tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72962137640105385102024-03-14T04:03:39.880-04:00A little crafty. A little crazy.Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931615779578846842noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296213764010538510.post-48192873711794590342011-03-20T14:42:00.007-04:002011-03-20T14:57:23.115-04:00Nutty Saturday GoodnessYet again, I must thank MommyParties for selecting me to be a hostess for one of the fabulous events.<br />This time, the featured product was Nutella, a delicious hazelnut and cocoa spread. At first, I was skeptical. It's food, but it's an uncommon food. One that my kids love to eat and one that I just knew that other kids would love, too, if I could get some parents to give it a chance.<br /><br />So I invited a bevvy of moms (and<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ077B1TKSU9JrBUdP8N6rhVB5mDV11X8X6ZrfVp_wwERKUQ9lNDIc8p4uWmvePCr0NSyh-FoY15F0o30OXp8ARqb_6jgWWgmToAQzUPmHU9WWC7k9fEed0eWscjLi_0jFuGqpBUaRVYs/s1600/sugarbush+2011+052.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ077B1TKSU9JrBUdP8N6rhVB5mDV11X8X6ZrfVp_wwERKUQ9lNDIc8p4uWmvePCr0NSyh-FoY15F0o30OXp8ARqb_6jgWWgmToAQzUPmHU9WWC7k9fEed0eWscjLi_0jFuGqpBUaRVYs/s320/sugarbush+2011+052.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586235552364715826" border="0" /></a> a couple of dads, because sometimes the dad is the dynamic for the shopping and meal planning... we have quite a few stay at home or work at home dads in our circle of friends), planned a small feast of a brunch, and let the fun commence! The brunch was held on March 19th, as Saturdays seem to work best for our schedules.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswXE-AVrDY5TfH_TIdw7nOto3wsqlzy1n11h3Fvx0DddIhv3bLdn9pqk7g0bngywtjPs1v9JCX35RaPNiTJxjBtD3GCmlG2uIM2J7V4BX2t4w5WTq3Uj7Vfq_pKVQuReRBMebNqkYEA0/s1600/sugarbush+2011+053.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswXE-AVrDY5TfH_TIdw7nOto3wsqlzy1n11h3Fvx0DddIhv3bLdn9pqk7g0bngywtjPs1v9JCX35RaPNiTJxjBtD3GCmlG2uIM2J7V4BX2t4w5WTq3Uj7Vfq_pKVQuReRBMebNqkYEA0/s320/sugarbush+2011+053.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586236679215532354" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />In my circle of friends and associates I have several vegetarians. The two in attendance were very receptive to the product. I also had one family of gluten free eaters join us - none of whom had ever tried Nutella. Mom went to Meijer after the brunch wrapped up, saw Nutella on sale 2/$7 and promptly used the coupon from her goodie bag.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtMg-Q3u9mEyQjtDFVNMgrRA7lL7fBnF-hvXAjVirGoNdthkWaWpDYENQFN1bSpdKv_Pq84rF-80ibUugqd9V-ACo8qh0RcRxOvn5UyhZXwjrXPrn-c9-JhDhtdg6Bq31hawU9cNCaSxk/s1600/sugarbush+2011+054.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtMg-Q3u9mEyQjtDFVNMgrRA7lL7fBnF-hvXAjVirGoNdthkWaWpDYENQFN1bSpdKv_Pq84rF-80ibUugqd9V-ACo8qh0RcRxOvn5UyhZXwjrXPrn-c9-JhDhtdg6Bq31hawU9cNCaSxk/s320/sugarbush+2011+054.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586237957982778722" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Everyone seemed to enjoy the spread of the morning, and while a couple of people seemed a little reluctant, there were no complaints about the taste, two new confirmed households of consumers, and a lot of happy people and full tummies when it was over.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Thank you again, MommyParties and Nutella for allowing me to host. Best part for me: I have about half of the huge jar of Nutella left over. My kids are in seventh heaven!Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931615779578846842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296213764010538510.post-57009329724774321382011-02-22T10:39:00.002-05:002011-02-22T10:49:29.493-05:00Long Overdue UpdateWith the coming of Christmas, the days seem to slip away. That, and I tend to subconsciously assume that the whole world uses Facebook.<br /><br />Now that the' holidaze' is over and life has resumed some sense of normalcy, it's onward and upward!<br /><br />Where to begin....<br /><br />Those moments where you want to knock on doors and say "I TOLD YOU SO!!!"..? Yeah. I had one of those a couple of weeks ago.<br />Braeden has been seeing a godsend of a psychiatrist. First person I've dealt with that actually agrees with me regarding a diagnosis for my son (probably why I think he's swell).<br />ADHD will soon be wiped from the books - or at least from my kid's cumulative files for school.<br /><br />After spinning wheels for one kid, only to start the process for another in an entirely different way, it feels nice to be making some headway.<br />I am not pleased about an Autism diagnosis on yet another child, but after taking off the blinders and actually looking at my son and his quirks, it makes sense.<br /><br />As I said, onward and upward.<br /><br />Weddings, life changes and planning... oh my!<br /><br />Much to share in the weeks to come... and lots of photos to accompany.Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931615779578846842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296213764010538510.post-74494379907041097382011-02-22T10:35:00.000-05:002011-02-22T10:36:20.596-05:00Motivation......anyone have any to spare?<br /><br />I really should use this more often.Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931615779578846842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296213764010538510.post-89612610966747488012010-12-03T06:37:00.007-05:002010-12-03T06:57:29.402-05:00Product Review and Dragon Party Fun!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHELff5u0S8sQeOaO1cTX7FCcn6hNvpJXoYFfvLgzeaMTOqFk0NEo7gogQ7uNmxeOSSRQ54qlKXWIdueuVc-zMbfWTHpULBAQczW1yLmAjSQ7jQzcsnI7AaWZIfomG__8eRPGk-WUltY/s1600/dragon+party+004.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 410px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHELff5u0S8sQeOaO1cTX7FCcn6hNvpJXoYFfvLgzeaMTOqFk0NEo7gogQ7uNmxeOSSRQ54qlKXWIdueuVc-zMbfWTHpULBAQczW1yLmAjSQ7jQzcsnI7AaWZIfomG__8eRPGk-WUltY/s320/dragon+party+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546419785664495938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I'm not sure what happened to this post... hopefully it edits, posts and sticks this time!<br /><br />That being said...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />On November 13, I had a group of enthusiastic little boys over for a fun filled playdate, activities provided courtesy of MommyParties and Mega Blocks.<br /><br />We were provided with Dragons Universe kits for the boys to play with, I provided snacks for everyone, moved the dining room table out of the way, and then the little fellas h<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfydaBRXi6KMBOnLkIalL7gsmhcHPXRcr7TMSWD9-7wotvox40fWXhP6dwmLViR1bmhfs_pWUq3fGTHG9lkt_ksKYf1aRstMA9tTrUE7owKLoBzd9n_VniD-poxIWb4nFK1Zuc1xcw7k/s1600/dragon+party+007.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfydaBRXi6KMBOnLkIalL7gsmhcHPXRcr7TMSWD9-7wotvox40fWXhP6dwmLViR1bmhfs_pWUq3fGTHG9lkt_ksKYf1aRstMA9tTrUE7owKLoBzd9n_VniD-poxIWb4nFK1Zuc1xcw7k/s320/dragon+party+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546422463724507330" border="0" /></a>ave at it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17biRSQRprdo73lnBJ-fiK6_nBPIt6VHtmzhUwdHqh_46etivKyUpH4fiyKjvhzYXwjxnomTRfLiffOrUh69pAo7IwFp1xbYcfKQVg5H4S9Bq4JWoB2za9drGg2xqeICAIkCY50TB4yo/s1600/dragon+party+008.jpg"><br /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17biRSQRprdo73lnBJ-fiK6_nBPIt6VHtmzhUwdHqh_46etivKyUpH4fiyKjvhzYXwjxnomTRfLiffOrUh69pAo7IwFp1xbYcfKQVg5H4S9Bq4JWoB2za9drGg2xqeICAIkCY50TB4yo/s1600/dragon+party+008.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4v2FyhEbWPdyrkLgPr5296E-XpK0V9Iil5ipSohBl00zoDDvDD5CiDWDZyycScjQAgrrdHnfBLDwaJmQpsYTWQChHhro7xurjuExa-uJ_h6NpsjpxjPzfGpYhcpPKlwv_n6SQ3Nflgf4/s320/dragon+party+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546422083213542562" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17biRSQRprdo73lnBJ-fiK6_nBPIt6VHtmzhUwdHqh_46etivKyUpH4fiyKjvhzYXwjxnomTRfLiffOrUh69pAo7IwFp1xbYcfKQVg5H4S9Bq4JWoB2za9drGg2xqeICAIkCY50TB4yo/s1600/dragon+party+008.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 147px;" src="Dragons%20are%20a%20popular%20theme,%20and%20that%20was%20no%20exception%20with%20these%20boys,%20including%20my%20own%20pair%20of%20busy%20participants.%20Everyone%20had%20a%20great%20time%20with%20the%20toys,%20and%20they%20were%20happy%20to%20get%20to%20take%20them%20home%20at%20the%20end%20of%20the%20afternoon.%20The%20only%20setback%20that%20I%20found%20was%20that%20some%20of%20the%20pieces%20were%20hard%20for%20small%20hands%20to%20assemble;%20even%20now%20my%20husband%20and%20I%20are%20reapplying%20dragon%20wings%20because%20our%20sons%20do%20not%20have%20the%20hand%20strength%20to%20attach%20them%20properly.%20But%20that%20minor%20issue%20has%20not%20stopped%20them%20from%20continuing%20to%20enjoy%20their%20toys%21%20%20%20%3Ca%20onblur=" try="" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4v2FyhEbWPdyrkLgPr5296E-XpK0V9Iil5ipSohBl00zoDDvDD5CiDWDZyycScjQAgrrdHnfBLDwaJmQpsYTWQChHhro7xurjuExa-uJ_h6NpsjpxjPzfGpYhcpPKlwv_n6SQ3Nflgf4/s1600/dragon+party+003.jpg" /></a><br />Thank you again, Mega Blocks and MommyParties for allowing me to host the event.Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931615779578846842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296213764010538510.post-22672997023443436362010-07-01T23:44:00.002-04:002010-07-02T01:06:14.616-04:00Guilty PleasuresIn a week full of stress, chaos and sickness, I need to take a moment and pause to reflect on some of my guilty pleasures.<br /><br />A couple of them might surprise most of the folks who know me.<br /><br />1. I am a Gleek.<br />In high school, I wanted very badly to be part of the glee club. Sadly I can't carry a tune for squat, so I was resigned to being an avid appreciator and supporter.<br />From the first episode I was drawn in to the plot and had fallen in love with the music.<br />You will note that my Playlist has been altered to include some tracks from Glee - including one by Lady Gaga, who I loathe. (Apparently I just really dislike her voice, because her songs with someone else singing them, are really good!)<br /><br />Because I just love this stuff... well, if you don't watch, maybe you'll decide to check it out after viewing these!<br /><br /><object width="725" height="210"><param name="movie" value="http://www.hulu.com/widget/embed/videopanel"></param><param name="bgcolor" value="0x000000"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="flashVars" value="partner=CSWidget&layout=Horizontal4Thumbs&searchEnabled=true&sortEnabled=true&sortDefault=recentlyadded&watchOnHulu=true&show=glee"></param><embed src="http://www.hulu.com/widget/embed/videopanel" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="partner=CSWidget&layout=Horizontal4Thumbs&searchEnabled=true&sortEnabled=true&sortDefault=recentlyadded&watchOnHulu=true&show=glee" wmode="transparent" bgcolor="0x000000" width="725" height="210"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="725" height="210"><param name="movie" value="http://www.hulu.com/widget/embed/videopanel"></param><param name="bgcolor" value="0x000000"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="flashVars" value="partner=CSWidget&layout=Horizontal4Thumbs&searchEnabled=true&sortEnabled=true&sortDefault=recentlyadded&watchOnHulu=true&show=glee"></param><embed src="http://www.hulu.com/widget/embed/videopanel" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="partner=CSWidget&layout=Horizontal4Thumbs&searchEnabled=true&sortEnabled=true&sortDefault=recentlyadded&watchOnHulu=true&show=glee" wmode="transparent" bgcolor="0x000000" width="725" height="210"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />2. I LOVE So You Think You Can Dance!<br />I am positively addicted to that show much the way that some folks are fastened to the tv when American Idol comes on.<br />This season, my favorite is Alex. He's just wonderful... and to prove it I am subjecting you all to a video clip of last night's performance.<br />When looking at it you will see that the choreography is impressive, but as you are viewing, keep in mind that this kid is classically trained member of the Miami Ballet (as his narrative explains). His skills just blow my mind. (you can stop it after the routine ends if you are not a SYTYCD viewer... it's just lots of praise and love for the skillz)<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Un_-EtIa6i8&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Un_-EtIa6i8&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />3. Chick pop.