Happy New Year!

Got this from All & Sundry. If you play, leave a comment over there with your blog url and she will link you.



1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
I dressed up in a Nun's Habit for a show.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I'm not sure. I think I resolved not to resolve. I'll have to look back. I usually say drink more water, so put me down for that one again.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? No, but my friend from second grade is pregnant again. It's a surprise baby. I love those.


4. Did anyone close to you die? Thank Heavens, no.


5. What countries did you visit? No countries, but we did move states.


6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? A little financial stability.


7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? I don't have a date. It's all a big blur.


8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? I have a full time job for the first time since I became a mother.


9. What was your biggest failure? I gained back a significant amount of weight that I worked so hard to get rid of.


10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I had my gall bladder out at the end of 2007. It was a big deal so I'm counting it.


11. What was the best thing you bought? I don't remember buying anything of significance.


12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Mine. There was a lot of change this last year and I think I behaved rawther well.


13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Mine. Sometimes I threw fits.


14. Where did most of your money go? Food, shelter, moving expenses. Woo hoo.


15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? A good job.


16. What song will always remind you of 2008? How do you solve a problem like Maria?

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:a) happier or sadder?b) thinner or fatter?c) richer or poorer? b


18. What do you wish you’d done more of? I wish I'd used my creativity more.


19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Worrying.


20. How did you spend Christmas? Snowed in, few presents, lots of movies, lots of family time.


21. Did you fall in love in 2008? I stayed in love.


22. What was your favorite TV program? Pushing Daisies is in the top ten. I wish they weren't cancelling it.


23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I have never hated anyone. Honestly.


24. What was the best book you read? The Pleasure of My Own Company by Steve Martin. So quirky and sad and funny.


25. What was your greatest musical discovery? That I really could sing a little higher than I thought. And I'm pretty good at the drums on rock band.


26. What did you want and get? A good adjustment for our family move.


27. What did you want and not get? Hubby still needs a better gig and to fully use all the gifts he has been given. And money. In the immortal words of Kanye West... Money's not everything, not having it is. :) You know you listen to your kids' music, too.


28. What was your favorite film of this year? We watched all the Harry Potters again, so even though they aren't in this year, I really liked them again.


29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? It's a biggie! The big 4-0. We went to visit my mom and went out to eat. I will have presents all week because as the queen of my little world, I proclaim birthday week and celebrate for seven days.


30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? That our new place of residence would be completely furnished and put together with a little more organization and prettiness. I'm working on it.


31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Librarian with a touch of thrift store chic.


32. What kept you sane? Deep Breaths. Pleas sent heavenward.


33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Nie Nie, bless her heart.


34. What political issue stirred you the most? I am not easily stirred. Not easily shaken, either.


35. Who did you miss? My dad, always, my grandma, some and my Iowa friends most. Linny D. I hope to see you soon.


36. Who was the best new person you met? Kandi (who does not look anything like the Kandi you just pictured in your head) from my new job. She's awesome and a hard worker and was accepting and kind to the new girl on the block. I'll have to tell her so.


37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. I am learning to accept the things I cannot change, learning to have courage to change the things I can, and learning the wisdom to know the difference. With God's help.


38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. Ch-Cha-Change...

Happy New Year!!!

Locks of love x 2

This is the second go-around for my oldest daughter with the hair donation. She let it grow a long time. Lots of inches.

She'd started to become known as 'the-girl-with-the-really-long-hair' and was ready for a change.

Oh, so cute. She hates this picture, but I'm blogging it anyway.

Voila! Or 'Viola' as we like to say. New 'do for a new year.

I love her. I surely do.

Question: How do you plan the perfect nine year birthday party?

Answer: You don't. You let them plan it. If you just follow their schedule it will always be a success.

We had a little difficulty with the pinata. I was the only adult present at the party so we didn't get a picture. We also didn't have rope, so we hung the pinata from a nail in the freezing garage and I let the girls whack at it with a tennis racket. Three whacks each. It was the scariest part of the party. We ended up putting it on the ground and let the birthday girl bash it in, and then I sprinkled candy out over top of them. It was fine.

