All that and a bucket of chicken

I'm still standin.....

2011-07-10T22:18:00.001-06:00

Just a quick note to say that I'm still here and have some things to say..but not tonight. Heh.

Maybe tomorrow. :)

Massive FAIL

2011-06-28T19:57:00.002-06:00

First of all...my children's web speak has totally corrupted my lil brain. So forgive me if at times I sound more hip than I have any right to be at my old age.

Well. Guess how much of my Monday list I accomplished?

I got dressed.

Hah. It seems like the universe is conspiring against me. Or I am. Perhaps a little bit of both...

I sleep in. Bad, bad way to start the day. Reed asks me if I need the car and want to take him to work. (We are juggling one car with three jobs and four children's summer activities.)

I get up..check my phone...sweet Kara had texted me to see when we were meeting.

Suuuunap!

I haven't seen her forever and we have so much in common...I have to make it work. So I text my poor spouse and asked if he'd consider bringing the car home at lunch so I could drop him back off at work and meet Kara.

He said yes. What a guy!

So...he gets me, I drop him off, and head down south. However, I have the wrong exit number and drive 20 minutes past where I need to be before I realize it.

Suuuuuunnnnap! Squared.

I turned around, and meet my friend 30 minutes late.

After a delicious Five Guys burger...we go to a park so her kids could play and we could chat.

And I get a phone call.

"Mrs. Watson?"

"Uhhh...yes?"

"This is Maria and I wondered if your boys are on their way to dance."

"It's Monday, right? Isn't dance on Tuesday?"

"Well, we couldn't meet last Thursday to finish the formations because too many kids couldn't be there."

And it hits me. Three of my four children have their Dance Concert. TONIGHT.

And I, I am 40 minutes from home....and have no idea where their costumes are, or if they are even clean.

So I call the spouse, who on this day shall be dubed "The Saint", and ask him to please see if his parents can get the kids to practice...and tell him I am heading home.

Oy. Vey.

I get home...start on lil bug's hair...and oldest child informs me that the boys didn't find their costumes before they got picked up. Really.

So The Saint digs through the dungeon that passes for the boys room and finds what they need.

And it's dirty.

The Saint runs downstairs to throw them in the wash and gets a call. The boys don't have a ride from practice to the performance venue after all..and he needs to go take them there.

Murphy has NOTHING on me today, baby.

I sit down to the comp for a minute and get sidetracked in a conversation about ADD. The Saint finally gets back home and says:

"Did you put the costumes in the dryer?"

OH. MY.

SUUUNAAAP!

We both head for the basement while arguing who should have made sure that had happened (yes, probably me, but to be fair I thought he would have asked the oldest child to listen for when they were done washing and switch them since her bedroom is right there.)

One hour till SHOWTIME.

Clothes in dryer...grumpy parents...Oldest decides to FINALLY take a shower. She then retreats back into her room where she has spent 80% of the day.

Thirty minutes till showtime..the clothes are "damp dry" but we can't possibly wait any longer. I pull them out and start ushering the rest of the family to the car. And there we sit...three of the four of us.

I run into the house and yell for oldest child. She is SO in the doghouse!

She comes upstairs with WET HAIR and yelling that she'll be right there...if I want her to come BAREFOOT.

Fifteen minutes till showtime. Grumpy mommy, grumpy daddy, hungry bug and petulant teen all make it to the car.

We arrive at the venue...at the time the show is supposed to start....and run the boys clothes to them. Fortunately the dance school is notorious for late starts and this night is no different. I am madly hoping that this time it's not our fault.

Lots of music and lots of dancing later we all head home exhausted.

And I have checked one thing...ONE...off of my list.

I got dressed.

Here's hoping for a better day tomorrow.

Let the Baby Steps Commence!

2011-06-27T10:35:00.002-06:00

So...part of being depressed is having no other desire than to sit quietly and fade into the wood work. It's really easy to become distracted with online activities or other things where it's just..quiet. Being around people is hard. Moving is hard. After I teach I want nothing more than to just be shut up in a room with complete silence.

So...baby step #1...get thy ass off of the chair.

Over the past several years things have really fallen apart around here. It's gonna be a long hard haul to put them back together.

Today's list:

1. Get dressed. Yeah..some days that has to be on the list.
2. 30 minutes in the front patch of weeds that passes for a garden. I want to make that an herb garden and I have three happy little plants waiting for a home.
3. Mop and dust living room.
4. Meet my good friend Kara for some lunch and commiseration.
5. Scrub bathroom.
6. Make Chicken Tortilla casserole for dinner.

Things I'm gonna have to harrass the kids to do:

1. MOW THE LAWN! Our lawn mower broke..it's been over two weeks. We finally got a new one. Ugh
2. Dishes dishes dishes. 6 people, small house, and no dishwasher makes for an ugly stinky mess.
3. Get those dirty clothes to the laundry room! They say they have nothing to wear....I can't find any of their clothes to wash.

So...yesterday I made these little...mini lasagnas. I'm so stinkin proud of myself for actually cooking something new. It was so easy and a pretty big hit with the kids (though for Sadie and Breanna it would probably go over better with plain ground beef instead of italian sausage.)

So...if you need something different and fun and EASY...here's what you do:

Get out a muffin pan. Oil it generously with olive oil.

Line each pan with a Gyoza wrapper. Yeah..that's right...a potsticker wrapper. I know that seems incongruous with the whole "italian fare" thing but bear with me. (Side note..incongruous has TWO u's! Who knew?)

In the bottom of each little gyoza wrapper add a dollop of sauce. On top of each dollop add a spoonful of ricotta cheese. Sprinkle with parmesean. Add whatever filling you desire: sausage, ground beef, spinach, mushrooms...so many possibilities! Just a little will do.

Push another gyoza wrapper on top to create another cup. Repeat the process. Add a little mozzarella cheese. Squish one last gyoza on top..coat with sauce and mozzarella. Bake in the oven at 375 for 20 minutes. Voila!

Happy little lasagna cups that can even be eaten with fingers. Cute, no?

Have a beautiful and productive day! :)

New Beginnings

2011-06-26T19:09:00.002-06:00

So. Now that anyone who had ever read this has given me up for dead...I have a new desire to start again.

Depression sucks. That's all I can say. Depression when you're a mom of four and have two jobs REALLY sucks. Depression when you're a mom of four, have two jobs and have just reached the dreaded "mid-life" stage can be devastating.

But guess WHAT? The time for wallowing has passed. I have a new desire...as well as nifty prescription drugs...and I want to make a change.

I've decided my brain is something like a hamster wheel.

Once it gets going...it just keeps going and going in the same way in the same direction and never reaches anywhere. If I let it focus on the things that make me sad..my hamster wheel goes faster and faster until it falls off the holder and runs into the wall of the cage.

Up until now I think I have primarily lived my life by default...I have let it run me into the ground.

So...there will be new changes on this blog. A new look...a new focus.

Each day...I am going to accomplish...something.

I may not get here everyday...but I hope to be able to share these baby steps with you.

Maybe...I can babystep myself out of this rut and live the life that I truly want.

lol..yeah..i'm still around.

2010-09-26T21:19:00.002-06:00

I'm the sort of person who writes stuff in my head. All the time...essays....rants...

You'd think I'd rock the blogging thing. Obviously, since it's been a year since my last post, I suck.

So. I am thinking..I want to get back into this. Hopefully my friends haven't given me up for dead.

What I'm thinking about lately:

1. School

One little boy said..."I'm HOT!" The other teacher said..."what do you want to do about it?" He replied: "Let's all take off our shirts!"

Yeah. Apparently they start young.

2. Teenagers

My daughter was asked to homecoming. Around here they don't only go to a dance, they have a "day date." Only...this boy cancelled because his parents wouldn't let him go...he got a bad midterm. Is it fair to punish his date because of his grades? I thought that was in bad form. There's a lot more to this story but it rates a post of its own.

3. Running.

I do it. Sometimes. Lately I've been slacking and putting back the pounds. What do you find to be good incentive to do something you don't like?

4. Midlife

I'm there. And it sucks.

Well, that's about as verbose as I feel at the moment...but I hope to get back into the swing of things. I am considering a little commercial venture on etsy...we'll see how it goes.

ttfn.

Good times and bad times

2009-05-22T04:24:00.002-06:00

Ever had a life altering experience that colored the way you look at the world?

Ever been so angry at someone that just the sight of them makes you cringe?

Ever felt so much pain that you can't eat or sleep? That you gasp for breath?

Yeah...me too.

Yeah....I'm back.

2009-05-03T15:14:00.002-06:00

Been away far. far. too. long.

Tales from the LSS:

The store that I work at has 2 special events per year. One in Jan and one in May for National Scrapbook Day.

For those two days, the store owner arranges with companies to come and teach a class...usually a two page layout, for FIVE DOLLARS.

The companies that come don't donate the supplies. They don't prep the supplies. The owner buys everything that's needed, plus often more for the store. She cuts everything out, even things that need to be hand cut, and assembles it all into kits.

I have seen some of the invoices for just the kit supplies and often, even at 5 dollars a kit, she's not covering the cost of the supplies, NOT to mention that she's definitely not covering the time it takes to put it all together.

She has 3 rules:

No bags in the classroom (stuff walks away)
No children in the classroom
and YOU MUST ATTEND THE CLASS TO GET THE KIT.

The reason, obviously, is that if she is spending all that time and money to do this for her customers, she also hopes that they will COME TO THE STORE and spend some money. She only has sales twice a year...the same days that she does these classes. On those days you can get 25% off of your ENTIRE PURCHASE.

Yesterday, well, was a mess.

Part of it was my fault.

I had a friend that signed up for the classes. Pretty sure I told her that she had to be there to get the kits, but I can't honestly remember now.

Her daughter ended up having a dance competition at the same time. When she got to the store, she'd missed half her classes and couldn't get the kits OR a refund.

So I'm standing there at the counter while they go back and forth...my boss upset because she'd been having this same issue all day with people just wanting to take the kits home for friends who didn't show, etc. My friend is in tears, my boss is frustrated, and it pretty much looks like its all my fault.

Fast forward a bit. I have to teach two of the classes because the manufacturers were from out of state and couldn't send someone.

I get in the class and start calling names to hand out the kits. One lady has her name on two kits and says that she's already arranged it with my boss to take the other one home.

WHAT?

She is also sitting RIGHT NEXT TO MY FRIEND.

I tell her that I have to check with Kathy. When I get to the list, there are three girls in back whose names I didn't call. I ask them if they are signed up for the class and one replies, "Yeah, because all the other ones were ugly."

I go up front and check the sign up cards. Sure enough, they're signed up for two classes, but NOT for the one they are currently sitting in. I go back to tell this to the lady and she says, "There is NO way we would have signed up for THAT class. We hated the project!"

Nicccce.

I run back up front, trying to put out fires and NOT teaching anything. My boss is stuck at the register and tells me to send the people in question up front.

So I tell the "arrangement" lady that she needs to talk to my boss. She heads out. I tell the three girls in back that they need to go up front to talk to the boss, she can't come back because she's stuck with customers.

As they flounce out of the room,the vocal one says, "Well, what the HELL are we?"

Sigh.

After "arrangement" lady leaves, my friend's sister mutters, "Well, SHE'S been getting extra kits ALL DAY."

I haven't BEEN there all day. I have no. freaking. clue.

My boss comes back into the room and tells me to give the three girls kits, but tells arrangement lady that she can't take an extra one. I notice that arrangement lady does NOT mention she's taken them for the rest of the classes.

As I teach the class (which mostly consists of answering questions) I can hear a dialogue from the back of the room from the three disgruntled girls:

"OMG...they are Nazis here! And the kits aren't even cute."

"That's why I always go to (insert competitors name here.) They have better stuff and they're not all bitches!"

And all I can think is...please please DO go there, and don't let the door hitcha on your snotty little fannies on the way out.

Just as the class is over, arrangement lady calls me over and says, "Can I talk to you outside for a minute?"

Oh. No.

She says, "I need your advice. I DID make arrangements to take the kits home and she must have forgotten. I would NEVER have signed up for two if she had told me I couldn't take one home."

Uh...what does she think I can do about this?

So, I just tell her what I've been told...and that she needs to talk to the boss. I turn around...and boss is RIGHT THERE.

Now...my boss is funny about a lot of things, and while I agree that people should have to attend the class, I don't necessarily agree about not giving store credit back if they miss it, especially if they sold the kit to someone else. But one thing about her, she always does right by me. She could see that I was upset about what had happened with my friend, and she made it right. My friend left happy.

But I, well, I had had enough.

When did people get so rude? So entitled? One other thing...we had just gotten in a lot of darling Doodlebug product because we had them do a class. And almost everything on that display WALKED AWAY. Someone stole it. People went to buy it after the class and it was ALL GONE.

Scrapbooking isn't a necessity. You don't need it to survive. And you're not going to get much for product on Ebay anymore.

Someone just felt entitled, somehow.

What a long, long, day.

25 random things you may or may not know...

2009-02-01T20:37:00.002-07:00

So...I joined the Facebook revolution and in the week or so I've been on, I've been tagged several times to do this list of 25 "random things."

Reading it...I sorta sound like a downer. And like it's "all about me." (Which, incedentally, I tell people quite often, but as a joke. Because when it becomes all about me, I tend to freak out a little.)

Things are going on with me, myself and I that have me...reflecting. Wondering how I got to the point I'm at and where I go from here. I know some people think I've been offended, and actually, that's not the deal at all. I've had things going on in my head for a long time, and now is good a time as any to try to reconcile a few things.

Anyway...keep all that in mind as you read my 25 random things, which aren't nearly as witty or amusing as I usually like to post. I'm not feeling particularly witty nor amusing at the moment. I will, however, leave you with my new favorite quote from "Good Omens" by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman: "Heaven has no taste...and not one single sushi restaraunt."

Here are my 25 *random* things:

1. I wear my heart on my sleeve and I hate it. Even though I tell myself that I don't want to share what's going on in my head (stress, whatever) it always, ALWAYS finds its way out. I am QUEEN of the overshare.

2. I can get really annoyed/mad at someone, but I don't hold grudges/stay mad. Though I don't forget, either. ;)

3. Everyone thinks that I'm an extrovert, because I can be very animated and loud in a group, but it's something that I've had to learn. My natural inclination is to be home curled up in a chair. I have to force myself to socialize. I feel very awkward in one on one situations.

4. I have an unnatural aversion to talking on the phone. I don't enjoy it and always want to get off quickly.

5. I overthink everything. Overanalyze it. Read things into it. And then stress over it.

6. I've always wanted to teach, ever since I was little. I teach pre-k now, but would really like to get my degree to do kindergarten.

7. I scrapbook, but it's not a natural talent. I have to work at it and I'm always unhappy with the end result.

8. I'm cynical. And I still get caught off guard when someone does me wrong.

9. I love to read...mostly sci-fi or fantasy. Terry Pratchett tickles my funny bone.

10. I used to be considered an excellent writer. Sometimes when thngs are quiet, I write in my head: usually snippets of books or letters to people who have hurt me. But I never committ anything to paper.

11. I often imagine I'm anyone else but me. That's why Halloween's my favorite holiday and why I love murder mystery games.

12. I have this fear that if someone attacks me, I won't be able to scream. It bothers me so much that I dream about it a lot...and one time I actually screamed in my sleep.

13. I prefer Jacob over Edward. Edward's a wuss.

14. I also have a fear of being in a car underwater. I have nightmares about it.

15. I love to try new foods from different countries. As long as it's recognizable and doesn't have tentacles or fur still attached.

16. My pet peeves: people who drive while on the phone, people who don't return emails/phone calls, and people who cut in line. At some point, I've been guilty of all of these.

17. I prefer honesty over lies, even if the truth hurts. But I don't always want/need to know if someone's trashing me behind my back.

18. I used to be really athletic: I ran track, played soccer and did some gymnastics. One of my biggest regrets is that I didn't fully pursue one of these.

19. My other biggest regret is that I didn't apply myself in school and chose to just skate by.

20. I have strong convictions, but that doesn't mean that I can't/won't change them. My gut instinct is to play devil's advocate, which makes people think that I'm shutting them down when I'm really exploring all the options.

21. Connectng with old friends has been really exciting for me!

22. My favorite movie is Serenity and my favorite line is "Shiny. Let's be bad guys." My second favorite movie is the Rundown partly because I think The Rock is hot.

23. I also think Vin Diesl is hot...even if he is a jerk.

24. I wish I could sing like my sister Keri, write/paint like my mom, manage my money like my dad, be cool and good lookin' like my brother Dan, keep in touch with people like my sister Becky, and take life less seriously like my brother Nick.

25. I have had my wallet stolen...twice. One of them was a good old fashoined mugging.

You learn something new every day....

