At this very moment I could go in about 5 different directions. My laundry (yes the laundry again) is almost out of control, I have a pretty good book I have started, I desperately need a shower after my entire day of outside activities (either exercising or planting) in nearly 90 degree weather, our "take out" remnants need to be discarded, and it is late, 6:30 a.m. comes early. However, Kelley is in New York so I have no one waiting for me in bed, the dinner mess won't take long to clean up, I just started a load of clothes; I have heard it is not good to shower and wash clothes at the same time and the book is just pretty good. I think I will blog. Wow, two blogs in less than a week for me, pretty amazing!
So the idea is to open the doors of "the box" in order. Well, lets just say the hinges on the doors aren't being utilized. However, I think there have been a couple of things in there that have been accomplished without the efforts of opening the doors.
I believe that one was cleaning the garage refrigerator. I actually did this several weeks ago. It was so gross that I was a little concerned about cleaning it. There is noway that God would let something happen to me and leave someone else with that mess. But, luckily, it is in the garage and I just looked around (in the garage) and felt that it was still safe to tackle the job.
The other thing I accomplished without finding it in "the box" (but it is in there) was to send my dear brother Bill a very special photo. I mentioned in my last blog that I would very soon be blogging about something that happened just a bit over a year ago. Well very soon is now.
The very memorable weekend began on April 17th, 2009. All my siblings out there know the significance of this date--my brother Bill's birthday. Kelley and I flew out to Boston where my sister Susan picked us up (no bus shuttle on this trip). After a delightful lunch at a great seafood place (I can still taste the lobster roll)we headed to the Cape. The birthday dinner was at a great Italian resturant Kelley had found in one of his magazines. After dinner we checked into our hotel--the fabulous Chatham Bar Inn. The room we were assigned ranks as one of my top 5 favorite hotel rooms I have ever stayed in of all time. The room was spacious and decorated very light and airy--Cape Codish. The ocean outside right beyond our balcony--icing on the cake. I am not quite sure why, but when I go to the Cape, even though I have never lived there, I feel like I am going home. It must be all the memories. Anyway, we spent Saturday and Saturday night there (another great memory of the weekend--Happy Hour in the lobby with Bill and Cathy where some strangers' wedding was brewing.) Then on Sunday, back to Boston to get ready for the big "event".
Whenever I blog I feel like I have to write as if it is possible that someone might read it that knows nothing about me and have never heard my stories. Maybe it is just the stories close to my heart I feel need repeating. A year and a half before this special weekend I crossed the finish line of the Tulsa Route 66 Marathon in 3 hours, 59 minutes and 57 seconds--I needed to finish before 4 hours to qualify for the Boston Marathon. Thus, the big "event" I am talking about here. I would love to share every detail (from all my supporters who came to watch, to the bus ride out to the start,the long line to the port-o-potty, to the incredible start, to the Brown girls screaming and the couple with Advil,) of the experience, but I'm not, what I am going to share started with just 6 miles left to go when Bill jumped on the course and escourted me in. I was still feeling pretty good but THE HILL was just ahead. I found my people (Bill being one of them) right where they said they would be. I quickly discarded gear, grabbed the Gatorade/water mixture they had made "just right" for me, gave quick hugs and then I was off again, only now with a companion. I had done this for a friend of mine once, jumped in with 6 miles to go, it was quite different being on the other side here. There are many things you can say to a person that has just ran 20 miles. My brother Bill found the perfect words, "I can't believe how strong you are still running." With a comment like that the last thing you are going to do is wimp out. I was running with my ipod with just one of the ear plugs in, a very upbeat song was on when he made this comment. After THE HILL and with only a mile or two left, Bill ask me what was playing now, B.B.Kings "The Thrill is Gone" was my reply, I think he figured something of the sort. The thrill was not gone but it was getting close. Had I not had my brother there for the last bit and for THE HILL, I might not have made it. But I did, and I did. My cheering squad met me at the end,then off to celebrate.
A few weeks later I received, from the company that was hired to take photos along the course, proofs of pics that had been taken of myself, one of them "got me". It was of Bill and I running together. It took me until I received the "last chance to order photos" notice to place my order and then it took me up until almost a year later to send it on to Bill. I believe he received it for his birthday this year. I haven't heard from him though, he is busy making violins you know, but I am sure he loved it, a keepsake of a mid morning run with his baby sister. Thanks again Bill, for the memory.
Thank you to all my cheerleaders, too, that came to share this special time with me.
Can you believe it has been a year already?
(I Started this one night, finished it now. It was not 90 degrees here yesterday and Kelley is no longer in New York. Just in case you were wondering).
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
I've Been Busy but I am Back
I am back. Okay everyone out there in blog land, straighten up, clear your throats, think Maria in the Sound of Music when it is storming, start humming now, do you have the tune? Okay, now SING!
Walking and running and planting and laundry,
Bball tourneys of Cayden’s and lacrosse games of Carley’s.
School Play for Carley (she did not have to sing)
These are a few of my keep busy things.
Trips here and trips there which of course means more laundry,
A retreat book for Cayden and a first prom for Carley
Track meets for both girls, what a joy watching brings
These are a few of my keep busy things.
When I can’t seem, to get another door opened
In “the box” filled with things to doooo
I simply remember my keep busy things
And then I don’t feeeeeel so bluuuue.
Wow, I could just stop with that, what more could I say. Well, it is me, remember, so probably a lot. Here are a few further details of the above mentioned (don’t worry, I am not going to blog about the laundry):
I have been walking and running a lot. I have been walking because somehow I have miraculously out lasted most of my running buddies, injury wise, and I have to walk with them if I want to stay connected. I ran in the Bentonville’s first official half marathon. We had a great turnout and I was very happy with my time. It hardly matched the experience that I had last year around this time (a very soon future blog) but it was still fun. I have been mixing up my running with various people and also, I have been doing at least one long run a week by myself. I used to hate to run by myself but lately I have grown to like it. I have considered changing my blogging to “things I see when I run”. We’ll see.
The word “exciting” seems to be a little tame to describe my gardening experience this spring. Last year I finally decided to get over my fears of failure and just put things in the ground. As most of you out there know, we have had, over the past few years, an issue of falling trees and so our shade garden has turned into a sun garden. In the past I never planted much because how many more azaleas and hostice does a person need, but since I have a whole new pallet, I am ready to go crazy. I had a friend last year hold my hand and she helped me get started and now I am starting to see the results. Every day I take a little walk around, eyeing what is new and amazed at the fast growth, both encouraging me do more this spring. I am just a little pumped about my garden. Can you tell?
In addition to the plants in the garden, the girl’s athletic skills are growing as well. My sweet Cayden continually shows that yes indeed she knows the meanings of “aggressiveness” and “intensity” on the basketball court, and Carley , in her Lacrosse games, demonstrates that yes indeed she is an athlete. They both had a great track season, too. Finally, both decided to please their mother (although it was really for their pleading coach) and run the mile. Neither one of them broke my time but they are approaching it quickly. Next year, I am sure. Cayden with her first and only mile run attempt (jr. high doesn’t go to state) won Conference, beating out about 20 other runners. Talk about pumped.
