ToT: What's in a (nick)name?

TOPIC:
Nicknames. Did you have one growing up? How did you get it? Do people still call you that? If you have kids, have you given them nicknames?

This week is stupid. 

I'm telling you that because that is my SOLE reason for posting late. 

I'm fighting the urge to go into detail. 

Okay.  I won't fight it anymore.

On Monday, I came off of a VERY busy weekend that would've been better suited for a person 10 years my junior.  I was very much looking forward to falling asleep on the couch at 8:15pm on Monday evening.  BUT...while we were playing outside with Jayna, we noticed that a giant limb had broken on one of our smaller-but-still-giant tree and was just lying in the tree. 

One phone call to the father-in-law later, I was sitting on the patio drinking wine and assessing the health of a tree.  That evening turned into a late night. 

We had lots to discuss that had absolutely nothing to do with trees.

Tuesday was harder.  And more stupid.  I was even MORE tired and sort of weak feeling like I was getting sick.  But I trudged on and went to work all day, came home to prepare some things for dinner, went to get Jayna, stopped by a cousin's house, and came home to a tree being cut down.

Who knew they were going to start THENEXTDAY?!?

So last night turned into a late night also.  A late night of trying on a very cool hard hat.

It had a face shield and ear muffs.  Seriously.  I want one of my own.

It also may have turned into a beer drinking night.  Not too much...just enough to make me not sleep as well as I needed to.

Dudes...I'm worn out.  I'm too old for this shit.  I.  Need.  Rest.

And that whole damn tree still has to be cut into firewood.  During a burn ban.  The irony.

Where was I?  Oh, right.  Nicknames.

I've had LOTS of nicknames over the years.  Some meaner than others.  Some I don't even want to write about because I know some of you (read:  Quags) who read will use this to your advantage. 

It's all in good fun, right?  RIGHT?!?

The very first nickname I received as a kid was Dani.  Just a shortened version of my name.  Shortened?  Yes.  But the formation of a boy's name?  Yep.  And I sure did HATE it until I was in late middle school.  People still call me Dani and it's almost what I prefer.  When I hear someone say my real name, it definitely gets my attention a little more because I'm not used to it.  Most of my family calls me Dani.  A few friends and their parents call me Dani.  It just stuck and I'm pretty sure it isn't going away.

The second nickname I received was Charlie.  My mom started calling me Charlie when I was...hell, I think it was out of the womb.  I've always been Charlie to her.  Charlie Goose.  I don't know how the goose part got in there, but that's a popular one too.  And now that I'm older, others caught on too and call me Charlie.  My stepdad calls me Chuck a lot of the time.  Even my dad calls me Charlie.  And I'll pretty much take this one to the grave.

When I was around 6 or 7, my neighbor Chad and his friend Jason nicknamed me Smelly Danielley.  And I wanted to KILL them.  They were much older than me, by about 8-10 years, and they just did it because I was Spacey Tracy's friend (Tracy is Chad's younger sister).  Tracy and I are still friends.  Little did I know, but Chad would become a very dear friend to me also.  I still love that guy and I am really happy that he has such an awesome family and life in general.  I'm not mad at him anymore...25 years later...but I'll still cut you if you call me...THAT nickname.  I'm pretty sure his immediate family are the only ones who have the rights to that one.

Fellow ToT blogger Michelle and I had interesting nicknames for one another.  Jiggler and Mathass.  She was NEVER addressed in writing as Michelle.  It was sort of like we  had code names for one another in case we got caught passing  notes...because we did it ALL.  THE.  TIME.  She is the only person who has ever called me that.  And she's the only person I'll allow to call me that.  Some things are just special. :)

In college, I became Dee.  I would even introduce myself as Dee.  All of my fellow Philo students called me Dee.  Teachers called me Dee.  Friends called me Dee.  I think the credit for this one goes to either my crazy Indian friend Mitesh or my crazy weird ass roommate Seth.  (Boy do I miss both of those guys, as well as that other pesky Chris Kohler).  The only people who did NOT know me as Dee were my family and the people I worked with.  Some of my coworkers called me Dee, but not very many.  I am still known as Dee to lots of people.

And then P.Diddy came along and we all had the "initial nicknames."  I became known as DeeDub by my School Age Care kids (a fourth grader named Lucas to be exact).  I was married by then, so my initials were DW.  The kids quickly made that into a hiphop name because I am so fly.  Or something.  This one has stuck to this day.  I got a message on FB a couple of days ago from a School Age Care coworker who didn't know my full name...only knew me as DeeDub.  So it took her EXTRA long to find me on FB. :)

Who knows who this is?

It had been noticed throughout my married life that my initials are DW.  "When you're in trouble, just call DW!!  Darkwing Duck!!"  And while it had been noticed, no one ever really gave me that nickname. 

That is, until RJQ came along.  RJQ is Jiggler's husband.  He is a dear friend to me.  Hell, their whole family is dear to me.  I love them all!!  One day he realized my initials were DW (probably at a bar with lots of alcohol involved) and said, "Hey!!  You're Darkwing Duck!"

And now, on occasion, he refers to me as just "Darkwing."  And everytime he does it, I laugh because he was pretty sure he was the first person to ever think of it.  And he thought it was the most hilarious thing EVER.  So, by default, it is now hilarious to me. 

Nicknames for my kid?  Oh dear.

Kids are so easy to give nicknames to.  Jayna's most popular nickname is just Jaynie.  I do call her J sometimes.  I call her JBird a LOT.  My dad calls her JayMad from her singing career days (read: when JLo was popular).  We also still call her Jayniac from her professional wrestling days. :)  Who knows if they will stick.  JBird will.  I'm pretty sure I'll never stop calling her that.  I'm sure her school friends will come up with something.  Those crafty little punks.

Do you have a nickname?  What is it?  How'd ya get it?

Now go visit the other ToT ladies!!  Use those sidebar links to the right!

ToT: Brain Dump

Topic:Laundry list: list 50 thoughts/observations/tidbits. That is all.

Let's do it to it, shall we?

1. I had a dream last night.  Chris and I broke into a woman's condo when she wasn't home for the sole purpose of gathering and taking out her trash.  When we were almost done, I saw her car pulling in the parking lot, so we hurried and got out of there.  As we were driving the trash to the dumpster, a man approached the car and informed me that he used his phone to make a video of us breaking in.  I asked him if I could see it.  He handed me his phone and I immediately threw it out the window in front of the car and told Chris to run over it.  He did.  And we put the trash in the dumpster and got away scot free.
2. I love planning parties.  I want to do it for a living.
3. I hate planning parties and I never want to have one again.
4. I'm still sort of weirded out about all of Jayna's preschool friends coming to my house for a party.  That's...a LOT of kids.  I sort of hope some bail on us.
5. I wonder if that safety guy from that one place is ever going to contact me back.
6. There is a strange smell in my office.  It's a mix of body odor and cinnamon.  It's not me.  It's not Susi.  So what the HELL is it?!?
7. I cleaned the work bathroom today.  If I could clean my own bathrooms on work's time, I'd do it WAY more often.
8. I have a loose hubcap on my car.  I drove through a parking garage today and it sounded like my car was quite literally going to fall apart into a million little pieces.
9. We don't have any food at our house.  I went to look for what to cook for dinner last night and there was only 5 chicken breasts and 2 pieces of cod in the freezer.  I guess we'll have fish for dinner tonight.  Or we could have the 2 remaining chicken breasts I guess.
10. I should go grocery shopping.
11. I despise grocery shopping on weekdays.
12. My car needs washed, but it is supposed to rain for the next 3 days.  But the real question is...WILL IT ACTUALLY RAIN?
13. My garden sucks.  Please see #12 regarding rain.
14. I don't ever remember a drought this long.
15. I was at the BMV for an hour and 20 minutes this morning.  The BMV is some good people watching.  Seriously.
16. I could reeeeeeeally use some breadsticks from Hot Box.
17. The southside Scotty's is open.  I will be going there very soon.  Like this weekend.
18. Friday is Date Night.
19. I think we'll go to Scotty's for Date Night.
20. Is it illegal or something to birthday shop for your 4-year-old on Date Night?  It probably is in Chris' mind.
21. I sure wish I had more time to learn harmonica.  Maybe I'll take lessons and then I'll be FORCED to play and learn.
22. I think I will rent a RedBox movie for Jayna tonight.  You know, since it's dark and gray and a million degrees outside.
23. I need envelopes for Jayna's birthday invites. 
24. I could use some new clothes.  Is it illegal to go shopping for MYSELF on Date Night?  Hmmm...
25. I miss Morgan.  I sure hope he's having a wonderful time playing with the Maxximoose.
26. I'm sick of politics already and it is still around 4 months until the election.
27. Why can't I finish things?  I am very good at starting things and I have approximately 87 things started.  But none finished.  I'm a horrible person.
28. Jayna named her GloWorm Charles Barkley this morning. 
29. Oh...and she kept calling her GloWorm a SnowGlobe.
30. I am highly confused as to why my child is obsessed with Charles Barkley.  It's a good thing she already chose a Brave birthday party theme.  Otherwise, I may have had to wing it and make Charles Barkley decorations.
31. I would like to go shoot guns again.  I'll have to get with Charlotte when she gets back from Europe.
32. I am slacking at Words with Friends.  I feel it may have run it's course.
33. I finished watching the entire first season of Raising Hope on Netflix.  I'm sad because season 2 isn't there yet.
34. Fifty thoughts is a LOT.
35. I bought a keychain today that is a mustache.  It has a button.  If you push the button, it says, "Well hello there."
36. I really need to know what that B.O./cinnamon smell is.  It's killing me, smalls.
37. I need to change my water filter.  I've had a new one since Saturday.  The light has been red for weeks.  And I still just won't change it.  Laziness at it's best.
38. Chris came back from his out-of-town meetings with Jimmy John's.  And none for me.  Jackass.
39. Please go to Sarah's blog and read about the time she actually had to list her laundry.  That made me laugh out loud after I thought about it. :)
40. Jayna thinks the song is Call Me Baby.  It makes me laugh when she goes around singing it.
41. I pre-ordered the Toadies new CD.  I am a dork.
42. I still have no desire to go see the movie Magic Mike.  Call me odd.  I'm good with it.
43.  My iPhone autocorrected the word "dorkiness" to "dork knees" today.  When I asked Laura what it meant by dork knees, she pointed out that maybe I'm cool, but just my knees are dorky.  Sort of like a bum leg.  And Diet Coke came out of my nose.
44. Jayna has her first dentist appointment on Thursday.  That should be no less that interesting.
45. I think we're having tortillas with ketchup on them for dinner.  I don't want to go to the grocery!!!
46. I think I need wine for Wine Wednesday tomorrow.  To the grocery I go!!
47. My priorities are stellar.
48. I think we need toothpaste.
49. My mom and brother are currently arguing the validity of a hamster as a pet.  They are actually in agreement that it's kind of a lame pet.
50. And last, but not least, I really have to pee.

