Little bits of randomness that I’ve been thinking about, but none are worthy of long enough for their own entire post.
That killer whale who just killed a trainer at Sea World? Apparently he’s a serial killer. Maybe we should stop saving the whales.
A couple of weeks ago I won a giveaway over at Cinnamon Hollow for Country Bob’s All-Purpose Sauce. I’m not generally much of a sauce gal so I had my reservations. I’d say that it tasted comparable to A-1. Most attractive to me, however, was this statement in the company literature: It would be nice if we could claim responsibility for the success of the company, however, credit must be given where credit is due. Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” We have placed true ownership of Country Bob, Inc. in the hands of God. “Christ is our CEO” and He is an Awesome Boss! Now that is a company I want to support!
Despite how it must look to my readers, I do not have 42 appliance garages or a kitchen the size of a cracker box. For some reason this just always ends up being my food snapshot locale.
I’m on a DIY/go green kick. To be perfectly honest, it’s more about saving money than saving the environment. (I’m not even going to go there with my issues on saving the planet) In that vein, I’ve been using natural products like baking soda, peroxide, and white vinegar to clean, and I’ve been making my own laundry detergent. Do you have any other tips you could share?
I love HGTV. I’m a DIY kinda gal anyway, and I love real estate so I especially like the house-hunting type shows. I find myself wanting to shake some of the buyers, though. Why can they not see past ugly paint colors? Why are they unwilling to put any work into a place? Have they no imagination??? This makes me crazy.
Chris’s company gives out bonuses at the beginning of the year. Very sadly, this year not so much. I, on the other hand, continue to reap bonuses from my job every day.
I have the best job in the world.
Girl Scout cookies. Everywhere. If you need some, please come to my house. I need them to go away.
I don’t think I ever told you this, but I did post it on Twitter/Facebook. And I told everyone at church, too – because I’m klassy like that. My parents bought me a leg lamp for Christmas. You know, the leg lamp. My husband hates it. Because he has no sense of humor, and is easily embarrassed by me. Nonetheless, it did hold the appropriate place of honor in our [front] living room window this past holiday season. And because I love it so much (and I’m super klassy), it’s still in the living room, though now on a side table instead.
When I was a kid we had a neighbor that told my mom she’d always wanted to have a room in her house for all of the things that she knows are tacky, but loves them anyway. I feel exactly the same way. Leg lamp would love a room like that, methinks.
I’m frustrated with our school’s PTO. They have zero communication (don’t even announce meetings!), overpriced fundraisers, and are not at all accessible. I’m writing a letter to suggest some changes, but I am still in need of some GOOD fundraising ideas. Got any for me? Overpriced wrapping paper needs to die.
That’s all I’ve got. It’s not that NaBloPoMo is wearing me down; quite the contrary, actually. I’ve been surprised that it’s been easier than I anticipated. It’s just that I am sick – again – still. My whole body aches, as it has off and on for the last 3 months. Spring can’t come soon enough.
I’m zoinking a meme from my friend Darcie over at Such the Spot. She lets me steal from her all the time. And by ‘lets’ I mean ‘doesn’t complain when I do it.’ Thanks Darcie – you rock like that.
1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
Coached a soccer team, joined a school committee, made peace with certain family situations, made my own laundry detergent, and went roller skating as an adult. (It’s still just as fun as it was when I was a kid.)
2. Did you keep your New Years resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t really do resolutions. I’m anti-establishment like that.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes, my beloved grandmother.
5. What countries did you visit?
None this year, unless those in Epcot qualify!
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Financial independence
7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory? Why?
January 14 – the day my Grama died
Or does this mean ‘date’ date? In which case, I have an awesome, hysterically funny date story from this fall that unfortunately I can’t publicly share. But I can say that the date of the date was October 11.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Making it through.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Just barely making it through.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
A few, but mainly I attend to the illness and injury of others.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Either my new Blackberry, or the living room chair that no one ever sits in. It’s beautiful.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My three girls. And not my own.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
On the macro level, pretty much every member of Congress. Heck, let’s extend that to government as a whole. And Hollywood. And Jon Gosselin. And Tiger Woods. On the micro level – they shall remain nameless.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Medical bills.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Seeing my sister, brother-in-law, and niece – it only happens every few years.
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
17. Compared to this same time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder?
b) thinner or fatter?
c) richer or poorer?