I sent some of you pictures of Carley’s prom. She had a blast. My oldest little girl is all grown up, well sort of anyway. Her date was very sweet and polite and other than him telling Kelley a joke, slamming Kelley’s beloved Jayhawks (her date’s dad is a Mizzou grad), things went quite well. No, really the date impressed Kelley with his attempt and success of breaking the ice. Kelley was also quite pleased with his daughter’s rightful confidence with her natural beauty which meant no credit card charges for manicures, pedicures, hairdos and spray tans that most of her peer’s parents endured. Instead she spent pre-prom at the park.
Only two weeks late and 20 hours of work later I finished a book of “love letters” for Cayden’s 8th grade retreat. The deadline that I missed was just a soft date, the book was done in time for the retreat. I must say it turned out creatively successful. (Cayden liked it too). Thank you all that gave her a letter, they mean a lot to her. She loved the retreat experience too.
Then Carley’s play. It was cute. It was a school play. She knew her lines, some did not. I saw it twice. Enough said about that.
The trips here and there have been mainly to K.C. Although Kelley, Cayden and I had a fab time in San Diego on Coronado Island for spring break. One of the highlights-- Cayden and I boogie boarding. The adventure started off a little scary. We selected, at first, an area that had under currents, but after a guy that was giving some other people surfing lessons had to come out and save me from, as he put it “floating out to Hawaii”, we moved to a safer area and had waves of fun. Carley, as I think I had mentioned in a previous blog, vacationed in Italy with a school group. Several of her closest friends went as well so you can only imagine how much fun she had. The pics are priceless.
So this is May. Just thought I would remind you of that. This blog almost sounds like a Christmas letter so I thought you might be confused. But, I know it is May because I have a boat load of plants on my patio that need to and I feel confident will get into my pots before my self-inflicted Mother’s Day deadline. The “box” of things to do may be getting neglected, but some things, my keep busy things, are getting done.
Walking and running and planting and laundry,
Bball tourneys of Cayden’s and lacrosse games of Carley’s.
School Play for Carley (she did not have to sing)
These are a few of my keep busy things.
Trips here and trips there which of course means more laundry,
A retreat book for Cayden and a first prom for Carley
Track meets for both girls, what a joy watching brings
These are a few of my keep busy things.
When I can’t seem, to get another door opened
In “the box” filled with things to doooo
I simply remember my keep busy things
And then I don’t feeeeeel so bluuuue.
Wow, I could just stop with that, what more could I say. Well, it is me, remember, so probably a lot. Here are a few further details of the above mentioned (don’t worry, I am not going to blog about the laundry):
I have been walking and running a lot. I have been walking because somehow I have miraculously out lasted most of my running buddies, injury wise, and I have to walk with them if I want to stay connected. I ran in the Bentonville’s first official half marathon. We had a great turnout and I was very happy with my time. It hardly matched the experience that I had last year around this time (a very soon future blog) but it was still fun. I have been mixing up my running with various people and also, I have been doing at least one long run a week by myself. I used to hate to run by myself but lately I have grown to like it. I have considered changing my blogging to “things I see when I run”. We’ll see.
The word “exciting” seems to be a little tame to describe my gardening experience this spring. Last year I finally decided to get over my fears of failure and just put things in the ground. As most of you out there know, we have had, over the past few years, an issue of falling trees and so our shade garden has turned into a sun garden. In the past I never planted much because how many more azaleas and hostice does a person need, but since I have a whole new pallet, I am ready to go crazy. I had a friend last year hold my hand and she helped me get started and now I am starting to see the results. Every day I take a little walk around, eyeing what is new and amazed at the fast growth, both encouraging me do more this spring. I am just a little pumped about my garden. Can you tell?
In addition to the plants in the garden, the girl’s athletic skills are growing as well. My sweet Cayden continually shows that yes indeed she knows the meanings of “aggressiveness” and “intensity” on the basketball court, and Carley , in her Lacrosse games, demonstrates that yes indeed she is an athlete. They both had a great track season, too. Finally, both decided to please their mother (although it was really for their pleading coach) and run the mile. Neither one of them broke my time but they are approaching it quickly. Next year, I am sure. Cayden with her first and only mile run attempt (jr. high doesn’t go to state) won Conference, beating out about 20 other runners. Talk about pumped.
I sent some of you pictures of Carley’s prom. She had a blast. My oldest little girl is all grown up, well sort of anyway. Her date was very sweet and polite and other than him telling Kelley a joke, slamming Kelley’s beloved Jayhawks (her date’s dad is a Mizzou grad), things went quite well. No, really the date impressed Kelley with his attempt and success of breaking the ice. Kelley was also quite pleased with his daughter’s rightful confidence with her natural beauty which meant no credit card charges for manicures, pedicures, hairdos and spray tans that most of her peer’s parents endured. Instead she spent pre-prom at the park.
Only two weeks late and 20 hours of work later I finished a book of “love letters” for Cayden’s 8th grade retreat. The deadline that I missed was just a soft date, the book was done in time for the retreat. I must say it turned out creatively successful. (Cayden liked it too). Thank you all that gave her a letter, they mean a lot to her. She loved the retreat experience too.
Then Carley’s play. It was cute. It was a school play. She knew her lines, some did not. I saw it twice. Enough said about that.
The trips here and there have been mainly to K.C. Although Kelley, Cayden and I had a fab time in San Diego on Coronado Island for spring break. One of the highlights-- Cayden and I boogie boarding. The adventure started off a little scary. We selected, at first, an area that had under currents, but after a guy that was giving some other people surfing lessons had to come out and save me from, as he put it “floating out to Hawaii”, we moved to a safer area and had waves of fun. Carley, as I think I had mentioned in a previous blog, vacationed in Italy with a school group. Several of her closest friends went as well so you can only imagine how much fun she had. The pics are priceless.
So this is May. Just thought I would remind you of that. This blog almost sounds like a Christmas letter so I thought you might be confused. But, I know it is May because I have a boat load of plants on my patio that need to and I feel confident will get into my pots before my self-inflicted Mother’s Day deadline. The “box” of things to do may be getting neglected, but some things, my keep busy things, are getting done.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
This Task is in there Somewhere
Since the commenting person who seems so concerned about rules has dropped off the face of the earth, or maybe has just got lost in the hull(is that what you call it) of a violin, I decided I would not worry about what rule I might be breaking this time. I just can't get to that cabinet in the craft room. There just has not been enough undivided attention time. However, I remembered that somewhere in that advent box I put a different task that knew I could take on and complete. Lets see though, I have to blog about it, hmmm....
Fluffy, bright colored balls on an elastic strand, that is the best way to describe them. They hang, or hung (now hang again) in Carley's window. They dress, or dressed (now dress again) the window, but not really cover it. They are purely just for fun and look very cute in her room. Thumb tacks keep, kept,(keep) them up. Over the Christmas season I needed thumb tacks, a last minute idea, no time to go buy more....
