365 Photos Day 212

212/365

This is a weird side closet space in our master bedroom suite. It was supposed to be a linen/storage closet, but there was a slight misunderstanding about what needed to be in there.

Last summer I took it all apart and painted the inside when I was painting all the other upstairs closets (they were all painted in flat white. Seriously. Who does that?), and never put it back together.

However, I have worked out a plan about shelving and what will go in there, and so I started putting it back together and measuring out what else needs to go in it so that it'll be the linen closet I'd originally wanted.

Steve is never sure it's a Good Thing when he hears me using the drill upstairs. Today's conversation went like this:

Steve: What were you hanging upstairs?
Me: Pictures. (I'd finished our bedroom gallery wall earlier in the day, but he already knew that because I'd had him come in and look at it.)
Steve: In what room?
Me: What? I'm confused. I hung the pictures in our room*. You saw them, remember?
Steve: So what were you drilling?
Me: The wall?
Steve: What wall?
Me: The wall in our side closet?
Steve: Why?
Me: So that I can put up shelves and make it into a storage closet.
Steve: Hold on. This is the same closet you took everything OUT of last year? And now you're putting everything BACK?
Me: Yes. It needs to be a storage closet. It said so.
Steve: ...

*In fact, he said, "I thought you were going to hang the pictures over there." (pointing to a different wall where I'd had the paper templates hanging for a couple of days). "Well, I was, but they didn't want to be over there. But this wall wanted the pictures on it." "Huh? The walls told you this?" "Well, yeah. So I moved them. What do you think?" "Uh, looks good." (as he has a completely confused look on his face)

Poor guy. I think he's just envious that the closets and walls don't talk to him.

101 in 1001 July Sparkler Edition

Well, after not doing much in June, I went after the list again with a little (OK, a lot) more purpose. As soon as the humidity noticeably decreases, I can put in some time on the outdoor things, but my focus this month is to get the laundry room finished, and repainting my home office.
For whatever reason, August always seems to be a action-packed month, and this August will be no different.

Finished: 33
In Process: 16
Percent finished: 32.68%
Left to go: 67.32%


Finances/Giving (2/12)
1. Get Emergency Fund up to $1000 [Done 15 March 2011]
2. Pay off and close Chase Visa
3. Pay off and close Target Visa
4. Get Emergency Fund up to 3 months (~12,000)
5. Get a used truck
6. Put a $50 bill in the second collection basket
7. Put a $100 bill in the second collection basket
8. Donate to the Food Shelf 10 times ($25 or equivalent) (8/10)
9. Leave a 100% tip 5 times (3/5)
10. Choose 2 kids from the Jesse Tree during Christmas & get them presents
11. Give to a family in need during the holidays
12. Buy a scratch-off lottery ticket & donate 25% of the winnings to charity [Done 18 September 2010]

House Inside (6/12)
13. Hang up 5 pictures (5/5) [Done 17 November 2010]
14. Frame Tree picture [Done 9 September 2010]
15. Paint back room and closet [Done 13 October 2010]
16. Paint hall storage closet & set up shelves [Done 17 August 2010]
17. Spruce up front door area (outside: welcome mat, flower pots/ inside: bench, mirror, lamp)
18. Finish basement
19. Back door/entryway re-do
20. Repaint & redo my office
21. Hang curtains or blinds in master bedroom & the Kid’s room [Done 18 October 2010]
22. Get dining room chairs
23. Repaint Laundry Room
24. Repaint/redo master bathroom/closet [Done 5 October 2010]

House Outside (2/12)
25. Plant 5 trees in yard (4/5) [4 Blue Spruce planted 7 August 2010]
26. Put in back flower bed
27. Paint Storage Shed same color as house
28. Back entryway outside re-do (transition between steps and red rock)
29. Build garage
30. Put in front flower bed
31. Put in front tower flower bed
32. Put in side flower bed
33. Level out north side of house & put down the decorative rock
34. Get covers for grill & fireplace
35. Get rid of stumps in back yard [Done 28 August 2010]
36. Get a flag for front porch (and install said flag) [Done 3 July 2011]

To Do/Watch/Read (2/12)
37. Watch 101 movies (32/101)
July 2011
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II

38. Read 101 books (124/101) [ The 101 was done 2 May 2011]
July 2011 (13)
• Ratking by Michael Dibdin
• Wading Home by Rosalyn M Story
• Smokin’ Seventeen by Janet Evanovich
• Vendetta by Michael Dibdin
• Mad, Bad & Blonde by Cathie Linz
• Cabal by Michael Dibdin
• The King’s Question: Poems by Brian Culhane
• Agents of Light and Darkness by Simon R Green
• The Stepsister Scheme by Jim C Hines
• Photo Finished by Laura Childs
• Non-fiction: William & Catherine: Their Story by Andrew Morton
• Audio: The Help by Kathryn Stockett
• Audio: Vespers Rising (39 Clues)


39. Go to a Cowboys-Vikings game
40. See 5 Minnesota Tourist Attractions (0/5)
41. Visit 5 art galleries in Minnesota (1/5)
42. Watch all seasons of “24” (0/8)
43. Watch all seasons of “MI-5” (3/9)
44. Complete a crossword puzzle book
45. Watch 5 documentaries (5/5) [done 10 February 2011]
46. Read 5 Non-fiction books (2/5)
47. Donate 100, 000 grains of rice on FreeRice.com (50,000/100,000)
48. Do 5 things from the “365 Things to do in the Twin Cities” (3/5)

Health (2/12)
49. Walk to work 30 times (30/30) [Done 14 March 2011]
50. Bike around the lake
51. 175
52. 165
53. 155
54. 145
55. 135
56. Get eyes checked
57. Get new glasses or contacts
58. Get annual physical [Done 16 September 2010]
59. Do the 200 sit-ups challenge
60. Track my progress with Wii Fit for 28 consecutive days.

