Reverb10: Days 14-25

 Time to play some serious catchup on Reverb10.  Since I have so many days to make up for (darn those busy holiday preparations) I am going to make these answers as short as possible.  In my heart I know the full answer, so I don't even feel bad in the slightest about keeping this abbreviated.  


December 15 � 5 Minutes. Imagine you will completely lose your memory of 2010 in five minutes. Set an alarm for five minutes and capture the things you most want to remember about 2010. (Author: Patti Digh)


I want to remember all the milestones my son hit this year, all his new words and achievements, and all those moments that made my heart melt.  I want to remember learning to sew because it now brings me so much joy to be creative in a way that is more usable on a daily basis than painting.  I want to remember the new responsibilities I learned this year at work because for having the same job title I do nothing of what I use to do this time last year.  Everything else I can forget.  I just want to remember all the joys.  


December 16 � Friendship. How has a friend changed you or your perspective on the world this year? Was this change gradual, or a sudden burst? (Author: Martha Mihalick)


My friend Sarah always helps me put life into perspective as we share the ups and downs of our respective lives.  She and I don't live near enough to see each other as often as we would like, but I "talk" to her more by email than most friends I actually see on a regular basis.  Sarah is the one I can count on through anything.  


December 17 � Lesson Learned. What was the best thing you learned about yourself this past year? And how will you apply that lesson going forward? (Author: Tara Weaver)


I learned that if I don't take time for myself, I will literally lose myself and possible a little of my mind too.  Going forward I will make sure to carve out a little time for me everyday to help center me and bring me back to some level of calm.


December 18 � Try. What do you want to try next year? Is there something you wanted to try in 2010? What happened when you did / didn�t go for it? (Author: Kaileen Elise)


In 2010, I wanted to try out sewing.  Honestly I thought it was just one of those things that would fall by the by and get lost in the rush of the things that HAVE to be done.  After a few very stressful months, I decided to take more time for me and took a sewing class.  It changed everything for me.  I feel in love with working on a sewing machine and was fortunate enough to have a husband that supported me when I decided to buy a new sewing machine.  


In 2011, I want try dressing up more often.  Usually I tend to dress down in simple outfits of Docker's style pants and a comfortable top.  Next year I want to wear more skirts, and get brave enough to wear red lipstick on an average day.  I want to find a new job, something where I have a chance at moving up through the ranks.  It is time I start dressing for that goal.  To through a little something extra in the mix...I would love to work in more vintage items into my wardrobe.  I don't scavenge Goodwill often enough.  


December 19 � Healing. What healed you this year? Was it sudden, or a drip-by-drip evolution? How would you like to be healed in 2011? (Author: Leonie Allan)


I feel repetitive, but again, being creative has really been a "healing" force in my life the past few months.  It has slowly started to bring me out of my funk and gives me another reason to be more happy then stressed.  


In 2011, I would like to heal my health by getting into some shape other than round.  


December 20 � Beyond Avoidance. What should you have done this year but didn�t because you were too scared, worried, unsure, busy or otherwise deterred from doing? (Bonus: Will you do it?) (Author: Jake Nickell)


I should have started looking for a new job already.  One thing holding me back in that I am scared of rocking the boat.  I have a steady, stable paycheck and I worry for risking that by openly looking for other work.  It is something I have to just get over because moving onward and upward is worth the risk.  Will I do it?  I sure hope so.


December 21 � Future Self. Imagine yourself five years from now. What advice would you give your current self for the year ahead? (Author: Jenny Blake)


Stop spending your time worrying, wishing and wondering and just live.  Get out and do more new things, meet new people and make new friends.  Life could be over at any moment, start living the moments you get.


December 22 � Travel How did you travel in 2010? How and/or where would you like to travel next year? (Author: Tara Hunt)


Travel...HA!  I didn't travel in 2010.  We didn't have any money to travel this year, and after Chris hurt his knee playing softball this summer we didn't have the ability to travel.  Next year I would like to get a passport card and go to Canada to visit my niece and see her first apartment.  I would also love to do some simple trips with my family to get out of town for a few days here and there to escape the usual routine.  


December 23 � New Name Let�s meet again, for the first time. If you could introduce yourself to strangers by another name for just one day, what would it be and why? (Author: Becca Wilcott) 


If I could start again I would introduce myself to people as Lin.  My Mom and sister call me Lin.  My sister's name is Melissa and she went by Lis when we were going up and so Melinda became Lin since our names were so similar.  I actually like Lin and would like to go by that more.  For some reason it never really caught on among my friends to call me by that name, so it is still something only my family calls me.  Even my husband won't call me Lin.  


December 24 Prompt � Everything�s OK What was the best moment that could serve as proof that everything is going to be alright? And how will you incorporate that discovery into the year ahead? (Author: Kate Inglis)


I have been mulling over this question and I am not sure I have a good answer for a single moment that is proof everything is going to be alright.  For me it is more a person that makes me feel everything is going to be alright...and that person is my son, Ian.  He is all full of potential and possibilities that I can't help but see myself moving through the years just to see what he will become.  Nothing is so bad I would want to miss a moment of watching Ian grow into a man.  

December 25 � Photo � a present to yourself - Sift through all the photos of you from the past year. Choose one that best captures you; either who you are, or who you strive to be. Find the shot of you that is worth a thousand words. Share the image, who shot it, where, and what it best reveals about you. (Author: Tracey Clark)

Me in all my goofy glory.  If there is one thing about myself that I hope I don't lose it is my sense of humor.  This picture is a self portrait of me making the notorious "duck face" pose that seems to be so popular on Facebook these days.  I often giggle when I see those pictures and decided that I should have one of my own, even if that meant displaying my face, flaws and all, for the world to laugh at.  If you can't laugh at yourself, then...doom on you.

Merry Christmas 2010

No Way Mom

Wednesday Ian had an allergic reaction to something.  We think it might have been a candy cane he ate, because nothing else we can think of was new that might have triggered the hives that flared up all over his face, arms and torso. 

After calling the doctor, I rushed out to get some Benadryl for him.  Usually Ian takes medicine so well but from the get go he wanted nothing to do with the Benadryl.  It took both Chris and I to get him to take the medication by force.  Not really something you want to do to your kid when they already don't feel good but what choice do parents have really?

I was worried about Ian napping at day care and them having to fight with him to give him the Benadryl.  So I picked up Ian on my lunch hour Thursday and brought him with me to work for part of the afternoon.  The rest of the afternoon I took some personal time so I could take him home to nap.  Ian loves being at my office.  He gets to flirt with all the ladies and show them his Toy Story toys.  He even somehow managed to manipulate a cookie from one person. 