2009-01-21T16:47:00.000-07:00

Today in pre-k I was teaching the children about koalas. (Who are NOT bears. Say bears around my boss and she will kill you. Slowly. With marshmallows.)

And we were talking about how koalas only live in one place (Australia) because they only eat one thing (euchalyptus) and how even though there are over 300 varieties of that plant, Koalas only eat 35 types...and some will only eat one or two.

So that led to a short discussion about endangered animals...and to explain endangered, I had to first explain "extinct."

So I say "Extinct is when there are no more of that animal on the Earth. The dinosaurs are extinct....they used to live on the earth but there aren't any here anymore."

At that, one little boy starts waving his arm madly in front of my face. I try to put him off by saying "Just a minute, Sam," but it's apparent he's going to blow.

"Ok, Sam, what is it?" I ask.

"Jesus KILLED all the dinosaurs!"

Who knew? All this time I thought it was climate change...turns out Jesus did it.

Your Tax Dollars at Work....

2009-01-13T16:23:00.002-07:00

So, my oldest dd has been complaining for a while that her physics teacher is two cans short of a six pack. She says that he spouts random stuff and often pulls out his guitar to serenade his class with Bob Marley, the Beatles, and all the songs he wrote for his ex-wives before they were ex.

Here's one little dialouge she shared with me:

Teacher: Here velocity equals...Hey you! Spit out your gum! Gum isn't allowed in this class, you guys know that. It's chewy and stretchy and it gets stuck on EVERYTHING.

Did you know that once in my 3rd grade class that I was chewing gum and I coughed and it shot to the front of the room and stuck to the chalkboard? You know, I really didn't like my 3rd grade teacher. She was weird and mean and smells like fish.

You know, I've never really liked fish, either. Think about it. They swim in the water and the water's all gross and they drink this water and breathe the water...

In Japan, they eat raw fish. I think that's really gross because do you know how many toxins are in fish? Like salmonella and stuff...

You know, my uncle used to go ice-fishing, but he decided he didn't like it because we didn't eat his fish. It always reminds me of this 80's song about the cold....

At this point dd says that she tuned him out. And I don't think she ever found out what velocity equalled.

We went to talk to the school guidance counselor because dd failed this class last quarter. In our conversation, we found out that the class average was FIFTY-FOUR percent.

This is NOT Honors Physics or AP Physics. This is gen ed physics that every kid in that HS has to take as part of the graduation requirements. And this guy's class average is an F.

I asked if we could move her. The counselor said we should "talk to the teacher first."

And say what, exactly? "You stink and we want a new teacher? Physics does not equal fish and velocity does not equal the speed of your coughed out gum as it hits the chalkboard?"

So...now my DH, who is quite good at things such as math and physics has taken over re-teaching physics to my teen. It's stressfull sometimes, because they don't understand math on the same wavelength. But at least it's PHYSICS and not the Beatles.

Not that there's anything wrong with the Beatles, of course. But if I want my daughter listening to classic rock, I'll buy her a CD.

I don't expect it to come out of my taxes.

My Musical Christmas Card

2008-12-25T15:08:00.002-07:00

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

This is the choir that I sing with. My dear hubby is the last one on the left and I'm right next to him. Sorry about the lousy video/sound quality (that funny ringing is bells that we're playing but you can hardly see them on this.)

Merry Christmas!

Black (eye) Friday and Chrismas Songs that Suck

2008-12-06T21:34:00.002-07:00

I did the Black Friday thing again this year...it's become kind of a tradition for my sister and me.

Lines were short, deals were decent, and all in all it was the easiest Black Friday spree we've ever had.

My dh got to Walmart at 4 , was about 75 in line and was able to get us a new tv with no problem whatsoever. In previous years, you would have had to have been in line at 2 am to be so close.

According to my friend, things were so easy for us because we didn't want a Ripstick.

I've never heard of these things, but it seems they are quite the hot Christmas item around here.

Friend took her 11 y.o. daughter with her to Walmart to get the hot deals. Daughter wanted a Ripstick, so she ran one way while mom ran the other to grab something else on the list.

Daughter gets to the Ripsticks and grabs one seconds before they are all gone. A minute after that, a grown ADULT WOMAN comes up to the 11 year old and TRIES TO TAKE HERS AWAY.

She even SCRATCHES the girl.

Now, if it had been one of my pacifistic children, they would have relinquished the toy and come crying to me. It seems that, in raising thoughtful, tender children, I have also created little doormats.

Not so with this child.

She kicks the mean old lady in the shin and takes off with the Ripstick.

She's TOTALLY coming with me next Black Friday...I'll block and she can tackle.

*************************

Back in my retail days, I developed a deep aversion to certain canned Christmas music that seems to play ad nauseum wherever Christmas goods are sold.

This is slightly ironic, since I spend 11 months out of the year practicing singing Christmas songs to perform 8 or 9 times during the month of December.

Anyway...my sister and I were discussing the worst Christmas songs ever. The ones that make you want to hurt someone wearing red. The cloying ones that try to make you feel horrible for being happy when so many other people are suffering.

So here are my top five WORST CHRISTMAS SONGS ever:

5. "Wonderful Christmas Time." This one gets a spot on my list for having an annoying repeating chorus that can permeate your consciousness no matter how you are occupied at the moment. When I was working retail, I could be ringing someone up and all of a sudden notice "Simply..haaaving...a wonderfulchristmastime. Simply...haaaving a wonderfulchristmastime." and be so distracted I probably gave them way too much change. I guess then they WERE having a "wonderfulchristmastime."

4. "Last Christmas." Another annoyingly repetitive Christmas song. It sings the same chorus OVER and OVER and OVER. We get it. You gave away your heart. You regret it. Get OVER it already.

3. "2000 Miles." Yes. It's very far. You say so every other line. "2000 Miles. It's very far." Score a point for Captain Obvious. The song also asserts that if you hear singing then it must be Christmas time. Take it from me. There are people singing Christmas songs all freaking year long. Believe it. Sunday nights at 8.

2. "Don't They Know it's Christmas Time?" Not that helping others and being aware of others in the world is a bad thing, but this song wants us to feel bad because "there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time." Well, duh. It's AFRICA. They never have snow. They don't even miss it. If it suddenly started snowing in Africa, I'm fairly sure there would be riots and mass hysteria, which I'm fairly certain won't make the natives feel any more Christmas-y. There are plenty of reasons to "feed the world," but lack of snow on the savannah isn't one of them.

1. "Christmas Shoes." This is the king of guilt inducing Christmas music. Some pup-eyed moppet goes to the store and begs the store owner to sell him some shoes for mom before she croaks and then admits he can't even pay for them.

First of all, where is mom walking to in her dire condition? Apparently the pup-eyed moppet isn't even sure he can complete his purchase in time. Maybe he should actually be WITH his mom instead of buying her shoes she'll never use. But no. If mama is going to meet Jesus tonight, she had better be wearing brand new shoes. The entire point of this song is to make the listener feel horrible for the poor poverty stricken lad who has so little while you, the listener are out buying shoes wily nily without a care in the world. No Joy to the World for you. Hang your head in shame you lucky, capitalistic scum.

Ahem.

At any rate, I like my Christmas music fairly non-repetitive and non-guilt inducing. I have plenty of guilt left over from my overenthusiastic Black Friday shopping spree.

In which I did NOT steal a Ripstick from anyone.

Thankyouverymuch.

I'm baaack....

2008-11-25T19:56:00.002-07:00

Sorry for the delay in posting....tis the season :)

Collette! You are my blog challeng winner! We should totally go do lunch anyway...email me and we'll discuss.

**********************************

Right now my fingers are so cold that I'm having a hard time typing. Thank the drafty windows in my cold old house. The mornings and evenings have been chilly but the afternoons haven't been too cold. The leaves on the neighbor's ginormous tree have fallen and my boys have dutifully raked them up after being promised large sums of money. Today we were at the movies and my boys wanted me to take them shopping so that they could spend their new windfall.

"Boys," I said, "don't you think it would be a good idea to save that money so you will have money to buy your family Christmas presents?"

"UHHHH!" exclaims son #2. "I had to do all that work to buy OTHER PEOPLE presents?"

I stopped in my tracks, took a good look at my small son, and said, "Your dad does that EVERY DAY."

The irony, however, was lost on my children as they walked gloomily to the car.

**********************************

My baby girl has become Miss Manners.

At the movie today, I sat her next to older daughter, who said, "Aww, mom. I thought you were going to sit by me!"

I replied, "Well, I thought your sister would like to sit by both of us!"

Small sister looks at big sister and says, "I'm sorry I made you sad."

Awwww.

She's been apologizing a lot and saying things like "Yes, please!" and "No, thank you," and "Please don't show that belly button!" (When a Victoria's Secret commercial came on the air...LOL!)

It's so cute to see her learn these things, but it's also a reminder that she's growing up waay too fast. And, since she's my BABY, that also brings some sadness. My last little one in kindergarten. Right now we still spend a lot of time together. Next year, not so much.

I love my little bug. And I promise to keep my belly button covered.

Tags and an major award! (Also a blog giveaway for anyone who wants to play)

2008-11-12T22:25:00.006-07:00

I lied. It's not major. But I love that quote from "A Christmas Story."

My bestest bud Kerri gave me my Major Award. And here she is.

(Be careful. It's frageelay. :D)

So, in accordance with the rules that go with winning a Major Award, I hereby pass this award to:

Amor (Her stories about her son make me laugh)

Collette (Who wins the award for still being my friend after 20 years)

Natalie (Who has to be the most creative person I know)

Shellie (Whom I wish lived much closer to so she could play with me ALL the time)

Teri (Who also lives way too far away....but always makes me smile when I get to see her.)

OK...now to the tags:

Here's one that I missed back in October and found when I googled myself out of boredom! LOL!

In my blog surfing, I found another blogger who spells her name the SAME WAY I DO (no small feat) and also goes by "Mer." She tagged me back on October and somehow I missed it.

Five things that make me happy:

1. My family

2. Chocolate and Coke (Separately or together, it's all good.)

3. Scrapbook stores

4. Serenity (my favorite movie. "Shiny. Let's be bad guys.")

5. Books (loving Terry Pratchett right now...so stinking funny!)

I was also tagged recently by Elizabeth to list

7 Facts about Moi

1. I have feet issues. I can't stand tight shoes or stuff touching my feet.

2. I have a very offbeat sense of humor that doesn't always translate well.

3. I sing, play the piano, and play handbells.

4. I have a high IQ. (or, as my dh probably thinks, a big head. :D )

5. I hate. hate. hate. country music.

6. I used to be fairly decent at shooting pool.

7. I like things to be done my way, but I hate being in charge of stuff.

Okay...now for the giveaway portion of our program: (and YOUR chance to win a Major Award...)

Tag yourself and post about it on your blog, then come back here and comment on this post. If you do one tag, your name goes in one time. If you do both, your name goes in two times. Name will be randomly drawn.

I give good prizes, (will be scrapbook related) although sometimes they take a month to arrive! The wait will be worth it though, I promise.

Tag...you're it!

Channeling Joe Dirt

2008-11-06T14:11:00.010-07:00

I had a opportunity come up where I had to go somewhere and do something and appearance was important.

So I said to myself, "Self, it's time to update the mommy hair and get all spiffied up so that you look nice and hopefully no one will notice that your muffin top goes clear to your nose. "

Anyway, I made my hair appointment. The gal did exactly what I asked her to do, but instead of looking cute and flirty like the model in the photo, I looked more like...

<--------this.

I went home and looked in the mirror and said to myself, "Self, I do think you are sporting a mullet!"

I called my sister, who is much more on top of things like hair styles and color and what to do if things go awry...and her advice to me was, "Well, go back and have her cut more off of the bottom! You don't want to go to your thing feeling like Joe Dirt!"

So I did. Both Self and I were much relieved.

Despite my de-mulleting, the next day at pre-school, one little *cherub* said, "Miss Meridith, you look SILLY." Same cherub responds a minute later to a classmate saying, "Miss Meridith, you're funny!" (which was fine, since that was actually what I was aiming for at the moment) by saying, "Miss Sara is FUNNIER."

49.7% of me wanted to look right at the little sweetheart and say, "Well, that's ok. Just so long as you know that Susy there...the one you're sitting next to? She's WAY cuter and nicer than YOU are. How do you like them apples?"

Fortunately, 50.3% of me was rational enough to realize that letting a 5 year old get your goat is NOT as big a deal as losing your job. So Self and I looked at the punkin and said, "Gee! Thanks for that!" and went on our merry way.

Besides, later, at the scrapbook store, a hairdresser asked me who did my hair and said it was "FABULOUS!" I didn't detect any irony in his tone or subtle smirk...and Self decided that he probably knew WAY more about hair than a 5 year old with boogers. I agreed and thusly, a self-esteem crisis of gargantuan proportions was narrowly averted.

No thanks to Joe Dirt.

This, that, and the other.

2008-11-02T13:32:00.006-07:00

Well, I lied about the normal blog colors. I decided on something more seasonal. But at least it should be easier to read than the black stuff.

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This my my girl Bree. The layout is part of this month's DT gallery at Creative Express. (I just figured out how to do the link. DUH.)

She's 15 and man oh man, is she ever FIFTEEN.

Thankfully, she's not boy crazy (in fact, she's quite annoyed by all the attention she seems to get from the opposite sex.) We won't let her date until her birthday and so far that's been a convenient excuse. I keep asking her how she's going to dodge her admirers when her birthday hits but she hasn't come up with something yet....

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Sunday Funnies

Ok, so I was actually really surprised by the number of Star Wars costumes that I saw at school this Halloween. Seems like more than I saw when the last movies came out. Maybe the difference is that the Star Wars movie this year was a CARTOON.

Here's a little Star Wars Humor for you...makes me laugh every time...

Speaking of Halloween, here's what we rocked this year:

Notice the ax sticking out of my Dh's back. He thinks it's funny to tell people I did that when I got sick of him forgetting things.

I think that if he keeps it up, he could be right.

(I jest, I jest.)

We are the 80's. Like, duh!

2008-10-30T14:57:00.010-06:00

First of all, for all of you that hate black blog backgrounds, I promise this is only temporary. It's just my Halloween Blog Makeover. Normal blog colors and music will be back soon. :)

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The 80's. Oh MY. Where do I begin? This poster of Michael Jackson was hanging on my friend Shauna's wall so I took a picture of it. (Hence the big FLASH spot on the left. This was about the time (7th grade?) that I really started to pay attention to pop music after I heard one girl making fun of me because I had said I listened to my parent's radio station. I might even have owned my own M.J. poster, but I may have blocked out the unpleasant memory.

The above dance picture is my first official high school dance: Jr. Prom. I was a sophomore and my date was a senior! Whooo hooo! This is not long after my first official break-up with my first official boyfriend. (Mike Walker, shame on you! ;) ) He may have dumped me, but his friends didn't. I remained good friends with them all through high school and for many years after. Sadly, I've lost track of all of them now except Collette. She's married and has a bunch of cute kids.

The second picture is my Jr. school picture. This was right before I missed a quarter of school due to Mono. No, I didn't get it from kissing boys...because the boy I had kissed (yes, Dad, I know you read this...and yes, I did kiss boys...*insert chagrin here*)...the boy I was currently kissing didn't have it. And even though I ended up in the hospital, said boy never called or asked how I was. Just wrote a note in my year book at the end of the year that he "still really liked me."

Here are some of the friends that I made when I dated that first official boyfriend. The Mike in the middle was called "Ked" (part of his last name) so we didn't confuse him with "my" Mike. My best friend in this group was Rob Stirling. I tried to find a picture but so far no luck. He and his first wife lived next to my hubby and I when we were newlyweds for a while...but I haven't heard from him in years.

This would be the guy who didn't give me Mono but also never called when I missed a whole quarter of school and rumors floated around that I almost died. (Incidentally, the only person I knew who had Mono was the guy who made the ice cream at the Leatherby's. (My first official job.) We were hardly even on speaking terms let alone kissing ones. I've always wondered if there was a rash of Mono outbreaks due to tainted ice cream.....

That's me my senior year. My official 80's BIG HAIR is in full bloom. I'm rocking an $80 dollar spiral perm and one of those dropped waist dresses with those lace collars that were so common then. Next pic is actually from 1990 after I had graduated...I'm at a dance with a college friend and we decided to do this tux and short thing. I have NO idea why. I'm displaying the official 80's side ponytail with the requisite scrunchy. Awww....

Right above is the prom I went to after high school (who does that???) with my good friend Terry. He was kind of crazy but always made me laugh. Both he and I enjoyed creative writing and absurd humor. I wonder what he's doing these days....

