i call this, "35 minutes in a doctor's exam room."
all the news continues to be good. i am a healthy specimen. i won't go changin' to try and please you...especially when i plan on being 100% healthy this time next year too.
Friday, December 30, 2005
gonna rock and roll all night...
i call this, "35 minutes in a doctor's exam room."
all the news continues to be good. i am a healthy specimen. i won't go changin' to try and please you...especially when i plan on being 100% healthy this time next year too.
in the new year...
there will be more pictures on this blog. "why?" you ask? because the sweetest boy in the world gave me one of these for christmas. now i just have to figure out how to use the manual settings so pictures like this one...
don't seem so washed out with the powerful flash.
the world continues to amaze and inspire awe in me...the ability to share images and thoughts and my life with the universe through technology is mind-boggling. i plan on harnessing the energy of this form and using it for good in the upcoming year. look for changes and developments very soon!
don't seem so washed out with the powerful flash.
the world continues to amaze and inspire awe in me...the ability to share images and thoughts and my life with the universe through technology is mind-boggling. i plan on harnessing the energy of this form and using it for good in the upcoming year. look for changes and developments very soon!
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
exhaling...
as i sat on the couch last night, totally potato-ing out, i realized i hadn't sat still since the end of september. at that "aha" moment, i decided that the remainder of this year (okay, that's really only a few days, but it sounds so momentous) i am going to veg-out. that doesn't mean i'll be doing nothing, just not crafting or creating for a few days. sometimes my brain works better when given a breather. a little white space is just what the doctor ordered.
tonight i'm off to the thrift store for 1/2 off clothing. my budget is in an ardent post-christmas slump so of course that means i will find something i definitely must have--vintage apron, embroidered pillow case, vintage 50's dress or funky lamp. actually, i have my fingers crossed that i find a million things that will inspire me in the new year!
the to-do list for the next few days includes things like, "make prediction list for 2006," and "clean out dining room game closet."
tonight i'm off to the thrift store for 1/2 off clothing. my budget is in an ardent post-christmas slump so of course that means i will find something i definitely must have--vintage apron, embroidered pillow case, vintage 50's dress or funky lamp. actually, i have my fingers crossed that i find a million things that will inspire me in the new year!
the to-do list for the next few days includes things like, "make prediction list for 2006," and "clean out dining room game closet."
Friday, December 23, 2005
el monstero rocks...
even though pink floyd usually leaves me cold, last night the concert was HOT. loved it!
happy christmas, honey...now i know why you lerve the floyd!
happy christmas, honey...now i know why you lerve the floyd!
Thursday, December 22, 2005
post #100...
"fill in the blank" year in review...idea stolen from hannahbeth
1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before? i organized an art show.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? each year, as a family, we write down our predictions/resolutions. so i suspect this year will be no different. my resolutions for this year were to lose 10 pounds and get fit by my birthday, which i almost accomplished by the deadline. i also wanted to be in 5 "big" art shows this year--i did two shows and organized a third, which took an inordinate amount of time, so i think i'm off the hook for that one. i also wanted to carve out more time to make art and i accomplished that BIG TIME!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? my friend, hope, gave birth to mackenzie in may.
4. Did anyone close to you die? thankfully, no.
5. What countries did you visit? at the risk of sounded trite, and straight out of "miracle on 34th street," i visited the "imagi-nation!"
6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005? patience...but i think i'll be wishing for that for the rest of my life.
7. What dates from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
february 14-returned to work after an eight-week, medical leave
march 9-my baby boy turned 15 and got his learner's permit
july 9-bought the most awesome pink vw
september 14-turned 40
september 17-partied with my family and friends
december 3-the saturday monday sale
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? losing 20 pounds and organizing the saturday monday sale
9. What was your biggest failure? wasting time worrying
10. Did you suffer illness or injury in 2005? no, thank goodness.
11. What was the best thing you bought? a 10'x10' tent for outdoor shows
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? kelly's behavior is always a cause for celebration as is nathaniel's...i am truly blessed to have such wonderful men in my life.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? as it has for all the years in office, president george w. bush's.
14. Where did most of your money go? art supplies
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? my big birthday and my first complete year cancer-free.
