Sunday, September 17, 2006

contents

Another Scrapshare blog challenge from Stacy.

1. Open your purse/wallet/briefcase/diaper bag.
2. Inventory the contents.
3. Pick one item from your inventory list and expand on it. Why do you have it? Where did it come from? What special meaning does it have? Is there a funny/interesting story attached? Choose something that will tell the reader a little about you, whether it's serious, funny or unremarkable ()- or if you're writing for yourself, choose something that will remind an older you of who the younger you was.
4. Add photos if you'd like to.
Go - inventory your contents!

This is my 'summer' purse. For this summer, anyway. I always seem to find a new one in Kohls each year - they have such cute ones!
Here's the contents minus the inch-thick stack of receipts I threw away yesterday.
~ wallet. don't know what's in here since everything that should be in there is out
~ four lipsticks. all about the same shade
~ one Burt's Bees Lifeguard's Choice lip balm. my lips got sunburned this summer-not fun
~ Honey & Shea lip balm
~ reminder cards for dentist and neurologist appointments ~ Imitrex migraine nasal spray medicine
~ cell phone. turned on - wonder why it always goes dead when I'm out somewhere?
~ about $2.60 in change. again - not in wallet
~ "swiss army" tool. this has just about anything you would need in it. haven't used it yet
~ patch from a fireman we met on vacation. have to get one from my brother who is a fireman on the submarine base to trade.
~ hole punch ???
~ nail cuticle oil
~ business card from vet
~ Big Y (grocery store) coins
~ package of new alphabet brads
~ license, military ID, two debit cards, an empty Wal-Mart card, three gift cards, two ATM cards, one credit card, wallet-sized cosmetology license, beauty store ID card

I really don't know which item to pick and elaborate on. I don't think there's anything remarkable about any of them. Maybe this will do: newest item? vet business card (dog on front looks like our new puppy); oldest item? wallet; most valuable? military ID (would HATE to lose this); least used? wallet (you can see nothing makes it back into it!) and 'swiss' tool (never used, but ya never know when you might need something...).

Sunday, August 27, 2006

colors of me

This entry is in response to a blog challenge by a fellow ScrapShare member, Stacy.

I have always loved the color purple. All versions of it: lavender, violet, indigo, and big 'ole bright PURPLE! I love purple flowers. Lilacs, violets, hydrangeas, johnny jump-ups, and especially the multi-hued morning glories that are at this moment covering most of my front porch. Funny though, I do not wear much purple. Not sure why, I usually talk myself out of buying any purple clothing.

My master bathroom is decorated in purple. I made the curtain and trimmed it with purple beads I had picked up at a discount store not knowing what I wanted them for, but had to have them 'just in case.' I painted the top of the mirror and the bottom of the window in stain glass-like purple flowers. My poor husband - the sole male of the house (our cat, at one time his only gender ally, has been surgically removed from the male species) - had staked his claim on this bathroom and had probably dreamed of some manly type of decor for this one room. Too bad. That's what you get when you go to sea for any length of time and leave me here alone with Kohl's just down the road.

Purple can soothe me, give me strength, energize me, calm me and inspire me. I believe that when I speak or think, if word bubbles would appear above my head, the words would be purple.

Now, that having been said...I like to wear red. Growing up I never wore red. Even avoided wearing red. I have no idea why. I have a vague memory of shopping with a friend when we were teens and she recommended I try on a red shirt. I almost acted repulsed by the thought of it! haha! I am wearing a red t-shirt right now. I wore a red (strapless, no less!!) gown to this year's submarine ball (see May 2006 post). I LOVED this dress on me, but initially had to be persuaded to try it on. Had I been shopping alone I probably wouldn't have even taken it off the rack. I got more compliments when I was wearing that dress - compliments usually make me feel uncomfortable - but that night I felt like royalty.

But, purple is my favorite, and here is what Google has to say about it:
Purple: Purples are highly individual, fastidious, witty, and sensitive, with a strong desire to be unique and different. Temperamental, expansive and artistic, a Purple person may become aloof and sarcastic when misunderstood. If you chose Purple, you tend to be unconventional, tolerant, and dignified, likely to achieve positions of authority.

I agree with most of that except for the last sentence. Unconventional and authoratative - maybe. Tolerant and dignified? Not so much.

Thursday, July 06, 2006

blog-napped...

While catching up on other people's blogs this morning I came across this (thanks, cmmomofmany!). Now, I read these 'surveys' a lot, but have never felt the need to do one, but here goes:

1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, find line 4 and write what it says.
Ledyard High School Program of Studies
independent study credit should see their school counselor after obtaining a recommen-
Art class section

2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can. What can you touch?
Nothing. I am sitting in my computer chair in the dining room.

3. What is the last thing you watched on TV?
The Weather Channel

4. Without looking, guess what time it is.
9:45 am

5. Now look at the clock. What is the actual time?
9:53 am

6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?
The water dripping from the air-conditioner upstairs. It's like Chinese water torture...

7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing?
Last night when I went to the trunk of my car to get the new laundry cart.

