JDRF Walk 2008

I'm a little late in posting about our walk. This was our first year walking for JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund). Never in a million years did I ever think I'd be walking for a cure for something one of my children have, but I did. In the rain and wind and cold. And I felt good about it. I also felt good about the support we received from family and friends. The weather was truly miserable and to have them there shivering right alongside us was heartwarming, as was the support from friends who could not walk with us but donated anyway.

Together we raised a little over $700 which was almost three times the modest amount I had set for my first-year goal. I also learned alot about organizing and fundraising which will help us next year. Next year I will start earlier. This year's walk came only 6 months after Kathleen's diagnosis so I was still learning. I know to be a little more 'agressive' in getting the word out there and not to wait until the last minute to do t-shirts! And - Kathleen was hospitalized the day before so I was very frazzled the morning of the walk.

I am very proud to have been a part of the walk this year and although I am looking forward to the next, I most look forward to there being a cure and therefore, no need to walk at all.

Ledge Light

At the mouth of the Thames River here in CT there is a very unique lighthouse. It's called Ledge Light and I have always been infatuated with it. It doesn't look like a typical lighthouse. It looks like a house; it's not round, not particularly tall, and not on the shoreline. It's built atop a ledge in the middle of the water.

I love lighthouses. I've been inside many and taken pictures of even more. I've always known that the public can tour Ledge Light but often seem to 'forget' that fact until someone else brings it up. My sister-in-law did just that while we were camping last month. We were both like "ohhhh....we should go!" and "we've GOT to go out there" and then just as soon as I remembered, I forgot again.

Until she offhandedly mentioned maybe a week later, "We're going to Ledge Light tomorrow!" WHAT?!? You didn't call me?!? Right away I decided that my family and I were going too. Who cared what was "going on" the next day? I had a plan.

The entire tour was to take 2 and a half hours - 2 hours of which were spent at the lighthouse. The weather didn't look like it was gonna be great, but when we got to Avery Point the haze started to lift and by the time we got on the boat the sun started to shine.

It was a wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon. We toured the lighthouse from the top of the light to the basement; we learned the history of Ernie the lighthousekeeper who died there and the antics of the Coast Guardsmen who kept watch for years after; we were told why it is designed in the Roman-revival style (New Londoners wanted a 'sophisticated' lighthouse) and that the four faces of the building match the compass points; we learned how the light turned before the building was electrified (candlelight and a weight and pulley system through the center of the building) and how it survived the Hurricane of '38 (barely).

I was surprised the kids weren't bored - they really seemed to pay attention to the guide - especially the story claiming that Ledge Light is haunted by Ernie (Ghost Hunters tv show went there once).

I took a million pictures (although five minutes after leaving the dock my camera's batteries died; I highjacked Robyn's).

We took pics of Chris and I touching the lighthouse and of New London Harbor Light.


I really enjoyed the trip out there and I am sure I will go back again and just sit on the steps watching the water for two hours, it would be worth every penny (although it only costs $16 per adult).

Like I said, I love lighthouses but sometimes I find it hard to climb one even though I'm DYING to see the view from the top (in my defense...Currituck Light in NC had 216 steps and those steps were BARELY attached to the wall!). I will always go out of my way to see one, photograph it, and maybe even touch it. heehee

Summer '08

The girls have gone back to school and although the calendar states otherwise, summer is over. School starting has always been synonymous with fall and I don't like fall. Well, I guess in a way, I do since I love to see the leaves turn glorious shades of red, orange and gold. But okay, if it is said that I like fall, then I LOVE summer. And summer is over.

So while I sit here and reminisce about summer and it's lazy days, I will share some pictures of our summer.

At a 'family' picnic in June. Tasty food, cool drinks (see the three drinks on the railing in the first picture? 2 of them are mine...yeah...), and good friends - the three requirements for a good time!

My mom had always said that if you couldn't afford your own swimming pool or boat, be friends with someone who can. Well, we got our own 'pool,' but do have friends with a boat! :)

Virginia Beach. Only spent about an hour there, but I just HAD to go. Nobody loved it as much as me.... While there we visited some friends and went to Busch Gardens.

