Ah...

...and so it goes.

 

I posted a brief note on my Facebook page a day or two ago about Little Bit being under the weather - and am amazed at how many notes and well-wishes I received for her.  Several have send requests for an update, as well - and so I will give that to you now because I cannot access FB at the moment.

 

She is doing much better.  The nasty fever seems to have finally broken and gone bye-bye; it got up to almost 103 at one point (but not quite).  I took her to the doctor yesterday and he pronounced her in basic good health, but with a raging ear infection in her left ear.  She wasn't tugging or "ow-ing" - she was just feverish and generally miserable.

 

I stayed home from work yesterday to take care of her because, aside from her doctor's appointment at 10:45 AM, I had my own appointment at 8AM and then after dropping off prescriptions I was finally able to get the antibiotic in her around 2PM.  I leave work at 4 so there was my work day...shot to you-know-where.  I knew I was going to stay home with her, though; there wasn't a question about that after her appointment.  I had initially intended to go to work afterward, but thought better of it when I realized how clingy and grouchy she was and she wanted me...not daddy.

 

I couldn't leave her.

 

She had another rough night and was awake quite a bit hollering about one thing or another, and of course Hubby and I didn't get much sleep either, but she seems to be another baby this morning; quite herself again.

 

Yay.

 

So hopefully after getting her antibiotic for another day or two, she'll really bed her old self again. 

 

Even though she felt miserable yesterday, she held completely still for the doctor as he dug around inside her ear so he could get a good look at her eardrum (wax that my safety Q-Tips couldn't get to, apparently).  He was amazed by her.  He even said, "I've never once had a child be this still and compliant!"

 

(Speaking of compliments toward my children, on Saturday AM, I took both kids out early - they woke me up at 6:30 on a SATURDAY! - and we went to Chick-fil-A for breakfast.  We had a wonderful time and everybody was very good.  A lady who was eating there with her husband came over and placed a beautifully weathered hand on my shoulder; surprising me.  She said, "You're children are absolutely beautiful and SO well behaved!"  I nearly fell off the bench in shock!  MY CHILDREN?  She's speaking about MY children?  I mean, of course I know they're beautiful - they're mine - but well behaved?  Well, yes - they were, in fact, on their best behavior that morning - for whatever reason.  It made me feel so wonderful to have an out-of-the-blue compliment from a stranger like that.)

 

So everyone is OK.  Kiddo has yet to clean his room and, though I made some progress in there myself, I really want him to do it.  It's the principle of the thing - it's a lesson I want him to learn.  But he'll get there.  I'm hoping he'll get sick of tripping over the s*** on the floor and start doing something on his own.  For now, though - he just keeps kicking a new path to his bed every night.  He's 5.  He'll figure it out eventually, but I'm done yelling about it.  I've got enough other stuff to do.

 

In no particular order: VBS, Sunday School, Spa Day at Church, Cards, Jewelry, Laundry, Laundry, Laundry...um...Laundry.  It never ends.

 

Happy Tuesday!

 

TTFN
JMS

Crafty Weekend

New cards on My Etsy Site!  Check 'em out!

TTFN
JMS

New Cards on Etsy!!

"Flowers Afire" - CLICK HERE

Butter -n- Blues - CLICK HERE

Just a sampling of the new cards I've just listed on My Etsy Site over the last day or two. I REALLY like the ones I've been making lately - but I think I want to go back and do a couple my "old favorites" too...

TTFN JMS

Sigh...

OK - forget what I said about the rain the other day.  I'm done with it now.  I tried to maintain a positive outlook while getting drenched each day by telling myself all the good the rain is doing for the earth...  It can be sunny now.

 

No, really - the sun can start shining any time it wants to.

 

SPF 50 be da**ed!

 

****

 

On another note, I just added 4 new items (2 cards, 1 ring & 1 bracelet) to My Etsy Shop.  You really should go see...!

 

Short post today...at least for now.  I might come up with more to say as the day progresses!

 

TTFN
JMS

GUESS WHAT?

A friend who reads my blog just sent me the following:

"I don't know if you have found this yet or not but to get around the gmail issue click on the "older version" in the upper right hand corner. You lose all the prettiness but you get your functionality back."

I tried it. He's right! Woo Hoo! :) I need to see if I can attach attachments again, too. Lemme just try it - and please forgive me if you've already seen this pic...it's just for testing purposes. (Ooohh! That worked!) Thought I'd let everyone know that you can forget all the Yahoo! stuff I sent a couple of days ago! TTFN JMS

My Boss

My boss is a goofball.   He's wonderful.   The other day, my boss asked me to order a digital camera for our department; one he'd already chosen, so I had no part in the decision.  The purpose?  So we don't have to track down another department's camera if we need to take pictures of something, for whatever reason.  And, (I hate using "and" at the beginning of a sentence - but it works here, I suppose.) because having our own department camera meant that I don't have to worry about bringing my personal camera every day - just in case.  (Though mine is a better camera.)   So yesterday, the new camera came in.  It's lovely.  Sleek and black and shiny and lots of bells and whistles.  It has the same functions as mine, they're just in different places.  It looks like a regular 35mm camera, with a neck strap and a lens cap (etc...) but it is only 10 mega pixels; mine, by comparison, is 12 mega pixels.  I think that the other cameras (the ones in different departments) are only 8MPs, but I could be wrong.   Anyway - I spent about 30 minutes playing with the new, fancy camera; getting to know it like one might get to know a new friend.  I'll say it again: It's lovely.   I walked into my boss's office and said, "Say Cheese!"   This is the picture I got!  (Man, I do hope it comes through!  This post will be totally worthless if it doesn't!)   Like I said, my boss is a goofball.   I love working for him.  That's not sarcasm - that's the God's honest truth.   (Oh - and I hope he doesn't get upset if he sees this picture on my blog!  I don't think he would, I think he'd find it amusing - but I know how often people get into trouble for posting thoughts and pictures of work on their blogs.  I can't see how this post would get me into trouble, because it's completely positive and upbeat - nothing negative here at all - but I suppose this parenthesized paragraph is a disclaimer that will hopefully let me Get Out Of Jail Free, so-to-speak - should I need it.)   TTFN JMS

Rain, Rain, Go away...?

It's raining.  Again.   Or, maybe, still.   I've heard so many folks at my office complaining about the rain, but I say, "Let it fall."   It's Spring, for goodness sake!  It's supposed to rain, isn't it?  I mean, in just the last week or so of rain, everything has turned a lush and beautiful green here in beautiful East Tennessee.  (The birds are sure loving it, even if Nalla -our dog- doesn't.)   Speaking of birds, I want a bird bath for our front yard.  (Wow - quite a subject change, there, wasn't it?)   You might ask, "Yeah?  So?  What's the big deal?  Go get one!"   Well, I would answer, "I'm picky as hell!"  I want a birdbath that is going to work well in one particular area of our yard, I want it to be subtle, rustic, part of the landscaping; like it grew there.  On top of that, I don't want to spend any $200; like on the one I saw in the Hearth & Patio catalog!   I know, I know...the birds don't care - but I do.    And with that - I look out the window at my office to see a dark cloud looming above us; threatening the awful storm the weather people have been talking about for two days.    I say, "Let it come!"   Let it come.   TTFN JMS

Me? In an Etsy Treasury? Really?

Yep - really! I was so excited when I got the notification email that I'd been included in MysticWynd's Treasury West list I nearly cried! Silly, but true. You can view it HERE or, if you'd rather copy & past the link: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=52807 I'm in the middle of the 2nd row - the blush pink "White Zinfandel" ring. Thanks, MysticWynd! I'm truly flattered to have been included in your hand-picked treasury! TTFN JMS

Family, Friends, Food, Falling & Flourishes

Had a great weekend!  We went North to visit family on Saturday.  I had been feeling the itch to see them for a couple of weeks and Hubby happened to not be working on Saturday - so up we went.  I got to see my Mother-in-Law, both my Sisters-in-Law, my niece, her little baby girl (who is 5 months old and just as sweet and adorable as she can possibly be), my Brother-in-Law and my 16 year old nephew.  This was to be our Mother's Day.