Next pic is a dance I went to with one of the many Daves who walked through my life. The first Dave I had a crush on from 9th grade clear through my senior year. We went out once or twice, but he always seemed to choose someone else. I guess I must have been a glutton for punishment. The above Dave was one of two that I dated in college. We even talked marriage at one point. From what I know now, that would have been a disaster. Crisis averted. The other Dave was one that I really liked whom I dated casually for a while...but that was also around the time I started dating Reed...and you know the rest of that story....

One last picture from high school. My senior year I went on a drama trip to San Francisco for a drama tournament. (Debate team also went.) It was over my birthday and my mom made cute little notes for each day of the trip. I still have them somewhere. Krista (whom I'm standing next to) and I did a clarinet duet in 8th or 9th grade for a band concert. She was much better at playing it than I was. I gave it up but I think she still played it. Oh...and see Ryan there? I always thought he was hot...

There you have it. Your 80's flashback for the day. How can something seem like so long ago AND like yesterday at the same time?

Drumroll please....

2008-10-28T15:01:00.003-06:00

My First Blog Award! Ta Da!

Lynette, who writes http://theysayimnuts.blogspot.com/ gave me this cute little award not because she likes my witty banter, but because she likes my blog music. :D

Which is OK by me. I'll take 'em any way I can get 'em.

Lynette, if you're stopping by to listen to my song player, I have been trying MADLY to comment on your blog. For some reason, everytime I try, it pulls up the same page with NO comment blog window thingie. So here's what I would have written if I could have commented:

"Why THANK YOU for your cute blog award! It made my day to read your kind words and to know you enjoy my blog. I must also commend you on your stellar taste in music! I stop by your blog often but haven't been able to comment on the last several posts. :( I'll keep reading and trying until some day the Gods of Blog smile upon me and pull up that dang comment page."

So...with honor comes much responsibility, and it falls upon my shoulders to hand this blog award to five other bloggers. So this little blog award goes to:

1. Anna Lefler at http://lifejustkeepsgettingweirder.blogspot.com/. One of my new blog reads. The girl is funny...check her out!

2. Kerri at http://whatshappeninhotstuff.blogspot.com/ because she's my oldest and dearest friend. Maybe this award will get her to CALL me already!

3. All the girls at http://outtathisfunk.blogspot.com/. I love all their creative ideas, and I've also had the pleasure of meeting a good number of them in person. If you're into paper crafts, this blog is a must read! They've also started a online community. Lots of friendly people and great ideas.

4. Robyn at http://herebygrace.typepad.com/here_by_grace/. Not only is she a fun, happy person to be around, she's an amazing crafter. Check out her blog to see her beautiful work.

5. Laurie at http://tipjunkie.blogspot.com/. This site is one of my new favorites....and was a great resource when I had to plan some crafting activities for women at church. Everything from recipes to crafts to decorating, she's got it all.

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A little giggle for you that I recieved from my friend Heather:

ANNOUNCEMENT FROM APPLE

Apple announced today that it has developed a breast implant that canstore and play music. The item will cost from $499 to $699, depending on cup and speaker size.

This is considered a major social breakthrough because women are always complaining about men staring at their breasts and not listening to them.

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My high school friend Lisa posted lots of fun pictures and memories from high school on her blog recently. There's even one of me. I'd link you, but her blog is set to private. (psheeww!)So...you'll just have to imagine me with big 80's hair in some weird sweater I don't remember and rolled up jeans.

If you're a child of the 80's you can participate in "We are the 80's" day hosted by the blog "Where are my Angels." http://wheresmyangels.blogspot.com/2008/10/we-were-80s-day.html. If you post a memory or pic, let me know, I'd love to check it out. Meanwhile, I'll be digging through all my boxes in my basement to try to find a photo or two. Try not to laugh too hard, k?

Random Meanderings of a Distracted Mind

2008-10-23T17:05:00.006-06:00

1. I've been a bad blogger. But in my defense, for three whole days I was here:

With these fun gals:

Working on this:

And making these:

The CX Crop was a blast. Amy and crew did a wonderful job and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Here's a shout out to my girl Shell who drove me all over the place even though she drove here from Colorado...what an awesome gal! Can't wait until I get to see my new friends again.

2. U.D.O.T... aka the Utah Department of Traumatization.

UDOT has decided that all the freeway overpasses in my neck of the woods need to be replaced.

Simultaneously.

While UDOT has been receiving praise on their "low-impact" method of tearing up every freaking on and off ramp I use, it has been getting increasingly hard for me to get anywhere. Not only are many of the on ramps now closed, the alternate side streets that I would use are also under construction. If (rather WHEN) UDOT closes the on ramp that I am now using, my 12-15 minute commute will instantly become a 30-40 minute disaster.

I know that what they are doing is important, but for people who live where I live and work where I work, I'd hardly call it "low-impact." Certainly, doubling my commute time isn't "low-impact, particularly when I can't leave earlier as I drop off children at school on my way and they are only allowed to be on the school grounds 10 minutes before school starts.

Sigh. Low-impact isn't a term that should ever be used for road construction or Sweating with the Oldies.

Seeing Richard Simmons prance around in nylon shortie shorts has impacted me for life.

3. My Boy Josh

is TWELVE. That's pretty huge around here and I feel like we've let him down a little. For Isaac's birthday, we were able to take the boys to lunch and pick out Isaac's gerbils, which was a really big deal. It didn't work out that way for Josh's birthday...and the lack of photos here also means I forgot to take my camera.

I suck.

Here's to my little man. He is AMAZING. He is smart. He is kind. He is always willing to do what I ask. He is sensitive and thoughtful. He is intuitive. He is good at so many things and has many, many talents.

Here's to you, Joshua. I love you to pieces.

All's quiet on the western front.

2008-10-14T20:45:00.006-06:00

And it's cold. Very very cold.

Seems we went right past fall into winter. Snow and everything. Even the trees were caught off guard as many of them still have all their summer green leaves.

Fall is my favorite time of year. There's something about the colors, the sky, the smell that just....I don't know. Makes me feel all mooshy inside. (All together now....ahhhhh.)

Some of my most vivid memories are of the fall or of Halloween. I distinctly remember those network Halloween specials that they used to run. "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" was an annual affair. I remember watching some corny special while my mom made homemade donuts (the long, labor intensive kind, not the refrigerator biscuit kind that I make do with.) I remember pumpkin carving and roasting pumpkin seeds. I remember trick-or-treating in the rain wearing a long black wig and my gypsy costume from the ward road show and thinking I looked kinda hot. I remember that Halloween candy used to be smarties and marshmallow peanuts, and if you got chocolate you SCORED!

When I was out of High School, I still got to play dress up for two Octobers in one of those spook alleys. The first year I was a gypsy (maybe that's a karmic sign of my wanderlust) and had to wear this necklace made of REAL chicken feet. The spook alley was designed by Pat Davis who was a big wig in theater around here, so instead of the standard shock and scare production, there were scripted parts and mini plays. And my part went something like this:

"Have you ever seen a geek?" (Why yes, they have! Looking back, I was probably a prime example right at the moment...) "A geek is a fellow who eats LIVE CHICKENS...picks 'em clean. Started out addicted to his mom's southern fried...then moved to rare chickens...then to raw. Now he eats them chickens live, feathers and all!" (And then there was some screaming and rattling of my "gypsy caravan" while I uttered some warnings about how they'd better hurry along before the geek got tired of eating chicken. Lots of people came up to feel my chicken feet necklace thinking that it was fake only to freak out when they felt the skin slide over the bones. (And even though I was a geeky gypsy, I was still hot. I've got a picture here somewhere to prove it.) Pat apparently really liked that little bit of script, because I saw it years later in another one of her spooky productions. It even landed me an audition for a commercial, which I didn't get. C'est la vie.

The second year I did the spook alley, I got decapitated. I was up on a wooden cart dressed in medieval dress while some guy yelled about how I was guilty and the punishment was death. Then I knelt behind the guillotine and stuck a horrible fake head through it (that didn't even have a wig that matched my hair) and dropped it when the blade when down. Then I got to peek through the hole and squirt the crowd. One fellow just about jumped up on the wagon after I gave his leather jacket a good soak. (bwaa haa haaa.)

Every year, just smelling the autumn air at night will bring back these memories.

Except this year. Because it's COLD. And it SNOWED. NO pretty leaves, NO beautiful sunsets and NO leafy, smoky smell.

The weather man has promised that things will warm up soon. I really, really hope so, because I've discovered that I need Autumn.

I need the moody orange skies. Need the walks in the warm, fragrant evenings. Need to look up to see the mountains swathed in bright oranges, reds, and yellows.

Need to be transported back to a warmer, safer time where the world is colorful and smells like donuts.

The homemade kind. Not the ones in the refrigerator cans.

Sound investment advice from my father.

2008-10-09T09:09:00.003-06:00

It's no secret that everyone is quite nervous about the state of their retirement investments. I haven't seen a recent report on Reed's 401 K, but I'm quite sure it will make me cry.

My dad often sends me great emails filled with advice and today I received one about investments. I thought I would share.

Subject: Retirement Investment Info

Here's a little retirement info for you:If you had purchased $1,000.00 of Delta Air Lines stock one year ago you would have $49.00 left.With Enron, you would have had $16.50 left of the original $1,000.00.With World Com, you would have had less than $5.00 left..But, if you had purchased $1,000.00 worth of beer one year ago, drank all of the beer, then turned in the cans for the aluminum recycling REFUND, you would have had $214.00. Based on the above, the best current investment advice is to drink heavily and recycle.

It's called the 401-Keg.

:D

(Actually, neither my father nor I drink, but I thought this brought on the LOL's.)

Perhaps this investment strategy can be applied to Cherry Coke. It will make me happy, (which in turn makes my family happy,) is good for the enviroment (I'll be saving all those cans for recycling and who knows...maybe the person who WOULD have bought the cans had I not would be a Coke-guzzling litterer) and would provide a solid nest egg for maybe the first 15 days of retirement.

Plus, I'll be helping provide jobs for all those Coca-Cola bottling employees. That helps the economy, right? Maybe we should get everyone on this retirement plan! The 401-Coke!

Of course, my husband's brother-in-law works for Pepsi. If I get everyone drinking Coke.....

Maybe I haven't thought this plan all the way through.

Hindsight doesn't need contacts

2008-10-05T18:24:00.002-06:00

Have you ever just had a rotten day, and looked back on it and wondered what the #$%&*#$ was I thinking?

Friday was one of those days.

First of all, I love teaching. Pre-schoolers are a riot. A challenge, yes. Often. But a riot all the same. So, while teaching often tires me out, it doesn't necessarily stress me out.

But often times other stuff at work does. Stuff that I should just let roll right off of my shoulders. After 6 years (this is the 7th) years at the same place, you'd think that, at least, I'd never be caught off guard by anything that happens.

Here's a big honking *pffftt* to that.

Anyway, something happened that probably wouldn't seem like a big deal to anyone else, but it made me mad. Made me grumpy. Ruined my whole day and only because I let it. And because I was frustrated and in a bad mood, I snapped at someone else who avoided me the whole rest of the day. And I vented. To anyone who would listen. And BOY, do I regret THAT.

Because I wouldn't be surprised if it comes back to bite me in the nether regions.

I suppose I'll find out tomorrow, when I go to work.

*sigh*

I've always worn my heart on my sleeve. And I've always, always hated that about myself. Hated that I can cry at the drop of a hat. Hated that I'm a lousy liar. LOL! Hated that I let other people have so much control over how I feel. Hated that I care so much what other people think when in the long run, it doesn't really matter.

Recently I registered at a website that's dedicated to my graduating class in anticipation of our upcoming 20th reunion. While it's been fun and interesting to see what people have been up to, I've been suprised at some of the bad feelings it brings up as well. I didn't hate high school, and had a lot of good friends and good times, but you know there's always at least one person who didn't like you or was mean to you at some point. And 20 years later, I found that it still hurts.

And only, only because I let it.

You'd think being self aware would give me some means to remedy the situation, but if it does, I haven't figured it out just yet.

So tomorrow I go to work. Crossing my fingers that my friend isn't still mad that I was snippish and hoping madly my mouth won't have gotten me into trouble. Venting about work AT work is never a good idea.

That's hindsight for ya. Wishing madly that you could change the past while at the same time praying that you never repeat it. Wondering why you can't see as clearly during the moment as you can a day later, after you've run headlong into a tree.

Maybe one day I can get some emotional contacts. Until that happens, I just have to learn to keep my mouth shut. ;)

The Sunday Funnies

2008-09-28T19:59:00.003-06:00

I am stuffed up. My head hurts. My eyeballs feel like they're being squooshed in a vice. All I want is chicken soup and my mommy.

Sometimes it's hard to get sympathy for a cold when you're a mom. Moms don't have time to get sick. Moms take CARE of sick people. Moms tough it out.

It's times like this when I'd like to be a man.

Watch below and enjoy!

The Floating Ice Cream Store at Lake Powell

2008-09-23T09:02:00.003-06:00

At my pre-school, there's this little guy named Jonas. Jonas is the younger brother of a child I had several years ago who used to crack me up. He'd sit in a chair during playtime, staring at nothing...and when I'd ask what he was doing he'd say, "I'm on a plane watching a movie."

Well, Jonas (whose name I can't even think without going..."My name is Jonas! bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum--you Guitar Hero addicts know what I'm talking about....) seems to have inherited his brother's imagination. And then some.

And he's also my special buddy at school. He'll spend the entire playground time telling me his stories.

One day he regaled me with a unusually detailed description of his future business venture. I think it would make an awesome children's book!

Here it goes:

"Do you know what I'm going to do when I grow up?"

"No. What ARE you going to do when you grow up?"

"I'm going to have an ice cream stand. At Lake Powell."

Me: "Ahhh. What kind of ice cream are you going to sell? Chocolate? Vanilla?"

"It's going to be hard ice cream. On a stick. It's going to be cherry and shaped like a heart."

"That sounds nice!"

"And it's going to have a DINOSAUR PLANETARIUM!"

Me: "Wow! I've heard of space planetariums but never dinosaur planetariums."

"You know what a planetarium is? They have toys that they sell. And I'm going to have one with my ice cream stand."

"I see."

"And you know what my ice cream stand is going to be in a big tent. That floats. And you can drive the houseboat and I will drive all the other little boats."

Me: "Well, thanks!"

"AND...it will have a WATER PARK!"

"That is SOME fancy ice cream stand you're going to have."

"YEAH! And some of the slides will go like this!" (He proceeds to trace different slides in the playground gravel, with me appropriately ooh-ing and ahhh-ing after each one.)

"And, it's going to have a BIG mountain that you can go down right in the middle." (Which he demonstrates by creating a huge pile of rocks.)

He goes on to tell me about the different slides and things for a while. Then a little girl in my class comes up to help with his growing Ice Cream Stand Mountain.

"Hey!" he tells her. "Do you know what? When I grow up, I'm going to have an Ice Cream Stand!"

And it starts all over again.

I think it would be a terrific children's book...with the pictures getting increasingly elaborate as the story does. I can see it all in my head.

And so, it seems, can Jonas.

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This is for Jill...I tried to keep the color in the leaves and rocks while lightening the shadows on Kadence's face. It's not perfect, but I think you can see her better. :)

The girl who cried wolf...and deleted her history.

2008-09-20T08:41:00.002-06:00

*side note: Have you ever had a something happen...or a heard a funny story and thought, "Gee! I think I'll blog about that!" only to totally forget it five minutes later?

Happens to me ALL the time.

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Ok. I officially have a teenager.

An adorable, sweet, smart STINKY FIBBING TEENAGER.

And it all has to do with the computer.

First of all, when it comes to computer internet use, I am the Mother From Hell.

NO Myspace. NO Facebook. She has an account on Gaia, which she claims is highly moderated and safe for young 'uns. But I still don't like it.

And I have very specific, tough, mean, socially debilitating rules about computer use.

NO use without permission. Period. I don't care if you're just going to watch the Numa Numa song as danced by Napolean Dynamite. I don't care if you're showing your brothers Poke the Bunny. You do NOT get on the internet unless I say you can...and you certainly don't do it when I'm not home.

(Have I won Computer Nazi of the Year award yet?)

Well, darling daughter has decided that the rules don't apply to her. And she's being sneaky about it. Deleting the computer history. LYING to my face about whether or not she's been on.

And it breaks my heart.

One night after DH and I got home from a date, we saw her peek out of my bedroom window (where the computer is.) When we got into the house, she had run into the living room and was pretending to watch her brothers play Guitar Hero.

Me: Were you on the computer?

Her: No.

Me: We saw you.

Her: Well, I was for a little bit, but I just needed something for my homework.

So I go into my room and check the history. She's been busted before this way and it seems she's learned her lesson. She deleted it.

