Graduation

Tonight my little one graduates preschool.

They're having a whole little ceremony with caps and gowns. It'll be sweet. I hope it stops raining by then, as it is being held outside.

 

She'll start kindergarten this fall... I'm trying not to think about it.

Oh, and I made these cupcakes for my first grader's kindergarten teacher. It was for her daughter's birthday party. I loved my little painter palettes. 

lemon chiffon cake with strawberry filling, and strawberry/lemon curd frosting.

Cheers!

ps. May is kicking my badunkadunk - I am exhaustapooped. The month's been non-stop things to do, places to go, items to remember... I can't wait until May is over. Also, I have senioritis baaaaad. And I'm the mom.

Spring Break

6YO is wearing a mini boden shrug and old navy dress. 4YO is wearing a Costco dress. Hair bands from Target.

Today is our first day of spring break.

*Wahoooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!*

We have two weeks off. Which is nice. Although, I would trade in one week to get out of school a week earlier. But that's just me.

In the meantime, we began today sleeping in until 9am. I did drag myself out of bed to make Phantom breakfast and lunch to-go... you know, because he works hard for the money.

When the girls and I finally made it downstairs we discovered that the ants had discovered a bounteous feast of crumbs underneath the kitchen table. So while the girls had breakfast, I went into raid, vacuum, mop mode. The floor is now sanitized.

Then off to the post office to mail our taxes, a few other packages, and Thai for lunch. Spicy hot green curry with tofu hits the spot every time. It hadn't started raining so we headed to frozen yogurt after lunch, the girls played "red light green light" in the mild drizzle, and we sought refuge in the car once it started coming down.

Now? Now they are playing in the garage, while I do an endless mountain of laundry. Mondays and Fridays are usually my cleaning days, so spring break is off to a great start so far!

Cheers!

That time I bought a beer

Recently I posted how I learned to make tamales.

Well, to slow-cook the pork for 6-8 hours, I needed to get a can of beer.

As a member of The Chuch of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints, I follow the Word of Wisdom - so I don't drink alcohol. I've never even had a taste. Just never, really felt like it.

So, having never bought one, I hit the grocery store after a workout one Saturday morning. I postponed buying the beer as my last item. Then I called my husband.

QS: Honey, so I have to buy beer to slow-cook the pork. Should I? Should I get something else?
Phantom: You're cute. Just get it. You're cooking it.
QS: Fine.

I then traversed the entire beverage aisle, twice. I couldn't find a single beer. I didn't even know where to look. I felt really, really lame. I knew I'd have to ask someone.

QS: Excuse me. This is going to sound really silly. But where do you keep single cans of beer? I only need one to slow cook pork, and since we don't drink, I have no idea where to look. I tried the beverage aisle and came up with nothing.
GroceryWkr: *laughs good-naturedly* (I think she found me amusing) Of course. I'll show you.
QS: There are a lot of different kinds of beer!
GW: Yes, you have your fancy, more expensi...
QS: I just need one can, that's the cheapest.
GW: Here they are.
QS: Those are huge. Do you sell them half that size, you know, the size of soda cans?
GW: Nope.

Turns out the cheapest one was a Tecate. Which actually worked out since we were making Tamales... (my name is skipito friskito....)

Then I wheeled my cart over to pay for my purchases, and the young cashier guy swipes the beer over the bar code scanner and asks, "Can I see your ID?"

And just like that - I had bought beer and gotten carded for the first time in my 33 years on this earth.




ps. Sorry for the lack of pictures and no happiness post from yesterday - apparently I've reached a blogger quote for posting pictures. Am trying to remedy that forthwith. Cheers!

Top o' the mornin' to ye

I don't wear hats that often. My head shape is too big... but because I just got out of a nice HOT shower post-workout, I have to go back out into the NO-END-IN-SIGH-DELUGE of rain...and to keep the body heat contained you need to keep your head and feet covered. 


So... the hat.


How are you staying dry? What rainy day activities do you have instore? 

SAVE ME from this... ayudame!