 

Hubby, BIL, Nephew, Kiddo & Little Bit spent a majority of the time in their finished basement/rec-room, while The Girls all piled in SIL's bed and watched Bride Wars.  I cannot wait to see the picture of that!  There is one...somewhere.  Hubby couldn't resist snapping a couple of shots with SIL's camera after he came up from the depths in search of his wife. 

 

A good time was had by all, I do believe - though I think SIL (the one whose house we all invaded) probably worked herself a bit too hard.  Her blood sugar dropped drastically - and so did she.  She was lucky I happened to be right there to catch her or she might really have hurt herself.  Her husband, my BIL, was there in 2 seconds and a chair was brought quickly so she could sit.  At least one Coca-Cola and a brownie later, she seemed to be back in the land of the living, but I worried about her the entire rest of the time we were there.  Scared me pea-green.  She's OK... 

 

I think she probably puts on a good face even if she's feeling awful, so I never know how she's really feeling.  I kept telling her to put me to work - and she did.  She had me folding laundry (HA!) and Kiddo volunteered to vacuum the kitchen with the little power sweeper thingy.  He did an excellent job and even surprised SIL by rolling up all the little area rugs so he could get under them.  He rolled 'em up, vacuumed under them, and then rolled 'em back out again.  Very industrious, for a 5 year old; he didn't even need instructions!  When he was asked where he learned to do that, he stated that he'd seen me do the same in Little Bit's room with her Winnie The Pooh rug.

 

So even when I don't think I'm teaching him anything, Kiddo, (a.k.a. Mr. Sponge - I think I might need to change his "blog" name) is learning.  Another reminder that kids learn from watching their parents, their surroundings, and the words being said that they absorb.  Amazing.

 

I also did the dishes for her before we left - because I certainly didn't want her to have to work any harder than she already had.

 

My other SIL brought 2 bags of clothes for me to go through.  This happens every now and then and is always very exciting for me!  I get new clothes without spending any $$!  This time, I got three skirts, several shirts, a great neutral blazer that I can't wait to wear, and probably a couple of things I can't remember right now.  The rest will go to Goodwill or FreeCycle...  Thanks, SIL!

 

On our way home, we stopped at the Bass Pro Shop for a little lookie-loo.  Kiddo lost his new (Wally-World) ball cap somewhere in the store.  This is really awful; he cried - poor little guy.  We gave the shop our name and number and asked that if the cap turned up that they call us...but I really doubt it will.  There are no distinguishing marks on the cap at all; not even Kiddo's name! 

 

We ate dinner and then drove the rest of the way home.

 

Sunday was church, Sunday school (I'm back on my 2 months of teaching the 1st & 2nd graders), service, and lunch with our friends D&JS.  Their kids kept our kids in stitches almost the entire time.  The giggling was very much preferred to the screaming that might have occurred otherwise.  DS did something to make everyone in the restaurant applaud her, though I'm sure she was mortified at the time.  She tried to get out of her seat to get more bread sticks from the counter, but somehow managed to hook her foot into the strap of her purse and so she tripped and fell.  She didn't hurt herself, thank God, but she bounced right up, threw her hands in the air and hollered, "TA DA!" as if she'd meant to do it!  It was absolutely perfect!  Everyone in the general area who witnessed the mishap broke into laughter and applause.  I am extremely accident prone and have fallen many, many times - but I have never had the grace to finish with flourish like that.  Go DS!  We all can learn something from her, can't we!?

 

Anyway - it's Monday again.  It's raining.  The newly laid sod in the front of our office is turning a lovely shade of green - which is a HUGE improvement over the patchy green and brown it was before they started the work 2 weeks ago.  There's a tree that broke and fell over by the parking lot.  And there are many puddles all around - but I'm seeing Spring and Robins and flowers and happy things!

 

TTFN
JMS

State of Denial

I'm looking at a sample box of cookies and brownies from a local cafe.  A rep from the cafe came in today to introduce themselves and to let me know, "They're in the area and able to cater...are we interested?"

 

Hmmm...do I tell them we've been using them for nearly 2 years now and that most folks complain about the food when we do?  Or, do I keep my mouth shut - accept the proffered gift of sweet and yummy edibles (I mean, c'mon - how badly can you screw up chocolate chip cookies and brownies?  Wait...don't answer that!) and say, "Thank you very much.  We'll give you a holler if we need anything!"

 

I chose to tell them, "Thank you, etc..."

 

The cookie/brownie pack is at my desk.  I gave one to JF and am now trying not to eat the entire friggin' box.  Problem is, most of the folks whom I would normally share these treats with are in a meeting right now.  The meeting usually lasts until 10:30 or 11AM (and sometimes longer) and I'm not sure I can hold out until then!

 

Wait!

 

Yes I can!

 

Will power!  It's all about will power.

 

And denial.

 

Meaning I'm denying the fact that the bright yellow and orange box with the Olive-shaped "O" is sitting at arms length away from me and it would take absolutely nothing for me to reach over there and snag a cookie...

 

Sigh.

 

TTFN

JMS

 

PS: New items on Etsy!

--
****

http://jennifershell.blogspot.com

http://knoxwritingclub.blogspot.com

Last Night was...

...Good.

 

It started with me leaving work at 2:40 to go home and get everyone ready for Kiddo's Kindergarten Registration/Orientation.  Kiddo.  In Kindergarten!  Can you believe this?  I'm so excited and sentimental and worried and pleased and...and...and...  He's thrilled.  He got to see what it will be like to ride the bus - but of course Mom & Dad had to go with him.  Every other kid's parent let them go alone...but if that was what would make him comfortable, I'm totally there.

 

Little Bit go to ride along, too.  On my lap.  Not letting me let go of her once.  Though I think she enjoyed it, too.

 

We passed our house.

 

That was fun.

 

Kiddo will be in Kindergarten in the Fall.  Sigh.

 

****

 

Then we went out for dinner. 

 

Wendy's.

 

Santa Claus was there.

 

No - really - he was.  He even had on his red "North Pole" T-Shirt.  He must be taking a vacation in Tennessee since the weather's been nice around here lately.

 

Kiddo and Little Bit had a tiny Frosty.  Wonder if that made Santa feel at home?

 

****

 

Then we went home and spent the entire rest of the night in the back yard.  Until nearly dark.  Hubby & I worked on cleaning out my Toyota, and probably removed 100lbs of crap that had been floating around in there for who-knows-how-long.  I found something that was petrified.  I think it was probably a chicken nugget.  Can't be sure, though.

 

There is no more junk in my trunk, either!  (HA HA!)  Hubby pulled everything out, vacuumed out all the old hay (from OCTOBER, folks) and reorganized it. 

 

Now the car just needs a bath.

 

****

 

While Hubby and I were working on the car (although I admittedly got distracted quite a bit because) Kiddo and Little Bit had our 3 neighbor kids over.  They blew bubbles, played on scooters and bicycles, had an impromptu soccer game, crawled through the cleaned out car, tossed a ball that went wonky and smacked Hubby in the back of the head (ticked him off, too, poor guy), and just generally ran around like mad.  Oh, and juice boxes were had by all.

 

When bedtime rolled around (which was significantly later than normal) there was much kicking and screaming in protest, by both Kiddo and Little Bit.

 

Sleep came quickly, however, and Hubby and I were able to settle down by 9PM to watch the mid-season finale (what is that, btw?) of Ghost Hunters.  Could have been creepier, if you ask me.

 

****

 

Oh, and while everyone was playing/working outside, one of my aforementioned distractions was the great lighting for photographs.  I snapped a few great shots of the fiery pink azalea in our yard, along with the snowman garden statue bird feeder.  I've posted them on My Etsy Site - if you're interested.  I'm extremely pleased with how they turned out!

 

Have a wonderful Thursday!

 

TTFN
JMS

--
****

http://jennifershell.blogspot.com

http://knoxwritingclub.blogspot.com

Mother's Day Jeans

So yesterday I tried to post a few pictures (though the email to blog feature) of some of the things I've recently posted on My Etsy Shop.  Didn't work out all that well...the pictures didn't come through!  ...really irked me...  So I guess I'll have to make an attempt to fix it - but I'll need to remember to send myself the pictures so I can do it from home tonight.

