Eat Pray Love

yay! I have been on the waiting list for Eat Pray Love for probably 4 to 5 months and it came into today at the library for me! So tonight I will start that...I am so excited to read it. I know it is going to be a book I want to have one day.

Book List so far for 2008

1. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (read 2 times)
2. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer (read 2 times)
3. Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer (read 2 times)
4. Marked (House of Night, Bk. 1) by PC Cast & Kristin Cast
5. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
6. Stolen by Kelley Armstrong
7. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
8. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
9. Betrayed: House of Night, Bk 2 by PC Cast & Kristin Cast
10. The Fiery Cross (Outlander series) by Diana Gabaldon
11. The Princess Bride by William Goldman
12. A Breath of Snow and Ashes (Outlander series) by Diana Gabaldon
13. The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
14. Pretties by Scott Westerfeld

Not very many this year yet.

I am going to be reading the Jean M. Auel Earth's children series next. I read the first 4 books ages and ages ago so I am going to reread them before I read the last book.

Homemade Baked Donuts

I made this recipe today...well yesterday really.

Gratitude Friday

5 Things I am thankful for...
1. That the homemade donuts I made today turned out - first try.
2. Quality time with Michael tonight
3. For the absolutely beautiful day we had today
4. For being able to have all the windows open because it was so nice today
5. For feeling better...less coughing and more energy

Spring Cleaning

Yesterday was the start of spring cleaning for me. I did most of the kitchen. Cleaned out cupboards and wiped everything down. A pen exploded in the holder that sits in the kitchen so that was a fun mess to clean up. Yesterday I got the bill folders organized. So things are progressing pretty good this week although tonight I am having a pretty bad coughing attack. Tomorrow I want to work on the bedroom. But I also have to do some graphic work - designing a business card/stationary. The client is actually purchasing 2 of the logos that we did because she liked both 2 out of the bunch we did for her. I also have 3 websites to be working on too. So busy as always with work. And as always I am thankful for that.

In cleaning I put out a tea set that was my Grandmother's. It has a little teapot with wicker handle and then 6 little cups. The kind of cups that you get oriental restaurants when you order tea - no handles just small little cups. Two of the cups have chips in them. But in putting it out with all the tags the bottom it made me realize that I have quite a few things from my Grandmothers that I don't use because I am scared of ruining them or breaking them. Like all the linens my Grandmother gave me -- I just don't want to ruin them. But most of the stuff sits in a cupboard out of view. Oh a few of the teapots are on display but just no room for all of them. But it bothers me that they are not used but at the same time I don't feel I can use them for fear of breaking them or ruining them. I want that little piece of them around for a long time.

(the photo isn't of the teapot I described but one of the teapots that was my Grandma's - has tags on it and was given to my Grandparent's for their wedding June 1949)

This Never Happened Before

I just watched The Lake House. I forgot that it is a beautiful love story. I also really like the Paul McCartney song in it....




Lyrics...

I'm very sure, this never happened to me before
I met you and now I'm sure
This never happened before

Now I see, this is the way it's supposed to be
I met you and now I see
This is the way it should be

This is the way it should be, for lovers
They shouldn't go it alone
It's not so good when your on your own

So come to me, now we can be what we want to be
I love you and now I see
This is the way it should be
This is the way it should be

This is the way it should be, for lovers
They shouldn't go it alone
It's not so good when your on your own

I'm very sure, this never happened to me before
I met you and now I'm sure
This never happened before (This never happened before)
This never happened before (This never happened before)
This never happened before (This never happened before)
This never happened before

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I am feeling better! yay! Yesterday was no cough syrup and no decongestant and I slept all through the night without coughing. I woke up a few times but didn't cough. Today I had one coughing fit and some cough syrup but I know I am getting better - much better. My energy level though isn't very good still -- very tired and doing just a few things makes me feel worn out.

Saturday Michael called to say he was coming home! He wasn't suppose to be coming home until today so that made me happy. Especially since he will be gone so much in the next month. He has lots of work to do before he leaves the end of March. Unfortunately there isn't a lot of stuff I can do to help him so feeling a little useless. I do want to get started on spring cleaning though. I have several things I have already started to get ready for it.

