Yikes!

Wow, it's been a while since I have written here (10 days to be exact!) The ups and downs and post-reunification drama has continued. I'm continuing to do the best I can and continue to be blessed by amazing people when I need love and support the most. Last week, I saw my "Spiritual Director" and went out with a foster/adoptive mom friend for her birthday. This week I see my Therapist and have lunch plans with two "old" friends (one I haven't seen in probably three years and the other I haven't seen in months). Tonight I got my hair cut for the first time since before my nephew was born in March and got to be at my mom and dad's for "family dinner".

I'm trying to fix up my "junk" room into a room that could be the "main" bedroom for a future placement. My aunt came over last week to help with that. I told the agency that I would start accepting phone calls in September since I had to sign up to work extra shifts in August and don't feel like that would be fair to a placement. Of course, that's "my" plan and I will keep an open mind and believe I will know if it feels right before then.

I love the teen so much, but the past week she has been acting very "teenager-like" and it isn't at all fun. I know she is struggling with adjusting to how things are with her mom after living here for seven weeks. I also know that it is much easier to lash out at me than her mom (I'm pretty scared of her mom too), so I'm trying not to take it personally. She is still not registered for school, even though it starts in less than a month.

This is really scattered and I'll try to write more details of what's been going this week some time (with updates as they come as it seems to change on a day-to-day basis).

Until then, good night.

Life in (Cell Phone) Pictures

I know I need to do a real update about the work situation, but it's been a while since I wrote anything here, so wanted to check in :) I uploaded some pictures from my cell phone to my computer, so thought that would be a fun update.

I've been trying to clean/organize to get ready for the party I was having today/for future foster placements. I found this note and picture from Sara/Gitzen Girl. I miss her...forever and always a "Gitzen Girl Groupie"...

I bought some boots that appear to be at least close to the "trend" as well as a pair of "skinny jeans". My mom gave me the green jacket as well as the striped shirt, so I believe I sent these pictures to her (and maybe to twitter). I know I'm by no means "skinny", but looking back at older pictures during my cleaning make me believe I really did lose nearly 10 pounds last year

I painted one wall in my bedroom when I first moved into this house "beach ball yellow". I tried doing a sponge paint thing but didn't do it right, so it just looked like I got it wet and messed up the paint. However, it took me over eight years to fix it. I bought new bedding on sale (still expensive, but SO comfy!) and painted the walls gray. I really like it!

My mom gave me a gr0up0n for shellac before Christmas. I have done it three times since then and I really like it. I've been a nail biter forever, but can't with this. Now I have nails AND the manicure stayed nice even through the painting project and cleaning/organizing.

I got this really great canvas in the mail from a twitter/blog friend. I hung it in my new gray bedroom on  a nail that was already there but it will probably be moved since it's kind of hidden. (This picture was taken in my kitchen...the wall colors in there are "Bordeaux".)

This purple room is where the little one slept, even though it was/is mostly a junk room. I have done a lot of work in here, but there is still a lot more to do to make it a functional room. I'm not sure if I'll be able to use it as a bedroom again since I was really lucky she never got into anything she wasn't supposed to!

I moved the table to that space (after I cleared it off and removed the stickers...gotta love goo gone!) There used to be an armoire there, but I moved it into the purple room for now since I thought my bedroom seemed too cluttered with it in there.

All week, they were predicting a big snow for today. I went to the store last night and quickly snapped this picture. There were no bananas and very few fruits/vegetables of any kind, but I did get what I needed.

It really did snow and it was a wet and heavy snow that was perfect for snowmen making, but not-so-much for shoveling. It cleared off quickly and the plows came through early, so I didn't have to cancel my party.

