Five things about Me
Jun 20th
I have been gone for so long that it is quite possible that I no longer have even one reader but none the less I think I will work my way back in the blogging world slowly. To start off I have been tagged by my friend Marlo for a fun Fives Meme.
The rules:
1. Post the rules of the game at the beginning.
2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
3.
At the end of the post, the player then tags five people and posts
their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment,
letting them know they?ve been tagged and asking them to read the
player?s blog.
4. Let the person who tagged you know when you?ve posted your answer.
What were you doing five years ago?
I was in my first year of marriage, working at Red Lobster for a short stint, and trying really hard to have another baby. I was also finishing my AA which took a gazillion years to get done.
What are five things on your to-do list for today? (the day is almost over so most of these should be on the “done” list instead)
1. Attend a water play date for the kids.
2. Go swimming.
3. Get a pedicure (traded this one up for new kids clothes that were too cute to pass up)
4. Catch up on emails
5. Go to a scrapbooking party 
What are five things you would do if you were a billionaire?
1. Start savings accounts for the kids.
2. Get a personal trainer, cook, and house keeper.
3. Pay off all debt.
4. Take multiple trips around the world.
5. Become a regular contributer and volunteer for organizations like St. Judes.
What are five of your bad habits?
1. Cheating on my diet when life gets too busy (this happens daily).
2. Starting projects then waiting months to finish them.
3. Talking too much.
4. Putting off laundry til it is over flowing the laundry room.
5.
What are five places where you have lived?
1. Gardena, Calif.
2. Apple Valley, Calif.
3. Victorville, Calif.
4. (only 3 here, I’ve been in the same vicinity for 24 years).
What are five jobs you?ve had?
1. Taco Bell
2. Stater Brothers (bagger)
3. Texaco (which was actually Del Taco and A&W)
4. Waitress for a billion years (ok, so only eleven but it felt like a billion)
5. Substitute Teacher (best schedule ever)
Five people I tag:
Not really fair of me to tag anyone since I have been MIA for so long, but if you’re reading please leave me a link to your Fives Meme so I can check it out.
Anger & the Brain
May 8th
Someone I know decided they would write a sophisticated post on anger and our brains. Citing how we respond to anger and how it is linked to brain functions, blah blah blah. Funny enough what prompted this post was an argument with his wife. One where she got extremely angry and blurted out just about everything on her mind. The events preceding the argument however were such that this husband has dedicated his life to his computer. Oops, I mean his job and his computer. Meanwhile the wife is left to work, go to school, care for three children, dealing with new medical issues, and home business matters, AND packing a 2600 sq. foot home without any help from the above mentioned husband.
So here is my version of anger and the brain. If within a stressful situation you can count on no one to help you out, you are likely to have a mental break. Who might I ask will become the primary target? Probably the person who should be helping you so that you do not break to begin with. In the event that you explode anyways, as that is the likely occurance when the brain is filled to capacity, all hope is that this will wake up the other person and get them to give you a hand. Caution however is advised here because what is more probable is the other party with snap back feeling justified for his/ or her anger as YOU have forced them to it. Do accept that this of course is all your fault, since that will be the only way out of this current argument.
In that case just sit down and blog about it since apparently blogging about it is better than actually solving the problem.
Fun! Fun! Fun!
Apr 4th
As usual I have gotten backed up and haven’t posted in forever, but this time I have good reason. So many darned exciting things have been happening. Lets start with this being my last class in my Bachelors program. With four weeks to complete a journey that started forever ago, it is super exciting surpassed only by super chaotic. Next I went to my best friends wedding. Now this was a very small intimate event with only the closest friends and family, but it was extremely touching and beautiful. Days later I made it to my very first theatrical event and wouldn’t you know it, it was AWESOME! I went with a group of friends to see Wicked. Now if you have any means to make it to this show, RUN! I couldn’t believe how incredible the story line, music, acting, and sets were. I want so badly to spill the beans and tell you what happens in the Oz spin off, but you have to go and see for yourself.
