forever

It has been forever since I have "blogged". Please accept my apologies. things have been crazy and I've been busy -- not too busy to play Mafia Wars or some other stupid computer games, but too busy to blog. Sorry. Christmas has come and gone. It was really nice. A little stressful, but nice. The whole family was here, for a while any way.. Brieanna had to work so she wasn't able to be with us for most of the day, but everyone else was here for most of the time. We opened gifts and ate and had a nice time. Mikey seemed to enjoy his gifts.

I'm going to do a list of 52 things to do in 2010 like Katie did last year. I'm going to get it together and post it on 1/1/10.

So, are we calling it twenty ten or two thousand ten?

I'll post some pictures soon.

We also need to get a New Year's card out, since I missed Christmas .. I'll shoot for January 10.

The Olympics are going to be in Vancouver this winter .. I had a friend who said we'd go there together but I don't think that's going to happen -- probably need tickets and I don't have them. Ah, well.

I should have called this randomness since I'm just rambling .

bags

Here are two of the bags that I'm making for Christmas. The purple one is done. The other is almost. I'm making one for each of the girls - four for now: Kelly, Robin, Brieanna, and Carolina.

You can't really tell from the pictures but I actually quilted the bags completely. I think I'm getting brave enough to actually quilt an entire blanket. I did quilt the star quilt - I stitched around each star.

I hope that the girls like these.

Status Updates ??

So, yesterday I posted that I was very sad on facebook because Michael and Brieanna's dog Colin was "put to sleep" last night. I got many sympathetic, understanding comments, but then decided that I shouldn't have that as my status. So I changed it to "needs to change her status .. at work .. back to work, now." or something like that -- however, that apparently could be or was interpreted to mean that I wanted to change my status at work, not change my fb status ... so I deleted that and said I was at lunch. Much less controversial and the only mis-interpretation I can imaging is that I am "out to lunch", similar to "out in left field", which is okay with me. Better than someone thinking I'm quitting or totally dissatisfied or something like that.

pumpkin pie

baking pumpkin pie with Robin. I made the crust; she made the filling ... don't know how that will taste. We'll try it tonight.

So anyway, I was thinking that I should make a couple of Christmas quilts to hang around the house for Christmas. I'll have to see if I can find some fabric I like and make at least one small one. I can substitute it for the one at the end of the hall and maybe put another one over my sewing area.

new name

I wanted to call today's blog "inspiration" but apparently I used that title before. Katie is again inspiring me. I want to start blogging more and start making a few gifts for Christmas .. we might even get cards out this year!!

Wow! What a concept.

star quilt

I've finished my most recent quilt -- don't know what I'm going to do with it. I guess I"ll just put is in a drawer for now. I need to make some Christmas presents. I've never done that before.

I am tired of being so tired. Watched Mikey today. It was great to see him but I don't have the energy to do it. I wonder how my mother used to watch Paul when I first went back to work? Maybe it would be different if I weren't working full time or if I didn't have such a full house ...

Saturday - fun

Katie says that I forgot to say that I was going to have fun this weekend ... I don't know about fun but I will certainly enjoy myself with some of those things.

Puzzling ..

Things to do this weekend:

1 -- see if I can find a tutorial on photoshop so I can use the program Kelly gave me last year - no, Paul gave it to me but Kelly was the one who recommended it

2 -- check with Katie on how to get pictures to show up where I want them in/on my blog

3 -- get the three other fabrics for my star quilt

4 -- if I can't do 3, I'll start on my next sock monkey quilt.

5 -- read

6 -- yoga

7 -- find two new meals for next week

8 -- grocery shopping ... costco ... church

9 -- if they don't come to see us, go and visit Michael, Brieanna, and Mikey

10 -- take 10 pictures

11 -- read the next chapter in my CLM study guide/book

CMA Awards

Just got back from Yoga and the CMA Awards are on. I don't know many country songs but as long as there is not too much twang its pretty good.

Copycat - Tuesday's 10

Here are ten places I'd like to go (i.e., a portion of my bucket list).

