The Bag Tag

This is the bag tag. Rules are as follows:
1. Post a picture of whatever bag you are carrying as of late. No, you can't go into your closet and pull out your favorite purse! We want to know what you carried today or the last time you left the house.
2. List how much it cost. And this is not to judge. This is for entertainment purposes only. So spill it. And if there is a story to go along with how you obtained it, we’d love to hear it.
3. Tag some chicks. And link back to this post so people know why the heck you’re showing everyone your bag.

Ahhh, so this is why I love weekends. :o) I told Carina I'd play this tag because I thought it looked like fun. Course, that was earlier this week, and with how busy it was I just didn't have time to stop to take the photos and think about the post. So, tonight, before I unloaded my camera it popped into my mind, and with a few spare minutes I took the shots.
This is my purse. I don't think there's going to be a huge surprise here, but I made it myself. I've been lugging this thing around since the summer. I originally wanted something other than black, and I didn't see anything in my fabrics that caught my eye, until I spotted some old denim jeans. I took to tearing them apart and piecing this together. It's big, floppy, and all mine. It's horribly un-fashionable, but that's why I love it. It's another portion of the tacky side of me. I love tacky things, they attract my attention. My poor Mr would give anything if I just started carrying a nice, designer bag...LOL. It doubles as a diaper bag sometimes, which is the point of it. I originally made it when I was trekkin all over town during the summer, so I could carry everything for the park, plus my essentials from my purse. I never really got rid of it once the cold weather hit. It can carry my folders (for PTO), and a diaper with the wipes, or a water bottle, and not get overloaded. I had originally intended to toss on some snaps for a closure, but decided against it.Inside of my bag you will always find these three items. My make-up bag (something I got as a free gift w/purchase 5 years ago from an order placed with Aloette), my little catch all (it holds candy for the times when things get a bit snicky in the store for the kids, hair ties, lotion, a small sewing kit, eyeglass repair kit, dental floss, and a few other small items I hate losing at the bottom of a bag), and my wallet (my Mr bought it for me last year). Also, my purse always contains a pack of excel gum, a re-useable bag (don't worry, it comes with it's own tiny pouch so it's not taking up too much space), my keys, and my cell phone. I didn't photograph those cause, well, it's a lot to take a picture of. Just so you know, there's a reason why I carry all of these items, and it's because there's been times where I've actually needed each and every item on a number of occasions while I've been out either with the kids, or by myself.

And with that in mind it's become glaringly obvious just how much I'm like my grandmother. Not that that's a bad thing, but it usually happens that way. It's kind of scary how much like her I am really...

Now, in the next little bit, with the help of my creative spurt, I will be replacing it soon, with something a bit more fashionable in style, but still eye-catching in fabric. I'll letcha know when I'm finished making it ;oD

Oh, and no tags tonight, you play if you like!

The New Cloth Storage Boxes

Ok, so this one has been on my burner for a while, in fact, I've been eying it for about a month now, and I finally put it into drive tonight with my burning need to create something.

Step By Step:

Original Idea came from Flighty Girl. I added handles to mine, and made mine bigger, as it's storage place will be underneath a side-table in my living room, and not actually on a shelf or anything.

I started by choosing the fabric (duh!) and discovered I had just enough of these both to make just two bins. I had also gone out today and purchased some heavy weight fusible interfacing. My original idea with these fabrics was to make a shirt out of them, but I decided to use them for this project instead as the beige print is more for upholstery than anything. So, I have the blue calico, the beige flower print (don't even ask how long I've had it), and the heavy weight interfacing.
My next step was figuring out how big I wanted it to be. I want something that will fit all of those annoying little toys I keep stepping on, AND the wooden train set that keeps getting underfoot. So, it had to be of a decent size. I ended up going with 16x11. Then I applied the interfacing to the wrong side of the outer fabric (the beige heavy weight stuff).
After that I folded my fabrics in half, and cut a 5 inch point on the ends to form the bottom of my box. Notice I left about a half in flat portion, it's not a perfect triangle, this is because of the way I sew it. I'm a continuous sewer, I don't like pulling out the piece, clipping the threads, and re-starting. I prefer to just keep on going, readjusting while I'm at it.
Next of course, I started stitching it together. I started with the outer fabric first so I could see how the box would look before I finish the inside. So I stitched each portion of my box together, first the outside, forming two boxes. I turned the blue portion inside out, and placed it over the beige. Now, this is where I added in my handles. I decided to sew mine together, then turn it, as it was too awkward to turn the top down while sewing, because the interfacing would have made it more difficult without actually ironing it. I hate stopping in the middle of project to do some ironing. Not that it doesn't make it more handy, but once I'm at my machine, I like to stay there until everything is complete. SO, anyways, stitch around the top, leave a hole for opening, and turn!
It turned out wonderfully, and really only took me about 2 hours. The boys thought they were pretty cool, and filled it up as soon as I explained what it was for. H even likes to carry them!

For Your Enjoyment

This took me 4:06 to complete, what's your best?

