tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64906737225295723012024-03-13T22:05:36.193-05:00A Look On The Random SideWhere did I put my keys? Ooh, a bicycle! Maybe I should get a cup of coffee now.Isabellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537474742419702738noreply@blogger.comBlogger192125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490673722529572301.post-75721034948091659112011-12-19T13:07:00.010-06:002011-12-19T13:55:51.403-06:00UndecidedI have been caught up in a whirlwind of events and emotions over the last few months. So much so that I planned to not write about it at all. However, if I don't, I may mention these events and you'd be all "wait...huh?" So here it is.<br /><br />The ShankRabbit and Isabella (and Peanut) household will be expecting a new addition in April. A boy. We had a rough first few months with morning sickness and some medical issues, but all is well now. He is doing what he's supposed to be doing and even measuring a little on the big side - lawd help me! Peanut was adamant that this baby was a girl for so long, but now she is pretty excited to have a little brother. We are still working on names. Her suggestions so far are Baby Johnson (that was originally the girl's name choice for her), Echo, and Uncle. As you can see, not much to go on so far.<br /><br /><br />My biological mother passed away unexpectedly on November 16th. There are a lot of details and stories to tell about how I got the news, coordinating a trip to North Carolina to take care of her arrangements and such, but I think I'll save all that for another time.<br />Is it common to cycle through the stages of grief over and over again? I think I've been through them at least twice so far. Right now I am back at the shock/disbelief stage. This happened so suddenly (cause still undetermined as it happened in her sleep) and I didn't get to see her before she was cremated. At the time I thought it would be a terrible idea as I wasn't sure what state her body was in and I thought it kind of morbid to ask the hospital "so...can I see her?" Do I really want my last memory of my mom to be in that state?<br />My mom's boyfriend and her brother were there the morning she was taken to the hospital, so there is no question as to identification, but still there is just a part of me that thinks, "maybe this is just some elaborate hoax to get me to pay for someone else's funeral arrangements and my mom is fine and well somewhere else." I feel like there is no resolution. Her ashes are sitting on a bookshelf in my house. Shouldn't that be enough? Will I ever feel like she is truly gone?<br /><br />My mom and I weren't terribly close. I was placed in state care/foster care at the age of 11, so I didn't get the chance to really spend most of my childhood with her. However, she was my mom. I loved her. And I know she loved me too, but never could show it as much as any other person. Still, I felt it.<br /><br />She was never good at calling (heck, neither was I to be honest), so communication over the years was limited. When her husband had a heart attack in 2006, I made the trip down there to be with her. He passed a couple days after I arrived and I assisted her with arrangements. Although they were unfortunate circumstances, my mom and I got a new opportunity at our relationship. We still didn't talk as often as most mothers and daughters do I'm sure, but this is what worked for her. And that worked for me.<br /><br />We kept in contact mostly through email and I sent her many pictures of her granddaughter (one she had never met). I told her about our soon-to-be new addition. She seemed to be doing well, aside from "not feeling well for a while, but doing better." In mom-speak that could mean anything from a cold to something more serious. Knowing this, I asked for her phone number so I could get the straight answer from her. I never got the chance to call her.<br /><br />* * *<br /><br />So, here I sit. Wondering what is next in this process. My husband and I have lost 5 family members this year alone. Am I emotionally jaded because of that? Am I holding out on properly grieving until a later date? I have no clue. All I know is that I'm trying to live in the joy of my family and there are these feelings still tugging at my heart. But they aren't coming out.Isabellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537474742419702738noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490673722529572301.post-68752072332154779482011-08-09T16:30:00.000-05:002011-08-09T16:36:54.613-05:00Playing catch-up...ketchup...catsup?<div>There are many things to talk about since my last blog entry <em><span>(*cough* 4 months ago *cough* *cough*).</span></em></div><div>
<br />1. Ran my first 5k on April 16th. It was drizzling, in the upper 30s and miserable outside, but I did it. Then my kid did the fun run. As you can see, she was pretty excited about her ribbon.</div><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6Nzi5rrLMJ0/TkGklOZazTI/AAAAAAAAAho/Uo89yQ0HYE0/s320/2011-04-16%2B12.25.31.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638969167871397170" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 266px; " />
<br />
<br /></div><div>2. My daughter turned 3 on April 19th. I have a preschool aged kid. <span><em>hold me.
<br /></em></span>
<br /><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aB2uwA7jVHE/TkGku9bX5QI/AAAAAAAAAiA/s_boKHYGSdY/s320/princessandfrogcake.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638969335114884354" style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " />
<br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span">The cake I made. I think I'll stick to frosting next time.</span>
<br /></span></i>
<br />3. ShankRabbit and I went to Las Vegas in May for our first real vacation since 2006. It was relaxing, fun, and <em>holyhell</em> HOT <em><span>(not that I'm complaining. Spend October - April in Wisconsin and you too would be willing to sit on the surface of the sun if it meant warmth)</span></em>.
<br />
<br />4. June was a blur and I can't remember what happened during that month. I know I was training for my first triathlon and really starting to freak out about it.
<br />
<br />5. July went by even faster than June, but at least I can recall this one:
<br />
<br />5a. We had a 4th of July gathering at our house. Our city's fireworks can be seen from our backyard, so we didn't have to go far for the show. Thanks to a wonderful brother-in-law with noise cancelling headphones, my kid enjoyed the fireworks without having to shove fingers in her ears. <em><span>*Note to self: purchase a pair of those headphones for the kid before she stabs her brain with her fingernails*</span></em></div><div>
<br />5b. My first ever triathlon was on the 10th. It was tough <em><span>(fought through hip pain throughout the entire run portion) </span></em>but I had an absolute blast! I accomplished all three of my goals - 1) don't die, 2) finish in under 3 hours and 3) don't be DFL <span>(<em>dead f-in last</em>)</span>.</div><div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I8IpZnXmTKY/TkGmoD64HwI/AAAAAAAAAiI/ph9bTk0m7FI/s320/trirun1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638971415621803778" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 320px; " />
<br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" >Smiling through the pain.
<br /></span></i>
<br />5c. We had our first family vacation in Eagle River, WI <em><span>(ShankRabbit's parents, brothers, and respective families)</span></em>. If it wasn't for the mid to low 60 degree temperatures, I think it would have been perfect.</div><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1fGB_hAG26o/TkGkuCO-kSI/AAAAAAAAAhw/9EJ6mNdiqeY/s320/asleep.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638969319225200930" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " />
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i>You can't tell, but the kid is sound asleep. For real.
<br /></i></span>
<br />5d. Fresh from our northwoods trip, we spent the next weekend camping. Not much to report other than it was crazy hot and ShankRabbit got heat exhaustion. Fun times.
<br /><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uNekDn9rSYE/TkGkuu9A1DI/AAAAAAAAAh4/uqssAOX3xsw/s320/ferriswheelatfair.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638969331229447218" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " />
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Went to the county fair after camping all weekend. Believe it or not, the kid is having fun on her first Ferris Wheel ride.</span>
<br /></i></span>
<br />I think that gets us caught up to the present. My 29th birthday was this past Friday. I got exactly what I wanted - spending time with the ones I love. Oh, and a pinata<strong>*</strong>. </div>
<br />I have been at parties where there has been one, but never one of my own. Now I can cross that off the list. <span><em>Nex</em></span><span><em>t up...aerial fabric acrobatics! Just kidding...maybe.</em></span>
<br />
<br />There are exciting things to come - another race (an adventure 3-miler with ShankRabbit), more birthdays, and possibly a giveaway or two on this here blog. I'll keep you posted.