While at work I had to give Ian his next dose of Benadryl.  I anticipated the struggle and the likelihood of crying so I took him down to the bathroom to give him the medication.  As soon as he saw the syringe I got from the pharmacy coming at him, he ran into one of the stalls and crammed himself in the corner behind the toilet to hide from me. 

I tried my best to give him the medication right there, with me leaning over the toilet and trying to pry his mouth open to get the syringe in between his tightly pursed lips.  Meanwhile he is thrashing his arms around in defense.  Naturally the syringe full of Benadryl ended up floating in the toilet. 

Great!  Now what? 

I had to get him this medication because the hives were coming back with a vengeance.  So I pored another dose into the little measuring cup that came with the bottle.  After prying Ian out from behind the toilet I held him over the sink in the bathroom and poured the Benadryl in his mouth a little at a time with each holler he let out.  

The poor kid is going to hate medication for life at this point.  But by Joe I got that medication in him and the hives started to fade again within the hour. 

Thankfully the hives seem to be flaring up less and less each time the medication wears off.  I am hopeful whatever it is will be out of his system by the time the weekend is over. 

The things we have to do for our kids!  Not many other things in life put you in the position to force feed someone else medication in a public bathroom, or give you a reason to fish things like a medication syringe out of a toilet.  

I You

This morning I said to Ian, "I love you, Ian!"

Ian turned to me and said "I you."

I am pretty darn sure that means he loves me.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On our way home today I was singing along to Ian's Phineas and Ferb DVD that was playing in the car.  The line of the song ended in a long "ahhh" sound.  As I sang it, Ian pipes up from the back "No Ah!"  The next line of the song ends with a long "ohhh."  Instantly Ian says, "No Oh!"  I couldn't hold it together from there and laughed the rest of the way home.

Reverb10: Day 14

December 14 � Appreciate What�s the one thing you have come to appreciate most in the past year? How do you express gratitude for it? (Author: Victoria Klein)


I have come to really appreciate having a little "me time."  For a while there I was doing all the things that I "had" to do and it left no time left for me to just do things that make me happy.  Now I let go of a few of those things I thought I "had" to do and make time for things I like to do and I am a lot happier for it.  


One of my favorite "me time" activity is being creative.  So since just being creative is something I appreciate, I make things for other people.  It is my way of being grateful for the time to myself.

Reverb10: Days 11-13

More catching up with Reverb10:


December 11 � 11 Things What are 11 things your life doesn�t need in 2011? How will you go about eliminating them? How will getting rid of these 11 things change your life? (Author: Sam Davidson)
1.  Self Doubt - I need to own what I want and go for it.
2.  Dead End Job - Time to rework that resume and start looking for work outside my comfort zone.
3.  Extra, Unhealthy Weight - I am already modifying my diet and I need to find a workout that I can stick with for the long haul.
4.  Guilt - I have to get over the guilt I have for not being able to do "it all" and just do what I can with a smile.  There are only so many days on this earth, I shouldn't waste any of them worrying that my bathroom isn't clean while I play with my son.
5.  Drama - Other peoples drama should be amusement and not another reason to feel more stressed.
6.  Not Asking For Help - My house is a mess, there is clutter everywhere...I need to make the effort to demand help instead of just doing it myself to get it done.
7.  Clutter - When I look around my house I see so many things we do not need.  We need to work on weeding those things out and donating them or having a yard sale.  More stuff means more to clean.
8.  Missing a Close Friend - In 2011 I am going to visit her more.  We both deserve more time together than just emailing back and forth every week.
9.  Chemicals - There is no need for chemical cleaners in our home anymore.
10.  Paper Products - We have been using paper plates and plastic cups out of convenience.  I think that we are ready to eliminate this waste from our lives and the landfills.
11.  Ian's Begging - Currently my son will go to the cabinet and beg for snacks.  He insists upon being held up so he can get a snack himself.  It is amazing how stressful something so small can be and I am so very over it.  My plan is to get a little cabinet to put all the snacks down at Ian's level.  Then he can pick what he wants from what I provide to him and we can eliminate that stressful begging time.  He won't get anything I don't want him to have because those things will not go in this snack cabinet.

December 12 � Body Integration This year, when did you feel the most integrated with your body? Did you have a moment where there wasn�t mind and body, but simply a cohesive YOU, alive and present? (Author: Patrick Reynolds)

I feel kind of sad because I can't think of a moment where I was really "alive and present" this year.  Moments that would come closest would be times when I am down on the floor playing with Ian, when other things I should be doing where not clogging up my mind.  Hopefully I can carve out more time to truly be in the moment in 2011.

December 13 � Action When it comes to aspirations, it�s not about ideas. It�s about making ideas happen. What�s your next step? (Author: Scott Belsky)

In order to answer this question, I have to be totally honest.  I hate my job.  There is nothing about it that feels challenging or fulfilling to me.  If only the need for a paycheck was not so great I would leave this dead end job for just about anything.  I cannot afford to take a pay cut and relocating isn't an option for my family due to my husband's job.  So my next step is to rework my resume, and continue looking for a job that will be more a career than a job.  I have been looking casually, but I need to step up my efforts and perhaps look into commuting to find something that will give me a reason to get up in the morning.  This is going to be a top priority for me in 2011.

Reverb10: Days 8-10

Catching up with some slightly abbreviated answers for Reverb10:


December 8 � Beautifully Different. Think about what makes you different and what you do that lights people up. Reflect on all the things that make you different � you�ll find they�re what make you beautiful. (Author: Karen Walrond)


The thing that makes me feel the most different is the way I tend to look at the world.  Yes, I have opinions like everyone else, but I prefer to see the world as if I am looking through a window.  It is an interesting perspective to view topics from an impartial view looking at all sides.  I find that it really helps me to form a solid opinion about a topic without putting emotional or religious views in the mix.  Although there are still some things I can't help but allow my emotions to dictate my opinion.

December 9 � Party Prompt: Party. What social gathering rocked your socks off in 2010? Describe the people, music, food, drink, clothes, shenanigans. (Author: Shauna Reid)


I am NOT a party person so we don't have or attend very many parties.  I prefer more intimate gatherings of friends to big blow out parties.  So my favorite party this year was a smaller gathering of some of my closest friends.  I was selected to host a Hasbro Game Night party.  So we had about 10 people, including 3 kids, over to our house to play games that Hasbro sent for the party.  We had dinner, played games and even had a funny hat contest.  It really was a lot of fun and I wish that we had more opportunities to have game night parties like that with our friends.  


December 10 � Wisdom Wisdom. What was the wisest decision you made this year, and how did it play out? (Author: Susannah Conway)


The wisest decision I made this year was to invest my money and time into crafting.  It has been a rough year for me where it comes to stress and I really needed an outlet.  Crafting, sewing and painting have really been great stress relievers for me and I really wish I had started taking time to create sooner.   

