Say Good-bye to the Amy We Know & Love

...at least for a while. It's come to my attention that my intolerance is breaking the surface, rearing it's head so to speak.

I know it happened last time I was pregnant and my family just sort bore with me ignored me. It's probably the best way.

So, to all my friends and family who are, and will be, experiencing my raw emotions, forgive me. My former personality will be back in a few months. I'm doing my best to remain cheery and pleasant but some days it's all I can not to rip my hair out and chew off my arm (not to mention contain my melodrama).

Ok! So, moving on!

The Weekend

I know I never mentioned I was leaving for the weekend. I found myself describing myself recently as "disoriented" lately and that's the truth. I just can't seem to stay focused for very long and even my typical and favorite activities are displaced. So, sorry.

We went, of course, to the wastelands of the in-laws. The 1-horse town where DH grew up. It served to be very typical of most other trips there. I amuse myself by bringing books, my computer, and contemplating suicide.

It's nearly a 2 hour trip to their house and we stayed 2 nights. DH packed up our bags this morning as I finished my breakfast. He brought my bag full of necessities (that would be my computer bag) and set it by the back door. All the OTHER bags, he put in the car. Of course I didn't see it there. I assumed he'd packed the car. I didn't realize it wasn't among our possessions...until we were home. This wasn't his fault. I should have been more concerned about my most important worldly possession.

In the bag was my laptop, my clipboard with ALL of my paperwork for work (completed and needing to be submitted Monday am), the 3 current books I'm reading, and a few other odds & ends. When DH told me he hadn't put it in the car, I seriously thought he was joking - this is exactly something he'd joke about. I literally went to the car to make sure he wasn't. He wasn't.

Perfect.

The Other Boleyn Girl

I watched this last night and LOVED...loved it!

I have always loved movies from this time period where the dress and speech are equally fancy.

Natalie Portman is absolutely incredibly beautiful. She was sort of a seductress in this movie; a role I've never seen her play but she was amazing. Scarlett Johansen played a fantastic nice-girl.

The worst part about the movie was that I watched it with my 14 year old niece who had lots of questions. Come on, the movie is about adultery, sex, and um, more sex. I had lots of explaining do such as terms like "consummate a marriage", and why the King needed to be"diverted" and what the heck "diverting" means in that context, and why the parents were encouraging Mary to cheat on her husband with the King. Interestingly, she didn't know that this was a true story. Wow! I thought everyone knew this story! I even know what happens to these people's kids but then I'm not 14.

I'm not sure my sister would want her daughter delving into these complicated moral issues at such an early age (not to mention me explaining them to her). I'm pretty protective and I know I wouldn't want SP wanting it at 14. But it was rated PG-13, how was I to know?

Lots of Changes

My house has 3 bedrooms upstairs and 3 down. The upstairs bedrooms are occupied by the Master, SP and my "office" (discussed here).

The downstairs bedrooms are the recently redecorated spare, my workout room, and the other "spare", massage room, gift-wrapping room and catch-all crap room for anything we want behind closed doors. It's a disaster in there right now and so, the door is closed to all inquirers.

I've known since we moved to this house that should another baby come along, I'd have to give up my lovely space upstairs, which is also conveniently located right down the hall from the kitchen and across the hall from my bedroom. It really couldn't be a better location for accessibility, and usability (for an office as well as for a nursery).

But I'm losing it - willingly, no lie. But I have to give it up for Baby #2. I am being relocated down to the catch-all room which will have to be completely cleaned out. The bed's gotta go and so has much of what's in there.

What I hate is that my current "office" has a built-in desk, drawers and shelves above. The new room has no built-in desk, no built-in shelves and no built-in drawers. It's going to be an organizing nightmare, at a time when that kind of thing just makes me want to take a nap.

The good thing in all of this is that I really think I'm going to say good-bye to all of my scrapbooking stuff. I've fallen in love with digital so much that there's just no use for these hundreds of dollars of supplies that I'm sure will bring in a chunk of change on e-bay or Craig's List. That, in and of itself, will be a load of work but will free up tons of space.

Sugar Cereals - What's Your Position?

My mom NEVER bought them. We didn't have a large variety in our cupboards: Cheerios, Rice Krispies and Oatmeal. And as a kid, oatmeal is just blech!

I thought my mom was so square!

Now, as a mother I am just disgusted by all of the sugar cereals that are pro-ported to be "healthy". These cereals have over 15 grams of sugar per serving! That's a lot for a little kid for breakfast! Kellogg just put out a new line of lower-sugars but they're still around 12 grams. That's not low -it's just a concession. I don't care what federal guidelines are for nutritional content for kids - look at a lot of American kids and you decide what should be the limit - less than 12 grams, for sure (especially for breakfast).

I am encouraged that some companies are doing their best to make tasty cereals without all the sugar. Fruity Cheerios (a little high but still reasonable), Frosted Mini Wheats, Kix, and the varieties of Life and Chex. I still buy a lot of Cheerios and Rice Krispies though.

I buy sugar cereals as a special treat. I bought some Lucky Charms the other day (11 grams of sugar - have you noticed how many more marshmallows there are vs. when we were young - wow!) and of course SP eats all of the marshmallows first and then doesn't want to eat the rest. But that was the deal when I bought them so she *forces* them down.

