Sunday Stealing (on a Monday...shhh)

The Have You Ever Meme 

1) Have you ever gotten lost in a maze?  No, I have a really good sense of direction and have a really good memory.  

2) Have you ever been attacked by a wild animal?  Do mosquitos count?  haha  Just the lorakeets at the zoo.  They sense my fear of birds and prey on it.

3) Have you ever ridden a camel? No, but I have an elephant.

4) Have you ever pet a rat? No

5) Have you ever been a member of a gym? Yes, I am currently...I guess I should go.

6) Have you ever been in a helicopter? Not that I recall. 

7) Have you ever cheated at a test? Probably when I was younger.  But, I am pretty sure the statute of limitations have ran out.  ha!

8) Have you ever ridden a tractor? Absolutely!  I learned to drive on a tractor.  

9) Have you ever passed wind/gas in an embarrassing situation? Probably, but I really don't remember.

10) Have you ever played the bongos? I wouldn't consider it "playing" as much as I would consider it just banging.

11) Have you ever handled a snake? Yes

12) Have you ever assembled furniture by yourself? I love to assemble furniture by myself.  That way there aren't too many cooks in the kitchen.

13) Have you ever been scuba diving? No

14) Have you ever had a disastrous interview? No

15) Have you ever sold your services? Yes, both as a photographer and a baker.

16) Have you ever raised money for charity?  Yes, March of Dimes.

17) Have you ever won a giant sized cuddly toy from a fair? No, I did break a mirror once.

18) Have you ever milked a cow? Yes

19) Have you ever used the phrase "back in my time" to someone younger than you? haha... I have recently started saying it to Elexis.

20) Have you ever invented a fairly unique meal or drink?  As long as we use the term fairly unique and not "holy crap what were you thinking".  

Two weeks until Christmas...

So I bought my Christmas gift for someone other than Elexis last night.  Yeah, it's two weeks before Christmas and I haven't bought anything except for my child.  I have really taken the ostrich approach to Christmas this year.  I don't know if it is because I feel behind because we went on vacation for Thanksgiving or what.  P.S. - I am totally all for going on vacation for Thanksgiving - no family drama!  So I guess I will be marathon Christmas shopping for everyone else.  Thanks to ebates and amazon, I did buy my nephews' gifts and had them mailed directly to them (they live in South Carolina and New York).  My mom is both easy and hard this year.  Easy because she still needs so much after losing her house, but hard because I don't really know what to get her.  I know I am making her a frame and putting one of our cruise pictures in it, and I bought a potato masher last night for her (the first gift).  I am just happy this is the first year that my kid has been super easy to buy for.  She is in to so many things right now.

I don't think that my family is into Christmas mode either.  Every year, I put up the tree and put the garland on.  Then, my husband and daughter decorate the tree with the ornaments.  I might put a few on, but it is mainly them.  This year, I put up the tree, garland and decorated that sucker by myself.  I saved my daughter's special ornaments to hang on the tree herself, and she still hasn't done it.  The angel doesn't go on until all the ornaments are on....the angel still sits beside the tree.  Maybe I will motivate my family to do this tonight.  I know that my mom is not much into the Christmas spirit this year.  I don't blame her.  My mother in law gave her her big Christmas tree because she likes to have a small tree.  On Sunday we took the tree to my mom and set it up for her.  It still sits naked and undecorated.  I think my mom is going to the lake this weekend, so my daughter and I will go over and decorate the tree for her.  So I guess none of my family is feeling Christmas yet.  I will take pictures of the ornaments that I have made and (hopefully) finish my wreath and take pictures of it.  I also made my tree skirt this year.  I still need to embroider it with Mickey and Minnie though.

Alright, enough procrastinating.  The stores await.

Sunday Stealing

I haven't done one of these in a good long while, so I am very much overdue.

1) Are you psychic in any way? I do believe I have had deja vu dreams

2) Are you a good dancer?  I wouldn't call myself good, but I can at least step to a beat

3) Are you a good singer?  In my shower or in my car I am Whitney Houston

4) Are you a good cook?  I would consider myself a good cook.

5) Are you a good artist?  At drawing, no...at creating, I would think so

6) Are you a good listener?  YES!  I am an excellent listener.  

7) Are you a good public speaker?  Yes, Public speaking doesn't scare me. 

8) Are you a good babysitter? Yes, and coincidentally so is my daughter who has no siblings.