Grown-up/Family stuff (3/12)
61. Change life insurance beneficiaries
62. Write wills
63. Write living wills
64. Get family picture taken
65. Send out Christmas cards with aforementioned family picture on it
66. Host Brother/Sister Christmas party [Done 18 December 2010]
67. Have a family board/card game night 5 times (2/5)
68. Buy a new “grown-up” outfit (shirt/pants) [Done 23 July 2011]
69. Take a family vacation
70. Make a picture family tree
71. Get first aid certified
72. Get the Kid a car safety kit for her car [Done 28 December 2010]

Spiritual/Church (4/12)
73. Learn the Rosary Prayers
74. Go to a Latin Mass
75. Go to daily Mass for a week
76. Donate time, talent, or treasure for the CCW Bazaar [Done 1 October 2010]
77. Read the Tao te Ching [Done 18 September 2010]
78. Get a new St Christopher Medal
79. Do the Advent readings and wreath one year [Done 7 January 2011]
80. Do the Lenten readings one year
81. Do the Rice Bowl project one year [Done 17 April 2011]
82. Light an intention candle 10 times (5/10)
83. Attend Mass in the Basilica
84. Attend 2 Lenten dinners

Food (10/11)
85. Make a cake & icing (or cupcakes) from scratch [Done 24 July 2010]
86. Try 3 new restaurants (3/3) [Done 17 June 2011]
87. Do one week of meal planning [Done 31 December 2010]
88. Do one month of meal planning [Done 3 July 2011]
89. Eat 1 serving of fruit a day for a week (7/7) [Done 12 July 2010]
90. Try a new recipe [Done 1 October 2010]
91. Make cookies from scratch [Done 23 September 2010]
92. Try a different flavor ice cream (no vanilla/chocolate) [Done 12 August 2010]
93. Limit Diet Coke to 2 servings per day for 1 consecutive week (0/7 days)
94. No fast food for a month [Done 9 April 2011]
95. Try 5 different kinds of apples (5/5) [Done July 2010]

Just Because (2/6)
96. Donate hair to Locks of Love one more time
97. Take part in a pub quiz [Done 16 January 2011]
98. Complete a 500+ piece puzzle
99. Fly first class
100. Start a Tumblr [Done 8 July 2010]: http://daughteroftime.tumblr.com
101. Do a 365 day photo challenge

365 Photos Day 211

211/365

I hate weeding (outside weeding. Weeding library books inside, that I like.) with a flaming purple passion. That's some serious hate going on right there.

Yes, the results are immediately apparent. Yes, it's very gratifying to look at the nice, clean, weed-free area. I'm not big on gardening period. I'm more of a "concrete is a good thing" when it comes to flower beds.

Tonight I weeded this small bed because Steve bought a small tiller today, and said he'd till it up for me so I can plant (roll-out and bury) a flower mat that I got at Home Depot. Who knows if it'll actually grow or not? It'll be a good stop-gap thing until we get around to putting in the plants that are on the landscaping plan his cousin designed for us (which will look beautiful, provided I don't kill any of the plants).

In the meantime, the bed is (mostly) cleared of weeds/grass/anything green. And Dart was a good helper supervisor.

365 Photos Day 210

210/365

Bet you wish you had cool zebra* duct tape that was holding two sump pump hoses together because the hose needed to be longer so that it could drain further away from the house so that said sump pump didn't keep going off every 2 seconds or so.

Yep. That's us. Trendsetters to the max.

*No zebras were hurt in the making or use of this duct tape. I actually originally bought it to use for the "Zz" Storytime, but had a bunch left over.

Five Minute Friday: Still

1. Write for 5 minutes flat for pure unedited love of the written word on the prompt, “Still.”
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. Get a little crazy with encouragement in the comments of the five minuter who linked up before you.

This week's prompt:

Still.

I wish I could be still sometimes. It seems like my mind is always racing, always thinking, and where my mind goes, my body is sure to follow.

Sitting still, although widely considered to be a Good Thing, especially in school, is near impossible for me. When I attempt to sit still, I end up falling asleep.

However, I know that somewhere, probably deeeeep inside me, there is a well of stillness that I can draw on as needed. I know that is the spark that makes me, well, ME.

I know that it may be drowned out by everyday life, but that on occasion, mostly when I need it the most, if I take time to quiet all but the low rumblings, I can feel the calm, the love, the hope, the joy that is God.

STOP.