So, I go to her Gaia account, which she doesn't realize I know the password to. (OK, I admit it. I'm a paranoid parent when it comes to the internet. There are some scary people out there though, and I'm not going to let her get hurt if I can help it.)

And she had sent and answered messages during the time we had been gone.

So I call her into my room again and asked her if she had been on Gaia.

She looks me right into the face and says, "No."

So, I tell her, "I KNOW you've been on Gaia. And you deleted the history."

And she looks me right in the face without blinking and says, "Mom, I PROMISE I wasn't on Gaia."

Oh, man.

So I lay all my cards out on the table and show her how I know. And the whole time I'm looking at her and wondering who this stranger is who can sit there and lie to me so convincingly and completely.

Last night DH and I went out to run errands. When we got home, Ike comes up to me and says, "Breanna showed us this thing on the internet..." and goes onto explain about some harmless, silly thing she showed them. I'm annoyed that she was on the computer, but wasn't going to say anything about it, until he says, "And then she started deleting stuff."

Not only was she on the computer, but she KNEW she wasn't supposed to be, AND she covered her tracks IN FRONT of her brothers. This upsets me more than anything.

I call her in again and say, "You were on the computer again."

Her: I only wanted to show them "Poke the Bunny."

Me: "You're not supposed to be on the computer without permission."

Her: "I know. I'm sorry."

Me: "You deleted the history."

Her: "No I didn't."

Me: "YES you did."

Her: "NO, I didn't.

Me: "YES YOU DID."

Her: "What makes you say that?"

Me: "I was told you did."

Silence. Her: "Fine."

What does a mom do? I know she's at the age where she needs more freedom, but she's also at the age where she doesn't fully appreciate the repercussions from her actions.

Thinking back on it, I don't think she was trying to hide "Poke the Bunny" but was probably on the computer before she called her brothers in to see it. I think she was probably trying to hide what she did before that. (I think this because when I asked her about the internet, she said, "I only went to "Poke the Bunny." Check the history." Which means that what she deleted was something else.

Hubby thinks I should change the password on the computer so she can't even get in. I don't know if that's overreacting or if it's my only option, now that she's decided not only to lie but to cover her tracks.

And....am I being unreasonable? Should I allow her more access? (Though, most peopel who deal with computer predators say never to have your child on the internet unattended. And, as I found out before I changed some settings, a simple google search for "animals" can bring up a WHOLE bunch of unpleasantness.)

It's like the boy who cried wolf. He lied so many times that no one believed him when he told the truth. She can lie straight to my face and I won't know. How can I trust her as she gets closer to the age where we allow her to date and drive?

If there's a manual that comes with this whole parenting thing, mine got lost in the mail.

Random Ramblings....

2008-09-09T20:32:00.012-06:00

1. Fair food isn't what it used to be. We took the family to the State Fair last night. It was family night and just about half the cost. Unfortunately we more than spent what we saved when we decided to eat there. I remember the fair having unusual offerings that you can't get other times of the year. Now most of the food is chain food, with the exception of things like deep fried twinkies and deep fried pb&j's....which we didn't get. Still, Sadie loved the animals and I got to show off my mad scrapbook skills. We got home at 10. On a school night. Which, to my kids, was worth the price of admission.

Here's a few pics from the fair...including a big surprise for me!

2. Things are starting to move for the CX DT. Paper work is being filled out, details are being explained and we're getting to know each other. It's exciting to get started!

3. I'm watching this crazy game show called "Hole in the Wall." Basically, there's a big foam wall with holes cut in it in varies shapes, including people shapes. The wall moves towards you and you have to fit your body through the shape without breaking the wall or being pushed into a pool of water. My kids think it looks like fun. I think that unless they have a big 'ol BALL sized hole, I wouldn't have a prayer.

4. While I was flipping channels during the commercial, I happened on an awards show where Dennis Leary was wearing a J-Lo, cleavage-to-the-belly-button gold lame dress. That's one image I won't be able to scrub from my mind.....

5. Funny little retail story:

At the LSS I work at, we literally have thousands of sheets of paper. Thousands. Each individually hand priced. I often feel like I'm doing well just to know generally where each manufacturer is (and there's still some that are "lost" to me...) and what papers we have in stock. We often have customers that come in and ask if we have a specific piece of paper...and if they know the manufacturer, I can usually find it if we have it. If they want a specific type of paper, I can usually offer some suggestions.

But yesterday, I got stumped.

A lady walked in and says, "I'm looking for a specific piece of "plain" paper and I know you have it."

Oh oh. Usually when someone says that, it precedes us NOT having it for one reason or another. Just because a manufacturer website lists that we carry their products, we don't necessarily carry ALL their products, and just because they STILL list it on the website doesn't mean we still have it.

So she says, "It's 8 1/2 by 11 and it's plain paper."

I have NO clue what she's asking for. A plain white sheet of paper?

She says, "It's LD-23 something."

Of the thousands of papers in the store, she wants me to find one particular piece from an item number...a PARTIAL item number. Our LSS is very low-tech. We don't have a computerized inventory system.

"I know you have it," she says. "It said so on the website."

"Do you remember the company's name? "

"No, but the paper is LD 2...something."

Needless to say, I couldn't find it. Not even sure we had it. Not even sure how she thought I could help her. But I tried anyway.

6. I got tagged by Elizabeth, one of the gals on the CX DT. I'm supposed to list 6 quirky things about myself. It's kind of funny, because I found this out after I had to use 3 words to describe myself for my CX DT bio, and quirky was one of them!

* I have feet issues. I can't stand tight shoes, or anything that makes my feet feel squished. I also don't like Reed's feet touching my feet when we snuggle. It weirds me out.

* I talk to myself. In the car, when I'm figuring something out at work, when I'm alone in the house. Don't know why, maybe it helps me think?

*I harmonize to everything. I once saw a you-tube video about the most annoying people in a car pool...and there was the "Harmonizer..." the person who sings harmony to the songs on the radio. It showed some guy in the backseat singing falsetto harmony while everyone else in the car winced in agony. Yep, I'm that guy.

*I'm a Sci-fi geek. I think that's self-explanatory.

* I have an odd sense of humor. Usually people end up laughing AT me instead of wit

* If I'm around someone with a strong accent, I have to CONCENTRATE not to start sounding like them. Sometimes if I'm not careful, it starts to slip in a little and then the person probably thinks I'm making fun of them.

All right...I'm IT, and you're tagged!

Growing Up

2008-09-02T16:58:00.011-06:00

This week is a week of growth.

Isaac turned 10. Double digits! It doesn't seem that long ago that he was in preschool with me.

For his birthday, his dad gave him the choice of a new fuzzy pet (he got a sweet mouse last year that died after a month, leaving him heart broken) or Rock Band for the PS2.

We were at Toys R Us when Reed called him, and the poor guy couldn't decide, so I told Reed to let him sleep on it. The next morning Isaac still didn't know what to choose.

The next day, Reed and I surprised Isaac at school by bringing donuts for his class and a birthday balloon.

School was almost out, so we got the boys out early. I told Ike we were thinking about gerbils and his face just lit up. "Yeah! I'd like the gerbils!."

"Instead of Rock Band?"

"Maybe I can get that later."

So we headed off to Petsmart. The thing that frustrates me about Petsmart is that I don't think the people really know what they're talking about. I did some online research about gerbils, and one of the things the American Gerbil Society says is to NOT get them a wire cage. They will spend all their time chewing on the bars and rubbing their little noses raw.

So we're looking at the gerbils (they only had two, and you need to buy them in pairs) and the girl says, "we've got some great cages over here!" and points right at the wire cages. At that point, I know she doesn't really know much about gerbils, and she confirms that when she pulls one out to show us and she's holding it in her hand by the tail. You never hold a gerbil by the tail because breaks easily.

Undaunted, we start looking around the store for supplies and find a nice 10 gallon aquarium, but they're out of wire lids...a necessity. So another employee calls around and tells us that we've got one on hold at a different store. After she leaves, I ask Reed which store. "The Bountiful one, I think," he tells me. He asks the girl if it was Bountiful and she says yes...so off we go.

When we get up there, everyone's hungry, so Isaac chooses Pei Wei for his birthday lunch. I get a fortune that tells me my judgement is flawed, and Reed gets one telling him that his finances are in trouble. Suddenly we're wishing Isaac had wanted McDonalds and a Transformer for his birthday.

Anyway, we get to the Bountiful Petsmart, and can't find the wire lids anywhere. Reed asks an employee about the one "on hold" and...wouldn't you know it but no one at that store remembers talking to anyone about an aquarium and wire lid.

Grrrr. I realize that the girl probably called the Fort Union Store, which happens to be 40 minutes in the opposite direction.

However, the manager probably sees my eyes going red and offers us the Critter Cage (which is basically the exact same set up, but at almost double the price) for the same cost as the aquarium and lid would be. Score!

So we went over to the small pet cages...and can't find any gerbils.

The girl says, "Oh, we don't have any to sell right now."

You have got to be kidding me.

"But...we have some adoption ones in the back."

Psheeew.

"Well.....can we see them?"

"I'll have to get them down," she says. Get them "down?" Where are they storing these poor gerbils, anyway?

Apparently, if someone mis-sexes a gerbil and they end up in the wrong cage, babies ensue. Who knew? And since the babies aren't part of the store inventory, they don't sell them, they give them away. Which saves us $20 dollars. Take THAT, fortune cookie!

I'm a little concerned because the babies must not have had a lot of human contact, but they're young enough (5 weeks) that I think it won't be a problem.

So, we left with two black and white baby gerbils named Whiskers and Benji. Benji, amusingly enough, is named after Benji Schwimmer from the first season of So You Think You Can Dance because my son thinks the gerbil is hyper, just like him.

We get home and get the gerbils set up in their new abode, and then head to Grandma Nancy's for dinner and (cheese)cake. My mom always does fun party decorations when we have birthdays at her house. Prior to Isaac's birthday, she called and asked me if he liked any superheros. The only ones I could think of were Transformers, but apparently Transformer Birthday supplies are impossible to find. So she settled on animals, which fits my cute boy to a T.

Reed tells Breanna that if she wants to pay for half of Rock Band, we'll go get it anyway. (It was on sale for $50 off at Toys R Us.) My dear husband is a Rock Band fanatic, as is Bree, so the deal is struck and we run out to pick it up before they close. But first we sing "Happy Birthday" to my sweet boy, who picked cheesecake for his birthday cake, and Caramel Stampede for his ice cream because he thinks it's cool that it has little caramel-filled chocolate cows in it.

Happy Birthday Isaac! We love you!

In other news, Sadie started Kindergarten today. I held it together, but just barely. My little bug was so excited to get there, that when we were waiting in line to have her get unloaded from the car, she kept saying, "Why aren't the cars MOVING????"

Here's some picks of my bug on her first day of school.

Yep. There's been a lot of growing up at my house this week.

Beans.

2008-08-27T08:47:00.002-06:00

Well, I finally have some beans to spill.

After 4 years of trying to get on the design team for my favorite website they.....

picked me. :D

I'm really excited...I just have always felt weird about tooting my own horn. Although tooting comes naturally with beans.

So I hear. At home. From my husband. And then I make him go outside.

Congrats to all the other gals who made it...I'm so thrilled to be on the team with them! What's especially nice about the team this year is many of the gals have been trying along with me the last four years. I feel like we're the "Little Team that Could." (I think I can I think I can.)

If you run your train into the mountain enough times, you're sure to make a tunnel, right?

And for the gals who wanted so much to be on the team but didn't get the call...I've been right there and it stinks. I think I actually had a little hissy fit the first year. (SO embarrassed about that....) Know that you're all important to the community and that I'm sending big fat woman cyber hugs your way, k?

Onward and upward!

Pessimism in the Dark Knight, Optimism in the Olympics, and the Upcoming Elections. AKA Deep Thoughts 101

2008-08-25T13:22:00.004-06:00

Dh and I saw the Dark Knight on Saturday. All in all it was a fast-paced, well-done film. The performances were good, though I thought Christian Bale was underused. Plus I hated the gruff voice thing he does when he's in costume.

And I left the movie feeling like crap.

You've got Gotham City which seems to be the cesspool of the universe. Scattered amidst the thugs and mobsters you have a mere handful of people who are trying to make things better.

Enter Batman. He's got money. He's got toys. He's got MISSILES! And he's pretty much got NO support. Most of the cops are crooked. The people are intimidated. So, he's got an uphill battle, to say the least.

Enter the Symbol Of Hope, aka Harvey Dent. For a while it looks like he's the man who can galvanize the forces of good, or at least let them think there's a light at the end of the tunnel.

Well, without giving too much away, let's just say that hope isn't a Welcome Thing in Gotham.

The message of this movie seems to be that no matter who you are or how good your intentions, you can be corrupted. That it's possible, if not probable, that we will face a future where evil is so prevalent, so pervasive, that the forces of good are unable to bring forth the winds of change.

Here's a movie that made millions and millions of dollars, not all of which can be justified by morbid curiosity over Heath Ledger's death. A movie that got near universal approval and reviews. A movie that seems to shout, "Mankind sucks!"

A movie with a message that seems to resonate deeply with the disaffected populace.

I'd feel worse about all if this...if it wasn't for the unexpected success of something with the exact opposite message: The 2008 Summer Olympics.

All discussion about China and human rights aside, there's something hopeful about the way that the Olympics this year seem to have captured our optimistic side.

I don't think you can chalk it all up to Michael Phelps and his Amazing Medal Collection. I don't think there was anything extraordinary about the way NBC covered the Olympics either.

I just think people wanted to feel good about something. To see and feel excellence. Unity. Sacrifice. Kindness. Persistence. Hope.

Which brings me to the current election.

Sometimes I feel like I'm living in Gotham City. I feel like no one can fix the things that are wrong with our country. That no matter who gets elected, we will have the same problems, the same concerns, and the same fears. I feel like hope is audacious...that promises that are made during elections are hot air and hope and trust built on such promises are as fragile as a soap bubble.

But I still hope.

I hope to see the the strength we saw in the Olympians. The desire for excellence. The completion of the task despite the odds. The unity of the spectators that defied boundaries and cultures.

I hope for a better tomorrow.

Against all odds, I hope.

Optimistic or sadistic?

2008-08-07T22:12:00.004-06:00

So I decided to try for the CX DT. Again.

Maybe the FOURTH time's the charm. ;)

These are some layouts done with some of the pics from the 24th of July. I need to quickly do a layout for Josh...I think he's feeling left out.

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I read Breaking Dawn. I still think Jacob is hotter than Edward. In my mind, anyway. I hope the Twilight movie is good.

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School starts in a couple of weeks. It's the last year of elementary for Josh...wow! Where did the time go? Sadie will be in kindergarten...and I'm all torn up. I will really miss seeing her little face in the halls of the preschool and enjoying her quick hugs or watching her make new friends. Bree will be a sophmore! and will be taking DRIVER'S ED!

*aside* So...I didn't want Bree's first time behind the wheel to be in Driver's Ed...because, how embarrasing, right?

Well, my daughter....my SMART, BRIGHT, INTELLIGENT daughter...is a total spaz behind the wheel. She's been bugging me to let her go get her learner's permit. I don't have a problem with that...as soon as she demonstrates that she knows enough to pass the test. I don't want to wait in the lines at the DMV for nothin'.

So, anyway, I pull into a large, deserted church parking lot, put the car in park, and tell her to slide over.

The chick FREAKS out.

"Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh...I'm gonna crash the car, Mom!"

I believe her since she doesn't know to push the brake as we creep closer to a fence.

Here's me: "Brake, Breanna. Push the brake. The brake. Push. the. brake. THE BRAKE!"

Bree: "You're freaking me OUT, mom!"

She hits the brake and I almost hit the dash. Apparently she can't get the hang of driving with one foot, so she's got one on the gas when she hits the brake.

After a minute we get the steering thing down. It's good as long as we don't put on any gas. So we're doing figure 8's at..oh, 3 m.p.h.

She starts to give it a little more gas and there's giggling and freaking and hands MOVING OFF the STEERING WHEEL. She's learning to stop...but still is using both feet.

I let her drive...at 3 m.p.h....down two empty streets to our house. As we head down one street, we see it's blocked by a big dump truck.

WHoo hooo! Three point turn! Score!

I have to help take the wheel, because...it''s a THREE POINT TURN.

That's got to be, like, 3rd time behind the wheel material or something.

Anyway, we make it home. I think I was remarkable calm and unjudgemental, Bree swears that I was nervous and that's what made her all...loopy.

Yeah. This year's gonna be...fun.

TTFN!

Fun and Family on the 24th

2008-07-29T19:29:00.009-06:00

Here in Utah, the 24th of July is a bigger deal than the 4th in a lot of ways. One thing I love about where I live is that we're right in the middle of everything.