Sinning is probably too generic, huh? I wish I’d been more faithful and less fearful. I wish I’d yelled at the kids less. I wish I’d been less selfish. I wish I had saved more money. I wish I’d spent less time getting pumped up for a football season that isn’t exactly panning out the way I’d hoped.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Surrounded by the most amazing little people I know, watching their joy, and feeling very blessed.
21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Nope. Unless you mean with my new self-invented scallops recipe, in which case yes, I so totally did.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Glee baby. I’m all about the Glee.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I try very hard not to use that word.
24. What was the best book you read?
Anyone who can remember all of the books they read in a year doesn’t read enough. But the best is of course the Bible. (Made all of you people that said Twlight feel shallow for a second, huh?) But assuming this means something more fluffy…I don’t know. Jodi Picoult? A couple of newish Sophie Kinsella books. I don’t read a lot of fluff, I like the heavy stuff.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Well since this is the year I began trying to learn the guitar, I’m hoping that by this time next year I can say that my best musical discovery of 2009 was my guitar playing ability. But since I can’t yet play all the chords that’s clearly premature here, so I’ll go with this cool invention.
26. What did you want – and get?
A leg lamp. The soft glow of electric sex gleaming from my very own front window. Also known as, a dream come true. Thanks Mom and Dad.
27. What did you want – and not get?
Arrested Development. The one and only thing I asked for, and I did not get it. And I know what a jerky ingrate this makes me sound like, but seriously. When you provide someone with the gift idea, the link to purchase, the account to use, and the money to pay for it, is it really so hard to just make the purchase? Apparently yes, for some people it is. Humph.
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Yeah…not a clue. I’d have to google to find out what movies came out this year first. I think this meme was written for someone with the memory of an elephant.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Again, I have no idea what I did. I was 15, 22, 35, or 73, depending on how you measure. thirtysomething is the easy answer.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeausurably more satisfying?
Having won the lottery. Not in a selfish way, either – I long to win big and get to donate money to a lot of good causes. (I suppose the personal pleasure is a little selfish) But since I’ve never purchased a lottery ticket, my chances aren’t good on this one.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
The same as it has been since Annie was born – t-shirts and yoga pants. I have an entire closet full of t-shirts in various categories. I need to get out more.
32. What kept you sane?
A very big God. And very fabulous parents.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Like tweens and teens the world over, I’m going with the Jonas Brothers on this one. Not because I’m a creepy middle aged pervert, but because I admire their character. I really hope these boys can stay true to their convictions, which isn’t easy in Hollywood. They are good kids, and especially in the public eye, that seems to be harder and harder to find.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
I’m actually sticking with Darcie’s response on this one. This was big for me. HUGE. Also, the bailouts. Don’t even get me started. Oy.
35. Who did you miss?
My Grama. My friend Nella. The old me.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
My kids’ teachers. We are so incredibly blessed to have the awesome school and the awesome teachers that we have. Not ‘new’ people, but many old friends that I reconnected with thanks to Facebook – Summer and Matt, especially.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
That bad things don’t always happen to other people. They sometimes hit a lot closer to home. [Darcie's answer again, but it's applicable for me as well.]
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I’m going with an entire song on this one. A song that has been a comfort to me in the tribulations of the year, and a hope for a better future. An oldie but a goodie.
Hold Me Jesus – Rich Mullins
Well sometimes my life
Just don’t make sense at all
When the mountains look so big
And my faith just seems so small
So hold me Jesus, ’cause I’m shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won’t You be my Prince of Peace
And I wake up in the night and feel the dark
It’s so hot inside my soul
I swear there must be blisters on my heart
So hold me Jesus, ’cause I’m shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won’t You be my Prince of Peace
Surrender don’t come natural to me
I’d rather fight You for something
I don’t really want
Than to take what You give that I need
And I’ve beat my head against so many walls
Now I’m falling down, I’m falling on my knees
And this Salvation Army band
Is playing this hymn
And Your grace rings out so deep
It makes my resistance seem so thin
So hold me Jesus, ’cause I’m shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won’t You be my Prince of Peace
You have been King of my glory
Won’t You be my Prince of Peace
Contests, Giveaways, & Freebies!, The Stay-at-Home Mom Gig, This and That | Heather February 25, 2010 | 
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