 

On another note - Hubby, Kiddo, Little Bit and I went to Gander Mountain last night to get paddles for our canoe.  I walked in and immediately got distracted by the CLOTHES.  Did you know Gander Mountain sells clothes?  I mean, I knew they did but I didn't realize they were fun and nice looking clothes!  Since I was in need of a decent pair of jeans that fit (weight loss - it's a good thing) I quickly turned my attention to the jeans.  I found a 12 Long (YAY!) and tried them on.  (I tried other jeans on, too - as well as a few other things...)  These jeans fit like they were made just for me!  I was so excited that I didn't even bother to look at the price!  (MISTAKE!)

 

They were $40.00!

 

I didn't really even LOOK at the price until after the sales rep had rung them up and Hubby had graciously motioned for me to put them in with his paddles.

 

Later, he asked me, "How much were those jeans, anyway?"  I admitted to him the price and tried to look sheepish.  I honestly didn't look at the price before hand or I wouldn't have gotten them.  But now, I am wearing a pair of Gander Mountain brand size 12 Long jeans that fit perfectly...and I'm very pleased. 

 

Normally I try to avoid really expensive stuff because I don't feel that we can afford it.  Lots of folks are probably lifting an eyebrow and thinking, "$40 for jeans?  That's totally normal!  I mean, that's a really decent price!"  OK - so maybe it is - for most folks...but I'm not most folks.  I mean, I would LIKE to be able to drop $40.00 on jeans every time I need them, but I cannot. 

 

Hubby mumbled, "Happy Mother's Day."  I'm guessing he thinks I didn't hear him - but I did.  And frankly - I agree with him.  Happy Mother's Day to me, a couple of weeks early.  Who ever heard of getting a new pair of jeans for Mother's Day?

 

Well...you have now!

 

TTFN
JMS

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****

http://jennifershell.blogspot.com

http://knoxwritingclub.blogspot.com

Etsy - Recently Listed

 

Birds of a Feather – Thank You Cards – Set of 2

 

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24022201

 

$8.50 – envelopes included

 

****

 

 

Elegant Floral – Birthday Card – Blank Inside

 

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24239468

 

$5.50 – envelope included

 

****

 

 

Happy Spring – Blank Note Card

 

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23924311

 

$4.00 – envelope included

 

****

 

 

Mossy Elements – Birthday Card – Blank

 

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24239647

 

$5.50 – envelope included

 

****

 

 

Mother’s Day – Greeting Card

 

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23924463

 

$5.50 – envelope included

 

****

 

 

Subtle Leaf – Birthday Card

 

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23973530

 

$5.50 – envelope included

 

TTFN
JMS

Allergies, Neigborhood Kids, Nighmare Child, Angel Child

Two days without my allergy medicine and I've got a headache to beat all headaches.  Well...I guess it's really not that bad considering it's not a migraine, I'm vertical, I'm mostly awake - and I'm at work.  I keep thinking about my friend Q who has some of the worst headaches on record (in my opinion) and somehow she still manages to to muddle through.  If she can do it, with her brain pounding against itself in so many different ways, than I certainly can down a couple of Tylenol and press on.

 

We had three of the neighborhood kids over last night.  Kiddo, Little Bit and I were sitting on the grass in our backyard blowing bubbles and having a wonderful time when the trio showed up.  Not naming any names, suffice it to say that one of the kids (the middle boy, who is 6) bears the name of a bear...created and brought to life by one of my favorite authors...A.A. Milne.  No joke.  Odd names aside, I had extra bubbles and after Kiddo graciously ran inside to get them, I passed them out to the kids and all 6 of us were blowing bubbles in the backyard. 

 

Eventually, bubble-blowing got old and they went on to bikes, scooters, skateboards, big wheels, and dare deviling down the little hill in our backyard.  My two were, thankfully, not involved in this tomfoolery, but Milne's Bear and his younger brother both decided that riding the 2-wheeled scooter, the three-wheeled tricycle and Kiddo's 2-wheeled (unless you count the training wheels) bicycle down this little hill.  It may be little, but 3- and 6-year-olds should not be playing daredevil in my backyard.  Spills were taken, boo-boos were kissed, admonishments were handed out.  I did not like the idea of someone else's kids getting injured in MY yard.  Well...getting injured at all...but most especially in MY yard.

 

I told them if they wanted to ride something down the hill they could ride the 4-wheeled John Deere tractor or the 4-wheeled Ket Car.  This lasted for exactly 1 round and they were done.  Not as much excitement, I guess, as the fear of falling over on a 2-wheeled something-or-other.

 

Milne's Bear had long(ish) hair when we started, and after returning to us from being gone for about 20 minutes, his hair was gone!  His father had sat him down outside and shaved it all off to short spikiness.  So cute.

 

All three of these kids are so cute - and, honestly, very polite.  I got several, "Yes, ma'am's" and "No, ma'am's" and quite a few "pleases" and "thank yous".  All without prompting them.  Their mother (and probably father, too) seem to be doing right by them.  I love, respect, and appreciate well-mannered children.  Especially if they're going to be hanging out at my house!  Now, if I could just get my kids to be as well-mannered and polite.

 

Speaking of my kids - Little Bit is now, officially, two years old.  And I don't mean in actual age.  She has gone from sweet, loving, happy kid to monster child in the last month or so.  Well...really ever since her 2nd birthday.  She's always had an attitude (I suppose Princesses are allowed an attitude occasionally, right?) but now she's a nightmare!  Everything is NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!

 

All the time.

 

For whatever we're doing.

 

Food?  NO!

 

Bath? NO!

 

Bed? NO!

 

Play? NO!  (Oh wait, did Mommy just say Play?  I changed my mind...YES!)  But the playing turns into NO! when things don't work out the way she wants them to.

 

So that means that Kiddo must be my angel-child, eh?  Um...no.

 

I'm going to stop there.  That's a story for another time.

 

TTFN
JMS

 

PS: Happy Tuesday!

Wonderful Weekend!

THURSDAY:

 

Left work early to spend the afternoon with Kiddo at school.  He had his "Spring Sing" that evening, and a pizza party afterwards.  Little Bit was an absolute nightmare and she forced us to leave early.  This immediately threw Kiddo into fits of sobbing and tears because he wanted to be able to eat pizza with his friends.  We compromised and went to Big Ed's for pizza instead.  Little Bit ate like a champ and Kiddo seemed to be satisfied.  He also got to watch them make and toss the dough - which was supremely entertaining to a 5 year old.

 

FRIDAY:

 

I stayed home for a special day with my kids.  I may have mentioned before that I was going to do this...  I planned it two weeks ago and just didn't say anything to the kids (especially Kiddo) so it would seem spontaneous to them.  We went to an event at the Children's Museum that morning and had a blast!  There was a live concert by a woman (whose name escapes me right now) who has won Grammy Awards for her music for children.  Little Bit was up and dancing with abandon, catching the attention of all around us who were "oohing" and "aahing" and "oh-how-cuting" at her.  She ate it up.  When the singer called for volunteers to come up front to learn some hand signs for the next song - Little Bit looked at me and said hopefully, "I go, too?"  Of course.  She trotted right up there (we were almost all the way at the back) and stood with the big kids.  No fear, that one.  Later, the Smokies Baseball mascot, Slugger, showed up and Little Bit wanted to go give him hugs.  Kiddo?  He stuck close to me the entire time, neither dancing, participating or hugging Slugger!  My shy little guy (who really isn't shy) and my outgoing little girl.

 

We did some more wonderful things at the Children's museum and then we headed out.  We stopped by McDonald's for food and ate on the way to the craft store.  I got a couple necessary things at the craft store and then we went home.  For much-needed naps. 

 

The rest of Friday is kind of a blur...  sleepy hazy fuzzy blur...  don't really remember what else we did!

 

SATURDAY:

 

Earth Day Festival.  Recycling.  Green Living.  Animals abound.  Great things to look at and fun things to do.  Friends seen all around us.  A Fun Run/Walk at 2PM where Kiddo walked the 1 mile without a single word of complaint and Little Bit rode in the umbrella stroller contentedly, enjoying her surroundings and watching the great big Buzz Bee (mascot for Anderson County Vision's Magazine) as he led us on our hike.

 

SUNDAY:

 

Church.  Food.  Nap.  (Oh - I managed a great-big-sprawled-out-on-the-bed-deep-sleeping-oblivious-to-my-surroundings nap.  It was wonderful!  Unexpected...yet wonderful.)  Then a trip to Wally-World.  Then ice cream.  Then bed.

