4 Hours of Glee Later

Back in 1997 I became slightly obsessed with Fleetwood Mac after The Dance performance on MTV (yes the days of more music and less reality tv). I remember watching the performance over and over again (they did the endless reruns 14 years ago too). Then I bought and listened to The Dance CD, listened to my Mom's Rumours record, and tried to figure out this strange and fascinating band - has anyone else tried to figure out why the girl is Stevie and the boy is Lindsey? Kind of confusing to a sheltered 17 year old girl going to Catholic schools her whole life, don't you think? I'm wondering why I didn't just ask my parents since they actually lived in the 70s, but I guess I was too cool to ask my lame parents!

After getting caught up on my 4 hours of DVR Glee this afternoon (instead of going to school to box up my room), I had flashbacks of that time after watching the Rumours episode. Then I started thinking about my top 5 albums. For me these albums are the ones that I never skip a song, know everything by heart, and could listen to on loop over and over again and never get sick of the songs.

1. The White Album - The Beatles
2. Crash - Dave Matthews Band
3. Rumours - Fleetwood Mac
4. The Blue Album - Weezer
5. Whatever and Ever Amen - Ben Folds Five

What's funny is even though I love these albums I don't listen to them all that much. No reason really, I just stick to the radio more I guess. Another funny - Most of these albums would be at the bottom of Bryan's list :) I love him despite his crappy taste in music.

Today I'm thankful for:

1. fruit


2. a funny kid


3. great music


4. reminders


5. the library

I do like...

In order to maintain or strive for the all important BALANCE, I will now list the the things I do like... (in no particular order)

1. my family


2. teaching


3. Anna's laugh
4. When Anna says "love you too, mommy." Seriously one of the best things I've ever heard.


5. sweets


6. meeting up with old friends


7. reading


8. the beach


9. naps


10. relaxing


11. art


12. museums


13. eating out


14. coloring


15. baking


16. Target


17. shoe shopping


18. buying stuff


19. Christmas


20. my birthday (even though I'm getting old)


21. warm weather


22. OSU football


23. fall weather before I have to wear a winter coat


24. pictures


25. Pazzo's Pizza and pretzels


26. Glee


27. NYC


28. comfy beds


29. soft blankets
    
30. fruit
31. wedding dresses. I loved my dress, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to go try on dresses just for fun. I don't but I want to.
32. thinking of baby names and changing my mind
33. taking walks with Bryan, Anna, and Shelby (the dog)
34. sleeping in
35. blogs - reading and writing
36. learning new things
37. spending time outside
38. movies
39. the 80s
40. listening to Anna talk
41. laughing
42. compliments
43. Twilight books and movies
44. board games
45. being a wife
46. being a mommy

That's all I can think of on this Monday night. I'm sure there are more. The important thing is that there are a lot more "I likes" than "I don't likes." Life is good.

I'm thankful for all of the above.

I do not like...

A few things I don't like:

1. waking up early - sleeping in is always better
2. mushrooms - what can I say, they are gross
3. mac and cheese - I don't like the noodles and I don't like the cheese...never have, never will.
4. fighting - I'm not so good at it and my blood pressure rises
5. looking old - I got my school picture back on Friday, and I look old or tired or maybe old and tired. I don't know when this happened to me. I used to feel pretty, and still do on some days, but I can't say I love what I look like at 30. Maybe it's not 30, maybe it's being a mother. I like to look at my wedding pictures - I look pretty at 26. What's going to happen to me if I have another baby - older and uglier???? Please, no.
6. winter - loving these sunny warm days
7. dizzy spells - scary, horrible, wish they would go away forever
8. whining - my baby's, not my own :)
9. cleaning - enough said
10. my bad posture - bad bad habit of slouching. I'm trying to be present in that and correct myself when I notice.

I am thankful for:

• a beautiful weekend
• giggling with Anna
• sleeping in this morning

several more things...

Just a few more things I've been thinking about recently:

• I've been talking to myself a lot lately. I must have a lot on my mind?


