Love/Hate

I love that I've managed to keep dishes and laundry washed and put away lately. It's such a small thing, really, but pays off big-time when I'm starting the day. The laundry, especially, is a big deal, as I'm notoriously bad at getting it put away, often leaving it stacked and folded in towering baskets for weeks at a time. So, go me!

I hate how tired I've been these last few days. Is it because I've cut out caffeine again? Or maybe just due to the migraine coming and going? Seriously, I'm practically narcoleptic, and I'm not getting a damn thing done. That ends tomorrow morning, I swear! Though I may have to lean on the caffeine crutch to make that true.

Tomorrow, my girlfriend Adrienne is going to visit with her kids at lunchtime: we're planning on ordering pizza for kids and then scampering off to the Olive Garden for lunch, ourselves.

Other than that, the plan is to tackle more of the dreaded to-do list (especially the paperwork and bills-argh!) and hopefully have a few long conversations on the phone with Jesse, because with neither of us feeling well the last few days, calls between us have been few and far between.

I'm looking forward to posting tomorrow: I have an idea!

Love Thursday: I Have A Migraine

So today I love:

Obedient, largely self-sufficient children,

my very loyal dog (who refuses to leave my side),

migraine meds,

the dark,

and silence.

Happy Birthday, Natalie!

Today is my sister Natalie's yetheretherhythm! I mean, her birthday! And so today I am dedicating my post to pictures of her beautiful face. And beautiful Natalie thoughts.

Wasn't she adorable? I loved her right from the start. Clearly.






So, let's see...I'm still twenty-five, and she's three years younger than me, so that makes her...twenty-two! Happy 22nd Birthday, Nat! Boy, do you look great.






Like a doll, only better!






I went looking for my two favorite pictures of you of all time. You know, the close-up profile shot taken when we came to visit you in Akron, OH, years ago? Your hair was bobbed and your sweater matched your eyes. And the one that dad took in the technicolor sweater when you were about fifteen? (I have the shot of you and Lee from that same session, but you have gum in your mouth and you'd slap me if I posted that one, maybe.) No dice, otherwise. But while I was looking for those and not finding them, I found all of these and got all farklempt.





"Mwah! Man, am I ever good at this big sister thing."




I'm sorry that I didn't let you play with me and Shannon.
I'm sorry for hitting you with that doll by dad's stereo.
I'm sorry for leaning on you too hard during our teens.
I'm sorry for every time you heard, "Oh, you're Angela's sister!"
I'm sorry for hogging so much of Mom's attention and time.
I'm sorry that it took you so long to grow hair.




















When I was about thirteen, Natalie climbed into my bed and told me, "You're my best friend." She looked completely lost and my heart broke for her. I wasn't even a particularly good sister. Looking into her eyes I said to myself, "If you're the best she's got, you're gonna have to do better than this." And I have thanked God a million times since for that moment, because the truth is that I was the one receiving a gift: a companion and a confidant and a champion. (She has turned on unsuspecting detractors like a Fury, and defended me when I couldn't defend myself, so I warn you all: don't come against me ,or anyone one else that she loves, 'cause she'll cut a bitch!)

See? Fierce!

So, for the girl who knows all of my buttons and how to push them, the girl who's loved me and hated me when I've loved and hated her, the girl who grew up with me and laughed with me and cried with me and is not only one of my beloved sisters, but one of my dearest friends:

Happy Birthday, Baby. I am so glad that you're here.

TTT: Cutting It Close

Fifty-four minutes before today ends and I have yet to post! Here are the Top 10 reasons why:

1)My to-do list. Still plugging away, still consuming my days, still unfinished. I know that I will die with a to-do list, really I do get it, but this stuff? Really does need to get done. Srsly.

2)My cell phone. Yes, I have thought of, "Don't answer it" but that doesn't apply to some people. Namely, my husband, my sister and my daughter.

3)Pinterest. I kinda just figured it out and oh. my. god! Not only can you spend HOURS "pinning" stuff, but it gives you the means to find fun projects that you can do, thereby using up even more of your precious time. I am doomed.