<br /><p>_____________
<br /><span ><span><strong>*</strong></span> - Please picture a tilde over the n. I don't know how to do it in Blogger and my failed attempt led me to automatically post an unfinished blog post. Just in case my high school Spanish teacher is reading this...yes Sra. S, I know how to properly spell that word. Carry on.</span></p>Isabellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537474742419702738noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490673722529572301.post-42967064133306941762011-04-15T16:00:00.002-05:002011-04-15T16:33:01.667-05:00Why you mock me blank page?!I walk around almost every day with a blog topic in my head. It gets written and edited in my head before it hits the page. The moment I sit down in front of a blank screen, it disappears. All I am left with is a vague idea of what it might have been about. Family? Shoes? A family of shoes? So I will give you "Things Currently Occupying my Noodle." And maybe, just maybe, I will get my brain back to blogging:<br><br>1. Garden, version 2 - Due to crappy soil in our garden area, I decided on raised beds this year. Our garden wasn't terrible, but it took a lot more work than I was willing (and able, especially after surgery) to put in. This year, we will also have smaller sections and more vertical structures (but more produce).<br><br>2. Crafts - I swear I am in the middle of a craft crapstorm. I have 5,476,392 things I would like to do...and I have started about half of them already. I thought about detailing them, but then I realized it would exhaust me just to write them out. I have learned that <strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;">any project without a set finish date will likely not get completed</span>.</em></strong> <br><br>3. Vacation - we haven't been on vacation since 2006 <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(excludes anything in the midwest)</span></em>. I have been wanting to go somewhere - anywhere - other than our neighboring states. Preferably some place warm. With or without the kid. <br>Finally, I got ShankRabbit on board with the idea. We will have a small getaway <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(without the child)</span></em> sometime soon and another one toward the end of the year with the kid <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(at a place with a kingdom of magic...)</span></em>. <br><br>I am about as shocked as I can physically be. Yay for vacation! <br><br>* * * <br><br>My brain has officially checked out, so here are some random pictures for you to enjoy <span style="font-size:78%;">(sorry to anyone on Twitter who has already seen these)</span>: <br><br><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gHjDItrOzzQ/Taixdh0o3wI/AAAAAAAAAfw/SkExPPImLrA/s1600/GFthinmints.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595917657861316354" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gHjDItrOzzQ/Taixdh0o3wI/AAAAAAAAAfw/SkExPPImLrA/s320/GFthinmints.jpg" /></a> <br><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Gluten free thin mints. Yes, they can be done (om nom nom nom...)</em></span> <br><br><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AKAhn8UR-FY/TaixdqtmEJI/AAAAAAAAAf4/ywo0ySPvwF0/s1600/jacquesthedishwasher.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595917660247691410" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AKAhn8UR-FY/TaixdqtmEJI/AAAAAAAAAf4/ywo0ySPvwF0/s320/jacquesthedishwasher.jpg" /></a></em></span> <em><br><span style="font-size:85%;">Jacques, our new dishwasher. I love him so much.</span></em> <br><br><span style="font-size:85%;"><em></em></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wb_eOeMaL5Q/TaixeAHfPSI/AAAAAAAAAgA/YfUcoDbCrEI/s1600/NOTadeviledegg.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 210px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595917665993440546" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wb_eOeMaL5Q/TaixeAHfPSI/AAAAAAAAAgA/YfUcoDbCrEI/s320/NOTadeviledegg.jpg" /></a></em></span> <br><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>A non-deviled egg. Part of an elaborate "welcome" gag played on a friend's boyfriend. He hates deviled eggs. So I made some out of meringue, yellow cupcake frosting, and red sugar. Heh heh... </em></span><br><br><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oKqNKBqOIds/Taixeql5-nI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/xYDnQb_Xaqo/s1600/mykid.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595917677395311218" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oKqNKBqOIds/Taixeql5-nI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/xYDnQb_Xaqo/s320/mykid.jpg" /></a> <br>My kid. My almost 3 year old. <br><br>My cup runneth over.</em></span>Isabellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537474742419702738noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490673722529572301.post-68451273036305496572011-01-26T12:30:00.000-06:002011-01-26T12:50:09.638-06:002011 - it's only just begun<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/TUBk2a7VDLI/AAAAAAAAAfk/egy0eTtWEZQ/s1600/gamingkid.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566560025533811890" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/TUBk2a7VDLI/AAAAAAAAAfk/egy0eTtWEZQ/s320/gamingkid.JPG" /></a><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://nintendogs.com/">Nintendogs</a> has entered this almost-3 year old's life. She's completely self-sufficient with this game. I fear I'll never get my DS back.</span></em><br /><br />What has happened in the last month or so?<br /><br />1. We all eventually recovered from the <a href="http://alookontherandomside.blogspot.com/2010/12/of-sickness-and-power-of-christmas.html">stomach plague</a>. It took a lot longer than I thought it would. We didn't regain normal activity and eating until 2 weeks after it struck.<br /><br />2. Now that I've paid for my registration, I shall announce it to the intarwebz: I am training for a sprint triathlon in July. There's more to the story of why I'm doing it and I will share that as the training progresses.<br /><br />3. Because of #2 (heh...), I have been working out almost every day. And I enjoy it.<br /><br />...<br /><br />No really, I do! I think it's because I love our gym - great facility, great atmosphere, great people.<br /><br />4. A gluten-free store and cafe opened up over the summer. I didn't realize their true significance to my life until I found they do carry out and take-and-bake pizzas. Tried our first ones on New Year's Eve. Heaven help me.<br /><br />Yes, it's a good thing I enjoy my gym so much.<br /><br />5. Our family Christmas present this year is a dishwasher. We are finally getting around to picking one out. I now know way more about dishwashers than I ever thought possible.<br /><br />6. Speaking of Christmas, it was fantastic. There was a moment - a few days beforehand - that we thought my in-laws would be trapped in Nairobi for the holidays <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(due to terrible weather in Amsterdam that they needed to connect in),</span></em> but they made it back safe and sound. Slight panic ensued when we heard there was a <a href="http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/3-dead-in-Nairobi-bomb-attack-20101220">bombing at a bus station</a> while they were supposedly still there. They left the day before.<br /><br />7. At some point this month, I got so frustrated looking at our terribly inefficient, standard reach-in closet that I tore it apart to make a new one. I had every intention of making this a "me" project - showing that anyone can build their own custom closet <em>(<span style="font-size:85%;">Califor.nia Closets be damned!</span>)</em>, but ShankRabbit <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(and Peanut for a while)</span></em> was intrigued and offered help. Projects are so much quicker when you have help.<br /><br />I will have a post up when all is completed. Here's a sneak peek:<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/TUBfCRB7okI/AAAAAAAAAfU/nRZfw9gjO3A/s1600/closet1.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566553631965815362" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/TUBfCRB7okI/AAAAAAAAAfU/nRZfw9gjO3A/s320/closet1.JPG" /></a><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Before (ugh)</span></em><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/TUBko-opOiI/AAAAAAAAAfc/7qQqU0pDerk/s1600/closet2.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566559794600950306" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/TUBko-opOiI/AAAAAAAAAfc/7qQqU0pDerk/s320/closet2.JPG" /></a><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Current state (still in progress). Can you see the double closet rods on each side?<br /></span></em><br /><br />8. Got the chance to attend both Bears playoff games. At one point during the second one, we noticed a couple of F-16 fighter pilots* sitting at a table near us in the United Club. I told ShankRabbit, "hey, we should go over and say hi. I'd like to meet them." So, he tells me to follow him, taps their shoulders and says, "Hi. My wife has a thing for guys in uniform...can she take a picture with you?"<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">(Enter completely mortified expression and bright red face)</span></em><br /><br />One of the guys responds with, "well, how can we say no to that?"<br /><br />So, this picture was taken:<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/TUBYAxQ0bOI/AAAAAAAAAfM/lw2A2pu_Aec/s1600/Pilots.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566545909677059298" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/TUBYAxQ0bOI/AAAAAAAAAfM/lw2A2pu_Aec/s320/Pilots.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Pretty eventful December/January. A little scared and excited to see what February brings.<br /><br />_____________<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">* - Despite what my husband said, I really wanted to meet them because what they do is so friggin' cool! Thanks to the power of the internet, here is the information on the </span><a href="http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=13886113"><span style="font-size:78%;">fighter pilots </span></a><span style="font-size:78%;">that did the flyover after the National Anthem. I believe I met the two that coordinated the timing from the ground.