Blue Skies and Dinosaurs

I knew that would get your attention - I'm in a funny mood today. I suppose it is because it is Monday.

Ah, Spring Break is over! You can tell because it's busy and bustling and the weather is pretty... ::grin:: Last week (Spring Break) was cold and rainy. This week, the kids are back in school and the sun is out and it looks and feels like spring again. (go figure)

I had a coffee over the weekend and it went really well. It is always fun doing things like that. Having your friends over for coffee and dessert and conversation. Oh, and did I mention that we shopped for jewelry? I cannot WAIT for my new stuff to come in. How I do adore shiny things.

I came into the office this morning and, over the weekend, hooligans had spray painted DINOSAURS on the columns at the front entry. How odd is that, I ask you? Dinosaurs? A stenciled dinosaur at that! How strange. Who can understand the mind of a hooligan?


Wicked is coming back to Texas! Of course, it is going to be Spring 2007, but tickets are already on sale! WHOO HOO!! Sign me up, baby!

We set the dates for Munchkin to stay with her dad over the summer. I have to say that I am not looking forward to six weeks without her nearly as much as I let on. Sure it will be nice not having to worry about getting a sitter every time I have an event or something for work and having built-in Mommy Nights Out for six weeks. But that also means no bedtime stories, prayers, songs and kisses, either. I'm just going to keep myself uber-busy so I won't think about it. (does this sound like Scarlett O'Hara to anybody else?) I'm going to audition for the Summer Musical at the community theatre, take a clay class and who knows what else I can come up with.

Well, I have taken a long enough "lunch" (even though I didn't eat) so I should get back to work. Toodles!

Spring Fever

What is it that happens to a person to make them all of the sudden notice the dandelions in their grass or the new fire ant beds along the side walk? What makes a person get out their camera and paper and start making a spring yard project list? Oh, you don't do that? Well, then, what happens that causes ME to do it? I think it is just the change in weather. The fact that the birds have returned and are singing in the trees. The fact that I take the time to notice the warm air on my face as I leisurely stroll from my car to the house, or house to car. Winter is over - at least for Texas.

The big old pecan trees in my yard are still not convinced that Spring has arrived and they are holding their leaves for the last cold snap which, historically, happens around March 16. Got love Texas. You hear people talk about how unpredictable the weather is, but that really is not true.

The only bed-work I am planning to do this year will be in the big bed in the back yard and then a smaller bed in the front of the house, in between two new shrubs I'm planning on having installed. Not that I've chosen the plantings or anything, but that's all a part of the planning process. You can't see it, but I'm rubbing my hands together in anticipation.

Actually, I'm rubbing my eyes and yawning like a little kid, so I think I'll end this one for the night and put my yard plans to rest as well. At least for today.

So much Sunday left and no time to Nap

Today is one of those days that makes you want to lay on the couch and watch movies all day. Kiddo is with her dad for five days. Yesterday the hand-off went really well. I rearranged half of my house (with a LOT of help from my friends) and I'm SO excited! The color that I HATED in the living room looks terrific as a bedroom and the colors in my bedroom of which I was so tired look FANTASTIC as a living room. Imagine that...

I have another event today, at work. I LOVE my job. I hope it's a successful show. It is the start of our family series. I hope we have LOTS and LOTS of kids. Then, I'm going with a friend to look for pillows (or covers) for my sofa. Then, we have church again tonight and, after that, some meeting for coordinators/directors. UGH. I wish I could skip it. Maybe we'll just go and say hello and then come home. I want to call in sick tomorrow. hmmm... That might not be a bad idea.

My ads are already running for the next show; the press releases aren't due until Tuesday and I don't have a cover to worry about..... Maybe I could be sick tomorrow. I am SO tired. I haven't slept well in two months. I know it's because of all the (good) stress at work but it is still starting to wear me out.

Not to mention that my house is still in a state of chaos. Let's think about that a little more.

Lordy, Lordy, Look Who's 30

Ok, so it's been six weeks since I updated. Amazing how time flies when you are having fun, ne?

In a nutshell, here's what's been going on since my last post....

1. Started my new job
2. Had a birthday
3. Changed Baby Girl to a new school (more on that later, I'm sure)
4. Totally fell in love with my new job
5. Realized that Valentines is a REALLY dumb holiday and should be declared illegal in Texas
6. Folded about 60,000 pairs of socks, tshirts and other miscellaneous laundry
7. Slept a few hours
8. Ate a few times....
9. Went to church a few dozen times

Yep, that's about it. Exciting, huh?

So, I started my new job and oh my gosh I am having the time of my young life. Don't get me wrong, I come home mentally drained every day and that's been an adjustment but I'm having so much fun!! I have keys to a cultural center with five art galleries, a 487-seat auditorium, two banquet halls and art classrooms! How cool is that??

I've been on television twice already and I'm sure there is more to come. It's hard to explain the satisfaction I get from my job because it probably would just sound loony. I've never done advertising before so I'm learning as I go but I seem to be getting really positive feedback on the things I've created so far so that's good.

Things have been quiet on the homefront now that Baby Girl changed schools. I'm not even going to get into that rats nest tonight; I'll save it for another night. Let's just say that they were terribly pushy about rushing potty training and resisted any efforts I made to calm the situation. Besides that, they were stuck up. I mean, do I really want Baby Girl learning those lessons?

I dreamed about heaven again the other night. Wishful thinking, I think.

::yawn:: Well, guys and gals - I know this is a short update, considering my extended absence, but I'm back now and I'll make up for it later... I promise... g'night.

What the heck is a pincurl?

