Perfect Saturday?

So Tim is off skiing with my dad and brother, and I was all alone today. A wonderful, quiet day. The perfect, post-holiday, feel like being alone, have a project to work on Saturday. I had a simple bowl of cereal for breakfast, did laundry this morning, had (delicious) Thanksgiving leftovers for lunch, finished knitting a hat and scarf for my niece this afternoon, and was just settling down for an afternoon movie when I though about what I might do for dinner. Should I go out and get something, and run a few errands while I'm at it? Sure don't feel like leaving the house... 

Upon contemplation of dinner, I remembered pizza coupons I have. Or I could go out - I sometimes like to do that when Tim is out of town. But what did I discover in the freezer that will make this day perfect? Frozen hot wings and individual-size California Pizza Kitchen pizza! Could there be a more perfect end to this perfect day? Dinner at home, with a quiet movie, the fire going, the cats snuggling. 

Wonderful!

So...

...I was going to take pictures as I made my Thanksgiving meal, but only remembered to do it for the pie and then the very start of the green beans. After that it totally slipped my mind. Understandable, I suppose, as I was cranking out a good part of the dinner. I worked like a whirling dervish, Tim working alongside, and got it all done...and on time! I also managed to leave my camera at my dad's house, so no pictures today. 

All that to say that our "family" Thanksgiving was tremendous fun!! We had much more than just my family - Tim's parents, and 6 friends made us a group of 14. The house was loud, chaotic, lovely fun! I hope a good time was had by all. I'm sure some people didn't get talked to as much as others. I'm sure some people wished it were a smaller group. I hope all had fun, though, and could feel the love that was in the house. What a wonderful group of friends and family I have. It was a great Thanksgiving!

Discovery!

Attention! Muir Glen fire roasted tomatoes are amazing! They are way better than other canned tomatoes. They actually taste of tomato. If you are making pasta sauce, soup, etc. - use these. They are worth the extra 50 cents.

Short but sweet. ;-)

Confused...again

I subbed at the library again today, and let me tell you, am I confused! I've hardly been called to sub since I quit in February, but the truth is I wouldn't want to be working more than a couple of times a month anyway. That much would be all right, though, and I've only worked 5 or 6 days in 8 months. Granted, I've had to say no several times because I've been sick or already had plans, but I thought I'd be contacted more than I am.

Anywho, if I'm doing it for financial reasons, it is almost pointless. If, however, I am doing it to continue seeing people, just keep my feet in the door, that's a good reason. I started out today thinking I was going to have my name taken off the sub list, but just writing this has reminded me that I do love being there - I love helping the patrons, seeing my old co-workers, feeling a part of the team. 

Ok, confusion is over. I'll keep my name on the list, try to say yes more, and just enjoy the times I am there seeing old friends and catching-up with old co-workers. :-)

A new week

So, my holiday blues have started, but I am determined this year to do all I can to combat them - walk outside, listen to my favorite music, be productive, make holiday goodies. Hopefully all those things will help me combat this unreasonable sadness I feel every year.

And good news! Today is a new day, and the beginning of a new week. It is only 8:30 a.m. and I have already replied to e-mails, made a (reasonable) list of tasks for the week, and showered. A very good start to the day. 

My "Insight" playlist is filling the house (a musical history and window to Cindy's heart), the sun is shining, and I am ready to face the new day, the new week. My life is filled with love, with family and friends, with a lovely home, and many other good things. I do not write this to minimize or deny the hard time I have this time of year, but to speak the truth of good things, to remind my heart and my mind that all is well. I need not be completely controlled by my emotions, and that in itself is a good thing! 

Quantum of Solace

Oh, I was sitting in my living room this afternoon, the lovely sun streaming in, knitting a hat for my very cute, red-headed niece, watching a TV show on holiday treats. A wave of sadness hit me the first of this holiday season. Yes, I am one of those people who always gets the holiday blues, and this year seems like it will be no exception. For the first time ever, however, I think I am figuring out that it has to do with the weather and the very short days through the end of December. Good news - there are ways to combat this sadness, so I will try them and see if they make much of a difference. Lucky for me - one of the methods is exercise outside, and that fits right in with my battle plan for a healthier me. A two for one benefit! Yeah!

