My kids were out in the driveway skidding their bikes. It's not a hugely long driveway or anything, but they were doing a respectable job of it (I have a dirt driveway. Or rather, what is supposed to be a dirt driveway, but is actually more of a grass driveway.). They were having a blast, and wanted me to watch. Which got me remembering riding my own bike as a kid, and how much fun it was, back in the days when it never occurred to you that you could get *hurt* on one of those things. The most important thing was how fast you could get it moving, the wind in your hair, and the feeling that you were flying.
In this spirit, I suddenly asked Mark if I could use his bike. I hadn't been on a bike in YEARS AND YEARS. He has a 20" dirt bike. It's too small for him. It is *definitely* too small for me. But I ripped around the driveway on it for a few minutes anyway. It was great. I think I'm gonna have to do that more often. :D
Now the kids are upstairs getting showers and pajamas before bed. School starts tomorrow. We went to the school today so Mark could practice his locker combination. (his first locker. sniff sniff) He's got it down. About the time he started timing himself with his stopwatch I said we could leave. :D
He's growing so FAST. I wrote a looooooong post yesterday about him growing up, etc, and then when I went to post it, yahoo hiccupped and the whole thing was lost. But one of the things I had down in there is that in the last month, Mark has grown AN INCH!!!!!! I MEASURED!!!!! He's now 5'2 3/4". And he just turned 11 in June. Sigh. I'm going to have to start sitting him down to lecture him, 'cause it's just not dignified to be shaking a lecturing finger UP at your child. ;)
Kira is soooooo excited about tomorrow. Yesterday she told me she couldn't wait until she went to bed tonight because after midnight it would be the first day of school. :D She's got her outfit all picked out (well, so does Mark, 'cause I made him). Her backpack is packed. Mark is doing his right now.
I'm kinda bummed 'cause tomorrow after school they go with X. So I won't get to see them off the bus. BUT, I get to see them get ON the bus, and I get to do the first day of school pictures and everything, so that'll be okay.
Well, Kira has just read this entire entry. She does such a great job with her reading. I had to teach her about tilting her head sideways to see the smileys. :D She likes that. Now I'm going to scoot her up to bed and tuck her in. (she just read that as I typed it, and she put her little hands on her little hips and yelled "HEY!!" in protest. But off she goes.)
More tomorrow, probably.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Aug 24 2006
Ow. I am sore. I've spent several hours on the lawn and gardens, which is awesome, but now my body is mad at me. ;) I was perfectly fine until I got out of the shower. Then all of a sudden I'm all achy...my neck, shoulders, hands, and a little bit of my back. I think I need to do this more often.
Kira's outside riding her bike in the driveway. She's wearing a pair of knee pads I just found for her yesterday. Hopefully this will help with the shredding of her knees. That is, if she'll keep them on.
Mark's upstairs drawing comics. He was wandering around the house this morning moaning about being bored, so I'm glad he's figured out something to do. (I got very irritated with the "I'm bored speech" and had him help me weed one of the gardens, which he did a horrible job at. But I think he's afraid to say he's bored anymore today.)
Mom and Dad are on their way up to camp, where they will be loading up a picket fence that they got *free* last weekend at a yard sale, and which will be perfect for my front yard. We're not going to install it yet, because the town is re-paving my road, and they are going to replace the culvert that goes from my yard while they are at it. Also, the guy who does the work for the town is going to replace the drainage pipe going out of my basement with a larger pipe. Dad and I have to go get the pipe today. So they'll drop off the fence, we'll put it over on the side out of the way, and go get the pipe. After the yard's all done being dug up etc, we'll install the new fence. It's in great shape, just needs to be painted, which will be no big deal, and I have to do some painting this fall anyway, so a fence won't be too much extra. :D
Anyway. So that's my plan for the rest of the day. While Dad and I are getting the pipe, the kids will be at camp with my mom.
Saturday my friend Patti and I are planning a trip to Sam's Club in Augusta to stock up on some stuff. Sunday I do *not* have to watch her kids, because her husband (Coast Guard) is not going to be under way after all. He's going to watch all the kids while we go to Augusta.
Had Bible study last night, we are working on a study on Priorities, and last night was "Making Painful Decisions." I was glad I went, I missed the last one due to massive migraine. I spent the entire day in town, 'cause I went to visit Lynn (my sister) in the morning, then brought her to my parents' house so I could borrow Mom's hair-cutting scissors and cut Lynn's hair (it hadn't been cut in a year and desperately needed it). There's still some dead stuff on the ends but I cut several inches off and she needs to be able to put it back so I have to wait a bit for it to grow out more to cut the rest. Probably about a month. It looks a ton better, though. I also helped her with some stuff around her room (she lives in a group home, she's got some mental health issues), and altogether it was a good visit. I need to do that more often.
After I was done visiting Lynn (I could have spent more time with her, but she had a counselling appointment), I spent the rest of the afternoon at my parents' house, which I haven't done in a long time. It was nice visiting with them. Then Bible study and back home around 9:30. A long day, but I did some good stuff with it.
As I've done good stuff today. I feel pretty productive. I *should* run some laundry, but I am sore and tired and still have to do the pipe thing and unload the fence and so you know what? I'm just not gonna do it.
OK. Folks'll be here any second, so I'm gonna wrap it up.
Kira's outside riding her bike in the driveway. She's wearing a pair of knee pads I just found for her yesterday. Hopefully this will help with the shredding of her knees. That is, if she'll keep them on.
Mark's upstairs drawing comics. He was wandering around the house this morning moaning about being bored, so I'm glad he's figured out something to do. (I got very irritated with the "I'm bored speech" and had him help me weed one of the gardens, which he did a horrible job at. But I think he's afraid to say he's bored anymore today.)
Mom and Dad are on their way up to camp, where they will be loading up a picket fence that they got *free* last weekend at a yard sale, and which will be perfect for my front yard. We're not going to install it yet, because the town is re-paving my road, and they are going to replace the culvert that goes from my yard while they are at it. Also, the guy who does the work for the town is going to replace the drainage pipe going out of my basement with a larger pipe. Dad and I have to go get the pipe today. So they'll drop off the fence, we'll put it over on the side out of the way, and go get the pipe. After the yard's all done being dug up etc, we'll install the new fence. It's in great shape, just needs to be painted, which will be no big deal, and I have to do some painting this fall anyway, so a fence won't be too much extra. :D
Anyway. So that's my plan for the rest of the day. While Dad and I are getting the pipe, the kids will be at camp with my mom.
Saturday my friend Patti and I are planning a trip to Sam's Club in Augusta to stock up on some stuff. Sunday I do *not* have to watch her kids, because her husband (Coast Guard) is not going to be under way after all. He's going to watch all the kids while we go to Augusta.
Had Bible study last night, we are working on a study on Priorities, and last night was "Making Painful Decisions." I was glad I went, I missed the last one due to massive migraine. I spent the entire day in town, 'cause I went to visit Lynn (my sister) in the morning, then brought her to my parents' house so I could borrow Mom's hair-cutting scissors and cut Lynn's hair (it hadn't been cut in a year and desperately needed it). There's still some dead stuff on the ends but I cut several inches off and she needs to be able to put it back so I have to wait a bit for it to grow out more to cut the rest. Probably about a month. It looks a ton better, though. I also helped her with some stuff around her room (she lives in a group home, she's got some mental health issues), and altogether it was a good visit. I need to do that more often.
