Artistic License

A clean office/studio

2009-03-17T21:20:00.009-07:00

Ahhh....it took all day but its clean once more! I've got a giant pile of things for Craigslist, an even bigger pile of things for Goodwill and a room I can work in. :) I just realized you can't see the OH so empty floor space, so it looks a bit crowded, but believe me, it isn't! :) There is even room for my big furry friend who goes everywhere I go.

updating

2009-02-27T18:23:00.004-07:00

I've just spent some time rereading my old blog entries. Even if they didn't entertain anyone else, they are good for jogging the memory and will be helpful if I get around to scrapbooking these memories. So here's a current update on us.

*Thing1 is now 14, as tall as I am with much bigger feet and a deeper voice. He has continued his love for all things electronic--cell phone, computer, XBox, TV, etc, and his strong dislike for anything that sounds like work. In other words, he's a typical teenaged boy, aka Slacker. He is a good student, although does not work up to his complete potential.

*Thing2 is now 10, still shorter than me, but wears a size 5 men's shoe. He has overcome much of the whineyness that was so annoying and is generally nice to be around. Very chatty and very full of fun. He loves to read and to play with other kids. He is a great writer and his teacher says that he has the strongest writer's voice.

*DH is still working his daily job, although with the downturn in the economy, who knows what will be next. He also is still keeping his personal business going and stays too busy. He does too much and does not rest/relax/have fun enough.

*Me, well, I'm still working at the same job, still love it. I have more responsibilities this school year, which is probably one of the reasons I've stopped posting here. I spend way more time working and doing work at home. I'm one class away from finishing my master's but had to postpone finishing for another semester as I didn't have the energy. I'm still the same weight I've been for the past 3 years. I've tried weight watchers, counting calories and working out w/dh. I still am at the gym 3x per week with him and then another time or 2 doing cardio. I've cut back to 1200-1500 calories per day and have kept this up for about 5 months but have not lost even 1 lb. I've been taking the thyroid drugs and will have another blood check next month. It's very discouraging. I've only done a little art over the past 18 mos, and only in spurts. I've gotten a Sony Reader ebook reader for xmas and have been spending time collecting ebooks and cataloging my paper book collection on librarything.com. Facebook has become a thing I do too much of too. Weekends are spent on housework and trying to recover from the week and recharge for the next one. I keep trying to get ahead and really can't do it.

HOWEVER....I have known worse in my life, have felt worse, and am thankful for our lives now. :) Maybe some art will appear on this blog next time.

OMG

2009-02-23T23:52:00.002-07:00

OK, I can't BELIEVE its been so long since I've posted. Work and school and life are just too busy. No time for art, or for too much playing.

I guess I should close this down.

Maybe.

2007-08-23T22:45:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Have you been Simpsonized?? http://simpsonizeme.com
That's me...focusing a LOT on my job as a teacher. My students started back to school August 14th, and, in a virtual school, that means a lot of phone calls from teacher to family. It is a great job, really love it, but there are not enough hours in the day at this time of year!

I cleaned my studio the other day! It was a great accomplishment for me as lots of stuff somehow found its way in there. :) I haven't gotten any pictures taken of it, OR any art done in there, but soon, soon I hope!

Just wanted to pop in and say HEY to everyone!
~~~Heather

Monthly Check In

2007-08-10T22:47:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone. It looks like once a month is my average blogging time. Bad bad blogger.

Well, July was busy and August has been even crazier. I've gone back to work, Thing1 has started school and Thing2 starts junior high on Monday. With all 3 of us on different schedules, its been a bit of an adjustment.

My brain is so full that I really have nothing to write about. How boring is that! Here, I'll post some old artwork of mine, just to have something to look at. Hopefully I'll post before September rolls around again, but don't count on it too much. :)

Layouts

2007-07-02T22:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was dh's bday and today our 13 year anniversary. So sweet...we've had such a better year than the last few. I'm so thankful for our life.

Above are another couple of LOs I've done this summer. These are a 2 page spread from Thing1's first birthday. (He's 8 now...yikes.) Lots of Basic Grey, some stamps, ribbons, rubons, stickers and penwork.

I'm heading to bed now. I have a bit of cleaning and organizing to do tomorrow before the 4th. Happy Tuesday. :)
~~~Heather

Highlights

2007-06-30T11:45:00.000-07:00

Yikes!! How did it get to be **2 MONTHS** since I blogged last??

I have no time, I guess to update. Let's see if I can do a quick recap of May and June before July hits:

*In May my girlfriends and I started what we hope will be a monthly or EOM craft class. Our first one was soldering microscope glass charms.
*at work: finishing off the school year
*lots of grading and busy-ness
*Thing1 finished 6th grade; he is going to a new school next year and leaving all his classmates behind. He had the same teacher for 3 years in a row and she is also leaving for a new school. Lots of parents and teachers and a few kids crying on the last day of school.
*Thing1 also had a jr high tour and seems excited about the new school---surprising.
*Thing1 ALSO took and passed the Algebra I test: high school credit dude...wow.
*Thing2 finished 2nd grade; dunno who will be his teacher next year. Hoping for a better year with more challenge and kindness around him.
*Both Things had their end of year piano recital. They did so great and we were so proud of them.
*My MIL and brother had their bdays in May; along with Mother's Day.
*June=my birthday and lots of birthday goodies
*June's craft night involved an accordion folded tag book. We had a blast! :)
*I took a trip to Baltimore for work--training for a new position.
*got stuck in Baltimore one more night due to weather and airplanes
*waited in LOTS of LONG lines at the airport...
*sent dh off to Germany for one week for work
*spent time with my kids playing and cleaning and hangin' out.
*started decluttering the Things' room---it was/is a total disaster and they need to get rid of a bunch of toys as well as some old furniture. We plan to paint and totally redo their room this fall.
*Finished my online class on research--got an A.
*Started the first of 2 summer school classes. Tomorrow my last assignment for this class is due.
*Did some art this summer...some scrapbooking mostly. I keep feeling like I need to MOVE on this and get it done.

Those are some of the highlights....I'm sure there are things I'm forgetting. lol Here's a photo of my latest double page LO--its from Feb/March 2000. Hoping your summer is busy and fun.

notes from my sickbed...

2007-04-27T14:13:00.000-07:00

Me?
sick, sick as a dog, sicker than I can remember being for a very long time.

Bronchitis "with a touch of pneumonia," my dr said.

Chills, sweats, coughs, lost my voice, exhausted, light-headed, dizzy, outta work all week, lost 8 pounds in 7 days and shared similar sickness symptoms w/Thing1 too. Nice....house full o'germs.

