Happy Almost Turkey Day!

I've talked before about how blessed I feel at this stage in my life and that is even more true this Thanksgiving holiday. I know it's tomorrow, but my hope is that I'll have such a turkey coma going on that I won't even feel like touching the computer!!! I love holidays. Especially those that bring family together. My only wish this year would be getting my ENTIRE family together, but I know that's not likely as they are spread out all over. But our immediate family is nearby and that's enough. Really, it's awesome!!!

So I took younger son to a movie yesterday... Bolt in 3d!! IT WAS AWESOME!!! I laughed so hard that I was crying literal tears! I couldn't catch my breath. Hilarious!!! Ok, go see it, seriously!!! My vacation has been very relaxing yet slightly productive. Didn't even realize you could do both!!! Duh!!! Finished knitting one present, realized I have lots more to do and I'm a little frazzled, but trying not to let it get to me. Most of our shopping is done thanks to a "quick" trip to Kmart the other day!!! Holy cow, great deals!!! Suddenly I'm realizing that I'm almost ready for Christmas and ds is asking to put the ornaments on the tree today!! Yippee!!! At least I have one kid in the house that likes to help, the other one would rather sulk or play video games. But then, he's 12, what else can I say???

Ok, so I was just on facebook (big shocker) and took this quiz, let's see if it will post here....


Your Result: The Lively Center of Attention - Bad result? Click here to take the quiz again!

Others see you as fresh, lively, charming, amusing, practical, and always interesting; someone who's constantly in the center of attention, but sufficiently well-balanced not one to let it go to their head. They also see you as kind, considerate, and understanding; someone who'll always cheer them up and help them out.

Can you believe it??? I like to be the center of attention. Never would have guessed it. Never. And I never use sarcasm either. Ever.

Happy Thanksgiving.

It's been awhile...

Wow! Where have the past couple of weeks gone??? They've been crazy, but that is nothing new, is it? Not much is new, but I'll do a quick update....

We had to replace the engine in hubby's Jeep. Yes, the engine. At $1600 I'm just praying it lasts us another 10 years, because the Jeep is paid for and we can't afford another car payment anytime soon. So as painful as that check was to write, I think it was the wise choice.

We went to Lansing last weekend for a night out that won't soon be topped. Met up with a dozen friends for a great night of fun and music and dancing and laughter and reminiscing and .. you get the idea... I have pics up on my Facebook, but they are a little embarrasing so I'm not going to cross-post them here. It was great to feel free and young again, even for a night.

While in Lansing I picked up yarn for a shawl for hubby's Grandma for Christmas which I was 2/3 done with yesterday and just wasn't happy so off to the frog pond it went! I started over last night and so far so good. The shape was just off and I like this second version much better. Hope she likes it and manages to stay warm again. Also picked up a sweater's worth (I hope) of yarn for me!! It's a pretty heather blue/grey color that I think is just perfect for a Mr. Greenjeans cardi that I've been thinking about. Probably will start after Christmas!

I've been working alot, but this week... I'm ON VACATION!!! Yes, I'm not working and no, we're not going anywhere. Our kids are off from school and while we have conferences and choir practices and son #1 is at a retreat weekend until Sunday and all that, we decided to keep it simple and hang around and maybe get a couple things done around the house. Sounds great to me!!!

My friend who is sick still doesn't have any answers. They are still waiting for some test results, but one possible thing they are looking for is Myasthenia Gravis. It's scary, but can be treated. We're hoping that's it. MS is still a possibility, but probably not likely at this point. I'm still asking for prayers if you're willing to join me.

Other than that, we are just plugging away! The snow has been falling all week and I'm not ready for it. I know I've lived in Michigan my whole life and I should be ready whenever for whatever, but I'm not. It is pretty though. The view at work this morning was spectacular. Let's go play!!!

I am so blessed...

I just wanted to say today that although I feel super stressed, overworked, underloved and definately underpaid and underappreciated, I am so blessed. Explain? Ok, I will.

I have friends right now suffering from cancer, friends that might possibly have MS, friends whose spouses are suffering from dementia, friends that are dealing with deaths of loved ones (we've all been there) basically all sorts of bad and unfun things. I'm alright. That in itself is a major blessing. My family is healthy, I'm healthy (mostly) and although I'm exhausted, I'm not dying. Noone can promise how long you'll live, I know that better than most, but I can live with the hope of a long and productive life and right now I see that as a great thing.

I have a job. My husband has a job. Neither are the best paying most ultimately satisfying jobs ever made, but we are working and are (for the most part) able to afford our current lifestyle and the occasional fun item and we'll have presents under the tree again this Christmas. I think that in the state of the current economy especially in Michigan, this is a thing to be very thankful for, and I am thankful.

I have so much else to be thankful for. The gift of music, the gift of laughter (my kids are banging around together giggling in the next room and that makes me smile) the gift of friendship, and yes, even the gift of knitting. Knitting is an art and I believe that art is a gift, so I'm thankful for knitting. It makes me happy and that's a blessing.