After I was done visiting Lynn (I could have spent more time with her, but she had a counselling appointment), I spent the rest of the afternoon at my parents' house, which I haven't done in a long time. It was nice visiting with them. Then Bible study and back home around 9:30. A long day, but I did some good stuff with it.
As I've done good stuff today. I feel pretty productive. I *should* run some laundry, but I am sore and tired and still have to do the pipe thing and unload the fence and so you know what? I'm just not gonna do it.
OK. Folks'll be here any second, so I'm gonna wrap it up.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
10 Things That Represent Me or My Life
I was tagged by Beast Mom on this one....
In no particular order, here are 10 things that represent me or my life:
1. BROWN. Somehow or other, brown has become significant enough in my life that others recognize it. My friend Claire, as a matter of fact, has named a particular shade "(my real name here) Brown." Because that's the color I seem to gravitate towards, this particular milk-chocolate brown color. I started liking brown way before the trend of "brown as the new black" happened. Now mind you, I don't wear a ton of brown (yes, I wear some), I don't decorate totally in brown (yes, there's some, but it's not like you walk into my house and say, WOW! BROWN!). Yet somehow, brown has become "my" color.
2. ANIMAL PRINT. I've loved animal prints since I was in junior high, particularly leopard. I've discovered moderation, however, and I currently do not own ANY animal-print clothes (well, underwear, but it's not like I'm parading that before the world). I have *something* of animal print in every room of my house except the bathroom. In the dining room it's just a scarf hanging on the coat tree. In my living room I have one animal-print pillow on the rocking chair, and my curtains, although you can't tell at first glance (and sometimes not even second), are a shimmery red/brown animal print pattern. Again, you don't walk into anyplace in my house and say HOLY JUNGLE ROOM, but it's there. (My purse has the most....I have a black wallet with a fake-fur leopard front, my "feminine needs" zipper bag is leopard print, and my glasses case is zebra print. Most people will see at most one of these at a time, but if you look in my purse, it's a little jungle-y.
3. MY WALL O' PICTURES. Going up the stairs in my house I have 10 picture frames with various pictures of my kids....some individual, some collages. All kinds of pictures of my kids. My computer wallpaper is a daily-changing picture of my kids. My screen saver is a random slideshow of my kids. Note: There are no pictures displayed of me *with* my kids. This is significant. I don't like being looked at.
4. MARKIRA. Sometime around the time of my daughter's arrival in the world, I realized that if you jam both my kids' names (Mark and Kira) together, they share the "K" and it makes a neat-sounding name...markira. [I later realized that you can do the same thing with their middle names, Allen and Nicole, but allenicole just doesn't have the same ring) I just love the sound of that word. markira. I've put it on my license plate. I use it as a logon name. If I ever create a company, it will be markira inc. When I make cards on my computer, I put "markira designs" on the back of them.Right now I'm involved in a (so far) three-month-long attempt to get a silver ring engraved with "markira" (they keep sending it capitalized). Love markira.
5. STRAGGLY, HALF-DEAD PLANTS. Every spring I am very ambitious and optimistic about my garden. I start a bazillion plants from seed, as soon as it's warm enough I turn over the soil in my gardens, usually expand a garden, and I have full intentions of making this year be the best garden yet. Then it gets hot. I don't do hot. And I get tired. And I forget, for long periods of time, that container plants need water pretty much daily or they become very unhappy. And I don't get around to weeding the gardens. So I have gardens full of waist-high weeds choking out the plants, the container plants are miserably and straggly. This said, I just spent four or so hours today mowing my lawn and weeding out all the gardens. They look pretty good (need mulch...sigh). The container plants are still not happy. I *do* have a bunch of cherry tomatoes that are ripe. Yum.
6. MY COMPUTER. I spend a LOT of time on my computer. Way too much. But I'm pretty good at computer-related things, and I've kinda gotten a reputation for it. That and being able to find things on the Internet (which I don't understand how that can be difficult. Hello, Google?).
7. BOOKS. I read a lot. And I'm a speed-reader. So I devour books. Usually have a few books going at a time. And I do re-read books, if I like them enough. I generally don't buy books, since I read them so quickly, I would be spending way more money than I can afford. I do purchase books if I am adding them to my permanent library. I am very, very glad that both of my kids are avid readers as well. I don't know what I would do with non-readers. ;)
OK, I'm gonna save this here and post more on it later. I'm afraid if I just leave it on my screen, somehow all this hard work will get deleted. This has taken a long time just to think of these things!!
In no particular order, here are 10 things that represent me or my life:
1. BROWN. Somehow or other, brown has become significant enough in my life that others recognize it. My friend Claire, as a matter of fact, has named a particular shade "(my real name here) Brown." Because that's the color I seem to gravitate towards, this particular milk-chocolate brown color. I started liking brown way before the trend of "brown as the new black" happened. Now mind you, I don't wear a ton of brown (yes, I wear some), I don't decorate totally in brown (yes, there's some, but it's not like you walk into my house and say, WOW! BROWN!). Yet somehow, brown has become "my" color.
2. ANIMAL PRINT. I've loved animal prints since I was in junior high, particularly leopard. I've discovered moderation, however, and I currently do not own ANY animal-print clothes (well, underwear, but it's not like I'm parading that before the world). I have *something* of animal print in every room of my house except the bathroom. In the dining room it's just a scarf hanging on the coat tree. In my living room I have one animal-print pillow on the rocking chair, and my curtains, although you can't tell at first glance (and sometimes not even second), are a shimmery red/brown animal print pattern. Again, you don't walk into anyplace in my house and say HOLY JUNGLE ROOM, but it's there. (My purse has the most....I have a black wallet with a fake-fur leopard front, my "feminine needs" zipper bag is leopard print, and my glasses case is zebra print. Most people will see at most one of these at a time, but if you look in my purse, it's a little jungle-y.
3. MY WALL O' PICTURES. Going up the stairs in my house I have 10 picture frames with various pictures of my kids....some individual, some collages. All kinds of pictures of my kids. My computer wallpaper is a daily-changing picture of my kids. My screen saver is a random slideshow of my kids. Note: There are no pictures displayed of me *with* my kids. This is significant. I don't like being looked at.
4. MARKIRA. Sometime around the time of my daughter's arrival in the world, I realized that if you jam both my kids' names (Mark and Kira) together, they share the "K" and it makes a neat-sounding name...markira. [I later realized that you can do the same thing with their middle names, Allen and Nicole, but allenicole just doesn't have the same ring) I just love the sound of that word. markira. I've put it on my license plate. I use it as a logon name. If I ever create a company, it will be markira inc. When I make cards on my computer, I put "markira designs" on the back of them.Right now I'm involved in a (so far) three-month-long attempt to get a silver ring engraved with "markira" (they keep sending it capitalized). Love markira.
5. STRAGGLY, HALF-DEAD PLANTS. Every spring I am very ambitious and optimistic about my garden. I start a bazillion plants from seed, as soon as it's warm enough I turn over the soil in my gardens, usually expand a garden, and I have full intentions of making this year be the best garden yet. Then it gets hot. I don't do hot. And I get tired. And I forget, for long periods of time, that container plants need water pretty much daily or they become very unhappy. And I don't get around to weeding the gardens. So I have gardens full of waist-high weeds choking out the plants, the container plants are miserably and straggly. This said, I just spent four or so hours today mowing my lawn and weeding out all the gardens. They look pretty good (need mulch...sigh). The container plants are still not happy. I *do* have a bunch of cherry tomatoes that are ripe. Yum.