365 Photos Day 209

209/365

I've been spending more time than usual sitting on the front porch because one of our cats, Callie, who is NOT able to be seen in this photo, has decided that she likes being OUTSIDE. As much as possible. No matter how hot it is. Why? Who knows. She's taken to laying in the grass, just chilling out. Every so often she'll chase bugs, or try and run up a tree.

We don't just let our cats out to run. We go out with them and keep an eye on them so they don't wander away, get hit by a car, eat something they shouldn't, climb too many trees, or go under the porch. Basically it's like watching a toddler, but the cats are way faster. And smaller.

It's OK, though. It's fairly quiet where we are (so quiet we can sometimes hear the fish jumping in and out of the lake), and it's peaceful. So I sit outside reading, occasionally redirecting the cats, and enjoying summer.

365 Photos Day 208

208/365

Our across the street neighbor has a beautiful yard. This is his side entry...well, actually his main entry that everyone uses. Kind of like our back door is used as our main door while our front door is just for show.

All his hostas are in bloom, which to me means it's high summer and that I should get as much enjoyment out of the warm weather as I can because winter is only a few short months away.

365 Photos Day 207

207/365

Today (Tuesday) a high school classmate lost her battle with ALS.

I rarely light candles in church, but today I lit 12 in the Mary chapel. It's not that I think Frances needed any help finding her way to Heaven--I'm pretty sure she's got that covered herself.

No, I lit the candles for her husband, Scott (also a classmate and a friend), their two young daughters, her extended family, and their friends. I asked for peace for them in their time of grief and sorrow.

Scott and Frances wrote about coming to this difficult decision on their blog, Rebekah's Page, and have both faced it with resolve and courage, even though it must have been heartbreaking. I know even just reading it makes my own heart just ache for them and their entire family.

Réquiem ætérnam dona ei Dómine;
et lux perpétua lúceat ei.
Requiéscat in pace.
Amen.

365 Photos Day 206

206/365

Making art for our bedroom. I can do this kind of art. I'm not so good at other kinds of art. Yes, I know that art is whatever it wants to be, or whatever I want it to be, but my art won't win any prizes.

But that's OK, because at least I'm being (sort of) creative again, and it feels good to get back into creating and making things, even if I am a bit rusty at it.

365 Photos Day 205

205/365

Anyone else ever check a movie out from the library that you work at knowing that you probably shouldn't check any movies out let alone this one because you know yourself well enough to know that you'll end up accruing a pretty hefty fine that would probably pay for the DVD but you check it out anyway and then forget it's on your bookshelf so you don't watch it and then by the time you remember you owe big bucks and your library card is blocked and you're getting Very Serious e-mails from the library system telling you that unless you return the movie ASAP yesterday you will be billed for the cost which is waaaay too high anyway because you know you can get it on half.com or amazon.com for way less because seriously what DVD costs $48.00 anyway but hey at least the fines will only be around $15ish so you might as well watch it anyway?

Nobody? Just me?

As you were then. I have a movie to watch.

365 Photos Day 204

204/365

This was seen (and stealthily photographed on Saturday, 23 July) whilst the Kid and I were out and about looking for a sun-dress for her to wear to the ambassador candidate judging which is, well, today, I guess (Sunday afternoon at 2pm to be precise).

ANYHOW.

OK, I'll admit that I procrastinate. I'd say I was a terrible procrastinator, but actually, I'm pretty good at it.

But for the love of Pete...Halloween is not for another...hang on, let me check...99 days! NINETY-NINE DAYS!!!!!!!!!

It's bad enough that the back-to-school things are already on store shelves. But seriously, HALLOWEEN STUFF TOO?!?!?!?!?

Sigh.

It's no wonder life seems to be moving fast sometimes. One thing is done, then it's go-go-go-go-go to the next. I'd like to take some time to savor holidays like, I dunno, LABOR DAY before I think about HALLOWEEN.

(I feel like I'm turning into a grumpy old woman. If I do, I will be awesome at it, though.)

365 Photos Day 203

203/365

As I was going to do my Photo of the Day for Saturday, I realized I hadn't uploaded Friday's yet. So, here it is.

Storytime is on Friday mornings during the summer. This year, since it's my first year running it, I've been kind of making it up as I go along...which seems to be the central theme of my life sometimes.

This week, we "went" to India. There were a couple of Jakata tales read (The Monkey and Mr Crocodile was one of them) and a book about the Hindu Festival of Light, Diwali. I had the ambassador candidates and my storytime crew sing a song that Amanda had learned in preschool, which is what they're all doing here.

The tune is to "So-and-so and so-and-so, sitting in a tree", but it's 5 little monkeys sitting in a tree, teasing Mr Crocodile, "You can't catch me, you can't catch me". Along comes Mr Crocodile, quiet as can be. SNAP!.......Four little monkeys sitting in a tree.

It's a catchy tune, and was stuck in my head all day. The kids loved it, though, and giggled each time Mr Crocodile came along and SNAP!

Five Minute Friday: Full

1. Write for 5 minutes flat with no editing, tweaking or self critiquing.

2. Link back here and invite others to join in {you can grab the button code in the right side bar}.

3. Go and tell the person who linked up before you what their words meant to you. Every writer longs to feel heard.

Full...

Full. Full of what? Well, that's where choice comes in, right?

I can choose to be hate-full. I can choose to be joy-full.

