One of those days. Not the bad variety of "one of those days" but the really good variety. The kind where I wake up and am just so blissfully thankful to be alive...
...Rich and I got to watch two flickers performing a courtship display in the backyard earlier this morning...so awesomely cool
...I thoroughly enjoyed my shower this morning...which might sound like a stupid thing to say, but I usually hate showers (though not as much as baths)...because I hate being wet period...which I realize makes me odd, but there you have it...thus why those rare times when I actually enjoy my shower seem a reason to celebrate
...my oh-so-very-much-loved friend Chris sent me the new Edward Sharpe album...he's just sweet that way, you know...he's sweet in just about every way there is to be sweet for that matter...yep, love him...and love this album...how can one listen to Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and not find oneself with a happy bounce in one's step
...the weather has turned rainy and overcast and cool...not that I haven't adored the beautiful, warm, sunny days of this past week, I have...but this is a nice curl up nice and cozy with a mug of tea and pile of books (because distractible me can't seem to stick with just one book) kind of day
...and speaking of books, I've got one of those pleasant afterglow things going on...Max and I finished The Search for Wondla last night...ended up surprising me by how much I enjoyed it...Max and I shall write a little post about it later
...so excited about starting project life again...yes, this is the fourth time I've started it...and possibly the fourth time when I will fail to follow it through for any length of time...but if that's the case oh well...for now I am happy and excited and eager to see our weeks being documented in this simple lovely way
...it's June 1st...as shocking as that is in many ways, it's also very welcome...we're almost to the end of the school year...just a few more weeks...I can nearly taste it
...two posts that made my heart swell with joy...for very different reasons...Ana and Jodie's incredibly awesome post on seasons 2 and 3 of Avatar: The Last Airbender...and Carl's beautiful post about his lovely daughter
Suppose I ought to run and be productive. Or maybe just say "to hell with productivity" for a day. So hope you're all having "one of those days" too!!!
Showing posts with label smile-worthy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label smile-worthy. Show all posts
Friday, June 1, 2012
Monday, May 14, 2012
good stuff...
Feeling frustrated at feeling overwhelmed. What's new. Feeling doubly frustrated because I can't seem to get fibro pain back under any semblance of control. Feeling triply frustrated because my brain has left the building. Or possibly the planet. But I am not trying to complain here. Honest. In fact, aside from the fact that I feel like I've been so out-of-touch with my much, much, much loved friends, I've been quite happy as of late. Seriously...so many things to be happy about...
*There's a beautiful Baltimore oriole that comes to visit the tree outside the dining room window every morning now. Cannot help but smile at his gorgeousness.
*I've been baking sourdough bread every few days...and it is so delicious that I think I sometimes audibly moan when I take the first warm bite every time.
*It will soon be time to start planting the garden. There is still much work to be done in the garden bed, but our tomato and pepper seedlings are growing wonderfully and will soon be craving the out-of-doors.
*The house gets a little closer to being unpacked every day. Only the library, the pantry room, one corner of the unfinished part of the basement, the garage, and the itty bitty sunroom to go. Then the repairs and redecoration can begin. :) Though I am still planning on taking a much needed break before tackling what I've dubbed Phase 2.
*The school year is nearing an end. Just six-ish weeks to go. *happy sigh*
So what's making you smile these days?
*There's a beautiful Baltimore oriole that comes to visit the tree outside the dining room window every morning now. Cannot help but smile at his gorgeousness.
*I've been baking sourdough bread every few days...and it is so delicious that I think I sometimes audibly moan when I take the first warm bite every time.
*It will soon be time to start planting the garden. There is still much work to be done in the garden bed, but our tomato and pepper seedlings are growing wonderfully and will soon be craving the out-of-doors.
*The house gets a little closer to being unpacked every day. Only the library, the pantry room, one corner of the unfinished part of the basement, the garage, and the itty bitty sunroom to go. Then the repairs and redecoration can begin. :) Though I am still planning on taking a much needed break before tackling what I've dubbed Phase 2.
*The school year is nearing an end. Just six-ish weeks to go. *happy sigh*
So what's making you smile these days?
Monday, February 13, 2012
9 things that have me smiling...
(I didn't pick "9" because I couldn't think of ten things, but just because "9" is my favorite number.)
Life if absolutely freakin' crazy here these days. I have questioned my sanity often during these past couple of weeks. The term "overwhelmed" has seemed inadequate. My physical health has suffered as well---I pretty much knew my future would eventually involve high blood pressure meds but the past few weeks seem to have accelerated their arrival. Add to that a not so pleasant reminder that fibro is now a part of my life.
The "story" (in abbreviated form): Selling our house has thus far been smooth sailing. *knocks on wood* But buying a house has not. The deal we had going fell through because it was discovered that the seller was trying to pull a fast one when it came to the septic system on the house. As traumatic as this has all been to have this fall through with so little time left before the closing on our house, the alternative of not discovering it before the purchase went through would have been far worse. But the result of what has happened sees us technically homeless come the end of this month. As in we won't really have an address, but unlike so many, we will have a roof over our heads. In the form of a hotel room. Yep, all our "stuff" will be in storage units and the five human members of this family will be sharing a single hotel room for at least a month. Please keep your fingers crossed that we all survive. :P I hate to say anything for fear of jinxing it, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel--we're in the beginning stages of (hopefully!) buying a different house.
For now, there is still much packing and moving of our possessions to be done, still many odds 'n' ends (such as writing the superintendent a letter requesting that Max be allowed to stay in his school for now, renting a P.O box, etc.) to be taken care of, still homeschooling to be kept up with...so I likely won't be around much for the rest of this month. But hey, March should allow me plenty of time to finally catch up with everyone, right?
In the meantime, a reminder to myself that life really is good:
1. The aforementioned fact that we did find out about non-existent septic system *before* the purchase went through. It hasn't been fun, but the alternative would have been so. much. worse.