Now go over to the sidebar and read the other ToT ladies' catch up posts or their laundry lists.  C'mon!!  It'll be fun!!

Together on Tuesday: Wherever I'm With You

**From now on, I will START my ToT entries with the topic.  This will take away any confusion as to what the topic actually IS since I seem to go on some long tangent and sometimes forget what I'm writing about.  And I'm sure you all forget too.**

TOPIC:
"The grass is always greener:  if by some twist of fate you had the option to move to some wonderful destination, would you take it-or would you stay where you live now?  What are some things you love about where you live?  What are some things you dislike, or some things that you wish we had in this area that would improve your quality of life?  If you would take the get out and leave option, what are your reasons for leaving?  Where would you go?  If you stay, why?"


I don't know one single person who lives in my home state that loves every aspect of it.  Not One.Single.Person.

That's saying something.  Why do we all just keep staying here?!?  There are millions of places that are more desirable.  There are MILLIONS.  I can think of 6 or 7 places just off the top of my head without even really thinking about it that I'd rather live.

But...I'd find things wrong with those places too.  And so would everyone else.

It's like having curly hair.  I HATED my curly hair for many many years.  I FINALLY learned to embrace it about 5 years ago.  I'm almost 32...so for 27 years, I struggled with what to do with my crazy hair.  And all the while straight-haired people all around me were saying things like, "I'd kill to have hair like yours!!"  and "People pay LOTS of money to chemically alter their hair to look like yours!"  and "You should embrace your curls!!"  Well, 12-year-old girls are mean, y'all.  And it's hard to embrace something that everyone makes fun of.  It's sort of like having braces or glasses.  They saw it as my weakness and they used it to their advantage. 

My point is that I have curly hair and everyone thinks THEY want curly hair too.  But if they had curly hair and had to deal with it the way that I and all the rest of my curly girls do, they'd think again.  It's always very easy to think you want something that you don't have...that is, until you actually have it.

And there is the flip side of that.  If I had straight hair, I'd probably be fascinated with curls.  Maybe.

So...everyone I know who lives here hates something or another.  I live in the Midwest where we experience all 4 seasons.  We have hot summers and cold winters.  We sometimes have droughts in August that are brutal.  And we sometimes have so much snow in the winter that it is difficult to even do everyday things like go to work and/or school. 

I personally love all the seasons.  I have my favorite things about every one of them.  I have a hard time with commitment, so having 4 changing seasons every year is good for me.  I LIKE change...when it isn't personal change. :)

What I love most of all about where I live is the people I live around.   A lot of my family is here.  A lot of Chris' family is here.  A great deal of our friends are here.  It's important to be surrounded by people you love.  That's MY opinion anyway. 

I dream of moving.  I dream of moving to Boulder, Colorado because of the movie Catch and Release.  But come on, that's just Hollywood making something look outstanding.  I dream of moving to Santa Monica, California because I once visited there and thought I was in heaven.  But we all know that being on vacation somewhere is MUCH different than living there and having a job and whatnot.  I'd love to move to London, but that would require way more effort than I'm willing to deal with now.

Boulder, CO.  Some of the movie took place in this little village.  Isn't it beautiful?

(courtesy of gadling.com)

This picture does NOT do justice to Santa Monica.  There is something about standing on a beach and looking at mountains that had me completely floored.

(courtesy of tripadvisor.org)

Big Ben.  Parliament.  (Catch that reference?)

(courtesy of europe-trips.eu)

Having a child has also changed all of this.  Jayna is attached to her Nanas.  They both live where we live now.  How could I ever justify changing that now that she's almost 4?  She's made friends here.  She loves her school and loves the places we visit around our city.  She gets to go sledding in the winter and go swimming in the summer.  She gets to learn all about how a seed becomes a plant in the spring.  She gets to learn how leaves lose chlorphyl in the fall.  And she LOVES all of that. 

I guess my answer is that I'd stay here.  I do hope that soon I'll have the funds and the flexibility to go visit more places.  I know that Jayna would love to see new places too.  I want her to know just how big her world is...that there are more places than just home.  But I also want her to know where home is and that home is really what and where you make it.  Surround yourself with people and things that you love and home can be just about anywhere.  "Home is wherever I'm with you."  ~Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.

The one thing I do wish we had where we live is more diversity.  When I lived in Bloomington, there were so many cultures there that you had no choice but to learn about them.  It was fascinating to me!  There were events based around certain cultures, restaurants with almost every kind of cuisine and so many people to talk to and become friends with.  And everything was close together and/or within walking distance.  That seems slightly more difficult to do here.  I wish my big city was more aware and more dedicated to teaching diversity.

So, friends, what would YOU do?  Would you stay or would you go now? :)

Now go on over to read these lovely ladies' thoughts:

Michelle - After 9 and Some Weekends
Nancy - Purple Peaches
Charlotte - The Dog Days of Life
Sarah - Just Living Daily

Happy Tuesday, everyone!! :)

Together on Tuesday: Annual Tradition

I've always had to share my birthday with a huge event that happens close to where I live. 

My birthday isn't always on the same day as this event, but it's almost always during the weekend that I'd celebrate my birthday. 

Makes it hard to plan a party that people will actually COME to.

It's May here in my hometown.  Well, I suppose it's May EVERYWHERE.  But May is special where I live. 

It's the month of the Indy 500.

My birthday is ALWAYS, without a doubt, just days away from this race.  And it's also ALWAYS, without a doubt, right around Memorial Day weekend. 

Do you know how many people attend the Indy 500?  Yeah...like a jillion.  And probably 15 or so of those people are my friends.  Do you know how many people take Memorial Day weekend to go out of town and celebrate the impending summer by visiting lakes, pools, and amusement parks?  Yep...another jillion.  And probably 15 of those are my friends.  And since I only have 30 friends, that would make for a pretty boring birthday party. :)

And how many of you would be surprised to learn that this post is NOT about the Indy 500 OR Memorial Day weekend OR my birthday?

None?  Yeah...I didn't think so.