Reverb10: Day 7

December 7 � Community Prompt: Community. Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011? (Author: Cali Harris)

Last year I reluctantly signed up for Twitter to learn how it worked and see see what the fuss was about.  Honestly, I didn't have a very high opinion of Twitter back then.  It didn't take long for my opinion to change.

Over a year later I have adopted a small group of people I am really close to via Twitter.  They are a supportable, inspirational group of individuals and I think they are awesome.  When something cool happens, I want to tell them right away.  When things are rough, they are there and have a few words of wisdom to help guide me.  They inspire the creative side of me.  I may not have met a single one of them in person but they are my friends none the less.  My community.

Reverb10: Days 5 and 6

Two answers today because I am a little behind from the weekend.

December 5 � Let Go. What (or whom) did you let go of this year? Why? (Author: Alice Bradley)

In 2010, I totally let go of myself and allowed myself to gain way too much weight.  The short story version is that I tend to treat stress and depression with food, and I have had a lot of stress and depressed days this year.  (Hello, major work changes, hormone related problems, and Chris dislocating his knee)  Rather than whine and make more excuses for what I have let myself become, the heaviest I have weighed in my life, I am going to focus on the things I can change.  I have already started to modify what I eat, and will leave the Nutella alone when I have a bad day.  Next I have to get back into the swing of being active in any way I can.  We can't afford a gym membership but I can use my Wii, and rent workout videos...and I should.  I will. 

December 6 � Make. What was the last thing you made? What materials did you use? Is there something you want to make, but you need to clear some time for it? (Author: Gretchen Rubin)

The last thing I made was a little pouch to hold the various stuff in my purse.  I am just getting started learning to sew and I love it! 



This pouch was made with a tutorial I found via a Google search at Make It Modern.  I modified it and added a wrist strap.  I used a fabric quarter I found at Joann Fabric for the outside and lining, and a feather weight fusible interfacing in between to give it more stability.  The strap was just a tube of the same fabric ironed into the side seam.  It wasn't necessary but I had a lot of that fabric print left over from the quarter and one strip was just the right size for the strap.  No waste.

My next project is going to be either a tote bag or an apron, I haven't decided which.  Any thoughts on which you think I should make next?

Reverb10: Day 4

December 4 � Wonder. How did you cultivate a sense of wonder in your life this year? (Author: Jeffrey Davis)



Viewing life through my son's eyes.

Reverb10: Day 3

December 3 � Moment. Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors). (Author: Ali Edwards)

The moments that make me feel most alive are when I can get down on the floor and play with my son.  Getting down on his level, acting like a kid and being silly make me feel young inside...even though I might need a little extra time to get myself back up off the floor than I use to. 

One of our favorite games to play involves me being the jungle gym for Ian.  He climbs all over me: walking on my back, using my bended legs as a slide, or riding around on my back like I was a horse.  I might need a hot shower and some Motrin to get over these play times but my heart soars to get playing with my son, and being the one to make him giggle.

I will get down on the floor, laying on my stomach to entice Ian to some and play.  He usually takes a few moments to realize that I am willing to be his play buddy and then he wastes so time climbing up on my back.  After a little while of just climbing and rolling over me, Ian will usually sit on my back.  This is the point when I carefully get up on to my hands and knees and nay like a horse before taking off at a very slow and slightly painful speed across the room.  Ian clings to my shirt and begins to slide off to one side, because he doesn't know how to grip with his legs, giggling all the while.

Once I have just about had it being Ian's noble steed, I drop to the ground and when Ian bounces away I roll onto my back and lift my knees so my feet are flat on the ground.  While I recover Ian climbs up and scoots down my legs as if they were a slide. 

When I can't take anymore, and my knees are beginning to swell, I sit up and Ian tries with all his might to push me back down again to play some more.  His toddler stamina is far better than my 30-something self can handle.  I might be in a bit of pain from his knees, elbows and heels but I am smiling and happy inside. 

There is nothing better than the sound of a child laughing.

Reverb10: Day 2

December 2 Writing.
What do you do each day that doesn�t contribute to your writing � and can you eliminate it?
(Author: Leo Babauta)

What do I do each day that doesn't contribute to my writing?  The short answer would be everything I do during the day at work!  Short of giving me a few small stories to share on Twitter, my 8am to 5pm does almost nothing to improve my writing.  Sadly, I can't do without the paycheck so unless I can win the lotto or inherit money from a rich, long lost family member we don't yet know, I am not eliminating my job anytime soon.

On a rare occasion I am happily able to draft a letter or policy at work that lets me stretch my writing muscles a little.  That doesn't happen often, partly I think is due to the fact that my job has nothing to do with the degree I received in college.  Perhaps my employers have forgotten that I am educated in both journalism and advertising and would have the skills to write most anything they require.  Instead they prefer to have an intern fumble through that work. 
 

Reverb10

Several of my online friends (@showmyface and @randomsideizzie) are participating in reverb10, which is another daily posting event.  Reverb10 calls it an opportunity to reflect on your year and manifest what's next.  I can get down with that, so I am going to give it a go and try to participate daily.  My plan is to do short posts daily for the reverb10 prompt and also scatter a few other posts in along the way.  So December 2010 may contain the most posts in one month ever at Days Like This.

Today's prompt:
"Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. Explain why you�re choosing that word. Now, imagine it�s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you?
(Author: Gwen Bell)"

Transition

This year was very much a transition year for me.  I moved on from being the mother of a baby to the mother of a very active and talkative toddler.  My job has been flipped upside down and turned inside out so much that this summer I essentially started a new job within the same office.  I started being creative again after years away from having an outlet.  Now I am painting, sewing and crafting more than ever.  Life is exhausting and chaotic but I really feel like it is because everything around me is changing and sometimes change is hard to keep up with.

I Did It

Ian loves to get praise when he does something so much that he often says, "I did it!"

Ian walks across the room.  "I did it!"

Ian picks up a toy.  "I did it!"

Ian throws himself off the couch and tumbles across the floor, then hops up in a little flourish.  "I did it!"

So it is my turn to say "I did it!"

I posted every single day for a whole month for the first time since I started this blog nearly 5 years ago.  That is a pretty big accomplishment for me, especially considering how chaotic work has been these last few months. 

So don't mind me while I take a little victory lap and pat myself on the back because...

I DID IT!

Thank you NaBloPoMo for the motivation.  I feel like I have really improved my story telling some, and I actually loved having a reason to post everyday. 

I Wish I May, I Wish I Might

There are many times most of us have said something along the lines of, "I wish I had a maid so I don't have to do this laundry" or "If only I had a cook to deal with dinner because I am so tired."

Yeah, I have those moments too.  Often.