 

Good and busy weekend!

 

And...new cards on Etsy!

 

TTFN
JMS

Little Bit's Name Change & Heard Around the House (er..backyard)

Tonight, Little Bit lived up to her "name" - although I think I need to change it to BIG BITE! She was ticked off and screaming and before I knew it - she'd bitten the you-know-what outta my arm! I'm gonna have a bruise to beat all bruises! A bruise to match the one on the back of my leg that I got last night while on the playground trying to show my kids the "knee circles" on the straight bar that I used to do as a kid. I think it's official - my childhood is truly over. I couldn't even lift my butt up high enough to get ON the bar! Anyway - my point being that as rotten as Little Bit (a.k.a. Big Bite) was today, she did something so funny I had to share it! We were all out in the back yard just hanging out and enjoying the evening. She was sitting on my lap and I was quizzing her about what animal says what. Me: What goes "Mooo!" ? Little Bit: Cow! Me: What goes "Cockadoodledo!" ? Little Bit: Uh...ROOSTER! Me: What goes "tweet tweet tweet!" ? Little Bit: A bird! Me: What says, "Quack! Quack!" ? Little Bit: A duck! Me: What says, "Honk! Honk!" ? (I was thinking of a goose or even possibly a car horn...I would have accepted either.) Little Bit: Your nose! TTFN JMS PS: In my defense - it IS ALLERGY SEASON PEOPLE!

Earth Day, Mother Nature, Work Outing, Afternoon Nap

Yesterday was Earth Day.  I did my part by posting something about nature - though admittedly it was by complete accident!  Ah, Mother Earth...she is beautiful, isn't she?

 

Every day I see things that are so spectacular my heart can barely contain the beauty.  I wish that I had thought to whip out my camera at the time, but as I drove to work yesterday I observed a crescent moon and a star or planet just to the lower left of the moon.  Both shining brightly and in stark contrast to the lightening sky.  I did, actually, think to get my camera, but I couldn't come up with a good place to stop to get "the shot" so I let it go.  I regret it now.  I wish I had something to show for it.

 

I always take in the way the clouds turn colors during the sunrises and sunsets.  I love watching the way raindrops fall into puddles.  I love observing birds in their natural habitat - even the mean Mockingbirds that torture the Cedar Waxwings - or the Blue Jays that chase off the Blue Birds nesting in my backyard.  The little Carolina Wren that has taken over one (possibly 2) "rooms" in the Blue Martin apartment house on our front porch.  The Carolina Wren is on my Top 10 Favorite birds list because it is such a happy little thing - chirpy, chirpy, chirp!  chirpy, chirpy chirp!  It's little tail sticking straight up in the air!

 

Speaking of tails in the air - have you ever witnessed a chipmunk crossing a road or running quickly from point A to point B?  It's tail is always straight up in the air, too!  So cute!

 

Changing the subject a bit - I had an outing yesterday with the managers and supervisors at my office.  We went to Calhoun's for lunch.  It was wonderful.  I had a great time.  I'm glad I was "forced" to go - because I wasn't gonna.  One of our managers sent me an email asking, "Aren't you at least going to come eat with us?"  (They were going to play Laser Tag after food...and that doesn't interest me in the slightest.)

 

I responded with, "No.  Probably not.  I'm not a fan of Laser Tag and I've got a few things I can work on while everyone is gone.  No interruptions, more work accomplished.  Of course, if you give me a direct order to come eat with you - than who am I to argue?"

 

She replied, "Direct order.  Come eat with us.  You need to get out of the office occasionally!"

 

I'm glad I did.

 

Then, after we were done with food and everyone was leaving, I mentioned to my boss that I was going to go back to the office to work on a few things and he said, "Go home!"  I said I really wanted to finish a certain thing and he just smiled and waved me away.  When I got back to the office, I checked my email and there was a note from Boss Man saying, "Go home!"

 

I went home.  It was 2:00.

 

Also - I got lovely Administrative Professionals Day flowers from my boss.  More yellow roses and Gerber daisies!  So pretty.

 

I spent a lovely afternoon with my family by the lake and then getting ice cream.  We all went home and every one of us had a nap.  It was wonderful.

 

TTFN
JMS

Birds of a Feather...

 

Several months ago, I posted about a Territorial Hummingbird.  (I can't link to it right now because I can't get to Blogger to find the old post - but I will try to add that link later when I get home.)  There's a Territorial Mockingbird at my office.  He (?) is chasing away all the beautiful Cedar Waxwings who are only there to eat the berries on the holly bushes outside the cafeteria!  They're not hurting anyone, but they sure are pissing off this mockingbird!

 

I remember a long time ago when a Cedar Waxwing smacked itself into a window at my house.  I went outside (of course) to see if it was hurt or dead or what...  It was definitely hurt, stunned, but not dead - thank goodness.  It's neck seemed floppy at first, so I thought it was dead, but when I picked it up (yes, I'll pick up almost any hurt animal if I think it won't bite me - skunks and squirrels are usually excluded from this) it twitched, opened its eyes, and looked at me plaintively as if to say, "I'm not feelin' so well right at the moment.  I don't suppose you could take care of me, could you?"

 

Of course I could!

 

I held that silly bird in my gentle hands for over an hour, sitting on the front porch, while the bird slowly regained the use of its body.  I studied the little thing intently while I was "nursing" it back to health.  So beautiful.  Birds in general are so beautiful.  (I have heard of folks being afraid of birds and I cannot fathom that...)  Its coloring, creamy yellows, browns, black and red...a wonderful black mask over its eyes.  Eventually, it seemed to shake itself and come out of its daze.  It perked up, sat itself on my finger and we just looked at each other for several minutes.  Then, it seemed to wink at me in thanks, and flew away.  Ah - my heart soared with him.

 

It's really almost too bad wild birds won't just come and hang out with me...

 

TTFN
JMS

 

PS: To all my Administrative Assistant friends (ahem...Pearl, Claudia, AKAY, Mrs. Myrick...and I'm sure more I can't come up with right now) HAPPY ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS DAY!

 

PPS: Speaking of birds of a feather - check out My Etsy Site today!  I just listed a set of 2 notecards with pretty little birds on them!  I guess I'm a bird brain today! :)

Thinking about FAMILY - in all caps

I've been thinking a lot lately about my Grandmother "Tennie".  I'm not sure why, honestly, but she's been very much on my mind. 

 

I'm thinking about when I lived with her in Grand Rapids.  How she used to let me back the car into the turn-around in her driveway, but would never let me actually drive - even though I had my driver's license.  How each night she'd sit in the big, brown, corduroy chair that was my grandfather's and sip her scotch and milk (with 1 ice cube - ick) and smoke her Salem Light 100's menthols while watching the news.  (News at the time I lived with her revolved mostly around the Gulf War...)  How she loved her silly, floppy, moppy dog and turned into a goofy little girl when she and "Moppet" played tug-o-war together. 

 

I'm really just remembering her.  Her movements.  Her cadence of speech.  Her gestures.  The way she'd light a cigarette in the living room, put it in the ash-tray, then get up to go to the kitchen to work on supper and light another cigarette in there, completely forgetting the one burning in the living room.  (It was nothing back then for me to pick up the forgotten cigarette and finish it.  She never knew the difference!  I was so awful, wasn't I?)  The way she made an open-faced cheese sandwich like nobodies business; I've never been able to replicate it - and they were my favorite!  How strict she was with me and how angry I used to get with her about it; no outings with friends on a school night - not even to the library, Fridays home by 8PM and Saturdays home by 9PM.  I realize now that she really had my best interests in mind and don't blame her for acting/reacting the way she did; I was a pretty messed-up 17-year-old who had just lost her mother and was trying to find a way to live again.

 

Ah - I remember so many little things.  I can remember the back roads she used to take to drive me to school every morning.  I can close my eyes and run the route in my head without a wrong turn!  I remember going to Rosie's (I think that was the name) with her; a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant by the lake in East Grand Rapids; they had the best burgers there!  I can see her in her easy clothing, purse slung casually over her arm, cigarette in hand, perfectly coiffed hair - puffing on a cigarette standing there by the lake waiting for me as I chased ducks or other craziness...

