All Skate, Everybody Skate, No more shoot the duck!

Can someone please tell me what that means.  A friend of my brother's used to say that and I didn't know what it meant then and I still don't know what it means today - so if you know tell me - I've been waiting for the answer for 20 years. 

We took the kids ice skating yesterday.  Alex went 1/4 around the rink and had his fill.  The girls on the other hand loved it.  There was a lot of falling but they did a pretty good job.  If we get them on the ice more often they will probably be pretty decent skaters.  Me - I don't ice skate - I'm from Iowa we don't skate or play hockey :- )

So what have YOU been doing?

Oh, you wanna know what I have been doing?  Well since you asked, I've been making beds and doing laundry and lunching with friends and watching the dog sleep - you know - the usual.  Oh and there is that "I had a psychic reading thing"  WHAT?  I KNOW!  I'd like to say it is something I had on my bucket list and can now cross it off but I don't have a bucket list (do you have a bucket list?  Really, tell me what it is - this kind of stuff fascinates me) so I have no excuse than I've always been curious.  And no it wasn't like Miss Cleo or something it was a local psychic who was recommended by a friend - so I did it - I was intrigued. 

We had our call on Wednesday and she was very nice but didn't have any big revelations to tell me about myself - I was hoping she might mention my hidden Oprah potential or something.  She did say this is going to be a summer of happiness for me (not in those words exactly - she went through the year month by month and it all seems to be sunshine and happiness once the sun begins to shine and the thermometer rises).  News on my career is that I probably won't have a job until next year but everything will be okay in the meantime.  Well that's a relief - let the shopping begin (okay, fine I'm not  naive enough to throw caution to the wind but sometimes I wish I were).  She talked about other stuff in my life but it is personal information and I'm not inclined to share right now but it was interesting and somewhat exciting.  BUT here is the bottom line - although I do not think this person was a "hoax", I think she really believes in her craft and seems to be a great observer of the "human condition" BUT, as much as I'd like to be otherwise I'm a cynic at heart - although if you see me and I seem to be walking on the clouds and happier than you would normally expect remind me of the psychic thing - I could become a believer.   Oh and by the way, I'd actually endorse a psychic reading with a "reputable" psychic - it's like therapy at half the cost.

So there you go - and WHAT have you been doing???? 

TTFN...

I wish I could sleep...

I haven't been sleeping well lately.  If I fall asleep I wake up in the middle of the night and can't find Mr. Sandman again.  Or else I just can't fall asleep.  I have no idea what the deal is.  My mind keeps working and my body is restless.  I toss and turn and stretch my legs all to no avail so I have resorted to getting up in the middle of the night and doing something.  Tonight (or rather this morning as it is 2:00 a.m.) I am doing this - writing.  I really have nothing to say but it is something to do. 

I guess I could move along and make out my to-do list for tomorrow.  Let's see:

• Prepare Tax Information
• Set up some appointments
• Work on resume
• Return emails
• Go to Target
• Walk the dog
• Read to the 2nd grade class
• Meet a friend for dinner

WOW, with the exception of two or three items that list is lacking in substance.  Maybe I should add something like audition for Jeopardy or memorize the Dictionary.  NO wonder I can't sleep - no stimulation.  I better work on that.

Speaking of stimulation or the lack thereof - Bieber Fever is rampant in the house.  With two seven year old females it was inevitable.  Sunday we were able to "enjoy" the wonder of Never Say Never the Bieber Boy's story.  It wasn't too bad but a little long - although two girls I know were absolutely enthralled.  I mean he is a cute kid but he certainly isn't any Shaun Cassidy. :-) 

Okay I think I might be tired now - or maybe you are just tired of me.  I mean really, it's a possibility.

TTFN...  Sweet Dreams.

Waiting for the thaw...