<br />Orianthi. Kelly Clarkson. Katy Perry.... Lily Allen.... NOT Lady Gaga.<br />Catchy tunes, sung by girls. Sometimes it's a solo artist ( which is usually the case) and sometimes it's a band, but it's always entertaining to me.<br />I love it when I'm alone in the car and have an opportunity to turn the radio up very loudly and sing along in what is probably off key to anyone else who can hear it. A rather liberating feeling.<br /><br /><br />4. Chocolate and peanut butter.<br />Two great tastes that are PERFECT together.<br />Be it in a Reese's form, one of the multitude of mixable options at Coldstone, my all time favorite chocolate peanut butter frozen yogurt or just dunking a Hershey bar straight into the peanut butter jar, I am all about the fix. Probably more so than I should be, as my waist line and borderline diabetic blood sugar levels would indicate.<br /><br /><br />5. Martha, Martha, Martha!<br />It's no secret. I have something of a deranged crush on Martha Stewart. I'd love to hire her to make over my house and organize my life.. or just follow her around and absorb the endless bits of data and hope that some of her creativity rubs off onto me.<br />Some people think she's a drunk and a bitch. I say that genius often comes in unique packaging.<br /><br /><br />Now that I have bared my soul for all the world (all twenty or so who lurk here now and then) to see, I will leave you with the hope that I will actually upload some of the project photos soon.Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931615779578846842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296213764010538510.post-54324392169316284772010-05-21T21:39:00.002-04:002010-05-21T21:42:01.489-04:00It's been a while...I almost forgot that I had this thing. <br /><br />So much has happened, and yet nothing has changed. <br /><br />I'd like to think that I'll get better about posting on here, and maybe I will. But probably I won't. <br /><br />But I did do a makeover and a few updates and I will post some images of projects in the coming days. Incentive for me to make things and save the ideas for posterity.Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931615779578846842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296213764010538510.post-89924902746379662882009-07-14T10:12:00.002-04:002009-07-14T10:32:05.508-04:00And so it begins.That sounds very ominous, but I assure you that it is meant with only a sigh of relief and a bit of nervous anticipation.<br /><br />After weeks and weeks of phone calls, waiting, phone tag, a combined three hours and twelve minutes of sitting on hold, and a whole lot of beating my head into the desktop in frustration, we're FINALLY starting Iain's testing.<br /><br />Met with the neuropsychologist on Friday. Really nice lady, and for the first time, I spoke with a professional who actually understood where Chris and I have been coming from.<br />Added bonus being that because so many kids are stuck in that same crack - too smart and capable to be classified as severely impaired in any facet, but nowhere near regular ed. classroom ready or developmentally caught up to speed - the program that we are working with has found some very creative and helpful ways of dodging some of the beauracracy and red tape b.s. that we've been tangled in thus far.<br /><br />Round One begins on Friday, at 9:00 AM. *insert cheering here*<br /><br />The last four days have been spent carefully filling out endless sheets of home analysis paperwork - filling in boxes, rating things from 0 to 6, and making lots and lots of notes.<br /><br />But this time is different. I don't feel like I am doing it for nothing.<br />I know that it is solely because it is what they are paid to do, but the feeling of knowing that when it's over we will actually know what it is that makes Iain tick, and gain a foothold in the ways that we can best help him succeed... it's like Christmas in July, but ten times cooler.<br /><br />The battle is nowhere near over, thanks to Michigan's insurance laws, but at least that part is being fought by an entire army of angry parents. Safety in numbers feels pretty darn good right now. Uphill as a group is much more productive than uphill alone.<br /><br />The next few weeks will be filled with testing, coupled with paperwork for end of the year obligations at work, other responsibilities (the words 'taste of Grand Rapids' have started to turn my stomach sour, as they do every July), juggling events on my calendar, and trying to maintain a sliver of my sanity.<br /><br />But it is worth it. So very worth it.<br /><br />When things quiet down, and I'm back in project mode, I'll post some happy, crafty things. But for now, this is as good as it gets.Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931615779578846842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296213764010538510.post-14615202291012065102009-05-22T23:16:00.003-04:002009-05-23T00:24:37.085-04:00Dear Jessica,I honestly didn't know if I would write this blog.<br /><br />If I <em>could </em>write this blog.<br /><br />It's hard to believe that ten years have passed. A decade that could have been so very different... that would have if...<br /><br />If.<br /><br />There's this country singer who was unknown... well anyhow, the first time that I heard Kenny Chesney's song "Who You'd Be Today" I broke down, sobbing like it all happened yesterday.<br />Those are questions that I often ask - What would your wedding have been like? Which name would you and Rob have bestowed upon your first child?<br /><br />I didn't even get to tell you that I was pregnant for Jennah. I called your apartment and left a message on the machine, hoping that I'd hear from you the following day.<br />A few hours later, you were gone.<br />When we found out that she was a girl, Chris asked me if I wanted to name her Jessica Ann. I said that there was no way that I could replace you, and that it was best to leave your name with your memory (and that I feared that your mom would try to form some creepy attachment to my kid... really, we both know I'm right).<br /><br />In an effort of goodwill, your mom gave me the soft teal frock coat and hat that you wore in the spring photo that your grandfather took, when you were barely a year old. I still have them, hanging in my closet, but I never did put them on Jennah. I couldn't. But I will keep them always.<br /><br />Just as I will, every May, check the OTIS website. Just to see.<br /><br />Logically, I know that nothing will change. That Marc's name will still be there, and that faithfully checking every year won't bring you back. But it makes me feel better.<br />One day I'll look and his name will be gone, and I know that only then, will justice truly be served. My hope is that the day is a long time from now, so that he had to spend many, many decades, locked inside a prison cell, away from everything he enjoyed, until finally dying at ripe old age, full of remorse and regret.<br />Of all the things he was and is, I do think that he felt guilty. We all knew that he felt more for you than you did for him. We just never expected it to end the way that it did. That his mind was that sick and corrupt.<br /><br />I consoled that him at your funeral. He looked so lost and out of place. Staring at the floor, wearing his Pizza Hut uniform hat, making himself stand out even further against the prim and proper of the church sanctuary. No one suspected him. Least of all your mother.<br />How he fooled us all, though thankfully not for very long.<br /><br />About a week after we laid you to rest, Pearl Jam released a cover of "Last Kiss". The irnony did not escape me. Your favorite band, covering your favorite song. You would have been thrilled. You would have laughed at the morose humor in it all.<br /><br />More than anything, I want to say that I'm sorry that I haven't been there.<br />To the cemetery. That just doesn't feel like where you are. It's stone slab, with a photo of your head, superimposed onto Natalie's body, holding your violin. If you mom had asked, I could've and would've given her the picture that your loved - the one that I took of you, playing your guitar.<br />To check on your mom. That one I did quite often, and still do now and then. But she's gone in a way that I cannot fix, and listening to her tears the wound open fresh every time. I don't think that she'll ever heal, or that she ever wants anyone else to.<br />To the park. I was, once. I had to see the sunflowers. But I felt your presence, and it wasn't the warm and peaceful feeling that I was hoping for, so I quickly departed, tears streaming down my face. I left there hating Marc even more than I did the day before. Even more than I did the day that the story broke on the front page of the Press, naming him as the bastard who stole you away from so many who loved you.<br /><br />But those things I can still do. There's still time to make them right. And I will (though with your mom, it is hard.. like I said, she's gone way off the deep end. Even for her.).<br />But I didn't walk up to the casket, and I can't undo that.<br /><br />Chris tried to make me, but I just <em>couldn't</em>. I could see you lying there, in your cap and gown, and I knew that if I got even one step closer, I was going to break down in front of hundreds of people. You know me - that's not my style. You would've expected better than that. And truthfully, it was a pain that I just couldn't bear. I waas afraid that those tears would never stop.<br /><br />I did look at the pictures that your mom took, though it was some time later that I saw them. The cake makeup to cover the welts on your forehead (oh, how you'd have hated the hairstyle, but trust me when I say it was necessary), and the bruises on your neck that wouldn't be hidden, no matter what tricks the morticians tried.<br />Your aunt said that it was your way of showing your killer that you were still strong. That he would be punished. I think that she was right.<br /><br /><br />There were days that you drove me crazy. That I wondered whose sick sense of humor placed you in my life. My constant shadow, like an enthusiastic and willful puppy. Always begging to tag along. Always needing to be kept out of trouble.<br />I raised you, supervised you and bailed you out of troubled. Mentored you and chewed your behind when you were being too foolish... not that you ever really listened. Heart on your sleeve and head in the clouds. Happiest outside with your guitar, sitting cross legged on the sidewalk, amongst the vagrant youth downtown.<br />Forever thinking you could save the world, never not trying. To live with that much enthusiasm would have been exhausting for anyone else. But not you. Never, ever you, Jessie.<br /><br />I barely knew my sister when you left my life. You were only days apart in age, and at that time, far dearer to me than she was. You're two completely different people, but as I see Susan doing things with her life, I sometimes wonder what you'd be doing now.<br />But I never wonder whether or not you'd be happy. I know you would be.<br />My hope is that you are as content now as you were then. That sunflowers bloom when you smile.<br /><br />Anyhow, I just wanted you to know that even thought it's been ten years, you haven't been forgotten.<br /><br />I miss you, Jessie. I always will.Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931615779578846842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296213764010538510.post-6844782573705086432009-05-17T10:58:00.002-04:002009-05-17T12:02:30.011-04:00I'm not really sure what to call this one...Children really are a miracle unto themselves.<br /><br />When your first child comes into your life, it's a whole new experience. Everything is amazing, and one tends to fuss over things that one never found amsuing before, and celebrate the smallest achievements as though they were the discovery for a cure for cancer.<br />Yet, somehow, you <em>assume </em>that certain things will happen, no matter how slowly or quickly those events transpire.<br />Your child will talk, walk, and potty train. They will tie their shoes. They'll learn to identify shapes, and colors. To count. To read.