</span>Isabellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537474742419702738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490673722529572301.post-36839274330404115312010-12-16T10:45:00.001-06:002010-12-16T11:37:39.720-06:00Of sickness and the power of Christmas<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/TQpOTP_zD8I/AAAAAAAAAfA/iSXZQiHvIvc/s1600/Tree.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551335583306158018" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/TQpOTP_zD8I/AAAAAAAAAfA/iSXZQiHvIvc/s320/Tree.JPG" /></a>The <em>one time</em> I pledge to do a daily posting commitment like <a href="http://www.reverb10.com/">#reverb10 </a>and our household comes down with the stomach plague*. I will be back to my regularly scheduled reverb-ness, once I get this past weekend/week out of my system.<br /><br />Don't worry, none of the gory TMI details about the plague will be shared. I'm just going to tell you how pathetic we were all weekend.<br /><br />Peanut kicked off the <strong><span style="color:#000099;">happy fun sickness party!</span></strong> for us on Friday night <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(on our way to visit a family I haven't seen in 3+ yrs...uh, yeah, trip was instantly cancelled)</span></em>, ShankRabbit was stricken by Saturday night <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(the night of the big snowstorm. Needless to say no snow got cleared)</span></em>, and by Sunday night I thought I should join in! Oh joy! By Monday we were all dehydrated, delusional, and downright diseased.<br /><br />Around 4am on Monday morning, I was trying to grab a few moments of rest with Peanut on the couch. She was proped up on a couple pillows, looking just as tired as I sure felt <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(and probably looked, too)</span></em>. She insisted I turn on the Christmas tree and sing her Christmas songs** while she tried to sleep.<br /><br />I wanted to cry for two different reasons:<br />1) This was the first night of the plague for me <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(and by far the worst) </span></em>and I was running on no sleep 2) Peanut wanted me to comfort her by singing. She usually says "mama...no!" when I sing to her. Ok, so maybe I get all vaudeville with it most of the time, but it is common knowledge that she'd rather have her dada sing. And with his voice, I don't blame her.<br /><br />As I quietly sang every Christmas song I could think of and petted her hair, my daughter - looking angelic in the glow of the tree - drifted off to sleep. <em><span style="font-size:85%;">*sob*</span></em><br /><br />- -<br /><br />We were worried we'd have to take her to urgent care that day because she was becoming seriously dehydrated...but after a regimen of 2 sips of watered down juice every 10 minutes, she kept it all down and started to perk up.<br /><br />* * * * *<br /><br />Last night was the first real meal we all had. We had been eating small bits of plain rice, toast, and the like when we could handle it, but we ate CHICKEN SOUP last night. Such a colorful and flavorful meal after so many days of blahness. Ah, food heaven.<br /><br />So, now that we are <em>almost</em> healthy, I will get back to that #reverb10 thing I was working on. And maybe get some humor back into my life, too. That'd be nice.<br /><br />___________________<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">* E<strong>very</strong> time we get a major sickness in our house, I hear "yeah, it's just that nasty bug going around." Is this just a canned answer or are people seriously all sick at the same time? Do these bugs travel like frickin' Santa Claus? I swear someone on the East Coast can have the exact same symptoms as we do in the Midwest. How is that possible?!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">** Funny moment - after a particular awful "spilling" (a.k.a. vomiting, to Peanut) episode, she looks at me and starts singing "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6o8-eLZhrOA">simply having a wonderful Christmas time!</a>" If it wasn't so sad, I probably would been on the floor laughing.</span>Isabellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537474742419702738noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490673722529572301.post-24922751393466574482010-12-03T21:33:00.008-06:002010-12-03T22:07:08.172-06:00It's funny what happens when you finally let go.<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Day 3 of </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.reverb10.com/">Reverb 10</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Moment.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year.</span></span><br /><br />During my September/October <span style="font-style: italic;">can't-get-out-of-my-head</span> period, I came to a lot of conclusions about my life and the relationships around me. Once I accepted where some of those relationships would stay, no matter how hard I tried to change that, I felt at peace.<br /><br />I realized how lucky I am. I have an outstanding support system.<br />At the very core of it, an amazing husband and a beautiful daughter.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/TPm9zG8Se8I/AAAAAAAAAeg/JUbND9aBxhc/s1600/thefam.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/TPm9zG8Se8I/AAAAAAAAAeg/JUbND9aBxhc/s320/thefam.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546673101817936834" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">d'awwww....</span></span><br /><br />I needed to accept and embrace the love I have around me every single second of every single day...not try and hold together what was ultimately never there.Isabellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537474742419702738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490673722529572301.post-28914778206190384672010-12-02T10:13:00.003-06:002010-12-02T10:31:14.538-06:00Writing - no, scratch that - Creativity<em>Day 2 of <a href="http://www.reverb10.com/">Reverb 10</a></em><br /><br /><strong>Writing.</strong><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">What do you do each day that doesn’t contribute to your writing — and can you eliminate it?</span></em><br /><br />I am going to modify this prompt a little bit as it doesn't pertain to me <span style="font-size:85%;"><em>(I'm not a writer. Plain and simple)</em></span>. Here's my edited version:<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">What do you do each day that doesn't contribute to your creativity - and can you eliminate it?</span></em><br /><br />Honestly, there is a lot of creativity in each day. Having a toddler almost demands it. While there are times I wish I could spend more time in front of my sewing machine or holding a paintbrush, I cherish being able to break out some Playdoh and making funky creations with my kid. Or playing a modified game of hopscotch through the mall while window shopping. Even making dinner can tap into my creative side <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(especially when I'm too lazy to go out to the store and we have limited supplies in the house)</span></em>.<br /><br />There is nothing to eliminate...well, aside from the need for sleep. If I can just get rid of that then I'd be able to get so much more done <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(like my business that I still need product for. UGH!)</span></em>.Isabellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537474742419702738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490673722529572301.post-45445100392258397752010-12-01T11:08:00.003-06:002010-12-01T11:19:00.139-06:00Unicorns!<em>I am participating in </em><a href="http://www.reverb10.com/"><em>#reverb10</em></a><em> this year (thanks for the idea, <a href="http://www.showmyface.com/">CallMeCate</a>!)</em><br /><br /><strong><em>One word.</em></strong><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you?</em><br /></span><br />My word for 2011 is <a href="http://alookontherandomside.blogspot.com/2010/11/random-thoughts-november-edition.html">unicorns!</a> I have a disturbing lack of unicorns in my life and I feel 2011 needs them.<br /><br />Contentment and love can wait until 2012. I need some unicorns. Stat.<br /><br />_______________<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">See what happens when I try to be all serious and introspective? :)</span>Isabellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537474742419702738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490673722529572301.post-40639447668055459792010-11-29T15:00:00.001-06:002010-11-29T16:10:41.774-06:00Thanksgiving Recap<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/TPQiH32PvLI/AAAAAAAAAeI/NUkQCs6g3Zw/s1600/turkeylurkeydoo.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 244px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545094559845825714" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/TPQiH32PvLI/AAAAAAAAAeI/NUkQCs6g3Zw/s320/turkeylurkeydoo.JPG" /></a>Overall, our first hosted Thanksgiving went well.<br /><br /><strong>Positives</strong><br />1. We didn't have to travel<br /><br />2. ShankRabbit had the day before Thanksgiving off, so he could help me clean the house and prep the food.<br /><br />3. Each dish we made turned out fantastic <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(recipes below)</span></em>.<br /><br />4. We ordered an all natural turkey from our local health food store. Fantastic flavor, wasn't frozen, and only cost us about $2.69/lb.<br /><br />5. I deligated the desserts to my mother-in-law, who showed up with 8 (!) pies and a tray of pumpkin bars. We only had 9 adults and one child.<br /><br />6. We're still eating pie.<br /><br />7. A wet kitchen sponge was thrown at my head. That's how you know your kitchen is the fun place to be.<br /><br />8. On Friday, we packed up our Thanksgiving leftovers and went to my brother-in-law's house. Another fantastic meal followed by some <a href="http://www.xbox.com/en-US/Kinect/">Kinect</a> playing, where my sister-in-law tried to pull one over on my husband. Little did she know that he is super-competitive and knows how to <a href="http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/Dance-Central/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802545607d3?WT.srch=1&WT.srch=1">drop it like it's hot</a>.