Today I'm linking up with Michelle at After 9 and Some Weekends, Charlotte at The Dog Days of Life, Nancy at Purple Peaches and Sarah at Just Living (YAY!!  Another new face!!) and we're talking about local events that have become part of our lives.  (Tish is having some technical difficulties and will be joining us soon.  Hang in there!)

Here is the topic in all of it's formality: 

"What local annual event in your current (or childhood) area has become engrained as part of who you are? What makes this event so special? What traditions do your family and/or friends have? What memories does the event bring back when you celebrate or attend each year? Have you ever had to miss the event and if so, how did that make you feel? If you have moved away, how far would you travel to come back each year? Is it important to you to pass this event onto your children and/or new comers to the area, or do you prefer to let them find or create their own traditions?"

This was a hard one for me.  I've done some soul searching though, and I've come up with some things.  (I guess not really soul searching.  More like memory searching which coincidentally is much more difficult than soul searching these days.)

When I was young, we went to the annual Circle of Lights in downtown Indy.  I hope to eventually carry on this tradition, but Jayna was just a bit too young in the past years.  Maybe this year or hopefully next we'll be able to take her and she'll withstand the cold and the crowd.

Anyhoo...many of the things that we do annually aren't events in our area.  We have created our own traditions and things.  We have an annual family zoo trip with my family.  We have an annual Indiana Beach trip with Chris' parents.  We try and have either Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve at our house every year.  If we have Christmas Eve, we make gingerbread houses.  We go to the pumpkin patch every year.  We have begun an annual trip to the Children's Museum before Christmas.  We do a lot of things yearly, but they are unfortunately not local events.

Last year's carousel ride at the Annual Indy Zoo trip.

(Look how little the kids look!!!  And that was only a year ago!!)

Annual Christmas Eve gingerbread houses in 2010.

Annual Children's Museum trip to "ride the yule slide."

This was 2011 with the Vidals.  Layla and Jayna have a great time together!

Jayna and Pappaw in 2010 at the Annual Indiana Beach trip.  Chris' parents have a house on a lake near Indiana  Beach, so it's an easy and fairly cheap trip, but Jayna has the time of her life!

Annual pumpkin patch trip from 2009.  Look how teeny Jaynie is!!

There is one local event that we have attended for 2 years now and plan on attending every year.  Our local Irish Fest is the most awesome festival there is.  There are many, many musical acts.  There are Irish dog demonstrations.  There are tons of bagpipe players.  There are demonstrations on how to stamp leather.  There are many Irish dancers.  There is more Irish food than you could ever eat in 3 days.  And, of course, there's Irish beer. :) 

And no...we aren't Irish.  I just thought I'd answer that burning question right away.

I LOVE it.  Jayna LOVES it.  And...well, Chris loves it too.  Jayna's favorite part is this:

These gals (AND GUYS!) can seriously and quite literally dance a jig!!  Fantastic!

Last year we even bought her a jingle skirt (that isn't at ALL Irish) so she could dance along with the Irish step dancers. 

Jayna dancing in her jingle skirt.

I don't have a favorite part.  I love it all.  The dancing, the kilts, the food, the heritage, the beer.  I love the vendors who sell their handmade goods and even the ones who rope me into buying a jingle skirt that is more Indian than it is Irish.  We plan on making this an annual event for many years to come.

I don't plan on moving, so I'm not sure I'd travel for this.  It is important to me to help teach Jayna about other cultures.  This festival is rich in Irish culture.  It's a learning experience as much as a fun time.  And I tell EVERYONE I KNOW about Irish Fest!!  Why wouldn't they want to know?!? :)

I'm already looking forward to it again this year.  September can't get here soon enough.  I even prepurchase our tickets.  I'm THAT into this thing.

So...what do YOU do in your community that has become tradition?  Have you made your own traditions?  What are they?  I'd love to hear them!!

Now go and use those links in the beginning of this post and read what Michelle, Charlotte, Nancy and Sarah have to say!!  And see you all next Tuesday!

Together on Tuesay: That Place With The WikiStix

When I made my big "lifestyle change" a few months ago, one of the biggest changes was my beer consumption.  The other big change?  Cut down on the Mexican food.  I'm living with it, but it took me awhile to get over myself and stop mourning.
I think what bugged me most about less beer was that some of my favorite restaurants are breweries and/or brewpubs.  There is NO WAY I could visit a brewery and NOT drink their beer. 

Today's Together on Tuesay topic:  What are your favorite restaurants?  Why?  Are they kid friendly?  Quiet?  Is the food great?  What gives? :)

(And on a sidenote, we have ANOTHER new blogger this week!!  Her name is Tish, but I've yet to procure her blog address.  I'll update here when I have it!!  Welcome, Tish!!)
I'm going to limit this to my top 5.  I could probably go up to 10 or 15, but we just don't go out that much anymore.  Five is actually pretty exhaustive for how much we go out.

Jayna playing WikiStix at Oaken Barrel last summer. 

1. Oaken Barrel Brewing Company.  We LOVE this place.  Their beer is fantastic and their food is just as good.  It is kid friendly (or NOT, depending on if you go to the restaurant or the brew room) and Jayna LOVES to go there.  She calls it "the place that has WikiStix."  WikiStix are like the Bendaroos they show in those commercials between cartoons to make parents buy stupid crap because of kid-vertising.  Anyhoo, there isn't just good food and great beer, there is such a sense of community there.  The brewery has been there for right around 15 years and there are plenty of regulars to chat with if you sit at the bar.  I even ran into our wedding photographer's cousin there!!  Our wedding photographer ran for Mayor of Greenwood last year.  You learn something new everyday!!  The menu has some standbys on it such as hamburgers and pizza, but also has a few more unique options also.  And many of their entrees aren't terribly bad for a diet.
2. Famous Dave's.  This gets number 2 because it is Jayna's favorite.  The kid would eat their homemade chips everyday of the week if we'd let her!!  Kid friendly, decently healthy menu options and you really can't beat the prices.  Good food at a great price.  What more could we ask for?  A better beer selection. :)
3. Fiesta Ranchera.  I am not linking this one because they don't have a website!!  They are a hole in the stripmall Mexican restaurant who lets us choose our table and doesn't even have to ask us what we want to eat.  This was a (atleast once) weekly lunch spot for us before our "lifestyle change."  I tried and tried to get Chris to go there for dinner last week, but he wouldn't give in.  Their food is delicious and they are the nicest group of guys you could ever imagine. 
4. BJ's.  I'm not sure we've ever taken Jayna to BJ's, but not because she wouldn't love it!!  Their in-house brewed beer is amazing and the avocado egg rolls are...I don't even have words!  I love them that much!!  They have an extensive menu ranging from "normal" food to other more unique things.  They have a "small bites" menu that is perfect when you're trying to eat light.  If you don't have kids with you, I suggest sitting at the bar.  The bartenders are super nice and helpful and you can taste their beers before you commit to paying the 6 bucks for one!!  Love it!
5. Fifth place is hard!!  I have about 10 places that are tied.  I'm going to go with Bob Evan's.  We go here for family breakfasts.  It's so nostalgic to get up, get dressed and head out to get an omelet and home fries.  We just sit and talk.  We go to the one in Greenwood and there is the same sense of community there as there is at Oaken Barrel.  Everyone knows everyone!!  The servers are always super nice and they seem to always remember us!  I think it's because of Jayna. :)

Even though 3 of the 5 places above are chain restaurants, Chris and I more and more prefer to eat at places that aren't chains.  Generally the food is better and the service is too.  I'm a big fan of supporting your local community and part of that is investing in local businesses.  That being said, we also like Jockamo a LOT.  While we don't eat pizza very often, they have other salad and sandwich options that are as tasty as their pizza.  Papa Roux has the best po boys and cajun food around.  We don't eat there often because they aren't on our side of town.  They now have a downtown location, but we'd have to call in our order because the line is always out the proverbial door!!  They do LOTS of business and there isn't one thing that I've had from there that wasn't delicious.  I also enjoy Bazbeaux with my girl friends once every couple of months.  We'd like to make that more often, but life happens.  Their spinach salad and quattro formaggio pizza are too good for words. 

I'm eager to find more independent restaurants.  If y'all know of any, let me know!!  I'd love to try them out and add them to my local business list!!

Also, I could make an entirely separate list for Bloomington.  When you live somewhere for that long, you tend to hang on to it. :)  Almost ALL of the places there were independent business.  College towns do well with that sort of thing.

So, friends...where do YOU like to eat?  Why?  Give me your lists!!

Now head on over to After 9 and Some Weekends, Purple Peaches, and The Dog Days of Life and see what Michelle, Nancy and Charlotte like to eat!!  I'll update with Tish's blog address when I get it!