I sent out seven invitations to people from church. One couple emailed me soon after they got the invite that they and their two kids would not be able to come. Another person emailed me last night that she had a funeral to go to so couldn't make it. I wasn't sure what would happen with the snow, but everyone lives close and were all excited to get out of the house since it wasn't too bad. There ended up being 9 adults (including me) and 10 kids aged 6 and under. I made Taco Soup (I'll have to post the recipe next time) which was a huge hit and ordered some pizzas. The kids played in my play room and did more playing than eating, so I have quite a bit of pizza left. I wasn't sure how it was all going to work and thought maybe the dads would watch TV in the living room or something and the moms would be down with the kids or a mix of both...I didn't have any plans bedsides the food and getting a craft for the kids to do in case they got bored.

As it turned out, the three dads who could come went downstairs and visited while the kids played. The  kids migrated upstairs as they got hungry and then went back to play. They played with the Barbies, babies, kitchen, paint, markers, pretty much everything in my apparently well-stocked play room :) I was surprised to see how clean it was when they left (these are "after" pictures!) It was so great having something social to do and I think everyone had a good time. One of the moms I invited had never met the others, so I'm glad I was able to include her and her two girls had a fun time with the other kids (there were 7 girls and 3 boys...I need to "get" a little girl to fit right in...sad that I had a little girl who would have and we never got together the whole time she lived with me!)

Well, this is a lot longer of an update than I planned, but that's what's been going on in my life that has been "picture worthy". Tomorrow I am off and get to go have a pedicure with my mom and sister :)

Good night.

Getting Ready

Two weeks from today, I am having a party at my house. I sent 7 invitations, so it's going to a be a "full house". I'm not exactly sure what we'll do, but those 7 invitations includes 12 kids 5 and under, so it could be crazy!

I still have quite a bit of work to do to get my house "party ready", but I feel like I made some good progress this week. I rearranged some furniture in my living room and painted one of the pieces, so it looks really nice (I think so anyway...I am not at all an interior designer!) I am going to paint my bedroom and hope to get that done this week. I'm really looking forward to having a "grown-up" bedroom!

I bought some bed rails at a resale store for the bed in the room where the teen slept. I found plastic mattress covers at the dollar store.

I got reimbursed for the "day care fiasco" from the little one, so now the case is really closed. I am planning to go look at a day care near my house and my job that is open 24 hours on my next day off.

I picked up the teen from school on Thursday and we "hung out" before she came with me to a training at my foster care agency. She volunteered with the day care and I got to visit with other foster parents. The training was about the new visitation component of the agency that sounds amazing. Supervised and semi-supervised visits were not enjoyable experiences for me the first time around (visitation in general actually was the worst part of the whole experience, but having a reliable and dedicated agency will help SO much!)

I have posted on facebook a couple of times that I believe I am "almost ready" to open up the phone lines to potential foster placements. I have gotten positive responses from them. I have not directly talked to my parents, but did talk about it at therapy yesterday and to my agency worker a couple of times the past two weeks.

I am still going to "choose" wisely, but in the mean time, I am "getting ready" (even though I should have been sorting papers rather than watching TV and writing this post...)

Good night.

Organizing

On Sunday, my aunt came over for an hour or so to help me organize. I got new bedding and I decided want a "grown up" bedroom. However, I have a lot of clutter in my bedroom, the bedroom the little one slept in, everywhere...and it's all overwhelming and I just don't know what to do with anything/everything. It's amazing how much got done and how much better it looks in just one hour of her being here. I do have "a lot" of time off, but I'm so scattered on my days off that I can't focus on one task to it's end (you would love to be a fly on the wall watching me pack for a trip...I actually should put on step counter for that because I'm all over the place!) She is so helpful (same aunt who helped me rake my leaves) and encouraged me to make little lists for my day off with small tasks to cross off instead of broad ones like "clean room". I worked yesterday and today, so didn't get to do any more work on it (I was sick after work yesterday too...my new PCOS treatment was not very nice this first cycle...hopefully I won't have headache/nausea/vomiting the next one!). However, I'm off the next two days (the teen is coming over tomorrow afternoon/likely overnight too!), so hopefully I can make some more progress.