8. Before you started this survey, what did you look at?
CMmomofmany's blog

9. What are you wearing?
A blue striped nightshirt. (Yeah, I know, it's almost 10 am get dressed already!)

10. Did you dream last night?
No

11. When did you last laugh?
Last night while watching tv with my daughter.

12. What is on the walls of the room you are in?
Two large and two small paintings of vintage wine bottles.

13. Seen anything weird lately?
Probably, but can't remember right now.

14. What do you think of this quiz?
It's fun

15. What is the last film you saw?
Disney's Cars

16. If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy?
A house and a boat for my husband
and a tummy-tuck and boob-job for me! :)

17. Tell me something about you that I don’t know.

As much as I profess that I don't, I really DO care what people think about me.

18. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?
Besides the cliche' "have world Peace," I don't know.

19. Do you like to dance?
Yes!

20. Comment to George Bush:
"What the Hell?" (For no particular reason, just a general comment.)

21. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her?
My first child IS a girl, and her name is Kathleen.

22. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him?
If Kathleen had been a boy, she would have been Evin.

23. Would you ever consider living abroad?
Yes! I love Italy!

24. What do you want God to say to you when you reach the pearly gate?
No words, just open arms.

25. 3 people who must also do this quiz in THEIR blog:
Nobody in particular...if you feel so inclined..go for it.

Monday, June 12, 2006

a productive day...sort of

Tonight I am tired. Looking around here I don't know why. There are still some groceries to be put away from yesterday; some - okay, who am I kidding - LOTS of laundry to be folded and put away; mail to go through - and that's what I can see just from my computer chair, we won't go into upstairs (not that you could go upstairs past all the stuff on the stairs!!).

But I do feel like I accomplished things today. First of all, I got up and went to Curves at 6 a.m. BIG accomplishment in my book. If nothing else got done after that I wouldn't care, well maybe a little, but any exercising on my part is a big thing. Anyway, then I finally finished putting the lights on the new umbrella, cleaned off the back patio, put the excess chairs away. (Why we have so many patio chairs, I don't know. We always sit at neighbors' houses rather than ours since we are on the corner, further away from everyone.)

For quite a while this afternoon I sat in front of one neighbor's house watching the kids play and just veggin' out while the sun played peek-a-boo with us. Much more satisfying at the time than patio cleaning, or ::gulp:: house-cleaning.

After some much-needed essentials shopping for the girls (i.e. jammies, bras and undies. They'd die if they read this!), and a bit of sitting at dh's softball game (even though Randy is in Norfolk, VA this week) I came home and washed all the bird doo off my car, watered and fertilized the flowers, watered and seeded the lawn, cooked dinner - okay, it was a Schwans mexican pizza thrown in the oven, but it was delicious! - I can sit down and remember what I have done today and observe all that I haven't done.

Oh, and don't even mention what I could be doing if I weren't on the computer reading and posting blogs...that's not fair and besides...you are reading rather than doing what? :)

Saturday, May 06, 2006

a day without kids (or) the sweetest thing

Today Randy and I had the luxury of being able to spend time together without the girls. Kathleen is at her dad's and Shelby is at Girl Scout Camporee. WooHoo! We did have a 'night without kids' last night and celebrated a bit too long into the early morn, so we got off a slow start this morning. But once we were up and about the day was ours!

Since I was the one who felt a little better than the other, I had the privilege of driving the car and therefore the power of deciding where we went. I wanted to go to the factory outlets and look around a bit. On the way, I remembered that a friend told me about a scrapbooking store in Old Saybrook (http://www.magicalmemoriesllc.com) and since it was National Scrapbooking Day (and I was driving - remember: power) I wanted to stop there.

Now get this - I have been scrapbooking for 9 years -and have never been in a scrapbooking store. Okay, other than Michael's or AC Moore, but they don't really count. Let's just say I was in there for quite a while. I think I looked at every single piece of paper and sticker they had to offer. Looked. I did not but every single one, but a select few. :)

Randy was quite aggreeable through this scrapbook store browsing and actually seemed to enjoy it once or twice. He did go out into the car while I did the make-and-takes, but not because he was bored, he said. I believed him. (Remember, we went out last night? He was still a bit green.) So anyway, I shopped, he 'rested' and we both were happy.

We left and moved onto the outlet stores and then to Outback for dinner. It was while we were waiting for our food that he said the sweetest thing. He said that it was nice to spend time with me in a place that was my interest and my passion. That I'm always going to motorcycle dealerships and shops with him and that he was happy to be with me somewhere that I wanted to be. He said it was 'cool' to see me look at everything and be so excited about it.

Okay, I'm a sap. Very emotional doesn't even begin to describe me. When he was done with his little 'testimonial' to our afternoon, I had tears in my eyes. We had a wonderful day, a nice dinner, and some time together that was long overdue and much needed. And - I got some new paper too! Happy National Scrapbooking Day to me!

we clean up good



A couple of weeks ago Randy and I attended our base's Navy Submarine Birthday Ball. It's basically when a bunch of submariners get together to boast, toast, and see who has the most (medals and ribbons, that is). Oh, and we wives get to go along too.

