Oops

I was so excited, I posted twice.

New Tricks

Check it out! My first attempt at a watermark. I can learn new tricks! It still needs a little tweaking, but I'm pretty pleased with myself. It didn't take days or hours and I didn't swear once.
This Photoshop 7 program just might come in handy! I am so lucky that my cousin gave it to me, because there is no way I would have ever bought it, it's way too expensive for me and I think you need a degree in something to be able to use it. Besides, I learned that lesson when I bought all my accounting programs that I never used.

I'm bored.

I'm bored...That's what Emily said at Grandma W's last night. So I let her play with my camera
Neither child of mine has held the camera for more than one or two shots. And it's usually under the severe eagle eyes of Mom. But last night, I figured what harm could come to the camera. Other than some finger prints on places I wouldn't put my fingers, I think my baby made out alright.
109 pictures later and I have pictures of the carpet, the wall, behind the fridge, pop cans, body parts, ceilings, and some not so bad shots of family members. But is there one half decent picture of me? No! There are some pretty nasty ones, why can't they take pictures of me when I am not rolling my eyes, opening my mouth or showing off my double chin?
So now that you have checked out Uncle Keith's feet, Emily's new Imaginesce portfolio (from Yo), Shaun's DO NOT TAKE MY PICTURE, Kerry's close up and one of 3 pop cans, and a bunny I painted ages ago, should we get the kids their own camera? I did tell Kerry they could have mine and I could get a better one. Ha Ha Ha...I think that's how I got this one.

Clueless!

Today could have started out as a bad day. I knocked over Kerry's favourite Starbuck's espresso mug. It's tiny and super cute and now it's broken into a million pieces. So sad for Kerry because I don't think I will be able to find him another anytime soon.
But...I got a phone call from my boss and he said he got me a raise! A big one too...a whoppin' $2 an hour raise! I only work about 3.5 hours a week so it's kind of funny. So when Shaun came home from school I told the kids that I got a raise. Shaun says "You have a job?" Duh...where do you think I am 3.5 hours a week? I have had this job on and off for more than 4 years. I have been back at it since September. Where do you think the fax machine came from? Boys...are they all clueless?

So the raise outranks the sad mug story. With my raise, I can go out and find a snazzy new mug! Ha Ha Ha...I wonder if it's retroactive.

I didn't do much all weekend, I was totally lazy. The most I did was help a certain famous scrapbooker try to organize her stash. I will never feel bad about my 2 boxes of crap sitting on the floor with all kinds of unfinished things tossed into it. Thank Yo for that. And I realized even the famous people started out with less than stellar layouts, well, they were stellar in their time I'm sure.

Your 80s Theme Song Is:

Beat It by Michael Jackson

What's Your 80s Theme Song?

Who makes these things? Beat it?
This is what you get when you put in your favorite song, which I can't even think of, because I don't think I have one. So I put down Say It by Nelly Furtado, because that's what is on the old MP3 right now. Which I do like, but my favorite? I don't know.
So the secret's out...who didn't love Michael Jackson back then? I still have a Thriller button that I could put on my fake leather tie that I wear with my polka dot angora bum covering sweater that matches my baby blue leg warmers that look so good with my Peter Pan boots. But I won't, I'll leave it in the junk drawer, where once a year a kid finds it and laughs hysterically.
Besides, the 80's were good. And I saw at Walmart some really cute, really see-thru t-shirts that Kerry said I should buy, because they were so me. But they were so see-thru, bad enough I know the rolls are there but I don't need anyone else seeing them. So no Poison, AC/DC or other 80's rock band t-shirt from Walmart for me. Now if there was a White Snake or Queen one...

Coke is it!

You Are Coke

A true original and classic, you represent the best of everything you can offer. Just the right amount of sweet, just the right amount of energy... you're the life of the party. Your best soda match: Mountain Dew Stay away from:Dr Pepper

What Kind of Soda Are You?

I feel like I got a spanking!