On that note, I've been knitting a couple pairs of socks these past few weeks that I don't have pics of yet (camera batteries are dead and I keep forgetting to buy new ones) but since they're not done, I'll keep the suspense going. I'm heading to Lansing on the 15th with hubby to see some old friends and I'm going to hogtie him if I have to so I can stop at Threadbear and pick up a sweater's worth of something!!! I NEED to make myself another sweater. My first one was a huge success and I love to wear it so much I'm afraid it's the only thing I'm going to wear on my days off until I make another.. so I need to buy yarn NOW!!! Hopefully I'll find the right yarn next weekend to cast on, the sooner the better!!!!

Today I hope that you find the things that are blessings in your life. Even the littlest things count. List them, even a few, and I'll guarantee that when the snow starts to fly you'll feel better. At least on the inside, where it's warm, and there's fuzzy handknits to keep you even warmer.

Happy Election Day!

Ok, is that even a real name for today? I don't know.. but I voted! Did you???? I hope so, even if you didn't vote for who I voted for, it's your vote so make it count!!!!

I got some new makeup today to go along with the new hair (which I still don't have a great pic of, sorry) and I'm so excited to try it out!!!! Somedays it's the little things, you know????

My lovely friend Coggie tagged me on her blog post that I'm supposed to play along this little game called: list 6 quirky yet boring/unspectacular things about myself. Or something like that. This will probably not be easy.. let's see... in absolutely no particular order...

1. I often randomly break into song. This happens without me even consciously being aware of it. Sometimes I am singing what I hear on the radio, occasionally in harmony. Sometimes it's what's in my head. Sometimes I harmonize with the song in my head. That's when I freak people out.

2. I hate mushrooms. Actually, they sort of freak me out. Why anyone would eat fungus that grows in the shady part of the undergrowth in the forest is beyond my comprehension. I don't like them on or around any of the food I eat, never have and never will. Even the thought of having to put a mushroom in my mouth literally makes me vomit a little. Gross.

3. I can go months without shaving my legs. I know, it's gross. But most of the winter I just don't really see the point. My legs are always covered and no one ever sees them and I really don't care so I just don't take the time or the energy which can be better spent on other things. I have no idea what I mean, but I just don't shave until spring usually. I know what you might think, but since my husband and I work such off hours, even he never sees my legs. It's truly sad.

4. I cut my grilled cheese sandwiches into triangles, diagonally across the middle. Not any of my other sandwiches, just grilled cheese. I'm not sure why, but part of my brain seems to think they taste better that way. When it's not cut like that I just don't enjoy it nearly as much.

5. I eat things in twos. Candy, cookies, pretzels, peanuts, etc. If you see me nibbling on something, most of the time, you'll see me grab two of whatever that is at a time. I can't help it, it's a sickness. There are just no reasons for most of these things, I swear.

6. I hate to call people on the phone. This didn't used to be a problem for me, but it is seriously a thing I avoid like the plague now. I think it's because of all the emailing I do. Maybe because I just hate feeling like I'm interrupting people and don't want to be a bother. I will call certain people (family mostly) and will make the necessary calls for my job, but when I'm thinking of someone and would like to know how they are doing, I just drop them an email really quickly and that's how I start most of my conversations these days. I used to be the girl on the phone for hours a night while I was a teenager, but I just can't seem to do that anymore. I love it when people call me, and will still talk forever, but I don't call people. What the heck is wrong with my brain???? I have no idea. If you have a cure for my sickness, please share!!!!

Ok, so if I'm going to tag five people who might actually read this and play along, (I have no idea if anyone reads this, so if you do, please let me know) let's try... Lori, Trish, Amy, Margo, Angie... and Coggie, this all your fault but I already read yours!!!

Why do I always do this...

I overscheduled my weekend.. AGAIN! It seems like the minute I get a free afternoon, or whatever, that I'm scheduling something else I can "fit" in .. as IF I need one more thing to do!!!

Well, that was my week. And weekend. Now it's almost over and I'm wiped out! I got my hair done on Wednesday, which was lovely (it's darker and a little shorter but no pictures yet, sorry). Then Thursday I had praise team practice, again, no biggie. Then Friday was Halloween and I was so tired after work that I ended up napping during Trick or Treat time (which was lovely for me) and hubby handed out candy while the kids went around with friends. Then of course I couldn't sleep Friday night! Worked Saturday morning, then went to nephew's birthday party (which was fun!). Gotta love 7-year-old's that are smarter than you... seriously!!! Then shopped for a new tv cuz ours was dying (that happens to tv's after 20 years as it turns out!).

Ok, so that's not so bad, until today. Sunday is usually pretty stress-free for me. Even when I sing in church like today, it's usually very rewarding and uplifting and all that. And it was all that today as well! The stress started with me forgetting to set my clocks back last night (because I was too tired to think) and getting up an hour early. I was all ready to leave when hubby reminded me of the "real" time. A little annoyed at myself I ended up just getting a bite of breakfast and getting to church early. I sat in our green room and knit for half an hour before rehearsal started which was just fine and dandy. After church I grabbed a bite of lunch by myself before choir rehearsal. Then had to run back to church for another rehearsal and service for a special prayer evening we had for members of our church who are hurting, sick, in desparate need of uplifting before the Lord. It was a lovely service and all in all a lovely day. But now I have a headache that won't go away and I'm so wiped out I barely remembered that I should at least check my email before bed!!! And now that I have.. I'm off to bed.

Hopefully writing this out will remind me that I need to stop doing this to myself... hopefully!!!