• Anna and her BFF, Kiley, are so stinkin' cute. They run to hug and kiss each other when Anna gets to day care in the morning and when she leaves. They really love each other. Anna calls her baby "Ki-Ki" after Kiley (or "baby").


• I don't know if I do all the right things when raising Anna, but I think I do a good job - despite comments that I'm too nice and I let her get away with too much. To the people that think I'm not doing things the right way, I would like to say: "See how you manage a 2 year old that is short on patience and has more will than she knows what to do with on a daily basis. Then let me know how you would change things." I try to let her be herself while also not getting hurt. I try to encourage her to make good choices and follow the directions with "if this, then that" statements. She responds better with more information than just a straight "no," which she doesn't really respond to at all. Bryan said he thinks we make too many concessions for her so we can get through stores with as little trouble as possible - maybe we'll just try taking her out of the store if she can't sit in the cart or stroller. I don't know if it will work, but I'm willing to try.


• I don't like grainy or mushy watermelon.


• Anna will only watch The Wiggles on TV. I just now noticed that the yellow Wiggle is sometimes Greg (original) and sometimes Sam (replacement). Google said Greg had a disease that made touring and performing difficult.
• I thought I was mad at Bryan this weekend because he watched an entire TV program while I couldn't even take a shower without several Anna interruptions. I realized later that I was actually annoyed with Anna bc I can't do anything without her interrupting. I have to be right with her at all times except in public when she has to do everything by herself. Go figure. I know when she's 13 I'll wish she wanted me to be with her.

A few things that I've noticed...

1. I really enjoy my time with Anna now that I'm back to work. She is SO cute. Now when I read a book five times in a row it's so much more refreshing than 30 times in a row. I'm feeling tired after work, but I know that will get better. Work and family balance is key for me.

2. I mentioned how we are working on super-praise and happy faces for Anna's good choices. It's still in full swing, and it's forcing me to be a whoo-hoo girl. I will be a whoo-hoo girl if it helps my girl.

3. We went to the Woodland Art Fair yesterday. It was hot; I was sweating. All the art I like is ridiculously expensive. $1300 for some art to hang somewhere in my house? I just can't do that. I don't have it in me. I had $30 in my wallet. I think all I could afford was a funnel cake.

4. The attention span of 6 year olds after the summer is very low. I am struggling to keep the kids focused. I know this gets better, but it's so easy to forget.

Today I am thankful for:

• a grocery store outing by myself = very uneventful and low stress
• Bryan and I teamed together to clean up Anna's playroom. It's so much better when we work together.
• Hearing Anna say, "two dogs!" when she sees two dogs. Seriously cute.

Things I am

I am:

• curious
• a question asker
• laid-back
• patient
• a realist
• multi-tasker
• thorough
• a planner
• a smart worker
• dedicated
• a learner
• a worrier
• paranoid
• genuine
• a loud laugher
• organized
• a thinker

I lose my footing now and again, but those are my usual ways.

Today I am thankful for:

1. 5 more baskets of books cataloged
2. a trip to the pool with my mom and Anna tomorrow
3. photograph books for Anna

Things I am not...

I am not:

• adventurous
• a rebel
• a good speller
• a risk-taker
• a liar
• a cleaner
• hyper
• a control freak
• an over achiever
• a perfectionist
• a woo-hoo girl

I guess there are always moments when I break the mold, but don't expect the above from me too often.

Today I am thankful for:

• not working on a Monday
• lunch with a friend
• reading with Anna

One of many

I have several neurosis. I'm sure we all do; I hope we all do or this might seem really weird.

One of my paranoias: I always think I'm pregnant. I don't actually believe I'm pregnant, but I have to take a pregnancy test to prove that I'm not. That's probably weird. I can't be sure how many tests I take in a year - probably 3 or 4. I buy the multi-pack. Bryan just shakes his head.

