....Go Away.....
I've never been one to care for rain. Oh, when it's been extremely hot for a long period of time, I don't mind the rain to cool things off. And I don't even mind the occasional rain here and there. A day's worth of rain? Sure, that's fine.
Two days? That's when it starts to get on my nerves some.
Three days? Forget about it!
And let me rephrase that, I don't care for rain when I have to go OUT in it. If I don't have to go anywhere? Doesn't bother me much at all.
I've NEVER liked driving in the rain. I remember the first time I did it and my mom was in the car. I slammed on the brakes (obviously not a good thing to do in the rain) and locked them and was swerving here and there. So my first experience driving in the rain? Certainly not a good one!
I don't like that your feet get wet, or the bottoms of your pants, or sometimes your sleeves too (I always carry an umbrella in the car, although I need to get a newer, better, larger one).
That's why I could never live in Washington. I know it's beautiful up there, but it just rains too much! We probably could have easily moved up there via the Navy, but I couldn't do it. Those people who get depressed living up there? That would be me. I need the sun. I'm not a sun worshipper by any means, but it does brighten up my mood. I have friends who live in Washington and they love it up there. I'm not knocking Washington by ANY means. It's just not for me.
We lived in Tennessee for about 8 months and talk about rain there too! Geez!!
I guess I just don't like living in places where it rains a lot. But that's just me, and to each his own.
I like where I live just fine now, thank you.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Monday, January 29, 2007
Memories Monday - The Bathroom
This morning I was getting ready for the day, and both my girls were in the bathroom with me, as they almost always like to do in the morning. Now, granted, we do have two bathrooms and I probably should just go and use mine, but I don't use the shower back there (too damn small, plus it doesn't work correctly right now anyway), and when I get out of the shower, I just want to get ready there.
Anyway, the girls were in there with me and I certainly don't have the biggest bathroom around. It's quite small actually. It reminds me a bit of the bathroom I had growing up.
I lived in a 1 bedroom duplex with my 2 sisters and mom and we had 1 bathroom. 4 girls and one bathroom? Yea, I don't see how we did it either!
But it always seemed like we were ALL trying to be in there at the same time! I know my mom got in and out of there as quickly as she could, she probably didn't want to spend too much time in a dinky bathroom with her 3 children. I swear my bathroom is smaller than the one we had growing up though.
Back to the bathroom growing up. I remember my mom put two "art pieces" that I did in the bathroom, hanging over the toilet. They were clay shapes of a cat and a fish, I believe.
The best part about this bathroom though? It had two mirrored medicine cabinets. But they were on opposite walls. So doing your hair was easy in my bathroom growing up! It was SO easy to see the back of your hair with the two mirrors! Way cool!
Even with my "two mirrors" in the bathroom, I was always so jealous of my other friends! They all pretty much had their own bathroom, and one of my friends even had a 1/2 bath attached to her bedroom! So she REALLY had her own bathroom!
When I moved out on my own, I was so excited to get my own bathroom!
So now, why, with having two bathrooms in our house, am I back to using the one that the kids use????
Who knows. Maybe it's because we haven't redecorated our bathroom yet and I like the ambience of the front bathroom? (Lord knows I've argued enough about the color with hubby! I LOVE the color, he thinks he's in an episode of Miami Vice) Could be. Maybe once we redo the back bathroom (ours), I'll want to spend more time in it.
Here's the "Miami Vice" bathroom. (Which I don't think it looks like, I like the way my friend called it, "Zen-like")
Maybe I just enjoy the company in the morning though.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
A Mother's Intuition
Mother's Intuition....
You've all heard about it..
It is SUCH a powerful thing.
It is an AMAZING thing!
Some people often wonder how it works and there is just no way to describe it. It's just something a mother knows. And it's something that a "mother-to-be" would know too. I was pregnant before I had my eldest and I had a miscarriage. It was never known what the sex of the baby was, but I knew it was a boy. I just KNEW. I've known other people who have had the heartbreak of a miscarriage and they knew the sex of their baby too. Some have had it confirmed, some haven't. But they still just KNEW!
When I was pregnant with my youngest, I knew before I knew. I had an ultrasound scheduled and two days before, I went into a resale shop and bought the cutest little dress. I knew. The ultrasound confirmed what I knew.
My girls.
I know when something is bothering them. I know when there's something that just isn't right. And with my oldest, I push her to tell me. Sometimes I let it go, sometimes I don't. But she inevitably tells me about it.
I know.
My mom knew.
When I was a little girl, my mom told me that after they had gotten divorced, she told my dad to NEVER forget my birthday or Christmas. Just don't do it. Because I would never get over it if he did. I mean, how could she POSSIBLY know that about me at such a young age?
But she knew.
And she was right.
He did take off for a few years and I never got those Christmas or birthday presents from him anymore. And I didn't forget. It was something that hurt me so deeply inside. That was something that SHE knew that was important to me. That my dad would think of me on my birthday and Christmas. Two days out of the year. Two days that she KNEW were important to me.
How could she have known when I was at such a young age?
Mother's Intuition.
It's a powerful thing.
You've all heard about it..
It is SUCH a powerful thing.
It is an AMAZING thing!
Some people often wonder how it works and there is just no way to describe it. It's just something a mother knows. And it's something that a "mother-to-be" would know too. I was pregnant before I had my eldest and I had a miscarriage. It was never known what the sex of the baby was, but I knew it was a boy. I just KNEW. I've known other people who have had the heartbreak of a miscarriage and they knew the sex of their baby too. Some have had it confirmed, some haven't. But they still just KNEW!
When I was pregnant with my youngest, I knew before I knew. I had an ultrasound scheduled and two days before, I went into a resale shop and bought the cutest little dress. I knew. The ultrasound confirmed what I knew.
My girls.