Ya'll know I'm totally, utterly a solar powered, sun goddess worshipper - so I am wilting... wilting I tell ya!


Happy WEDNESDAY!

ps. It's also really weird when you've been using the term "solar powered" for like... ever, and then you hear someone who heard it from you, use it in a convo with you. (you = me) Did that make sense? Either way... it was weird! ;-)

Monday Mish Mash

image from vegnews

Do you have a thing?

When I go to a place that serves chili on the menu... I always order it. I.Heart.Chili. Any kind of chili. I prefer it spicy. I'll enjoy it tame. I like it drizzled on fries, saturating a burger, a hot dog, Cincinnati style... maybe I should go make a batch.

With this unending rain, and cloud cover, all I want is food that envelops me. Chili does that. It's also hearty...argh!

So yeah, I have a thing. It's chili.

Okay... disclaimer: I am also prolifically, potently musical post-bowl. *grin*

Choose Your Own Adventure

From this site.

...and make it yours.

Much has been made about Amy Chua, her Battle hymn of the Tiger Mother, and the mountains of thoughts, articles, blogs, interviews following her "controversial" excerpt in the WSJ.

So really, what is there left to say?

Does it even matter?

Something that keeps nagging me, as I read all the opinions and comments is how human beings are so self-involved. (...and I blog, so I know how I should smile wryly right now)

What does it matter what someone else does? What are you doing?

Ultimately, it doesn't matter how some other mother or father are parenting their children (barring anything truly heinous), what matters is how you parent.

It seems there is so much time expended with people comparing this and comparing that. I truly believe that deep down inside, we know. We know if what we're doing is right, wrong, giving it our all, or just doing the minimum. We often talk about how we just don't have time. It can be true. But usually, we don't have time for those things we don't prioritize. And I hope, that when it comes to parenting, given that parenting involves children, that the children are our priority. If that's the case, I think with love mixed deeply into that formula, we'll create our own family adventure.

Why does it matter what someone else does? Why do you need to be measured by the someone else's metric? Why can't we choose our own metrics?

This topic has also made me think about how so often women (as I don't know many men who blog who do this) read a blog that they decide makes them feel x,y,z and then get upset with the blogger. They then begin to slap labels on that blogger because of how they feel when they read their blog, see the pictures, etc.

Frankly, don't get it. Why does it matter what someone else is doing? Why does it matter how someone else lives their life? You have the power to live your own. You have the power to determine your reactions, choices, attitudes. Why are so many people so quick to compare, to put an arbitrary value on how people live their lives?

I don't believe in wasting my time on jealousy. I don't. There are so many other emotions I'd rather spend my time on; being grumpy, feeling silly, being happy, getting nervous, etc... I am booked from morn' until eve'n, and sometime I never make it to staring into the abyss. I simply don't have time for envy.

If we truly, to the core of our souls know who we are, and how powerful we are, we don't waste our time on debilitating comparisons. I am grateful for the women that I learned from, who didn't know who they were. They taught me how imperative it is to truly know who I am, so that I can be independent of positions that easily shift and change with time.

It's liberating. I don't waste my time on people that I simply don't need in my life. I don't waste my time feeling useless emotions that only prevent growth. I define who I am, I have power to make my life what I want it to be. I get to choose. No picture on a screen, no words, nothing has the power to define me, my choices and my family. Nothing.

I don't believe in excuses. There's nothing more infuriating than hearing, "well, that's how I was raised."

I am convinced that no matter how we were raised, we all have a choice to either stay that path, or change it. Perhaps that's naive. But I live it and I know it. Each day I choose my own adventure.

Discipline

Last week - no posts.

Not sure if I should apologize, as I am not even sure how many eyes are watching, stalking, or reading my little blog ditty on the Internets.