I always have 2 or 3 symptoms of pregnancy before I take the test. These symptoms include: vomiting (fairly common for me), urinating frequently, smelling things very strongly (I thought someone broke jars of pickles and squirted mustard all over the grocery store when I was pregnant.), being very tired, getting so angry over something stupid that I think fire is actually coming out of my ears (like on cartoons), and being overly sensitive (crying over something really dumb).

I am a worrier by nature, so I think that's why I take the tests. Because of my medical issues, I really need to plan and be ready for a pregnancy, which I am not currently doing, so I just get really paranoid.

I took a test on Father's Day weekend (aw, wouldn't that have been so cute - happy father's day again!) It was of course - negative, don't go getting your hopes up. I will have to say, it was the first time I felt OK with the prospect of having another baby; you know, not panicked and stressed. I'm glad it's not the time yet; Anna is still too needy, and I'm worthless when I'm pregnant. I plan on thinking about it more in a year from now. Until then...Anna's more than enough fun, joy, and drama for this mama.

Today I am thankful for:

• a fun night out with the girls
• grocery shopping by myself
• new books waiting for me at the library

My Other Life

When I was little I used to go to the video store with my mom to rent movies. I'm a creature of habit, and I would usually rent the same movies over and over again. One of my favorites: Swiss Family Robinson! Wouldn't it be so cool to be shipwrecked on an island with your family, and then build a sweet house right on the beach? I was very lucky as a kid, and got to go to the beach with my mom and with my dad each summer. (Funny side note: I was shocked to find out that kids that live in Myrtle Beach go to school.) I love the beach. I think my love of the beach and Swiss Family Robinson was the start of a life path I didn't take. I wonder what would have happened if I went to college near the beach??? I didn't even think to look at colleges that far away. I wonder if I would live there now. I don't want to really wonder because I wouldn't have B or Anna, but I wouldn't mind our little family living there now.

Bryan and I have been watching Lost on Netflix streamed to the XBOX (gosh things have changed). We used to watch Lost, but when I got pregnant I got very tired, and it got very weird, so we quit watching. Well then everyone kept saying how good seasons 5 and 6 were, so we're starting over at 1. We'll get to 5 and 6 eventually. Lost just brings back all those feelings to want to live on the beach. I don't want to live on that beach because it's mostly weird, but I want to live at/near A beach, in a house would be preferable. I think it's a case of "the grass is always greener," but I really want to live at the beach.

Here's what my life would be like if I lived at the beach:

• We would have a nice, sturdy house with windows that overlooked the water, and a big deck
• Anna and I would take walks everyday looking for beach treasures
• I would have a nice golden tan all year
• We would have enough room for guests
• I like working, but maybe at the beach I would like to be a stay at home mom
• I would always be in a happy mood, because I live at the beach

I know for this to happen at this time in our lives (house on the beach, no job) we will have to be the recipients of a very large sum of money, but it's fun to dream.

Maybe one day...

I'm thankful for:

• a sunny and hot day
• my summer is finally starting tomorrow
• more energy since school's been out

Have you ever wondered?

Why does our interstate highway system start with 1 on the West coast and end with 95 on the East coast? Our country was started on the East and moved West (I know, not counting the Indians).

I've always wondered that. Well at least wondered it for a long while.

Why would I be wondering that for a long while?

Because I like a good map. I'm quite excellent with directions. I like making maps in my brain. I like making all the roads connect to make a big picture. I like having several ways to get somewhere, even if I always take the same one. I like when it makes sense.

I can make the maps in most places I go. Except in Seneca Co. Ohio where all you can see is farms, homes, barns, and cows. The roads are named with numbers (State Route this, County Rd that, blah blah blah). It's a place where there is some imaginary line where the towns change but only locals can distinguish a farm in one town to a farm in another. It all looks the same to me. I can get to a few select places. I've not been able to make a big map. It's quite annoying.


Today I am thankful for:
1. sunshine.
2. a big fat long nap today.
3. a funny baby - she likes to put her feet in my face so I say, "Ew, stinky feet." She actually does have smelly feet. Poor girl.