16. What song will always remind you of 2005? "i will fix you" by coldplay
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a)happier or sadder? b)thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer? a)happier b)thinner c)about the same, but richer in spirit
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? relaxed
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? worried
20. How will you be spending Christmas? at my aunt and uncle's with my mom's family
21. Did you fall in love in 2005? every day i fall in love all over again with kelly
22. How many one-night stands? none, but some of my love encounters were as thrilling as a one night stand.
23. What was your favorite TV program? gilmore girls
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? no
25. What was the best book you read? my list is at home...i'll have to check and get back with you
26. What was your greatest musical discovery? the ditty bops
27. What did you want and get? a pink car and continued good health
28. What did you want and not get? a digital camera (but there's still time)
29. What was your favorite film of this year? mad hot ballroom
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? i went to my son's soccer game, witnessed his first varsity goal and turned 40 years old.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? not one single thing
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005? funky fabulous comfort
33. What kept you sane? kelly--he's my rock.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? johnny depp (neverland, anyone?)
35. What political issue stirred you the most? the debacle in the wake of katrina
36. Whom did you miss? my grandpa
37. Who was the best new person you met? do i have to limit it to one? amanda, jennifer and marla are my top three
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005. worry doesn't rid today of its troubles, it robs tomorrow of its joy.
1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before? i organized an art show.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? each year, as a family, we write down our predictions/resolutions. so i suspect this year will be no different. my resolutions for this year were to lose 10 pounds and get fit by my birthday, which i almost accomplished by the deadline. i also wanted to be in 5 "big" art shows this year--i did two shows and organized a third, which took an inordinate amount of time, so i think i'm off the hook for that one. i also wanted to carve out more time to make art and i accomplished that BIG TIME!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? my friend, hope, gave birth to mackenzie in may.
4. Did anyone close to you die? thankfully, no.
5. What countries did you visit? at the risk of sounded trite, and straight out of "miracle on 34th street," i visited the "imagi-nation!"
6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005? patience...but i think i'll be wishing for that for the rest of my life.
7. What dates from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
february 14-returned to work after an eight-week, medical leave
march 9-my baby boy turned 15 and got his learner's permit
july 9-bought the most awesome pink vw
september 14-turned 40
september 17-partied with my family and friends
december 3-the saturday monday sale
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? losing 20 pounds and organizing the saturday monday sale
9. What was your biggest failure? wasting time worrying
10. Did you suffer illness or injury in 2005? no, thank goodness.
11. What was the best thing you bought? a 10'x10' tent for outdoor shows
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? kelly's behavior is always a cause for celebration as is nathaniel's...i am truly blessed to have such wonderful men in my life.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? as it has for all the years in office, president george w. bush's.
14. Where did most of your money go? art supplies
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? my big birthday and my first complete year cancer-free.
16. What song will always remind you of 2005? "i will fix you" by coldplay
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a)happier or sadder? b)thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer? a)happier b)thinner c)about the same, but richer in spirit
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? relaxed
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? worried
20. How will you be spending Christmas? at my aunt and uncle's with my mom's family
21. Did you fall in love in 2005? every day i fall in love all over again with kelly
22. How many one-night stands? none, but some of my love encounters were as thrilling as a one night stand.
23. What was your favorite TV program? gilmore girls
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? no
25. What was the best book you read? my list is at home...i'll have to check and get back with you
26. What was your greatest musical discovery? the ditty bops
27. What did you want and get? a pink car and continued good health
28. What did you want and not get? a digital camera (but there's still time)
29. What was your favorite film of this year? mad hot ballroom
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? i went to my son's soccer game, witnessed his first varsity goal and turned 40 years old.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? not one single thing
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005? funky fabulous comfort
33. What kept you sane? kelly--he's my rock.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? johnny depp (neverland, anyone?)
35. What political issue stirred you the most? the debacle in the wake of katrina
36. Whom did you miss? my grandpa
37. Who was the best new person you met? do i have to limit it to one? amanda, jennifer and marla are my top three
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005. worry doesn't rid today of its troubles, it robs tomorrow of its joy.
what this blog needs is...