I can choose to be full of myself and ignore others. I can choose to be grate-full for the bounty we have and share what we have so that others may survive.

I can choose to fill up my time with meaningless activities. I can choose to fill up my time with activities that will make a lasting mark.

I can choose to fill up my life with things or people that/who are toxic. I can choose to fill up my life with things or people that/who help me to be the person I need to be.

Mostly I choose day by day. Somedays, yes, I freely admit that I wake up with a black cloud over me and end up having a "horrible, terrible, no-good day". Those are the days that I need to take a step back and look at what I'm choosing to do at that moment.

It's those moments that help me realize how to be grace-full. And in the end, those are the moments that help me realize what this life is all about.

STOP.

365 Photos Day 202

202/365

Today the Minnesota Zoomobile came out to do a show on anti-bullying.

One of the animals used in the show was this red-tailed hawk. She's a little mistrustful of people, but is oh-so-gorgeous.

The show was for the area kids, co-sponsored by the Library Board and the local 4-H club. It addressed the topic of what to do when being bullied, and gave the kids some steps to follow.

The steps were:

1. Tell the person who is being a bully, "Please stop. I don't like what you're doing."
2. Walk away. Go somewhere that person isn't.
3. And if all else fails, go tell a responsible adult about it.

Now realistically, that's a good plan. I'm not sure I 100% agree with it all. I mean, in a perfect world where everyone is playing by the same rules, sure. Then it'd all work. But in real life? Eh. Not so much.

In fact, that's why the Kid ended up going to preschool a year before we had wanted to send her. She & I were at a McDonald's for lunch one day, and she was happily playing in the ball pit. I looked up just in time to see a little guy throwing balls at her head and hitting her with the flap on the entrance. I got up to go over to see what was going on and was proud to hear her saying, "Please stop. I don't like what you're doing." Unfortunately, the boy just kept on keeping on. Well, until he saw me coming, that is. I must have had quite the look in my eyes because his mom jumped out of her seat and hustled over to see what was going on. When I said that he'd been hitting my kid, she didn't believe her little snowflake would do such a thing. (I did manage to restrain myself from throwing balls at HER head and asking her if SHE liked it. I'm rather pleased with myself for that.) But it was obvious that my Kid had spent too much time with adults and not enough time with kids her own age, so we figured that we'd start her in the 3-year old preschool that year so she could be around people her own age.

That said, I'm not saying to meet bullying with bullying, because that's not the answer either. My parents were big on, "You don't ever START the fight, but if you have to, then you be the one to END the fight. By whatever means needed." The shift in attitudes since I was a kid oh-so-long ago is noticeable, though. We pretty much dealt with it ourselves, with little or no adult intervention. I don't know what the answer is. But I do know that the animals were really interesting at least.

365 Photos Day 201

201/365

When my friends travel abroad, the only thing I ask is that they (at some point) send me a postcard. Why? Because I don't want/need any more stuff, and besides, postcards are very cool.

These are 5 that were sent from various parts of Europe. I finally found a frame that I liked that would go in the spot I wanted to put the postcards (in the upstairs TV room).

I spent a couple of hours putting it all together tonight, making sure things looked straight. I may or may not have used a level on some of them, as them being even just a jot off would irritate me.

So, that's one project done. Too bad it wasn't on my current project list.

365 Photos Day 200

200/365

I took this, as you can see, at 10:06pm. It should not still be 85.1° at 10pm. It should not feel like 95° at 10pm.

Ah, but a new record was set, according to a local meteorologist.

Most Humid Day On Record In The Twin Cities. It's official: the dew point hit an astounding 84 at 3:21 and 3:27 pm, to set an all-time record for the most water ever observed in the skies over MSP. We'll have to see if the 84 number stands (it took place between hours), on the hour the dew point was 82. The MN Climate Office will have to verify, as early as Wednesday, whether the new record is 82 or 84. We've had 3 days/row with dew points at or above 80. Some meteorologists theorize that standing water on the Missouri (and "sweaty corn) over southern Minnesota) may be injecting more water into the air. Dew point values are 10 degrees higher at MSP than along the Gulf Coast! Take a bow, you are living through historic heat (and humidity). Wednesday may bring a high of 100 degrees in the Twin Cities. Factor in a dew point of 76-80 and it could easily feel like 115. Mercifully a cooler front knocks the dew point to near 60 by Thursday, meaning HALF as much water in the air as today. Relief is about 36 hours away.

All I know is that it's hot. And I'm really really really thankful for our air-conditioner, and that we haven't lost power like some of our friends and relatives.

365 Photos Day 199

199/365

The Kid got hit by a pitch on Sunday afternoon. This is what it looks like. Lovely, yes?

She'd gotten hit by a pitch on Saturday afternoon, but in the shoulder and neck. She says it "was no big deal", but apparently it was hard enough to make her helmet move. This is a bigger deal than the ankle because she's already had TWO concussions (that I am 100% certain of) that happened in the span of 9 months.

Research is being done on effects of concussions on athletes, true. But since it's one of those injuries that don't usually have outward physical symptoms, many coaches, parents, and even the athletes themselves tend to ignore the warning signs and send the kids back in to play before they should.

