Help Me, Please?

What is the worst way you have ever had someone ask you for help?

Okay. That's not THE blogging prompt for today but it made me laugh out loud. I've had more than one person do this but it's my LEAST favorite, most obnoxious, feels-insanely-manipulative pet peeve way of asking for help.

Needs Help Person: So... How are you?

... I answer. Reciprocate:

NHP: Oh I'm good. What are you up to today?

.... I answer (and if I know the person well I hear the trap being laid)

NHP: Oh! I'm so glad you aren't doing anything important. Can you ________ for me? 

Seriously. I HATE that. It's so obnoxious.

One time my husband told someone I was at home and lonely (this was pre children and he had to work) and said to them that they should do something with me, entertain me, etc. And what did they do for real? Call and say "I heard you weren't doing anything. Can you babysit?"

Nice. Thanks. My feelings were wicked hurt. And guess what? I said yes. That was a different me. Today I would have said no.

I am more than happy to do people favors (and really I rarely do say no) but be up front. Give me the chance to gracefully say no since that is, in fact, my right. Don't make it awkward for me. It's MEAN.

That is all. End of rant. :)

Wasn't that fun?

Random Questions

I went on a site with this enormous list of writing prompts and I picked a few questions that immediate answers came to mind.

What is the best way to treat meddlesome people?

Restrict their access to you!

What would happen if you could fly whenever you wanted? When would you use this ability?

Does this mean fly in a plane whenever I want or that I could physically fly? I don’t know which but I’ll answer both

1. Flying in planes whenever I want – I would travel all over the world. I would literally go everywhere. There is nowhere I don’t want to visit at least once just for the experience. And I would take my girls with me all over the place. I’d love for them to have those kind of experiences to shape who they are!

2. If I could physically fly… When would I use it? Um… ALL. THE. TIME. I’d fly from my room to the kitchen. Are you kidding? I’d fly EVERYWHERE. That would be awesome.

What would happen if you could become invisible whenever you wanted to? What are some of the things you could do that you cannot do now?

I could pee alone. That was my first thought. I could go invisible, sneak down the hall, and PEE. ALL. ALONE.

Where would you prefer to be right now--mountains, desert, beach--and why?

Most of the year my answer would be the mountains but it’s dang cold there right now so I’m going with the beach – preferably a deserted quiet one. I want to lay in the sunshine and the peace and quiet.

And I would never pick the desert. Ick.

If you could give any gift in the world, what would you give and to whom?

My initial answer to this was instantaneous – Fertility. I’d give it to anyone who had ever struggled to have it. Most specifically right now I’d give it to Ann Marie.

Quiet? What?

Can you listen to music and write? What song did you hear today?

Can I listen to music and write…. HAHAHAHA.

It’s never quiet in here. I have to be able to hear a million things and still do a blog post. It can’t always wait for the little bit of peace at night when I’m tired.

At this moment I’m listening to Drew & Hannah watch Despicable Me. Which is not silent, of course. Lots of chatter from Hannah too.

She’s also been on and off my lap at least 6 times.

I’m also carrying on several IMing conversations in Yahoo! and Skype.

And contemplating getting up to make some brownies… but I haven’t had breakfast yet. That might not be healthy. Or I could eat some healthy breakfast while they cook. These are my deep thoughts for this morning.

And I have a cold. And I’m medicated. So it’s a miracle I have any thoughts at all.

Oh – the only music I’ve heard today is my hideous cold voice singing “Itsy Bitsy Spider” to Hannah several times – also while typing this post.

That’s all I’ve got for you today!

PS – I’m doing the thankful days thing in my sidebar. Adding one each day for November.

Blogger App

I'm just testing out this blogger app while I rock Hannah to sleep.

Hello people. :)

And a picture for your viewing pleasure ...

NaBloPoMo - The End!

This was not hard this year. And now I have all these things I want to blog about and I can't decide which one to use to end NaBloPoMo - and then it occurs to me...

I don't actually HAVE to stop blogging today! ha. I just don't necessarily have to do it every day.

***

My Christmas dilemma:

My guess is that Hannah + A Christmas tree = DISASTER.

She is in that fantastic baby stage of "MUST TOUCH. MUST TOUCH. MUST TOUCH." everything she sees. I don't want to spend the entire Christmas season keeping her away from the tree.

I think we've decided not to put up the big tree. We can get a little 3 ft tree and put it up on a stool in the corner out of her reach. I think that will work.

I involved Leah in the idea planning for that one so that she wouldn't feel like we just arbitrarily announced we weren't putting up the big tree.

I actually love this baby stage. They're so inquisitive and learning everything so so fast. It's just fun to watch. But the tree? It's just a fight I don't want to deal with every day.

