Journaling Challenge

I subscribed to a new scrapbooking kit club today, and they had a journaling challenge. Since this is mostly where my journaling is done these days, I figured I'd throw it in here and then print it out later to use on a page. I invite my fellow scrappy bloggers to do the same.. =)

1. Define charming:

Charming is waking up to find your husband has used all of your favorite scented tea lights to spell "I Love You" on the dining room floor. (yep - that happened)

2. What is your most vivid childhood memory?

Since they said "vivid," and not "best," I'm going to say the night my dad came home and found my mother in bed with another man. Not a good night at my house. I'm not elaborating on that one.

3. What is the best advice you've received and how did you apply it in your life?

"Everyone messes up their kids. The trick is to realize how your parents messed *you* up, and say ok, that stops here. It's time for you to make your own mistakes and let go of the ones your parents made. Just make sure, above everything, that your kids know without a doubt that you love them more than anything, and you'll be fine." How did I apply it? Do I really need to expand on that? =)

4. Happiness means...

That you're comfortable - really comfortable - inside. Comfortable with yourself, your surroundings, your station in life. It's the only way to be truly and purely happy.

A ferrari is always helpful, too.

5. What makes up most of your days?

These days? Driving.

6. I worry most about...

Being the same kind of mother mine was.

7. Describe your favorite window.

Wow. My favorite window. I love the windows in my scrap room. It used to be a sleeping porch, so there's windows on 3 sides of the room, and they look out over the backyard. The backyard's kind of a craphole right now, but for my first mother's day, my mom came over and planted a rose bush and a little fairy garden where I could look out and see it from my room.. so I guess that would be my favorite window-area.

8. I wish I could give up..

Gosh, Pepsi, Coffee, junk food, anger over petty things, guilt over things that really aren't my fault.. that's the short version of that list.

9. Five things I love about my mate:

1) He's hot.
2) He loves me.
3) He's a fantastic father.
4) He'll do anything for us.
5) He's not afraid to cry in front of me.

10. To relax, I...

Scrapbook. Duh.

11. What are your current addictions?

See #8.

12. Define patriotism.

Oooooh touchy subject. Realizing that what's best for your country as a whole is not always necessarily what's best for you as a person.

13. If you could give up one household chore, what would it be?

Laundry, hands down.

14. Describe your favorite hug, ever...

Oh, I hate this question. I love Zion's hugs when he's sick.. he's so snuggly and really needs his mommy. I'm going to miss that when he gets older. That's terrible.

Lot to Say

I'll just keep adding to this post as I go along tonight..

1. I mentioned a week or so ago that it's been four years since I had my hair cut. I've also had the same hair style since 7th grade.

(pause for dramatic effect)

That will all change Tuesday at 2:45. I made an appointment to have my hair "drastically altered." I'm going to give the hair stylist free reign - but she has to keep a little bit of length on it. Pretty scary, huh? 7th grade, how long ago was that? Let's see.. carry the 2, subtract 4.. 13 years?

2. I have 27 things on my to-do list. It's crazy.

3. Mike had a job interview this morning, and they already called him back for a second interview. We think it may be a Mob front, though, because they won't tell him what they actually do.

4. I felt like an official artist for the first time today. I left work after washing my hands and when I got to my nail appointment, I still had ink and acrylic paint all over myself.. under my nails, etc. I apologized to my nail lady for being such a mess, but inside I really felt proud. "Look at me! I'm artsy-fartsy!"

5. I bought a $17 tube of hand lotion today. It was Aveda. I've never done anything like this before, but I have the dryest skin you could ever imagine. So I bought it. Then the car broke down. Karma much?

6. Did I mention I have 27 things on my to-do list?

7. The forum crop is next weekend, and I am really looking forward to it. I'm planning on chilling like a hamster, doing some altered stuff, and just making a mess of myself in general. Very excited about it.

Sometimes You're the Windshield

We're having a rough week around here.