Hoping you are all healthy....

Wednesday

2007-04-18T19:40:00.000-07:00

OOOOH, did you see today's quote:

"Fate loves the fearless."
James Russell Lowell

Love that one! I did have a few fears this week...but I conquered them and moved on. :) I've just come back from doing some testing in Utah. It was a long 2 days.

Flew to Vegas Monday night.
Got lost coming out of the rental car place, as it wasn't on my mapquest.
Found the hotel after about 40 minutes of driving--Boulder Station Hotel/Casino. It was too smokey to lose my money in the casino, and it was late and I was tired, so had room service and went to bed.
Awoke at 3am by alarm clock set by stupid last people in room. Light near bed didn't work so I was fumbling around with all the buttons on the thing. Finally got it off.
Awoke at 6am on Tuesday, checked out of the hotel by 8am.
Drove 2 hours northeast to St. George, UT. My 2 students from Colorado City, AZ, drove for 1 hour to meet me at the library there.
Sat for 3 hours while they took their state-required-for-graduation-test. (completed homework for my master's class while they worked.)
Drove around the town for 30 minutes, went into a scrapbook store and some used bookstores. Very pretty little town.
Drove-thru for lunch and drove 2 hours back to Vegas.
Lost my way to the airport.
Found it!
Missed the exit for the rental car return, had to make another circuit.
Returned the car, hurried to the airport, flight was delayed 1.5 hours.
Ate airport food.
Read my books.
Sat some more.
Waited.
Finally got onboard and flew home (1 hour).
Got on the shuttle for the overnight car park.
Got my car, (LOVE IT) drove home--arrived at 11 pm.
Watched TV w/dh and then went to bed. AH, my own bed! ;)
Got up at 6:30 for a regular day of work and kids.

Can't believe its only Wednesday. (On the other hand, its WEDNESDAY already??) lol

Thought for today. . .

2007-04-12T17:20:00.000-07:00

"Hope is faith holding out out its hand in the dark." George Iles

Working on this right now....being hopeful that things will work out in the end. That good will come, that problems will be worked out, that insecurity and anxiety will dissapate over time. That we will all learn to be a little more patient, kind and loving with each other.

Layout is a digital one. Kit made by my friend Sharon Bissett. http://www.sharonbisset.com

Photo of Thing2 and Bunny, Feb. 2006

A Green LO for St. Patty's Day (belated)

2007-03-18T21:14:00.000-07:00

Busy busy busy....I can't believe its been more than a month since I posted. Not a lot of art going on here; just a lot of real life. Work, kids, school, Spring Break, husband, etc. I've not been online hardly at all this month.

Here's a digi LO I made awhile ago. Some eye candy for my loyal readers who are tired of waiting for new stuff. :) NOTHING in this kit was made by me....except for the kid. lol

What Does Your Birthdate Mean?

2007-02-01T20:58:00.000-07:00

Just a little cute thing I found, as I don't have ideas about what to blog about today. It's mostly true, except I AM content to help those I know and have NO desire to give to the world! :) And I don't like the color rose, unless its really RED.
TGIF everyone.

Your Birthdate: June 6

You tend to be a the rock in relationships - people depend on you.
Thoughtful and caring, you often put others needs first.
You aren't content to help those you know... you want to give to the world.
An idealist, you strive for positive change and dream about how much better things could be.

Your strength: Your intuition

Your weakness: You put yourself last

Your power color: Rose

Your power symbol: Cloud

Your power month: June

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

8 is Enough...

2007-01-29T21:53:00.000-07:00

It is my little Thing2's birthday today. Eight. Time is flying. I've just finished scrapbooking his first year and almost finished with his first birthday. He was such an adorable little guy...all chubby cheeks and 3 dimples. He was blonde and curly and oh so happy.

Now, of course, he's not.

He's still cute and adorable and oh so loveable...if he lets you close. He still has the 3 dimples but the hair has darkened and its not curly anymore. He has a definite attitude and has that sparkle in his eye that means trouble is not far off.

He's extremely stubborn. He always knows what he DOESN'T want, but has trouble figuring out what he wants. He holds his own in arguments or fights with Thing1...but still has trouble verbalizing what is wrong or why he is upset.

He didn't want a birthday party. "Not even just your grandparents over for cake and presents?" I asked. "NO!" was his answer yesterday. He's been sick, so we gave him awhile to calm down and then he agreed to a big brownie cake and letting the grandparents come over and give him presents after dinner. I promised to leave my camera upstairs which seemed to relieve him somewhat.

He did NOT want us to sing to him. I held him tightly and we sang anyway. We tickled him and he giggled but then ran off in a huff. He did NOT want any brownie. He did NOT want to open his presents. So...he didn't. No brownie cake, no ice cream, no presents. He sat in the other room by choice, by himself. Even Thing1 was unable to get him to join us or to open those presents. As the grandparents were leaving, all brownie-full and happy, he claimed to feel "like puking."

I helped him upstairs to brush his teeth and put his pjs on. He didn't want a bedtime story. He laid down and fell asleep almost immediately. I guess turning 8 is exhausting.

Happy birthday, darling boy.

Why I will be MIA this week....

2007-01-15T18:58:00.000-07:00

I've had a nice quiet day today. I had planned to do some art, as the kids and I are off from school, but I spent a large part of the day online instead. My favorite scrapbook forum has closed down, so I feel a tad homeless as I wander the 'net, signing up here and there, looking for a new place to play. Hopefully one of the 4 places I've been posting at will feel like home very soon.

I forgot to mention that I got an A in my last online class, the reading one. I worked pretty hard at the end there, to get everything accomplished, and so feel quite deserving of my good grade.

My new class starts tomorrow, and the instructor has the website up today. I must say, I'm totally STRESSING. I waited too long to register for a class, you see, so I got stuck with "Introduction to Research" which IS on my list as one of the classes I need to take. So the class title says, "ick" to you already, right? Yes, me too. But I figure it will be about research in education, so I'll do a bunch of journal article reading and write a few response papers. But NO.

Some online professors are very laissez-faire. They post the syllabus and deadlines (sometimes), require you to follow instructions, but the work isn't that tough. Like my last class, and my first one. This one, however, is going to be a bitch.

I have a 10-15 pg research paper due on Thursday.

This week.

As in, 3 days from now.

On what, you may ask? Here's direct from the source:
" Hi everyone! :)

Here's the deal about our paper that's due this Thursday, 1/18...and why I've seemed to be a bit vague about what to do and how to do it...

So many of us are accustomed to the traditional model of education.

