Proof of what you've already feared

Ok, let's take a quick trip back to October. Yes, OCTOBER (The phrase "I'm behind" takes on a whole new meaning with me!) Lovely Miss Kalurah tagged me. ....in October. I think it goes without saying, I might be a smidge on the procrastinating side. a little. maybe.

But ok! The whole idea is I have to list 10 weird facts about myself. The problem with this particular task isn't coming up with 10 weird facts.....its narrowing it down to *just* 10.

No small feat.

1. spit - ugh...."grossed out" doesn't even describe it. Borderline phobia is better. I am REPULSED by spit/saliva. I'm just now getting to the point where I can eat off of the same utensil as my husband or son. Even then, only if its something 'solid' (pudding? yogurt, no. no way.) Baby spit up? Insane poopy diapers? Doesn't even phase me. Kids with slobbery mouths? *cringe*

"But Sarah, how do you deal with your own spit?" seriously, don't ask. If I think about it too long it starts to freak me out a bit and I'll go brush my teeth. I know, brushing your teeth doesn't REMOVE spit, but somehow it helps.

2. stomach issues - I don't even want to type the word. "stomach flu" how's that (I know, I know, its not the FLU...) Probably the only thing that freaks me out more than spit. If anyone has been sick, I'll avoid them for a good week. 104 fever? Bronchitis? Bubonic Plague? Sure, come on over!

I don't care if you think it was food poisoning, I'm lysol-ing my entire house. I'll see you a week from Thursday. ;)

3. in 4th grade I had a whole battery of tests...endoscopy, EEG, blood tests, xrays, therapist, because of stomach issues. Nothing ever came of it, that I know of. I think now it was early anxiety symptoms.

4. I love thunderstorms something fierce. LOVE. them. Its probably the only thing I like about hot, muggy summers. Especially in the early evening when I can sit on the front porch.

5. I love the smell of skunk. No really. I swear. It reminds me of mornings on Martha's Vineyard, which has always felt like 'home' to me. It seems like almost every morning you'd smell 'skunk', and its (somehow) a comforting smell to me.

I wouldn't use it as a candle scent, mind you, but yes, I really do like the smell.

6. I love punk/ska/indie rock, black nail polish, chuck taylors, and tattoos and piercings. I've wanted my nose and lower lip done for probably 10 years, along with a couple of tattoos, but haven't because I'm terrified. See #'s 2 and 7....

7. I have anxiety problems the last few years. They've gotten MUCH better the last year or so since I really started paying attention to them, but there are still situations that trigger them.

Yeah, I know exactly what it stems from - have enough people die right in a row and you get a little freaked, have a new baby right after those people die and it starts to put that "what if something happens to me, I can't do that to him" thing in your head constantly, and throws you for a bit of a loop. It's also triggered by any situation where I'm not in control of things. Oh yeah, very aware. I need a tshirt.

Counseling you say? Oh I intend to someday, trust me, someone is going to put their psychology degree to good use with me someday! :)

8. I'm way more outgoing & goofy in my head, but I have a crippling fear of looking stupid. I'm my own worst critic and I'm darn good. I always hold myself back, and constantly second guess myself. Its the result of certain things, which I'm working on, and getting better. Trying to unlearn things is hard though. Luckily, I have a very patient husband who has spent the last 6 (7?) years trying to counteract all the stuff I tell myself. (and then I roll my eyes at him...its a losing battle, but he keeps fighting it) He's kinda awesome like that.

9. I love office supplies. pens, pads of paper, cork boards, binders, sharpies, I love it all. Office Max is my Disneyland...and no idea why :)

10. I rinse out a glass before I use it. Always. For no apparent reason. Only glasses, not coffee cups or any other dishes. And it has nothing to do with thinking they're dirty, its just been a habit for as long as I can remember. Turn on water, fill partway, swirl and dump, resume filling and drink. I can't NOT do it. *shrug* I don't know. I told you, weird.



Alright, well! Reading through that don't I look like a miserable twisted individual?? =) I swear I'm not THAT bad. ;)

Now that that's out of the way, onto the tagging portion of this bizzarre post!

1. Sandy
2. ahna
3. My auntie

Get on it ladies! ....and try to post something that makes me look normal. Thanks! ;)

It might be genetic...