After rereading an invitation I received to an ornament party (soon before going), I noticed the requested attire: "Please wear your 'tackiest' Christmas sweater." I don't own a tacky Christmas sweater. I have a Christmas sweater and I have tacks (if I disassembled the hanging balls) and I have cork to put on the back of the tacks to keep them on (the sweater of course) and keep them from poking me. I know I am ingenious! No, I did not win. Can you believe it? A girl who wasn't really wearing a sweater, just wearing a (not literally but totally) tacky outfit won. There were a few others that wore almost hideous sweaters but the majority of the women conveniently did not read the invitation closely and were decked out in their most "stylish" holiday attire. Anyway, the balls came down (to supply my tack needs), then after the party I removed the tacks from the sweater and put them somewhere that I would not forget so that I could put the balls back up promptly (or at least in the next few days). I forgot where I put them. So since then I have been playing a game of not "hide" just "seek" the thumbtacks. Or at least just try to remember to buy some new ones at the store. Finally yesterday, I accomplished plan b. I am a proud owner of 100 plus thumbtacks. (The box I purchased said 100 the plus are the ones still in hiding. You know what? When I checked to see how many were in the box just now, to give an accurate count, I noticed that it said push pins instead of thumb tacks. Oooohhhh, that is why I did not win, no one could figure out why I was wearing a push pin Christmas sweater!). Anyway, I came home and rehung the balls. Do you know that Carley did not even notice? It took me standing in front of the window and making several not so subtle hand motions (okay close your eyes and picture the lovely girls that are on The Price is Right that wave their arms presenting the prize) for her to noticed. She even questioned what in the world was I doing with my hands before she noticed. We had a good laugh over it and she was quite pleased with my accomplishment. I had really thought that the task was going to be first one in the box but I guess she is too rule abiding (nothing she obviously gets from me) to do that. Her instructions, remember, were to "randomly" place the tasks in the box. So now I can have a free day when someday in one of the advent box's door I find "hang the balls back up in Carley's window."
On a side note (in case you have been wondering). I heard back from one of the "sons" about my ladybug picture. I went to see him.He had kind of a snooty tooty personality. He told me if he just found materials around the shop he could do it for what he thought was not so much and I thought was a lot. I then proceeded to find a half price coupon for custom framing at the mega craft store. I met a very enthusiastic clerk (who loved my picture). She suggested a lot of fun custom stuff. It cost the a little less than the "son's" price. I picked it up today and I am quite happy about how it turned out. I did leave a couple of small repair jobs at the "son's" place, I have not heard back from him yet on whether they are done. Sometimes (maybe a lot of times) those "mega stores" aren't so bad.
Fluffy, bright colored balls on an elastic strand, that is the best way to describe them. They hang, or hung (now hang again) in Carley's window. They dress, or dressed (now dress again) the window, but not really cover it. They are purely just for fun and look very cute in her room. Thumb tacks keep, kept,(keep) them up. Over the Christmas season I needed thumb tacks, a last minute idea, no time to go buy more....
After rereading an invitation I received to an ornament party (soon before going), I noticed the requested attire: "Please wear your 'tackiest' Christmas sweater." I don't own a tacky Christmas sweater. I have a Christmas sweater and I have tacks (if I disassembled the hanging balls) and I have cork to put on the back of the tacks to keep them on (the sweater of course) and keep them from poking me. I know I am ingenious! No, I did not win. Can you believe it? A girl who wasn't really wearing a sweater, just wearing a (not literally but totally) tacky outfit won. There were a few others that wore almost hideous sweaters but the majority of the women conveniently did not read the invitation closely and were decked out in their most "stylish" holiday attire. Anyway, the balls came down (to supply my tack needs), then after the party I removed the tacks from the sweater and put them somewhere that I would not forget so that I could put the balls back up promptly (or at least in the next few days). I forgot where I put them. So since then I have been playing a game of not "hide" just "seek" the thumbtacks. Or at least just try to remember to buy some new ones at the store. Finally yesterday, I accomplished plan b. I am a proud owner of 100 plus thumbtacks. (The box I purchased said 100 the plus are the ones still in hiding. You know what? When I checked to see how many were in the box just now, to give an accurate count, I noticed that it said push pins instead of thumb tacks. Oooohhhh, that is why I did not win, no one could figure out why I was wearing a push pin Christmas sweater!). Anyway, I came home and rehung the balls. Do you know that Carley did not even notice? It took me standing in front of the window and making several not so subtle hand motions (okay close your eyes and picture the lovely girls that are on The Price is Right that wave their arms presenting the prize) for her to noticed. She even questioned what in the world was I doing with my hands before she noticed. We had a good laugh over it and she was quite pleased with my accomplishment. I had really thought that the task was going to be first one in the box but I guess she is too rule abiding (nothing she obviously gets from me) to do that. Her instructions, remember, were to "randomly" place the tasks in the box. So now I can have a free day when someday in one of the advent box's door I find "hang the balls back up in Carley's window."
On a side note (in case you have been wondering). I heard back from one of the "sons" about my ladybug picture. I went to see him.He had kind of a snooty tooty personality. He told me if he just found materials around the shop he could do it for what he thought was not so much and I thought was a lot. I then proceeded to find a half price coupon for custom framing at the mega craft store. I met a very enthusiastic clerk (who loved my picture). She suggested a lot of fun custom stuff. It cost the a little less than the "son's" price. I picked it up today and I am quite happy about how it turned out. I did leave a couple of small repair jobs at the "son's" place, I have not heard back from him yet on whether they are done. Sometimes (maybe a lot of times) those "mega stores" aren't so bad.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Introductions
The room measures about 4 feet by 9 feet, if you count the counter top space. If you add the closet, the room size almost doubles. It has more items in it than, well I don’t know, maybe the national deficit has dollar bills. I kid you not. Especially if you count every last bead, button, sticker, sequent, and extra circular photo packet of both my daughters over the past however many of years they have been doing umpteen million activities. The room, my craft room, portrays an exclamatory picture of my disorganized, cluttered, disarrayed life and projects a major chaotic thorn in my side. What is its current state on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 as the worst? Probably a 6½. I can still walk into it, I can shut the closet door, and there is still a little bit more counter space for more things just to be placed on it “for now.” It would get a much higher number (and most of you out there, and people around here, would look at it and think that’s for sure), but I have seen it worse, much. And, I know that last summer, I paid Carley and three of her friends, who were raising money for an Italy trip, big bucks to “organize" it. They got a great start on it and miraculously, I have undone very little of what they did (you should see how nicely the hundred pieces of tissue paper are folded and how all the rolls of ribbon are all in one place). However, they could only do so much in an afternoon (half a closet to be precise)and many a cabinet and drawer still need order. Remember that door number two that I conveniently skipped; well…its task was to clean out the farthest cabinet in the room. You see, I know myself pretty well and putting “organize craft room” on one piece of paper for a task was something that would never happen. So, I broke it down, one cabinet at a time. I still did not feel up for the task; so, I went on to door number 4. “Organize middle cabinet in craft room” (honest,the whole box is not about the craft room). I felt I could not escape it; so, I decided I would go back to door number two and would tackle the job. Now, because I know what is in that far cabinet and I know the stories that I can tell from just one shelf alone and because several other of my blogging siblings caught my disease of lengthy blog writing this week, I also decided that I would keep this blog short by just introducing what I will be taking on this week. Task behind door number two, here I come.
Oh oh,maybe this one won’t be so short because there is something else I want to introduce you to(actually, this one you all know well, it just may be a little fuzzy in your memory). It is a very welcome visitor, unlike the unwanted visitor that Bill blogged about, that showed up this weekend. Spring! I say "visitor" because I have lived 50 years in the Midwest and an all out celebration during the first week of March of spring's arrival is entirely out of the question. A hearty embrace to a “visitor” is not. If you are nice to visitors, they might stick around. Here are the top ten reasons I knew it was spring knocking on our door.