Fortunately, I've started her off on a good foot. Not totally depriving her so she doesn't go crazy when she gets some, but also shooting for healthy, low-sugar breakfasts. I realize there are *vitamins* and *calcium* and other junk but I think it's just those manufacturer's way of getting away with putting so much sugar in them.

Yeah, sugar sells.

Thank Heaven for Mix n Fix

Last time I was pregnant, it got to the point where I couldn't even stand the smell of myself, or anyone else for that matter. It made me nauseated to cook any meat and so I just didn't cook at all. I'm not sure what we ate. That I gained 60 lbs is proof that I did eat, however, lol!

I've already started to plan ahead this time though. I've got about 10 lbs. of ground beef thawing so I can cook it & re-freeze it so if I want to make something, I don't have to fry the beef first. Yuck! The only time I barfed last time was cooking a pork chop. Just the memory makes me want to heave.

Today I spent a few hours getting ready for tomorrow's Mix n Fix. And it's coming right in time because I think I've only got another week or two of olfactory bliss.

What's on the menu this month?

I made: Sesame Tilapia, and Montreal Chicken

Meals I will receive will be:

Fajitas, Beerless Brats, Cranberry Chicken, Personal Pizzas, Grilled Asian Pork, Bistro Turkey Burgers, and meatloaf.

I'll be so happy to tuck these babies into my freezer for later use. I have lots left over from months past too so we're definitely NOT going to starve as I enter into my hardest time of pregnancy - seriously - it was the absolute worst part. I couldn't stand the smell of Fall even the next year when I wasn't pregnant.

Also, please bear with my posts. I know they're not all my typical uppity-up, and definitely not the frequency you're used to. But I'm trying.

Cheers!

Advice Anyone?

Let me just preface this by saying that if you think this blog is about you, it's extremely likely that it isn't, in fact I can very nearly guarantee that it isn't.

So anyway, I need someone to help me out here. Have you had a bum reader? Someone who is just bringing your blog down by reading and not commenting ever but you know their intents aren't pure? They're just reading your blog to have material to be more jealous of you or something.

Maybe I should just say this to that person - please stop reading my blog. Your presence here is not welcome anymore. You don't add anything to this give & take, and actually disturb the flow of this blog more than anything. If you continue to read my blog (and believe me, I know who reads my blog, and how often), I'll be forced to move the whole thing just to exclude you from my life.

If anyone has advice for me to do this without having to change my entire address, I'm open to suggestions. I love 99.999% of my readers but that .001% just bring me down!

Sorry. This has been bugging me for several months and I'm finally getting the guts to lay it out there.

p.s. yes, i do personally know this person. that rules out a great number of my readers.

For more information, go here.

Old Memories

I created a profile on Facebook sometime ago and just in the past couple of weeks, I've gotten in contact with several of my old high school friends. Yes, I know I said I didn't have any old high school friends, but there are a few of them out there and contacting me to find out what's up with me, no less! Wonders never cease!

But getting in contact with old friends, especially from high school, has had some adverse reactions from me of which I have been surprised! I've mentioned before how miserable high school was for me. Literally, it was like having my head stuck in a hay-baler the whole 3 1/2 years.

Never tried that? You should. It's an experience you'll never forget.

And being in contact with people from a period in my life that was so difficult, it tends to bring up many memories that after 16 years, I thought I'd expunged for good.

My therapist would probably say it's a good thing to open up the wounds, flush them out, bare the nerves until they are numb...and then move on with life. I like the advice. It's sort of how I've dealt with many other equally painful things in my life like my divorce, parent chaos, etc.

Dance Recital

SP's first year of dance was officially over tonight. I love watching that kid dance. It's all I ever thought it would be.

It was at a high school this time so she got to actually be on stage with the lights out - and then they flooded them on and she just blinked and looked around like she didn't know where she was. But it only took a second and she was in the groove. She's not shy at all; not like I was when I was her age.

I hope she stays outgoing. It's such an easier world when you don't always have to stand behind your mom. I've learned that being outgoing can actually be fun.

If I can get the video downloaded tomorrow I'll post a clip just for grins.

We're also going to Cherry Hill tomorrow and I've got my big dinner-swap coming up on Saturday to prepare for. It's going to be a busy week.

BTW, I'm not a complete slacker. I had a great post all done on Monday and Blogger was down so I lost it.

Happy Noises

As a kid, I spent practically my whole life living with a pool in my backyard. This was one of the first ones my family put in our backyard and is similar to the huge blow-up ones that are for sale nowadays.

We had SO MUCH fun in it and the bigger model that came a few years later.

In the in-ground swimming pool we had in SoCal, we spent hours and hours and hours playing Marco! Polo! and I have such great memories of that.

Today, while vacuuming my own pool out, I heard familiar sounds coming from my neighbor's home. They have an inflatable pool and have 3 children. I heard them loudly playing Marco! Polo! and it just made me grin from the memories. They were having such a great time and I couldn't help but think of my sisters and the great fun we had in the water as kids. Those are good neighbor noises.

Costco

This was me today, pushing the mega-load about the tempo of a turtle. It was not all my stuff, mind you. I can usually just use an average sized cart for my personal Costco trips.