We have a tradition in our house with birthday games. It's always pin the something on the something. My oldest daughter is always the drawer of the theme and then the birthday attendees make their own thing that gets pinned on. It's the 'craft' of the party. This year was fairy wings, and they were varied and unique to each girl who attended.

One year we had pin the eye on Mike, from Monster's Inc. We've had pin the 'I' on Mr. Incredible, pin the bow on the bear... I can't remember what we pinned on the ballerina, but I distinctly remember a ballerina. Funny enough, I don't think we've ever had pin the tail on the donkey.

Look at all those shiny-haired girls. It was a really nice group of girls this year. A very nice age for a peaceful party.

Merry Christmas from me to you

Yes, it's that time of year again for Hey Ya. I love it so, and even though it's not in and of itself "Christmas-y", there is something about it that gives me a special little holiday feeling.

Bless you this Christmas! xoxoxoxo

A conversation with m'boy

Me: So, did you miss me today? Did you think about me at all?

Him: Yeah! (With enthusiasm).

Me: You did?! That makes me happy.

Him: Yeah, I thought where is my mom and why isn't she making me food.

Boys.

Back to work

Well, my vacation is over. Today we go back to work with a two hour late start.





I need to remember how to fix my hair.





Today is also my baby's birthday. She is nine. Her last year before double-digits.

She threw herself a fabulous party. I'll show you later.

I have such mixed feelings about going back to work. I've enjoyed my home time so very much. Our days have been like this:

Get up
Take a shower
Put on fresh jammies
Eat
Watch a movie
Play on the computer
Some of us played in the snow. I opted out.
Eat some more
Knit
Sleep
Repeat


But I know that I have a ton of stuff to do and things that I still need to learn at my job. Not to mention preparing for some very big projects for the new year that I feel a little apprehension about. Also, time sheets are due and I want to get paid!

It was good while it lasted. I think we are pretty well caught up on the laundry. I could have done more organizing, but I took the days as vacation and I feel like they were well spent.

Christmas break is right around the corner, with another long weekend at home if it looks like we won't be able to travel. Either way, I will have four more days off of work to spend with family and relax before new year responsibilities take hold.

Off to clean up and become presentable to the outside world, again. Snow days, I will miss you.

Stay-cation

I've had four glorious days of staying at home. No work on Thursday due to snow. No work on Friday due to beautiful, awesome snow again. Then the weekend. (More Snow). I wonder what tomorrow will bring. Do you think there is any way possible that my employer will keep paying us for bad weather?

Here's what we've been up to. First pic, me in my new neck ruff. From one of the One-Skein wonders book. Can't remember which. But I had written these instructions in my handy-dandy knitting notebook so I thought I would give it a whirl. I love it.

I'm doing a big, fluffy scarf right now on size 19 needles. It is cranking itself out, I tell ya.

There comes a time in every cookie making endeavor, when you can't roll that dough out one more time. That is when you just give up and accept that you will have an ugly cookie. We always honor our ugly cookie with lots of frosting and we bestow it upon a worthy recipient. This year the ugly cookie went to one of my daughter's friends. It was more prettily decorated than this one. This one just got labeled what it was. But I'm sure whoever ate this one enjoyed it.

And down below, we have my son. He successfuly made fire from his flint in snowy conditions. We are so proud.

How do you spend your snow days?

The corsage date

She gets one.

She gives one.

Off they go.

SNOW DAY!!

The kids get today off. I don't really get today off, but I can work from home! yay!

The possibilities are limitless...

We can quilt and craft and knit and watch movies and drink chocolate and make cookies and sip tea and paint and email friends and draw pictures and eat lunch together and do laundry and listen to music and think about gifts and not put on makeup and wear comfy clothes and catch up on recorded tv shows and be together.

...This just in... I don't have to work from home, I can have a paid holiday! So maybe I will actually get to do some of the stuff in the first paragraph!

