What's your reason?

Here's a little questionaire for y'all. Well I guess it's just one question. What's your reason for blogging?

My main reason I started blogging was basically for journaling. I have never been able to keep a paper and pencil journal........so I figured, why not let the world know my deepest thoughts? Of course now I enjoy the added benefit of feedback from all the wonderful people I've "met" in blogland. It's nice to get some advice.....I can take it or leave it at my will. But it is always appreciated. Especially when I am not really thinking straight about a situation. I don't think my reason for blogging has changed yet, other than the fact that sometimes I write an entry that is not necessarily something that would be in a traditional journal. So sue me.

So now your job is to answer the above question.....and be honest.

Lefties Unite!

This is a mug that my parents bought me when I was in high school. I've always loved it. I've always felt a kinship with someone when I find out they are also left-handed. Someone who knows what it means to struggle with cutting projects in school (thankfully some genius invented ambidextrous scissors). Someone who knows what it means to have to learn how to throw right-handed (only to fail miserably) because there are no lefty gloves in P.E. class. Someone who knows how irritating it is to have people nervous when they watch you cut with a knife because "it looks like you're doing it all wrong". When my mom taught me how to crochet, it was very difficult for her to try to do it backwards. I basically watched her do it right-handed and then transposed it.

When I was young, we had a breakfast bar in the kitchen. I always had to sit in the furthest left seat as to not bump elbows with my brother or sister. To this day my mom still suggests where I should sit if we go out to a restaurant. I don't think she even realizes it. The funny part about this is that I don't find myself having an "elbow bumping" issue. Maybe I've learned to accomodate for this over the years.

I lift my mug in a toast to all the lefties of the world.........cheers!

The results are in.........

I hope you all thoroughly enjoyed trying to figure me out. You can now stop holding your breath.



1. What do you think my voice sounds like?

It is somewhat calming and soft spoken. I am not a yeller by any means. I hate listening to my recorded voice....it always sounds too young and high pitched (even though I was an alto in choir). I also have, what I think, is a slight lisp.

2. What kind of car do I drive?

Practical? Yes. We used to own a Chevy Suburban but decided it was too much of a gas hog. We needed to have something that would seat at least 6 since I often take my daycare kids on field trips.......so we decided on a Honda Odyssey mini van. It's 5 years old and the only thing we've had to do with it is regular maintenance.

3. What type of personality do I have?

Introverted. Friendly. Caring towards others.

4. What type of clothes do I wear?

Usually jeans and somewhat stylish shirts. Although I also like to be comfy with cute, matching sweat outfits. I like comfortable shoes. If I find something that looks decent and feels good, I usually buy it.

5. What is the color of my bedroom walls?

Off white. The color in the room comes from the bedding...hand-stitched quilt with 2000 different fabric squares (my millenium quilt). We also have framed pictures of some of my hubby's amateur photography.

6. Am I a good listener or more of a talker?

Definitely a listener. I am excellent at listening to people and being that person that can totally focus on them. I took a marriage and family college course and every session we were to sit with a partner for a "listening" session. For five straight minutes one person was to talk (about whatever they wanted to) and the other person was to actively listen. Let's just say I was excellent at the listening and struggled immensely with the talker role. In my defense, it was not like a normal conversation where there is a little give and take.

7. What kind of music do I listen to?

I like a variety of music. Soft rock, jazz, folk, classical, some classic rock, and others. A few artists I can think of off the top of my head are......Billy Joel, Lionel Richie, Phil Collins, James Taylor, Michelle Branch, Ryan Cabrera(my daughter got me hooked), John Denver, Genesis, John Mayer, Sarah MacLachlan, Natalie Merchant......there's so many more.

8. Is my house organized or a pig sty?

I strive to be organized, but with 2 kids there is often lots of clutter around. I love for things to have a spot, but again, with kids they often are no in their "spot".

9. Do I like going to the theater or renting videos?

Both actually. I do like going to the theater but not all the time. I especially like the second run theater (have I mentioned this before?) that only costs 75 cents. I like watching movies at home too just for the convenience of being in your jammies and not having to listen to rude people talk through the whole dang movie.

10. What's my favorite candy bar?

I think that would have to be Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. If I can stay away from those and ice cream, then my waistline is doing pretty good.

Yummmmmmm!

This is what my daughter wants for her birthday party this year. Let me know if you'd like an invite.
kitty litter recipe

You really can teach an old dog new tricks

Gifts I have received from hubby over the years...............

a sweater for Christmas when we were first going out.....the weird part of this was that my mom and dad got him the same exact sweater (purchased from the men's section). In his defense I will say that it could have been an either/or sweater.....but still.

Christmas again....I was a few months pregnant....he got me tinker toys and colored wooden blocks. My mom took him to the side later and obviously explained that I may want something a little more personal. Next day I get 2 comfy, maternity outfits. Much better.

