i'm giddy with excitement about tomorrow's inauguration! i think i might be the only one in my general vicinity. anyhow, i feel such anticipation about the year 2009. nervousness, a bit of anxiety, hope, excitement...a lot of different emotions. and a lot of that is the new government. i know there are those out there who would like to dump cold water on my parade and tell me how bad it's gonna be, blah, blah, blah, but i choose to ignore them. this is MY hope, my anticipation.
i love inaugurations. i was so tempted to jump into my little van, raid my tiny savings, and hightail it all the way to washington. had jim not sprained his ankle friday night, i might just have been able to sell it. but tomorrow i will be watching. i will cry, i will get goose skin, i will feel a lump in my throat. not because of WHO, or even because of WHAT, but it's just how i am. some people cry at romantic comedies, some people cry at weddings, some people cry at everything else; but i cry at big political speeches.
also, max starts preschool tomorrow and that may make me cry a little bit harder.
and for the final, schmaltzy highlight of my day, i downloaded the song from Oprah.com, "america's song" sung by will.i.am, mary j.blige (that's my girl!!), bono, faith hill, and seal. it's free until tomorrow at 4 pm from her site. i don't watch oprah, don't particularly even like her, but i read an article which mentioned the song, and went and got it. so thanks oprah. sometimes you have good stuff :)
anyhow, it's a powerful song. full of all the above mentioned hope, etc. so i am gonna listen to it tomorrow and cry me a river.
*do you love inaugurations?"
*would you have gone to DC with me?*
*what makes you cry?*
Monday, January 19, 2009
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
sugar cookiegate 2008
well it was messy, chaotic, sticky, and that was BEFORE max got ahold of the green decoration sugar container and baptized the kitchen in it.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
shiny racoons
man, i'm a horrible gift wrapper.
as i just wrapped a bunch of presents, it came to me that I might should take lessons. i mean i really suck at it. but then i figured out it's not really about know-how, it's about my lack of patience and my "shiny-racoonness".
what in the sam hill is that you ask? well it refers to how distractable i am at any given task.
racoons are very serious creatures, until they spy a shiny object, then whatever they were doing gets thrown aside, and the shiny creature gets all the attention. they have been known to be killed while trying to clutch shiny things, and on their way to acquiring shiny things. thus, i'm sorta like them.
i have good intentions, but while wrapping, i get so easily distracted - i try and do 3 things at once too, which is not a good idea...i don't prepare my space, and i tend to not measure the paper first, or eyeball it, and inevitably, i have to add a little here or there, or wad this up, or start all over. it comes out not all crisp and perfect like it will in my mind!
and don't even ask about tying ribbons!! somehow they NEVER work right.
now - jim is a bit of a "martha stewart" when it comes to wrapping, so i don't know why i don't just wait until he can do it...
oh yeah, right....it will never get done then - or it will take 5 hours to wrap 5 gifts and who has that kinda time?
anyhow, I enjoy wrapping gifts, even if they look like max and julianna wrapped them.
speaking of things I probably shouldn't do by myself, i am going to attempt to make christmas cookies this afternoon. without cortnie's oversight. it should be interesting. i promise to post pictures. if i remember to take some.
-whew- this domesticticity wears me out!
*are you a good gift wrapper?*
*do you make homemade christmas cookies?*
*are you a shiny racoon?*
as i just wrapped a bunch of presents, it came to me that I might should take lessons. i mean i really suck at it. but then i figured out it's not really about know-how, it's about my lack of patience and my "shiny-racoonness".
what in the sam hill is that you ask? well it refers to how distractable i am at any given task.
racoons are very serious creatures, until they spy a shiny object, then whatever they were doing gets thrown aside, and the shiny creature gets all the attention. they have been known to be killed while trying to clutch shiny things, and on their way to acquiring shiny things. thus, i'm sorta like them.
i have good intentions, but while wrapping, i get so easily distracted - i try and do 3 things at once too, which is not a good idea...i don't prepare my space, and i tend to not measure the paper first, or eyeball it, and inevitably, i have to add a little here or there, or wad this up, or start all over. it comes out not all crisp and perfect like it will in my mind!
and don't even ask about tying ribbons!! somehow they NEVER work right.
now - jim is a bit of a "martha stewart" when it comes to wrapping, so i don't know why i don't just wait until he can do it...
oh yeah, right....it will never get done then - or it will take 5 hours to wrap 5 gifts and who has that kinda time?
anyhow, I enjoy wrapping gifts, even if they look like max and julianna wrapped them.
speaking of things I probably shouldn't do by myself, i am going to attempt to make christmas cookies this afternoon. without cortnie's oversight. it should be interesting. i promise to post pictures. if i remember to take some.