On an aside, I went to see "Quantum of Solace" the new James Bond movie to night. Very good, if you like that sort of thing, which I do. Entertaining, moving, great cinematography, etc. A jolly good time, and a fun evening with family. All remains well in my life!

Introspection

Ever leave a group of people and feel like you just dominated conversation...or were too demonstrative in speaking your opinions...or engaged in something equally awkward and off-putting? I feel like that tonight. I love the people I was hanging out with, and sure don't want to distance any of them. Did I? How will I know without asking? That just feels too scary and awkward.

So, the question of the day is this: How does one work to change a potentially negative character trait? How do I even remember to work on this? Talking too much and being loud and boisterous has been a part of my personality for so long. I don't want to turn it off - just turn it down! How do I go about it? Hang a sign on my door reminding me each time I leave the house to "talk less"  or "be gentler in your opinions"? I'm sure that would be an effective method, but probably not the best in terms of maintaining self-esteem, etc. 

So there it is. And as Kathleen (Meg Ryan) says in "You've Got Mail": I don't really want an answer. I just want to send this cosmic question out into the void. So goodnight, dear void.

Mystery nephew

I have been informed, and concur, that I have been terribly remiss in putting up at least one picture of my new nephew - Ethan. He was born about 4 weeks ago, and so far is giving his mom and dad quite a bit of trouble - constipation, upset stomach, lots of screaming and crying. This does not, however, seem to have deterred them from loving him! Imagine that!! So, here's my first picture of Ethan. I'll work at getting some more up as he is, indeed, almost as cute as his older brother, Zachary. 

Into battle

Once more unto the breach, dear friends... (Shakespeare, Henry V)

So I have once again decided it is time to get fitter and lose some weight. My friends are rolling their eyes, knowing how often I've said this and knowing I've only accomplished it a few times. Don't get me wrong - I never say it lightly, I never plan to spend a year on my ass, doing not much at all, ignoring most rules of good nutrition. So here I go, once more unto the breach, into battle against my own poor self-control and the temptations of the refrigerator. "Set goals," some people say, or, "Just eliminate bad stuff from your cupboards." All admirable strategies, none of which have worked for me. I'll just do it my own way, hoping and praying (literally) to become a fitter, healthier woman. 

To all those who join me in this endeavor, "Be strong, and of good courage!" It is a fine balance between being happy with ourselves just the way we are, and struggling with either the way the world says we should be or our own desires to change. I do not want to become someone who worries much at all about the way I look. I would like to be able to go for a hike without huffing and puffing, live with less body pain, and shop in a regular store. 

So I guess I do have goals. I'll work toward them with that in mind - my own satisfaction and health. Onward and upward!

Some of my favorite things

clean sheets

great deals on new clothes

delicious leftovers

quiet evenings with Tim

a ladies' potluck

good books

planning a party

my kitties

music that moves me

Sunday evening

I am moved by the depth hidden within my friends. 

I suppose we all walk through life thinking we are extraordinary in one way or another. And truth be told - we are all extraordinary. But I am not the only poet I know. I am not the only..... And where I excel and another struggles, the opposite is also true - I struggle, you excel. I love the connection of differences, the wondrous fitting together of that this creates. Let us live our lives allowing one another to mesh, to mold, to puzzle. 

What am I trying to say? Of that, I'm not exactly clear. I do know that I am moved by my many friends' blogs, by what they share, the pictures they take, the songs they write, the stories they tell. I am touched by the human-ness within all of them. The beauty, the joy, the suffering - all that has led us each to this point. One's childhood was filled with pain and sorrow. Another had the childhood of a gentle novel. This woman is just now discovering her power as an adult. And this one is finding that she can indeed afford to be vulnerable. I am strong; I am weak. You are strong; you are weak. We are all the same. We are all so very different. 