Together on Tuesday:

Here we are again!!  It's Tuesday!!

This week we will (I think?) have 2 new bloggers.  Charlotte at The Dog Days of Life and Nancy at Purple Peaches will be joining us!  And, of course, Michelle at After 9 and Some Weekends will cover this too!

So...what did y'all have for breakfast?  I had a skinny green monster smoothie (minus the green today because I ran out of spinach).  It was tasty and it is now 11:20 am and I'm not famished. (Thanks, Laura, for forcing me to drink that shot glass of your smoothie!!)

I ask because it pertains to our topic today:  What do you do to be healthy?  Exercise?  Eat right?  What specifically makes your lifestyle healthy and/or unhealthy?  Would you like to change it?  How?

DIETS
Here's a shocker for everyone:  DIETS DON'T WORK.

Until recently, let's say within the past 5 years, I've not ever worried about my weight.  I've never worried about what I ate or how much of it.  I never really sat down and thought about what I put into my body.

And then I became...AN ADULT.  An adult with a child.  And then everything changed.

Of course it did.  Everything changes when you have a child.  If anyone ever tries to tell you any different.  Send them straight to me so I can smack them square upside the head.

But I digress.  Since I've gotten...we'll just say "older"...I DO in fact have to worry about what I put into my body.  And for various reasons.  Reason number one being that what I eat directly affects the size of my backside. 

No, seriously.  Something in my body chemistry changed.  Weight comes on sooner and easier and comes off later and harder.  It's just a fact of life.

Two years ago Chris and I went hardcore on the South Beach Diet.  It was the first diet that I did that actually worked.  And don't you dare say, "That's just like the Atkin's Diet!!!  OMGEEEEE, Danielle, are you trying to kill yourself??!  That diet is suuuper unhealthy!!!"

Because you would be wrong, my friend.

Yes, you cut carbs.  But not all of them.  And yes, you eat protein.  But not just bacon and steak.

The SB Diet taught me what it means to change my lifestyle.  After all, THAT'S what a GOOD diet does.  It teaches you how to turn a set of rules that works for you into a lifestyle that you are able and willing to adhere to for the rest of your...well, LIFE.

At this point in my life, I probably eat about 50% vegetables, 35% protein and 15% carbs.  I only eat good carbs, i.e. whole grains, beans and NO POTATOES.  (Shhh...I still have french fries about once a month.  And they are oh-so-good now that I don't eat them once or twice a week.)  I think that's a pretty good ratio.  Of the 50% vegetables, probably 3 or 4% is fruit.  I love me some vegetables though and I eat more different kinds of vegetables now than I ever have. 

What does all this mean in regards to our question of the week?  I do my best to keep my lifestyle healthy in terms of what I put into my body.

EXERCISE
I don't get nearly the exercise that I want to or should.  I do play with Jayna a LOT outside and I do keep busy.  I don't consider myself a couch potato, but I definitely don't belong in the "athlete" section either.  Truth be told, I'm still COMPLETELY TRAUMATIZED by my Mini experience that I've yet to actually try and run any sort of distance.  I've run a few times since last May, but I'm actually...scared.  Lots of memories come back that I'm not prepared to deal with yet. 

I don't really like to exercise.  I like to do activities that make me exercise without knowing.  I like to have dance parties in the living room.  Play "freezer tag" in the yard.  Help Jayna learn to ride her bike (TRUST ME...that's more exercise than it EVER should be).  Swim.  Do flips.  Do cartwheels (although I did one a few months ago and I think my pancreas is still in the wrong place).  I like to be ACTIVE.  I do not like to EXERCISE.

What does this mean?  I'd like to exercise more, but in FUN ways.  I'd also like to get to the gym about twice a week.  That's all I can commit to at this point in my life.

ALCOHOL
I probably drink too much in most peoples' eyes.  I drink beer probably twice a week, but I limit myself to a maximum of 3.  I drink wine almost everyday.  THERE.  I said it.  I have a glass of wine almost everyday.  I'm okay with that and that is pretty much all that matters.

I bring up the topic of alcohol because one of the main lifestyle changes I made when I started the SB Diet was to stop drinking beer.  For those of you who know me, you know this was a HUGE deal.  But after one month of not drinking beer, I noticed an enormous decrease around my midsection.  I lost my spare tire!!  So now I drink beer, just in greater moderation than before. 

HOBBIES vs. PARENT vs. WIFE
When I think of my health, I don't JUST think about my weight and my nutrition.  I think of my mental stability.  My emotions.  All that stuff that makes me "not crazy."  And all of those things are important to me.

It took me until Jayna was around 2 years old to finally find some sort of balance between being a parent and a spouse and a functioning member of the workforce and a housekeeper and a cook and a maid and a...and a...and a....  I could go on and on just as most of you can.  Balance is important to my health.  If I go for longer than 4 or 5 days without doing SOMETHING besides cooking and cleaning and giving baths and playing Barbies, I get a little irritable.  I need to do things.  I need to refinish furniture.  I need to paint on canvas.  I need to scrapbook.  I need to garden.  I need to be a PERSON.  With my OWN interests and feelings and thoughts.  Hence the blog. :)

I think these days I do a pretty good job of The Great Balancing Act.  I am not afraid to get a babysitter for Jayna.  I am not afraid to tell Chris that he needs to help me more.  I am not afraid to spend a little extra time on doing things for ME on occasion.  I lost the guilt long ago because it was doing me ABSOLUTELY NO GOOD.

And for all you moms out there who don't take time for yourselves?  You're nuts.  DO IT.  It is important for your mental health and the happiness of your children that you be happy. :)

Where does this fit in with the topic?  Well, I view health as a comprehensive effort.  I need to take care of every part of me to be healthy.  And I'm very proud that I do these things to that end.

CHANGE?  HOW?
Well, I do need to get more exercise.  I think that things are good in moderation.  I'm getting better at that.  Instead of a whole chocolate bar to satisfy a craving, I'll eat ONE Hershey kiss.  And it works for the craving.  Instead of a whole entree at a restaurant, Chris and I share.  Those entrees can feed atleast 2 people anyway!  My biggest challenge is beer.  I like good, dark and high-calorie beer.  And I'll continue to drink it...in moderation.

How do I make these things happen?  I just have to do it.  I just have to do it.  Actions speak louder.  So do it to it!!!


What do y'all do to be healthy?  Are there changes that you're trying to make to be healthier?  What are they?

Now pop on over to Michelle, Charlotte and Nancy and see what's up with them!!  If their entries aren't published yet, I'm sure they will be soon.  Check back often!!!

Together on Tuesday: Like an Addict

Today's topic was one that I posed and now I'm quite embarrassed by my answers.  Isn't it ironic...don't you think?

And it's Tuesday, y'all, so make sure you go on over and see what Michelle has to say when you're through here.

Today's question:

"How dependent are you on technology; i.e. cable television, internet, cell phones, etc?  Are you okay with your answer or do you want to become more/less dependent?"

Here goes y'all: 

Hello.  My name is Danielle and I'm addicted to technology.

The first step is admitting you have a problem.  But...is it a problem?

Here is a short list of things I do with technology on a regular basis:

• Shopping.  I do loads of shopping online.  I know where most of the free shipping deals are and I know that sometimes paying the shipping is still cheaper than buying from a store. 
• Research.  I research EVERYTHING I do.  Crochet.  Scrapbooking.  Gardening.  Parenting.  Things I buy.  Things I'm in the market for.  Houses.  Cars.  Everything.
• Social networking.  Of course.  This is a big one for me not because I love drama and having fake friends, but because it has connected me with so very many people that I wouldn't otherwise be connected with.  I love that part of it.  We can all keep up with one another's public lives on our own terms in our own time.  I do still talk to my friends and see them (although not as much as I'd like), but social networking is great for keeping us connected during those busy times in life where picking up the phone is difficult.
• Blogging.  I LOVE blogging.  I print my blogs out and make books out of them.  I have my entire pregnancy blog made into a book.  It's a great way to journal and preserve memories for yourself and your children.  And remember:  IT'S NEVER TOO LATE.  Who cares if no one reads?!?  I'll make you all a deal.  If you start a blog I'll diligently read it whenever you write.
• To process photos.  I use Picasa to edit and Snapfish/Walgreens to print.  I use Postal Pix to get my Instagram photos printed.

Those are probably the top 5.  There are a million more and that list could be a blog entry in and of itself. 