1 - Isle Royale
2 - British Isles - Liverpool (home of the Beatles)
3 - Egypt
4 - Israel
5 - Grand Canyon
6 - Alaska
7 - The Alamo
8 - Disney World
9 - Mount Rushmore/Crazy Horse (it was too foggy when we drove out here and we couldn't see any of the presidents -- they did give us a picture though)
10 - Thunder Bay (I had to come up with a tenth one ... I picked Thunder Bay because that was where the radio station was that we used to listen to in Eagle Harbor when I was a kid.)

job

it's interesting when you see the parts of your job that you are cut out for -- interviewing, not so much; budgeting, lots of fun...

toes

here's a picture of our toe nails -- Robin got flowers, I got a spider web and spider and Lita got a musical note.


The best thing about having my toes done is that I have something to look at during yoga!!

next quilt

here are the pieces for my next quilt. I'm hoping to finish the quilt top tonight ..











I took out the wrong picture -- I'll have to add it back tonight!

Pho?

I am belatedly uploading pictures from our visit with Lita. The first pictures are our trip to eat Vietnamese food.

Movies

My husband brought home two movies tonight that I had never heard of .. I thought they were going to be stupid teeny bopper movies, but the first one is really good .. The Other End of the Line. I really recommend it. Of course, I was on the computer for most of the movie, but that's how I always watch TV these days.

I worked on my quilt tonight. I finished cutting all the squares into 3.5 inch squares, and now I'm sewing them together. The first two rows are together and they look pretty good. I'm actually excited about it. Hoping to get the top completed tomorrow, then I'll add a couple of borders.

Maybe I'll take some pictures as I go along ... I have to post pictures from when Lita was here. We got pedicures when she was here and I have a picture of all our feet -- the feet are not so cute but the toes certainly are!!

November

It's November already. Where did October go?? I guess we did a lot last month. Have two birthdays and Lita came to visit. Today was Paul's birthday .. now we have Thanksgiving and Christmas to look forward to. Time is slipping by. I feel like I'm just marking time .. need to stop that and start living intentionally.

Been working on another quilt. Not for anyone in particular. Just to have something to do. Now that I'm getting into it, I'm starting to like it again. I need to be precise when I start putting all the pieces together .. I tend to get impatient but that doesn't work very well with quilts ...

It's been a while -- I haven't really had anything to say -- not that that has stopped me before. But I wanted to check in. I am attending a conference tomorrow and Saturday and hope to post some pictures from the area -- Sonoma, I think. Hoping also for some good wine and food. There goes the diet.

I'll check in later!

new projects

I uploaded pictures of my most recent projects .. when I see all the projects I realize that my recent projects are all dark .. I need to do something light. I have a star quilt that I'm starting, but I'm not sure I like the colors. My favorite quilts are light, but I seem to be making others right now. Oh well.

more quilting

Michael bought a motorcycle -- you'd think I'd have a picture of it -- but no, I have a picture out my window on my way to co-sign for the loan ...


I finished a mini-Kelly quilt. there were some left over pieces and I used that to make a mini quilt to hang at the end of the hall. Here's a picture.


Here's a picture of the pillow case I made for Katie.

the book

the title of the book is Legal Writing in Plain English. I know I'm weird to find something like that interesting, but I do. I told a lie in yesterday's post - I'm not putting it back today. I am borrowing it for one more night and maybe I'll actually read some of it this time.

Tuesday's temptations

So here are the things I was tempted by today ...

1 - to sleep in and call in sick
2 - to eat 2 desserts
3 - to eat just one more bowl of popcorn (from Popcorn, Indiana)!!
4 - to watch just one more episode of Charmed or The Office
5 - to skip going to the gym ...

I did borrow a book from my boss ... and didn't tell him (I don't think that is classified as stealing). I promise I'll put it back tomorrow. It's on legal writing .. I can't remember the title but I'll let you know.

Monday Mystique ...

just had to have two words beginning with M. Anyway, went to Yoga tonight (with Mark). I still can't do half the moves, but hopefully I'm getting better at it.

I was in the doldrums this weekend, melancholic. Really dragging. I did absolutely nothing - wait that's a lie. Saturday was okay, went to yoga in the a.m. and then met Amanda at Starbucks (and then Marshalls and Cost Plus) and it was beastly hot ... oh and then Paul and I went and saw "the Time Traveler's Wife". However, Sunday was a different story .. after church I did as little as possible .. it could have been a productive day but instead was just a wasted day. I was wishing life were different.

I don't really know how to describe it. Maybe just marking time, waiting for things to change, or just going through the motions.