And so I guess Costco expects lots of traffic on Fridays because there were those "taster" stations at every SINGLE aisle corner, sometimes two at each end. And then you have these people who wouldn't even normally look TWICE at tofu burgers who nearly twist their heads off trying to get a glimpse if they're out of the toaster-oven yet. Then, everyone has to clog up the aisle while they wait for the worker to load the paper holder with the tiny sliver slices.

Meanwhile, I don't give a rat's rear for whatever they're trying to sell, just trying to get my bohemith of a "cart" around the frickin' corner. And of course I can't because Mr. Mom & Pop Gluttony are waiting for their half of a cream puff.

Can't Costco work something out? I mean, this system clearly does not work!

Time Off

I didn't really mean to take so much time off! It sort of got away from me. I was so busy and sort of just let it all just carry me away. But in answer to my many friends' inquiries about where in the heck I've been...I'm okay. Thanks for your concern though - it's nice to know when you're missed!

My niece left a couple of days ago. We had so much fun while she was here. We didn't finish the Zelda game but I'll probably finish it on my own in the next couple of weeks although I'm not going to let it consume my life like I have in times past.

I've also getting really into my new job which has been working out so great! I'm loving the people and the flexibility (not to mention the $$). I've been working with geriatric patients in their homes and it's been awesome. Working with them in nursing homes, I've always wondered what their lives were like in their actual homes and in this job I get to see it. I'm amazed by their spirits. So many of them have these HUGE families (like 10-12 children) and support networks like you wouldn't believe. I love seeing all of their family pictures and seeing their personal lives reflected in the way their homes are kept. I'm so lucky to be able to be in a position to help such terrific people, really.

I'm so happy it's actually Summer now. It's hot enough to take the cover off our pool and actually enjoy it even if it will only be hot for 2 months. I'm just happy to finally have a little bit of a natural tan!

Zelda

I know I've been sporadic lately and I'll tell you why and it's a little story.

Before I was married, I went to visit my little sister who also wasn't married. She was in college and played lots of video games. I was with her for a week and we literally didn't leave her house for practically the entire time because she got me into playing Zelda...like a fanatic. I was fixated!

Eventually I came back to reality but knowing I hadn't won the game yet, I bought an N64, the Zelda (Ocarina of Time) game, and beat the game.

It's been in my storage room collecting dust...until now.

My niece has been here since Sunday and I was feeling bad for her because all she was doing was playing with SP - Candyland, legos, play-doh. All the stuff that's fun for about 30 minutes. But I'm talking hours. And I wasn't obligating her to do it but she said, "what else is there to do?" Hmmm - what else would a 14 year old WANT to do?

So out came Zelda - and she's hooked doing way better at it than I ever did but while she plays, I've become hooked again too. I love watching her play and since I remember lots, I can help her. We've been up until 1am for the past couple of nights and I can't tear myself away!

I'm Thinking That Moving Sounds Nice

Literally in less than 5 days, one and then two of my friends who live within 1/2 mile of my house have had their homes burglarized in broad daylight. Where are we seriously living?? This is supposed to be one of the top 100 safest cities in the nation!

Kelly had her car stolen right out of her garage not to mention the thousands of dollars of electronics and purely priceless memorabilia on her laptop that was stolen. Heidi also was robbed of her precious wedding ring - something that just can't be replaced.

I've spent this afternoon on the phone with neighbors, husband and my home-security company trying to figure out how this happened and how to avoid it happening to us! Short of locking all of my windows and setting the security system even when I'm home there's not much else that can be done. Talk about living like a prisoner. I hate it!

To my friends who have been violated, I'm sorry. I can't imagine the feeling of coming home to see that your belongings have been sorted through by a complete stranger whose sole goal was to make a gain from your sadness and loss. I certainly hope this creep(s) is caught soon.

Best Laid Plans

You remember the list of things I'd outlined to do today in my family's absence? I tossed and turned all night because I was excited to wake up and get to my day (not my typical MO).

I didn't go to sleep until about 3am due to this book I'm reading, which by the way is pretty compelling. I wasn't a Twilight Series groupie and thought that Stephanie Meyer wasn't "all that" but have somewhat come around after reading her latest book.

At 9am, I woke ready to jump into action. But...first order of business was to throw up, then head to the medicine cabinet for Pepto or whatever might let me have even a 3 minutes reprieve from the bathroom. Not deterred, I took a shower and got ready to go to church. By 10:15 though, I knew I wasn't going anywhere except back to bed. Foiled!!

I lay there feeling sorry for myself and listening to the Chihuahua tell the world he's lonely (no, I haven't yet gone over there - I'm waiting to see if DH will take care of it first, for once). I read for awhile and then at noon, decided to try to clean up the house at least. Having labored through that wondering how my friends who get deathly nauseous while pregnant manage THIS for 9 months, I made some mint tea, took my temp (101.9) and went back to bed.

I decided that my aches and pains could be associated with my hellatious run yesterday but are more likely attributed to a case of stomach flu. Even touching my skin hurts.

I think I'll just lay here and feel sorry for myself some more though, as I think of all the wonderful things I was going to do today that now I'm missing out on.

Where Am I?

I know it's been a few days since I've posted but it may be another couple before I make an intelligible one. I am however consumed with reading YOUR blogs as this has been more fun for me for the past few days.

Additionally, DH and SP have gone to the in-laws for a couple of days leaving me with some blessed relief time. I'm playing...let's just put it that way.