-whew- this domesticticity wears me out!
*are you a good gift wrapper?*
*do you make homemade christmas cookies?*
*are you a shiny racoon?*
Friday, December 12, 2008
Friday, December 05, 2008
My Facebook Feelings
Ok, so I have some things about Facebook to get off my chest. They have been laying there quite awhile, and have been taking up too much space in my mind.
So here goes:
I have been on Facebook for about a year now. I got on there because a friend from Colorado told me I should do it, and then we could keep up with each other. I knew my sister was on there, so I figured I'd do it. I had a myspace account for like 4 years that I never did anything on, it was just so I could have access to my sisters, and see her pictures. So I figured it was about the same.
Anyhow - flash forward to now. In the last 6 months or so, it seems like EVERYONE I know is on Facebook. And this is weird. I mean, it's a good weird, but it's weird to be on something like this with all kinds of people. There are parts of it I like - looking up long lost friends, checking out your friends photos, and I used to love flair until facebook went and screwed that.
But it's the parts that I loathe that make me blog.
For starters - what's up with Friends who ask you to be their friend, send you a message and then never respond to anything you say? I mean it's like they are trying to seduce you into friendship simply for the numbers, with no intent to communicate! What the??? I feel stupid that I got excited about connecting with someone, when after 2 or 3 wall posts, a private message later, I feel like I am stalking them, and there is NO FREAKING RESPONSE! Ok, that's my first pet peeve of Facebook (obviously).
The second one is when you find a friend from long ago, send them a message - which requires a response, ask them to be your friend, and they confirm you as their friend, only to never answer the message you sent, or even say anything personal at all. Is this a guilt thing? Like I can't ignore this friend's request, so I will add them, only to ignore them forever after? If you don't want to communicate, then don't confirm me as your friend. It feels like I've been caught with my fly down - I feel like the last girl picked on the dodgeball team. Granted, I have ignored some friends request. People I don't really know who the heck they are or people who annoy me now, and I can only assume will annoy me on Facebook. But I don't add them, never to speak to them again.
Then there is the what do I do about finding a friend I'd like to find who I happened to find on another friends friend list. Who, wha? Did that make any sense? What I mean is I'm browsing through a new friends friend list and I come across some people I knew way back when. They maybe stayed in touch with the mutual friend, but we haven't. And - they haven't obviously looked me up and sent me a friend request, so do I send them one? I don't want the above to happen, where I added them and never speak again, yet I don't need to have 687 friends just to have them. This my weirdness you are witnessing - it's like I want to/I don't want to. What to do?
And the last one - I get a little overwhelmed with all the sharing. I don't mind if others do, but even though I blog and am technology-able, I don't like to upload a million pictures, update my status on an hourly basis, poke people or hug people or bless people or any of the myriad of things I am prodded to do when I open up facebook. I may not seem like an introvert, but sometimes I am! And I start to feel guilty (yes, my own demons), insecure (again with the demons), and plain overwhelmed with it. So why oh why can't I just leave it alone?
It's not like anyone is holding a gun to my head to check out Facebook. I'm such a geek.
Well I have been taking baby steps. It is no longer my homepage when I get online. It's not even in my favorites. I have to deliberately type in the address or respond to something I get in my email. This has helped me curb my dangerous appetite for the voyueristic need I have to see what everyone's most current status is or who became friends with whom. This way, I get a little taste of Facebook every now and then. But I don't become obsessed with it. Does that make sense?
Don't get me wrong - I like Facebook. I like the idea of it, I like the opportunities of it. Sometimes I just get a little overwhelmed by it.
Whew!!! Now I feel better. I have put my Facebook Feelings out there.
Anybody else feel the same?
So here goes:
I have been on Facebook for about a year now. I got on there because a friend from Colorado told me I should do it, and then we could keep up with each other. I knew my sister was on there, so I figured I'd do it. I had a myspace account for like 4 years that I never did anything on, it was just so I could have access to my sisters, and see her pictures. So I figured it was about the same.
Anyhow - flash forward to now. In the last 6 months or so, it seems like EVERYONE I know is on Facebook. And this is weird. I mean, it's a good weird, but it's weird to be on something like this with all kinds of people. There are parts of it I like - looking up long lost friends, checking out your friends photos, and I used to love flair until facebook went and screwed that.
But it's the parts that I loathe that make me blog.