So... Merry Christmas! I promise I'm not bah hum buggin' - just not gonna have a huge tree in the front window!

Step away.

Some days I'm more snarky than others...


It's safer to just not write a real post at the moment.

Duh.

Do you think we need to have badness in order to have goodness? Why?

Of course we do. How would you even know what was bad if you didn't know what was good? How would you know what true joy was if you never felt despair and sadness?

That's a silly question to me. It seems obvious.

Am I missing something?

It's not that cold.

There are a lot of facebook status messages about the cold weather in various areas. I just have to say...

THIS is cold.

The low tonight is -9 and the wind is whipping around like mad. And this is our wind chill warning...

* WIND CHILL VALUES... WIND CHILLS WILL DROP BELOW MINUS 30 DEGREES LATE THIS EVENING AND CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY MORNING.

* IMPACTS... PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO THESE VERY COLD TEMPERATURES AND WIND CHILLS WILL INJURE OR KILL EXPOSED LIVESTOCK OR HUMANS. WIND CHILL VALUES THIS LOW ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS... SO STAY INDOORS OR ADD EXTRA LAYERS AND COVER ALL EXPOSED SKIN IF YOU HAVE TO GO OUTDOORS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THE WIND CHILL IS THE TEMPERATURE YOUR BODY FEELS WHEN THE AIR TEMPERATURE IS COMBINED WITH THE WIND SPEED. WITH WIND CHILLS BELOW MINUS 30 DEGREES... FROSTBITE CAN OCCUR IN AS LITTLE AS 5 TO 10 MINUTES. THE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE PARTS OF THE BODY ARE THE EXTREMITIES SUCH AS FINGERS... TOES... EAR LOBES... OR THE TIP OF THE NOSE.

Do you see that? Frostbite in 5-10 MINUTES!?!

If it's 30 degrees at your house? It's not cold.

That's all I have to say about that. :)

PS I finally remembered to order myself a winter coat tonight. I'm a G.E.N.I.U.S. How's that for a day late, eh?

Random Prompts

These are a few short prompts I read. None are long enough to be their own post really...

What's the first thing you do when you wake up? Say, "Hi Leah" or roll out of bed, walk to Hannah's room and say, "Good Morning, Hannah"

What's the one thing you always dread? Going to any kind of medical appointment. Doctor, Dentist, etc. Although if I had to rank them all Dentist would most definitely come out on top. I loathe going to the dentist.

If you could have ANY animal as a pet, what would it be? There are a bazillion things I would like that have as a pet. I love animals. Currently at the top of my list is a Hedgehog.

Name one famous movie you've never seen. Why not? That's actually a long list. I don't watch R-rated movies. There are a lot of famous R-rated movies in the world!

What's your favorite poem?
I love this poem. The first time I read it I was 18/19 years old. As soon as the opportunity arose I bought a little book that had this poem and a few others by Maya Angelou so that I'd have a copy of it. I love the message and the secret in her words.

Phenomenal Woman

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

~Maya Angelou

Laughter

Blogging Prompt: What's one thing that always makes you laugh, no matter what?

Chuck Norris Jokes.

Do I really need to say more? Every. Time. I really can't put words to why but seriously... What is more funny than Chuck Norris Jokes?

Nothing!

And for your amusement I'll leave you with a few...

1. Chuck Norris' tears cure cancer. Too bad he has never cried. Ever.
2. Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits.
3. Chuck Norris is currently suing NBC, claiming Law and Order are trademarked names for his left and right legs.
4. The chief export of Chuck Norris is pain.
5. If you can see Chuck Norris, he can see you. If you can't see Chuck Norris, you may be only seconds away from death.
6. Chuck Norris has counted to infinity. Twice.
7. Chuck Norris does not hunt because the word hunting implies the probability of failure. Chuck Norris goes killing.
8. Chuck Norris doesn’t wash his clothes, he disembowels them.
9. In fine print on the last page of the Guinness Book of World Records it notes that all world records are held by Chuck Norris, and those listed in the book are simply the closest anyone else has ever gotten.
10. There is no chin behind Chuck Norris' beard. There is only another fist.
11. Chuck Norris once roundhouse kicked someone so hard that his foot broke the speed of light, went back in time, and killed Amelia Earhart while she was flying over the Pacific Ocean.

Read More Here

What’s up around here?

Okay. It’s true. I just keep putting cooking posts up. There is still stuff going on around here.

But mostly I just haven’t been blogging much. Food pictures and recipes are easy and take very little thought. lol

This last 6 weeks or so – had I been blogging – would have been a lot of:

Leah’s sick.

I’m sick now.

Leah’s sick again.

My turn to be sick.