...more pictures!
yes, i know!
the scanner that was hooked up to our old computer doesn't seem to work with our new computer, hence scanning is right out. we're still researching digital cameras so we have yet to be able to upload pics that way.
but here's what i would have posted pictures of if i'd had a digital camera:
***shots of the gingerbread house i made last week. i didn't bake the gingerbread (i tried that last year and my gingerbread was so soft and wobbly, it never hardened up enough to build my structure!) this year i used a kit, because, let's be honest--the real excitement about making a gingerbread house is decorating it! and it turned out GREAT!
***photos from my gumdrop crafternoon ala posie. "what does that mean?" you ask? well, i invited over some gals to make some adorable wreaths from gumdrops. and each and every one of them took home a super cute holiday decoration. i also would show you pictures of the gumdrop tree i made to go with my gingerbread house.
***a picture of nathaniel in a tuxedo...so grown up. so handsome.
***i'd show you a picture of my tinsel tree before my boys dismantle it to put up the faux tree we've had since nathaniel was a baby. nathaniel is so sentimental, he couldn't wrap his mind around the silver tinsel one, so i'll save it for my studio and really do it up right next year.
on a side note--tonight we're going to see el monstero, a pink floyd tribute band, at the pageant. although the allure of pink floyd is completely lost on me, kelly is a huge fan. last year, although he and nathaniel had tickets, i was in the hospital. kelly never left my side for 7 days (except when nurse ratchet made him vacate on the very first night), therefore he missed the concert, so this is my christmas present to him. thanks for always being near me, kelly! this 1st year is behind us now...only good things for the future.
yes, i know!
the scanner that was hooked up to our old computer doesn't seem to work with our new computer, hence scanning is right out. we're still researching digital cameras so we have yet to be able to upload pics that way.
but here's what i would have posted pictures of if i'd had a digital camera:
***shots of the gingerbread house i made last week. i didn't bake the gingerbread (i tried that last year and my gingerbread was so soft and wobbly, it never hardened up enough to build my structure!) this year i used a kit, because, let's be honest--the real excitement about making a gingerbread house is decorating it! and it turned out GREAT!
***photos from my gumdrop crafternoon ala posie. "what does that mean?" you ask? well, i invited over some gals to make some adorable wreaths from gumdrops. and each and every one of them took home a super cute holiday decoration. i also would show you pictures of the gumdrop tree i made to go with my gingerbread house.
***a picture of nathaniel in a tuxedo...so grown up. so handsome.
***i'd show you a picture of my tinsel tree before my boys dismantle it to put up the faux tree we've had since nathaniel was a baby. nathaniel is so sentimental, he couldn't wrap his mind around the silver tinsel one, so i'll save it for my studio and really do it up right next year.
on a side note--tonight we're going to see el monstero, a pink floyd tribute band, at the pageant. although the allure of pink floyd is completely lost on me, kelly is a huge fan. last year, although he and nathaniel had tickets, i was in the hospital. kelly never left my side for 7 days (except when nurse ratchet made him vacate on the very first night), therefore he missed the concert, so this is my christmas present to him. thanks for always being near me, kelly! this 1st year is behind us now...only good things for the future.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
there is no way of knowing....
...which direction we are going.
do you remember those lines from the boat song in "willy wonka and the chocolate factory?" wow, gene wilder was scary in that movie, but, oh so good!
i don't know what direction i'm going this morning. the list for the holiday is growing and time is running out. i still have a number (try 5-7) gifts to finish up before saturday night. this and still work a 9-5 each day. i'm definitely not complaining, but holy canoli, a girl sure can get tired!
last night we went and saw nathaniel in the band holiday concert. it was great. he was in a trio that performed "simple gifts," the quaker hymn, which not only took me back over 20 years to my days at earlham but choked me up a bit. the song is so succinct and melancholy in parts, it truly evoked a bit of the holiday spirit in me. lately i'd started to believe my grinch-y heart had shrunken two sizes.
today is our office holiday lunch. afterwards we're going to play pool at this joint...pink pool tables. coulda place be any more up my alley? i wore my new trench to honor the occassion! not to mention i switched purses to the new/vintage hot pink patent leather one kelly got for me on saturday.
i truly am living the most wonderful life...and my heart is growing--i can feel it.
do you remember those lines from the boat song in "willy wonka and the chocolate factory?" wow, gene wilder was scary in that movie, but, oh so good!