6. MY COMPUTER. I spend a LOT of time on my computer. Way too much. But I'm pretty good at computer-related things, and I've kinda gotten a reputation for it. That and being able to find things on the Internet (which I don't understand how that can be difficult. Hello, Google?).
7. BOOKS. I read a lot. And I'm a speed-reader. So I devour books. Usually have a few books going at a time. And I do re-read books, if I like them enough. I generally don't buy books, since I read them so quickly, I would be spending way more money than I can afford. I do purchase books if I am adding them to my permanent library. I am very, very glad that both of my kids are avid readers as well. I don't know what I would do with non-readers. ;)
OK, I'm gonna save this here and post more on it later. I'm afraid if I just leave it on my screen, somehow all this hard work will get deleted. This has taken a long time just to think of these things!!
Monday, August 21, 2006
August 21, 2006
Well, I survived yesterday. Now just get through next Sunday, and I'm good to go.
Right now I am baking chocolate chip cookies. Not from SCRATCH or anything (I haven't done scratch cookies in about a year), but those Tollhouse Cookie logs that you basically just slice and bake.
I've made my own of those logs, different kinds of cookie dough....they work out fantastic. I have a couple in the freezer right now, as a matter of fact. Mix up your favorite cookie dough, roll it in logs, wrap in wax paper & Saran wrap, then put in a freezer bag. Terrific for times when you don't feel like mixing up the whole dough but want fresh home-baked cookies.
Kira and I are writing notes to each other. She started it. Mark was having a bad morning and I asked him to be grumpy in his room rather than in the living room. While he was upstairs (his grumpy time morphed into drawing on the computer, so he's doing great now), she wanted to write him a letter to see if he was feeling better. I offered to be the "mail carrier" because I figured I'd get a better reception than a little sister. She had written a whole letter about hoping he was feeling better and did he feel better circle yes or no. So he circled "yes" and I delivered it back to her.
Then she left *me* a note, asking me how I was doing (good or bad) and that she loved me to bits and pieces. And I am the best because I give them treats that they like. (what a reason.) I wrote her a note back (folded it up in my best junior-high-note-passing fashion, those little triangles) and snuck it out where she would see it.
She wrote *me* a note back that says "Thank you Mommy."
Oh, and Mark and I got a note together that says "Punch buggy white, can't punch back."
Remember punch buggies?
Gotta go check the cookies. Maybe I'll find another note.
Right now I am baking chocolate chip cookies. Not from SCRATCH or anything (I haven't done scratch cookies in about a year), but those Tollhouse Cookie logs that you basically just slice and bake.
I've made my own of those logs, different kinds of cookie dough....they work out fantastic. I have a couple in the freezer right now, as a matter of fact. Mix up your favorite cookie dough, roll it in logs, wrap in wax paper & Saran wrap, then put in a freezer bag. Terrific for times when you don't feel like mixing up the whole dough but want fresh home-baked cookies.
Kira and I are writing notes to each other. She started it. Mark was having a bad morning and I asked him to be grumpy in his room rather than in the living room. While he was upstairs (his grumpy time morphed into drawing on the computer, so he's doing great now), she wanted to write him a letter to see if he was feeling better. I offered to be the "mail carrier" because I figured I'd get a better reception than a little sister. She had written a whole letter about hoping he was feeling better and did he feel better circle yes or no. So he circled "yes" and I delivered it back to her.
Then she left *me* a note, asking me how I was doing (good or bad) and that she loved me to bits and pieces. And I am the best because I give them treats that they like. (what a reason.) I wrote her a note back (folded it up in my best junior-high-note-passing fashion, those little triangles) and snuck it out where she would see it.
She wrote *me* a note back that says "Thank you Mommy."
Oh, and Mark and I got a note together that says "Punch buggy white, can't punch back."
Remember punch buggies?
Gotta go check the cookies. Maybe I'll find another note.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
August 19, 2006
I can't believe how exhausting the thought of writing in this blog has been most of this week. Then again, I can't believe how exhausting *most* things are to me. It takes what feels like a superhuman amount of effort on my part to get started on anything at all, right down to brushing my teeth (which, I just realized, I have not yet done today...however, I *have* taken a shower, and I think I should get bonus points for that).
Part of my disability includes being easily overwhelmed by the simplest of activities. Things like brushing my teeth. Or taking my medication. Or making a meal. Or making my bed. Or getting dressed. Or, many days, getting out of bed at all. Of course, with an 11 year old and a 6.5 year old, I have to do a lot of things that, given the choice (and when they aren't here), I wouldn't expend the energy on.
So the last few days, I've gotten on the computer, come to this page, and then just stared at the blog. Haven't been able to actually *post* a blog entry.
I do that a lot with emails, too. I can't focus the energy to reply. So they sit there, in my inbox, staring at me. Waiting. Multiplying. Eventually I either luck out and get a tiny burst, where I can get some of them taken care of, or I start getting emails with subjects like "Hey, are you there?"
And there is no predictability at all as to when I'm going to get that little burst. I'll tell you, I really don't have it right now. I'd like absolutely nothing more than to crawl back in bed and sleep a couple of hours. Not allowed today, though. Or tomorrow, come to think of it, although I won't have my kids...they'll be with X.
Instead, I'll have *Patti's* kids. In some moment of energy, I somehow agreed to watch her two kids (ages 3 and 6) for five or six hours, the next two Sundays, while I don't have my own kids, for nothing. Well, not for NOTHING. She's going to make me dinner. (Yum!)
Still, I am kicking myself repeatedly for taking the last two Sundays of my summer and allotting them to babysitting. I am in more than desperate need of the recharging that time could give me. Particularly since I didn't get to sleep until 4 this morning (for no particular reason). And awake by 7.
I'm sure it will be fine. I like Patti's kids. And Patti needs my help. So I'll do it. And enjoy the delicious dinner. And try to remember not to do this again. ;)
OK. I know I'm rambling, I'm sure I'm not making much sense, and I don't much like the sense I *am* making. So I'm going to get out of here. And probably go sit on the couch with a book I can't concentrate on.
Later.
Part of my disability includes being easily overwhelmed by the simplest of activities. Things like brushing my teeth. Or taking my medication. Or making a meal. Or making my bed. Or getting dressed. Or, many days, getting out of bed at all. Of course, with an 11 year old and a 6.5 year old, I have to do a lot of things that, given the choice (and when they aren't here), I wouldn't expend the energy on.
So the last few days, I've gotten on the computer, come to this page, and then just stared at the blog. Haven't been able to actually *post* a blog entry.
I do that a lot with emails, too. I can't focus the energy to reply. So they sit there, in my inbox, staring at me. Waiting. Multiplying. Eventually I either luck out and get a tiny burst, where I can get some of them taken care of, or I start getting emails with subjects like "Hey, are you there?"
And there is no predictability at all as to when I'm going to get that little burst. I'll tell you, I really don't have it right now. I'd like absolutely nothing more than to crawl back in bed and sleep a couple of hours. Not allowed today, though. Or tomorrow, come to think of it, although I won't have my kids...they'll be with X.