2. I've come up with a way to try to make our hotel stay less daunting. I've decided to create a scrapbook to document our time there entitled "Adventures in Togetherness." (Of course, I will only be taking the notes for it while there as there obviously isn't room to bring my scrapbook supplies with us.)
3. Winter has finally decided to put in another brief appearance. Oh, how I've missed you, dear winter!
4. Due in large part to Ana's contagious enthusiasm, I decided to rewatch all three seasons of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Yesterday, my awesome helper Max and I alternated packing boxes with watching episodes. We got through the first 10 episodes of season one, and hopefully we'll get to at least a couple more episodes today.
5. Our annual "Happy Birthday, Darwin!" cupcakes. (Not to mention that goofball I'm married to. :D )
*****
Ooops...got sidetracked yesterday. But here's the rest of the list:
6. This mug. Seriously, it is just so freakin' pretty. It was a Christmas gift from my dear friend Chris, and it makes me smile every single morning when I pour my coffee. Every single morning.
7. And while I'm on the bird theme, there's this picture. Every time I open my computer, I see this little thumbnail on the desktop. There's really no reason it should be there, other than I've been too lazy to clean up the desktop of no-longer-needed images. But perhaps it will stay even when the other unnecessaries get cleaned up, because well, it just makes me smile! (They were a gift I made for one of my dearest friends, and I think I just may have to make myself a matching set.)
8. I know I've said this before, and I'll probably say it a thousand times more before I die, but I really do have the best friends in the world. The. Very. Best. I don't deserve them, but I am ever so grateful for each and every one.
9. Despite all the stress and the complete meltdowns our decision to move has caused, is currently causing, and likely will continue to cause over at least the next month or so, I still believe it was the right decision. I am so happy to be leaving this neighborhood.
And now, because I'd love even more reasons to smile, would you share with me what's making you smile today? Pretty please with sugar on top.
Life if absolutely freakin' crazy here these days. I have questioned my sanity often during these past couple of weeks. The term "overwhelmed" has seemed inadequate. My physical health has suffered as well---I pretty much knew my future would eventually involve high blood pressure meds but the past few weeks seem to have accelerated their arrival. Add to that a not so pleasant reminder that fibro is now a part of my life.
The "story" (in abbreviated form): Selling our house has thus far been smooth sailing. *knocks on wood* But buying a house has not. The deal we had going fell through because it was discovered that the seller was trying to pull a fast one when it came to the septic system on the house. As traumatic as this has all been to have this fall through with so little time left before the closing on our house, the alternative of not discovering it before the purchase went through would have been far worse. But the result of what has happened sees us technically homeless come the end of this month. As in we won't really have an address, but unlike so many, we will have a roof over our heads. In the form of a hotel room. Yep, all our "stuff" will be in storage units and the five human members of this family will be sharing a single hotel room for at least a month. Please keep your fingers crossed that we all survive. :P I hate to say anything for fear of jinxing it, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel--we're in the beginning stages of (hopefully!) buying a different house.
For now, there is still much packing and moving of our possessions to be done, still many odds 'n' ends (such as writing the superintendent a letter requesting that Max be allowed to stay in his school for now, renting a P.O box, etc.) to be taken care of, still homeschooling to be kept up with...so I likely won't be around much for the rest of this month. But hey, March should allow me plenty of time to finally catch up with everyone, right?
In the meantime, a reminder to myself that life really is good:
1. The aforementioned fact that we did find out about non-existent septic system *before* the purchase went through. It hasn't been fun, but the alternative would have been so. much. worse.
2. I've come up with a way to try to make our hotel stay less daunting. I've decided to create a scrapbook to document our time there entitled "Adventures in Togetherness." (Of course, I will only be taking the notes for it while there as there obviously isn't room to bring my scrapbook supplies with us.)
*****
Ooops...got sidetracked yesterday. But here's the rest of the list:
8. I know I've said this before, and I'll probably say it a thousand times more before I die, but I really do have the best friends in the world. The. Very. Best. I don't deserve them, but I am ever so grateful for each and every one.
9. Despite all the stress and the complete meltdowns our decision to move has caused, is currently causing, and likely will continue to cause over at least the next month or so, I still believe it was the right decision. I am so happy to be leaving this neighborhood.
And now, because I'd love even more reasons to smile, would you share with me what's making you smile today? Pretty please with sugar on top.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
the year of just because...
Yep, that is what I have declared my 2012 to be. Just Because.
As in, I will buy that little something that reminds me of someone and send it "just because" I hope it will make her/him smile.
As in, I will not wait until Christmas to make the kids Fairy Drops but instead will bake them "just because" they think these cookies are a slice of heaven.
As in, I will read that book "just because" it's calling my name.
You get the idea.
Yeah, I know there's a huge pile of things I must do (homeschooling prep and the like), but this is my year to make a concerted effort to figure out the difference between the things that really are musts and the things I've added to that category that don't necessarily belong there. I think that this may be the very best thing I could do for myself, both in terms of my physical health and in terms of my mental health.
This doesn't mean that there aren't things I'm hoping to accomplish in 2012, of course. (But I making no resolutions!) I hope 2012 will see me:
--leaving our current abode and setting up the home of our dreams
--restarting Project Life and really following through for the whole year
--really diving in and relishing every minute spent with my happiness project (and my other projects, as well, but it's my happiness project that has a special place in my heart)
--continuing to find ways to live more sustainably and to be ever kinder to our beautiful planet and all its inhabitants, human and nonhuman alike
--adapting habits that will make me healthier
--blogging, both reading and posting, on a more regular basis
--saying goodbye to guilt over the things that won't get done (For example, I've decided that on my "just because" journey, I'm no longer going to get birthday gifts for those outside my immediate family...but yes, this makes me feel guilty. But I'm hoping that as the "just because" attitude starts blossoming that this guilt will subside.)