This is my bedroom...most of that stuff was on the floor (or on the book shelf that was in the "empty" space. I did put the "bulk" of it in a box that I'll have to sort through on one of my days off, but it does look better!

This is my closet. It used to have all of my scrub pants hung on the left side. The top had a bunch of boxes that I tossed as well as some candle stuff I had purchased for gifts that was not at all organized. So, it was basically wasted space. I have a piece of furniture that has my shirts hung up and my sweats/stuff like that in the drawers. That is the piece that I think makes my room too small, so I need to find homes for those clothes. I think maybe I have room now!

This is the closet in the room that was to be my office/scrapbooking room, but never made it...half of the room was that kind of stuff and the little one slept in the other side. The closet was full of boxes/bins/junk that was not at all organized. I do have to go through the large bins that were in there, but now all of my "gifts" and wrapping things are in one place. There is a shelf above there that has some other things that are more organized, but could still use a little more.

This is one of my hall closets. The bottom part was filled with "junk" as was the top part.  I threw away at least half a dozen VS bags...why did I keep those?! I had all my scrub tops in there because they definitely wouldn't fit in my closet (my parents like to buy me scrubs...I should show them this...ha!) So, now my uniform shirts AND my uniform pants are in the same place...what a concept!

Here is my "mantle". It looked much better last year with our three stockings rather than four stockings that are all mine, but it is what it is (maybe I should have taken down the palm tree picture, but I sort of had to force myself to decorate just for myself).

There is my new TV. I should have taken a picture of my previous TV for comparison, but it was a lot smaller than this! I just put the lights up there before I took the picture and they have already started to fall off...I'm not sure I really like them all that much anyway, but I wanted to try and use them.

I did put up a tree this year in case the girls came over and I actually have been enjoying having it there too (even though I often forget to turn on the lights). 

I maybe should have taken a picture of the other side of the living room, but I have tons of pictures on the walls so would have had to blur out every picture of the girls...maybe I'll do the rest of my "house tour" some day and include that. I may have already posted pictures of my new couches (this post actually has pictures of how it was decorated last Christmas and includes my old TV). I want to paint my bedroom soon and get the other bedrooms ready for any future placements (especially the little one's room...that room would not have worked as a bedroom for very many children considering the amount of "untouchables" in there!) The teen's room also worked very well for her, but may not be suitable for another placement.

So, I have some "projects" to do before the next time I see/talk to my aunt, but I'm very excited about my house coming together and looking presentable (maybe!) I may even host a party some day! 

Well, I'd better go to bed since the teen is coming over after lunch and I do have some things that need to be done before she comes. I also need to talk to her mom since all of our plans have been made between the two of us and I really need to make sure her mom is on board with everything!

Good night.

A Little Breather

I posted something on my blog every day from October 31 through December 3. After 34 days in a row, I took a little breather yesterday...and maybe should have refrained from posting today, but here I am ;)

Alece is how I decided to come up with "One Word" for 2011 (and I wasn't one of the "300 strong" who linked up). I am, however, planning to write a "wrap-up" post because I have been reflecting a lot on my word, even sharing it with multiple people this past week (twice today even). I have the next four days off, so I should have time to think about it and hopefully come up with a thoughtful reflection.

I am very much looking forward to these four days off, especially after the past four days I've worked (Wednesday, Thursday, yesterday, and today). Today was much better, even though it didn't really start off that great and I was worried it was going to be another day of running around without being able to eat or drink, but it was fine :) I even got to have a couple of "bold" words with the wife of the dad who has been making our shifts much worse than they need to be. I am thankful that I'm not nearly as shy, but I do need to watch myself...I do tend to get carried away, although dropping the "F-bomb" bright and early yesterday morning did get me some "interesting" looks from my co-workers (I don't really want to "be like that", but I am human too and some things really do irritate me enough to lose my cool now and then).