Instead, I'll have *Patti's* kids. In some moment of energy, I somehow agreed to watch her two kids (ages 3 and 6) for five or six hours, the next two Sundays, while I don't have my own kids, for nothing. Well, not for NOTHING. She's going to make me dinner. (Yum!)
Still, I am kicking myself repeatedly for taking the last two Sundays of my summer and allotting them to babysitting. I am in more than desperate need of the recharging that time could give me. Particularly since I didn't get to sleep until 4 this morning (for no particular reason). And awake by 7.
I'm sure it will be fine. I like Patti's kids. And Patti needs my help. So I'll do it. And enjoy the delicious dinner. And try to remember not to do this again. ;)
OK. I know I'm rambling, I'm sure I'm not making much sense, and I don't much like the sense I *am* making. So I'm going to get out of here. And probably go sit on the couch with a book I can't concentrate on.
Later.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
100 Questions & Answers
100 Questions & Answers
Thanks, Beast Mom. Now I just won't be satisfied until I answer these 100 questions.
1) Are you in a relationship with somebody? Like a "couple" kinda thing? Nope.
2) Do you hate more than 3 people? No.
3) How many houses have you lived in? 2 houses, 2 apartments, 1 duplex.
4) Favorite candy bar? Snickers. It satisfies, you know.
5) Favorite shoes? All of them. I loooooooooove shoes.
6) Have you ever tripped someone? Not intentionally. Maybe my sister.
7) Least favorite school subject? Statistics.
9) Do you own a Britney Spears CD? By default. X had one, it got left here. I think I tried to pawn it off on Mark.
10) Have you ever thrown up in public? Yes. I refuse to think more about it.
11) Name one thing that is always on your mind. Possibilities for disaster.
12) Favorite genre of music? I don't have a favorite. I used to say I liked everything but country and opera, but now I like some of that, too.
13) What is your zodiac sign? Cancer. What a cheery sign. Symbolized by The Crab. And my initials are TB. I'm all disease-ridden.
14) What time were you born? I always said five minutes to midnight, but I think my birth certificate says like 11:10pm.
15) Do you like beer? No. Yuck. Unless I am extremely intoxicated, in which case I can tolerate it in small doses.
16) Ever made a prank phone call? No.
17) What is the most embarrassing CD you own? I am not embarassed by any of my CDs. I have small children and can blame everything on them.
18) Are you sarcastic? Yes.
19) What are your favorite colors? Brown & black.
20) How many watches do you own? A bazillion. Currently one of them has a working battery.
21) Summer or winter? Tough one. I hate heat, but I'm not fond of shovelling snow either.
23) Favorite color to wear? Brown.
24) Pepsi or Sprite? Sprite.
25) What color is your cell phone? Silver.
26) Where is your second home? My parents' camp. Three miles away.
27) Have you ever slapped someone? Yes.
28) Have you ever had a cavity? Yes. In fact, I have one tooth that is pretty much nothing but filling.
29) How many lamps are in your bedroom? 3.
30) How many video games do you own? Well, they all belong to the kids, and honestly, I have no idea. A ton.
31) What was your first pet? My dad bred beagles, so we had some of them, but they weren't house dogs. Our first house dog was a Lhasa Apso named Phoebe.
32) Ever had braces? Nope. My parents decided if it was that important to me, *I* could pay for it when I was an adult. While I have occasionally wished for a perfect smile, never so much that I was willing to endure a couple of years of torture and several thousand dollars.
33) Do looks matter? Yup.
34) Do you use chap stick? I *have* chapstick. I don't use it, though.
35) Name 3 teachers from High School. Mr. Holden, Honors Physics. Mr. Davis, homeroom and Psychology. Mr. Montgomery, Honors English.
36) American Eagle or Abercombie? huh?
37) Are you too forgiving? I try to be. Mostly I fail.
38) How many children do you want? 2. What a coincidence! That's what I have!
39) Do you own something from Hot Topic? No, but I have coveted. (my inner Goth)
40) Favorite breakfast meal? Something someone else cooks.
41) Do you own a gun? Squirt gun. And actually, those are the kids', too.
42) Ever thought you were in love? Is this a real question?
43) When was the last time you cried? Um.....
44) What did you do 3 nights ago? Are you kidding? I can't remember for sure what I did LAST night.
45) Olive Garden? what about it?
46) Have you ever called your teacher mommy? No.
47) Have you ever been in a castle? Cinderella's Castle count?
48) Nicknames? Shortened versions of my name, as well as several embarassing ones my parents have made up.
49) Do you know anyone named Bertha? No.
50) Ever been to Kentucky? No.
51) Do you own something from Banana Republic? Not currently. I did own a T-shirt when I was in high school.
52) Are you thinking about somebody right now? My kids. And Beast Mom.
53) Have you ever called someone Boo? No.
55) Do you own a diamond ring? Yes.
56) Are you happy with your life right now? I don't like this question. It's too complicated.
57) Do you dye your hair? No. Not since I accidentally turned it green.
58) Does anyone like you? You're kidding, right?
59) What year were you born? 1971
60) What were you doing in May of 1994? Well, the end of May is when I met my (now ex-)husband.
61) Do you own a Backstreet Boys CD? Yes.
62) McDonalds or Wendys? McDonald's, I guess.
63) Do you like yourself? No.
64) Are you closer to your mother or father? Both.
65) Favorite physical feature of the preferred sex? Good hair and a backside that looks hot in Levi's. [I gotta agree with Beast Mom on this one]
66) Are you afraid of the dark? That's when the monsters come out.
67) Have you ever eaten paste? No.
68) Do you own a webcam? Yes. It is not connected.
69) Have you ever stripped? I strip every night when I get in pjs. Again in the morning when I get out of pjs. Usually before I get in a shower, too. I guess I'm just addicted to stripping. Either that or being clean.
70) Ever broke a bone? Not officially, although I think I might have broken a toe at some point.
72) Do you chat on AIM often? No.
73) Pringles or Lays? Whichever. Pringles has more interesting flavors, though.
74) Have you ever broken someone's heart? Yes.
75) Rugrats or Doug? Neither. I hate Rugrats with a passion, while I am ambivalent about Doug, so I guess that puts me in Doug's corner?
76) Full House or The Brady Bunch? Brady Bunch.
77) Did you like your high school guidance counselor? I don't remember my high school guidance counselor.
78) Has anyone ever called you fat? I *am* fat. People are less likely to say that to your face when it's true. When I was skinny or normal weight, I did get called fat a couple of times. Go figure.
79) Do you have a birth mark? No.
80) Do you own a car? Yes. A purple Dodge Intrepid. Well, more eggplant, really. I did not ever intend to own a purple car, that's just how it turned out.
81) Can you cook? Yes. Sometimes I'm even good at it. I overcook meat, though.
82) 3 things that annoy you: 1. Liars. 2. Cheaters. 3. Many small inconsequential things that most "normal" people would brush off. And the fact that I am annoyed by these things annoys me.
83) Do you text message often? No. I think this is a stupid method of communication.
84) Money or love? Love, although money would be nice too.
85) Do you have any scars? Yes. I have a scar where I had my tubal ligation, and I have a scar on my left forearm where I burned it on the lawnmower a couple of years ago.