There is one particular task that I just can't stop wishing I had someone to do for me: trimming Ian's nails.

Usually I save this task for when Ian is asleep, so that I can save myself the trouble of dealing with the wrath of a toddler being forced to do something he doesn't want to do.  However, the last few weeks Ian has been sleeping too lightly to sneak into his room with my flashlight and trimmers without being caught.  Last night I got kicked in the boob and then I had to soothe a crabby kid back to sleep after a failed attempt at trimming a nail.

No one wants to play with a kid that has nails so long they curl under at the end and scratch you when you walk past him too close.  So tonight we decided to go for it and get the trimming done hell or high water.

Holy Moly!  For a two year old he sure can put up a kicking, screaming, wiggling fight over getting his nails clipped.  Chaos I tell you!

I would give just about anything to never have to trim his nails ever again.

(Anyone want a slightly used kidney in exchange for cutting my kids nails until he is old enough to do it himself? If so, you just might have yourself a deal.)

I need to find a Toddler Whisperer who can woo Ian into complying with manicure time.

Until then, every other week you will find me in the corner rocking back and forth, clutching the kid nail trimmers and wishing I was the kind of person to keep liquor in the house.

Positive Thinking Sunday

"Fall seven times, stand up eight."

-Japanese Proverb

I need this reminder.  Sometimes I suck at stuff and I don't want to try anymore.  I have to remind myself that I have to fail to learn and that if I try again I AM doing "it" right!

Six Word Saturday

Christmas tree time! Let's get decorating!!!

To The Limit

Ian is enjoying the concept of the word "no" and using it to test his limits with Chris and I.

I am pretty sure that we heard "no," including a scrunched up and stern face, from Ian about twenty millions times today.

~~~~~
"Ian do you want to take a nap?"

"No."

"But you're tired and need a nap to get energy to play."

"NO."

"I'm sorry.  It is too bad that you don't want to because it is nap time."

"NOOOOOO!" [Insert tears and screaming here.]
~~~~~

"Look Ian, what a yummy dinner!  Please try a bite of the turkey."

"No. Yucky!"

"You haven't even tried it, how do you know it's yucky?"

"Yucky."

"Please take one bite."