For starters - what's up with Friends who ask you to be their friend, send you a message and then never respond to anything you say? I mean it's like they are trying to seduce you into friendship simply for the numbers, with no intent to communicate! What the??? I feel stupid that I got excited about connecting with someone, when after 2 or 3 wall posts, a private message later, I feel like I am stalking them, and there is NO FREAKING RESPONSE! Ok, that's my first pet peeve of Facebook (obviously).
The second one is when you find a friend from long ago, send them a message - which requires a response, ask them to be your friend, and they confirm you as their friend, only to never answer the message you sent, or even say anything personal at all. Is this a guilt thing? Like I can't ignore this friend's request, so I will add them, only to ignore them forever after? If you don't want to communicate, then don't confirm me as your friend. It feels like I've been caught with my fly down - I feel like the last girl picked on the dodgeball team. Granted, I have ignored some friends request. People I don't really know who the heck they are or people who annoy me now, and I can only assume will annoy me on Facebook. But I don't add them, never to speak to them again.
Then there is the what do I do about finding a friend I'd like to find who I happened to find on another friends friend list. Who, wha? Did that make any sense? What I mean is I'm browsing through a new friends friend list and I come across some people I knew way back when. They maybe stayed in touch with the mutual friend, but we haven't. And - they haven't obviously looked me up and sent me a friend request, so do I send them one? I don't want the above to happen, where I added them and never speak again, yet I don't need to have 687 friends just to have them. This my weirdness you are witnessing - it's like I want to/I don't want to. What to do?
And the last one - I get a little overwhelmed with all the sharing. I don't mind if others do, but even though I blog and am technology-able, I don't like to upload a million pictures, update my status on an hourly basis, poke people or hug people or bless people or any of the myriad of things I am prodded to do when I open up facebook. I may not seem like an introvert, but sometimes I am! And I start to feel guilty (yes, my own demons), insecure (again with the demons), and plain overwhelmed with it. So why oh why can't I just leave it alone?
It's not like anyone is holding a gun to my head to check out Facebook. I'm such a geek.
Well I have been taking baby steps. It is no longer my homepage when I get online. It's not even in my favorites. I have to deliberately type in the address or respond to something I get in my email. This has helped me curb my dangerous appetite for the voyueristic need I have to see what everyone's most current status is or who became friends with whom. This way, I get a little taste of Facebook every now and then. But I don't become obsessed with it. Does that make sense?
Don't get me wrong - I like Facebook. I like the idea of it, I like the opportunities of it. Sometimes I just get a little overwhelmed by it.
Whew!!! Now I feel better. I have put my Facebook Feelings out there.
Anybody else feel the same?
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
iTunes Christmas 2008 Playlist
Song for a Winter's Night 3:47 Sarah McLachlan
Ave Maria 4:49 Charlotte Church
Merry Christmas from Vienna - Josh Groban
Do You Hear What I Hear - (feat. Kelly Rowland) Destiny's Child
Jingle Bells - Brenda Lee
O Little Town of Bethlehem - Jewel
Christmas Pipes 3:55 Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration
Christmas In America 4:21 Melissa Etheridge
The Christmas Song 3:43 Martina McBride
Silent Night 3:48 Sarah McLachlan
It Came Upon Midnight Clear 3:44 Sixpence None The Richer
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen 3:30 Barenaked Ladies & Sarah McLachlan
Have A Holly Jolly Christmas 2:16 Alan Jackson
Jingle Bell Rock 2:10 Brenda Lee
A Christmas Prayer 4:00 Jonas Brothers
The Christmas Song 3:36 Celtic Woman
Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree 2:06 Brenda Lee
All I Want for Christmas Is You 4:03 Mariah Carey
Greatest Time of Year 3:41 Aly & AJ
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas 2:34 The Cheetah Girls
Cheetah-Licious Christmas 3:33 The Cheetah Girls
Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree 2:15 Miley Cyrus
Iwant a hippopatumus for christmas - shirly temple.mp3 2:38
Jingle Bells (A Hip Hop Carol) 2:57 Kyle Massey
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town 2:13 Brenda Lee
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing/Gloria (In Excelsis Deo) 3:00 Mariah Carey
Christmas Canon 4:16 Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Oh Come All Ye Faithful 2:28 American Idol Finalists American Idol
12 Days of Christmas 3:33 Relient k
Silent Night 3:39 Mariah Carey
SHeDaisy - The Secret of Christmas 4:09
This Christmas 3:19 Chris Brown This Christmas
ABBA - Rare Xmas - ABBA - Christmas Remix - Techno dance 7:19
Here is what i'm listening to these days as I try to catch up on blogging, order christmas cards and generally waste time on my laptop. I tried to get you a good screen shot, but my photo editing skills are rusty. so i typed them up, geek that i am.