Creativity

It's rather funny sometimes, how I get these bursts. This is what gets me into trouble sometimes.
All day today I wanted to take the kids outside, but feared to do so because it was wet. Not snowy wet, but Muddy Rainy wet. I kept thinking, geez I wish I had two pairs of rain pants, then they could go muck away without a care in the world. That carried on to, I could just go and buy the fabric and make them myself, then that carried on to "No, I shouldn't waste what little cash I have on new fabric, there's got to be something around the house that I can use.
*BAM*
I remembered reading an article on Craftzine about Plastic Bag Fusing. Then I got excited. I need a new purse as well. Along that line of thought it occurred to me that in order to downsize the one I've got, I need to downsize what I carry. That lead to me needing a few new little accessory bags to go inside to make a switcheroo easier, and that lead to well, geez, I need a new make-up bag...but it needs to be spill proof.
*BAM*
Back to the Plastic Bag Fusing.
Can you guess where this is leading? Yes, that means I'm going to be hounding everyone I know for their plastic bags, to experiment with.
I've read that the plastic bag clothing that the original article featured was warm, which got me thinking about the boys wearing it. That lead to comparing it to the older rain pants I used to have D wear, and I recalled those were lined with a nice soft cotton jersey (absorbent, durable, washable & breathable). So, I believe the Rain Suit I'm going to make each of the boys, will be lined with just plain cotton, to see how it will work. Lord knows I have enough of it.
I'm also planning on making some cloth storage bins for our living room, hopefully it'll match and be a bit easier on the eyes than the plastic bins I have for the toys the boys tote around with them for the day.
The next project after that will be bed curtains for H's bottom bunk, as the boys frequently pull down the blanket from the top to make a nice dark fort. I'm just going to go with something that won't need to be pulled down, saves bonked heads, and laundry for me to do.
I seen another prject about a wall hanger that stores books that I'd love to try, but I just don't know about the walls taking it now, when we've got so little time before we're supposed to move.
Oh, and I LOVED this project that turns an entire wall into a chalkboard with just some paint! Once again though, as a renter it's just not feasable. Seariously though, watch out mom & kim, cause you know what we're tryin when we move back!!
I also wanted to start making some new pants for H. Sure, we've gone out and bought a bunch since he's outgrown the size 2 pants, but I do recall D running around in a fair few pairs of pants that I had proudly made for his wardrobe as well in his day. As he got older it faded cause it wasn't quite as cool, as well as it's usually cheaper here in the states to just buy, but dang it I need to get H started in this trend.
What I need to buy in the near future for these projects?
Some elastics for waistbands, and some parchment paper for the Plastic Fusing Proccess.
How long do you think it'll take me to burn this spark out?

Friends Award

*gasp* they do exist!
(picture the M&M's Christmas commercial....*snicker*)
Kitten @ The Bookkitten has nominated me for this fabulous Friends award! Yay! Now I do need to mention that even though I did notice she had gotten it, I somehow managed to let it slip my mind, and I didn't congratulate her on getting it to begin with (not very friend-like of me), so WTG! lol
Sorry it was so long in the posting, but it takes time to think these things through, ya know?

Here's what this award is all about:

These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

1. Carina - I found her blog-hopping a while back, and had forgotten about her site until she popped up in a respond comment on my site. That's when I perked up a bit and started heading over there regularly. It's good to have a girly friend who isn't submerged in Motherhood, it's a nice reminder to pay attention to who I am and what I want, as a woman, not a mother or wife.

2. Janet - She broke my meme cherry ;oD (Oh so crude, I know) LOL I happened onto her blog from a surfing the photos on Vox, and when I visited her Vox blog I noticed a link to her main blog. I loved layout, and as I kept reading I becamse addicted to What Is It Wednesday, and Friday Fill-Ins. She takes some really great photos of everyday things that I don't even think of looking at twice. A new perspective is always nice to see.

3. 4streegrrl - I hopped over there one day because I say her name on Friday Fill_ins, and once i seen she was from my home province, well, it just kept drawing me back. I admire her athleticism (read:she can make it to the gym), I also appreciate that though we have some of the same views on things, it's ok to not go to any degree that I'm not comfortable with. I've met plenty of people who think like I do over the years, but take it so seriously that I won't ever meet up to their criteria, leaving me wondering why.

4. Chester Field - I hopped over there on the recommendation of sweetcopswife one day, and was hooked from the get go. He does some fantastic writing, of which I'm envious. I have no imagination what-so-ever when it comes to erotica, and lack any ability to be creative with it at all. He's given me an insight into the horn-dogs that are men (though not all of them) :oD

5. Diamond - it's always nice view other perspectives on parenting, marriage, and work. There really aren't a whole lot of sites that I visit just because of the parenting, each one I go to contains a certain amount of the person who's responsible for writing it, and a certain amount about being a parent. I really admire the balance, and that's why I go there.

6. Billy Rhythym - I started reading here because the name caught my eye. I love his kids, they're absolutely adorable. He also shows a great perspective of marriage from a mans point of view, and it's damned near poetic. I really admire the balance of family, work, leisure, and faith that he has integrated in his life.

That's where I'm going to cut my list short. I have to admit I admire all of those who frequent my blog, that's why I'm always there! I comment as much as I possibly can, and I really appreciate those of you who pop on over every once and a while as well. So, if I missed you, please take this one home with you tonight :o)

Friday Fill-Ins #113

1. I'm not filipino, I'm not Spanish or Mexican, I am Native American, Aboriginal, an American Indian, and a beautiful one at that.

2. Why do I have two boys and not one boy and one girl?. Now I'm going to be forced to try for another girl ;oD

3. How does this Immigration thing work, anyway?

4. Every morning, I put toothpaste on my toothbrush and brush my teeth.

5. I consider myself lucky because not everyone has as much time to volunteer as I do, and make a difference in the world.

6. One day we’ll see a greater number of people who care what they're doing to the globe as a whole, and then it'll be really fun to watch them work together to do something about it.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Our Whole Lives, tomorrow my plans include possibly getting together with my committee to do some Raffle Prize Bundling and Sunday, I want to make it a new habit to hit the service at the church (this'll be week 3)!