Zach spilled some oatmeal, and insisted on cleaning it up himself. He's been on a big vacuum kick lately, if anything needs vacuumed, he'll jump at the chance!

His Grandma Leslie would be very proud...

and yes, that REALLY is my kitchen carpet. So awful that the camera can't even pick it up well. and ignore the pile o' stuff in the background, I'm 90% through purging the basement/attic and some stuff is waiting in limbo in the kitchen.

My Specialty - Oatmeal avec Sprinkles

Why you ask?

Well, why not?

He thinks its the greatest, and if saves me from one battle with a 3 year old, then so be it!

Bring on the sprinkles!

I live with boys...

Thanks Target

We're strange.

No really, we're a little odd.

We buy things like this:

- entirely for the novelty. (and if you can't figure out the 'novelty' of this particular item, keep looking. if you STILL can't figure it out, its probably best to just concede that bloggers are weird and go on with your day.)

hint: whoever designed the spout placement, should be fired. Its unappealing, that's all I'll say.

So, I emailed the link to a couple of people, wanting to share in the joy of finding strange objects online. (even better when the 'strange' objects are probably owned by thousands of unsuspecting 'normal' people who never gave their snowman a second glance)

But when I showed my husband (who has lived with me too long) he determined we had to buy it. HAD to buy it. (even when I pointed out it cost more to SHIP the darn thing than what it cost...bah...I hate shipping)

So order it I did. And shortly thereafter, I get a confirmation email from target, with the following "suggested item".

You might also like:

WTHeck! Because we just can't get enough liquor dispensers in this house!! ...according to Target anyway.


Now, I was tempted to be insulted by Target's recommendation. Why would they just ASSUME that I'd want some tacky liquor dispenser.


But, to be fair...I can't blame them.


1. I love tacky. I can't help it, I blame genetics. I'm convinced its a gene mutation yet undiscovered. Some day there will be help for us. Godspeed.


2. How are they to know, I'm sure someone, SOMEWHERE, would LOVE a 55oz liquor dispenser that doubles as a geography refresher. I guess? Maybe??


3. I know, I know, its computer generated, it just links random things in like categories. Quit ruining my fun.


At any rate, I'm happy to report that our new demented snowman drink dispenser arrived on our front porch this morning - safe and sound - and will be much loved....and used. I think he'll be quite happy here, in the little house that strange built.

Disclaimer

Blogger won't let me spell check anymore ...apparently. Who knows why.

Forgive my probably numerous and appalling misspellings.

How many do you think I got in that last sentence? :)

Vintage Valentine - WS '08

Just some pictures of a card I made this weekend. I had plans to make card(S) but only finished this one. :) Ah well, it felt good to sit down and work on something like this. The blank canvas approach, whereas lately most of my crafting has been pre-planned. (which I also love, but every so often its nice to just go with it)

There was actually one point where I HATED it, was ready to just scrap it and start over, I just wasn't happy with it. But then I found the green ribbon, toyed with placement for that, no that wasn't enough. Ah! lace! Used that to 'anchor' the green and a very happy Sarah proclaimed she was done! :)


This was done for a challenge - WinterStamp '08 on twopeasinabucket. My only 'guidelines' were that it needed to be a 'vintage' valentine. There was a separate challenge to create a card using 3 items you've been hoarding. (what? who? me?) So I combined the two.



The heart wreath is from a sheet of stickers I was given about a year ago, the green 'velvet' ribbon I bought OVER a year ago and have used once, and the lace was bought recently, but I realized I have about 7 different yards of lace I have bought, but not put to use. hmm.




And, as usual, the pictures are a little off. What with all of this GLORIOUS natural light we have in February! [/sarcasm]

Hopefully, I can get my chores done and get in some more card time later :)

Hey! Its Snowing!

But Hey! You knew that! Because that's ALL its done for the last 4 years. ...alright alright, slight exaggeration. But I can't think of a day there hasn't been snow on the ground here. Oh sure, there have been days where its warmed up enough to COMPLETELY melt away 6 inches of snow. ....until it 4 hours later when it drops 15 degrees and dumps another 2" on us.

Just for good measure.

We were threatened forcasted to get 10+ inches of snow overnight. I'm quite happy to report, we got...2? Luckily, it stayed just warm enough most of the night to rain/drizzle. It only turned to snow in the wee hours of the morn. (or so I'm told, I'm not awake, let alone coherent in the wee hours of the morn).