I didn't think I'd be THAT parent; you know, the one who says, "My delicate flower cannot play right now", but the more I read about the long-term effects of the kind of concussions that she's had, the more of an advocate I've become for safety first. When a concussion baseline test was offered at her high school last fall, only she and one other girl showed up to take it. I think it should be required for ALL athletes, regardless of what sport they play.

But she's fine, and even though she can't walk very fast right now, it's not broken or cracked. Only some soft tissue damage and deep bruising. The hardest thing has been to stop her from walking around too much right now, and keeping it up and iced. Duct tape may have to become a thing if she doesn't start elevating it (as in, I will duct tape her to a chair).

365 Photos Day 198

198/365

The Minnesota Chaos had a long, hot day, but ended up taking 2nd in State for the Tier A (this is very good, as they were actually a Tier B team this summer).

It was definitely well-earned. Today was extremely hot and humid--I think the temperature was about 87 and the dew point was 82. The relative humidity was between 85 and 91. Basically it was like a nice steam bath.

They get a couple of weeks off, then it'll be time to play Fall Ball, which is a shortened season that lasts until the end of September. It's usually a bit cooler outside, too, which will be nice.

365 Photos Day 197

197/365

This weekend is the State Softball tournament for the Kid's team. It's in St Cloud. I HATE driving in St Cloud. I lose massive IQ points trying to drive in St Cloud. I'm pretty sure that even a GPS couldn't help me there.

Why? I haven't the slightest. I can drive in traffic. I can drive to places I've never been before. I can drive in all sorts of weather.

But I go to St Cloud and immediately it's like my sense of direction is non-existent and I get lost, thus taking what I like to call "the scenic route". I think it has something to do with the fact that the streets and avenues are interspersed. Like I can be on the corner of 25th STREET and 2nd AVENUE (I don't actually know if that's a valid intersection), or be happily going down a street when I should be going down an avenue. Seriously, is it SO HARD to come up with different names for them all? Or how 'bout the streets that magically turn into a whole DIFFERENT street without notice? What's up with that?!?!?!

Today wasn't any different. But I did get there between games and got this picture of her, so my trip was not in vain. Plus I got to listen to my audio book (The 39 Clues: Vespers Rising), so that was good. And, I got to have some Coldstone ice cream on the way home (which I thankfully did NOT get lost trying to find--either Coldstone or the way home, although that was a near thing).

And to think...I get to do it all again on Sunday. Well, actually today, I guess. YAY!!!!

365 Photos Day 196

196/365

Tonight the 3 of us went to the last Harry Potter movie. We went to the same theater in which we watched the first one, so it was like things are coming full circle. When the first movie came out, the Kid was about 7. She dressed up in her Harry Potter Gryffindor shirt and robe for the occasion.

It was kind of odd thinking about it, that these movies have spanned the bulk of her childhood, and that like Harry, Hermione (her heroine), and Ron, she too is (almost) all grown up.

But, I'm glad that for this one last Harry Potter, her dad & I are still cool enough to go to opening night with her.

365 Photos Day 195

195/365

I took this on the way to the Kid's softball game today. It's the same traffic I drove in for 2 years during grad school.

I'd like to say that I missed it a whole bunch, but I don't want to get struck by lightning for being a liar liar pants on fire, either.

365 Photos Day 194

194/365

I like the Summer Reading program. I think I learn way more than the kids do, which is good.

It's always good to expand their knowledge of the world too, especially about other cultures. This week we're "visiting" India, so they'll be listening to a couple traditional Jataka tales and this one about Diwali.

Who knows if it'll make that much of a difference in their lives, but I'll keep on introducing multicultural things as much as I can. It's the least I can do.

365 Photos Day 193

193/365

I've been working on this since the 3rd of July. I've finally finished...mostly. There're a couple of spots that if I don't fix, I know they will bug me probably forEVER.

Yes. I can admit I can be somewhat of a perfectionist. It's always an internal struggle between, "Yes, this is GOOD ENOUGH" instead of "But it's NOT PERFECT."

When I was in college this last go-around, I chased (and attained) a perfect 4.0 GPA. It took quite a toll. I really can't say that buying Prilosec by the month is a good thing, but I did. It wasn't until I got to grad school where a friend of mine attempted (mostly in vain) to get me to subscribe to the "B and Done" way of doing things. I would tend to be bothered by the fact that I'd missed points instead of focusing on the fact that 1) it was done, and 2) it was time to keep moving on to the next big assignment.

But for now, this art is done (Mainly because I'm waiting for the paint to finish curing so I can re-do the couple of spots that's bugging me).

365 Photos Day 192

192/365

We're not quite sure sometimes if Iz knows she's actually a cat. She can play fetch like a dog, and Amanda has trained her to sit on command.

Iz has taken to sleeping flat on her back, belly up, all stretched out. Why? Who knows?

Because she's the Iz, that's why.

365 Photos Day 191

191/365

The Kid had an all-day softball tournament today. Their first game was at 8am, the last ended at just before 8pm (shouldn't have taken that long, but the games were running 2 hours behind).

Steve is the stats guy for the team, so he's there all day with her. He used to be a coach when Amanda was younger, but gave it up when she was playing U12. He's definitely a positive force in the dugout and the girls seem to like him and his very wacky sense of humor.

