Weekends

Today is the seven year anniversary of my son's death. I miss him terribly. Not a day goes by that I do not think of him, wish I could hear his voice, hold him and tell him I love him and how proud I am of him. He was only 28. I watched a Dr. Phil episode I had recorded last week. It reminded me of something I always try to do. That is, honor his life, and not dwell on the day of his death. He didn't want people crying that he was gone, but smiling and laughing that he had shared time with us, short as it was. He was truly a remarkable young man.






Currently, I'm working in a position I used to work at over a year ago. My, my, my, have things changed at this nursing home, even in the past month. I had worked there for 3 weeks (in a different position), left, and now I'm back. Anyway....I have every weekend off! woohoo!!!!

Per my usual Saturday morning schedule, I went to my Weight Watchers meeting at 10:00. Then I proceeded to Joann’s to use my coupon and get patterns (if they are on sale). I did a few errands, I took my ipod to Best Buy for repair. I went to Wally World and then Sweet Bay. Last stop was Panchero’s for lunch. I ALWAYS have the burrito bowl with a tortilla on the side. I usually blow my weekly points there, but it’s worth it! mmmmm mmmmm! LOL

The Take it Further challenge for March color scheme is:

and the challenge concept is “to pay attention to the tiny details. Sometimes the small things become emblematic for something larger.” We don’t have to match the colors exactly, but as close as we can. So, I got these fat quarters at Joann’s.

I’m planning to make a quilt block if I can find one that I really like enough to do it in a much smaller size.





Friday’s picture is one of my favorite things: Pepsi One. I never liked diet sodas. But. a few years ago, I needed to cut back on calories and didn’t want to give up soda. I tried Pepsi One and liked it immediately. It doesn’t leave a nasty aftertaste like some of the other diet sodas do. When I went off the diet, I continued to drink Pepsi One.




Saturday’s picture is Bear, my ex’s black lab. She is about 13 years old. We got her from the SPCA in 2000, I think. She was to be a companion dog to Pongo our Dalmatian. Here’s a question for ya. We all know that the male dog’s name in 101 Dalmatians was Pongo. What was the female dog’s name? I dunno. I had to go look it up! Her name is Perdita or Perdy for short… Back to Bear. I swear sometimes that this dog tried to kill me. She had a habit of sneaking up behind me, lying on the floor, and when I turned around I usually tripped over her. More often than not it happened late at night when there were no lights on. When we first got her Walt took a week off from work to help her get accustomed to Pongo and our house. She's a sweet dog now but old and decrepit, all white faced and pawed. She won't be with us much longer. She has cataracts and arthritis, but doesn't seem to be in pain.


Today’s picture is of a new (to me) product I found a couple of weeks ago. It’s a body wash made by Olay. It leaves my skin soft and silky. I sound like a commercial! LOL. But seriously, it’s fa-bu-lous stuff. and it’s pretty too!






We should have no regrets. The past is finished. There is nothing to be gained by going over it. Whatever it gave us in the experiences it brought us was something we had to know. Rebecca Beard

This week so far

In a challenge I'm participating in I'm supposed to take a picture a day. I thought I would post the pics here two or three times a week and tell something about them.



This is a statue of elephants that my ex gave me for Christmas 2006. They are hand carved. I can't remember what type of stone this is. I also can't remember where I put the info card that came with it. Obviously some place where it would be safe. LOL I used to collect elephants. I have quite a few, but after a while no longer wanted to increase my collection. I only collected ones that really called to me.





These are a few of my Threads magazines. I have every issue that has been published. I LOVE going back to the older magazines and re-reading the articles.





I really like to exercise ie...lifting weights. I like my muscles getting hard and tight. And oddly enough I like the delayed soreness after I work out. This is a pic of my favorite style and brand of workout gloves. This particular brand is Bollinger. I've had other brands, but this is, in my opinion the best.




I enjoy having sushi two or three times a week. My favorite is California rolls with brown rice. I always have it with a little soy sauce and ginger. I think I like the ginger as much as the sushi.







This is Hannah Jane, my sewing goose. She was supposed to be my lawn goose, but I decided to not put her outside. She is so cute! She sits on my sewing table and advises me on my sewing. LOL On my list is to make her clothes as cute as she is. She is named after Laura Prepon's character in October Road. I enjoyed watching Laura in That 70's Show. I didn't think I would ever be able to see her as any other character but Donna. She is a really talented actress and I'm glad she got another series so quickly.