 

I don't remember what month it was when I got the news that she'd died.  (Was it April?  Is that why I'm feeling this way?  I vaguely recall it being somewhat chilly out, but I was still living in Michigan when I'd gotten "the word" so it could have been summer everywhere else, and still vaguely cold in Michigan in April.)  She'd gone to France with my Aunt & Uncle (and my little sister, too) and I never saw her again.  We parted ways rather abruptly; it was the angry, depressed, independent-yet-desperately-needy-teenager thing again.  I think we were angry with one another.  I've always regretted not speaking kind words to her when she left Michigan for foreign parts unknown.  But honestly?  I was very much not myself back then and do not remember many, many things of my time in Michigan.

 

It's the little things that shine through for me now, as an adult, that mean so much.  I can make the "little things" list go on forever.  Of course, I can make the "little things" list for a lot of things because the "big things" list is so short.  Several major things I will never ever forget but don't especially like to talk about even though it would probably be good for me.

 

I guess I'm feeling a little weepy and nostalgic today.  I'm really missing my FAMILY.  FAMILY with all capital letters, meaning the family I knew (know) from birth and childhood.  The FAMILY that knows me, or is getting to know me again after all these years.

 

I have been in "negotiations" with AC & UB (One set of my Aunts & Uncles in Maryland) to go visit them sometime soon.  Just a long weekend.  Me, myself, and I - with the kids, of course, and Hubby, too, if he wants to (or can) come.  I haven't seen AC & UB in probably 20 years, and even though I don't really remember being especially close to them when I was younger, our relationship over the last couple of years we've been back in contact has blossomed and my heart is absolutely swelling with joy over this. 

 

Maybe this is the source of my weepiness?  A desire to go see FAMILY again?

 

We're headed to St. Augustine in October.  AP & UJ (the other set of Aunts & Uncles in Maryland) are letting us (me and mine) use their condo for a week.  I've never been to Florida; never set toe over the line; and am looking forward to being just minutes away from my little sister rather than hours and hours!  I'd like to see AP & UJ, as well - because it's been too many years under the bridge with that relationship, too.

 

Sigh.

 

I guess what would be best for me right now is to buckle down and get some work done, eh?  If I continue in this vein I might find myself too depressed or melancholy to do anything truly productive.  I'm OK.  Just missing...a lot.

 

Happy Tuesday!

 

TTFN
JMS

 

 

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http://jennifershell.blogspot.com

http://knoxwritingclub.blogspot.com

Etsy Addiction & VBS Committee

Ok - so you know how I mentioned a while ago that I was totally addicted to my blog?  I still am, but I think I've added another addiction or two in the last month or so.

 

Etsy, greeting cards and buttons.

 

sigh.

 

I know - it's starting to look more like an obsession than an addiction - but aren't they synonymous?

 

I got a message from my cousin in NY last night wanting to know if I was going to do any more cards.  Of course I will - that's my main love and my main focus here, but...  Admittedly, I did get a little side-tracked (um...obsessed) with my buttons and rings and bracelets and pins and ideas and, and, and...  I blame Claudia - (Cloud Nine Creations) - and you can, too, if you must. :)  (Oohhh!  I'm gonna get it for that!  Claudia - you know I ♥ ya!)

 

So this week, my goal is to focus on my greeting cards and replenish my stock.  I just listed 2 new cards this morning (and 3 new rings, of course) and actually don't anticipate that the Mother's Day card will last very long!  Even Hubby said, "Wow, Jen - that's really nice!"  (That's the best compliment I could have ever gotten, you know!?!)  You can see the cards (and rings) at http://jshell73.etsy.com.

 

I was going to make this short...but it seems I'm not done yet - just changing subjects.

 

I went to a meeting of the Vacation Bible School planning crew at church yesterday and am SO excited about everything we're planning to do this year!  Lots of great ideas floating around and, finding a way around our cut-in-half budget is right up my alley!  I'm on the Promotions Committee so I get to do a lot of the creative advertising etc...  Should be lots of fun and everyone on the team this year is really really great!

 

Ok - now I'm done!

 

Have a wonderful (if rainy - depending on where you are) Monday!

 

TTFN
JMS

A Career Decided (?)

TGIF!!!

 

I have waited ALL WEEK to be able to say that!  Today ends the 2nd busiest week of my life here at [Current Company].  I still have loads to do today, up to and including revamping something I did earlier in the week because the "owner" added a bunch of stuff and screwed up the formatting.  Not that I'm complaining, mind you; I actually enjoy the process of organizing documents and formatting them so they flow appropriately from one topic to the next. 

 

InfoMapping.

 

I'm referring to InfoMapping - in case you hadn't already figured that out.  I took an InfoMapping class last April ('08) and, though it's been a year (-ish) since I've really put the skills I learned in that class to good use - I'm very, very happy to have an excuse to use it.  It's not extremely difficult, but sometimes the formatting options can really throw you for a loop.  It's used in conjunction with MS Word, and though it looks like you're working in a Word document, and it seems like you should be able to format using the Word options - you aren't and you can't.  A little more maneuvering is involved and adding and deleting things isn't just a simple process.

 

But regardless of the nuances between formatting using InfoMapping and formatting in MS Word, I still enjoy it.  I guess this is just one reason why I love what I do.  I may not be the most organized person in this position, and I may occasionally let something slip through the cracks - but I think that's not necessarily just me being me - I think it's more just me being human.

 

That being said, I recently fired off a letter (via email, of course) to a friend, who also happens to be my doctor.  (Hey!  She made the mistake of giving me her email address so it's her fault!  LOL!)  In the letter I vented about quite a few things, but mostly I vented about my lack of focus and organization.  One would think that my being medicated for ADD (and...um...other stuff) I would be oh-so-in-control, but I'm not.  I still am the world's most disorganized person.  I know how to organize.  I can file stuff like nobodies business.  I can clean and organize a room right up there with the best of them.  But this is not me...by nature.  Nature (God, The Fates...choose one) decided a long time ago that I am supposed to be disorganized.

 

Does that make me an artist?

 

Moving on...one of my wonderful friends and co-workers sent me an email the other day that said, "Perhaps you should consider a career change ?   Seriously…    Maybe even in the [Company's] Marketing department?  I hate that stuff.    I'd rather balance the budget than create a newsletter any day!!!"  I think I mentioned this conversation a post or two ago.  Anyway - that got me thinking...where am I going?

 

Do I really have a career?  Or, am I just working a job...for now?

 

While I do love what I do, it's definitely not my life's ambition to be an Administrative Assistant.  That being said, I decided to take the bull by the horns and contact ITT Technical Institute.  After speaking to wonderful woman at the local campus, I am, someday soon (date has not been set yet) going to meet with her to discuss the Computer Drafting and Design courses for a degree.  This seems to be right up my alley because I love computers, I love design, I love architecture, I love art - but I am (getting back to my original point) worried about the "organization" this course will require.

 

However, by nature, as disorganized as I am, I am also very linear.  I like things to be organized and straight-forward and logical.  So, I think, I may have found my future.

 

Of course, I won't really know until I spend 2 hours with the woman from ITT Tech sometime in the next week or so - but from everything I've read and learned (through independent study and research) I think this is a good thing.  My concerns (and ITT Tech Lady knows this) are time (where am I going to find it?) and money (where am I going to find it?).  But, ITT Tech Lady seems to think that I might be eligible for some financial assistance - so we'll see.

 

Anyway - wish me luck in this new adventure.  It's time.  It really is.

 

TGIF

TTFN
JMS

A little bit of this...a little bit of that

(Which always makes me think of that Michelle Branch and Carlos Santana song...The Game of Love.  I've heard it about one time too many, but I do love Santana so...)

Anyway I guess now that I've managed to find a way around "The System" and still post to my blog...I have no excuse NOT to write!  Of course, the formatting thing will not be exactly what I want because I cannot view it after I post it to make sure everything is...well...perfect.  I am an admitted perfectionist, you know.

 

Things have been extremely busy at work.  Excel class on Monday - which was, as I feared, B-O-R-I-N-G - but only because I knew pretty much everything our instructor told us.  There was no challenge in it and there was one lady who held up the works because she had NO CLUE what she was doing.  I was amazed she even knew what a computer was!  Tuesday consisted of finalizing two projects, both of which came out very well if I do say so myself.  (I guess, now that I think about it I posted all about these things on Tuesday, so if you haven't had a chance to see Tuesday's post - you should probably go check it out.)