I am in the doldrums of winter (I can't tell you how many times I had to type out doldrums before I got it right - my fingers have a mind of their own and o before u was not what was on their mind).  I'm sick of looking at dirty, crappy, ugly snow higher than mailboxes.  I'm sick of two lane streets reduced to one lane because there are big piles of snow encroaching into the traffic flow not to mention people who insist on parking in the street because - well I don't why but it is irritating (where is the neighborhood covenant which states no street parking?).  I'm sick of cold temps and dirty snow pants and grimy boots and a foyer which becomes covered with sand on a daily basis from the street and the parking lot and the driveway and the sidewalk and the playground.  I'm sick of winter. Oh shoot I'm whining again.  I hate whining so let's call it complaining or venting or airing my dirty laundry or something other than whining because I don't do whining ;-)

And since I'm "venting" and all - I think I am now used to being at home but not so much that I don't feel guilty about being at home.  Guilty and a little sad.  I know I am smart, I know I am strong, I know I am employable but right now I feel - well one word sums it up - LOSER!!!  But, in my most ambivalent style, I'm not ready for a new job yet.  I know that sounds selfish but I have worked since I was sixteen and I'm tired of working for awhile and the HotY is fine with that - if only I could tell my brain to shut up and let me relax.  UGH.  On a better note my family is enjoying many home-cooked meals and a cleaner house.  That's a good thing - right?  And you lucky people - you get to read all my random thoughts more often - I mean how good is that (said totally tongue in cheek - oh and cheek is one of those words I always have to think about spelling because I might say check instead.  Loose, Choose, Lose, Chose are four more that I actually have to slow down and think about before I put them down - just thought I'd mention it). 

Anyway, winter doldrums - that's where I am at.  We are expecting a "spring" thaw this weekend.  There could hardly be a more anticipated event.

TTFN...

Well it might not be obvious...

but her fur really is growing out - it really is - trust me.  And I don't know what is up with the wonky eye in this picture.  Okay, fine, she is not the most photogenic dog in the world but we'll keep her - most days...

When does the fun begin...

do you remember when you were a kid and you couldn't wait to be an adult because adults had all the fun?  You could get up when you wanted to and go to bed when you wanted to and do whatever you wanted to do whenever you wanted to do it - there were no rules - there were no parents, just 24 hour fun all day every day.  Being an adult - it is a blissful life - to a child.  Any adult over 30 will tell you - this adult stuff - NOT fun.  You might not have parents telling you what to do (and really let's be honest - do parents ever stop giving their "opinion" to their children?) but there are bosses and spouses and doctors and teachers and neighbors and just other adults in general that tell you what to do.  There are bills to pay and conferences to attend and meals to make and houses to clean and children to teach.  Seriously, does that sound like fun to you?  I know, there are moments, moments when it is fun, but some days fun seems like a fleeting dream.  Oh to be a kid again - it was so much fun...  Did I mention today - not so fun.  I was mad at the HotY, the kids were not listening and the house that was so clean only a few short days ago is once again a mess.  I'm hoping tomorrow is not so so so - adultlike because I don't know about you but I really hate to listen to myself whine. 

Oh before I go and while we are talking about perceived reality vs. real life reality let's talk about the oh so understanding Bachelor Brad just a little bit.  I mean really is this guy for real?  If he is really this sensitive and caring and understanding I don't think he should be a husband he should be a priest - well except for that part that likes to "intimately" explore every relationship so he knows which bonds are real.  He seems to be doing a lot of exploring :-)  I have a feeling that any engagement which comes of this little fantasy may be short-lived - I know - call me cynical but we shall see...

I know that was totally random but I didn't want this entire post to be one long whine.  It's all about balance.

TTFN...  look for one month regrowth pictures of the dog later this week.  Her fur is growing back slowly but surely.

It's been a while...

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?  Okay so it's not you it's me.  Sorry, it seems like the days fly by yet there has been nothing to say.  I'm sure you know the feeling. 

Work is winding down.  Only 7 days left - it still seems a little surreal - I wonder when I'm going to get it.  Sometimes I just have to learn the hard way (okay maybe a little bit more often than sometimes...).

The dog was shaved again.

