Yowza

As you may have noticed, my Alt recaps came to a screeching halt.  We've had a little stomach bug floating around the house, and it left the little guy a bit clingy for a while.  I think I'm going to leave them be for now, as they didn't seem to catch much attention from you all.  If you would like more details about Alt, shoot me an email.

A quick rundown of what's going on around here...
-My website is thisclose to being done.  I'm so excited!
-I'm dealing with some crazy insomnia (hence the late night post).  You'd think I would have been posting here because of it, but I tossed and turned instead.
-I'm on crazy inspiration overload.  Anyone else?
-I'm super nervous about getting my headshot done this week.  I'm not super comfortable in front of the camera, so we'll see how this goes.
-I'm bound and determined to give lipstick a try.  I own one tube-- that was suggested to me by the lady at Sephora a couple of weeks before my wedding.  I want something fun.  Any suggestions?
-I attended Law School for Wedding Professionals last Monday and learned a ton.  TON.
-I found out that I'm the kind of girl who needs a GPS.
-I created a Facebook page for my side biz.  Yay!
-I read through my 1000+ (that plus gets me every time) posts in Reader today, after setting up a first birthday party and watching the Super Bowl.  And I didn't hit "mark as read" on a single one.
-I need sleep.

Remembering and Looking Forward

Yesterday marked a time for all Americans to sit still and remember.   The happenings on September 11th, 2001 are still so fresh in my mind.  Like many of you, I can recall everything about that day.  It's amazing how I can't remember why I went into a room, but I can remember every last detail of one tragic day. 

While yesterday was a date for remembrance, I spent some time reflecting on what J and I were doing on that date last year.  On September 11th, 2010, we had our baby shower for our little boy.  I had been hesitant to schedule the shower on a day marked by sadness.  But, I remembered what I had heard many people say after tragedy... It's important to celebrate a person's life, not dwell on their death.  And while I will never forget what happened that day so many years ago, I realized it was just as great a day to celebrate a new life. 

Thinking back on the days leading up to and the days after our baby shower, I shake my head that we were readying the house for a party and saying goodbye to family afterward, not knowing that little Finley would arrive just 9 days later. 

In our house, September 11th will always be marked as a day of mixed emotions.  And, it will always be close to our hearts.

The True Measure of a Person...

I've been drawn to a lot of quotes in the past few months, and this one just sticks with me.

A Great Forward

Everyone has friends that sends email forwards. I can usually tell whether it's going to ask me to forward to a bajillion people or face a miserable existence and delete those before opening them. I received this one yesterday and actually thought it was cute. I think my favorite is number 12.

The Zen of Sarcasm

1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me alone.

2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and leaky tire.

3. It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.


4. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.

5. Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.

6. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.

7. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.

8. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

9. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is probably not for you.

10. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

11. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably a wise investment.

12. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.

13. Some days you're the bug; some days you're the windshield.

14. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

15. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.

16. A closed mouth gathers no foot.

17. Duct tape is like 'The Force'. It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.

18. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.

19. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving .

20. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

21. Never miss a good chance to shut up.

AND

22 . Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

Reflection

With six months of wedded togetherness under my belt, I have been trying to reflect on how my goals for 2010 translate into making myself better within our relationship. It's surprisingly easy to forget that a relationship is about both of you. Everything has gone swimmingly-- no real arguments. But, I've found myself becoming increasingly annoyed with the most inane things.

So, I took another hard look at why I was annoyed. I immediately realized that I was being lame. Thoughts running through my head, "Hello! Wake up... you're the one being the jerk. Get over yourself. Pay attention to your husband-- your husband who just carted all of your tubs down to the crawl space and didn't make a peep. Yes, we have our differences, but he was that way for the 7 years before you got married and isn't going to change. So, bend a little!"

These two goals popped into mind...
*Banish negativity.
*Be less critical, more patient and loving. {Do things for others just because.}

Holy epiphany, Batman. Amazing what you'll realize when you just pay attention. So, I'm going to slow down, listen to him, and not get so annoyed that he didn't shut the freakin' closet door before coming to bed. Oh, and remember this...
and this...