I'm expecting my little niece (she's not so little being that she's taller than me) here tomorrow for a week's trip while her parents vacation on some little island in the Caribbean. I'm excited to have her. And because I'm expecting her tomorrow is why I didn't go with the family to the in-laws.

So today while I had the whole day to myself I...went for a run, got a massage, went to a movie, visited my sister, and am working on a good book I received last night from a friend.

Tomorrow I plan to...sleep late, clean up my house so it doesn't LOOK like I played too much, go to church, go on a bike ride, read some more, take a nap.

These are most of the things that are difficult when a 4 year old's in tow. A couple of days every now and then make me feel like a human being.

Princess and the Frog

SP: "Mom, if I kiss a frog, will he turn into a prince?"

Mom: "No honey, but sometimes if you kiss a prince, he'll turn into a frog."

A Grocery Trip

When standing in line at grocery stores, I am constantly amazed at what other shoppers are buying - the assortments of foods - or rather lack of.

I frequently see huge carts full of food with only about one item of fresh produce in the whole bunch - but the cart is full of chips, cookies, prepared foods, sugar cereals, ice cream etc. And while there's nothing wrong with those foods, it surprises me how much percentage they take up!

I went to the store tonight and bought everything you see in the counter. As I was checking out, I took an objective look at what I was buying and was surprised to see the healthy variety of things I was buying. It was in nearly the exact ratio it should be in relation to the food guide pyramid. And all of this stuff only cost me $55. Who says eating healthy is expensive?

New Job

I started my new job today and shadowed my friend Jamie on her caseload, and she showed me the ropes. It was fun! I feel much better about my ability to do this job successfully now that I've seen firsthand what I'll be doing.

In case you weren't following this story, I've been working for the school district for the past school year as an occupational therapist and now that school's out, I opted to get another job to fill the summer hours. I only work a couple of 5-6 hour shifts a week.

I'm now doing home-health (rehabilitation) for a variety of different patients from dementia to strokes, to post-orthopedic patients.

The school district has offered me a more permanent position (so far, I've only been "as-needed/PRN" to fill in) for next year and I asked for a month to consider it. In that month, I'll be deciding if I like this low-stress job (which incidentally pays a heck of a lot more) or if I want back in the crazy school schedule. Based on today, I'd take the home health job, but there are a lot of factors involved so I need to keep myself open.

Do You Use Photoshop?

I've been doing a bunch of stuff with my digital scrapbooking lately and it's required that I learn a lot more about Photoshop than I ever knew before. It's complicated!

But I learned something today that I've been wanting to learn for a long time, and that's producing higher contrast black & white photos instead of just eliminating all of the hue.

I got the basis for all of my knowledge about Photoshop from Kelly, of course (who incidentally took this picture) and since then have had to supplement it with tutorials from the internet. And that's what I wanted to tell you! I found a great tutorial today (right at the nice "beginner" level - which is what I always need) that guides you right through how to create higher contrast black & white photos.
The photo on the left is the higher contrast and the one on the right is just having the hue removed. You can see what a big difference it makes! You virtually lose all your interest by removing hue.

I just wanted everyone out there who was as clueless as I am about Photoshop to know where you can get an awesome tutorial...here!

Some Random Things

Random Thought Provokers
What makes you laugh?:	my friends, and my dorky husband
Who is your hero?:	Christ
Who would you want to be tied to for 24 hours?:	Renee
How many pairs of shoes do you own?:	about 20 too many
Seriously... Where does the other sock end up?:	behind the dryer!
Who do you blame for your mood today?:	Christ - it's a great mood
If the Internet were sex... I would:	be considered a nymph
Have you ever seen a dead body?:	i'm old enough to have seen my fair share, and young enough to still have many left to see
What is something scientists need to invent?:	a robot who cooks and does laundry
What should we do with stupid people?:	love them anyway
Have you ever broken a bone?:	yes, my arm when i was 16. it was awful!
Do you watch local news? Why?:	no. it's all depressing and annoying. besides DH fills me in on all the important stuff
What happens after you die?:	it depends on what you did while you were alive!
How big is your bed? Big enough?:	big enough that i get to be with DH but have enough space to be spred eagle!
How long do you think you will live?:	until i've finished what God sent me to do
Take this survey | Find more surveys Bzoink - The Original Survey Site

My First Niece

Renee & Brooke, Denver May 2008

I was not quite 20 when I got the phone call that my first niece had been born to my sister, Renee. I was so excited! She was my first real experience with a baby, if you'll believe it!

Through the years I don't know what kind of example I've been to her but hope that when she's old enough to form her own opinions about the "grownups" in her life, she'll like me as a person.

She went with my sister and me on our recent trip to Denver and it was a great trip. I enjoyed her so much! It made me excited to have a teenager of my own. If she weren't so weirded out by my and my sister's quirky behaviors when we're together, she might have had a good time!

I could tell that she wanted to cut loose with us though - every now and then I saw the glint in her eye!

Between that trip and today's birthday party, I managed to catch an elusive smile. The one I got Denver is beautiful - she's a beautiful girl, and her mom is too so we know where she gets it. The smile I got today was accidental...and perfect.

It'll Do...

because there's only 15 minutes to spare, and we're off to the party!
Do you even realize how much those little candies from the original picture cost? For a 5 lb bag it was $32! This ain't no wedding cake, folks. I opted out for Strawberry Whoppers which I like to eat more anyway (the others were dark chocolate mints, blech!)