This year I am determined. (I hope)

I am determined to get to sleep earlier. Preferably no later than 10pm. For a woman (that's right, not just a girl) who gets to bed around one or two (ahem) in the morning, this is one gigantic step in the right direction. (I also hear this helps the round tire part of our bodies)

I am also determined to spend less time online. (kind of, hopefully)

I have been online since I was in middle school/freshman/sophomore year in high school, and I will turn 34 this year... so you do the math. Seriously - you do it. (I am the one lazy Asian you will meet who loathes putting numbers together and extracting them from each other)

I am also determined to bake less, in an effort to say adios to my ba-dunk-a-dunk, pear-shaped lower half of me. It's too bad I can't just rearrange it all and do a bit of shifting to give the upper ladies a bit of a boost. Maybe I can make that happen when I, you know, become a goddess and create my own world of people. Dude, the women and the men in my world would worship me. (please let those last two sentences offend some busybody somewhere)

I am also determined to find more time to write. The less time online should help.

All of this requires that I adopt discipline. I had a lot of it growing up. Like, mucho, mucho, beaucoup, I'm suffocating kind of discipline. So I think as part of my joie de vivre in adulthood, I've sort of taken the discipline, rolled it into as tiny a ball as possible, dug a deep, dark cavern and buried it. I might have spit on it too. Literally.

So here goes nothing 2011, or something. Dear Internets please hold me to it.

ps. In the meantime check out what's been buzzing around the Internets. If you get a chance read them. I may be posting my thoughts sometime...TBD, or not.

Spinning out of control

I don't know how you're feeling this year, but I am losing my grip on... pretty much everything.

It feels like those nightmares I had as a kid. I was trying climb up this steep gravel hill, but with every step I just slid further and further down at an alarming rate, with nothing to hold onto, until I woke up in a cold sweat, momentarily, safe in my bed.

That's how it feels as the end of the year approaches. Let's add to that a mix of self-diagnosed, early dementia. I feel like I forget things all the time. Or nearly forget, or double, triple book things... which means, so much of what I enjoy doing this holiday is going on the back burner since time, or what little I can grasp in my fingers is dribbling out through the cracks at a heart-racing rate. ACK!

I'm scaring myself...

ps. ... We started the 12 days of reading Christmas picture books last night. Join me! Here are my posts on that from last year.

What are you reading?

I am alive - Hallelujah

I'm decompressing from our quick jaunt to Solvang this past weekend/earlier part of the week, and a picture book pitch in SF on Wed at Chronicle books.

I'm hoping to get in a post this evening...afternoon.

In the meantime, enjoy this brilliant video. Gave me chills and made tears run down my face.



Thanks for hanging around.

Cheers!

The Voice

I am an expert at talking myself out of anything.

Yesterday, I knew that today was the last day this week I'd be able to breakaway for a work out. I knew this, but I listed a litany of excuses in my head, to myself.

1. You had a migraine this afternoon. All the bouncing around tomorrow can't be good for it. Plus, you have that horrible cough...not good to exercise when you're sick, right?!
2. You are tired. Yes, you're often tired, but you forgot to take your iron/vitamin B for the last few days, maybe you need to wait until it's back in your system.
3. Your house is a mess, you have filing to be done, you need to get things in order, or you could rest. Darling, you need a rest.

Today... that conversation was persistent, nagging, like a horrible millstone around my neck. The voice was at once soothing, and pernicious.

I had to listen to this voice the entire evening, and this morning, but I did it. I won. I made it to the gym.

I felt good.

Then I needed to tackle the bills and filing.

The voice started again.

1. You hate bills. They stress you out. Why don't you go take a shower, and rest a bit first.
2. That mountain of filing is going to give you another migraine. Take it easy today, you can do it tomorrow.
3. Have you seen the rest of the house? You need to do the laundry, straighten up the kids' messes, and there's baking to be done, menus to plan.

I knew to succeed I had to blow off that sinister voice in my head. Every suggestion from the voice had merit, but I knew I had to oppose each suggestion it made to succeed. So I sat down for the uninterrupted hour I had to myself and worked.

I was able to get so much done, even though it stresses me out, and though I think ignoring it will go away... which it doesn't.

I beat that voice.



After picking up the girls from school I needed to make dinner. I had decided what I was going to make, but the voice returned.