"No. All done." [insert shoving plate across table in protest.]

~~~~~

I suppose at least you can say he is persistent.  Stubborn, but persistent.

Thankful

There are so many things for which I am thankful.  In honor of the big day of thanks, here is my list of some of the things I am most thankful for this Thanksgiving:

Being a mom to such an amazing little man.  Ian makes my life complete and his silly personality can brighten even may darkest days.

My partner, my love, my best friend Chris.  

My parents and in-laws who always love and support us through this life.

That my husband and I are employed and have wonderful benefits.  There are times, when work related things suck, that I forget to be thankful for being lucky enough to have a paycheck and excellent insurance coverage. 

That we have a house we can afford, and it is full of all the things that make a house a home.  Our possessions may not be the best of the best but we have all we need and then some.

My loved ones and myself are all healthy and mostly happy.  Not everyone can be happy all the time, but we have more happy than sad and I am so thankful for that.

My dear friends, in real like and in the Internet world...although I find that friendship is friendship no matter how it is gorged.  I am so thankful to have such a vast and interesting support group in my life.  You guys make me so thankful every day.

I am thankful for this blog, and those who take the time to read what I write.  Thank you for taking the time to share a little part of my world.


My hopes to you and your family, that this Thanksgiving weekend is full of delicious food, lots of family & friends, and save travels.  Happy Thanksgiving!

My Little Ladies Man

Last night we decided to go to IHOP for dinner.  We have enough cooking ahead of us Thursday that we decided to make the days leading up to the big meal easy as can be.

Ian of course wanted cake-cakes. duh!  Before we left Ian packed a little bag of toys to play with while we waited for our food.  The bag was a little lunch bag with a handle.  He carried it like a briefcase.

Beyond getting his cake-cakes, Ian made it his mission to dazzle everyone within earshot and visual range.

He exclaimed "thank you" when the waitress brought his food.  He told her "bye-bye" every time she left the table.  She came to the table a lot...I think just to see Ian again to see what he would say next.

A couple at a nearby table commented on how mature Ian seemed to be and about how good he was as we were leaving.  They asked him if he got enough to eat and Ian declared "Yeah" then he said "bye-bye" to them.

As he matched out of the restaurant holding his little bag of toys he waved and said "bye-bye" to everyone we passed.  Ian looked like a little celebrity waving to his fans.

I think he might have made a lot of peoples nights with his smiles and waves.

I know he made mine!

Life List: Post Secret

Today I sent a secret to Post Secret.

A while back I decided that I wanted to send in a post card to Post Secret because I have enjoyed looking though the Sunday secrets for a long time now.  Everyone has a secret, big or small, so why not share it and be creative in the process.

What is my secret you might ask?

I'll never tell!

What fun would that be?

Here Fishy Fishy

I don't know why but I kind of want to get a fish.  It is a pretty random want really.

My mom often had a Betta fish in a bowl in the kitchen.  We called it the kitchen fish.  Last year for Christmas my niece drew me the picture above of of our last kitchen fish.

I want a kitchen fish.

Except it will probably be a dining room fish instead because my kitchen counter is cold...I don't want the fish to freeze to death.

Positive Thinking Sunday

'Tis the set of the sail and not the gale which tells us the way to go.

-Ella Wheeler Wilcox

My mom has a cross stitch excerpt of the poem "Winds of Fate" hanging in her hallway.  I have always loved it because it is a great reminder that what you want in life isn't just going to happen, you have to work to make it happen.

Time to set my sail.

Six Word Saturday

Ready to get my thanks on?

Hopefully I can pull it off and get everything together for Thanksgiving this weekend.  That is my goal anyway.  So far I have the turkey and a roaster.  So at the very least we will have something to eat, but now I have to get all the fixings and of course some delicious things to bake.  We are only having my in-laws as guests but I want to make sure we have a full dinner with plenty of left overs.   
Are you ready for Thanksgiving?  Do you have any special plans?   

Do It, Or Else

Dear everyone I know,

This is a public service announcement so pay attention!

Ladies, go do your self breast exam! I don't care if you did it yesterday, last week, last month, or never.  Stick your hand in your shirt and feel yourself up (don't forget under your arms)!  Know what you feel like so you know when something changes.  It might not seem like much but it is so very important.

Men, you're not left out in this!  Make sure your ladies are doing their self exams and consider checking your own chest and underarms as well.  Men can get breast cancer too!

Less than 1 in 8 women will have breast cancer at some point in their lives.  Think of 8 women you know, including yourself.  One of you could get breast cancer.  One of you could already have it!

When I think of eight women I know, who are my age (give or take a couple years), four of those women have already found a lump in their breast.  Four women have already taken their futures in their hands and made sure they are the ones in control.  Thankfully, for my friends, not all lumps are cancer but we can kick breast cancer...but only if we find it first.

So go! Go do your self breast exam.  Schedule and appointment and get a clinical breast exam or even a mammogram.  Do it or else I will punch you in the face!

Love and healthy thoughts,
Melinda

Sing No More

Last night I was laying with Ian in his bed, trying to get him to settle down to sleep. 

It wasn't working. 

He was really wound up and very wiggly.  So I thought maybe some "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" might getting him calming down.  It worked before, I had no reason to think it wouldn't work again.

I got about halfway through the song and Ian looked me straight in the face, put his finger to his nose and said, "Mom, shhh."

Ok, fine!  How about "You Are My Sunshine," the song I have been singing to him since his birth.

Nope! Again I got the "Mom, Shhh!"

I think he might have outgrown me singing to him.

Where did my baby go?



I love the way Ian points to his nose when he says "shhh."

 

Art Swap Ship Day

Today is ship day for Art Swap.  So I spent part of my lunch hour today at the post office shipping out my painting, "love is light."  Amazingly enough the line wasn't very long at all and I managed to get back to work on time.  Bonus.



Hopefully the recipient likes the painting, and painted bookmark that I included as a bonus.  I managed to put aside all that dark and come up with something I feel is much more positive.

In the middle of darkness, love can light your way.

I have to thank my husband, Chris, and my son, Ian, for the inspiration.  No matter how dark my day is they have a magical way of lighting my mood.  I love you both.

Photographer in the Making

The other night I was hanging out with Ian in my bedroom before bedtime, watching TV and snapping a few pictures.  Ian begged to try taking a few pictures so I held the camera out and showed him what button to push to take a picture. 

The result was about 30 pictures of our feet.  In each picture Ian posed his feet in a slightly different way: curled up toes, spread out toes, feet close together, feet far apart, feet touching mine, etc.  He had a great time and smiled each time the flash went off.  There may also have been a little meltdown when I finally said enough was enough and put the camera away.  Needless to say Ian loved getting to be the photographer.

Today my Dad called me to give me a heads up on what he has purchased for Ian for Christmas...a toddler tough camera.  How perfect is that!  Ian's very own camera.  Ian is going to love getting to play photographer once he gets a handle of that thing!

I can't wait to share what he takes pictures of in the coming year.

Life List: Mt. Pleasant Robot

This past spring I read about the Mt. Pleasant Robot and I was intrigued.  This guys dresses up in a homemade robot costume and wanders around town supposedly to spread cheer.

All summer I watched for him every time we were out around town.  I was determined to get my picture with him and even included my mission on my Life List.  I figured it was just a matter of time before I finally found the guy.

All summer went by and I didn't have one single sighting of the Mt. Pleasant Robot.

I was disappointed as fall came knowing that he would likely disappear for good.  I decided to write it off as something I just wouldn't be able to cross of my Life List. 

At least I tried to find him.

Then this Saturday I was downtown with my friends for a Ladies Night Out event and we spotted him!  The Mt. Pleasant Robot was up ahead with a group on women that were asking him interrogating questions.  I don't think he was answering them.

My friends didn't know what to think when I whipped out my phone in excitement and insisted they take my picture with the robot.  Being the good friends they are, they still took the picture even if they thought I was a little off my rocker.