With all that being said, I still know how to do things without technology.  I know how to use a pay phone (or how to ask some unsuspecting kind stranger if I can use his cell phone..."I promise I won't call China."), I know how to do math on paper, I know how to write on paper and I still actually ENJOY that.  I KNOW how to do those things.  But, as it turns out, those things are very inconvenient compared to today's modern...um...conveniences.  (I think I just did that thing that is a no no where you use the word itself to define a word.  Oops.)


INTERNET - too dependent to EVER quit
I think my addiction to the internet happened when I started using it to research things.  This is a big one now because I am usually strapped for time.  Okay, probably not as strapped as I think, but strapped because I'd rather spend my time doing things I LIKE instead of going to 9 different stores looking for a piece of furniture.  I'd instead like to think of what I want, visit several furniture store websites, decide if they have what I'm looking for in my price range and THEN go visit 3 stores instead of 9.  I can research something small like this in around 30 minutes.  I'd spend triple that plus gas for the car if I were to visit all those stores.

This method not only saves me time, but it usually saves me money.  I have planted tomato and pepper plants in pots on my back patio for several years.  This year I decided that I wanted to plant a small in-the-ground vegetable garden.  Instead of going to Lowe's, buying a prefab raised garden bed, filling it with expensive soil only to do everything wrong and waste lots of money on wood and dirt and plants, I decided that I wanted to plant things, did research on the cheapest way to build it, the cheapest way to fill it with nutrient-rich soil, the best layout to utilize my small space and exactly how to plant things in there.  And now I've invested a total of $94.00 in a vegetable garden that will grow enough veggies until fall.  A decent prefab garden bed is about $75.00 alone.  That doesn't include soil to fill it or the plants.  I consider this a success.

So there you have it.  I am a research freak and I use the internet for about 98% of that research.  Without the internet, would I be able to exist and still research things?  You bet.  I know where the library is and I even know how to use it.  I know where to buy things and how to compare prices and methods "by hand."  I much prefer doing internet research, but I CAN do it the other way too.


CELL PHONE - more dependent than I should be
My huge addiction to cell phone technology happened a little over a year ago with my introduction to the iPhone.  I never thought I'd be able to do everything that I do on a computer with my phone.  And I can.  There are some amazing apps out there that allow me to do everything I do at my desktop/laptop computer on my iPhone.  I'll have carpal tunnel syndrome before you know it!!

We no longer have a landline phone.  Chris has an iPhone.  I have an iPhone.  That's it.  And don't give me that "But what if blah blah happens and you can't use your cell phone?" hooey.  Seriously people.  I could just as easily make the argument that something could happen to your landline phone and if you don't have a cell phone you're screwed.  Let's not have that back and forth.

I am way more accessible on a cell phone than I would be on a landline anyway.  What if my cell phone rings and I can't answer it?  That, my friends, is what voicemail is for. :)

Health risks?  What health risks?  I have as much chance of having a health problem from eating store bought vegetables treated with pesticide as I do with cell phone use.  I won't live my life that way.  Sorry.

I DO still adhere to general cell phone etiquette.  There aren't many things that piss me off more than someone trying to talk on a cell phone while they're checking out at a store.  If I talk on my phone at a store, I make sure that I'm not a "loud talker," I make sure I'm out of people's way, and I DON'T TALK WHILE I'M WITH A CASHIER.  Hell, I don't even talk on my cell phone while I'm at a U-Scan.  It's just rude in my opinion.  I also rarely talk on my phone at restaurants.  Sometimes a conversation can just wait.


CABLE TELEVISION - not dependent at all
As most of you probably know, we cut the cord on our cable about 3 months ago.  We do not pay a cable bill anymore.  That saves us a total of $86.31 per month.

I plan on writing an entire post tomorrow or Thursday dedicated to cable television and my quest to dump it.  It's a topic that is near and dear to my heart.  So, be prepared within the next couple of days to find out how you ALL can spend as little as $200.00 up front and as little as $8.00 per month to watch 95% of all the television you watch now.  Seriously.  I mean it.

Even though we aren't at all dependent on cable television, we use internet access and a wireless network to watch television programs.  It's a toss up, but my way saves us enough money per month to pay our car insurance.


Am I okay with all of this?  HELL YES.  I am okay with how dependent I am upon technology.  I still plan to teach Jayna "long hand."  She'll know how to use a real phone.  She'll know how to look things up in books.  She'll know how to do math without a calculator.  But it is important ESPECIALLY FOR HER that she learn about technology and how it can benefit and/or hurt her.  These things aren't going anywhere anytime soon and as we all know...if you can't beat 'em, you may as well join 'em. :)

We have an iPad and that is Jayna's main interaction with technology.  Don't let that fool you though.  She isn't JUST playing games on there.  She listens to music.  She looks at the pictures I take.  She has more education apps than she does playing apps.  She gets some honing of her fine motor skills and all the while we're getting her acquainted with the sort of technology that she'll need to be acquainted with.  These skills will be more important for her than they'll ever be for me.

Jayna "coloring" on the iPad.  She's better at it than I am. :)

How about you?  Are you dependent upon technology?  Too much?  Not enough?  I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Now, head on over to After 9 and Some Weekends to read about Michelle's habits!!

Together on Tuesday: Famous People? Hmm...

So, go figure.  The ONE week Michelle over at After 9 and Some Weekends gets her Tuesday post finished EARLY is the ONE week that I'm a day late.  I suppose that balances us out.  Or something.

In my defense, I DID write a follow-up to last Tuesday's post, so there's that.  Or something.

Anyhoo.

So this week's topic is an interview with a famous person.  I think this may have been a little too broad.

I am supposed to pick ONE famous person?  Of ANY kind?  Living or dead?  No constraints?  Yep.  Tooooo broad.

I'm not sure I can pick just one.  I have probably 10 people in mind and all for completely different reasons. 

Mike Lowell to get a good picture of what it's like to be a professional athlete for years and STILL manage to be a class act.  That man is perfect.  Seriously.

Martha Stewart to ask her HOW IN THE HELL SHE KNOWS ALL THAT STUFF.  I mean, come on.  Even if you don't "like" the woman, you have to admit that what she does is impressive. 

Austin Kleon to get some good solid and TRUTHFUL advice on how to become an outstanding artist and get someone to NOTICE.

Jack White to get an idea of what a creative process really entails...and also how he juggles playing several instruments in several different formations of a band across many genres of music.  Amazing.

Kurt Vonnegut because I think he'd be incredibly inspirational regarding writing.  I would just ask him nonsense questions just to get his answers.  That man can't say something stupid.  It's all insightful and honest.  And hilarious.

Jennifer Garner so I could figure out how she was in the limelight for quite a few years and still kept her privacy and wits about her.  And I'd take some parenting advice from her also.

But after all of this, I think who I'd really choose is fictional.

I'd interview Walter White.  From Breaking Bad.

I'm sure you're all still tired of me talking about Breaking Bad from last week.  But I'm going to do it anyway.

I have chosen him because I think that while he is a celebrity character, he isn't far from real life people who "do what they gotta do."  I mean, we all have to survive one way or another and when it comes down to it, you never know what you'll do in a situation until you're SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. 

We can all speculate.  "No way!!  I'd never make meth to pay my hospital bills from my debilitating cancer that could potentially force my family to become homeless after I inevitably die anyway!!  Not a chance!!!"  But you really don't know what you'd do until you're experiencing something.

I'd ask him questions.  Oh boy, would I ask him questions.  Here are a few that come to mind:

• What do you think about moral fiber?  Does what you've done have any bearing on who you think you are as a moral being? 
• Do you take any responsibility for the fact that you are supplying people with a drug that will potentially end their lives or cause them to end the lives of others?  If yes, then how do you sleep at night?  If no, why not? 
• Do the secrets get more and more difficult to keep?  How do you cope with feeling alone all the time because you can't talk to many people?
• How do you view Jesse?  Like a son?  Like a business partner?  Like a moron?
• Do you believe that you're in so deep that you can't get out?  How would you get out?  How many human lives are expendable so you can live your life?
• Will you ever come clean to Walter Junior?  Do you think it's necessary or is it too big of a risk?

I could still go on forever. 

I found this topic to be the most intimidating.  That being said, I could also see this being a recurring topic that could be narrowed down a little (or a LOT) and be more effective and focused.

Now, go over to After 9 and Some Weekends and see who Michelle had a face-to-face with (hypothetically, of course).

Who would you want to have a chat with?  Anyone specific?  Alive?  Dead?  Why?

Together On Tuesday: Kid Free Vacay

Chris and I rarely leave Jayna for more than just an overnight at Nana's.  I can actually count on ONE hand the amount of times that we've left her anywhere for more than just one night. 