Never look down on anybody unless you're helping them up.
Jesse Jackson (1941-, American Clergyman, Civil Rights Leader)

Last Saturday night

They call me “Tater Salad.” Last Saturday night I went to see Ron White. I love me some Ron White. He’s cute, smart and has the sarcastic type of humor I love. AND, he has that cute, smurky grin I find extremely sexy. ok....TMI...LOL But he is funny!






One word frees us of all the weight and pain in life. That word is love.
Sophocles (BC 495-406, Greek Tragic Poet)

2-14-2008

I spent last evening making copies of the line drawings in my Burda magazines. I then pulled the patterns from each magazine and put them into manilla envelopes. My Burdas now take up much less space on the book shelf. I out the copies of the line drawings into a binder. Now I can pull it off the shelf and flip through it to see which pattern I want to use. Then I will go to my filing cabinet and pull the envelop corresponding to the monthly issue.
I had already taken my other patterns and put them into envelopes and put the pattern envelopes into clear page covers and put them into binders.

Since I have no plans for this evening, I'm going to trace off the top "all the popular girls" (LOL) are making. It's the wrap top from the January issue of Burda.




The future is simply infinite possibility waiting to happen. What it waits on is human imagination to crystallize its possibility.

Leland Kaiser

February's challenge

Our Take it Further Challenge for February, as set up and posed to us by Sharon Boggin, is about memory...what are we old enough to remember? My early memories come in bits and pieces, more like snapshots than flowing like a movie. Fuzzy stills frozen in time.

My earliest memory is of a Christmas. I must have been two or three. I remember waking up and hearing my parents talking in the kitchen. Too excited to stay in bed any longer I slipped out of the toasty warm bed and felt the icy cold wooden floor beneath my feet. I quickly found my pink house slippers and robe and put them on. I couldn’t wait to see what Santa had brought me!

My Mother took me straight to the living room and held me up so I could see out the window. There our front yard was covered in a layer of pristine white snow! It was a Christmas scene out of the movies.

That is where my memory stops. I think I got a child’s kitchen set and iron and ironing board. I have a memory of playing with them that is close to the same time as the Christmas memory.

I have good memories and bad memories just as everyone does. All those memories are a part of what makes me me. My personal history. No one else has lived it.

As for the color challenge, here are the colors. I’ve thought about doing a small quilted piece, maybe in the form of crazy quilting or perhaps a mandala. Still not sure yet.


Butterick has new spring patterns out. Out of the big four, Butterick is my favorite. I’ll be buying these during the next sale at Joann’s. Butterick


5173, (This is a Maggie London pattern. I LOVE most of her designs.)














5185,















and 5188.















Today is the first day in a long time that I've actually had time and motivation to sew something. I've had a pair of UFO boxers for Walt lying in my sewing basket for three or four months. I just need to hem them and put in the elastic. Today, I basted the hems. Wasn't much, but it felt good to accomplish something.

Band Meme

I found this on Trés Bon Babble.

Anyone seen the BAND MEME going around? Basically, you go to three sites to randomly select your band name, album title, and cover art.

1. Go here for the band name: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
No matter what the title of the article is, that's the name of your band.

2. Go here for the album title: www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four words from the very last quote on the page makes up the title of your band's album.

3. Go here for the cover art: www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days/
Whatever the third picture is, that's the cover to your band's album.

My results:

Name of my Band:
Apidya

Title of my first Album:
"Never Daring to Risk"

Cover Art

woo hoo!!!

I got the results of the paralegal certification exams on Tuesday. I passed!!! I am, now, officially, a certified paralegal! I was soooo excited. I opened the envelop and took out the blue folder. I slowly opened it and in the left hand flap was a letter. The first word I saw was "Congratulations." I closed the folder and re-opened it. Then I read the first paragraph. I was so happy I was almost in tears!

January 21st

Happy.
Birthday.
To.
Me.

Yay.

Today is my birthday. How old am I? We most definitely won't go there. LOL
This his how I looked when I was two. Wasn't I cute and stylish with my boots? LOL I LOVED wearing boots. I think I wore boots regularly til I was nine or ten. And it looks like my hair style hasn't changed much. LOL. It's a lot straighter now though.

We never know where life will take us. I'm not where I thought I would be. But, I'm not complaining. I didn't make the choices that would take me there. Some of my choices haven't been the best, but we all make poor choices sometimes.