So I marched right up to the group and interrupted, "May I please get a picture with you."  It was clear by the robots body language that he was eager to accept a photo opportunity.

So I did it, I got my picture with the Mt. Pleasant Robot.

I am so amused by the person who does this and I am filled with questions about who and why.  Even having had the chance I am glad I didn't ask any further questions than my request for a photo.

Some things are more fun when left a mystery. 

Thank you Mt. Pleasant Robot.

Positive Thinking Sunday

Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond you grasp, but which, if you sit down quietly, may alight upon you.

-Nathaniel Hawthorne

I am not sure that I fully believe in this quote but I do like the sentiment that if you try too hard to be happy you are just trying to hard. 

Six Word Saturday

Girl's Night Out! Fun with Friends.

Sharing Time

I thought I would post a few of my favorite things from my wanderings on the web this week.

First is a great painting idea highlighted by Ohdeedoh from Explanation Required. Spell out a phrase on canvas in stick on letters and have your child finger paint over them.  Peal the letters off to reveal your masterpiece.  If Ian gets over not wanting his hands dirty we are so doing this.

Adorable printable birdy cards mentioned on How About Orange.  I am going to have to make up a few of these when we get a color printer.

Lisa Leonard created a beautiful snowflake ornament for this year.  I love it and would very much love to get one to commemorate our year.

Vodkamom posted a video about what teachers make.  I think that sometimes we forget how important our children's teachers are and how much they (most of them) put into their work.  I loved this video and sent it on to one of my best teacher friends to remind her that what she is doing for children is so important and so very appreciated...at least by me.

A post at Girls Gone Child about teaching our children to love themselves really moved me.  My favorite part: "Give a child a compliment and she'll smile for a day.  Teach a child to compliment herself and she'll smile for a lifetime."

Finally a place for you to waste your time and laugh until you cry: Damn You Auto Correct! a sight dedicated to some of the worst best auto correct failures.  I could post a few on here myself because my phone is out to make me look like a fool.

Your turn!  What did you come across online this week that you thought was pretty cool?

It's Very Evil

Last night we went out and purchased on of those Tassimo disc coffee makers.  Due to a series of wonderful circumstances the machine will pretty much only cost us about a quarter of the original price.  (Yay for sales, discounts and rebates in one!)

Of course, the moment we got home Chris had to crack it out of the box and set it up.  Part of the set up process calls for running it a few times with just hot water.  While doing this there was all manner of hissing, gurgling and dripping noises coming from the kitchen.

So I tweeted this:

 

One of my online friends, @randomsideizzie, tweeted back:

For reference, here is a little clip I found of the scene Izzie referenced for those who may not have seen the movie Elf.  (If you haven't seen Elf, shame on you! Go rent it tonight!)

Now and forever, I will imagine cowering in the corner thinking the coffee maker is evil every time Chris makes one of his lattes.

Oh and by the way, the coffee maker has hot chocolate discs too, and they are divine.  Yum!

Art Swap

I signed up for Art Swap November 2010.  It is billed as a fun, and free, way to share and collect art with other artists.  Everyone creates a piece of art (see the rules for size limits and other info) and then on November 17th we will all mail our pieces to the person we are randomly matched with.  When all is said and done you email a photo of your piece of art to the Art Swap founder David Pringle to be included on the website and the Art Swap book, and you will have collected a piece of art from another artist somewhere in the world.

This is the first time I have created something to share with someone I don't know.  It makes me a little nervous that I won't be considered "good enough" of an artist for the person who gets my piece of art.  There are some pretty amazing people that participate.  I know I pour as much of myself into my creations as any of them but still I feel a little inadequate when compared head to head with some of the people who participated in the last Art Swap. 

I already painted something for Art Swap but I wasn't happy with how it turned out and don't want to share this one.  I painted it on a day I was feeling a little too dark inside and that really came out in the piece.  So I am working on something else. Something created with happy feelings.  Something I will be proud to send out into the unknown.

I am really excited to participate and I hope that whomever ends up getting my piece of art will like it, because I am pouring my all across the canvas for them.

If you want to participate in Art Swap you can still register until 11PM EST today!

Pocoyo

Turning off our cable has opened us up to new kids shows we never gave a chance before on PBS Kids.  PBS is where they "hide" some of the best and most educational shows for kids. Dinosaur Train and Sid the Science Kid are great, but Pocoyo has become a family favorite. 

Who wouldn't love this?



Every single time we play this episode for Ian on You Tube he gets up and dances or at the very least shakes his shoulder along with the music. 

Check it out, and if you like this one also check out Elly's New Shoes, which is my favorite episode.  Elly has such sass!  She is my kind of elephant. 

Goofy Goofy GOOSE

Nothing like starting out the week feeling awful.

Ian was running around the living room this morning while we all got ready for the day.  He would stand still in one spot for a moment and then yell "Go!" before running across the room to another spot.  Repeat.  It was adorable. 

One of his trips didn't turn out so well.  He stumbled and fell head first into a box that is waiting to go to storage.  His temple hit the corner of the box and he fell into a puddle of tears on the floor.

While he buried his face into my shirt I tried my best to get an ice pack, that Daddy delivered, onto Ian's boo-boo.  Ian would have none of it.  So, I was forced to give up and just give him a dose of Tylenol for the pain.

Then I had to deliver my tear streaked, hurting kid to day care with a bruise and a growing goose egg on his forehead.

I hate being the mom with the broken kid at day care.

Positive Thinking Sunday

I am going to try something new this month and write some positive thinking on Sunday.  Mostly it will be quotes meant to inspire me, and you, to adjust our attitudes and our thinking to achieve happiness.  I know I could use a little adjustment now and then to help me look on the bright side. 

"Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference."
-Winston Churchill

Six Word Saturday

Spring forward, Fall back. Change Clock!

Friday Frustrations

This has been a challenging week.  I have been sick all week and just got into the doctor yesterday to find that I have sinus and ear infections.  That pretty much explains why I have felt so awful this week.  Thankfully the medications are already making me feel more normal.

While at the doctor they made me step on the scale of doom.  The number blinked at me and it suddenly clicked that I really need to make some changes, and now.  I have to take care of myself.  So I intended to start out by doing some yoga last night.  My intentions were quickly cut short when my son decided that it would be a good night to scream about how unfair life is for more than a hour.  I kept my cool with him, surprisingly, but had nothing left for myself when he finally zonked out.  I went straight to bed.

On top of being sick, work had to go and be just about the busiest week ever.  It seems that when the bills go out the callers just line up to take shots at me, our services and billing abilities.  I can barely keep up with them.  Until I worked in customer service I never really understood how you could get tired working a desk job.  Now I get it!  It is the abuse the callers heap upon you.  It is mentally exhausting to keep smiling and deliver the same explanation over and over again for days. 

But, all that doesn't matter today!  Today is Friday!  TGIF!!!  No matter how grumpy the callers are, how long the work day feels, or how many times I have to blow my nose...It is Friday and tomorrow is a day all my own.

Fridays make everything better.

Cake-cake

Last night Chris and I were discussing what to have for dinner.  I had a rough day at work and wasn't up for any meals that involved much effort.  Quickly the discussion turned to grabbing something out like Subway.

At this point Ian piped up, "I want cake-cake!" (cake-cake = pancakes)

Chris and I looked at each other stunned.  He never even wants or eats dinner, and here he is demanding pancakes.

Ian, "Cake-cake! Cake-cake! Cake-cake!!!"

So I asked, "Ian do you want to go to Cranker's for pancakes?"

(Cranker's is our favorite restaurant that we go to pretty much every weekend for breakfast.)

The noise he made can only be described as an affirmative in the range of 11 on the excitement scale.

So off to Cranker's we went for some cake-cakes.  How could we not when he actually wanted something for dinner so much.

When the waitress came to take our order I asked Ian what he wanted, he rambled something off to the waitress sounding very determined.  I am not sure what all he said but it sure sounded like and order.