That being said, we don't mind leaving her.  Not anymore atleast.  It used to be a gigantic deal to go somewhere for a weekend, or heaven forbid, FOUR STRAIGHT DAYS (like when we went to Tennessee for Erik and Janette's wedding), but now we're just all, "HEY!!  You want us to come have adult time in a different state for 3 days?!?  SURE!!  Just let us find a place to board our kid!!"

We don't actually say that.  We ask one of the Nanas and they're usually happy to oblige.  And Jayna couldn't be happier to get away from us for more than just one night.  I mean she wouldn't really need us at all if she were taller and could drive.  True story right there, people.

So sometime in late February I got a text from my good friend Mark asking if we wanted to come to Louisville at the beginning of March and go to the Buffett concert with him and his lovely wife Charlotte.  Charlotte and I are a lot alike...you know, drinking, cursing lunatics with loose morals (love you, Charlotte!).  I love to hang out with the 2 of them and I was excited to get away from life for just one extra day.  We decided that we'd go down there on Friday morning and come home Sunday. 

It occurred to me about a week before we were scheduled to leave that we'd probably need something to do on Friday while Mark and Charlotte were being responsible adults and...um...working.  I went to Louisville's tourist website and was reminded that a little piece of something I love was made there.  LOUISVILLE SLUGGER BASEBALL BATS!!!!

Y'all, I was probably more excited about that part than I was anything else.  So we got to the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory early Friday morning.  My agoraphobia got the best of me and I thought I was going to pass out for a minute, but I pulled myself together, sir, and pressed on.  I LOVED it.  I have pictures of some hilarious things...unfortunately, my photos aren't downloaded from my camera.  BUT...I have iPhone pics.  Probably more of those than camera pics.

Even if you don't LOVE baseball and only like it a little, I suggest you go on the tour of the factory.  It is fascinating to watch the different methods of how baseball bats are made, how they're branded and how they're stained.  It's really outstanding.  We even got to watch some old guy who is part of the family Louisville Slugger is owned by hand lathe a bat.  Simply fascinating.  It's a true art form.

The Louisville Science Center has a travelling exhibit right now called GUITAR:  The Instrument That Rocked The World.  So of course we had to go there.  It was a so-so exhibit.  I probably didn't enjoy it as much as Chris and/or Mark.  They play the instrument, I don't.  I did enjoy seeing all of the formations of a guitar from across the world and through time.  We saw one guitar made out of an armadillo shell!!

Overall, the Science Center is a great place for kids who like to do hands on things.  There is a ton of that sort of thing there.  We tried to encapsulate ourselves in a giant bubble (FAIL).  We made a piano play using pressure and hot air (SUCCESS...but I couldn't tell you how) and we built structures to see how sound they were under stresses such as shaking and quaking (FAIL).

We also did something extremely unexpected...we went, wait for it, SHOOTING.  As in I shot a gun.  TWO guns actually!  It was more fun than I ever imagined it would be.  I've always been terrified of guns.  This took a little of the fear away and taught me that learning about any subject/activity/etc. can take the edge off of the fear.  I still don't think I'll ever own a gun, but I'm a little more comfortable with gun safety and shooting them. 

And, of course we went to the concert!!  Jimmy was outstanding!! He sang so many older songs that it was like being at one of his concerts from when I was in my early 20's.  We had lots of fun there and drank toooo much cheap expensive beer, ifyaknowwhatimean.

Overall, the trip was a huge success.  We're busy people.  So are Mark and Charlotte.  And we always wish we could see them and hang out, but we rarely ever get to.  This was a great getaway for just 3 days and we did so much catching up...and drinking.  I even hugged a horse statue!! :)

I think most of all, it was just good to hang out with adults and do what we wanted when we wanted.  We also got our doggie fix as Mark and Charlotte have 2 dogs, Eli and Austin.  Eli is a tiny dog with a HUGE personality (and a complex) and Austin is a giant kid. :)  Louisville is a surprisingly fun city too.  There were many things to do that we didn't do.  The streets are lined with art that is sometimes overwhelming, but still outstanding.  There is a stretch of road that is closed off to traffic called Fourth Street Live.  It is a street lined with bars and restaurants.  Right up my alley!!  We spent some time there on Friday and then were back again on Saturday for the Buffett pre-party.  And if there was one thing that I'd forgotten it was BUFFETT FANS KNOW HOW TO PARTY.  Even if you don't like Jimmy Buffett his concerts and pre-parties are always a good time.

And without further adieu, here is a photo collage.  Y'all are sadly mistaken if you thought I was going to upload a million pictures singly.  Not.  Gonna.  Happen.  Although I really wish I had the one off of my actual camera of me pretending to bludgeon a wax figure of Derek Jeter with a Louisville Slugger. :)

It isn't until now that I've realized that I have a double in there.  Oh well...I like my Red Sox enough to deal with that!!

Pictures in order like you're reading a book from top left:



The Red Sox Pennant at the Slugger Museum, the giant bat out front of the Slugger Museum, Mike Lowell's signature on the Slugger Wall of Fame, a piece of art on the streets of Louisville entitled "The Raft," me holding a bat that Big Papi actually used in a game, Eli taking a nap while halfway standing, me looking hott in my eyes and ears :), my favorite guitar of all time...The Air Guitar, me dancing with Austin, Chris playing the Capri Sun guitar, Paul McCartney's bass, Chris shooting a 22, the Wall of Fame including Babe Ruth's signature, Chris holding Big Papi's bat, Charlotte putting herself in a bubble, all of us in the prism mirror thingy at the Science Center, me 2.5 sheets to the wind hugging a horse statue, Mark playing the Capri Sun guitar, me shooting an assault rifle (JOKE:  it's a 22...just with a scope, laser and light), the Red Sox pennant again.

I can't wait to do it again, but my liver needs a rest for now. :)


Now head on over to Michelle's blog and read about her vacay!! If it isn't there yet, it will be soon!

Together on Tuesday: Why We Blog

My friend Michelle and I began talking at the beginning of the year about blogging.  Just blogging in general.  About how we don't feel like we have enough time to do it, we don't have enough content to add or subjects to write about. 
My blog has become solely about my child and parenting...and surprisingly, I'm NOT okay with that.  I want to write about things that are important to ME.  Things that are interesting to ME.  Things that make ME think.  After all, I don't see Jayna sitting here typing away. :)

It all began when I read this blog entry.  That there is Michelle's blog.  Michelle is very talented in many things.  She and I share many of the same hobbies and ideas.  We have what I would call a similar parenting style.  We agree on lots of things, but we obviously have our disagreements too.  At first glance, that post just looks like a wrap up of the year and some pictures of Michelle's beautiful handmande Christmas gifts.  But read to the bottom.  It occurred to me that I felt the same way as she did about blogging.

So I sent her a message.  I told her I felt the same way.  Two heads are better than one...we all know that.  And I proposed that we could....COULD...MAYBE...do a blogging project together. 

I honestly didn't expect a response. 

Most people who read my blog read for the posts about Jayna.  And I'm totally cool with that.  I wouldn't write it if I didn't want y'all to read it.  But how would people feel if I began including a weekly post not necessarily about Jayna?  How would they feel about reading MY stories? 

I know that many people don't take blogging seriously.  Well, as serious as it can be.  I read some blogs that have made the authors millionaires.  Am I setting out to do that?  Nope. 

I know that many people just think this is a phase, a fad, a passing trend.  Okay.  Fine.  Then don't do it.

The thing is that I LOVE writing.  I LOVE to "put pen to paper."  I do still occasionally write short pieces on paper.  Maybe I can share some of those within this blogging project.  I want to write.  I want to share that with you all if you'll have me. 

As I said, I didn't expect a response.  But I got one.  And a good one!!  She was totally on board for a blogging project.

