Month: October 2008

Life

Fleeting Thoughts

Karen

I’m craving donuts. I mean, the all-I-can-think-about-or-I-will-die-without-having-that-sweet-gooey-goodenss-in-my-mouth sort of craving. I’m so, so tempted to run to Krispy Kreme after posting this and buying these scrumptious pumpkin-shaped donuts.

<——-

Donuts are my Kryptonite, seriously.

Who’s with me! Anyone feel like making a donut run!?!

I feel icky today. I just sucked on a Zicam and now I feel worse. (The rhino? Yeah, that’s totally me today).

But no worries, this is normal for me. Zicam, for those that don’t know, is supposed to trigger your natural antibodies into action. They, in turn, aggressively race through your body and munch on bad viral cells.

I don’t know how it works exactly, but it works for me. After taking one, and then feeling like walking dog poop for about fifteen minutes, I feel better.

My sinuses are acting up (which they always do when the weather changes) and I’m prone to sinus infections. Nose spray and Zicam usually fight them off. We’ll see if I was successful this go-around.

Do you take, or do, anything to ward off impending sickness?

Mmmm … donuts ….

I finished a full-fledged blog template for a client yesterday. In fact, this client is attending a conference this weekend and will likely show this blog around. *gulp* I’m both nervous and excited about that – it could mean more business for me.

I’m ready. I can handle it (I hope).

I’ve played around with my own templates quite a bit over the past several months, but this was the first time that I actually manipulated someone else’s template. I feel pretty good about it. I think it’s a good combination of pretty and classy. I’m hoping to do more templates very soon. I learned A LOT by doing this last template and I’m feeling a bit more confident about my abilities. I’m setting up my blog template, er, blog now and will hopefully have it up and running before NaNoWriMo starts.

In the meantime, I’m also thinking about what I want to do with this blog template. I would like to do something fun, funky and satisfying (which means I don’t want to be tempted to play around with it next year so I can concentrate on other projects) and I’m on an active hunt for the perfect graphic.

If you could redo your blog template, what sort of design would you want? What overall (visual) message do you want your blog to say?

Me? I want something to do with writing, of course. I had a really cute design on my self-hosted blog that I will likely use for my design template business blog.

But this blog? I haven’t decided yet.

Any suggestions?

Must. Have. Donuts.

Kids are doing well. This school year is chugging right along. The grades could be better, but they’re not bad, so we’re good.

The husband has been helping MK out with his algebra and seriously, it’s like Greek to me. I have NO idea what they are talking about. Of course, I don’t let on that I’m clueless, but honestly? It’s embarrassing to have kids that are smarter than you.

I’m still craving donuts.

GD has been acting so … mature lately. It’s such a relief to see him settling down and feeling more comfortable with himself. He’s gotten into the habit of stopping his gaming around 9ish, taking his shower and then cracking open his books to study for quizzes, etc.

All without me telling him to!

Even though it’s rewarding to see him take the initiative (have I mentioned lately that he’s still making a B+ in Japanese and seriously thinking about taking Japanese II next year?!), it’s also sad – he’s definitely not my baby anymore.

Though he hasn’t been actively talking about his future (i.e. college), I can tell he’s thinking about it. He’s been bringing home flyers from school about ACT workshops and various other college-prep information and I can tell this is making an impact on him.

He will graduate in 2 1/2 years. And though he joked that that was a long time, I think he’s beginning to realize that actually? It’s not.

Donuts …..

I’m preparing a series of NaNoWriMo writing workshops to post at Write Anything beginning tomorrow. I actually have no idea what I’m doing, but hopefully, the workshops will help motivate and generate some ideas for people. If you have a chance, stop by and take a gander! And if you have any advice, or you’ve written about any of the topics showcased next week, share your links! I, for one, would love to take a look.

The Fall library book sale starts the 21st. Oh. My. Gosh. Book sales are like Christmas mornings for me. I HEART them!! In fact, I usually go a minimum of three times before I’m booked out.

My husband just rolls his eyes at me. But he knows better than to try and talk me out of going. I have two huge plastic containers full of books in the garage – one is full of the books I bought during the spring book sale and haven’t read yet, and the other container is full of books I’ve read and have listed on Bookmooch – that are just WAITING for some lucky book worm to love and read. *HINTHINT*

Books – it’s a sickness with me.

Mooch from me – please. I’m begging you!!

That’s it.

Uncle.

I’m making a donut run.