So the Pap test itself was pretty fast, except that I'm oddly shaped and it was uncomfortable. But what was even more atrocious was finding out that it has been (are you sitting down?) 7 years since my last Pap test! I wanted to cry!!! But as bad as finding this out was, the worst was yet to come...and if I had been in sooner, as in years sooner, the cyst or whatever it is on my cervix would have been found sooner. The dr. said it is most likely just a cyst, nothing too scary but we need to find out why it's there and the tests will take 3-6 weeks to come back.
So begins the freaky thoughts...if only I had gone in sooner...if it is something (the big C), is my house clean enough?...have I spent enough time with the kids?...who will take care of my family like I do...oh, there's more but it's so freakin' morbid...
I could be jumping the gun, but it's there, it's my fault it wasn't found sooner and I will have to live with it. I will spend the next few weeks pushing terrible thoughts from my over active brain.
So again, go and get your Pap test done!

I had to have blood work done because the dr. thinks I may have a thyroid problem. She went down the list of symptoms and I said yes to everyone. My silly body thought 2 vials of blood was just about too much. Really, how bad could it be? So bad that when the tech says apply pressure here with your other hand, I couldn't do it. So now I have a big old bruise.

On a different note...I have successfully made some ebay sales, thanks to Heather's help. I have procurred a tonne of chip board coasters from a more local, and very pleasant source and am patiently waiting for H. to say she's got the cd tin order! And my SU spring mini stuff is on it's way, hopefully by this time tomorrow I will be fondling new goodies.

My big clippy flowers...no idea what to do with them but I love them just the same.


Post some ideas on what they can be used for and I will draw from the posts. The winner will get one of the clippy flowers.

Waiting and waiting...

until 11:30.
Not for the faint of heart.
Why? Because in the whole scheme of things, I let it slip to my nurse friend that I have not in the last 2 or more years had that wonderful little test every woman needs but no one wants to volunteer for, that's right the dreaded PAP. And she laid into me the biggest guilt trip ever. I made the appointment and I know it's for my health and what's the point of eating better and moisturizing if I don't look after my stuff!
So on Tuesday, I was going to get my hair done. I've been letting it grow and I have not coloured it because I was going all out. Getting colour, maybe a new style if possible. Thinking that getting the top all prettied up will take the uncomfort out of what is going to happen on Thursday to the bottom. Well, as fate would have it, my hairdresser got the nasty flu and had to cancel. Now I have to wait until next Tuesday.
But now I need a 'feel good' treat to help get over the trauma. I already have all the new magazines, I don't want to blow my good WW week by eating something decadent (no carrot cake), and I don't want to shop for clothes. Oh, woe is me.

Not that I can be the poster child for PAP tests, pause to picture that, but if you haven't gone lately, you know you should, suck it up and do it.

I feel more like Ernie!

You Are Cookie Monster

Misunderstood as a primal monster, you're a true hedonist with a huge sweet tooth. You are usually feeling: Hungry. Cookies are preferred, but you'll eat anything if cookies aren't around. You are famous for: Your slightly crazy eyes and usual way of speaking How you life your life: In the moment. "Me want COOKIE!"

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

Okay, I posted this and then I read it...what the?
Is there something crazy about my eyes?
And I really don't want a cookie, not right now at least. No, I usually want salty snacks.
So I went back and re-did the test with a few different answers, like 'grumpy and messy', really it depends on who you ask. And of course, I am now Oscar the Grouch!

Ah, Meatloaf, and it's not even Sunday...

Meatloaf has always been out there lurking on the outside edge of our little world. But last week, Shaun announced that his friend listens to this great music, Meatloaf, of course, Kerry and I snicker. Meatloaf? So begins the great search for those wonderful epic ballads by Meatloaf and my search for the answer to the question that probably plagues only me...what exactly is it that Meatloaf won't do for love? You know...sing it with me...I would do anything for LOVE, but I won't do THAT? Now, I haven't seen the video and maybe he actually says right in the song but I don't know what THAT is.