I got to buy a new dress, get my nails done and walk around all night with pinched pinky-toes. Although I wasn't too happy with the size dress I had to buy, I did love it, and have decided that red is my new favorite color to wear.

So here are a couple pictures to commemorate the occasion. We were like royalty before the paparazzi with our friends Chad and Tara while everyone's camera got a turn.

We had a great time at the ball, but an even better time later at a local bar where I kicked off my shoes, danced barefoot (ewwww!) and we got free drinks for being the best-dressed. Just proves that although we clean up good, you can dress us up but ya just can't take us anywhere...

Sunday, April 23, 2006

four traveling yankees

Okay, three yankees and one redneck - hahaha! This week was Spring Break for our area and we had the great idea to travel to VA to Busch Gardens (dh and kids' idea) and Colonial Williamsburg (my idea). After 13 hours in the car for what should've been a 9 hour trip we arrived to a warmer climate...ahhh...

We spent Tuesday at Busch Gardens (free admission!) and the girls loved it. I took lots of pictures - mostly of the beautiful gardens. The girls couldn't wait to get back to the motel to go swimming in the pool, though.


On Wednesday we 'forced' them to go to Colonial Williamsburg. Randy and I had a great time while they complained about how tired they were of walking and repeated "can we go back to the motel and go in the pool?" about every tenth step. Besides that, it was beautiful there and the weather was wonderful. Oh - more pictures of gardens - I love tulips.

Another painstakingly long trip home in traffic and we watched the car thermometer go from 92 in New Jersey to 63 at home in Connecticut. We live in the tundra up here! :) So after being gone four days out of break I really don't feel like I had any time off and it's back to work tomorrow...ugh. Bright side - only 30 more days of school til Summer Break! - but who's counting...?

Saturday, April 08, 2006

rain...sleet...snow...SPRING???

I'm sitting here at the computer and I hear little taps at the french doors next to me and on the air conditioning sleeve in front of me. Hmmmm...sounds odd, but familiar.

Dh comes in through the front door exclaiming how it has dropped several degrees since we were out earlier and there is now a combination of rain/sleet/snow falling outside. For crying out loud, Mother Nature! It is April 8th! Spring! Didn't you get the memo?

Right. I live in the northeast section of the US. Spring for us doesn't really start until about mid-May. In the past we have seen several inches of snow this time of year, and later.

So why am I complaining when there is obviously nothing I can do about it? Because I can. It is something out of my control and I have issues with that. I will watch it through the window because it is pretty - I will go out in it later because I have to - but I will not like it and I reserve the right to complain about it.

So take that, Mother Nature!

hello...?

Okay, I noticed recently that I have not been blogging nearly as much as I thought I would have when I started this whole thing. Not that I don't like talking/writing/sharing every detail of my life with someone...but I found I like reading overyone else's blogs instead of writing mine.

I tried explaining blogs to my dear husband last night. He doesn't get it. But then again, he doesn't get my need to talk to people alot in real life.
So, thanks to Stacy and a few others from Scrapshare for entertaining me lately with their blogs. Hopefully, eventually, you'll all find mine as fun to read as I do yours.

Saturday, March 11, 2006

homecoming



Well, my husband is finally home.
Six months and one week have passed (but, who's counting?) and Randy came home via submarine on Wednesday, March 8. I have to admit I really didn't get 'excited' until I saw the sub coming near the river. The past week was full of homecoming preparation (i.e. house cleaning!!), exhaustion, and anticipation. I will be the first to admit that I get stressed over the smallest of things and getting ready for homecoming is no small thing! But, it's over and I am feeling so much better.

The girls and I went to the end of the river to watch for the sub. It was a beautiful day here in SE CT - not the frigid temps we had just a week ago. We watched until the sub passed us and then scrambled to the car to go to the base. I tell you, seeing the sub come near the pier was as exciting as it ever is. Each time is like the first time. The girls were looking at me like I was a crazy woman, jumping up and down.

After what seemed like an eternity the sub was tied up and they started coming off and onto the pier. Randy's friends were gathered around me and were almost as excited as I was. I had almost forgotten what he looked like and all those submariners looked the same in their uniforms!
Finally, he was walking towards us, arms open, roses in hand and a huge smile on his face! We hugged for what seemed like forever (six months of forever!), and then I turned him over to the girls and his friends.

It's wonderful having him home, and we are adjusting well. I am so independent and sooooo unused to having someone 'check' on me that it is definitely different. :)

So, let the new phase of our military life begin. He is soon to be on shore duty for three years. We're going from him not hardly being home to being home almost every day. Right now that sounds so exciting and great.....check with me in about a year.... :)


Sunday, February 26, 2006

where to start?

This is my very first blog. I am inspired to start this after reading an online friend's blog (thanks, Stacy!). I'm hoping this will be a creative and fun way to 'speak' to our family and friends who are not as lucky as we are to live in -frigid- CT! BTW, it is 15 degrees with a -5 wind chill out there today...brrrrrrr!

So, be patient as I get the hang of this blog thing and since I love to talk, it should be interesting! Stay tuned...