Tuesday, May 31, 2005

ok i've done that

i was busy this weekend working on a some scrapbook pages about our little baseball excursion (see may 15th's entry) and was happily working away. after the initial ideas came and i started arranging the photos, figuring out where to put the tickets and memorabilia, stitching down the ticking (which had that baseball pinstipe look i was going for) it was really the mechanics of getting it all tacked down... and my mind started wandering to the next thing. I wasn't finished with this layout - i had the journaling going on my computer - and i had such a time staying focused on what i was doing - because thoughts of another project started filtering into my brain. I was wondering this morning if anyone else has this problem. Actually it worked for me this time- as it gave me the impetus i needed to get these pages finished so i could get to the next thing... But this happens to me a lot. My brain says ... ok.. you've done that... now what about this! And those thoughts - the new thing - whatever it might be -- haunt me. It just won't go away until i have done something with it. It helps the congestion in my brain to jot down the idea - maybe do a little drawing in my sketchbook - then the idea isn't everpresent til i do something real with it... but that idea still floats around in my head until i've used it.

So now you know.. i'm certifiable - right?

Monday, May 30, 2005

laundry

is evil... and never-ending.
i wish i could come up with something positive about laundry. Yes i need clean clothes. I like fluffy just washed and dried towels (but i'm not doing towels today LOL).
It is one of those necessary evils. The kind of chore you tell yourself "if i do this, i can then do this fun thing"... thats what i do often to make it tolerable. I play "Let's Make a Deal"
Do you make deals with yourself too? Well, I play Monty and i'm also the contestant.
Right now Monty is saying, if you fold another load, put on the next one, you can run on over to Michaels to look around. See what's behind door #1,2 and 3. Maybe the new Legacy magazine. Maybe some other fun goody. Maybe something to inspire me as not much has lately.
Hey.....I'll take that deal!
See you later!

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

A happy monday?

well it was. now its tuesday and i'm lookin for more of where that came from.
Usually days that start out with everyone running around like lunatics trying to get out on time - well those are the stressed out mornings i detest. i like to start the day kind of quiet. Get my thoughts together. And by the time i am at work i'm ready to go. Yesterday was Joseph's first day at his summer job and we had to leave early to get him there. Well this Northern Virginia traffic wasn't having any of that - and he was actually 15 minutes late... it was raining and the location is right in a very congested area (near a very large telecommunications company which shall remain nameless but pays our bills.. ahem) . We finally got there but learned our lesson - leaving before 8 will be required. Groan....
Anyway it was a nice day at work. I heard some nice news about a friend. Then i got home and heard the nicest message ever on our answering machine. Joe's Aunt calling me to say how she received Eliz's thank you note and she just went on about how beautiful the card was - I made it- natch- but it was just that she thought to call me and say so. I can't say how much i admire her - she's just this amazing woman - but that she toook the time to give me a call to be my cheerleader. Isn't it funny how when one special person says they like what you do - well you can just feel so great?
And then to have a group of special people say it? That was my next happy monday thing. A group of very special friends (i know you're out there :-)) told me they liked a project I've been working on - and finally was revealed to them yesterday. I'll show it here soon but thank you p2p'ers. YOu have no idea how much your support means to me.... little miss lacking confidence here.
And finally i got some very great news about my good friend Jen Duncan. Cover of the new issue of Legacy magazine features Jen's artwork and her name is right there on the cover too... you can see it here:
http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?gallery=3&cmd=display&layout_id=567658
yeah it was a happy monday... now i'm shooting for 2 in a row... happy tuesday all.

Thursday, May 19, 2005

I knew I shoulda

worked on cleaning out my closet yesterday. I've got an organization coming to pick up used clothing tomorrow.i keep putting off going through my things. It's such a hateful task. I've been looking at this mess of a closet for months saying i'd get to it. So when the organization called a few weeks ago, as they do periodocally, i said - Yes, I've got some things - and put it on my calendar. Well one thing or another sidetracked me - along with my usual procrastination. Now when i return from work this afternoon I'll have no choice but to attack that closet. Yeah yeah. I'll be so happy tomorrow that i've done it. But this morning its just a bummer to think i've got to do this later.
There is also that pack rat thing i've got. I know i'll stand in the closet and have big issues with throwing away some things. I probably should just throw away those t-shirts my brother gave me - he had a little collection of fun ones - there is a lot of sentimental value there. Maybe i should take pictures of them? perhaps that'll make it easier to let them go. I certainly wouldn't wear them. I know this already. But its that they were his that makes me hold on to them. I know that's what it is. It would feel like i'm giving him away. Forgetting him. Nothing could be further from the truth. It's all so illogical - how could giving away a bunch of shirts make me feel so sad? Yeah i think i'll take the pictures and quickly stuff them into a bag and give them away to someone who needs a shirt.
I have my memories and i really don't need a t-shirt to remind me of those, now do I?