4)A pesky little thing called "parenting". It turns out that getting kids up and clean and dressed and fed and driven and educated and fed and entertained and picked up and fed and finished with homework and disciplined and consoled and fed and put to bed takes time. Lots and lots of time.

5)Visiting my sister. Had an awesome time. Two-and-a-half hours of awesome, to be exact.

6)Facebook. And Pinterest! Again! What if the interwebz is secretly Satan? Maybe. I'm thinking maybe yes.

7)Boys. Boys that would. not. go. to. bed! Even after two warnings. And the threat of dire consequences. And being scolded by Daddy via cellphone. Our youngest bounced up and down (making monkey noises) while his dad was scolding him, if that gives you any idea? Jesus.

8)Helping my husband do trip-planning for his loads in the truck. He was very tired and very unhappy and kinda unprepared. Which is fine. But it took time.

9)My Bella Figlia needed the computer for homework again tonight. Which she didn't announce until quarter to ten. Which is like, 15 minutes later than she should be up on a school night in the first place. Come to think of it, why didn't she use the laptop? Why didn't I use the laptop?! Argh.

10) I realized that I didn't (don't) have the time to write up the RTT post that has been brewing in my head all day long. Darn it.

It's 11:43. I've gotta link this baby up and hit "publish post"! *wipesbrowfallsdown*

For more Top Ten lists, visit Oh Amanda!

Monday's Muse: Making Buttons 4 My Blog

Today I've spent hours putzing around on Adobe Photoshop and Photobucket making blog buttons for daily blog prompts.

I decided to make one for my friend Tamara's blog so that I could easily access it from mine. Tamara, besides being my oldest and dearest friend, is an artist, and therefore an art snob. It is likely that she will spit on my color choices secretly. (I tried, Tam, I tried!) I'm sure that she can and will make her own gorgeous button when she feels like it. Anyway, here's what I came up with:



<a border="0" href="http://yammerjaw.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt45/angelanollmohn/yammerjaw2-2-1.jpg"/></a>

My girl is STILL not done with her homework and needs the computer, so I'll leave it at that today. Peace out.

Sunday Stealing: The Never-ending Meme Parts 1&2

1. Song that always makes you sad? A Beautiful Mess by Jason Mraz

2. Last thing you bought? Groceries and Cat Litter

3. Last person you argued with? Walker Cash

4. Do you put butter before putting the peanut butter on? What?! No!

5. One of your stuffed animals’ names as a kid? I honestly don't remember.

6. Did you ever at one time own a Barenaked Ladies CD? Yes.

7. Favorite day of the week? Probably Saturday.

8. Favorite sundae topping? Caramel.

9. Did you take piano lessons? No, but I wish that I had.

10. Most frequent song played? By me? Probably Turning Tables by Adele.

11. T.V. show you secretly enjoy? Hoarders.

12. Would you rather play basketball or hockey? Basketball.

13. Date someone older or younger? Younger.

14. One place you could travel right now? Downstairs.

15. Do you use umbrellas? It's probably 50/50. Sometimes I prepare, and sometimes I just let myself get soaked.

16. Do you know all the words to the Canadian national anthem? That'd be a no.

17. Favorite cheese? I don't eat cheese anymore, but when I did I'd have had to say cream cheese. Now, Tofutti's Better Than Cream Cheese...

18. The Smith’s or The Cure? The Smith's. Hate The Cure.

19. Do you prefer blondes or brunettes? Brunettes.

20. Best job you ever had? Loved managing the restaurant for the first few years.

21. Did you go to your high school prom? Both of them, only we called it "Gala".

22. Perfect time to wake up? In a perfect world? 10am.

23. Perfect time to go to bed? Midnight.

24. Do you use your queen right away in chess? Never. Always save her and the king for the end.

25. Ever been in a car accident? Many.

26. Closer to mom or dad…or neither? Mom.

27. What age is this exciting life over for you? Are you asking that I predict my death? 80 sounds good.

28. What decade during the 20th century would you have chosen to be a teenager? 80's

29. Favorite shoes you have EVER owned? I had a pair of brown suede high-heeled boots that I wore forever. Not sure if they were my favorite, but that's what came to mind.