--appreciating all the small and wonderful moments that life throws my way
Yep, if I could conquer even a portion of those things, I think I would see my happiness quotient rise. And face it, I've already got soooooooo much to be happy about as it is.
And as I said yesterday, I hope that your 2012 finds you on a wonderful journey to make your dreams come true as well!!! HAPPY 2012...really, from the bottom of my heart.
As in, I will buy that little something that reminds me of someone and send it "just because" I hope it will make her/him smile.
As in, I will not wait until Christmas to make the kids Fairy Drops but instead will bake them "just because" they think these cookies are a slice of heaven.
As in, I will read that book "just because" it's calling my name.
You get the idea.
Yeah, I know there's a huge pile of things I must do (homeschooling prep and the like), but this is my year to make a concerted effort to figure out the difference between the things that really are musts and the things I've added to that category that don't necessarily belong there. I think that this may be the very best thing I could do for myself, both in terms of my physical health and in terms of my mental health.
This doesn't mean that there aren't things I'm hoping to accomplish in 2012, of course. (But I making no resolutions!) I hope 2012 will see me:
--leaving our current abode and setting up the home of our dreams
--restarting Project Life and really following through for the whole year
--really diving in and relishing every minute spent with my happiness project (and my other projects, as well, but it's my happiness project that has a special place in my heart)
--continuing to find ways to live more sustainably and to be ever kinder to our beautiful planet and all its inhabitants, human and nonhuman alike
--adapting habits that will make me healthier
--blogging, both reading and posting, on a more regular basis
--saying goodbye to guilt over the things that won't get done (For example, I've decided that on my "just because" journey, I'm no longer going to get birthday gifts for those outside my immediate family...but yes, this makes me feel guilty. But I'm hoping that as the "just because" attitude starts blossoming that this guilt will subside.)
--appreciating all the small and wonderful moments that life throws my way
Yep, if I could conquer even a portion of those things, I think I would see my happiness quotient rise. And face it, I've already got soooooooo much to be happy about as it is.
And as I said yesterday, I hope that your 2012 finds you on a wonderful journey to make your dreams come true as well!!! HAPPY 2012...really, from the bottom of my heart.
Friday, November 18, 2011
and so it begins again...
A winter tradition. Okay, a silly winter tradition. But still, when Max and I walked out to wait for the bus this morning, I could not help but smile when I saw the window on the van:
All winter long, Rich writes messages in the snow. And Max takes great delight in somehow transforming the message. As here, where he simply added "not":
*****
I am so. damn. excited. about this weekend. Chris, who is just as sweet and thoughtful and freakin' awesome as they come, emailed me about a month ago with this super fantabulous idea. He told me that it just made him so sad how stressed out I was last Christmas season. So he came up with the idea of a Christmas-a-thon, where we'd pick one weekend in November and spend the entire time working on Christmas stuff! Is that not brilliant?!! Not to mention ridiculously fun. :D And this is the weekend we settled on. I'm starting this afternoon--when Rich gets home from work, we're headed out to do a pile of Christmas shopping. Sans munchkins. And we're going to eat supper out, just the two of us. And then do more shopping. I have lists galore made, so hopefully I'll put a major dent in the shopping I have left to do. If I've any energy left when we get home tonight, I'll knit or crochet away on one of the bazillion gifts I'm hoping to get made. And tomorrow...well, I'll just wait and see what I'm in the mood for--wrapping? making Christmas cards? crafting? deciding on what I'll be baking this year? putting up some decorations? a little of each? Oh yes, the possibilities are endless... :D
*****
I haven't finished much in the way of gifts thus far this week, but I have been working away (mostly while watching Doctor Who episodes with the family and watching "school" videos with Gray).
I finished a Cthulhu (awesome free pattern found here...and still have two more left to make...
I also made a crocheted cowl for my Mom. But when I asked Annie to model it for me so I could take pictures, she fell in love with it. So I think I'm going to surprise her by giving it to her instead and making my Mom a different sort of scarf.
*****
I so hope you all have a lovely, lovely weekend!!!
All winter long, Rich writes messages in the snow. And Max takes great delight in somehow transforming the message. As here, where he simply added "not":
*****
I am so. damn. excited. about this weekend. Chris, who is just as sweet and thoughtful and freakin' awesome as they come, emailed me about a month ago with this super fantabulous idea. He told me that it just made him so sad how stressed out I was last Christmas season. So he came up with the idea of a Christmas-a-thon, where we'd pick one weekend in November and spend the entire time working on Christmas stuff! Is that not brilliant?!! Not to mention ridiculously fun. :D And this is the weekend we settled on. I'm starting this afternoon--when Rich gets home from work, we're headed out to do a pile of Christmas shopping. Sans munchkins. And we're going to eat supper out, just the two of us. And then do more shopping. I have lists galore made, so hopefully I'll put a major dent in the shopping I have left to do. If I've any energy left when we get home tonight, I'll knit or crochet away on one of the bazillion gifts I'm hoping to get made. And tomorrow...well, I'll just wait and see what I'm in the mood for--wrapping? making Christmas cards? crafting? deciding on what I'll be baking this year? putting up some decorations? a little of each? Oh yes, the possibilities are endless... :D
*****
I haven't finished much in the way of gifts thus far this week, but I have been working away (mostly while watching Doctor Who episodes with the family and watching "school" videos with Gray).
I finished a Cthulhu (awesome free pattern found here...and still have two more left to make...
I also made a crocheted cowl for my Mom. But when I asked Annie to model it for me so I could take pictures, she fell in love with it. So I think I'm going to surprise her by giving it to her instead and making my Mom a different sort of scarf.
*****
I so hope you all have a lovely, lovely weekend!!!
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
good stuff...