This year I woke up the kiddos with the grandiose plan of walking to Liberty Park to see the floats as they arrive at the end of the parade route. I thought we could get there at, say, 9:30 or so and see the majority of the floats as they arrive.

At 11:15 we walked out the door.

We live close enough to the park that we can walk there, but far enough for it to feel really miserable in the 100 degree weather.

Still, the kids were troopers and off we went.

Here's some of the fun stuff we saw:

By this point, the kids were hot and tired and Sadie kept asking me when we were going to have fun.

So, like the good mom I am, I made them walk through the Native American festival.

I would have loved to have taken them to the pow wow, but one good look at the shadeless circle (and the admission prices) made me change my mind.

We plopped down in the shade and I took some fun portraits of my cuties:

Tired, hot and hungry, (and not really excited about spending 8 dollars a plate for fair food,) we start towards home when Josh says, "The Aviary is free today!"

So, not one to pass up a bargain even if my kids melt into sticky sidewalk blobs, we make an Aviary detour.

My cutie pies (especially Isaac and Sadie) really love animals so we had a lot of fun. I even got to take some birds home with us!

Hot and tired and REALLY done now, we head back home via 7-11 for Slurpees. I get a little souvenir of my own as I get to do the walk of shame with a huge read spill of cherry slurpee all over my light blue shirt.

The kids have enough time for a little nap before we head to Reed's parent's home for dinner and fireworks.

Here's a picture of Marlow, my nephew. Isn't he a cutie?

Liberty Park has a nice fireworks display for the 24th. All we have to do is walk a block or so and can get a decent view. I've been trying to get the firework picture thing down, and I STILL don't have it down (I think I've got the shutter open too long, and for some reason I'm not really getting the right color.) Anyway, here's my attempt:

At the end of the night, Sadie climbed on my lap and said, "Mommy, I had LOTS of fun today!"

Mission accomplished.

I can ride my bike with no handlebars...no handlebars....

2008-07-07T11:43:00.003-06:00

Well, I could, until my badonkadonk got too big for the seat.

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I've been having a lot of fun lately altering photos. For those of you with Photoshop, there's a fun filter plug-in that's FREE (yes, FREE) called Virtual Photographer from optikVerve labs. Below are some photos that I played around with using some of their different filters:

The last one is my favorite...I have been thinking of pictures I can take this fall that I can use that filter on.

Speaking of filters, for some reason my artistic filters that came with PSE don't work right. (The drawing and painting ones.) Not sure if I messed them up with my plug ins or if they were already messed up. Anyone have a good suggestion for some download ones that do colored pencil, watercolor, etc.? Mine just do this weird green thing.

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In other news:

1)Bree goes to EFY next week...and I'm a little clueless as to when and where she's supposed to show up. I guess I should get that figured out.

2)Kids are taking dance this summer, and both of the boys are really interested in tap. The teacher is thrilled with them because they keep their knees bent and seem to have a knack for it. She even said she thinks that they'd do well in competition. Sometimes I think she's one of those teachers that tries to make you think your kids are the next hot thing so you'll keep them at the school. *wink*

She's already got a partner picked out for Josh for couple's competitions (cute little girl named Jen) and keeps telling me to save up now because they'll need tap shoes and jazz shoes (when they grow out of the ones they have), not to mention costumes and our monthly fee. The school rates are actually really reasonable, and she's giving me a HUGE break on the boys tuition, but it is still adding up like crazy. (Costumes for the 3 kids this year were 200 + and that's not counting the shoes.) The kids love it, so I'm happy, but BOY, did I not think this thing all the way through.

3)Speaking of dance, I have pictures of the kids that the studio did and they are dang cute. I'll have to photo them or scan them and post later.

4) Bree went to her first summer XC practice today. She's so funny, because I think she actually does enjoy it but she really doesn't WANT to enjoy it. She pouts and moans and complains, but says she misses running when she doesn't have practice. If we can somehow get an attitude adjustment, I think she'll find she can do much better than she's currently doing. I think she needs to get her "head in the game." (She'll kill me for that quote, since she attends THE East High School of "High School Musical" fame, and had to endure trying to go to school while they filmed the third one-- she despises EVERYTHING remotely related to it.)

5) Poor Ike woke up all stuffed up today with puffy eyes. All of my kids look like their dad's side of the family, except Ike, who looks so very much like my brother Nick. Poor kid also inherited Nick's ezcema, Becky's allergies, and my nearsightedness. I get ONE kid out of four that resembles me at all and he also inherits all the crap my side has. I guess I should be gratefull the rest take more after the Watson side.

That's it for today. I've got to try to get some laundry done before I head off to work later. Thanks for stopping by. :)

Am I Cool or WHAT?

2008-06-27T10:00:00.002-06:00

I made this album for my dad for Christmas last year. Designed it all digitally using a kit I purchased and had the book made from Shutterfly. Just wanted to share. *insert grin here.* Digital isn't really my strong suit, and I still design like I'm using paper and forget the cool things you can do digi-wise, (and my drop shadows stink!!!) but I think it turned out o.k.

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My marvelous mother, along with her sister and friend, have written 3 books. "Almost Sisters," "Three Tickets to Peoria," and the upcoming "Surprise Packages" compromise the "Company of Good Women" trilogy. My MOM won't even let me read the third book in advance. ANYWAY, despite the maternal snubb, I redesigned the site for their books. It still needs tweaking, because 1) I have an abnormally large computer monitor so things that look fine on my comp are not fine on my mom's, and 2) I need to upload pages with the registered version so there's not this bright blue WEB PAGE MAKER logo on the bottom of every page.

I'm feeling particularly proud of meself because I had no idea really how to do it and figured it out and made it in a day. (Hope it doesn't look like it!)

Ch-ch-check it out at www.virtualsisters.net.

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On a completely and totally unrelated note, I've got a WWYD for you:

First of all, my oldest DD is a GREAT kid. She's kind, respectful, modest, semi-responsible, and just an all around easy-going teenager.

And, she runs track.

Track practice often got her home after five. On Tuesdays, she often would have very little time between track and her church youth activities. (We call it "Young Women.") She runs track in a tank top (with a sports bra underneath, so no strappies showing,) and running shorts with bike shorts underneath, (so no cheekies showing.) One of her leaders also had a jacket she let Bree throw over the tank top.

Well, a couple of weeks ago, AFTER track season, (which means my daughter was normally dressed, in a henley and jeans,) some lady whom she didn't know came up to her and said,

"I guess someone else is working the street corner tonight."

She said this to MY daughter, who, on a 99 degree summer day, REFUSES to wear shorts that don't reach her knee. Her track shorts are the only exception, and, like I said, she wears bike shorts underneath to make sure they're modest.

Lady, who Bree says seemed to "sort of" realize how she sounded, (perhaps because of the dropped jaws of the other adults present,) goes on to say how Bree's dress was distracting the boys and not allowing them to pay attention.

Now: 1) If this lady, or anyone else for that matter, had a problem with Bree's appearance during track season, doesn't it make sense to mention it DURING track season, when she's wearing the outfit and NOT two weeks later when she's not?

2) Even if Bree was a "troubled" child who dressed inappropriately as a matter of course, there is NO situation in which that "lady's" comment was appropriate. She called my daughter a PROSTITUTE. My 15 y.o., won't-listen-to-the-"Shake it"-song or watch-R-movies, made-the-honor-roll daughter.

So, first of all, I REALLY want to know who this person is.

And second, I have no idea what I'll do when I find out.

What's the appropriate lesson? Forgive and forget? Or "Mom won't let anyone treat her children like crap?"

I'm still mad.

Random Ramblings on this 2nd of June...

2008-06-02T08:25:00.003-06:00

1) I can't find my wallet. That, in itself, is a fairly common occurrance. But still, it gives me anxiety until it's found because I have all these mental images of someone cleaning out what's left in my checking account by going hog wild at McDonalds. I really need to pay attention to where I put things....

2) DD is going to Raging Waters today for school (my tax dollars at work!). She tried to leave for school using her swimming suit as a top--(it's a tankini.) I may be the most unhip mom to a teenage girl in the world, and I realize she will be wearing said top AT Raging Waters in full view of all the same boys she would have seen at school, but there was something just not. right. about wearing it TO school...even though she'd be leaving for the water park around 10. Was I right? Wrong? Discuss.

3) I have GOT to stop staying up so late.

4) Tonight is the kiddo's first big dance recital. I'm nervous for them and excited for them at the same time. I'm worried about Ike in particular, because, even though he's learned a lot REALLY FAST (they've had 2 months to learn what the other kids have been working on since January,) I can tell he's still hestitant and unsure about where he's supposed to be for some of the songs. Add to that the fact that the teacher hadn't even GOTTEN to practicing the last two songs until last week and I'm a nervous wreck. Plus, Sadie hasn't ever performed this stuff before and at the last practice she looked so DONE with it all. LOL! Crossing my fingers that it goes of with nary a hitch.

5) One of my dear friends and former teaching partners gave her notice and will not be returning to teach next year. This makes me SO sad...she is really the only person there who made an effort to be my friend on a personal level. (I love all the ladies there, but I always have a hard time *fitting* into established groups. I seem to linger on the outside fringe.) Janice just....made me feel like she liked ME because she wanted to, not just because she worked with me. I will really miss her.

6) ACKK! I have a new mini project and I'm not sure how to start. At church, I'm the primary president (which means I'm in charge of Sunday School for the children under 12.) A few weeks ago, the father of two of the children committed suicide. (He'd been in and out of jail, and had problems with drugs.) I always have my camera at our activities, and had snapped a few of this dad at the last one where he wanted to come along. After the activity, I had posted a collage on the bulletin board that included one of those pictures. Yesterday, his sweet son (10 years old and very quiet) pulled me up to the bulletin board, pointed to the picture of his dad, and asked if he could have it when I was done. I told him I'd make him a big one (this one was just wallet size as part of the collage.) Then his younger sister asked if I had one of her and her dad too. Turns out that this family really doesn't have any family pictures at all.

Anyway, I went home to see what I have. I'd love to do a little album for them since I don't think they have pictures at all...I don't think they even have school pictures. But I'm not sure what to include or how to go about it, since it would be just pictures and no journaling. Unfortunately, the only pictures I have of the daughter and her dad have her talking to him, with her back to the camera. It literally breaks my heart.

I guess that's it for this bright sunny day in which my daughter is NOT wearing a tankini top to school. Thanks for stopping by! :)

Life in da ghettooooo...

2008-05-20T23:05:00.002-06:00

Law and Order: Salt Lake City (dun dun DUUUNNN)

DA: Your honor, I know that Salt Lake City is often veiwed as the squeeky clean center of the universe, but I have personal knowledge that this is not the case.

Exhibit A: The "home invasion/robbery" of the neighbor kiddie-corner to us (whom we highly suspect to be a drug dealer. People broke into his house demanding money, and when he didn't pony up, they shot him in the leg. The paramedics had to build a special ramp to get my 600 lb. neighbor out of his house. (This month)

Exhibit B: The undercover op at the duplex across the street that almost made me pee my pants when I saw a lot of undercover cops shouting and running around with guns. (2002)

Exhibit C: The two meth labs within stone's throw from my house. (few years ago)

Exhibit D: The pedophile within stone's throw from my house. (now! ick.)

Exhibit E: The murder of a little girl across the street from my daughter's elementary school the week she (my daughter) started kindergarten. (1998)

Exhibit F: The drive-by shooting and the swat team raid on the duplex across the street and 3 doors down. (2003, 2004)

Exhibit G: The day planner that was stolen out of my husband's car and found, 10 years LATER in the ceiling of a house across the street that was being remodeled by new neighbors. (returned last year)

Exhibit H: The weed wacker that was stolen out of our garage. (same year planner was stolen, by the same drug dealing kids that wanted to page their dealer from OUR phone!)

And last, but not least, the WASHER AND DRYER that were STOLEN OUT OF OUR BACKYARD LAST NIGHT.

Granted, they were broken and we were going to recycle them, but that was MY fifty bucks, dangit, and I want it back.

I rest my case.

On integrity and forgiveness and all that schtuff....

2008-05-06T15:49:00.003-06:00

So...the latest scandal in the ever-shrinking scrap universe concerns a woman who stole over 100 THOUSAND DOLLARS in cash and merchandise from a scrapbook store she worked at.

She owes over a QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS in restitution to the store owner.

And is paying it back at one (yeah, one) hundred dollars a month.

Which means, that the scrapbook store owner would have to be cryogenically frozen and awoken in oh, 100+ years or so to see it. (Assuming this *lady's* estate continued with the token payments.)

Now, I'm all for making a new start and setting things to rights...but is there a line you shouldn't cross once you've made such a momentous mistake?

The reason I ask is that this woman started a blog.

And on this blog she lobbyied for attention. Big time. Showed her scraproom (brimming with supplies.) Started getting guest designer gigs. Sucking up to "names" in the industry.

Posted pictures of a Martha Stewart Punch that claimed cost so much on Ebay that she was embarrassed to quote the price. Pictures of a mountain of product she purchased at Target AFTER "dropping 50 dollars" at another location.

And her victim gets 100 dollars a month to repay her for practically bankrupting her. The store owner had to get a second mortgage on her home because of this fiasco.

To me, it seems the woman hasn't experienced remorse. That if her financial circumstances have changed since she was ordered to pay 100 a month, she should be paying more. And of her OWN volition. Not because the court ordered her to, but to make things right.

If that had happened, it wouldn't bother me that she's got a small scrapstore of her own in her house and that she seems to be spending 100's of dollars a month on new supplies. I wouldn't care if she appeared as a guest designer for a company.

But, working in a scrapbook store and seeing first-hand what it takes to stay in business, my heart goes out to this owner who sacrificed to keep hers alive while the woman who almost took it away flaunts her prosperity.

Not that it matters what I think, I suppose.

Someday, somehow, if the "perp" doesn't change her ways and her attitude, I fear she will reap what she has sown ten-fold.

I think it's happening already.

So much like me.

2008-03-28T10:08:00.004-06:00

I did this layout for a contest at Scrapstreet. The challenge was to look at the photos of the Paris Fashion show. I've always loved black red and white, so when I saw an outfit in those colors I knew I had to use it for inspiration.

So...browsing through my pictures I found this one of Isaac. In so many ways, he's just like me. He just feels things deeply. Last year for his birthday we got him a pet mouse, who, for some unknown reason, died after a month. He had named her "Beautiful." My poor boy was absolutely heartbroken. For months he'd tear up at the mention of her, and often drew pictures of her.

He's funny, because I know he gets belligerent to try to cover up his tender heart. He wants the approval of his brother SO much, and I don't think his brother realizes how his little corrections hurt Isaac. All Josh sees is that Isaac is constantly pushing his buttons.

I love this kid. My heart aches for this kid. I hope that someday he will be able to feel confident and sure of himself.

My sweet, tender-hearted boy.

Grrrrr....arghhh!

2008-03-25T23:10:00.002-06:00

So...the transmission in the NEWish van stopped working.

And yes, it needs a new one.

And yes, it will cost almost our entire tax return.

*******************************

So, obviously: me--mood: bad.

Today I went to work...was scheduled to work 10-2. Took the bus...was practically the only person on it. Apparently everyone ELSE'S cars WORK.

Asked dh to pick me up from work. Called him about 1:30 and told him that he could pick me up later (after track) so I could get more hours in to help with the car.

Called him at 4:30...ask him what time the extended family is having the pictures taken (his side)---turns out they're meeting at FIVE THIRTY.

Now, since we only have one car, and that one car seats FIVE, and we are a family of SIX, dh has to take kids home before he can pick me up.

And he starts to tell me how he's going to get his hair cut at the neighbors FIRST.

Uh, NO.

I've been working all day, and wasn't photo ready to begin with. So I get terse with the old man and he says he'll come get me first.

I ask him what we're supposed to wear, and how we're going to get the entire family there. He says, "Jeans and some kind of colored shirt, but I can't remember the colors."

If I could have reached through the phone and strangled him right then and there, I would have.

So I, with steam pouring out of my ears, tell him that he needs to call his mom, see if they can take some of the kids, and to FIND OUT WHAT WE'RE WEARING.

He FINALLY picks me up at FIVE THIRTY. (Also known as the time that the entire family is already at the park.) Says boys went with his parents, we're wearing jeans and either blue or tan shirts, and that if we hurry he can still get his hair cut.

"I don't HAVE a tan shirt!" I say through clenched teeth. "What did you send the boys in?"

"Jeans!" he says defensively. "And they took some blue shirts with them."

"Did you even check to see if they were CLEAN????" I say...one step away from a public scene. "And who wears BLUE SHIRTS WITH BLUE JEANS????"

I'm pretty far gone at this point.