I LOVE...

I was reading PW's I Love post, and thought it was a great idea for a Valentine's Day post. I'm sure my list below is not going to be all things I love, just the ones I can think of at the moment.

I LOVE...

• Bryan
• Anna
• my family - mom, dad, step mom, grandparents, sisters, brother, cousins, you get it
• the beach
• sunshine
• warmth
• blankets - super soft ones only, please
• my wedding pictures
• pictures of Anna
• Anna's green eyes
• that Anna's hair is the same exact color as mine
• Anna's laugh
• my laugh
• my mom's laugh
• babies
• kids
• thinking of baby names (even though I'm not pregnant or trying to be pregnant)
• experiencing pregnancy - especially month 7 for me, when I felt kind of like my normal self
• hotels with great beds and continental breakfast
• my honeymoon in Hawaii
• fruit
• cookies
• candy
• breakfast food
• latex foam pillows
• good songs
• great singers
• 80s music
• 80s movies
• romance novels
• children's books
• romance movies
• comedy movies
• a great book that you can't put down on a lazy day
• blogging
• finding other interesting blogs to read now and again
• the internet
• naps
• safety
• a really cute outfit that fits perfectly
• jams
• yoga pants
• teaching - most days
• sleeping in
• shopping - ALL BY MYSELF
• Ohio State Football - especially when I'm at the game
• singing Carmen Ohio at the end of the football games
• catching up with friends
• coloring
• drawing
• the library
• museums - any kind, but especially The MET in NYC
• Garden Salsa Sun Chips
• baking
• massages
• pedicures
• watching Anna learn new things
• listening to Anna sing
• walks with my family
• old family stories
• paint colors
• a great kiss
• laughing
• being a wife
• being a mommy
• being a daughter
• me

1 year anniversary

It will be one year ago tomorrow that I started my blog! We were in the middle of an ice storm that kept me stuck in the house, so what else is there to do besides stalk people on facebook? Why, start a blog of course.

I didn't know how it was going to go - if it was something I would even enjoy. Well, since I'm still writing it about once a week, you might have guessed that I like it. I don't always have exciting news or anything that sets the world on fire, but I do have little thoughts and tidbits that I enjoy sharing. I especially like writing about Anna - mostly for memory's sake. I prefer writing on the computer where it's semi-public rather than in a personal journal; I guess it seems like it's for a reason if it's out there for others to read. I like getting my random thoughts out, because then I can move on.

I looked at my first post and mentioned that B said I was weird for doing this, but he likes reading my Anna posts. Blogging's not so weird, it's fun, it's simple, and it's sometimes meaningful.

Stay tuned for more blogging...

Now I Get It.

I always wondered why people put those giant blow-up Christmas decorations in their yard. I mean, some of them are cute and fun to look at - once, but everyday for a month? Really? Not my thing I guess...until now.
Anna is enthralled by Christmas lights and decorations. Like all good girls, the tackier the better. I actually find myself thinking, oh, she would love to have a big blow-up Santa thing in our yard. Probably one with Rudolph and some type of movement.
How things change when you look through the eyes of your baby.

Who knew?

We went to the KY State Fair this weekend; my mom came too. It was a good time - something new, something different, something besides lying around or going to Target. Anna enjoyed herself while she looked at all the people.
The following is a list of things I learned while at the fair:

• Cows are huge - I had no idea they were so big!
• Some people have the job of wiping the cow's butt after it poops in a bucket so it doesn't ruin its brushed tail and can win a ribbon. You're jealous aren't you???
• Goats are not that big and seem to enjoy people.
• There are lots of different types of rabbits, not just regular white, brown, or gray ones.
• Some people are really strange and have pet pigeons, yes the disgusting rat-birds.
• The fair grounds have traffic control issues. I wouldn't suggest going to the fair on a Saturday night, especially if Keith Urban is the musical guest - traffic was backed up for miles on 264 at 5:00 - no thank you.
• Lumber Jills are girls that chop wood and stuff.
• The people that run concessions out of trailers must make a killing - $5 for a funnel cake (dough, sugar, oil) and $2 for a drink - seriously the life of a carnie must be good.