Of course, when games go rather badly as they sometimes will, I really do NOT want to have to ride home with the two of them. Even if Dairy Queen is going to be one of the stops on the way.

I'm glad he's still involved with her team, though. He played baseball up until he blew out his elbow, so he has a lot of knowledge and passion for the game. He started throwing balls to Amanda before she could walk, and started teaching her the CORRECT way (that's how he puts it) to bat when she was about 3.

I don't know what he'll do when she's done playing (I think she has 2 more years of eligibility left), but I do know that he won't regret getting to spend so much time with his youngest kid.

365 Photos Day 190

190/365

Earlier today I went to get paint so I could finish the touch-ups from when the drywall guys fixed some things last December. I had tried to get one color color-matched, but it didn't read right on the wall, so I figured that it'd probably be best if I just got the same paint, from the same place. So I did.

And spent almost $140.00 on 2 gallons and 1 quart of paint. This particular gallon was $63.99 before tax.

Almost SIXTY-FOUR DOLLARS.

For ONE GALLON of paint. ONE. (the other was $40-something which was bad enough)

Um, wow.

This is a gallon of paint. ONE. GALLON. True, it's a custom color, and it's a red, which, according to the guy who painted the house, is a "very difficult" color to work with.

So, what's a $64 gallon of paint look like?

I think I'll take my chances at color-matching next time. I'm pretty sure I can get a couple of gallons for less than $63.99.

365 Photos Day 189

189/365

Superman could be felled by Kryptonite.

Cinnamon is my Kryptonite.

Which is entirely not fair because so many things that I like have cinnamon in them, like the French Toast I had at the restaurant we went to on Friday night.

I first knew something was up with me & cinnamon when I was a kid. When I'd chew Big Red gum, my throat would hurt afterwards. It wasn't until I was an adult that I figured it all out and realized that I felt like I did when I got stung by a bee (which is really really crappy and I start getting an anaphylactic reaction to the venom).

I was using an essential oil warmer, and had apple cinnamon oil in it. I was sitting about 2 feet away, and the longer I sat there, the worse I felt. My throat was all weird and felt kind of closed up, and my mouth was tingling. When I went to another room, I was fine. So, I figured it was just the smell and stopped using it.

It's been in the last couple of years that it's become worse, though, and has extended to other spices like nutmeg, allspice, and most of the good ones for baking.

So most of my favorite cookies are a no-go anymore (Molasses, Gingersnaps) and I can't have my favorite-ist birthday cake anymore (a homemade applesauce spice cake with buttercream frosting). Sometimes I think that if I'dve known the allergy would get so bad, I would've spent days on end eating nothing BUT those things.

Five Minute Friday: Grateful

1. Write for 5 minutes flat with no editing, tweaking or self critiquing.

2. Link back to The Gypsy Mama and invite others to join in {you can grab the button code in her right side bar}

3. Go and tell the person who linked up before you what their words meant to you. Every writer longs to feel heard.

This week's prompt is: Grateful.

I am filled with gratitude for who and what I have in my life. I am so unbelievably blessed with good friends, family, and people around me. Even in my darkest moments, when I question what in the world is going on, I know that my lows are someone else's dream.

It was in that midsummer moment that I sat in that cathedral and felt a Presence all around me that reassured me that no matter how bad things ever got, or where I went, that I would always, ALWAYS be OK. It was that moment that I realized that no matter what (I thought) my heavy burden was, I would never have to carry it alone...all I had to do was ask for help.

It was in that other midsummer moment when I was only seconds away from what would have been a very painful death that I got my second chance. I was only 20, but yet, through some grace, I was able to sidestep that check-out point and get a second chance, which admittedly some days I feel like I've wasted.

I am grateful for all that has been given to me, and realize that it is my privilege to be able to help others. Not because I have to, but because it's an outward way of showing my gratitude to the Universe.

STOP.

365 Photos Day 188

188/365

I'm almost ready to put everything together for our New and Improved!!!! Launch Pad. However, having just patched and sanded this wall, I don't have a desire to put more holes in it than necessary.

To this end, I drew a circle around the clock that I intend to go on this wall and taped it up to see how high it needed to go. This helps me to visualize how it's all going to come together, since I have a rather shaky sense of spatial relations.

This, however, amused my other family members to no end this afternoon.

Steve: What IS that?
Me: It's my latest work of art. So don't judge, Judgy McJudgersonpants.
Steve: No, seriously. What is it?
Me: It's a clock. Well, it's the outline of the clock that'll go up there when I get that far.
Steve (gets his "ahahahaha you're on crack" look on his face): That doesn't look much like a clock.
Amanda: Yeah, where're the numbers? Don't clocks have numbers?
Me: In my office, along WITH THE REST OF THE CLOCK.

Honestly. Next time either I'll wait until nobody's home but me and the cats, or I'll just put a gazillion holes in the wall.

365 Photos Day 187

187/365

This is what Steve got me for my birthday. It's a digital measuring tape. Apparently it's much more exact than my own method of measuring, which is probably why he got it for me. He tends to be rather disapproving of how I eyeball measurements, and how I just make a mark on the measuring tape rather than just remember the actual measurement.

In any case, it's really kind of neat, and will come in handy.