Why... Hello! Nice to Meet You. Are You New Here?

Aloha, 2010! I'm so excited to see you. I know we just met, but I see us becoming great friends. Too much, too soon? I certainly hope not.

While my 2010 didn't start in the most ideal way, I've turned my frown upside down. I generally dislike resolutions... I'd rather call them "goals". Wouldn't you rather work toward a goal than fail at a resolution? I certainly would. I noticed a resounding theme to my goals for the year-- becoming a better me. I think most of us strive to be better people, but putting it out in the open (and on paper) seems to help me feel a little more accountable. So, let's get these out in the interwebs for all to see. Hold on to your hats... this may be a long one! It's okay if you choose to stop reading now, as this is more for me than you anyway. Right?

Self:
*Learn something new. {sewing something other than paper; playing guitar; using my Gocco that has sat in a box for over a year; letterpress; photography... all good options}
*Let go of the past... and the idea that it's bad if people don't care for you.
*Be less critical, more patient and loving. {Do things for others just because.}
*Tame the road rage.
*Practice penmanship.
*Make time to fellowship with family and friends.
*Have date nights with my husband.
*Banish negativity.
*Make time for me.

Health:
*Do something physical at least 3 times per week.
*Cut out caffeine. {I had this in the bag the past two months, and I want to continue it.}
*Eat less processed foods, more fruit and fiber.

Home:
*Finally "finish" the second spare room. {It's been only semi-decorated for nearly 4 years.}
*Organize magazines in home office. Stacking is no longer pretty.
*Downsize shoe collection. {WHA?! Yep, I really mean it. Look for Ebay posts soon!}
*Sell my wedding dress.
*Sort linens and craft supplies, then purge.
*List either the dresser or armoire for spare room on Craigslist, and then paint the other one.
*Master log-splitting and fire-building. {Maybe this should go under health! My arms are not up to snuff apparently.}
*Talk J into demoing out the crawl space. {This is why they're called goals, my friends.}

You:
*Find a direction for the blog. It's been fledgling for months. Any ideas?
*Meet more of you in person.... which leads me to my next post.

Get Over Yourself

When I get down, I often remind myself that my situation is not the worst thing in the world. Life will go on, and I need to just get over myself. Reading this breaks my heart more than I can even explain. I cannot remotely imagine the pain this family must be feeling. It's a reminder that I need to pick myself up and move forward. Thank you for all of your wonderful comments on my last post. Your well wishes mean more to me than I could ever think to repay.

There's An App For That...

CDOT (the Colorado Department of Transportation) invested $8k to create an "app" for iPhones called "R-U-Buzzed?" that calculates your BAC (blood alcohol concentration). The app is free. The general idea seems to be a good one-- while the disclaimer does state it's only an estimate based on your weight, gender, time frame and alcohol consumption, it might keep a few "I've only had a couple" drivers off the road. The question is... will you be sober enough to be able to use it?

Our Little Town Made Jay Leno

Remember this post? Apparently, I'm not the only one that found it funny. Skip to 13:24 to see what Jay Leno thought. TOO hilarious.

You Gotta Love the Blotter

One of the things I enjoy every morning is reading the blotter in the local newspaper. This one made me laugh out loud.

5:38 p.m. Police were called to a report of a suspicious incident in the 2900 block of West Acres Drive where a woman reported that she found feces in her toilet that she did not think she put there. There was no damage to the house and no other reason to believe someone had been inside the house.

Remember to flush, people.

What Happened to Fall?

It is snowing right now. Seriously. Yesterday it was in the 70s, and now it's snowing. No wonder I'm sick! When we left for WI, I was wearing a tank, skirt, and sandals. When we got back 4 days later, it was 50 and snowing. I'm not ready for this.

