Grateful Friday- Home

1. Grateful for a safe trip home without any major toddler tantrums on the airplane!
2. A great vacation. This view that I got to wake up to each morning.
3. My parents- they are so generous to us.
4. Being home- vacations great, but home is home! And after being away all the things that I hate about my house- actually seems beautiful!
5. Wonderful and thoughtful ladies that I work with.
6. Tacos- Advocatos- Tomatoes, Chocolate
7. Finding a new piano teacher that we really like almost as much as the old piano teacher. Although we can't wait till Sally comes back! Miss you Sally.
8. A new critter that may find it's home with us. Pending application, we are adopting a new kitty. Seems soon- but also feels right.
9. A wonderful break from the computer world. It was much needed and very very pleasant! Although I missed SPT and Sunday Scribblings.
10. Spring, April, Easter, Birds, Tree Buds, Tulips, Pastels and all the stuff this season brings.
11. Dophins, Manatees, Stingrays, Cranes, Palm Trees, Blue Skys, 80 degree temps, swimming, hiking, Mangroves, crabs, snails, horseshoe crabs, starfish, seashells

Grateful Friday

1. Getting ready to fly south. Just like a bird. To soak up some sun, relax and enjoy every minute with my family.
2. A good friend who will be staying with my pet.
3. Sunshine... yes a sunny day here.
4. Spring break! Love it when the kids are home. (Ask me later in the week and see if I still answer the same. LOL)
5. My mother-in-law, who sent me my birthday present early(a month and a half early) so that I could spend it on our vacation.
6. That my husband has a good job, got a good performance review and will not be layed off anytime in the near future. (Not so for my brother-in-law, 2nd layoff in 5 years, sucks)
7. Options. I have options, I have choices to make, I have plans to lay down, I have goals to a make, I have classes to take. But I have options. Not stuck, Not stuck at all. A year ago about this time- that's how I felt. What a difference a year can make.
8. A nice reply to my blog regarding my cat. It made me happy. Just a note from a stranger, but it was kind.
9. Two days to clean my house. Yes, I will be cleaning my home for above said friend who will be living here for 2 weeks. So I will be dusting, vacumming, washing floors, changing beds and looking to make sure there are not any leftover christmas decorations visible anywhere. Seriously-glad to have the weekend to do this. It will keep me very sane.
10. Again glass half full- not half empty. Continuously reminding myself of this. It makes all the difference.
11. Another good book.
12. Almond MM's in wonderful pastel colors.
13. My to do list is getting smaller.
14. Did I mention- heading south!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't Feed the Animals!

Some pics from this past weekend.
We spent a lot of time enjoying
the wonderful spring weather.
So were the animals.

Wanted to post some
happy pictures today.

Feeling blue

my heart is broken a little
Took Isak in yesturday instead
of waiting for today.
I just couldn't see him
not eat for another day.

I've had pets die.
But I have never had
to euthanize a pet.
It is a different experience.
I really do not have words to explain.
But it was very hard to leave him there
to walk out without him.
He tried to hid in the tissue box when we
got in the office. Dumb kiity, you are not the small.
The doctor was sweet to both of us.
She told him how beautiful he was, and what a good kitty he was.
It sounds so corny, but it really did help.
It was so hard to leave, and even though I was not
crying as I left, anyone in the waiting room could
see that I had been crying.

Our dog is acting different.
She was looking for him all night.
And now she will not go in the living room.
That is where they used to nap together.

Ok, Enough of that. But it feels good
to get it off my chest. I know he was just
a pet. But he was my pet. And I miss him.

Four days until we leave for Florida (yeah)
A new Greys tonight (Double yeah)
And a new show after Grey's that looks pretty good (Super Yeah)
Rhonna's got a website back up. Can't wait until
she starts journaling again. Always found her to be very
inspiring!

SPT-Time to Say Good-bye

It's time.
I have been giving him lots of love.
I gave myself a few days,
but Thursday is drawing near,
much too fast.

In my heart
I know that
I am doing the right thing.
But...
the decision to end a life
(even if it is a pet)
weights heavy on me.

Grateful Friday...(ok I'm a little late-Saturday)

1. Oh, I am so grateful for the weather. It's 42 degrees with full sunshine. Melting all the snow from last weeks snow storm. The snow is packy so the kids can play in it. Just what I was in need of.


2. A little road trip to one of our favorite vacation spots. Full of old architecture and dive resturants. A good day!


3. Another good book. It will be out in May 07.


4. Girl Scout cookies. Ok, I'll admit that I really should not be too grateful for these. I have had way too many of them and am already regretting them. However, they arrived at a very good time.