Drew was sick for 10 minutes. (he has the most ridiculous immune system)

Me again.

In January I finally admitted to myself I had IBS. Forever ago I had some posts about what the docs thought was probably a gall bladder attack. Although one doctor told me it could be IBS. He’s the 4th doctor to tell me I probably had that. But I don’t want it. I have diabetes. I most likely have endometriosis. Do I want a third incurable disease? Give me a break!

But my special “ignore your physical issues” powers are not working. And I had a 12 day attack and was in a lot of pain for all those days. I finally had to sit down and do some research – still feeling doubt that this was my problem. And while reading what the worst food triggers are for attacks I was eating pumpkin seeds. Guess what’s on the list? And what I’d been eating for 3 days. Pumpkin seeds/Pepitas. No more of those for me! 12 days of pain. NO GOOD. So I accept. I have it. Slowly figuring out what my triggers are. Frustrating state of affairs. My body hates me! But I’m getting a handle on it and now it can just be a few foods I avoid or eat less of. Not so bad!

Then Leah got sick and was sick for a full 2 weeks overlapping that. And then I got that 2 week cold and it’s just now starting to go away.

I made Leah a duvet cover yesterday and finished the details today. I should do a post about that. We’re switching the queen bed in the guest room for her daybed. She’s taken lately to sleeping in there. And she seems to sleep better and longer.

You know when I hear people talking about their babies sleeping through the night I just chuckle to myself (okay sometimes I want to poke them in the eye). Leah still normally doesn’t. I don’t have to get up and make her a bottle at least. I keep telling her she doesn’t have to wake me. Just get in bed with me – that’s usually all she wants. But she always has to wake me up and inform me of what she’s doing.

Anyway! If that big bed helps – I’m all for switching them around!

That pretty much covers that last month. Not that we aren’t having fun in there but with so much sickness going back and forth some how fun blog posts are not just coming out of me. ;)

Today Drew did tell me about a little conversation he had with Leah. She’s decided that boys are scary (and really 4 year old boys are very different animals from 4 year old girls LOL) After one of her little rants about how she doesn’t like boys. He says “but Leah! *I* am a boy!”

“You are NOT! You’re a DADDY!”

That’s some good logic, eh?

Haiti

http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/first-presidency-statement-on-haiti

22 January 2010

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued the following statement today:

Our hearts are filled with sadness as we have watched the suffering in Haiti in the wake of the devastating earthquake. We turn to the example of Jesus Christ who reached out to “lift up the hands which hang down” and “strengthen the feeble knees.”  We are keenly aware that many in America are dealing with economic challenges caused by the recession. However, we are appealing to members to donate to Church Humanitarian Services as their means allow in order to help our Haitian brothers and sisters.  Many have already contributed and others are anxious to do so.

Money is not the only need in Haiti. People are frightened, bewildered, and wholly uncertain about their future. In addition to what people can do in helping with food, water and shelter, there needs to be a calming influence over that troubled nation. We invite our people everywhere to supplicate God for a spirit of calm and peace among the people as urgent aid and reconstruction efforts continue.

*article about the above statement

Article about Relief Efforts - Despite Challenges, Church Aid Reaching Needy; More Is on the Way

****

The statement made me cry. The amount of deaths and the turmoil going on in Haiti is staggering to me. I just don’t have any words.

It’s you.

because it sure isn't ME!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving Family, Friends, Blog Readers, and Anonymous Blog Readers ;)

I hope you get to enjoy some good food and some good company today. I am grateful for my life and all that I have!

Soylent Green

If you haven't seen the move Soylent Green (1973):

The film, which is loosely based upon the 1966 science fiction novel Make Room! Make Room!, by Harry Harrison, won the Nebula Award for Best Dramatic Presentation and the Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film in 1973.

If there is any chance you're going to watch it - don't go looking for summaries - the end has got to be a surprise.

If you have seen it...

Is this not the most. hysterical. shirt. EVER?



I say yes.

Cleaning for a Reason

http://www.cleaningforareason.org/ - Cleaning for a Reason

How completely cool is this site?!?

It's a simply wonderful, simple, amazing idea. They are a organization that has professional maid services join and then women with cancer can receive free house cleanings from services in their area.

It's such a simple idea but I can't imagine being literally unable to clean my house and having to just watch the mess accumulate because I was too sick to do it.

Anyway - very cool! Go check it out and if you use a service in your area - switching to one that supports this cause is a great way to show support.

I hope to never need it of course but I'm so grateful to know they exist!

Blog Thief

This is a quote from the movie "Love Comes Softly" which I haven't seen. I'm stealing this from Connie's blog.