<br /><br /><strong>The not-so-positives</strong><br />1. The turkey took over 4.5 hours to cook, as opposed to the 2.5 our recipe claimed. My entire food timetable was thrown off. Boo! But hey, it was a darn tasty turkey.<br /><br />2. We ran out of clean - and dry - dish towels, so by the end of the night we had to just leave the dirty dishes on the counter. We don't have a dishwasher (or a dryer), so we resorted to doing a drying-rack full of dishes and waiting for them to air dry.<br /><br />And here is who made our Thanksgiving possible...the recipes <em>(all gluten-free)</em>:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/good-eats-roast-turkey-recipe/index.html">Roast Turkey</a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">We mostly used Alton's brine, with some added tweaks from </span><a href="http://glutenfreegirl.blogspot.com/2009/11/gluten-free-turkey-for-thanksgiving.html"><span style="font-size:85%;">Gluten Free Girl's brine recipe</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">. Also, we used butter to coat the bird instead of canola oil. BIG MISTAKE. The butter sizzled and smoked through the whole 500 degree portion of cooking (we had to make some temp and time adjustments...which may have been the reason why our turkey took so long to cook).</span><br /><br /><a href="http://udisglutenfree.com/recipes//29">Udi's Gluten Free Stuffing</a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">We stayed true to the recipe and it came out beautifully. Because our turkey was taking so long in the oven, our stuffing did dry out a bit waiting for a final warm up in the oven. I think next year we'll add a bit more moisture.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://glutenfreegirl.blogspot.com/2009/11/gluten-free-dinner-rolls.html">Gluten Free Dinner Rolls</a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I can't begin to describe the amazing flavor these rolls have. Yes, they are a <em>little</em> dense in the middle, but not at all like the hockey pucks most GF folks are used to. These were a big hit with everyone!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen/recipes/holidays/biggye28099s-sweet-potato-casserole/">Biggy's Sweet Potato Casserole</a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The only change we made was to cook it in the CrockPot. About 20 minutes in, we added the mini marshmallows so they could melt. Yum.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/1233">Honey Glazed Carrots<br /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">We used regular carrots and cut them up into circles. A simple, yet flavorful dish.<br /></span><br /><a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen/recipes/sidedishes/green-beans-almondine-2/">Green Beans Almondine</a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Perfect as is.<br /></span><br />Mashed potatoes were made by my sister-in-law. I don't know what she did or how she did it, but they rocked!Isabellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537474742419702738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490673722529572301.post-2280666025403024542010-11-04T12:00:00.000-05:002010-11-04T12:37:39.967-05:00Random Thoughts: November Edition1. When I was a kid, I remember learning proper letter writing in school. I was taught when it was OK to have a more casual correspondence and when a more formal letter was required. <br />Now that email is part of our daily lives, do they teach proper email etiquette? Are future employers going to receive an email like this from their employee:<br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Yo,</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">so i was all lolz cuz i thought OMG i forgot the deadline! but <em>DOOD</em>...totes dun!</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">:D</span><br /><br />I think the intricacies of forwarding and cc/bcc should be covered as well.<br /><br />2. I saw some brand new (in the bag) halloween costumes at Goodwill today for 75% off. I wanted to grab all the cute baby ones - ladybug, bumblebee, football - but my 2.5 year old is no longer a baby. And she's a 4T. Maybe I can put the bumblebee one on her leg and dress her up as a beekeeper next year? Though a giant bee attacking the leg of a beekeeper might be more of a beekeeper FAIL.<br /><br />It's a good thing Peanut tells me exactly what she wants to be for Halloween.<br /><br />3. ShankRabbit brought up the baby topic last week. I think we're rounding the corner from "<em>ohgawdnowaynobabiesanytimesoon!</em>" to "<em>well...it wouldn't hurt to revisit the topic...in 6 months...</em>" It's all about progress, right?<br /><br />4. My grandmother had a funny quirk. Whenever we'd sit down for a family meal, our forks would mysteriously disappear. Turns out she would grab the nearest fork to serve dishes, cut meat, etc. and not notice which one she grabbed. We'd all laugh when she'd say, "goodness, how did I get 3 forks?"<br /><br />Why do I bring this up? Because I have developed a similar flatware-related quirk. I use so many knives during the day that I can easily use every single one we own in a day. Putting butter on toast, making sandwiches, cooking...by the time we sit down for dinner they are all gone.<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">I've secretly started using disposable plastic knives on occasion. Shh...don't tell ShankRabbit. He thinks I've gotten better with my knife usage.</span></em><br /><br />5. I had a very introspective September/October. Mostly, I was thinking about family (probably a post for another day). Blah blah blah...I decided somewhere in there that we should host our own Thanksgiving.<br /><br />...<br /><br />Did you catch that? I am hosting one of my all-time favorite holidays. I will be cooking. For other people than the husband and the daughter.<br /><br />If you've never cooked a full turkey before, do you make a practice one a couple weeks before or do you just hope for the best the day of Thanksgiving? I did find helpful tips from a couple of "never let me down" sources - Alton Brown and <a href="http://glutenfreegirl.blogspot.com/">The Gluten-Free Girl</a>.<br /><br />6. I'm so happy November 2nd is over. I don't mind the political ads <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(yes, annoying...but whatever)</span></em>. You know what bothered me? The "AAAARGH! GET OUT THERE AND VOTE!"<br />"I VOTED AND THERE WAS NO ONE WAITING IN LINE! SO SAD!"<br />"IF YOU DON'T VOTE YOU'RE THE WORST PERSON IN THE UNIVERSE!"<br /><br />Did I vote? Yes. But I didn't make a big deal out of it.<br /><br />7. Medical update: still broken. The doctors have no idea what's wrong...still. I think I'm done trying to figure this out. I've been on a gluten-free diet since August and this seems to help with most of the problems I'm dealing with, but no concrete answers.<br /><br />8. 2010 seemed to be the year of "frustration." Can 2011 be "contentment," "love," or even "unicorns?" Let's make it happen.Isabellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537474742419702738noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490673722529572301.post-46099779063557032702010-09-01T15:45:00.000-05:002010-09-01T15:57:17.830-05:00A rant. And a lesson about Laundromat etiquette.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/TH69MNUs9mI/AAAAAAAAAd4/TUG_ZD3r3RU/s1600/laundry.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512051011380639330" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/TH69MNUs9mI/AAAAAAAAAd4/TUG_ZD3r3RU/s320/laundry.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Instead of trying to stretch a couple more days out of our dwindling clean clothes selection, I decided to do laundry today instead of Friday <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(my usual day of laundered fun)</span></em>.<br /><br />This particular laundromat has several washers and dryers <span style="font-size:85%;"><em>(single and multiple load capacity)</em></span> and 4 tables for folding. 1 is at the back, 1 in the middle, and 2 right by each other in the front. All of the tables were being used except for the 2 in the front <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(right by where I was sitting)</span></em>.<br /><br />My clothes had about 15 minutes left in the dryer when a couple of ladies walked in. Upon getting all of their clothes in the washer, they sat at a round table nearest the 2 empty folding tables and placed a purse on each of the folding tables. Considering there was absolutely nothing in front of them at the round table they were occupying, I could only assume they were "reserving" them for when they were ready to fold their clothes.<br /><br />Say what?!<br /><br />Hold on, these ladies want people to wait for a) another folding table to clear <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(by the looks of it, the other people were doing laundry for half the county)</span></em> or b) wait until their clothes are washed and dryed?!<br /><br />Oh, I don't think so!<br /><br />Just ask my husband, when I'm on a mission to get something done there better not be a soul in my way.<br /><br />I swear these ladies were out to annoy the holy jebus out of me. In addition to the purses, the one lady was standing in front of an open dryer waiting for the other to fill it with clothes. Normally, not a big deal...in this case, the open door just happened to be blocking access of the dryer my finished clothes were in AND their washer was not done...completely oblivious to my presence at the dryer. I didn't want to wait around, so I finally said "excuse me," pointed at my dryer, and moved their door just enough to get my clothes out.<br /><br />Once all 3 loads of laundry completed their tumble in the dryer <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(pretty much done at the same time! hooray for laundromats!)</span></em>, I wheeled them over to one of the "reserved" folding tables, ignored the presence of the offending purse, and folded my laundry. These ladies were sitting a mere foot away from me. In my head, I <strong><em>dared</em></strong> them to say anything to me or each other about where I was folding.<br /><br /><br />Maybe it's PMS. Maybe I'm just easily aggitated when people aren't mindful of others around them. But c'mon...laundromats will forever and always be first come, first served*.