Exhibit A:

Does she not look pathetic?  And she is cold.  Honestly she comes in, looks right at the nearest human and then shivers - like we don't feel bad enough already.  I bought her a sweater yesterday (yes it's true) now she looks like a pathetic dog pretending to be a little old lady - but the shivering has stopped.  I'll be posting monthly pictures just so we can all appreciate her regrowth journey :-)

Oh and while we are talking about this really important stuff - are you watching The Bachelor?  I mean I saw Brad the first time around but this new touchy feely Brad - I find him a little annoying.  First can he really be that understanding and second did the casting call for this season state that sad stories are a plus?  I mean really - what a tragic group of women - good for them caring, understanding, vulnerable Brad is on the scene to hug and kiss and kiss and kiss them and make all their troubles disappear.  Ahhhh reality TV.  May the saddest woman win... Okay well now that I have that off my chest I won't even get into my thoughts on Nicole Kidmann having a baby through a surrogate mother.  I KNOW - how could I possibly have time to think about finding a job when I have so much to think about! 

And lastly, I baked a pie.  I really should NOT bake pies. 

It isn't that the pies don't taste good - they taste great - but that crust thing - well let's just say it needs improvement.  And did you know one of the purposes of a top crust is to keep the apples from burning?  Because seriously, when the crust you made kind of doesn't stay in one piece so then you take the bits and pieces and lay them on top here and there part of the apples show and then they burn - WOW who knew.  I certainly did not.  And just so you know my culinary expertise is not lacking in only pie baking it extends to layer cake baking also.

But I do make a mean Manicotti

TTFN... and now do you see why I haven't been writing - so many deep thoughts...

Too much trepidation...

Here it is New Year's Eve day - the last day of 2010. It came so quickly. I'm not quite sure I'm ready to let it go. Last year, as far as I was concerned, 2009 could not come to a close fast enough. For some reason it was a hard year. This year was a hard year also but 2011 will be even harder. Although I will still be employed for one more month I believe I've started to say goodbye - goodbye to a 14 year career with a good company, a great boss, fun co-workers (well several of them anyway :-)), fair compensation and a comfortable place where I knew I belonged. Although I have started to say goodbye I'm not ready to say goodbye (I'm known for my ambivalence).  I thought I was ready but I'm not.

I know people become unemployed every day - I know I've had plenty of time to look for another job - I know many would tell me to straighten up, cope and deal - but I'm not ready. The strange fact is I didn't even realize I wasn't ready until today when I was reading someone's thoughts on the end of 2010 and my eyes started welling up and the tears started flowing and then I realized I'm not looking forward to 2011, I'm not ready. 2011 is too much uncertainty and unfamiliar territory and budgeting and soul searching and trepidation. Too much trepidation. I'm not ready.

TTFN... May your 2011 be filled with good things in familiar settings and not too much trepidation.

The most wonderful time of the year...

The follow-up edition.  I love Christmas - I really do.  I love the hustle and bustle and good cheer and pretty lights and Christmas trees in windows and little kids singing and shopping and wrapping and seeing family and sharing the love.  What I don't love are the days following Christmas when the trees start coming down and the lights begin blinking off and the stores are filled with muddy foot prints and people returning the gifts that they just didn't like.  There isn't so much good cheer as resentful impatience.  And it's all happens so quick.  One day everyone is hurrying and scurrying and the next they are trying to figure out what to do with all their old junk.  I know it can't be Christmas every day but maybe once every six months??? 

Personally I won't be taking my tree and decorations down until New Year's Day so that leaves me six days to savor the season.

I'll just be over here - gazing at the tree and thinking about the memories of the season...

Merry Christmas...

Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas!

Let the Festivus begin!