1. It's cold. You should just crawl under the covers and get warm, or rest.
2. You could go shower right now. Enjoy a nice, long, hot shower you love and then rest a bit.
3. Doesn't it seem like a chore to make dinner right now? I mean, you've done so much already, you've exercised, filed and paid the bills, you deserve to take a break.

That voice was so close to succeeding, because I hate being cold. Also, I really need a shower. I'm tired. It would be so much easier to just succumb to the voice.

As I was making dinner, I had an image of myself, clean, cozy in bed, sleeping dreamily away. Instead dinner is in the oven. To that voice... screw you - I won.

Some days are like this.

When it's dreary and cold outside, that little voice that wants to strangle my ability, my nerve, my responsibilities. The voice is seductive. It soothes, it persuades, it gently tries to steer me off my course. The voice doesn't stop, it is persistent, consistent and always present, even as I work to foil that voice's plan. There are days I fall to it's siren like song. Then there are days I struggle to overcome, and today was one of those days.



I don't feel particularly perky, or superhuman today. I feel tired, in desperate need of a shower, but I also feel a bit lighter. It's like the millstone has been removed, if only, for a moment.

That voice is really good at talking myself out of anything. Doesn't matter what it is. The voice knows me so intimately.

Sure, the times I overcome the voice may be few, but those are days worth fighting for, and worth getting up to do it all over again tomorrow.

Waiting...

...as soon as our SURPRISE arrives... and I get a chance to upload pictures - I'll post them....

I keep peeing every few minutes because there's so much anticipation...

...and my girls don't have a clue!

Talk to you soon.

ps. I made smoked salmon deviled eggs...and I can't get the smell off of me.

pps. I HEAR CAR DOORS SHUTTING... the surprise is outside my door!

So EXCITED!!!

The Harper Collins twitter giveaway... arrived, we now have a batch of Halloween themed books; picture books to middle grade... wahoooooooooooooo!!!!


ALSO....


...surprise announcement on Friday.



I feel like a kid on Christmas morning...





will not tell...



...won't tell...


...must not tell....

ticked off Momma

Many things have been going on.

Avant Garde Gal, my 5YO broke her arm on WED afternoon at the park, after a friend spun the monkey bar wheel she was hanging from. 5YO hates to swing, or go fast... so she wasn't prepared and got scared and dropped. She went in to the ER and they put her under general anesthesia to reset the humorous bone. We then spent two miserable nights in the hospital... where at night we had the most incompetent, negligent nurses. The day nurses were spectacular...and it was literally - night and day.

We are home now. We are exhausted as the nights are hardest for her w/the itching and the tingling...plus, it nigh impossible to get truly comfortable with an arm that's heavier than the rest of her tiny body. It sucks to see her suffer like this... but she is so brave...and tries her best. She is my hero.

I'm also still seething a bit from dealing with the nurses, so anything that I find utterly inefficient, unorganized, or simply poorly planned I will vocalize. Unlike most people who like to pretend things don't bother them, or are too busy worried about their social status to voice real concerns... as I am not, nor ever have been part of the "in" crowd... I don't' give a damn. My philosophy is simply "screw what anyone else thinks. BE real. Be yourself. Stand up for what matters."

Inefficiency, illogical reasoning/actions are a MASSIVE thorn in my side. One of the biggest pet peeves. We should USE our brains. That's why they're in our heads...right?!

This post is my warning to the universe... because...until this slow, steady fire of irritation stops burning... the kick-a first, ask questions later chic is on the case.

Holla... it's my birthday

...recently when I opened up my iPhoto booth...I found these gems my daughters took of themselves one day. Of course, we followed up with some family ones too.

Yo... I'm 33.


3 is a cool number



3 for the Godhead



3 symbolizes completion



3 symbolizes the marriage covenant between God, wife and husband



3 year olds are holy terrors... 2 year olds are sweet.

3 for time - past, present, future



3 for self - me, myself and I

3 for the main Abrahamic religions - Christianity, Islam and Judaism



3 is the first odd prime number

3 in Chinese is a good number as it sounds like the word alive... whereas the number 4 in Chinese sounds like death. Dude... Alive rules!