I am hoping that these days are productive ones at home, especially since the current plan is for the little one to come over for a while on Friday before we go to a play :) I need to check in with her mom tomorrow to see if that plan still works. My dad is coming over with his new drill to hang some pictures (and my mirror where I hang all my Christmas cards) tomorrow. I want to put out the rest of my Christmas decorations and send my cards (I've had them for two weeks already and need to know if I have to buy more since I didn't count before I ordered!) I think I'd like my teacher aunt to help me with some house projects during her Christmas break, but there are things I need to do to prepare for that too.

So, I have "big plans" for this week...and now they are written down to (sort of) help make me accountable (I am definitely guilty of getting caught up in reading things online/watching TV when I need to be up doing stuff).

Until the next time...good night.

New Look

I have to make this "short and sweet" since the little one is napping and I need to find energy to clean since there are PEOPLE coming to my house on Saturday for a birthday party (hopefully!) I also need to shower, pay bills, and be ready to go to a work meeting before we pick up M from school. Fun times :)

Anyway, on Saturday, my aunt and uncle came over to help me in my back yard. I've never really used my back yard even though it is fenced in. There isn't any lighting back there, but really I don't know why it never gets used. There was an ugly shed back there that held my mower, some "tools" and a handful of other items. The door had fallen off and it was a bit rusty (plus it was ugly!) So, my aunt and uncle took it down (with a little help from me!) I pulled weeds (there were a LOT of them...boy do I miss those weeds ;) ) and the little one played in the dirt.

I didn't get a really good "after" picture, but the picnic table is also gone and my back yard looks COMPLETELY different! I need to go back there and make sure it is "safe", because it would be really nice to be able to use that area on Saturday.

I got a letter from the agency reminding us not to post pictures of our foster kids on facebook/myspace. It doesn't mention anything about "blogs" (ha ha) but I'm sure it means that too. However, I'm nearly positive that none of the photos I have (or will) posted are images that could actually identify the girls. No where on here does it say where I live and my thoughts are that "L" couldn't be identified in a line up of other dark-haired girls of her size with pictures like the ones above and previous ones...hopefully I'm correct and "safe".

Okay, enough "stalling". It's going to be a little inconvenient having the mower in the garage instead of in the back yard, but I'm pretty excited about my new look :)

Ta ta for now!

About a Boy

Two days from now, I am meeting "a boy" for lunch. I do not have a good track record with the whole "dating thing". In college, I dated a friend-turned-boyfriend for a few months which ended very ugly (he married a girl who was in my group of girl-friends...seriously). I "hung out" with another guy a number of times a few years back, but didn't realize we were "dating" until we stopped hanging out and I found out he was completely heartbroken when I stopped calling (um, yeah, not returning phone calls is not nice, that's what I did). Since then, I have gone on a few "first dates". It is a running joke with a friend and me that I am the "one date wonder"...

I searched through old posts to see if I have written about this in the past. I found one from "way back" in November 2007. To tell you the truth, I had to read that post quite a few times to remember what guy it was...since, there was no second date. The guy I wrote about in this post back in July was the same one I wrote about here in August...we did go on the "double date" but only met up for a "date" once and I don't think I heard from him again. I never ended up meeting up with "the floor guy" I mentioned in this post and this one (that post actually mentioned both of those guys) because he kinda creeped me out in a yahoo chat we had. Oh, me and my "non-dates"...memories of last fall and the emotional mess that I was...

Anyway, that's probably enough "links" for one post to get the idea that dating and me don't get along very well...or at least we haven't in the past. However, I'm trying not to "freak out" about this one which is why I have hardly mentioned it here (if I have even mentioned it at all!) I actually told a friend tonight and told my cousin last week, but haven't really said anything to anyone else with hopes of keeping my anxiety in check...