30. Do you have an article of clothing you have had since you were in high school? No.

31. Were you in track and field? God, no.

32. Were you ever in a school talent show? Always.

33. Have you ever written in a library book? Never.

34. Allergic to? Lactose intolerant.

35. Favorite fruit? Raspberries, lately.

To Do List

1) Write to-do list
2) Wash dishes, garbage out, table cleared
3) LR blitzed, vacuumed, tree down/ornaments boxed and put away
4) Garland/poinsettias et cetera down and stored
5) Blitz Sissy's room/vacuum/change sheets
6) Straighten back closet/bookcase to garage
7) Clean boy's room/put clean laundry away/vacuum/change sheets
8) Laundry (whites) washed/dried/folded/PUT AWAY
9) Wipe down sink and mirror in bathroom
10) Clean my room, clean my room, clean my room!
11) OMG Paperwork! (esp. Sis HS enrollment)
12) Garbage out
13) Baths and homework done and clothes laid out for Tuesday
14) Mail COBRA payment
15) Change litter
16) Water plants
17) Clip Katie's nails
18) Get/find empty bin, pack w/remaining Xmas tchotchkes, store in garage
19) Clean out van

Friday Fill-Ins: Friday the 13th

1. When I looked out the window this morning I was bummed out to find that MN has finally figured out that it's winter-time and gotten cold.
2. Quantum physics doesn't (don't) make sense to me.
3. Remind me why I decided to post everyday, again?
4. Making and/or creating stuff is something I love to do!
5. TP is (are) the initials of Jason Mraz's fiance, Tristan Prettman.
6. I cleaned the refrigerator recently and I found an empty juice pitcher.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a movie with my bella figlia, tomorrow my plans include getting my $h!* together and Sunday, I want to prepare well for the coming school week and talk to my kids about Dr. MLK Jr., and the importance of what he did!

How I Wasted My Afternoon: Plarn

I may have just proven to myself that my greatest talent is for procrastination. I don't know how, but I somehow got signed up to receive emails from a website called Knitting Paradise. I followed the link in one of the emails to their forum and guess what?! Did you know that you can knit and/or crochet the plastic bags that you get from the grocery store? Crazy, right? So of course I had to read all about it and then pull all of the bags out of the cupboard by the fridge and spend most of the afternoon cutting up (and then linking and crocheting with) them. Because apparently I am insane. I will post a picture tomorrow of the useless thing that I have crocheted so far. Until then, talk (or laugh and point) amongst yourselves.

Wordless Wednesday: Journal As Muse

Trying to put little boys to bed is like...

...trying to cram a pack of feral cats into a mesh bag. You lay there with them, trying to trick them into falling asleep by breathing deeply and assuring them that yes, you will open the door when you leave their room and saying that no, you don't know what Pokemon evolves into Pignite and praying to the dear little baby Jesus that you won't fall asleep with this one before he falls asleep so that you can get up to put the next one to sleep, where you will start all over again, trying to stay awake long enough to keep your stoopid resolution by posting something on your blog before midnight. And then you realize that you don't know what the hell you're going to blog about, anyway.

My bella figlia (who is reading over my shoulder) thinks that I should blog about how funny she is, but since this family likes to remind me that I am not funny, that ain't gonna happen, kid. (But for the record, she is flippin' hilarious.)

Did you know that one of my pettest of peeves is starting a written sentence with "and"? And then I re-read Neil Gaiman's poem, "Instructions", and he does it like, fi'ty times. So even though I've hated it for years, I thought, "If Neil Gaiman does it, how bad can it be?" So now I'm giving myself permission to start sentences with "and". See, I've done it twice in this post, already! What a rebel.

Winter and I saw a Chevy Cobalt today and it was red. What is wrong with people?! Same deal with the Toyota Sequoia. If they're gonna call it Sequoia, it should damn well be made entirely of wood and be connected to every other Toyota Sequoia on the gd planet! Just saying.

I'm just cranky. Here:

a link to Instructions by Neil Gaiman

and a few relevant quotes.

"There was never a child so lovely but his mother was glad to get him to sleep." ~RALPH WALDO EMERSON

"But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep." ~ROBERT FROST

Good night, my darlings. (Now close your eyes and close your mouth and go. to. sleep!)