<br /><br />__________<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">* - the only exception to the rule are wheeling carts. If you're injured, pregnant, or otherwise physically limited, go ahead and lay claim to one of those bad boys.</span>Isabellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537474742419702738noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490673722529572301.post-59225983956828051372010-08-13T13:15:00.000-05:002010-08-13T13:32:16.574-05:00Recipe time!<div><div><div>I have had luck with a couple of recipes recently that I wanted to share.<br /><br /><u>Pulled Pork</u><br />Let me give you background on this one. I had a recipe for pulled pork sandwiches that I wasn't all that crazy about <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(too much brown sugar and ketchup made it really sweet)</span></em>. I wanted to try it again, but I couldn't find a recipe that I liked. So, I turned to the BBQ extraordinaire, <a href="http://twitter.com/NukeDad">NukeDad</a>, and asked what he had in his arsenal. He didn't have one of his own, but he sent me to <a href="http://www.kevinandamanda.com/recipes/dinner/perfect-pulled-pork-slow-roasted-seasoned-savory.html">this pulled pork recipe</a>. Go ahead and take a gander at those lovely pictures. *drool*<br />My only changes were brining for 12+ hours and using my CrockPot instead of the oven <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(on high for 6 hours)</span></em>.<br />This recipe will be etched in stone and saved for all eternity in this household. It's <em>that</em> good.<br /></div><div><br /><u>Egg Salad</u><br />This one <strong>I</strong> can actually take credit for <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(which, as someone who is just getting into this cooking thing, makes me really happy)</span></em>.<br />Background: There is (was?) a little coffee shop/deli near my fosterdad's work that would serve the most YUMMY egg salad sandwiches ever. I interned at his office for a while and used to get that for lunch most days. The trick was to either get there just as lunch was being served or call ahead to have it waiting for you. They would only make so much egg salad and once it was gone for the day - it was gone.<br />I have no idea why, but I had a craving for it the other day. So I turned on my laptop to see how difficult it was to make. Most recipes I found had the basic ingredients of eggs, mayo, mustard, salt & pepper. Sounded simple enough to tweak.<br /><br />Because I was so in love with what I made, I wanted to share it with you all. </div><div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/TGWN7qHVMuI/AAAAAAAAAdo/vHpazaJ80Us/s1600/EggSaladSandwich.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504962175587136226" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/TGWN7qHVMuI/AAAAAAAAAdo/vHpazaJ80Us/s320/EggSaladSandwich.JPG" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>(Pickle on the side. Toasted <a href="http://udisfood.com/">Udi's bread</a>. Heaven)</em></span><br /></div><div>Recipe:<br />6 jumbo eggs, hard boiled and peeled<br />4 tablespoons mayonnaise <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(the real stuff...not that low fat tasteless excuse for mayo)</span></em><br />1 teaspoon horseradish mustard<br />1 teaspoon yellow mustard<br />4-5 drops of Frank's Red Hot <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(or more if you're feeling saucy...)</span></em><br />Dash of celery salt<br />Dash of freshly cracked pepper<br /><br />Directions:<br />Are you clueless on how to hard boil eggs? Go to the <a href="http://www.incredibleegg.org/">American Egg Board </a>and look up their recipe. These people know what they are talking about <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(much more than I do)</span></em>.<br /><br />Now, chop up the cooked eggs <span style="font-size:85%;"><em>(to your preferred texture)</em></span> and put in a bowl. Add 2 Tbsp of the mayo, horseradish mustard, yellow mustard, and the Frank's Red Hot. Add the celery salt and pepper. Add the rest of the mayo if you feel it needs it <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(I certainly did)</span></em>.<br /><br />I probably would have added a little celery for a bit of crunch, but we were out. Oh well...it was still yummy.</div></div></div>Isabellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537474742419702738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490673722529572301.post-25660086151888384762010-08-12T05:00:00.000-05:002010-08-12T05:00:05.309-05:00WAT?!Let's say you are listening to music in your house and your favorite song comes on. Are you one to turn the song WAY up and sing/dance/become-a-rockstar-in-your-head? I'm so with you...minus the music blasting.<br /><br />Just like every little quirk in my life, this one stems from childhood. I'll spare you from the emotionally scarring back story and just say really loud music irritates me. It makes me slightly edgy and uncomfortable. If there are other noises in addition to the loud music, I go into a panic. Something must be quieted A.S.A.P!<br />My ears are pretty sensitive as it is...loud music makes it 1,000 times worse.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000066;"><em>Side note: Live concerts don't count. Except for that one <strike>small bar</strike> venue in Chicago where I saw Murder by Death with some friends. My ears were stuffy and ringing for days after that...worst feeling ever!</em></span><br /><br />My husband loves his music loud - in the car, in the house <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Eggs_and_Ham">(in a box, with a fox...)</a>. He enjoys rocking out, but knows that if I'm in the vicinity, I will more than likely turn it down to conversation-level. This frustrates him a bit, but he's gotten used to it (I think).<br />The only other person I have to work on is Peanut. If we're in the car and she hears a song she loves, she says, "Mama...button!" Which in her language means, "turn up the volume, lady...it's time to ROCK!"<br />Most of the time I'll do it, because I can control just how loud it gets. At home is a different story since she knows how to do it herself.<br /><br />In this situation I have two choices:<br />1) Let her turn it up to her volume and just grin and bear it <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(or hide in another room of the house until she's done enjoying the song)</span></em><br />2) Fight with her over the volume and be subjected to the ear-piercing screeches she can produce.<br /><br />((sigh))<br /><br />She's only 2. I am fearing her teenage years.Isabellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537474742419702738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490673722529572301.post-68438742434646349822010-07-13T14:01:00.004-05:002010-07-13T14:15:55.199-05:00Accountability: an updateRemember the post from June 2nd <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(you know, the last time I posted)</span></span> where I was all "I need to do all this <span style="font-weight: bold;">now</span>. No excuses?" Well, here's an update -<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153); font-style: italic;">1. I </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 153); font-style: italic;">will </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153); font-style: italic;">get up earlier in the day...before the hubby and child are awake. I will work on all of my business obligations at that time. This will also be my time for running...bad shoes or not. If I do 3 weeks of consistent running, I will reward myself with new shoes.</span><br /><br />This earlier time of day has given me great uninterrupted work time. Work = money...so yay me!<br />I did really well with about 3 weeks of running. However, I had a laparoscopic procedure on July 1st* and can't do any strenuous physical activity for 6 weeks. So, let's just say this has been deferred for the time being.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">2. My business </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">will </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">be up and running by my birthday </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-size:85%;" >(August 5th)</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">.</span><br /><br />My logo is done. Website design ideas are down on paper <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(virtually) </span></span>and discussions with my web developer <span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >(a.k.a. that sweet piece of keister I call my hubby) </span>will happen in the near future. Also, as far as product goes, I started over with a new larger pattern and have had better results.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">3. Once the business is established </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-size:85%;" >(and hopefully making money? :) )</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">, I will join a fitness class </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-size:85%;" >(not sure where/when/what just yet)</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">.</span><br /><br />I have found a class I want to take in the fall. I'll let you know what happens come August/September.<br /><br />________________<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">* - there will be a post about the surgery at some point. I promise.</span>Isabellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537474742419702738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490673722529572301.post-5183057749453368592010-06-02T12:01:00.004-05:002010-06-02T12:33:40.930-05:00AccountabilityIt's hard to admit...but I let excuses get the best of me.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"I can't start the </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml">Couch to 5K</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> program because I have a terrible pair of running shoes."</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />"I really want to get up earlier in the day to get stuff done, but I'm afraid my alarm will wake the slumbering child. And once she's awake...no alone time for me."