Oh, what a tangled web we weave!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Our town doesn't really have a REAL trick-or-treat: Today, Benjamin (via the Boys & Girls Club) got to "beg" at the local university. Of course, the college kids went all out, creating a haunted house and had a pizza party for them afterward!!!! Friday at 3pm (YES, 3PM) they can visit the local merchants downtown. THAT'S IT.....REALLY!!!!!! Don't know what the hell's up with these people?????????? OK, most of them are Bible beaters, so it's probably the whole devil/satan/going to hell thing!
Life is taking a strange turn....
We've had this doe coming into our back yard for a couple years now. Last year, she had a fawn; if this is the same one, this year, she does not. She likes eating apples, peaches, and persimmons off the ground and trees. After watching her for a while, she got spook when she saw Bob's red video camera light and hasn't been back. This morning as I was going down the road (a good way away from our house), I saw a doe run across the road. Knowing they don't normally travel alone, I slowed down and looked to her departed direction for followers. Without seeing anything, I traveled cautiously waiting for a runner. I flashed my lights at the cars coming toward me to make them aware of a possible "something" up ahead. Well, when I looked in my rear-view mirror, all I saw were brake lights and a little brown & white ball rolling in the grass. Thankfully the driver pulled over, but I'm afraid little Bambi didn't make it. I didn't cry, but it has effected me all day. I just can't imagine the Momma watching what happened to her baby without being able to run to comfort him/her.
On the lighter side of life, I'm in the midst of CHAOS!!!!!!!!!!!! This weekend we are going to Gulf Shores for our first REAL family vacation!! The boys have not been/seen water like this before. I can't wait to see their faces when we pull up. We're planning on going to a refuge which supports all the Gulf wildlife, like 2,000 lbs turtles, all the birds you could imagine (especially pelicans & herrons), and even alligators! I would also like to take a ride on a chartered boat to see if we can find some dolphins or manatees swimming in the Gulf of Mexico! I think Bob's even going to take Benjamin parasailing!
Of course, when we get back is when the real fun begins!!!! I'm going to have to start getting my stuff ready for at least FOUR weeks in Dallas. Then during Columbus Day week, I'll have to wash all my clothes and pack again for another FIVE weeks in Dallas. I'm planning to mail my sewing machine to the hotel and pack a bag full of only fabric & fabric accessories! The boys still do not know of my plans, but I'm waiting for all hell to break loose when they do. I've only been separated from them for a weekend throughout either of their short little lives. So needless to say, I might have to get a webcam to take with me! Please hope for the safety of the children, as Daddy Hitler takes over. He is so much stricter (and moodier lately) than I am. So hopefully they will not have dents in the floor where they've had to stand in the corner for weeks on end. But then again, he's usually nicer to them when I'm out of the picture, so hopefully this is the case this time. I couldn't imagine spending 10 weeks in his wrath!!!!Christmas in Montevallo yesterday!!!
Not only did our furnace/ac come on a 40' long semi (which will NOT fit anyway up our driveway), but Bob also received his grout gun (a really cool invention that puts the grout in the seams...with all our tiling projects, we needed this YEARS ago). We also go our new upgraded cell phones. OK, I've never thought I could love a material thing, but this phone is like a computer about the size of a business card. Since I'm so losing my mind (thank you Arthur Itis!!), I have my whole life on a flash drive. Now I can keep it on my phone with a back up on my computer. Ahhhhh, technology. The tree guys have taken another two loads of trees (for all of you playing at home that makes 6 loads of trees). So, we'll be getting our check shortly for all the timber...more Christmas!!! And I'm so excited, Mona was at the house yesterday!!!! Apparently she's been there for a week, but with all the boxes and other crap around the house I didn't notice until yesterday, so it just topped off Christmas in May!!!!
Benjamin has four more days of school and excited to beat hell!!!! He is such a social butterfly. Cohen has been back and forth to Nan & Pap's since Bob's been busy with trees and furnaces and grout, OH MY!!! So he's getting pretty spoiled for his next three month stint at the parental units.
I got to fabric shopping yesterday for a couple of new orders (banners...they are going to be SWEET!!!!)...sorry Traci, not rubbing it in :o) I plan to get my T-shirt quilt done this weekend. Since I'm feeling a bit better I haven't been sleeping at lunch...I'm been doing Quilted Memories projects...it almost makes the first 5 hours worth it!!!!
Aw, what will the week bring?
I have decided I will get one of the jobs at University of Montevallo (read: five miles away from the house)! If I believe it, it will happen, right? This will allow me more time with Bob, the boys, and sewing all these projects I have.
I have started on my Memorial/Independence Day projects: Patriotic table runner, napkins, decorated kitchen towels, coasters, and pot holders!!!! I've also been recruited for another clergy cassock. Then of course, I still have Ms. Traci's alterations, skirts and shirt. UGH! I need to make more of my time.
Had a good Mother's Day with two new beautiful flowers and Benjamin's sentiments from school: "My mom is cute! My mom should be mom of the year because she says goodnight when I go to bed. My mom can help me tak out the trash. My mom can help my dad work and help me do my homework! My mom helps me get ready for school. My mom is nice!!" Such a sweetie!!!!
