Refreshed!!!

I've been haveing a hard time sleeping lately, and I was reading yesterday about the importance of sleep. (Bad sleep patterns can reduce your life span by 7 years!!!) So my goal this weekend is to get enough sleep, and at the right times. (no sleeping in, no extra long naps etc...) So last night, my first real try, I did something I rarely do..I took 1/2 a sleeping pill. We got the little ones to bed and then I got ready for bed and was there by 9 p.m. After reading scriptures and journaling I was asleep by 10 p.m.! For me that was big. I feel soooo good today! This is my first step, but I do realize that I will be taking a break from going to bed early just next week. Our family is found of very late nights...that's when all the really good things happen. And isn't Christmas about making memories? So here to all a good nights sleep! Love ya!!!

Merry, Merry Christmas

Hello my sisters...long time...I hope that each of you are enjoying this wonderful time of year. We are counting (via paper chains made by my littlest) the days until we are coming down. I am so excited!

Today has been a tough day for my DH. He has been very down in the dumps (had a crisis at work, and everyone pretty much blamed him.) But it has followed him home. I hate when he is like this...hopefully it will not last. We had tickets to the Mormon Tab Christmas concert last night, but he refused to go. I couldn't find a "replacement" and so I didn't go either. (sigh) They are really good. So I am a little down and needed a tech chat.

I am excited about the gift for Mom and Dad. I have been pursuing photos for my fam. This is going to be a fun Christmas. I am glad to be able to spend it with y'all! See you, hear from you, read from you soon!!!! Love ya!

good news

I have good news, and I'm so excited!! Family Vacation here we come. Prayers were answered. The co-worker who had the week saved got a great deal on his flight for a different week and he just couldn't refuse. So he took a different week off and we got the week we wanted. Yea!!!

My life has just been play, play, play. Rehersals and making costumes it just takes over my life. Two weeks and two days and we are done. Then we can get ready for vacation. Tomorrow I should finish all our costumes. Hopefully, because tomorrow is our first dress rehersal in the theater. I think our play will be cute. It has a lot of funny parts. #5 is adorable in her solo (short, very short solo), and #6 is doing really well remembering where his lines come in. He is so big, I think people forget he is only six.

Jones and tupins celebrated Jones' birthday on Tuesday. I wasn't even invited. Was lil red invited? Who knows maybe we would have come? Ok, my life is the play so maybe not, but who knows, cuz I wasn't given the chance. Though you all seem to get together without me. What you think I have six kids or something to take care of.

All right now I'm just whining. I just miss you all! Three and a half weeks and counting.

Momon Perfection

I have a friend "Joe" who is a great guy. He is married and has a very sweet wife and a bunch of darling kids. He is a genuinely Nice Person. I found out the other day that he has a "problem" He told me, (Whispered voice...) "I didn't go on a mission." He was so ashamed of it...and I'm thinking, "so?" I told him that I married a man who hadn't gone on a mission either. Joe was actually relieved to know that I didn't think poorly of him because of this.

Its got me thinking about our Mormon culture and our perfect plan of How To Live Your Life. While I think it is WONDERFUL to acknowledge that yes, life can be easier if you 1. marry within your faith (another Mormon) 2. get married in the temple (then you at least have some common values!) 3. Live the gospel (duh!) But these are Ideals, and the fact is, life is hard. We are gonna mess it up. A Lot. And when we mess up, our neighbors, friends and ward members are sometimes going to know our mistakes. And then that Perfect Plan rears its head...What! No mission? What! No temple marriage? What! She/He did this/that? So what. We mess up, we move on, we repent and we forgive. THIS is the plan...repentance and forgiveness--not the Perfect Plan. The Perfect Plan is a tool of the devil.

I had the most difficult time with being divorced because it was not the plan! Letting go of my perfect plan was so hard. And it still is hard. It still haunts me, even though I know better. My life is different than the plan. I'm a single mom--a divorced mom. So many times I feel like I have failed at the most important things. But in my sane moments, I know this isn't true. I'm progressing. I'm working on it. Life is hard and messy, and Christ knows this. He has been here and lived it. He knows I will mess up time and time again. He still loves me.