On the left is Currituck Lighthouse in Corolla, NC on the Outer Banks. On the right is the reason I didn't make the climb to the top.

No, I didn't get arrested (although stuck in a car with two kids for a week, I came close a few times!), this was the view from our balcony in Kill Devil Hills, NC. And a picture of the girls in a weak moment of sisterly love.

While in NC we had dinner at Dirty Dick's Crab Shack. Shelby had to have the crab hat and wore it for two days straight. Too funny!

Our resort in Myrtle Beach, SC and everybody enjoying the pool (hel-low people? there is a perfectly good beach just around the corner!!)

Just a "few" shells we collected in Myrtle Beach.

We went camping in late August with my brother and his family. The kids had a blast and it was the most relaxed I've been in a long time.

All in all it was a great summer, but as usual, too short. 9 months and counting 'til next summer....

Ahhhh...

...vacation.

Here's a picture of Randy in front of our new home in Myrtle Beach. Yeah right.

We're having lots of fun here. I've taken tons of pictures and when I'm home I'll blog more.

Right now, there's still more beach here to sit on...

Team Kat-Walk invites you....

Hello Family and Friends,

I am writing to ask for your help.

This year we will be walking in our local Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Walk to Cure Diabetes on October 5, 2008 (Kathleen’s 16th Birthday!) in Niantic, CT along with one-half million other walkers across the country, as we try to reach our goal of raising $100 million.

As most of you know, in March of this year our lives were forever changed when Kathleen was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. In just four months she has been through a lot and has shown amazing strength though it all. Each day she tests her blood sugar levels at least four times and receives three insulin injections. She HATES needles and is anxiously awaiting approval of an insulin pump. While insulin keeps her diabetes in check, it is NOT a CURE! Without insulin a person with type 1 diabetes will die.

Type 1, or juvenile, diabetes, is a devastating disease that affects millions of people, with a large and growing percentage of them children. To see what a day in the life of diabetes is like, you can watch this video made by a parent of a child with diabetes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1tiIcHfeMc

There is some good news, though. For the first time, scientists are predicting that we CAN expect to see a cure well within our lifetime! Now, more than ever, you can make a crucial difference. Won't you please give to JDRF as generously as possible? Together, we can make the cure a reality! Until then, Kathleen lives with this disease every day and we will do everything we can to support her.

You can donate the following ways:
Option 1: via our website http://walk.jdrf.org/walker.cfm?id=87051577
Option 2: by check to me (I will add your donation to the tally on the website. Please do not send donations directly to JDRF.)
Or, if you would like to join our team and help fundraise, visit our website and click on JOIN THIS TEAM. I guarantee we will have a great time walking "on the Kat-Walk." (couldn't resist!)

Thank you from the bottom of our pancreases!
Denise, Randy, Kathleen and Shelby

P.S. For more information on type 1 diabetes visit this link:
http://lastbraincell.blogspot.com/2008/04/4-14-2008-type-1-diabetes-awareness-day.html

Just SOME of Kathleen's diabetes supplies - about 1 month's worth:

We Spy...ourselves!

A Yahoo Group I belong to has started a new blog called Shutterbug Spies http://shutterbugspies.blogspot.com/ where a challenge is posted each Wednesday and we, the members, take pictures pertaining the that challenge and post them on the blog. Everyone else who wants to participate can post their pics to their blogs and link them in the comments.

I missed the deadline for this challenge. This picture was take a couple weeks ago on a friend's boat. Kathleen took it - I'm used to being behind the camera - not in front of it! I edited it in Photoshop Express.

Make sure you check it out and add your own photos to ours! Here's to a fun blog with lots of interesting photos!

Five-star knitting

This is my latest sock project. My goal this summer is to knit all my sock yarn (so I can buy more!). In the (read: my) world of sock knitting there are varying degrees of difficulty: multiple needles, one circular needle, stockinette stitch, patterns, thick yarn, thin yarn, etc.