Today, I decided that the only way for life to be different for me now is to do the things I would do in the "different life" that I'm dreaming of -- to the extent I can. I was thinking "what if I were in this life, the different life, what would I be doing"? So I thought of the things that I picture in this different life and I realized that I can do some of those things now. So maybe I can make my life I'm the life i'm dreaming of. Does that make sense?

If I don't want to watch TV, I don't have to. If I want to watch TV, I can.

If I want to go somewhere on the weekend, I can.

Cooking doesn't have to be dull and boring. I can explore different types of foods, new recipes, I can make it interesting.

If I want to read books and go to the library, I will. If I want to go to thrift stores, antique stores, or yard sales, I can and will. I don't have to wait for this dreamed of new and different life to live the way I want to.

Maybe one day all my dreams will come true, but I'm not holding my breath.

later.

Friday's Fab Four

1 -- played Pinochle --haven't done that in forever. Had a good time and we won! I kinda pushed myself to bid more and tried hard.

2 -- got fingerprinted (the lady fingerprinting me still had no idea what/where Washington, DC was and or is - these Californians just don't know their geography)

3 -- had sandwiches for dinner (it was too hot to cook)

4 -- ran a mile (and a total of 3.6 miles on the treadmill!)

It's actually Saturday but I thought I'd finish my Friday first. til tomorrow.

Thursday's Deep Thoughts

Don't know that I have any deep thoughts tonight but I did have some great popcorn. From Popcorn, Indiana. I wonder if that's a real city. Let me check ...



okay, so it is. A little south of Bloomington (home of Indiana University, my brother's alma mater). If I ever go to the Midwest to visit my sister Anna, or my niece, Katie, I'll have to go to Popcorn. Anyway, it is the very best bagged popcorn I've ever had. Not that I'm a popcorn connoisseur...

I'm not very deep today. maybe next week.

Wally World and Monday Madness

We needed a new carpet to put over the messed up carpet in our living room so we went to Target, but the only carpets they had that were big enough were $150. Not only did we not want to pay that much but we also didn't like them ... sooooo we went to WalMart. It was packed! Everyone must have decided that they had to buy something (and I thought we were in a recession?) ... The lines were 10 people deep. However, we picked up our bag of carpet and made it through My husband left me alone to fend for myself and somehow, for once in my life, I picked the right line! Got through in less than 10 minutes! The rug is now on our rug in the living room.

My #2 son is finishing up the deck. Oh, he went with me to yoga tonight. Fortunately, I was so engrossed in trying to get all the moves down I forgot to be embarrassed -- not about him but about me! I can't believe how hard yoga is.

Let's see, for the rest of the madness ... the grandson and his parents are spending the night tonight. Gave the grandson a bath. Fun to have him around. Then he was sitting on the floor playing with a bucket (why buy toys???) and just laughing up a storm, for no reason! it was too cute.

Lego is sleeping next to me ... as I write. He usually is on the other side of the bed, but tonight he's decided he wants to push me out of the way instead of the husband. Normally, it's Weezer who is crowding me, but with the baby and the dog in the house he is on edge and isn't hanging out with me :-(

I'm just rambling. I was thinking how I'd like to go to Michigan for a week in the fall. Just to get away and be somewhere peaceful and quiet ... maybe next year. Well, back to stupid, mindless, computer games.

ta ta for now

longings

My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water...

early quilt pic

I've uploaded my most recent quilt. It's for Kelly on her birthday next week. I'm really happy with the binding and the pattern. Not so sure about the colors, I hope she'll like it. Here's one picture.

Saturday

Five good things today ...

1 -- had a good office party! WOW!

2 -- went to Marina, California, to a DiMaggio family picnic.

3 -- good food

4 -- working on the quilt .. looking good

5 -- yoga

I'm feeling good now except a slight headache.

and then some. Talked with the daughter, talked with the father

politics

I apologize for being political but I am tired of trillions being thrown around like it's nothing. It reminds me of when we first moved out here and someone told us about a house that was being sold and was such a great deal, only $600,000. It was and is obscene. But those numbers, like the deficit numbers are thrown around like they aren't huge numbers.

I hate it. All the money, all the politics, all the posturing, all the lying.

Okay, so my sister said to think of happy things ... so here goes

1 - I got a lot done on my quilt today -- need to do more tomorrow, but that will come. I want to finish the top before Saturday, which means I need to buy the border and binding .. and then I need to buy the backing. I think I'll use yellow flannel ... I hope she likes it.

