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!!

New Furniture!

REAL new furniture... virgin cushions that have seated none but our behinds! It is so exciting!

Himself and I went to Sam Levitz and bought a SET (I pushed for a set - loveseat and 3-seater couch) and they both have 2 recliners! (So that means 4 recliners in all :-) The love seat has a middle bit for storage of remotes etc... and a little tray. It's a 'aged-worn' brown Micro-fiber that we're having master-stain dipped, and, knowing how hard we are on the furniture, we bought the lifetime (10 year) recliner parts replacement deal.

We're going to get rid of two chairs (which I really love but they're way past their prime...), keep another comfy chair for the spare room, and himself has ordered a ceiling mount thingey for the projector. He built two additional shelves in the front closet, and we're slowly getting the laundry room so that it will hold spare kitchen appliances that we love but don't use very often.

Once we get the dining room table cleared off (this week), I want to get out the sewing machine (gasp!) and make some curtains... still not clear on what color scheme I'm going to go for in the living room -- we originally were going for a Movie House theme -- we have a couple movie-themed things that go on the wall, and we bought some classic movie posters, but I'm not sure...

When I get the Christmas Tree down (!) I'll really feel like we're moving along. I think the Christmas stuff is going to go out in himself's shed for the time being, until another shed can be built for a workshop for him. I have concern about Christmas stuff being outside in the summer...

Nothing like have people over to get your house in order!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The trip to California was worth it. Giving my mom and myself a chance to hang out without our husbands.

I'm finally really angry at the entire house situation, and at how it has turned out. Mom's house hasn't sold yet, and L allowed the price to be reduced by $10,000 -- and they had an Open House on Sunday (don't know how that went yet), and we're really crossing our fingers it won't sell and she can rent it.

There's a lot going on there that isn't really for blogland, so please keep us in your prayers and good thoughts.

Mark Gungor ~ Laugh Yourself to a Better Marriage

You have to watch this -- 5:27 worth of funny funny truths.

I'm Back

Very Sleepy after the 12+ hour drive from San Jose to Cave Creek yesterday...

So thankful it worked out that I could go out for Uncle Bob's memorial.... seeing family, singing with other family at the funeral.... whipping my sister, brother and cousin in Hearts (only 'cuz I play the computer version every once in awhile...).

More later... home safe and sound and while very tired, I'm very thankful I was able to be a part of this gathering... and so very blessed and thankful to be a part of this amazing family.

Owwwww and *sniff sniff*

Well, my tooth extraction today turned out to be a "two for one" -- in that I got to skip 3 months of between time waiting 'cuz I got the post in the same day the tooth came out... er... disintegrated.

I still have 3 months for the implant to heal before getting the crown to cover the gaping hole... but it doesn't look any worse than it did before, which is good.

So that was the owwww. And yes, I've taken a percocet.


In other news that hurts, my great-uncle passed away yesterday. My late nana's brother, he was 89, and it is a miracle he lived as long as he did. He was affectionately known as SOB (Sweet Ol' Bob) and he will be missed. A large gaping hole will be in our family where he once stood as patriarch. He organized family reunions that kept the family together and are significant in my older-childhood memories, and his daughter is one of my favorite cousins. I cried buckets last night at work when I got the email that the doctor had said it was not good, and it turns out he passed away at 6:45 pm last night, right when I was in the flurry of tears.

Himself and I have the leather chair that was his a long time ago, and
it is kinda cool to have something of his in our house. He had a big booming voice, even when his health had declined so tremendously, and would call me "Carrie-Me-Back" (to old Virginie, I believe is the song...). He was punctual, a staunch Republican, traveled extensively with his wife and sometimes with his family; he was loyal, demanding and a force to be reckoned with. He was a pilot during WWII, and he and his wife dated two weeks before getting married back in 1945. He grew up poor, son of an Oklahoma sharecropper, and has written quite a bit about life with his 6 brothers and sisters during the depression - think "Grapes of Wrath."

I just accidentally deleted a memory of a long time ago... perhaps I'll write it again later.

A good man has passed away...

I've talked to me dad a couple times -- finally told him the 'drama that is my life' story, talked to my sister, and have talked to mom about driving out to N. California for the funeral.

There is so much going on at work right now though -- crucial things that need to happen that I'm in the center of or co-ordinating that I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to go. It will depend on how much I can get done tomorrow and Saturday afternoon after the TGC Auditions.

Not going to the memorial makes me feel ill.

A part of me knows it will be the last time I see branches and leaves of this part of my family tree... sad doesn't really adequately describe how that feels.

This is me and SOB in April 2005 ~ at he and CJ's 60th wedding anniversary. That wasn't the last time I saw him, but that was a great night of memories with the family.

A Story worth stealing (and posting on my blog from someone elses...)

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit, the conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in their work and lives.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups -- porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain-looking, some expensive, some exquisite -- telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the alumni had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said, “Notice that all the nice-looking, expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases, it is just more expensive, and, in some cases, even hides what we drink.

What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups, and then you began eyeing each other's cups.

