It's Good To Want Things

How come they just don't seem to mesh well?  Is it s a 2-year old thing?  They get in such a play groove and you don't want to break it up and WHY WOULD YOU since you are getting some real adult conversation whilst the children are playing/throwing plastic food.

But then you realize that life has to return to normal and OMG you need to get home cause it is WAY past nap time.  And then you get a snack once you're home cause you realize that the kids, while playing, didn't really touch any of the food offered.  (Well, not enough.)

And you have a 1pm napper getting to sleep at 4pm and then oh crap you have to wake them at 6pm because you don't want them up all night but then they are cranky.  And Mr Cranky Pants doesn't seem to go away very easily.

Is it terrible that you don't even care all that much that the kid is off schedule?  Because I love me some full-fledged conversation....especially with someone I have not seen since my wedding FOUR YEARS AGO!  Geez it was great to see Shannon....and Angie....that was awesome too!  But I have not seen Shannon in forever and holy heck I miss her!  We used to work together and if it wasn't for her, I would never have met my hubby!  (And hence would not have this child....so really, he owes his very existence to her...being off schedule is a TEENY tiny price to pay.)

Ah, guilt absolved.

Well, it is a tradeoff.....we have a sparkly garage and a crap-tastic house now.  Apparently, I only have the energy to handle one thing at a time.  We may even skip the free movie tomorrow because we all may just need the sleep or lazy morning instead.

Today we were out at Alice's and had a grand time.  We were there VERY late in the day and poor Jax was just exhausted.  So tonight, we had a special visit from his alter-ego, Mr Cranky Pants.

While we had a great time, I got absolutely nothing accomplished.  Which of course, I can't stand.  I like to be productive.  Maybe tomorrow I can clean and do the bank deposit and make PC calls and finish putting away all the garage stuff and do some laundry and plan Jackson's bday party and clean out my car.  Maybe?

Dude...we are cleaning out the garage.  UGH!  In JULY!  Why did we not get this stupid compulsion, oh, I don't know....in JANUARY?  When it felt GOOD outside?

Meanwhile the cars stay outside.  Until we get it done.  

grumble, razza-frazzin, grrrrr

We watch The Late Late Show weeks after it happens cause we are recording them and we don't watch it EVERY night, so we're a bit behind.  BUT last night, we started watching the one where they are lip synching to "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz.

Which has been playing virtually nonstop on my computer for the past week or so.

As soon as it started, I was SO HAPPY!

(Yes yes I know the whole world knows about the song and I bet it's been out for ages, but I didn't know who sang it and would only hear snippets on the radio and so I just bought it on iTunes a few weeks ago.)

I just freakin' love that song.

I can hardly believe it's already July.  The year is just flying by!

Meanwhile, I am waiting on home delivery of 3 books from the library....I've been waiting awhile, but that's to be expected with lots of books.  Just checked my status....a few days ago, I was #5, 22, and 44, respectively, in line for my holds.  Today, I am #5, 19, and 40.  Sigh.  Patience has never been my strong point.

I was talking with a personal trainer and he was telling me about various workout programs he can tailor, etc.  When talking about working out through various situations, he said that most women don't train while pregnant (um, gee- wonder why?  Could it be cause of the extreme fatigue that makes even getting dressed an Olympic event?) and then they "gain 25 pounds and wonder what happened."

Hello????

25 pounds is pretty much the recommended weight gain.

And uh, for those of us who had gained, say, 40 pounds or more during pregnancy, well, you don't exactly sound like you know what you're talking about.  Most women I know would have killed to have only gained 25 pounds.  Dude is clueless.

So I figured that I need to go back to having a daily plan.  Similar to FlyLady but not exactly like that, as I know that didn't work for me long-term.  I could follow it for like a month and then the backsliding would begin.  Yuck!  Yesterday I wrote out a plan that I thought I could probably do.  And so far today, it has been working for me.

I did spend too much time online already, but habits are hard to break and Blue's Clues only lasts like 22 minutes, so that means I only went over by about 7 minutes.  No biggie.