...I may just have The. Sweetest. Mom. on the planet. She called a little while ago, and asked me if tomorrow or Friday would be better for her and Dad to come up so she could polish the hardwood floors in the bedrooms. I tried to argue with her, but well, it's no secret in this family that it's from her that I inherited my stubborn streak. "Mom, there's no way I'm going to ask my 70-year-old mother to drive three hours up here to polish my floors!" Her reply, "You're not asking. And I don't want to think about how hard it would be on you to do them yourself. Look, your pain is not your fault." At which point, I fought back the tears and asked her what they'd like to eat while they were here.
...Decided to go ahead and get a bit of a head-start on the quarterly reports today. The kiddos still have things to finish up tomorrow for this first quarter so I couldn't actually complete them, but I made a pretty darn good dent in them. And that makes me a happy girl!
...Three boys on a bag.
...It's Criminal Minds night. And I shall squeeze in some crocheting while I watch. Good x 2.
...I *finally* finished a book this month. Jericho Season 3 Civil War. Yep, enjoyed it. Though I couldn't recommend it to anyone who wasn't really familiar with the TV series. And being an enormous fan wouldn't hurt either. :)
...While I still don't have all the "data," I think I'm about to post about my newest whopper of a project. I simply can't hold it in any longer. :P I don't imagine anyone else will be terribly excited about it, but that's okay--I'm excited enough for the whole world! :D
...Ana has started watching Avatar: The Last Airbender. Of course, I will be heartbroken if she doesn't end up loving it like I do. (Just kidding, Ana. Mostly anyway. :P )
...We have an install date for our new carpeting, which is the last big hurdle before putting the house on the market. And it totally doesn't hurt that it's only costing us about half what we thought it was going to!
...Am starting to feel a bit excited about Christmas--was so worried that I just wasn't going to this year, and well that simply would have sucked.
...Just so stinkin' cute. (Not the best photo, but I had to take it through the window.)
...Decided to go ahead and get a bit of a head-start on the quarterly reports today. The kiddos still have things to finish up tomorrow for this first quarter so I couldn't actually complete them, but I made a pretty darn good dent in them. And that makes me a happy girl!
...Three boys on a bag.
...It's Criminal Minds night. And I shall squeeze in some crocheting while I watch. Good x 2.
...I *finally* finished a book this month. Jericho Season 3 Civil War. Yep, enjoyed it. Though I couldn't recommend it to anyone who wasn't really familiar with the TV series. And being an enormous fan wouldn't hurt either. :)
...While I still don't have all the "data," I think I'm about to post about my newest whopper of a project. I simply can't hold it in any longer. :P I don't imagine anyone else will be terribly excited about it, but that's okay--I'm excited enough for the whole world! :D
...Ana has started watching Avatar: The Last Airbender. Of course, I will be heartbroken if she doesn't end up loving it like I do. (Just kidding, Ana. Mostly anyway. :P )
...We have an install date for our new carpeting, which is the last big hurdle before putting the house on the market. And it totally doesn't hurt that it's only costing us about half what we thought it was going to!
...Am starting to feel a bit excited about Christmas--was so worried that I just wasn't going to this year, and well that simply would have sucked.
...Just so stinkin' cute. (Not the best photo, but I had to take it through the window.)
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
I smiled...
...when Annie not only came home from her Library Teen Advisory Board meeting in high spirits (she'd had a really down day), but related this amusing story. One of the events the library is sponsoring next year is fashion show in coordination with the local Goodwill store. The teen librarian asked for volunteer models, and apparently a few kids thought it would be "gross" to wear clothes from the thrift store. Yeah, whatever. Anyway, when Annie said she'd be happy to do it, the woman said, "Oh good, Annie. I was really hoping you'd do it because you have such a fun, unique style." She went on talking before Annie had a chance to tell her that 99% of her clothes really *do* come from thrift stores. :)
...at the sweet joy in Gray's voice as he sat alone in the living room reading one of his brother's Garfield books. "Oh Garfield, you never fail to make me smile," was uttered with what could only be interpreted as true love.
...when I got to read Chris's NaNo chapters so far. OMG. I am so in love with his book so far...I swear I'm not going to want him to take the weekend off from writing. In just two days I think I've become a junkie and will go through withdrawal without my morning fix. :P
...when I finally got to crack open the cover on the Jericho: Season 3 Civil War graphic novel last night. Of course, along with making me smile, it also made me sad because I so wish that show had lasted.
...when Aldo jumped up on the table trying to get at Gray's waffles. Okay, so I really shouldn't be smiling at a cat on the kitchen table (and I didn't allow her to stay), but her waffle obsession totally cracks me up.
...when I realized how very little of the leftover Halloween candy I've eaten.
...at the sweet joy in Gray's voice as he sat alone in the living room reading one of his brother's Garfield books. "Oh Garfield, you never fail to make me smile," was uttered with what could only be interpreted as true love.
...when I got to read Chris's NaNo chapters so far. OMG. I am so in love with his book so far...I swear I'm not going to want him to take the weekend off from writing. In just two days I think I've become a junkie and will go through withdrawal without my morning fix. :P
...when I finally got to crack open the cover on the Jericho: Season 3 Civil War graphic novel last night. Of course, along with making me smile, it also made me sad because I so wish that show had lasted.
...when Aldo jumped up on the table trying to get at Gray's waffles. Okay, so I really shouldn't be smiling at a cat on the kitchen table (and I didn't allow her to stay), but her waffle obsession totally cracks me up.
...when I realized how very little of the leftover Halloween candy I've eaten.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
yes, there's still good stuff...
Sometimes it's just harder to appreciate though. How sad. I think my brain is just a little warped these days. It will pull itself back into shape sooner or later though...I hope it's sooner.