Only two short days before the beginning of the biggest season of the year.  I'm not ready.  Cookies are not baked - except for one batch of Peanut Butter Star Cookies, which are tasty but falling apart because I used too much flour and the little helpers in the house were pretty heavy handed with the sugar rolling so the stars have all fallen off.  Guess which cookies I'm making again along with the others on my list?  I had plans of mixing up several batches tonight - I got ONE done.  And that one looked iffy along the way.  First I forgot to add and melt my chocolate chips, so back to step one.  Okay good, chips added and melted - now to add the eggs while beating.  Great - well except for that piece of egg shell which slipped in the bowl and never made it out.  UGH.  I'm claiming ignorance when someone gets that crunchy bite of cookie (Yuck and for some reason finding egg shell in my food TOTALLY grosses me out so I certainly hope I'm not the finder/keeper).  When I talked to my sister to find out if she was making her "famous" Swedish Creams she told me she wasn't because she wasn't stressing herself out about baking this year - which I sort of sneered at (sorry Nic, but it's true).  Now I'm wondering if she had the right idea - but darn if I didn't already buy the heavy cream to make those Swedish Creams...'
Along with the baking I have yet to wrap the majority of the presents to go under the tree and I never did make much progress on that Christmas card thing (I haven't given up on the dream - it could still happen).  So I am hoping to accomplish much in the next two days - along with finding my Christmas spirit.  The reason for the season has been totally lost on this soul lately.  SIGH.  I've had enough whine with my cheese so I won't even get into the cleaning I have yet to do before the present UNwrapping begins...

TTFN...  May the Spirit of Christmas find it's way into your heart.

BLIZZARD...

Yes, as the rest of the universe has heard we had a blizzard. The Metrodome collapsed. The Vikings had no where to play their little game. It was a weekend.

I haven't stepped foot outside of my home since Friday evening. I'm beginning to get a little stir crazy. That and as I was doing ANOTHER load of laundry I realized there is only one weekend left until Christmas and I now have an almost irresistible urge to venture out into the frozen tundra to complete my shopping. And really, how in the world does the time slip away from me every year? You would think after 40 something years of celebrating Christmas I'd get how the whole thing works. Not so much I guess.

Just a short post tonight. I wanted to include some pictures of the snow but I'm so sick of looking at it I couldn't bring myself to take a picture.

TTFN...

Well that snuck up on me once again...

It's Christmas Card time.  I always fail to remember I need to prepare for these things.  You would think the big green tree in the living room and those cards arriving in the mail would be a daily reminder but it doesn't seem to be doing the trick.  I haven't sent cards for the last two years.  No Christmas picture, no cheerful letter rejoicing in the wonders of my young Einstein's, no pretty glittery card - NOTHING.  Nothing for two years - but now I'm starting to get a little worried that people may cut ME from their Christmas card lists so this year I'm sending the cards - at least that's what I decided five minutes ago.

Sooooo, if I am on your list do not cut me - I really didn't cut YOU from MY list - NO ONE has received cards from me - really, I promise.  And I might even put together a little letter (note to people - I like the letters I really do so if you can send a letter do it - and a picture - a picture and a letter - that's the best Christmas card) just to let everyone know about our lives and the dog (it's always about the dog). 

Okay gotta run.  I've got places to go and things to do.   But if you see me out and about please remind me I said I was sending cards this year.  Really, I seem to keep forgetting...

TTFN... I found that card on Etsy - here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/studioflowerpower?ref=seller_info - Pretty cool!

There's a mouse in the house...

Sydney was in this year's presentation of the Nutcracker - Clara's Dream - as a mouse (she has self-named herself "Squeaky".

Squeaky was fabulous - of course that is my opinion - but she was a great little mouse.

Although there was much whining and crying about rehearsals and having to miss the very newest episode of Wizard's of Waverly she stated it was all worth it in the end.

A great start to the Christmas season.

I wanna go home...

said in my absolutely whiniest voice. Really, just take a minute and imagine it. Dejected face, whiny voice, a longing gaze to the North. No I haven't been kicked out of my home to live on the street but I have been relocated to a new work space (no I don't have a new job just a relocation by my current employer). So this new work space - I DON'T LIKE IT! I have no natural daylight, I'm in a cube, my workstation is burgandy and grey (think early 1990), thousands of people work here, parking sucks and did I mention I have no natural daylight? See why I miss my old home?