The Mission

Tomorrow is the friends' birthday party for SP. She's requested the above cake (this isn't the one I've made - just a pic). I've done other cakes for her in past years including the following so I'm not necessarily scared. I just always get nervous because I've only got one shot at it - and screwing up is so easy. I better get to work!

1st Birthday
(I actually made 2 of these: one for guests, and one for her to smash in her face)


2nd Birthday


3rd Birthday

Four at Last!

Photo credits to Kelly.

SP has been waiting for this day for SOOOO long! She's not been able to talk about anything else for weeks!

She's finally 4! And today, we're taking her and her BFF to the Children's Museum. Then we're doing a little family party tonight but her "real" party is Saturday.

Why do years go by so fast as adults, and so slow as children? Her birth is still emblazoned in mind like it was yesterday!

Your Obituary

A number of years ago I had mortality worries - not like I was going to die but just being as prepared for it as one can be.

I typed up important information (financial, personal etc.) so that DH or my sister wouldn't have to search around too hard to put things in order.

At the same time I also outlined my burial requests including the funeral (no open-casket: eww), organ donation etc. I even made some requests about songs, speakers etc. Hmm. Looking at this is making me sound really morbid. But I like to be prepared, that's my style and I'm comfortable with it even if others aren't (which truly DH wasn't when I told him about it).

I put a copy of all of this in our safe deposit box. I can't remember all that I wrote only that it probably needs to be updated for several reasons. I think I even sort of wrote my obituary.
Weird.

But you know how at funerals people get all sappy and tell a bunch of lies about how positively terrific a person was? Even if you truly loved someone, they still were only human. Well, I want the TRUTH told at my funeral. I want people to know I was grouchy in the morning and irritable if I don't get my way...but that I tried hard to be a good, honest person.

What's the most important thing you'd have said in your obituary or at your funeral?

That Was Stupid

Have you ever been blog-surfing along and found something interesting only to forget to bookmark it. Despite your searching, you can't find it again?

That's me today.

I'm embarrassed to tell you what exactly I found interesting but I truly hope that whoever's blog it was, is reading this post and will comment so I can go back.

I found a blog that was talking about a great high protein/fiber bean soup. She gave the recipe and I tried it today. It was DELICIOUS...yeah, bean soup. Who'd have guessed? I've been trying to greatly increase the amount of protein (and less fat) I'm taking in so this post was very interesting to me.

Here's the recipe in case anyone's interested (most of this is verbatim from this lady's blog - so sorry nice lady):

Bean & Hamburger Soup
1.5 pounds 90/10 ground beef
16 oz bag Goya 16 Bean Soup Mix
3 stalks celery
1 sweet onion
10 oz baby carrots
6 cups water

makes approx. 12 1+ cup servings

• soak beans overnight in 4 cups water, rinse
• chop celery and onion

• in a really big pot, combine beans, celery, onion, carrots, water, and crumble raw ground beef on top, cover, bring to boil, stir, simmer for 1+ hour or until beans are tender.

Probably the most impressive part of it all is the nutrition info. Granted, it’s not necessary to only eat a cup serving, but I just broke it down that way for ease of calculating the following nutrition figures:

Nutrition Info.
251 total calories
45 calories from fat
5g fat
2.25g saturated fat
35mg cholesterol
152mg sodium
220mg potassium
31g carbohydrates
16g fiber
4g sugar
20.5g protein

Personally, I added some more flavor to it: Spiced with about 5 garlic cloves, 1 very large onion, red cayenne pepper, about 3 tsp of salt, 1 tbsp chili pepper, 1 tbsp cilantro, and about 1 tbsp louisianna hot sauce.

Oh my! Not only did my house smell divine while this was cooking, it tasted so great! Not to mention how few carbs & how high in protein and fiber (low in fat) it was. I think it made enough to last for a week's worth of lunches!

Anyway, if whomever's blog this showed up on is reading this blog, I just wanted to thank you and let you know how I improved its flavor because you said it lacked in flavor just a bit. Thanks!

At Long Last

...I won't have to schlep my groggy head down the hallway bathroom in the middle of the night. My new toilet is installed! I know this news means nothing to you but you've no idea how my day is altogether brighter because of it!

It's a Peaceful Sunday Morning When...

Can't Get Over This Weather

On this day for the past three years, we have had our daughter's birthday party in our backyard. We usually spend the week prior getting the yard in shape and cleaned up. By this time, the pool's usually warm enough to "consider" swimming in, and it's usually so hot that sweaters have been relegated to the back of the closet.

This year, we did not have SP's party in our yard but instead are having it next Saturday at an actual party place, per her request. So we didn't have the clean-fest we normally do which is actually unfortunate. Since we do the party and spend so much time getting ready for it so early in the summer, it's done and we can spend the rest of the summer maintaining and enjoying.

But, since the weather hasn't been great AND no party, there's been no reason to push to get it all done and so, our garden wasn't even planted until today, nor most of the flower beds cleaned up and planted.

The front yard...well, you know the story but at least I got a lot done in the backyard today. I planted A LOT of perennials today so to avoid having to do a complete overhaul every Spring. I'm anxious now for next year to see what it will all look like from early Spring on. I think perennials are exciting!

Is Organization Hereditary

Or should I just be worried about OCD...