Mike's grandma passed away Thursday morning - she would have been 80 next month. Mike is taking it pretty hard, and I'm just not good at dealing with these things. I always end up saying the wrong thing. My family's always been really open about death, and it's taken me a long time to realize that most people aren't like that. For instance, Mike was mortified at Easter when my grandmother and I had the "jewelry I want when you die" discussion during dinner...

And honestly, I know this sounds like a big pity party for Sara, but I'm really anxious about the funeral. I keep being warned about "black" funerals and how different they are from "white" funerals. It doesn't help that it isn't until next Thursday - that just gives me a week to freak out about it, and it draws the closure issue out for Mike.

Then, this morning I went to get my nails done and Mike's car "threw a belt" (I'm not positive what that entails, but that's what he said it did) in the Crown Center parking garage. So, instead of coming home and actually getting a couple hours' sleep before I had to come back to work, we spent the entire day chasing around after AAA - yes, I said "chasing around after" them. We're cancelling our AAA membership as of next week.

I could continue with this list, but really, it's already bumming me out seeing it in print, so I think I'll just leave it at that. I hope tomorrow is better..

Oh Yeah..

While I'm here, and since the forum's down, I need to report in on some stuff...

I sent out a "Plea for Donations" several days ago. I'm happy (ecstatic, thrilled, overwhelmed) to report that several people have COMPLETELY come through.

I would post this in the forums but THEY'RE DOWN (I'm not bitter, you understand, just making an observation), so, I may have to do it again when (if) they come back up.

First, Maricar - who, for those of you who don't know (does anybody not know?), just moved to Louisiana three weeks ago - sent a box of BRAND NEW stuff. Twister, paper, notebooks, scissors, watercolors, markers, books... I can't even remember everything, there was so much. Maricar, I can't imagine being in the middle of everything you're into right now, and still finding the time to be as generous as you have been. Thank you, thank you, thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Next is Michele - GWHomey on the SD forums - who has been carting this stuff around in her van for a week, because I kept getting sidetracked and not being able to call her. Friday, getting ready to leave town, she somehow managed to make time to meet me at the church to drop this stuff off. She had her two adorable girls with her, and they carried armload after armload into the Fellowship Hall. I kept trying to help, but I was in SHOCK with all the stuff they were bringing in! There was an entire box of coloring books, a scooter, some roller skates, TONS of outdoor equipment, balls, a kitchen playset, a basketball goal, a bowling set, kids' golf clubs, one of those plastic rolling drawer thingies filled with dress-up clothes, an outdoor folding chair, a magnifying glass.. IT WAS CRAZY. I finally asked the girls if they even had any toys left! Then, when they were finished unloading, Michele pulled out a TELEVISION - a tv/vcr combo, with attachments for the car and everything! I offered to buy it from her, and she declined.

Finally, Miss Micki - dottecom forum lady - has managed to send a whole TON of stuff over. I have a huge box of kitchen stuff waiting for me to make room in my car at KSD. She offered a COMPUTER, which I'm still completely floored about, and says she still has stuff coming!

I never, in my wildest dreams, imagined that I would receive this kind of response. I was anticipating a couple of puzzles, maybe a board game or two, but this is SUCH a huge blessing. I am so grateful to all of you who are making an effort to assist me with this mess I've managed to get myself into.

Thank you so, so much - I don't know what I would do without you. =)

I'm Losing My Mind

I know, I know. I say that all the time. But this "lack-of-forum" thing is really getting to me. I *need* it when I'm stuck here at work all night. It gets me through, man!

I should be working. I should be preparing my presentation for the congregation for tomorrow (today), but I can't focus on it. I'm not tired - but you know when something throws you and it just screws up your whole day? Like when your husband calls in sick to work or something.. and he's not necessarily even in your way. He's in bed, and you can't even do the dishes cause it just SCREWED UP YOUR WHOLE DAY that he's home. And you're happy to spend time with him, but DAMMIT GO TO WORK cause I CAN'T GET ANYTHING ACCOMPLISHED while you're HERE MESSING UP MY DAY. (This is, of course, completely hypothetical.)

Does that make any sense?

That's what the forum being down has done to me, people. It loused up my whole routine. I can't get back into it now.

I'm a fiend.