Finally as I mentioned previously, we recently started the home shopping experience. Actually let me reword that. We started the loan approval process. Luckily Damien’s brother has been in home sales for years so he set us up with an incredible guy who got us an amazing interest rate and clean approval. This allowed for us to officially jump in the market this week. So we went out Wednesday, found a home we wanted super bad. Made an offer Thursday morning and if you can believe it got the banks approval of our offer back the very same day. So in just over 30 days when escrow closes we will officially be home owners
It’s getting late but I promise to give you full scoop on the house later.
Blogged with Flock
Blood Drive
Mar 16th
A few days ago my son brought home a flyer for an event this weekend. It wasn’t the usual type of event you would be expecting a fourth grader to be bringing home as it was an announcement of a blood drive. As I read it over I learned that it was for a mother of one of my son’s friends. I didn’t know the details just that this woman, likely around my age, is suffering from cancer. I was shocked. I realize that cancer doesn’t discriminate and that it can happen to anyone of any age, but this seemed so close to home for me. Each time I thought of her situation it made me sad even though I have never met her. So today I went over and decided I would give blood for the first time. I’ll admit I was a bit nervous, but I must say it was one of the simplest things I have ever done that could help someone else out.
Here is a quick run through of the process if you have never done it. First you’ll fill out a form with general information and disclosures, and answer a simple set of questions to determine if you are eligible to donate (mostly if you don’t live a high risk party life you’re in). Then you are escorted to a cozy bed where you lie down and offer up your vein. A prick and a few minutes later you are done. No kidding. I was told I have a good vein, but 10 minutes was it. I never even saw the needle or the blood in case you are the squeamish type and thought that part might scare you off. I was then directed to a seat where I had to sit for 15 minutes before leaving but was offered an unbelievable assortment of snacks, juices, water, etc.
My hope in telling this story is that by eliminating any frightening misconceptions of the process you may take the time out of your schedule and head over to a donation center. One of the nurses informed me that there is a constant shortage. Best yet if you are just doing it without a person in mind to donate to, you can earn credits. These credits can be saved for yourself should you ever need them, or can be donated down the road if a loved one needs them. You can only give blood every 8 weeks, but it is my intention to start going regularly.
Tags: blood drive, donation,
Dare I say it, but here I go again.
Mar 12th
I am always looking for inspiration to lose weight. Actually, more like motivation, as looking in a mirror alone is inspiring itself. They key difference here is that I want to lose weight more than anything, however with school, kids, home, work, etc. fast food becomes so darned convenient and I end up throwing the plan out the window all together. My last major incentive to lose weight was my impending 30th birthday. I got super motivated, signed up for Weight Watchers, was walking and doing water aerobics, and quickly lost 15 lbs and two sizes. I was on my way. Then I found out I was pregnant and due on my 30th achieving the precise opposite goal in terms of weight loss.
Since the baby was born, going on one year in May, I have struggled with getting motivated. I find myself eating all the wrong foods even when better choices are available. I now have a treadmill, a total gym, a weight lifting system, a stepper, you name it. I have no need to have to run off to a gym as I have got it all here at home. Now for the motivating part. I have in the following months a few events I really want to look and feel my best for. Starting with my best friend’s wedding, going to see Wicked with some friends, a first birthday party for my youngest, and my oldest’s tenth birthday. Holy Moly how did this happen? A DECADE! I am not going to disclose how many lbs or sizes I have put on since this guys birth, but it isn’t pretty for sure. With 4 1/2 months til this event I am super ready to get the ball rolling. I am also graduating this year and can say that a cap & gown on my current figure may leave the crowd wondering when my due date is.
Using what I know and seeing a nutritionist tomorrow I am planning a new me. Look for updates to my healthy eating page coming soon.
Home Hunting
Mar 9th
If you have ever been through the process of purchasing a home, then you can probably relate to the roller coaster we just jumped on this last month. See since Damien and I got married we have heard the opinions of many who often advise us on when we should or shouldn’t be trying to buy a home. Never really knowing when the timing would be right, we waited and waited, but have finally decided that maybe now is a good time to take the leap.
Needless to say starting the financing process has been a touch time consuming for two reasons.