I Had A Bad Day

I actually had a bunch of emails yesterday (and/or comments) inquiring if yesterday's post was meant to refer to them.

Alright. I'm really sorry! I mean it!

That post actually wasn't meant toward anybody. It was a collective frustration that really wasn't even about that issue even. I mean, I was having a really bad day that was the culmination of a really weird weekend and I let my mind wander too much on poor, pitiful me.

Truth is folks, I have great friends. I have friends of every kind. Some call, some don't. Some write me letters, some text or send emails. Some I know well enough that I can talk to them once a year and it's totally cool - and some I live just houses away and don't often see...and that's cool too. It's all good because each of these relationships have their own "rules" or agreements. We know what's expected and we can be friends in whatever way we've chosen because well, because we're friends!

So, to each and everyone of them that worried about who I was referring to, I'm sorry. I'd be ungrateful if I were to be critical about any one of my friends' flaws because they certainly haven't been critical of mine.

Is It Just Me Or...

what?

Do you have a friend who just doesn't call you? Professes to be your great friend but then just will not pick up the phone?

And then you, on the other hand, possess lots of guilt for not calling them more (even if you're not that great at calling either). But the guilt is mainly because you realize that you don't talk to them much and then worry it's because you don't call them - only to figure out later that it's also due to the fact that they're not picking up the phone either?

You go through your caller ID and realize it's been like a month since they've even called your house?

And so...what do you do? Do you keep up the charade? Do you just accept the fact that you know they are your friend but just not good at making phone calls? Or do you just throw in the towel, realizing that the efforts you are making aren't being reciprocated and that effort is just making you bitter?

I've done both. But have never felt good about either decision. And am now faced with it again, and am sitting on the fence...maybe too long. What do you do?

A "Real" Haircut

I took scissors to SP's hair today and trimmed an inch off the bottom. But she was mad and of the opinion that short was the way to go. She said, "I want it short, like yours" as she took a chunk of my bangs in her fingers.

I tried to talk her out of it knowing that short hair is more work for me and she has little patience for a quick pony in the back anyway. But, she is on the cusp of 4 and perfectly capable of deciding how she wants her hair.

So we went to a new place in town that specializes in kids' cuts. It was cute and they did a great job. She seems so grown up with a true bob (doesn't she?). Good thing only last week we took some good pictures of her with her long hair. It was halfway down her back and beautiful.

I guess it's her hair, and short of dying it green and mohawking it, she can do as she pleases.

Unexpected Weekend

Sorry to be away for so long. Being such a regular blogger, it feels weird not to post for 1 day, not to mention 5.

I found out early on Friday morning that my dad was in the hospital, his appendix having ruptured spilling gunk into his guts which evidently was infected. He had surgery and was in recovery, it having turned out to be a little more extensive procedure than originally anticipated.

Since flights were over $300 a person, and driving to Denver from Salt Lake has always been a more financially prudent decision (given one has the time to spend - 8 hrs), my sister and I rented a tiny little gas-conserving car and were on the road by Friday afternoon.

We spent all of Saturday at the hospital practically taking over all aspects of his care except for dispensing his meds. I was in charge of his rehab, and my sister (who is in nursing school) took over his food in-take, oxygen stats and physical comfort. By the end of the day, he was up walking around, had a bath and was on the road to recovery.

Sunday morning, he was feeling pretty sore and sort of nauseous but feeling a lot back to his old self. We stayed awhile until we were sure he was alright and then decided it was time to go.

We drove by the house we lived in when I lived there years ago, my old high school and some of my haunts from about 16 years ago. It was nice to see them but they didn't feel like home anymore so I pointed the car west and headed toward my family.

I'm glad my dad's going to be alright and I'm very happy to be home.

Me and Dogs

At the risk of alienating all of my dog-loving readers, I'm just going to lay it out there for you, folks. I'm not a dog lover. There. I said it.

And it's not even like I've never given then an honest try. I had a lab when I was a teenager. I was even the sucker who brought the runt home. She was a sweet little thing, and I did love her. She's in heaven now.

I even had a Dobie when I was a young-adult (married to The Cowboy). But we had a small house and he was a puppy and he chewed on anything in sight and had the smelliest farts ever! He was precious but well, just not my cup of tea.

Since I've gotten older, I've come to dis-appreciate dogs in a whole new light. Why is it everywhere we move, we've got some completely deaf neighbor who owns a dog and refuses to bring the dog in when it barks incessantly all of the time? I mean, PLEASE people! If you absolutely must own a dog, open your freakin' ears and pay attention to the yapper!

And I am the neighbor who will come to your house at 3am and tell you that your dog is annoying the crap out of me. I've done it a few times, and no doubt will do it again. I'm also the neighbor who will call the pound. I've done it before, and no doubt will do it again.

For a long while I thought my newest neighbors had the sense God gave them, and didn't want a dog. And so the neighborhood was practically devoid of barking dogs and all was peaceful in the night. Until 3 nights ago when the little boy next door joyfully shouted over the fence to me that they had just got a Chihuahua. A chihuahua people! Of all the dogs they could have gotten, they had to get the one that barks THE MOST!

And it does...all day long.

Yes, I will be taking measures. Say what you will about my cold-heart, and my un-feeling nature. Guys, it's not all dogs I hate - only the ones who bark! Or maybe I just hate the owners who let their dogs bark.