I know when something is bothering them. I know when there's something that just isn't right. And with my oldest, I push her to tell me. Sometimes I let it go, sometimes I don't. But she inevitably tells me about it.
I know.
My mom knew.
When I was a little girl, my mom told me that after they had gotten divorced, she told my dad to NEVER forget my birthday or Christmas. Just don't do it. Because I would never get over it if he did. I mean, how could she POSSIBLY know that about me at such a young age?
But she knew.
And she was right.
He did take off for a few years and I never got those Christmas or birthday presents from him anymore. And I didn't forget. It was something that hurt me so deeply inside. That was something that SHE knew that was important to me. That my dad would think of me on my birthday and Christmas. Two days out of the year. Two days that she KNEW were important to me.
How could she have known when I was at such a young age?
Mother's Intuition.
It's a powerful thing.
Friday, January 26, 2007
A Feeling in the Air
Do you ever get those feelings where you feel that something is going to happen or something is about to start?
I've had that feeling today. I don't know if something is about to happen, or I am just coming out of a fog or what. Or maybe I feel like Spring is going to come soon? I don't know......
I do know that softball season is going to start soon for my eldest. We got the call last night from her coach, so at least we know who her coach is. He was my #3 pick, so that's good. Then I got a call from the Team Mom today too. Things are rolling along.
Work seems to have evened out a bit, which is REALLY good too.
Hubby is still going out to sea for short periods of time, and that is sometimes harder than him being gone for a long time. It's a juggling act, I tell you.
It's around this time that I like to start gardening, but our backyard is in dire need of a good grading. Plus we need to have our whole backyard dug up and have chicken wire laid down under the dirt and grass because the gophers are driving us absolutely BATTY!!!! It doesn't matter what we try, they keep coming back. At least if we lay chicken wire underneath, they can't come up (at least we HOPE not!)
It's Friday, the start of the weekend, the start of my piles of laundry that need to be done, the two days that I get to sleep in (at least until the 7:00 a.m. indoor soccer game comes that my eldest plays in next month, I think), the start, or should I say the continuation, of more organizing things in the house that I don't get a chance to do during the week.
Oh, and did I mention my goal to be more organized and prepared this year? I've already got my niece's birthday present and her birthday isn't until the end of February. I've got the little Valentine's gifts for my girls already. I want to have things done ahead of time, pace things out during the year so I don't get rushed. A few years ago, I had started getting Christmas presents in August! I just love getting things done ahead of time, and I'm hoping this year I can do that again.
I've had that feeling today. I don't know if something is about to happen, or I am just coming out of a fog or what. Or maybe I feel like Spring is going to come soon? I don't know......
I do know that softball season is going to start soon for my eldest. We got the call last night from her coach, so at least we know who her coach is. He was my #3 pick, so that's good. Then I got a call from the Team Mom today too. Things are rolling along.
Work seems to have evened out a bit, which is REALLY good too.
Hubby is still going out to sea for short periods of time, and that is sometimes harder than him being gone for a long time. It's a juggling act, I tell you.
It's around this time that I like to start gardening, but our backyard is in dire need of a good grading. Plus we need to have our whole backyard dug up and have chicken wire laid down under the dirt and grass because the gophers are driving us absolutely BATTY!!!! It doesn't matter what we try, they keep coming back. At least if we lay chicken wire underneath, they can't come up (at least we HOPE not!)
It's Friday, the start of the weekend, the start of my piles of laundry that need to be done, the two days that I get to sleep in (at least until the 7:00 a.m. indoor soccer game comes that my eldest plays in next month, I think), the start, or should I say the continuation, of more organizing things in the house that I don't get a chance to do during the week.
Oh, and did I mention my goal to be more organized and prepared this year? I've already got my niece's birthday present and her birthday isn't until the end of February. I've got the little Valentine's gifts for my girls already. I want to have things done ahead of time, pace things out during the year so I don't get rushed. A few years ago, I had started getting Christmas presents in August! I just love getting things done ahead of time, and I'm hoping this year I can do that again.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Memories Monday - Hell On Wheels
I was exercising this morning and listening to my MP3 player when Cher's "Hell On Wheels" came on. Boy does that song evoke memories! It's the first song on the soundtrack and on the movie, "Roller Boogie". My best friend and I could not wait to see that movie! We loved it! We bought the soundtrack album (I still have it too), and we spent just about every free waking moment roller skating around our neighborhood.
Now, when you roller skate, you always want a good smooth surface. Yes, roller rinks are nice, but kind of hard to always go to when you are in 5th and 6th grade! There was this one driveway on our block though. It had just been repaved. We ALWAYS used it! I think we did ask once if it was alright if we used their driveway, at least that was nice of us! We worked on our turns, spins, tricks, you name it, we did it. Or at least we tried to do those things.
Back in my early 20's I would grab my skates, hop in my car and drive down to Venice and go skating on the boardwalk, usually by myself. It was SO nice and relaxing for me to do that!
To this day I still love to rollerskate. I even have my own pair of skates! At least once a year for the past two years I've been able to go rollerskating, as my eldest's school has the kids, who have good citizenship, go there for a field trip/reward trip. So at least I've been getting some use out of them!
But I still love to watch Roller Boogie too! :)
Now, when you roller skate, you always want a good smooth surface. Yes, roller rinks are nice, but kind of hard to always go to when you are in 5th and 6th grade! There was this one driveway on our block though. It had just been repaved. We ALWAYS used it! I think we did ask once if it was alright if we used their driveway, at least that was nice of us!
Back in my early 20's I would grab my skates, hop in my car and drive down to Venice and go skating on the boardwalk, usually by myself. It was SO nice and relaxing for me to do that!
To this day I still love to rollerskate. I even have my own pair of skates! At least once a year for the past two years I've been able to go rollerskating, as my eldest's school has the kids, who have good citizenship, go there for a field trip/reward trip. So at least I've been getting some use out of them!
