basking in her own glory

ah, my blog is made of fail......

2008-02-12T21:26:00.002-06:00

I don't update much do I?

I have been busy.

Really busy.

Super busy.

You get the idea?

good.

I have also been sick.....Nyquil has my symptoms covered, however, I can't be Nyquil girl during the day....and Dayquil just don't work.

I have a Nyquil hangover.

Homeschooling is going well, the kids are learning new things, we are making a lapbook tomorrow, will take pics and post them... maybe.

I have been sewing up a storm, made 3 quilts in the last 2 days, it's become and obsession. I have to make one for myself then I am done with quilts for a while, although that's not entirely true, since I have to make one for sewing class. OH! I am taking a sewing class on Saturdays now! Fun!

Other than that, the cats are still crazy, tax season is busy and I am stressed out.

recent goings on

2008-01-29T13:23:00.000-06:00

Friday one of my students brought me a present.......a Webkinz! if you don't know, Webkinz are little stuffed animals, and they are so cute! I got a lilKinz which is, well, little, and he's a panda, I named him Haiku. The fun part of Webkinz (and the reason I wanted one!) is when you buy one you get a code that lets you have access to the online Webkinz community, where you have a virtual version of you pet, that you can feed, love, play with, buy stuff for, etc. There are also games where you can earn money to purchase things for your pets from houses, to furniture, to clothes to special treats. If you have about $10 and a little time, I fully recommend a Webkinz! I love mine!

Saturday and Sunday I lounged around the house, twas fun. I love lounging on the couch with hubby, he is my hawtness. He also fielded some calls from the undesirables for me.

Monday I took the girls to the zoo for free, and took some awesome pics!

Today (Tuesday) my mom is finally getting out of the hospital (she's been in since Christmas). Half of me is happy she is out, because she might quit calling me every 3 minutes to talk to me incoherently about things I have nothing to do with, but the other half of me.....well, she has been more incoherent lately than not, and also, she has to move by Thursday......and I'll say it again (if only to firm it up in my mind I'M NOT HELPING HER MOVE)

Bento beauty

2008-01-17T22:30:00.000-06:00

how's that for a box lunch?

the teddy bear project

2008-01-13T22:21:00.001-06:00

So, my youngest child is a bit..neurotic. She needs a lovey everywhere she goes, usually it's in the form of a bear, she has white bear, and yellow bear, green bear and rainbow bear, you get the idea. Anyway, it had been working out fine, until Friday at homeschool co-op when this kid, this evil freaking kid, wiped his gluten covered nasty ass pizza on her bear, which rendered it contaminated, she had to spend the rest of the day wearing my watch as a lovey, which isn't as comforting as a bear, when I got home and attempted to wash the bear it came apart in the washer....we needed a lovey solution.

I had some extra fabric and random buttons.....so I made her a bear that is 100% washable, and because he's so ugly, if we have to throw him away, we won't care! I'll just make another!

He is kinda cute.

I embroidered his tummy, it says "DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT TOUCHING ME!"

yeah.

OMG I'm gonna Die! Project Runway drinking game!

2008-01-09T22:37:00.000-06:00

Okay, so I am so addicted to project runway. In seasons past people have come up with project runway drinking games and they have all sucked.......seriously.

so, I thought I would try it out, although I was sick today and not in any shape to drink even if it were a weeknight.

I sipped Gatorade to try to re-hydrate myself while fighting to stay awake to see if my lovely lovely Christian survived the night, he did.

So, my own version of this season's project runway drinking game

You must sip every time

Tim Gunn says : Make it work, gather round, or It worries me

Christian says: Oh, my God, I'm gonna die!, or any time he says something disparaging about someone else's dress

Chris says: something about costumes, gays, or drama, and every time he starts crying.

Sweet P: every time she makes that sad little "oops" face, every time she turns her head to the side and decides she is worried about her dress

Jillian: every time she touches her hair

Frankie: every time he rolls his eyes

Michael Kors: every time he makes a comment about taste or says a dress is "dowdy"

yep, you'll be drunk by the first commercial break.......if you aren't, any time you hear the phrase "one of you will be out" you have to take a shot......yeah, you'll be dead soon of alcohol poisoning I know it.

