it seemed like a good idea at the time ...

Well, I did it. I went and made a public commitment. And here I am, doing it again, because lo and behold, if I say it out loud and proud, maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to stick with it.

Me-vs-the-wii

Possibly? Maybe? I can't believe it's been over a year but the urge to blog has finally returned. At the very least, it'll be a place to post all the crap I don't want to forget about.

So we'll see.

F2

CRLblogbutt+copy

See here for info on my Encyclopedia of Me.

She's also got a great giveaway going on over at her blog for some cool craft books. Check it out!

F is also for fantasies and not of me and Fabio (shudder) lying on some white sugar sand beach somewhere. I have this ridiculous fantasy and it goes something like this:

I'm sitting on my loveseat in my office/studio, knitting/crocheting along on some project. Lovely soft classical music plays in the background. My youngest daughter is playing at my feet on my immaculately clean floor. My older daughter is absorbed in her book, homework all finished and neatly put away. I get up from my project to make my way across my completely clutter-free and spotless home to the kitchen where I have a pot of something yummy-smelling on the stove. (probably some sort of beef goulash and homemade noodles) I make myself a pot of tea. DH comes up from the basement with a load of laundry and proceeds to fold it. We eat dinner. Kids go to bed on time. (in their freakishly clean room) and DH and I run out to the bookstore for coffee and some magazine browsing while Grandma stays at home with the kids and reads.

Honestly, I don't think my fantasy is actually that far off. I think the only thing standing between me and this fantasy is about 2 tons of crap that I can't seem to part with and let go to other homes/recycle/throw away. I've done a lot in the past, but just can't seem to go that final 2 miles.  Don't get me wrong, it's not so bad that there are pathways to wend your way around the crap (at least most of the time!) and all the piles of laundry in the laundry basket are actually clean, but need to be put away.

Does anyone else have this problem? How do you find the inspiration/motivation/perspiration for that final push through the last pile of junk?

E2

So apparently, starting work the day after you get back from vacation with no groceries in the house and no time to get  them and not unpacking fully is not the best idea. But I was so anxious to start and I'm so glad I did.

After dropping off my posse of peeps, I made my way to work in plenty of time. Not an easy feat considering the girls were still on California time this morning. But nevertheless, butts were dragged out of bed. This chilly autumn morning was a bit of a rude slap in the face after coming back from sunny, beautiful weather, and adds yet another thing on my to-do list...get out the cool weather clothes. But we got going, no one was late, and I started first day at work only slightly frazzled by my wardrobe inadequacies. (hello, no work for 8 years makes for a very slim professional wardrobe!)

Anyway, the posse was rounded up by my deputy, Andrea, our family's new driver. She deposited them at home with a minimum of fuss. I came home to an absolutely destroyed house, but that's okay, I expected it.

Speaking of drivers, I feel funny saying that she's our driver. It kind of feels like my kids are little Muffy Crosswires from the PBS cartoon, Arthur. But instead of being chauffered around in a stretch limo, they're being toted to and fro in a big white Suburban by a cheerful Mom and her three little kids.

Work went fine. I like it. It feels good to use my brain in other ways. But man, I'm just beat. Hopefully, I'll be able to catch up the house/laundry/routines again this weekend. I'm pretty sure I will. I better, or I'll be in big trouble!

Apparently, I'm gummi bears. I love these stupid quizzes. They always make me laugh!

Gummy Bears

You may be smooshie and taste unnatural, but you're so darn cute.

We're back! After 8 days and 7 nights of fun in the sun in and around Los Angeles, tossing petals, butchering piano music, visiting with Mickey, country roads and eating lots of good food, among other things, we've arrive safe and sound back home.

We literally just rolled in, so I'm going to leave you with this little tidbit so you know that I'm making good on my promise to keep blogging! All right, I'm off now to finish unpacking and getting ready for my first day of work!

Here is a pic of my girls and my nieces who were in the wedding! Pretty, aren't they all?

Oct 10 07 010

Well, not really.

I'm leaving tomorrow for the Los Angeles-area to attend a wedding and other family-related events. Yes, that means I'm going on blog hiatus yet again. Encyclopedia of Me will resume when I return and should have lots more fodder for cogitation as I begin my next new phase of life...gainful employment!

Seriously though, my life has been so out of whack lately. I've been waiting, and waiting, and waiting for my very good friend for whom I was fully expecting to go into the labor and delivery with and help coach has been stuck in her own personal holding-pattern labor hell for the past week. On again, off again contractions, pretty intense, fairly close together, but not quite close enough together to necessitate a trip to the hospital. And I've been trying, trying, trying to get ahead so that when I start work, I won't be too far behind. Preparing for this trip for Cali has me all discombobulated as I totally picked the wrongest, wrongest season to find white shoes to coordinate with flower girl dresses and hurriedly trying to prepare some wedding music. (which reminds me, I STILL need to practice the recessional...wait, I haven't even bought the music yet! crap!) Getting all my child/elder care arrangements in place I'm happy to say, has finally occurred and we're already underway.

So I'll be back next Wednesday. Hope you guys have a good time. I'll be peeking in your blogs and maybe sneaking in a post or two while I'm away if I can get to a computer. (no laptop, no fun!)

Ciao!

69264

hmmmm, this is like a metaphor for my life right now...and I hope it's not a omen for tomorrow!

My very favorite season is autumn. I love the cooler nights, colorful leaves, cozy clothes. I love the thought that soon, snow will softly fall and blanket the ground. My favorite holiday of all, Christmas, is just around the corner. We can rip around outside, having a blast, without sweating our eyebrows off, then come in for a nice hot drink. I love tea and hot cocoa and this is the time to bust out that electric tea kettle!

A few Christmases ago, my sister gave me some mulling spices from Williams-Sonoma. I wish I liked mulled wine (Glogg! I love that word!) but unfortunately, I don't. Maybe I don't know how to make it properly. I do, however love spiced apple cider. Mmmm, warm apple cider. Ahhhhhh, cold apple cider. I just loves me some apple cider. I love how it's cloudy (e. coli anyone?) and yummy and filling. Plain old apple juice is just ick compared to cider. So that makes this little quiz just so much better.

I do, however, want to go on record saying that I detest being cold, though so this makes the results just so apropo! Those of you who know me IRL know that I hate being chilly!

You Are Apple Cider

Smooth and comforting. But downright nasty when cold.

What Part of Fall Are You?

If anyone knows of a good limo service in Chicago, could you please let me know? Me and my bajillion member family are about to go on vacay and need a lift to Midway. Thanks!