1. I went outside for a run and returned immediately to swap the long sleeve shirt for a short sleeved one then still actually sweated.
2. The soccer chairs (now Lacrosse chairs) were sprung from their hooks on the wall. Carley’s team won both games; she was an animal and scored a total of 8 goals.
3. When we went to the dog park, there were tons of new doggie faces and boy were their tails a waggin’, excited, I am sure, about the nice weather. One was so excited it climbed on Carley’s lap and well, peed.
4. When I went to start the charcoal, I went straight to the classifieds. No wasting time, this time, on which part of the paper to part with. And I stayed out there, and stayed out there, to make sure they were lit of coarse.
5. I got reacquainted with sidewalk chalk. Kelley had a gig (no he has not joined a rock band, it was a lawyer thing; I call it a gig because his name was in the program) in Lawrence on Friday. So we went to KC on Thursday night. Friday, while he did his thing, I watched Nico and we became Picassos with the chalk.
6. We also got reacquainted with Cayden’s (who remember is almost 5'9", but only 13) love for really short shorts. Wow, does that girl have some legs.
7. When we got home from our trip Saterday evening, we were greeted by a lovely tree frog serenade.
8. At lunch yesterday I did not ask about the soup de jour and later craved chicken salad for some reason.
Number 9 and 10 are the top two reasons I know spring is preparing to stay.
9. I read a lovely, touching blog about the birth of a baby goat. Actually, I read it a few times; thanks for sharing, Susie.
10. And lookie who we found in our bed (one of our outdoor ones of course).
Happy almost Spring everyone!! Now I must get busy. It will be hard to work inside tomorrow, but yet another sign of spring is in the forecast: showers and storms.
Oh oh,maybe this one won’t be so short because there is something else I want to introduce you to(actually, this one you all know well, it just may be a little fuzzy in your memory). It is a very welcome visitor, unlike the unwanted visitor that Bill blogged about, that showed up this weekend. Spring! I say "visitor" because I have lived 50 years in the Midwest and an all out celebration during the first week of March of spring's arrival is entirely out of the question. A hearty embrace to a “visitor” is not. If you are nice to visitors, they might stick around. Here are the top ten reasons I knew it was spring knocking on our door.
1. I went outside for a run and returned immediately to swap the long sleeve shirt for a short sleeved one then still actually sweated.
2. The soccer chairs (now Lacrosse chairs) were sprung from their hooks on the wall. Carley’s team won both games; she was an animal and scored a total of 8 goals.
3. When we went to the dog park, there were tons of new doggie faces and boy were their tails a waggin’, excited, I am sure, about the nice weather. One was so excited it climbed on Carley’s lap and well, peed.
4. When I went to start the charcoal, I went straight to the classifieds. No wasting time, this time, on which part of the paper to part with. And I stayed out there, and stayed out there, to make sure they were lit of coarse.
5. I got reacquainted with sidewalk chalk. Kelley had a gig (no he has not joined a rock band, it was a lawyer thing; I call it a gig because his name was in the program) in Lawrence on Friday. So we went to KC on Thursday night. Friday, while he did his thing, I watched Nico and we became Picassos with the chalk.
6. We also got reacquainted with Cayden’s (who remember is almost 5'9", but only 13) love for really short shorts. Wow, does that girl have some legs.
7. When we got home from our trip Saterday evening, we were greeted by a lovely tree frog serenade.
8. At lunch yesterday I did not ask about the soup de jour and later craved chicken salad for some reason.
Number 9 and 10 are the top two reasons I know spring is preparing to stay.
9. I read a lovely, touching blog about the birth of a baby goat. Actually, I read it a few times; thanks for sharing, Susie.
10. And lookie who we found in our bed (one of our outdoor ones of course).
Happy almost Spring everyone!! Now I must get busy. It will be hard to work inside tomorrow, but yet another sign of spring is in the forecast: showers and storms.
Friday, February 26, 2010
The Ladybug and the Frog (actually there is no frog I just thought it was catchy)
I got out my magnifying glass to read the small print of the rules that I had drawn up for myself prior to starting my blogging adventure and, by golly, it was there - - the rule I was looking for. Rule No. 7 states: if you feel absolutely certain that, upon reading the door’s designated task, there is no way possible to complete the task in the amount of time necessary to write a timely blog, you may move on to the next door. I am not going to tell you what was behind door number 2, but I will tell you that I looked over my calendar and my list of regular chores for the week and came to the conclusion that I would indeed lose the blogging game (by the standards that I mentioned in my last blog) if I attempted to accomplish that task. So…on to door number 3.
Two autumns ago, while driving the streets of Kansas City, I spotted a sign for an estate sale. I have looked high and low for a bumper sticker that reads “Caution: I not only brake, but I come to a screeching halt for estate sales”; I have yet to find one. So, cautiously, I slowed down to catch the address, proceeded to the sale, and then spent a lovely morning amongst someone else’s discards. This particular sale was a rare find. It was not a “real” estate sale where someone had died and a company came to sell everything for the family. It was more like a garage sale; only it was throughout the house, the owners of the “stuff” were there, and they weren’t ancient. I think it was the circumstance of two individuals joining together in a new home and only half of each person’s “stuff” made the cut to make the move. Hence, we are talking quality - - at least as far as “stuff” goes that is. Unfortunately, most of the prices were above the limits of what I would spend on this type of venture, plus these places don’t take plastic which is all I usually have on me. However, I did find a few things that I had enough cash for. I can remember two. One, a crazy, but good pair of linen pants with hydrangeas on them, that yes I do wear (and have received compliments on), and a water color of a ladybug. Total cost: under 20 bucks. A steal considering the pants had never been worn and the painting is numbered. So why were these two items not selected to get packed up and moved on? Well, I think, as far as the pants go, it would take a special person to not look at the pants and say “what was I thinking,” especially at the price they probably had paid for them. The picture’s frame had seen better days. The frame, which had a black, almost moldy looking substance on it, actually had me even deliberating for a long time as to how wise this purchase would be, but I just couldn’t put it down. The picture spoke to me. “Jane, Jane, you love me, you want me, I belong in your life.”
And it did, because ladybugs have crept into many parts of my life. As a mother of two daughters, I happily fulfilled my duty of passing on to my darlings the myth of the ladybug that my mother taught me: “If a ladybug lands on you, they magically bring you luck.” Ladybugs live in our lovely garden and many a summer day they touch us with their luck. In “Under the Tuscan Sun,” embarrassingly one of my favorite movies, Katherine, a very eccentric woman, tells the main girl, Diane Lane’s character, about the magic of ladybugs. And then later, Lane (after having had an incredible weekend with a guy she meets in an enchanting Tuscany town), glowingly and simply replies to Katherine’s inquiry of her weekend , “ladybugs, lots and lots of ladybugs.” I loved that line, I get it. And then, as most of you know, I am a coach for a program for little girls that promotes healthy, both physically and mentally, living habits called Girls on the Run. During the lessons, we give what we call energy awards to encourage positive behavior. The girl’s very favorite (and mine too), the “ladybug”. To perform this cheer, the coach or whoever’s giving it must get down on the ground, lie on their back, and flail their arms and legs. During and after, laughter abounds. So, yes, ladybugs and I, we connect. As I mentioned before, I purchased the picture.