 

Wednesday was another busy day and I anticipate today will be, as well.

 

Last night, I cleaned Little Bit's room.  I started by picking up all the trash and fuzzies and pieces of paper that somehow managed to find their way into her room.  Then I emptied the diaper genie (ick) to make absolutely certain that no resident D.O.G. could get to any more stinky diapers.  Then I picked up toys.  Put away books.  Rolled up the rug and was HORRIFIED by how much dirt, sand, and other debris was under the little rug!  I got the vacuum cleaner out and immediately started attacking the dirt head on.  I must be a horrible mother to have let her room get so bad!  After her room was sufficiently vacuumed, I moved her little bed so that I could get stuff out from under it and was SHOCKED to see the Dust Rhinoceri (like bunnies, only bigger and meaner).  More vacuuming.  Then I noticed that her pale yellow walls seemed to be dripping with a gooey brown substance.  If the room weren't a happy pale yellow, I might have thought I was in a horror movie!  I guessing that the goo was, probably, old nicotine that had been "activated" by the humidifier we've had going in her room for the last 2 months!  No wonder she's coughing!

 

**INSERT A GREAT HEAVING SIGH OF DISTRESS HERE**

 

Move furniture away from walls.  Retrieve step stool from the kitchen.  Find a non-toxic cleaner.  Get a rag or two.  And two walls later (not done yet, of course) there are two walls newly freed from their layer of ancient nicotine.  Can I just say...YUCK!

 

Hubby made a wonderful seafood dinner last night.  Tilapia (sp?), Shrimp, Clams, Corn, Rice and something else I cannot currently bring to the front of my brain.  Very yummy.  The shrimp was absolutely perfect. 

 

Then Hubby and Kiddo went to church for Choir practice.  Hubby sings, Kiddo plays in the nursery.

 

Little Bit and I took a bath.  Lots of splashing and fun and, miracle of miracles, no screaming and struggling!

 

Then Little Bit went to bed...with no issues and I watched Ghost Hunters.  Becoming a Wednesday ritual, I suppose.  They were at the Titanic collection display at the Georgia Aquarium - and it was pretty dern cool.

 

Ok - I guess I'm done now.  Let's see how this longer post...um...posts to Blogger without me.

 

Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

 

TTFN
JMS

Testing

As most of you know - I can no longer see my blog from work.  I set up Email Blogging last night and this is a TEST to see if it works.  If you can see this post, please either send me an email or leave a comment to let me know.  I can get email at work and Blogger automatically sends me a message when I get a comment.  I'm sure the rest of my Blog Family knows this - but maybe some of you don't.  I won't be able to comment back, but if you email me, I will let you know. 

 

Again, if you can see this post, please either send me an email or leave a comment.

 

If this works...I'm totally excited.  If it doesn't - well...I guess I'll just have to keep on keepin' on - without my blog during the day.  Oh, and also I can READ all the blogs I follow through Google Reader, I just can't comment!

 

Lemme know, will ya?

 

TTFN
JMS

Bullet Points

I think a quote from The Princess Bride is in order here:

"Let me 'splain. No - there is too much. Let me sum up."

• Dropped a shoe on my foot. It hurt. It was loud, too!
• Hit a bunny on the way to work. There was nothing I could have done to change the outcome, but I felt (and still feel) awful. poor little thing - I hope his tiny soul is happy in Heaven.
• Said a quick prayer that my day would improve, rather than continue to be hurtful and sad.
• My prayer seemed to work.
• Busy day today, but very productive.
• Present for the signing of a contract with a new vendor at the office that we're all very excited about bringing on board.
• Finalized an InfoMapping project that was (and I'll probably regret ever admitting this) challenging, but actually enjoyable. The final product looked so good and the person I did the project for was very happy.
• Finalized the newsletter for another department. That was definitely enjoyable. I love - L.O.V.E. - doing stuff like that. The department Administrative Assistant who was doing it said (and I quote), "I'd rather spend all day working with ledgers and numbers than format a newsletter." She can have the ledgers and I'll take the newsletter. It's working out rather well so far. The Manager of the department is extremely pleased with the outcome and that has made me very happy.
• Got to see "Edward" on the wall in above-mentioned Manager's office. She came to my cube this morning and said, "You've got to come see my present!" Present? Why in the world would she want me to see a present someone gave her? Ah...the beauty that is Edward Cullen. Looking for all the world like he wanted to jump out of the poster on Manager's wall and say, "I don't want to be a killer, Bella!"
• Did I mention that Pearl calls me "Bella"?
• LOL
• Some present, eh?
• During the day, I got an email from the director at Kiddo and Little Bit's school requesting help for the Work Day tonight at 5:30. She had some folks to weed and turn up the sand in the play area and do various other chores around the school, but she didn't have anyone to watch the kids of the parents helping out. I volunteered. 10 kids (or 13 - I didn't really count) later it was a screaming, laughing, ball-throwing, near-miss accident, chaotic free-for-all - and I loved every second of it. Of course Kiddo and Little Bit came with me.
• Little Bit's pants kept falling down. Couldn't keep them up to save my life. Not even changing them to a smaller pair seemed to work. Is she narrower than she was, or did I just forget her belt?
• Kiddo can toss basketballs into the Fisher Price hoop like nobodies business! I was SO impressed with him. He has a tough time catching things that are thrown at him but he can certainly make those baskets one after another. Hmmm...he's kinda short right now, but I wonder if I could get him a College Scholarship for Basketball?
• We got ice cream. It was fun...but really, really messy.
• We went by Hubby's office and said hello to him.
• We went home and put the kids to bed.
• Little Bit peed on the floor in the 2 seconds I had her without diaper. Dammit.
• Dark clouds are looming and I'm now getting ready to end this endless post and go watch the rest of NCIS.
• Busy day.

TTFN JMS

PS: So much for "Summing up" eh?

Excel Class - Here I come!

Well, here I am! Sitting in the Computer Learning Center waiting on Boss Man and Manager Man to get here! And, miracle of miracles - I can see my blog here! Thought I'd take a minute, while I'm waiting for things to start (in about 10 minutes) to update. Looking forward to this - though I'm really hoping I won't be bored outta my skull! I'll write more either later tonight or tomorrow! Have a great day! TTFN JMS

Easter Sunday, 2009

A wonderful, beautiful, inspiring, fun and exhausting Easter Sunday. My and Little Bit's dresses were perfect. Hubby and Kiddo looked as handsome as could be. Everyone seemed to be on their best behavior. I couldn't ask for more. The day included a wonderful Easter service at church, Easter egg hunting with the kids/youth at church, then home after church and immediately over to friends M&GWs for another Easter egg hunt and cookout with friends. The day was not too warm, but very bright and refreshing after all the cold and rain we've had lately. It was a day with a sweet light breeze, and would have been perfect had I (and my girlfriends at the BBQ) been at the ocean, dozing off in the sunshine while sunning ourselves on a rock. (Ok - fish tails and seashells implied, but not necessarily...um...necessary.) Then after that, we all went home and while Hubby worked on The Beast some, Kiddo, Little Bit and I all took a nap. I was nursing a headache which probably cropped up from too much sun and which is better now, though still slightly irritating...even after a nap and a cold compress on my eyes! (Do I sound like I'm 80 yet?) Anyway - it was a wonderful day and we had a great time. Kids are finally in bed and quiet, Hubby is watching something on TV and I am taking this opportunity to catch all my beloved readers up on my day. I will be in an Excel class tomorrow all day so I probably won't have time for email or anything - but you can be sure I have not dropped off the face of the planet. I am actually retaking this class. It's Excel Level 1 at the local Computer Learning Center. I set up my boss and another manager to take this class and when I did, my "guy" at the CLC said, "Hey - you know you can take this class again for free, right?" I thought, "Eh...what the heck!" So I'm taking the class again. Hopefully I won't be bored outta my skull! Until then, hope everyone had as wonderful of an Easter as we did! TTFN JMS

Yep. I'm a slacker alright!