He usually does pretty good with stocking stuffer gifts........except for the year I received a toilet bowl cleaner. You know the ones that hang on the back of the toilet and turn the water blue. Let's just say I was not thrilled.

This year for Christmas I must have been on Santa's naughty list............cause my stocking was empty and there were no gifts with my name on the tag. Later in the day, hubby offers me a very special gift...............he's going to fix the toilet in the basement....do you see a theme here?


Two days before this Valentine's Day.....hubby says, "Hey, you want a new fridge for V-Day?" Ummmm, no. This is a theme with him too. If there is any large item purchase that we need to make for our household, then that's my birthday/Christmas/ V-Day/ Anniversary present. I think I got the point across this time because he personally chose my gift which was not toilet related or a major appliance.

Here they are...........and I love them..........and I let him know. I think I may wear them every day until I die.

Life is like a dream

I have always felt that I have really strange dreams. Last night someone from blogland made their way into my dream. I will not mention any names but I will tell of the context. I was at home(it was in my childhood home) with my hubby and kids. It seemed to be a Saturday late morning, maybe even noon. I was naked, still in bed when blog person knocks on the front door. My hubby sees who it is at the door and informs me that I should probably get out of bed. I tell him that maybe I'll go take a shower..........walking naked past the front door (window in the front door). Later on in the dream I spot hubby outside with someone from his blog circle. It is some teenage girl and they are having a snowball fight. Very cute and fun loving......until he leans over and gives her a very passionate kiss.

I'm too scared to try to figure out what this one means.

Do you really know me?

I'm going to steal this idea from a fellow blogger, Cori. This fits appropriately with my recent self-questioning of anonymity. So for a little bit of fun for y'all.

Have you ever wondered what the people who you meet online are really like? You get a feel for what they may be like, but do you REALLY know them? I always wonder if I met some of you on the street would I even give you the time of day? So here is your pop quiz of the day:

1. What do you think my voice sounds like?

2. What kind of car do I drive?

3. What type of personality do I have?

4. What type of clothes do I wear?

5. What is the color of my bedroom walls?

6. Am I a good listener or more of a talker?

7. What kind of music do I listen to?

8. Is my house organized or a pig sty?

9. Do I like going to the theater or renting videos?

10. What's my favorite candy bar?

We will not be grading on a scale. I will post the answers after everyone has turned in their test.

I'm coming out of the closet (no...not THAT closet!)

I have always been leary of the internet and all of the creepy people that are out there lurking. You always hear warnings to parents to be careful and watch over your kid's shoulders to make sure they aren't getting lured by some pedifile. I'm not sure if that occurs much with blogs or if it is mainly in chat rooms. I guess that is part of the reason why I have wanted to remain anonymous. In my "real life" I am usually pretty guarded I think more out of habit than anything. I like to meet new people and love to have friends that are close enough to consider them like family. I just seem to always hold myself back and don't allow myself to get close to people (other than family). I have really tried to figure out what it is that holds me back. I think it is partly that I don't think I am worthy of other's friendship. Maybe this is carried over from my childhood. I don't know but what I DO know is that it is a cycle that I want to stop.

So back to the internet creep issue. I know that if a stalker wants to find you, they will. You can have seemingly nice neighbors that could be stalking your children while playing with their friends on the street.

And as far as me using my blog as a journal and remaining anonymous so that I can get some of my innermost thoughts out, well I think that is out the window. If anyone who knows me personally (before I posted pictures of the fam) didn't know it was me, than I don't think they were paying close enough attention. I guess what I am saying is that I am giving up the facade and stop hiding behind walls...........in the internet world and in the "real world".

Please don't judge me

I have made a conscience decision to attempt not to judge people. Can this really be done? It almost seems impossible. Especially for me(read earlier posts). Why do I feel like I have the right to judge others for their actions just because they do not coincide with my beliefs? There are plenty of things that others do that I would not think of doing myself. I am usually pretty tolerant of this. I guess it is when someone close to me does things that I do not approve of is when I have trouble not judging. I have to change this. I really don't have any other choice unless I want relationships to be destroyed. It is not that I don't want to change, it is the fact that it is something so ingrained in my thinking that it almost seems an impossible task.

Couch potatoes no more!

We have joined the local YMCA. I think this will be a huge positive for our family. I took the kids swimming yesterday after school. They both loved it....they have always loved swimming. I am taking an aqua aerobics class with all the old ladies. Don't get me wrong, I love them. They are so friendly. In fact I went to lunch with a group of them after the first class I attended. It was nice to get out and socialize again.

Nick (his real name) is trying to talk his dad into going to the "Y" to play racquetball with him. This was definitely something that our family needed.