Sitting in neatly arranged rows, passively taking notes as the all-knowing, all-important teacher (who, of course, knows EXACTLY the ONE CORRECT way to do things!) hands down wisdom from the front of the room.

Problem is...that's not how the world of research works. Nor is it a very realistic model of *facilitative adult learning.* Here's why...

There's a phrase called 'making meaning' that we use a lot in qualitative research.

It means *YOU create the structure of things.*

Very realistic in the 'messy real world' of research!

No one is going to hand you a neatly wrapped research question or hypothesis. Nor will they tell you exactly the one right, correct way to research something.

What they WILL hand you, oftentimes, is a *real-world mess!*

"I'm having consistent discipline problems in my classroom." "My students' math scores are down." "This district is having tremendous recent teacher attrition problems."

Why? Why? Why? Can you, the researcher, design a study to help answer this question? Meet this real-world need to know?

This may mean no one right or best answer! It may be messy! It means 'learning to take a stand' and substantiate WHY you are doing things as you are doing! (this is what being a *critical thinker* is all about.)

And yes--it means often working under tight timelines (like our paper)! and learning to manage some ambiguity (like our paper!)! So---here's the deal with the paper...

We have a *diversity* of students with a *diversity* of professional interests and backgrounds with us in EDR 610! What is interesting or relevant to one will not be to another--and that's perfectly A-OK (no more 'one single right answer,'remember?)

So here's what I'd like you to do:

--Do some deep thinking about *what topic area, somehow related to online teaching and/or learning, is of interest to you*;

--Then, do a search for related sources of literature that somehow logically link to this topic;

--Write them up in a clearly organized 'review of related literature' pertinent to your topic :)

***I want to see how each of you will 'make meaning' of the above! And I am confident that you CAN do this!*** :)

*** Have a super start to your spring semester!*** :)"

Yay. So, this is the last you will hear from me for this week, loyal readers. I will be up to my eyebrows in research paper until Thursday at 5pm. When it is due. Maybe I should skip work? lol

Blogging

2007-01-10T18:20:00.000-07:00

Long time, no bloggin' I know. :) I had a bit of a crazy few weeks, what with the holidaze and my 2Things being off of school, and the dh being home from work. We had a lovely Christmas and a quiet New Year and now we are full-force in the swing of things.

I've been thinking about what to blog about for a few days. Things keep coming to my mind at inconvienient times....when driving to work, or taking a shower, or trying to fall asleep at night. Someone will say something funny and it will make me think of something else I should write about. Someone will hurt my feelings and then I'll feel the need to write about that. Or someone will misinterpret something I've said and I'll be tempted to write about THAT. But I know that last one would be a bad idea. It wouldn't be a problem were I writing for only strangers to read. But I know that my blog is out there and if you Google my name, it pops up first thing. And I also know that I inadvertantly sent my blog link out through email to some extended family members who have commented that they have read it. Luckily for everyone, there is nothing negative on here about anyone but me, and I've determined that is how it will stay.

Its a bit intimidating now, knowing that people I know IN REAL LIFE will read my ramblings. I had no problems coming up with ideas when I just had Internet friends reading me. :) OH, now the pressure to be interesting, funny or just to use proper grammar and spelling. YIKES.

So, enough rambling, how about some art, you say. Well, I don't have much that you haven't seen already. Life has not allowed for much art-time. I can share another digital LO if you like. I personally loved the way they turned out, but I always feel like I am cheating when I show them off. I didn't CREATE the papers, or any of the accents. In many of these LOs, I just used the artist's basic page LO and added my photos and a few small touches. Not the same as paper scrapbooking, but still fun. This LO was done with a digital kit called "Destinations" by Shelleyrae Cusbert . The photo was taken way back in early 2005, I think, and both the Things have grown so much taller since then. :)

This post took waaaay too long and now its time for bed. Goodnight my lovely readers, and whatever family members are reading this too, hugs to you all.

Holiday Greetings

2006-12-23T23:33:00.000-07:00

This photo is from my brother's wedding in September. Its a digital LO, used as part of several of the Christmas gifts. :) The kit, Cottage Bluff, is from Virginia Ponce and was a free download from 2Peas, July 2006.

There has been a bit of joking around at my work about the holiday greetings thing. We were on a conference call and one of the girls wished the Baltimore guy a Merry Christmas. There was a dead silence on the call, and she muted it and said, "He's Jewish, isn't he," and several people nodded and we all burst out laughing. Oooops. One of my coworkers celebrates Hannukah, one Ramadan. We are trying to be careful NOT to offend anyone. Its not been easy. Luckily they are very kind and not easily offended by us ignorant, forgetful Christians.

So, I head my post, Holiday Greetings, and you should take upon yourself whatever greetings you would like for this season. It's Christmas at our house in two days, and we are not ready. The shopping is mostly done, the wrapping has been started. The tree is up and lighted, but no ornaments decorate its lovely green branches. The food has not yet been purchased, nor prepared. No cookies have been baked. No cards have been sent.

However, Christmas is coming nonetheless. Hope yours is wonderful, magical and blessed.

Love,
Heather

digi scrappin'

2006-12-10T15:13:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a break from a marathon session I like to call, "last-minute-finishing-my-class-papers-".
I've done 3 today and only have the final 3 BIG projects left. YAY for me.

My arms, hands and shoulders hurt from typing. lol

Thought I would share my latest digital LO. Kit by Rhonna Farrar, it was a free d/l from 2Peas. It was from July 2005, I believe. I only wish I could make it print out as pretty as it looks on screen. That's Thing2 on the right, with his lovely Godmother. (not me.)

Happy Sunday to you.

Transparent Touches

2006-12-07T20:44:00.000-07:00

In the midst of my paper-writing for my class about reading, I had some deadlines over at ScrappingArts . We had a wonderful sponsor send us some cool transparencies to use in our art. I made a LO (at left), covered a spiral notebook (bottom right) and made a card (bottom L). They were fun easy projects. I absolutely ADORE the paper I used in this LO. Its from the Bohemia line of My Mind's Eye. LOVE It! And it looks WAY better in real life. I can't seem to take a good digiphoto to save my life.

In other news, I have done NO Christmas decorating and only a touch of Christmas shopping. My boxes full of decorations are still in the garage. If I don't get it together pretty soon, I will be decorating on Christmas Eve. (One year when I was really depressed, we actually did that. I just did the tree and that was all. It was a relief, but yet so sad not to see all my Xmas pretties.)