On the bright side - even out of the thousands who work here I did randomly run into two people I know (not involved with my own division) on my very first day. It was kind of like being the new kid in school and then finding a first friend. I even had someone to talk to while walking in the building.

I'd post pictures but I'm assuming there is a policy against such things.

My world has gotten bigger yet smaller and filled with rules - you know how I am about those rules - some stick and some not so much. I've got some work to do.

TTFN...

It's been a bad day...

first let me say I know exactly how self-indulgent writing a blog can be. It's my blog I can say what I want to. I can talk about whatever I want to. I don't have to wonder if you want to hear what I have to say or even care but I can talk anyway because like I said - it's my blog. Yep, blog writing is very self-indulgent. I wonder if they did a socialogical study of bloggers what prominant personality traits would surface. Egotistical, insecure, fame seekers. It's an interesting concept - I'm not sure I want to know which category I would fall into.

So in my self-indulgent vein I guess I'll talk about me - again. WOW surprised aren't you :-) Anyway, It has been a bad day. One of those days where I have been near tears all day long. Maybe it is the upcoming changes in my career life. Maybe it is the weather. Maybe it is the dream that I had last night that seemed so real I felt the loss when I woke up in the morning. Maybe it is thinking about what the future holds for my kids. But probably it is a combination of all the above. UGH.

I just deleted two paragraphs of blah blah blah. Even though I thought I wanted to talk I guess I really don't want to after all...

Sorry, let's try to get together again tomorrow. It will be a better day.

TTFN...

Another parental decision that didn't turn out quite as planned...

Really, there are so many opportunities to make bad parental decisions that I don't really have to go out of my way to find them - but sometimes those decisions that you think are great - well sometimes bad happens before you even realize it.

Tonight is the perfect example - with a point on it. Every other Sunday night we have family movie night. We find a great family movie, dim the lights, find blankies and cuddle buddies, place the pop and popcorn within easy reach and settle in for whatever movie extravanza is on the agenda for the night. Usually it is a Disney movie, or Hannah Montana or Barbie or some other animated flick. This week I picked the movie and hyped it up all day long. Marly and me. A movie about a dog, a funny movie about a dog, a funny movie about a dog with a personality which too closely resembles a dog we all know and love (and I'm not exactly comfortable about that). I knew it had a sad ending but I assumed we could all deal with that. It's life, life happens, not every ending can be a happy ending. Little did I know it would be heart wrenching, openly sobbing, throat closing sad. And the best part of it all - bedtime was supposed to follow. It was an event - sobbing children and a dog, wet from the tears which were shed all over her shaggy coat. If it wasn't a Sunday night I'd be having a cocktail. Next movie night it's back to kids choice. But the dog - she's very happy - tonight she walks on water (the cat is really ticked off).

TTFN...

A sneak peek...

Another Halloween over and done. This year I guess you could say we had hybrid costumes. They weren't quite homemade but they weren't standard issue store bought either - hybrid.

We had a Pirate Skeleton (part skeleton t-shirt, part new "sword", part hand-made vintage pirate cape from 1999), a Ballerina Skeleton (new skeleton costume with repurposed tutu), and a Devil Princess (new princess dress with new devil accessories, old leotard underneath for warmth). No one can say we aren't creative in this house.

And did you see those descriptions, that wonderful vocab (just call me the vocab queen - it's happened before) - hybrid, repurposed, vintage - I feel so so so 2010!!!

I'm leaving you with pictures. I'll have more to show later this week. There was caramel apple dipping, pumpkin carving and of course the pumpkin gut eating picture.

TTFN...

Oh and BTW - just when I thought it was safe to mention the frontage road and how road rage free I have been about it lately it happened - this morning - Walmart driver pull-out inches in front of my car. NICE! If Walmart can offer a photo center, and a pharmacy counter and a vision center why can't they offer a DMV branch???? What do you say Walmart - as long as you are holding all those bad drivers captive why not give them a little somthing to aspire too - like responsible driving???? It's just a suggestion :-)

Random Thursday Thoughts...