So, 11:30 at night I'm asking Kerry...

me: Ker, are you awake? Ker, what is it that Meatloaf won't do for love?

ker: what?

me: you know the song, he won't do THAT, what is it?

and then the whole conversation gets silly...he won't kill someone, that's a given, he won't do laundry, he won't buy feminine products, eat liver, cut his hair, tell his wife to shut up because he has to get up early to go to work. Oh, that last one was what Kerry won't do.

And how weird is it that our kids like Queen, Meatloaf and the Green Tambourine? If I could get them to like Whitesnake and Prince, car trips would be more enjoyable. Singing lessons for me would help too.

We did the reflection technique for my Stamper's groups. This one was super easy to do, the other one was a little more trying, but I think they both turned out great.

I had an epiphany

and not just about one thing.

Must be the better eating and water intake that has cleared my brain.

The first and biggest one for me was the fact that I have gone through 2 sets of 12 week coupons from WW @ over $150 a pop. Saturday morning, my eyes popped open and before my feet hit the ground I realized this. I have paid, yes, paid, $30 for every pound I have lost since I joined WW again. The first time I did it, I consistently lost almost every week. I was so anal about every little thing. I worked out like a crazy nut, but it wasn't me, it was too hard to maintain. I don't do exercise, plain and simple. (this would be Epiphany #2) So I realized I really do have to watch my portion control. Just because Kerry can eat 4 brownies, doesn't mean I can or should, but I am a "fair share" person. If he gets 4, I get 4. Who cares that he has a physical job, that he rides his bike to work? Well, I may not care, but the scale does. I know WW works, I've seen it first hand. I love the program, I love the people, I love how I feel a few pounds lighter. But the program isn't going to kick in, unless I smarten up! Which is what I have been doing this week. And even if I weigh-in and the scale doesn't move much or at all, I know I have journaled every morsel, drank my water and eaten healthier all week. And that's what counts in the end. No pun intended.

I caught about 15 minutes of Oprah yesterday, just enough time to drool in awe at the 41 yr. old woman that has been doing martial arts for about 15 years. She has an amazing body. I know I won't ever look like that (see epiphany #2) nor do I want to, I don't want people feeling inadequate when the look at me while I shop for fruit in my spandex shorts and sports bra. I'm thinking of others, really. Anyway, she had another guest on that was 70 yrs. old, I don't think she looked 50. Her number one thing was to moisturize. Which got me thinking that I only have this skin and I'll have it forever so why not take better care of it? That's Epiphany #3. Check the link...

http://www2.oprah.com/beauty/skinbody/20070205/beauty_20070205_350_107.jhtml

Number #4 would be that I have a shit load of stuff. Scrapbook stuff, stamping stuff, books, magazines, dishes, mugs, dust and dog hair, you name it, I have probably more than 2. I have reached a point...every time I get an SU order, I take the empty box and fill it full of crap, not the dog hair and dust, but the other stuff and then I take it to the Hospital Auxiliary Thrift store and the nice ladies at the back door thank me profusely for my junk. I have also told the whole family that for every new thing that comes into the house, one old thing has to go out. So far, it's working. I see Oprah has some organization show planned tomorrow. The last time I watched, I bought the book, Julie Morgenstern or something. Great book, would help if I could find it, I think it's in a pile somewhere.

And I made myself use some of that crap this weekend. I think I did pretty well, used things I tend to just put on a shelf and worship. I used my watercolour crayons, Pearl Ex, embossing powders, craft ink, buttons and Hodge Podge Hardware. Check out my snazzy button, I stamped eggplant craft ink with the Wild Hearts BG stamp and then embossed with Irridescent Ice embossing powder. The flower on the rosy pink card is coloured with the wc crayons and Pearl Ex. The heart background on the pink and cream card is covered with the glue and Pearl Ex technique.

I've been tagged...

Darn that Cheryl, and if I was any good at this blogging thing I would post a link to her blog so you can read how weird she is, but I can't so I will type it in ...http://chersmoon.typepad.com/chersmoon/ and hope it works. If she wasn't so inspiring, I might not like her. Rumor has it she smokes and watches the House of Carters.