Ciao, or chow, whatever the case may be. *grin*

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Friday Fun

Friday Craft: Halloween Decorations

Karen

I have a confession, we don’t really DO Halloween around here. The boys no longer trick-or-treat (though I do give them a bag of candy because I have to DO something!) and we don’t decorate. In fact, I think we might have decorated for Halloween twice the entire time we’ve been parents.

We just don’t care for Halloween that much, truth be told. It’s an evil holiday and before you roll your eyes, check it out, Halloween is based on some pretty disturbing rituals and beliefs.

We don’t do evil spirits – I’m just saying. 🙂

However, I don’t have my head so far up my butt to be a snoot about the holiday because it’s fun to watch the kids dress up and eat fun foods (that will be next Friday) and appreciate people’s creativity.

Just don’t lose your head and start worshiping stuff. 😀

Here are a few uber-cool crafts that are new to Family Fun this year:

CandleEyebra

When illuminated, these votive holders cast an eyeful of moody shadows on the walls.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
Glass votive holders
Black construction paper
Hole punch
Mod Podge
Paintbrush
Black paint

Time needed: Under 1 Hour
1. Tear a sheet of black construction paper into about a dozen small rectangles that measure roughly 1¼ inch by ½ inch. Use a hole punch to add two eyes to each piece.

CandleEyebra: Step 2 2. Brush a portion of a plain, glass votive holder with Mod Podge, affix a paper rectangle, then paint more Mod Podge over it. Add the other pieces the same way, making sure the edges overlap.

3. When the candleholder is dry, use a tiny paintbrush and black paint to add little round pupils inside the eyes.

Pumpkin Shirt

Wear your Halloween spirit on your sleeve with this groovy tie-dyed jack-o’-lantern shirt.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
White T-shirt, washed
Rubber bands
Orange fabric dye
Sink or bucket for the dye
Rubber gloves
Blunt-ended scissors
Cardboard (for inside of shirt)
Black permanent marker
Black fabric paint
Paintbrush

Time needed: Under 1 Hour
Step 1. Pinch and gather up a portion of the T-shirt fabric, then add a rubber band 1 or 2 inches from the point of the pinch. Wrap the band around several times until it’s nice and tight. Create similar sections with rubber bands all over the shirt and sleeves.

Step 2. Prepare the dyebath according to the instructions on the package. Thoroughly wet the shirt with water. Wearing rubber gloves, submerge the shirt in the dye. Let it soak until it looks a shade darker than you want it to be.

Step 3. Still wearing gloves, rinse the shirt under warm running water. As the rinse water becomes less orange, change the water temperature to cold.

Step 4. Once the water from the shirt runs clear, carefully cut off the rubber bands. Dry the shirt.

Step 5. Insert cardboard inside the shirt, then use a permanent marker to draw jack-o’-lantern features inside each circle. Fill in the shapes with the marker, or use black fabric paint (which stays black longer).

This is not a new one, but I still crack up every time I see one of these:

Witch Crash

This witch may have failed driver’s ed., but she’s still got a few tricks up her sleeve — namely, the ability to provoke hysterics in every trick-or-treater who sees her.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
Black adult-size sweatpants
Black adult-size turtleneck
Four 1×4-inch wooden boards
Handsaw
Hammer and nails
Black boots
Broom
Green dishwashing gloves
Trash bag with drawstring top
Wig or skein of thick yarn
Store-bought witch’s hat

Time needed: Under 1 Hour
1. First, choose a crash site for your witch — a tree with a trunk that’s sturdy, yet not huge in circumference. Ideally, the tree should also be highly visible to passersby.

2. Measure the sweatpants’ legs and cut two of the boards to a few inches longer than the pants. Slide the wooden legs into the sweatpants and — with an assistant’s help — nail a leg onto each side of the tree 3 or 4 feet above the ground and parallel to it. For the best illusion, you’ll want to have at least a few inches of the legs extending toward the witch’s back (so that she appears to have hips).

3. Slide the boots onto the ends of the legs.

4. Secure the broom in place — roughly parallel to the ground — by nailing it to the tree and one of the wooden legs.

5. Pull the trash bag drawstring tight, then nail the bag in place so it hangs down as a cape. Secure the cape at the bottom as well, so it doesn’t blow around.

6. Lastly, nail the wig to the tree, cover it with the hat, then nail the hat in place. If you don’t have a wig, simply cut a bunch of thick yarn into long strands and tie them together at the top.

You can also watch a video on how to make this craft, too.

Have fun!

Twitter Messages

Twitter-esque

Karen

A blog entry – Twitter style.

We’ve been having the boys clean up the kitchen every most nights. I know. You’re probably thinking, “They’re teenagers! It’s about damn time they pull their weight!”