Confession

Today was busy. I did my regular morning meme, and then without warning the day got under way. Spent many an hour in the kitchen, cooking a crazy amount of Spaghetti for tonight's potluck for the Blue & Gold at Cub Scouts. I'm not kidding when I say crazy amount. Seriously, three big boxes of Spaghetti noodles, and four pounds of ground beef, along with two packages of mushrooms, a full two bulbs of Garlic, a rib of celery, and about 4 green peppers. Two full crock pots of sauce, and two full roasting pans of noodles later, we had dinner for what looked an army. Seriously, when they tell me to make enough for a main dish for everyone, I take it literally. Really though, there did turn out to be a number of people thinkin simple as well, as a pasta & tomato dish was quite popular, and I did end up coming back home with half. Thank goodness for the freezer space.
I'm disappointed in my behavior tonight. I was frazzled, and I let it show a whole lot more than I intended. It wasn't just the preparation that I put into it, making the videos, slide shows, food, pressing clothing, packing bags of things that will be needed, it was a whole lot more. I snapped at my husband a whole lot more than I wanted, and I just didn't put my best foot forward to cheer D on. I feel terrible in the aftermath.
Besides though, I'm tired, and I could be making more out of it than I should, but there's a load sitting on my plate that feels like I should shovel it down, but I don't know where to start.
The movie had a good reception, even though it was mainly by the tables sitting closest to the projector and the TV it needed to be hooked up to for sound. We couldn't hear it in the back, but I heard a lot of good feedback making my way around the room when it was on. The Cub Master has asked that I make one for the end of the Cub Scout year (end of school year time) to sell to parents as a memento. Not a bad idea.
I had headed out yesterday with the Mr to go to do some errands at the bank, and one of them was to add me on to his account so I don't require his presence each time I want to go shopping (we don't carry cash because we're not good at controlling the spending with it, so we use Debit cards only to curb spontaneous spending), but the bank won't allow me to be added because I don't have an Ohio Driver's License, or a Canadian Passport. Yet another way I'm an invalid in this country. I don't even count for a bank card.
D had a dentist appointment today with a new dentist, and the news wasn't good. That alone makes me feel like crying...but more on that topic to come once the Mr and I discuss it further, cause I just didn't have time to absorb it while in the midst of preparations for this eve.
H has a cavity in one of his teeth. I spotted it this eve, and I actually did start crying. Once again, I blame my lack of energy.
Tomorrow night marks the second session of Our Whole Lives, and it will be the Parent/Child Orientation. Hopefully D will be open to the reception of this new information.
Need to find a babysitter for Thursday night's Cub Scout meetings, and especially the once a month Pack Meetings, cause this eve was rough with him there. It's getting harder for me to find things to entertain him when the focus is supposed to be on D, and I don't like D loosing what "positive" attention we do place on him these days.
I feel hopeless, and like I've lost what little control I hold over my life. Stupid whip lash, allergy outbreak, loss of my ability to drive, and an even more glaring view of just how much I don't matter to this country (despite my best efforts to do things the legal way), and an overwhelming feeling of guilt that my children's oral hygene isn't what it should be...and I think I may just cry myself to sleep tonight.
I think it's time to take a time out here, and find a bit of respite to gather myself back together...find my happy place, and rebuild myself so I can move on out of this dreary rut I feel like I'm in. Maybe tomorrow I'll steal that plan I gave to Jack about making my very own Tropical Get-Away here at home. I know, I'll fill the baby pool in the garage (it does, after all, have a drain), toss in the space heater so it doesn't seem so cold, find some relaxing music, and have a fun filled day with the boys. Since there's no school tomorrow, I think it sounds like a good dose of medicine. I need to find that reason to smile, and not focus so much on feeling sorry for myself, cause even I think it's getting a bit redudant. Pull yourself together. Move on, cause time stops for no one, and why should I continue wasting my time moping when I have the power to fix the things that wrong, improve and find new information to empower our family to move in the right direction.
And on that note, I leave you with the picture of my day.

Thursday Thunks

This week we will answer some crazy questions brought to you by Berleen, the color white and the number 1734.

1. What kind of dryer sheets do you use? Ahh, I use a combo of Anti-Static Dryer Balls (I got them for my birfday!!), and a generic dryer sheet every now and then. Whatever scent tickles my fancy the day I buy it. Oh, and I always buy the largest box they have.

2. How many times a week do you eat out/order in? Maybe once for sure. We always go out for dinner on Wednesday eve's after D is finished with his Ice Skating lesson, otherwise any other time is a spontaneous thing on the spur of the moment.

3. What did you do the night of your high school graduation? I didn't graduate. I dropped out in the 9th grade. I did go back to school until I was in the 11th but by then I was much too mature to put up with the retarded antics & politics of high school, so I ended up earning my GED after I had D.

4. So Octomom is rumored to have been offered a million bucks to do a porno. Would you do it for a million? Hahaha, I would only do it if they were paying my Mr & I to do it together, oh, and we'd both need that cool million each. Hey, we're hot, we're worth it, and I know we'd have an instant best seller.

5. If your child was born with an extra finger or toe, would you have it surgically removed? I dunno. I think maybe I'd let the child grow with it until they can make their own decision. Like, Hey son, we'd like to ask you if that extra finger is really helpful or not. That would be a good heart to heart....

6. What was the last movie you saw? Ummm...if you're talkin theaters NO Clue, I think myabe the Dark Knight, or Igor. If you're talking here at home it was the DVD my fellow Cub Scout Mom brought over of the videos I'd made for the Pinewood Derby & The BSA Experience. She brought them over for me to preview lastnight and to pick up the last slideshow I'd made, and while we were chatting H kept replaying the movies, and so we ended up watching them at least 6 times (It was 10 mins total for the movies to play through each time)

7. I wanna buy you a dozen roses, what color should they be? Yellow, or that combo of orange-ish & yellow.

8. You are walking across the street, you are not quite half way when a speeding car comes... you have to run to get out of its way, which direction do you run? Back the way I came cause my kids are usually right behind me so I'm busy pushing them out of the way and simultaneously flipping the driver off.

9. Tell us about a time when you were invited over somewhere and had the most awful time. I think I may need to plead the fifth here as well, as I'm sure the times that this may have happened, the people who invited me, read my blog. Suffice to say that the times this has happened, I've bit my tongue and made changes for the next time I knew it would happen again. Though I can tell you stories about infested homes, and my children being invited over all the time. Fleas, bugs, spiders, you name it. It was infested, and I was forced to sit on the broken couch, but after a few minutes of that I suggested that I play along with the kids outside, thankfully the weather was decent.