Since Michael wasn't suppose to be home today we didn't get a corned beef brisket so this morning we got going early to the grocery store to pick up one. I don't like it at all so it will just be Michael enjoying it. Michael is Irish so not having corned beef on St. Patrick's Day is a sin ya know. So there is a brisket in the crockpot right now.

One thing I need to get done this week...putting this here so I can remember....I need to get our bill files sorted. I haven't made up the 2008 folders and it is March. Ugggh!

Something else I would like to do it some art. I haven't done art in a long time. I have done some digital stuff but nothing at my work table (which is mounded high of supplies and such that need to be organized). I bought a few new things last month hoping to inspire me to create but I am scared to create. It is a big block. I think I am going to have to force it - maybe doe some ATC's to help break the ice. I just am not sure what to do though to help get through it.

Well going to get to work....

I hope everyone has a fantastic St. Patrick's Day!

100 Things | Birthdays

5. Birthdays are very important to me - not only mine but celebrating family and friends birthdays too.

My parents have always made birthdays a very BIG deal. It wasn't just a time to get presents and have cake. It was a time to celebrate your birth - that you were in this world. I am not even sure how to explain all the nuances of it that made it so special.

When my sisters and I were younger we had a tradition with my Dad. We would go out to eat at a nice restaurant with my Dad...just the birthday girl and my Dad. It would usually be the day before or after the birthday. I know looking back the reason they did that was because taking all 5 of us out to dinner at a place like that was not in their budget. But it still was a wonderfully special time to just share my birthday with Dad. When we lived in North Dakota, we didn't really do this as there was only a few places to eat out (one a Dairy Queen and another a pizza place). But when we moved to Omaha this tradition started. I remember that first birthday in Omaha - dressing up and going to a place that had candles and flowers on the table, dimmed lights and it was a table for two - my Dad and I celebrating my birthday. I still remember it so clearly. It is a wonderful memory that I will always cherish.

As I said above birthdays were about celebrating we were born and in the world. And my Mom really made it the day completely memorable and personal. From just the right words in a card to the special plate we got to have dinner on. It was red and I think it said "my special day" on it and celebrate maybe. But it always just a wonderful day of family and friends celebrating. Even quiet celebrations always seemed extraordinary.

So now when friends and family have a birthday, I like to make sure I remember them and celebrate their birthday. I want to acknowledge that they are special and loved. That I care that they were born on that day...thankful they were born. Whether it is through just a simple card or note saying Happy Birthday or a big party...it is a celebration of life....and important special life.


(photos of me - 1st birthday, 8th birthday and 12th birthday)

Short Ramble

Just writing to say I am alive. I am still coughing. Thursday was really bad and Friday not as bad but still not fun. Right now coughing isn't great which is why I am up. I also have a lot of pressure in my head and teeth are throbbing.

In The Fiery Cross (from the Outlander series)...there was this part where Brianna was asking Claire if she always knew she wanted to be a doctor. They are discussing professions of their various loved ones. The discussion ends with Brianna saying something about Jamie and what he is and Claire says, "He is a man and that is a hard work." Jamie is a man. It made sense to me because there is a difference between being a man and being a man. Which are just words but my infliction when saying them is different because they are different. Michael is a man. It is one reason I fell in love with him.

I know this post skipped around -- that is how my brain is working tonight. But now I am going to try to get some sleep though.

Unbelievable

Michael sent me 2 links this morning that are just unbelievable....

The first Women in jeans cannot be raped

And then like the last line of the little commentary on this video says....

"While there’s no profanity in this clip, this is some of the most offensive language you’ll ever hear."

It is a state rep for Oklahoma saying some absolutely horrible things about gays and lesbians.

Both just make me sick....I don't get how people can believe the things they do...such hateful things.

100 Things | Left-handed

4. I am left-handed.

When I started kindergarten my teacher was of that mind set that no one should be left handed. And so she made me do everything right handed. Because of that it really screwed up my thinking and slowed me down because I just couldn't get how to write using my right hand. I would at times switch to my left hand and she would come over and slap my hand and then stick the pencil or crayon in my right hand. So by the end of the year it was evident I wasn't getting things. It was suggested I take another year of kindergarten. So yes I had to repeat kindergarten thanks to a teacher who thought it was wrong to be left handed. I also have to say I started kindergarten when i was 4 because my birthday was on that line so they started me then even though most of the kids were 5. So in the new year I actually ended up being with my friends - kids from my neighborhood. But more importantly my new teacher let me be left handed. My teacher was a friend of my Mom's so that probably helped since the teacher knew me on a personal level.