So we run over to Mervyns (right by my work) and grab a shirt and jeans for Sadie (since, due to our broken washer, neither of us is sure she has any clean pairs at the moment), shirts and jeans for the boys, a shirt for him and a shirt for Bree. There is absolutely NOTHING for me. (And what we found was more brown than tan, but better than blue by a longshot.)

So, we get home. It is now SIX. Dh says not to worry, another brother can't get there until 6:30.

So, I get Sadie out of the tub and blow dry her hair. I madly wash and dry my hair and dig up an old brown polo to wear. It is now 10 to SEVEN.

We run to the car...I pack my makeup to do in the car. Dh takes wrong street on the way there. I'm so mad I can barely talk. I ask dh why he didn't just leave track EARLY if he knew we had to be there at five thirty. His response? "I forgot to set my alarm and lost track of time."

We get to the park and race to where the photographer is obviously impatiently waiting. Daylight is fading fast and they still have the immediate family pictures, our family and the group shot to do. I look at Isaac's too small shirt and the grass stain on his knee, and Josh's dirty jeans and his blue t-shirt (WHO WEARS BLUE WITH JEANS???) and shove the new clothes in their hands and tell them to RUN to the bathroom and change.

Photog takes sibling pics and calls my family.

And my sons are NOWHERE to be seen.

Apparently the bathroom is like HALF A MILE AWAY. And none of us know where it is.

So dh and I frantically search for sons as the sun sets.

Finally we see them in the distance, sauntering back. I'm yelling at them to RUN and Isaac is whining, "I CAN'T!!!"

We get back to photog who is looking like he wants us drawn and quartered. It is now almost EIGHT. Photog tells us that he already TOOK the group picture, and is going to PHOTOSHOP my family in the BACKGROUND.

I want to crawl under a log and die.

So, he lines us up in an awkward pose. DH has to hold Sadie up so she's about eye level with him.

And photog wants me to SMILE.

He took about 8 pictures. And I probably look homocidal in every.single.one.

I overhear dh's siblings saying that it's probably too late to make their dinner plans. I look around frantically for a hole to swallow me up.

They decide to meet at SIL's for pizza. Most of them can tell that I am NOT to be messed with at the moment and avoid me like the plague.

Until my MIL comes up and says, "You're coming over, aren't you?"

I, who want nothing more than to bury my face in a pillow and bawl, give a half-hearted shrug. "We haven't had dinner," I say weakly.

"Well, that's what we're doing!" she says. "Everyone's coming over...we'll take the boys..."

I motion for the boys to go with her and she thinks I'm mad at HER for not watching the boys close enough. So now SHE'S upset and muttering how she's sorry, she didn't realize she should have been watching them...yadda yadda yadda.

I try to put her at ease and tell her they probably CAME in dirty clothes and it had nothing to do with her. I can tell she's not buying it.

We get to car. I look at dh and tell him I am not.in.the.mood.

He hands me the car keys. I go home and sulk like a baby while they go to SIL's house.

Part of me feels like a jerk for bailing. But part of me KNOWS I would have just made everyone around me uncomfortable. I'm not good at covering up my emotions...and I was just *so* embarrassed and frustrated and upset. Add the car stress to that and I'm a blubbering mess.

And that, my friends, is what I did during my SPRING BREAK.

Grrrr...

One Two CHA CHA CHA....

2008-02-17T13:15:00.002-07:00

Had SO much fun at CHA with Helen and Lori and Renee...Renee practically gave me an asthma attack from her "Magic" story....if you know Ms. Coffey you MUST ask her about it.

LOVED seeing Wendy and Robyn, who most graciously allowed me to do a make and take at the Paper House Productions booth. I also did a darling one with Teri (whom I REALLY wanted to spend more time with :( ) at the Art Declassified Booth.

Got to have lunch with Kelly and Kristy...Kelly is the cutest thing and just so sweet. Kristy looks SO cute with her hair long and curly...I'm jealous!

And a shout out to Deb at Pinecone Press who saved me a flip book and the awesome teacher there (forgot her name) who graciously helped me put it together after they had shut down their booth.

Oh...and a big HIGH FIVE to the cute gals at Glitz...it was SO fun seeing them in their different matching outfits and wishing I had a bod that would look cute in matching stuff instead of really, really desperate. :D
(I don't usually do ANY make and takes....so it was a real treat to do a few this show!)

I took my camera...photographed my layouts and the booth and DID NOT take pictures of these wonderful gals! I am a HUGE LOOSAH. :(

Here's some layouts from CHA, enjoy!

The Wonders of Photoshop: AKA Plastic Surgery for the Poor and Uninclined

2008-01-22T18:09:00.000-07:00

Before
After

Ahhh Photoshop. How I love thee! What other wonder can magically make my love handles disappear and raise my bustline off of my knees with no need for anesthesia?

If you too have to make a family album and don't want your stomach rolls and old-lady boobs preserved for generations, the clone tool is your friend.

For the stomach rolls: select a lighter spot (preferably on the seemingly flatter part of the abdomen), alt-click and clone over the shadows of the love handles. Presto! A much flatter (albeit still slightly rotund) stomach.

For the 5-minute boob picker upper: use the selection tool (rectangular marquee works) to select those saggy, old lady mammaries. Copy and paste. Move copy of breasts to higher, perkier position. Using a spot on your new, flatter tummy, clone over the old boobs until they vanish into oblivion. Voila! No longer will your great, great grandchildren envision you as a female version of the Michelin Man! No longer is your poor bust support preserved for generations!

No need to thank me. Cash or check works just fine.

(I kid...I kid.)

THIS made me laugh.

2008-01-03T16:43:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: NO, this isn't my way of announcing anything. This baby factory is closed for the duration.

But I AM wondering what it says about my sense of humor that this had me rolling on the floor.

Some things I've learned...'bout scrappin.

2007-12-19T16:11:00.000-07:00

So...I work part time at an LSS. LOVE IT. Love the paper. Love the ribbons. Love opening all the boxes and seeing what's new. Love my boss...nice lady who makes me feel needed.

Anyway...she got hired to do an entire scrapbook for a lady for Christmas who wants to give it as a gift to her son. I guess she did the same thing last year for a different son.

Lady doesn't want the album to be "pimped out." Just wants it simple and nice. (And, since it's for a 20 year old male, NOT froofy.)

Lady provides a STACK of 4x6 photos. Not even GOOD photos. Red eyes in a lot of them. Many out of focus. Some just random.

Anyway, boss asks me to help. (Our store does a HUGE amount of printing Christmas cards and wedding invites, so she was swamped.)

How hard can it be, right? Lady's not picky...not a scrapper. Should be able to just "slam" it out, right?

Oh. My. Heck.

Scrapping your average 4x6 photos is HARD.

Really, REALLY hard.

I am SO used to seeing (and using) nice, cropped photos that are sized for the layout design that I think I probably burned a few circuits trying to make my asthetics and the project parameters copacetic.

The number of photos per layout varied. Most groupings needed to be stretched out (or crammed into) a 2 page 12x12 spread. EVERY layout was a multiple photo layout. ALL the photos were 4x6. And there was NO journaling, NO outside information to work with. Occasionally I could use a title if one was included with the photo set.

The pages were plaaaaiiin. No flowers, very little ribbon and only a smattering of rubons. Most chipboard was used for titles...and hand die cut by little 'ol me...not premade.

The result was very "old-school."

Not that there's anything wrong with that....but I hadn't realized how spoiled I had become....with all my photo editing and cute trendy product. Without all that the result was....

Ugh.

Ugh for me, anyway. Not my style. Not fulfilling for me in a creative sense. And VERY restrictive.

But it is how the vast majority of people out there scrap.

4 x 6 photos. Lots per page. Grouped by events. Minimum embellishment.

And it. is. HARD.

Who'da thunk?

Some Thoughts on Service...

2007-11-27T16:14:00.000-07:00

So...I do the Black Friday thing. It's like a tradition now. Even though I didn't go with a specific agenda this year, I still managed to spend waaaayyyy too much money.

Now, we all know that Black Friday is not for the weak of heart. Or of toes. (Mine were smooshed more often than I can count.) But STILL, it would be nice if the retailers on whom we drop all of our hard earned cash on would try to make the experience as pleasant as possible.

A girl can dream, right?

Let me tell ya a little story....

DH and I go to Circuit City and manage to find something on my daughter's list. We find what appears to be a short line...only to discover that it's short because it also happens to be the desk where they send everyone with a question. The poor, over-tired, over-worked cashiers are not only dealing with people grumpy because the 15 computers that they stocked for 299 were sold hours ago, they're also dealing with people grumpy because the register line is barely moving BECAUSE of all the grumpy people who thought they could score a screamin' deal without freezing their buns off.

Anyway, two people ahead of us is a man who appears to be either from India or Pakistan who speaks with an accent in a very soft voice. Apparently he has just purchased a computer. He gets ready to leave...and decides he wants a printer (one of the specials that day is that you can get a printer that is free (*after rebate) if you purchase a certain computer.)

Well, he proceeds to tell this to the cashier, who has already moved onto another customer. The cashier, obviously overtired and looking forward to working another 12 hours that day (true story!) seems to forget all manners and says "WHAT? WHAT?" to the overly quiet customer. (I commented on this to my DH...joking that maybe the cashier had been raised in a barn...only to discover a little later that we had personal knowledge that this was not the case.)

Anyway, the man finally communicates to the cashier that he wants the printer. The cashier grabs a Lexmark printer and rings it into the computer.

"No," says the customer, "I want the HP one."

Insert *heavy sigh* here.

Cashier grabs HP printer, rings it into the register, and tells customer that it is 89 dollars.

"Oh, no," says the customer, "give me the Lexmark printer."

Cashier trys, and fails, not to roll his eyes.

Cashier takes Lexmark printer, rings it in and tells customer that it is also 80-ish dollars.

"It is free after rebate?" asks customer.

"Yep." replies cashier.

"Is there a rebate with the HP printer?"

"I dunno," replies cashier. He turns to co-worker and asks about rebate. Co-worker says, "Not sure. Sometimes the HP ones have a $50 dollar rebate, but I don't know."

Cashier turns to customer and says, "Yeah, it has a 50 dollar rebate."

(I turn to look at DH, because that's not how I heard it from the co-worker.)

"Ok, give me the HP printer," says customer.

Cashier rings in printer, customer pays for the printer. Cashier stands, staring at the reciept printer for a minute and finally says...."It's not printing a rebate. I guess it doesn't have one."

"Well then," says customer, "I don't want this one. I want the Lexmark one."

"Sorry," says the cashier, "but we're not doing returns today. You'll have to come back tomorrow."

**************************************

Now if it had been ME, I would have pitched a fit to put Whitney Houston to shame. This customer, however, after a brief protest, left with his unwanted merchandise.

I noticed that the cashier failed to mention their 15% restocking fee.....

As we were paying for our merchandise, the cashier looked at my dh's ID and said, "I think I know you!" Turns out cashier is dh's cousin that grew up out of state.

In Washington, as it turns out, and not in a barn. ;)

Now, I KNOW that there are plenty of dishonest people out there, which is why it is harder and harder to return or exchange merchandise.

And I KNOW that it was very, very busy at Circuit City on Black Friday, which is probably why they didn't want cashiers tied up with returns.

But considering the circumstances, it seems an exception should have been made. It seems that not only is the customer no longer "right," but that they are an entity to be tolerated and whipped into submission to a plethora of rules and regulations.

Sorta takes the fun out of it all.

However, it would probably take a disaster of mythic proportions to stop me from shopping all together.

Speaking of drama....

2007-11-12T22:04:00.000-07:00

Aforementioned teenage daughter is going to give me an ulcer.

Daughter is 14. Pretty. Attracts boys like bees to honey. (And, believe it or not, that's not even my main worry.)

Daughter is creative. Her English teachers rave about her writing ability. She was one of 2 students in her middle school last year to score full marks on a nationally graded essay. She's one of a handful of students in the entire high school (and the only freshman) to be ranked "fluent" in writing. Daugther also loves to draw and is especially good with manga. She is also the darling of her art class. The other kids call her Anime.

Daughter is SMART. Was in the gifted program. Scores in the top ten percent nationally on all standardized tests. (The complete battery. Not just one or two sections.)

Daughter just got a 2.7 on her first offical high school report card.

I do NOT know what to do with this child.

She is bright, caring, SO good with her younger siblings. She is sweet and stays out of trouble.

And she is the laziest little !@#$ when it comes to getting her homework done.

We had this problem in middle school, too. It seems that, no matter how much I try to impress upon her that it is HER future she's affecting, she doesn't seem to grasp the concept.

She wants to be a graphic designer when she grows up. And she could do it too.

But at the rate she's going, she'll also have to do it with thousands of dollars in student loans.

And that just sucks.

Drama Drama Drama

2007-10-30T22:08:00.000-06:00

No, this thread isn't about my teenage daughter.

Though it could be.

She is quite dramatic.

No, THIS thread is all about the drama in the scrapbook "industry."

Typing the word "industry" makes me cringe a little. It makes Scrapbooking sound like Microsoft.

Or something.

Anyway...there has been MUCH drama abounding lately.

To sum up:

1) It is extremely stupid to hold a "contest" (and I'm using this word lightly) and not check your entries for compliance to your own contest rules. Creating Keepsakes, (if you're listening, which I doubt, because I have a very firm mental picture of y'all with your fingers in your ears and your eyes squinshed shut chanting "I can't heeeeaaarrr you!"), you can't post contest rules, clearly DETAIL those rules in a public forum, and then chose to ignore them when it suits your purpose. Much drama will ensue. (See? Drama. The running theme here.)

2) It is impossible to take a picture of yourself on a river run from the shore while being buffetted down rapids going at a hearty clip. Especially if both hands are on your oar. Especially if it's in the exact same spot that the professional hired photographer takes her pictures. Especially if the mad photoshop skills it would take to blend a series of blurry, imperfect photographs aren't sufficient to erase a few pounds and clone out a moustache. Positing such an implausible scenario will cause much detective work and endless drama. And if the drama gets to be too much, don't storm out in a blaze of glory claiming that you were misconstrued. It won't work. It will just cause MORE drama.

3) It is a bad idea to manage a message board and violate your own rules. Especially if your board has a "glitch" that allows people to see your potty mouth. Especially if it also allows people to read you possibly handing out personal member information. There will be ...you guessed it...drama. People will dramatically email your boss. Your boss will have to post on your board trying to appease the dramatic and angered masses. And I'm guessing he'll be none to pleased about it.

This is the scrapbooking "industry." It is NOT "scrapbooking." When did scrapbooking start becoming "These are the Days of our Acid-Free Lives?"

Sigh. I remember when we cut out photo mats with fancy sissors, sneezed some stickers around them and called it a day. HOF was the shirtless dude on Baywatch and smack was something you did with your lips after you ate something tasty.

Those were the days.

Confessions of a Reformed Scrap Snob.

2007-10-14T19:21:00.001-06:00

A few weeks ago, there was a Scrap Expo in town. Anyone who knows me KNOWS that I'll be there unless prevented from going by a major natural disaster. And we never have hurricanes in Utah....

Well, most people who know me know I also hate going places alone. It's mostly because I hate driving, period. I always try to get someone to go with me so I don't have to drive.

Well, on this particular occasion I invited my sister. Now my sister has scrapbooked on occasion, but has never developed my enthusiasm (read "obssession") for the hobby and usually declines to scrap with me.

Recently said sister went on a cruise. And has lots of cool, cruise photos. And has decided she would like them scrapbooked. So she agreed to go (and drive) on the condition I would work on her album with her.

So we go to the expo. I bring my travel stash but don't have anything that I think would go with her photos. So we start wandering the booths looking for things we could use. Right away she finds some fish stickers and thinks they would work on one of the ocean pages.

"Uh," I say, "I don't really use stickers. Like that. With animals. Maybe letter stickers. But not really fish ones."

"Oh!" says sister. "Stickers aren't cool anymore?"

"Ummm....not really. Well, I mean, I don't use them, but if you want to, you can. I mean, it is your album."

"Noooo," says sister. "I want it to be cute."

So we look around some more and score some awesome Scenic Route chipboard letters for 2 dollars each. While I'm standing in line to buy more MME buttons than one person could ever use, sister goes and looks at the next booth.

And comes back with a laser-cut Cancun title with a silver dolphin on it.

"Look!" she says. "I thought this would be good for the Cancun page."

"Uh, OK." I say. "I don't really use stuff like that, but we could make it work."

"Oh," says sister. "Well, maybe I'll give it to Stephanie. She can use it on her album."

Finally we get settled and sister watches while I do this semi-artsy page for her trip to Hell. (It's a place. Really. Some guy was exploring it and said Oh HELL! and the name stuck.) Sister seems to like that page ok. Then I start working on her Margaritaville photos and pull out my sacred stash of Foofala tropical colored paper and my Queen and Co felt trim. I add some of my newly acquired buttons for good measure and am really liking the way it's turning out.