1. Our credit has a few bruises in it.
2. Finance companies are currently knee deep in applications for finance and refinance with the market being what it is.
However being the over eager person I tend to often be, I jumped the gun and started home hunting early. A few weeks passed and one by one I saw each of the homes I was hoping to purchase be bought up by others. It was slightly depressing and extremely frustrating so I decided to stop looking until we had an actual approval.
Fast forward two more weeks and one approval we wanted came through. It did however leave a bit to be desired in terms of the amount, so while waiting from word from others our agent suggested we check out some homes in the lower range. What seemed like a unrealistic amount actually produced a few decent options. Further more if we choose to purchase a home at this amount we could be paying less than it is currently costing us to rent. So I got my heart once again set on a house now in our range only to find out that by snubbing the lower approval we now need to get it reapproved to be put on paper before we can make any offers, ugh.
So this morning, knowing I shouldn’t be looking lest we not get our approval down on paper until it is too late to make an offer, I went out to look at a few homes I was certain wouldn’t meet my approval (I had time to spare). The very first one was it. My ideal home.It was at the end of a culdesac, with hardwood floors throughout, four bedrooms, curbs & gutters (don’t laugh, where I live this is a luxury), a big enough yard to entertain company and leave the kids a place to play, but not too big to require too much maintenance, a patio, with a lovely yard in the front and back, and it is just under the price we should be approved for. I now need to find a balance between hoping it will all work and not getting too excited lest someone else find this adorable house and snag it up before we can. Meanwhile keep your fingers crossed for us.
I think I have finally converted
Mar 1st
Pretty much since I met Damien he has been trying to turn me into a coffee drinker. I had so many reasons to resist, but the number one reason was that I just didn’t enjoy the taste of it. Sure with enough sugar and cream I could stomach it, but why in the world would I waste so many darned calories on something I was forcing on myself. To top it off more than one cup would always lead to major stomach trouble half way through my day.
Still though Riley being the coffee junkie he is continued to try to bring me over to the dark side. And by dark side I mean thick muddy coffee stripped down to the bare bones. This is precisely how he takes his. No sugar, no cream, zip. In fact the stronger the better is how this man takes his coffee, bleck. I got lines like “just wait til you have some all nighters with your schooling”, and “when you are working mornings, bet you’ll take it up”. Bear in mind this guy used to be a Coffee bean & Tea Leaf barista, so it was his duty was to push this mud.
Then just when I thought I would never convert the sneaky sucker got me hooked on hot chocolate in coffee. Just a cup here and there got me acclimated to the taste, eventually no stomach troubles and then before you know it, Bamm! I’m hooked. I realized this week that I have been almost completely unproductive. I could barely get out of bed, felt like I needed a nap many days, couldn’t drag myself off the couch til nearly noon, and it seemed like a magnet was dragging me down every where I went. Sure enough yesterday when I was desperate to get my car cleaned out and I was dragging around again, I thought maybe there was something to the hype of coffee bringing on energy. Had a cup and got the van spotless. Then today when the inevitable yawning started up again I gave it another shot and before I knew it I started to feel normal again. Thanks to hubby I am now officially a coffee drinker.
Tags: coffeedrinker, caffeine
Thursday Thirteen
Feb 27th
Ever feel like you are the last human being around listening to some way out of date song that was rather questionable even in its prime? Needless to say I am beginning to think I am the queen of this movement. Worse yet, I don’t just enjoy one song from some of these obscure artists, I relish the entire album, and sometimes multiple albums. For this reason I am dedicating my Thursday Thirteen to some outlandish artists that most won’t admit to ever having enjoyed. Most of them were popular before my generation, however my mothers influence has left me humming them many years later. Before you read any further I should probably add the disclaimer that although I actually do listen to normal music as well, these are the ones that reveal my inner nerd.
1. Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show
2. Eddie Rabbit- Greatest Hits- Damien cringes when this one makes it in the car.
3. Meatloaf- Bat Out of Hell- I groaned for weeks when my mom got this one in the mail, needless to say when his next album came out I was introducing it to her.
4. Cher- Heart of Stone- Back when cassette tapes weren’t convenient to fast forward, I learned even the “unknown” songs on this one and can still sing along without missing a lyric.
5. Michael Bolton- Greatest Hits
6. Paula Abdul- It is such a shame that Paula has turned out to be so sappy and annoying on American Idol, because I still dance and sing along to Forever your Girl.