So you noticed, did ya? Think I'm a slacker, do ya? Think I've got better things to do than post to my blog on a Friday night, right? Oh - if you only knew. In fact, I had one of the busiest weeks I've had in a really, really long time. I'm not complaining, but frankly, I forgot to post yesterday! Can you believe that? Me! Forgetting to post to my blog! That's like an addict forgetting their addiction. Like OCD suffers forgetting to count the 9th step up a flight of stairs. Hubby was working. Kiddo, Little Bit and I spent a majority of the evening watching the weather and preparing for the tornadoes the meteorologist kept trying to convince us we needed to prepare for. Then we went to Good Friday service at church, which didn't start until 7PM. Then Hubby went to the hospital to see if he could see a friend who is in there and find out if there is anything he could do. I took the kids to McD's because they were both hollering for a snack and I wanted a coca-cola like the Sahara desert wants rain. We got home. Ate our McD's. And I put the kids to bed around 9PM; quite a bit later than either of them are used to, so falling asleep was not an issue. Then I turned the news on again. I was barely paying attention to it when Hubby came back home. We chatted for a few minutes, discussed the weather and my preparations for possibly hiding in the bathroom with both kids and the dog (which we never had to do) and then I went to bed. Asleep in very short order. Asleep mostly all night except at around 3:30 when Kiddo came into my room, woke me up and said that Nalla (the dog) woke HIM up dancing around his room and jumping up on his bed. Apparently she had to go out - like NOW - so I got up and took her out. In the rain. In the wet. In the cold. In my jammies. Barefooted. So she could take her sweet time doing her business. But she really did have to go, so the getting up in the wee hours of the morning to take fuzz-butt outside was not an effort in futility. Today is Saturday and I've just taken out the garbage, started the first of many loads of laundry, cleaned off the dining table and then (after I'm done with this post) I'm going to put paper down on the table and we're all going to have some arts and crafts time. Preferably with the TV off. And the music on. And no fussing, whining, screaming, crying or arguing. Please? TTFN JMS

An Adventure in Art

I'm shocked. I'm dumbfounded. I'm absolutely thrilled! One of my Blog Sisters (she knows who she is) said to me today, via email, "You've got talent coming out the wazoo!" (I'm probably paraphrasing, but that's the gist of it. Thank you, by the way, for saying that very nice thing to me!) Wanna know why? Last night, Hubby took Kiddo with him to church so Hubby could go to choir practice and Kiddo could play in the nursery with the other choir kids. Little Bit stayed home with me. We had "Art Time" together. She got her little smock on, I gave her a piece of paper, a kids paintbrush, some water and water colors and she busied herself making a colorful mess. While she was experimenting with how the different shades of pink looked on the blue paint she'd already laid down - I grabbed a 10" x 10" canvas I'd purchased and thought, "Eh...I'll paint something, too!" I did. It was a simple ocean sunset with blues and yellows and purples and oranges and birdies and clouds and a little sail boat out for an evening on the water. Frankly, it turned out better than I'd ever expected it to and it's been absolutely YEARS upon YEARS since I'd picked up a paint brush with the intent to create art. I posted it on My Etsy Site this morning. It sold this afternoon! I'll say it again: I'm shocked. I'm dumbfounded. I'm absolutely thrilled! I bought 2 more canvases tonight! Wish me luck! TTFN JMS

Ah...go soak your head!

I had the greatest time last night giving the kids a bath. You might be saying, "What!?! Is she serious? I thought she HATED giving the kids a bath!" I would be replying, "You'd be right!" But last night, for some unknown reason - I decided that instead of getting frustrated at getting my clothes wet and having water splashed all over the floor, that I'd have some fun with it. The kids like to take the hair rinser thingy (a red bucket with a handle and a soft spot that flexes and forms to a small forehead to avoid getting water in pretty young eyes) and pour water on each other. It's cute, even if I think Kiddo's probably getting too old to be taking baths with his little sister. (I'm ahead of myself again, aren't I?) They get each other's hair wet for me and then I scrub 'em down and let them rinse themselves off. It seems to be a good system and, unless Little Bit is extremely grouchy, usually doesn't elicit much screaming. Yay. Well, I was in my "cleaning" tank top and a pair of ratty old jeans last night at bath-time, and I had my hair up in a pony-tail to keep it out of my face and I thought, "Eh...what the heck?" I took the pony-tail holder out, shook my hair, and leaned over the edge of the tub, letting the ends of my hair hang into the kid's bathwater. I couldn't see the looks, but I sure could hear the giggles and squeals of excitement as I informed them that it was, indeed, OK to get Mommy's hair wet tonight. They spent several gleeful minutes dumping buckets and buckets of water over my head and neck, and though I wound up with water all down my back and seeping into the waistline of my old jeans - I didn't care. My kids were giggling and having a wonderful time and I just love hearing them laugh. When I finally put a stop to it and wrapped my soaked head in a towel, they were quite disappointed that the "fun" was over. I scrubbed them down, rinsed them off, and let them play while the water drained out and that, ladies and gentlemen, was that. There was no fighting. No complaining. No, "Aw Mom! Do I hafta get out now?" No, "I wanna swim!" It was great. Now, I know they're going to expect to be able to soak mom's head (HA!) every time they get a bath from now on, and it will be hard to convince them that it will not be an every time thing...but I think I will occasionally surprise them with something like that because it was such good, clean (literally) fun! Bedtime went relatively smoothly, too! In other news: Hubby went to a movie with The Guys last night and while he was gone, I watched the end of NCIS, all of The Mentalist, and part of Without A Trace. During that time, I created 3 button pins and 4 button rings (all now listed on My Etsy Shop), took a shower, figured out my outfit for work today and did a few other things... It was, all-in-all, a very good and productive night. TTFN JMS

Those IT Guys - Aren't They Great?

Nope - I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth. Honest. The wonderful, super smart, oh-so-fun IT gurus at my office finally decided to block Blogspot.com!!! To which I say, "Sugar Honey Iced Tea!" (Read the capital letters only...) Suffice-it-to-say that I will not have the same posting pattern as I've enjoyed thus far. When this happened before (at another job), I found a different blog site (iVilliage) and moved everything over there. Then they blocked that, I moved everything AGAIN (LiveJournal)! I really like Blogspot and so eventually I found my way BACK where I started. I will not move my blog now. I like me right where I am...thank you very much. So, aside from the frustration of not being able to post when the muse hits me or inspiration strikes...nothing much will change. Posted a couple new items on My Etsy Shop, by the way! TTFN JMS

Wow! Quite a Weekend!