Here's what I know about this guy--his name, his age, that he works with someone from my church, and that "he only dates Catholic girls". Apparently, he was at my church on Ash Wednesday, so he has seen me (I was talking to someone else and didn't notice him...I'm obviously not very observant!) So, I think I'm at a little bit of a disadvantage because he knows what I look like and I have no clue...we may need to discuss this "problem" prior to me making a fool of myself at the restaurant looking for him! We are "doing lunch" because that will have an "end time" in case we need one. I am obviously off that day, but he will be coming during his lunch break. Since I don't exactly know what he does, I don't know how he will be dressed. The restaurant he picked is a little on the fancier side (when I looked it up, the description is "Elegance by the Water"), but I don't know if I should dress up or what... It's been pretty cool here, so I know I'd be super comfortable in jeans. I don't really want to wear a dress because that seems too fancy for lunch on my day off. The friend I talked to this evening said I should wear a skirt. I have only worn this skirt once and I wore it with a white shirt and white sandals (but I think I like the flip-flops). It was pretty comfortable and the shirt I have doesn't tuck in, so it hides my belly as best as it can (considering what it has to work with). I also have a khaki skirt that I could wear with a 3/4 length sleeved shirt and some black sandals...or, I could wear khaki capris...

I guess it's good that my "anxiety" right now is about what to wear and how to find him...I have done my share of the "what if" thinking that takes me 40 years down the road...yeah, I do that kind of stuff even though I try not to...and I am trying REALLY hard to just go and have fun and see what happens. Could this be the time my "one date wonder" streak gets broken?! Oh yeah, I'm not supposed to "go there"!

Anyway, that's the "big excitement" of my week...oh, besides the fact that I played softball for my dad's high school team tonight because only four girls showed up. He borrowed players from the other team and then I played...I don't think the girls on the other team realized that I was "super old"...it cracks me up that I'm 30 and look like I'm in high school! Tomorrow night, my team plays at 9:30...I don't like the late games =(

I made more progress on my cleaning and actually think I can walk into my "junk room" without tip-toeing! Tomorrow I need to do more of that and would also like to read more of the Bloom book since I'm still back on chapter two. I want to have more of it done before I meet with my spiritual director tomorrow afternoon.

This post was on the (In)Courage page today and I thought it was FABULOUS. She spoke words about "blog friends" that were SO true...and I am so excited that just a few days from now, I will be giving Ginger a real life hug rather than a virtual one! She wrote this: "Getting involved in the blogging world has truly changed my life – teaching me, stretching me, giving me opportunities. And introducing me to some of the most amazing people I never would have met otherwise." So true, so true...

Time for bed. Good night.

Home Study

Tomorrow morning I have my second home study with my case worker. It is kind of weird that I am having my SECOND home study when I haven't even been licensed three months and have not had a placement! But, it is what it is :o) I was sort of hoping to get "forced" off work today so I could spend some time making my house more presentable. I also wanted the day off because I could NOT fall asleep last night (darn Dr. Pepper, but BOY did it taste good...I hadn't had a "soda" in months!) PLUS, my sister was taking my nephew to the Zoo for the first time. Even though I had to stay "on call", it was a great day! I pretty much carried my nephew all over the place for some cuddle time AND good exercise!

Looking at the Jellyfish.

This picture just cracks me up!

He looks extra chubby in this picture, but I love it :o)

He finally crashed, and we got some snuggle time :o)

I made some good progress in getting my house ready for my home study, but have a few more things to do in the morning (I am all cleaned out for one day!)

Two years ago today, "the baby" received his second chance at life. I wrote about that here and here (and lots of other places!) He is doing great and his family is grateful every day for the donor's family who chose to give him a second chance during a tragic time in their lives. April is National Donate Life Month.

I like the video I posted last year, so will post it again:


Here is the story of a transplant recipient...in his own words:


I'd better head to bed. Good night.

This and That

It's been a couple days since I "blogged" (I remember when I used to blog every day...I don't think I am any busier than I was, or that I have learned to prioritize better...ha!) I should clean my yellow bathroom so I can start showering in there again, but don't think that will happen tonight since I'm already sleepy and it's only 9:30!