So, oh yes, the task, you ask? The paper behind door number three instructed me to take the picture to be reframed. That doesn’t sound too hard. I loaded it in my car and off we went to the mega chain craft store Hobby Lobby . On the way there I remembered that frequently they have weekly offers of discounted custom framing. I forgot to check on that before I left. But thanks to my handy, dandy navigation system (of course when I am safely at a red light), I found the number and called. “Ladybug” luck wasn’t with me. No discounts this week. Immediately after hanging up, my delightful neighbor (you know my tea partner) calls me and I tell her my predicament. “Do I pay full price and get the task done? Or do I save money and put it off in hopes that next week they have the discount”? “Wait” she advises. So then, yesterday, I am driving down our main drag and I spot a small custom frame shop. I hear my sister Susan’s voice. “Go to the little guy. Support the mom and pop.” So, I whipped into the parking lot and proceeded into the shop (I still had the picture in car from the other day). Again “ladybug” luck, nowhere to be seen. The Mom and Pop were brothers except they were both gone for a long weekend (probably off fishing or something) and they asked Pop to come in from the fields and fill in. And guess what? He didn’t know much about framing. He was just there to tell customers the boys would be back on Monday. He did know about his sons’ clientele. I saw dollar signs for my little project. The man rambled on for about 40 minutes about various incredibly difficult projects his sons had done. I think he was lonely. Kelley said, after telling him of my venture, that just the right person walked in the door for him. Do you think he was indicating that I tend to ramble too? Why would he think that? Anyway, an hour later, I walked out the door with my picture left behind for one of his boys to look at and get back with me. We would go from there on Monday. I think I will check the ads for Hobby Lobby Monday morning just in case. So, task completed? Not sure, you can be the judge.
Two autumns ago, while driving the streets of Kansas City, I spotted a sign for an estate sale. I have looked high and low for a bumper sticker that reads “Caution: I not only brake, but I come to a screeching halt for estate sales”; I have yet to find one. So, cautiously, I slowed down to catch the address, proceeded to the sale, and then spent a lovely morning amongst someone else’s discards. This particular sale was a rare find. It was not a “real” estate sale where someone had died and a company came to sell everything for the family. It was more like a garage sale; only it was throughout the house, the owners of the “stuff” were there, and they weren’t ancient. I think it was the circumstance of two individuals joining together in a new home and only half of each person’s “stuff” made the cut to make the move. Hence, we are talking quality - - at least as far as “stuff” goes that is. Unfortunately, most of the prices were above the limits of what I would spend on this type of venture, plus these places don’t take plastic which is all I usually have on me. However, I did find a few things that I had enough cash for. I can remember two. One, a crazy, but good pair of linen pants with hydrangeas on them, that yes I do wear (and have received compliments on), and a water color of a ladybug. Total cost: under 20 bucks. A steal considering the pants had never been worn and the painting is numbered. So why were these two items not selected to get packed up and moved on? Well, I think, as far as the pants go, it would take a special person to not look at the pants and say “what was I thinking,” especially at the price they probably had paid for them. The picture’s frame had seen better days. The frame, which had a black, almost moldy looking substance on it, actually had me even deliberating for a long time as to how wise this purchase would be, but I just couldn’t put it down. The picture spoke to me. “Jane, Jane, you love me, you want me, I belong in your life.”
And it did, because ladybugs have crept into many parts of my life. As a mother of two daughters, I happily fulfilled my duty of passing on to my darlings the myth of the ladybug that my mother taught me: “If a ladybug lands on you, they magically bring you luck.” Ladybugs live in our lovely garden and many a summer day they touch us with their luck. In “Under the Tuscan Sun,” embarrassingly one of my favorite movies, Katherine, a very eccentric woman, tells the main girl, Diane Lane’s character, about the magic of ladybugs. And then later, Lane (after having had an incredible weekend with a guy she meets in an enchanting Tuscany town), glowingly and simply replies to Katherine’s inquiry of her weekend , “ladybugs, lots and lots of ladybugs.” I loved that line, I get it. And then, as most of you know, I am a coach for a program for little girls that promotes healthy, both physically and mentally, living habits called Girls on the Run. During the lessons, we give what we call energy awards to encourage positive behavior. The girl’s very favorite (and mine too), the “ladybug”. To perform this cheer, the coach or whoever’s giving it must get down on the ground, lie on their back, and flail their arms and legs. During and after, laughter abounds. So, yes, ladybugs and I, we connect. As I mentioned before, I purchased the picture.
So, oh yes, the task, you ask? The paper behind door number three instructed me to take the picture to be reframed. That doesn’t sound too hard. I loaded it in my car and off we went to the mega chain craft store Hobby Lobby . On the way there I remembered that frequently they have weekly offers of discounted custom framing. I forgot to check on that before I left. But thanks to my handy, dandy navigation system (of course when I am safely at a red light), I found the number and called. “Ladybug” luck wasn’t with me. No discounts this week. Immediately after hanging up, my delightful neighbor (you know my tea partner) calls me and I tell her my predicament. “Do I pay full price and get the task done? Or do I save money and put it off in hopes that next week they have the discount”? “Wait” she advises. So then, yesterday, I am driving down our main drag and I spot a small custom frame shop. I hear my sister Susan’s voice. “Go to the little guy. Support the mom and pop.” So, I whipped into the parking lot and proceeded into the shop (I still had the picture in car from the other day). Again “ladybug” luck, nowhere to be seen. The Mom and Pop were brothers except they were both gone for a long weekend (probably off fishing or something) and they asked Pop to come in from the fields and fill in. And guess what? He didn’t know much about framing. He was just there to tell customers the boys would be back on Monday. He did know about his sons’ clientele. I saw dollar signs for my little project. The man rambled on for about 40 minutes about various incredibly difficult projects his sons had done. I think he was lonely. Kelley said, after telling him of my venture, that just the right person walked in the door for him. Do you think he was indicating that I tend to ramble too? Why would he think that? Anyway, an hour later, I walked out the door with my picture left behind for one of his boys to look at and get back with me. We would go from there on Monday. I think I will check the ads for Hobby Lobby Monday morning just in case. So, task completed? Not sure, you can be the judge.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Disclaimers, Progress Reports, Thanks,Tributes---another long blog.
Disclaimer: Part of what you are about to read is not quite true. When I started this blog, my intent was to save it until it was true (I have excess time right now away from home, alone, with a computer). But then I put things in the blog that signified the date so I had to post it now. I could have just pretended it to be true now, since it will be for sure by the end of the week but one of my followers could have called me on it and would have. Okay? Read on.
Progress Report: First of all, before I make my major announcement I want to state that what I am about to reveal did not occur because of any comments from my last blog. I will not be intimidated by people who love to say "we told you so" or by people who accuse me of cheating or breaking rules or other such nonsense. The time had come and I took care of it. The announcement.... ALL OF THE CHRISTMAS DECORATION ARE PUT AWAY (okay,okay very, very close refer to disclaimer)(except of course you know). No, nothing or no one influenced me what so ever except maybe the need for the card table (which housed a lot of the decorations) for a party I am having this weekend or the need to protect myself from any embarrassment if, eeks, one of my guest would happen to stumbled (literally) into that room while on a self guided tour of the house looking to see if there was anything "new" we had done to the place. But blog commentors, rubbish, there little snips did not phase me one bit. (Obviously, now not only am I breaking rules I am lying--again disclaimer).