5. Getting a new garage door opener on Monday. Yes, it is one of the major appliances that crapped out on us this month. Grateful to have the cash to pay for the replacement and installation. Too bad it didn't happen when the weather was frigid. But it will be nice not to manually open the door. Especially since there are no handles on the door to pull open or shut.


6. The birds have been singing and getting frisky with each other. Didn't realize how much I missed their constant music. Can't wait to see my first Robin of the season. Soon Very Soon!


7. The realization that I have been looking at the glass "half empty" instead of "half full". It really does make a difference. Another post on this epiphany in the near future.


8. Another realization as to what is at the heart of my dispair. The obvious answer is just the catalyst. But the real reason is deeper. And now that I have discovered the real reason, it makes it much easier to deal with the situation as a whole and put perspective on the whole thing.


9. Eggs, Toast, Bacon and Hashbrowns for lunch with a big glass on Diet Pepsi!


10. Time to love up an old friend, pet, companion. Not much time left to enjoy him. I am coming to terms with the need to euthanize him. It hurts. I just wish he could pass quietly in his sleep. But I really don't think that is going to happen. Something is different in him this week. And a little bit of his spark has left his eyes. The hardest part is knowing when. And we are going on vacation for 10 days. Someone is staying at our house during that time. But, I just would hate for anything to happen to him while we are gone. Yet, I hate to end his life earlier, just because we are leaving. Not sure what to do.


11. Work. I really like my job. And I really like the women that I work with.


12. Very grateful for the shift in my mood. Very Very grateful!

SPT- Scattered Thoughts

Lately I have not been able to focus.

My attention span has been short.

My energy levels are manic.

I am in need of movement.

I am in need of fresh air

and warm sun.

I want to feel the sun sinking

beneath my skin.

I want to feel the hairs on

my arms come alive.

I crave the colors of mother nature.

I crave her movements,

her smells and her rebirth.

I wish to see blues, greens, yellows.

I wish to hear the neighborhood children

singing, yelling, chatting.

I wish to hear the birds, the robins,

the cardinals, even the beastly blue jay.

My thoughts are all over the place

this March, as the change of seasons

approach. I anticipate the forward

movement into a new season and phase.

I am in need of

organization....

challenge....

achievment....

activity....

purpose....

direction....

Seriously- enough is enough!

2 days of snow, ice, rain, wind

UGH!

in my best Charlie Brown voice.

Although- Lucy loved it (see above photo)

She won't after Tuesday.

Tuesday she gets a haircut. Big Time

She will go from looking like a border collie to a beagle.

And after sitting in her snowspot- she stinks.

Stinks like wet hairy dog.

She can sit and watch the neighborhood forever.

Kinda like the dog on Bugs Bunny.

The one that watches the sheep.

The one that outwits the wild e coyote.

The one that can't see because his hair is in his eyes.

Thats her when she is outside.

Inside however, she is Nana from Peter Pan.

Always hearding the family together.

Always coming to get me if she thinks I need to

do a better job watching the kiddos.

Seriously!

It's a bit endearing and annoying at the same time.

Sunday Scribblings- Superstitions

I am not superstitious.
Not me.
Never.

1. When reading I will not stop if the next chapter is 13 or 14. This is a recent habit, and I do not know where it came from. Why 14 you ask- well because I will have read 13 chapters, like the 13th floor that doesn't exisit in any hotels. So I am not sure which chapter would be the ... well you know. I find this terribly funny because 13 is actually my lucky number.
2. When driving past a cemetary- I have to force myself not to hold my breath. And just between you and me, sometimes I hold it anyway.
3. I do not walk under ladders. Ever.
4. I always wear my necklace with my charm of the virgin Mary when we take long road trips. Ok, I wear it on short road trips as well. And... I pretty much wear it always, unless I have to dress up for something and put on some pearls or wear a cute funky summer necklace. But as soon as I am back home and remember, the charm necklace goes back on.
5. I do not like to take baths or showers when I am home alone. Of course sometimes hygiene wins out and it is a must... just kidding. I think it's a PSYCHO thing.
6. When I was a little girl, my babysitter let me stay up and watch scary movies. Dracula and the old werewolf ones still stand out in my mind. So growing up, I figured no one could bite me in the neck if they could not see it, so I slept with the blankets curled up around my neck. Sometimes I still do. Habit maybe....
7. I would definately throw a pinch of salt over my shoulder more often, but I can never remember which one the right or the left. And you just would not want to get that one wrong or I am sure something bad would happen. Wouldn't it?
8. I love garlic and if necessary I would wear it.
9. Black cats do not bother me in the least. Except if I were walking at night all alone.
10. I prefer the basement door shut. My cat does not however, it's where we keep the liter box. So I have taught him to find me when he needs to go. And he does. Of course we open the door when we are not home.
11. At night, if everyone else is asleep, I avoid mirrors, reflection, etc.
12. Never step on a crack if I can help it.
13. Oh no, can't end on 13.
14. Can't end on 14 either.
15. Oh this one feel good, safe good, yeah.
16. Hmm. I would never open an umbrella inside. Does that count, because it actually does not make much sense to open an umbrella inside, they usually do not fit through the doorway.
17. See a penny pick it up. Always.

