Picture [3] is where I sit at the pc. (Coffee Gal's post is still on the computer screen ;-)

This is actually pretty organized -- but did you notice I have empty spaces??? Gotta get busy and put more stuff away!! I'll be getting a shelf unit that used to be in the living room (new couch photos later on down the post), so will have some more places to put things. I tend to like to put everything for a project in its own container -- rather than having all my components together -- for things like flower fairies it makes sense -- I don't use those materials for anything but making flower fairies -- but for paper crafts it doesn't make as much sense. It would be better I think if I put everything away like we do in kitchens -- utensils, consumables, embellishments... like with like -- and I've started labelling things more -- but I'm still unpacking from the move, so lots of things were put in with other un-like things and I'm still in that discovery mode... "oh THAT'S where I put that!!" :D

Now for the new couches.... for those of you who knew what my living room looked like (T is the only one who has been allowed over I think....) -- this is so different than what it looked like before. Oh. My. Gosh. It's awesome. Last night we watched Spiderman 3 -- it was great!!!



We also got a new Kitchen Armoire (Martha Stewart from K-Mart) -- and Himself was saying it was the best piece of put-it-together-yourself furniture he'd ever seen. Quite quality, as a matter of fact. Himself will finish painting the kitchen today and I'll get the kitchen put away tomorrow (fingers crossed).

The Open House/Housewarming motivation to get my house in order -- never fails!!