I always liked being left handed because it was unique. And that combined with my unique name and I felt different. And I liked that (most of the time). But of course there are things about being left handed that sucked. I always had to sit with he other left handed people. In every grade until Jr. High my teachers always made all the left handed people sit together so we weren't bumping elbows with others. And that bothered me because teachers would move seating arrangement around a few times a year but really the lefties never changed because we always sat next to each other. And at times that didn't even make sense because our desks weren't always right up next to each so bumping elbows wouldn't have been an issue but we still sat next to each other.

I have problems at times though learning things that are taught from a right hand perspective. Like in gym when they were teaching us golf I had a hard time converting what I was seeing into how I would stand and do things with my left hand. And I think really some of that goes back to kindergarten when I was forced to be right handed it made brain goes "can't compute!" I can logically sit here and say okay if their right hand was on top my left hand would be on top. But when I am standing there watching and then have to do it...I get confused. I know I stopped doing sports partly for that reason because I couldn't get it.

There are a lot of little things daily that remind me that I am left handed. But I still like that I am left handed.

Missing Due to Sickness

I still have the cold. It seems better but that might be me just wanting it to be better. As I really can't manage much. I had a fever on and off all day which was annoying going from hot to cold -- robe on - robe off - socks on - socks off. I should have been the karate kid and done wax on wax off instead - it would have been more fun.

I haven't accomplished much this weekend - watched lots of movies (Princess Diaries, Love Actually, The Bodyguard, Westside Story and The Missing). Well I did get some work done yesterday but this weekend for the most part I have been so incredibly tired. I do hope to get more done this week.

We are going grocery shopping tomorrow. I also have the last book in the Outlander series ready for me at the library so need to pick that up. I actually should request a few more as Michael leaves to go out of town this week for several days and if I finish a book I am going to have a hard time at night with him gone and no book to read.

Our cats have been sitting next to the vent in the bathroom. It was kind of freaking me - that we might have a mouse again. But Michael took the vent off and looked down it and there is no evidence of mice at all. So not sure what is up with them but it has been a little nerve racking since mice are my one of my biggest fears.

Busy month coming up

...actually -- busy SPRING coming up...

I'm going to be lucky for things to "calm" down by June at this rate, but it's good to be busy and being self employed. Our projects lately have had a very wide range to them: audio editing, video production work, website design, trial consulting, training, logo design, duplication and scanning. Which is actually the way I like it -- having such variety so that we're not tied into one thing or another.

Darby has been sick the past week and a half -- poor girl. The coughs just sound miserable and yet we've done all we can, so we're riding out the storm as best we can.

The pussy cats are doing well -- both of them are atop my monitor right now in the office looking adorable as usual.

I hope to get some photography done tomorrow morning as I need a small break in the middle of all of these projects. I leave for Denver this coming Thursday and I'm going to be very busy between now and then.

On that note -- I'm going to get some more Peets Coffee (OMG - this stuff is so good!!!) and continue with my duplication project that's taking forever....

Gratitude Friday

5 Things I am Thankful for....
1. Warm clothes for when I am sick
2. Movies to pass the time when I am sick
3. A good cup of tea and book
4. Michael taking good care of me
5. Michael giving me Dances with Wolves this week to enjoy over and over again

The Fiery Cross

I am reading the Fiery Cross the 5th book in the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. I got to a part of the book last night that has just stuck with me all day.

There is a hanging of a major character. The whole experience from how it happened, to the actual hanging and now how they are dealing with it just hung with me all day. It was pretty graphic and intense.

I am still sick. And on top of the cold - today I had the stomach flu and a migraine. So it was a fun day. (yes that is said with sarcasm.) I did get a little work done though so that is good. I think I will watch Love Actually here in a bit and do some more work. A thrilling Friday night huh? We are just so busy - always a good thing. But Michael might be gone for a month in Denver so I know he is working hard to get projects wrapped up before then. So it will be a working weekend for both of us.