Sunday, I worked, but I had my student with me. She took two of our patients and I had the third (but she helped me with dressing changes and watched me take out staples...I hadn't done THAT in a while and don't recall taking out THAT many, especially on a wiggly child) So, it was a good day. Then, we had "family dinner" and my nephew is definitely mobile and getting even more entertaining every time I see him. Now he claps and gives high fives and it's adorable :o)

Yesterday, I decided to go to 8:30 Mass since I missed Mass over the weekend. I thought that there would be school kids there, but apparently they had an all-school Mass on Friday, so didn't have Mass with the kids on Monday. But, it was still nice (even though I didn't go to bed very early on Sunday, so crashed on the couch for longer than I wanted when I got home!) When I finally got up, I mowed the lawn (and discovered the handle on my mower is broken even though I just got it back from its "tune up" on Friday...annoying!) I also took off the blue tape and did touch-ups in my bathroom. I scrubbed the floor with my Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, but need to clean it again since that doesn't make the bathroom smell clean (in my opinion) which is why I want to clean it again before I start using it for showering. Plus, I need to make sure there aren't any more areas that need "touch ups".

I seriously need to start spending more time outside when the weather is this nice because it will be HOT before I know it and I'm not a big fan of the HOT...(nice little random sentence in between semi-coherent paragraphs...I digress...)

I finally decided that I needed to run some errands, and started at Kohl's. I tried on a bunch of dresses even though I just went there for towels and to see if there were any bathroom accessories I had to have. I ended up leaving with three dresses because I didn't have anyone there to tell me "yay" or "nay". So, I'll need to do a fashion show for someone because I seriously don't need that many dresses (I actually went back today and got a smaller size in one of them but I can't tell if the smaller size is too small...one down side of shopping alone!) I still need to return a dress to Fashion Bug because it doesn't fit nearly as well as any of the ones I picked yesterday. Plus, when I tried it on for my mom, she noticed a little tear in the back and it was missing a hook (for the hook-and-eye).

After Kohl's, I went to the mall because I wanted to get something for my cousin who is being Confirmed. She picked "Gabriella" as her Confirmation name and Gabriella has not yet been canonized, so there aren't any medallions of her. So, I went to Things Remembered and spent WAY too long trying to decide what to buy. After FOREVER (and phone calls to my mom and my aunt), I decided on a nice picture frame. While I waited for the engraving, I went to Victoria's Secret to see if I could find a "normal" bra to wear with my new dress. The girls were way more helpful than I remember them being at V.S. and I got a few "thumbs ups" on my newly purchased dress, so that was well worth the trip (and the fact that I spent more money on the bra than the dress!)

I'm really excited that I have a TON of tulips in my yard! What is especially exciting is that I didn't have to DO anything...they just showed up on there own (and, with any luck, it will rain the next couple of days since I haven't gotten my hose out yet!)

This morning, I actually went to Curves (even though every day that I have been off, I have been "itching" to go for a run...or at least a walk!) They are doing a six-week challenge where you get weighed every week to try and make yourself accountable to the scale. Well, I haven't gained any weight, but I haven't lost any either. I also haven't been trying all that hard, so am thinking I should try and do that...it would be really nice to be down a few (or 10 or 15...ha!) pounds before I go visit Ginger. Speaking of...she and I got to talk on the phone to this morning which was just fabulous...I can't WAIT to see her and meet her family :o) (and hopefully Kristy can come to the 'Burgh while I'm in town...that would be SO awesome!)

This afternoon, I went to Dale Carnegie training at work. It is three Tuesdays in a row with nurses from my floor and from the PICU. I had no idea what to expect (funny that I signed up to attend and had no idea what it was about!) I DEFINITELY didn't know we were going to get homework! (We have to read the first nine chapters of this book before next week!) There were over thirty people there and a LOT of "forced" "opportunities" to share things about ourselves, our goals, personal stories...not-so-much comfortable even though I knew most of the people. The focus of this first session was on increasing self-confidence and communication, so I guess that is the best way to do that.