My Perfect Plan was a part of my divorce. I had such a hard time opening my heart and being generous and forgiving. I forgave a little, but not totally. Its hard for me to admit that (geesh!) but its true. The things my husband was doing was against the plan! Ack! How dare he! I was too caught up in the Perfect Plan to truly help him though his darkest times. He even told me that, but at the time I thought he was full of crap. He is still mostly full of crap, but I can see my (small - hehehe) part in the whole disaster where before all I could see was his bad choices that caused me pain.

Anyway, my point is...we should give people a break when they aren't perfect. Love is the answer. (Cue the music.)

Totally Lacking

...Readers and commentors. I think I am the only living thing to read this blog.

One of my Rules of Life

When Megs was seven years old, Gma taught her how to make paper hats. She was completely enthralled with making hats and thought that everyone would want one. So she set up shop on the street selling hats. Poor little thing sat out there a loooooong time, and then finally Nice Lady stopped. At first she was surprised at the hats; she was expecting kool-aid. But she bought, and totally made a little girl's day. That's when I came up with one of my Life Rules: Always stop at Lemonade stands. I love capitalism and free enterprise; God bless America. Kids with energy to set up a stand need customers, and I always stop. I usually don't drink the merchandise (you never know what state that kitchen is in) but I buy.

tod mude

...is german for dead tired. don't know if i got the spelling right, and i don't really care. i'm so weary that i really want to curl up in bed. but i can't. i must must must clean my house. it is a mess so messy that i don't even want to be home with the mess. it gets like this once a year: graduation time.

graduation is always stressful and busy. so much to do and to plan. programs, ushers, flags on the stage. its a lot, and i always worry that we will forget something. and then some parent who has waited twelve years for the glorious event of his child's graduation will only see what we forgot to do and be mad because we ruined graduation. i do not joke. these parents are scary.

so this year it is all that and more. because not only am i part of the planning, but i am a parent as well. i can't believe how much more this has affected me. i'm stressed to the max. i'm usually pretty low-key kind of a person. but not this week. in fact, a co-worker laughed at me yesterday and said, "I've never seen you be so assertive." i hastily apologized and wondered why have i become so crazy about this? it is because it is MY child's graduation this time and i want it to be perfect.

today we had a bbq for the students. what a blast. i love love love the bbq day. its so fun to be with the kids and most of them are really appreciative. i am however, dead tired. i shopped for hours yesterday (draging child and her friend along). it takes A LOT of food to feed 250 people. in fact, i was about halfway done at costco last night when i realized that there was no way in the world all this food would fit in my car. i called in the calvary...in the form of sil who has a truck. thank goodness she came to help me out.

anyway, because i have been non-stop busy with school, my house has seriously suffered. there is crap everywhere. and i don't even know where to start. flylady would say to start the timer, but i'm rebelling. but i must get busy. the fam are coming over tonight to watch the jazz game. i'm the only one who gets the fox sports channel. which is great--i love having 'em over. its just that now i have only 1 hour to do 3 weeks worth of cleaning. and instead, i'm blogging. don't that just make all the sense in the world? :)

so, this post is just me complaining. which is okay, because i'm the only one that ever reads this post anyway.

Mother's Day and stuff

Megs painted me a picture for mom's day. So sweet. She also got me a corsage...something that I've only had once on Mother's Day and that's because Dad got me one. My sweet girl. It was a good day. Had a bbq at the parents' with FHE afterward. Overall, a very enjoyable day.