86) What do you want more than anything right now? To have happy, healthy kids. So far, so good.
87) Do you enjoy scary movies? Yup.
88) Relationships or one night stands? This is serious?
89) Big Red or Juicy Fruit? Juicy Fruit, although I really don't chew gum. It aggravates my TMJ.
90) Do you enjoy greasy food? On occasion.
91) Have you seen all the Rocky movies? No. Although Rocky was the first movie I saw at a drive-in when I was a kid.
92) Do you own a box of crayons? We (as a household) own many partially-complete boxes of crayons.
94) Who was the last person that said they loved you? My daughter. She told me she loves me in circles ('cause they never end).
95) Who was the last person that made you mad? My kids. Fighting at breakfast. Again.
96) Who was the last person that made you cry? Me.
97) Who was the last person that made you laugh? My daughter.
98) Who was the last person that you fell for? Man, I fall all the time. I am such a klutz.
99) Who was the last person that instant messaged you? Um, somebody on the drill team, probably.
100) Who was the last person that called you? My mother. She called from the line outside the LLBean Warehouse Sale in Waterville. Our call was cut short on account of blood, though (Kira took a digger on her bike outside).
Thanks, Beast Mom. Now I just won't be satisfied until I answer these 100 questions.
1) Are you in a relationship with somebody? Like a "couple" kinda thing? Nope.
2) Do you hate more than 3 people? No.
3) How many houses have you lived in? 2 houses, 2 apartments, 1 duplex.
4) Favorite candy bar? Snickers. It satisfies, you know.
5) Favorite shoes? All of them. I loooooooooove shoes.
6) Have you ever tripped someone? Not intentionally. Maybe my sister.
7) Least favorite school subject? Statistics.
9) Do you own a Britney Spears CD? By default. X had one, it got left here. I think I tried to pawn it off on Mark.
10) Have you ever thrown up in public? Yes. I refuse to think more about it.
11) Name one thing that is always on your mind. Possibilities for disaster.
12) Favorite genre of music? I don't have a favorite. I used to say I liked everything but country and opera, but now I like some of that, too.
13) What is your zodiac sign? Cancer. What a cheery sign. Symbolized by The Crab. And my initials are TB. I'm all disease-ridden.
14) What time were you born? I always said five minutes to midnight, but I think my birth certificate says like 11:10pm.
15) Do you like beer? No. Yuck. Unless I am extremely intoxicated, in which case I can tolerate it in small doses.
16) Ever made a prank phone call? No.
17) What is the most embarrassing CD you own? I am not embarassed by any of my CDs. I have small children and can blame everything on them.
18) Are you sarcastic? Yes.
19) What are your favorite colors? Brown & black.
20) How many watches do you own? A bazillion. Currently one of them has a working battery.
21) Summer or winter? Tough one. I hate heat, but I'm not fond of shovelling snow either.
23) Favorite color to wear? Brown.
24) Pepsi or Sprite? Sprite.
25) What color is your cell phone? Silver.
26) Where is your second home? My parents' camp. Three miles away.
27) Have you ever slapped someone? Yes.
28) Have you ever had a cavity? Yes. In fact, I have one tooth that is pretty much nothing but filling.
29) How many lamps are in your bedroom? 3.
30) How many video games do you own? Well, they all belong to the kids, and honestly, I have no idea. A ton.
31) What was your first pet? My dad bred beagles, so we had some of them, but they weren't house dogs. Our first house dog was a Lhasa Apso named Phoebe.
32) Ever had braces? Nope. My parents decided if it was that important to me, *I* could pay for it when I was an adult. While I have occasionally wished for a perfect smile, never so much that I was willing to endure a couple of years of torture and several thousand dollars.
33) Do looks matter? Yup.
34) Do you use chap stick? I *have* chapstick. I don't use it, though.
35) Name 3 teachers from High School. Mr. Holden, Honors Physics. Mr. Davis, homeroom and Psychology. Mr. Montgomery, Honors English.
36) American Eagle or Abercombie? huh?
37) Are you too forgiving? I try to be. Mostly I fail.
38) How many children do you want? 2. What a coincidence! That's what I have!
39) Do you own something from Hot Topic? No, but I have coveted. (my inner Goth)
40) Favorite breakfast meal? Something someone else cooks.
41) Do you own a gun? Squirt gun. And actually, those are the kids', too.
42) Ever thought you were in love? Is this a real question?
43) When was the last time you cried? Um.....
44) What did you do 3 nights ago? Are you kidding? I can't remember for sure what I did LAST night.
45) Olive Garden? what about it?
46) Have you ever called your teacher mommy? No.
47) Have you ever been in a castle? Cinderella's Castle count?
48) Nicknames? Shortened versions of my name, as well as several embarassing ones my parents have made up.
49) Do you know anyone named Bertha? No.
50) Ever been to Kentucky? No.
51) Do you own something from Banana Republic? Not currently. I did own a T-shirt when I was in high school.
52) Are you thinking about somebody right now? My kids. And Beast Mom.
53) Have you ever called someone Boo? No.
55) Do you own a diamond ring? Yes.
56) Are you happy with your life right now? I don't like this question. It's too complicated.
57) Do you dye your hair? No. Not since I accidentally turned it green.
58) Does anyone like you? You're kidding, right?
59) What year were you born? 1971
60) What were you doing in May of 1994? Well, the end of May is when I met my (now ex-)husband.
61) Do you own a Backstreet Boys CD? Yes.
62) McDonalds or Wendys? McDonald's, I guess.
63) Do you like yourself? No.
64) Are you closer to your mother or father? Both.
65) Favorite physical feature of the preferred sex? Good hair and a backside that looks hot in Levi's. [I gotta agree with Beast Mom on this one]
66) Are you afraid of the dark? That's when the monsters come out.
67) Have you ever eaten paste? No.
68) Do you own a webcam? Yes. It is not connected.
69) Have you ever stripped? I strip every night when I get in pjs. Again in the morning when I get out of pjs. Usually before I get in a shower, too. I guess I'm just addicted to stripping. Either that or being clean.
70) Ever broke a bone? Not officially, although I think I might have broken a toe at some point.
72) Do you chat on AIM often? No.
73) Pringles or Lays? Whichever. Pringles has more interesting flavors, though.
74) Have you ever broken someone's heart? Yes.
75) Rugrats or Doug? Neither. I hate Rugrats with a passion, while I am ambivalent about Doug, so I guess that puts me in Doug's corner?
76) Full House or The Brady Bunch? Brady Bunch.
77) Did you like your high school guidance counselor? I don't remember my high school guidance counselor.
78) Has anyone ever called you fat? I *am* fat. People are less likely to say that to your face when it's true. When I was skinny or normal weight, I did get called fat a couple of times. Go figure.
79) Do you have a birth mark? No.
80) Do you own a car? Yes. A purple Dodge Intrepid. Well, more eggplant, really. I did not ever intend to own a purple car, that's just how it turned out.
81) Can you cook? Yes. Sometimes I'm even good at it. I overcook meat, though.
82) 3 things that annoy you: 1. Liars. 2. Cheaters. 3. Many small inconsequential things that most "normal" people would brush off. And the fact that I am annoyed by these things annoys me.
83) Do you text message often? No. I think this is a stupid method of communication.