To be perfectly honest, I had a very hard time with the section "Become a Friendlier Person" since I find myself to be a VERY friendly person. Here are the nine "points":

1. Don't criticize, condemn, or complain.

2. Give honest, sincere appreciation.

3. Arouse in the other person an eager want.

4. Become genuinely interested in other people.

5. Smile.

6. Remember that a person's name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.

7. Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.

8. Talk in terms of the other person's interests.

9. Make the other person feel important--and do it sincerely.

Okay, now that I typed them out, I know that I have room for improvement, but when it comes to my patients and their families, I believe that I am "ahead of the game" in creating trusting relationships with them. So, I suppose the "challenge" to me is to use these skills with my co-workers and in areas outside of the work place. During one communication exercise, we had one-on-one conversation with someone we didn't know well (and used a "guide" we were given of questions to ask) The person I spoke to was surprised at my responses to some of them and pointed out that my colleagues likely would be as well. I DEFINITELY think that the people I work with have a certain perception of me, and who they think I am is not really who I am (or, not entirely who I am). This "blog" has always been my "safe place" where I can be who I am (with occasional "censoring"...usually when I'm struggling with who I am!) and I like having this place. I can tell that this training is going to be a stretch for me, and actually pretty uncomfortable. I can go into a party knowing no one and find someone to talk to (especially if there are "moms"...I am VERY comfortable talking to moms!) I can talk and talk to my patients and their families. But, my co-workers, it is not so easy (and, my "track record" with dates is proof enough that I have "issues" there too!) It will be an interesting training, that's for sure (good thing I saw my counselor last week and am meeting with my spiritual director this week to talk out some of these things so they don't come pouring out in some kind of emotional and/or other embarrassing moment in front of lots of colleagues!)

Anyway, that's that (gosh, I really shouldn't go this long between blog posts...although I must have short-term memory issues because at the class this afternoon, we learned out to tell a story AND make a point in less than a minute...ha!) I did figure out what to do about the Bloom Book Club book "idea" I mentioned in this post. I don't feel like writing about "details", but will say that I am very happy with the direction I decided to go (or, the direction I was taken...) I think I'd rather be reading "Strong Women, Soft Hearts" than "How to Win Friends and Influence People", but I'm not going to be the one "called out" next week who hasn't read the first nine chapters!

Alrighty, then, that's one hours worth of blogging...I seriously could have cleaned my bathroom AND done a load of laundry AND gotten ready for bed in that time, but I feel SO much better going to bed with a clear mind :o)

Good night!

Busy as a Bumble Bee

As I wrote on Wednesday, I decided to paint my bathroom since I had four days off. As it turns out, I needed those days and then some because yellow does not cover walls as easily as one would think! I primed it, then painted two coats. Now, I need to remove the tape and do touch-ups because I can already see places I missed (hard to imagine that I missed spots considering I could hardly see in there it is SO bright...ha!) I've tried taking a bunch of pictures, but none of them show exactly how bright this yellow is. I have gotten "thumbs up" from a friend and from both of my parents, so I am breathing easier. I'm not sure what I was thinking, but hopefully with some decorating and navy accents it will be good :o) I thought "Bumble Bee" was a fun name for paint (I look at that when I choose my paint colors--my kitchen is Bordeaux, my living room Kiwi Kissed, my basement is Khaki Shorts, the trim in my guest room is Cameron's Eyes...) However, in looking at the paint strip this evening, Providence Gold would have worked too (considering I worked in Providence, RI for fifteen months!)...and would have been much easier on the eyes. But, it is what it is...and maybe mornings will be more fun when I am greeted with a bright bathroom...ha ha!

I made sure this didn't give a peek into how
unbelievably messy my bedroom is!

Even though my bathroom is a very small space, I have learned some lessons about painting in bathrooms: 1)Even if you clean before you start painting, and pull your hair back, it is still hard to keep hair from finding a place on the wall to stick to. 2) Ladders don't really fit in the bathtub. 3) Painting behind a toilet in a small space takes some acrobatic moves and long arms...neither of which I have, but being "vertically challenged" likely made laying on the ground easier.