The biggest shock of the night came when our waitress brought the food to the table.  She placed my plate first, then Ian's.

Ian looked up at her and gasped with a huge smile on his face and said... thank you!

My son said thank you without being prompted and at the exact right moment!

I am so proud.

A First and a Second

Tonight was not a bath night.  Ian only takes a bath every other night, unless there is a need for one thanks to some dirt a washcloth can't take care of.  He has some skin issues so too much time in the bath water is very drying for his skin.

So on our non-bath nights I just get Ian dressed in a clean diaper and his pajamas and we have one last chance to get any ya-ya's out before bed.

I managed to get through the diaper change but when it came to putting on his PJ's Ian flat out said "No!"

He wiggled off my bed and started to pull off his shirt.  I helped him to get the shirt off since it would have to come off anyway to put on his pajama shirt.

At this point Ian went running for the bathroom yelling, "I wanna ba" as he went.  This is the second time in his little life he has asked for a bath.  The child that just a few months ago practically needed a sedative to get in the bathtub is now demanding a bath.

My husband caught up with him in the hallway first and tried to explain that tonight was not a bath night and to go get dressed.

Ian just simply said "I wanna ba" again and in one swift motion took off his diaper and handed it to me.

He knows how to take off his diaper?  Oh no!  I knew this day could come but I am wholly unprepared for what is sure to come next.  I know you know what I mean...the spontaneous naked time.  Lord help us all!

I was in complete shock that I just ran the bath without even trying to reason with Ian.

Ian happily climbed in and played with his bath toys while I cleaned him up.  After the cleaning part of the bath was over he played for another couple minutes then handed me his bath toys one at a time.  "All done."

After the last toy was back into the basket, Ian stood up and reached out to me, "All done."

After a few laps around the house nude he submitted to put on his PJ's and that was that.

Chris took him to bed and I came to write this post still confused by the events of the evening, and amazed by how much my son is changing each and every day.


**I know this is my second post today, but it was a story too good not to share with you.

Yes, No, Maybe So

I don't think that Ian has gotten a handle on how to answer yes and no questions yet.  I feel like he has learned the concept of yes and no but not so much where it comes to using them to respond to a question.

For example, I asked him if he had a poopy diaper tonight even though I knew the answer was a resounding, "Yes, and it's a stinker!"

"Ian, do you have a poopy diaper?"

Ian looks up to me with those innocent eyes and says confidently, "No! OK."

I am pretty sure that that he meant to say, "Yeah, I have a poopy diaper but I plan to sit in it the rest of the night.  Thank you for asking."

Another example of Ian's inability to answer a yes or no question is when I am trying to figure out what he wants as he begs at the cupboard and attempts to shear cliff climb up the cabinets.

"Ian do you want a cereal bar?"

"No. OK."

So I open the cereal bar and hand it to him.  Instantly he throws himself to the ground in a fit of despair because I am now "forcing" him to eat the cereal bar that he just said he didn't want.  All I can do is stand there, and wonder how something that seems to have meant "yes" 20 minutes ago now means "no," as I put the cereal bar in a baggy for later.

Moments like this remind me how empty and pure babies are.  We have to fill them up with everything: nutrients, love and knowledge.  So we are going to keep working on answering yes and no questions because someday Ian will be asked an important question and I want to be sure I will have filled him up with the right stuff to answer.

Bath Time 180

If you have been reading this blog for a while you know about our struggles with bath time.  For a very long time Ian thought of bath time as torture and every bath included screaming and crying.  Some of that crying was me, I will admit it. Baths were always in and out as fast as possible.  They didn't dominate and entire evening. 

Not anymore!

Somewhere along the way Ian decided that baths are fun and he would like to stay in the bath forever.

It can still be hard to get him into the tub every once in a while.  I think he forgets about the toys that are for bath time only.  Once he is playing with his little boats and rubber ducks he has so much fun.  Oh, and let's not forget the splashing.  The tsunami splashing that needs a towel of it's own to clean up.  He loves the splashing, especially when it soaks Mommy. 

He will even tilt his head back for hair washing with the help of a Buzz Lightyear sticker on the ceiling.  most of the time anyway. 

Now my biggest problem with bath time is getting Ian OUT of the tub!

Not a bad problem to have if you ask me.  At least my floor is a lot cleaner now thanks to all those waves.

NaBloPoMo

I have decided to try and take part in NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) this year.  It is actually one of the things on my Life List too so I will get to check off another item there too.

My biggest goal beyond just posting everyday is to get my writing mojo back.  Lately my posting has been few and far between and I really want to change that.  Hopefully, the motivation to post daily will help to bring out some stories I might have buried otherwise.  Also, I want to post my first video blog this month.

So I have a big month ahead.  I hope you will pop in a see what I come up with along the way.

To get started:



We took Ian out for his first time trick or treating last night.  He threw a huge fit when it came time to put on his costume.  A screaming, kicking, crying fit.

We bribed him with a peanut butter cup to get him out the door.  It works like a charm.

It only took getting candy at one house for him to get the idea of what was going on.  After that Ian would take the treat and check it out before putting it in his bucket.

When we got home it was a sugar free for all. Chris had to hide the candy to make him stop begging for more.  It's hiding in the plate cabinet if you care for some.  I feel like I can tell you this because Ian can't read and won't catch me offering up his bounty online.

It was a pretty good Halloween.

Give Me Candy

Last night we too a family trip to the grocery store to get some treats for Ian to take to the day care Halloween party on Friday.  I wanted to have time to make up little treat bags and write a little message to the kids.  You know channel a little Martha Stewart and make them cute.

So at the store I picked out mini Oreo packs and peanut butter cups for the kids.  Both something I thought would work for all the age groups in question.  I felt pretty good about my selections so we marched up to pay. 

Because my son is no idiot, he knew what was in those bright orange and black packages...Treats! 

He wanted those treats really bad. He gave me one of those give me the candy or I will cut you looks and then the whining started.   After we checked out he spent the whole walk to the car in my arms writhing around like a fish out of water screaming and reaching for the bag my husband was carrying. 

As I struggled with all my might to strap the little turd into his car seat I told my husband to just give him a peanut butter cup so he would settle down because I couldn't get him to stop straining against the straps of the car seat.  (I know! I suck at discipline!)

How can a child so small be so darn strong?  And how can a Mommy so darn old mature not be able to snap him out of it?

Instantly the candy shut him up, but later as I filled and labeled little treat bags Ian caught sight of those Oreo cookies and it all started over again.

Someday I will learn to just do everything when he is asleep. 

Now someone get me some Tylenol, I'm ready for a nap!

Life List: Learn to Use Sewing Machine

I was able to check off another item on my Life List this weekend...learning to use a sewing machine.

A few weeks ago I signed up to take a sewing basics class at Joanne Fabrics.  It was at a special weekend open house event where you could sign up for select classes half off. 

Best. Idea. Ever.

Taking a class was the best thing I could have done to gain the confidence to tackle learning to sew!  The teacher was a very nice lady who owns a business making wedding gowns and works at Joanne's on the side.  Or maybe it is the other way around...either way she knew what she was doing and made it easy to learn and feel confident with the sewing machine.

We made pillow cases.  Just your basic bedroom pillow case.



(excuse the blurry camera phone picture)

I think that I might make a matching pillow case so that we can actually use them on our bed.

After that I can't wait to start experimenting with other projects and maybe take some of the more advanced classes.  There is a class in which you make a pair of pajama pants.  It is a simple project but they teach you to use patterns and I could love to do that just for fun.

So another life list item bites the dust.

What's next?!

Fall Already!

It is that time of the year; the time of the year when all the trees change beautiful colors.  All the trees but ours!