There's a couple down the street who own a dog and they've had the voicebox removed. Now THAT'S what I'm talking about!

Birthdays

Anybody but me have the hardest husband to buy for?

DH's birthday is next Wednesday and if you thought I even had a CLUE as to what to do, you'd be as far from the truth as possible.

What to do, what to do, what to do.....hmmmm.

And, to make matters worse, I need to buy two presents, one from me, one from SP.

He's got it so easy. I make it so easy on him. I know I'm hard to shop for (lol, mainly because he just doesn't pay attention when we're in a store - because if you watched me, it would be easy to tell the things I gravitate toward), but then I give him a veritable list of things I would like. Would it really be so hard for him to do the same?

So, I'm on a mission today. With luck, I won't have to drive ALL over the city.

Furry Lambs

As a ploy to get SP to allow me to brush her teeth, I've created the furry lambs that live on her teeth that need to be gotten rid of. It makes her laugh while I chase the furry lambs around her mouth with the vibrating toothbrush. Kids - you get inventive!

So we recently had cleanings at the dentist and she came out with a A+ bill of health. Me, on the other hand...not so much. Evidently mom's not been getting all the furry lambs out of her teeth. One has eaten a hole into a molar.

This was actually a good thing to happen though because SP is now acutely aware of what can happen if we don't get those furry lambs out! I have to go today to get the cavity filled (one of my very least favorite things to do in the whole world). I think I'll opt out of the laughing gas today though.

Happy Mother's Day!

Since a good majority of the people that I know are mothers, I wanted to take a moment and acknowledge what a terrific and difficult job it is to be a mother. It truly is a tough job but gives ample reward.

My morning began with the most beautiful little bed-head girl peering up over the side of my bed saying, "Happy Mother's Day, Mom!" Then, she disappeared for a while and came back with a hand-made card - my first of this sort and I'm sure I will have it forever. It's precious.

I am so lucky to be a mom. It wasn't ever something I was dying to do but my life has been so blessed so much by this little person who follows me around everywhere. I just love her so much! When you have a child, it's as if you yourself are born again, as a new person. It's that different. It's that great.
My beautiful Mother's Day gift was this:
Yes, I know what I said about the hanging baskets but seriously, it's this just absolutely divine? I'm going to put some of those water crystals in it and hopefully prolong it's life. That's the plan.

My Guilty Pleasures

The most widely understood definition of this term is "things you enjoy doing but are sort of embarrassed to admit to".

Here's a list of my few (not comprehensive because I'm bashful):

1) late night snacking on cheerios and chocolate chips and fruit-by-the-foot (lol, not together)

2) lounging in bed while the morning sun shines through my window

3) blowing off all of my work and floating in the pool while SP naps

4) diet pepsi (a few too many a day)

5) spending $$ frivolously on myself on things like flowers, clothes, shoes and whatever Costco is selling at the moment

6) going to movies alone

7) decaf - at least it's not the real stuff anymore but I still indulge once in a great while

8) sleeping in the spare bedroom in my very favorite mattress!!! DH hates it and I do have good reason to do so but I never really mind too much. It's SOOOO comfortable!

9) unabashed overindulgence in the biggest plate of spaghetti you've ever seen. My favorite food - never to be dished out sparingly!

Introducing My New Blog

It's a shame when all of the scrapbook pages done get put into a book on a shelf where they are only viewed now and then. Some of you may disagree with me but each scrapbook page is a creative outlet and a small work of art.

I wanted to share my pages with my family and friends...put them out there where they are viewed often instead of sitting in a book. My blog, Couldn't Be Scrappier, is a few months old but recently I've been adding to it more frequently because of my toe-dipping into digital scrapbooking. I hope you enjoy and/or find inspiration.

Garage Demo

Have I mentioned how much I hate my front yard? Dude, I abhor it! I can't even believe I bought this house based on the way the front yard looks. It's just SO ODD! And my home has absolutely not even a shred of curb appeal.

My last house was so cute. A little boxy brick bungalo with a little porch and a walk from the porch straight out to the sidewalk. The front yard was small and I had white petunias lining the walk on either side. It was charming and no surprise that it sold in 1 days without even having to list it or put a sign out.

This house on the other hand is the exact opposite. Driving by, you don't even notice it. For 3 months after buying it, I'd drive right past it without seeing it...completely missing my driveway.

That is hopefully about to change. The completely ineffective 1-car detached garage is coming down, as is the circular driveway that, while it is supposed to make pulling out onto a busy street easier, actually makes parking a nightmare. All of this is to be replaced by a real driveway with a turnaround, 2-car garage and a leveled-out front yard complete with rock walls, auto sprinklers and drought tolerant landscaping.

Before that happens though, the asbestos inspector needs to perform his $300 test. What the freak people? $300 to sniff around at my garage?

Well, I guess people might think I'm over-priced too.

Expectations

Today is my little sister's birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, L - not like the 90 minute conversation didn't convey that message, lol).

Back to the point, my dad - completely out of form sent her a nice gift, complete with handwritten card and follow-up call. The man doesn't even usually acknowledge our birthdays, let alone personalize with a card. It's just not his way.

And I know this. Thus, I've learned to expect very little from him and when he does deliver, I'm pleased beyond measure.