This is it.  Beginning today, Michelle and I will be posting about a different topic every Tuesday.  The posts will be very cleverly entitled "Together on Tuesday."  I know...we're geniuses. :)

Today's topic:  Why We Blog - 5 Questions

1.  Why did you start a blog?
*  I started a blog waaaaaaay back in 2007.  It was called Traffic In The Sky.  Here is the first entry.  You will all be happy to know that I do, in fact, wear Crocs, drink Starbucks, deal with Ebay and blog.  I'm a changed woman.  I started the blog because I wanted to write about things that were important to me.  ME.  Feelings and thoughts.  I did JUST that with Traffic In The Sky.  And I LOVED it.  I'm hoping I can carry over some of the old posts from there.  There is some great content there.  If you're ever bored, go over to Traffic In The Sky and entertain yourself. :)
2.  Why do you blog now?  Have your reasons for blogging changed from when you first started?
*  You bet your ass my reasons have changed!!!  When you have a child, everything changes.  I blog now mainly for preserving memories.  I don't do much scrapbooking anymore, but I still want Jayna to have access to all of the junk I can't remember later in my life.  The funny stories.  The sad stories.  The pictures.  I want her to know how things were when she was little.  And I think that at some point in her life, she'll appreciate what I've done to perserve memories in her name. 
3.  What do you ultimately want to gain from blogging?
*  Well...my HOPE would be that I would be such an awesome writer that someone would read my blog and ask me to write a book.  A girl can dream, right?  What I hope to gain is some self awareness.  I want to analyze what my noggin is thinking and put it into words.  And, of course, I want Jayna to have memories.
4.  Is blogging something that you consider important enough to commit to?
*  At this time, I consider it no more or no less important than any other hobby.  I would LOVE for me to feel like I need to blog to entertain people.  That's a tough struggle...knowing you don't have very many readers.  The mindset is "Why write if no one reads it?"  Well, I write because I WANT to.  That's just it.  I would love for this project to make me feel like blogging is more important.
5.  Do you want people to read your blog or do you consider your blog for yourself that other people just have access to?
*  I want people to read!!  If my stories put a smile on ONE face, I've done good.  I'm sure I've offended as many people as I've made smile, but I just don't have the energy to worry about that.  If just ONE mom reads my posts about breastfeeding and realizes that she's not alone and doesn't need to give up, I've done good.  If Jayna grows up and records memories of her own for herself and her family, I've done good. 


Final thoughts:
A question that I would have added to this is:  Would you encourage others to blog?  And the answer?  HELL YES.  I don't care if you don't think you have anything to say.  You DO.  Everyone has thoughts.  Everyone should record their memories.  You don't have to write entries this long.  They can be 3 sentences.  Start small.  I encourage everyone to write it down.  It's cathartic.

Linky:  Now go on over to Michelle's blog and read her entry Together On Tuesday.  It'll be entertaining.  Promise. :)

For Shame!

I know, right?!? 

Two stinkin' months of no posts.  Sorry, y'all...I needed a break.

My plan is to be back on a (atLEAST) once weekly blogging schedule by the beginning of March.  It seems that I have no concept of time management lately and I'm not sure what is going to need to be done to remedy that.  The train VERY APPARENTLY derailed, but I'm not schooled in putting trains back on tracks or whatever, so I'm still doing research on how to do that.

I wanted to do a quick check in to let all of you regulars know that I am indeed alive and well and that I'll make sure you don't miss out on all of the junk that was my holiday season and the things that have come after that.  My life needs rearranging and you all will be a huge part of that also.

Some things that need work:

• I am quitting with crochet until further notice.  I just can't juggle crochet hooks right now.
• I haven't done any form of scrapbooking since sometime in 2010.  That is stupid crazy.  I LOVE that hobby and I am super freakin' sad that I've neglected it for that long.  To deal with this, I've started a system called Project Life.  If you have any interest in preserving memories, but aren't really a scrapbooker, I HIGHLY recommend this system.  All you have to do is buy the parts to the kit, take pictures and get them printed out and stick them in the page protectors.  The page protectors are sectioned off and are designed for 4x6 photos...one a day.  BUT YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO TAKE ONE A DAY.  It is also designed to be done weekly.  You also can buy little cards where you can write small snippets of your week on and then add them to your pages.  I also have added a tag from clothing, a card, an invitation, etc.  Super easy and efficient.  When you are a parent with a job and have lots of other obligations, efficiency is the name of the game.
• I am doing P365+1.  I take (atleast) one photo a day, ordinary or special, with my iPhone and I put it into my Photo 365 app.  This helps me with Project Life.  I certainly need help with my memory and this is the perfect app for that. 
• I installed the Blogger app on my iPhone.  I'll just admit it now:  I DO MORE THINGS ASSOCIATED WITH PICTURES/INTERNET/SOCIAL NETWORKING WITH MY IPHONE THAN I DO WITH A CAMERA AND A COMPUTER COMBINED.  I haven't taken one single picture with my actual camera all year.  I haven't needed to.  My iPhone is right there.  Handy.  Easy.  No fuss.  And I can upload or save my photos to 10 different places via my iPhone.  No uploading photos to a computer, etc.  I LOVE IT.
• If my iPhone dies, I probably will too.  Just a note to myself. :)
• The fact that I do so many things from my phone has inhibited ONE aspect of my life:  Blogging.  I miss blogging, but it's so dang many steps to turn on my home computer, go to my blogger account, type a post, find all my photos and figure out how to get them to the computer I'm working on and then publish and then link to Facebook.  Now that I've figured things out, I can do all this from my phone.  This will result in more but shorter blog posts.  Y'all can live with that, right?
• My good friend MZQ and I are planning to start (very soon, I hope) a weekly topic and linkup situation where we blog about a topic and...get this...LINK up to one another.  If I'm reaching any other bloggers out there, please let me know if you'd like to be a part of this.  We don't have any topics yet, but I'm assuming they'll be across the board topics that range from funny to serious to opinion to stories.  I hope she's thinking the same here. :)

So that's how I'm rollin' this year.  I used to use my blog to preserve my memories.  I am now doing that more privately, but I still want to include you all in that process.  Stay tuned for some ACTUAL blogging. 

Loves to you all. :)

Translation Tuesday: What Toddlers Say vs. What Toddlers Mean

***WARNING:  This post is NOT for those of you with weak stomachs.  You've been properly advised.***

Jayna has been sick.  Not fever, infection, runny nose sick.  Just diarrhea sick.  That's all.  Nothing else. 

And it's frustrating.  Having a 2-year-old who is right on the edge of being potty trained who then gets diarrhea is a nightmare. 

She's been having episodes since Saturday evening.  I'm beginning to think she has a shellfish allergy, but I really don't want to test my theory just yet.  And I'm sort of tired of cleaning up poop for now.

Sunday was pretty good.  She was sort of lethargic most of the day, but we just thought she was tired from a busy weekend.  But right before bed, she had the diarrhea episode of her life.  Fun.  And then she went to sleep immediately and woke up with a dry pull up on Monday morning.  She never said anything about her tummy hurting or anything.  She ate breakfast well and behaved all morning.

I got off work about half an hour early yesterday and I went to the gym.  I was anticipating to run a long run since I was off early.  On a whim, I took my phone in with me.  I NEVER take my phone into the gym.  There is too much temptation there.  And I can't concentrate on running when I'm just...running.  Having my phone there with me to constantly look at would be trouble.

Anyhoozy, I took my phone in with me yesterday thinking I'd need it for some reason.  Precisely 2.4 miles into a run that I anticipated being a 4 or 5 miles long, I saw my phone light up.  It was Jayna's preschool.  She'd had 2 diarrhea episodes and "wanted to go home and lie on the couch."  Translation:  "go home and watch Spongebob while asking mommy to do everything from getting juice and crackers to picking up said crackers after they're properly spilled all over the floor." 

I took her home and she promptly wanted to "rest on mommy's bed because my belly hurts."  Which translates to "watch television while romping around under the covers with the dog and generally messing up everything in mommy and daddy's room while only whining that my tummy hurts when mommy tells me that I'm acting like I feel better so I can watch television in the living room."   Yikes.  A little girl with diarrhea and only a pair of Tinkerbell panties in between her bottom and my sheets made my anxiety level rise like no other.

I proceeded to ask her approximately 37.5 times if she had to potty.  She told me the last time, "I go potty when I have to go mommy.  I don't have to go right now."  Which translates to, "Leave me alone, lady!!  How do you expect me to follow the story line of iCarly if you're blabbing in my ear???"  (Yes, she watches iCarly.  She asks to watch it and I'll let her watch iCarly over Spongebob any freakin day of the week.)

So, I went to the kitchen and left her alone.  She came in about 3 minutes later and said, "Mommy, don't ask me that again.  I don't have to go.  I go when I have to.  Don't ask me anymore."  Translation, anyone?  "I'm potty trained, you crazy person.  YOU wanted me to be potty trained and now I am and you STILL won't leave me alone.  Please, for the love of cheese, have some freaking confidence in me."