i don't know what direction i'm going this morning. the list for the holiday is growing and time is running out. i still have a number (try 5-7) gifts to finish up before saturday night. this and still work a 9-5 each day. i'm definitely not complaining, but holy canoli, a girl sure can get tired!
last night we went and saw nathaniel in the band holiday concert. it was great. he was in a trio that performed "simple gifts," the quaker hymn, which not only took me back over 20 years to my days at earlham but choked me up a bit. the song is so succinct and melancholy in parts, it truly evoked a bit of the holiday spirit in me. lately i'd started to believe my grinch-y heart had shrunken two sizes.
today is our office holiday lunch. afterwards we're going to play pool at this joint...pink pool tables. coulda place be any more up my alley? i wore my new trench to honor the occassion! not to mention i switched purses to the new/vintage hot pink patent leather one kelly got for me on saturday.
i truly am living the most wonderful life...and my heart is growing--i can feel it.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
best husband pick-up line ever...
"after a long hard day at the nacho stand, you're so good to come home to."
Friday, December 16, 2005
celebrate good times, come on!
tonight is the BIG celebration of this gorgeous couple's holy matrimony! can't wait! should be an amazingly good time.Thursday, December 15, 2005
re-thinking...
there are days lately when all i can do is sit and weep. i'm not putting that out there 'cause i want a big ole pity party. i'm writing it so i can realize how utterly ridiculous it sounds.
monday, december 19 will be the one year anniversary of being cancer-free. again, not putting that out there 'cause i want cards and well-wishes (although i do love random mail!) but because i need to remember how lucky i am...how blessed a life i lead and how special these opportunities are.
the seemingly unrelenting tests and doctors' appointments and examinations were wearing me down. until i read this blog entry, water and i understood that i was putting things in the wrong perspective. andrea always puts her thoughts together so succinctly. it helped me to see the light at the end of the tunnel. i have definitely been having a "glass is half empty" kind of two weeks. the glass is filling up today. i am physically feeling better and my mental outlook is sunnier too.
besides that, there's a silver tinsel christmas tree in my living room just waiting for a pom pon garland...that HAS to put a smile on anyone's face!
monday, december 19 will be the one year anniversary of being cancer-free. again, not putting that out there 'cause i want cards and well-wishes (although i do love random mail!) but because i need to remember how lucky i am...how blessed a life i lead and how special these opportunities are.
the seemingly unrelenting tests and doctors' appointments and examinations were wearing me down. until i read this blog entry, water and i understood that i was putting things in the wrong perspective. andrea always puts her thoughts together so succinctly. it helped me to see the light at the end of the tunnel. i have definitely been having a "glass is half empty" kind of two weeks. the glass is filling up today. i am physically feeling better and my mental outlook is sunnier too.
besides that, there's a silver tinsel christmas tree in my living room just waiting for a pom pon garland...that HAS to put a smile on anyone's face!
Monday, December 12, 2005
weekend update...
1st--the birthday purse was a big hit! yay! "a" loved it!
2nd--i was the official cake baker for the surprise party cake. two tiers of two layered chocolate-y goodness ended up looking like a cake fit for a princess. it was...a sweet 16 red-headed princess, that is!
3rd--i ate an embarrassment of rich food yesterday. tomorrow is my colonoscopy so i like to bulk up in anticipation of a day and 1/2 without solid food. first watch for brunch and macaroni grill for a late dinner. even had a glass of wine! yummy!
2nd--i was the official cake baker for the surprise party cake. two tiers of two layered chocolate-y goodness ended up looking like a cake fit for a princess. it was...a sweet 16 red-headed princess, that is!
3rd--i ate an embarrassment of rich food yesterday. tomorrow is my colonoscopy so i like to bulk up in anticipation of a day and 1/2 without solid food. first watch for brunch and macaroni grill for a late dinner. even had a glass of wine! yummy!
Friday, December 09, 2005
guess who's turning 16 tomorrow...
a special "best" friend of mine whose name begins with "a" and ends with "a" that's who! this is a tiny bit of the purse i made especially for her. below the flower are over 200 handsewn sequins held on with vintage hot pink seed beads. it was a labor of love.this was after numerous failed attempts at felting first a mis-marked acrylic sweater and then a "washable" wool sweater i had spent considerable time hand dying to get the perfect shade of aqua. in the end, i had to manage with the next best thing...a bold blue sweater that felted into a tiny bit of purse-y goodness. thank you, crafting goddesses, for having pity on me and making this last attempt the best one of the bunch! let's just hope the mystery girl loves it!