Christian must, must last until the final three. OMG! I'll just die if he doesn't.

looking in on 2008

2008-01-07T21:36:00.000-06:00

it's been since last year when my blog was updated...I seem to be too busy to keep it up apparently.

My old blog was updated nearly daily, so I am unsure as to what is going on here, I blame the mafia forum though, through the status thread, the bitching thread and the huzzah thread, all my little blogging material is being used up.

So far 2008 has been a banner year, I haven't had a health crisis yet, I got a new laptop (blogging on it now), got hubby a birthday present we all love (Guitar Hero III FTW!) and I have a new camera to document life.

I have been unusually busy the last 7 days or so working on my new non-fiction project that I hope to have to my publisher March 1st...... but that might be a bit ambitious even for me.

Since I am on my new laptop that arrived just this morning I can't post any of the really cool new pics/videos I took yesterday and stuff because I haven't transfered files yet.

However, it does have a memory card reader so I can post one!

yeah, that's right, it's 4yo, she has recently discovered comic books..........dad didn't help at all, okay, yeah, he helped a bunch! She got her very first one Saturday, it was Superman and Mann, she has been superman addicted since she was about 2, I can't believe it took her this long to get into comic books. Hubby of course tried to ply me with the educational angle "it'll get her interested in reading!" yeah, right. sure. Everyone knows comic books = great literature....

but, she has been reading it, a LOT, in fact, she read about 20 comic books today, so I think it's my new bargaining chip......do 5 pages of math, read a comic book! yeah! this will work.

I feel......dead inside

2007-12-18T21:26:00.000-06:00

or, not. I do mostly feel sick and frustrated and bothered. People won't leave me alone. I hate people, yes, you reading my blog, are you a person? you are? then I hate you.

yes.

also, clocks.

Oh! Christmas tree!

2007-12-09T21:11:00.001-06:00

oh, Christmas tree, oh, Christmas tree
I really loathe your branches
oh, Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree
I really loathe your branches

You have blank spots without greenery
your base is cheap and lean-er-eee

Oh, Christmas tree, Oh, Christmas tree
why must you be such a hassle?

Oh, Christmas tree, Oh, Christmas tree
your lights are all uneven
Oh, Christmas tree, Oh, Christmas tree
you make suicide sound like heaven

I can not rhyme, you've ruined me
I hate your guts, oh, Christmas tree!

Oh, Christmas tree, oh, Christmas tree
you are a stupid tradition!

Putting up the tree is always a hassle. This year more than usual. (sentence fragment! don't care!)

I have to tell you first I dread putting the thing up, because my cheapo, really old artificial tree is...ugly, like uber ugly. On top of that, I just don't have many ornaments, each spring the garage floods and invariably no matter where I put the damn things, they get ruined. Last year I wised up a bit and put them in a Rubbermaid tub so they were safe this year.....but last year since it was a rebuilding year (aren't they all) I could only afford a big box of ornaments, which are all appropriately burgundy, which I love, and also matches the Angel I have had for a while that goes on top who is also burgundy. I am anti-tinsel because it bothers me....(good reason no?) so I have an iridescent beaded garland. Anyway, the tree is sparse, in both foliage and decoration. (save for 300 multi-colored lights).

So, Monday the adventure began.

Monday, clean a spot for the tree, involves moving mega furniture.
Tuesday, retrieve the tree and decorations from the garage (like hunting for the holy grail it is!)
Wednesday, assemble the tree, let it air out.
Thursday, fluff the tree.
Friday, put on the lights......all 300 of them, then take them off and re-do it, then take them off again and re-do it.
Saturday, add the bulbs and angel, get bitched at about the tree being too "matchy-matchy" and make new ornaments in multi-colors/styles
Sunday- add new ornaments and garland, light up tree, be disappointed in it's appearance.... give up.

yeah, wonderful!