But I still love to watch Roller Boogie too! :)
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Love Thursday - Enjoying Nature
Being able to capture the true joy in her face as she's running through the falling leaves.....
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Ice Chests Anyone?
I have this thing about coolers or ice chests, whichever name you like to call them.
I love them. I love having different sizes of them. Because hey, lets face it, sometimes you don't always need a huge one. Or you need one on wheels. Or you want one that has a separate door to open so you don't have to open up the whole thing. Or you want one that has a place to set your drinks on.
We have 3 big ones, one of them that has wheels to pull (although hubby says we already have one that has wheels in the garage but I couldn't find that one when I went looking yesterday and I'm not about to tear apart his garage looking for it)
Then I have 3 smaller ones that are all soft sided. One almost looks like a suitcase because of the way it rolls. It comes in VERY handy when having to bring snacks to softball or soccer games, or bringing my macaroni salad to family get togethers. The next one is more square and is meant to be taken to the beach (at least that's what I use it for, you can carry it) It works nicely for sandwiches and drinks. Then I have one to take on trips with us in the car. It has a separate compartment for cooled things and non-cooled things.
Down to the next size down in coolers. I have two hard sided ones and two soft sided ones. Hubby usually takes one of the hard sided ones when he goes fishing or flying his RC planes. The other one is basically only big enough for a small lunch. The soft sided ones I use for my lunches.
Now, why am I bringing up the subject of coolers you ask?
Well, my refrigerator took a dump yesterday and decided to quit working.
Thank goodness I'm an ice chest whore. I was able to fit the food that I really needed to keep for daily use in the coolers provided (well 2 of the largest coolers were unusable, but we'll talk about why another time.....) I have the big one outside (where it has been SOOO cold that things are staying very cold in there) and 3 of the smaller ones inside to keep milk, orange juice, butter, other juice, cheese, condiments, etc in there.
The Sears man came by today and fixed my refrigerator (turns out it needed a new relay to the compressor. They invented this thing so that if it overheats, the relay will burn out and not affect the compressor at all, saving hundreds of dollars. Good invention I tell you!) So now it's getting all nice and chilly in there again and tomorrow I can put the food I was able to save back in there. Unfortunately I did have to throw out a lot of food, especially the freezer part. :(
Hey, at least I got to clean out my refrigerator and make it all nice and pretty again and I got some good use of my coolers in the cold winter (hey, it's cold here right now.....)
That's me, the Ice Chest Whore
I love them. I love having different sizes of them. Because hey, lets face it, sometimes you don't always need a huge one. Or you need one on wheels. Or you want one that has a separate door to open so you don't have to open up the whole thing. Or you want one that has a place to set your drinks on.
We have 3 big ones, one of them that has wheels to pull (although hubby says we already have one that has wheels in the garage but I couldn't find that one when I went looking yesterday and I'm not about to tear apart his garage looking for it)
Then I have 3 smaller ones that are all soft sided. One almost looks like a suitcase because of the way it rolls. It comes in VERY handy when having to bring snacks to softball or soccer games, or bringing my macaroni salad to family get togethers. The next one is more square and is meant to be taken to the beach (at least that's what I use it for, you can carry it) It works nicely for sandwiches and drinks. Then I have one to take on trips with us in the car. It has a separate compartment for cooled things and non-cooled things.
Down to the next size down in coolers. I have two hard sided ones and two soft sided ones. Hubby usually takes one of the hard sided ones when he goes fishing or flying his RC planes. The other one is basically only big enough for a small lunch. The soft sided ones I use for my lunches.
Now, why am I bringing up the subject of coolers you ask?
Well, my refrigerator took a dump yesterday and decided to quit working.
Thank goodness I'm an ice chest whore. I was able to fit the food that I really needed to keep for daily use in the coolers provided (well 2 of the largest coolers were unusable, but we'll talk about why another time.....) I have the big one outside (where it has been SOOO cold that things are staying very cold in there) and 3 of the smaller ones inside to keep milk, orange juice, butter, other juice, cheese, condiments, etc in there.
The Sears man came by today and fixed my refrigerator (turns out it needed a new relay to the compressor. They invented this thing so that if it overheats, the relay will burn out and not affect the compressor at all, saving hundreds of dollars. Good invention I tell you!) So now it's getting all nice and chilly in there again and tomorrow I can put the food I was able to save back in there. Unfortunately I did have to throw out a lot of food, especially the freezer part. :(
Hey, at least I got to clean out my refrigerator and make it all nice and pretty again and I got some good use of my coolers in the cold winter (hey, it's cold here right now.....)
That's me, the Ice Chest Whore
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Memories Monday - Grease
A little early.......
My eldest and her friend are in my living room right now watching the movie, Grease.
28 years ago, when I was in 5th grade (oh my goodness, has it really been THAT long ago??!), my mom took me and my best friend to the Drive-In to see Grease. Oh my, what an EVENT that was!!! We were so funny, when the song "Grease Lightning" came on we were dancing in the car together with the movie. We were both crammed up in the front seat with my mom watching the movie.
We even formed our own "Grease Girls" club in school with some of our friends, that included t-shirts in which we wrote "Grease Girls" on it. We were so silly!
Sometime in junior high we went to a carnival somewhere and they had THE fun house that was in the movie and so of course we HAD to go through it and sing, "You're The One That I Want", and do the dance too.
I have always loved that movie too!!!! A year before my mom died, she even gave me a Grease Barbie with Sandy when she was all dressed up in black spandex and leather.
I know the movie by heart, people!
It's amazing to me that 28 years later, my eldest is now watching it with her best friend. :)
My eldest and her friend are in my living room right now watching the movie, Grease.
28 years ago, when I was in 5th grade (oh my goodness, has it really been THAT long ago??!), my mom took me and my best friend to the Drive-In to see Grease. Oh my, what an EVENT that was!!! We were so funny, when the song "Grease Lightning" came on we were dancing in the car together with the movie. We were both crammed up in the front seat with my mom watching the movie.