I'm letting anxiety paralyze me lately. It's so hard knowing that the worries that are consuming me are *not* worth making myself miserable over and yet being totally incapable of stopping it all. And the stupid cycle that I find myself in, the seeming overwhelmingness of everything, the guilt I feel over everything that I'm not getting done...*sigh*
The head-start I'd had with homeschooling prep is fast dissipating and as much as I love homeschooling Gray and Annie, there is a certain resentment over how much of my life it seems to eat up. Feeling that resentment makes me feel guilty. I've opened up both google reader and my email a few times over the last several days and felt so utterly overwhelmed that I've just shut them off without connecting with anyone. And of course, the more emails I fail to respond to and the more posts I fail to read, the guiltier I feel. The one thing I want more than anything right now is to move (I hate our neighborhood so much!), and I have a list of hundreds of little things and big things to do to help that happen. The list leaves me feeling overwhelmed, especially when it seems things get added to it faster than they get taken off. So I feel guilty for feeling so miserable about our living situation when I don't seem to be doing anything to change it. My brain seems to have left town. To the point that it's sort of scary. I know some of it is because I can't sleep. More guilt--if I could just sleep, then I'd be a more productive person.
I know it's counterproductive to hate myself for being miserable, but I can't seem to turn off the ugly voices.
So here we go...a look at how lucky I really am...a glance at the things that are good...a reminder that I have much to be grateful for...
*I put all my canning supplies away until next year. Not that I mind canning. But it is time-consuming. And while I didn't get as much canned this summer/fall as I'd hoped, I did okay:
--12 half pints of strawberry jam
--6 pints of blueberry jam
--6 pints of blackberry jam
--16 quarts of tomatoes
--5 pints of salsa
--35 pints and 7 quarts of applesauce
--1 half pint and 12 pints of apple butter
*Joann.com had their yarn on sale so I ordered some for gifts. It arrived--and there is just something so happy about a box of yarn.
*Today was library day again. Sometimes I think we should just go to the library every day--I just feel less stressed while I'm there.
*We've kept up our Monday night RIP picture book reading since early September. Each of the kids reads a picture book aloud, then I finish up with a chapter from our current read. Last night we started early so we'd have time to watch The Corpse Bride afterwards. Believe it or not, it was the first time I've ever seen that movie. Aren't I pathetic? But hey, better late than never, right?
So how about you? What's your good stuff right now?
I'm letting anxiety paralyze me lately. It's so hard knowing that the worries that are consuming me are *not* worth making myself miserable over and yet being totally incapable of stopping it all. And the stupid cycle that I find myself in, the seeming overwhelmingness of everything, the guilt I feel over everything that I'm not getting done...*sigh*
The head-start I'd had with homeschooling prep is fast dissipating and as much as I love homeschooling Gray and Annie, there is a certain resentment over how much of my life it seems to eat up. Feeling that resentment makes me feel guilty. I've opened up both google reader and my email a few times over the last several days and felt so utterly overwhelmed that I've just shut them off without connecting with anyone. And of course, the more emails I fail to respond to and the more posts I fail to read, the guiltier I feel. The one thing I want more than anything right now is to move (I hate our neighborhood so much!), and I have a list of hundreds of little things and big things to do to help that happen. The list leaves me feeling overwhelmed, especially when it seems things get added to it faster than they get taken off. So I feel guilty for feeling so miserable about our living situation when I don't seem to be doing anything to change it. My brain seems to have left town. To the point that it's sort of scary. I know some of it is because I can't sleep. More guilt--if I could just sleep, then I'd be a more productive person.
I know it's counterproductive to hate myself for being miserable, but I can't seem to turn off the ugly voices.
So here we go...a look at how lucky I really am...a glance at the things that are good...a reminder that I have much to be grateful for...
*I put all my canning supplies away until next year. Not that I mind canning. But it is time-consuming. And while I didn't get as much canned this summer/fall as I'd hoped, I did okay:
--12 half pints of strawberry jam
--6 pints of blueberry jam
--6 pints of blackberry jam
--16 quarts of tomatoes
--5 pints of salsa
--35 pints and 7 quarts of applesauce
--1 half pint and 12 pints of apple butter
*Joann.com had their yarn on sale so I ordered some for gifts. It arrived--and there is just something so happy about a box of yarn.
*Today was library day again. Sometimes I think we should just go to the library every day--I just feel less stressed while I'm there.
*We've kept up our Monday night RIP picture book reading since early September. Each of the kids reads a picture book aloud, then I finish up with a chapter from our current read. Last night we started early so we'd have time to watch The Corpse Bride afterwards. Believe it or not, it was the first time I've ever seen that movie. Aren't I pathetic? But hey, better late than never, right?
So how about you? What's your good stuff right now?
Thursday, September 22, 2011
good stuff...
While it may be premature to say that I've vanquished the self-pity for good, I can say that I'm feeling much better mentally today. And there are just so many things I have to be thankful for...you know, the good stuff.
*After I hit the publish button yesterday, I sort of regretted it. Who wants to let others see them wallowing in self-pity, right? I mean, I was wallowing, but did I really want my friends to see it. Thing is, no one told me to snap out of it. Instead I got supportive comments and emails...and yeah, ended up feeling loved even in a bad moment. Which just added further proof to what I already knew--I have THE BEST FRIENDS AND FAMILY EVER.
*This post. Ummmm...just wow.
*We're leaving to go camping after school today! :D Why? Not that one needs a reason, of course. But in this case it's because my "baby" is turning 9 this weekend! 9-years-old? Seriously? Yeah, time has yet to slow down. Guessing it's never going to. But anyway. Camping was Maxidoodle's request for his birthday weekend, so camping it is. Not just any camping though--it has to be at the place Rich has taken the munchkins the past couple years over spring break. So we're headed for Delaware. Unfortunately, their weather forecast is calling for nothing but rain the entire time...but we'll see how it goes. I've packed a humungous bag of books and some crocheting and some cross-stitching (which I have done in years) and only a very little bit of school work. I plan on using this time to refresh. Yeah, sounds soooooooo good.