Ugh. I had this entire blog updated and my silly computer froze. GAK!

Anyway, sorry for the lag in updating; holidays were upon us and computer time was scarce. But, I'm back now!! (no applause; just throw money)

So, I've discovered a new hobby. Or rather, I fell into it while looking for some hairstyle ideas. See, I've been growing my hair out and now it's about half-way down my shoulder blade. I don't want to cut it but can't stand a sloppy look. I wear mostly suits to work and long hair is still, mostly, seen as a sign of youth and inexperience, so I keep it up most of the time. Being bored with the messy bun look and disgusted with modern updo's (nothing more than a french twist with hair sticking up or curled at top - gag), I Googled "40's hairstyles" and came up with this site, Fedora Lounge. As it turns out, there are people who are into this entire revival of the "Golden Era" of the 30's and 40's. They walk, talk, dress and live the era. Some are much more casual about it but everybody seems to love it and really know what they are talking about.

I've spent more time the last two days than I really should, digging on the forums. Fear not, this isn't bound to be another House Pride situation where I am on morning, noon and night. I don't have time and it isn't that kind of forum. Well, I'm sure it could be but, again, I just don't have the time.

Today, I went to the library and checked out as many books as I could carry home to read up on the decade. I think it would be an easy transition to vintage or vintage inspired living. I've said many times over the course of my young life that I am a child born 60 years too late. That I belong to another era. That my passion for antique books, "old-fashioned" clothes and "outdated" ideals just don't fit in now. Apparently, I am not alone. How cool is that???

So, I'm playing along - seeing where it will take me. Who knows, maybe I'll figure out how to pin curl my hair and learn to swing dance? *grin*

*yawn*
Night, kids.

Redeeming Qualities

You know, I thought I might take some time to redeem myself after that total fluff post from the other day. *grin* See, H, I am not a total slacker.

Church has been just awesome. Today, the pastor read the story of Elijah and I just wanted to stand up and clap my hands. I mean, I am a member of a pretty conservative Southern Baptist Church and people might look at me funny if I stood up and got really excited during a sermon... *giggle* But, the story is just such a gosh darn good one, it's hard NOT to!

I met with my soon-to-be boss on Friday. Golly, I think we are going to get along like peas and carrots. We seem to have the same organizational style and our brainstorming seemed to go along the same lines. I was so excited to just be in the building on Friday that I squeeled like a little girl after the meeting was over (once I got into the car, of course). It was all I could do not to clap my hands during the meeting. That might have given the impression that I was a little too excited and might have worried the Director. *grin*

I just can't believe that I'm about to get paid to do all of this fun stuff. It just doesn't seem possible that I'm about to have a job that seems to have been just tailor-made for me! Of course there will be days when I'll want to run off to the circus or choke my boss. Hey, that's a part of working. But, to be able to anticipate work that suits my talents and gifts instead of, day after day, trying to put on and wear shoes that just don't fit.

I went to a banquet last night and the speaker was a long-time acquaintence of mine. I met her when I was in college and we ran into one another shortly after I moved home last year. She said something very neat during her talk last night - she said that each year, she asks God to show her something new about the Christmas story. She also said that she thinks that a big part of being included in what God is doing is just being willing to act but, more importantly, paying attention and being curious.

With that thought in mind, I listened to the church choir present their annual Christmas musical. Tonight, for the first time, I heard something I'd never heard before. In Luke, it talks about when the shepherds came to the stable, at the command of the angels. It says that they left the stables and proclaimed what they had seen to all around, and all who heard it were amazed. Now, I've heard that 1000 times. What I hadn't heard before was the next verse. In Luke 2, verse 19, it says, "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." I wonder what that means. Most likely Mary was illiterate. It's not like she could have written them down. Maybe it means that she committed them to memory so that she could draw them out of her memory and reflect upon them later.

Anyway, I just think that's a really neat scripture and I plan to think more on it.

We rearranged the living room again tonight. I just love moving furniture. It gives the room a whole new look and you don't spend a dime. I think, in the spring, I'm going to repaint a couple of rooms in the house. I'd like to do away with the green in my room and tone down the yellow in the living room. Maybe repaint the office all together - maybe a shade of red. *shrug* Who knows? Spring is a long time from now and I'm likely to change my mind about 305 times until then.

Well, kids - I think this train is out of steam. I'm going to put on a movie and call it a night. Y'all have a great week!

Fluff

Have I mentioned that I love taking pictures? People, places, things - it doesn't matter to me. I just love photography. It's kind of a hit or miss thing with me, though. I'll certainly never be winning any awards with the MAJORITY of my photographs (mainly because I'm too lazy to try and read the owners manual for my camera), sometimes I get lucky and something really neat comes out.

So, because I haven't updated my blog in a while and I can't really think of anything heart-stoppingly interesting about which to write, I'm going to post a few of my favorite photos.

This is one of my cats. He likes to curl up in baskets and sleep the day away.

I took this photo of my daughter, at her school's Fall Fair. She had never been in a bounce house before, and she looked very young and small in there. She eventually figured it out and had a great time, but when this photo was taken she was VERY unsure about this wobbly floor.

Taken at Sea World, in San Antonio Texas. I just loved the way the legs of this rollercoaster seemed to go up all the way to the sky.

This photo was taken in San Antonio, Texas. I altered the photo with a sepia finish and then a film grain overlay. I was trying to prove a point to a friend about how easily photos can be manipulated to suit the desires of the photographer.

This is one of my yard kitties, Fred. This photo just captures his shyness.

Well, there are about a hundred others I could post, but they are closeups of my daughter. Maybe I'll post more later.