But, now good ol' "gotta be right" magic crystal readers weather forcasters are saying we're due for 8-12 inches throughout the day today. I'm pretty sure they'll be DEVASTATED if it doesn't happen. ...they live for this.

Massive snowfall and tornado warnings make their life complete. If they can't interrupt regular programming at least once a week, with EMERGENCY weather alerts, they wouldn't be whole. ...what better place to do the weather than the midwest? It warms my heart to see them so happy. ...except for when they're right.

Having said all that, let's look at some pretty snow pictures from just outside my front door this morning! (and I mean JUST outside my front door. Remember, its snowing and cold? I'm not going out farther than the mailbox today)

ah, isn't it peaceful and serene? ...that's because everyone is holed up in their houses, with 3 weeks worth of groceries they ran out and bought yesterday afternoon. Because people like to do that here...I'm not sure why. Its like unspoken tradition. Snow forcasted? Follow these steps:

1. Watch the tv, there will be a scroll bar at the bottom cancelling every activity/meeting/event known to mankind for 37 hours leading up to the forcasted snow. You're not doing anything for the next 3 days.

2. Wait until the day before the snow, (or even the 2 hours before) go to the grocery store, buy at least 3 gallons of milk, 4 loaves of bread, enough meat to pack your freezer, and as many 40lb bags of rock salt as you can fit in your trunk. Feel free to add to this list, but this is a minimum. Its like an honor code.

3. Now USUALLY, the third step is "feel stupid when it snows all of an inch and a half". Its ok. You're not alone. If it actually snows, skip 3 and proceed to 4.

4. Raid that half ton of groceries you just bought, find something to eat, and curl up on the couch. Spend the next 4 hours watching the 'weather team' froth at the mouth alert you to the developing weather situation. Putting as much urgency and distress in their voice as they can muster.

*it should be noted, that 90% of the time, when you've reached step 4, its safe to go out. The plows have been out for hours, and the only real danger is going mad from being locked in the house.

Repeat these steps as needed for the duration of the winter. Soon enough, you'll start with tornado season. :)

Scissors + Shaggy Hair + Too Cold to Leave the House

Oh yeah, I did it. I did the mommy faux pas. I cut my son's hair a couple of weeks ago. ...With $1 scissors from Walgreens. In my defense, it was 20 below and we'd been in the house all week. Cut me some slack.

See, he NEEDED a haircut. He was starting to look like a child we found out in the alley. The haircut isn't much better. But at least now he looks more "unfortunate victim of a do-it-yourself-haircut" than "neglected barbarian".

- the aftermath -

- what an...interesting look -

- you can only get this level of quality in prison -

- please, I beg of you, take her scissors! -

(I will say, the last 2 weeks have been kind, and it doesn't look quite so "my mom cut my hair with a dirty razor blade and a blindfold".)

Post Script...

....its snowing.

January In Illinois

Oh, HI! Remember me? Yup, I'm still here, puttering around the house, trying to catch up on projects around here. ...trying. :)

January in Illinois is enough to commit a person to a psych ward. Its always cold and dreary, but this year has been EXCEPTIONALLY so. To the point where I haven't blogged in a while, because NOTHING has happened! And no one wants to listen to my daily weather reports (its cold, its REALLY cold, its too cold to go get the mail, its not AS cold as yesterday, its snowing)

So while I've missed my blog, and all of my blog 'peeps', I just haven't been motivated enough to bore you all to tears. (well, there's no guarantee I still won't!) :)

On the upside, I DID get my attic cleaned out. THAT was fun. (and if you believe that last statement, have yourself commited, you've been in the house too long)

And in doing so, I found the title for a car we traded in almost 2 years ago. Along with 3 boxes of stuff for goodwill, 5 boxes of trash (mostly outdated paperwork, like the 27,000 copies of breastfeeding instructions I must have been given the entire duration of my pregnancy. Since he's 3 1/2, I figured it was safe to toss those) AND now the attic is arranged in a somewhat-logical fashion.

I'm not talkin' Martha Stewart anal. (though, tempting, I did stop myself) But all the christmas 'decor' is in one area, old high school stuff finds a home together, the stack of random pictures and empty frames is co-habitating nicely, all is well in the attic world.

....just don't look at the rest of my house.