Today will be very quiet. I've got to get to sleep since I have to work the 11-7 shift tonight. LOL It would have been quiet even if I didn't have to work tonight. But I would have enjoyed a nice dinner and afterwards a glass of red wine and watched a good movie. Oh well, there's always next year! LOL

Today is also the day we are celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's birthday. In one of his most famous speeches, delivered in Washington in 1963, Dr. King spoke of his dream that one day the U.S. would live up to its creed that all men are created equal. I wonder just how close are we to realizing his dream?


Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.

Martin Luther King, Jr.
(1929-1968, American Black Leader, Nobel Prize Winner, 1964)

Looking back

I had planned on posting New Year’s eve, but I was sick with a flu bug. I woke up long enough to see the ball fall in Times Square, and then back to sleep!

Looking back over 2007, I accomplished many things that I had listed as goals. (I don’t make “resolutions” as they just beg to be broken and forgotten.) I graduated from the paralegal class with a 3.97. In January I left a job that I despised. (due to unforeseen circumstances I went back to work there this past Wednesday night, but that’s a whole ‘nother post. At least it’s a different position.) I was also able to cross several things off my 101 Things list.

My major goals for this year is to get my RN license, or at least be very close to sitting for state boards by December 31st. (that license will open a lot of different doors) I need to get my notary license and get certified in Microsoft office. I also want to get the advanced paralegal certification. Minor goals include finishing my 101 Things. I will be working on needlepoint and painting projects, along with making doll clothes and teddy bears. I also plan to reach my goal weight so I can start fitting and making clothes for myself again.


I’ll also be participating in the Take It Further Challenge, details can be found here. Details for January’s challenge can be found here. We have three options for the challenge. First, we can take the monthly challenge concept develop it into an idea and design and work it in whatever media we choose. Second, if we don't like the concept we can take the monthly challenge color scheme and work a design from it. Third, we can use both the concept and work the design in the color scheme.

I am slowly working on the concept involving the color scheme in ATCs. The concept this month is a feeling of admiration for another. Since my BD is falling on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's day this year, and since I did and still do admire him, I will use him.

This is a smocking sampler I did many years ago. Another goal is to make a smocked dress for AG Molly and my size two walker doll.

You have powers you never dreamed of. You can do things you never thought you could do. There are no limitations in what you can do except the limitations of your own mind.
Darwin P. Kingsley

Christmas Eve

No matter your beliefs I wish you peace, health and a safe and happy holiday. I would also like to thank visitors who have taken time to look at and occasionally leave comments on my blog.

I'ts Christmas eve and the house is quiet. There are no children running around eager for Santa's visit. No grandma or granddad waiting to see the children's faces on Christmas morning.

Walt and I participated in the age-old tradition (LOL) of take out from mickey dees and seeing the neighborhood lights.
I didn't do a lot of decorating this year. I did put up a tree and a couple of wreaths. It's a small tree, one that Mike would put in his room when he lived here in Florida. He would put all sorts of "non-Christmas" things on it. Matchbox cars, small pictures he had drawn and other things. He always put HUGE lights on it. He loved his outrageous little tree.

I wanted my Dad to come down, but he doesn't travel so well. He's having a difficult time walking these days. He uses his wheelchair even inside his house.
Chris lives in Georgia and will visit with his Mother, who lives a couple of hours away.



You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try.
Beverly Sills (American Opera Singer)

101 Things Update

You will find my list of 101 things here.

# 17. At least once each week, read the newspaper cover to cover—Well, I’m not ever going to read the entire paper. There is a lot of items I’m just not interested in. But, I am reading more of the paper on a daily basis than I was. When I moved to Florida, I read every section every day. I just don’t have the time to do it now. I try to stay current as much as possible by reading the newspaper, watching the news, (local and national) and listening to the radio occasionally. I also get snippets of news while surfing the web. Sooo…..gonna cross this one off my list.
# 27. I going to get my DNA tested next year, by Genetree. I’m really excited to get this done. I’m eager to learn who my ancestors may have been. I do know my birth Mother’s name, and we share the same birthday, January 21st. I also know I have four half brothers. And, my adoptive Father is my cousin by birth. But, I want to know more about where my DNA originated.
# 37. My CDs have been cataloged except for the random CD that was removed from its case for listening. There are probably 4-5 in various magazines in the car/truck, stereos, and computers. Sooo….another item to cross off!
# 74. The last weekend of each month I take several hours and color and trim my hair. I also do a facial, and pedicure. I’ve been doing this for several months. I will also check this item off as completed.
I keep thinking I should be further along completing items. I just can’t seem to really get going. So many items depends on completing other items. I need to be working in order to be able to fit a lot of the things into my budget. I’m still having a difficult time finding a position with an attorney right now. I’m going to go into the nursing pool where I used to work. At least for a while. I’m not going to give up on a paralegal position though. I’m still on the list at the public defenders office.