Monday's Muse: Wreck This Journal

Click here to view Wreck This Journal on Amazon.









It was just a few days before Christmas, and I was at Barnes and Noble buying a gift for my brother-in-law. I was also searching in vain for a paperblanks 2012 slim dayplanner, because my husband buys me one every year except THIS year B&N didn't seem to carry them, goddammit. There I was, searching the end-caps, unaware that my muse sat around the corner, just waiting for me. It had been left on a shelf that it clearly did not belong on. From the moment that I set eyes on it, I wanted it. Oh, I didn't admit that, at first, not even to myself. I flipped through it, thinking, "This is great!" I told myself that it would be perfect for my bella figlia...only, I'd already bought her more than enough gifts. Several moments passed as I warred with myself, trying to justify buying it, before the truth dawned on me: what I really wanted, in my heart of hearts, was to buy it for myself. It was such a selfish thought that I shivered a little with the thrill it gave me. It sat, fat and smug in my hands, whispering, "Buy me." So I did.

Quotable Sunday: Eyes

"If you haven't cried, your eyes can't be beautiful." ~Sophia Loren


"Girls talk to each other like men talk to each other. But girls have an eye for detail." ~Amy Winehouse


"It's easy to fool the eye but it's hard to fool the heart." ~Al Pacino


"To judge between good or bad, between successful and unsuccessful would take the eye of a God." ~Anton Chekov

"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Haiku

Ninja song brings grief;
do not drive off of the road,
blinded by your tears.

Friday Fill-Ins: Twelfth Night

1. Discussions about theology with my husband are wonderful and interesting and keep me constantly evolving, questioning, seeking, finding.
2. My husband leaves again for the truck in two hours, and I hate saying, "goodbye."
3. I think it's time for me to finally pack away all of our beautiful holiday decorations for another year. Planning on picking up a few ornament storage bins this weekend for just that purpose.
4. Playing with my 'Wreck This Journal' puts a smile on my face.
5. Maybe sometime , someday, I will learn balance. I am a very black&white thinker, and would like to figure out a way to merge parts of my life that I rigidly compartmentalize. It doesn't always have to be one or the other, Ange!
6. My family gives me strength. So does protein, and memory.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to celebrating 12th night with the children after taking their daddy to his truck, tomorrow my plans include a visit to Half Price books and Michael's to redeem Christmas gift cards, cleaning and crochet, and maybe a visit with my girlfriend Adrienne and her children and Sunday, I want to sleep in!

Love Thursday: Walker's Game "Beanie Boo Adventures"

"The secret of art is love." ~Antoine Bourdelle

Wordless Wednesday: Work In Progress

Free Crochet Pattern: Modern Alchemy Afghan

TTT: I Can't Believe That I'm Out of Ideas Already

You heard me. Day Three and I'm already out of things to write about. Okay, that's not EXACTLY true. I thought about writing a Random Tuesday post. Walker cracked me up this morning when I pulled into a parking spot (that I haven't parked in before) before his ECFE class and he said, "Um, Mama? You park really randomly!" I almost choked on my tongue when West asked me, "Mama? Why don't we decorate for Christmas?" Um...you mean other than the tree and the wreath and the mistletoe and the christmased-up planter outside and the banister garlands and the potted poinsettias on the staircase that we've tripped over every flippin' day this month and the nativity sets and the window clings? I don't know, kid. Apparently, no outside lights=we don't decorate for Christmas. But those two things? Not really enough random.

So then I thought of posting a quote that I like, about how some years ask questions and some years answer them, followed by a list of the things that I really like. Because the answers to who I think I am and what I really love, while still evolving, were hard won. But that seemed kind of daunting after the clock ticked past 3:15pm (when I pick the kids up from school).

So then I thought about posting about the Christmas gift that I bought myself this year for $13.95 called Wreck This Journal. I love it. Almost more than I can say. (And) I will post about it, I swear, but that will involve pictures...and I don't want to mess around with taking and downloading and posting pictures today.