I have done NO Christmas art projects. I envy all those people who are doing art journals, or are joining online art/scrapbooking classes. I have no time for these things. Just trying to keep my head above water with this darn class. Almost done, though. I only have a few projects left and really REALLY expect to be done by Sunday night. :)

Hope my loyal readers (all 3 of you) are having better luck than I am at the seasonal stuff.

procrastination

2006-11-30T18:09:00.000-07:00

No time for blogging right now. I MUST finish my online ed class this week. Really. Gotta do it.

So, what am I doing instead, you ask?? Playing around. Reading good books. Scrapbooking a tad. Searching for things. Organizing my bookmarks. Ya. Procrastinating.

Your True Love Is a Cancer

Why you'll love a Cancer:

Cancer's loyal and sincere heart makes your own sensitive heart melt.

Caring and devoted, a Cancer will take the lead in pursuing you - and not give up!

Why a Cancer will love you:

You're laid back enough to deal with Cancer's little mood swings and freak-outs.

A fellow homebody, you know how make Cancer comfortable and at home with you.

What Sign Is Your True Love?

Oh, and did I say, my true love IS a Cancer!! What about that, eh?? :) l8tr g8tr. :)

Planning the daze...

2006-11-25T11:56:00.000-07:00

Thanksgiving has come and gone, (whew) and now we are running like a hamster on its wheel until Christmas Day. Thing1 has his 12th birthday next week. He has his kid-party today, which was pretty easy, as LaserTag is IT for him the last few years. Managing to talk him down from the all-night video game extravaganza after laser tag was harder. I just don't have the ooomph to have 10 sweaty loud boys in my living room this year. Neither does dh who really needs a quiet day or two.

So after today we have the family party on Wednesday. Just ice cream cake and presents, which means I have to buy him the cake and figure out what to get him as a present. Then all of a sudden its December, the shopping and decorating season. DH hates decorating the house. He turns into the greenest of green Grinches. Our personal Who-ville has only had outside lights twice in the last 12 years of marriage. One stingy string across the front of the house. That is all I get and its pretty pitiful let me tell you.

I've run out of time for posting. My stress level is up, also because I'm taking this online class for my master's degree and all of a sudden I realize that the end of the semester is nigh. I mean REALLY nigh and I have an S-load of work still undone. YIKES.

I've not done a ton of art lately. I've been working a lot at my job, which I love, and on the weekends have been spending my time doing laundry. ick But here's a photo of a file holder thing that I altered for my desk at work. I get business sized envelopes full of work from my students every month and needed some place to corral them. I found this at a local discount clothing store and it is solid wood, just the right size. Most of the paper is Scenic Route.