Now consider this: Life is the coffee; your job, money, and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The type of cup one has does not define, nor change, the quality of life a person lives. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us.”

hrmph

Went to bed at 10:30 -- almost asleep when himself came in at 11:30 -- could NOT go back to sleep -- got up and watched M*A*S*H reruns until 2:00 am.

So much for the grand "go to bed early and get up and be productive" plans!

Yeah Yeah.... make plans and God Laughs.

"Not Funny" as I used to say to my mom when she'd laugh at my 4 or 5 year old tribulations!

Busy Day Before Going Back To Work!

I got up early -- did dishes, loaded the dishwasher, turned it on AND emptied it all in the same day. This is a miracle, truly.

I emptied five boxes, arranged things in and on my craft shelves, went to Target to return the food processor that was missing a part, made meatloaf & broccoli with the last of the Christmas mashed potatoes (yummy), and even had bread and salad. AND made another meatloaf, uncooked which is in the freezer. AND cooked the rest of the ground beef and made taco meat.

I washed most of the dishes (I should really be 'shining my sink' a la Flylady... but my feet are killing me and I'm exhausted!), and looked at my "to do" list tomorrow -- which starts the beginning of my routine.

I resist routine -- in a big big way -- it rarely disguises itself as fun, and is usually something you have to 'get through' in order to get to the fun stuff. And I'm all about fun. [sidenote: I got one of those emails tonight that says should eat ice cream, don't put things off, spend time gazing at a butterfly's erratic flight through the flowers etc... well, I don't have a problem putting things off and spending time daydreaming, taking time to chat over coffee, tea and whatever fattening goody I fancy. My issue is being self-disciplined... following through. I'm so easily distracted by things that are more fun than swiffering my floors, picking up dog poop and emptying the garbarge!]

It is now 10:06 pm -- time to go to sleep so I can get up and accomplish most of what is on my list for my "morning routine."

Watching Movies...

Himself and I watched the original Sci-Fi channel's mini-series "Tin Man" last night (I love TiVo!) and it was quite good... Both himself and I love Alan Cumming (though he reminds me of a Scottish Pee Wee Herman), and I like Neal McDonough.

Tonight we watched "The Flying Scotsman" about Graeme Osbree, who achieved a variety of bicycle world records in the 90's. It also stars Billy Boyd (Lord of the Rings) -- if you like Scottish accents and a good story - be sure and see it.

Today I talked to a number of family and friends I've not talked to in awhile, and started the initial stages of planning a "Quilters" (& Friends) Reunion in 2010 - 20 years after we performed the show at Pepperdine. For many reasons it was one of the best shows the Theatre Department ever put on -- and if it is done wrong, it could be slow and boring and suck, but the 7 of us who did it bonded in ways we never imagined, and the entire experience (which I almost missed out on) has become one of the most 'impactful' (I don't think that is a real word, but it's late and I'm being lazy) on me and my life.

One more day to do whatever I want, then back to work!

Inspiration

There are some blogs I read that make me want to write wiser, be a deeper thinker, not complain so much, and spread the vision of peace, love and joy.

I just finished reading "The Yada Yada Prayer Group" by Neta Jackson and it is an easy read, but makes some good solid points about admitting who we really are (or perhaps are not) in the eyes of God. So, today has been emotional... I wanted to get up and "Be Productive" - and I've only been somewhat productive. Dishes done, dishwasher unloaded... some craft things put away, a book finished, some recipes looked up and a plan for dinner on this New Year's Eve Day -- the last day of 2007.

40 years ago I was born -- and I was hoping to be more insightful and inspirational in my blog posts around that time... but life had some other things to throw my way. So how do so many people have a crappy crappy day/week/month and still manage to see the silver lining... AND be able to write about it?

There are days I just don't feel like expressing anything, let alone try and write. And then there are days like today where I post 3 times in one day.

Getting outside of ourselves I know is key -- yet I have to admit reluctantly.... that I think I enjoy wallowing in the self-pity. That is hard for me to say. I believe we always have a choice, and sometimes yes, we need to feel the emotion, perhaps even allow a little wallowing, and then choose to be happier, more content, thankful, joyful through the struggle of whatever it is we're going through.

So as Halle Berry has said, "Just put on your big girl pants and do it!" is a discipline I need to embrace -- and find the inspiration and allow cheerful words and silver linings to lift the clouds adn confusion.

Time to go to Target now ;-)

New Year - New Look

Inspired by Coffeegal -- Rascal is the mascot (isn't he a great dog?!)...

I'll have to get my links back up (yikes)... but otherwise, I didn't lose a lot in the old blog because I hadn't done a lot.

New Year's Eve Day 2008

Goals (not resolutions!) for 2008 (and beyond):

Stick with a routine of the following:

[1] Spend 15 minutes a day cleaning the kitchen

[2] Spend 15 minutes a day (6 days a week) on other house cleaning projects (i.e., bathrooms, floors, picking up the public areas)

[3] Do one load of laundry every day (5 days a week)

[4] Go to the gym 5 days a week. Note I'm not saying what I have to do there, or the time limit... but to appear and do something physical for at least 20 minutes would be the start of this goal)

[5] Really start bulk cooking (so reliance on fast convenience food is reduced) and hide vegetables in the recipes (I bought Jerry Seinfeld's wife's online 'hide vegetables in foods your kids will eat' cookbook, so will try to incorporate that in the recipes I try!) so himself's eating will be healthier despite himself.