10. You open your front door and there is a box with a puppy in it... what do you do? Well, I don't keep it, I play with it for a bit, then head to the Humane Society. We aren't allowed pets here, unfortunately. Maybe when we move back to BC I'd be more likely to keep it. I am a dog person, after all.

I'm Average :o)

48 As a 1930s wife, I am Average Take the test!

That's My Boy

Received a request via Flickr to use this image, one of my fav shots of Hunter from last year, to use the image to make a poster for a Non-Profit fund raising event poster. I was thrilled that someone found my photo poster-worthy, and that they agreed with his pose, and what it said to me. Yep, I'm proud.

As IF they won't get more ticket sales cause my kid is so cute, and the image says it all! Go Hunter, putting your feet inthe right direction for humanity before you can communicate clearly, That's My Boy!

Jump For Heart & Our Whole Lives

Well here we are, smack dab in the middle of the week.
I'm taking my prescriptions, and am watching my rash disappear slowly It left my arms first, but my legs, boy, the rash was so bad that it hardly left any place untouched, so I suspect it may take until the full round of drugs are over. Bummer.
I was still pretty sore yesterday. Usually I have a splurge of about 2-3 posts per day about random things floating through my head, but I've been rather tired, groggy, and just plain worn out with all of this rash business. I'm hating living in a 3 story home right now, the stairs are just killing me!
My Mr was kinda enough to help me do some phone updating with my cell this morning, as he was trying to re-activate his because the Blackberries are just too much for a monthly cost when we're trying to save, he switched back to the prepaid like mine. I now have unlimited texts to other Verizon members, which is nice. I don't always text, but I'd use the phone more if I did. Really I only use it to phone my MIL & Home, if I happen to be out, so texting would be more beneficial.
I visited the school yesterday to do my regular morning reading, and then visited D for lunch. I also decided to go back about an hour later to snap a few shots of the kids because they were doing their "Jump For Heart" Day in gym class. Oh my, what a colorful group of characters they all prove to be in gym class...made for a bunch of terrific photos.
Now, out of all the events I've photographed at the school, I've chosen my top ten (or as close as I can get to) pictures out of each set, and have been passing them on to the lady who's in Charge of the Yearbook. Apparently she's a photographer and is actually doing the entire thing herself. She's working on the layout, she's working with the Company who builds them, and she's responsible for getting each and every one perfect. I'm just glad I can help her out here, but I've had to've sent her in the 200-region of pictures. I felt bad that I was sending so many, but she did respond and say thanks you, so I just kept sending them. The only thing she couldn't do for the yearbook stuff, was come out and take pictures herself. I'm happy to help out, as we all know by now, in any way I can.
I started a new program through our Church on Friday eve called Our Whole Lives. I'm happy to be in it, as I want the best for my boys, and I find it easiest to inform myself as much as possible on every subject I'm passionate about. While Friday night was their first meeting and parent orientation, I also had an opportunity to check out a small bit of their library associated with the program that was available through the regular Church library. I got this book called "No More Secrets for Me" by Oralee Wachter, and was floored by the depth of the book. It's not that it wasn't child appropriate, but it really just hits so close to home for me that I had a hard time reading it aloud to D without suffering some horrible side effects. Dry mouth, heart pounding, quickened pulse, fear, and I'm sure I paled a few colors. My heart almost broke with how much I wanted to reach out to my child and let him know that I just don't want what happened to me, to happen to him. In any event, we made it through the book, and did our discussion of what it means to own your body, and how to protect it. God my boy makes me proud. I wonder if I'm not pushing the subject too much. Oh well, I guess all will come out eventually. In any event, I'm really looking forward to both my Mr and I attending (albiet alternately) this course that teaches age appropriate ways to talk to your children about sexuality, their bodies, and how to make responsible decisions based on these topics.
Anyways, I need to get on with my day, I've got another couple of posts in the works that I'll toss up later, but for now, this is enough off my mind to let me move about my day :o)

This Is: My Favorite Person

Carina @ a Blogette has a wonderful still new meme on Tuesday's called This Is:. Each week someone who participates helps choose the topic for next week, and so on. So, here's my post :o)
Wow, I have to admit that this week was a rather tough pick for me, so many people to choose from, so little blog space ;oD My list of runners up is so close...my mummie, my aunt pokie, Hunter, or Darius. I've got a small group of folk who are near and dear to my heart who would greatly devastate me should they disappear from my life. I know I can call any of these people at any time of day or night and they will always answer my call, and do their best to answer my questions (it helps right now that I have a three hour lead on them) and give me their support.
So, anyways, this week I chose my Mr!! Yes, he completes me. LOL
Seriously though. I'm an uptight, by the rules, commedable kinda gal, he's the one who convinces me to bend the rules once and a while, or occasionally ignore the dire straights that we seem to find ourselves in, and have a little fun. He's goofy, and brainy, all at the same time. He's wicked smart when it comes to remembering random facts (Any Almanac or Guiness Book Of Records could possibly be considered his bible), is very knowledgeable about weather (He's a certified Weather Watcher), and illnesses, and he even has a bachelor's in Psychology. He's got a great sense of humor that sometimes catches me offgaurd, and makes me giggle until I have tears rolling down my cheeks. I always joke that if the world only knew what he was really like behind closed doors, he wouldn't be loved nearly as much, but I honestly think they'd love him more if they saw him the way I do. There's been many times where we've had rough waters. Honestly, we built our relationship from literally being strangers to being married with a child, so it was expected. After all of it though, I still chose to stick with him, and was greatly rewarded because of it. I always saw that there was a great potential within him to be an amazing human being, all I needed to do was wait until it showed it's head, and maybe even mold it a little bit. So, even though we did some pretty crappy things to each other, we have so much more to show for it. I finally know how a functioning marriage is supposed to work. It's happy, sad, frustrating, but we're always able to work it out because we can communicate our needs with each other. Sure, there's things we need to work on, but we have the rest of our lives to do that, why rush?

The Strangest Thing...