But while we are on the subject of rule breaking and who told who so, I would like to thank Gail for declaring that there are no rules and I would like to thank Carley for being a constant source of motivation (oops, did I let that slip). I would also like to thank Cayden, my youngest daughter, who Carley has pointed out to me has not had much play time in my blogs, for her current apathy. About the time she decides to start following the blogs, I am sure that I will have opened a door that is all about her. And,I must address this whole competition thing. Judy, the second blog thing won't cut it, Gail already has a second secret blog which I found tonight. If there must be a competition (you really think Judy, that Bill and I are a toss up for the funniest? Are you sure I don't have him by a tenth of a chuckle?), then this is what I think it should be. I think that the last person left blogging wins. I am not really for sure about this (since you know, we are the closest family that really don't know each other very well), but I believe that we have a problem with sticking to things. Now, I have gone back through the blogs and Judy, Bill and I are pretty close in the longest time between blogs but sadly I went the longest with 18 days. So....I would say we need to add to that just to give us a little breathing room, but we are all on a roll now so I propose that the only rule and competition is that we stay connected at least every 18 days. If we all stick with it we all win. Because, this is so very fun.
Oh yeah, the door, what is behind door number two? I have no clue. I am up in Kansas City, all by myself. Tomorrow, is Danielle's (Connor's wife) birthday and I am going to take care of Nico while they go out. I am so excited. She texted me today and said that Nico was a little fussy and that I might have to rock him for a while to get him to take a nap and she hoped that I did not mind. My reply "that is music to my ears." So, tomorrow as you all are doing your thing, know that I probably will have a sweet little boy in my arms.
A Tribute: Eight years ago today, or at least when I started this--it is after midnight now, our mother passed away. Oh, how I miss her so. I think she would like us all "connecting" and she might even join in and out wit us all. Remember on their I believe 50th anniversary, when I ask her if they still...and Bill interrupted and said "Jane!" and she replied "Twice a day". Then, I think the lights went out. And when they came back on Mom and Dad were making out (or at least that is how I remembered it, I could be making it up!) Here's to you Mom, Love you
Lights are going out here now, good night.
Progress Report: First of all, before I make my major announcement I want to state that what I am about to reveal did not occur because of any comments from my last blog. I will not be intimidated by people who love to say "we told you so" or by people who accuse me of cheating or breaking rules or other such nonsense. The time had come and I took care of it. The announcement.... ALL OF THE CHRISTMAS DECORATION ARE PUT AWAY (okay,okay very, very close refer to disclaimer)(except of course you know). No, nothing or no one influenced me what so ever except maybe the need for the card table (which housed a lot of the decorations) for a party I am having this weekend or the need to protect myself from any embarrassment if, eeks, one of my guest would happen to stumbled (literally) into that room while on a self guided tour of the house looking to see if there was anything "new" we had done to the place. But blog commentors, rubbish, there little snips did not phase me one bit. (Obviously, now not only am I breaking rules I am lying--again disclaimer).
But while we are on the subject of rule breaking and who told who so, I would like to thank Gail for declaring that there are no rules and I would like to thank Carley for being a constant source of motivation (oops, did I let that slip). I would also like to thank Cayden, my youngest daughter, who Carley has pointed out to me has not had much play time in my blogs, for her current apathy. About the time she decides to start following the blogs, I am sure that I will have opened a door that is all about her. And,I must address this whole competition thing. Judy, the second blog thing won't cut it, Gail already has a second secret blog which I found tonight. If there must be a competition (you really think Judy, that Bill and I are a toss up for the funniest? Are you sure I don't have him by a tenth of a chuckle?), then this is what I think it should be. I think that the last person left blogging wins. I am not really for sure about this (since you know, we are the closest family that really don't know each other very well), but I believe that we have a problem with sticking to things. Now, I have gone back through the blogs and Judy, Bill and I are pretty close in the longest time between blogs but sadly I went the longest with 18 days. So....I would say we need to add to that just to give us a little breathing room, but we are all on a roll now so I propose that the only rule and competition is that we stay connected at least every 18 days. If we all stick with it we all win. Because, this is so very fun.
Oh yeah, the door, what is behind door number two? I have no clue. I am up in Kansas City, all by myself. Tomorrow, is Danielle's (Connor's wife) birthday and I am going to take care of Nico while they go out. I am so excited. She texted me today and said that Nico was a little fussy and that I might have to rock him for a while to get him to take a nap and she hoped that I did not mind. My reply "that is music to my ears." So, tomorrow as you all are doing your thing, know that I probably will have a sweet little boy in my arms.
A Tribute: Eight years ago today, or at least when I started this--it is after midnight now, our mother passed away. Oh, how I miss her so. I think she would like us all "connecting" and she might even join in and out wit us all. Remember on their I believe 50th anniversary, when I ask her if they still...and Bill interrupted and said "Jane!" and she replied "Twice a day". Then, I think the lights went out. And when they came back on Mom and Dad were making out (or at least that is how I remembered it, I could be making it up!) Here's to you Mom, Love you
Lights are going out here now, good night.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Okay, Now it is Official
With Mid February rapidly approaching I am shamefully reporting that the decorations are all up, just maybe not put away. I decided that instead of hauling all of the grey tubs down, filling them up and then trying to find someone who would help me carry them back up, I would just carry all the decorations up to the play room, pull out the tubs from the attic adjacent to the playroom, fill them and slide them back to the attic. A problem exist with this plan and “out of sight, out of mind” only begins to describe it. So, I am considering changing the title of my blog to ”Everything is put 'up' but the Advent Box;” versus put “away” and if I were to march back to the girls hall right now and move the one grey tub that I brought down for my daughters to fill with the Christmas stuffed animals and Christmas books that during the holiday (and beyond) adorned the passage to their rooms, that, indeed, they did fill 4 days ago, I could honestly say that all of the Christmas decorations that were inside this past holiday season are put “up“. (Carley ignore that run on sentence, sometimes they are necessary, sort of.) Oh, wait, I guess the guest house is still decorated. Well close enough. After reading Bill’s blog a couple of days, I decided I really need to get on the ball so he can also know what is going on in my life.
So the way this works is that I wrote 25 things on individual paper that I wanted to accomplish to get me that much closer to an organized life. I then gave my oldest daughter, Carley, the pieces of paper to randomly put into each of the doors of the Advent Box. Then, on days that I feel I can do a little something extra, I will open a door and attempt to accomplish the task. Then, and here comes the part you have all been waiting for, I will blog about it. Before you all cross my blog off as one that you follow, let me just say that I promise not to write every detail of the procedure. Think Bill’s blog, now how much have we really learned about making a violin? (Not complaining here.) I figure that a glimpse of my disorganized life may shed some light on exactly who I might be. The many years of poor efforts to stay connected that all of us are guilty of will just vanish and you will all know through my disarray, what I have been doing since you last knew me well. And for those of you who might find this blog that have no idea who I am, well, now you will.