I'm going to the movie with Jones. We didn't quite get our act together soon enough to go to the early movie, so it's the 9:30 show. I'm worried about staying up that late! Now that I am finally able to sleep (insomnia went away) I'm getting very greedy about getting my 7 hours (at least!) So I decided to wash my hair etc. tonight, so I can have less to do in the morning. My hair looks fabulous now, and I've decided to go to the show sans makeup!!!! I never in my life thought I would do something like that, but I am. I think I look great. The wonderful thing about being older is that I am so much more confident! Love it.

The bad thing about being older...I found my first gray hair this week. (sigh) It was, in fact, pure white. I think it is another side effect of menopause/hysterectomy and huge stress. I'm hoping its an only child. But just in case, I got highlights on Saturday. Ironically, just last week my sil asked if I had highlights in my hair. To answer her, I said no, that I hadn't colored my hair in a year and a half because I decided that I wasn't going to color it until I found gray hair. Well....I guess they know now. But the new cut & color is great.

Oh my heck!

I had so much fun shopping with tupins and jones. Wow, that was a blast. I have NEVER spent that much on clothes. But what else could I do with you two cheering me on; I had to buy everything. Now we just need to get tbear in on it too. We have got to plan a girls get-a-way and maybe with mom too?

Insomnia is a side effect

I can't sleep. I'm tired, and it's late, but nope...no sleeping happening for me. I have been like this for at least a week, and I'm tired of it (ha ha ha!)

I've read some articles on what to do for insomnia, and they all agreed that one shouldn't lie in bed when sleep isn't coming. One is supposed to get up and do something quiet like reading. So, I'm trying to do the quiet activities, but all I really want to do is reorganize my pantry. Why I get the yen to do that in the middle of the night is unknown, but I do. So, I've read a lot, and then I discovered a wonderful "quiet" activity: Midnight Internet Shopping. So far my insomnia has cost me $337.42

Apparently insomnia is a commen side effect of the BIG M (menopause). I cannot tell you how much I despise the fact that I am now in menopause. Just the name "menopause" is depressing. Someone, please come up with a better name than that! Ugh!

So, in honor of the BIG M, I drink a soy smoothie every morning infused with flax seed. Yum...well, I'm trying to convice myself that it is yummy. I gave Megs some yesterday, and she took a miniscule taste and said no thanks. It is rather thick and pasty. I also ate soybeans, which are now called the glamorous name of Edamame. See...someone knew that "soybeans" needed a makeover (much like menopause needs one) and glammed 'em up into the chic new food Edamame. In the game "Pit" I think soybeans were the cheapest cards - no one wanted to collect soybeans. But edamame - thats fancy stuff!

Also in honor of the BIG M, I take numerous vitamins and minerals now. I'm at a greater risk of osteoporosis now, because of menopause in my thirties. So, it's calcium and magnesium twice a day, vitamin c with bioflavenoids three times a day and various omega 3s and 6s and evening primrose oil and vitamin e. I need pill organizer! I feel like granma Cox with all the pill bottles lined up.

Speaking of granmas...its a good thing I have a penchant for granny nightgowns (betcha didn't know this about me, huh?) because Megs and her sort-of boyfriend came home last night and I was in my nightgown unloading the dishwasher. Fortunately we all prentended I wasn't in my jammies. It wouldn't be so completely awkward, except this boy goes to school at T. It was weird having a student see me like that!

Proud Mama

Megs is in Godspell, which I had previous known nothing about, but just the name worried me. Because of my "time off work" (read: recovery from surgery) I had not seen any rehearsals. So, it was with some trepidation that I went to the play on Wednesday with Mom & Dad. I was anxious on so many levels: would I be offended? would mom & dad like it? would people think we are a freaky school for doing it? would Megs do a good job? All for nothing because, it was fantastic! Such a beautiful play. It is right up there on my list of favorite plays. Our director is phenomenal!!! Everything about the play was right on. And of course the best thing of all was watching my beautiful daughter dance and sing. She does the harmony on a very moving duet at the end, and it was fabulous. Oh, I could've burst when I heard her sing.