Yesterday my MIL & other family members tried their hardest to alleviate my Cabin Fever & frustration, which was very nice. I managed a quick trip to the hardware store (which was useless cause they didn't have the part I was looking for, which confused me because they sold the original big contraption to me), and a stop in at the Ice Cream shop. My first time in a Coldstone...yum. I've had it before (the Mr stops by and buys some for me sometimes), but have never actually been inside one. It was yummy.
Later in the evening, I discovered a red splotch on my arm, and didn't really think anything of it (other than to note it) because I had been snuggling with a snoozing H on my lap.
This morning I woke up, woke up D, and hopped into the shower while he got himself ready. I crawled out, and while drying off, I notice this...on my legs.
So, I kinda started freaking out. I came downstairs, where it was nice a bright (I have my bedroom and the boys' bedroom blacked out so we can sleep better), and saw it went all the way down to my feet. I had no trouble breathing, and it wasn't itchy, so WTF?!?!
Well, a calmly placed phone call (I made the Mr do it cause I was having a tough time keeping calm) to the MIL brought her over ASAP so she could watch H while the Mr took me to the Dr. Obviously, it was an allergic reaction to something, but I have no clue what it was. I had filled a prescrip from my last visit (Thurs, I believe) from them, but I'm the type who fills them out in case I need them, and usually end up leaving them on the shelf. No new foods, no new detergents, the only new thing in the house that I could think of, was our new Range Hood, and the clothing we bought from Goodwill yesterday. Frack. So, I filled the prescrip, and took my first round, then took H for his nap. BIG mistake. Weird F*in dreams man, I won't be doing that again.
Apparently, it'll get rid of the rash after x amount of days, but I won't have any clue what gave me the damned rash to begin with. Oh Well, at least I know I'm not going to die.
Did I mention I'm as sore as if I ran a marathon?! It's crazy!! My knees, hips, joints, arms and forearms are all achy, and I feel just plain tired. Talk about yuck. I hope it passes quickly.

I'm Entitled Every Once & A While

Remember the other day when I said I hurt my neck? I was in such horrendous pain that night, and decided I should see the Dr the next morning. I swear, I thought maybe that I had sprained it or something. I went to see the Dr, and he said it was a neck strain (equivalent to whip lash). He gave me the prescrip and said it could take nearly a month to heal properly before the pain goes away. Joy. Can you imagine a month's worth of headaches because of one silly incident?? *rolls eyes* I swear I need to lay off, really.
While I was at the Dr's, I asked him to check out a lump. About a week ago I discovered a lump at the base of my hairline, small, hard, and very defined. As the ppl I had asked to check it out had trouble even finding it without actually feeling it, I decided to get it checked out. Now, I wasn't panicking too much, because I recall that when I was really young my mother used to get cysts rather frequently in the strangest places. Of course, after talking to the Dr, he informed me that's what it was, a simple small cyst. Thank goodness.
I'm rather frustrated today. I hate not being able to drive myself anyplace. I'm completely reliant on other people, and it sucks. My Mr has refused to drive me places for other reasons, and I've decided not to go places because I can't drive, as well having gotten stuck out because of the person I'm with. I cringe when I think about having to do my monthly shopping now. I would love it if cabs came with a frequent rider card, cause that's where I'd be at, given the choice. Did I mention that even when I do go out, it's required that we load up both of the kids just for me to do so?? Yup, you read that right, even if I wanted to go by myself (which is no longer an option of course), I can't go anyplace without the carload dragging me out.
All of this makes me want to scream. I want to scream, and stop, and throw myself on the floor. I want to so badly to yell at this outrageousness. There are other idiots out there who are here illegally, and they have all the benefits of a free person. Here I am, bound to my house, and my family. I can't work, drive, get covered for health benefits, or even do anything that requires a SSN#. I've had difficult times getting memberships at places because I don't have one. I don't matter here. At all.
I am not a free person.
And people question why I hate it here so much. Yes, you read that right. Even though I try my hardest not to waste energy on this emotion, this is one area where I cannot help myself. I've had nothing but negative stuff happen here (besides the birth of D of course), and I just can't seem to convince myself that I shouldn't have hate for this place. That silver lining is very difficult for me to find. I am only human.
I have to say that it's not often that I dwell on the negative, but I admit now that since I had that privelige revoked I'm having an extremely difficult time staying positive.
I feel like a mrtyr in this instance, though it hardly qualifies on the worldly scale as suffering, and it is rather pathetic.
June can not come fast enough.
Earlier this week, my Mr came home and said "We're having people over on Friday". No consulting, he told me. Now, because he's my husband he's entitled to a few blunders, but when I'm not feeling so hot (and I try not to complain out loud about any pain I'm in), and he says something like that to me, I really try to dig down deep for my patience.
"No dear, I don't feel up to company this week". I refused to cook, and I refused to clean (for this get together), and I did a fairly good job of it, until I got hungry.
Yes, we ended up having people over, and yes I got a giggle out of it, but the point was, was I didn't want company at all. I did hide out with the kids though, so that was ok. Sometimes I have a really difficult time gettimg my message accross though, and I really need to work on that. My ability to say "NO" to my Mr for anything is greatly diminished. I'm disappointed in myself for that. Seriously, where the fuck is my backbone, and why the fuck is it so hard to grow when I'm obviously not feeling well?
So, after all is said and done, it's raining today (instead of snowing) and I know exactly how the weather feels. I just want to curl up someplace, and pretend that I don't exist. Bury myself in a book, or a great movie, or hell, I'd even settle for a nap (another one).
I'm feeling rather apathetic. I'm feeling angry. I'm feeling lost. Someone, please find me. I need to be rescued.
I'm bummed out.