2 - I had coffee with a dear friend today

3 - I didn't work today

4 - my feet are finally warm

5 - the cat didn't attack me today

6 - I returned the pants to Walmart

7 - I had a baked potato for dinner

8 - watched the Office and 30 Rock

Things are good and I had a lot of happy times today. Actually, other than listening to the political stuff around the house today, everything is good. Maybe I should be worried ...

trillion

I decided I wanted to know just how a big a trillion is, since that number is thrown around an awful lot these days ... so here we go. I copied this from someone else, another website ... Katie maybe you can show me how to had a link so I don't plagiarize ...

A million seconds is 13 days.
A billion seconds is 31 years.
A trillion seconds is 31,688 years.

A million minutes ago was – 1 year, 329 days, 10 hours and 40 minutes ago.
A billion minutes ago was just after the time of Christ.

A million hours ago was in 1885.
A billion hours ago man had not yet walked on earth.

A million dollars ago was five (5) seconds ago at the U.S. Treasury.
A billion dollars ago was late yesterday afternoon at the U.S. Treasury.
--

The country has not existed for a trillion seconds.
Western civilization has not been around a trillion seconds.
One trillion seconds ago – 31,688 years – Neanderthals stalked the plains of Europe.

Days off

I took yesterday and today off (it's Thursday morning now so I have to talk like this). I took the days off just because. I didn't have anything I needed to do or anywhere I needed to be.

It's been nice. Ran some errands. Did some stuff that needed to be done (washed two cars ...). And basically, just hung out. I didn't go to the gym and I ate too much junk. But otherwise a good day. I worked on Kelly's birthday present which I'd really like to finish up tomorrow, at least well enough to get some help with it on Saturday - or next weekend at the latest.

It's hard to believe there was a time when I didn't go to work every day .. I can't even remember what it was like, it was so long ago. Yeah, I had five kids at home so it wasn't relaxing, but still ... makes me look forward to retirement, if that day will ever come.

when I finish Kelly's quilt I'll take pictures, but I won't post them until after I give it to her. I think I'm making too many squares so I'll probably end up having two quilts instead of one. I'm thinking with the leftovers that I'll make a small quilt to hang over my work area... She doesn't read this so there's no fear of her finding out about it ahead of time. I hope she like it. I was cutting the pieces when she was home last and she didn't ask about them ... I think she had other things on her mind.

Here's to having a productive day tomorrow...

self-control .. self-discipline

self-control -- control or restraint of oneself or one's actions, feelings, etc.

self-discipline -- discipline and training of oneself, usually for improvement:

Soooo, I don't have enough of either of those. They both seem so restrictive but I know that the result is good. If I could exert self control when it comes to eating -- particularly things like cake and cupcakes and other sweets -- I would have lost the weight I want to already. If I had the self discipline to exercise the way I would like, I would be in the shape I want to be. But I don't use enough of either of these. It all comes back to, why do I do the things I don't want to and not do the things I want.

I've been thinking about these two things a lot today. Actually helped me to go to the gym tonight. I think the self-control thing is harder .. oh, I don't know, they are both hard.

On another note, the cats were outside tonight and spooky was acting weird, running after something ... she found a skunk earlier this summer so I looked outside to see what she was running after and there were two raccoons sitting on the fence. If I'd been on the ball I'd have taken a picture, but I've heard nightmare stories of raccoons killing dogs so I ran out to scare them away and to get the cats in. They both came in right away so I think they may have been scared too. However, the raccoons were really cute!

Happy Birthday, Mikey!!

Mikey turned one yesterday. Can't believe it's been a year already. Here's a picture his mom and dad sent me.

another quilt

I'm working on yet another quilt. a jelly roll quilt, sort of. I didn't have a jelly roll so I'm using 40 strips.

Thursday's thoughts

Well, it's Thursday again. Why do I waste so much time? I wanted to get up this morning and exercise -- well last night that was the tentative plan. This morning rolled around and I rolled over. I know I need to do it, but I just can't motivate myself out of bed. Ugh. Why do I avoid doing the things that I want to do??

Oh, well. Time to get up and get ready for work.


Here's the quilt I finished. Starting a new one tomorrow or Saturday ... or soon.

Happy Birthday, Katie & Jay!!

I don't have anything cool to post for you like the cupcakes you posted for me...