Sister seems underwhelmed. She's not happy about a"hole" in my design. And about the fact that by this point we've spent about $130 and have only 2 layouts to show for it.

Fast forward two weeks later. Sister tells me she's going to Roberts to get some more paper for her album for an upcoming crop. "Maybe I can find some life-preserver paper and we can put Stephanie's and my photos in the holes. I'm going to look for some beach paper and some other stuff I can use too." Sister seems excited to get her album going.

And all I'm thinking is..."Life preserver paper???? How am I going to make THAT cute?"

And it hits me. I am a scrapbook snob. And I don't think I like it.

Who am I to look down my nose at the things my sister wants to include in her album? Why does it matter to ME what things she wants to put on HER page?

When did it become SO important that the pages I create are "trendy" and use the latest product? Why do I worry if my layouts are "magazine worthy?" I don't even submit! Why does the thought of having to use themed paper send cold shivers down my spine?

Now, I'm not going to change the way I scrap, because I have my own style and I enjoy my pages. But I AM going to be more aware of how my attitudes might affect others with different likes and dislikes than mine. I AM going to leave MY own preferences at the door and help my sister create an album that SHE enjoys. And I AM going to appreciate other people's creations for what they are: an expression of themselves.

I WILL scrap with the life-preserver paper. And I'm gonna LIKE it! :D

Kids.

2007-09-26T21:52:00.001-06:00

Ok...I'd like to share with you some little tidbits of wisdom I have gleaned from my children and from the children I teach. Pay close attention....there will be a test.

My dd while watching a nursing mother: "My mom has some of those, but she doesn't use them any more!"

A preschooler watching me do jumping jacks: "My mom says that I won't get big boobs until I'm OLDER!"

A preschooler after being told about the nativity: "I already know that! We have the movie."

A little guy digging in the sand near me today: "I can't tell you what I'm doing...it's a LOOONG story. *pause* I'm making nothing."

A little guy after I had eaten some onions: "Miss Meridith, WHAT did you HAVE for LUNCH?"

My dd after I slipped on the stairs and told her I lost my balance: "That's ok, mommy, I'll help you find it."

Me at the doctor's office yesterday with my sons: "K, guys, they're going to check your peepers." DS (looking horrified) "MOM! Don't say that." Me (confused) *pause* *think* "Your EYES, Isaac, your EYES."

Kids crack me up. I never know what's going to come out of their mouths.

Maybe I identify with them. :D

I am a consumer...hear me roar!

2007-09-10T23:36:00.000-06:00

I've been thinking about marketing.

Specifically, marketing to the scrapbooking consumer.

More specifically, the role of the scrapbook celebrity in marketing to the scrapbooking consumer.

The "scrap celeb" is a bizarre phenomenom to the world of scrapbooking. When I tole painted, I wasn't innundated with "tole celebs..." (well, there IS Donna Dewberry, but never once did I see her at a craft store signing her books while a gaggle of frantic women jocky for best photo position.) And to be honest, Donna probably wouldn't have made a good scrap celeb, anyway. First of all, she's not "hip." She doesn't use words like "uber" or "rawks." She doesn't call tole painting "life art" and she doesn't pretend that tole painting is going to revolutionize your life.

Second, she's, well, not 20. She doesn't have a short, spiky hairstyle or a nose ring. She may not even know how to clone out a blemish in Photoshop to save her life.

Scrapbooking, as a industry, is just...well, wierd. All of a sudden, it should matter WHO does a company's layout just as much as how well it is done. Design teams are filled with "names" (aka people who have won a major contest at some point...or who are very good at calling attention to themselves)..or at the very least, good looking people who at least LOOK good on your message board.

Now I, personally, have never bought a product because Lisa Bearnson used it...or Heidi Swapp made it, or Ali Edwards blogged about it. I HAVE bought products I've heard about online...but only because I thought they'd be something I could use.

I imagine MOST scrappers are the same way. We buy what we like. It doesn't matter if the layout in the ad was created by Debbie Designer or Quasimodo...as long as it's a good layout. My decision to buy the product is more influenced by seeing designs that inspire me to try the product than by who created the designs.

Something happened recently that made me think that the industry, at least, thinks that we DO care if the design teams are populated with young, attractive people who give good face. And it broke my heart...because a few people that I really like were caught in the crossfire.

If this trend continues...if companies start to market people more than their products, well, I'm not interested. I'm not scrapping pictures of your design team, I'm scrapping pictures of my family. I don't CARE who designs your products or your samples, as long as they are GOOD products or samples.

I don't want to feel manipulated, condescended to or marketed to. I want to feel respected. I want companies to realize that my money (and that of others like me) is what keeps them afloat. I want them to treat me as a capable, thinking adult who doesn't need to be sold friends. I'm perfectly capable of deciding whether or not I like a product or service without some perky, preppy little person pimping it out in their blogs or posts.

There's been speculation that a well known scrapbooker who has disappeared from the industry may have not continued to get work because she didn't fit that perky, young, skinny, hip mold.

If that's indeed true, I'm having none of it. I'm a one-woman boycott of companies that decide your worth as a professional scrapbooker is based more on your marketability than your ability. It's stupid and it makes no sense. When did scrapbooking become SO much about someone else's story? I *thought* it was about my story and the stories of those I choose to scrap about...not about the person who designed my product or who gave me an idea how to use it.

Probably a lot of this rant makes no sense without its proper context, which, unfortunately, I'm not at liberty to share. Just know that decisions are being made on criteria that have nothing to do with talent, dedication, or loyalty.

With that, I'm off to bed. Whether or not it makes sense to you, I, at least, feel a little better.

It's just like a trainwreck...

2007-09-10T23:15:00.000-06:00

You know you shouldn't watch, but you just can't help yourself.

I watched Brittney Spears' VMA performance.

From the first stumble before the music started to the half executed dance moves and the aimless wandering around the stage, you just knew that not only was Brittney NOT back to form, she was also NOT better.

Which got my thinking about young Hollywood. The younger eschelon of stars seem to be one hapless trainwreck after another. All these famous teens and twenty-somethings popping pills faster than they can pop out of rehab.

Where are the parents?

These parents who probably watched with glee and a billion dollar sparkle in their eyes are now wringing their hands and wondering how their golden gooses turned out to be jail birds. Where was Dina Lohan when a 17 year old Lindsay was repeatedly photographed partying in bars? Where was Brittney's mom when Britt decided to marry a back-up dancer who left his pregnant girlfriend in the lurch? And why can't Hayden Panetierre's (sp) mother strap a leash on her born to be wild daughter before the same disasters happen to her?

I think we need a celebrity edition of Super Nanny. I can imagine Nanny Jo telling Dina: "Now Mum, you've got to be firm with Lindsay. Take away the Jack Daniels. If she tries to take it again, put her in the naughty corner and make her STAY there!"

I'd love to be there when Nanny Jo takes Lindsay's asbsentee, ex-con father and makes him cry on television because she made him feel like a bad parent.

In the meantime...well, we'll all continue to watch in fascination...wondering how those children born with such talent and good fortune can self-destruct on a world-wide stage.

And we'll pray to God we're smart enough not to let our own children do the same thing.

Moooooore Layouts! :D

2007-08-14T17:45:00.000-06:00

Lots 'O Layouts

2007-08-14T17:42:00.000-06:00

Some stuff I've done lately. :D

2007-08-14T17:41:00.000-06:00

read all about it

2006-08-22T12:01:00.000-06:00

I'm a bad blogger. But since no one is hanging on my every word, I have to pressure to perform.

Saw this on 2peas today...thought I'd use it:

1. The Book That Changed My Life - The first book I ever read that made me realize I was part of something bigger than myself was "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee. K- it's not original or anything, but it was kind of an eye opener for a kid who had up until then read mostly Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden. I have a special place in my heart for that book.

2. A Book I've Read More Than Once-I laughed at this one, just because I ALMOST ALWAYS read books more than once, due to the fact that the first time through I sort of rush it so I can find out what happens. Then, I have to go back again and take my time. Also, I'm terrible about returning books to the library, so I usually buy the books I read instead....and since I can't ALWAYS be buying books, but ALWAYS have to be reading something, I re-read the books I have.

3. A Book I'd Want With Me on a Desert Island-Good question. UMMM...ok, I'd want my bible and bom with me. BUT, if I could take something frivolous too...Treason by Orson Scott Card. Just because I like it and it's interesting to me.

4. A Book That Made Me Laugh-Big Trouble by Dave Barry. It made me laugh out loud! I tried to read it out loud to dh...and then realized how much profanity it had. I guess it's one of those things that's funnier in my head. :D

5. A Book That Made Me Cry-Don't laugh...but I cried when Dumbledore died. Yup. I'm a baby like that.

6. A Book I Wish Had Been Written-Have I ever said that in some alternate universe I am a writer? I had some success with it in high school and college, but no drive to pursue it. So, the book I wish had been written is the one I know is somewhere in my head.

7. A Book I Wish Had Never Been Written-Mein Kampf by Adolph Hitler. Vicious racist propoganda that showed how truly sick and twisted he was.

8. A Book I Am Currently Reading-I just finished Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo. It was ok (borrowed it from my son cause I was bored.) Before that I read Magic Street by Orson Scott Card....LOVED IT!

9. A Book I Am Meaning To Read-I have this list of 1001 books I should read before I die. I'm going to have to go pay off my library fines and try it.

10. My favorite book of all time-OH wow. I just love books. I love just about everything OSC has written, and I'm also a huge fan of the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. I just can't narrow it down.

Well, my reading habits aren't all that intellectual or politically interesting, but it is what it is. TTFN

I said GIMME YOUR STUFF!

2006-07-28T19:16:00.000-06:00

I've always wanted to travel. I've always been intrigued by exotic places and different enviroments.

Instead, I live 20 from where I grew up.

So, I want to live vicariously through you. ;)

I'm up for trading for stuff from places I may never get to visit.

What I have:

Scrapbook stuff. Utah is the scrapbook capital of the world. (IMO) I've got albums, paper, embellishments, stickers, rubons, you name it. If there's something specific you'd like, I can probably find it. Scrap Mags too.

Utah stuff. We're a pretty quirky place. I have limited access to 2002 olympic things, or I can send you salt water taffy from the Great Salt Lake. If you have a specific request, let me know and I'll see if I can pull it off. We've got some beautiful National Parks here, and I can get books or postcards from those. (Zion's, Arches, Bryce, etc.)

Mormon stuff. (otherwise known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.) SLC is the headquarters of the Mormon church. I can't send you extra wives or stuff like that (I KNOW that's what some of you are thinkin...) but if you have a respectful request I'll try to honor it. Temple Square postcards, Mormon Tabernacle choir stuff, Books of Mormon, etc. No flames, please.

Also, I DO have a Wild Oats handy, for those of you who are interested. :)

I want:

Stuff that's unique to your locale. Probably not interested in postcards, etc., but would LOVE crafty things, books, food, clothes--basically things I can't get by stopping by an import store here. While I would love stuff from anywhere, I have a daughter that is fascinated by all things Japanese, so I have a particular interest in that.

Thanks for stopping by...looking forward to hearing from you! :D

Rooty TOOTY Fresh and Fruity

2006-07-16T22:48:00.000-06:00

Toot Toot! These two layouts are made with paper (although these are digital mockups) that my good friend Sherry and I designed....

and it is coming out at CHA summer for SONBURN!

I'm totally excited and can't believe it's actually happening. It's all so last minute, it's being printed THIS WEEK...so here's crossing my fingers that nothing goes wrong.

The line includes 3 pps and 2 double sided cardstocks (one printed, one solid) and an alphabet rub on and a doodle rub on.

I'm so nervous about how it will be recieved--I've never done anything like this before!

Congrats to Sherry Laffoon for her darling doodles and the inspiration to create this line. It's really her brain child, I'm just the techno geek that put it all together.

Everyone knows I'm in over my head...

2006-06-17T12:04:00.000-06:00

Ever feel that way? I do.

So...what's new on the homefront?

My mom has published a book! It's called "Almost Sisters" and it's published by Deseret Book. It's a collaboration between her, her sister Carroll, and her friend Lael. It's intended to be the first book of a trilogy...and my mom et al. are madly working on the second installment.

It's a great book...can't wait to see what happens in book 2. I made postcards for a book signing they are holding in my mom's backyard this week. Hope there is a great turnout!

Gearing up for another CHA...Sonburn is coming out with some Christmas stuff...can't wait to see it. I'll be sad if this is my last trade show (most probably will be) but it's in Chicago and I'm really excited about it.

Things I must DO:

Mail the @#%^$#@% circle journals again. I mailed them (months late) only to have the silly things come BACK because I screwed up the address somehow. And here they are, waiting for a new box to get sent back out. I need to put them somewhere in my line of sight so they don't get put out of my mind! I am NEVER again doing one if these, I am just not anal enough.

Do some LO's for a manufacturer I heard may have some openings. They aren't cutting edge style wise, but--neither am I so I might as well try, right?

Clean my @#$@#$ house. It is SO hard to keep a 3 bedroom house tidy when six people are living in it. Not to mention the 15 year accumulation of crap to go with it. Just thinking about it puts me in a foul mood.

Finish getting things organized down in Primary. I'm making some changes that I hope will make things run more smoothly. Still looking for a chorister and a scout leader...and I really want my secretary to work out but so far she hasn't made it to one meeting. It's all still new so I'm going to try to see if it will be ok...but I really need someone there I can depend on. I'm a weird type of person...inside I really want to be organized and I'm kind of anal about it, but I have a hard time actually doing things...so I delegate!!! And I need dependable people to delegate to.

OK....I really really will try to keep up on this better...if for no other reason than to do some journaling for myself.

Everyone knows I'm in over my head....

Sigh KIDS!

2006-04-07T21:41:00.000-06:00

Well...I really want to know. WHY do kids decide they absolutely need your attention at the most inconvenient times?

Today after work I decided to take a shower (having my annual girly doctor appt today and really needing to shave my legs :D ). Well, at our house unless you turn the water on for a while first, you will end up with lukewarm water. I totally lost time while surfing and decided that I'd better jump in the shower without the prerequisite warm up period.

K-ya have to understand, I have not shaved these legs in TWO WEEKS. (It's winter and I'm married. Totally didn't feel the need.)

So, needless to say, it was an involved process. :D :D

Now here, where I live, it SNOWED 2 days ago. We keep our house at a nice and chilly 65 degrees during the day so that we can afford to eat.

I get in the shower...lukewarm water...and am trying to de-fuzz myself as quickly as I can before I get goosebumps and totally cut my legs up...

AND MY KIDS KEEP YELLING AT ME through the bathroom door.

"Moooooom, Josh keeps hitting me over the head with a PILLOW!"

Me: "ANNNDDDDD?"

"THIS pillow! He keeps hitting me and he won't stop!"

Me: "Well, he's obviously stopped NOW because YOU are holding the PILLOW."

"But MOOOOMmmmmmm"

This whole conversation is carried out with the bathroom door open and the cold air coming in to add to my luke warm shower.

Two minutes later:

"Moommmmm. Isaac won't let Sadie use the playstation!!!"

Me: Did you hit your brother over the head with a pillow?

*Silence*

"Well, he was really BUGGING me and I told him to stop and he WOULDN'T"

I am REALLY COLD. Get OUT of the bathroom and CLOSE the DOOR!

30 seconds later: MOMMMMMMMMM....

At that point I yelled (yes, yelled) at my kids to shut the bathroom door and to let me take my shower without freezing to death.

When I got out of the shower, Sadie says, "Mommy, you mean."

*SIGH*

One of these days I am going to take a picture of these boys fighting with eachother and scrap it.

Because, someday, they will be on the phone or in the shower and hear, "Daaaaddddddd...."

And I want them to know that they started it.

My broken blog got fixed :D

2006-03-23T16:35:00.000-07:00

Huge hugs and thanks to Dawn from 2peas for helping me put my blog back together! She spent her valuable time helping a total stranger (I emailed her because of her "queen of blogger html" pea title.) Just goes to show that there still are really nice people in the world (something I tend to forget when I am driving.)

I am so BUMMED! My 2nd fave kit club (the first being Paper Made Memories, of course!) had a dt contest and I didn't know about it. I order stuff from them all the time and am very blue that I missed this. It looks like they may do it again in October...I must keep my eyes peeled!

To enter or not....I fell in love with 3 Bugs in a Rug paper, and actually got 2 kit clubs to order from them (and may have indirectly influenced a third.) I want to be on that DT sooooo badly, BUT, so does every-stinkin-body else. Maybe I have what they want? Still, I don't really LOVE rejection that much. LOL! And really, they can have a totally top notch, famous, all HOF team if they so choose. So....I'm still thinking about it.