Monday, December 05, 2005
saturday monday recap...
well, we all survived, had a great time, spent time with friends, laughed a lot, got to see folks we hadn't seen in a long time, met new people and oh, yeah, sold a bit of our artwork too! denise and becky have pics on their blogs already. me, you ask? well, i took one photo and then was busy dealing with plumbing issues, adjusting the thermostat, thinking about lunch and how that would work out, and oh, yeah, selling a bit of my artwork too.
i had a great time and even in retrospect, am still planning on another event very soon...maybe not even 12 months from now, but sooner. shhhh, don't tell kelly. he'll have my head examined.
i had a great time and even in retrospect, am still planning on another event very soon...maybe not even 12 months from now, but sooner. shhhh, don't tell kelly. he'll have my head examined.
Friday, December 02, 2005
bad habits...
recently a friend was asked to reveal her worst bad habit. she said it was interrupting people. all in all, i don't think that's a terrible bad habit. perhaps that is the bad habit she was willing to reveal to a room full of people. did you ever see that saturday night live skit where a man recently deceased, is at the gates of heaven where all will soon be revealed to him. he asks st. peter what was the worst thing he ever ate accidentally. st. peter says, "you are not ready to know what the worst thing was." the man wants to know what the 85th worst thing was and st. peter tells him it was an earwig in a bowl of bread pudding. maybe interrupting people was the earwig on my friend's bad habit list.
but i digress...
of course, introspective sort that i am, i turned the light of self-examination on myself to ferret out what i believed to be my worst habit. and it didn't take me long to realize what it is...
i tend to think the worst of people. (wow, it smarts when you pull an incriminating band-aid off that fast!)
so, i thought, why not push myself to the brink of humiliation and reveal what i believe to my worst habit to the person who knows me best, my husband. now, he really was screwed in this scenario because it's like asking him five minutes before we head out the door to a special event if the outfit i'm wearing makes my butt look big...especially if said outfit DOES make my butt look big. he thinks to himself, "self, i want to be honest, but i have to be kind, and i have to always say she looks beautiful, because that's my job and i'm a terrible liar..."
you get the picture, right?
my dear husband actually asks me this question before we continue our conversation, "is this a conversation where at the end you're going to be mad at me?"
with his words still hanging in the air between us, i lied and said, "of course not."
no, really, he wasn't in trouble, but apparently i DO think the worst of folks and that is not a good thing, i tell you what!
i know, i know--the first step is admitting you have a problem, but no one wants to think they're not 100% perfect. (i know, that's a problem too!) but perhaps i should have started with my 5th worst habit...hoping everyone i meet, likes me.
but i digress...
of course, introspective sort that i am, i turned the light of self-examination on myself to ferret out what i believed to be my worst habit. and it didn't take me long to realize what it is...
i tend to think the worst of people. (wow, it smarts when you pull an incriminating band-aid off that fast!)
so, i thought, why not push myself to the brink of humiliation and reveal what i believe to my worst habit to the person who knows me best, my husband. now, he really was screwed in this scenario because it's like asking him five minutes before we head out the door to a special event if the outfit i'm wearing makes my butt look big...especially if said outfit DOES make my butt look big. he thinks to himself, "self, i want to be honest, but i have to be kind, and i have to always say she looks beautiful, because that's my job and i'm a terrible liar..."
you get the picture, right?
my dear husband actually asks me this question before we continue our conversation, "is this a conversation where at the end you're going to be mad at me?"
with his words still hanging in the air between us, i lied and said, "of course not."
no, really, he wasn't in trouble, but apparently i DO think the worst of folks and that is not a good thing, i tell you what!
i know, i know--the first step is admitting you have a problem, but no one wants to think they're not 100% perfect. (i know, that's a problem too!) but perhaps i should have started with my 5th worst habit...hoping everyone i meet, likes me.
Thursday, December 01, 2005
SNOW...
there was a light dusting on the ground when i left for the office this morning. as i drove, big juicy flakes fell on my windshield. my heart felt lighter with the sugary stuff coming down from the sky. i love snow! and what a great day for it to fall...december 1!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)