Tuesday's temptations

That's what I was supposed to write about...
1 - going back to sleep forever
2 - playing mindless computer games
3 - blogging until it's time to go to work

more later

The five best things about Tuesday

1. It's not Monday anymore!
2. The week holds so much promise.
3. I haven't made many mistakes this week, yet.
4. Lots of time to plan for the weekend.
5. It's another day.

Monday mindlessness

So since it's Monday, it's okay that I played a bunch of mindless computer games? and didn't do very well at that?? I really want to get off that kick. Just a waste of time. Why do I do the things that I don't want to do and not do the things that I want?

1. Our cat has a new friend who is black and white and really stinks. She came in the other night with the funniest look on her face .. and she smelled funny. I don't think she got sprayed, at least not directly, because the smell went away over night. Her friend was back again today. Fortunately, she was inside this time. This is her - Spooky. Okay, not really a girl name, but she was named after another grey cat we had a long time ago.



2. I need to get my hair dyed, yet again and I need a manicure ... UGH! why does this stuff have to be done all the time??? Also, my toe nail has just about grown back in so I need a pedicure.

3. My eyes are tired.

4. Oh, I've been working on a new quilt. It's just blue and white (my favorite) and I need to get some other fabric to brighten it up .... I probably should have done some sashing in between the squares. I might still. We'll have to see. I still need to finish the two blankets that I'm knitting, but I must admit I prefer quilting.

5. It's still hot.

Thursday's thoughts

A strange day. Michael Jackson died. I was never a huge fan but I feel like I grew up with him. I first heard about him when I was in 7th grade. One of the girls at school went to see the Jackson 5 in concert and met him. Vera. And basically, he's been around since then. Feels kind of like when Princess Diana died. Y'know someone the same age as me who seemed larger than life; and then they die. They aren't larger than life. They are just people. They were. How final. And life goes on.

I don't like that part - that life goes on. For Michael, the world will mourn, but things will continue pretty much as they did yesterday. HIs life is ended. We will celebrate his life, mourn his death, and then go about our business. That's how it is.

On another note, I got some new running shoes today. I had them fitted. I think it's been 35 years since I had someone measure my foot... but, my thought was really related to how the young hot girl who was there before me got much more/better attention. Our money is the same but it's not just about the money. But then again, who wants to sell shoes ... reminds me of Al Bundy, who reminds me of Ted Bundy, who reminds me of NCIS - one of my favorite TV shows.

Life goes on.

thoughts

I would like to blog more regularly and so was thinking that if I had a name for each day (like Katie's Tuesday 10), I would at least have a so-called template to work from and wouldn't have to be creative. So I need suggestions for my daily blogs ...

Sunday's Snapshots
Monday's Mindlessness
Tuesday's Temptations
Wednesday's Wildness (??? not that I am ever wild ???)(Thank you Anna)
Thursday's Deep Thoughts
Friday's Fab Four
Saturday's Successes

I was checking out other blogs last night and there are some really creative people out there with some terrific pictures and some interesting stuff. It's amazing how we have access to all these different people. What a big world we live in and yet so small .. oh wait, this is something to leave for my deep thinking tomorrow. Today I'm supposed to be wild...

father's day

well, yesterday was not as productive as I would have liked. I did get the spare bedroom cleaned, and got a few things off my list; however, if I didn't spend the first two hours of the day lounging in bed, I might be able to accomplish more. How to get motivated???

ah well, another week has begun.

the day after

what to do today? first yoga, and then what ... I've got so many things I want to accomplish. Some are fun, most are not.

wash down the deck
scrub the carpets
go to a thrift store / antique store / yard sale (don't know what I want to buy but I want something)
go to bank
go to grocery store
laundry
clean bathrooms
clean "spare" bedroom
go to the movies (nope we didn't make it yesterday)
work on the blankets
clean out the closet
read

I can't do all of this, but I need to do some of it. No more stupid computer games. No more.
What do I think I will do... argh!

today

happy birthday to Paul McCartney .. I hear he's 66 today. Hard to believe.

birthdays ...

Happy Birthday cousin Jon - where ever you are. Yesterday was Granny's b-day - she would have been 109 today. Tomorrow is Karen Styles birthday. Thursday is Paul McCartney's birthday! He's 60-something, more than 64 because I remember hearing someone commenting about that -- y'know the song "When I'm 64".

Went to the gym today. Ran 1 mile, plus a little more. If I go tomorrow, I'll just do the elliptical and then swim. I have to make brownies for the June birthdays (just mine actually) at work. I'm doing it on Thursday, just in case I bail on Friday.