Hope your Thanksgiving was one to be thankful for! :)
~~~Heather

CYBERCROP ANNOUNCEMENT!

2006-11-04T15:39:00.000-07:00

We are having a cyber crop at http://www.scrappingarts.com TODAY!!

Sorry readers, for not posting this earlier. If you head over, register for the forums, you will be able to see our awesome projects. Here's today's schedule, everything is EST.

NOVEMBER "Comfort Crop"

12 noon - Quick Album (8 X 8 ) - Sharon
1 PM- Heather- font challenge
2 PM- Ural- Comfort Food, a recipe page
3 PM- Jeryn- gift tags and cards
4 PM- Necee- layout
5 PM- Karen- altered coaster ornaments
6 PM- Jen- these things comfort me lo
7 PM- Heather- LO challenge
8 PM- SarahKaye- word art

Come play with us. :)

More layouts

2006-10-29T15:54:00.000-07:00

I was in a scrapping slump. I scrap chronologically, and I'm still back in 1999. Have been there, for the last few years, actually. Occasionally I will do some more current photos, and I've done a few LOs for an All About Me album, so the 1999 album is not all the work I've done for the last 4 years. Nonetheless, I'm ready to move on and be done with it. I've been blocked for awhile on the last few sets of photos. I don't know why, exactly. I mean, the photos are cute ones of my kids, and I have MORE than enough product to do some pages.

So I took some time a few weeks ago to make some quick page kits. Took the photos, divided them into groupings, put each group in a 2 gallon zip-lock bag, grabbed some paper, put it in there and voila--page kits.

It made it so much easier to do these LOs. :) Paper is all Basic Grey.

Scrapbooking

2006-10-22T22:44:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to give my 4 blog readers something to look at. :) Here's a new scrapbook page I finished this week. I hoped that being on fall break would give me more time to do art, but no. I relaxed quite a bit and hope I'm ready to go back to work tomorrow. The photo on the page is of Thing2 when he was 9 mos old. He's now 7 and so looks a tad different. I still have this dress, although I don't think I can get it on. (I've gained a bit of weight since then.)

Its become fall here in the desert. 80s during the day and 70s at night. Gorgeous weather. The mosquitoes have come out, though, and my little Thing2 keeps getting bit. I think they love his sweet tasting self the most of us all.

Halloween costumes have been purchased. I remember last year when I posted on that other blog site about my kids and the price of Halloween. This year was no exception. They both chose Star Wars costumes, and I forked out the $45 total with a sigh of relief that it was all over. They have the weapons at home, so I didn't need to buy those as well. However, Thing2 tried his on and complained that he could NOT, no WAY stand the PLASTIC-EY smell of his Darth Vader mask. Thing1, in that 11.9yo kind of way, pointed out that he would look "stupid" without the mask. Thing2 promptly said he wasn't going to wear it and he didn't care. I may be returning it, we'll see.

Lookie there, the short post has become long. And I have lots more to say but no time to say it. Ah, well. :) If anyone posts a comment asking about oh, my brother's wedding, or my new job, or art in general, I'd be happy to post some answers. Or not.

Girls on Vacation

2006-09-17T22:43:00.000-07:00

Let me blog a tiny bit about our vacation. I know I've gushed about it already, but let me do it again...it was FANTABULOUS!

We went to Virginia, to visit a friend, and we just laughed and laughed and cried a tiny bit and LAUGHED some more. We had Hurricane Ernesto coming in the first night we were there. My friend's house is ON THE BEACH. There was some talk among the 5 of us of evacuation. Then we went to bed. The next day, the rain, oh my the rain, it was a-coming down. One friend went out on the balcony for a smoke, wearing a pretty yellow poncho, and the wind blew her cigarette right out of her hand. We told her that it was a sign. God wanted her to stop smoking.

I have hundreds of stories like that. Its impossible to narrow my focus, to explain the wonderfulness of 5 days spent with people who really KNOW you, who love you as you are, who are so accepting of you. I've known 3 of these women for 20 years. The fourth I've met just in the last 2 years, but she is as close to me as the others. We all mesh. There were two other friends who didn't come with us. We were sad that they couldn't make it, and it would've been even more wonderful if they had. Another year we will all go somewhere else and do same/different things and it will, again, be wonderfully special.

Here are some of the highlights of our trip. I can't express to anyone who wasn't with us just the extent of the hijinks we got up to, or the enjoyment we got from the simplest of things.

We juggled 4 suitcases, a wheelchair and a pair of crutches from Arizona to Virginia and back. We repacked a suitcase at the airport so she wouldn't have to pay the $25 fee for being over 50 lbs. We ate lots of food that was gooooood, but baaaad for us. We drank a lot but never quite got all-the-way-drunk. We told stories on one another, met a new sweet friend from NC, made some crank calls, shopped, drove around, hooted at some cute guys on an army base, got groped by a drunk guy, one of us (who shall remain nameless) almost kicked the ass of the drunk groper, spent WAY more money than we were supposed to, stayed up late every night, slept in most mornings (well, most of us did), went to the beach, got pooped on by a gull (same nameless girl), almost broke another foot, Ms. Nameless fell on her ass on the wet ground in the middle of the hurricane, went to Colonial Williamsburg, took a zillion photos between the 5 of us, had people use our cameras to take group shots of us everywhere we went (imagine this guy juggling 4 cameras at a time), met Louella Jackson, laughed until we almost peed ourselves over and over and over again, cried with a friend who needed to vent, wanted to take back things that were said, but mostly just loved loved LOVED being together.

Ah....now THAT was a vacation. We all missed our families, but not a one of us would've said no to one more day together.

5 Girls in a Hurricane

2006-09-16T16:22:00.000-07:00

I keep trying to post, but haven't been able to get more than one sentence typed before something or someone pulls me away!! Between the new job (great) and the 5 days in Virgina (totally awesome) and planning for my brother's wedding (Sept 30!) and regular stuff like Mt. Laundry, and the Dusty Living Room Desert, and Chaos Kitchen, I've done no art. boohoo... I have however cleaned out the studio, so its ready for art to happen! Now for the rest of the mess.

This photo is one of the many I have from our trip to VA. Its a lousy quality photo, but you can see the joy in our faces. If you have an opportunity to go away with 4 of your best girlfriends for 5 wonderful days, you really should sell whatever you have to in order to make it happen. I'd sell my whole stash of scrapbook supplies to do it again. :)

Guess what!! part 2

2006-08-25T14:03:00.000-07:00

Hey there ho there loyal readers!! I got the job. YAY. :)

Its a virtual school, like I said in my last post. There's not the work-from-home that I wanted, I have to go into an office instead. At first I thought I wasn't going to be able to do it, as their hours are 8 - 4, but when I explained my situation to my principal, she offered me an 80% job...which means I get only 80% of the pay, but I can work the hours I need. Whew.

So I start on Monday w/some training. And I told her about my trip coming up next weekend, so she knows I'll be gone Thursday and Friday. (I'm so excited about that too!!) Some friends and I are going to Virginia Beach to see our friend Tanya. Can't wait, its an all-girl, no-kid weekend!!

And then there's tomorrow, which is my SIL2B's bridal shower. And Sunday that I'm going to have to use for a pedicure, and some vacation-clothes shopping. :) And I need to find some paperwork to take on Monday, and do some laundry so I have something to wear to work on Monday....busy busy busy!!

Oh, and I have a few art-sy things to do as well. Make a card for the shower, make a Vintage Sci-Fi tip in (already late), make a project for the September Cyber crop at Scrapping Arts, make a couple of digital tags...oooh those are late late LATE....doing that right after I finish this.

BUSY, but feeling goooooood. :)

Guess what!!

2006-08-22T20:46:00.000-07:00

Guess what?!? I got called for a job interview!! :)

