Live Simply, Simply Live

Sometimes I feel like a failure

I have such GOOD intentions. Really I do. There is so much I want to share with all of you. Cards to create and crafts to make and pages to complete. And then there's the stuff I've actually COMPLETED that I want to share. Plus there are stories and tales and adventures just bursting to get out of my fingers.

Yet I get side tracked. A lot. Many times it's work. Honest Injun. I've worked so many extra shifts and sick calls lately that I honestly don't remember the last time I had a day off. NOT that I'm complaining mind you. In fact, I am extrememly grateful for those extra shifts. With two in college and two in high school (now how in the hell did that happen? When did I get old enough to have TWO kids in college?!!) the extra money comes in very handy. In fact, it just gets sucked right down into the never ending vortex of must-haves and really-needs and the occasional dollar-scoop-tuesday at Baskin Robbins.

But, truth be told, it's the darn bike that really messes with my good intentions. Brian and I have started ride-sharing. He loads his bike in the car and drives to work, then when he's off he pulls out his bike and rides home (he is mostly always off before dark. No riding after dark for us. Just too darn dangerous). I, on the other hand, ride my bike to work (I load the car with my shower bag, clothes and lunch bucket before Brian leaves in the morning so I don't have to add that extra weight to my bike... and because a front-basket-heavy bike can be a scary thing), lock it up and toss it in the car for the ride home at o-dark thirty. Works out nicely. We both get to ride, neither has to ride in the wee or late hours and we only take one vehicle to work.

But sometimes I ride BEFORE I ride to work. A little extra. And then I just keep right on going to work. I love to ride to go dumpster diving. (More on that later. My new favorite hobby). I love to ride to do chores and errands and pick up the occasional item from Costco. But mostly, when the sun is out I just love to ride.

Hence the dirty house and ratty children and bare cupboards. And the reason I don't post nearly as much as I would like to. I'd love to be able to say "I promise, I'll be better". But the truth of the matter is that it's August, it's absolutely gorgeous in the Pac NW, Tim is playing football and is doing a ton of volunteering for Servant Festival, Jones has dance and cheer and youth group, and Bug leaves in just under 3 weeks for Gonzaga (yet another post in and of itself) and, well, I love to ride.

July? Already?

The post below this? Really, I will get there. I promise. No idea when, but it will happen. Life has been beyond crazy yet we are still plugging along. I'm cheating and using prompts from Becky's blog to post here.

Outside my window… well, depends on the window. I'm going with the one where the flowers are blooming and the sun is shining and you can't see the weeding that desperately needs to be done.

I am thinking... about my sis. It is her 46th birthday. I just delivered her 100 hand made greeting cards, her ipod and her chocolate covered strawberries. Happy b-day sissy mine.

I am thankful for… time with Brian. We leave at 0800 tomorrow morning for five days of camping in eastern, OR. Just he and I.

From the kitchen… Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. For the two kids going to Camp Coeur d'Alene tomorrow with the high school group and for Bri and I. 

I am wearing... Brown capris and a yellow t shirt.

I am creating… cards. Lots of them. For my sis and to build up my own stash.

I am going… to camp with my hubby, And. I. can't. wait.

I am reading…"Sudden Death” by Allison Brennan. I have 4 other books ready to go camping with me.

I am hoping… that things quit breaking and breaking down soon. It is getting old. 

I am hearing… the folks I work with quietly talking. I am in the "quiet" section of the ER tonight and so very grateful for that.

Around the house… there is chaos. I do not like chaos. It makes me crazy and depressed. Yep. EXACTLY what Becky said. I plan to fix that. Soon. I hope.

One of my favorite things…  books. Bicycling. Being with Brian. And I get to enjoy ALL of them very soon :)

A few plans for the rest of the week… see above. Plus some hiking and boating and s'more making and most of all.... some RELAXING!!!!!

 

Interrupted programming

Darn sun, it has a way of sidetracking me from important, indoor activities. Such as sharing all the things I'd planned and want to share. However, I have tomorrow off and I WILL share a bit then. My share list keeps growing and growing. Perhaps the thunderstorms in our immediate future will keep me inside, off my bike and at the computer.

Maybe.

Exercise

The first of the promised posts. Not sure why I chose exercise to start; maybe because I've had some killer good workouts this week. Of course, I'd have a LOT more success losing this last 10 pounds if I quit making brownies and cupcakes and agonizingly good treats, but heck, I need a challenge or two, right? And besides, the whole baking thing is another post. So, exercise. I ride my bike when I can (light and weather allowing) and I work out in the hospital gym (on an elliptical that looks much like the one shown above) when riding is not possible. But I learned something important in the last few months, hence the reason I'm sharing.

If you add this:

 

to the above image you get an infintely more intense workout. Really. I'm not even kidding about this. I got an ipod shuffle, per my request, last Christmas. That's right, not 2008, but 2007. But I'd never used it because Brian borrowed it from me. Long term. So, I got him the pretty blue model for Easter and I got my lovely pink mini back. And I had Brian load workout songs on it (hey, he had mine so long he was already a pro at loading it; no need for me to learn.). I tell you what, this product of the 80's has made darn good use of such hits as "I need a hero" and "Dancing in the dark" and "Footloose" and, well, you get the idea. Really kicks up the pace and helps the workouts go a whole lot faster. I mean, how can you NOT move fast with Irene Cara belting the theme song from "Flash Dance" in your ear?