Here is what i'm listening to these days as I try to catch up on blogging, order christmas cards and generally waste time on my laptop. I tried to get you a good screen shot, but my photo editing skills are rusty. so i typed them up, geek that i am.
I still haven't found a favorite - that one christmas song i love to listen to over and over, so i generally change them up year after year. This year though I really like Christmas in America by Melissa Etheridge, and Christmas Pipes by Celtic Woman. Also the Jewel version of Little Town of Bethlehem and Martina McBrides Chestnuts Roasting get played alot according to my iTunes data.
now jim, he LOVES carol of the bells - in fact he has a CD with like 25 versions and he loves to listen to this over and over. Ugh! after track 3, i'm out of love with the carol of the bells.
Julianna has her favorites too - can you tell which ones are hers?? Cheetahlicious Christmas anyone?
anyhow, i am still getting some blogs ready - here's a teaser...
FACEBOOK and why it drives me nuts
Julianna's new look
a Thanksgiving update - what I'm thankful for even past Thanksgiving :)
My post election observations
and
my year end movie review!
I know you can't wait. :)
***what's your favorite christmas song?***
***what do you listen to when reading blogs/facebooking/wasting time?***
***Do you plan out your blog posts in advance?***
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
aackk!
aaacck!
i know i said i would post more, and then well, i didn't.
so, for my faithful, i've got 6 posts in the queue and am working on another.
be patient for a wee bit more, and then you will have hot, fresh, new blog posts to devour.
i love reading those of you who post faithfully...so i will try and give you some december love.
now, i need to get to work so they are worthy of your daily 6 minutes. (the avg time spent on this monstrosity)
i am thankful for you all - thankful that we have this way to stay in each others lives.
stay tuned...
i know i said i would post more, and then well, i didn't.
so, for my faithful, i've got 6 posts in the queue and am working on another.
be patient for a wee bit more, and then you will have hot, fresh, new blog posts to devour.
i love reading those of you who post faithfully...so i will try and give you some december love.
now, i need to get to work so they are worthy of your daily 6 minutes. (the avg time spent on this monstrosity)
i am thankful for you all - thankful that we have this way to stay in each others lives.
stay tuned...
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Loco politico
My intention has been to blog on a near daily basis, or at least semi-weekly basis about the drone details of my life. Not really for you readers, but for me - so I can remember this life beyond this time. I have few childhood memories - and most are about me getting into trouble (surprise) or negative. So it's a strong goal of mine to give my children positive memories - daily bits of stories and thoughts to remind them how they grew up, who they grew up with, and what was important. It's also a way for me to say sane - seeing some of it on "paper" reminds me that there is a purpose to this crazy life.
But I said all that to say that this is not one of those posts. I haven't done a great job staying on schedule blogging, but it's a whole lot better than it had been. I will choose that small victory.
This post is about politics. Now before you groan aloud, or click close, stick with me. It's not about national politics, it's about our local election (readers beyond Florence may want to check out here). I am of the opinion that our local elected officials are almost more important than the national ones. These congressmen and women, comissioners, superintendents of education, civil appeal judges, criminal judges, and supreme court justices have alot of say in our life. From taxes to education, to local legislation and such, these people make a lot of decisions about our life. But as you drive around town, the amazing glut of signage and banners, not to mention the totally annoying commercials, etc. make it difficult to know who is running for what, and why. So i sat down and spent some time researching each candidate online, who was running for what, and the like. I learned alot - I also learned that it's (imho) a mistake to simply vote party here. i know that's a common idea, but really, it's not an accurate measurement for me. As a registered independent, it really doesn't apply, but even when i was a registered republican, i thought it a bad idea.
So, I'm not telling you what to do. I am simply going to point you to some information - voting is so important, but being a knowledgeable voter is even more so! we spend a lot of time reading blogs, facebooking, etc., that it's not much to ask to just do some googling. read their bios, read their platforms, make an informed choice come Nov. 4th!