</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />"If I only had a few more hours in my day, I could really get going on my sewing goals"</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />"I prefer work out classes to working out by myself. But those cost money..."</span><br /><br />Honestly, just typing this all out makes me want to slap myself. I sound like a whiney beeotch and I hate that. Not to mention all these excuses put me in a funk that I'd rather not be in.<br /><br />So, I am declaring this to the intarwebz because that makes it all kinds of official <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(...right?)</span></span><br /><br /><br />Here is what is going to happen. right here. right now.<br /><br />1. I <span style="font-weight: bold;">will </span>get up earlier in the day...before the hubby and child are awake. I will work on all of my business obligations at that time. This will also be my time for running...bad shoes or not. If I do 3 weeks of consistent running, I will reward myself with new shoes.<br /><br />2. My business <span style="font-weight: bold;">will </span>be up and running by my birthday <span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >(August 5th)</span>.<br /><br />3. Once the business is established <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(and hopefully making money? :) )</span></span>, I will join a fitness class <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(not sure where/when/what just yet)</span></span>.<br /><br />I thrive on schedules, routine, and established goals, so I'm hoping this will get my bum in gear.Isabellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537474742419702738noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490673722529572301.post-59143190761506618752010-05-19T12:08:00.003-05:002010-05-19T12:27:19.484-05:00More random1. Our van succumbed to a faulty ignition coil...again <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(there are 6 on this vehicle. This was #3 to replace)</span></span>. For the first time it broke down in the state of Wisconsin, so we were able to send it to our favorite mechanic. He fixed it all up nice and purty and it's back in our hands.<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(I'll skip over the part where ShankRabbit had to walk 2.5 miles to the nearest car rental place in dress shoes. Yeah...that's more his story to tell)</span></span><br /><br />2. My brother-in-law and his wife are on a lovely vacation in Mexico right now. Aside from being super jealous, we get to watch their two bundles of snuggly doggy love while they are gone.<br /> 2b. I still can't believe dogs crap this much<br /> 2c. I do not care for 5:30am wake up calls<br /> 2d. No soft paper product is safe in this house<br /> 2e. But they are soft and cuddly...so it's ok<br /><br />3. My kid has phased through several favorite movies. We were on a constant "Tinkerbell" kick for a while. Now we've moved on to "Toy Story." Every time I watch it I think back to the days when my <a href="http://alookontherandomside.blogspot.com/2010/02/crazy-is-normal-for-me.html">cousin</a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(who is a day away from coming home) </span></span>was obsessed with it. His mom and I even made a birthday cake with Buzz Lightyear on it...complete with army men accents.<br /><br />4. I'm hoping to report back soon on the status of our garden. We've spent the last several weeks trying to make seeds grow in our house for transplanting, but they are in a sorry state. I'm hoping we have more luck with seeds planted outside...which will happen by the weekend I'm guessing.Isabellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537474742419702738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490673722529572301.post-44966865103268850872010-04-21T13:45:00.001-05:002010-04-21T13:54:16.598-05:00Several bits of crazy...er, random.1. I am working on <a href="http://crafthope.com">Craft Hope</a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Project 7 </span><span style="font-style: italic;">(educational bean bags for schools in Liberia)</span></span>. I am having serious issues with odd numbers of bean bags. I can't make 9 or 11 bean bags...it has to be EVEN! So off I go to find suitable additions for the shape collection.<br /><br />2. Today is my kid's 2nd day of dance class. I had to go out and buy a larger size leotard because the size 2-3 was way too small <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(what can I say? I gots a big kid)</span></span>. More fun stories to come about this class.<br /><br />3. The day of my great uncle's funeral, I was talking with some of my relatives about being pulled over. They were telling me how they got out of tickets in the past <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(interesting what some people will do)</span></span>.<br /><br />A few days later, I was pulled over and told the honest-to-jebus truth about why our plates our expired. I got a warning (and a firm reminder to get our car fixed and plates renewed). See?...telling the truth pays off too.<br /><br />4. Remember about a year ago I shared with you the results of my <a href="http://alookontherandomside.blogspot.com/2009/04/im-not-broken.html">medical mystery</a>? Well, after a follow-up ultrasound it looks as though nothing has reduced in size <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(it's "persistent," as the nurse said).</span></span> Now I'm scheduled to speak to my doctor next Wednesday about possible surgery. Ugh.<br /><br />5. Ah ha! CRESCENT! And a 12th shape has been found. Happy dance!<br /><br />6. My kid, my baby, my Peanut turned 2 on Monday. *tear*<br /><br />7. I really really want to put our various vegetable seeds in the ground, but we still have some time to wait. Stupid frost times.<br /><br />8. What purpose do slugs serve? I have found a couple in the soil of our future vegetable garden. Ew. I can handle earth worms...just not slugs.Isabellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537474742419702738noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490673722529572301.post-19299601112002978542010-04-15T05:00:00.000-05:002010-04-15T05:00:04.204-05:00So, I have this sister...It all started Sunday.<br /><br />My brother-in-law and his wife stopped over <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(and their two little lumps of <a href="http://alookontherandomside.blogspot.com/2009/05/eau-de-doggie.html">doggy love</a>)</span></span>. We made a great dinner and relaxed around our new fire pit. At one point ShankRabbit went to check on the kid<span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" > (she was whiny) </span>and it was just the three of us outside. My phone made a noise, notifying me of a new message on Facebook. Normally I wouldn't have looked at my phone while people were over, but my great uncle passed away on Friday and I figured it was one of my family members giving me details about the funeral*.<br /><br />I received a friend request. At first glance, her name was not familiar, but had my maiden name as her last name**. She wrote a note with the request:<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-style: italic;">"Hi, I am your older half sister. I would love to get know you and your brother. I am older than you both. I have prayed for years to be united with you all and that is the primary reason I started my Facebook page. We can build a relationship independent of our father...".</span><br /><br />Whoa.<br /><br />My parents told me of possibly having a sister <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(my father's child with a different woman...before my mom came along)</span></span>, but at the time their words could not be trusted <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(substance abuse played a role in this distrust, among other things)</span></span>. Upon questioning other relatives, I was told that this was untrue. Many years passed...and so did the memory of this conversation.<br /><br />Now I know that I really <span style="font-style: italic;">do </span>have a half sister. Someone who I regret not knowing about sooner, but so happy she wasn't a part of my dark childhood.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"a relationship independent of our father..."</span><br /><br />I know she knows.<br /><br />After a few days and a stream of emails, I've gotten to know my sister.<br /><br />Gosh, even saying "my sister" and not referring to an in-law or a friend is weird.<br /><br />She has a 12 year old daughter (<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I'm an aunt?!</span></span>) and a great career. She lives on the west coast.<br /><br />Yeah.<br /><br />I'm still processing this whole thing.<br /><br />_____________<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">* - I'll save the story of my great uncle's funeral for another day. But I will tell you that this person is indeed my sister, as confirmed by my father who was in attendance.<br />** - She only put that (somewhat unique) last name so we'd recognize it as a possible family member.</span>Isabellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537474742419702738noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490673722529572301.post-83273491569635031912010-04-06T12:12:00.005-05:002010-04-06T12:42:28.375-05:00Garden 2.0: A New Year, A New Attitude<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/S7tuDxBqGOI/AAAAAAAAAdI/jJRvbpDMbSM/s1600/GardenToBe.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/S7tuDxBqGOI/AAAAAAAAAdI/jJRvbpDMbSM/s320/GardenToBe.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457076384468441314" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The previous owners of our home built a 7' x 24' raised bed in the backyard. In the back quarter of the garden <span style="font-style: italic;">(in this picture that would be to the right) </span>are everbearing raspberry bushes.<br /><br />I was going to leave it be and figure out what to do with it next year, but I started to feel guilty. All this space is just begging for seeds. care. life in vegetable form.<br /><br />I failed miserably at our herbs and tomatoes last year, but after quite a bit of research on vegetable gardening, I know my mistakes. I know what I must do to give my plants a fighting chance this time.