So like I said -not superstitious. Definately not obsessive compulsive. Just good ole normal behaviour. Right?

Is it bad luck to publish a post without a photo? Just curious.

Grateful Friday

1. Meet Isak. He's old.
Going on 17 years. I know that cats can live till 20. But 17 is old. As much as I do not
want him to die. I know (and hope) he does not live for another 3 years.He's skinny, and sleepy and a bit forgetful. Do cats get dementia? So far he is still holding his own. Doesn't seem in any pain right now. But I am grateful that he is still around. 17 years. A lot has happened in 17 years. I was only 21 when I got him. 21. God is that young. God was I stupid back then.

2. VERY grateful that my girls are feeling better. Oh we have
had the sickies in this house. And the little one- well brought her
to the Dr. for antibiotics. Boy did that make a difference. YEAH!

3. VERY grateful that I remembered to make a grooming appointment
for Lucy (our dog). Not only is she shedding like crazy, she stinks!


4. Had a good night sleep last night. (without a Tylenol PM!)


5. Clean sheets on the bed. Can't even begin to count how many
loads of laundry I did yesturday.


6. A sleepy baby. She is finally taking a good nap. This morning she put on
her snow boots, grabed her blanket and layed down on the kitchen floor and...
GASP...fell asleep. Stayed sleeping...another GASP... as I carried her to her room.
And...a final gasp...she is still sleeping 2 hours later! Maybe it's the boots.

7. Got a raise at work. OK just an itty bitty raise. But a raise none the less.
Hey I don't work at a bookstore to make big bucks.

8. The fall 07/Spring 08 (so weird to write 08) class schedules are out
at school. Registration begins for fall in April. According to the class offered,
I will be finshed in 1 1/2 year from now. Graduation should be December 08!
So happy to be finishing up my degree. It just opens so many doors. In so many ways it
is very stupid. The classes I have to take to finish up are not going to make me
a better employee, and they have very little to do with what I want to do.
Do you really need humanities classes when you are almost 40, very well read, and
have worked and volunteered for years. Not really. So much life experience at this
point in life. Enough life experience to just suck it up and get a good grade.

9. Get to scrap tonight. Our Ladies Guild at church is hosting a crop night.
Yes I am psyching myself up for this. It's Friday night- I would much rather
be at home in my jammies, cuddled on the couch with one of my snuggly offspring.
And then later cuddled up on my pillow reading another VERY GOOD BOOK.
I really do not like crop parties. I am not good at them. I cannot talk and eat and
scrapbook. It is a bit surprising to me, since I am usually very good at multi-tasking.
But it really takes up most of my cerebral muscle just being social. It's not really in my
nature. I am a bit of an introvert! I just have learned to hid it very well.
So I am printing out a few pictures tonight and am going to take my January and
February Jenni Bowlin kits and scrap like a mad woman! Because I need to dig into
those kits before the March one arrives. Haven't scrapped much lately and well, I like
to hoard my Jennie Bowlin kits. They are just too pretty to use.

10. Gotta have 10! Grateful that my parents made it to Florida safetly. They drove.
And got there before the storms began in the South. God is Great!

Roses are read, books are too

Just finished reading this book.

It comes out in April.

Absolutely loved it.

I love it when we get

galley reads in the bookstore

that are actually good.

Most are not worth the time.

But lately we have been getting

some great shipments!

It's a snowy, rainy, sleety, icy Thursday.

School has been cancelled.

So that means...

March in like a lion,

Out like a Lamb.

One can only hope.

I am so glad February is over.

I thought that January was bad,

but February was even worse.

It was so cold for most of the month.

I just need warm weather and sunshine.

I just need to be able to get the kids out more.

And our luck this month has not be great.

Car repair, Garage Door opener broke,

washing machine is on the fritz

(sounds like a jet is taking off in the laundry room)

Lots of expenses. Glad that I had the cash to pay for it all,

however that was supposed to go directly onto our debt.

Oh, well. At least I tried.

Ok, since I started this post my kids have officially

driven me nuts.

Love having the kids home.

But my 8 year old, does not stop talking.

Constant talking.

And he's 8, so

constant talking about a bunch of nothing.

Lots of singing. Opera style of course.

Only opera singers should sing opera.

Hope you all are enjoying your first day of March.