To begin, I wandered over to the Secretary of State's office. They make all the voting decisions for our state - I also joined their Facebook group...I'm such a dork! I took at look at Lauderdale County sample ballots and the Colbert County Sample Ballot. From there, I figured out exactly what races we will be voting on. A valuable website I found was www.alabamavotes.gov - from this website you can click on the link for my info https://myinfo.alabamavotes.gov and I was able to make sure I was registered (it's too late if your not), check for sure where I vote, and see what districts, etc. i will be voting for. i don't know about y'all, but it gets confusing which district is which. i live in district 5 for the mayoral race, but vote in district 7 for board of education, and commissioner is district 2. so - once you log in, this site tells you all your info.
anyhow, there is also a sample ballot here, so you can see exactly what you will be seeing when you go vote.
right now, the big votes next tuesday are for president/vp (duh) and then for alabama:
Alabama US Congressman, Parker Griffith (d) or Wayne Parker (r)- (they are replacing congressman bud cramer, who is retiring - which is sad. i got to meet him a few times working for huntsville city schools, and he was an awesome advocate for children - and a really nice man),
Alabama US Senator, Jeff Sessions (r) is the incumbent, vs. someone i've never heard of, Vivian Figures (d).
Associate Justice of Supreme Court, Deborah Bell Paseur (d) or Greg Shaw (r)
President of Public Service Commission, Lucy Baxley (d) or Twinkle Cavanaugh (r)
after that, there are elections for member state board of education, civil appeals judge, criminal appeals judge, revenue commissioner, lauderdale co. superintendent of edu, and county commissioner. you can google each of their names, and find out lots of information.
i know this is probably a totally boring post, but i hope it helps prompt you to learn more if you want to. consider it the activist rambling of a stay at home mom's version of a PSA. without the sexy celebrity voice!
peace out - have a great wednesday.
But I said all that to say that this is not one of those posts. I haven't done a great job staying on schedule blogging, but it's a whole lot better than it had been. I will choose that small victory.
This post is about politics. Now before you groan aloud, or click close, stick with me. It's not about national politics, it's about our local election (readers beyond Florence may want to check out here). I am of the opinion that our local elected officials are almost more important than the national ones. These congressmen and women, comissioners, superintendents of education, civil appeal judges, criminal judges, and supreme court justices have alot of say in our life. From taxes to education, to local legislation and such, these people make a lot of decisions about our life. But as you drive around town, the amazing glut of signage and banners, not to mention the totally annoying commercials, etc. make it difficult to know who is running for what, and why. So i sat down and spent some time researching each candidate online, who was running for what, and the like. I learned alot - I also learned that it's (imho) a mistake to simply vote party here. i know that's a common idea, but really, it's not an accurate measurement for me. As a registered independent, it really doesn't apply, but even when i was a registered republican, i thought it a bad idea.
So, I'm not telling you what to do. I am simply going to point you to some information - voting is so important, but being a knowledgeable voter is even more so! we spend a lot of time reading blogs, facebooking, etc., that it's not much to ask to just do some googling. read their bios, read their platforms, make an informed choice come Nov. 4th!
To begin, I wandered over to the Secretary of State's office. They make all the voting decisions for our state - I also joined their Facebook group...I'm such a dork! I took at look at Lauderdale County sample ballots and the Colbert County Sample Ballot. From there, I figured out exactly what races we will be voting on. A valuable website I found was www.alabamavotes.gov - from this website you can click on the link for my info https://myinfo.alabamavotes.gov and I was able to make sure I was registered (it's too late if your not), check for sure where I vote, and see what districts, etc. i will be voting for. i don't know about y'all, but it gets confusing which district is which. i live in district 5 for the mayoral race, but vote in district 7 for board of education, and commissioner is district 2. so - once you log in, this site tells you all your info.
anyhow, there is also a sample ballot here, so you can see exactly what you will be seeing when you go vote.
right now, the big votes next tuesday are for president/vp (duh) and then for alabama:
Alabama US Congressman, Parker Griffith (d) or Wayne Parker (r)- (they are replacing congressman bud cramer, who is retiring - which is sad. i got to meet him a few times working for huntsville city schools, and he was an awesome advocate for children - and a really nice man),
Alabama US Senator, Jeff Sessions (r) is the incumbent, vs. someone i've never heard of, Vivian Figures (d).
Associate Justice of Supreme Court, Deborah Bell Paseur (d) or Greg Shaw (r)
President of Public Service Commission, Lucy Baxley (d) or Twinkle Cavanaugh (r)
after that, there are elections for member state board of education, civil appeals judge, criminal appeals judge, revenue commissioner, lauderdale co. superintendent of edu, and county commissioner. you can google each of their names, and find out lots of information.
i know this is probably a totally boring post, but i hope it helps prompt you to learn more if you want to. consider it the activist rambling of a stay at home mom's version of a PSA. without the sexy celebrity voice!
peace out - have a great wednesday.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
pumpkins, train rides and politics
Well I still haven't been back to the Y - grrr. I know I need to be more gymalicious, but I actually have been busy this week. Which is part of why I joined the Y - I wasn't busy. I needed somewhere to go/something to do. But with our upcoming auction, I have found myself with lots of tasks . Yay me! Then Julianna was out of school on Monday, came home early Tuesday sickly and stayed home again on Wed. with a bad cough that just made her miserable. So I haven't had much time to myself.