<br /><br />I did hours of research. I tested the pH level of our soil. I plotted the garden <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(using a loose interpretation of square foot and companion gardening)</span></span>. Now all that's left to do is buy some supplies and get some of the seeds started.<br /><br />I will take you all on this journey with me - the ups, the downs, the dirt, and the laughs <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(c'mon, this is *me* we're talking about here)</span></span>. And hopefully share the fruits - er, vegetables - of my labor.<br /><br />Oh man...here we go...Isabellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537474742419702738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490673722529572301.post-33043487355967370242010-04-02T15:45:00.000-05:002010-04-02T17:04:15.218-05:00Friday Laundry AdventuresAh, Fridays. My newly dubbed Laundry Day. Some of you may think this is depressing, but I enjoy doing laundry. Even more so when I can take a couple hours out of my morning and get all the loads done at the laundromat.<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-style: italic;">(side note: we did our budget for April and looked at the monthly cost of taking our laundry to the laundromat. My goodness, it's a lot of money! It doesn't seem like much at the time, but it really adds up!)</span></span><br /><br />Fortunately, I found a laundromat that's nearby, in good working order, and barely has any patrons on Friday mornings. I'm <strike>selfish</strike> <strike>antisocial</strike> cool like that.<br /><br />The first time we showed up, the laundry attendant came over to us with a small basket full of toys. Peanut's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree and she said quietly under her breath, "wow."<br /><br />These toys aren't anything special. A lot of them seem to be happy meal toys from various establishments, but by Peanut's reaction you'd think I just gave her the keys to a toy store.<br /><br />Now that we've been going to this laundromat on a regular basis, she has developed her "favorites" from the toy bin. Let's look at the cast of characters <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(pardon the photos, but these were taken with my phone under the wonderful fluorescent lighting)</span></span>:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/S7Zfb7ItsjI/AAAAAAAAAco/Wze4lSqkKP0/s1600/Laundry5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/S7Zfb7ItsjI/AAAAAAAAAco/Wze4lSqkKP0/s320/Laundry5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455652931941282354" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">By far, one of Peanut's favorite toys. This toy car has taken many a journey across plastic chairs, washers, and occasionally off-roads on the buttons of the soda machine.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/S7ZeYtXyEOI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/ZLWZrqtgwjc/s1600/Laundry3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/S7ZeYtXyEOI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/ZLWZrqtgwjc/s320/Laundry3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455651777195151586" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Another car. Not as big and impressive as the first, but this little guy can CRUISE! Often seen on adventures with the one pictured below.</span><br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/S7ZfOrfedNI/AAAAAAAAAcY/Ksir2OJb7mE/s1600/Laundry4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/S7ZfOrfedNI/AAAAAAAAAcY/Ksir2OJb7mE/s320/Laundry4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455652704403485906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">This is the creepiest choice, but she loves it all the same. I get what it is supposed to be [Padme in a royal cruiser (I think? Forgive me if I botched my Star Wars vehicle labeling)], but it's a bobblehead. In a space ship with wheels. No matter...Peanut uses this as her </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Why%21">"Super Why!"</a> vehicle. </span> <span style="font-size:85%;"><br />"Super readers...to the RESCUE!"</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/S7ZeLGOYT3I/AAAAAAAAAcA/djY3S9R0XqU/s1600/Laundry2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/S7ZeLGOYT3I/AAAAAAAAAcA/djY3S9R0XqU/s320/Laundry2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455651543348432754" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">And no adventure would be complete without a ragtag group of heroes! I give you...</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Angry Man!</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Condescending Military Guy! </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" >(*pat* *pat* "that's OK Spidey...you tried your best")</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">and....</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Spider Man!</span></span><br /><br />And where does this group hang out in between daring adventures?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/S7Zd9ewSEKI/AAAAAAAAAbw/A0355pFgfK0/s1600/Laundry1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/S7Zd9ewSEKI/AAAAAAAAAbw/A0355pFgfK0/s320/Laundry1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455651309414912162" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">On the bible, of course.</span></span><br /><br />When the last item is folded and we are ready to go, Peanut and I put the toys back in the bin and return them to the attendant. Once handed off, I am given this face in protest:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/S7Zg6O2AQnI/AAAAAAAAAdA/bm-vsvekXlE/s1600/Laundry01.2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/S7Zg6O2AQnI/AAAAAAAAAdA/bm-vsvekXlE/s320/Laundry01.2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455654552139219570" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">"Mama...I don't wanna GO!"</span></span><br /><br />Though today was different. I think she has figured out we will come back next week <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(at least until we have a washer of our own)</span></span>.Isabellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537474742419702738noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490673722529572301.post-67898418402104345612010-03-31T16:00:00.000-05:002010-03-31T16:19:49.574-05:00A short postWhat we did this morning:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/S7O7Gty1jbI/AAAAAAAAAbg/tSa1KrrbWsw/s1600/PlantWatering.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/S7O7Gty1jbI/AAAAAAAAAbg/tSa1KrrbWsw/s320/PlantWatering.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454909297722232242" border="0" /></a><br /><br />What do you think the dirt smudge on her shirt means?<br /><br />A. She's having fun playing "gardener" and asking for more water for her "wah can"<br />B. She tasted the fruits of her labor...even if it was only the dirt she was digging in<br />C. Water + dirt = fun mess<br />D. All the above<br /><br />* * * * *<br />The kid is awake from her nap. Time to go play outside some more!Isabellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537474742419702738noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490673722529572301.post-62793289960758074862010-03-30T05:00:00.000-05:002010-03-30T05:00:03.930-05:00When saving money on a store brand was not worth it<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">This post was in no way dramatized. These are real events, real thoughts, real action.</span></span><br /><br />Some things that must be said:<br /><br />1. I adore the CrockPot Lady's recipes - <a href="http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/10/crockpot-rotisserie-style-chicken.html">Rotisserie Style Chicken</a> is one of my favorites.<br />2. I have the memory span of a goldfish.<br />3. I don't cook very often.<br /><br />Ok, now that those are established, let's continue with the story...<br /><br />The first time I made this chicken recipe, I bought a Purdue brand whole chicken. Skinning the chicken was gross and cringe-inducing, but I made it through <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(the CrockPot Lady recommends this step. It takes a while, but it's worth it)</span></span>.<br />--<br />Fast forward to a week ago. While perusing the meat section in our grocery store, I saw whole chicken on sale and thought, "man, I could really go for some of that rotisserie style chicken again." It was store brand, but I thought that wouldn't matter. Oh man, was I ever wrong.<br /><br />Now, on to last Friday. Peanut just went down for a nap and I had a cutting board, the chicken, and a sharp knife at the ready.<br /><br />I open up the plastic and remove the little goodie bag of gizzards from the inside. I double-checked to make sure there was nothing else in there. I happened upon an appendage of some sort. I freed it from its enclosure and mentally screamed <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(the kid is sleeping, remember)</span></span>,<br />"EWWW! This chicken has a <span style="font-style: italic;">penis</span>!"<br /><br />I quickly surmised that this was, in fact, the neck <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(that'd be one hung chicken, I tell ya...)</span></span><br /><br />Now, how do I go about removing the neck? With the Purdue chicken, this was removed for me and neatly placed in the gizzard bag. I've never encountered this problem before. Due to my hands being saturated in raw chicken grossness, I couldn't turn to my trusty intarwebz for instruction. So, I guessed and cut off what I thought was appropriate.<br /><br />Back to skinning...<br /><br />It was pretty routine at this point, though I found this chicken to have quite a bit more <strike>junk in the trunk</strike> fat than the Purdue chicken.<br /><br />Once I was close to done, I decided to look the chicken over and be sure it was pretty clean. I glanced on the inside toward the bottom <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(which could have been the top at this point...who knows) </span></span>and I noticed a section of darkness. Another gasp and internal screaming, "this chicken still has ORGANS attached? SERIOUSLY?!"* Again, the Purdue chicken had this removed.<br /><br />I just wanted to be done. I wasn't sure how to get rid of said organs, so I completely cut that part out - spine and all. In my flurry of cutting, I nicked my finger with the knife <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(no surprise there)</span></span>. A minuscule cut, but it still hurt.