9) Are you a good mechanic?  Haha!  I can jump a battery and change a tire...

10) Are you a good diplomat? I really don't know.

11) Are you a good employee?  Yes, I have always had high praises from my bosses. 

12) Are you a good dresser?  My wardrobe is jeans (or capris) and some sort of tshirt or hoodie (usually Disney themed)

13) Are you a good swimmer? Yes, been doing it all my life.

14) Are you a good skier?  NO!  I am good at falling down a mountain with skis on my feet.

15) Are you a good gift giver?  Yes, for the most part.  Some people are just hard to buy for.

16) Are you a good musician?  No, that would be my cello and piano playing daughter.  

17) Are you a good comedian?  I am good at making people laugh.

18) Are you a good cleaner?  When I am in the mood.  

19) Are you a good actor?  Yes

20) Are you a good writer? Mmm.  I am not sure.  I probably could be. 

I may be back

So, I lost it.  I lost all mojo for those things I found joy in.  My year has been trying, but I know so many other people's have too.  I got to where I didn't want to do anything.  I stopped reading blogs; I definitely stopped writing my blog.  I didn't have to passion for crafting, baking, creating, taking pictures, pretty much anything.  I believe I had fell into some sort of depression, but I wasn't depressed (if that makes any sense).  Instead of writing about it, I did what I do best and pulled away. For Thanksgiving this year, we went on a cruise.  Anyone who knows me knows that I have never wanted to take a cruise.  I have a very real fear of being trapped and I had convinced myself that I was going to be trapped on this boat.  The only way my family was going to convince me to get on a ship was if it was a Disney cruise.  And, the stipulation was added on that I got to go to Disney World before or after the cruise.  Disney World was awesome as always.  We also did the new Diagon Alley Harry Potter at Universal Studios.  Then we boarded the ship.  I can honestly say I had the best time on the cruise.  It was so much fun and I believe, because of Disney magic, I got my mojo back.  This week all I have wanted to do is craft, sew, bake, and create.  I have so many ideas that I want to see happen.  This morning I woke up and it hit me...I wanted to blog again.  I am so excited to get back to reading about my favorite friends' lives, and writing about my own.  I am still busy as ever, but I am going to commit to at least four times a week.

Strong Woman

I took a blog hiatus because my life got flipped upside down.  Things are now settling down and I feel I can talk about them.  I blogged about my dad passing away on March 1.  April is always a busy month for me anyway because of Elexis' birthday, being a test monitor, Easter and such.  On April 24, my mom got another shock.  She got a call from her neighbor while she was at work.  Her neighbor told her that her house was on fire and the fire department had been called.  My mom lived out in the country.  It's not exactly down the street from the nearest fire department.  By the time my mom got home, her entire back deck was gone (where the fire started) and her kitchen was gone.  Half the living room was close to being gone.  The fireman asked her what the most important thing she wanted out of there and she said she wanted my dad (he had been cremated).  My mom broke down when the fireman brought him and his hat and glasses he always wore to her.  Her house was a total loss.  What didn't get destroyed by the fire, was destroyed by the smoke and water and fireman having to find the hotspots.  She lost both of her cats in the fire.  Luckily, her dog was outside and was spared.  Had my dad still been alive, he probably would have died in the fire.  His spot was on fire.  He was on full time oxygen and the tanks had just gotten picked up the week before the fire.

I tell you this because my definition of a strong woman has been redefined.  I have always known my mom was a strong person, but God really has put her to the test.  First her husband, then their house they had moved into the second year of their marriage.  My mom has continued putting one foot in front of the other.  I am very proud of the person she is.  She came to stay with me after the fire.  Together we had to inventory (from memory) all the contents of her house.  We have dealt with the insurance company (which was awesome, very quick to respond and issue checks).  We have made decisions on what she should do whether it be rebuild out there or move closer to the city.  She ultimately made the decision to move closer to the city (we planned on getting her house and land ready to sell by October anyway).  We have looked at houses and ultimately buy one.  She now lives a mile from me.  I know my mom needs me and I am very happy to be there for her.  She is now making a new normal.

My mom and dad had an annual party.  Sometimes it was in July (for my anniversary on July 4th) and sometimes in August for my dad's birthday.  Yesterday, three weeks after she moved into her house, we held her annual party.  Her new house had an ice cream bar in half of the garage so that played a huge part in the party.  I am very happy to see her enjoy something.  We celebrated her new house, my dad's memorial, and my nephew's birthday (my brother is down from New York).  We had about 40 people over to the house and had an awesome time.