Although some may look at these socks as no big deal for them, they are my "Five-star highest degree of difficulty" yet socks. The yarn is 'Magic Stripes' which (duh) 'magically makes stripes' as you knit. The higher degree of difficulty here is that I have made the stripes MATCH for both socks. Also, they are knitted from the toe-up, rather than cuff-down; they have a short-row heel (not a skill I have mastered), rather than a gussetted heel; and they are both knitted on one circular needle at the same time. WooHoo for me!

If you don't knit this may all sound quite foreign to you and you just may well be saying big deal. Well, the approval-seeking side of me just wanted to let you all know that for me, it is.

Life's a Beach...or not

I love the beach. The sand, water, smell...everything about it (except the extreme 2nd degree burn I received 6 days ago that still is blistering and in searing pain!). Shelby and I could go to the beach or lake everyday. Some days though the work involved makes me wonder if it's worth it and especially now the $4+/gallon of gas to get there and back is a pain in the a$$.

So, for the past few days we've been toying with the idea of getting a pool. We even went as far as taking a short trip to a local dealer who stocks and installs above- and in-ground pools. Let me tell ya, they are nice...real nice...especially when you're looking at them on a hot day like we were. The low end of the price range wasn't too far out of control, but after 24 hours of consideration we decided that buying a permanent pool isn't for us this year for many reasons.

First of all...$$$. We have other things that kind of money can go towards before a pool. Besides the cost of the pool there's the cost of having it filled, chemicals, electricity, new fence, etc. Next consideration, the time of year. By the time we get the town involved, schedule the install and replace the fence it will be August. That leaves one month to enjoy it. Nah, we'll wait til next spring and if we still want one we'll be able to enjoy it all summer.

Instead we went to WalMart and bought one like this. Not so large that the town will take any interest in it but not so small that we can't all jump in with a few friends and cool off. Shelby is such a water baby I won't be able to ever get her out of it. We will get our money's worth in no time with her alone. Crap, just the lack of "I'm bored"s will be enough to send me into fits of giggles each time I look at it.

I admit, too, that Randy was swayed into the purchase by the promise of a few late-night skinny-dips. I already have a few excuses on hand just in case I decide not to follow through ('water's too cold,' 'too many mosquitos,' 'neighbors might see,' as well as the standard 'too tired' and 'got a headache'). If I don't let him cash in, though, that may kill the idea of a permanent pool next year. Damn. I need a "Plan B."

P.S. I had to edit this because my friend Tara thought this was our actual pool and wondered who these people are. Disclaimer: I do not know these people and this is NOT my backyard. THIS is an ad from the WalMart website. Which is probably copyrighted so now I'll be sued. Thanks, Tara.

Summer '08 Knitting Goals Contest

I found this on Sherilyn's blog and decided to join in. It originates here at Ali's blog Skeins Her Way (can't wait to go back and read it). I have a bit of yarn lying around (yeah, a "bit" - shhhh, there's more in the bedroom) and I want to use it before buying more. I have my eye on FlatFeet Sock Yarn - so cool! - and cannot wait to buy some. It's $25 per flat. For me, that's a little pricey. Yeah, I know it's great yarn but in the end it's $25 for a PAIR of socks. But I love to knit socks and the cost is as much for the fun of knitting as it is for great yarn. However, I already have some sock yarn waiting to be used first.

So, my knitting goals for Summer '08 are:
1. knit all my sock yarn into actual SOCKS before summer is over.
2. finish a pullover I started last spring with beautiful bamboo yarn, sorry, no pictures...yet.

Back to socks. One reason I love knitting socks is their portability. One ball of yarn, short needles, thrown into a purse or bag and off ya go. While waiting for an appointment, for the kids at school or practice, or sitting on a friend's couch knitting pleasantly passes the time for me.