I told her that I wouldn't ask her anymore.  She stayed in the kitchen with me saying, "I help mommy with dinner."  Translation:  "I'll stand on my stool and drop things off the counter and laugh hysterically."  She was standing there on her stool when all of a sudden she said, "Uh oh...I better go to the potty.  NOW!!!!!!!!!"  And then she darted for the bathroom.  Translation:  "I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE IT AND THERE IS ABOUT TO BE A MESS TO CLEAN UP!!!!!!!!"

I followed her around the corner only to see her taking off her panties ON THE CARPET outside of the bathroom.  And then she couldn't control it....

I think you know what happened then.  I won't go into extreme detail here.

She sat down on the potty to finish her business and then just looked up at me.  She said, "I got poop on my hand mommy.  And on my leg and on the floor.  And the rug.  Poop all over mommy.  I need to wash it off.  I go poop in my panties.  I bad.  I sorry mommy.  I sorry."  Translation?? 

Before we translate that one, I'd like it to be known that we have NEVER told her she is bad for going in her pull up or diaper or panties.  NEVER. 

Resume translation:  "I have poop all over me.  I need a bath.  And my panties will need to be washed as will the carpet.  And the rug.  And everything else in the hallway and bathroom.  And I am sorry I disappointed you, mom.  I'm really sorry."

Sometimes they really do say what they mean.

What that kid doesn't understand is that I will never be disappointed in her for having a true-to-her-word accident. 

I just replied. "Jaynie, I still love you.  I will always love you.  You are NOT bad.  You are a good girl and you tried to get to the potty.  Everything can be cleaned up.  We'll wash it all.  Starting with you."

And that's what we did.

Gaining the skill to translate from "2-Year-Old" to "Adult" is a good skill to have.  But sometimes no translation is needed.  Being able to tell the difference is a trait of a loving and patient parent.  This goes down as a win.

Tidbit Tuesday: Neither Here Nor There

Lots of random going on in my world these days.  And if you're still reading, here are some highlights:

1. My finger is healed.  It didn't require medical attention and seems to be functioning properly at this time.  And I'll beware of electric mixers in the future.  There are still some things that bother it...like opening the car door, gripping things tightly or pushing buttons on the microwave, but all in all I'm really lucky that it wasn't severely injured.  I haven't tried to crochet yet.  We'll see how that goes in the next few days.
2. My mom got an iPhone for Christmas and now I want a smart phone.  Really bad.
3. I had a dream on Monday night that scared the shit out of me.  The long and short of it was that I was sat down with 2 other people at gun point and was told by a man with a laptop computer equipped with a webcam that one of the 3 of us would be killed and that he'd take 12 minutes to do it and he'd be streaming live to his website.  He was a serial killer and had killed 11 other people in the coinciding amount of minutes (one minute to kill the first person, 2 minutes to kill the second person, etc.) and now he was on the number 12.  I was excited that maybe I'd live because he was only choosing one of us.  But then he said, "The other 2 of you will be killed almost painlessly."  And all I could think the whole time in the dream was, "How the hell did I get here??"  Freaky.  I was crying when I woke up.
4. Last night Jayna and Chris were playing with a punching balloon in the living room.  Jayna started to get out of control, so I told her to "turn on her listening ears" and settle down...and DON'T spill daddy's drink on the table.  A few minutes later Chris was playing with the balloon and spilled his almost full drink all over the table, carpet and entertainment center.  And Jayna said to him, "Dad, you have to listen with your ears and be careful."  Ha.
5. Christmas was weird this year.  Completely strange.  Jayna got lots of stuff and enjoyed everything about Christmas, but I'm standing by my original statement of it being a strange year.
6. Jayna was moved in with the 4-year-olds at her preschool.  Yay!
7. I want a new house.

Tortuous, Traumatic Tuesday (that actually happened on Monday)

I ran last night. 

That is the long and short of this post.  So if you're a "get to the point because I don't care about all the shit that happened in between" type of person, you can stop reading there.

And I shall begin at the...beginning. 

Chris and I are in agreement that this is the beginning of the end for Morgan.  We do not know how long this will be dragged out.  We believe that the cancer is back and is taking it's toll on him.  Add that to his degenerating joints and muscle and the result isn't hopeful.  At all. 

The one thing that helps Moe is walking.  He loves to go on walks.  He's loved it since he was born.  This isn't only good for his hips and joints, but it is soooo outstanding for his mental state.  After walking last night, he slept for 3 hours straight last night and actually SNORED!!  He slept well for 3 hours!  That hasn't happened in months.

The problem with walking Moe is that Moe can't be walked with Oliver anymore.  Ollie is way too rambunctious and fast.  Moe prefers to sort of mosey instead of power walk.  Oliver also runs into and cuts in front of Moe almost causing him to fall down.  And we just can't do it anymore.  But you can't just take ONE dog on a walk when you have more than one dog.  Y'all with multiple pets know what I'm saying.

So there's that part of things. 

I decided yesterday that SHOES OR NO SHOES, I am going to begin atleast walking 3 or 4 times a week.  If I'm going to run the Mini, then I need to start doing something...a step in the right direction.  And since Ollie likes to trot and I can only run slow, I resolved to take Ollie running with me and then Chris would walk Moe after I got back with Ollie.  Sounds like a pretty good plan, huh?  Yeah.  Nope.

On my way home, I drove my neighborhood and mapped out a safe and easy 1.2 miles.  "That'll be easy enough!  Half hour tops.  And then Chris can walk Moe and we'll all be home in time for dinner!!"  I was soooo optimistic!  And that's where I went wrong.

Ollie did the SAME EXACT EFFING THING TO ME that he does to Moe.  First of all, he wanted to stop at EVERY mailbox to pee.  I expected that to happen for the first little bit.  But I was sure that once he went potty and got the hang of what we were doing that he'd settle.  He never settled.  He cut in front of me once and I was sure that I was going to eat the concrete.  He would go super fast to the end of his leash and the come to a complete stop.  So fast, slow, fast, slow was our pace.  He saw a plastic grocery bag floating in the wind in someone's yard and darted in front of me to get BEHIND me so I could protect him.  There goes the theory that he'd be able to protect me if needed.

I ended up only going about .6 miles and I walked about .2 of it.  So I didn't even run HALF of a mile and I thought I was going to die.  I...am officially ALREADY discouraged.

My chest was on fire for more than an hour.  Toward the end of the run I realized how hard all of this was going to be and I started crying.  So many things have been building up and they all broke loose at that moment.  It's difficult to cry and run, especially in the cold when your nose is already running and you're already huffing and puffing. 

I had a complete breakdown when I got home...and it was VERY embarrassing.  "So why are you writing about it, moron??  Don't tell the world about your embarrassing moments!!"  Well, gentle readers, I think you should all know.  For posterity.  And we all can be honest...I know only 6 or 7 people really read here.

And now I HAVE to conquer this.  That .6 miles was a huge wake up call.  My health needs to improve and I need to start NOW. 

There's no time like the present.  So what are YOU going to do today??

Too Many Hobbies Tuesday

I've decided that I have too many hobbies. And I will likely do NOTHING about it.


I have many pieces of furniture (okay, 4...but 3 are bookshelves and one is a storage cabinet) in my garage that are in the process of being finished. What's stopping me? I have to sand the hell out of all of them.

I have eleventyjillion unfinished scrapbook projects. But do I work on them? Absolutely NOT. I take up other hobbies like crocheting.

I currently have 2 crochet projects to finish for Jayna, one for myself and one for a friend. But last night I just wanted to watch television.

I have some minor woodworking projects (one was for Halloween and isn't finished...there's always next year) that I'm working on for an upcoming possible teaching workshop thingy. But they also have to be sanded and I feel that I can't work on them until Jayna's furniture is sanded. It's like my sander shakes it's finger at me and says, "You should be working on the kid's stuff!!"

I also like to bake and decorate cupcakes.  But when the HELL am I going to do that???

I've determined that there is one part of EVERY hobby I have that I don't like doing. I don't like sanding wood. I don't like printing photos for scrapbooking. And I don't like blocking and washing crochet projects.  I don't really like the actual MAKING of the cake.  My strong suit is decorating.

I also like to paint, but that's on the back burner because of all of the above. I also like to do, you know, PHYSICAL activities outdoors and stuff. I haven't been to the nature preserve in FOREVER. Yesterday I played outside with Jayna and it was delightful.

Many of my crafting issues are because of my Four New Things Expedition. I've gotta stop with the craft stuff.

My goal next year is to not add ANY new craft categories to my life. I am only allowed to add one-time events or things that are good for my body. I plan to play paintball. And I plan to run the mini. So I'm off to a good start.

So...what was the point of this post? As always, your guess is as good as mine.