<br />When it will happen isn't so much an assumption, but that <em>it will happen</em>, well, that's a given, right?<br /><br />As parents, we get frustrated when our preschooler is still having toileting accidents out of pure laziness, when our school ages child feigns helpless when being told to tie their shoes or zip a coat. We know that they know those things, and we know that they are capable... therefore we <em>assume</em> that the child will simply do them.<br /><br />Not unrealistic by any means, but also not always the case.<br /><br />All of those assumptions go right out the window if you have a child with special needs. Those milestones are no longer assumptions. They are victories.<br /><br />If you don't have a child with any type of disability, take a moment an observe a parent who does. Watch that mom or dad watch their son as he runs bases or reads a passage from a book.<br />See the look of pride when their daughter is standing on roller skates for the first time, or paints a picture of a field filled with flowers and butterflies.<br />It's very humbling, and it makes me very grateful that my son isn't more severely delayed (it probably sounds sad to an outsider, but I take solace n the fact that it could always be worse), and I also feel a sense of understanding, because <em>I get it</em>. To a lesser extent, I live it.<br /><br />Yesterday, wasn't about rejoicing over something that my kid did in spite of his disability. It was just about my kid being a kid.<br /><br />Iain, in spite of his delays, has never had a problem with his gross or fine motor skills. He walked early, climbed like a monkey and has rather impressive coordination. Yet, because he was in a special education program, he received some occupational therapy.<br />That took his already decent GMS and FMS and made them sharp.<br /><br />Iain swings a bat with decent accuracy, runs with a soccer ball and is quite the bowler. Why his immediate response to a bicycle surprised me, I am not really sure.<br /><br />The boys and I went out to have lunch with Papa on Friday, as they didn't have school. Since Chris is building a school, and there's all kinds of equipment around, it's a fascinating experience for them (plus, they get a kick out of hanging out with dad during the work day).<br />After saying our "see you later"s to their father, we made a group decision that no one was ready to go home. Nice weather, busy stretch of suburban road... prime garage sale territory.<br /><br />During one of our stops, we found a bike. Great shape - almost new - and cheap! Five bucks and it was hours. Fit nicely into the trunk, and I didn't even think about the size (a 16", when we were planning to buy a 20", and training wheel equip it for the summer ), <em>assuming</em> that we'd slap some training wheels onto it, and hand it directly to Spud, versus buying him a scooter, as we'd originally discussed.<br /><br />After an afternoon in the Ninth Circle of Hell (or as many of you call, it, Chuck E. Cheese's), I decided to finally haul said aquisition out of the trunk, and see how well Iain did in terms of keeping the frame upright.<br />In short, we're not going to bother with training wheels. At least not until Iain fits onto a 20" bike and the smaller model gets handed to Braeden.<br /><br />It's days like yesterday that offset the days of frustration, making them seem small and unimportant, even if only for a little while.<br />My son has developmental delays, but he's able to do some pretty awesome stuff. Like get onto an unsupported two wheeled bike and take off down the road like he's been riding on his own for weeks. Wobbly on the outside, but confident that he'll lick it and be racing with the big kids in no time. And he will be.<br /><br />...and he had the good sense to ask for his helmet, which I LOVED.<br /><br />Today has been a day par quo, of melt downs and reminders. Of pestering even after asking for the same thing ten minutes ago, only to forget before he makes it up the stairs.<br /><br />But yesterday... yesterday I saw progress. And progress was an amazing feeling.Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931615779578846842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296213764010538510.post-67280987071391191282009-05-12T21:10:00.003-04:002009-05-12T21:25:10.225-04:00Every once in a while...I manage to whip up something that I am pleased with. It's usually on the fly, and a total whim (whereas the stuff that I sit down and think about goes all wrong), but somehow it comes out okay.<br /><br />I challenged myself to use up pieces of other stuff that I had around the house (part of my 'Procrastinators No more!' thread, but a couple of days past the April challenge deadline), and it worked.<br />A piece from an SCS swap (Kelli, if you're seeing this, the sundae cup was from your <em>Grease </em>creation from Kate's swap), scraps of paper, glitter remnants, industrial caulking tape, left over from a five year old RAK...<br /><br />And Ward wonders why I don't throw anything away...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0YMEJeug3cPyZoxO6OBNukrzT10LhJDzRKMGR7yf4wE3Rgn9gcvRyQVgPAA0q2tBlQBzX3Cr1K07m2e5zynAyvT85pyQmpzcOaZ0eZK8EQk7TXUBFlFEvvZ0VAF6GEe9IllKd6hHJ2c/s1600-h/misc+127.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335110644393360610" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 284px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0YMEJeug3cPyZoxO6OBNukrzT10LhJDzRKMGR7yf4wE3Rgn9gcvRyQVgPAA0q2tBlQBzX3Cr1K07m2e5zynAyvT85pyQmpzcOaZ0eZK8EQk7TXUBFlFEvvZ0VAF6GEe9IllKd6hHJ2c/s400/misc+127.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div> </div><div>I made this for my boys' kindergarten teacher. She's an absolute ice cream junkie. I've never seen anyone who loves it more (she rented a soft serve machine from a company so often that they offered to sell it to her... and of couse she accepted).<br /><br />My only regrets: that I didn't think of it three days sooner so that I'd have had more time to let it dry between layers (because all that Triple Thick and Diamond Glaze made me downright loopy), and that I didn't make the whipped cream a bit fluffier. (although when sitting on pooling hot fudge, it does tend to melt quickly).<br /><br />Anyhow, I added some hot chocolate essential oil to the process and the darn thing makes the classroom smell divine.<br /><br /><br /></div><div>So there you have it. My most recent project - at least most recent that I have been truly pleased with anyhow.<br />And it worked out as an update to my blog, which I've been slacking on somethin' fierce.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931615779578846842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296213764010538510.post-30146074629017814302009-04-07T07:50:00.005-04:002009-04-07T08:03:40.664-04:00Slacking Again, and Kudos GaloreSo much happens, and there is never enough hours in a day to post even half of it.<br /><br />In fairly recent news, and as many people have already heard, Jennah had a piece submitted into the citywide art display at the UICA.<br />Miss J has quite the creative apitiude, and her art teacher, Mrs. Ford, does much credit in that she brings it out of Jennah and enables her to shine.<br /><br />I can quite proudly say that the nut didn't fall far from the tree, and for once it doesn't relate to something obnoxious and sexist that my boys have inherited from their father.<br /><br />Rather than ramble in my usual fashion, I will close with two photos; one of Miss J next to her piece (which, for clarification is her cat, Dinah and an expanded theme), and of of Jennah with Mrs. Ford.<br /><br />I love that my kid is artsy <em>and </em>nerdy. If she continues on this path, she'll be a well rounded young lady.<br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321917520283092706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 206px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1WJ6SJGERCKLrjJhprTiM6xwfjdUD_h79zcO5I744EvMkuWRi-m2j-Ncv9JAwFKy9L_QjuVBF6lW4XH_ZcGAjrQu8V_UjPefxZi2vHTFAytXab3MfivxYYLi9373eJpdwVWrHPL5YIU/s320/UICA+art+exhibit+004.jpg" border="0" /> <em>*it's hard to see, but the row of brown across the top is a string of pet mice.<br /><br /></em> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321917930593931954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 207px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYrOKU3WJqMqXDBijKcMwHV3PGiZCVhhxF-DT1J8w_liWOIdgDXkzXem0o2yfYkkYUTOL01tczh6ld-l3nC0G7HXu8p8-hUbuzt6s4U1SEsNi_DQpOPhyUViUNIzMauNzQhTWnl4ed-E/s320/UICA+art+exhibit+005.jpg" border="0" /> </div><div> One more thing, before I forget... Mrs. Ford gave me aheads up on something... all of Frost's students with exhibited pieces will receive a ceremonious nod and a plaque during the Monday morning meeting the day that school resumes.<br /><br />Good thing that I had to go to the school last Thursday. I wouldn't want to miss that!<br /></div>Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931615779578846842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296213764010538510.post-63898176254880331202009-03-03T20:58:00.002-05:002009-03-03T21:46:06.971-05:00Rambling On About the TellyTrue to my word, readers get to be subjected to my peculiar taste in television viewing.<br /><br />You can run away now, if you like, but I promise that this one won't be as lengthy as the last.<br /><br /><em><strong>Vintage Vs. Current</strong></em><br /><br />It's simple, really. TV shows from the past twenty years or so have nothing on the stuff from the early days. Sure, the eighties had some great viewing - <em>Remington Steele</em>, <em>The Golden Girls, The Facts of Life, Star Trek TNG, </em>and some really amazing cartoons.<br />I'm sure that there are other shows that I am missing, but quartet of crazy old women in Miami aside, not much of the sitcom era excited me enough to want to revisit it.<br /><br />Mtv does not count in this catagory. It fed my interest from a musical perspective, and still gave me something to view. <em>120 Minutes</em> was my favorite two hours of channel 22 viewing all week long.<br /><br />Stuff that I loved to watch, and still do:<br /><em>The Beverly Hillbillies<br />The Addams Family<br />My Three Sons<br />Mr. Ed<br />I Love Lucy<br /><br /></em>Honorable mention:<br /><em>Dennis the Menace<br />The Munsters </em>(funny, but not as cool as The Addams)<br /><em>The Donna Reed Show<br />The Anne Sullivan Show<br />The Danny Thomas Show / Father Knows Best<br />Leave It To Beaver </em>(you cannot possibly think I'd dub my husband 'Ward' and not watch that one?)<br /><br />One of the coolest gifts I've ever been given was a few years ago. Ward hunted down the entire Addams series in DVD box set form. At that point it was very hard to find season by season - the whole series took some hassle and weeks and weeks of backorder from Barnes & Noble. And for me it was worth every minute.<br />When the price drops a bit more, hopefully he'll add the Clampetts to my collection, too. I am content to watch the other stuff on the internet now and then, but I love those silly hillbillies.<br /><br />There are lots of others, too... I watched A LOT of television as a kid. Had a 19" black and white set in my room growing up, and was a horrible insomniac, so the tv was on 24/7. I stayed up far too late, watching whatever appealed to me, and would eventually slide the cable box down to Nickelodeon and let Nick At Nite run all night long.<br />In addition to tv shows full of people who were aging or dead by the time I was born, I also saw quite a bit of John Wayne that way. <br /><br />As far as current or fairly recent viewing, I suppose that I watch a lot of nerdy tv. I was a pretty big <em>X-Files</em> junkie, and picked up <em>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</em> from the very first episode (I also own that in box set form, but have no real interest in any of Joss Whedon's other work). I liked <em>Star Trek</em> (still do), and now watch <em>Fringe </em>and <em>Bones</em>, though neither one on a committed basis.<em><br /></em>I also like <em>Medium</em>, but again, I'm not heartbroken if I miss an episode.<br /><br /><strong><em>"Mr. Humphries, are you free?"</em></strong><br /><br />Classic television aside, my heart really lies on another continent.