We even formed our own "Grease Girls" club in school with some of our friends, that included t-shirts in which we wrote "Grease Girls" on it. We were so silly!
Sometime in junior high we went to a carnival somewhere and they had THE fun house that was in the movie and so of course we HAD to go through it and sing, "You're The One That I Want", and do the dance too.
I have always loved that movie too!!!! A year before my mom died, she even gave me a Grease Barbie with Sandy when she was all dressed up in black spandex and leather.
I know the movie by heart, people!
It's amazing to me that 28 years later, my eldest is now watching it with her best friend. :)
Saturday, January 13, 2007
THIS
This morning I was looking at pictures my sister posted on her myspace account from her New Years Eve party. It got me thinking.....
And missing....
As I was looking through all the pictures, it totally made me feel so old! (Okay, well to be fair on me, she IS TEN YEARS YOUNGER than me). They're all partying in the backyard, in the house, having a blast, and just being carefree.
Damn.....I remember those days........
Before hubby and I got married, hell, even before we met, we partied. And sometimes partied HARD. (Well, me, not THAT hard, anyway). I was out just about every weekend. Hanging out with friends. Going to parties. In high school we went to dance clubs every weekend. After high school I went to clubs in Hollywood like The Whisky-A-G0-Go, The Roxy, Gazzarri's, Troubador, etc to listen to bands. Got drunk. Still went to parties too.
Hell, that's how I met hubby, at a party!
I had fun. A lot of fun.
But then I go into see my youngest in bed watching TV (hey people, it's Saturday morning and it's cold outside) and she hugs me and says, "Cuddle mommy, cuddle".
THIS is what I wanted.
THIS is fun.
THIS is what it's all about for me.
I got to live the carefree life and now I have the life I always wanted. I've got it all.
Thank you hubby for being at that party.
And missing....
As I was looking through all the pictures, it totally made me feel so old! (Okay, well to be fair on me, she IS TEN YEARS YOUNGER than me). They're all partying in the backyard, in the house, having a blast, and just being carefree.
Damn.....I remember those days........
Before hubby and I got married, hell, even before we met, we partied. And sometimes partied HARD. (Well, me, not THAT hard, anyway). I was out just about every weekend. Hanging out with friends. Going to parties. In high school we went to dance clubs every weekend. After high school I went to clubs in Hollywood like The Whisky-A-G0-Go, The Roxy, Gazzarri's, Troubador, etc to listen to bands. Got drunk. Still went to parties too.
Hell, that's how I met hubby, at a party!
I had fun. A lot of fun.
But then I go into see my youngest in bed watching TV (hey people, it's Saturday morning and it's cold outside) and she hugs me and says, "Cuddle mommy, cuddle".
THIS is what I wanted.
THIS is fun.
THIS is what it's all about for me.
I got to live the carefree life and now I have the life I always wanted. I've got it all.
Thank you hubby for being at that party.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
The Things We Moms Will Say....
"Mom, what happens when you leave tangles in your hair all day?"
(Note: A few minutes before this, she didn't want me brushing her hair after her bath)
"You'll get a rat's nest in your hair and then rats will want to come live in your hair"
(She giggles, because apparently she finds this amusing)
"You don't want rats to come live in your hair, do you?"
(Still giggling) "No Mommy. I don't like rats. Rats are yucky."
"I agree honey, rats are yucky. That's why I have to brush your hair everyday."
(Note: A few minutes before this, she didn't want me brushing her hair after her bath)
"You'll get a rat's nest in your hair and then rats will want to come live in your hair"
(She giggles, because apparently she finds this amusing)
"You don't want rats to come live in your hair, do you?"
(Still giggling) "No Mommy. I don't like rats. Rats are yucky."
"I agree honey, rats are yucky. That's why I have to brush your hair everyday."
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Love Thursday - My Grandpa
My Grandpa and Me (when I was 3)
My grandpa was the best. Granted he could be gruff at times, but he always loved to play with the kids!Case in point:
Here I am, around 3 or 4 years old, and he's letting me put curlers in his hair!
When I got married 14 1/2 years ago, I asked him to walk me down the aisle (Dad MIA, a story for another time), but he was having trouble walking. But he was there at my wedding! And I got the last picture I ever had with just me and him:
(My Grandpa and Me - when I was 24)
Monday, January 08, 2007
Memories Monday - Cleaning and Organizing
Since I've been in the "cleaning and organizing" mode lately, it's brought back memories of when I was little with my mom.
Growing up, we lived in a 1 bedroom duplex. My mom was a single mom and so that was basically all she could afford, but thank goodness it had a front yard and the people she rented it from owned the property and lived in the back attached house. That's partly why it only had one bedroom, they took one of the bedrooms from the front out, closed up the doorway and made one to their side. They had 3 kids, 2 boys and a girl, so they needed the extra bedroom.
Anyway. So we only had one bedroom. At the time we moved in it was just me and my one younger sister. (My baby sister didn't come until about 3 years later) My mom had me and my sister take the bedroom and she slept in the living room on a twin bed on one side of the living room. Later on in years she would get a sofa sleeper so she could have a bed, yet hide it during the day.
Since we did live in such a fairly small place, storage was very limited. It was amazing the things that my mom came up with to store things though. And she would get "bored" with how things looked so probably at least once a year, the living room would get rearranged, or our bedroom would.
Saturdays were usually her cleaning days since she worked all week long. With her Budweiser in hand, she went from room to room on Saturdays. She would have her music playing and just be in this "groove" of cleaning and organizing. I always found that day to be fascinating. I don't know why. Because my mom was in the house all day? I don't know. Thank goodness though the job my mom had, had good hours. She worked in a bank and back then when I was growing up, they did have true banking hours.