Trying to think what I'd like to do for my birthday. Maybe a movie and dinner?

Five things ...

1 - loving the kitties
2 - my feet are like ice cubes
3 - wishing I didn't like playing mindless computer games
4 - need to finish my knitting projects
5 - need to start my quilt

I need to clean out the junk in my house. Stuff is nice but neat is nicer. I just spent a couple of days in a very cluttered house and I didn't like it... the first stuff I'm getting rid of is my yarn - just not sure where. Maybe I'll put it on Craigs List ... I'd like to get a little money for it, but getting rid of it is the important thing.

I also need to get my printer fixed, or get a new one. I want to get a scanner, like the one at work. Where the only thing it does is scan. I want to scan old pictures of the family and get them labeled, while there are still people around who know who the people in the pictures are. Don't know if I'll do it soon enough.

I need to clean my carpets, I need to clean the kitchen floor, I need to get dining room chairs. I need to get a hutch. I need, i need, I need. Certainly am needy.

I have two nieces and one nephew with birthdays coming up. If I were a good aunt, I would get them something. I want to, just don't know if I will...

enough for tonight.

yoga class cancelled :-(

So what will I do with this recovered hour?? maybe I'll go to costco early and get my grocery shopping done or laundry .. so many fun things, so little time..

inspiration

I think Katie is inspiring me .. I want to have a cool craft room too! But to justify it I have to be more crafty. so I been working on my knitted baby blanket .. fyi I'm going to give away most of my yarn and only buy yarn when I have a specific project. Not sure the best place to give the yarn away ... then I have my quilts. I have a blue and white one in my head and I'll go from there. I have these animals I want to make and I need to get something to Katie ... hmmmm. I'll have to work on that this weekend. I have an idea ...


Won't you look down upon me Jesus
You've got to help me make a stand
I just can't make it through another day
My body's aching, and my time is at end
I just can't make it any other way, yeah

Turtle

Okay, so I had an idea of what I wanted to write about tonight but it totally left me. that happened a lot today -- where I want to say something and then I completely forget. Not sure what's up.

Haven't gotten any new snapple facts lately so I have no wisdom to impart.

born in 1959

So, here's a list of some famous people born in 1959.

Simon Cowell
Marie Osmond
Weird Al Yankovic
John McEnroe
Hugh Laurie
Kevin Spacey
Lawrence Taylor
Nastassja Kinski
Rosanna Arquette
Rupert Everett
Val Kilmer
Corey Pavin
Mackenzie Phillips
Fred Couples

I thought Madonna and Sharon Stone and Vanna White were also my age, but I was wrong. Vanna was born in '57; Madonna, in '58; Sharon, in '58.

re-do, covers, etc.

So does Hollywood have any imagination at all? I mean "17 again" (if that's the name of it). How many times are they going to do the "if I had it to do all over again" theme. Let's see there's Big, Freaky Friday, 13 going on 30, to name a few. And what about obsessed -- isn't that Fatal Attraction? Can't they come up with some new ideas? I can't believe people will go to see these movies again and again -- it would be one thing if they waited several years, like 40, but every year, c'mon now.

Okay, for my blog readers, let's see how many "17 again" movies we can come up with.

1 - Big
2 - Freaky Friday
3 - 13 going on 30
4 -

more snapple facts

sooooo today's snapple fact #73 is that the average person will spend the equivalent of 2 weeks over their lifetime waiting for a traffic light to change. How in the world do they calculate that? Is this a worldwide fact or just a US fact? and of course, who really cares? does this mean that there are people who will spend 4 weeks waiting and some that will never wait (those who are blessed with always having green lights)?

and for those wondering here's the definition of pithy... (courtesy of Dictionary.com)

pithy   [pith-ee] –adjective
1. brief, forceful, and meaningful in expression; full of vigor, substance, or meaning; terse; forcible: a pithy observation.
2. of, like, or abounding in pith.

goldfish

Can you tell me how Snapple discovered that the attention span of a goldfish is only 3 seconds???

Chain of Love

I got this off Katie's blog .. and since I think only two people read my blog I may have to make two things for one of you and three things for the other ...