Maybe we'll go again next year. I might learn something else.

how facebook messes with my mind

So back when facebook was mostly college kids, I joined so I could kit with my brother. Well, he isn't even on fb anymore, but most of my friends and some family are. I like fb because I can post pics of Anna to share with my family and friends, and I kit with my friends that live all over the country. Good reasons for me to stay on fb, right?

Here are the reasons I second guess that choice:
1) I THINK IN STATUS UPDATES!!!! Seriously... I'm doing something, stupid, random, everyday, and my mind thinks "I could write this in my status like this..." Like anyone really cares.

2) I wonder if people like me or don't like me based on their response time. I'm not usually like that in real life, but on the computer, yes, I am paranoid, what can I say?

3) I know too much info on people that don't really matter in my life anymore, you know - the people I went to high school with. I don't really need their info taking important brain space; motherhood was a big enough kick to the brain.

What to do??? I'm certain that facebook takes up time I could be doing more productive things, like cleaning. Ok, haha, cleaning sucks, I'd just find something else to fill that time. It could be better spent than on fb, probably. But how will I know what's going on in the world? Maybe I could start writing letters to friends and family - the comeback of snail mail.

Can I call myself a reader?

I like to read, and I finally had a few moments to catch up on some reading over the summer. I sometimes feel like I'm cheating on Twilight when I read other books, but I think Bella and Edward understand I need a little variety in my life. So I sewed my wild reading oats this summer.

I read a few good ones; I am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe was my favorite. The main character, Charlotte, stayed with me for weeks after; she comes back to me now and again (when Bella and Edward let her).

I mostly read things that are mindless. I don't enjoy reading if I have to think about what the words mean. I haven't read the classics unless it was in high school, and I don't really remember those. 2 exceptions: Gone With the Wind and To Kill a Mockingbird, and they happen to be my two favorite books. I wonder if I would enjoy Jane Austen, that is, I wonder if I would enjoy Jane Austen if I could stay awake past page 1? All that thinking makes me sleepy.
Well, off to read a few chapters of my latest Stephanie Plum adventure.

laughing and thinking.

I was reading PW and came across a link she posted for funny Olan Mills Photos. PW happens to be on the listing. It's so funny - laugh-out-loud funny. I love that kind of funny. Maybe you'll love that kind of funny too. Check it out.

I thought about something today. I've been pumped-up excited for the 9 days ahead bc I can sleep in! Sleeping in = 8:00. When did that happen????? My friends didn't call me until it was past 12:00 when I was in high school. I used to stay up and watch Conan at night and sleep till 10 or 11 in college. J-O-B is when it happened, stupid 5:30 am. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined myself living in Kentucky (of all places) while waking up at 5:30 - in the MORNING! At lease Anna likes to sleep in too, sweet baby girl, takes after her momma. I didn't know I would be saying momma either, that's a southern thang.

The internet is soooo fun. Blogs are fun cause you can keep looking at other blogs on the blog roll and then people have links to all kinds of things.

Well, I was looking at this blog when I watched the video for Lady Antebellum's new song as she suggested. It got me to thinking about guys that are not hot, but are - kind of like the male lead singer in my opinion. Top of my list of not-hot hot guys: Kevin Bacon. 'Gotta cut loose, foot loose, kick of your Sunday shoes!'

Is it the attitude (I can dance AND change the rules in your stupid town)? Is it some definable characteristic (like crazy bed head no matter what time of day)? Is it the smile (Bryan might smile at me like that if I wore cowgirl boots and ruffle tops like Ariel, hmmmm).

One last note as I ramble about my favorite not-hot hot guy: Bryan doesn't ever share his 'list' with me (if you've watched Friends, you know what I'm talking about) or talk about how hot the girls are on tv - even when I ask. I guess he only has eyes for me. Kiss that, Ariel :).