*Pinterest. So I resisted joining for a few months, and was rather proud of myself for doing so. :P But then darling Heather started talking about how much she loved it and well, my resistance went right out the door! But I'm so very, very glad it did! I *love* this place!!! It's a happy place. It's so fun to go to your personal boards and see nothing but wonderful things that inspire you! And of course, it's fun to look at others boards and see what inspires them, too. :D
*Ana's done! I'm just this massive ball of happy for her!!! As in, every time I think about it my cheeks start hurting a little because it's hard to wipe the smile off my face! :D
*Despite how draining it is, and despite the fact that the head-start I made for myself in planning and prep is soon going to be gone, homeschooling really is still going pretty smoothly this year. Mornings are possibly the easiest they've ever been in getting everyone ready to go, because this year times are staggered. And because Max usually wants to buy his lunch...expensive, but wow, what a difference it is not have to pack lunches most days.
I know if I sat here longer, I could think of many more things to add to this list. In other words, I have plenty to smile about, and today I am feeling grateful. Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart.
*After I hit the publish button yesterday, I sort of regretted it. Who wants to let others see them wallowing in self-pity, right? I mean, I was wallowing, but did I really want my friends to see it. Thing is, no one told me to snap out of it. Instead I got supportive comments and emails...and yeah, ended up feeling loved even in a bad moment. Which just added further proof to what I already knew--I have THE BEST FRIENDS AND FAMILY EVER.
*This post. Ummmm...just wow.
*We're leaving to go camping after school today! :D Why? Not that one needs a reason, of course. But in this case it's because my "baby" is turning 9 this weekend! 9-years-old? Seriously? Yeah, time has yet to slow down. Guessing it's never going to. But anyway. Camping was Maxidoodle's request for his birthday weekend, so camping it is. Not just any camping though--it has to be at the place Rich has taken the munchkins the past couple years over spring break. So we're headed for Delaware. Unfortunately, their weather forecast is calling for nothing but rain the entire time...but we'll see how it goes. I've packed a humungous bag of books and some crocheting and some cross-stitching (which I have done in years) and only a very little bit of school work. I plan on using this time to refresh. Yeah, sounds soooooooo good.
*Pinterest. So I resisted joining for a few months, and was rather proud of myself for doing so. :P But then darling Heather started talking about how much she loved it and well, my resistance went right out the door! But I'm so very, very glad it did! I *love* this place!!! It's a happy place. It's so fun to go to your personal boards and see nothing but wonderful things that inspire you! And of course, it's fun to look at others boards and see what inspires them, too. :D
*Ana's done! I'm just this massive ball of happy for her!!! As in, every time I think about it my cheeks start hurting a little because it's hard to wipe the smile off my face! :D
*Despite how draining it is, and despite the fact that the head-start I made for myself in planning and prep is soon going to be gone, homeschooling really is still going pretty smoothly this year. Mornings are possibly the easiest they've ever been in getting everyone ready to go, because this year times are staggered. And because Max usually wants to buy his lunch...expensive, but wow, what a difference it is not have to pack lunches most days.
I know if I sat here longer, I could think of many more things to add to this list. In other words, I have plenty to smile about, and today I am feeling grateful. Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
happy day ramblings
I'm not even sure where to start--there's just so many things making me smile this morning. Woke up this morning to find that our state senate finally put the marriage equality bill up for a vote. And it passed!!! I'm still sort of in a state of happy shock. If you don't live in New York, or if you just don't care much about the issue, you probably don't realize just how long the past couple weeks have seemed. As I said to Chris, it's been path of two steps forward, one step back. But those forward steps finally made it the finish line. I often wonder if it does a damn thing to write to one's legislators, and yet I keep writing anyway. Today I'd like to believe it really can make a difference, that the letters I wrote to our state senator helped contribute in their own very small way to his crucial changed vote. I'd like to believe that all us "little people" can put our voices together and change things. Today is one of those days where that belief seems justified.
And this was the news that started off my first unofficial day of summer! A few days early! Annie took her history final yesterday and handed in the last of her assignments, thus allowing me to put the final touches on her fourth quarterly report. I spent about 20 hours in the last three days on homeschool paperwork alone--Annie's final quarterly report, Annie's and Gray's letters of intent for next year, and the vast bulk of both Annie's and Gray's IHIPs (essentially the plans for what you intend to do for each and every required subject). Yes, New York has some of the biggest pain in the butt homeschool regulations in the country, but without question, I make things waaaaaay harder on myself than I need to. But I use the IHIP preparation as a chance to truly get myself organized. It gives me the outline of all the plans and preparations I need to conquer. And obsessive little me *must* be organized when it comes to homeschooling. Anyway, while delivery of the quarterly report and LOIs will have to wait until Monday (after which time I will get the cover form to fill out to go with their IHIPs so I can then deliver them as well), I still feel incredibly relieved to have the hard part of the paperwork done with. And ahead of time at that! :D
The boys had their last day of school on Wednesday! And for Gray that meant his last day of elementary school. And quite possibly his last day of public school period. Despite the fact that I've been trying to squeeze in odd moments here and there for the past few months working on plans and preparations for Gray, it's only now really hitting me that this is real! That Gray is going to be staying home for school next year! But for now, I am going to cherish the lazy moments of summer. Not that I have a clue how to truly be lazy. :P But I will enjoy every morning that I don't have to awake by the call of an alarm clock, every afternoon that I don't have to play prison guard making sure the boys do their homework, and every evening when I don't have to listen to arguments about bedtimes. Sounds pretty darn heavenly.
The boys' first day of summer vacation also signaled the start of our summer reading goals.
Pretty hard to see what this is, I suppose. But a new sheet like this adorns our pantry closet door each "season"...it's where we each keep track of our books read. For all the other seasons, we each have the same goal for number of books to read. But during the summer, we each set our own. Annie, of course, always aims far higher than the rest of us--this summer she's shooting for 50. And in the two days since we've started this, she's already cranked out her first two reads. Show off. Gray and I both set our goals at 20, while Max and Rich have theirs at 15. On my first day of summer, I plan to relax, relax, relax, and finish up at least one book to get my list started.