8. Taylor Dayne- Can’t Fight Fate- My best friend & I made up a dance to this in Jr. High.
9. Hall & Oates- The Very Best of- I have even got my kids singing along to Private Eyes, poor things are going to grow up closet dweebs as well
10. Culture Club- We used to watch the video of Karma Chameleon over and over again. That song can get me off the couch when ever I am in a rut.
11. George Michael- Faith- OOh, another mover.
12. Ace of Base- I saw the sign
One thing can be said about each and every one of these artists, their songs bring back memories from my youth that brighten my day every time.
Blogged with Flock
Checking in from Mars
Feb 26th
Well it would seem I have gone and dropped off the planet again. With three kids, school, and now work as well I do not manage my home time well. When I should be doing laundry that is usually up to my knees, or homework which I am getting behind on, or even picking up diapers at the store, I instead get backed up doing who knows what. Periodically I think I will stop and blog about a thing or two, but then I get distracted and pitch the project all together.
Today is different though, the laundry pile has dwindled, homework is on hold, tv is a bore, and I won’t be running out for diapers til after the oldest child is out of school. With a few minutes to write and a few more to browse buddies blogs I am starting with a tag from my talented scrapbooking buddy Nicole.
Actually it is called a “Blog Blessing”. The idea behind this tag game is different from other tag games. Rather than look inwardly, we are to look outside ourselves and bless, praise and pray for three blog friends. By participating in this endeavor we not only make the recipient of the blessing feel valued and appreciated, but we are having some fun too. We?re going to see how far the bloggin? blessings can travel around the world and how many people can be blessed! Be sure to go to the blog of those you are blessing and leave a comment on their blog to be sure they check yours!
The first person I would like to bless is Damien. When it comes to blogging this husband of mine is completely dedicated. He is also devoted to keeping my blog going including guest posting to tell the world I am still alive, thanks honey. Second goes to Carrie the Gremlin Wrangler. She is one of my favorite bloggers and even when I disappear, she peaks her head in rather than dropping me like a hot potato. She is also an extremely talented artist, mom and comical cashier with posts that have me in stitches most of the time. Next is Jessica the Rock Chick. From the first day I started she has been supporting me as an avid reader. She is genuinely one of the nicest bloggers I have met who amazingly keeps her spirits high even while raising teens. Though I could hand out a blessing to just about everyone on my blog roll I am only supposed to have three, so my final and fourth blessing goes to Boho Rhap. I don’t know where this amazing blogger gets her talent, but she makes her own incredible templates and also has some of the best photoshop skills I have seen. I am eagerly awaiting the day that she starts offering tutorials, I may never leave my couch again if that day comes. Ok, so just one more. Rosemarie at Miscellaneous Matters is a sweet proud momma with enduring faith that shows up in all of her posts.
I do have some pent up blogging waiting to bust out, so hopefully you’ll come back in the next few days and you won’t be disappointed.
2 Babies, 1 Nine Year Old and a Husband from Mars
Feb 23rd
That’s what my wife takes care of! I’m the husband, Damien, you may sometimes read about here and I want to just check in for Sarah through a short guestblog post and let you know what is up with super-wife.
You can find my blog over at: Postcards from the Funny Farm
She’s started subbing and it’s been so awesome seeing her on my campus smiling ear-to-ear. Today she is at a study group with some other people in her college class. She may write soon about some of the challenges of teaching a special ed class for over a week on long-term sub assignment. She will hopefully aslo write soon about the amazing rewards of working in the classroom with children. While it doesn’t pay huge amounts (about $120/day before taxes) it is great for her to be able to pick the days she wants to work by accepting certain jobs and passing on others. Not to mention the fact that it is excellent preparation for her career as a teacher which will be coming in the next few years.
Be patient with Sarah, she’s not as die-hard of a blogger as me (though I am working on it!). I’ll try and convince her to post something in the next week. Thanks to those of you who have checked in with her either through trackbacks or directly in emails to me or her. She is fine and I am hopeful will be back blogging very soon.
Thanks for reading my wife’s blog. Have the best day of your life.