So let's see what I can accomplish this summer. We have a road trip planned to SC for late July so that should help some. I was thinking I could knit while on the beach there but, no, as talented as I am ::::cough cough:::: I don't think I can knit AND hold a frozen drink at the same time. Perhaps I can tip the cabana boy extra to stand there and hold it for me. The drink, that is...shame on you!

New stove

We bought a new stove this week. First stove we've ever had to buy. I was a little apprehensive about it because it was a big purchase and I can always find a way to thnk that I'm 'not worthy' of something I really want. We had seen this particular stove on clearance at Lowes a week before. We ooohed and ahhhed over it before looking at others not on sale and then moved on because we didn't NEED a stove.

I've been cooking A LOT since Kathleen's diabetes diagnosis (it's easier to count carbs that way...figures). I made pancakes one morning and although I might admit here (and to no one else!) that it MAY have been operator error, the pancakes burned on the outside and were raw on the inside. It's been very hard to regulate the temperature of the oven, and this gave me reason to believe that now the cooktop was 'acting up' too.

Randy had to go to Lowe's for something else and let's just say, two hours and one frustrating (okay, HIS word would be b*tchy) phone call later, he came home with this:


I love it. It's just so brand new and shiny and clean and MINE! Of course, now I have no excuse not to cook.
Crap.

What I've been up to...

I am so proud of this latest project of mine. Back in July when we bought the house we spent a lot of time at Home Depot and I bought a nice ceiling fan/light I wanted to put in the kitchen (on clearance!). I told Randy "no rush, whenever" and although I know he's a busy guy, c'mon now, it's 9 months later and no fan installed.

So, those of you who know me...you know what comes next! I decided to put it up myself. I love the fact that I am pretty self-sufficient in the do-it-yourself department. And I pride myself that I can do just about anything. A long time ago I put up a ceiling fan into an existing light fixture and I didn't burn the house down. (For me, that's a sign of a job well-done: no fires, floods or broken body parts! haha) So I thought "I'll save my dear overworked husband time and install it myself." Okay, okay....I actually thought "I'll show HIM for waiting 9 *&#$ing months and it's STILL not done!" (Nothing like a little aggression and a type A personality for getting things accomplished.)

I knew that the 'old' ceiling fan had a bigger base than the new one and I needed a medallion to cover the excess. One trip to Lowe's and ACMoore and a night at the table painting the medallion to match some plates that I have on display in the kitchen and I had a beautiful ceiling decoration. I got the fan out of the garage and found that it had a brownish-gold finish. Ugh. Took that sucker back to Lowe's and got one with a brushed nickel finish to match the cabinet hardware.


Anyway, fast forward a couple hours and this is what I ended up with:

I love it! I obsessed over centering the fan on it and my friend Tara said "Don't worry, nobody ever looks up anyway." Um. No. EVERYBODY will look up at this because I will point it out whenever someone steps foot in my house. "LOOK WHAT I DID!!"

Note: Although it looks great in this picture, it didn't work and tripped the breaker when I turned the power back on. Randy came home at 8PM from motorcycle racing in NJ and was a "little" ticked that he had to fix it. Too bad for him. Unfortunately he couldn't figure out the screwy wiring the house has by himself either and my dad made a home-improvement house-call. They finished after 11PM.

Lesson learned for me: Don't care it didn't work...I still did it BY M-Y-S-E-L-F! Lesson learned for Randy: don't put off home-improvement projects that you know your wife will do by herself and you'll probably have to re-do at some late hour when you are totally exhausted with your wife standing nearby gloating.

The Pursuit of Happiness....