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Frosted Flake

ok so now i'm posting all kinds o'crap and not saying a whole lot. But things have been a wee bit busy. Bear with me....
Taught a class last nite at work - which would have gone a whole lot better if i'd arrived at my usual time. Normally i like to get there an hour before, set things up, have a little time to think about what i'm teaching. Go over my notes - that kinda thing.
Last nite however my 20 minute ride to work turned into an hour ride to work. While i was sitting in my car i thought maybe this is just evil Northern Virginia traffic.... which we do indeed have. But even though this is one of the fastest growing counties in the country - the EVIL traffic is in the county next door (slowly making its way here but i digress). No it was an accident or two or three. I stopped counting. I felt very sorry for these poor people - who the heck wants an accident (certainly not on the way home - it was about 6:45pm). I definitely felt for the woman who pulled over on the side of the road - as i passed her i realized why she'd pulled over. she went to the rear passenger side and took a little girl out - maybe 3 or 4 - used both doors to shield her from the traffic - and assisted her in pulling down her pants - i presumed a potty was much too far away.
I finally arrived at work - with 15 minutes before the class started. Not good. I hurried around and got everything set up but.... no time for thinking, contemplating WHATEVER it is i need. I guess some might call it meditation? ANYWHO... it took me about 15-20 minutes into my class to get into my groove... poor students. I'm sure they thought for that first part of the class - what a flake. And a frosted (hair) flake at that.
Really it went ok. One of my friends - June- who also teaches at the store - took the class. She wanted to make the project - a really nice Graduation tag book - lovely design. Anyway June told me today - godluvver- that it was a great class. I guess she likes frosted flakes.
And speaking of flakes....
I'm mentioning to my husband the other day that i hadn't received something i ordered - a book - and i was disappointed it hadn't arrived. He said you didn't get the book? She didnt give it to you? I said I think we're not talking about the same thing here. He started to laugh and said-- did our daughter give you a book for Mother's Day or not? I looked at him -then replied "what book?" He smiled and said we got you a book and apparently she never gave it to you.

The flake, apparently, doesn't fall far from the tree.

So on Sunday we're getting ready to leave for the metro station (about an hour drive) to go to the baseball game. Elizabeth is asking if she should bring a book (not knowing how long of an adventure we had) - I said definitely. Then i said, while smiling at my husband, GEEE I wish I had a book to read! Then i left the room (within earshot of course). I hear my husband talking to Eliz, saying i guess you didnt give her the book. She says something like - didn't we? i thought we did. Then off she goes in search of where she'd left my gift.

My sweet little flake of a daughter. She found my book. There are times when this flakiness is exasperating. But she's like the nutty professor - seemingly ditsy but quite brilliant. Her mind is on loftier things i suppose. Plenty of time to get serious as she gets older I think. And hey - i still got my book. Sort of an extended Mother's Day.

The book is wonderful by the way. I love Rita Mae Brown and the book is her latest, co-authored by her cat - Sneaky Pie Brown - the title "Cat's Eyewitness - A Mrs. Murphy Mystery". These little mysteries are just so fun - characters are a hoot and have Rita Mae's usual wit. If you're not familiar with Rita Mae or Sneaky Pie - do yourself a favor and read one. Very fun - not serious at all. Rita Mae's got plenty of those under her own title (sans Sneaky Pie) - also great reading.
And now.. i've blabbered enough for one day

Sunday, May 15, 2005


RFK Stadium: Washington Nationals vs Chicago Cubs Posted by Hello

Take me out to the ballgame

well here's what we did today - took in a ball game! Drove out to the metro station and had a fun ride into DC right to the ballpark. We met Joe's family there: Joe's Aunt Dot came from the Baltimore area with a friend; Joe's Dad drove from Delaware to Maryland to meet up with Joe's brother and the triplets; and Joe's sister and husband came from Rhode Island and one of their sons came in from Michigan. Quite a many-state-d event but that's how it is with this family. We had a great time too. The weather, while overcast, was really nice - cool but not cold. We had seats in the box area and then way up at the top. After an initial venture by the men to the box area - they decided to join us up in the seats way at the top - i guess they missed us :-) It worked out nicely that there were enough empty seats at the top to work it all out. It was nice catching up with everyone and being at a game for the 1st season of this new team. Everyone was up for it. There were quite a lot of Cubs fans at that game too! But, in the end, the Nationals won. The trip back on the metro was a little crazy - so many trains running and one had a problem. We went back and forth a little but eventually we got back to Virginia. A really nice relaxing day.

Saturday, May 14, 2005


and here's the right side of the layout Posted by Hello

Here's the left side of a layout of the confirmation Posted by Hello

and here's the other side Posted by Hello

Faces i love album - one side Posted by Hello

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Catching up after Mother's Day

I will try and recap my dee-lite-full Mother's Day weekend - over the next day or so - but first
BREAKING NEWS....apparently Samantha Stevens will have her statue in Salem, Mass. What you say? You haven't heard about the town of Salem getting a statue of everyone's (at least of my vintage) favorite TV witch? I shall link you up to the online article in the Washington Post I read the other day (not online) about this important news story.
http://http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/04/AR2005050400352.html

i loved Bewitched.

Monday, May 02, 2005

if you're PMS'ing OR you've got company coming

either way... run, do not walk, to your kitchen and make this recipe for Chocolate zucchini cake

Chocolate Zucchini Cake Recipe
1/2 cup soft margarine 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup vegetable oil 1 tsp. baking soda
1 3/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup cocoa
2 eggs 1/2 cup sour milk
1 tsp vanilla 2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp salt 1/4 cup chocolate chips
2 cups shredded zucchini
Mix all ingredients together. Pour into 9 X 13 baking pan.
Top with 1 cup chocolate chips and 1/4 cup sugar.
Bake 40 minutes at 325 degrees

(I tried posting a link to 2Peas to their weblog which gives this recipe but its not cooperating so i cut and pasted it above- so credit Kristina at 2peas - her mom's recipe)

you and your hips will thank me for the tip.
I made this yesterday - had my mom over for Sunday dinner, my son was home from college for the summer and well heck - the rest of us deserved something yummy too.

Ricky would call it "delish". I say "More please!" It is incredibly delicious. Make some.
Thats an order