The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me!
My choice. For you.
This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make for you!
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It'll be done this year.
4. You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a song. It may be a self portrait or maybe even some creation I haven't yet dreamed up. I may draw. (Although it would just be stick figures...) I may bake you something and mail it to you. It may not be big or impressive. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure! But lets be honest here. This is me and I will likely do something amazing. =) So come on, sign up!
5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch?
Oh, the catch is that you must re-post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. The first 5 people to post this same blog on their blog and leave a comment telling me they did will win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me!

Let's keep the chain of love going around!!

reading, etc.

I really enjoy Katie's blog. She is always so upbeat and encouraging -- well actually she's that way all the time. At least whenever I see her. How do you do that Katie??? Thanks for the entertaining and interesting blog. Thanks for sharing what you're doing with me (and with anyone else reading). Katie can you rub some of that on me??

When I'm done here, I'm going to work on my knitting. I'm making a blanket for someone's baby boy. Everyone I know who is having a baby is having a boy so it doesn't really matter who I give it to .. however, this blanket is a little pricey so I have to give it to someone who will appreciate it -- or maybe I just shouldn't worry about that. I have another boy baby blanket I'm working on too, so I've got two to finish.

We're having a St. Patrick's day potluck on Tuesday. I'm doing the corned beef and cabbage, which I have no idea how to make. I'm trusting the other ladies at work to help with it.

house and blogging

I was reading a post by another blogger, who shall remain nameless, and was reminded of the "house" I watched last night. In the show, House's patient had something wrong with him which caused him to say exactly what was on his mind without filtering out the bad stuff ... y'know like telling his wife that she wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed.. Anyway, no filters. That was what I got out of the blog -- that blogging means you don't have to have filters. You can say what you want and it doesn't matter.

Since I consider my blog to be a secret diary that only a couple of my closest friends read, I could say all sorts of vicious, nasty things about others - but why would I? I mean, what's the purpose? I want to feel confident that if any one were to read it, that their opinion of me would not be diminished. I could sit here and go into a critique of the other post but that would be doing exactly what I don't like -- so I'll just leave it alone ...

I frequently think things that I shouldn't think. Putting it on paper, even virtual paper, is even worse -- you can't take it back. Perhaps I should work on my thoughts ...

achilles tendonitis

So, I went to the doctor today. She diagnosed my sore ankle/leg as achilles tendonitis. The cure is for me to not run or walk for the next two weeks and to ice my ankle down 3x daily. I am really bummed, but if the soreness will go away and I can eventually start training for the 10K and really start training then it will be worth it. In the meantime, I will continue to exercise - do the elliptical, the bike, and swimming. Not what I had planned but still something. The elliptical should be good for me because it will build up my endurance.

Played cribbage with a bunch of people tonight. It was fun even though I didn't make it through the first round. maybe next time.

weigh down, way down

I'm very discouraged about the weight thing .. I want to have the right attitude about eating and exercising -- that it is for my health, but I'd really, really like to lose some weight.

I'm feeling overwhelmed, yet again, at work and just with life in general.

Back to the weight thing -- I'm trying hard to exercise. I want to train for the 10K but every time I run more than 1 minute at a time, I hurt my ankle - not like it's twisted, more like there is something pulled or strained. I'm going to try and NOT do any running for the rest of this week and maybe it'll give my ankle time to heal. Maybe I should go to the doctor. I just don't seem to have the time for that ... why? why? why? Why is it so hard to lose weight and get in shape? Eating and lounging around is so easy. Why is the stuff that is better for you harder to do?

whine whine whine.

exercise

I really hate to exercise but I'm trying really hard ... walked on the treadmill tonight for 1 hour 15 minutes - 5.5 miles. I really want to make it, lose weight, and get into shape .. I just don't know if I can stick with it.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hate to be a Valentine's Day scrooge but I totally think the Valentine's Day thing is overkill. So I am rebelling and asking that my husband do nothing for me (and I'm doing nothing for him too).



Here are some of the decorations from Safeway -- we went last Saturday and it was worse -- I wish I had gotten a picture then but my camera broke. I got a new one. Not the one I really want (I want an SLR ...) but it will do for now.




However, Starbucks was a dollar off today so maybe there are some good things about Valentine's Day ...

February

Went to the grocery store tonight and it was full of balloons -- wish I had had my camera. It is insane. The husband and I are not doing anything for Valentine's Day and i hope he doesn't even get me flowers or anything. It is so silly. I know, I'm not romantic, but really, it is just too much.