Random Stuff

Movie Review first: I watched "Dan in Real Life" last night. I liked it! It surprised me that I liked it. It was completely different than what I thought. Some stuff made me laugh right out loud, and I was by myself. Cute story, some good family-lessons, and Steve Carrell is great. Watch it, and let's discuss.

My Health: I'm feeling much better than I thought I would at about 2 weeks post-surgery. I'm so glad to feel a little energetic again. I snuck (is that a word?) off to work for a couple of hours yesterday and today, and I'll go in tomorrow for a few. I am super-tired now that I'm back home, but I feel good that I accomplished a little bit. It has been good for my ego...let me explain. Everyone missed me while I was gone! I have had hugs and handshakes and "the school just falls apart without you" comments. (Which I know is NOT true, but its still nice to hear.) I have wonderful friends for co-workers. My boss is amazing and so concerned. I am so lucky!!

Megs: is in the school play next week. I think it will be so good! Come and see it. I can get free tickets. Its Wednesday - Monday, except Sunday of course. Call me or email, and I'll reserver your seats. Remember the boy who came to the Easter picnic? She sorta likes him now.

Family Vaca: I'm so excited! Dad's dubbed me the "Travel Specialist" so I've been doing research. There is a ton to do, and we are going to have the best time.

That's all.

catching up

I really enjoyed Easter too, and missed my other sisters, so glad lil red was there! I loved being out at Tuachan. You all should have come to my house for Easter because we had ham and potatos and they were good.

I'm thinking I'm going to get turned in for abusing my children. At church we got asked numerous times if we had been in a car accident. Now Keriann fell last night and can hardly move her arm. I didn't take her too seriously thinking she just wanted some attention, but this morning it's not better and maybe a little worse. We are going in for x-rays this afternoon. I'll let you know what happens. Somebody please tell my why I had 6 children! Seriously, I love my children, but if I have 3 in casts is that I sign that I can't handle this?

Now to our lounging girl: You just keep on lounging!!!! You have to take it easy because I said so! If you are going to eat than eat things high in fiber that way it will go right through. There that is my advice today.

Lost and Lounging

This is my new life. I watch Lost and lounge around. Not a bad life. Have you watched Lost? It is so GOOD! and confusing too. I just finished Season 2 and would be watching Season 3 (instead of blogging) except I left it at mom's house. And its kinda far to walk - well, in broad daylight. So I'll walk there when it gets dark. Because 1. I can't drive yet and 2. I walk like a little OLD lady. So I'm waiting for the cover of dark.

Lounging around all day is a good idea in theory, but I'm on day six (I'm not counting surgery day and the two days after - I was definately NOT lounging then) and I have to say, I'm tired of it. I've started to eat to pass the time, and when you can barely move, excessive eating is not a good idea. I'm thinking I should go back to work next week. Mom will not be pleased. But seriously, I can't sit around watching tv, dvds and eating. I mean, I could, but I shouldn't. I can't move much or lift anything yet, so the things I could do, like housework and reorganizing my pantry are out. Wait, I can't go back to work next week! I still can't drive! (two weeks) My plan is foiled only minutes after I conceived it. Rats.

Easter Weekend and Stuff

Easter was fun! The get-to-gethers on Saturday were great. The picinic was yummy, and turned out fine at Tuacahn. Even though I spend most of my waking hours there, I still liked being there on Saturday with y'all. I spent 12 hours there today...sigh. I had a list a mile long to get done today...before the big surgery.

So I was feeling blue the other day and went online to a "support group" for women who have the big C and/or the big H. It should be called support group for bitter angry women who want to swap horror stories! Needless to say, it did not cheer me up. I felt better today after a dear friend/co-worker told me his wife had what I have a year ago. She had surgery and zipped through recovery just fine. No problemo. So where are THOSE kind of stories?? Isn't that what support is all about? There needs to be a warning label or something!