So then I thought, "Screw it! There's gotta be a painless Tuesday meme out there..." So I googled that, and ended up considering making my own poetry chapbook and binding books by hand. Because I really love books, and making things. Which reminded me that I want to play around with the idea of altered books as art. But there is no way that I am going to alter a book, or bind one, and post pictures of that mess by midnight. Moving on--

Oooh, and then I remembered an article that my girlfriend posted on Facebook that really made me think about how my generation is parenting our kids and how I, personally, am raising my kids, particularly my bella figlia, but now that I've blathered on about all of the things that I've decided NOT to write about, at least today, do you really have that kind of time?! I didn't think so.

(And) then, I found it. A shining light, nay, a beacon! leading me out of the darkness and into the land of Something To Blog About: Top Ten Tuesday!

So, here, without further ado, is my official Tuesday blogpost:

Angela's Top Ten List of Things That I Want to Eat, But Am Too Lazy to Prepare Tonight

1) Bean and Corn Salsa with Avocado
2) Lentil Stew
3) Pasta Salad with Veggies and Vegan Mayo
4) Salad (Lettuce, Tomato, Olives, Onions and Newman's Own Olive Oil & Vinegar)
5) Whole Grain Breakfast Bowl
6) Boca Burgers and Onion Rings
7) Reheated Pasta w/Really Yummy Red-Sauce from Napoli's
8) Quaker Oat Squares w/Soy Milk
9) Canned Amy's Vegetable Soup and Cold Canned Green Beans
10) Iced Chai w/out The Ice

Yes, you heard me right. Pouring a bowl of cereal, nuking pasta and opening a can of green beans (which I actually like cold, believe it or not) are beyond me tonight. Also, I know that chai is a beverage, but what with the brewing and the mixing and the sweetening and the chilling, it's a ridiculous amount of work, so I'm totally counting it. Just to be clear, I will be making chicken and rolls and an as-yet-undecided-upon veggie for my children's dinner, but I? Will be eating chips and hummus.

What I've Done and What I Should Be Doing

And now let us welcome the New Year
Full of things that have never been.
-RAINER MARIA RILKE

There were a lot of things that I'd planned on doing as 2011 turned into 2012. I was going to write my dad a birthday letter, finally celebrate Boxing Day, clean and donate and read and crochet and drive to Mankato. Instead, I passed New Year's Eve in my bed, relying on my children (mainly my bella figlia) to keep me in kleenex, orange juice and Nyquil.

The new day (year!) dawned and I had to call my dad and tell him that the kids and I wouldn't make it to his girlfriend's place to celebrate his birthday. I would've been really, really bummed if I had been getting enough oxygen to string two thoughts together. Or maybe it was all that cold medicine? Whatever.

Anyway, an hour later my little sister called to ask if she and the kids could drop by, because Dad had cancelled. I said, "Sure, why not." Which seems mean except isn't because I couldn't infect them because they're the ones who infected ME.

So they came over, and then my dad came over (his girlfriend, Pam, wasn't feeling well but he really did want to see us) and so they all came over and cleaned my house and bought me groceries. Which, come to think of it, is a pretty great way to start the year. For me. Maybe not for them? Nah, they seemed fine.

They went home and I put boys to bed and watched a movie and said goodbye to Travis, who had to fly back to GA in the morning to resume drill-sergeanting (it's a word, shut-up!) and then put Sissy to bed and then I went to bed and then it was today.

I started today day off strong, BREATHING! Woot!

Made sausage and pancakes for the chidlers, and then crocheted for awhile, a skill that I just obtained a month or so ago, while the kids begged for "just one more!" PBS show before their baths.

Gave those squirrelly boys baths and clipped their nails (oh the horror!) and did laundry after Sis's shower and then my nephew Josh came over and I made lunch and crocheted some more and wrote a grocery list and then defrosted the van and went grocery shopping and picked up my husband, who bitched MIGHTILY because I was 20 minutes late, from the truck stop.

Now I am home alone (!!!) and have been listening to the water for my pasta boil on the stove the whole time I've been typing because if I don't use the computer NOW, I will never get to once everyone comes BACK. At least not in time to post today. Because I'm going to post every day.

Also, I can't find my blue crochet hook.

(And) now you're all caught up.

Tomorrow, then.

*Mwah!*

New Year's Resolution

This year I will post a blog daily. Future posts will be much longer than this. Promise.