<br /><br />I am positively addicted to British television. My very favorite cartoon is <em>Dangermouse</em> and it doesn't come close to stopping there.<br /><br />I've watched each series of <em>Father Ted</em> over and over again, and laughed just as hard every time. I have a long standing love-hate relationship with Hyacinth Bucket (and would love to have Chris relent and dole out for the <em>Keeping Up Appearances </em>box series. But he hates the show, so he steadfastly refuses.), and I have come to realize that I'm almost as addicted to <em>Monarch of the Glen</em>, though I like the first four seaons better than the last three.<br /><br />There are plenty of others, too... <em>The Vicar of Dibley, Are You Being Served?, Hetty Wainthropp</em>... and current standing shows as well, though I see those too infrequently to stay up to speed ( no cable means to BBC channel).<br />My utmost favorite, though, stars a very young Hugh Laurie, from long before anyone knew him as Dr. Gregory House<em>...</em> <em>Jeeves & Wooster.<br /></em>Actually I'd have to say that it's a tie between that and the good Fathers of Craggy Island (if you like British humor and you've never watched <em>Father Ted</em>, you should. It's quite good.).<br /><br />Another thing that we have a decent collection of in our house: Japanese animation.<br />Somehow we are drawn to the ongoing series. Here we have soap operas, whereas Japan shows things like <em>Urusei Yatsura </em>and <em>Initial D</em>.<br />Those don't get viewed nearly as often, but they are dearly appreciated.<br /><br />I often think about this old woman who came into Blockbuster nearly every day before noon and exchanged her single video rental. She'd select one old film, often a noir thriller, though sometimes a comedy or a love story, and on a rare occasion a musical. And always a story attached to it.<br />She lived alone. Her husband had passed well over a decade before and her children lived outside of the area and were aging themselves. Her cat, the Turner Classic Movies channel and her visits to the video store were her constant companions.<br />I cannot remember her name for the life of me, but I recall her face and her voice as though she'd been at my front door this morning. It is to her that I owe some credit for some of the films that I enjoy now. They were found by her recommendation.<br /><br />There you have it. I am a huge dork with next to no life away from my glowing tubes of picture and sound (be they HDTV or monitor screen), books and quirky habits. Somewhere in there falls music and crafting, but that is for another day.Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931615779578846842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296213764010538510.post-45147938050207303952009-02-27T13:00:00.003-05:002009-02-27T14:25:25.174-05:00These Are A Few of My Favorite ThingsAll of the survey silliness and random posting on sites like MySpace and Facebook gets me thinking now and then.<br />It's been a while since I've actually evaluated the question "<em>What do I like?"</em>.<br /><br />As we get older, some of our interests change. Things we once enjoyed fall by the wayside, long since forgotten, or are replaced by different hobbies, new likes and dislikes.<br /><br />Rather than post a disorganized list of this and that, sifting and sorting by catagory makes sense to me.<br />In addition, because I know that it will satisfy my psyche later one (and because it's my blog, and well, I can), there will be bits of explaination interspersed as I see fit.<br /><br /><strong>Movies and Television.<br /></strong>The moving picture is a horrid weakness of mine. I spent countless hours of my youth immersed in the soft glowing light that eminated from the picture tube. I was caught up in the wacky antics of Lucille Ball, wishing that The Addams could somehow adopt me, entranced by the swagger of The Duke or the charm of Cary Grant, and just plain glued to Mtv or whatever Nick At Nite happened to be showing when I should have been fast asleep.<br />That addiction never subsided. I still love much of what I enjoyed back then, and have added quite a lengthy list of cinema and sitcom to my mental collection of adoration.<br /><br />Mind you there'll be no rhyme or reason to this list. Just spouted and put to keyboard as they come to me.<br /><br /><em>Breakfast At Tiffany's</em><br />Dear Lord, how Audrey Hepburn gets to me. She was, and still is, the embodiment of gentility and grace. Of poise and elegance. Classy and classic.<br />Which also explains why the next one is on my list...<br /><br /><em>Roman Holiday</em><br />If you haven't seen it, you should. It's wonderful.<br /><br /><em>The Breakfast Club</em><br />I was a child of the eighties. What more do you want?<br /><br />Ladies, don't deny it. You <em>know</em> you tried the lipstick trick.<br /><br /><em>American History X</em><br />I cannot tell you how many times I have watched that film, and yet I still cover my eyes, cringe and cry. When I think of Edward Norton, I think of that film. (screw <em>Fight Club</em>. Totally inferior, and it had Brad Pitt, which made it that much worse in my opinion)<br />I really think that high school kids should have to watch that film. They'd learn an awful lot.<br /><br /><em>Dracula<br /></em>I defy you to find <em>anyone</em> who, on the mention of that name, doesn't automatically think of Bela Lugosi. There have been many fantastic horror films made since then, including some decent interpretations of Vlad himself (Gary Oldman did a lovely job, as did Frank Langella), but this film set the bar for all vampire films to come.<br /><br /><em>Practical Magic<br /></em>This is one that I watch in the company of no one. I look like a sobbing idiot. Some piece of me identifies with Sandra Bullock's character, and it just tears me up. I didn't much care for her prior to that movie, and now I think she's swell.<br /><br /><em>Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood</em><br />Go ahead. Give me crap. If you grew up in a seriously fucked up home (I won't even censor that bit, because it would lose the necessary emphasis), you'll feel for Siddalee and <em>know</em> what she went through.<br />I read the book before I saw the movie, and it did nothing for me. When I watched the fim for the first time, I bawled. Score another point for Ms. Bullock (or should I say Mrs. James?).<br /><br /><em>Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure</em><br />I love this movie!!! It's campy, and the acting is subpar at best, but that's part of its charm.<br /><br /><em>Labyrinth</em><br />David Bowie's pants. Need I say more?<br /><br /><em>Swing Kids<br /></em>Another tear jerker. Robert Sean Leonard is so very, very talented.<br /><br /><em>Laura<br /><br />Pete's Dragon<br /><br />As Good As It Gets</em><br />I adore Jack Nicholson. I enjoy many of his films, but this is by far, my favorite. Why they ever considered Dustin Hoffman for this role is beyond me (no offense to Mr. Hoffman intended).<br /><br /><em>Something Wicked This Way Comes<br /></em>Tell me that Mr. Dark didn't scare the heck out of you. I'm thirty-two and I still think that he's creepy.<br /><br /><em>Rock Hudson and Doris Day<br /></em>Okay, that's not a movie, but to list them all, I'd add quite a few lines of dialogue to my ramblings.<br /><br /><em>Down With Love<br /></em>While I'm thinking of Rock and Doris, this one comes to mind. A lighthearted homage to the cutest couple of the 1960's, It showcases Ewan McGregor's talents and offers an adorable performance from Renee` Zellweger (whom I do not usually enjoy).<br /><br />I do not think that I need to add anything about <em>Nightmare Before Christmas</em>. My interest in that film and its cast of characters teeters on the brink of obsession.<br /><br />While we're on Tim Burton, here are a few more to add:<br /><em>Big Fish<br />Beetlejuice<br />Edward Scissrohands<br /><br /></em>...leading from that, <em>Vincent Price</em> holds a place in my heart. I simply love his work. All of it. Every last little teensy, weensy piece.<br /><br />And another man who gets multiple nods; Adam Sandler.<br /><em>The Wedding Singer </em>( definitely one of my Top 10 All Time Favorites )<br /><em>Little Nicky<br />50 First Dates<br />Anger Management </em>( Adam and Jack in one film is like a Reese's Peantut Butter Cup)<br /><br />And while I wouldn't add every film to my favorites list, I've never seen a <em>Cary Grant</em> performance that didn't make me fall madly in love with him for the entire viewing.<br />Mr. Grant was, in my eyes, <em>the </em>definition of handsome male, and in many ways, still is. (and what made him ever sexier was that he was really British! The first time I heard his rough and broken English accent I nearly fainted. Seriously.)<br /><br />Oh good golly, if I post a quip about every film, I'll be here for ages, and I haven't even touched a wisp of television.<br />A few more that should not go unmentioned<br /><br /><em>Suicide Kings </em>( Christopher Walken = best creepy subtle bad guy. EVER. )<br /><em>Ever After </em>( the dress is tenfold more stunning in real life.. I wish I'd taken pictures)<br /><em>Darby O'Gill and the Little People</em> ( featuring Sean Connery when he actually had hair!)<br /><em>The Usual Suspects </em>( Keyser Soze! Keyser Soze! Brilliant!)<br /><br />And I am certain to be missing some, but this has gone on long enough. I'll save the bits on television for the next posting.<br /><br />If you've taken the time to actually read this, I want to know, what are some of YOUR favorites?<br />Do you have films that you can watch over and over again, and never get enough of? Or movies that bring forth a wellspring of emotion, be it laughter or tears?<br /><br />Share, share share!<br /><br />I did. Now it's your turn.Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931615779578846842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296213764010538510.post-35131095849261583632009-02-25T20:22:00.013-05:002009-02-25T21:29:16.314-05:00An Ounce of AmbitionIt all started with this: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinm6Fs-26KIE6_T5Nh8dcg8yPLWkGkGj9xc8e-KUJgXaw7jS3SXuaEAWKe2O7WeEfUFbhfH4fjkLb-h9QP5o6oV3WsQlOlA8ZaWBZjKqAzWRA9LNERCRMc13Hl8gMIa8Jv_4XMUiPgLx4/s1600-h/room+reno+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306918660389187426" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 183px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinm6Fs-26KIE6_T5Nh8dcg8yPLWkGkGj9xc8e-KUJgXaw7jS3SXuaEAWKe2O7WeEfUFbhfH4fjkLb-h9QP5o6oV3WsQlOlA8ZaWBZjKqAzWRA9LNERCRMc13Hl8gMIa8Jv_4XMUiPgLx4/s320/room+reno+002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A plain shelf, intended for Jennah's bedroom, left<br />by the wayside to collect dust and add to the pile<br />of crap amassed and unused.<br /><br />This piece was my intended February challenge<br />project (as I'd mentioned in my previous blog post).<br /><br />However, it sort of, well, <em>expanded</em>.<br /><br />I'd forgotten that I'd slapped a quickie coat of white on the shelf a while ago. Rather than strip, sand and stain it, I decided to sand and distress it, to match the rest of the bedroom. (the location shown above is the spot that I marked out on the wall and hung it briefly for the shot)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3sDDue8bdcYX2cGt9vfZktuB_HRbRNsDh5UlLrCNXGFjBGWB-AhlfhyzWz7-wWlWM0VKLyXppupd0h4p36fvZUrBvG85fsucT35tIQkyFBfcnnriiSTeHaIlilLet3papB-lffxkphU/s1600-h/room+reno+004.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLkcuKNjWCAvuqeIxgs75K6aJU7yJwrGAm4j74hFFVEbfPPydBcEvkD1byheMAOLhFaujQIZWUJ2_erIe70mceHfooMHQX_3zXPhRVeCFN9JDpk9IKZNs1rwEE8TtSF_e7_OscikF1Suw/s1600-h/room+reno+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306917737278424898" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 171px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLkcuKNjWCAvuqeIxgs75K6aJU7yJwrGAm4j74hFFVEbfPPydBcEvkD1byheMAOLhFaujQIZWUJ2_erIe70mceHfooMHQX_3zXPhRVeCFN9JDpk9IKZNs1rwEE8TtSF_e7_OscikF1Suw/s320/room+reno+004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Feeling the need to make the shelf match the rest of the room, my eye kept being drawn to this:<br /><br /><br /><br />Jennah's room is painted in an ocean floorscape.<br />However, because it was the only room that I wanted to <em>really</em> finish in the six day painting spree that I was on between the day that we gained keys to the house and the day that we started moving in.