Not at my kids' school...I've totally given up on them. At the beginning of summer vacation I emailed my resume' to a couple of "virtual" academies. One of my teacher friends got a job at one, and I thought it sounded perfect. You are in charge of a group of kids, they all work from their own homes on their own computers. So, I assume I would work at home or spend some time in an office or something, checking assignments and grading tests, that kind of thing. I would be able to be able to take my kids to and from school and have a somewhat flexible schedule. Which are all things I need.

So I got an email yesterday from the principal of one of the academies, wondering if any of us were available as they still needed a couple of teachers. I emailed her my resume, and then called her and we played phone tag for a bit. She said my resume' looked good and could I come in to interview tomorrow.

So, 10 am tomorrow....if any of you pray I could use some. Or if you don't, send some good vibes my way.

Art Doll

2006-08-18T21:14:00.000-07:00

Hey there loyal readers. Its time for some art! I made this tip in a few weeks ago for a swap I'm in. She asked for an art doll, so I used this photo of my friend Monique as part of my doll. I hope she doesn't mind. :) Its my first art doll....its not as funky as some I've seen and admired. I started making it and then sat and stared at it for a couple of weeks. I had a tough time figuring out what to do for the face and then how to make it less flat and more interesting. Its still pretty flat, but its done and mailed, and looking at my Monique's big smile makes me smile too.

I spent some time doing some scrapbooking yesterday. My friend called me needing some help doing a last-minute project for a gymnastics coach who is leaving. Thursday was going to be her last day, instead of Friday. Most of the girls had already made one or 2 pages for it, but she had loads of pictures that she wanted put in the book, and so could I PLEASE come over and bring her some supplies (broken foot, can't drive) and help finish it. Well, how could I say no to that? We made 11 pages between the 2 of us in 4 hours, just in time for the other coach to pick it up to take to the gym. I didn't get any photos of my pages, didn't even have time to THINK of it, but it was fun and good for my creativity.

I also spent a tiny bit of time in my studio today. Tried to start cleaning up from the last creative time, but didn't get too far. Thing2 was "BORED" and came in to do art and talk to me about what stuff I had in there, and could we play a board game because Thing1 was at a bday party and he's SO BORED. and so forth. After he left, I sat on my futon and snoozed for a few minutes. Its a tad overwhelming, full of stuff that needs to be put in its place, and stuff that NEEDS a new place, and stuff that needs the garbage can, and stuff that belongs SOMEWHERE else, and just like my brain, (which is all full of stuff and confused and mishmashed) I just couldn't get a handle on it. I could/should be in there now, but its a scary place and my head isn't ready to be all tidy and organized just yet. Soon, tho...hopefully soon.

What now?

2006-08-15T21:09:00.000-07:00

Whew...that last post was such a downer, huh!! And how to follow up on it? I just don't know what to talk about now. Things are the same around here, nothing new, and I'm still feeling ickky. I haven't done any art in a while, so there's no pretty photos to post.

I've been busy this week working on the invites for my brother's wedding. Getting them printed and all mailed out is taking way longer than I had expected. Mostly this is because I've procrastinated, and so have the bride and groom and all the parents, in getting the addresses to me.

So, here are some photos of the invitation mess around me, so you'll have something to look at! lol Anyone else a procrastinator? Isn't it stressful!!

I'm going to go put my 2 Things to bed and read them a story. Any of you still read to your lil Things at bedtime? Even my 11.5 yo loves it. :) Goodnight dear readers, and lets hope for a better day tomorrow.

troubles...

2006-08-10T18:25:00.000-07:00

OK, so we've all got troubles, right? I mean, there are people suffering everywhere, with starvation, disease, homelessness, abuse, neglect, death and destruction and heartache everywhere. The puny little problems I have in my life don't mean squat in the big picture of the world.

Now that I've gotten THAT out of the way, I need to talk about my problems. And they are minor in the big picture but in my little world, they are major. To me. And to my little family.

I find myslef sitting here having a hell of a hard time typing about all this. Part of my issues involve not wanting to talk about what's wrong. And part of my issues are about minimzing what's wrong. Because if I can minimize the problems, they aren't so bad....its almost like I'm not admitting to the depth of the problem, so I don't have to cope with it all the way. Man, I want to get up right now, walk away, do some laundry or something....that's how bad its getting. I don't want to face my issues. Face the fact that the depression that I've been fighting off for so long so successfully has returned. Face the fact that I'm going to have to get some kind of job because I can't seem to be productive without some outside influence.

My kids have been back in school since the end of July. I've spent the last 2 weeks watching TV, inhaling book after book and napping with a tiny bit of shopping here and there. At first I was depressed because when I went back to the school for volunteering and found out about several jobs that I was rejected for that got filled with other people than me, I was so upset. I got myself invested in the idea of teaching at my kids' school, I've been talking about it forever, and to be rejected for all of the 8 or 9 teaching positions they had open just devastated me. There is no reason, no really valid reason for me to not have gotten one of those positions. I'm just as qualified, just as experienced as those other teachers. I'm GOOD at teaching, BAD at housekeeping. I'm a good interviewee, I think. And I did 2 interviews, and I had references which were not contacted, and and and....

And I didn't get hired. So, I was upset and the first day I volunteered, I swear I think I ran into 4 of the new teachers. And I was soooo bitter and upset. I left crying. Luckily no one saw me.

So I expected to be depressed after that. And I told myself and my dh that it would last a week or so and that's it. Because I really can't let it hold on longer than that. I have things I gotta, should and wanna do.

Yet still, it lingers. It doesn't feel like the bitterness of rejection anymore. I feel almost over that. (as much as you can get over that) It feels like the depression I had before, when ALL I was was wrapped up in being a SAHM. My job was housekeeper and I hated that. I still hate the housekeeping part, but I'm trying to push those feelings off. Its my job, more than I had expected, and I had such plans to make it only a small part of my day and make art and other things more of my focus.

But I can't seem to focus. I drive around aimlessly. I can't commit to a gym, to a yoga or exercise class, to a plan of action. I come home and sit down to eat and the next thing you know I'm on the couch, ER is on, or I'm reading or I'm asleep on the couch until time to pick up the kids. Even the evenings are b-l-a-h---. I can't drag myself to get things done and the guilt, oh my its overwhelming.

My dh has pulled into his shell. He does that when he's upset with me or with "things." He can see that we've come around to the same place we were before I went back to work last year. (I was an assistant and refused that job for this year...a mistake, maybe.) I'm NOT following through on my plan to go to the gym and get healthy. The house is a wreck. I'm a mess. And he's quiet and withdrawn. Which means we will be fighting soon if I can't get out of this pit. And every day, the closer we get to his coming home time, the worse I feel. The guiltier I feel. Because my inaction is making him so unhappy too.

I'm snapping at the kids, I'm crying at the TV, I'm staying up late and sleeping in the daytime. I can't do art. I have no drive or spark. I can't even stand to be in my studio for more than a few minutes at a time.

I have projects due and overdue.

If I can't pull it together I'm going to have to get a menial HATE IT job somewhere. That would suck....I have so many ideas for great things to do with my time, but I can't seem to pull myself up to do them.