I am giddy. Positively sparkling and glowing with giddiness.

Snow day, I love you.

10 true things

I still can't upload pictures because I've been BUSY! And I don't have the time to do the shuffle and the deleting and all that. But I really hate to post too many posts with something fun for you to look at.

Anywho... Here are ten truths about me.

1. I have not purchased any gifts yet. This is typical of me. I have a hard time with the deadline and trying to see how much I can buy with twenty bucks. I can see a million things to get people when there is no special occassion, but nothing when the 25th looms upon me. I also never start making things early enough and I feel a lot of pressure about the whole gift giving thing. Fortunately, I have a husband who is an awesome gift giver and that makes up for it.

But to clarify, I feel that I am gifted in making an ordinary, boring day something special, with just a little bit of thoughtfulness and action. I guess it's the whole concept of expectation that get me. The lower the expectation, the bigger the treat.

2. I am terribly connected and moved and spend a lot of thought on Stephanie of the NieNieDialogues. I don't know her, but I am in such pain and angst over her situation. I cannot express how much it bothers me that this physically beautiful, lovely woman will be disfigured for the rest of her life. I am also touched by the support she has from her friends and family and I know that her inner beauty is what will get her through the rest of her life.

3. I lost a bunch of weight and I have gained about 1/3 of it back and it scares me and I have such bad feelings against myself about it. And I hate that I hate it. Does that make sense? I hate the food issues I have and that I use what I eat to take my mind off the things that I should be focusing on. It's one thing to have weight issues, but it's a whole other thing when you use food for all the wrong reasons. But I'm working on it.

4. I am going to be forty. This month. It's a hard, cold truth. :P Sometimes I'm bothered about it, but mostly I know it's just a number. 40 is the new 30, you know.

5. I have a tendency towards laziness and yet I am very service oriented. It's a really weird combination. I actually don't think anyone who knows me would ever say that they would agree that I'm lazy (except my hubby who sees how I do my housework and how long I can sit and read blogs or avoid the laundry pile). At work I always try to anticipate the needs of others, which makes me good at my job. At a party, I help set-up or clean-up, I volunteer for things. Maybe it's more about monotonous jobs or projects that are really big and are hard to start that makes me feel like a lazy-bones. Although, if I have a choice between doing nothing and doing chores, I'll do a lot of nothing before I start on those chores. But I DO eventually get the chores done and feel so good about it I wonder what took me so long to get started. Go figure.

6. My skin is worse now than it was when I was a teenager. So unfair.

7. I think I'm prettier now than I was 10 years ago.

8. I have terrible posture. I am constantly reminding myself to not hunch.

9. I used to be a bad nail biter, but I haven't bitten in over two years. This change coincided with my increased vegetable eating. Even though I have fallen a little off the vegetable eating band wagon, I still have not bitten and I am very happy about it. My hands look nice.

10. I am a sunny-side up, silver lining, God Bless you kind of girl. I'm not a door mat, and I have a nice, little edge, but mostly I see the good and the wonder and the awesomeness in the world and people around me. I like living on this big, blue ball and am grateful for every moment I have here.

a quick post

We lost power for a little on Friday evening, we were busy all day yesterday and busy again today. We have snow! Nothing like Iowa, but snow, none the less. We've done cookies, got a tree, will go to a high school play today, skipped church because of ice, and played gin rummy by candle light.

I didn't want to go all weekend without a post. Gotta keep track of happenings, for posterity, you know.

I also need to get rid of some old pics in order to upload any new ones. I've hit my quota and am too cheap to purchase more space from Picasa.

Up next week. 10 total truths via bobbie. I haven't forgotten!

Plus, pics from my oldest daughter's first corsage date. I tried to spell boutenierre but I'm just guessing here and don't those two rr's look nice. Tres Chic, ooh - la - la and all that jazz.