Spring break is over. WooHoo!!! Although it was a wonderful week weather-wise - blue skies, warm temperatures, beautiful days - it was a bad week boredom-wise. Seriously. If I hear "I'm bored" or "I want someone to play with" ONE MORE TIME I will lose it. The beginning of vacation was fine as both girls were here and kept themselves entertained with Nintendo DS and The Sims and Guitar Hero. It was great to sit here on the couch and knit while listening to them giggle hysterically from the basement. Then. It. Happened. Kathleen went to her father's for the weekend and Shelby slipped into high-maintenance mode. OMG I wanted to put her on the corner with a sign around her neck: "Friends Wanted to Play"

Now, I know I'm risking a "back in my day" story, but I am pretty sure I remember it correctly that when I was a kid I was in charge of finding my own fun. My mom did not spend and hour going through her rolodex of friends who had kids looking for someone to come over and play with me. Granted, there were kids in the 'hood. We just walked outside, followed the sounds of kids playing and joined in. I also feel that this was a good thing because I can now fill a day with activites I enjoy (not housework lol) and never feel bored. Ever.

I truly don't feel like a bad mom telling my kids to just go find something to do. Why do parents these days feel they have to schedule their kids' lives to mimic a corporate takeover? 9AM breakfast; 930 read books; 11AM board games; 1145 lunch; 1PM ....you get the idea.

As a mother I am responsible for many things in my kids' lives: shelter, food, clothing, safety, health, etc. Some days this is easy, some days just those things present their own challenges. I can add 'happiness' to that list in the general sense, but not in the sense that I have to manage every waking moment of their lives.

There. I said it. Now go out and play.

4-14-2008 - Type 1 Diabetes Awareness Day

Today is Type 1 Diabetes Awareness Day. I have supported many worthwhile causes in the past but never once imagined I would support one that so directly affects one of my children. Our lives have forever been changed by Type 1 Diabetes. I believe there will be a cure in Kathleen's lifetime and on that day we will celebrate!! Until then, she lives with this disease and we understand that today is necessary. I realize that many people don't know exactly what Type 1 Diabetes is, and how it differs from it's more common cousin Type 2. Type 1 Diabetes Awareness Day is a day where we can all learn exactly what Type 1 diabetes IS and ISN'T.

Some facts about Type 1 Diabetes:
* Type 1 Diabetes can strike at any age, it doesn't only target children, though it is more common to get Type 1 Diabetes as a child.
* Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease much like Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis or Multiple Sclerosis. The body has attacked itself, in this case the cells in the pancreas that make insulin.
* People with Type 1 Diabetes are completely dependent on insulin to stay alive.
* There is no cure for Type 1 Diabetes.
* You cannot outgrow it.
* It cannot be cured by diet or exercise (or with cinnamon, fish oil, foil hats or any other "cure")
* You do not get it by having a bad diet, or by eating too many sweets.
* Type 1 diabetes is no worse or more severe than Type 2. It is simply different.
* People with Type 1 diabetes are not prohibited from eating sweets. They simply must eat a balanced diet like everyone else.

Type 1 Diabetes isn't:
* Type 1 Diabetes isn't caused by something we did or didn't do to ourselves or our children.
* Type 1 Diabetes isn't contagious.
* Type 1 Diabetes isn't a death sentence.
* Type 1 Diabetes doesn't prevent us or our children from doing everything possible in life.

Please share this information with as many people as you can. The misconceptions about Type 1 Diabetes are endless and the entire Type 1 Diabetes community is taking this opportunity to put an end to these misconceptions . Through the greater awareness of the truth about Type 1 Diabetes we hope to advance people and organizations who are dedicated to finding a cure.

For more information on Type 1 Diabetes and research towards a cure, please visit:
http://www.jdrf.org/
http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.org/

ScrapShare Blog Challenge - #12 Getting to Know You

1) Right now I want: a cure for Type 1 Diabetes
2) I wish I knew how to: enjoy exercise, or at least stick with it until I do
3) When I want to indulge myself, I: sit on the couch all day knitting and watching soap operas
4) You’ll never see me: without bangs. I am trying to grow mine out now, but because I hate my high forehead I'll probably cut them eventually
5) A childhood memory that I love: Family picnics. My mom and her two sisters took turns having family picnics at each other's houses almost every weekend. I loved thatQ!
6) 2 things I do every single day: stay up too late and be on the computer
7) Happiest moment of 2008, so far: I really have to think on that one...man...there are many, but I can't pick one right now.
8) Describe yourself in 3 words: creative, passionate, selfish
9) 2 scrap related goals for this year: make time to scrap every week and commit to it and tackle those boxes of old pics
10) You have $40 that you MUST spend on yourself – what do you do with it? buy yarn :)

What goes up, must come down...