This sounds good on the surface? But they’re boys. Which means a few swipes of the sponge and they are done. The dishes are still dirty. I have to wash them again in the morning because I never catch it at night (too brain dead).

I will inspect their work tonight. I will likely make them do it over again. It won’t be pretty.

Prompt Fiction

Fiction: Life’s Wish List

Karen

“If you could rearrange three things about your life what would they be?”

Dee tugged off her glasses and placed them next to her mouse pad. She reached up to lightly rub the indentations on the bridge of her nose before turning to look at her co-worker in the next cubicle. She smiled. Lacy’s hair was tied up into a messy knot on the top of her head, curly tendrils clung to her lipstick-smeared bronzed lips.

“Nice hair,” Dee said with a chuckle.

Lacy waved her aside and impatiently removed the hair clinging to the corner of her mouth. “I’m growing it out and it’s driving me crazy. Now answer the question.”

“Don’t you have a deadline?”

“This is part of my article. I didn’t have enough time to go out and do a poll thing, so I’m asking you, If you could rearrange three things about your life what would they be?”

“Because I represent the vast majority of single women,” Dee responded with a smirk.

“So you’re not single,” Lacy said with a roll of her eyes. “You’re a woman and that’s all I need at this point.”

Dee reached for her diet coke and took a quiet sip.

“Sometime before I reach my next birthday would be groovy,” said Lacy.

“I’m thinking.”

“Well think faster. I have to present this to dragon lady, er, Rachel, in the next 30 minutes.”

“Why did you wait until the last minute to do this? That’s not like you.”

Lacy released an exasperated sigh and wheeled herself more fully into Dee’s cramped square of space. “I had a date last night and –”

Dee interrupted while scanning over Lacy’s wrinkled clothes. “Didn’t you wear that yesterday?”

Lacy remained silent and gave her a pointed stare.

When the realization that Lacy hadn’t gone home last night hit her, she raised her eyebrows in mock shock. “Ah, the date went well, then.”

“You could say that,” Lacy responded while lifting an arm to smell under her pit. “I need to use your deodorant.”

Dee blushed and huffed a reply, “What makes you think I have deodorant on me?”

“Oh please, the Queen of Clean? Everyone knows you not only have backup toiletries in your bottom drawer, but that you keep a bag of fresh clothes stuffed into a corner in the breakroom.”

Dee’s blush deepened. “How do people know that?”

“We’re not as clueless as you think we are, Lacy.”

“I never –”

“Can you just answer the freaking question, please? Time is ticking and I’m starting to sweat.”

Dee grinned and gestured to her own upper lip. “You are, actually. I can see a sweat mustache right here …”

It was Lacy’s turn to blush and she hurriedly brought up a finger to swipe at the moisture. “You’re killing me. Are you doing this on purpose?”

Dee blinked and tried to maintain an innocent face.

“Tick tock, Murphy,” Lacy growled.

Dee’s amusement dried up as she glanced at the clock. “Actually, I really don’t have time for this, Lacy. I have my own deadline to meet.”

“All the more reason to answer the damn question,” Lacy replied with a deadpan expression.

Dee sighed and twirled her messy ponytail around her finger. “Geez … I don’t know. My life is pretty cool as is.”

Lacy continued to stare at her.

Dee stared back.

Lacy’s stare was bold and unblinking.

Dee finally blinked and broke the spell.

“Fine. Number one – my cubicle. That way, I wouldn’t have to sit next to you and answer these stupid questions before I’ve had my third cup of coffee.”

Lacy snorted and just continued to stare.

“I hate you, you know this, right?”

“I have a fan club of people who hate me. I consider it every journalist’s compliment.”

Dee continued to meet her unwavering stare.

“Tick tock,” Lacy said, barely moving her lips.

Dee threw up her hands in surrender. “One, my work schedule. If I had my way, I wouldn’t come in until 10:00 a.m. every morning and then leave around 3ish.”

“Ooh, good one,” Lacy said and abruptly disappeared behind the cubicle wall.

Dee released a long, relieved sigh and thought perhaps that was enough to start the ball rolling in Lacy’s head.

She was wrong.

Lacy reappeared with a notepad and began scrawling in her hurried, messy handwriting. “Two?”

Dee squirmed and then looked down at her chair. “Comfortable seats. My butt is killing me.”

Lacy lifted her pen and saluted her without looking up or missing a beat in her writing. “Better butt. Check.”

“I said better seats, not butt.”

“Same thing,” said Lacy. She finally looked up and her eyes sparkled with mischief.

“Do you normally misquote your sources?”

“I never misquote,” she responded with a toss of her head “I just tweak them a bit, that’s all.”