So she's tagged me and I have to tell 6 weird things about myself, I am assuming they should be things people already don't know...everyone already knows I am afraid of sturgeons, spiders, raw meat, and naked kids pooping in my pool.

1. I watch Hallmark Hall of Fame movies just for the commercials, they make me cry (Kerry watched the last one with me and got wet eyes!). Grey's Anatomy, I cry every episode, I love that show. I also like Ugly Betty, and My Name is Earl, they are hilarious, and repeats of Arrested Developement are on lately and they make me laugh and I watch most CSI's and Law and Orders...I'm not ashamed to say I watch a fair amount of tv. It's amazing I get anything done. And Risk Takers, interesting. I will watch kids shows when the kids are at school, just to have the tv on. Yes, I do watch Y&R, Bold and the Beautiful, Days and Passions. It's more background noise for creating.

2. Don't scare me, unless you like getting hurt, don't jump out of a closet or from behind a door. You will get punched in the solar plexus, the wind will be knocked out of you, because I watched Scooby Doo and you might be a zombie. This is for real...I love Scooby, I hate zombies. I will also try to push zombies (or people that may be zombies) down the stairs, I will punch, kick and slap them too. You have been warned. I can't help it.

3. I dislike goat cheese. I was fed goat's milk from a stinky goat once as a kid, maybe I didn't drink it, but I remember my mom trying to get me to. I will spit it out if some gets in my mouth. I love feta as long as it's not goat. And wild meat. You can't trick me into eating it, no way, no how. NO duck, lamb, veal, bear, moose, deer, goose, or rabbit, and if you tell me that weird shaped chicken is a chicken, and I eat it, don't tell me later that it was a rabbit. Eggs and alcohol make me physically sick, even though I would like to ingest more of both. I can eat eggs baked in things, and will eat them occasionally but Kerry freaks out because I get sick. Alcohol just burns a hole in me, unless in a girly drink, perferably a creamy one.

4. I don't eat 'breakfast' food for breakfast. I eat Money's veggie patties with saurkraut, soup, pita pizzas, but not toast, unless it's a sandwich, not eggs, not cereal. But I will eat breakfast for dinner.

5. I can't donate blood. I have the rarest blood type...why? Because my body won't share it so no wonder it's rare. I will go into shock and faint. But before that happens I won't listen to the signs, like the first time I donated and had a painful experience where I couldn't lift my arm the next day, back pressure or something, they said. And of course, I also said, "I don't feel so well", so I got extra rest time after my cookies. The second time, the stuff they drop your blood into to see if you have enough iron got dumped on me. Did I go home? NO, I donate. My hands and feet go tingly and numb and CODE something gets yelled and little old ladies run over to me and people are yelling at me to keep my eyes open and I'm like "whatever", they consider that fainting. The next day they politely asked me not to come back unless it was to drive "the guy with the pipes" down and have cookies while I wait for him to donate. And I was being so brave, because I am also afraid of needles and deathly afraid of my own blood. Go figure.

6. I took computerized accounting, bought expensive accounting programs. I excelled at it, graduated with something like 98%, the highest mark at the time, says so right with my diploma, where ever that is. Worked for an electrictian for 3 months, didn't like it at all. Became a SAHM and am so stubborn about using my brain that I won't balance my cheque book or do my own taxes, but I did learn to type. It's not weird actually, it's more my dirty little secret. I will make Kerry come grocery shopping with me to do the math to figure out the better deals. Don't ask me to do any math.

That's not all, I'm sure I have more weird things lurking around. I know I do. But now I am sure I have scared everyone and they will give me funny looks when I see them.

So, let's see who has a blog, who can I tag?...A little birdy told me yesterday that Dawn has a blog, I don't think I have seen it. I found out Dawn has a last name too, this person told me awn so-and-so has a blog and she posted my salsa chicken recipe on it. And I have no idea who she was talking about until she says "Dawn-from-the-scrapbook-store." Which is how I think of most people, by where I know them from. So even though she's faster in real life, I am tagging DAWN-from-the-scrapbook-store. And FERN-from-the-library and YOLANDA-Kavita-from-the-candy-aisle-at-Walmart.