365 Photos Day 186

186/365

Today is my birthday (842nd to be exact. Seriously. My official birth certificate says I was born in 1169), and it's been a pretty good day.

I didn't get any cake, I didn't get to have a good birthday dinner, and I didn't get many presents. But I did get to sit with Dart, so that's one for the plus side.

Besides, I do have so much to be grateful and thankful for that it all works out.

Here's to another year of greatness.

365 Photos Day 185

185/365

Today was for lots of fun, food, friends, fireworks, and the appreciation of all the freedoms we have.

Happy Birthday, America.

365 Photos Day 184

184/365

Since my less than stellar performance on my second 101 in 1001 list last month, I decided I'd better step it up a bit. More like a whole lot.

So, I have. Today I accomplished 2 things on the list. That's one more than I did all last month.

So far today, we've made a meal plan for the month of July, so that's number 88 (Do one month of meal planning) DONE, along with number 36, which was Get a flag for front porch (and install said flag).

The flag was definitely meant to be. We were at Menards getting more fence posts so Steve can finish the fence around this garden (apparently he doesn't like these cute rabbits to eat all his plants). Anyway, we went over to where the flags were and were looking around, and this set was $5 something...but someone had tucked a coupon under the box that allowed us to get it for $3.99. It's a little smaller than we'dve liked, but for $3.99, yeah, we can live with it for now.

365 Photos Day 183

183/365

I've spent a great deal of today sitting at my desk revamping our Summer Storytime for the next couple of weeks. This book has been a life-saver, even though it's from 1998. Our theme is Book a Trip: Read Around the World. So, every week, we "go" to a different country. We read stories from or about that country, learn how to say "hello" and "goodbye" and "please" and "thank you", and do a craft from that culture.

Since I wasn't able to find books about Greece, or any stories that the kids would really be able to comprehend (there's a whole bunch of kids who're under 4), and my readers aren't necessarily the best (my summer readers are the royalty candidates...most of whom don't seem to read for their own selves, let alone for little kids), I decided to skip Greece and move everything up a week and pick up Australia at the end. With the shifting, I had to get what would've been NEXT week's storytime lined up and planned out, and then I started on the following week's as well.

It's all good, though. That's one thing I've learned since taking over Storytime--have a plan A, but don't be too surprised if I end up actually using plan G instead.

Five Minute Friday: Welcome

This is my first week giving this a whirl. I originally came across the idea at another blog that I read, A Slob Comes Clean.

It's pretty easy...a prompt is given, and you write. You write for five minutes.
Rules:
1. Write for 5 minutes (no editing, tweaking or self critiquing)
2. Link back to her site (thegypsymama.com) and invite others to do the same.
3. Tell the person who linked up before you, what their words meant to you. Everyone loves comments!

This week's prompt is:

Welcome.


That's the feeling I used to feel as I drove over the mountain passes to my home town in eastern Oregon. That's the feeling I used to feel as I drove over the coastal range and glimpsed the ocean. That's the feeling I used to feel as I drove through the city of Portland. But I'm probably not going back for a long time (haven't been back since 2007 when I cleaned out my Mom's home after she died), so it's sort of unsettling.

Here in Minnesota, I still feel welcome, but in a different, more grounded way. It's been my home for almost half my lifetime, but I'll never really belong here...be welcome like I was where I grew up.

Perhaps it's because I was raised in a different place with different mores and values. Perhaps it's because of my contrary nature. Perhaps it's because I still miss the high desert, the mountains, the open spaces, the ocean.

Even though I've always been at home wherever I (physically) am, within myself, I'd like to feel that enfolding peace and welcome again.

STOP.

365 Photos Day 182

182/365

The last couple of days have been rather hot and humid, so it's not a huge surprise that the weather turned a little turbulent this evening. The tornado sirens went off twice, but luckily we only got hit with the very edge of the storms both times.

This was taken after the first go-round, after the sky finished being a greenish color (this color=things are about to get really ugly), but before the torrential rain.

The upside is that we don't have to water the garden tomorrow...

101 in 1001 June I Didn't Do Doodly-Squat Edition

Yep. I finished one thing. ONE. I didn't watch any movies (I've been watching MI-5 and Doc Martin), nor did I read very many books (I finished 3. THREE. Even during my worst school semesters I managed to knock off at least 4.) I've been painting walls, but more for touch-ups than doing (what I consider to be) real painting.

Overall, I'm disappointed in my lack of progress. Good thing I still have plenty of time to step up my game.