So I just couldn’t stand the wait any longer. I opened the first door. It was a good thing that I was still laughing at a conversation that Carley and her dad had this morning because the first task was a real let down. “Delete files from the computer”. Understand that the computer and I are often on shaky ground. So painfully I trudged to the computer and started with “documents”. I really thought that the delete button and I would quickly become best friends, but after an hour of working on this I only managed to delete about 6 things. Surely someday my almost 30 year old son Connor will want the papers he did in college. Or better yet, maybe my 17 year old could pass them off as hers in a couple of years. Kidding Carley. I found a few of my husband’s contracts from about 2 jobs ago (that would be about 13 years ago). He might need them. One thing I knew I didn’t want to delete was the first thing I pulled up. A picture of Carley’s brownie troop. Oh, it is (or was) so adorable. The problem was that I continued to find it in several locations. By the fifth location, I decided that I did not need to have so many copies of it so, yes, “delete” it. When I found that deleting it in that location deleted it from all, I abandoned the project and went to have a cup of tea with my delightful neighbor. I am thinking green right now. I will recycle that piece of paper back into the box for another day.
If anyone would like to hear the funny conversation between Carley and her dad, let me know. I would have shared it here but I think the length of this blog is already past what, I learned from a certain sibbling of mine commenting on my first blog, is acceptable. Plus, I learned from sharing it with a few people already that you probably had to have been there. Funny how that works.
One more thing, on the subject of computers, did you all see the Google Super Bowl add? I thought it was very cleaver and cute. Check it out if you missed it. http//www.youtube.com/searchstories?utm_source=en-us-bkws-sem-ss&utm_medium=ha&utm_campaign=en
So the way this works is that I wrote 25 things on individual paper that I wanted to accomplish to get me that much closer to an organized life. I then gave my oldest daughter, Carley, the pieces of paper to randomly put into each of the doors of the Advent Box. Then, on days that I feel I can do a little something extra, I will open a door and attempt to accomplish the task. Then, and here comes the part you have all been waiting for, I will blog about it. Before you all cross my blog off as one that you follow, let me just say that I promise not to write every detail of the procedure. Think Bill’s blog, now how much have we really learned about making a violin? (Not complaining here.) I figure that a glimpse of my disorganized life may shed some light on exactly who I might be. The many years of poor efforts to stay connected that all of us are guilty of will just vanish and you will all know through my disarray, what I have been doing since you last knew me well. And for those of you who might find this blog that have no idea who I am, well, now you will.
So I just couldn’t stand the wait any longer. I opened the first door. It was a good thing that I was still laughing at a conversation that Carley and her dad had this morning because the first task was a real let down. “Delete files from the computer”. Understand that the computer and I are often on shaky ground. So painfully I trudged to the computer and started with “documents”. I really thought that the delete button and I would quickly become best friends, but after an hour of working on this I only managed to delete about 6 things. Surely someday my almost 30 year old son Connor will want the papers he did in college. Or better yet, maybe my 17 year old could pass them off as hers in a couple of years. Kidding Carley. I found a few of my husband’s contracts from about 2 jobs ago (that would be about 13 years ago). He might need them. One thing I knew I didn’t want to delete was the first thing I pulled up. A picture of Carley’s brownie troop. Oh, it is (or was) so adorable. The problem was that I continued to find it in several locations. By the fifth location, I decided that I did not need to have so many copies of it so, yes, “delete” it. When I found that deleting it in that location deleted it from all, I abandoned the project and went to have a cup of tea with my delightful neighbor. I am thinking green right now. I will recycle that piece of paper back into the box for another day.
If anyone would like to hear the funny conversation between Carley and her dad, let me know. I would have shared it here but I think the length of this blog is already past what, I learned from a certain sibbling of mine commenting on my first blog, is acceptable. Plus, I learned from sharing it with a few people already that you probably had to have been there. Funny how that works.
One more thing, on the subject of computers, did you all see the Google Super Bowl add? I thought it was very cleaver and cute. Check it out if you missed it. http//www.youtube.com/searchstories?utm_source=en-us-bkws-sem-ss&utm_medium=ha&utm_campaign=en
Thank goodness for the recycle bin. Carley is in the far back.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
We are still on "unofficial".
So, I made progress last week but it is all still not put away. A series of events got in my way. Basketball games (Cayden's team won), academic competitions (Carley's team won), band performances (our ears won, beautiful music by Carley's all region band) exercising a ton (my body and mind won), lunching with my sweetie (we both won), socialized with friends (they won, ha!) letting the dogs in and out (they always win). And then there was this very quick trip to Kansas City to see our darling sweet Nico (our hearts won). Precious! We only got to see him for a couple of hours but wow. Even though he had not seen us since Thanksgiving, with his friendly personality, he acted like we were his best buds. You know, rethinking this, life got in my way? I don't think so. So what if Christmas still lingers on in our house. There is always next week.
Nico and Grand "Jane" 
Nico and his AuntiesMonday, January 18, 2010
The Unofficial Start
A line from my teenagers’ childhood just popped in my head as I struggle to think of how to start this blog. “Just say no”. However, something keeps me from using this phase on the “blog pusher”. Could I secretly want to do this? Things keep happening reminding me of reasons why I should not embrace it. The latest happened tonight when I began the procedure of starting the grill. A little background here: we possess only a Weber grill; the kind that you put charcoal in and then figure out how to start without any mechanical, (a switch) or chemical (charcoal fluid) help. It is all we ever have had and probably all we ever will have. We have the means to purchase a gas grill but it is not going to happen. Many reasons exist why but at the moment I can only think of one. It is all Fred (my father) ever had. We have, though, extravagantly purchased a coal chimney that assist in starting the coals (Fred had one too). I think you can purchase them at your favorite discount store (I’ll save the push for the “you-know-where “ till later) for about $10.00. Anyway, how this chimney works is that you put coals in the top part and newspaper in the bottom part; two and ½ pages of newspaper to be precise, and that is what almost stopped me from writing a blog. It took me 10 minutes to decide which part of today’s paper to part with and it was a Sunday paper. You see, I don’t ever take the time to read the paper, but in trying to decide what part to use I kept finding articles I would like to read if I had a few minutes. I would love to find time to read the newspaper but it does seem that whenever I do actually read it, it never fails to put a crimp into my happy-go-lucky day. Today, for instance, I read an article of a homeless woman that died on Christmas day. That in itself depressed me, but what really bothered me was a paragraph that came immediately after the paragraph where her mother talks about how beautiful her daughter was (she was in several hometown pageants growing up, she had beautiful brown eyes, long eyelashes) ….right after that the paper felt compelled to tell us that “a series of mug shots….over four years showed her deteriorating appearance.” Now why would they feel the need to write that? What possible added value did it give the reader? Was it suppose to make us feel better that a beauty queen did not pass away. Ugg. So…I will write instead of read. And I will read my siblings blogs, now that’s entertaining and informative and usually not too depressing. I will, I will give blogging a shot.
My oldest daughter just read what I wrote, her comment—“kind of scattered, Mom, but I guess that is what you are.” So, now you are forewarned, I am scattered. Those, or more precisely, the one who wanted me to write this so bad may be sorry. But, however painful it may be, you, (and you know who you are) must read every last word.