84) Money or love? Love, although money would be nice too.
85) Do you have any scars? Yes. I have a scar where I had my tubal ligation, and I have a scar on my left forearm where I burned it on the lawnmower a couple of years ago.
86) What do you want more than anything right now? To have happy, healthy kids. So far, so good.
87) Do you enjoy scary movies? Yup.
88) Relationships or one night stands? This is serious?
89) Big Red or Juicy Fruit? Juicy Fruit, although I really don't chew gum. It aggravates my TMJ.
90) Do you enjoy greasy food? On occasion.
91) Have you seen all the Rocky movies? No. Although Rocky was the first movie I saw at a drive-in when I was a kid.
92) Do you own a box of crayons? We (as a household) own many partially-complete boxes of crayons.
94) Who was the last person that said they loved you? My daughter. She told me she loves me in circles ('cause they never end).
95) Who was the last person that made you mad? My kids. Fighting at breakfast. Again.
96) Who was the last person that made you cry? Me.
97) Who was the last person that made you laugh? My daughter.
98) Who was the last person that you fell for? Man, I fall all the time. I am such a klutz.
99) Who was the last person that instant messaged you? Um, somebody on the drill team, probably.
100) Who was the last person that called you? My mother. She called from the line outside the LLBean Warehouse Sale in Waterville. Our call was cut short on account of blood, though (Kira took a digger on her bike outside).
Thursday, August 10, 2006
more on August 10 2006
For some reason, this phrase keeps running through my head: "Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most."
While this is usually a humorous saying, I've been pondering it in a more serious light.
I spend a lot of time thinking about what I used to do. Stuff like: I used to be able to keep my stuff organized. I used to work a full-time+ job. I used to be able to socialize without needing to hibernate for several days afterwards. I used to be able to do a project from start to finish. I used to write lots n lots n LOTS of poetry. I used to draw. I used to dress fashionably. I used to exercise. I used to be able to go places all by myself (my gosh, I went to ALASKA by myself--I live in Maine). I used to enjoy all these things, too.
I feel like I am living in this dark little tunnel in my head, which only lets in little things at a time. Occasionally I have this little flash where I am able to see huge spaces and feel like I can actually DO all the things I want to be able to do. I can never tell how long this flash will last....minutes, hours, days. Inevitably, though, the light goes out and I am back in my little tunnel.
This little tunnel is especially difficult to deal with when there are things I *have* to be doing. Like this trip. I have been literally FORCING myself to do things today like the laundry, straightening up the house a little, trying to pack. It's been a huge struggle, because what I really, really, really want to do is crawl into a little hole and just have the world leave me alone. I don't want to go on this trip, and be surrounded by thousands of people I don't know and have no way to escape, nowhere to hide. I don't want to have to be "ON" for three days.
This is the third year I've gone on this conference. I know I'll survive it, it's not *altogether* unknown. I have my Xanax. Barbara knows how I am, she knows I don't do people well. (however, she's *not* the one I'm sharing a room with. I would be better if I was sharing with her, or if I had a room to myself. I enjoy Helen a lot, she's a wonderful woman, but she's not one of my "safe" people)
There *are* enough differences about this year to make me jittery, including what *should* be a highlight of the trip (and paradoxically, it *is* a highlight for me, although I am terrified), which is the members-only reception with the speakers that we are going to tomorrow night. Last year I briefly met Patsy Clairmont (which was WONDERFUL....I have felt a strong connection with her since the first time I saw her speak). But this reception (which I recognize is a wonderful opportunity, and I am so fortunate Barbara is sharing it with me) is just freaking me all out.
Anyway, leaving the trip alone, because I don't want to throw myself into more of a tizzy than I am already in....
As I've been progressing along on the house today, I've been feeling really nostalgic for the days when I could actually accomplish a lot. When I was the "go-to" person, who could help you get it together, who could come up with the great ideas, the one who was dancing in the living room during the party because the music put me in the mood, the girl who swung her hips as she walked 'cause she *knew* she was pretty.
There are still little flashes of that girl, just enough to highlight that she spends most of her time hiding, exhausted and scared, in that dark little tunnel. I miss her.
While this is usually a humorous saying, I've been pondering it in a more serious light.
I spend a lot of time thinking about what I used to do. Stuff like: I used to be able to keep my stuff organized. I used to work a full-time+ job. I used to be able to socialize without needing to hibernate for several days afterwards. I used to be able to do a project from start to finish. I used to write lots n lots n LOTS of poetry. I used to draw. I used to dress fashionably. I used to exercise. I used to be able to go places all by myself (my gosh, I went to ALASKA by myself--I live in Maine). I used to enjoy all these things, too.
I feel like I am living in this dark little tunnel in my head, which only lets in little things at a time. Occasionally I have this little flash where I am able to see huge spaces and feel like I can actually DO all the things I want to be able to do. I can never tell how long this flash will last....minutes, hours, days. Inevitably, though, the light goes out and I am back in my little tunnel.
This little tunnel is especially difficult to deal with when there are things I *have* to be doing. Like this trip. I have been literally FORCING myself to do things today like the laundry, straightening up the house a little, trying to pack. It's been a huge struggle, because what I really, really, really want to do is crawl into a little hole and just have the world leave me alone. I don't want to go on this trip, and be surrounded by thousands of people I don't know and have no way to escape, nowhere to hide. I don't want to have to be "ON" for three days.
This is the third year I've gone on this conference. I know I'll survive it, it's not *altogether* unknown. I have my Xanax. Barbara knows how I am, she knows I don't do people well. (however, she's *not* the one I'm sharing a room with. I would be better if I was sharing with her, or if I had a room to myself. I enjoy Helen a lot, she's a wonderful woman, but she's not one of my "safe" people)
There *are* enough differences about this year to make me jittery, including what *should* be a highlight of the trip (and paradoxically, it *is* a highlight for me, although I am terrified), which is the members-only reception with the speakers that we are going to tomorrow night. Last year I briefly met Patsy Clairmont (which was WONDERFUL....I have felt a strong connection with her since the first time I saw her speak). But this reception (which I recognize is a wonderful opportunity, and I am so fortunate Barbara is sharing it with me) is just freaking me all out.
Anyway, leaving the trip alone, because I don't want to throw myself into more of a tizzy than I am already in....
As I've been progressing along on the house today, I've been feeling really nostalgic for the days when I could actually accomplish a lot. When I was the "go-to" person, who could help you get it together, who could come up with the great ideas, the one who was dancing in the living room during the party because the music put me in the mood, the girl who swung her hips as she walked 'cause she *knew* she was pretty.
There are still little flashes of that girl, just enough to highlight that she spends most of her time hiding, exhausted and scared, in that dark little tunnel. I miss her.
August 10 2006
Ok, TOMORROW I go to Women of Faith. Meeting at Barbara's at 8am. So, do you think I'm ready? Of course not.