I am moved by the depth hidden within my friends.

Pretty little things

There was this cute little town near Wilmington, Vermont - Bennington. Full of art guilds, hand-crafted, lovely things, fun pubs, etc. Truth be told, I spent a very hectic and harried morning in Bennington, driving in circles, to and fro, trying to find various specific sights - Robert Frost's homestead, a huge obelisk, etc. Didn't seem like it would be much of a challenge in such a small town, but it sure was! Ended up being very rushed, and late picking-up Tim in a town 30 miles away.

But I ended up with two lovely items, and they will make me very happy! I love buying local pottery as my souvenir, so I did just that... I had to have them shipped - no room in my densely packed suitcase. :-) Two more pretty pieces of pottery to add to my collection from Dearborn, Michigan; Acadia, Maine; Fayetteville, Arkansas; San Diego, California; Amman, Jordan...

Abrupt change of subject: I am feeling so blessed right now! I have at least 5 friends who are going through very serious trials - and here I sit, in my life of ease. Oh, I know it is a season, and hard times come and go. Mine have passed for now, and for that I'm grateful. More hard times will come. Meanwhile, my thoughts and prayers are being lifted up for these loved ones who are hurting. May their time of peace come quickly.

My buddy

Can you believe these beautiful, blue eyes? This is what I get to look into each time I spend time with my precious nephew Zachary. I have 5 other nieces and nephews who live far away from me, so I am even more thankful to have 2 living here in the same city. I think I'm in love!!

Not quite right

Sometimes I make a meal and it is just wonderful. Usually, if I'm honest. I'm a pretty good cook according to the people I feed. I can bake yummy stuff, too. Making it pretty isn't my forte. Ok, so this isn't as big a disaster as it looks. This monster is made up of all those bits that didn't want to come out of the cake pan - something for Tim to nibble on over the next week. The cake I actually served was much prettier - but it still wouldn't win any contests!

Complications

I was talking recently with a friend about how complicated life can be - all the decisions we have to make, how we spend or time, negotiating things with spouses, keeping our hearts open and tender while not being constantly wounded by life...

It does all sometimes seem like just about too much! It is (by "it" I mean life, handling it, the day to day stuff) - it is made much easier by lovely relationships. I have a great marriage, great, fun friends, a relationship with God that sustains me (rather than a religion that boxes me in), a beautiful place to live, etc., an awful lot of freedom in my personal life.

It is those relationships, though, that are the outriggers on my canoe. They help keep me even-keeled in the water of life. I am thankful for them. I know I often neglect some of my relationships (you know who you are...bear with me?). I just can't keep up with all of them, all of the time. That is a consequence of moving so much in my life. But they all are the padding around me, helping protect me from getting too banged-up and bruised on this Mr. Toad's Wild Ride of life. Yeah for friends!

Where have I been?

Seems like the last several days have just flown by! I know, I say that a lot. Well, what have I been doing? Sending pictures of my daily life to a "pen pal", volunteering at our local elementary school's book fair, going to the zoo with my 2 nephews and sister, trying to find a new pair of red shoes (red's a neutral, you know!), keeping up with my house a little better, taking care of my sick husband. 

Oh, that's why I haven't written much lately!

And now I'm off to do some laundry, sort through clothes I don't need/want anymore, get ready for Bible study, load the dishwasher, and call a friend. Whew! Maybe I'll write more this weekend. Sure is a good thing I don't have a job - I don't think I have time for one. 

In all seriousness, the whole job thing is weighing on me a little heavier lately. Tim and I are getting short on money, and it looks like we might not be selling our current renovation project in time to refill our bank account. Should I be working? Is what I contribute in the house enough (eating out less because I cook, have the energy to work at saving money, etc.)? I'm not sure. I definitely don't want to go back to work, but I think I need to ask those questions of Tim and make sure we're on the same page. I'll let you know what we decide!

Meanwhile, back to those housefrau tasks.