So, back to Easter. Way fun, good times. It was great to see TBear's fam. They are so sweet, huggy and fun. I missed Tupins and crew and SewingGirl. (Cute, huh? I just made that one up! Maybe BerninaBabe?) FHE was really good! Standing ovation to TBear. I loved it. Because we had two big eating events on Saturday, we didn't have the usual Easter dinner at Mom's. Which is fine, but I have to say, I missed the ham and cheesy potatoes. I had choir practice early, so I left before WiiWizard was even up and didn't even get to wish her Happy Easter until we were at Church. When we got home, I asked her if she found her Easter basket. She looked surprised and said she thought that since she was 18 she didn't get one anymore (awwwwwwwww). She was so delighted to find it! I love those moments when she is more child than adult.

SewingGirl was gonna come stay with WiiWizard while I was up there, but no luck with her work schedule. I tell ya, its pretty heartless to not work for someone who has to help out her poor sick cancer-stricken sister! Geesh! Not sure what I'm gonna do now, but I better figure it out quick since I'm leaving tomorrow with the parents. Wish me luck!

My friend shared this with me and I thought I would pass it along.

Cancer is limited.

It cannot cripple love.

It cannot shatter hope.

It cannot corrode faith.

It cannot eat away peace.

It cannot destroy confidence.

It cannot kill friendship.

It cannot shut out memories.

It cannot silence courage.

It cannot invade the soul.

It cannot reduce eternal life.

It cannot quench the spirit.

It cannot lessen the power of the resurrection.

SparkPeople.com

Hey GIRLS! I found a great web site...Sparkpeople.com. I've gone up and have done some investigation, it looks really good. The nutrition area is just what I was looking for, a place to keep a food journal and it can calculate the nutrition. Check it out...I was fairly impressed, and its free too!

Our oldest is sick now...ugh! It has worked through the whole family now. This has been a bugger! It took me a whole week to get over it. Back to the vitamins! Think healthy...think healthy...think healthy (and skinny!)

So bummed about the Super Bowl...I was really hoping that the Patriots would win and make history. But GREAT news about our new prophet. Mom told me a great story about Selma...President Hinckley had just been called when Mom went to visit her. Selma said "Isn't wonderful? I can't wait to get my own testimony of his calling." Isn't that great! It gave me a new perspective of what our role is in sustaining him. Tonight at FHE, dh asked the kids if they knew who our new prophet was. Guess who got it right! The youngest! Talk about a proud mama!

We are planning a trip to SC over Presidents Day. Heads up Li'l Red...maybe a working weekend (not maybe, a must...since the last weekend was to busy!) Love ya all!!!

Family Home Evening

DH did our FHE tonight. He had a great idea for helping our li'l darlin's understand how the church hierarchy works. He printed all the pictures of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve, plus any appropriate titles (i.e. President of the Quorum of the Twelve) and cut each out individually. He arranged all the pictures; First Presidency on top, Quorum underneath and in order. We read the story of when Joseph Smith died, and Brigham took on his appearence and voice. Then we talked about what happens when the Prophet dies. We sent our beloved prophet's picture to heaven (sniff...a few 7 year old tears were shed), desolved the first presidency and put them back in the quorum according to their senority. Then we asked who should be prophet (in all fairness, I had told her last night.) But she got it. Then we discussed who would be the following prophet and so forth. It was great! I love to see those moments of clarity and understanding open up to them, makes all the rough spots worth it.

Comments

Ah, what a wonderful thing it was today to see comments on my posts. Each comment is like a gift and clicking on it is me unwrapping it. What joy! Someone actually read my random ramblings and commented! Thank you thank you thank you! You made my day!!!

Beloved Prophet

Dad called me a few minutes ago with the news that Pres. Hinckley had died. I initally felt very sad--what a loss to the world--but that sadness was quickly replaced by joy that he is Home and with his wife again. 97 is a long, long time to live.

I will miss his sense of humor. Remember him waving his cane when they sang happy birthdy to him? Oh, and one of the funniest things I ever saw was him "knighting" Pres. Eyring with his cane. He never acted like he was an important person; he was very humble. Yet he was one of the most influencial person in millions of people lives. He was an example of how we all should live. I will miss him.