Today, the front room, kitchen and living room were vacuumed, I made a pitcher of tea, ran the dishwasher, have gotten through a few things on my to-do list and have eaten lunch.  The way things have been going lately, this day already equals success even if NOTHING else gets accomplished.

 

So today I was driving along and had to go along a different route because there is construction.  So I am driving along and I see a sign for "Greenwood Cemetery" and realize that this must be the place my Grandmother pointed to the other day when I was driving her home from a doctor's appt.  (We were driving by the outside edge, not the entrance or any signage, so I didn't know how to get there based on her telling me that's where her husband and Mother were buried.)

Anyway, I turned the car around and just drove on in and asked where the family plots were and they showed me exactly where they were and I finally got to see my Grandfather's grave.  Finally.

When he died, I was days away from turning 7 years old.  I was told that I could not attend the funeral.  I protested.  But no....my Mom said I could not go.  Now, it is my experience that kids have a concept of what they can handle.  And really, if I couldn't take it, they could have had whoever was watching me at my grandparents' house drive me home, yes?

Granted, it was my first real brush with death.  But this not being able to go really has stuck with me.

And I truly realized just how much today, when I was standing at his grave.  I just started crying and saying my goodbyes.  25 years later.  (I also cleaned off his marker, as it was completely buried under dirt and weeds.)

No one had ever taken me there or told me where he was buried.  (Yes, I know that really I could have done some research, but it's not exactly at the forefront of a person's mind as they get older.)

It felt so good to get that out.

I also saw Annie Mae's grave (where someone planted an azalea- her FAVE plant) and all sorts of other family members.  It was a bit creepy when they were looking up the names for me that they said "oh there are 5 spaces on this plot and one on the other one."  He then told me who was slated for some of those spots.  SO CREEPY!  Apparently, my aunt will be buried with the Hoffners?  (Her grandparents.)   Then he said that I could go in there too, if I wanted to be cremated.   Uh, yeah, just the conversation I wanted to have today.  ODD!

So yes, lots going on here.  And yet, not much to talk about.

It's raining again.  Celebs keep dying.  (No one is reporting about Iran anymore because of FF and MJ.)

And OMG am I tired.  Jackson got up at 4:30am.  Then at 5am.  Then at 6am.  Then at 6:20am.  WTF?!?!?!?!

Yeah, I know it's been four months since I did anything on this LJ.  I don't even know if anyone else reads it anymore.  But here I am.  I am still alive.  It's been so busy here and well, honestly, facecrack has totally taken over my free time on teh interwebs.

I do like having a blog, though.  I am glad that I can come back to it and even look things up from ages ago.

Oddly, during my hiatus from writing here, I have also cut down on how many blogs I read, as well.  Not really sure why that is, but there you have it.

Jackson will be TWO YEARS OLD in a few weeks and I just am amazed by that.  He's in that great stage where you don't *always* understand what he's saying, but you can usually get the gist of it.  He still listens to us, even when he doesn't want to.....like, when he's at the baby gate and someone has left it open, he starts to open it so he can walk through and I will say "close the gate" and he DOES even as he is pouting about it.  He has not yet realized that he can be defiant.  (Well, except when it comes to eating, but that was discovered by him AGES ago.)

Meanwhile, I am anxiously awaiting the release of the Harry Potter movie next month and hope that the WB doesn't decide at the last minute to screw us all once again.  I mean, come on...the damn movie has been "in the can" for MONTHS!  Whatever.

So that's it for now.  Just for kicks- comment if you read it.  Thanks!

OMG, so now that Jackson is talking more, he is telling us what he wants more.  Which is good.

For the past week, Kirk and I were both on-and-off sick, so that meant that Jackson got to see a fair amount of TV, which is not the norm.

So now, he walks up to the couch and says "cow" which means couch, meaning that he wants help getting on the couch.  Once up on the couch, he says "CLUE" because he wants to see Blue's Clues.  He seriously loves that show.  He has done this little routine twice today!  (And he will keep saying clue over and over and more insistently until you either distract him or turn on Blue's Clues.)

So having a wee child, I do not get nearly as much reading time as I used to.  But lately, I have not been feeling well, so things like laundry and making dinner and such have been neglected so I can get some rest.  And when I can't sleep, I can read.  YAY!