Those words have a few meanings for me today. On Thursday night (3/20) I had a dream that wherever I had to go, I had to take an elevator. Up. Down. Up. Down. Now I am not particularly fond of elevators, so this dream stuck with me.

Fast forward to Friday. After seeing the doctor at the Naval Subase Hospital, Kathleen was referred to Yale-New Haven Hospital with a diagnosis of Type 1 (insulin dependent) diabetes. She had been having symptoms for a while now - excessive thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, dry skin, extreme hunger) and I finally would not take no for an answer when I asked to have her blood tested. On Friday her fasting glucose level was 295 before we went to Yale. Over the weekend she spiked at 360 once and had a low of just 212 (normal range is 70 - 120).

We stayed at Yale until Sunday afternoon. During those two days the nurses monitored Kathleen's blood glucose levels, changed her insulin doses accordingly, and threw a bunch of information at us (over and over again!) It was scary and overwhelming at times, but Yale was the best place for us to be. Kathleen was great about all this. She checked her own blood sugar and the nurses or I gave her the insulin shots. I started figuring out how to count carbs and order her food according to the plan. Goodbye take-out, hello cooking at least until I get the hang of that!

So, back to the dream (the elevator, remember?). Kathleen's room was on the 7th floor so of course, I spent a lot of time in the elevator...up. down. up. down. Her blood sugar levels all weekend...up. down. up. down. Crazy, isn't it? Adds a whole new meaning to the phrase: what goes up, must come down. From our lips to God's ears...

Another talent I possess :)

I saw a picture of a cake online and decided to make a similar one for Shelby's 10th birthday last month. It was a lot of work - more than I thought - but mainly just physical work tinting and rolling that lovely fondant out. I like the look of fondant, and will definitely use it again, but it doesn't taste that great! :P I can point out a few 'errors' and that's just my nature to do so...but I'll resist here and just let you revel in it's beauty... Call for orders. :)

ScrapShare by the Sea 2008

This past weekend I spent three days in Portsmouth, NH with my internet friends scrapbooking and having a wonderful time. I got to see a few women I had already met at a previous retreat, and meet a few I had only met online. It was great to get away and get some pages done, as well (51 pages woohoo!).

As much as I am proud to have done so many pages, it was also great to see a few friends again and meet a few in real life. My table buddies Karen (Sterling Scrapper) and Pamela (Pamela in MA) had a great dinner at Warren's and had fun all weekend (although they may never drive with me again!). My 'wicked' roomies Lynn (Scrapping in Windsor) and Tanya were at the other end of our crazy table as well as Lisa (LisaRoo) and Liz (Liz in VT). Meeting Theresa (Miss CMC) was a highlight of my weekend. Her Hurricane Katrina album documented her family's experiences throughout the storm and after. It brought tears to my eyes and I am humbled by her courage and resilience.

I enjoyed the entire weekend and am thankful for my 'internet axe-murderer' friends!

I...

This is taken from a blog I recently discovered - NesaScraps:

I
am: home from work AGAIN with a sick child
want: to do more for myself
have: guilt over not getting stuff done around the nouse
wish: I could find time to scrapbook everyday
hate: arguing with my kids
don't: have much self-confidence, although I cover that fact well
can't: control my anger sometimes
need: an hour to myself to unwind or recharge just before dinnertime
hear: the television
wonder: what is possible with even a little bit of effort
believe: anything is possible
regret: a decision I made when I was younger
am not: the best NOR the worst mom in the world
dance: pretty well
sing: well, at least I think so
cry: at practically everything lately
am not always: nice
make with my hands: stuff for other people
write: not nearly enough
confuse: doing things for me with being selfish
should: believe in myself more (yeah!)
start: a lot of projects
finish: not much

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...).

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.