Sniffles

I have a cold. I felt it making itself at home in my head and throat last night. I drank lots of water with lemon and lime squeezed in it. But the cold stayed, and this morning I'm officially sick. I'm not very happy about this! I have things to do! I have EFY this morning, and now I'm not going. Not that I'm so totally sick I can't go, the problem is I can't take any medicine for it. So my head feels like its going to explode, and I'm miserable. I am having an ovarian cyst removed in a week, so to make sure my blood will clot, I'm not supposed to take any aspirin/ibuprofen/naproxen medications. The only thing I can take is Tylenol, but Tylenol doesn't work on me. Nothing happens. WIIWizard and mom are the same way. Are you guys? So, I've got to live with the headache and sore throat. Bummer.

On another subject, WIIWizard auditioned for the spring musical at her school. Its going to be fantastic, I'm sure. We have the BEST drama director ever, and the plays are always amazing. Its April 17, 18, 19, and 21. (Hint hint) She went to Winter Ball last night. She looked so pretty. This school has been so good for her. It has been the perfect transitional year to get ready for college. That, and all the performing she has done has really boosted her confidence. It is remarkable how much she has changed (for the better!) in the last 6 months. She was always a good student, but it was easy for her. She hardly ever worked hard for good grades. Now, she has to really work for it, and she still has a 4.0 gpa. Its great for me too, because all the teachers love her and tell me often. Nice warm fuzzies!

Hey Tupins!

Is your dining/office area still clean? Just wondering. I know how great it made you feel to see it all clean. I finally got back in the habit of shining my sink every night. I kinda fell off the wagon over the Christmas holidaze. But I LOVE love love love getting up in the morning to a shiny sink. It makes me happy every single time. So its well worth the few minutes to tidy up before bed.

Diets...Bleah!

I hate dieting. I hate it so much that I have refused to do it for 1 year and 5 months. But 20 pounds later (gasp!) I have to admit that not dieting isn't working for me either. But I'm sick of the failure. So, I decided in December to find a good plan and do it. The problem is, I've been trying to find the most perfect diet in the world. You know, the one that I can't possibly fail on. Well, now its nearly the end of January, and I'm still looking. Sigh.

My work isn't helping either. Take today for example. I had a 7am meeting today, so I grabbed an apple as I ran out the door (healthy). At the meeting, they had doughnuts. I didn't take one...yipee for me. Right after the meeting, I had half of a turkey-swiss wrap leftover from my lunch the day before (relatively healthy). Then my friend brought me lunch from Bajio's. A green chile chicken salad - yummy! And not too naughty. I only used about 1/8th of the dressing, so I'm okay...so far. THEN, the Cake. Oh, the glorious Bundt Cake. It was moist, rich, white chocolate raspberry heaven with thick cream cheese frosting. Oh my gosh it was good. I ate three pieces.

I've decided several times that "This is it...I'm eating healthy starting tomorrow." So then I have The Last Supper. You know what I'm talking about...I know you do. I've had several Last Suppers this month. Oh what fun! I think I need to change that 20 pounds I mentioned to 25 pounds by now.

So, I'm still wondering what to do. Maybe I'm doomed to be fat forever. (Oh please, say it ain't so!) Maybe I need professional help - the psychoanalysis kind. Maybe instead I'll just have another Last Supper.

Another Movie

I saw "The Bucket List" tonight. I know! Three movies in one week! I dunno what is going on. I love movies, but I rarely go because I lack a movie buddy. And, it gets better. I went to the LATE show! After YW! Holy cow I'm livin' on the edge!

And welcome TBEAR! So glad to have you join in the fun.

So, back to the movie. Some of it I really liked. Some of it I did not. Hmmm, it is difficult to give a review without giving away too much info. So I won't. If you see it, let me know and we will discuss. This is why I don't make my living as a movie reviewer. I don't usually read reviews and I avoid watching movie previews if at all possible because they give away half the movie.