Sonburn is going to have new stuff for summer cha, so I hear! Whoopee! I am excited to get to play with some new stuff. Sounds like DH and I will get to go to Chicago...a first for both of us! Crossing my fingers...

Home, Home on the rangeeeeee

2006-02-04T23:18:00.000-07:00

Back from a BUSY week at CHA! Our booth had lots of people doing our make and takes, and I hope that eventually translates into orders! Reed and I had a blast spending so much time together and working side by side without the kiddos, though I missed them terribly.

Our booth was kiddie-corner from Gin X, so I loved seeing my good buddy Sherry, and getting to spend a little time with some others from her booth. Ginger is great, and Barb and Sam had me laughing. And that new gal...totally just spaced on her name, but she was awesome too.

Got to finally meet Scrappy Carol in person, she is just as nice irl as she is online. Also got to see Teri again...she is da bomb! Wish I knew her better, I get the feeling that we would get along well. Met Alissa and Cari with PBP, and of course Kristy was awesome as ever. Also briefly met Michelle who is on the dt with me at paper made memories...she's a doll! She posted a cute pic of the two of us over there...must get a copy!

Designer Dinner was fun but CRAZY! So many people in such a small space! There were people I wanted to meet but weaving my way through the crowd was near impossible. It was very well organized: props to the gals who took all the time to put it together!

Reed and I ate at Nobu in the Hard Rock Hotel one night. If you like sushi and have cash to burn (muy expensive!) I recommend it! The food was FABULOUS and the service was AMAZING! I'll save up next time I'm going to Vegas, must go there again.

I didn't get to look at product much at CHA which was disappointing....but fortunately there are lots of pics online now with the new and exciting stuff. I LOVE 3 bugs in a rug...and so does everyone else. So much for my DT aspirations... ;)

I have to say: I visited one booth from a company I know of online (I lurk in their forums on occasion) and the gal there (pretty well known in the sb world) was just short of rude to me. It caught me off guard because she seems nice online. I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt (it was the last day and I'm sure she was tired, ) but still, it's important to be nice to the little people. I actually had thought about ordering from her, but I've reconsidered. Lesson for today...

Anyway, I'm home, I'm tired and a good time was had by all. TTFN

Woulda Shoulda Coulda...

2006-01-18T21:11:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to decide which is worse...not getting something because I wasn't good enough, or not getting something because I didnt' try.

After looking at the new SBA DT, I am pretty mad at myself for not trying. NOT that I think I'm "better" than the girls that got it, but because the girls that got it for the most part weren't *huge* names, so it seems like that's what SBA was going for...hence, more of a shot than say, if they wanted all HOF'ers. The girls that got it are all amazing, and I'm still intimidated, but I'm THRILLED to see some lesser known scrappers hit the big time. Good for them! :D (shoulda at least tried..grumble grumble...)

There's a Manufacturer dt call coming up that I want SOOOO badly! (Me and everyone else...LOL) I'm not gonna psyche myself out of trying though. Here's hoping...

Laters.... :D

Back in the saddle again....

2006-01-14T11:16:00.000-07:00

After 4 days of staring at a monitor that had gone all *wonky*, I'm relieved to say that I can actually see again. Old monitor finally gave up the ghost...and retired kicking and screaming while flashing screens of neon blue. Dear dh was able to bring one home from work that is working nicely. Now I can surf without a headache...

My baby is sick again...feverish, occasional vomiting, and boogers of bright yellow. It doesn't keep her down though! As long as the fever is medicated, she's her usual bouncy self...if much more squawky and onery than usual. Can't keep a good kid down.

Some of my digital papers are going to be in the free ScrapStreet Digi kit for February. I really like them! I also was so proud of myself...I made a "metal" hinge from scratch. I'd really LOVE to do more designing...but I keep hearing I *need* adobe illustrator and a WACOM. So...I'll just tinker for now.

CHA is rapidly coming up...and I'm still waiting for paper to distribute to my designers. It should be here any day now...can't wait to play! I'm super excited for CHA too, but am having a HARD time fighting this feeling of inadequacy I have. Why can't I just relax and have fun?

Thursday night, I submitted about 4 LO's to ST...that I REALLY liked. I felt I had a decent chance of having at least ONE picked up. (They all have recieved really positive response when I have posted them.) The deadline wasn't until the 16, but I saw toots for it FRIDAY on the veggie board. So...probably too little too late again. It's frustrating though, submitting with *theoretically* 3 days until the deadline...and finding out they'd already decided and probably didn't even LOOK at my submissions. Am I ever gonna catch a break?

Interesting discussion on Pink Martini Designs...about manufacturer DT's and layout styles. Do manufacturers want the latest style (currently art journal---which I LOVE, but does not reflect the majority of scrappers OR focus on showcasing product, imo) or do they want solid, good looking lo's with lots of product that the average scrapper feels they could duplicate (if not come up with on their own.) I hope somebody reads this, cause I'd really like to know what you think.

Bad, BAD blogger....

2006-01-04T17:14:00.000-07:00

Yep, here I am back again. Sorry for the extended lag...I been in a funk. :D

Popped in today to find 3 very nice comments on my last entry...thank you so much gals...you made my DAY!

Congrats to the AWESOME Shanna for her QK DT gig. That gal is GOING PLACES, I just know it! :D

You know that show, "My Name is Earl (ed, whatever)"? About how he figures the bad stuff in life is happening to him because he's put too much bad karma out into the universe, so to get good things to happen to him he has to put good karma out? Well, I guess I better start being a better person, because the crap has hit the fan, ladies and gents. BOTH our cars broke down over the holidays, resulting in a grand total of 3200 in repairs. Guess what? I never have that kind of money just hanging out, let alone around Christmas. Had to take out a loan against my tax return. AND, we couldn't go anywhere as a family over the break because...no car. My in-laws, (who are really the sweetest in the world) have let us use one of their cars, even though they really use both. Only problem is, it only fits 5. We are six. Karma again...

I'm starting to feel like my blog is becoming a whine fest. Sorry!

On a positive note....

Ummm....

I'll have to get back to you on that one. :D

Where's an exterminator when you need one?

2005-12-21T15:38:00.000-07:00

It seems as if the flu bug has bitten at our house. Sweet Sadie seems to finally be feeling better, but Breanna came home from school complaining that her stomach and her *chest* hurt. Please please PLEASE tell me we won't have any pneumonia for Christmas...

Feeling mighty uninspired for scrapping right now, but I've got to get my groove on and finish out my Sizzix contract. It just feels so *awkward* with the new pc dt in place, and it being full of the fab and famous. Part of me just wishes they'd say they don't need me anymore (they don't) because I feel like 5 projects plus instructions is alot of work to do a month...that they very likely may never use. *Sigh**** Does this feeling of inadequacy ever get better? Maybe if I won HOF...*SNORT* bwaa haa haa haa

I did this funky lo with uncomfortably close shots of Josh crossing his eyes. I kinda like it, but I'm not sure anyone else does. OH WELL. When did I start scrapping for other people?

Well, Sadie wants attention AGAIN...I am so not getting anything done. Does Santa still come if he can't walk from one end of the room to the other? Maybe some elves will help clear a path to the tree...

A "Baby Bank," a sour note, a NEW camera!...(and a wee bit of buyer's remorse...)

2005-12-05T21:59:00.000-07:00

My dear Sadie is an interesting child. At two years old, her favorite snacks appear to be smoked almonds....and spare change. Yep, spare change. When I said that to my mom I had to repeat it 3 times before she realized that I was talking about good old American money. Apparently, dear daughter must have ingested some (see turkey post) because today dh noticed a penny and a dime in the potty along with yesterday's leftovers. (yes, you can say ewwwwww.) I am SERIOUSLY hoping that there is no more left in there...

I picked up my Nikon D-50 today!!! I'm excited to try her out, but I have to purchase a memory card first. (Another $100, and me already spending so much on myself.) I'm actually feeling anxious and a little guilty for spending SO MUCH MONEY on me when there is so much we need to do around here...and so little money month to month. Maybe some great Christmas pics of the kids will clear that remorse right up....

OK, so the lens my camera came with doesn't seem to be the lens of choice. I looked up Quantaray lenses on the internet and found people saying all sorts of bad things! I talked to the sales guy, and he says I can try it for a month and see what I think, but that he likes this particular lens as opposed to the Nikor one that's comparable (and 50 more.) PLUS, this lens does macro and the other one doesn't. I REALLY wish I knew more...

DH and I had 2 performances this weekend with Accabella. It went alright, but something was rotten in Denmark...One keychange in one song went HORRIBLY wrong (uggh) and SOMEONE keeps missing some key notes on some ending chords. I know who...but I'm not naming names. ;) Here's hoping that the rest of the performances go better. The majority of them are church parties, which I hate for the most part, due to kids running all over and half the audience not being able to hear. Still, I love the music, so what can ya do?

Thanks for dropping by...

Black friday, a migraine, and a new camera!

2005-11-28T15:39:00.000-07:00

Dear hubby and I went out and did the Black Friday thing this year. Overall it was really disappointing! The sales just weren't all that exciting, (except maybe for a $400 laptop at WALMART...and you can't PAY me $400 to go there on Black Friday.) The sale I always look forward to the most is at Roberts (a local craft/scrap store.) This year? NADA! Nothing! NO super deals! I'm gonna write a letter....

After dh and I shopped, I went shopping at the outlet stores with sis. Got some great deals at the Old Navy Outlet, but by the time we were done I had a migraine in the making. Got home and went straight to bed. Didn't get to Mom's to work on heritage album. *sigh* Missed out on Thanksgiving leftovers!

Saturday we went to Inkley's and ORDERED MY CAMERA! 'Bout had a heartattack watching dh write a check out for $700 (which was a good deal for my digital SLR). I kept trying to talk myself out of it, but dh was determined. (He's a sucker for a bargain.) Anyway, they were out of stock but it will be here Thursday. Now, how to tell the children Santa's not coming this year....(LOL...just kidding!)

What did you think about the sales? Good, bad, uninteresting?

Tofurkey, anyone?

2005-11-24T10:35:00.000-07:00

(That word is seriously fun to say.) I really want to know if anyone has tried this...anyone who also remembers what the real thing tastes like. It's just too bizzarre a concept for me to wrap my brain around.

So...going to Mom's today for Thanksgiving dinner. I am in charge of the PEAS and the JELLO. I'm going to try to make this strange raspberry/pretzel/cream cheese thing I had once. Only problem is, apparently that is the JELLO concoction of choice here in the JELLO capital of the world because dear hubby is out and about desperately trying to find frozen raspberries. No luck at Smith's or Albertsons. I just sent him to Wild Oats...perhaps there are some frozen raspberries next to the Tofurkey. No lectures about last minute please. I only knew I was bringing the JELLO two days ago. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

In other news, we are probably going to see a movie with the kids today. I really want to see Harry Potter, but I'm concerned that it will be too much for the younger three kids, and my oldest DD is with her aunt. I'm not sure I can sit through Chicken Little and keep my sanity. Generally speaking, I'm alright with the animation thing, but Madagascar seriously pushed the limits of my patience and to me Chicken Little looks about the same. Sigh...the things I'll do for these kids....

I've discovered doing heritage pages is HARD! I want them to be elaborate and shabby and have lots of cool stuff...but the fact is we don't have the time or the supplies. The results are certainly better than the magnetic album the photos were in previously, but it leaves me unsatisfied and strangely afraid that someone will see it and I'll have to explain myself. "I would have done this and this and this, but we didn't have time..." or "This looks NOTHING like what I normally do!" Weird. And the results are nothing like my current style or ability. I'm finding that I don't enjoy scrapping just to scrap...it needs to be "good" meaning "publishable" or at least something I won't be afraid to post in my gallery. Sheesh...when did I get so anal?

Have some tofurkey on me!

We have turkey all year round....

2005-11-23T08:37:00.000-07:00

Sadie is a little turkey! Gave me quite the scare last night, and I'm still not entirely sure there's not a penny or something residing happily in her stomach. She ate and drank afterwards, so I feel fairly confident that there isn't anything STUCK anywhere. That kid.....

She has decided that she doesn't want to sleep in her bed anymore...she'd rather sleep with her brother. I'm sure that the reason for this is that she can't get easily in and out of HER bed. We finally relented, because the child can scream for hours on end and it just wasn't worth it. It's obvious she's the baby of the family. Lucky for her she's so stinking cute!

Schedule for today...head out to mom's to work on album. I have SO much to do around here (it's the worst mess it's ever been, which is saying ALOT) and it's rare that I have a day off of work, but the stupid thing has to be done. Wish me luck and lots of creative vibes...I need to get this finished today so I can focus on other things.

Josh's joke of the week: What kind of bee makes milk? A BOOBEE!

(note: dh is not at all pleased Josh finds this so funny and shareable.)

Later....

The fat lady sang and boy is she off key...

2005-11-22T22:32:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm not surprised but still a little blue. The winners were announced today, and..you guessed it..close but no cigar. Still, the gals that won turned in amazing work...I truly feel they deserve it. Congrats Leora and Kenna! Here's one of my lo's from the last round... I had SUCH a hard time with this challenge (to use red, orange and blue.) Still, I like how it turned out.

Now that the contest is over, I've got to concentrate on my Provo Craft projects. My contract isn't up until mid March, and the jury is still out on if I want to reapply. The compensation is AWESOME, but I know that all the same girls getting all the great gigs will be all over this like white on rice...so do I really want to set myself up for another big letdown? AND...it seems that more and more people are submitting for everything...the Cactus Pink call had over 500 entries....for a company that hadn't even debuted yet! Yikes what lousy odds! (When I go to Vegas I don't even gamble, that's how much I dislike losing :) ) You know that frog in the cream barrell that paddled until he made butter? Sadistic little bugger.

OH CRAP! I think Sadie just swallowed a coin. More later...

2005-11-22T12:38:00.000-07:00

Well, today is the day that I hear about RMH....again, not holding my breath but still...it would be NICE! Oh well, if it doesn't happen, back to the drawing board I go...

Speaking of scrapping...my mom has all these pictures from my great aunt that she wants to compile into a scrapbook....tomorrow. I am going to spend all day there, but I KNOW that it's going to take more than one day to get it done. Thing is, my great aunt is in her 90's...so I understand the push to finish it. I just don't like doing things half-baked. It's going to HAVE to be really simple. SO...if any of you out there in cyberland have a link to a heritage album that is simple yet really well done, I'd love to see it. There might even be a rak involved....;)

GUESS WHAT????? I get my camera! Whoo hooo! It's going to be a year's worth of presents all rolled into one but it's worth it! I'm still torn between the Nikkon and the Rebel...if I go for the Nikon d-50, I won't spend as much, but that new rebel.........*sigh*. I drool more over that thing than People's Sexiest Man Alive issue. What's a girl to do? I borrowed my neighbors digital camera for some projects (a sony) and I fell in love with the ease of plugging in and printing out. (The time lag on that thing about killed me though!) I can't wait...be prepared to be totally bombarded with pictures when I get it.

TTFN...and thanks for visiting!

Jumping on the blog wagon...

2005-11-21T18:40:00.000-07:00

I fully realize that there's not that much so terribly interesting about ME...but this looks like fun anyway :). Where to begin?

Basic Facts:

Mom to 4
Pre-K teacher
Scrapper (wannabee)
Sci-Fi Fan
Chocoholic
Avid Reader
Alternative music junkie
Singer and bell ringer (my geek quotient just rose even higher...)
????

Can't say too much has happened today. Still waiting for results....I'm in the final five of the top miner's contest at Rocky Mountain Hobbies, and looking at the other gals entries I know I'm sunk. I'm pretty good at doing decently consistent lo's, but I lack that elusive WOW factor. I'm excited for whomever gets the DT nod, but sad that I am once again "close but no cigar." They say it aint over until the fat lady sings, but I sang twice yesterday so it's about as over as it can get. :D

It all makes me wonder why I care so much about being "validated" in this way. Scrapbooking was originally concieved as a way to preserve photos and memories...but for me it feels like one big contest...one long road on the way to being "good enough." And, when I think I've finally got some thing good enough to be publishable, the styles change so fast that I'm "five minutes ago." Doesn't help much that I've made some good friends online who have had a lot of success this way. It sounds so hollow when they tell me something is "awesome," and then I look at their latest creation and realize how average I am. I know they are sincere...I am just being a twit is all.

I am so grateful to Heidi for taking a chance on an unknown and putting me on her DT. I think her site will really go places once people start catching on to her great kits. I hope I can do them justice. Here's a pic of the terrific kit I got to use this month. Check out the kits at papermadememories.com.

I'm rambling now, and the likelyhood that this will be read is minimal anyway. Kind of fun to whine when no one is listening. Ciao for now...