I have had a lot of quirky random thoughts running through my head today and since my writing has been less than inspired lately I figured I might as well share. I mean, what have I got to lose, it isn't like I don't eventually end up sharing everything anyway.

So first, I have noticed there has been an epidemic of people calling me "Ang" lately. I'm not saying I mind but typically the "Ang" tag is usually thrown out there by people who know me well. People who are an immediate part of my life. People who I consider a friend and I assume feel the same way in return. BUT that being said, even among the intimate group there are some people to whom I have never become an "Ang". Angie yes, Angela sometimes, but the "Ang" thing just never seemed to come from their lips and I was fine with that - it's all a personal preference, although in the past week some of the "Angie" group of friends have actually started to become "Ang" callers. Again, I want to make it clear I don't mind at all, and typically it isn't such a big deal - but there have been a handful of people just this week (or maybe I just noticed it this week) who have begun calling me "Ang". It kind of makes me wonder what it is about. Has something about me changed. What? What changed me from "Angie" to "Ang" for them? It's a ponder...

Oh and on a tangent - here is a little trivia about me and my name. I used to HATE my name. HATE IT! I wanted to be Susie or Beth or Jennifer or Velvet (remember that doll with the plaid dress and "growing" hair) or anything but Angela or Angie. As far as I was concerned it was a bad name. But then somewhere along the line (and really I'm ashamed to say it probably wasn't until I was a young adult) I decided to embrace my name and love it. I didn't even realize it until one time during a doctor's appointment the young doctor asked me if I liked my name (while I was in the dressing room changing no less). Ffter I got done thinking "wow that is a weird out of the blue question to ask me while I'm changing my clothes" I said Yes and I realized I meant it. I liked my name. He then went on to explain he and his wife were expecting a baby and Angela was one of the names they were considering. At least it didn't seem quite so random then. I wonder what they named their little girl? I guess that will just have to remain up there as an unknown mystery just like the "Ang" thing (I don't think I have used quotations this much in my entire life).

Anyway, the other thing I feel a dying need to discuss is toothbrushes. This thought isn't quite as random as you would think as one of the columnists in our local paper was discussing the rules of toothbrushes - like no matter how immediate your connection sharing a toothbrush is pretty much off limits and I couldn't agree with her more. I just wish my daughters agreed because they seem to be under the impression that toothbrushes are equal opportunity household items. They have used my toothbrush, they have used each other's toothbrush, they have no sense of boundaries when it comes to teeth brushing. I've tried to talk to them. I've tried to buy different colored brushes. I don't know maybe it is a twin thing - but still - YUCK. USE YOUR OWN TOOTHBRUSH. Not doing so is gross!!!

Okay, that's it. My ramblings for a Thursday. Aren't you glad you stopped by - so much information in such a little space :-)

TTFN... have a good night.

Parenting - it's a hard job...

UGH! Parenting. You would think I had never done this thing before but as I'm trying to guide my daughters through the trials and tribulations of second grade I am realizing how some things were soooo easy with Alex. His elementary school years included teachers and paras and counselors and parent advocates and case managers telling us what to do along the way. There was a plan and things pretty much went as planned - well until about fifth grade - but that's a different story for a different day. Anyway, with the girls it is MUCH different - seriously, I am winging it most days. I have no idea if I am doing the right things. I consider it a good day if I remember to sign papers and get folders into back packs (and really some days - it doesn't happen). I have to admit most days I feel like a failure as a parent. I actually let them skip dance every once in awhile, have candy after school for a snack and watch tv. If I was a real parent we'd have play dates and swimming parties and study time with apple slices and milk. I'm sure that is how it works in every other family - right??? So for today I'll just hope and pray that they grow up to be healthy, productive, well-adjusted adults. Did I say UGH already?

Sorry to be Debbie Downer tonight but I'm just feeling overwhelmed with life. I hope you understand.

Here's to a better day tomorrow...