Some of the things she did, I still do to this day, maybe because of habit. Our games were stored in the linen closet in the hallway and yes, mine are there too. Cereal was always stored up on top of the refrigerator, and yes, mine is there too. Hubby can't stand the cereal being on top of there, but when it's something I've done my whole life, to me, it's normal to have it there. Maybe one day when we can expand the shelves in our pantry, I can put them there.
Growing up, we lived in a 1 bedroom duplex. My mom was a single mom and so that was basically all she could afford, but thank goodness it had a front yard and the people she rented it from owned the property and lived in the back attached house. That's partly why it only had one bedroom, they took one of the bedrooms from the front out, closed up the doorway and made one to their side. They had 3 kids, 2 boys and a girl, so they needed the extra bedroom.
Anyway. So we only had one bedroom. At the time we moved in it was just me and my one younger sister. (My baby sister didn't come until about 3 years later) My mom had me and my sister take the bedroom and she slept in the living room on a twin bed on one side of the living room. Later on in years she would get a sofa sleeper so she could have a bed, yet hide it during the day.
Since we did live in such a fairly small place, storage was very limited. It was amazing the things that my mom came up with to store things though. And she would get "bored" with how things looked so probably at least once a year, the living room would get rearranged, or our bedroom would.
Saturdays were usually her cleaning days since she worked all week long. With her Budweiser in hand, she went from room to room on Saturdays. She would have her music playing and just be in this "groove" of cleaning and organizing. I always found that day to be fascinating. I don't know why. Because my mom was in the house all day? I don't know. Thank goodness though the job my mom had, had good hours. She worked in a bank and back then when I was growing up, they did have true banking hours.
Some of the things she did, I still do to this day, maybe because of habit. Our games were stored in the linen closet in the hallway and yes, mine are there too. Cereal was always stored up on top of the refrigerator, and yes, mine is there too. Hubby can't stand the cereal being on top of there, but when it's something I've done my whole life, to me, it's normal to have it there. Maybe one day when we can expand the shelves in our pantry, I can put them there.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Organizing
As much as I love Christmas, I love it when it's over and I can put all the Christmas decorations away. My living room feels so much bigger when all the decorations and tree are gone.
I also get the purge mode. Partly because of all the new stuff the girls have gotten, my one storage closet no longer has presents in it and it's just that time of the year to do it, you know?
Yesterday I organized the stuff underneath both bathroom sinks and the kitchen sink, and finished organizing two of the shelves in the hall storage closet.
Today I went through the "corner clutter cabinet", and two drawers in the kitchen that needed purging and organizing badly.
I love to organize when I have the time.
I have a small house, so I do need to do it often, because if I don't, things just get out of control here. Plus we are coming to a point in the year when things are going to start to get hectic around here. My eldest will be doing indoor soccer once a week, dance once a week and softball probably at least 3 times a week. So if I don't get it done now, I don't know WHEN I'll be able to get it done.
I also had time to do the Dance, Dance Revolution with my girls on the Playstation2. Talk about a workout there!
Oh yea, and I also found all my old emails that I thought I lost forever when hubby upgraded the computer! Woohoo for me!
Although I never made any "official" New Year's resolutions, I do want to get back into my mode of getting things done ahead of time. For example, my niece's birthday is the end of February, but I've already gotten her birthday present. Woohoo on me! I've also gotten the girls' valentines to give out on Valentine's Day too. I just need to get them a little something that I always get them on Valentine's Day too. I got them stuffed animals last year, but I'm getting sick of them all over the house, so I need to come up with something different.
Plus hubby will be going out to sea soon for a long time and I need to get done what I can get done now.
I'm also vowing to work on scrapbooking big time too. I want to get at least one layout done a week too.
Will all of this happen?
Only time will tell! :)
I also get the purge mode. Partly because of all the new stuff the girls have gotten, my one storage closet no longer has presents in it and it's just that time of the year to do it, you know?
Yesterday I organized the stuff underneath both bathroom sinks and the kitchen sink, and finished organizing two of the shelves in the hall storage closet.
Today I went through the "corner clutter cabinet", and two drawers in the kitchen that needed purging and organizing badly.
I love to organize when I have the time.
I have a small house, so I do need to do it often, because if I don't, things just get out of control here. Plus we are coming to a point in the year when things are going to start to get hectic around here. My eldest will be doing indoor soccer once a week, dance once a week and softball probably at least 3 times a week. So if I don't get it done now, I don't know WHEN I'll be able to get it done.
I also had time to do the Dance, Dance Revolution with my girls on the Playstation2. Talk about a workout there!
Oh yea, and I also found all my old emails that I thought I lost forever when hubby upgraded the computer! Woohoo for me!
Although I never made any "official" New Year's resolutions, I do want to get back into my mode of getting things done ahead of time. For example, my niece's birthday is the end of February, but I've already gotten her birthday present. Woohoo on me! I've also gotten the girls' valentines to give out on Valentine's Day too. I just need to get them a little something that I always get them on Valentine's Day too. I got them stuffed animals last year, but I'm getting sick of them all over the house, so I need to come up with something different.
Plus hubby will be going out to sea soon for a long time and I need to get done what I can get done now.
I'm also vowing to work on scrapbooking big time too. I want to get at least one layout done a week too.
Will all of this happen?
Only time will tell! :)
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Behind The Liquor Store, Cash Only
Today I took my cat in to get her spayed. I looked all around for places and I found this one place that came recommended from my neighbor, who researched places when she took her cats. When I told my boss about this vet, he knew exactly who I was talking about too, as he's been there before too!
The Veterinary Hospital is actually in a building behind a liquor store (the two places are in one big building, just separated by walls, so two different places of business). And it's Cash Only. I shit you not.
At first I was a bit leery because, hey, it's BEHIND a liquore store and it's CASH ONLY! Hmm.....