[6] Aim for bedtime to be 10pm so I can get up between 5:30 and 6am -- get the housework/laundry done, and take 30 minutes for Bible Study, prayer, meditation and a cuppa.

[7] Do something 5 days a week toward scrapping for others (my client, my sister, my friend's 40th b/day album which will be a year late by Feb 9th, my mom's mother's day album of pictures of her & her brothers and sisters when she was really little)

[8] Do something every day toward scrapping my own stuff -- espeically the Life Goals/All About Me album -- as a reminder to what I'm aspiring to, to remind myself of what I have accomplished during my down times.

[9] Get my Handcrafted Card stash back up so I have a card that I've done ready for any occasion; I imagine this means stamping once a week at least.

[10] In order to get 7,8 & 9 accomplished, I have to keep my studio somewhat neat and organized. So this goal is to spend 15 minutes putting things away every day; putting elements of projects away after I'm done with them, and spending an additional few minutes labelling & generally organizing things in my room.

Starting January 3rd - after I go back to work.

and [11] - try to work on Christmas projects all year round, this season was so not festive... not organized... hmmmmm... wonder why in the world things were so unorganized and topsy-turvy ?!?! :-P

Merry Christmas

Things are better. L actually did not go to jail, or see a judge. The deputies just drove around with him in the car I think, and brought him back around 2 or 3 am Sunday morning. So that was a good thing.

I got our tree up with help from my pal T, and himself hung lights in the front of the house and how festive it is. The house is still mostly a huge mess, but that's okay. Himself and I had our Christmas, per our tradition, at 12:15 am midnight, after watching "Pirates of the Caribbean: Three" -- himself got the surround sound set up and so we had movie night.

I'm thankful for my friends who have listened to the story of 'the drama that is my life' and let me eat cookies, and roll my eyes countless times as the situations that we find ourselves in; for a great new house and roof over my head, for my amazing husband who spoils me more and more.

I'm so thankful for so many things, and while I ask that we keep the prayers, good vibes and energy coming... I know this is just a normal 'blip' in the road of life, that we'll all adjust and life will go on -- just as it is supposed to be.

We had a lovely time at friends for Christmas dinner -- played games and sang carols around the piano -- a very lovely lovely evening.

Again, I have so very much to be thankful for :D

Thank you my friends for the words of encouragement!!

... and the holiday fun keeps rolling...

Stepdad L was arrested tonight. Two Deputy Sheriffs came to the door at mom's (where I'm spending tonight and we're calling it Christmas, sort of) at 10:00pm - L was already in bed after coming home from dinner with his sister and her husband at the country club here... and the sheriffs just were here to ask him questions, and most likely give him a ticket for backing into a car as he was leaving the parking lot of the restaurant... they were saying it was a "hit and run" becuase L didn't stop and at least (at the very least) leave a note on the car he backed into; which is a misdemeanor. The sheriffs were completely prepared to just give him a ticket, collect his insurance information and let it go, but L was confrontational, a bit confused (he'd been woken from a sound sleep and had had a few drinks and was standing in his robe), then got belligerent and would not answer the questions.

When he raised his voice is when it got ugly -- and the Deputies were nice, very professional, very patient, and after 15 minutes of "wait, let me get this straight... I hit a bush and it is a hit and run?" [because all L heard was that he hit a bush and now they're arresting him... he didn't listen to the entire sentence - L backed over a curb, hit a bush AND the car on the other side of the bush] -- and "I'm going to bed, this is ****" or "I don't understand, who let you in here?" [mom had asked them in -- we didn't know what they were asking about, but I had a bad feeling about it].

There was an eye-witness who saw the accident, got plates, described L to a "T" *and* heard his sister say to him in the truck, "you hit it/them L" -- which is why the sheriffs came to the door.

This is a year of firsts for me -- first time I've been between two people, one of whom refuses to speak again to the other, and the first time I've witnessed an arrest happen to someone I know less than 5 feet away from me in his robe...

I'm at quite a loss for words.

And now it is looking like my family from OKC isn't going to make it out for New Year's, and we're not doing our Open House because we're not ready and the house isn't organized yet... my tree still isn't up, and it is just hard.

Quiet is good --

Dan Fogelberg

He passed away from prostrate cancer just this past Monday. I grew up on Dan Fogelberg songs, I love "Same Old Lang Syne"; "Along The Road"; "Longer"; "Leader of the Band" -- and more recently the his "Rhythm of the Rain" album.

I wouldn't say I was a huge huge fan, but I still cried after hearing on the radio that he'd passed away and then they played "Same Old Lang Syne" -- which makes me tear up usually anyway.

Acoustic guitar, often meaningful & poignant lyrics... I'm sad.