The weekend was fun - but why is it that I don't take pictures anymore? in fact, I noticed I don't even know where my camera is. I mean I take funny snapshots from my phone, which are actually good pics, but I don't INTENTIONALLY take pictures like I used to. I need to get better at photo-documenting our life. Sarah Bretherick was kind enough to take a really cute picture at Punkin Day of my kids...and I am using it as my new profile pic on facebook. It's a great shot of the two of them. Very much THEM right now.
(side story: she took the picture of them on the "train" ride at punkin day. the one where i bought two tickets - one for max and one for julianna. i figured it was basically a golf cart with a box on top going around the track at 10 mph top speed maybe, so i didn't need to be on with them. i think i was the only mama thinking this way. all the other mama's were on the ride, clutching their babies tightly. i just sent max on with ju and waved. as they rode around, i told jim, i think i was supposed to part of that...oh well.
i believe in teaching my kids independence, and often I get some "what the??" looks, but ju is pretty mature and in fact, probably could handle him better than i can most times)
anyway, i didn't take any other pics, which was probably good, because Max was not being a sweet boy that day. it was about nap time, and he was so ill. he was a bit overstimulated with all the noise and games and people. he wanted to do things, but once we tried to let him, he basically cried and freaked out. all he wanted to do was play with the little basketball hoops and balls. he is quite the boy. sam jackson and he were playing together...man, max is pretty little seeing them side by side from the back.
julianna was maybe a bit overstimulated too - or perhaps it was the two pancakes, cotton candy, snow cone, lemon peppermint thingie, soda, pop rocks and other treats she ate. by the time we got to her soccer game, we were all ready for it to be over.
finally, after her soccer game, a birthday party, and a quick trip to home depot, i was totally exhausted. i wanted to go to bed at like 6:00 pm. we ate chips, salsa and guacamole for dinner, played a game of yahtzee, and then passed out. what a day!
so, i never got to the pumpkin patch. or at least so i haven't yet. but friday night i was on my way to meet jim for dinner, and i was feeling fall-ish and a bit of anxiety over the fact we had no pumpkins yet, so i just pulled over into the pumpkin lot by burger king on coxcreekparkway and bought some pumpkins and mums. no bales of hay to jump in, no scenic spots for pictures, no animals to feed or hayrides to take - just me and the kids and some weird guy who got out of his little honda to help us. max ran off and we had to go chase him, so he didn't run into the gas station parking lot!! and julianna wanted to buy one of everything. so it wasn't the lovely pumpkin patch day i had in mind - but in the end we got good pumpkins and some mums, and it turned out basically the same...do i sound like i am trying to convince you? it's because i'm trying to convince me :) i hope to maybe get out there this weekend, but sometimes you have to forego the plans you make and just get it done. even if your fall pictures have traffic from cox creek parkway in the background!!
so far this week has been busy - i will have to post my mall story from Monday on another day. that was a doozy!
i checked out a cd of Cuban music from the library and right now I am loving it! Julianna does too - i think the spanish music is in our blood a little bit. i also checked out the have a fun christmas cd, but i think it might still be too early.
i haven't gotten to see W. yet - but I am hoping to this weekend. my book club is reading American Wife by Curtis Stittenfield this month, which is loosely based on Laura Bush's life, so i shall be steeped in presidential bush-ness this month. it's 551 pages; i don't know what we were thinking. but i will be kinda glad to steep myself - i very enthusiastically voted for pres. bush in 2000 and reluctantly again in 2004. i loved the senior bush family; i have great respect for him and barbara bush. and while i have been very disappointed in some of W.'s executive decisions, and i think he's doing an awful job for our country, it's hard not to still like him and his family a bit. i don't think he was the best choice for our society and country at this time...but i think ultimately, he's a good man, doing a freakishly hard job. and perhaps he hasn't surrounded himself with the best leaders, and perhaps he had some payback politics he had to do, but overall, the problems in our economy and foreign policy don't all rest with him. maybe that's naive, but i think unless i have solid reason not to, i want to remember him as ultimately good. not a good president mind you - he did only win by decision of the supreme court, lest we forget. but as a good and right man who was a lousy president. i don't want to malign his character just to be on the bandwagon. i might malign his choices, his policies and such, but not his core.
does this seem crazy to anyone? don't be afraid to disagree...it's just how i honestly feel. see why i don't post about the politics more????
ok, enough poli-drama. i am hoping for a fun filled weekend! it's was ella's birthday wednesday! and we will celebrate friday night. i can't believe she is 3 already - wow, time is a flying. then it's the renaissance faire this weekend and we love that, so we will be at WilsonPark if it's not too rainy. i am hoping for a good, relaxed weekend. i plan on taking my camera, so maybe i can do some photo-documenting and prove we had fun :) or at least smiled for the camera.