Walked on the treadmill tonight for 4.3 miles. I need to really build that up so that I can run in a 10K this summer. I'm trying, but I need to try harder.

My camera is broken. I don't know if I'll get it fixed or get a new one. Probably get a new one. Anyway, when I get back to having one, I'll show you the ridiculous grocery store and the gym where the hubby and I are going to "work out". Oh how I hate to exercise.

Wednesday a.m.

Just finished some grocery shopping. We had a $10 off coupon we had to use on Tuesday so we had to go. We ended up getting more than we had to but hopefully it will mean that we don't have to go shopping again until the weekend.

Rode the train home today for the 2nd time this week. I'll take a picture next time (probably tomorrow). Doing my bit to save the world (and someone the time to come pick me up). Kelly now has the car I was driving so I'm without a car for about the millionth time in my life. Maybe when I grow up I can have my own car. whine whine whine ...

okay, okay

so the post I thought I wrote on Friday was actually written on Saturday morning -- that's what happens when you stay up too late. so far let's check on how I've done in my list yesterday...

+ haven't thought about Monday at all - or how soon it will get here
+ Went to see Taken -- it was really good
+ walked 4 miles
+ bought lots of groceries
+ made chicken barbeque

Friday

So happy it's Friday. Here is today's list:

1 - don't think about how soon Monday will be here
2 - get fabric for new quilt
3 - work on knitted blanket
4 - go to the movies
5 - walk 8 miles
6 - read 44 Scotland Street
7 - grocery shopping - buy something fun!
8 - clean the bathroom
9 - vacuum
10 - find 10 fun things to write about tomorrow
11 - talk to both of my sisters
12 - call my daughter in Chico
13 - send a bread recipe to Margie
14 - watch the super bowl
15 - make chicken barbeque
16 - take 10 fun pictures
17 - snuggle
18 - find the Harry Potter books in my attic
19 - go to a yard sale

wow. when I try I can come up with a list. Maybe I can do the 25 random things list next ...

Three for Thursday

I'm working on my 25 random things .. I have about 8 so far .. I have the 52 like katie (haven't even begun that) .. and then there's three for Thursday.

I watched three American Idols this week.
I have three cats.
I've lived in three states.
I have three sons.
There are three couches in my living room.

Well thats five threes ...

Tuesday

Today I am thankful for good friends and a heating blanket. It's not so cold here, but it sure is nice to be all warm. and friends are always wonderful.

facebook

More and more people it seems are joining facebook. I just found several friends from high school and one of my best friends too. The only problem is they don't seem to want to communicate - at least not with me. Also, they don't put pictures up. I guess they worry about losing their identities and whatnot. I would really love to see some pics but I guess people are more private than me or more paranoid. Of course, I wish my pictures looked better - but I can't worry too much about that.

I need three day weekends every week. Saturday is my day to crash and then it takes me a couple of days to recuperate and start doing the things I need to do - cleaning laundry, etc. There's one in February but I need one NOW!! I may take a day off soon, just to have one of them.


Kelster ..


The farm -- a reflection on a cold winter day. December 27, 2008.


Santa Claus... at Andrew's house. Hanging from the light or perhaps the ceiling.

pre inauguration post

this has absolutely nothing to do with the inauguration, except that tomorrow is inauguration day ..

I realize I haven't been posting much lately, but that's because I don't want the tone of what I write to be too depressing. I'm just feeling a little overwhelmed.

okay, well maybe I'll touch on tomorrow -- I hope that all the hype is a foreshadowing of good things to come. I'm tired of all the crap we hear and maybe there will be more positive things reported on --

I'm also trying to avoid being political. I hear enough of that.

Grandma's cataract surgery is on Wednesday. We'll find out the time tomorrow and then I'll be able to make plans for work.

That stresses me out too. So, I'll stop now ...

oh, I still haven't come up with my 52 or even my dozen...

$16K

This is what $16,000 of damage looks like.
I backed into this LOTUS in the garage at work -- damage to my car was under $50.

sharing

sometimes things are just too hard to share, with anyone.

Happy New Year!

Finally getting a little time to post -- just got home last night. Have tons of cleaning to do - laundry (don't know how I could have it when I did laundry all the while on vacation).

Katie has a list of 52 things she wants to do this year .. sounds like a good idea, similar to the bucket list. I'm going to see if I can come up with 52 things too! Thanks Katie!!