Randomness For The Week

Our Range Hood over our stove is in need of replacement. I noticed the other day, while I was stirring something that I had on the burner, that a large thing fell into my food. Upon fishing it out, I found it was white and just a flake. When I looked up I discovered the paint had been peeling (and was indeed almost gone) from the stupid Range, and falling directly into my food. Being a parent, I cook all my food on the back burners if I can help it, and wouldn't you know it, the damned paint was falling off the back especially. F***.
Panic sets in..."Honey, do you think house ever contained lead paint?!"
"No, I don't believe so, it was built in the 70's, so I think it's too new."
*phew*
So, after a phone call to the landlord, he instructs us to buy a new one and install, then send him the receipt for reimbursement. Again. He did the same crap with the garage door. Yeah...I have enough money laying around to replace a garage door anytime I want to.
Anyhow, the MIL was kind enough to buy one, and after the Mr peeked in the box, he decided to wait until he had more manly help to install it.

Hunter likes the color green. So much so that he doesn't care for eating off of any other color plate, or bowl, and drinking out of any other color cup, and don't forget the utensils! Guess who's been hand washing everything after meals?? lol

I made an order at Shutterfly (finally) this past week, and am now anxiously awaiting it's arrival. Gosh, I'd better get my photo albums ready! I ordered 360 pictures, a personalized (read: I Made It) 12 Month Calendar, and some note cards. I can't wait to see them. I'll probably be doing some scrapbooking with the stuff as well, and maybe I'll even get D to join me as he probably needs to do some work on his Cub Scout Scrapbook. Hmm...

I'm planning on making my very own mini Mardi Gras Parade Float for the school's PTO's Display Case, as they've got it decorated now. It's missing something more in-depth, and I've volunteered to make it. See, now why can't someone snag hold of my tongue one of these days and stop me? :o)

Mardi Gras ticket sales have begun for the school, and I've started bundling everything we've recieved for donations so far, and I'm hoping it won't be so many that I'll be on stage forever announcing winners.

Hunter has also discovered the joy of puzzles! He's currently hoarding this 15 piece Scooby Doo puzzle that he just loves. I've glues, and taped it pieces many times since he discovered it in a box. I'm thinking I may need to start another collection of puzzles.

Read today that there's going to be a Blog Her conference in Chicago in July. Oh I so badly want to go (even though I'm not a part of Blog Her, I know/read many folk who are), so I could get an opportunity to meet some of my blogging friends in R/L. *sigh* Alas, I'm leaving in June, so it's much too late for me. Besides, I can't stand Chicago...

Next week is the Blue & Gold ceremony for the Scouts, and our den is doing the flag presentation, and closing. We've also been selected for the Main Dishes for the Pot Luck that eve. We've been practicing at the last two Den Meetings, and I'm fairly confident the boys know what to expect, and what they're doing. In any event, the movies I've been working on? They'll be shown at this event, during the dinner. Did I mention Darius will be promoted? Yup, he gets his next badge at the ceremony. Yay!

If you didn't already read below, I've passed the wonderful milestone of 1000 posts on my blog. I included my old header picture in there just for kicks.
I'd love to go out to a movie tonight, but the theaters round here really aren't playing anything except Hotel for Dogs, and I don't think Hunter would really enjoy it. I'd love to go see Revolutionary Road, but alas, I may just need to console myself with some rented movies, a big bowl of popcorn, and some super fun snuggles & giggles with the two most handsome boys on the planet.

Friday Fill-Ins #112

1-3 are courtesy of Mar this week.

And...here we go!

1. Give me 20minutes and I'll shower & get dressed.

2. Whenever , Wherever. We'll learn to be together. I'll be there and you'll be near, and that's the deal my dear. (Shakira Whenever, Wherever)

3. I wish I could get more sleep, but then I'd miss everything.

4. A Hamburger with onions, lettuce, tomato, cheese, ketchup, mayo, and peppercorn bacon was the last thing I ate that was utterly delicious.

5. To live in this world you need hope.

6. Other than this one, Fond of Snape is the last blog I commented on.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to movie night with my boys, tomorrow my plans include hitting a Birthday party with D and Sunday, I want to make it to service for the second week in a row!

You Saw It Here First!

That's right. This is my 1000th post of my blogging career. I've been around on the blog-o-sphere a while now, just look at the first date on my archives, but this is a milestone I know I won't be likely to forget. I'd offer a prize, but I actually can't think of anything that my blog followers would want (which is truly a surprise to me) bad enough to become a pack of, well, you get the idea. Any ideas? ;o)
In any event, life will go on, and though I'd like to think it can't get any better than this, I know no matter what I'll be blogging about it.

Thursday Thunks

1. What brand & flavor of toothpaste do you use? I'm an Aquafresh kinda gal.

2. What is your earliest memory? getting a frisbee to the face at the park in my birthtown. Actually, a lot of my early memories revolve around this park. Hmm....

3. Hot Dogs or Hamburgers? Hamburgers with mushrooms, mayo, mustard, ketchup, onions, green onions, American cheese, and a crazy amount of bacon. Or no! SMOKIES!!!

4. If you could bring any one famous person back to life, who would it be? Marilyn Monroe

5. What is one thing we would always find in your fridge... what one thing would we never find? Rice Milk, and Lobster.

6. Did you have to go and look for the answer of #1? nope

7. What don't watermelons grow on trees? Cause they'd hafta be some damned big trees to hold a watermelon up. Can you imagine what would happen if there was a windstorm when it's in full season?! They'd knock someone out if they came flying off of it!! Sure wouldn't want a Watermelon tree close to my house! God was thinkin when he made them grow on the ground.

8. What is something that you own that you should probably just throw in the trash, but you never will? My clothes. Haha. Seriously, I have about a quarter of my wardrobe in a bunch of smaller sizes and I refuse tot hrow them out because they don't fit. I keep them cause I tell myself I'm going to fit them someday, but they'll be out of fashion before that happens. As well there are a selesct few items that I keep to turn into patterns.

9. I push you into a room and lock the door. I leave you there for 6 hours. The walls are chalkboards and in the middle of the room there is a box of colored chalk. What will be written/drawn on the walls when I let you out? Swirlies and little Quincy's. WTF kinda cruel person are you?? Is there music playing? Do you feed me? Can I take a restroom break??