Ah...what's a girl to do????
Cohen is still Cohen...he's decided he's not going to Kindergarten. He's going to turn one again. How do explain to a five year old that doesn't work??? Cohen is staying with my mom and dad this summer, Benjamin was too until the deal of the summer came around...he's my social butterfly, he wouldn't have been happy with just Nan, Pap and Cohen for company.
I'm still busy with Quilted Memories projects. To the right is Mona...she's my new model!!! Got a great deal on eBay. I never imagined myself in the clothing business, but I'm doing pretty good since I'm working without patterns. I'm still doing my traditional stuff...one of the newest suggestions has been shower curtains. One of my color combos on the left. I have to actually get cracking and make my 72"x72" curtain. I'm also doing patriotic coasters & pot holders for Memorial/Independence Day. I'm also trying to get Tool Rolls started for Father's Day...yeah, I'm a little busy...this darn full-time job is getting in the way of the fun!!!!!!!!The weekend of the black abyss
To recap: I slept 47 hours from Friday, 10am until Monday, 530am!!!!! At least I can say I'm feeling a bit better. Still have a headache today, my eyes are still blurry, took a nap in my chair at lunch*, can't concentrate on work (I'm doing really good on writing articles and books and stuff, OH MY).
~~So Amanda, how did you become a writer? "Well, I couldn't concentrate on the job I got paid for, so I used that time to write a novel, 14 articles and so on." Yeah, that's how I'm seeing my life pay off. I've started four stories and I have submitted them to four reliable sources who I know will tear me down just to build me back up :o) One of the ramblings I emailed back to Redbook is getting published...sometime. I missed the deadline this month for All You Magazine. I downloaded a list of writing contests to enter, but haven't gotten it back out since all these sewing projects have piled up.
Cohen and Benjamin had a great Easter...Benjamin even sent the Easter Bunny a thank you letter. The flag was up on the mailbox when we left last night!!! Cohen had this really weird thing going on last night though. About 10 times in a minute, he would look at something like he was trying to focus, he'd move his eyes as far right as they would possibly go and open them as wide as they'd go. Thankfully he isn't doing it today, but man, that was some odd looking crap.
* Don't know if you ever have, but I have woken myself up snoring, laughing, talking, farting, etc. Well, it's commonly known that I sleep in my office during lunch. Just close the door, prop my feet up and thank goodness for reclining chairs!!! Today I didn't figure I'd actually go to sleep (did you see above?), but I thought I'd rest my eyes and think about what I'm going to do tonight. Next thing I know I'm yelling words I can't understand, scaring the crap out myself!!! I asked my neighbors if they heard me, but I don't think they want to tell me the truth.
So many things, so little time...
Working full-time (and driving 1+ hours to get there and home), trying to grow a sewing business (www.quiltedmemories4u.etsy.com), trying to be a mom to two children that act exactly like their mom and dad, and at this point with Bob home, I don't even try to be a wife.
I realized long ago that I am NOT SuperWoman or SuperMom, even though I still try. It's like beating a dead horse, but I just can't get out of my mind that I can do all things woman...clean, cook, teach, mentor, taxi, fornicate, make happy, sleep, sew, satisfy, and on and on and on and on and on. I think my body has given up on this marathon, but my mind is still in the race. Even on drugs I get depressed very easily, but then there are days that nothing can stop me (but my hurting body).
I realize I am evil. I don't have thoughts as others have (however, Bob and Mom are close 2nds!!). I don't look at the world as others do...I'm not Godly, or even spiritual at the moment, I don't have time for that crap. I guess I just take responsibility for my own actions, figure you're going to die whenever the timer goes off, and if you don't like something about yourself, change it. I kinda like being the curly-headed, goth, black humor, off-the-wall, unknown, girl from Cowtown that has a way of corrupting even the best people. I don't fit in anywhere, except on House & Roseanne. Except, I just feel they exploit the personality for comedic entertainment for those who don't (or don't want to) understand people like me. People use these as "feel good" shows; you know like watching "Jon & Kate Plus 8" and thinking...OK, my life can be sooooo much worse, I can handle this. It's the days when you think...OK, I don't want to handle this anymore that become more demanding.
I hear myself keep repeating a portion of a book I used to read to the boys: Sometimes I like to curl up in a ball, so no one can see because I am so small. When the day ends and the sun starts to fall, I do what I do best of all, I find somewhere soft, somewhere cozy and small. And that's where I like to curl up in a ball.
WIN!!!WIN!!!WIN!!!
As most of you know I am a member of Etsy; a haven for all that is handmade. Well, I've just recently found: www.etsygiveaways.blogspot.com!!! What is it you ask....free stuff from those talented people who create this wonderful stuff! I have entered a couple, but the one I am most excited about is listed on www.mommyworksblog.blogspot.com. You can click this link to get there directly http://mommyworksblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/momanizer-great-solution-for-any-mom.html?showComment=1236951120000#c8412758628841306049 or click her button on my front page. You may want to roam around a while...she has all sorts of wonderful ideas for us working moms.
BUT HURRY...contest ends the day before my birthday - I was going to see how many of you remembered it, but...The contest ends March 21 @ 11:59pm CST.