But my boss and my friend definitely recommended him. And put it this way, my boss MAKES cat food for the stray cat that resides behind our office at work. Any my friend adores her cats immensely! So I don't think they'd take their cats to some half ass place. Plus, I trust them both.
So I give it a go.
No fancy stuff in there. Just simple friendly service.
Yes, he is a licensed veterinarian.
He's been in business for years too, so it's not like it's a fly by the night business or anything, and obviously if he was doing something wrong, someone would have reported him by now and he'd be out of business.
I dropped my cat off in the morning, and picked her up in the afternoon.
Straight, simple and to the point.
I got a shot record from him too, and hey, they even have a computer!
But think about it. Low overhead, cash only so you don't have to worry about bounced checks or stolen credit cards. At least this way he won't lose any money due to dishonest people.
Overall I was pleased by the results.
My cat is now asleep on my bed, resting.
She's had a hard day. She's used to running around my house torturing us.
So if you need a good vet, don't be so quick to discount the one behind the liquor store that takes cash only.
The Veterinary Hospital is actually in a building behind a liquor store (the two places are in one big building, just separated by walls, so two different places of business). And it's Cash Only. I shit you not.
At first I was a bit leery because, hey, it's BEHIND a liquore store and it's CASH ONLY! Hmm.....
But my boss and my friend definitely recommended him. And put it this way, my boss MAKES cat food for the stray cat that resides behind our office at work. Any my friend adores her cats immensely! So I don't think they'd take their cats to some half ass place. Plus, I trust them both.
So I give it a go.
No fancy stuff in there. Just simple friendly service.
Yes, he is a licensed veterinarian.
He's been in business for years too, so it's not like it's a fly by the night business or anything, and obviously if he was doing something wrong, someone would have reported him by now and he'd be out of business.
I dropped my cat off in the morning, and picked her up in the afternoon.
Straight, simple and to the point.
I got a shot record from him too, and hey, they even have a computer!
But think about it. Low overhead, cash only so you don't have to worry about bounced checks or stolen credit cards. At least this way he won't lose any money due to dishonest people.
Overall I was pleased by the results.
My cat is now asleep on my bed, resting.
She's had a hard day. She's used to running around my house torturing us.
So if you need a good vet, don't be so quick to discount the one behind the liquor store that takes cash only.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Huh? What? Say That Again?
Ever since yesterday morning my left ear has been bothering me. I feel like I'm all plugged up in that ear. Yesterday it also hurt like a son of a bitch.
Went to Target and got some Earache Drops.
At least the pain went away.
I'm still all plugged up on that side though.
Called the doctor's office to get an appointment to get it looked at.
Their first available appointment?
Friday morning at 8:00 a.m.
Nice.
Maybe my eardrum will rupture in the meantime and I can get seen sooner?
Went to Target and got some Earache Drops.
At least the pain went away.
I'm still all plugged up on that side though.
Called the doctor's office to get an appointment to get it looked at.
Their first available appointment?
Friday morning at 8:00 a.m.
Nice.
Maybe my eardrum will rupture in the meantime and I can get seen sooner?
Monday, January 01, 2007
Memories Monday - Happy New Year!
Wow, I can't believe 2007 is already here!
What did I do last night? Tried to make it to midnight here at home. Did I? Yes! I kept saying I was going to go to bed, but then it was a quarter to midnight by then and I said, "Now I have to stay up until midnight" So I rang in the new year with my hubby and we kissed. Much like we did (although probably not as passionate because I was tired and wasn't drunk either) 14 years ago.
I was talking to my sister yesterday, as she was having a New Year's Eve Party of her own last night, telling her how I used to LOVE, LOVE New Year's! There was ALWAYS a party to go to, and I always had fun!
Growing up we had always gone to my grandparents house for New Years. They always used to play Tripoly that night. It was neat watching the grownups play, and sometimes I would get to play too. Part of the reason we always went there was the fact that my Grandpa's birthday was January 1st. Happy Birthday Grandpa!!
I remember when I was in junior high or so, and would always watch MTV on New Years. That was actually so much fun to watch that!
I don't think I started going out to a party for New Years until maybe I was a junior in high school. I do know that once I did start going out for New Years it was something I always did, and never wanted to miss it! I always had a good time that night!
I remember that one New Years when I kissed hubby. He was home from his duty station, and had brought a few friends. I was at one party and he and his friends came over (obviously this was before we were married). He was supposed to go back over to one of his other friend's house, but I persuaded him to stay, at least to kiss me at midnight. What a night that was! I think we all did so much party hopping that night because so many friends were having parties! (Yes, I know, bad me.........)
That incoming year ended up being the year that hubby and I got married! We didn't get to spend the next New Years together though, as he got deployed and was out to sea then. He did call me though at the party I was at then. Our friend's family has always had New Year's Eve parties since forever and I so I went there that year, just didn't have someone to kiss passionately. The next year though we went together and had been going to our friend's house up until just a few years ago. My mom would watch our oldest and we would take a cab there so we didn't have to worry about driving. I even had my other sister drive us once there too and we just took a cab home. At least we got responsible by then! :) It just got to be too much to drive all the way there and we wanted to spend the New Year with our children too, so we stopped going.
I can't wait to get off this computer at watch the Rose Parade too! I LOVE the Rose Parade! Growing up in L.A., it is ALWAYS one EVERY station! Once we left L.A. and I couldn't find it on all the stations, I was bummed! I don't even think it was on a station when we lived in Tennesse! At least now that we're in California, I can still see it. :)
Happy New Year to everyone!!!!
What did I do last night? Tried to make it to midnight here at home. Did I? Yes! I kept saying I was going to go to bed, but then it was a quarter to midnight by then and I said, "Now I have to stay up until midnight" So I rang in the new year with my hubby and we kissed. Much like we did (although probably not as passionate because I was tired and wasn't drunk either
I was talking to my sister yesterday, as she was having a New Year's Eve Party of her own last night, telling her how I used to LOVE, LOVE New Year's! There was ALWAYS a party to go to, and I always had fun!