So my movie buddy moved away (you know who you are!) and my daughter goes with her friends instead of me and my friends have small children that requires planning and babysitters and complications which leaves practically no room for movies. You don't really think about this when you get divorced. Not having a movie partner isn't high on the priority list when making that decision. Maybe it should be. (Ha ha ha ha) I went to a movie by myself once, and I didn't enjoy it very much. I was out-of-town for a conference and had a free afternoon, so I saw Mission Impossible. Alone. No fun whatsover because there is no one to discuss things with. I didn't like watching it alone. And I felt uncomfortable the whole time.

I still want to see "Mad Money." I just need to find someone to go with me. Any takers?

(Not) Working

It was fun to hang out with Tupins all weekend. I think we perfected the art of not working. She was here to work; that was the whole point of her visit. She scheduled Saturday with me a few weeks ago, so we could get a lot of work done. So we went to lunch. Then we saw a movie. Then we played games. So then it was too late and we officially rescheduled for Monday. Monday was fun. I remember Pizza and more fun, but no work. So definately (maybe) Presidents' Day weekend we'll work. Maybe we can work at lunch??

I like my job. I get a daily dose of warm fuzzies when I'm at work, and it is rather addictive. Don't get me wrong; its hard and crazy and sometimes I hate it. But altogether, it is a very rewarding job. (Especially this year because of WIIWizard) But some days it is hard to get into the groove. Usually it is when I have something I have to do, or should do, but I don't wanna do. On those days, I do one of two things.

1) Set my timer for 15 minutes and work as fast as I can at the task I'm procrastinating. This works great and I am always amazed at how much I can get done with this trick. This usually sets me up for an incredibly productive day at work, because I feel so great about tackling the daunting task, I just wanna keep on going.

2) Visit with my nearest office neighbor about what we are having for lunch that day. Talk about our kids. Talk about her husband. Talk about tv/movies. Fill up my water bottle at the drinking fountain. Go to the bathroom. Visit my other office neighbor. Talk about our kids. Talk about tv/movies. Surf the Internet. Read the paper. Discuss lunch again. By then, its about lunch time, so we have lunch. After lunch, we discuss lunch. Lather, Rinse, Repeat.

I usually choose number one. (hahaha). Really. I do. (snort!) Uh huh. Number one is my pick. Number two is maaaaaybe twice a year (week). That's all. Really.

P.S.....Bring a box of kleenex

Saw "P.S. I Love You" Saturday evening with SIL and Tupins. There should be a warning (such as the title above) for a movie like this. Here's what I had heard: "It's sad, but good." But that in no way prepared me for such a heart-wrenching movie! So in case any of you are going to see it, I'll say what you need to hear: Bring tissue. A lot. And bring some for your neighbors. In fact, go on a Costco run and take the package of 12 boxes for the entire theatre. I cannot remember the last time I cried like that in a movie. It is a good movie, but it is a cry-for-two-hours kind of movie. And in my case, I cried quite a bit later when I thought about it too. And I cried when I when to bed that night and thought about it. I'm starting to cry now.

Things to watch

WIIwizard and I have recently discovered the joy of watching Everybody Loves Raymond together. It cracks me up! How did I miss this when it was in primetime? Do/Did you guys watch it? Funny stuff.

I went to August Rush Wednesday night with Mom, SIL and WIIWizard. Good movie! You have to suspend belief, of course, and just go with it, but I liked it a lot. The music is wonderful. It was a good time. I actually called Mom and SIL only minutes before we had to leave. I was all, "hey, do you wanna go to a movie, um, right now?" Sometimes those last-second things are the best.

I'm a big fan of Medium too. Do y'all watch that? I love Patricia Arquette. She is actually looks like a real woman instead of a twig. I became a big fan of hers when I saw her in Holes. If you haven't seen it, you should! That is a good movie!