So, give it a try. Heck, I even go faster on my bike when I wear my shuffle while riding. And that's my advise for today.

PS, no stinking clue why the ipods showed up twice and even worse, I've no clue how to remove the second image. Sorry 'bout that.

Email

Recently I've received several emails that all start something like this ..."where the heck did you go?"

Ummm, no where. I mean I did go a few places, but I'm back and have been for a bit. Seems like if I don't get on the computer to scan things I don't think about blogging them and sharing. But I'll be better, I promise. Until it turns really nice outside and it becomes bicycling weather, then all bets are off.

So, a random list of things I'll soon be following up on:

College weekend, scrapbook getaway, exercise, Idaho road trip, sweaters, graduation, garage door, cycling book, camping and cycling with a UTI, June in general and books. OK. I think that's enough for now.

Sidetracked

I had such lofty goals. Get the kids' current photos done and into their albums. Current. Get Matt's little guy photos sorted and prioritized and into albums. On the road to completed albums, pages where they belong, photos out of boxes. But then my paper system wasn't working. And we added a second computer on my scrap desk. And I got more books which take up more shelf space and, well, clutter. I can't handle cluter. No way I can scrap in clutter. Add in the work thing and the chores associated with getting our tax returns back (ie, fixing and repairing things that were put on hold) and a few nice days and dang. Nothing is getting done! I have a list of things that need doing as long as my arm and what do I do? I tell 'em I'll work tomorrow night. The late shift! ACK!!!!! What was I thinking? Oh, yeah. Greedy me. Scrap convention coming up. And to top it off tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and beautiful and 57 degrees. Bet the bike wins and the list will just have to wait. Again.

Random rhetorical question...

Why are there so many stinking screws on the side of the road? I saw at least two dozen on my bike ride today (it was GORGEOUS here and well, my bike called me... loudly!) and I dodged most of them. But how do they get there? Do folks drive by with a handful of screws and toss them out the window? Do they just randomly pop off cars? And if so, why don't other car parts (not hubcaps, we all see those all the time too. But at least that makes sense) not fall off since there are no screws holding them on? Do hunks of hail contain screws, so when the hail melts the screws are left behind? I mean, how does this happen? I wonder about these things...

I'm a simple girl.

OK, I can hear Brian laughing. But really, I am. I like simple, basic decorations. I like plain lines and solid colors and basic patterns. I tried for HOURS yesterday to make a hippy dippy trippy scrapbook page, just because I wanted to. I also love that look and totally admire folks that create and think that way. I just don't. I ripped up stuff so many times that I finally said "enough". I like simple. I decided years ago that my primary focus was and always would be the stories. Not so much the pictures themselves, or a specific event (though sure, I have fun with those too) but the remembered stories that define who we are. I'm that way with food and clothes and quilts (Thimbleberery anyone?) and everything. So I'll stick with my beloved simple and maybe I'll get a few more pages in the kids' books. Here's one from yesterday. Those pictures make me smile. He was so stinkin' cute! At 19 he's not quite that charming any more.... though he is still pretty cute.

 

I put a couple more in the kids' album too. Hoping for a few more today. Bless you! 

Another baby Matt and some rolodex cards

My darn laptop keeps booting me off before I can upload. Fifth time's the charm, right? I abandoned my original January goal in order to finish my rolodex. So much fun, but a TON of work. I took pics of 35 of the cards (there are 96 in all.... aren't you glad I didn't take pictures of all of them?!) and they are over there, on the right, in their own little category if you'd like to see them. I also uploaded a few more of the layouts I made for Matts book. Can anyone say "old product?" But hey, it works and he likes them, so who can ask for more?! Here is one with my Grama, his Great Grama. She was so darn cute. Love that lady a lot. Miss her.

 

And here is one of the rolodex cards. They have scrapping (or card making, it could work for either) concepts on one side and quotes or bible verses on the other. The completed rolodex sits on the shelf directly above my work area and I love it. Makes me smile.

 

Yep, stickers! Bet you forgot you even had those! OK, I'm being paged to head out to go to a SuperBowl party. Go Cards!!! (Not because I'm in love with them.... I'm a 'Niners girl.... but because I like the underdog.) Have a great day and God bless.

Darn system...

Every time I try and post the other l/o's I completed last weekend the darn site freezes up. So, no l/o's for now. Besides, I've been sidetracked from my January goal. In my last book I shared pages/cards from a rolodex I created using the "jump start your creativity" concept. I gave away that rolodex, as well as another, smaller one. Since then I've wanted to make one for the top of my desk. And I am :) I've stamped quotes on all the cards, cut them to size and have started the concept side of the cards. It's time consuming, but so much fun. I will gladly share (system allowing...) when I am done. Some time this week I hope.