Yet even more of these silly blogthings

You Are an Angel

A truly giving soul, you understand the spirit of Christmas.

What Christmas Ornament Are You?

You Are a Traditional Christmas Tree

For a good Christmas, you don't have to re-invent the wheel. You already have traditions, foods, and special things you bring out every year.

What Christmas Tree Are You?

You Would Be a Pet Cat

Independent and aloof, you don't like to be dependent on anyone. And as for other people, you can take them or leave them. You often don't care. You live your life by your own rules. And you have deep motivations that no one truly understands. Why you would make a great pet: You're not needy or greedy... unlike other four legged friends. Why you would make a bad pet: You're not exactly running down to greet people at the door What you would love about being a cat: Agility and freedom What you would hate about being a cat: Being treated like a dog by clueless humans

What Kind of Pet Would You Be?

Your Dominant Intelligence is Spatial Intelligence

You've got a good sense of space and how the world around you looks. You can close your eyes and "see" images. You have innate artistic talent. An eye for color and shapes, you're also a natural designer. Since you think in pictures, visual aids and demonstrations help you learn best. You would make a good navigator, sculptor, visual artist, inventor, architect, interior designer, or engineer.

What Kind of Intelligence Do You Have?

Body for Life

Today ends my first 12 week challenge of Body for Life. I did ok. I did have lapses the last two weeks. During the last month I regained 3.4 pounds and a few inches on my waist and abs. I lost 6.4 pounds and 12.25 inches. I'm very pleased with my progress. Tomorrow I'll start challenge number two. I'm going to tweak the program though. I'll have a new aerobics program (it can be seen here). I'll also have a new upper body routine, seen here, and a new lower body routine, here. Also, you can see comparison photos here.

I am responsible for my own well being, my own happiness. The choices and decisions I make regarding my life directly influences the quality of my days.
Kathleen Andrus

Okay

Today I finished day two of the NALA CLA examinations. and honestly, I don't have a clue as to how I did. Yesterday, I took a communications exam and a judgement/analytical exam. Today was ethics, legal research and general law, along with four substantive law exams. I chose to take exams concerning contracts, real estate, criminal and litigation law. I didn't think I was fully prepared for the exam. But I was not alone. Out of the ten or so taking the exams for the first time, none of us thought we were prepared. I am going to continue to study, just in case I do have to retest. The continued study will help further cement the knowledge I already have and prepare me for an advanced exam in litigation.

Oh, and after the first of the year I "get" to start studying and taking my nursing exams. I'm going after my RN license through Excelsior College. I made a promise to my Mom before she passed on that I would become an RN and it's been almost 10 years.

Body for Life

I have one more week on my first BFL challenge. I had a hiccup last week, what with Thanksgiving. I'm going to make up the workouts I missed on Thursday and Friday. Hopefully, I'll finish strong and at least maintain what I've done.

I'm not sure if I'll continue BFL. I will continue to work in 12 week challenges, but, I probably won't exercise according to BFL. I'm thinking I'll do weights 6 days a week, alternating upper and lower body. I'll do moderate aerobic exercise 6 days a week also. Then, I'll compare my results with my first challenge and make adjustments as needed.

There is nothing love cannot face; there is no limit to its faith, its hope, and its endurance.
Bible, I Corinthians 13:7

Not sure why I have

a weakness for these little questionares........

Your Brain's Pattern

Your brain is always looking for the connections in life. You always amaze your friends by figuring out things first. You're also good at connecting people - and often play match maker. You see the world in fluid, flexible terms. Nothing is black or white.

What Pattern Is Your Brain?

What Holiday Food are You?

You Are a Gingerbread House

A little spicy and a little sweet, anyone would like to be lost in the woods with you.

What Holiday Food Are You?

What color are you?

you are teal #008080

Your dominant hues are green and blue. You're smart and you know it, and want to use your power to help people and relate to others. Even though you tend to battle with yourself, you solve other people's conflicts well. Your saturation level is very high - you are all about getting things done. The world may think you work too hard but you have a lot to show for it, and it keeps you going. You shouldn't be afraid to lead people, because if you're doing it, it'll be done right. Your outlook on life can be bright or dark, depending on the situation. You are flexible and see things objectively.

the spacefem.com html color quiz