I signed up for Coke rewards a while back. When I cashed in some points for a free 12 pack, they sent us a coupon for it. So being me, I thought lets put this somewhere safe so I don't lose it. Well I put in such a safe place that I can't find it. Ugghh I hate when that happens!

my art is back....

I finally got some of my art back on to my website. I did a different type of gallery. The code is cool because it is all css - I know speaking geek. But usually things like that run with java which is a much more complicated coding language. Anyway my art is back up and that makes me feel a little better. But I really want to do a redesign of the website now.

Sick

I jinxed myself as just a week or two ago I told Michael it has been over a year since I had a full blown cold. I might get some symptoms but then with airborne I seem to knock it out before it gets further along. But this time I didn't see it coming. I went to bed one night and woke up the next with a sore throat. So now I have a pretty bad cold - squeaky voice, bad headache, body aches, ear ache and coughing. I am just hoping Michael keeps it away with airborne.

I am trying to take it easy as much as possible. Michael has been great at taking care of me.

Dances with Wolves

Last week Michael in casual conversation asked me one movie I really wanted and without even thinking I said "Dances with Wolves - extended version." I always have enjoyed stories of the frontier and pioneer life. It is probably one of my favorite time-periods to read about or watch movies on it. I am a big fan of Dances with Wolves - the cinematography, the music, the writing just really engaged me and swept me up into the story. I used to have it on VHS - the extended version which is 4 hours instead of the 3 hour original. I watched over and over and over. Whenever it was on tv - even though I owned to movie I still would end up watching it. We haven't had it on DVD yet. And when I see it in Best Buy and the likes it was always the original and I want the extended version.

When Michael was out one day last week he went looking for it - to many different stores in GJ. But didn't find it. He ended up telling me that he had been looking for it. I told him the only place I had seen the extended version was on Amazon. I really didn't think of it again. Well he went and ordered it but didn't tell me. It arrived in the mail today.

I cried. So I am sitting here with Dances with Wolves playing and a big smile on my face. I am a very lucky girl to have someone so thoughtful in my life.


ps: Michael was just filing some movies into our movie library and said he wouldn't even leave a spot for Dances with Wolves as he figured it wouldn't ever make it there. And just sit on my DVD player always.

100 Things | Paulo Coehlo

3. Paulo Coehlo is one of my favorite authors to read.

A good friend of mine recommended the author and I am so grateful she did. I requested that she give me a suggestion on which Paulo Coelho book to read first. She suggested I read The Valkyries and for that time in my life it was the perfect Coelho book. That was the summer of 2001.

The books is about love, relationships and spiritual-self journey. I think most people get different things out of books. But over-all Coelho's books seem to be about spiritual-self journeys. His books are a mixture of well religion, spirituality and mysticism. Coelho is a Christian, but his form of Christianity is very different then the one I was brought up on.

The Valkyries is a "true" story. A story of a journey in Coelho's life. It is a story of the acceptance of love. It is a journey of love intermixed with trust, faith and forgiveness. It is the story of becoming our spiritual self while battling the darkness inside. It is a story of relationships and accepting love in relationships. The ideas that came through were much like ideas that came through in The Celestine Prophecy to me - it spoke of universal ideas and spirituality.

The main thing I got out of the book is that we are responsible for everything that happens in our lives and in our world. Such as if we are negative then that breeds negative things in our life. But with love and openness to what comes our way, we can change things. If we start to look at the world with love then that force will give back to the world and ourselves in abundance. Hokey? Maybe but I believe it.

One of my favorite quote sform the book:

"He knew one of the women well, and had shared his universe with her. They had seen the same mountains, and the same trees, although each of them had seem them differently. She knew his weaknesses, his moments of hatred, of despair. Yet she was there at his side. They shared the same universe."

I have read The Pilgrimage, The Alchemist, The Zahir and Eleven Minutes.

I would like to read all his books because his works often give me insight to my spiritual path and just self awareness. But also they are just very good stories that make me keep wanting to know what the next page will say.

Webware Awards

Because we are geeks in this household I voted for the Webware awards and in looking over the sites found some that I think could be useful! (such as Rememberthemilk.com)