Conquer the World

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Jaden yesterday gleefully wielding his brand new sword.
Thank you Auntie!

I got 8 hours of sleep last night after I downloaded 335 pictures (a joint effort between me and Jeff from the past two days at Betty's). This is the one that stood out the most this morning for sharing because I can relate to Jaden when I look at it. I feel like I can conquer the world again instead of the other way around for a change.

Remind me of this tonight when I'm tempted to stay up too late.


A Big Announcement

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I am proud to introduce my latest endeavor!



As some of you know, my long-term writing gig is coming to an end in two weeks. So I have decided to start a new blog about a passion of mine while I look for a new writing gig.

I have been posting for three weeks to test out the idea and given a sneak preview to a select few. Based on the feedback I have gotten, I am ready to share the blog with as many people as possible.

So click on my banner and go visit Wee Festivity!

Thank you loyal readers!

On Remodeling

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This summer, Jaden and I visited the Portland Children's Museum and the best part was the time we spent in The Garage -- a recycled art studio. I was so inspired by watching Jaden work there, I set out to create a smaller version at home in our actual garage.

Many weeks, lots of purging and a weak garage sale later, we were in business with some old & new craft and found items. Here are some pictures from Jaden's first day working in his "workshop," better late than never eh?

Later on, Daddy lent him his drill.



I love to take pictures from his vantage point.


Glorious Gobs of Gooey Glitter Glue


Here is his first creation!

I absolutely loved watching my boys hang out in the garage together: Jaden creating, Jeff working on his bike like the good old days. A few weeks after this, my instincts and hard work paid off.

I was busy doing something and it was one of those times Jaden needed to "find something to do." He got a glint in his eye as he remembered his workshop. He disappeared into the garage. I would check on him from time to time as covertly as possible. (Remember the spray paint incident? I wasn't taking any chances even though I had rearranged the garage pretty much to avoid any more incidents).

After a long while, Jaden returned to me.
With a big, proud voice he said,


"I did a little remodeling!"

And inside, with my own big, proud voice I said,
"Yes! Score one for me!"

Brutal

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I have three friends whose children are in major medical battles right now: Emily was the first, then Lauren, followed quickly by Caitlin.

It doesn't matter that I hadn't kept up with Traci (high school) or Gordy (Long Beach State) for years. Cancer, tumors, chemo brings people together in a heartbeat, bridges all kinds of water.

I follow all of their blogs multiple times a day for the past several months. I cheer for the ups and try to help during the downs. My heart is pounding now as I read this post on Lauren's blog.

Universe? I feel helpless. How much can people take? But really now? How much....? I am at a loss for words and I'm terribly, terribly, terribly sorry for what is happening to this family.

On Steam Cleaning

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I sent this synopsis of my day to my friend Barb and she said it was a good belly laugh. Actually, I'm not sure if it's the glorious glass of wine I've consumed or my supreme ability to laugh at myself (doubtful), but it does make me laugh too.

Here ya go, a straight-up Apple-V (aka the paste command):

"I hate carpet with a deep-rooted passion. I just borrowed my in-laws Hoover for a few days to see if it would make an improvement.

Hilarious though, I spent THREE HOURS on this project today (between the clutter clearing, moving furniture, vacuuming, pre-treating on my hands and knees with a scrub brush and brutally ripping skin off my thumb when I whacked it into a baseboard) and guess what?

It looked like I simply vacuumed.

Terrific ROI! I was pleased as punch (not).

Fast forward 7 hours. I get home from visiting Jeff's mom for the afternoon and early dinner and go to clean out the "dirty water" and discover it is dry as a desert. UM that may be why it looks like I only vacuumed. Jeff says, "What does this trigger button do?"

Trigger button?

Huh?

OH YOU HAVE TO PULL ON THAT TO RELEASE THE CLEANING SOLUTION THEREBY ACTUALLY CLEANING YOUR DISGUSTING CARPETS INSTEAD OF MERELY VACUUMING THEM LIKE YOU NORMALLY DO.

You know what?

I need to start drinking earlier in the day!"

Spoiled Rotten

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My husband, family and friends really spoiled me rotten this year and I am completely humbled by gratitude. In all honesty, I was thrilled just by sleeping in, having Starbucks and then later, the spaghetti dinner at Betty's. Having one meal not be my responsibility was a huge gift.

But there was more than a dinner, so much more, like I was living in my own personal Ginsu commercial. There was a handmade (with lots of love and cream cheese) key lime cheesecake from Marsh & Bob. There was a spa day from Jaden, a ridiculously beautiful original monotype from the cheesecake makers, a color wheel from Oma which I have wanted for some time, and...there was this:


...the gift of a lifetime!


This awesome machine was from my amazing husband, his amazing mom and our amazing friends Jamie & Jay. If they say a picture is worth a thousand words, well I spoke 183,000 words in the first 24 hours* -- and they're all shouting:

THANK YOU!
THANK YOU!
THANK YOU ALL!!!


* You can see some of those "words" if you click on that cute lens cap up there.

Atypical Milestones

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In the blogging world, folks seem to celebrate big posting anniversarys like 100! 300! 500!

Well! I missed all of those! I have posted 502 times on my little slice of heaven here in blogger.com. So since I have NEVER followed a typical path in life (10-year college plan anyone? Babies, then marriage and then a house, and then not a house?), let's party people! Let's hear it for post #503!



And let's hear it for my first giveaway! I love the idea and not just because Pineapple Luv and Mrs. French have done them. I need a little bit of sercy in my life right now. Even if I am sort-of combining a giveaway and a sercy!

The 1st & 3rd person who comments on this post will receive an 8x10 photo that I have snapped. The 2nd & 4th person who comments on this post will receive a set of cards that I have made. The 5th person who comments on this post will receive something else that will be a surprise.

There you have it -- five winners, one per hundred posts and I will ship internationally! I will contact the winners on Saturday morning, when I wake up as a 38-year-old. Just another reason to party on the blog!

Now show me I have more than five loyal readers. :)

Wanna Fight?

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Sometimes in life, we encounter difficult situations or difficult people. We find ourselves needing to be mature and use our words. Sometimes words escape us and we choose to walk away. We choose this course because we know our words will be futile.

Even though inside we really want to yell:



"Hey! Wanna fight?!"


P.S. This vintage 70s photograph of myself reminds me of one of my favorite songs.

"My hands are small I know, but they're not yours, they are my own.
I am never broken and in the end, only kindness matters."

{Jewel}