<br />In short, I was rushed. And I've been unhappy with it ever since.<br /><br />So, my shelf became a project to touch up Miss J's bedroom. Just add a bit of color, install a hook for her bathrobe on the back of her bedroom door, move some furniture around, throw away broken toys and general unnecessary crap, spruce up her window, show off the fabulous name frame that Misty made for her.. you know.. spruce! Clean!<br /><br />Oh, and the shelf makeover. Can't forget that.<br /><br />Furniture moved, crap discarded, everything dusted, washed and removed in a matter of a few hours. Piece of cake.<br />Painting even a four inch square area with three kids straing over my shoulder - not so much.<br /><br />What I didn't finish on Sunday, I completed on Tuesday.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DbemNQoPgI2fsMSEy1DSwb7zqRkTHSTB-msQl6PKcaXa73gj0FJjUe-VV1L6LnPRgZUHCWAUQ2mu5CMqGr3WUy9Qx4iLlgofV7Oldxw9Y3LHRvc4uu5iojUoACoA6tI9-ZsVGwRrkRE/s1600-h/room+reno+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306919856375042978" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 199px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DbemNQoPgI2fsMSEy1DSwb7zqRkTHSTB-msQl6PKcaXa73gj0FJjUe-VV1L6LnPRgZUHCWAUQ2mu5CMqGr3WUy9Qx4iLlgofV7Oldxw9Y3LHRvc4uu5iojUoACoA6tI9-ZsVGwRrkRE/s320/room+reno+006.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />It started here:<br /><br />The coat hook I purchased for Jennah's door. Half off at Hobby Lobby. Plain white and <em>begging</em> for some color and fun.<br /><br />A good way to utilize some of the massive shell collection.<br /><br />I'm pretty happy with this part of the project. It came out swell, if I do say so myself.<br /><br />Next we have: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3aV_LrZ9om17id-TfXP06vVAydRa_g0bVwyQgS8eDLIBF44jYZUr7vXqtOAAu1H8SO55NMjkjVFUn-V6xjSCfONQeRmtip1oZtFDLrbROnp0ZvLGyYLUistCHSKubJfMF1D8ik3B73T0/s1600-h/room+reno+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306920427609010306" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 174px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3aV_LrZ9om17id-TfXP06vVAydRa_g0bVwyQgS8eDLIBF44jYZUr7vXqtOAAu1H8SO55NMjkjVFUn-V6xjSCfONQeRmtip1oZtFDLrbROnp0ZvLGyYLUistCHSKubJfMF1D8ik3B73T0/s320/room+reno+007.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><br /><br /><p>The INCREDIBLE name frame that Misty created. (you really need to click on the photo to enlarge it and see the detail - it's great!!)<br /><br />Said name frame has a new home on the finished shelf.<br />I, however, did not take a picture of the shelf. A fact that I completely overlooked until <em>just now</em>. Oh well. Moving on...<br /><br />After getting them all out, there were all of these shells everywhere, begging for usage.<br /><br />Some of them are HUGE. Like bigger than my foot. Some of them are teeny. Most are inbetween, and the ledge above her window was an ideal spot for the 2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31Z4FP_-N_b_q2qlGXDwqDlI9hP9UW1l4Nqab_dBaXkuM-LzTu5kG2c_ufvzuCN5afpOq83JLaKdxpWpvSmoFbnfWgTDAklaot_RemuoTspigLwvFS3PwtpxOFSkChU7I05GjJhehIFk/s1600-h/room+reno+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306921748552742306" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 181px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31Z4FP_-N_b_q2qlGXDwqDlI9hP9UW1l4Nqab_dBaXkuM-LzTu5kG2c_ufvzuCN5afpOq83JLaKdxpWpvSmoFbnfWgTDAklaot_RemuoTspigLwvFS3PwtpxOFSkChU7I05GjJhehIFk/s320/room+reno+010.jpg" border="0" /></a>"- 3.5" models.<br />A little bit of sticky putty to secure them and a lot of climbing up and down my stepstool, and this was what I came up with:<br /></p><br /><br /><p>Jennah really likes the window swag look. Not my thing, really, but she digs it, so I brought it back (she'd had one before but it didn't mesh with the theme... still doesn't, really, but oh well. The kid's happy.)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGL8yTl4jfd2YA3Wd-aPjzwBm6LuYXmn0uIsX3BpW8Dv9zmY1KDsJ9MC62Cx_6bQb1tkpgjwUG3MJI3dXfVd0MUTJl3ucNOWV7OYYuePueSId0UkxhjLt-BflySeBb4nEvFrqgXyGA-Sw/s1600-h/room+reno+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306926324066658898" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 263px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGL8yTl4jfd2YA3Wd-aPjzwBm6LuYXmn0uIsX3BpW8Dv9zmY1KDsJ9MC62Cx_6bQb1tkpgjwUG3MJI3dXfVd0MUTJl3ucNOWV7OYYuePueSId0UkxhjLt-BflySeBb4nEvFrqgXyGA-Sw/s320/room+reno+011.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />For the smaller stuff that was worthy of showing off, I threw something together atop her dresser, and set a behemoth next to it. ( I don't have any pictures of her array of Lion's Paw shells. Those are her favorites. )</p><br /><p>I added this photo only to show you how truly obsessed my kid is. That shell is HUGE. Anything larger has no business in a bedroom!<br /><br />All of this done, and I still had that corner glaring at me.<br />I'd added small fish, seaweed and coral in other places. I put some additional color into the jellies, seahorse and Spongebob's house (remember, she was four when we moved in. In her mind, Spongebob was as much a part of undersea life as.. Nemo. Or Shamu. I asked if she wanted the pineapple painted over and heard a very firm "NO!" in reply), but that corner and its sorry, lopsided contents were still mocking me.<br /><br />This momma is <em>not </em>an artist. I'm crafty, but I'm far from VanGogh. But I t<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVAGjUN3WIoWxBpqemG2JXwGcHap4kgDEFzJDJSR1SeH_l-zaz-PnIozJMMpyY0t0DC7bTEQ_7x-Z4_Hl_3_XadJ9hExYsldoE9OTA_15mlbMzCZvoHwNtMLRjWnkU3-YLh5Y9aykvoZ0/s1600-h/room+reno+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306924038620401170" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 226px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVAGjUN3WIoWxBpqemG2JXwGcHap4kgDEFzJDJSR1SeH_l-zaz-PnIozJMMpyY0t0DC7bTEQ_7x-Z4_Hl_3_XadJ9hExYsldoE9OTA_15mlbMzCZvoHwNtMLRjWnkU3-YLh5Y9aykvoZ0/s320/room+reno+009.jpg" border="0" /></a>hink that I made it work. I grabbedJennah's mongo book o' fish, and mixed a color that was as close to the rays in the book as I could muster.<br /><br />And since rays are schooling fish, I made him a buddy.<br /><br />I was torn between leaving them solid colored and adding blue spots (you know, for the blue speckled ray! Or whatever it's called. It's really cute, anyhow. Who knew that fish could be cute??), but decided to leave them be and let Jennah decide.<br /><br />Her vote: perfect as is.<br /><br />Prior to the weekend, Jennah spent very little time in her bedroom. The kid has more toys than an ailse of TRU can hold, but she preferred to play downstairs, with the contents of the craft cupboard, get online with her Webkinz, or bury her nose in her Nintendo DS.<br /><br />Now, she doesn't want to do anything <em>but </em>hang out in her "super awesome" bedroom. I couldn't ask for higher praise.<br /><br />There you have it. My shelf refurbishing project.<br /><br />Made for one very hectic weekend when you try to maneuver this around auto servicing, birthday dinner for Chris and running errands in a nasty snowstorm, but worth every minute of it when I saw my kid's face. She didn't stop smiling for a full hour, and in spite of being sick and cranky today, I'm still the Best Mom Ever.<br /><br />Yay me.<br /><br /></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931615779578846842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296213764010538510.post-51763094493036332772009-02-24T07:04:00.002-05:002009-02-24T07:27:34.192-05:00A Pointless Purchase... for Now.Remeber, last week, when I said that I <em>had to </em>have a set of Nesties?<br /><br />Well, I bought them.<br /><br />Hobby Lobby coupon in hand, I secured my ovals (which turned out to be cheaper than either of the reasonable online retailers I'd have bought them from, when you factor in shipping), and came away from the purchase quite satisfied.<br />Upon returning home, I opened my newest investment and decided to allign the largest oval with the image I so desired to utilize it for.<br /><br />It's too gosh darn small!!! (the Nestie, I mean. Not the image.)<br /><br />So it was back to square one until the weekend, when (now armed with a Michaels coupon, of course) I bought an alternate template (curse you, Fiskars. I just can't quit you... ) and am mentally reworking the project a wee bit, to work with the substitution.<br /><br />After posting about the process, and all this griping, I'll have to post the completed effort, no matter how awful it turns out to be in the end.<br /><br />Speaking of completed efforts, the self imposed February challenge for my (and Misty's, to give credit where credit it due, as it was our midday phone call brainchild) 'Procrastinators, No More!' thread was to "breathe new life into something old".<br />The something that I chose was a shelf that I'd intended to use in my daughter's room.<br /><br />It was painted white, went up for a little while, and then sat awaiting usage.<br />It awaits usage no more, and just a shelf turned into sprucing up her whole room.<br /><br />That, however, is a blog for a later time (after dinner and Ward's eye appointment, if I can help it), because there'll be some photos involved.Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931615779578846842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296213764010538510.post-15493505455918398732009-02-19T14:49:00.002-05:002009-02-19T16:08:20.028-05:00The Right Thing Isn't Always the Easy ThingHave you ever had something that you <em>know</em> that you need to do, but you just don't want to do it?<br />I'm not talking about laundry or the dishes. We all have those days.<br /><br />I mean a something that you know deep down that you have to do, and part of you wants to do it, but part of you is fearful of the outcome. The kind of something that screams 'Catch 22', yet you know it has to be.<br /><br />Yeah, that's where I am at today. And I think that if I start right here, I'll be able to do what needs to be done with less pain in my heart and without a sick feeling in my stomach.<br /><br />Part of me feels more than a bit guilty, because my reluctance stems not only from a lack of desire to open old wounds, but of the fear of attaching myself to the situation.<br />But I'm already attached to it, and I didn't go through countless hours of therapy for nothing...<br /><br />The something that I have to do sounds very simple, in theory. I have to write a letter.<br /><br />This letter is to a judge, on behalf of my brother. He's not asked me to do it, and I'm not going to tell him that I'm doing it, but because of my experience with the system from the 'other side', I know that there is a good chance that my letter will help. Court impact letters almost always do. That's why they are called court impact letters.<br />My brother is facing prison time for something that outwardly is his fault, but inwardly is due to having the world's worst parents, and a system, that both academically and judicially, has failed him time and again.<br /><br />My younger brother is a learning disabled, emotionally impared and chemically embalanced drug addict. Born seven and a half weeks premature to a pair of cocaine addicts, who would later become crackheads, he was screwed from the word go.<br />In trouble more than out, and my mother half tried, half enabled him ( you cannot hand down firm punishment to a twelve or thitreen year old and expect it to stick when you do drugs with them. It just doesn't work ), and never once did the right thing.<br />Bobby ( yes, his name is Robert. My mom named him after his father / my stepfather, and clearly didn't think about the remarks her kids would eventually face ) is capable of more, but needs a lot of help to get there.<br /><br />Fast forwarding nearly two decades, here stands a man who is fast approaching thirty years of age, with the intellectual capacity of a third grader at best, a criminal record a mile long and very little hope of rehabilitating should he be incarcerated, because drugs are plentiful in prison and mental health treatment is not.<br />The instance that has him facing the judge next week isn't even all that severe; it's that the system is tired of having him in front of the bench, and they're to the point of washing their hands.