For my birthday - please go hug someone you love... and hug them 3 or 33 times. Don't tell them why... hehehe

Thanks for making me laugh.


ps. Today also happens to be a day my girls are choosing to be extra whiny and at each other ...so these pictures are reminding me of when I don't have to be a referee, or need earplugs. Ha!

Dude. I'm a Mormon.

My girls recently were photographed for a photography homework assignment by a young woman. I snapped a few just to document it.

So The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has this fantastic, spiffed up site where all of us ordinary members can upload our pictures and our testimonies to Mormon.org. Of course there are members of the Church that have extraordinary lives, and they're fun to read about from the homepage.

I had started my profile weeks ago, but then was distracted by my girls, and promptly forgot about it, until this past week when my friend Jenny posted hers on her blog. Thanks for the reminder Phread.

So here is mine. If you are a Mormon too, I suggest you go add yours too.

I've been browsing other Mormons too ... and I have to say... dude, check us out!

Happy Sabbath ya'll!

Cheers!

ps. Under the section "How I live my Faith" on my page, I had the spaces between paragraphs when I was typing it all out, and it checks out when I go back and edit...but on the actual page it's just one big blob of text - so sorry about the reading headaches... I need my white space!

Fireworks

Happy Fourth of July

We'll be taking our girlies to our little town center's fireworks celebration. They like fireworks...and it's close by.

I always see people ooh... ahh and exclaim when there are fireworks.

I notice on TV and in the movies, fireworks are supposed to be fabulously romantic.

I have tried, outwardly to also ooh and ahh along with them.

Inside however, I just don't quite feel it.

Fireworks don't move me....my emotional level is blah.

I don't get all excited, or emotional, or passionate about them.

Perhaps we can blame the fact that my ancestors have been shooting them into the sky and at people since the 7th century. Maybe that's why. I honestly couldn't care less about the colors, the kinds, the whizzing and exploding. Fireworks, for me are only interesting insofar that I enjoy seeing the reactions on my daughters' faces.

So to sum up.

Fireworks - meh.

Kids - RULE.

Happy FOURTH!

Cheers!!!

ps. GOD BLESS THE USA
...because gosh darn, we need it.

Choices

I just finished the Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson.

He also wrote Elantris and Warbreaker - both of which I also enjoyed.

I love the way he writes strong women heroines. They remind me of Sydney Bristow and her kick-a ways. I like to think that if I didn't have any real responsibilities I'd be out, kickin-a in the name of truth, justice and general awesomeness.

The first book of the Mistborn trilogy, the heroine Vin basically believes that you can't trust anyone - because they will always break that trust. I related to her. There have been so many people in my life that I have trusted, only to discover that they were never worthy of that trust. So it is a challenge to believe in people. Yet, I have this need to seek out people I can trust...even if I often am disappointed.

There's also this character I liked, Sazed. He's a religious scholar who studies the world's 300-some religions... most of which have died out. He experiences a crippling depression when he finds that he can't logically find a religion that he would believe to be true. Eventually, he learns that belief is more than what is logical. It's about trust, faith, hope... and most importantly, choice.

I'm discovering this is a simple, yet challenging concept. Life has always been about our choices. Choosing a path and then accepting the journey seems so simple. I suppose we just find ourselves distracted by other, seemingly complicated ideas along the way.

I choose my faith. It's a conscious decision. It's not one I made because everything was answered, proved and measured out for me. It's not a choice I made based on coercion - it's a choice I made, because what I believe brings me trust in God, faith, hope, redemption.

I choose my current role in life. I am a wife and mother. I would never walk away from this role I choose, no matter how crazy each day may be. I understand that choosing this role means that I am required to give of myself, daily. It is not easy. But it is what I chose.

I choose my personality. I choose to be an effective, confident woman, with real opinions. I remember what it was like to be a blown by the wind kind of girl in crowds. Too terrified of what other people thought about me to ever voice my own thoughts. I know what it is like to follow the whims of society, and its ever-evolving trends. Been there, done that - I've chosen to follow my own path instead.