I've done the medication thing and it didn't work for me. I've done the psychotherapy and that didn't work either. The only thing that seemed to work was to get a job. Then the pressure of the housework was off my back, as it became shared work, and I had structure to my day.

I don't WANT to take a non-teaching job somewhere. If I want to teach it has to be at my kids' school as otherwise the scheduling of pick up and drop off and days off is impossible. I don't have anyone else to take my kids to school, pick them up, etc.

So, dunno what to do....hoping that I can find some gumption somewhere to go work out, to join a gym somewhere, to make a loose structure for my day and stick by it someday soon. Before my marriage falls apart.

It wasn't today.

Just art

2006-07-30T14:10:00.000-07:00

I tried to post once, but my computer crashed in the middle of it. Life gets complicated. I stop posting. That's it. :)

I have more to say, about oh, life, and sadness, etc...but no time right now. So instead I'm posting some art I've done recently.

My art partner sent me an altoid tin and a mini book, some beads, ribbons, paper and some other things that I used to make this tin and book. Thanks for looking, feel free to comment and I'll write more another day.

Tin Closed

Mini Book Closed; It fits inside the tin.

Just blabbering...

2006-07-16T10:18:00.000-07:00

I've not posted for a few days, as you might have seen. Real life isn't that busy....I've just lost a little enthusiasm. On Friday I took Thing1 to the dr to recheck his pneumonia and he was pronounced all better. That night, Thing2 started with a fever and headache. GREAT.....this is the same way it started w/Thing1. By Saturday he was coughing. And this morning, Thing1 is sneezing and runny nose-ing like crazy. Lovely. Another 2 weeks in the house.

I think I'm getting a tad stir-crazy. I went out yesterday to do the back-to-school supply shopping and was gone for 3 hours. When I got home I was hot and tired. After I put all the groceries away and had lunch I needed a nap. My feet hurt and I was just exhausted. I felt OLD.

I can't believe that one little shopping trip would wear me out so much. We've spent too much time in the house this summer. Of course, it was 116 degrees yesterday, and felt so stiflingly hot out there. ick.

I've done a little bit of art the last few days. I'm not ready to post it yet, as its not really finished. I did get most of the last journal entries for my {21} days done....kinda lost momentum on that too. And the habits haven't become habits. I've already fallen off that bandwagon. Perhaps THAT's why I feel icky. Out of shape, unhealthy, not taking my meds, not exercising. hmmm....lol

Birthday Greetings!

2006-07-10T10:03:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone...just wanted to do a quick shout out to my brother's lovely fiancee', Amity, who is having her lovely bday today! We did the family dinner last night and she said she is going to stay home and relax today. Well, as much relaxing as is possible when your wedding is in **82** days!! lol

Happy birthday sweetie!

Sneak Peek!

2006-07-08T11:04:00.000-07:00

I'm teaching a project over at Scrapping Arts tonight---9pm EST. The topic: "Altered Style". Its a scrapbook page using some altered art style stuff. Here's a sneak peek (try typing that fast...your brain wants to spell them the same). Hope any of you blog readers will come over and see what we're doing. :)

Online Crop

2006-07-07T16:32:00.000-07:00

Hey loyal BLOG readers! In case any of you didn't know, over at my favorite scrapbook site we are having a Cyber Crop! Lots of free classes and projects and games and even some PRIZES!

So come over and PLAY with us at Scrapping Arts!

Days {14 & 15}

2006-07-06T10:53:00.000-07:00

Day {14} quote: Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal." Pam V. Starr

Day {15} quote: Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, Only as deep as I look can I see, Only as much as I dream can I be." Karen Rayn

AND I'm done and all caught up!! I'm going to do some art now... :)

days {10-13}

2006-07-06T10:42:00.000-07:00

Day {10} quote: "It is in change that we find purpose." Heraclitus
Day {11} quote: "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal." Henry Ford.

Day {12} quote: "Our busy lives force us to focus on things you do from day to day. But the development of character comes only as we focus on who you really are." Russell M. Nelson

Day {13} quote: "Failing is the first step in learning how to fly." Jody Picoult

Days {6-9}

2006-07-06T09:38:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!! Well I said before I'm all caught up w/journal pages, and I finally got the photos taken and adjusted and I'm going to start posting now. ;) When I went to catch up I started counting pages and found that I didn't have enough to continue doing 2 pages per day. I had counted beforehand and I was SURE that I did but anyway! lol So these are all one page per day. Its ok....faster this way.

Day {6} quote: "Open your eyes to the beauty around you. Open your mind to the wonders of life. Open your heart to those who love you and always be true to yourself." Donna Davis

Day {7} quote: "Every day you spend drifting away from your goals is a waste not only of that day, but also of the additional day it takes to regain lost ground." Ralph Marston

Day {8} quote: "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." Eleanor Roosevelt

Day {9} quote: "We can do anything we want to if we stick to it long enough." Helen Keller

Tagged

2006-07-04T10:22:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged by Jeryn....whose most recent post has a LO with a photo of her most gorgeous new baby! :) Sorry I missed this tag before, Jeryn.

What's in my fridge/freezer:
Geez, I just went to the grocery too.
3 gallons of whole milk
1 gallon of 2% (mine)
Cran-Cherry
Lemonade
OJ
tons of yogurt (vanilla, orange, lemon and lime) for Thing1&2
Orange and green Jell-O for the sick Thing1 (did I mention it turned out to be pneumonia)
homemade chicken noodle soup for sick kid (made by MIL...awesome)
leftover roasted chicken (almost ready for the garbage...one more day)
leftover baked ziti
sauce (MIL's special recipe)
eggs
ground beef for tonight's hamburgers
lettuce
at least one tomato and 1/2 a red onion
ham
cheese
tortillas
cream cheese
and lots of condiments...we LUV condiments. :)

What's in my closet:
side 1:
about 15 purses (looking for a new one right now. lol)
about 20 pairs of shoes in see-thru rubbermaid boxes
an exercise video that I never watched and probably never will
3 boxes of clothes that don't fit and I pray will fit someday again
1 box of maternity clothes that I should get rid of, but just CAN'T
lots of short sleeved shirts and yoga tanks

side 2:
too many sweaters---its ARIZONA....we have winter for about 10 seconds
A bunch of pairs of pants...most of them fit
3 robes
4, count 'em, 4 bridesmaids dresses
other assorted dresses, blazers and skirts
1 box for my cowboy hat. dh bought it for me about 10 yrs ago. Worn=1 time
2 boxes of clothes that I pray I will wear again.
1 box of outdated work clothes that I can't fit in and probably won't want to wear when I can fit

What's in my handbag:
new wallet--hard to pull the cards outta it
checkbook
makeup bag (I'm bad, I know, but I put it on in the car.)
a bunch of receipts...hate all that paper
shopping list that I should've thrown away
too many pens--I keep finding one more at the bottom of my purse
Altoids
Book list (I keep a list of books I'm looking for at the used bookstore. They are on index cards on a ring.)
house keys
car key (its separate....don't ask.lol)

What's in my car:
Its cleaned out mostly!! During the school year its WAY more icky than this.

in the trunk:
bags of things to be returned--WalMart, the mall, Target
a crate with books to sell at the used bookstore
an insulated grocery bag (just in case)
inside the car:
kids books
probably Thing2's sandals
extra napkins
a couple of receipts
and some trash on the floor

What's in my DVD/video player:
In the downstairs family TV: The Fantastic 4--rented yesterday and watched last night w/the kids
In my studio DVD player: West Wing Season 6. Love that show so much I had to buy all 6 seasons on DVD. How sick is that? lol

Now you! I tag Sharon and Storm and anyone else reading this! If you do it, reply and let me know.

I'll post art later. I caught up on my {21} day journal last night!

More art!!

2006-07-03T15:54:00.000-07:00