<br />But the court is only now seeing its failure ( because I called his newest probation officer a few weeks ago and laid it all out, and was blessed to find out that the man spent a decade working in one of the schools that Bobby attended prior to said PO's tenure, and thus, has much familiarity with kids like my brother and what sort of adults they become ), and I fear it may be too late.<br /><br />Some may wonder why I didn't attempt to aid earlier. That answer is simple: because my brother still wanted to be a drug addict. He wasn't ready to change.<br />He's finally trying now, to better his life, and had been trying prior to the most recent arrest ( he got into an arguement with his fiancee` and her daughter called the police ). Addiction is a hard road, and he hasn't ever had the right kind of help.<br />I a proud beyond words of my brother, for following through thus far. He's passing his random drug tests, and after a long talk admitted that he needed help and wanted help but didn't know how to get it.<br />An addict's talk cheap talk, and I've heard those lines from my mother more times than I can count. Only this isn't my mother and my gut tells me that he's in it for real, and is trying his hardest.<br /><br />I think that part of me feels the need to make up for where my mother failed. That somehow I'll be making atonement with my own demons if I can set this right. That if I can lay out, in simple honest truth, the how and why of the way that things are now, I'll be helping Bobby, and myself.<br />Stress to the court that I agree that he's a nusiance - he pesters me often several times a day, for money, food, borrowed items, to act as a referee for family disputes - but that he needs the opportunity to continue with the counseling that he is now receiving, and will not receive should he be incarcerated.<br /><br />Problem is, I'm spineless. Even now, as I explain, I am holding back. A lifetime of anger and emotional distress brought on by circumstances that I could not control, locked away in my head. A door that I do not open, because I'm afraid of what it will do to me when it does, both emotionally and professionally.<br />No one wants to elect an emotional basketcase with a family full of crackheads and derelicts to the city commission or school board, no matter how competent or qualified they seem. And God knows I have no deisre to head back to therapy for another thousand hours or so ( though I probably should ).<br />This circumstances with my brother have brought my repressed issues to the surface. If there has ever been a time that the door needs to be opened, it's now. I cannot explain the situation with any sincerity, without delving into that which I would rather leave alone.<br /><br />...and as though Fate were telling me something, as I was writing the last paragraph, my telephone rang. It was Bobby, phoning as he drove past my house, to give me some good natured crap for going outside without shoes on in a snowstorm, to tend to my trash ( for the record, I had shoes on, but they weren't black, so he assumed that I was stockingfooted ).<br />That's my kid brother. He's quite something.<br /><br />I know what I need to do, but that doesn't mean that I have to like it.<br /><br />Since there's no way to transport myself to the realm of the dead, and give my mother a good hard slap across the face for failing as a parent (not that it would do any good, were it possible), this is the best that I can do.<br />I've slowly moved towards 'normal', in spite of her and other less than savory facets of my family. If I can help my brother get there, and he can become a productive member of society to the best of his ability, then we've won. Her reign of terror will have finally ended and my mother will, at last, be laid to rest.<br /><br />Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a letter to write.Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931615779578846842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296213764010538510.post-78589009885359200442009-02-19T07:23:00.003-05:002009-02-19T07:52:37.079-05:00Well, it's official.I <strong><em>need</em> </strong>some Nestabilities. <em><strong>NOW</strong></em>.<br /><br />I've put off becoming one of the Spellbinders addicts for many reasons. Space, being the chief answer, and expense following right behind.<br /><br />My justification for the past few months has been waiting for the only store in town that has the multi-pack to have their 25% off storewide sale.<br />That sale has not yet happened (or I completely missed it, which is possible).<br /><br />And then I said "Oh, I'll just wait for Mega Meet and pick them up for a decent price there".<br /><br />As I am the queen of the land of WillNotBuyUnlessOnSale, that concept rests comfortably in my mind, knowing that somewhere in the Rock Financial Showplace there <em>will </em>be a set waiting for me, and my checkbook will be singing because I invested what amounts to jack squat when compared to regular retail price.<br /><br />Last night, however, I found a flaw in my plan.<br /><br />I have a project staring me in the face that requires an oval, in a size which I currently do not own.<br /><br />After spending an hour ( okay, twenty minutes, but that's because my overpacked space is organized, darn it! There's an hour's worth of sorting neatly filed into one drawer ) sifting through what I have on hand, I found that I do not own what I need to move towards completion.<br /><br />Anyone who knows me knows what this means. *insert stock footage of screaming woman and stampeding mob here*<br /><br />I will be out today, hunting, and will probably end up paying more for it than if I patiently waited for an envelope to arrive in my mailbox from one of the numerous online retailers who offer said product as a reasonable rate.<br /><br />Patience, however, is not in my repetoire.<br /><br />However, other obligatons will prevent me from making a day long adventure out of my efforts (something which my son will be grateful for, I'm sure. By store number three on Mommy's Errand Day, Braeden is done and would probably stuff me into a cart and leave me in a remote corner in Wal Mart if he had the brawn to match his brains, and the ability to reach the gas pedal and still see over the steering wheel).<br /><br />And (said with a sigh) I have to do something difficult later, and unfortunately for anyone who reads this, you all will get to 'hear' about it, because sometimes things are best resolved when pen is put to paper (or in this case, fingers to keyboard).<br /><br />For now I leave you with the idea that I will return home, triumphant, prize in tow, grinning like a kid on too much sugar, eager to take on the next hurdle...<br /><br />How to use the damned things. 'Cause I haven't a clue.<br /><br />But unlike a man, I'm willing to say "that's what instructions are for!" and remember that when in doubt, one can always fall back on an Exacto blade or a sledge hammer to finish the job.Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931615779578846842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296213764010538510.post-17145139420208504692009-02-11T06:17:00.002-05:002009-02-11T07:32:20.595-05:00Teachers and Projects and Planning... Oh My!I am one of the fortunate parents who knows exactly how those fifteen minute sessions will turn out.<br />However, I was pleasantly surprised when things when even better than I expected.<br /><br />We see progress in Iain every day. There are obstacles that he has overcome that looked nearly insurmountable at the beginning of the school year. He has grown, shone and proven time and again how incredibly gifted he is, in his own wonderful way.<br /><br />And as an added bonus, he tied his shoes for the first time yesterday. ( which resulted in applause from both his teachers and his parents when he promptly showed off his newly acquired skill ).<br />I couldn't be more proud of that kid.<br /><br />Jennah took one look at the bar set for 'stellar', raised it, and cleared it with grace.<br />Seeing nearly every column on her report card adorned with a '4' ( our equivalence to an 'A' until high school ), reviewing all of the notes made by the extracurricular teachers... she even got '3's in Phys. Ed, which is downright amazing! She may learn to overcome her inherent clumsiness after all!<br />If only some of that would wear off and resurface at home. ( a phrase uttered by many a parent since the dawn of man )<br /><br />Then again, she is <em>my</em> child. To expect her to not be willful, opinionated and stubborn is like expecting a turtle not to swim. While her mouth and her determination are the things that get her into trouble, they are also the things that help make her who she is.<br /><br />Braeden... Braeden... Braeden.<br /><br />I shake my head as a write this, but in spite of it, I have to smile.<br /><br />The boy is a born politician. He schmoozes, capable of telling people exactly what they want to hear, and finds the weak link in any situation, only to use it to his advantage ( even if that means unnerving a fellow classmate, which seems to be the case ). He smiles with such sincerity and speaks with such conviction, that one cannot help but think he's amazing.<br /><br /><em>Or so he thinks.</em> Fortunately, he's also five and a half years old. His shenanigans are much<br />more transparent that he realizes. Heaven help us when he's twelve, because by then he'll be a BS Ninja.<br /><br />We ( his teacher and I ) have forumlated a plan that will - we hope - rectify some of his nonsense. A few days of going to school without his jacket, or wearing his pajamas should squelch his desire to move at the pace of a snail in the morning ( and by the same token, coming home without his coat or snowpants and having to stay indoors while Bub and Sis get to play outside should motivate him at the end of the day ), and we're hoping that some of the positive momentum will carry over into the rest of the day's activities.<br /><br />And on to other, non-child related news....<br /><br />I have a yellow light for my trip to Utah!!<br /><br />The light is green, but we need to A. get the tax return and B. pay all necessary bills before I invest in a plane ticket.<br /><br />Prices are way down right now ( over $150 difference from when I last checked, and nearly $300 less than when I began scouting ), and I am excited to take an extended weekend away to visit with a good friend, for what will be the first time, vis-a-vis.<br /><br />Admittedly, I am rather nervous about spending an extended weekend away from Chris and the kids, but it'll be a lot of fun.<br />For the next trip out there, I'll bring Ward and the yahoos along. Jennah and the boys will love the dinosaur excavation sites and I'm sure that we'll find something for Chris to do, so that even he will have a good time.<br /><br />As this is supposed to be an excuse for me to post things that I have been working on, I should probably close with a 'something' that I've created of late.<br /><br />Problem is,<em> </em>I haven't been terribly excited by anything that I've completed in the last month or so. Nothing that wasn't jewelry, anyhow, and I never take pictures of those.<br />I've tackled several cards, a few altered items, two mini albums ( one paper, one chipboard ) and a couple of additional gifts, but nothing that I've felt was 'blog worthy'.<br /><br />I will post a completed project when I finish one that I am happy with. Hopefully one of my February projects ( for the 'Procrastinators, No More!' thread ) will make its way here.Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931615779578846842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296213764010538510.post-51547651485194752692008-12-13T16:15:00.002-05:002008-12-13T16:19:44.189-05:00Time For a FaceliftI haven't done a darn thing with this blog in nearly two months.<br /><br />I keep <em>meaning </em>to, and then I just get ...sidetracked, I suppose.<br /><br />Tens of thousands of brilliant ( or at least <em>I </em>think they are ) rants and random thoughts, gone unpublished.<br /><br />Well, no more.<br /><br />New look, new sound and I assure you, new posts in the not too distant future.<br /><br />For now, this is it. In the meantime, you can minimize the page and enjoy my playlist, because admit it, P!nk is fucking awesome. ( so much so, that you just don't censor a gesture like that )<br /><br />Cheers!Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931615779578846842noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296213764010538510.post-69964616758017159462008-10-30T08:04:00.002-04:002008-10-30T14:31:30.172-04:00Making stridesWhile conferences were a nightmare ( moreso due to Braeden than Iain; that kid just can't stay in his seat ), I cannot help but sit back and smile when I see Iain.<br /><br />That kid has come so far since school started in September. He knows over half of his letters on sight now ( versus two in August ), a handful of numbers ( none in August ) and he's soaking up the learning process like mad.<br /><br />He's still way behind, and we have a long way to go before he'll be even close to caught up, but he's a bright kid, and eager to learn. Once the data gets in there, it sticks and he runs with it.<br /><br />Walking club wrapped up yesterday, until Spring. Bubba came in with a third foot on his bracelet ( every time they walk a mile / fill their punch card, they get a little plastic foot ), fourth card punched twice and grinning like a toothy jack-o-lantern.<br /><br />Pretty impressive considering that they only walk one day a week for half an hour.<br /><br />Being the sourpuss snot that she can be, Jennah had to point out that Harrison ( a classmate of hers ) had four feet and a fifth card.. to which I reminded her that Harrison is a full three years older and three grades higher than Iain, so he <em>should</em> be doing better, and that by third grade, if Iain continues to do so well, he'll have a better record than the one currently held by said althetic and entusiastic young man ( no offense to the boy intended. I rather like the kid, and his mom ).<br /><br />Steal Iain's thunder be damned.<br /><br />I generally let that stuff go because Iain doesn't mind, but it felt like a situation that needed some minor defending. A grateful smile confirmed that Mom's interfering was the right thing to do.<br /><br />There is homework everyday now, and once Bub grasps what he needs to do, he's finished in minutes and on to the next task.<br />Watching that happen... seeing him recognize words and attempt to read from memory from his weekly books... it's just so cool. Three years ago we started bracing ourselves for the expense of tutors and the rigors of special education, working with him as much as he could handle without causing a sensory overload, hoping and praying that even a fraction of what we were doing would take hold, and that at some evental point, that kid would be able to function on a semi-normal level.<br /><br />The other day, we were going through his sight word list, and out of the blue he pointed at a word and said "That's 'like', Momma." closed his eyed and spelled "L-I-K-E" and I almost bawled. He'd never done that before. It took a combined effort from his teachers, Chris and myself, over a school year, for him to spell and recognize his first name. Other words have never been an option before now.<br /><br />I'm pretty sure that the rest of the night would've sucked on average... dinner came out wrong, and I think that kids were put in time out. But it didn't matter. Not to me.<br />I was too busy being on a success high. Iain was so proud of himself, but nearly as proud as I was of him.<br /><br />Now that I am older and wiser ( and have spent countless hours beating my head into the wall, sobbing in frustration and pouring over books and websites looking for anwsers ), I realize that some of the things that Iain's disability has fostered within him are some of the things that make him wonderful.<br /><br />Even on his worst day, that child is so full of compassion. He'll stop whatever he's doing to help someone else. Cheerfully, without complaint, and always sympathetic to the other person's situation. Being helpful makes him happy, even if it is frustrating ( for others, as well as himself ) when he has a melt down because he wants so badly to help, but the aid just isn't needed right at that moment.<br /><br />His strength - both physically and mentally - is amazing. I don't think that any of us would've done as well as we have without his unyielding resilience. Some days it drives me up a wall, but others days, it's the only drive that I have.<br /><br />It's doubtful that school will ever come as easily for Iain as it does for his sister. Studious and serious, Jennah is exceptional. She'll go as far as she allows herself to, and accomplish great things.<br />Nor will he have the charisma or the ease that comes so naturally for Braedy. Whatever is not attained through ready absorption ( Braeden has always been far above average and a very quick learner ), he'll coast through based on his charm and witty demeanor - something is already causing some issues for us, both at school and in everyday activities.<br /><br />Iain is awesome in his own way. Eager and in his own time, affectionate, his smile lights up the room. It isn't easily earned, though he is always friendly, and when Iain learns to like you, it feels like a gift from God himself.<br />Someday he will build great things with those busy little hands, and I hope that he continues to be as kind when he's forty as he is at age six.<br /><br />No mother has a favorite ( or at least they shouldn't ), but no matter how angry I get, no matter how frustrated I become, even if it's with him, I'm a sucker for that kid.<br /><br />Thankfully he doesn't know it... or rather, he doesn't use it. He's too humble for that.<br /><br />I'm looking forward to tomorrow. I can't wait to see what sort of goofball face Iain will pull when I ask him to hold still for the camera and smile. He'll be the most cockeyed pirate in the parade, and I'll love him that much more for it.Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931615779578846842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296213764010538510.post-51904423817286765522008-10-19T22:33:00.002-04:002008-10-19T22:49:07.025-04:00Wrapping up round 2 ( days 27 - 29 )Thursday and Friday were all about the flea market.<br />I did last minute marketing, baking and spent several hours on overall assmebly that were not originally on my agenda, but the coordinator was left in the lurch, and without Chris and I lending a hand, she'd have been sunk ( one person cannot assemble an entire event alone ).<br /><br />Add in working on our quarterly reports, and it was a busy thirty six hour run.<br /><br />Most of the time that I spent on the project was my time, not on the clock.<br />But I didn't want to leave my co-worker in the lurch... it wasn't fair to stick her with 90% of the work just because our boss couldn't be bothered to deal with this.<br /><br />But I digress a bit.<br />When I got to the school on Friday, I stopped in the office to give Cara the Breast Cancer Awareness / support bag that I made for her.<br /><br />I got a hug!! Yay!<br /><br />Cara is not a physical contact person. She's a very reserved but sweet gal. But in spite of this, I think that the whole teary eyed display that she made... well, I'm not usually a huggy person, either ( unless I'm drunk. Then watch out! ), but it made my day.<br />Finished and delivered just in time for it to be utililized at the BCA walk this weekend.<br /><br />The first half of Saturday was spent at the flea market.<br />We did make a little bit of money, which was a bonus, but it alos turned out to be an opportunity to give. I expected my husband to flinch and gripe, but he just shugged and verbalized what I felt about the issue - the folks that we interacted with and sent home clothing and other things needed those things a lot more than we needed the money.<br /><br />I saw parents there who I know from events, but I don't see day to day in the building, and people who I knew from way back when that didn't even realize were parents in the school ( I don't have any interaction with the middle school side of the building ), which was kind of fun.<br /><br />In the end, we came home with four empty totes, and a feeling of accomplishment.<br />The hope for the day was to make about $30 more than we did, and we probably could have if we'd stopped giving things away and actually charged what we put on the price tags ( which wasn't very much to begin with - I'm a stickler about that. I hate the idea of ripping people off ), but it felt better to do it the way that we did.<br />It just means that new boots for Chris for the winter have to wait two more weeks.<br />So be it.<br /><br />Wrapping up the evening was a bit of R'n'R for us. We met some friends for dinner. Probably shouldn't have, due to our budget being pretty tight right now, but getting together with this couple takes month of planning most of the time. Cancelling would've meant not seeing them as a couple until Christmas.<br />We came home, brough the sitter home, and I resolved not got get out of bed in the morning until I was done sleeping.<br />I usually force myself to get up and function, just to make breakfast and do some laundry.<br />Not today. However, it meant that breakfast was more like a late lunch ( thank heaven my daughter can manage pop tarts in a pinch! ), because it was after noon when I finally crawled out from under my blankets.<br />Running on four to five hours of sleep per night, all week long, caught up with me, and I crashed. Hard. I guess I needed it, though, because I don't usually sleep that long, even when I'm sick.<br /><br />This sort of lumps Thursday, Friday and Saturday together, but that is truly how they were.<br />Lumped together and in constant motion....and now I am headed back to bed, because in spite of my super nap, my body's clock says that it's sleepy time.<br /><br />I'm taking a break for a week or so before I start round three. I know that I won't have time to blog all week, and I'd hate to only half commit to the project.Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931615779578846842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296213764010538510.post-10978358594613497212008-10-15T08:05:00.003-04:002008-10-15T08:09:44.769-04:00Round 2, Days 24, 25 and 26Day 23 didn't quite go how I wanted it to.<br />I was clipping along with getting both my chores and Chris's done, and about to strip from my cleaning srubs and slide to Wal Mart to pick up my meds, when my phone rang.<br />My mother in law needed her hair colored. So I spent the next couple of hours on that instead. Still a give, just not the give I was aiming to complete.<br /><br />Day 24:<br />Turned out to be a give for me.<br />I've been burning the candle at both ends to an extreme, and my immune system finally took a giant crap on me. My sinuses were so back up that my face was visibly swollen, bright red and my neck, jaw and shoulder hurt.<br />So, I finished up a project that my boss asked me to do, and under her order, went home and went to bed ( after I picked up the prescription that I didn't get to the day before ).<br />I slept for nearly five hours, ended up missing our annual meeting, and was back in bed for the night for another six hours.<br />I hated just taking a day off and crashing, but it was needed very badly.<br />I still feel pretty lousy as I sit here and click away, but it's not nearly as badly as I felt on Monday.<br /><br />On that note, my sojourn to Ohio proved to me just how awful living in Michigan is for my immune system.<br />I could breathe the entire time I was there, only sneezed ONCE ( in October that is unheard of for me! ), and didn't even snore.<br />I could, of course, attribute the latter to barely sleeping, but anyone who has camped out with me, be it away from home or in mine, knows I snore. Loudly.<br />Thus, this also fuels my theory that my sleep apnea is at least somewhat connected to my constant state of allergic misery.<br /><br />As much as I NEVER, EVER, EVER want to live in Ohio, I am now staunch in my belief that I need to reside someplace else.<br />If I have to travel around to find somewhere that isn't too hot for Chris to endure it in the summer months, and will allow me to feel less rotten on a day to day basis, so be it.And if that someplace did turn out to be Ohio.... well, at least it isn't Maryland. I hated Maryland even more than I dislike Ohio.<br /><br />Day 25:<br />I wrapped presents!