My mom is going to be okay.  She is going to have bad days, good days and days she doesn't even want to get out of bed.  But, she will because she is a strong woman and I am proud to be her daughter.

On a side note: Another very strong woman I know, Paula, is being put to the test right now.  I just want her to know I am thinking about her and praying for and all her family.

My mom and her sisters, brother and sister in law

My best friend of 25 years, my mom and me.

The ice cream bar.  

It's been a month

It's been a month since my dad passed away.  It is still really hard for me to wrap my brain around.  I often pick up the phone and think "I haven't talked to dad in a while" or "Oh, I need to tell dad something".  And then the sadness sets in.  Yesterday, I was by his work (before he retired in January), and I said to myself "Ooh, I could stop in and surprise dad at work".  Except, I couldn't.  I really miss him a lot.  I miss hearing him say "Are y'all going to come out?" or "What's my baby girl doing?"  But really what I miss most is his laugh.  I really wish I could hear it out loud again.  I can close my eyes and still hear him laughing or saying these things.  My mom still has three voice messages from him saved on her phone.  All three of them coincidentally involve being at Walmart.  When we went to pick up his ashes, my siblings and I all got a tiny urn that has part of him in it.  I claimed the smile.  We knew my mom got his heart.  He sits on my mantle next to my father in law.  I know that they are together in Heaven discussing motorcycles and other guys stuff.  I know that I will one day get to see him again, but right now it is just really hard.  

I talk to my mom everyday.  I worry about her.  Right now she is still in "I have to get all of the paperwork side of things done".  I am afraid of what is going to happen when she doesn't have that distraction anymore.  I told her that I would like to go to a grief support group sometime soon.  I think it would be good for both of us.  I am going to try to upload his memorial video to Youtube so I can share it with those who want to see what a full life my dad led.  

A little background of my dad:  He was born in 1951 at 6 months premature.  He weighed a pound and 12 oz.  He was tiny.  The doctors thought he was dead so they didn't suction anything.  Because of that he was blind in one eye and deaf in one ear.  He was a miracle from the beginning.

Sunday Stealing

The 20Q Meme

1. When you buy a greetings card are the words or the picture more important to you? I like the words
2. What's your favorite kind of cake? I don't like to eat cake; but I like to bake swirl cakes best.
3. Do you ever make gifts for people, if so what, or do you buy them?  I do both.  When I make it is usually a baked good.  
4. You are chosen to have lunch with the President. The condition is you only get to ask one question. What do you ask? What's your favorite cereal.
5. Which do you dislike most: pop-up ads or spam email? I have both disabled; but spam email sometimes filters through.
6. What was the best party you've ever been to? I went to an awesome halloween party once.  I won 3rd place in my Princess Fiona costume.  I got beat out by a pregnant Betty (from the Flintstones)
7. Which is worse, being in a place that is too loud, or too quiet? Too loud (I have sensitive hearing)
8. You are offered an envelope that you know contains $50. You are then told that you may either keep it or exchange it for another envelope that may contain $500 or may be empty. Do you keep the first envelope, or do you take your chances with the second? I take the chance.  
9. Do you wish cellphone etiquette was a required class upon purchasing one? Absolutely!
10. What's the most messed up food combination that you've had that was actually good? Pepper on my apples
11. What's one of your most random pet peeves (something that annoys you)? scraping a fork across a plate...eek!
12. When is the last time you had home cooking? Today.  I love to cook.  I very rarely eat out.
13. If you could be a fictional character from a book who would you choose? Ramona from the Ramona Quimby series. 
14. If you could be in a television sit-com, which would you choose? Friends
15. If you could be any animal or creature for one day, what would it be? Sloth...they don't do anything
16. What's your favorite girl's name? Currently, if I had a little girl I would name her Brittyn Rae after mine and my husband's dad's middle names.
17. What's your favorite boy's name? Dakota
18. What's your supermarket of choice? Crest (a local chain) and Walmart Neighborhood Market
19. If you were to attend a costume party tonight, what or whom would you go as? no brainer...Minnie Mouse
20. What is your concession stand must-have at the movies? I am so boring.  I don't get anything from the concession.