**I searched and noticed I'm very prone to that... stealing from Connie's blog I mean. I'm a thief!**


Clark says this to a woman (who wonders why God lets bad things happen) - Missie is his daughter:

"Missie could fall down and hurt herself, even if I'm walking right there beside her, but that doesn't mean that I allowed it to happen. She knows of a father's unconditional love. I'll pick her up and I'll carry her. I'll try to heal her. I'll cry when she cries and rejoice when she is well. In all the moments of my life, God has been right there beside me. The truth of God's love is not that He allows bad things to happen, it's His promise that He'll be there with us when they do."


***

I love that. A lot.

Wierd Book Room

Weird Book Room on www.abebooks.com

Go check out some of these books - that's some good chuckles. :)

My favorite so far: The Great Pantyhose Crafts Book

Enjoy!

What to do, what to do

I keep coming to my blog and wanting to write. I want to get back to blogging more regularly like I used to. But I come here and then I can't decide what to write about. It's not a habit anymore to make little notes in my head to blog about stuff. So what to do about it? I don't know.

Life is good here right now. Drew is working steadily again, things are back to normal. Well - it doesn't feel like normal anymore. But it's very pleasant all the same.

This morning Leah comes to me and says "You can take me somewhere." "Oh ya?" "Yes, you can take me to McDonald's for breakfast! I said you can do that!" (all the while dancing around excitedly) She got dressed and started packing herself a bag of toys. I didn't have to heart to tell her no. She was so dang excited. I don't really like McDonald's. Bleh. But she was one happy chick!

I've been trying to make myself sit down and make a plan for homeschooling this year. I put it all in front of me and then I can't decide where to start. Maybe I'll go try to do that now.

I need a planning calendar.

What a boring post.

Oh well. I gotta start somewhere!

Next time it'll be brilliance.

Maybe. ;)

Stuff is wrong.

Stuff is wrong. Things are a mess. My life? Not so grand at the moment. My ability to grin and be happy no matter the circumstances - it's hanging on by a thread. I literally feel like my head is going to pop off. I have all these things I need to take care of and no solution to any of it.

Drew is - of course - still not working.

It's just stupid things. We painted the bathroom in January. We need another gallon of paint to do just the 2nd coat of edges but we have to drive 100 miles so we can get the same paint. Money impedes me.

My porch light? Hanging upside down.

Leah is growing out of her clothes. What am I gonna do about that?

Drew & I both need new clothes. Neither one of us has bought even a single tshirt in almost 2 years. Stuff wears out, kwim?

The shower head broke two days ago. Just the hand held part works now. So you can shower but it's not fabulous.

Drew's car has a flat tire as of this morning. We noticed it as we were pulling out to go to church (as I'm complaining about our upside down porch light). And - I kid you not - about 30 seconds later the alarm goes off in the van saying we are getting a flat tire in the van!

Awesome.

So I get home from church and see that one of the dogs has peed in front of the piano at some point. My house smells like dog pee right when you walk in. SICK. So drew vacuums and then gets the shampooer so I can clean the carpet and guess what? It's broke. It will suck up water but it won't spit it out to wet the carpet. Okay FINE. I dump water on the floor and start sucking it up because this has to get cleaned up! That's working out but then... all the sudden... the vacuum part breaks too and water comes shooting out the back of it all over my legs!

I can't take anymore. I can't fix these things.

Normally I feel great about the fact that in all this year & a half we haven't gotten behind on our bills. That's amazing considering how little money we've had coming in.

But after all this time there are a lot of things going undone.

My house needs painted. When we moved in the trim was painted before we got in but the guy just didn't scrape anything. Just painted over the flaking paint. So - OF COURSE - it's coming right off. We actually have access to free paint (because mom changed her mind about what color to paint her house) but we still need to buy painting supplies. Can't do that right now either.

I want little things. To buy a skirt, get Leah some summer clothes, I want to fix the grass, I'd like to buy a few trees and do up my backyard.

Leah asks me to for a trampoline every day. I wish I could get her one. Or anything to put in the backyard for her to play with. I can hear her jumping on her bed right now. It's not like a trampoline is an essential part of growing up but geez. If you could see her when she gets to one - or at her dance recital when she watched the trampoline routines. She was coming out of her skin. She wanted to be part of that SO badly.

Yes, we take her to the park (a lot actually - several times a week) but I wish there was something in the backyard besides spotty grass. And why is it so spotty? Because last summer Drew wasn't working so I only watered the front yard - and that infrequently so it doesn't look so great either.

Can I call a halt to all this?

Someone save me!

I love my family. I actually love my life. But this is just getting to be all a little too much.

I need a lifeline. Phone a friend? 50/50? haha.

And if a dog pees in the living room again. I'm going to hurt them both. I don't know who did it.