While Tupins is here, we gotta go see a movie together. Bring on the popcorn!

Coming Home

Well my dh is still in New York. He will be back on Saturday, of course we will miss each other since I am leaving for Mom's tomorrow. I'm excited to see everyone, my girls are thrilled! They love to come down more than me! They want to have a play date with the Wii wizard. My oldest wants her to show her how to do the Wii DDR. I told her that that we would ask.

I also have news of an accomplishment, at least for me, since my last post...the office/dining room is in order. Take note, it may not last too long. :) It feels great to walk in and see order "Am I in the right place?" We have also been paying more attention to the economy as of late. A little worried about it. The last few days I have actually been grateful that we no longer own a business, especially one based on luxury item purchases. Red and I are going to finish up the final books this weekend, turn them over to the accountants and call if DONE! I have waited a long time for this, and it feels really good. This sounds weird, but I feel like I am living again without an anchor of doom around my neck.

It is late, so goodnight sweet sisters! Since I have yet to hear from anyone, hope that your life is running on FABULOUS!

New Year...New Me??

Hello sisters! Well I was searching tonight on-line for a "new" weight-loss strategy. Was really thinking that Weight Watchers might be the thing, but the weekly fees are a little hard to swallow. It is $12 a week! That doesn't include your first week...$35. So, a little discouraged. What other programs have y'all been looking at. I thought that I had a membership to beachbody.com, but I don't (purchased something from them, but didn't get the membership...sorry li'l red, bad info from me.)

Anyway, was talking to Red about depression and clutter...the big link. It's true that sometimes I feel so overwhelmed with the mess that I just think, "hey what's the point, it'll be back tomorrow anyway!" But I sometimes don't understand my attitude about cleaning when we come from a home that was pretty much always clean. Well, I am going to do the 15 minute pick up in the area that is driving me batty the most...den/dining area (that's our office space.) Clutter, clutter, clutter.

I am glad to have my sisters. You all mean so much to me, and I am grateful that we have such a tight relationship. I am always amazed that close, loving families are not the norm. So now we officially know that we are ODD! I love you all and hope that we can be together real soon. Well thanks for letting me blah blah blah. I actually feel better.

Insecurity

So, I invited my sisters to read my blog and basically commanded them to leave a comment. (How else is this supposed to get started?) and three days later....nothing. So, I'm feeling insecure. Here are three possible scenarios:

1. My sisters have wonderful, busy, full lives and rarely check their email. They don't know I'm waiting for a comment. Which means I must have a pathetic, empty life because I check my email at least fourteen times a day.
2. My sisters received my email and ignored it.
3. My sisters received my email, read my blog and CHOSE not to comment. Which is basically the same as number two: they still ignored me.

The most baffling of all is that all three have done one of the three choices above. How is this possible? How are they coordinating this effort? Are they having conference calls without me? Are there emails flying behind my back?

I don't know the answer. I just know I'm feeling very insecure right now.

Pursuit of Fabulous

I have a friend who posts to his blog almost daily. I check a few times a week to see if he has a new post. I find it amusing, interesting, sometimes educational and always entertaining. In one post he included links to some of his favorites sites, many of which are blogs. I read some, enjoyed most, and thought to myself, "Self, a blog is just what you need!"

So here it is, my own blog. But I'm far to insecure to just have it be MY blog, so I'm (hopefully) convincing my sisters to make it their blog too. I have three sisters, and unfortunately, we all live in different cities. Although three in one state, and two within a half hour drive, it is four different cities nevertheless. So we are hither and thither muddling through our own lives, and not sharing our stories with each nearly enough. I'm firmly convinced that we need each other. For awhile we had some momentum going with daily calls, but it was too much and only lasted about a month.

So here's my new brilliant idea: Let's Blog! Lots of interesting stuff going on everyday--why not write about it. Lots of boring stuff too. Its all welcome here.

The Pursuit of Fabulous is born because I'm already happy. Why not shoot for fabulous????