I really wanted today off work (even though I JUST had four days off!) because I was invited to a bridal shower and a bachelorette party (both for the girl whose wedding I have to miss when I am at my cousin's Confirmation). I also was invited to be in a choir to sing for the elder sister in this photo who is turning 99. They were getting together this morning to practice (and I NEED practice since I'm NOT a soloist and have never sung with this choir). I also had a very hard time falling asleep last night since I had been staying up late/sleeping in all week long. But, someone called in sick so no one got the day off work. It actually was a good day. My student will be back with me tomorrow, so hopefully we have a good day :o)

Time for bed...good night!

Home...then what?

I was "whining" about never being at home (this post) and then I had four days off in a row over Easter weekend (which I spent with family and at church). Starting yesterday, I have another four days off and TWO of those days (including yesterday) I had no plans, absolutely NOTHING scheduled. Unfortunately, I have discovered time and again that I am TERRIBLE at time management...and yesterday it was highly irritating (not so good to be irritated at yourself, especially when it's something that SHOULD be easily fixed!)

I was going to "blog" last night about the things that I DID accomplish to make myself seem like less of a slug, but my motivation was peaking about the time I needed to go to bed. I did go to Curves (and out for dinner...) and bought my book for the Bloom Book Club. I am considering buying an extra book to donate, but haven't decided yet. I was thinking it would be fun to email Angie/Jessica and let them know that I'm a super bad procrastinator and would send a book to someone who missed the book request deadline...but, also think it would be fun to donate a book to someone who reads my blog and wants one and not have it go through the book club. Or, maybe I can use my $10 for some other kind of donation...again, still weighing my options.

Speaking of "weighing", it seems like there is a "theme" this week of blogging about losing weight/eating healthier. I weigh more than I have in a while, but I don't think I've weighed my "goal weight" since before I was in high school and I haven't even had a baby, so maybe I should change my "goal weight" (although, that "goal weight" would get me into the normal range for BMI...ugh!) Anyway, I'm not quite ready to "go there", but maybe will find some inspiration from those who are and re-consider...especially since the dress I bought yesterday for my cousin's Confirmation is a size up from what I usually buy.

Apparently, when I get irritated with myself for being unproductive, I don't do "easy" things like clear the table/counters or clean my room or vacuum or dust. No, I decide to paint my bathroom. I am done with the primer and hopefully it will require just one coat of paint (I picked "Bumble Bee" which hopefully ends up being the color of yellow I wanted!) I have no idea how I forgot that painting isn't really that fun. I painted my "playroom" in May 2008 and wrote posts titled "Painting is Hard Work", "That's Gonna Hurt", and "Whose idea was this again?", but it DID look good when it was finished. While painting my kitchen in September 2009, I wrote a post called "Aches and Almost There", but that too looked great when it was finished. Apparently, I had amnesia because in November 2009, I was "Painting Again" and tackled the living room. I don't think I ever posted any pictures of my living room, but this post has pictures of a couple of the walls, so you MAY be able to see the "kiwi kissed" walls :o) Maybe I do big projects like these because once you start, you have to finish...which isn't the case in most of the other "projects" that I should be doing. (Like the day I decided to re-caulk the bathtub which took two days!)

I went out with some girls from high school today and am going to a concert tomorrow night (the other girls are meeting at my house, so I need to at LEAST clear the clutter in the kitchen and living room after I paint the bathroom!) I'm also meeting with my counselor for the first time in a month (she said I could start seeing her as needed, but I like having scheduled monthly meetings).

Well, sounds like I have some work to do tomorrow, so I should head to bed. Here are a couple pictures of my nephew from Saturday. My aunt and uncle have a really big window in the living room and even though I tried using the "back light" setting on my camera, the light is still bad. They are really cute, though (especially the one where he is trying to sneak the magazine!) and maybe I'll have to see if they can be edited...

Good night.