<br /><br />Now I <span style="font-style: italic;">really </span>went into panic mode. I'm furiously trying to be done with this gawdforsaken chicken and now I have salmonella coursing through my veins via the cut on my finger!**<br /><br />I scrubbed my hands no less than 3 times with antibacterial soap, threw on a temporary band-aid, and got to work on the seasoning. After throwing the bird into the Crock Pot, I cleaned up and hopped into a scalding hot shower <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(because at the time that made total sense)</span></span>. Though not before sending the following text message to ShankRabbit:<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153); font-style: italic;">I went all Silence of the Lambs on the whole chicken. You can't unsee what I have seen. ((shudder)) Time for a hot shower...or cigarette...or both.</span><br /><br />When all was said and done, I had 3 sections of chicken left - the breast/wings/remainder of back and two thigh/leg sections. It may have been in pieces, but the chicken still tasted just as good as the last time I made it.<br /><br />Let's hope I remember all this the next time I get a craving for rotisserie chicken.<br />____________<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">* I did a little online searching and found out these still-attached organs were its kidneys. Ewwww.<br />** I'm a wee bit dramatic in situations like this. Can you tell?</span>Isabellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537474742419702738noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490673722529572301.post-62968701611586360102010-03-29T05:00:00.001-05:002010-03-29T05:00:04.018-05:00Coffee Conundrum<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:85%;" >Wrote this last week during one particularly intense headache. Couldn't think clearly enough to hit "publish post." You'll see why...</span><br /><br />Typically, coffee fits into my routine like this:<br /><br />8 - 8:30am: household is awake and getting ready for the day. We all grab breakfast. I enjoy half of my first cup of coffee <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(the other half is either enjoyed in the car later or dumped out/warmed up in the microwave because it got cold)</span></span>.<br /><br />9 - 9:30am: we drop ShankRabbit off at work and it's time for me to run errands with Peanut.<br /><br />10am - 11am: Home <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(arrival depends on what errands need to be done)</span></span>. If I do have the luxury of a second cup, it is consumed during Peanut's play time.<br /><br /><br />On the days we happen to get up later, I don't have time to make coffee before we head out the door. This pushes my coffee intake until after we get home from errands. With all the hustle and bustle of the afternoon, I don't have a chance to actually make coffee until after 1pm. At this point, the headache has already set in.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/S6wu1urtj_I/AAAAAAAAAbQ/1luYL5_k-Mk/s1600/headache.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 190px; height: 189px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/S6wu1urtj_I/AAAAAAAAAbQ/1luYL5_k-Mk/s200/headache.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452784749438144498" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is a critical moment in my decision making. Do I make a pot of coffee just to kill the headache that rocks my brain <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(subsequently drinking more than I need and go to bed later than usual)</span></span>? Do I pop some Advil and take a nap<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> (this doesn't guarantee the disappearance of the headache. It just means I don't have to deal with it for a couple hours)</span></span>?<br /><br />I haven't quite figured out what to do. And here I sit with a nasty headache and no coffee in my system. This is a <span style="font-style: italic;">baaaaad </span>time to try and make decisions.<br /><br />Do you have any ideas?<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">P.S. N<span style="font-style: italic;">o need for recommendations of Red Bull or similar substances. I can't stand the stuff.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> <br />And if you say I should switch to decaf, I'll pummel you.</span></span>Isabellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537474742419702738noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490673722529572301.post-8282284270172867672010-03-26T00:00:00.002-05:002010-03-26T00:00:00.751-05:00A....clip-and-a-miss!I've mentioned many times how I should not be allowed to handle sharp objects <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(I've mentioned this </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://alookontherandomside.blogspot.com/2009/03/fatherhood-friday-cant-touch-this.html">before</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, very briefly)</span></span>. Accident prone is quite an understatement.<br /><br />Peanut and I went outside to enjoy the beautiful weather on Monday. She took charge of the sidewalk chalk while I donned gardening gloves and went to work on our flower beds.* I wasn't sure what to clear out, so I pretty much <strike>made it look like I was being productive</strike> clipped dead plants and gently raked up leaves <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(as the new plants have already broken ground)</span></span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/S6whGWLuP3I/AAAAAAAAAbI/9FW6gFk4wck/s1600/IMG00094-20100322-1138.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/S6whGWLuP3I/AAAAAAAAAbI/9FW6gFk4wck/s320/IMG00094-20100322-1138.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452769641756508018" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Look, mama...soil. shovel. It's really not that complicated.</span></span><br /><br />I was making quick work of the dead plants with my gardening shears <span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >(inner monologue: Lalalala clip clip clip lalala hey look, I'm gardening!)</span>. I cleared up the brush and put away my tools. It wasn't until I took my gloves off that I noticed a "vent" in the thumb of one of my gloves.<br /><br />I had clipped the thumb tip right off. If it wasn't for a slightly larger pair of gloves, I'm confident there would have been blood. Lots of blood.<br /><br />For all the times a sharp object has met my finger(s), I'm thankful this one proved to be a near-miss.**<br /><br />____________<span style="font-size:78%;"><br /><br />* - the previous owners were into perennials. Score 1 for the incompetent gardener!<br />** - When telling this story to ShankRabbit (I mentioned a "funny" incident with the gardening shears), he immediately sighed and said, "now what did you do?!"<br />I tell ya, my injuries are legendary!</span>Isabellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537474742419702738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490673722529572301.post-17614252854778957992010-03-25T21:00:00.000-05:002010-03-25T21:20:56.060-05:00Census. Cultural Background. Panic.I love filling out forms. I don't know why, but any time I have the opportunity to fill one out, I jump at the chance <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(4 patient information forms, front and back, in a doctor's office? OK!)</span></span>. So imagine my glee when we received our 2010 census form.<br /><br />I was disappointed when I looked over the form. I thought there would be more to fill out than name, address, age and race of each person in my household...but that was it.<br /><br />That wasn't going to kill my buzz though. I still had a form to fill out!<br /><br />As I happily filled in information and made neat little X's in the appropriate boxes, I screeched to a halt when I reached the "race" portion in my section.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/S6vb8Nzy7MI/AAAAAAAAAa4/_7mtx53XYbA/s1600/census.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 228px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_V0QIUArpSxA/S6vb8Nzy7MI/AAAAAAAAAa4/_7mtx53XYbA/s320/census.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452693601407659202" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Such a simple question, not so simple an answer...at least for me.<br /><br />I have a very mixed background, but the main ones are Sicilian <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(at least 25%, if not more)</span></span>, African American <span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >(25%)</span> and Native American<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> (not sure exactly how much - I'm pretty sure it's not 25%, but could be close)</span></span>.<br /><br />Now I know when they say "Caucasian," this could describe Sicilian...so I was covered there. But do I make an X in the box next to African-American? And if I fill in the box next to American Indian <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(is that even a PC term?)</span></span> they ask you to name your "enrolled or principal tribe." Uh...I'm not official with a card or anything, I just know it's in my background. Do I put an X next to "other" and make up some craaaazy new name for my mixed heritage, like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_Woods">Cablinasian</a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(except, you know, with my races...so it'd be like Cablinducilian...or something)</span></span>?<br /><br />((sigh))<br /><br />So, after much deliberation, I put an X next to Caucasian and an X next to African American.<br /><br />Alright...moving on. Next up: Peanut.<br /><br />...<br /><br />Geez oh Pete! What do I put for HER?!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >(Another tense deliberation)</span><br /><br />I left her portion with just an X next to Caucasian.<br /><br />* * * * *<br /><br />I'm sure I will leave some census person confused when they read:<br /><br />Head of household: Caucasian<br />Spouse: Caucasian and African American<br />Biological child: Caucasian<br /><br /><br />Yep. That's us.Isabellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537474742419702738noreply@blogger.com1