Growing up we had always gone to my grandparents house for New Years. They always used to play Tripoly that night. It was neat watching the grownups play, and sometimes I would get to play too. Part of the reason we always went there was the fact that my Grandpa's birthday was January 1st. Happy Birthday Grandpa!!
I remember when I was in junior high or so, and would always watch MTV on New Years. That was actually so much fun to watch that!
I don't think I started going out to a party for New Years until maybe I was a junior in high school. I do know that once I did start going out for New Years it was something I always did, and never wanted to miss it! I always had a good time that night!
I remember that one New Years when I kissed hubby. He was home from his duty station, and had brought a few friends. I was at one party and he and his friends came over (obviously this was before we were married). He was supposed to go back over to one of his other friend's house, but I persuaded him to stay, at least to kiss me at midnight. What a night that was! I think we all did so much party hopping that night because so many friends were having parties! (Yes, I know, bad me.........)
That incoming year ended up being the year that hubby and I got married! We didn't get to spend the next New Years together though, as he got deployed and was out to sea then. He did call me though at the party I was at then. Our friend's family has always had New Year's Eve parties since forever and I so I went there that year, just didn't have someone to kiss passionately. The next year though we went together and had been going to our friend's house up until just a few years ago. My mom would watch our oldest and we would take a cab there so we didn't have to worry about driving. I even had my other sister drive us once there too and we just took a cab home. At least we got responsible by then! :) It just got to be too much to drive all the way there and we wanted to spend the New Year with our children too, so we stopped going.
I can't wait to get off this computer at watch the Rose Parade too! I LOVE the Rose Parade! Growing up in L.A., it is ALWAYS one EVERY station! Once we left L.A. and I couldn't find it on all the stations, I was bummed! I don't even think it was on a station when we lived in Tennesse! At least now that we're in California, I can still see it. :)
Happy New Year to everyone!!!!
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Love Thursday - My Sister
Love is seeing the joy on my sister's face when she gets her own "Mrs. Claus". (It made me cry when I watched her open it). I adore my sister so much!!! She is someone that everyone loves. :)
******if you read the post a few posts down, it'll tell you the whole story about "Mrs. Claus"*********
Happy Love Thursday everyone!
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Post Christmas Stuff
Christmas is over.
Santa has left the building.
It's time to bring the totes out to start putting stuff away and get my house back to pre-Christmas decorations.
The after Christmas sales have begun.
The rude people dashing to get those good deals are back again. (do they HAVE to leave their cart in the middle of the aisle so no one can get through?)
2006 is coming to a close. (thank goodness, it's been a roller coaster year, I tell you)
I got my daughter's cold. ::::::::::::::sniff, sniff::::::::::::::::
My eldest just informed me she has a paper cut on her finger.
Time to start purging my house and donate to the Salvation Army to get that extra write off in before the year ends.
Time to get back on my "watching what I eat" and doing some serious workouts on a regular basis again.
I need to go looking for a new elliptical machine. (See above sentence)
:::::::::sniff::::::::sniff:::::::::::
I need to go lay down and get this damn cold out of my system.
My cat isn't in heat anymore.
I need to find a vet fast before she goes back in heat soon.
It was rather amusing to watch her though at times.
Did you know that there are people out there who actually use a q-tip to "help" with their cat in heat? (Ewwwwww, gross!!!!!)
Have to call an appraiser to come out here and appraise our house to get that fucking PMI taken off.
:::::::sniff::::::::::::
My head is hurting now because of this cold.
Tomorrow IS another day...........
Santa has left the building.
It's time to bring the totes out to start putting stuff away and get my house back to pre-Christmas decorations.
The after Christmas sales have begun.
The rude people dashing to get those good deals are back again. (do they HAVE to leave their cart in the middle of the aisle so no one can get through?)
2006 is coming to a close. (thank goodness, it's been a roller coaster year, I tell you)
I got my daughter's cold. ::::::::::::::sniff, sniff::::::::::::::::
My eldest just informed me she has a paper cut on her finger.
Time to start purging my house and donate to the Salvation Army to get that extra write off in before the year ends.
Time to get back on my "watching what I eat" and doing some serious workouts on a regular basis again.
I need to go looking for a new elliptical machine. (See above sentence)
:::::::::sniff::::::::sniff:::::::::::
I need to go lay down and get this damn cold out of my system.
My cat isn't in heat anymore.
I need to find a vet fast before she goes back in heat soon.
It was rather amusing to watch her though at times.
Did you know that there are people out there who actually use a q-tip to "help" with their cat in heat? (Ewwwwww, gross!!!!!)
Have to call an appraiser to come out here and appraise our house to get that fucking PMI taken off.
:::::::sniff::::::::::::
My head is hurting now because of this cold.
Tomorrow IS another day...........
Monday, December 25, 2006
Memories Monday - Merry Christmas!!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!!
Today's Memories Monday, is of course, memories of past Christmases.
We had a very nice Christmas morning this morning. My girls are enjoying their presents right now. Santa gave the eldest a stereo and the youngest an American Girl doll.
Pretty much every year, they have gotten what they've asked for from Santa. They know (well, the youngest doesn't realize it yet, but she's still impressionable) that not to ask for something TOO extravagant, so it's easier for them to get what they want from Santa. I didn't always get what I wanted, but that was because sometimes, it just wasn't possible.
I ALWAYS loved Christmas Eve growing up. All the aunts, uncles and cousins would come over on Christmas Eve and would have chili that my grandma or mom made. I never liked chili, so I would always have tortillas. Going to bed that night on Christmas Eve was so full of anticipation. I was SO excited for Christmas to come, to see what Santa brought. The kids always had to go sleep out in the den, away from the living room where Santa would bring the presents. I would fall asleep by the light of the Christmas trees, straining my ears to see if Santa was here yet.