10. When was the last time you changed the oil on your car?
Don't recall, but the Mr takes it in every so often, so it couldn'tve been too long ago.

11. In your extended family, who has been married the longest? Extended family?? What's that? Everyone in my family is close! Ok, I'd have to say Ali & Terry, only cause they came to mind first. My Great Aunt and her husband.
Could be any one of my great aunts or uncles, really.

12. Name one thing that is so normal to you now that someone who was your age 50 years ago would think was abnormal. Talking about sex openly with anyone who wants to converse the subject with me.

13. Have you ever wanted someone or something so bad that it hurt? Have you ever been pregnant?!

14. What do you dip your french fries in? nothing, usually, I just eat them for the salt content.
15. What was the last picture that you took? My legs.
Speaking of pictures, who's the creepy guy in the B&W that came with this post?!

Look What I Got!

Diamond @ My Pretty Pink Blogette, and Aimie @ My Favorite Munchkins saw fit to bestow me this amazing award. I feel very honored, and special, and all warm and gooey inside. Thanks ladies, I needed a pick me up!

1) Admit that ONE thing you feel awful about involving being a mom. Get it off your shoulders. Once you've written it down, you are NO LONGER allowed to feel bad. It's over with, it's in the past. Remember, you're a good mom!
2)To remind yourself that you ARE a good mom, list SEVEN things you love about your kids, you love doing with your kids, or that your kids love about you. These are the things to remind yourself of EVERY DAY that you rock!
3)Send this to FIVE other Moms of the Year that deserve forgiveness and a reminder that they, too, are the best moms they can be!!! Remember to send them a note to let them know you've selected them, and add a link to the person who nominated you!"

1. I despise having to explain to my kids our rules about being generous (donating things that we're lucky to have), different (we don't let our kids drink pop etc), and sometimes being the odd members out (it's always been a difficult road to manage friends for us & the kids). I've always felt guilty that D didn't have more playmates around, or over as often as you see in sitcoms & the like. I've felt even worse about the fact that most of his friends, are our adult friends and he's perfectly content with that...

The 7 things I love most about my kids are:
1. I love that Darius always rushes to make someone feel better when they are feeling bad, and that he's the first to apologize in any accidental situation.
2. I love that I can get multiple hugs & smoochies from my boys whenever I request them, and that they offer them to me when I'm not feeling 100%
3. I love that my boys use their manners in public (most of the time).
4. I'm very proud that D has taken an interest in Ice Skating, it's a requirement to consider yourself Canadian.
5. I'm very proud that I'm raising a reader, and fostering an amazing imagination that can make me giggle at the worst of times.
6. I love that my children are opening doors to get closer to my parents, and in-laws, and any other relatives who have kids.
7. I makes my life worthwhile knowing that my children love me unconditionally.

The five lucky moms to recieve this award from me are:
1. Deb @ Through Thick N Thin - you know you've earned it!
2. Berleen @ A Straight Jacket & A Padded Room - cause you're doing a pretty good job surviving your demons so far, a little boost would help you along nicely ;o)
3. Ragtop Day - cause she's an amazing parent with terrific ideas
4. only a movie - cause you know she works hard
5. Jack @ slightly off-center - her kids made it to their teens (and adulthood!), you know she's doing something right.

I hurt my neck last night. I'm hobbling round today. I need one of those damned foam braces to keep my neck in the proper place today
.
Was nice, I got a package from my mummie yesterday. I rifled through it, then promptly phoned her to ask for more. Ahh, the life of an only child.

The words that are running through my head today are...
I feel different, like an abomination, like I just don't fit. I got a mental slap in the face, and I'm still trying to wrap my brain around it, because I just don't want to believe it.
It's a dangerous game I play, I get close and bloom. I tread that wary ground and suffer when I know you can't follow.
I always feel foolish, useless, dirty, and just plain dumb in the end.
I'm going to go and lick my wounds, dry my eyes, hope you don't notice, and gather myself back together so you don't see what a broken mess that slap left me.

This Is: My Favorite Show

Carina's new Meme This Is Tuesday, had the theme of Fav TV Show this week, I don't usually get to watch TV very often, at least...un-interrupted tv. Parents, you know what I mean. I used to love House, CSI, and the Law & Order shows, but since we down-sized to just a one-family household I don't watch much of anything besides PBS Sprout with my lil ones.
I recently found a show on late enough for me to watch without kid interruption called Ghost Hunters. I found it back in October, honestly, before Halloween, but forgot what night it was on until I spotted it again in the beginning of the new year. Now, I watch it every wednesday evening, from 9:30-12. It's funny, and interesting. I like looking at the places they visit, and the Mr enjoyes doing a search for them on the internet to give me more background info on the buildings. I don't neccesarily believe in ghosts, or believe that they are finding proof of it, I just think it's a fun show to watch. (Not like that one ghost show on Bravo or maybe it's the travel channel...the guy swears frequently and they do dumb things without respect. They also seem real unprofessional.)

Pinewood Derby Video

Ahhh, ok, so I worked hard on it last night and today, and I finally selected my songs. I even found some new ways to work with the program...and I'm quite enjoying this! I still have one more movie to make, but thankfully it's just selecting a song to make to go with the picture slide show. Honestly, I just don't want to wait until the last minute to have it done, so I'm pushing to have it done now.