<br />I am in a swap where we have to buy $15 worth of specific theme goodies. I cannot say what the theme is, because there's a chance that my recipient might read the crosspost on my Blogspot page, but I've spent my pennies well, made some goodies, and wrapped everything in coordinated paper ( now there's a hint for ya! ).<br />I also worked on handmade ornaments and chatted with the friend who was the recipent from Thursday ( the Vegas weekend ), and was pleased to hear what a wonderful time she had.<br /><br />In between wrapping gifts and making dinner, I whipped up a Breast Cancer Awareness bag for a friend. An SCS friend loaned me an awesome BCA stamp set and ( made by My Favorite Things - check it out! ) I had it finished in no time.<br />I'll be making a bottle of lotion and some bath salts... throwing in a bag of sugar free candy and some trail mix and bringing that to her on Friday when I go set up for the flea market.<br /><br />As part of my flea market project, I purged some scrap / craft supplies that were unopened, and retired them from my stash. As I did that, I pulled more stuff for the precshool, and put it in the bag and box in my trunk.<br /><br />I made dinner, but it flopped ( something didn't taste right which leads me to believe that my baking emulsifer soured.. YUCK ), printed up some Hobby Lobby coupons and cut into my hobby budget to let Chris get some paints for his Star Wars guys.<br /><br />And as a wrap up, spent a chunk of the evening tending to a sick kid. Jennah got sick on the bus, so she was miserable from the time she walked in the door, right up until bedtime ( and is still unwell ).<br /><br />Day 26 ( today):<br />I'll be aiding at the last of our community cleanups for 2008.<br />We were able to remove almost SEVEN TONS OF TRASH from our neighborhood at the least Dumpster Day. Hopefully we'll be just as successful this time.<br />There's an evident lower volume of overall garbage everywhere that is partially contributed to the last clean up... hopefully with this one, our target area will remain clean for the rest of the year, and we can start over anew with the Spring thaw.<br /><br />Around that, I'll FINALLY be taking stuff over the the preschool. I meant to tote it there on Monday, because we use their facility for the annual meeting, but as I missed it, I'll be making an extra trip today.<br />It will be nice to see everyone for a few minutes. I've missed that staff terribly.Initially I'd planned to give more of my time there during the school year, but it just hasn't happened that way. Too much to do in too many other directions.<br /><br />Between those things and tending to a sick kid, my day will be pretty darn full.<br /><br />And now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get to tending to those things!Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931615779578846842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296213764010538510.post-71788904831154098922008-10-12T12:00:00.002-04:002008-10-12T12:05:38.672-04:00Round 2, Days 17 - 23It's been a week already. Another week of not sitting still. Heck, for nearly 48 hours I didn't even have access to a computer or anything that remotely resembled internet to post if I'd wanted to.<br />Lets see if I can summarize my week, day by day, without this getting too lengthy.<br /><br />Monday:<br />helped a neighbor move some furniture and trimmed bushes for the senior across the street.<br /><br />Tuesday:<br />Worked on treat bags for the kids to bring to school for Halloween.<br />Had a meeting that I couldn't miss that conflicted with a something that Chris could miss, but didn't want to. Mine didn't have kid accomodations but his was "no kids" period, so they came with me, and I wrangled dinner for everyone before Chris even got home.<br />Trying to facilitate a meeting with three kids in tow isn't easy, but we managed, and Chris was grateful for the time away, plus he got to see some work friends who he hadn't bumped into since leaving his last conractor.<br /><br />Wednesday:<br />Took a trunk full of donations to the women and children's outreach center in my downtown community.<br />Made some holiday cards that I'll be taking to the senior apartment complex that my Aunt lives in, for the residents to use, because many of them cannot afford the extras like sending cards to family and friends at Christmas.<br /><br />Thursday:<br />Was supposed to be my day off. Ha!<br />I had a market test at a facility that was minutes away from Chris's job site... which is also just a few minutes away from a Krispy Kreme.<br />Chris's absolute favorites are their original glazed donuts, so I picked up some and put them on the front seat of the car, making sure to lock the doors ( so that the watching and darn near salvating nearby fellas in hard hats didn't swipe the snacks ), and send him a text, telling him to check the car at lunch, simply saying that I left something there for him.<br /><br />When I got home, I phoned a friend and chatted with her as I was prepping for a something that was later in the evening.<br />As we were talking, she said that due to an unforseen issue, she and her husband would be only bringing food from home and eating in their suite for their weekend in Vegas.<br />The trip wasn't a vacation to being with ( wedding ) and they were incurring expnses due a mooching family member.<br />So I did some online research and sent her some cash to get dinner, via Pay Pal.<br />Wouldn't cover the most expensive buffets on the strip, but it was enough that after Pay Pal deducted their fees, she and her husband would be able to duck out and grab dinner, without having enough funds left over to have to pay for the mooching family member, too ( thus, and automatic excuse to get out of her food bill, AND to get some alone time ).<br /><br />My friend would NEVER, EVER, EVER dream of asking me for even a loan for such a thing ( we discuss bills and stuff, and she's just NOT a mooch anyhow ), and I was worried that she'd be upset when I did it ( I didn't tell her - she found out when after we'd hung up and she'd ran some errands, there was a funds payment email from PayPal. Had I warned her she'd have adamantly refused ), but she got over it, and promised to go out for a couple of hours and have a little fun.<br /><br />Friday:<br />Was a blur. Worked in the morning, took a couple of hours off in the afternoon to chaperone and drive for a field trip to a pumpkin patch / orchard with the boys.<br /><br />Before I departed for all of that, I was talking to Marie ( for those who read this and do not know her, she's been my best friend since we were kids ) and she mentioned that her mom would need to call in sick and a day's pay to tag along with her to Ohio for the weekend.<br /><br />Marie's daughter is part of the rowing crew at her high school, and they had a meet, roughly five hours from home in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio.<br />Marie's health isn't good... she has DVT and a slew of connected issues and has been having problems with her counts ( blood ) so she cannot be left along right now... so going without a car buddy was NOT an option.<br />So I talked to Ward, and in spite of an arguement ensuing from the trip, I went, and it ended up being a give for both of us. Lots of time in the car, but we've road tripped so many times that we just travel well together.<br />Took TONS of photos, and I love her kid like she was my own, so seeing her out there on the water was pretty darn cool.<br />We drove out on Friday evening, did the event on Satuday, plus drove around Columbus in between races, and had a great time.<br /><br />Today:<br />Chris headed north to go sight in his rifle and walk the land where they planned to hunt, and I'll be spending the day "playing Ward".<br />It was in the plans for the weekend before I added Ohio into the mix. I get to cook, clean, fix, and run errands and do "Ward stuff" that I told him I'd cover so that he'd have the free time to get up there and do this today.<br />It doesn't sound like much, but if you saw the mess in my dining room and living room, you'd think otherwise. I have at least three hours worth of my own mandatory crud to get done around hadling his chores, too. PLUS the unpacking and extra laundry from the weekend.<br /><br />Speaking of... I'd better get to it!I'll try to be better about posting in the coming week... life can slow down, just a little, any day now!!!Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931615779578846842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296213764010538510.post-6129578444762652042008-10-05T19:43:00.000-04:002008-10-05T19:44:24.675-04:00Round 2, Day 16Today's give was volunteerism.<br /><br />I spent the afternoon putting up lawn signs for the Democratic dandidate for our district's House of Represenatives seat. Fifty lawn signs, based on a list and map generated by his campaign team.<br />It was kind of nice, actually. Everyone else worked in pairs or three in a group. I took one of the two largest lists ( the other was fifty also, and given to a team of three ) and went out on my own.<br />City map in hand, and armed with knowledge of the area, I was done faster than almost half of the group, and there were more of them with less addresses to cover.<br />Working independently and fliering for work comes in handy sometimes... plus it gave me two hours to just drive and shuffle about, and occasionally interact with residents that I don't otherwise see because they're not in our target area.<br /><br />I'm honestly not even sure that I'll vote for him... when he was on the City Commission it was an an Independent, but as I was putting up signs, I saw that most of his supporting constituents also had McCain / Palin signs in their yard.<br /><br />But Roy is a nice guy, I like him, and I like his son, so I did it as a favor to them both.<br /><br />Before I decide whether or not I'll blacken the dot next to his name on the ballot, I need to do some additional research. Thankfully I have a bit of time to do so, and it's one of the only two things on the ballot that I am currently undecided about.<br /><br />Voting preferences aside, it was worth the effort.Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931615779578846842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296213764010538510.post-79746560594326780482008-10-04T21:47:00.003-04:002008-10-04T21:50:29.969-04:00Days 11 - 15 ( or "where the heck did my week go??" )I've sat down to blog three times this week, and all three times I had to get up and go do something before I was even halfway finished.<br /><br />Rather than give a day by day, because that would take volumes, I'll offer up a summary.<br /><br />This week I:<br />- Cooked food for 100+ people<br />- Did all of the shopping and prep work for said event<br />- Mailed out six random packages of stuff to six people, who I feel will better benefit from said <br /> items than I have they'll be surprised when said packages arrive, which for me is the best<br /> part! )<br />- brought a slew of clothing to a homeless shelter- took a day off from work to make holiday<br /> ornaments, and endedup making an extra two dozen to bring to aretirement facility<br />- spent three hours on the phone with a friend ( and sucked up a ton of my cell minutes for the<br /> rest of the month ) who needed some moral support and a sympathetic ear<br />- sent 'just because' cards to some folks.... just because.<br />- bought some small things for my husband, because food and toys make him happiest<br />- made dinner for my newly no longer a jailbird kid brother, including buying stuff to make a<br /> sweet potato pie ( something I haven't done since the last Thanksgiving we did with my<br /> mother.. which was in 2004 )<br /><br />Add in work, school committments and family time, and that explains why I haven't been able to blog. The intent has been there, and the actions are going at full speed, but the ability to slow down and evaluate and report.... not so much.<br />I'd like to say that things will be slowing down in the coming weeks, but they won't. I have a seven week committment to the school district that will commence on Thursday, but at least that'll only be on Thursdays.Other than this week, anyhow. This week will have training and last minute warm up exercises before we begin.<br />A new week. More giving, going and doing. It's a bit frantic right now, but it still feels good.Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10931615779578846842noreply@blogger.com0