For some reason I don't understand the three huge trees on our property decide to hold onto their leaves until about a week before the first good snow fall of the winter.

Then those blasted trees pretty much lose all their leaves at once leaving us about a week to rake waist deep piles of leaves to the curb in hopes of making the last city leaf pick up of the season.

Sometimes it works out that the city is running behind.  Other times the leaves remain until the first snow plow comes through and shoves them and the snow back up into our yard.

The other day I was standing in the driveway with my husband when he pointed out that if you look through our back yard you can see our green and brown trees frames is bright flaming yellow, orange and red.

While it would be a beautiful picture it just makes me mad.

Leaves would you just fall already!

Letting It All Hang Out - For a Cause

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month I am participating in Boobie Wednesday on Twitter.  Every Wednesday in the month of October I will be changing my profile picture as a reminder to every woman to do her monthly self breast exams.  Taking one minute a month to feel yourself up could save your life.

Check out Komen for the Cure for more information on doing self exams. 

Truth in Advertising

This weekend we went shopping for a Halloween costume for Ian.  He is in that in between size where he is too big for the baby costumes but most toddler costumes he is swimming in. 

We finally found this cute little bee costume that fit him perfectly.  It wasn't what I would want him to be but at least it fit and would be somewhat comfortable for his day care Halloween party.  Not to mention it was cheap!

This is the tag from the costume.  Note how unenthusiastic the child is.  Little did I know that it was really truth in advertising. 



Ian was very upset with me for making him try the bee costume on.



Very unenthusiastic indeed.  At least they didn't show a happy child on that package, or I might be disappointed that Ian would rather roll around on the floor and cry than go trick or treating for some candy.



I'm such a mean mommy!

Six Word Saturday

I have no motivation to blog.

Lost and Found

I wish there was a lost and found for motivation and creativity.  My writing muse seems to have run off with both and I just don't know where to find them.

Without my muse I can't seem to come up with a complete thought in written form.  So instead I give you another list (please attempt to disguise your disappointment) of things that have been awesome lately. 

Ian made a list of things that he loves the other night, and it was damn cute.

My son has started counting.  He is so smart and I am already looking into Harvard applications. (Not really, but I am really proud of him.)

I managed to not only buy the correct bulb but change my van's rear turn signal ALL BY MYSELF!  I didn't even use the manual!  Yeah, I am proud of myself.

I am finally getting my hair trimmed this weekend, so no more shaggy dog look for me!  Don't worry!  It won't be a dramatic cut this time.  Just a trim to even up the layers. 

In the mail on Wednesday I received a scarf that I ordered from ModCloth and they included a free necklace and earrings with it.  They were yellow...my current favorite color! 

And the most important awesome things is that you came back to read my blog even though I haven't written in two weeks and I love you for waiting for me!

Now if you see my muse, tell her to get home fast and I will give her a cookie!

Six Word Saturday

Funny how kids change your perspective.



Bringing back the Six Word Saturday because I can manage to come up with six words a week at least!  Click the button above to check out Cate's blog, the ever-wonderful founder of 6WS.

Where does he get this stuff

Last week I got out of the shower and went into my bedroom to get dressed.  Just as I take off my towel my son, Ian, bursts into the room.

He can open doors now...all by himself.

He takes one look at me naked, runs up behind me and slaps my butt before running off laughing like a little hyena.

He didn't bother closing the door behind him.

Where does he get this stuff?


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In this house we just "OK" a lot.

Do you want a cookie?  OK

How was dinner?  OK

So naturally Ian picked up on this pretty quickly and when he doesn't answer affirmative with "yaaaa" he says "OK."

Through he has taken this a step further, much to my amusement.  Should the answer be negative he now says "No-K" instead of just "NO"

I can't even write "No-K" without laughing.

Where does that little smarty get this stuff?

Unprepared

Tuesday was a windy day here in Michigan.

I very, very windy day.

Chris left work early to pick up the new NHL video game.  The game his life revolves around for months every single year.

He gets home with enough time to play a game before I get home with Ian.

When he walks into the house he finds the power is out.

After I get home with Ian we swing through Burger King to pick up some dinner, since we are totally unprepared for an uncooked meal.  Burger King has Mac n' Cheese so we know that Ian will at least eat that since one of his four food groups is Mac n' Cheese these days.

After dinner I get my cell phone, which has been charging in my van with a GPS power cord (I don't have a car charger) and I call the power company.  After going through the automated system the robot women voice tells me that "the estimated restoration time is Wednesday September 8th at 4:00 PM"

Wednesday. 4:00 PM.  THAT IS AT LEAST 24 HOURS FROM NOW!

Oh $#^%!  We just went and bought nearly two weeks worth of groceries on Monday!  What the hell do we do with everything in the refrigerator?

Off to Meijer the three of us march.  $60 later we have a giant 5 day cooler and 3 bags of ice.  Hopefully enough to salvage our bounty of food until the power comes back on.  In retrospect we probaly could have just used the $60 to replace the food but we were in survivor-mode.  Chris was even talking building a fire just like Les on Survivorman would.

After hauling the cooler and ice in the house and getting everything I can moved over into the cooler.  We sit around trying to figure out what to do with ourselves.  Ian keeps bringing us the remote, his way of asking for TV time.  How do you explain to a two year old that you can't turn on the TV because there is no power?  You don't.  You just are the bad guy that won't let him have TV time.

As the clock rolls past 8:30 PM it is starting to get pretty dark in the house and our meager lantern and candles can barely cast enough light for Ian to play by. 

I decide to hop into a candlelit shower and get Ian to bed in our bed, so that we can keep watch over him should the weather get worse.  Besides with no light what is there to do while awake anyway.

As I start the shower I hear a whoop from the living room.  Chris was hooting and hollering that the power came back on.

By the time I wrapped in a towel to go blow out the rest of the candles Chris was already firing up with new game.

Later we both marveled at how unprepared we are for emergencies, and how much we really rely on electricity in our lives.

It takes a little reminder like this now and then to reaffirm to us how blessed we really are to have the luxury of power and gadgets to help us every day.  Just a few hours without and we don't even know what to do with ourselves anymore.

Whine and Cheese

Recently I have been hit with so much craziness in my life (mostly through work related issues) that I have been sinking into an "I hate the world" frame of mind.  Because I don't really want to write about all negative things I haven't been writing at all. 

I miss writing.

So I have decided to allow myself to complain about five things that are really have been grinding my gears lately.  The rules are only one sentence per complaint and I have to come up with five things that make me happy to balance it all out at the end. 

OK, here we go it is time to vent!

1. Thanks to the economy we are doing more with less staff where I work and it is making me very stressed out a busy.

2.  Personally, my husband and I are having a little money crunch and no matter how much we cut back we are still not where we want to be...and it is stressing me out.

3.  My son screams like a banshee and clings to my leg when I drop him off at day care and it breaks my heart because I would much rather be with him all day.

4.  I am so drained at the end of the day that I have no energy left to clean my house or have me time.

5.  It really bothers me that when you pull the mascara wand out of the tube the glob of mascara on the end looks like an earwig pincher.

Looking on the bright side:

1.  I got two pairs of jeans at Gap this weekend and only paid $45 total thanks for my Groupon and a really great sale.  I love getting a deal, especially on something I really needed.

2.  I actually found a pair of skinny jeans (see above) that work on my big butt.  I never would have thought I would be able to wear a pair of skinny jeans! 

3.  My son went up to my husband yesterday and said "I love you!"  Melt!  It is my turn now Ian.

4.  After a lot of thought I have decided to open up an Esty shop in the near future to sell the molded crayons I have been having fun making lately.  I have more supplies on order, and I am ready to get producing and hopefully making a few pennies along the way.  Look for an announcement in the next month of my shop opening!

5.  My husband not only vacuumed yesterday but he also did the dishes.  How lucky can a girl get?

I feel better now!