By now I am sure you are on the edge of your seat wondering what I am going to blog about. Well before I get to that let me set this up. You have learned (those who are reading this and know me learned nothing here) that I am scattered. So here’s another thing about me. I like to buy things. Whew, I said it, I admitted it. The first step to recovery, right? No, I am not going to blog about overcoming my purchasing addiction (someone has to help this economy). Remember, I am setting this up. Where Bill, my brother with the Custom Crafted Violins blog, has confessed his inheritance of large sums of money from our parents, I on the other hand only inherited my mother’s gift to spend. Oh, I also got tons of valuable items (my siblings had no idea of the warehouse full of antiques my parents left me, surely worth well over $600,000) but that is beside the point. We are getting closer to the point. Now one of my greatest purchasing weaknesses is Christmas decorations. I looooovvvve Christmas decorations. They adorn practically every inch of my common living area. I love the color red and fortunately it goes quite well with my year round décor. A huge problem lies with this, uh-addiction-- time. I spend lots and lots of time putting up and taking down these decorations. Usually, they are not all up until the second week in December and if I get them down before Feb. 1st, it is a miracle (that is just the “Christmas” decorations, snowmen stay up until March.) This year I felt a need for an incentive to get them down quicker (getting really close now to the point, sort of). I decided I would not officially (this is just the unofficial start) start my blog until they were all (except one item, The Advent Box) down. Thus, the name of my blog--- “Everything is put away but the Advent Box”.
Now, I am sorry, but, I must back up, just a bit. Once upon a Christmas shopping expedition with my husband, I found this really cool Advent Box. I have included a picture but I have to describe it a little. It is 18” by….well the size doesn’t really matter, other than that small presents can go in each door. The first year after purchasing the box, my husband took it upon himself to fill it, or at least the presents for me. He decided we (the three girls in the household) would take turns opening a day. The man even typed and printed a schedule. Oh, it was so much fun. I got lots of cool earrings that year (really the only things that would fit in the holes, but that was good, earrings are a very close second to Christmas decorations in my material world). Anyway, the piece is well handsome, not junky, sturdy, classic maybe. Other than the numbers on the door, it could really stay up all year. So…that is precisely what I intend to do, keep it up all year. But why? Well, the problem with packing it away is that by the time I have found it again the next year it is usually well after the first of December when we should start opening the doors. Thus, after the first year we had it, the slots were never filled again. So if I keep it out than it will be ready to fill when the time is right. (Did I just hear someone out there say “oh my gosh, get a life”? Oh believe me it is only going to get worse.) So I am leaving it up, in my room, by my bed and do I have an idea of what to do with it. (Oh, I can almost smell what I am going to blog about, it is that close. But first….) Along with my mind, my house shares my scattered disposition. Let’s just say my whole life lacks organization. I am not sure I have a reason for it but I have managed to justify it. I have a friend that whenever she goes on a trip she wants her house in order so that if something should happen to her the people who would come in to do whatever people do when something happens to someone won’t be too burdened. I, on the other hand have it all figured out. I think that God would never let something happen to me because he would never be so cruel to the people that would have to do that thing that they have to do if something were to happen to me. So as long as my house has chaos, I travel in peace. However, a person can live with only so much disorganization, so…THIS IS MY BLOG PLAN: I have numerous things that I would like to do to organize my life. Maybe organize is too strong. Let me just say there are things I have been-- putting off. Some are very quick fixes, some, a more a little more complex. I have written out 25 things (for a start) that I would like to “get done”. Hmm 25, that’s a familiar number. I believe that is just how many doors that are in my advent box. Now I would love to wrap this up and tell you the entire “plan” but…first, I must put away my Christmas decorations, all but of course the Advent Box. And then the “official” blogging might begin.
My oldest daughter just read what I wrote, her comment—“kind of scattered, Mom, but I guess that is what you are.” So, now you are forewarned, I am scattered. Those, or more precisely, the one who wanted me to write this so bad may be sorry. But, however painful it may be, you, (and you know who you are) must read every last word.
By now I am sure you are on the edge of your seat wondering what I am going to blog about. Well before I get to that let me set this up. You have learned (those who are reading this and know me learned nothing here) that I am scattered. So here’s another thing about me. I like to buy things. Whew, I said it, I admitted it. The first step to recovery, right? No, I am not going to blog about overcoming my purchasing addiction (someone has to help this economy). Remember, I am setting this up. Where Bill, my brother with the Custom Crafted Violins blog, has confessed his inheritance of large sums of money from our parents, I on the other hand only inherited my mother’s gift to spend. Oh, I also got tons of valuable items (my siblings had no idea of the warehouse full of antiques my parents left me, surely worth well over $600,000) but that is beside the point. We are getting closer to the point. Now one of my greatest purchasing weaknesses is Christmas decorations. I looooovvvve Christmas decorations. They adorn practically every inch of my common living area. I love the color red and fortunately it goes quite well with my year round décor. A huge problem lies with this, uh-addiction-- time. I spend lots and lots of time putting up and taking down these decorations. Usually, they are not all up until the second week in December and if I get them down before Feb. 1st, it is a miracle (that is just the “Christmas” decorations, snowmen stay up until March.) This year I felt a need for an incentive to get them down quicker (getting really close now to the point, sort of). I decided I would not officially (this is just the unofficial start) start my blog until they were all (except one item, The Advent Box) down. Thus, the name of my blog--- “Everything is put away but the Advent Box”.
Now, I am sorry, but, I must back up, just a bit. Once upon a Christmas shopping expedition with my husband, I found this really cool Advent Box. I have included a picture but I have to describe it a little. It is 18” by….well the size doesn’t really matter, other than that small presents can go in each door. The first year after purchasing the box, my husband took it upon himself to fill it, or at least the presents for me. He decided we (the three girls in the household) would take turns opening a day. The man even typed and printed a schedule. Oh, it was so much fun. I got lots of cool earrings that year (really the only things that would fit in the holes, but that was good, earrings are a very close second to Christmas decorations in my material world). Anyway, the piece is well handsome, not junky, sturdy, classic maybe. Other than the numbers on the door, it could really stay up all year. So…that is precisely what I intend to do, keep it up all year. But why? Well, the problem with packing it away is that by the time I have found it again the next year it is usually well after the first of December when we should start opening the doors. Thus, after the first year we had it, the slots were never filled again. So if I keep it out than it will be ready to fill when the time is right. (Did I just hear someone out there say “oh my gosh, get a life”? Oh believe me it is only going to get worse.) So I am leaving it up, in my room, by my bed and do I have an idea of what to do with it. (Oh, I can almost smell what I am going to blog about, it is that close. But first….) Along with my mind, my house shares my scattered disposition. Let’s just say my whole life lacks organization. I am not sure I have a reason for it but I have managed to justify it. I have a friend that whenever she goes on a trip she wants her house in order so that if something should happen to her the people who would come in to do whatever people do when something happens to someone won’t be too burdened. I, on the other hand have it all figured out. I think that God would never let something happen to me because he would never be so cruel to the people that would have to do that thing that they have to do if something were to happen to me. So as long as my house has chaos, I travel in peace. However, a person can live with only so much disorganization, so…THIS IS MY BLOG PLAN: I have numerous things that I would like to do to organize my life. Maybe organize is too strong. Let me just say there are things I have been-- putting off. Some are very quick fixes, some, a more a little more complex. I have written out 25 things (for a start) that I would like to “get done”. Hmm 25, that’s a familiar number. I believe that is just how many doors that are in my advent box. Now I would love to wrap this up and tell you the entire “plan” but…first, I must put away my Christmas decorations, all but of course the Advent Box. And then the “official” blogging might begin.
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