I'm in a couple of altered art swaps. I usually don't play too much in the swapping arena, as I get behind and don't like the stress of it. So I've limited myself to one at a time. However, one set of these swaps is one where I get the materials by mail and make my stuff and then post what I made, so that doesn't involve me and the post office, which is good. I figured I could do a couple of those as well as ONE mailed swap.

My first art parners swap is at right. I received all the materials that you see here, except for the purple painted background. The assignment is to make one ATC, using only what was sent, and whatever paint or ink you want to add. She sent so MUCH stuff I went ahead and made 4. And I still have enough leftovers to make another one or 2. :)

I'm also in a Tip-In Circle swap. We make a tip in for each member of our group in their own theme and mail it according to a specific mailing order. Here's my first one...the theme was "quotes". This photo is of my mother's cousin Virginia. Its a tape-transfer, and the lace is some that I have leftover from my bridesmaids' dresses.

{Day 4} & {Day 5}

2006-07-03T15:48:00.000-07:00

Catching up! I have done backgrounds for all the days I've missed...hopefully will get all caught up before the holiday weekend is finished. Or not. Whatever. Today I'm posting the already-finished days 4 and 5. They were giving me a tough time w/my camera....finally fixed that.

Day 4:

Day 5:

Oh Happy Day!

2006-07-01T21:20:00.000-07:00

This song has been in my head this week. We sang it at Thing1's confirmation mass, and then made a joke of putting it on his cake that night. (I bought a Carvel ice cream cake, and the only ones they had said, "Happy Birthday." So his godmother and I scraped the "birth" off the cake and drew an "O" in front...so his cake said, "O Happy day.")

The song is also appropriate because today is my darling husband's birthday and tomorrow is our anniversary. We've been married 12 years.

They haven't always been easy ones. I've had a few years of being depressed and on medication, which made our lives even tougher.

I've been sad and lazy and hard to live with.
He's been sad and demanding and hard to live with.
We've gone through births and miscarriages and deaths together.
We've bought homes and furniture and cars together.
We've made tough decisions about our boys...their education, their interests, their needs, together.
We've talked and debated and discussed many things together.
We've laughed a lot, and played, and travelled, and seen movies and slept together.
We've experienced life...all the good and the bad intermingled...together.

Together...that's the important word.

I love you honey.

Oh happy day!

Lil Monster's at My House

2006-06-28T23:38:00.000-07:00

Sorry sorry I haven't posted!! I've done my day{4} and {5} art, but my camera did NOT want to photograph them. It's dead battery needed charging, but I couldn't find the charger.

Plus I have a sick kid, my dh's bday this weekend, my brother got engaged (YAY), my favorite craft store had its going out of business sale, and the sick kid's Confirmation was tonight. We just doped him up on Motrin and cough syrup and dragged his OH-SO-ADORABLE-IN-HIS-LIL-SUIT self to church. :) Got a few cutie pie pix too.

I'm doing good on my personal goals...only missed ONE day of exercising...had cramps...thought that was a good enough reason to skip. TMI anyone! lol

Have to tell you this funny-now story. My Thing1 has been sick since like Friday. So, by Monday he is not only sick, but he's Cranky. He's sick of all the DVD's we have, and feels too icky to go do anything else. Thing2 is not sick, but he's Whiney. He is sick of the movies too, and wants someone, oh please ANYONE to play with him. So, my girlfriends are calling, because of the Confirmation, and the girls day out we are planning, and my mom is calling, and MIL too, and the kids are fighting. They are drivin' me nutso. I mean, Thing1 can't stand the way Thing2 is breathing. So I told them, "I dub thee Cranky and Whiney. Those are your names for today." And I talked about them to whoever was calling. My friends would say, "How's it going?" and I'd explain that Cranky is still sick and he is soo annoyed with the way little Whiney is breathing. Whiney is boo-hooing because he is SO BORED, and has nothing to do and Cranky is SOOO mean to him and I am "THE MEANEST MOM EVER." I mean it, that's like my title for this day.

Anyway, it was funny at the time, and the names got me a lot of eye rolling from the lil Things, plus Whiney really didn't like me telling my friends that and DENIED, I mean FLAT OUT DENIED in the Whineyiest of Whiney voices that he was Whiney at all.

ROFLOL....its a Mom's life, I guess.

Hoping your house is sickness-free....

{Day 3}

2006-06-24T15:51:00.000-07:00

Day 3 left side. Quote: "Life is never a straight line. Its full of twists and turns. The way to a happy life is not to avoid them but to embrace them, to find happiness in them." Warren T. Vanderven

This quote is one from a previous session of Rhonna's. Three of the squares are actually shiny silver, like mirrors. Of course, they look all weird in this photo...you can almost see me holding the camera! lol

Day 3 right side: Again, the small rectangles are silvery metallic. I plan to put a clock on every day, reminding me that its "Time for a Change." (My dh got a cool watch catalog in the mail, and I've grabbed it up. ) The circles along the bottom and right side are holes made w/different sized punches and backed w/a few scraps of patterned blue and green paper. Thanks for looking...now I'm off to do my day 4 exercising.

{Day2}

2006-06-23T10:15:00.000-07:00

Left side.
Quote for Day 2: "People with clear written goals accomplish far more in a shorter amount of time then people without them could ever imagine." Brian Tracy

I did a collage for this day's pages. I chose earth toned papers, fibers and stamp ink. I'm not happy w/the brown fiber sitting very heavily like an eyebrow over the top of this page. I should add some more so they look purposeful or some buttons or something above it to lighten it. But, I probably won't. lol

Day 2 right side. The colors are a bit off as I'm not expert w/the digital camera. Of course, taking the photos at 11 pm without any natural light is a challenge in itself.

I've decided to use these round playing cards on my LOs...at least thru day 10. I inked this one with red/brown ink and wiped off most of it. IRL it looks better. This page I inked with several colors of brown, tan and reddish ink before mounting the paper and adding journalling. This page too, needs something "else." But its done and so am I. :)

{Day 1}

2006-06-22T09:46:00.000-07:00

Day 1. I used one quote from my own collection, and the other 2 are ones Rhonna gave out on different rounds of this challenge.

Here is the right side of my layout with my journalling. "I don't take care of myself, plain and simple. I'm not sure why, but I'm sure there are some deep psychological reasons that I am not fathoming. In the meantime this is my attempt to start to remedy that. The habits I am trying to make: 1. Take my thyroid meds every am before I eat. 2. Do something physical every day. Hopefully 21 days of this will improve my condition."

{21} Challenge

2006-06-22T09:38:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about it awhile and finally decided to jump on the bandwagon and join Rhonna Farrer's {21} Challenge.

It takes 21 days to make or break a habit, they say, and so Rhonna is challenging us to choose a habit to make or break and art journal about it every day. She gives daily quotes and is inspiring so many people to change their lives. She's already on day 10, but I know if I wait until she starts a new round I will find some other reason not to join, so I've decided just to start with day one and keep on going.

Here is the cover of my art journal. It feels a bit unfinished...I may add some stuff to it later.

And here is my title page. The cover of the album has a square cut out, so the title page shows thru.

Next post....day 1. :)

Moved!

2006-06-22T09:30:00.000-07:00

I've decided to move my blog over here. My inknoise account just did NOT have the capability to put in enough graphics. Trying to add this post put me over my limit over there. So, I've spent a lot of my morning playing around w/html...which I do NOT know...and getting this set up like I like it. I'm not done, of course, but its a start. At least I have my header in and changed the colors so I like the way it looks. WAHOO!! That was tough. Next post....ART! :)