This, but at the elementary school Christmas concert

A slice of my life

This is the insides of my lunch sack. When I first started work I packed myself a lovely salad, a cut up apple, some corn chips. Then I got busy and through in some peanuts and bought a pop from the machine. I tried keeping yogurt in the mini-fridge, but yogurt is sometimes so unappetizing. Today I had a whopper!

I always carry reading material and knitting with me. You never know when you can get a few rows in and a book is always nice when you are eating alone. (Don't feel sorry for me, I like eating lunch by myself).

This is kind of funny. When I first walked in on this little Sprite, all bandaged up with a sling I thought ohmygoshwhatintheworldhashappened and then I noticed the very colorful sling and 'Bob the Tomato' bandages and knew something wasn't quite right.

Turns out is was 'Affliction Night' and the Wednesday Night kids club. What morbid bible study leader chose the theme of afflictions for a kids program, I'd like to know? It was crazy, weird to see about 75 kids come out of church on crutches and fake casts.

I asked if the lesson that night had to do with helping others or caring for the sick and she said no. It was just to have fun dressing up like you were afflicted. Weird, eh?

Here is the view from the freeway on my home. I hope you like it because I almost rear ended the guy in front of me while taking it.

See that big boat? There is a big navy shipyard that I pass everyday. It is so strange to see these big metal things up close.

Also, in unrelated picture news, I am totally rocking the old lady skirt at work. The Goodwill had clothes half price yesterday. I got a 100% Pendleton Woolen Mill gray skirt, mid calf with an elastic waist for only $2.50. I just know that an elderly lady probably just died in a nursing home and I am wearing her skirt. But I'm okay with that. And I thank that lady for buying quality clothes and I hope she somehow knows that she is a blessing to me.

I also got three other skirts and two cardigans all for under $30.00. I am nothing if not thrifty.

And why, oh why? does my blog sometimes center itself? I guess it's the perfect end to this whacky, randomness.

Things I'm thinking about

Picture from coolpeoplecare.org

I've been thinking about the things on this poster quite a bit. Some of these things I'm already pretty good at and some of them are a challenge.

I'm thinking December should be a vegetarian month for me. I am an occassional vegetarian and I feel like I need a break from the meat products. I'm feeling sluggish.

I'm thinking about turning 40. Someday. Soon.

I need to think about cleaning my closet. And I need to finish unpacking this house.

I think I will journal everday this month. I'm bad at keeping up with journaling, but I know that it is a good tool for growth and learning about oneself, so I'm challenging myself to keep at it.

I'm thinking about ways to make Christmas special, without spending money we don't have and buying stuff we don't need.

I'm thinking about forgiving myself for some bad choices and giving myself a clean slate. I think that's a really good idea.

I think I want to own a Christmas Tree Farm someday. With a big barn, and we will serve hot chocolate and have hay rides and have good old fashioned carol sings and barn dances. I think we will make our whole year's living in the month of December and live lives of leisure the other 11 months.

I think I miss my Iowa friends.

I think my family is pretty awesome.

I think I would like to work on the Washington State Ferry system. For about a week.

I think I should go to bed.

What happens when...

you go to sleep in the clothes you wore yesterday, wake up, eat left overs, sit at the computer and don't put a bra on?

That's right... unexpected visitors.

I guess that proves that it's not all glamour, all the time over here at pretty shiny. As if.

On the agenda today:

Clean up the turkey mess and remove the carcass. I attempted to make stock, but the smell kind of grossed me out, so I'm tossing it.

Spruce up the joint and get out the Christmas Decorations.

My son just now asked me to boil him some water for hot dogs. He's 14. I guess I'll be teaching someone how the stove works.

Figure out what to make people for Christmas gifts. I have a few ideas, but not a lot of supplies. I'm putting on my resourcefulness thinking cap and inviting in the Creative Spirit.

And now I would like to discuss a problem that I have just been able to name and which depresses me: Passive Creativity.

I spend a lot of time on blogs, oohing and aahhing and thinking 'I can totally do that', but then I don't. I just sit on my bum and soak in all your lovely goodness. It's sort of like watching an exercise video, while sitting on the couch and eating pie.