No Posts Today

For the first time since starting my weekly Wedding Wednesday posts, I'm taking a moment of silence. I debated whether to even mention it on the blog, but I felt like I needed to explain my absence. On Monday morning, a friend of mine, a local restaurant owner, lost his life in a horrible incident while back east on a trip visiting with his fiancee's parents. The details are just too gruesome to divulge, and I'm having such a hard time with the reality of it all. The whole ordeal has me thrown for a loop... questioning every detail. It is just too devastating. I hope that what I gain from it is the understanding that life is precious. Take a moment to tell those you love just that!

You Let Me Down...

I am officially out of the money for the NCAA bracket. Dang you, Memphis. My heart is breaking! I was in third place in one and second in another and really could have used some extra moolah. You gave a good showing in the second half... and then you let me down. Sigh.

A Little Something to Make You Laugh This Morning...

I don’t know if I told you, but J bought me houseshoes for Christmas. When I opened them, they were two left feet. He had had the store wrap them, and they didn't check them to see if they matched.

About a year ago, I bought new ski boots because mine were starting to pack out and bug me. I tried one on in the store and the other was on display, so they brought them to the register for me. I finally opened them last night because my old boots were finally "done"… and they were two left feet.

Is someone trying to tell me something? Because, apparently everyone seems to think I have two left feet!

To Friend or Not to Friend

Over a year ago, I decided to delete my MySpace account. I came to the realization that I wasn't really on it enough to use it, AND I wasn't really into my "friends". I had accepted "friendships" with people that I had no plan to speak to in real life. I had only gotten on MySpace because my younger brothers were on it, and it seemed like that was the only real way to communicate with them. (Apparently, they both adored their cell minutes more than they adored their sister! Sob.) It seemed as though everybody I didn't even know wanted to be my "friend". I was over it.

Months later, I decided to join Facebook. I liked that you didn't have to set up a fun background to make yourself look cool. And-- I planned to not extend or accept friend requests unless I truly wanted to be in touch with someone. Now, nearly a year later, I am torn with how to respond to unwanted friend requests. For instance, this morning, I got a friend request from someone that was a very good guy friend throughout high school and then distantly when I was in college. He has visited me in Colorado several times since I moved. THEN-- he did the unthinkable. He invited himself for a visit just over a year ago and acted like a complete and utter fool-- Valentine's weekend, no less. He invited a friend from high school that I literally had not seen since graduation, and then decided to treat J like a jerk and profess his undying love for me in front of everyone. He was angry when I didn't reciprocate. He stayed another 2 days when I made it clear I wasn't thrilled with his presence. I have spoken to him once since he left my house during that trip. He has tried calling, sent weird Hallmark cards, and then sent random texts on my birthday and Christmas. I've virtually written him off. (Although, I did still send his parents a Christmas card because they obviously didn't know their son had acted like a weirdo.) Now, he has decided to open a Facebook account and wants to be my friend. I haven't told him J and I are getting married, and I have no desire to even have a conversation with him because of his bizarre behavior. We come from a small town, so I hate to not accept his "friendship". Plus, I hardly interact with several of the people that I've reconnected with... but I just hate to bring him into my life at all.

So... how do you handle unwanted "friendships"? *Update-- my mom says to go ahead befriend him, even if it's just for show.*

Sneak Peek

I thought I would give you a sneak peek of a recent purchase and see if you can guess how I'm going to use it. Answers tomorrow!
Any ideas?

Posts

The closest I came to a decent internet connection this weekend was the browser on my Blackberry, so posts will be a little slow going today. I hope you all had a great weekend!

Any Ebates Users?

Are there any Ebates users out there? I somehow signed up for an account, but I'm almost afraid to try it. Don't ask me why. So, does it work? Do you really save loads of moolah, or is it just a pipe dream? Weigh in.

Oh-- Please Don't Tell Me It's True...

... that Domino is shutting down, too! That would be the last of my home decor magazines! Three or four down the drain. I want to cry. My favorite time of the month is when all of my mags come, and I sit and peruse them for hours.

I Have A Virus...

Actually, my laptop does. Ugh. Expect posts to be few and far between while I am trying to kill the bugger.