ISO Moxy

2007-12-04T10:06:00.001-06:00

It has come to my realization today that many things in my life are either out of balance or just not working properly. My first inclination would be to blame others which would then make me feel guilty and blame myself and absolve others all responsibility for my own feelings which while chosen by me are in direct response to their actions........which is my incoherent way of saying, I have questions

do I feel like crap because I am around perfect people and I enjoy misery?

do I feel like crap because everyone sucks?

do I feel like crap because I am destined to feel like crap because I am crap?

or is there some middle ground where everything is not my fault but some things are?

I tend to take the blame for everything, always. It's a side effect of my tumultious upbringing. If I am angry it's because I want to be, never mind someone else did something that anyone with a brain would be angry about.......nope, my fault. Of course this doesn't translate well to others, because if they are angry.....also my fault. It's the worst kind of egoism.

Can't live like this any more, too busy to die. Got to fix it. Need moxy.

Day 14

2007-11-14T17:55:00.000-06:00

wow! I won! I screwed up my word count and was only posting word count from 1 file. When I added up all my files 2 days ago.....I had 62K-ish words......freaky.

So, NaNo was quick this year. I was going to finish the story, but I have lost interest. I am working currently on my new non-fiction project. I am not entirely sure where to start......and my husband singing old country songs loudly and out of tune 10 feet from me isn't helping any at all.

What's helping even less is being overwhelmed and the fact that my kids have discovered what they termed "vintage music" which is in the form of Hansen, I hated them first go round....I hate them more now. Mmm bop! Fuck off! (sorry for the language, but seriously?!)

I have had many annoyances lately..........I am annoyed girl.

My new mantra is going to be "not my problem". Maybe it will help me destruct my life and get this book done.

gah! now my husband is listening to Laura Ingram.....I might die.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE! It's nearly as bad as Mmm bop. Maybe even worse.

Day 10

2007-11-11T21:47:00.000-06:00

word count: 16,557
mood: blech.

this week doesn't bode well for writing, got sick friends, taking someone in for surgery, homeschool hassles, rehearsals for the kids for Christmas crap........and well, cranky-ness.

when real life attacks!

2007-11-06T12:57:00.000-06:00

NaNo Day 6

word count: 10, 427
mood: distracted

What do you do when a muse get's ya all off track? Am I insane? I think so! I am currently beginning a non-fiction book......yikes! Writing my NaNo novel and a non-fiction? at the same time?!

Insanity. I own it.

My brain, the left side, the logic side, says to give up on the NaNo and focus on the non-fiction that will most likely make me some cash (desperately needed) but my right brain, the crazy one, says DO BOTH!

I can't give up on my NaNo, I would be a hypocrite. I am teaching creative writing this year and am "racing" the class. If I quit, how will they stay motivated?

Real life, it's got me cornered.

My novel does seem to be chugging along, non-fiction distractions or not, so meh. I made the kids some new folder games... very cool, they are preoccupied with them letting me net 3-4 thousand words a day on my novel. They are breezing through their homeschool (someone scheduled review for November......who could that be?) and are generally doing everything they can to stay out of my hair. Little one is reading more, and the big one is reading and also writing a book this month.

I know I said that I would publish this NaNo, but it might just be in .pdf form and done with because if I have to edit something for "real publishing" by golly it's gonna be my non-fiction that's possibly worthwhile.

Going out with friends tonight.......will blog tomorrow about that disaster. ;)

Day 3

2007-11-03T20:39:00.000-05:00

word count:4,129
goal for the day: 5,001
mood: loving my characters, hating my cats

excerpt posted soon.

Day 1 of NaNo

2007-11-01T13:35:00.000-05:00

1:34 pm
word count: 388, but I might have to start over

mood: feeling overwhelmed and defeated

game plan: go grocery shopping, fix dinner, write this evening, skip Grey's Anatomy... will reward myself by watching it if I reach my word count goal

distractions: I started a new forum for NaNo writers who also play Nationstates, I have been updating my blog, and also procrastinating by playing on the computer.

goals: I would like to have 2500 by the end of the day.