In yet another example of how far I've come from the once hyper-organized individual of my (relative) youth, when I would have been packed at least three days ago, with test-runs to make sure I could get ready early enough in the morning, and also a drive-by to make sure I knew where Barbara's new house is....right now I am washing clothes, hoping that stuff will be clean before tonight so I can pack it, and understanding that I may well be packing tomorrow morning at about 5am. Also, I have not yet gotten the cash I will need for the trip. Oh, and I accidentally deleted the email where Barbara told me where her house is (I *think* I remember....I know the general area where she's supposed to be....take a left on Broadway on some road I hadn't heard of, then a right on her road (that I can't remember the name of but am pretty sure I'll recognize when I see it), and she's the second house on the right. I *do* know what her car looks like, and I have her phone number programmed into my cell phone, so I can always call and say I'm lost. :D
This is pathetic. I LOVED being as organized as I once was. I had all of my books alphabetized by author, and then by publication date. My clothes were organized by type (pants, tanks, short-sleeve tops, long-sleeve tops, etc) and then by color. Well, hey, wait, they're still organized that way. When I get them in the closet, instead of just piling them on the floor in *front* of the closet.
[oh success! I found the deleted email! and darn it, I was close on the directions, although I missed a turn in there. anyway, now I've printed the email.]
Back to the rant. I fervently desire to reach my former level of obsessive organization. At this time I'm not even sure I can get back there. I have so much JUNK to get rid of, and so little energy to deal with even the basics (days go by when I don't have the energy to shower, much less clean or organize)....I don't know if I can ever get there.
Still, I have little flashes of hope. Yesterday I managed to get my Girl Scout Brownie notebook organized, with sections for everything, and three-hole-punching stuff so it's all at my fingertips in a nice, neat order. (now mind you, I don't need to actually use any of this for another MONTH, and I'm leaving on a trip TOMORROW, so there was a bit of insanity in my choice of focus, but hey)
OK. I have to fold some clothes that *are* dry. Maybe some of it will be something I could wear this weekend. Wouldn't *that* be nice? And I should probably get my bag out of the attic.
Wish me luck!
In yet another example of how far I've come from the once hyper-organized individual of my (relative) youth, when I would have been packed at least three days ago, with test-runs to make sure I could get ready early enough in the morning, and also a drive-by to make sure I knew where Barbara's new house is....right now I am washing clothes, hoping that stuff will be clean before tonight so I can pack it, and understanding that I may well be packing tomorrow morning at about 5am. Also, I have not yet gotten the cash I will need for the trip. Oh, and I accidentally deleted the email where Barbara told me where her house is (I *think* I remember....I know the general area where she's supposed to be....take a left on Broadway on some road I hadn't heard of, then a right on her road (that I can't remember the name of but am pretty sure I'll recognize when I see it), and she's the second house on the right. I *do* know what her car looks like, and I have her phone number programmed into my cell phone, so I can always call and say I'm lost. :D
This is pathetic. I LOVED being as organized as I once was. I had all of my books alphabetized by author, and then by publication date. My clothes were organized by type (pants, tanks, short-sleeve tops, long-sleeve tops, etc) and then by color. Well, hey, wait, they're still organized that way. When I get them in the closet, instead of just piling them on the floor in *front* of the closet.
[oh success! I found the deleted email! and darn it, I was close on the directions, although I missed a turn in there. anyway, now I've printed the email.]
Back to the rant. I fervently desire to reach my former level of obsessive organization. At this time I'm not even sure I can get back there. I have so much JUNK to get rid of, and so little energy to deal with even the basics (days go by when I don't have the energy to shower, much less clean or organize)....I don't know if I can ever get there.
Still, I have little flashes of hope. Yesterday I managed to get my Girl Scout Brownie notebook organized, with sections for everything, and three-hole-punching stuff so it's all at my fingertips in a nice, neat order. (now mind you, I don't need to actually use any of this for another MONTH, and I'm leaving on a trip TOMORROW, so there was a bit of insanity in my choice of focus, but hey)
OK. I have to fold some clothes that *are* dry. Maybe some of it will be something I could wear this weekend. Wouldn't *that* be nice? And I should probably get my bag out of the attic.
Wish me luck!
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Geek Test
Well, the results are officially in. As I have always known (but have now confirmed), I am a TOTAL GEEK (26.23274).
Test yourself here:
http://www.innergeek.us/geek.html
For those who are absolutely NOT going to test themselves, know that the possible levels of Geek are as follows:
* Geekish Tendencies
* Geek
* Total Geek
* Major Geek
* Super Geek
* Extreme Geek
* Geek God
* Dysfunctional Geek
Sadly, I actual aspire to Major Geek or Super Geek. Anything further would involve learning too much in programming languages, comic books or roleplaying. :D
If you *do* test yourself, please leave a comment letting me know what kind of geek you are!
Test yourself here:
http://www.innergeek.us/geek.html
For those who are absolutely NOT going to test themselves, know that the possible levels of Geek are as follows:
* Geekish Tendencies
* Geek
* Total Geek
* Major Geek
* Super Geek
* Extreme Geek
* Geek God
* Dysfunctional Geek
Sadly, I actual aspire to Major Geek or Super Geek. Anything further would involve learning too much in programming languages, comic books or roleplaying. :D
If you *do* test yourself, please leave a comment letting me know what kind of geek you are!
August 8 2006
Just got a flat of blueberries from a local farm. Spent about a half-hour bagging them up for the freezer, 2 cups per bag. I have THIRTY bags of blueberries in there. Plus a 1.2 quart Tupperware bowl full on the counter for frequent munching today. I loooooooove fresh blueberries. Now I have to make sure that I actually USE all the blueberries I have in the freezer. Mom & Dad have offered to go in halves with me on them. I have to think about it. ;)
The kids are going with X tonight for a week. It was originally going to be tomorrow morning, but D. called today and asked if they could get them tonight, and honestly, that works out better for me, too, rather than having to get them all ready in the morning. (translation: I get to sleep in tomorrow!!)
Spent a few hours with Patti yesterday going over Brownie stuff. We have a tentative schedule of meetings for the year, which we will finalize once school starts and we get the school calendar (we are NOT having ceremonies the same day as school concerts this year....that happened TWICE last year). We sent an email out to the parents, telling them the date of the first meeting, what we had decided about dues for the year, letting them know that uniforms weren't required but if they did get one, we recommended the sash, handbooks weren't required either, etc etc.
Yesterday morning got Mark's school shopping finished. Turns out we didn't get anything at JCPenney (they didn't have any of the sneakers he liked in his size...he's a 7.5 men, and he didn't want to even LOOK at clothes), so his gift cards are still all intact. We did find a pair of sneakers he liked at WalMart ($17, as opposed to $35 for the cheapest sneakers he liked at Penney's, and that was a SALE price), and folder, dividers, pencil box, notebooks, etc. Then we split up, with Kira and I heading for the craft department to get the stuff for her Halloween costume (yes, I KNOW when Halloween is), while Mark went to toys. He had brought his own money with him. He decided to get a lightsaber with lights & sounds, a 20-pack of AA batteries, and a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans (me: "You paid FOUR DOLLARS for that? There's like 20 jellybeans in it!" Mark: "Yeah, but Mom, it also has an EXCLUSIVE BAG!" [read as: cheap pseudo-velvet drawstring bag] oh my.). But, it was *his* money, so I bit my tongue. Besides, who was I to talk? I spent a bazillion dollars on stuff to make a costume for Kira that she'll maybe wear four or five hours total in her life. But DANG, she'll look cool those four or five hours.