With our choices... sometimes when things become difficult, filled with trials and the drudgery of living in this sphere...sometimes the hardest thing to do is to realize that the choice for hope, happiness, faith - is ours. We may wish to be saved, rescued in a blink of an eye, or told what to do - but oftentimes it's about the choice of reaction, attitude...and that's hard.

Life would be a lot easier if the choices were all laid out for us. That's why there are rules, guidelines, commandments - they help us make informed decisions. It's hard enough making a choice... imagine not having any reference in which to make them. Chaos!

There are times I have a difficult time choosing to, or wanting to, react well when the storms of life rage around me. I'm more aware of it now. I recently heard a talk about how the speaker thought it was better to be nice than right. As someone who likes truth, honesty, sincerity... that just totally rubs me the wrong way. Or maybe... I'm reacting the wrong way... I don't know... I'm starting to ramble.

The Mistborn series opened up my eyes a bit more - bringing me awareness that while people may scoff, mock, doubt, or ridicule what I believe, or do, there's power knowing that what I believe is not an unconscious, robotic behavior. I also don't do things because I may earn praise, agreement or adulation, I do it all regardless of public opinion. I do what I do because I choose to - it's my choice, and I own it.


p.s.
Just like the mists in the mistborn trilogy... lately I've had a lot of thoughts regarding choices swirling in my head... reading these three books this past week sort of uncorked it all at once. I am not sure if what I'm feeling, thinking translates through the words I type... but I chose to get it all out before I lose this train of thought.

D'oh!

I pulled a Joey moment tonight.



Today is the start of a very busy week. My daughters are in rehearsals for their big show Fri/Sat and I am busily organizing/coordinating teacher appreciation for both my kindergartner and preschooler... so ... I am about to lose my sanity and what is left of my short-term memory...which is not good to begin with.

I bought tickets to Conan O'Brien's tour the moment they were released. I circled May 1 with a bright red pen and have been looking forward to it for months.



I was organized today - we had rehearsals in the morning, came home and did the weekly clean. Really grateful hubby helped alongside me. My hubby made me take a power nap at 4pm. I had to check twitter and FB and email before setting my iPhone alarm to wake me up.

I saw this tweet by @ConanOBrien:
"I'm in Vegas - and what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Unless it's a superflu pandemic that spreads thru the nation causing chaos & panic."

QS: If he's doing the show tonight, why is he in Vegas?
Phantom: Vegas is only a short flight from Sacramento.
QS: Oh, well - then I'll tweet how excited I am.

I tweeted this from my @QueenScarlett twitter account:
"@ConanOBrien can't wait to see you rock it tonight in sac-town!"

When I woke from my 30 min nap I ordered pizza for the girls and sitter, showered, tried to look pretty, bathed the girls, picked up the babysitter and then Phantom and I headed to Lemongrass Restaurant.

Seafood Paella - I love the dish and presentation too...I am a sucker for adorable presentation

It was delicious. I also felt a little young. It seemed every table in the restaurant was filled with patrons of the more wise and senior sensibility. Which was actually kind of cute. I kept thinking that I want to still be going out, finding great restaurants to enjoy when I'm in my 60-80s.

Yee-haw! Thai Cowboy Steak

I had their special... the seafood paella - scallops. shrimp, veggies and rice with some curry/Asian flavorings... mmmmmmm. Phantom had their Thai Cowboy Steak and we also ordered their perfect spring rolls. Their spring rolls are made with minced pork, chicken, onions and wood-ear mushrooms. You wrap them with mint, basil, a few other herbs, and lettuce. Dip it in their delightful sauce and ... yum, heavenly.