I am a creative person. I have a lot inside me and when I don't let it out, I tend to get a little... I don't know the word. Edgy? Morose? Dissatisfied? Stunted? I don't even know. I just know I don't feel right.

I know that I feel good when I eat my veggies and don't eat sugar. When I don't do those things I feel the same way. Gross and mad at myself.

So I'm calling it. It's too easy to look at things that I will someday make. I will still browse around to look for inspiration but from now on I will limit my time ogling after your stuff and try to produce more of mine. I'm not sure what that will be yet, but how will I find out if I don't begin, eh?

So, here's to creating beauty and spreading the love. Join me, won't you?

Blessings to you

Happy Thanksgiving to you, my friends! I pray that you have a peaceful holiday and that you are able to remember all the things in your life in which to be grateful.

Le petit bal perdu

Have you seen this? Love it.

Harvest Swap

It's swap time again! I love swap time. Carrie and Monica are such nice hostesses. (See link below).

This is what I received in my swap box, from Anne Marie of Married to the Empire. I couldn't have been happier with my little treasure.

I'm pretty sure all the swappers have blogs, so it's fun to get to know a knew friend through their posts. Anne Marie had posted her hand stamped journals and sculpy clay ornaments and I was a little jealous. So imagine how happy I was to receive them in my package!

My pumpkin sits in a place of honor on my mantel and my daughter and I had the pumpkin spice coffee this morning for breakfast and it was DEE-lish. I'm going back to World Market to get a big bag of that stuff. My tea towels will make my Thanksgiving kitchen look all pretty, too. And I'm sure to get lots of holiday ideas from my magazine.

Thank you, Anne Marie! I hope you like your box, too. It was so much fun to be introduced to you this way and I look forward to continuing our bloggy friendship.

For more swap sights, go here.

Excuse me while I brag a bit

Today was an awards ceremony at the elementary school.

My girls have done me proud.

My youngest daughter scared me when I first sent her to school in Kindergarten. She was a lover, but she was often contrary and bossy and her first instinct was to growl rather than smile.

So, it is with pleasure and joy that I tell you, only three short years later, that she was given an award for creativity, good behavior and perfect attendance.

My next daughter never gave me a moment's doubt about her ability in school, but I did have moments of concern about her nature to be so task oriented. She was always friendly and easy-going but she would spend hours on work that would take another kid 30 minutes to complete. And it showed. Her work is often superior because she is a hard worker and she is just naturally academically inclined.

It did not surprise me one bit that she brought home an academic award today for getting straight A's this first quarter.

But even better, she came home with the Compassion award, for being sensitive and showing love for others.

My heart is overflowing.

Sixteen Years

I don't know how it happened, but my baby girl is sweet sixteen today.

I tease her that she really, really, rrrriiillllly hurt. But then I remind her that she is so worth it.

This girl of mine... she is independent, tough, sweet, silly, stubborn, loving, cute, gorgeous, crazy and mostly just wholly indescribable.

I'm so happy that she is a part of my family. I'm so lucky to get to watch her change from a baby, to a girl who would only wear clothes from the boy's section (FOR THREE YEARS!) to this girly-girl, athlete, totally great person.

I'm so proud of her and so in love with her. I hope she feels it. I think she does.

Thank you, God, for the blessing of my daughter.

New to me

Okay, before you think I'm some sick-o, I should tell you that I always have a camera in my purse, and I don't usually take it out in the bathroom.

But I found this interesing.

Pee up, poo down.

One of the buildings for the organization where I work is a 'Green Building'. Non-toxic paint and carpeting, environmentally good products, special toilets. Very special toilets that give you a choice.

Of course, I work in the old building. But that's okay. I get to visit the new one every now and then.

And when I do, I always use the loo while I'm there.

Weekend Observations

Two days of non-stop candy eating will make one very puffy, indeed.

There is an addictive quality to candy that I don't understand. After the first couple of little bars they don't even taste good anymore. However, if they are there, I will continue to eat them. This means that all candy will leave our house today. Either by means of consumption (not by me, for heaven's sake) or by the garbage bin. We cannot have it in the house anymore.

Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Window Cleaner DOES NOT WORK. It is streaky and leaves a haze on whatever it is sprayed on. Don't like it.


I like going to church. But, I don't like going to a church where I don't know anyone. However, in order to find a church you have to church hunt and attend places where no one knows you. Don't like it. I look forward to finding a church home soon.

If you work out of the home all week, and then take off Saturday from actually working in your home, Sunday is no longer a day to look forward to.

One can never take a day off of laundry. It's just a fact of life.

I like having pajama day. Get up, take a walk, come home to shower and then put pajamas right back on. Very cozy.

I might do the pajama thing again today, after church (where we don't know anyone). But I will keep the laundry going while lounging. :)

Throwing away the carved, rotting, pumpkins is an icky job.

It's a new month! Welcome, November.

Happy Halloween

I ate too much candy. And that's all I have to say about that.

Things I'm learning

My new job is a little scary. I'll be okay, but there is a lot to cram in this head of mine. I just need to give myself a break. No one expects me to know everything quite yet, so why do I think I must?

I'm going to see some sad things because of the nature of the type of business I'm working in. Even though I'm mostly in the administrative side of things, I like to think that what I do will be a benefit to someone in a significant way.

I need to go a little easier on the caffeine.

Keeping my cool will help others keep theirs.

I need to take my breaks even though I feel like I might not get something done. A walk around the block is just the right thing to do sometimes.

I need to consistently get eight hours sleep, with one night of longer sleep and a weekend nap.

People tell me that one day everything will just 'click' and then my job will become easier. I am choosing to believe them.

I actually prefer to eat lunch by myself, but it would probably be beneficial to eat in the breakroom every now and again.

I won't always be the new person. Yay!

I'm smarter than I think I am. I think this job is going to allow me to use skills and grow in ways that will be good for me.

I like to wear skirts to work.

Deep breathing really does work. So does prayer.

Don't slouch. It hurts after a while.

Soccer tunnels and other stuff

I love it when the boys team makes a tunnel for the girls team after a good game.

This is our cat, Dusty Hazel. She helps with the homework by sitting on it.

I love how the girls make a tunnel for the boys, too. They usually get more participants.

I love it when little kids pull other little kids around.

I'm over the colored tights thing. I have been browsing pictures and unless you are under 25 and 6 ft tall, they just don't look good on a person.

Today was my second day at work. I am surviving. The person who is vacating the position is brilliant and I'm glad she will be around for awhile so I can pick her brain before she leaves to get married.

This is my pumpkin. Cute, eh?

She is amazing. She is fierce. She scares the pants off of keepers all over the Puget Sound area. She has scored 10 goals so far this year. Like I said... Amazing.

A question about tights

Photo from Target.com

I've got them in black.

I've got them in brown.

Can I have them in colors? Is that allowed? If I promise my skirt will be much longer than this one? Is it business appropriate?

And, of course... the most dreaded questions. Am I too old? Am I too, gulp, fat?

What do you think? Do you wear them? Are they gross and I'm just too charmed by the bright, cheery colors to notice? Maybe it's because I am a child of the 80's and they bring back good memories.

So, bring it on. I can handle it. Love 'em or hate 'em?

Pumpkin fun on a Sunday afternoon

When it rains, it pours

I've had two more calls for job interviews, after a couple of months of nothing!

I know I've made a good decision with accepting this offer, though. I can just feel it.

I dropped the kids off at school today and did my first dry run, to see how long it takes me to get from school to the office. Thirteen minutes. I made a wrong turn, so I think it's probably more like 12 minutes.

I need to arrive at work at the same time my kids need to arrive at school, so they are going to have to be dropped off a tad early. There is a safe place for them to wait with the other early birds, so I'm not too concerned about it, other than the chore of actually getting the kids out the door at the right time.

We will need an extra measure of morning grace and good cheer. And coffee.

Confidential to Linny D.