There's a lesson here, I can feel it. It's right on the tip of my tongue...

Would I be more happy with what I receive on a regular basis from those that I expect to deliver...like DH, my siblings, friends, my mother - if I lowered my expectations entirely?

I need to think about it. I heard long ago this saying and it's never left me:

"Un-met expectations are always the cause of disappointment."

In all of the time I've had to test this theory, I've found it to be 100% true.

Sharing the Past

I got my hands on this the other day. It's me, 16 years ago for my senior pictures. I guess we didn't know about eyebrow waxing then...

I've Gone Digital

I resisted it for a long time. I just didn't think it could possibly be as cute as real-life paper crafting. And then my baby sister opened my eyes (as usual) and won me over. I may not ever go back.

BFF Reunited

And All Is Right With The World Again.

I'm Making Progress!

on The List. I spent a good amount of time in the yard this weekend. DH again convinced me not to do too much in the front because if a building permit isn't too much then the garage is coming down in a few weeks when he's got a whole week off. Then he'll be tearing out the whole yard and putting auto-sprinklers in, doing rock walls and a whole menagerie of wonderful things. Can I just say I'm a teenie bit hopeful!

But here's the progress on the backyard...

1. I don't usually let people see the Spring version of my planters but here is this one. It's needing some serious attention. Daisies line the perimeter of it and is that bush even still alive? (click for bigger pics) Check! - ready for a new variety of annuals. Last year it was beautiful!2. So that's where all you little guys have been hiding out! Time for a little heart-to-heart fellas. My parsley is NOT your home. Check! This parsley bush has been relocated to a pot so that DH can till the veggie garden. Snails have been relocated to heaven.
3. What are you? And where did you come from? Um, DH said he liked the "jungly look" of this corner and to please please leave it. It's a good thing it's not in my first line of vision when I look outside. I'm not lovin' the jungle look, myself. 4. I hate you. You are going down! Check! Oh. My. Gosh. This abominable creature was actually 5 creatures with arms 5" thick. I had to hack them off, then dig out each stump. After which I found 5 other tree stumps under and around this area. I dug each and everyone out, smoothed it out and perhaps it's ready now for some new beautification. This took me like 4 hours! Ok, not really but it felt like it. 5. This is the southeast corner of my yard leading up to the front. It's a menagerie of useless plants that turns jungle-like in August. I plan to tear it all out and then I have no idea. Check. Just to the right of this frame is the above creature. I cleaned this all out and am pleased with its potential now. Yeah me!
6. Didn't I already tear you out like 12 times already? Persistent little bugger. Check! This stinker is gone! Next , that trellis is history and I can do something else with this little corner that's right off my patio. It could actually look great! 7. Why didn't anyone tell me to take out bulbs before laying sod? Forgot about these, but DH mowed over them and the leaves will die so I'll probably not worry about them until next Spring. I don't want to destroy the sod pulling them up right now.8. Anyone need Irisis? These are in the wrong place, too compacted and just a little too unkempt for me. Didn't do this yet. I really need to figure out where else I can put these. Perhaps there will be a nice little spot in my fabulous new front yard...whenever that happens.9. Boxwoods: How about a measuring tape when planting, people. I mean, did they just haphazardly throw them in the ground or what? (there are 2 more to the right) Ugh. DH promised me to pull these out with a track-hoe but they're actually really nice boxwoods and he would destroy them. I don't mind them at all. I'd really rather just relocate them. Again, I'm stumped. I also got the entire veggie garden cleaned out. I actually had lots of stuff in there that needed to be moved for the tilling. The parsley, some oregano, chives and some volunteer lettuce that there's no sense in wasting. I love living in a house more than a couple years...it's great to see what happens from year to year!

Disappointing!

I'm going to get really boring on you for a minute, so please humor me. I write this blog for my own personal journal...not just to amuse the masses.

I have a line of ancestors that I've been trying to track for several years - trying to figure out where in Europe (Austria) they originally came from. Everything I've tried has failed.

So about a month ago, I sent two requests to Pennsylvania for copies of death certificates for my great-great grandmother and her father. I was most interested in her father as it would have had a lot of specific information. I was SURE they'd be able to send it to me.

I've literally been running to the mailbox for two weeks ever since the checks were cashed proving they were on the case.

When they came in the mail today, it was akin to opening the envelope from my University when I was awaiting acceptance to my grad program. I quickly read through the information and although there was a death certificate for my great-great grandmother (FANTASTIC!), there was a short letter saying they had no record for her father. I was SO bummed!

NOW where do I look? I'm literally stumped!

New Job

When school's over at the end of May, I will be free to work somewhere else. A good friend of mine has given me a recommendation for a home healthcare company in the area where I can take over some of the patients that are up in my area.

I "interviewed" at the company yesterday which was sort of a joke because it really wasn't an interview at all. It was more like a Q & A, and then I filled out the employment forms at the end. I knew I wanted to work there and evidently my friend gave me a good enough recommendation.
So that's that.

Starting June 1, I'll be going to the homes of my patients who aren't able to get to out-patient therapy. I'm really excited as home care is the true meaning of occupational therapy and most of my schooling was dedicated to this service model.

Not to mention that the pay is about 1/3 more than I make right now and the flexibility couldn't be better, as I schedule my own patients around my life, not me having to work when I've been scheduled. It's going to be really good I think.