Crispy, fresh Spring Rolls - my hubby is tearing off some herbs to wrap around the roll

Then we headed to downtown Sacramento. As we walked to the Memorial Auditorium, in the back of my mind I thought... where are all the people? Then we noticed the back door open and figured, we have tickets, it would be sweeeeeeeeeet if we ran into CoCo backstage. We went in and saw the stage occupied by a bunch of ballerinas.... we kept walking and in my head I thought, "maybe it's part of a sketch"...and then my heart dropped and Joey from FRIENDS floated into my mind. I pulled out the tickets and saw THURSDAY, MAY 6th.


The End.

Time for bed, Joey brain

Impish

Today...I just want to sleep...and sleep...and sleep.

According to the author who wrote Fablehaven - fairies that are kept indoors turn into evil, ugly imps. In the stories, the evil, ugly imps are eventually saved by a kiss from a fellow fairy. However, some of those that enjoyed that transformation are still pretty, snarky, and sneaky.

I think was an imp once.

Some people are just naturally good. There are those that are friends to all. And some of those are incredibly, ridiculously sincere. There are others that ... are hard to peg-down if they truly, irrevocably like and respect you... or run the course of ... "if everyone is special, no one really is".

Me?

Well, let's just say, you know if I like you. If I don't, it's pretty obvious. I am pretty good at the favoritism thing. If you're someone I respect and admire, chances are I'll want to be around you. If you're someone I totally don't respect, or admire... I'm going to avoid you at all costs. I am a fairy with light and dark sides. I don't like to waste my time around people who irritate the doo doo out of me.

I'm loyal. If you have me as a friend you're set. There's nothing I wouldn't do for your best interests. But cross me - and that loyalty crumbles into dust. I'm easily flipped. I don't like being taken advantage of and I don't like insincerity. Straight shooters rule around here. I value truth above all.

Lately, I've been a bit disinterested in the comings and goings online. You can tell by the length between posts. I am just not interested in sitting on my, newly diagnosed overweight bum to wait for photos to load.

sitting on my overweight bum...according to BMI - picture taken blissfully before heading to my hoo-ha doctor. Darnit... you mean all that butter, baking and hedonistic eating is not going to help me??? *shaking fists* Cruel, cruel world.

I get into a hermit stage in the winter. If I didn't have to leave the house, I probably won't. If I can stay in PJs all day, I will. If I'm not going to Church, or on a date...I don't wear make-up...because I really don't like it. If I didn't have to interact with people for the good of my girls, I'd ignore everyone. Weird huh? You all probably think I'm an extrovert all the time. You're wrong. And you thought you knew me. Tsk, tsk. I'm not one of those women that needs to be in constant chatter contact. I figure if you're friends, if you are deep friends, when you are together you pick up where you left off, like it's no big deal - no insecurities, no jealousies. This is also probably why I have very few real friends. Those real friends, are priceless.

I've been blogging since 2004 and I think I'm due for a blogvacation. Of course, that could be short-lived because I hate committing to something. I loathe routine.

Also, I like to blog with pictures. I like reading blogs with pictures. I love words, but when there's too much text without visual entertainment, I get bored. It becomes work.

Lately I've been getting more and more migraines and headaches...and my energy level is kaput. So I'm going to get some tests done and see what the bejeebers is wrong with me. I think if they find out something is wrong with me I'll be relieved. Then I can say, "A-HA! That's why"... as opposed to floating around aimlessly. Then again, it could be nothing, except that it's winter... I am not a winter fairy.

Thanks for bearing with me. Thanks for being there to note my little offerings in this zippy-Internet world. I appreciate it. Thanks for the friends new and old who have commented their thoughts in my little space in the blogworld. You make me smile.

This morning I did not want to be woken up by my daughter. I was in the grip of a dream where a few of us were making a stand against some black, goop spraying zombies. The zombies had just broken into the room when I was unceremoniously ripped out of that dream. I tried to go back to sleep to help out my fellow comrades... but they are now lost to me...or am I lost to them? That could explain a lot.

Diagnosis

It's official.

The self-diagnosis is:



Seasonal grumpiness, with a dash of monthly grumpiness, and don't piss me off when I am, or am not grumpy, for there will be danger to be had.


A week of rain...storming... bleakness... heaven help me.