Oh...let's see...where to start? I guess the best place to start is usually at the beginning, right? **** Saturday dawned foggy and chilly and left me immediately wondering if the day would turn out to be 70• and sunny, as expected. Kiddo commented, when we opened the curtains on the back yard, "Oh Mommy! It's foggy out! Will we still be able to have my party?" We were. Hubby had to work on Saturday, but was able to go to Wally-World to get a cooler and some ice for the drinks, and had it all packed and ready in the back of The Beast. I took Kiddo and Little Bit with me to Food City to pick up the cake and balloons. The cake was awesome! It was dinosaur skeletons on a field of green with some orange "primordial ooze" - it looked great! The cake itself was a marble cake, because I couldn't decide if I should get a yellow cake or a chocolate cake; this worked out quite well! When I got to the park, my intent was to use the shelter/gazebo thing with the picnic tables, but there was a church group there doing their Easter egg hunt. (I actually knew a few of them and it was really good to see them, even if I didn't get to use the shelter!) I quickly whipped out my little TracFone and put in a call to my friend Scoop. "Hey! I hear you're coming to the party today!? Have you left yet? Can you do me a HUGE favor? I need one of your 6' folding tables!" So Scoop and his beautiful, wonderful wife, BG, and their little son SG (who is best friends with Kiddo) came bearing a folding table and, effectively, saving my backside. Scoop helped me set it up - and he even brought a cover for the table! I put a couple of those red plastic disposable table cloths over the one he brought so it didn't get ruined, stuck the cake in the middle of the table, placed the cooler with all the drinks at the end of the table, tied the balloons to the handle of the cooler... I'll spare you the details. Suffice-it-to-say that everything turned out quite well. We had a fantastic turnout! Lots of kids there to help Kiddo celebrate his 5th birthday. Also, my MIL came! Just a few short weeks after a 3rd hip surgery, she was able to make the trip down from Virginia to be with us. Both of my Sister's-in-law were there (YAY!!! I just adore them and it was so good to see them!) and my niece and her little 4 month old baby girl who's name is loosely related to a popular department store, only not spelled the same way. She's SO cute and I was able to get my baby-fix that day. Aside from my niece and her little one, there were several other babies there! A 17 month old girl, the daughter of some good friends of ours who's brother is one of Kiddo's bestest friends, a brand newbie, who was born on Little Bit's 2nd birthday - 2 years to the date! Her older brother was born 2 days after Little Bit - EB and I were pregnant at the same time. And a sweet little guy who has the greatest blue eyes and longest lashes you've ever seen! He's the 6 month old son of our choir director and his wife. Their little girl is another of Kiddo's favorite friends. We played, we socialized, we got dirty, we opened gifts, we ate cake, I got a tad sunburned, we had an absolute blast! Around 2:30PM, when the party broke up, we gathered up our stuff (with the help of Our Favorite Mechanic and his lovely family), and with the out-of-towners following me, we caravan-ed back to our house for some family time. I did, in fact, manage to make our house somewhat presentable, so I wasn't completely mortified and embarrassed to have people over. MIL and one sister-in-law left after a brief visit. They had a long drive and I think MIL was very tired. I was SO happy to see her - I cannot even get across in writing how much it meant to me (to Kiddo) to have her there. My other sister-in-law, niece and baby niece, stayed for dinner and then left sometime around 7PM. It was a wonderful visit. Little Bit (who has not napped all day!) was asleep before they had even actually left our property! Kiddo followed behind shortly thereafter. Ah...good times. **** Sunday. Day of rest? Not even a little bit. I elected not to go to church yesterday because I had SO much I needed/wanted to get done and the opportunity to have a couple hours of completely uninterrupted time to do these things in was irresistible. I wanted to clean our bedroom. Now, if you've been to my house, you've seen our bedroom. When I say, "It's a disaster," I'm not just saying that. It really is (well...was) a disaster. So bad, in fact, that when the family was over on Saturday, I simply shut the door and allowed no one into the room. Let me just say that now, after cleaning ALL DAY yesterday, our bedroom is starting to look like a bedroom, not a storage room or a catch-all for all the crap we don't know what to do with. I've started a pile of stuff for the upcoming yard sale (last Saturday in May, by the way - weather permitting) - and now only need to continue in this vein until all the stuff we don't need or want is all in one place. I think I need to rent a small P.O.D.S. unit because I don't want to keep piling all the stuff we want to get rid of in a corner of my house. It's already making me crazy! Oh - and is it possible to feel like you got run over by a truck after spending an entire day cleaning ONE ROOM? I think it must be. Anyway - I guess that's about it. OH!!! No, it's not! I sold more cards from My Etsy Site on Saturday! I'm SO excited about this I can hardly stand it. My aunt and uncle, affectionately referred to as AC & UB, (not just on this blog, but when speaking or emailing with them as well) bought A TON of my cards. The nearly wiped me out! Not that I'm complaining even one little bit. I'm thrilled. I packaged them up all nice and neat and they are in the mail ready to go out today! Thanks AC & UB! Love you bunches! I did spend some time making a few more cards on Saturday night and Sunday morning. Where did I find the time!? The newest ones are up on My Etsy Site as of this morning. OK - now I'm done. Phew! You have my permission to go back to whatever fun and interesting thing you were doing before you got sucked into reading this extra-long post! TTFN JMS

Kiddo's Party & My Eye Exam

Here it is...Friday again. Tomorrow, we make our 2nd attempt at Kiddo's 5th birthday party. The weather, which I have been checking religiously for a week now, looks like it will be 70• and sunny. Yay! I've got to order the dinosaur cake, get drinks, plates, forks, and napkins - and maybe even a plastic table cover and a few balloons. Don't let me forget to order that cake...TODAY! Early. **** I had my eyes examined yesterday. Nothing wrong that needs fixing. Got some protein floating around in my left eye, which looks like strings to me, but which Doc says is really nothing to worry about. He said my vision is essentially good, except for some slight far-sightedness in my left eye, which kind of surprised me because I have so much trouble focusing sometimes. Dry eye. That's the official diagnosis. Keeping my eyes moist (eew...for some reason I hate that word!) will help them feel less strained, less tired, less grainy and help them focus more clearly. Dilated pupils, fuzzy vision, slight dizziness (for lack of being used to truly fuzzy vision) and four samples of lubricating eye drops later - I'm on my way. Driving. Myself. Home. Such a strange trip that was! I was doing OK, keeping to the speed limit or under, until I realized that there was a COP right behind me! "Oh s***!" I thought. "If he pulls me over, he's going to take one look at my eyes and just assume I'm on some kind of drug!" But 2 miles later, he pulls over behind another cruiser that has a different car pulled over. I guess there's strength in numbers, eh? Phew. That's all I'm sayin'. But when I got home, I couldn't parallel park my car. What!? I can parallel park with the best of them (most of the time) but because my vision was so screwy, I was afraid I'd hit one or both of the cars I was trying to park in between. So I gave up after one lousy attempt and decided to swing around and park on the grass in our yard. Then, once I got inside - I could barely stand for swaying like a tree in the wind. So I went to bed. I got in about an hour of solid sleep, and woke up feeling a bit better vision-wise. My right eye was nearly back to normal, but my left eye was still dilated; the pupil was huge! I looked lopsided and funny. I guess everything is back to what passes for normal this morning. I've lubricated my eyes, but suddenly (and maybe only because I'm thinking about it) they feel dry again. Good thing I brought some drops with me to work, eh? Anyway - That's it for now. Wish me (us) luck on Kiddo's party. Please say a prayer that I get our house cleaned up enough to feel comfortable having my family over after the party. Right now, it might be condemned if anyone saw it the way it is. TGIF! Oh - And I wrote something silly last night that I think I'm going to use in (on?) my greeting cards:

Friendship Is Like A Two-Way Street sometimes it leads sometimes it follows sometimes it goes in the same direction sometimes it goes its own way it can be dangerous if you cross it at rush-hour it can be lonely in the middle of the night it can be smooth; it can be full of bumps, pot-holes and curves but no matter where the road of friendship takes us, i'm glad you're on it with me

TTFN JMS

April Fool's Day Pranks

April Fool's day is over. Yay. Thankfully, no one tried to prank me - for which I am eternally grateful. Unless you consider Tennswede recruiting me to help him scrub the baseboards in the entire frikkin' building. Unless you consider the Facebook prank where the application "We're Related" sent me an email claiming that I was a fourth cousin once removed from President Barack Obama. Which definitely struck me as strange, but frankly I couldn't imagine how I could possibly be related to him anyway. I'm not. It was a lovely, oh-so-fun, FB prank. Really irritated me. (I didn't really fall for it, though, even though I did have to check out the link in the email once I got home. Those FB people sure know how to suck you in. I've decided that FB is EVIL!) Unless you consider the fact that when I came home last night from church that the house smelled like s***. Literally. I couldn't figure it out! I went into Little Bit's room and cleaned out the diaper genie. Still stinky. I sprayed Lysol in every room. Still stinky. I was doing laundry when Hubby came home from choir practice with Kiddo and Little Bit and I said, "The house stinks. I cannot, for the life of me, figure out where it's coming from!" Turns out that our lovely, sweet yellow mutt had, indeed, gotten hold of one of Little Bit's stinky diapers and chewed it! YUCK! And, it was in Kiddo's room! I never even thought to look there! Hubby graciously cleaned it up, and stopped short of actually beating the dog, but she sure got a good tongue lashing from him. I kind of think that maybe that was her April Fools Day Prank on us. Or, more specifically, on me - because I couldn't find it! (OK - I didn't look in the right place - but who would have thought a stinky chewed diaper would be in Kiddo's room?) Unless you consider that I didn't get one - not one - comment on the post I worked so hard on yesterday. I think that must have been a prank. I was truly afraid (and maybe still am, just a tad) that you, my beloved readers, don't love me anymore! I shall go pout now. Of course, I guess it really doesn't matter - any of it. The only "prank" I might have to take seriously is my recruitment to scrub building baseboards. Tennswede is mean like that and I think he'll hold me to it! I did tell him that he needed to make sure I knew ahead of time, though, so that I could remember to wear crappy clothes. I'm not scrubbing baseboards in my good work clothes. Hell - I don't scrub baseboards at home! TTFN JMS