I remember one year I got my red cassette player, which I loved (I think I was in 3rd or 4th grade), and I remember my aunt getting her yellow 8-track player.
When I was in 5th grade, I got a Barbie motorhome. I LOVED that thing!!! Sometime later that next year, I came across a picture of my aunt's boyfriend putting together that motorhome. That's when I knew. I really had had NO idea or any indication before that, about Santa. I truly believed. I actually was crushed! :(
That next year, in 6th grade, all I wanted was a Barbie dreamhouse. I didn't want anything else. I even told my mom I didn't want anything else, even from anybody else. Just the Barbie dreamhouse. When I woke up that next morning, I was truly hoping I would have it there. But alas, it wasn't there. I was crushed. I knew it was expensive, but I thought maybe, just maybe I could get it. To be honest, I don't even remember what I did get from Santa that year. I just remember that my best friend, Stacie, did get the Barbie Dreamhouse. I do remember feeling sad that she got it and I didn't. But, my friend was a very nice and generous friend (and she still is, by the way) and when I would go over there to play, she let me play with 1/2 of the house (the house actually divided up into 3 separate sections). (How nice is that, I tell you!!!) So at least I did get to enjoy it through my friend. I knew my mom felt bad she couldn't get it, but it just something my mom couldn't afford.
Sometimes Christmases were lean over the years. My mom raised 3 girls all by herself with no help from our fathers (another story later, I'll just say now that she had really bad luck with men), and so it was up to her to make our Christmases as nice as she could. She would sometimes be up until 2 in the morning, making clothes for us, taking our measurements while we slept.
One year she knew I wanted the designer brand names jeans that everybody was wearing at the time (I think that was 7th or 8th grade). So she asked everyone, to get me a pair of them. I was so excited that Christmas morning!
Another year, on Christmas morning (I think I was in either high school or out of it by then, I can't remember) I woke up and found a photo album from Santa. I thought, "Oh, that's nice" and didn't even look inside, until I saw my sister look inside hers. Her album was full of pictures of her from the time she was a baby until the present! So I eagerly looked inside mine and found the same! That was one of the most special Christmases I had ever had. It was a present that had a lot of meaning to it. My mom knew I loved pictures. She knew I would cherish this present. And it was a present that barely cost anything. It was something that she and my grandma enjoyed doing. They loved putting together those albums for me and my sister.
Those special presents like that are the best!!!
Today's Memories Monday, is of course, memories of past Christmases.
We had a very nice Christmas morning this morning. My girls are enjoying their presents right now. Santa gave the eldest a stereo and the youngest an American Girl doll.
Pretty much every year, they have gotten what they've asked for from Santa. They know (well, the youngest doesn't realize it yet, but she's still impressionable) that not to ask for something TOO extravagant, so it's easier for them to get what they want from Santa. I didn't always get what I wanted, but that was because sometimes, it just wasn't possible.
I ALWAYS loved Christmas Eve growing up. All the aunts, uncles and cousins would come over on Christmas Eve and would have chili that my grandma or mom made. I never liked chili, so I would always have tortillas. Going to bed that night on Christmas Eve was so full of anticipation. I was SO excited for Christmas to come, to see what Santa brought. The kids always had to go sleep out in the den, away from the living room where Santa would bring the presents. I would fall asleep by the light of the Christmas trees, straining my ears to see if Santa was here yet.
I remember one year I got my red cassette player, which I loved (I think I was in 3rd or 4th grade), and I remember my aunt getting her yellow 8-track player.
When I was in 5th grade, I got a Barbie motorhome. I LOVED that thing!!! Sometime later that next year, I came across a picture of my aunt's boyfriend putting together that motorhome. That's when I knew. I really had had NO idea or any indication before that, about Santa. I truly believed. I actually was crushed! :(
That next year, in 6th grade, all I wanted was a Barbie dreamhouse. I didn't want anything else. I even told my mom I didn't want anything else, even from anybody else. Just the Barbie dreamhouse. When I woke up that next morning, I was truly hoping I would have it there. But alas, it wasn't there. I was crushed. I knew it was expensive, but I thought maybe, just maybe I could get it. To be honest, I don't even remember what I did get from Santa that year. I just remember that my best friend, Stacie, did get the Barbie Dreamhouse. I do remember feeling sad that she got it and I didn't. But, my friend was a very nice and generous friend (and she still is, by the way) and when I would go over there to play, she let me play with 1/2 of the house (the house actually divided up into 3 separate sections). (How nice is that, I tell you!!!) So at least I did get to enjoy it through my friend. I knew my mom felt bad she couldn't get it, but it just something my mom couldn't afford.
Sometimes Christmases were lean over the years. My mom raised 3 girls all by herself with no help from our fathers (another story later, I'll just say now that she had really bad luck with men), and so it was up to her to make our Christmases as nice as she could. She would sometimes be up until 2 in the morning, making clothes for us, taking our measurements while we slept.
One year she knew I wanted the designer brand names jeans that everybody was wearing at the time (I think that was 7th or 8th grade). So she asked everyone, to get me a pair of them. I was so excited that Christmas morning!
Another year, on Christmas morning (I think I was in either high school or out of it by then, I can't remember) I woke up and found a photo album from Santa. I thought, "Oh, that's nice" and didn't even look inside, until I saw my sister look inside hers. Her album was full of pictures of her from the time she was a baby until the present! So I eagerly looked inside mine and found the same! That was one of the most special Christmases I had ever had. It was a present that had a lot of meaning to it. My mom knew I loved pictures. She knew I would cherish this present. And it was a present that barely cost anything. It was something that she and my grandma enjoyed doing. They loved putting together those albums for me and my sister.
Those special presents like that are the best!!!
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