Kira's going to be the Tooth Fairy this year. She came up with this idea last year, so we've been planning it for awhile. Do you realize, there are no actual "official" Tooth Fairy costumes out there? Except this one joke-type man's costume. Kira's going to have a silver dress with silver tulle overlay and white satin teeth appliques stitched on, and a wand made of a thin dowel, a large tooth (instead of, say, a star) and some streaming sparkly ribbons. Also will probably have a bag of chocolate-wrapped coins and a small bag for collected teeth, although I can't quite figure how I'm going to work that yet, since I don't want her to be bogged down with a ton of accessories. Oh, and wings, of course. The last time I made wings for her--when she was Tinkerbell three years ago--I made them in such a way that they snapped onto the back of her costume. I think I'll do that again this time, since it worked really well, as opposed to the wings that you wear kind of like a backpack. :D
I have NO idea what Mark will be for Halloween. Neither does he. I've asked. Multiple times. I'd love for him to do some really awesome creative costume, and would be willing to put a fair amount of work into it, but he just doesn't seem that into it. Which doesn't stop him from getting irritated when he doesn't win the costume contest at the school Halloween Carnival. I have tried explaining the connection, but it still eludes him. And ohhhh, the two years that Kira won (one year as Tinkerbell, one year as Dorothy), he was *ripped*.
OK, well, I think I'm going to see if the kids want to go swimming for a couple of hours.
The kids are going with X tonight for a week. It was originally going to be tomorrow morning, but D. called today and asked if they could get them tonight, and honestly, that works out better for me, too, rather than having to get them all ready in the morning. (translation: I get to sleep in tomorrow!!)
Spent a few hours with Patti yesterday going over Brownie stuff. We have a tentative schedule of meetings for the year, which we will finalize once school starts and we get the school calendar (we are NOT having ceremonies the same day as school concerts this year....that happened TWICE last year). We sent an email out to the parents, telling them the date of the first meeting, what we had decided about dues for the year, letting them know that uniforms weren't required but if they did get one, we recommended the sash, handbooks weren't required either, etc etc.
Yesterday morning got Mark's school shopping finished. Turns out we didn't get anything at JCPenney (they didn't have any of the sneakers he liked in his size...he's a 7.5 men, and he didn't want to even LOOK at clothes), so his gift cards are still all intact. We did find a pair of sneakers he liked at WalMart ($17, as opposed to $35 for the cheapest sneakers he liked at Penney's, and that was a SALE price), and folder, dividers, pencil box, notebooks, etc. Then we split up, with Kira and I heading for the craft department to get the stuff for her Halloween costume (yes, I KNOW when Halloween is), while Mark went to toys. He had brought his own money with him. He decided to get a lightsaber with lights & sounds, a 20-pack of AA batteries, and a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans (me: "You paid FOUR DOLLARS for that? There's like 20 jellybeans in it!" Mark: "Yeah, but Mom, it also has an EXCLUSIVE BAG!" [read as: cheap pseudo-velvet drawstring bag] oh my.). But, it was *his* money, so I bit my tongue. Besides, who was I to talk? I spent a bazillion dollars on stuff to make a costume for Kira that she'll maybe wear four or five hours total in her life. But DANG, she'll look cool those four or five hours.
Kira's going to be the Tooth Fairy this year. She came up with this idea last year, so we've been planning it for awhile. Do you realize, there are no actual "official" Tooth Fairy costumes out there? Except this one joke-type man's costume. Kira's going to have a silver dress with silver tulle overlay and white satin teeth appliques stitched on, and a wand made of a thin dowel, a large tooth (instead of, say, a star) and some streaming sparkly ribbons. Also will probably have a bag of chocolate-wrapped coins and a small bag for collected teeth, although I can't quite figure how I'm going to work that yet, since I don't want her to be bogged down with a ton of accessories. Oh, and wings, of course. The last time I made wings for her--when she was Tinkerbell three years ago--I made them in such a way that they snapped onto the back of her costume. I think I'll do that again this time, since it worked really well, as opposed to the wings that you wear kind of like a backpack. :D
I have NO idea what Mark will be for Halloween. Neither does he. I've asked. Multiple times. I'd love for him to do some really awesome creative costume, and would be willing to put a fair amount of work into it, but he just doesn't seem that into it. Which doesn't stop him from getting irritated when he doesn't win the costume contest at the school Halloween Carnival. I have tried explaining the connection, but it still eludes him. And ohhhh, the two years that Kira won (one year as Tinkerbell, one year as Dorothy), he was *ripped*.
OK, well, I think I'm going to see if the kids want to go swimming for a couple of hours.
Monday, August 07, 2006
I wasn't tagged but I want to play anyway....
5 things in my freezer:
1. a freezer pack shaped like a flower with a ladybug on it
2. frozen sausage patties that are probably never going to get eaten
3. an almost-empty freezer-burned half-gallon of sherbert that I really need to throw away
4. a medium McDonald's strawberry shake
5. Bacardi mixers....hmmmmm...daiquiris, anyone?
5 things in my purse:
1. a small, empty, individual LifeSaver wrapper
2. sample-size dental floss
3. hands-free wires for my cell phone
4. a coupon for $10 off at JCPenney (to be used today in purchasing new sneakers for Mark)
5. small wallet containing pictures of Mark and Kira should anyone be foolish enough to mention them in my presence, so I can whip them out and show people how adorable my kids are
5 things in my closet:
1. a budget-size Goldfish box, empty, which Mark wanted to make into a mini-dollhouse as a surprise for Kira
2. two sets of sheets
3. my scrapbooking supplies, in an old diaper bag
4. entirely too many pairs of shoes (according to some people...I, however, look at it as not nearly enough)
5. belts that I have no intention of wearing. Ever.
5 things on my desk:
1. my SSBM token, strategically placed in a crevice of a small statuette of a boy and girl
2. a miniature Olmec Colossal Head
3. two nearly-empty bottles of water
4. a bunch of Girl Scout patches that need to be sewn on
5. a clothespin
5 people I tag:
1. you
2. you
3. you
4. you
5. and YOU
1. a freezer pack shaped like a flower with a ladybug on it
2. frozen sausage patties that are probably never going to get eaten
3. an almost-empty freezer-burned half-gallon of sherbert that I really need to throw away
4. a medium McDonald's strawberry shake
5. Bacardi mixers....hmmmmm...daiquiris, anyone?
5 things in my purse:
1. a small, empty, individual LifeSaver wrapper
2. sample-size dental floss
3. hands-free wires for my cell phone
4. a coupon for $10 off at JCPenney (to be used today in purchasing new sneakers for Mark)
5. small wallet containing pictures of Mark and Kira should anyone be foolish enough to mention them in my presence, so I can whip them out and show people how adorable my kids are
5 things in my closet:
1. a budget-size Goldfish box, empty, which Mark wanted to make into a mini-dollhouse as a surprise for Kira
2. two sets of sheets
3. my scrapbooking supplies, in an old diaper bag
4. entirely too many pairs of shoes (according to some people...I, however, look at it as not nearly enough)
5. belts that I have no intention of wearing. Ever.
5 things on my desk:
1. my SSBM token, strategically placed in a crevice of a small statuette of a boy and girl
2. a miniature Olmec Colossal Head
3. two nearly-empty bottles of water
4. a bunch of Girl Scout patches that need to be sewn on
5. a clothespin
5 people I tag:
1. you
2. you
3. you
4. you
5. and YOU
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