Completed: 30
In Progress: 16
Percent Completed: 29.7%
Percent Left to Go: 70.3%

Finances/Giving (2/12)
1. Get Emergency Fund up to $1000 [Done 15 March 2011]
2. Pay off and close Chase Visa
3. Pay off and close Target Visa
4. Get Emergency Fund up to 3 months (~12,000)
5. Get a used truck
6. Put a $50 bill in the second collection basket
7. Put a $100 bill in the second collection basket
8. Donate to the Food Shelf 10 times ($25 or equivalent) (7/10)
9. Leave a 100% tip 5 times (3/5)
10. Choose 2 kids from the Jesse Tree during Christmas & get them presents
11. Give to a family in need during the holidays
12. Buy a scratch-off lottery ticket & donate 25% of the winnings to charity [Done 18 September 2010]

House Inside (6/12)
13. Hang up 5 pictures (5/5) [Done 17 November 2010]
14. Frame Tree picture [Done 9 September 2010]
15. Paint back room and closet [Done 13 October 2010]
16. Paint hall storage closet & set up shelves [Done 17 August 2010]
17. Spruce up front door area (outside: welcome mat, flower pots/ inside: bench, mirror, lamp)
18. Finish basement
19. Back door/entryway re-do
20. Repaint & redo my office
21. Hang curtains or blinds in master bedroom & the Kid’s room [Done 18 October 2010]
22. Get dining room chairs
23. Repaint Laundry Room
24. Repaint/redo master bathroom/closet [Done 5 October 2010]

House Outside (1/12)
25. Plant 5 trees in yard (4/5) [4 Blue Spruce planted 7 August 2010]
26. Put in back flower bed
27. Paint Storage Shed same color as house
28. Back entryway outside re-do (transition between steps and red rock)
29. Build garage
30. Put in front flower bed
31. Put in front tower flower bed
32. Put in side flower bed
33. Level out north side of house & put down the decorative rock
34. Get covers for grill & fireplace
35. Get rid of stumps in back yard [Done 28 August 2010]
36. Get a flag for front porch (and install said flag)

To Do/Watch/Read (2/12)
37. Watch 101 movies (30/101)
June 2011

38. Read 101 books (110/101) [Done 2 May 2011]
May 2011 (3)
• Bel Air Dead by Stuart Woods
• The Baker Street Letters by Michael Robertson
• Non-fiction: The Ultimate Cheapskate’s Road Map to True Riches by Jeff Yeager

39. Go to a Cowboys-Vikings game
40. See 5 Minnesota Tourist Attractions (0/5)
41. Visit 5 art galleries in Minnesota (1/5)
42. Watch all seasons of “24” (0/8)
43. Watch all seasons of “MI-5” (3/9)
44. Complete a crossword puzzle book
45. Watch 5 documentaries (5/5) [done 10 February 2011]
46. Read 5 Non-fiction books (2/5)
47. Donate 100, 000 grains of rice on FreeRice.com (36,560/100,000)
48. Do 5 things from the “365 Things to do in the Twin Cities” (3/5)

Health (2/12)
49. Walk to work 30 times (30/30) [Done 14 March 2011]
50. Bike around the lake
51. 175
52. 165
53. 155
54. 145
55. 135
56. Get eyes checked
57. Get new glasses or contacts
58. Get annual physical [Done 16 September 2010]
59. Do the 200 sit-ups challenge
60. Track my progress with Wii Fit for 28 consecutive days.

Grown-up/Family stuff (2/12)
61. Change life insurance beneficiaries
62. Write wills
63. Write living wills
64. Get family picture taken
65. Send out Christmas cards with aforementioned family picture on it
66. Host Brother/Sister Christmas party [Done 18 December 2010]
67. Have a family board/card game night 5 times (2/5)
68. Buy a new “grown-up” outfit (shirt/pants)
69. Take a family vacation
70. Make a picture family tree
71. Get first aid certified
72. Get the Kid a car safety kit for her car [Done 28 December 2010]

Spiritual/Church (4/12)
73. Learn the Rosary Prayers
74. Go to a Latin Mass
75. Go to daily Mass for a week
76. Donate time, talent, or treasure for the CCW Bazaar [Done 1 October 2010]
77. Read the Tao te Ching [Done 18 September 2010]
78. Get a new St Christopher Medal
79. Do the Advent readings and wreath one year [Done 7 January 2011]
80. Do the Lenten readings one year
81. Do the Rice Bowl project one year [Done 17 April 2011]
82. Light an intention candle 10 times (4/10)
83. Attend Mass in the Basilica
84. Attend 2 Lenten dinners

Food (8/12)
85. Make a cake & icing (or cupcakes) from scratch [Done 24 July 2010]
86. Try 3 new restaurants (3/3) [Done 17 June 2011]
87. Do one week of meal planning [Done 31 December 2010]
88. Do one month of meal planning
89. Eat 1 serving of fruit a day for a week (7/7) [Done 12 July 2010]
90. Try a new recipe [Done 1 October 2010]
91. Make cookies from scratch [Done 23 September 2010]
92. Try a different flavor ice cream (no vanilla/chocolate) [Done 12 August 2010]
93. Limit Diet Coke to 2 servings per day for 1 consecutive week (0/7 days)
94. No fast food for a month [Done 9 April 2011]
95. Try 5 different kinds of apples (5/5) [Done July 2010]

Just Because (2/6)
96. Donate hair to Locks of Love one more time
97. Take part in a pub quiz [Done 16 January 2011]
98. Complete a 500+ piece puzzle
99. Fly first class
100. Start a Tumblr [Done 8 July 2010]: http://daughteroftime.tumblr.com
101. Do a 365 day photo challenge

365 Photos Day 181

181/365

I immensely enjoy this television series. Not just because it's from Acorn Media, which seems to produce excellent programs on a regular basis, but because Doc Martin reminds me of me (He's not one for small talk, likes to get straight to the point, and baffles almost everyone by his way of being).