Thought I would make a list of what I have read so far this year....already, it's about as long as the list of books I read ALL LAST YEAR.  Well, except if you count Jackson's books....cause we read those over and over and he has a million of them.


The Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling
Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella
The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella
The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl by Belle De Jour
Paper Towns by John Green

Okay, well that last one isn't quite done yet, but I am well over halfway through the book so I know it won't be much longer before I finish it.

Holy cats....I did her "30 day Shred" video on TUESDAY night.  Yes, Tuesday.  It's now early Sunday morning.  Let's see-

Tuesday eve- felt like I was going to die.  Could barely walk.  Nearly had to crawl up stairs to shower.  Was late to radio show.

Wednesday- sore legs!  Sore legs! sore legs! (front of thighs)

Thursday- Sore legs! sore legs! sore legs! (back of thighs this time)

Friday- eh not much (but was sick)

Saturday/Sunday- sore upper arms??  What? 

Egad- I am almost scared to do the workout again.  I mean, seriously.  I have never had that much pain/soreness from a TWENTY minute workout video!  Yeah, 20 minutes!  And for the record, I had no idea who this woman was...I saw that it got good reviews from Amazon.  And I don't watch "The Biggest Loser".  It was only after I was telling people how crazy intense the workout was that I heard she is the evil trainer who whips people into shape.

Sorry, dear LJ, if I have been distant or neglectful.  I didn't mean to abandon you once the new year rolled around.  Yes, I know we had become so close during 2008, when I faithfully visited you and posted to you each and every day.   But alas, there is a new addiction in my life.  One that is not part of a resolution....just a time-sucker.  Its name is Spider Solitaire....an old friend.

I promise to not forget about you...when I am checking out the LOLcats or the CakeWrecks, I still think fondly of you.  I feel obligated to catch completely up to date on all my FL folks, so I procrastinate.  I am sorry.

And going forward, I will try to do better.

Sincerely,
maggie226 

today, I have to clean.

I mean, I HAVE TO CLEAN.

Why? 

Well, because I have cooking club on Thursday (and I haven't even chosen the menu) and frankly, the Christmas decorations should come down for that.  And my office needs to be workable.  And I resolved to have a usable scrap space and it's far from that right now.  And the dining table has become the catch-all for anything that doesn't have a place to sit.

Ugh!


 

So I am rearranging my kitchen- there is, after all, a toaster oven now.

But it's a bit different than any other toaster oven I have used.  If you open the door while it's cooking, it doesn't just shut off.  And there is no cancel button.  So that's odd.  But I am sure that I will get used to it.  It was nice getting to use it this morning for cheese toast.  Even if Jackson didn't like it.....I did.

And today, I was so excited!  I got a call from someone who I started speaking with in August- he is ready to sign up and be a Pampered Chef consultant!  Woo hoo!  I called last night because I just felt that I should, even though he had just said to add him to my email list.  Well, it was the right time for me to call, cause he signed this morning.  All I did was let him know that there was a promotion going on (announced at Leadership) that he might be interested in.   

YAY YAY YAY!

So I am back from Denver and I have to say that it was a nice vaca.  I mean, yes, we were kept busy all day long for 3 days straight, and the transport to and from the airport is never the easiest thing, but it was really nice not having to face dishes or cleaning or bills or whatever the whole time.

Then again, I didn't have my Jax with me.  And I swear that he got bigger while I was gone.

Highlights of conference:
shopping with Angie in Tattered Cover, a great bookstore
dinner at Noodles & Co.  (wish we had that here!)
watching the Gators win the Championship (watching at ESPNZone)
the PINK AND BLACK APRON that I can earn in April

Why, going solely on my own experience, it's apparently for reconnecting with and patching up the past with old boyfriends.  Seriously.  Only one left out there.  Including my kindergarten boyfriend.  WILD!

ETA: And by "patch up" I only mean that we are now on speaking terms or something was left unresolved in some way and now it's resolved.

Off to download Tetris for the Wii. 

Later?  Buy booze for tonight.

Also, buy groceries.  We need, like, everything.