Our garden is finally giving us some nibblies. Not much so far, of course.
Annie's first itty bitty strawberry. Her strawberry plants actually put out quite a few strawberries this year. However...we will not be eating many from her little patch. No, the bunnies beat us to them. :P Yes, we even have her strawberry patch fenced, but I swear, 90 percent of the berries decided to grow right along the fence where the little rascals could just grab them anyway. Good thing they're so stinkin' cute.
Rich and I have been eating radishes from the garden (the kids don't like them). And let me tell you, they've really got a bite this year. And this one(?) Rich is holding here--we'd never seen one like this before. :)
And very soon we'll be eating fresh jalapenos, too! We've got lots and lots of babies growing now. :D
I suppose I really should just shut up now. I apologize for the excessive rambling, but so few days as of late have started off with me feeling this unburdened. Yep, I've got shitloads of stuff to get done in the next couple months, but for today, this one day, I'm going to ignore it all. Yep, today marks my latest fresh start. I don't even care that it's about the third time already this year that I've declared a fresh start. Every fresh start feels mighty good...
And this was the news that started off my first unofficial day of summer! A few days early! Annie took her history final yesterday and handed in the last of her assignments, thus allowing me to put the final touches on her fourth quarterly report. I spent about 20 hours in the last three days on homeschool paperwork alone--Annie's final quarterly report, Annie's and Gray's letters of intent for next year, and the vast bulk of both Annie's and Gray's IHIPs (essentially the plans for what you intend to do for each and every required subject). Yes, New York has some of the biggest pain in the butt homeschool regulations in the country, but without question, I make things waaaaaay harder on myself than I need to. But I use the IHIP preparation as a chance to truly get myself organized. It gives me the outline of all the plans and preparations I need to conquer. And obsessive little me *must* be organized when it comes to homeschooling. Anyway, while delivery of the quarterly report and LOIs will have to wait until Monday (after which time I will get the cover form to fill out to go with their IHIPs so I can then deliver them as well), I still feel incredibly relieved to have the hard part of the paperwork done with. And ahead of time at that! :D
The boys had their last day of school on Wednesday! And for Gray that meant his last day of elementary school. And quite possibly his last day of public school period. Despite the fact that I've been trying to squeeze in odd moments here and there for the past few months working on plans and preparations for Gray, it's only now really hitting me that this is real! That Gray is going to be staying home for school next year! But for now, I am going to cherish the lazy moments of summer. Not that I have a clue how to truly be lazy. :P But I will enjoy every morning that I don't have to awake by the call of an alarm clock, every afternoon that I don't have to play prison guard making sure the boys do their homework, and every evening when I don't have to listen to arguments about bedtimes. Sounds pretty darn heavenly.
The boys' first day of summer vacation also signaled the start of our summer reading goals.
Our garden is finally giving us some nibblies. Not much so far, of course.
I suppose I really should just shut up now. I apologize for the excessive rambling, but so few days as of late have started off with me feeling this unburdened. Yep, I've got shitloads of stuff to get done in the next couple months, but for today, this one day, I'm going to ignore it all. Yep, today marks my latest fresh start. I don't even care that it's about the third time already this year that I've declared a fresh start. Every fresh start feels mighty good...
Thursday, May 5, 2011
good stuff
I awoke feeling like somewhat of a cranky-pants this morning. Persistent nausea and headaches not helping. Soooo...I figured this was a good time to gather up all that good stuff into a heaping big pile and wallow in it. :)
*The temperatures are going to make it out of the 40s today...all the way to the *mid or upper* 50s! And with sunshine to boot!!!
*I managed to stay on the "focus" track for a fourth straight day yesterday. It was not as productive a day as I'd have liked due to a bunch of those unavoidable "must be dealt with now" type emergencies. But I know there are bound to be days like that. This is life, after all. And while, I might not have finished as much as I'd hoped on my focus projects, I did make visible dents.
*My dear, lovely friend Ana is almost at the end of her current hell stretch with school. This makes me delightfully happy for her, of course. But selfishly, it also makes me happy for myself. Despite the fact that she's said it's okay if I pester her, I've been trying very hard not to. And well, I just miss her sooooo much and am soooooo excited about getting caught back up again. Not to mention, she'll hopefully have time to blog a bit more very soon!!! :D
*I have so many wonderful books going at the moment! (Which could also be viewed as a bad thing, but I'm choosing not to look at that way. :P ) I'm reading A Discovery of Witches with some awesome friends, and have to say that I'm enjoying more than I expected to. I'm reading The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress for school, and wow--I'm loving it. Also unexpected. And while I didn't intend to actually start reading it when I picked it up to flip through it, I am now totally sucked into A Householder's Guide to the Universe.
*A Monster Calls shipped on Tuesday!!! New Patrick Ness...on its way!!! :D
*The always sweet and lovely Trish had her baby. Yes, it's been a week and a half already, but I swear every time I think of her and her beautiful little girl I still get the most enormous smile on my face. :D
*This is today's "focus":
I know, can you believe I have this disaster in our living room?!! I've been slowly working my way through weeding out my scrapbook books and magazines--these piles are what I still have left. Also in this pile is the bag with the baby caps I've been working on. And an old stretched-out, outgrown sweater of Annie's that I'm currently unraveling to repurpose the yarn. And The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, which I really need to finish for school. The "focus" is to shrink this pile! And the reason that makes the good stuff list is because I'm not dreading any of those tasks. :P
*May flowers. :)
*The way my wonderful friend Chris keeps inspiring me with all his creative updates on his tumblr. :D
*Coffee. Yeah, I know--it always makes the list. :P
*Having a life filled with so many people I love.
*The temperatures are going to make it out of the 40s today...all the way to the *mid or upper* 50s! And with sunshine to boot!!!
