Into The Thick of It

Showing my age

I guess I'm not showing it in the typical ways.  I mean, I have a few grey hairs, but thankfully my haircolor (the dirty blond/light brown thing) makes it look like highlights (or so I continue to convince myself).  I don't have any creaky body parts, although I have what I have affectionatly deemed my "Grandma Knee" (the right one), as it sometimes likes to just....freeze.  Or give out.   I'm not too rinkly or saggy yet, and I'm taking care of my skin. 

But here is what is showing my age.

1. My eye will NOT stop twitching.  I don't know if it is because I'm looking at the computer screen for too long, or if I'm too tired from not sleeping well, or if I need to eat another dozen bananas, or what.  It's not the twitchy eye that is the sign of age so much as it is my COMPLAINTS about the twitchy eye.  I feel like a crotchety old woman giving an organ recital about the doggon thing.  But when your kid tells you that you look like an alien from the side because of your eye spasming, you've got good reasons.  Maybe Maxine and I should team up and make a cartoon about that.

2.  Friends is on Nick at Nite.  HOW did this happen?  Friends is my all time favorite show, so it should not be on this channel.  This is the channel for older people who can not sleep at night.  Do I fit into that category?  Well, yes.  But still.  Nick at Nite?!

3.  I am cold all the time.  Especially my hands and feet.  Which leads me to...

4.  I am kntting fingerless gloves because I'm on the computer all day every day.  I just need to learn how to knit socks next.  It's on my list. 

So, there are my aging difficulties.  I'm still young at heart, though. :)

Snow days & bacon sandwiches

Weird topic, eh? (And here I type as if I am from Canada - I must be thinking Olympic thoughts!) You know, I've really been learning a hard lesson as of late. And that is to live in the moment.

In this moment, we are having a snow day. It's almost over. Tomorrow we're pretty sure everyone will be back in school and on the road to academia. School clothes are being picked out, books are being read, "discussions" (a secret word for "arguments") are being had about what shirt matches what pants, and what project is due when. It's part of the nightly routine here. But earlier today, there was shoveling. Tromping through snow higher than knee deep. Homemade blueberry heart shaped pancakes. Snuggles with kittens. Sitting under a snuggy to work. All things that really scream "Snow Day" to us.

Tonight, supper was simple and filling. I have a zillion fires going at once, and Brian has about a zillion more with school stuff being due at midterms. Melanie was busy writing songs for her upcoming album (I have no clue how she thinks we're going to record this - but she has three songs written for it) and reading the day away. So, bacon sandwiches it was. Some of us with Miracle Whip, and some of us with real mayonnaise. (Let's just put it this way; I am in the minority, and I do NOT do Miracle Whip.) But it was a tasty and easy supper, and we're all satisfied.

Sometimes I let things that are so far ahead - or so far OUT of my head - take over what is really important. I get so freaked out and so overwhelmed about things that I think that other people MAY be thinking, that I drive myself half bananas. I'm constantly and lovingly being reminded that I create this chaos inside my head a lot. All by myself. I'm really good at it. And I need to STOP!

One way I'm working on that is by reading a book called "Feeling Good". It came highly recommended, and so far, it's terrific. It's a continuation of the therapy I was in for over a year, and it is full of great reminders of what my brain does to sabotage me again and again. The other thing I'm doing is listening to some stress reduction and management recordings that were recommended to me by my doctor. They have been a huge help too - when I take the time to do them (duh, Chere!). I am forgetting to take care of myself a lot of the time. I need to get back into the swing.

In other news, I had a blog post published on the ScrapGirls blog here. It was fun to write, and fun to photograph for. I do love my boys! They make me warm and happy!!

Take time and be at peace today. It's a journey. I'm working on it with you!

At the studio

I love being at the studio with Brian. It's so fun to spend the week listening to him go thru songs to get ready for his show, and then hear it all come together on Wednesday afternoons. I feel like I know someone famous :-).

Saturday of no snow

Today was supposed to be this huge snow storm. You know, 6 to 10 inches, and actual like play-in-able snow coming towards us. What do we receive? Mostly a cloudy day and a little bit of ice. Not enough to stop us from going anywhere (we went to the Lambs for dinner – yummy vegetarian chili and southern cornbread – go Mrs. Lamb!) and to the store to get some flavored vodka. Hopefully that will stop this stupid cough I still have, which would have prevented me from playing in the snow at any rate. But Brian and Melanie would have enjoyed it.

I am fiddling around a little bit in iTunes tonight to try to make some new playlists. This is something that Libby laughs at me about, because I am a girl who likes to listen to a whole album, in it’s rightful order. I know – what’s the point of the iPod then? But, I believe that the artist puts the songs on the albums in the order that they’re in for a reason, and therefore like to listen to it that way. And when I *do* make a playlist, I don’t shuffle. I know HOW to – Melanie’s iPod is always on shuffle, I don’t think she knows what order any album is in, period. But it bothers me to shuffle. Makes me antsy. So, tonight I am working on making playlists that will be played in their proper order, after well thought out placement on my part for the particular list that the song is in. And yes, I do have some OCD tendencies. I don’t really want to talk about it tonight.

We have church tomorrow, and looks like we’re going to be able to get there just fine – no snow and little ice. I haven’t been in 3 weeks, which feels as foreign to me as trying to speak Chinese. I am usually there at the crack of dawn and stay until the building is almost empty, but I’ve been sick, and my job is no longer there, so it’s just a different feeling altogether now. Leisurely Sunday morning is now somewhat a phrase that could be in my vocabulary. Strange thought. Melanie is excited though – Sunday School for her, as she is finally healthy.

I need to knit a few more things. I’ve made some scarves and a hat or two, but am ready to branch out to do some new things. I think I’m going to tackle some socks. Now noted, I don’t WEAR socks –but some people I know wear socks. And they like to do so. So, maybe they will be wearing socks hand-knitted by yours truly I haven’t decided if I’m going to knit them with needles or with a loom yet. Decisions, decisions.

Many of my friends are popping out buns from the oven these days. Cory and Becky just had little Will, and Annie and David are about to have a little girl (whom they have probably named but right now cannot remember…) It seems to be the season of offspring. We’re having some offspring here too if you count pregnant Fina. I’ll need to get a picture of her soon in her waddling state. If anyone wants a cute white kitten let me know. Ours should be arriving this month and ready for a new home in March or so.

Hope everyone is having a warm, cozy weekend.