Dee rolled her eyes and turned toward her monitor when the sound of her email program caught her attention. “It’s from Micheal,” she said while clicking on the icon to open the message.

“Hellllo, I need number three here.”

Dee was silent for long moments as she read the short, but brutal, message.

Lacy began to impatiently tap her pencil against the page of her notebook. “Sometime before my hair turns gray, Dee.”

Dee’s eyes began to water and she swallowed the hard, bitter lump in her throat. “How about this one,” she began, her voice wavering slightly. “A husband who doesn’t consistently put his career ahead of you.” She whirled around in her chair and glared at Lacy, daring her to say a word.

Lacy’s eyes ran over her friend’s face with sympathy. Micheal’s message was clear, and though both women were thinking the same thing, neither was ready to say it out loud.

“Never mind,” Lacy said softly, “I’ll come up with the last one.” She wheeled herself back to her cubicle.

Dee reached for a tissue. “No, use it,” she said and blew her nose. “What woman can’t relate to this one?”

__________________________

This was written in response to Mama’s Losin’ It’s weekly writing exercise.

Thursday Thirteen

Thursday Thirteen – Reasons You’ll Never Be Rich

Karen

I found these tips on Yahoo Finance and thought they were WAY too good not to pass along.

1. Caring what your neighbors think: If you want to keep up with the Joneses, then be willing to keep up with the Joneses’ debt, too.

2. Not being patient: Rule of thumb – wait at least 24 hours before buying that “must have” item. Chances are, you’ll realize you really didn’t need it that badly to begin with. Resist impulse buying.

3. Not being prepared: Get in the habit of depositing a certain amount of your paycheck into a savings account each payday. You’ll end up with a nice nest egg to fall back on during the tough times.

4. Caring what your car looks like: A car is a means of transportation to get from one place to another, but many people don’t view it that way. Instead, they consider it a reflection of themselves and spend money every two years or so to impress others instead of driving the car for its entire useful life and investing the money saved.

5. Feeling entitlement: If you believe you deserve to live a certain lifestyle, have certain things and spend a certain amount before you have earned to live that way, you will have to borrow money. That large chunk of debt will keep you from building wealth.

6. Lacking diversification: There is a reason one of the oldest pieces of financial advice is to not keep all your eggs in a single basket. Having a diversified investment portfolio makes it much less likely that wealth will suddenly disappear.

7. Starting too late: The magic of compound interest works best over long periods of time. If you find you’re always saying there will be time to save and invest in a couple more years, you’ll wake up one day to find retirement is just around the corner and there is still nothing in your retirement account.

8. Not doing what you enjoy: While your job doesn’t necessarily need to be your dream job, you need to enjoy it. If you choose a job you don’t like just for the money, you’ll likely spend all that extra cash trying to relieve the stress of doing work you hate.

9. Not liking to learn: You may have assumed that once you graduated from college, there was no need to study or learn. That attitude might be enough to get you your first job or keep you employed, but it will never make you rich. A willingness to learn to improve your career and finances are essential if you want to eventually become wealthy.

10. Buying things you don’t use: Take a look around your house, in the closets, basement, attic and garage and see if there are a lot of things you haven’t used in the past year. If there are, chances are that all those things you purchased were wasted money that could have been used to increase your net worth.

11. Not understanding value: You buy things for any number of reasons besides the value that the purchase brings to you. This is not limited to those who feel the need to buy the most expensive items, but can also apply to those who always purchase the cheapest goods. Rarely are either the best value, and it’s only when you learn to purchase good value that you have money left over to invest for your future.

12. Having a house that is too big: When you buy a house that is bigger than you can afford or need, you end up spending extra money on longer debt payments, increased taxes, higher upkeep and more things to fill it. Some people will try to argue that the increased value of the house makes it a good investment, but the truth is that unless you are willing to downgrade your living standards, which most people are not, it will never be a liquid asset or money that you can ever use and enjoy.

13. Failing to take advantage of opportunities: There has probably been more than one occasion where you heard about someone who has made it big and thought to yourself, “I could have thought of that.” There are plenty of opportunities if you have the will and determination to keep your eyes open.

Twitter Messages

Twitter-esque

Karen

A blog entry – Twitter style.

The husband and I had lunch at a “trendy” restaurant. Even though we didn’t see any signs for a non-smoking section, we must have missed it because we ended up sitting in the smoking section (I’m assuming?)

Everyone at the table next to us (five guys) lit up all at once and I left feeling sick and wanting to pass out. Seriously, dudes, where is your courtesy?

To say I was a wee bit cranky would be putting it mildly.