Give My Eyes A Break

I feel all grainy...I need Visine!
LOL
MIL was kind enough to take both kids for the night last night, leaving me with some un-expected time to myself. So, being the enthusiast that I am I pounced on those videos I've been meaning to edit. 2 hours and 17 videos clips later, I have my movie, and now I'm stuck on what song I want for the background. The video is all the clips I have from the Tiger Cub portion of the Pinewood Derby a few weeks ago (picture little wooden cars on a short track), and the first song that popped into my head to use was "Blaze of Glory" by Bon Jovi, but when I pieced it together I couldn't stop giggling at how climactic the song seemed to be with the video. So, I phoned everyone I knew and asked for their opinions of racing songs that I might use for a 5min 30sec video. I was advised to search IMDB by Pokie, and whenI did I ended up d/l-ing the theme song to Knight Rider. Now, I like the intro of it, and it's 1 min and some odd secs long, but I need a second song to go with. My friend suggested Gasoline by Audioslave, but the Mr thinks it's too hard. My Step-dad suggested I use Radar Love, and I haven't d/l-ed it yet to see how it fits, but I will by this eve. My other friend suggested I just blend it in with my original pick of Blaze of Glory. I dunno...*sigh* The world seems to have so much more pressure when you know there's going to be an audience sharing an opinion of your work with you. LOL I'm also a perfectionsit, dammit.
I'm just glad the hardest part is over and done with.
Now, I'm working on ordering prints from the last few months' worth of pictures from Shutterfly. This company must love me! I'm just glad they have pre-paid order plans or I'd never get any prints done. In any event I'm looking at an order of 350, plus a few that I'm getting double of. Ca-Razy!

I Made It

I am trying so very hard to get to that 1000 mark that it's nearly killing me. Currently my computer has my attention. I made my Mr take me shopping the other day. I had been surfing the craftzine sites and world, and was inspired. Of course, it was the day of the V-day party at the school and I felt like I had nothing to wear. Literally all the clothing I had have been in my dresser/closet for over a year, and none of it was really pink or red. So, off we went. I decided that I wanted to try a few recycling ideas from the sites I had seen, so I dragged him to Goodwill, to discover they're changing locations (I knew that, I just didn't know when they would be changing), and everything in their old store was going up for sale, and they were currently selling all their adult clothing for 99 cents. Score! So, I randomly picked out shirts & pants not because I knew they would fit, but because I felt ok with tearing them apart and turning them into something else. And because I like the print or fabric. Made it to the party in something I found in the bottom of my dresser after all (imagine that), but kept everything I bought out with ideas fresh in my mind.
Though it was painful I sat down yesterday and tore a few things apart. I didn't think to take before pictures...sad.
So, I started with the fabric for the shirt, cut it out to get ready to go, then took apart a pair of pink silk pants that I found, and decided I'd turn it into a skirt to match the shirt. Now, knowing that the pants were a few sizes too small gave me the advantage of adding a bit of the shirt into the skirt to make it fit, which is always fun.
After working on this, I had a go at the plaid skirt and white silky blouse I had gotten. Both rather gaudy on their own, but together....I'm considering edging the sleeves in the plaid as well, but I dunno if I care for quite that much. It's not quite fitting the way I want it to, so I'm also considering some darts in the front and back, or possibly a tie on the side or even making a matching elastisized belt. I dunno...plaid is a difficult thing for me to work with. Even though I love the look of it, it's difficult to find something in plaid that looks good on a size 14 body without it being fitted, and I may just tear it apart again to do so.
I also decided to use this white mock two piece and turn it into my fav patriotic Item. It took me a bit to even cut out the damned leaf, but I did manage it...now I'm thinkin i may just start attaching it everywhere! I'm gonna go leaf crazy...why? Cause Canada kicks ass. *ahem* ANYways. It's crooked, I discovered after I put it on...*shrug* oh well, that won't stop me from wearing it. I still have a few items I can't decide what to do with, but I'll letcha know when I'm done.

Movie List for 2009

Carina did a post about a few movies she'd seen over the last while, and it reminded me it was time to do a post about movies I'm excited about this year. Here's my list. Now, I may not be able to get out to see all of them, but I know there are a small handful that I will not miss in the theater.

The Horsemen - I'm looking forward to this movie, mainly because I love movies with biblical themes.

The Race To Witch Mountain - I used to watch the original multiple times with my Gramma when I was a kid, and I love Dwayne Johnson

I Love You Man - A glimpse into how my Mr works ;o)

Earth - We're headed to the theater to see this with D's school. I'm looking forward to it

Mutant Chronicles - I watched this online a while back, and it was crazy cheesy. I'm looking forward to watching it on the big screen.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine - *drool* Hugh Jackman...need I say more?

Angels & Demons - The 2nd installment after The DaVinci Code. Sounds like a great storyline

Terminator Salvation - I'm a Terminator addict, and I'm anxious to see if Christian Bale has what it takes to play a Connor.

Downloading Nancy - Oooh, the drama...I'm interested in movies that tell about lives of others. Even if they are fictional, I love to compare them to my own, or put myself in their situation.

Land of the Lost - I'm finding more and more that I'm a sucker for Will Farrel movies. It was an acquired taste that developed after my Mr forcing me to watch Blades of Glory multiple times (until I know the movie word for word), and Step Brothers. He makes me giggle and cringe.

The Hangover - The Hangover. Reminds me of Dude, Where's My Car? and it's beena w hile since I've seen Heather Graham in anything good.

The Proposal - *drool* Ryan Reynold...OMG this guy could do things for me just with a smile.

Transformers : Revenge of the Fallen - self explanitory

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs - I loved the first two. I fell in love with them when we seen the 1st in the theater during some PPD after I had had D. My MIL was kind and watched him while we took a night off, and this was the movie we saw. I almost cried cause the baby looked identicle (or so I thought) to D...ben hooked ever since.

Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince - self explanitory, though I really think the last movies should all be split into two. You know they'd make a killing, and they'd be able to do the books justice. I'm pissed they prolonged the damned release of this movie from last Nov. to this summer...f*in sellouts.

All Good Things - Hellooooo Jeffrey Dean Morgan!

G.I Joe The Rise of Cobra - Yeah, I'm curious...

Julie & Julia - it involves a french cookbook, and blogging...what could be better?

Astro Boy - loved the show as a kid, wonder if they can do the cheese justice.

Tooth Fairy - another Dwayne Johnson movie

Nutcracker: The Untold Story - Piques my interest, though I'm uncertain whether I'll actually make it to the theater to see it or not.