The weekend was fun - but why is it that I don't take pictures anymore? in fact, I noticed I don't even know where my camera is. I mean I take funny snapshots from my phone, which are actually good pics, but I don't INTENTIONALLY take pictures like I used to. I need to get better at photo-documenting our life. Sarah Bretherick was kind enough to take a really cute picture at Punkin Day of my kids...and I am using it as my new profile pic on facebook. It's a great shot of the two of them. Very much THEM right now.
(side story: she took the picture of them on the "train" ride at punkin day. the one where i bought two tickets - one for max and one for julianna. i figured it was basically a golf cart with a box on top going around the track at 10 mph top speed maybe, so i didn't need to be on with them. i think i was the only mama thinking this way. all the other mama's were on the ride, clutching their babies tightly. i just sent max on with ju and waved. as they rode around, i told jim, i think i was supposed to part of that...oh well.
i believe in teaching my kids independence, and often I get some "what the??" looks, but ju is pretty mature and in fact, probably could handle him better than i can most times)
anyway, i didn't take any other pics, which was probably good, because Max was not being a sweet boy that day. it was about nap time, and he was so ill. he was a bit overstimulated with all the noise and games and people. he wanted to do things, but once we tried to let him, he basically cried and freaked out. all he wanted to do was play with the little basketball hoops and balls. he is quite the boy. sam jackson and he were playing together...man, max is pretty little seeing them side by side from the back.
julianna was maybe a bit overstimulated too - or perhaps it was the two pancakes, cotton candy, snow cone, lemon peppermint thingie, soda, pop rocks and other treats she ate. by the time we got to her soccer game, we were all ready for it to be over.
finally, after her soccer game, a birthday party, and a quick trip to home depot, i was totally exhausted. i wanted to go to bed at like 6:00 pm. we ate chips, salsa and guacamole for dinner, played a game of yahtzee, and then passed out. what a day!
so, i never got to the pumpkin patch. or at least so i haven't yet. but friday night i was on my way to meet jim for dinner, and i was feeling fall-ish and a bit of anxiety over the fact we had no pumpkins yet, so i just pulled over into the pumpkin lot by burger king on coxcreekparkway and bought some pumpkins and mums. no bales of hay to jump in, no scenic spots for pictures, no animals to feed or hayrides to take - just me and the kids and some weird guy who got out of his little honda to help us. max ran off and we had to go chase him, so he didn't run into the gas station parking lot!! and julianna wanted to buy one of everything. so it wasn't the lovely pumpkin patch day i had in mind - but in the end we got good pumpkins and some mums, and it turned out basically the same...do i sound like i am trying to convince you? it's because i'm trying to convince me :) i hope to maybe get out there this weekend, but sometimes you have to forego the plans you make and just get it done. even if your fall pictures have traffic from cox creek parkway in the background!!
so far this week has been busy - i will have to post my mall story from Monday on another day. that was a doozy!
i checked out a cd of Cuban music from the library and right now I am loving it! Julianna does too - i think the spanish music is in our blood a little bit. i also checked out the have a fun christmas cd, but i think it might still be too early.
i haven't gotten to see W. yet - but I am hoping to this weekend. my book club is reading American Wife by Curtis Stittenfield this month, which is loosely based on Laura Bush's life, so i shall be steeped in presidential bush-ness this month. it's 551 pages; i don't know what we were thinking. but i will be kinda glad to steep myself - i very enthusiastically voted for pres. bush in 2000 and reluctantly again in 2004. i loved the senior bush family; i have great respect for him and barbara bush. and while i have been very disappointed in some of W.'s executive decisions, and i think he's doing an awful job for our country, it's hard not to still like him and his family a bit. i don't think he was the best choice for our society and country at this time...but i think ultimately, he's a good man, doing a freakishly hard job. and perhaps he hasn't surrounded himself with the best leaders, and perhaps he had some payback politics he had to do, but overall, the problems in our economy and foreign policy don't all rest with him. maybe that's naive, but i think unless i have solid reason not to, i want to remember him as ultimately good. not a good president mind you - he did only win by decision of the supreme court, lest we forget. but as a good and right man who was a lousy president. i don't want to malign his character just to be on the bandwagon. i might malign his choices, his policies and such, but not his core.