*I managed to stay on the "focus" track for a fourth straight day yesterday. It was not as productive a day as I'd have liked due to a bunch of those unavoidable "must be dealt with now" type emergencies. But I know there are bound to be days like that. This is life, after all. And while, I might not have finished as much as I'd hoped on my focus projects, I did make visible dents.
*My dear, lovely friend Ana is almost at the end of her current hell stretch with school. This makes me delightfully happy for her, of course. But selfishly, it also makes me happy for myself. Despite the fact that she's said it's okay if I pester her, I've been trying very hard not to. And well, I just miss her sooooo much and am soooooo excited about getting caught back up again. Not to mention, she'll hopefully have time to blog a bit more very soon!!! :D
*I have so many wonderful books going at the moment! (Which could also be viewed as a bad thing, but I'm choosing not to look at that way. :P ) I'm reading A Discovery of Witches with some awesome friends, and have to say that I'm enjoying more than I expected to. I'm reading The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress for school, and wow--I'm loving it. Also unexpected. And while I didn't intend to actually start reading it when I picked it up to flip through it, I am now totally sucked into A Householder's Guide to the Universe.
*A Monster Calls shipped on Tuesday!!! New Patrick Ness...on its way!!! :D
*The always sweet and lovely Trish had her baby. Yes, it's been a week and a half already, but I swear every time I think of her and her beautiful little girl I still get the most enormous smile on my face. :D
*This is today's "focus":
I know, can you believe I have this disaster in our living room?!! I've been slowly working my way through weeding out my scrapbook books and magazines--these piles are what I still have left. Also in this pile is the bag with the baby caps I've been working on. And an old stretched-out, outgrown sweater of Annie's that I'm currently unraveling to repurpose the yarn. And The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, which I really need to finish for school. The "focus" is to shrink this pile! And the reason that makes the good stuff list is because I'm not dreading any of those tasks. :P
*May flowers. :)
*The way my wonderful friend Chris keeps inspiring me with all his creative updates on his tumblr. :D
*Coffee. Yeah, I know--it always makes the list. :P
*Having a life filled with so many people I love.
Friday, April 15, 2011
smile-worthy
It's been one of those weeks...you know, the kind where you're lucky to find time to go pee. (Yeah, I'm classy, huh?) But despite the stressful hectic-ness, there's been plenty of reasons to smile, too...
*My sweet (usually) baby girl turned fourteen last Friday. 14. Yeah, sheesh. But we'll forgo all the "how the hell did time pass so fast?!!" talk, because I've finally realized it's never going to change and I'm never going to figure out the answer.
(Annie's traditional birthday breakfast.)
(Annie wearing the the Gothic Lolita dress that she wanted more than anything for her birthday.)
(Exceptionally blurry photo of Annie with a much-loved gift from Jean.)
(Annie and her birthday cake.)
*We had our first real taste of spring last weekend...and it was glorious! We got some yard clean-up done, passed around the football, grilled veggie dogs, and ate outside.
*I finally, finally, finally finished a book.
Yes, this a book for school, and that fact alone tends to slow down my reading (that psychological rebellion against "have to," I guess). But thing is, I really enjoyed this book. Have to say I've never read anything quite like it, and it caught me somewhat by surprise. Though why it should have is beyond me, as I really knew very little about it beforehand. I knew it was science fiction--because that is what the lecture course we're using is focusing on now. (This book is a wonderful example of how incredible varied the genre of sci-fi really is.) I also knew it was dystopian--because I've seen it on lists of dystopian fiction in the past. And I assumed, in this case correctly, that it somehow involved religion--because of the title. And, yes, it was all of those things--but face it, those labels really say so little when it comes to a particular work. Anyway, like I said, I truly did enjoy this book. In fact, I'd like to revisit it again sometime in the future. Still...I sure hope it doesn't take me as long to finish my next read. :P
*My dear friend Chris opened an Etsy shop! I can't tell you how ridiculously excited I am about this. :D (Okay, and just a wee bit envious as well.)
*And looking ahead, spring break is almost here!!! (And yep, the boys' school and the community college where Rich teaches and Annie takes classes have the same week off.) Tomorrow we'll all be heading to my parents house to celebrate my Mom's birthday. But on Sunday, Rich and the munchkins are heading out for a few days of camping. I am both bummed (because I really wish I could go, too) and elated (because the thought of a few days of peace and quiet sound heavenly). I can't go because I just have too much damn school prep to get done. Maybe not the most fun way to spend some alone time--but 1.) it's amazing how much more I can actually accomplish when alone, and 2.) hopefully I'll sneak in a bit of relaxing as well.
So what are your reasons for smiling lately? I love hearing because it gives me more reasons for smiling, too. :D
*My sweet (usually) baby girl turned fourteen last Friday. 14. Yeah, sheesh. But we'll forgo all the "how the hell did time pass so fast?!!" talk, because I've finally realized it's never going to change and I'm never going to figure out the answer.
*We had our first real taste of spring last weekend...and it was glorious! We got some yard clean-up done, passed around the football, grilled veggie dogs, and ate outside.
*I finally, finally, finally finished a book.
*My dear friend Chris opened an Etsy shop! I can't tell you how ridiculously excited I am about this. :D (Okay, and just a wee bit envious as well.)
*And looking ahead, spring break is almost here!!! (And yep, the boys' school and the community college where Rich teaches and Annie takes classes have the same week off.) Tomorrow we'll all be heading to my parents house to celebrate my Mom's birthday. But on Sunday, Rich and the munchkins are heading out for a few days of camping. I am both bummed (because I really wish I could go, too) and elated (because the thought of a few days of peace and quiet sound heavenly). I can't go because I just have too much damn school prep to get done. Maybe not the most fun way to spend some alone time--but 1.) it's amazing how much more I can actually accomplish when alone, and 2.) hopefully I'll sneak in a bit of relaxing as well.
So what are your reasons for smiling lately? I love hearing because it gives me more reasons for smiling, too. :D
Saturday, January 29, 2011
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