Fame! I'm gonna live forever!

2007-10-28T19:15:00.000-05:00

I have been featured! People love me! They really love me!

http://blog.viddler.com/cdevroe/novel-pumpkin/
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/nanovideo

okay, so maybe I am letting this go to my head......but it sure is fun!

We are coming upon the big day, it's my #2 big day of the year (preceded only by Black Friday shopping) and of course followed by important stuff like my wedding anniversary, Christmas, my birthday...my children's birthdays...

Yes, as strange as it sounds NaNoWriMo is a big deal for me. It's 30 days of sacrificing the things I "have" to do to get to do something I want to. I am sure if I went to a psychologist worth their weight, they could analyze why I choose to keep doing this (NaNo) instead of you know, finding something I am good at. I think I am awesome at writing.....and not so good at time management, so you know what? this is good for my family!

Every year I get a bit better. This year is the year of success. A friend of mine who is a fellow Wrimer suggested that I start my novel like so

Chapter 1

The End.

And then just fill in the novel from there.....sounds good to me. In fact I already do my own version of this....whenever writing a list of "things to do", my first thing on the list is almost always "make a list" that way I can see some success as I mark that off. Writing my novel in this way would let me say "I've already written the end... I am just fleshing it out a bit" (you know like 74,996 words of fluff)
I know you are all trying to count on your fingers now, so let me clarify for you. I have chosen a word count goal of 75K words this year....imminent failure? Maybe so! However, I think it's exciting! I can do this! I will do this! I must not fail!

If my NaNo Novel were a pumpkin!

2007-10-25T21:19:00.002-05:00

Random things @ home

2007-10-24T20:47:00.000-05:00

So... it's time for the first edition of random things @ home.

The cat has figured out how to climb onto the kitchen counters and jump onto the microwave and up to the freezer and then up to the molding and walk around, stalking me as I cook.

This morning we made sandwich bag omelets. Basically I crack 3 eggs into your sandwich bag, you add in whatever omelet goodies you want (ham, bacon, onions, bell peppers, spinach, etc.) and zip it up and smush it.

the girls like to add food coloring as well. After that when it's your turn I pour out your eggs into the skillet

(yes, my stove was dirty today....yes I washed it up after cooking....)anyway, after they cook and I flip I add cheese and flip over half omelet style

I can't stand eating the colored eggs, but the girls love them.....

After that we made a folder worksheet for the 4 year old, you take a file folder and open it, fold each side to the middle and it makes a "shutter" type closure. Decorate the outside with the theme of the worksheet.

Inside there is an activity to go with what we are learning for the week or month, this time we made one for her fall spelling words. She takes the string from the word and matches it up to the picture. She can do it over and over again.

She has about 40 folders. (about 15 she has made and the rest are leftover from her sister) They play with them over and over again, even after they are done with the lesson, the 4 year old plays with them even though she isn't learning about what the theme is, which is why she can tell you the square roots of any perfect squares from 2-144. She doesn't actually grasp what a perfect square is right now, but she has played that folder so many times, she's got it memorized.

A week from Thursday

2007-10-24T14:01:00.000-05:00

is when I begin my third attempt at NaNoWriMo. That's right guys 50K words in 30 days! I will blog the experience here, through text, photos, video, and audio. Yay! (right?)

My 2007 NaNo pledge

I promise not to skip a day, even Thanksgiving.
I promise to take my notebook everywhere and write whenever possible
I promise to plan ahead so that my family is not neglected
I promise to try my best to achieve my word count, both daily and weekly.......and most especially for the month.
I promise not to become distraught.
I promise to kill my MC if she doesn't behave.....
I promise to be kind to the plot bunnies.
I promise to make at least 1 write in a week.
I promise to be faithful to myself.
I promise not to yell at hubby.
I promise to eat.
I promise to shower.
I promise to feed the cats.

I am attempting to handwrite at least part of my novel this year, if arthritis gets the best of me I will have to switch to typing......but hopefully I can make it work one way or the other.