does this seem crazy to anyone? don't be afraid to disagree...it's just how i honestly feel. see why i don't post about the politics more????
ok, enough poli-drama. i am hoping for a fun filled weekend! it's was ella's birthday wednesday! and we will celebrate friday night. i can't believe she is 3 already - wow, time is a flying. then it's the renaissance faire this weekend and we love that, so we will be at WilsonPark if it's not too rainy. i am hoping for a good, relaxed weekend. i plan on taking my camera, so maybe i can do some photo-documenting and prove we had fun :) or at least smiled for the camera.
**have you taken your kids to the pumpkin patch yet?**
**would you buy pumpkins from the side of the road?**
**do you think i'm crazy for my Prez. Bush thoughts?**
Thursday, October 16, 2008
loving me some mowing...
Well, in my quest to try and document more of my "routine" life, here's a roundup. We didn't have stirfry OR chili the other night- Julianna louded desired steak. Man, that kid could eat a whole cow. (The thought of which makes steak gross to me). She will eat a ton of steak and broccoli on any given night. Weird, weird.
I took the kids out in the carport (our redneck excuse for a lawn) and parked the car on the end and we played soccer. I was too tired to drag our sorry butts to the Y - so we played soccer until Julianna kicked the ball into the neighbors yard too far to go get it. Then I got the brillant idea to mow. I love to mow. In fact, that's one of the things I should have put down when I was reminiscing on 20 years ago...I had me a little mow business. I mowed all that summer, so I could go to SoulQuest (our version of Impact). Also, so I could pay off my tab from joining BMG Tape Club with my sister...and my walkman. I thought I was beyond cool when I would be mowing with my walkman on (yes, it was the Cure and U2). Anyhow, I got really good at mowing, and made a pretty decent amount of money. Of course, once I got married that officially went into Jim's column, but every now and then I enjoy a good mow. I prefer a nice sodded lawn without the dustbowl, but hey, I'm blessed to have a yard.
Yesterday I went and tried to help Gena paint the 3/4th grade classroom at church. I was excited as I like painting too - although I am a little ADD about it - I start painting one place, get distracted, start another, do some trim....you get the idea. And if Gena and I are together, well forget it. We are like racoons with shiny objects.
Anyhow, I tried to paint with Gena and Erin, but Max wasn't having it. He was good for a bit, but then his age overtook him. After two handprints of yellow paint, I packed it in. We came home for a nap, and then they delivered my new stove. Yay! I have had an old nasty stove for a long time. We're updating the kitchen a bit, and this was a bonus.
Today, I got to keep Ella, my niece, while Josephine went to the Pumpkin Patch. She played so good with Max. He loves her; he just keeps hugging her and saying "La La" over and over. Then Julianna begged me to come eat with her and bring Ella and Max (oh joy) - so I gave in. It wasn't bad-and Max entertained the entire cafeteria of children by running around with his shirt pulled up over his eyes, showing his belly. He loves to be the center of attention.
This weekend I think we are going to the Punkin Day at Mars Hill. Julianna got invited to the Pancake Breakfast with a friend, but then I think we will join them much later. :)
I am looking forward to it - especially seeing Trina Ross's photo exhibit. She's an amazing photographer, with some unique local photography. I've watched her come into her own as a photographer, and I am really impressed.
We need to get down to the patch and pick us a pumpkin. And I really want to go see W the movie....I am itching to see what Oliver Stone has to say. I'll let you know how it is.
Well, that's it -all I got. I am going to go check on Trench Coats on ebay.
p.s. I have been keeping my political opinions to myself (thanks Julie and Kimberly) - but it's been really hard!! I spoke out early for the one I think is most capable and the best choice, and I stick by it. I've done TONS of reading and reasearching on the internet and I feel at peace. I have had to delete a couple of posts, just because I sounded like a pompous ass...
Anyhow, regardless of what you're feeling, I do strongly encourage you to vote. Even if you just go vote for the VP's and or the local posts. Or just wear a blindfold and let it fly. Too much was sacrificed for us to just sit at home. I know it's difficult to be in love with either side - but we need a strong leader, and we need to trust that God will provide. I guess as equally important is prayer - no, not equally, more so. So pray and then go rock the vote.
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