Random Ponderings

I had a lot of "think" time today.

What kind of vacuum cleaner should I purchase?  We need one NOW.
Should I put Valentine Decor or Mardi Gras?
When will this rain end?
Did the weather guy just say sleet and snow is in the forecast?
Wasn't it 70 degrees Saturday morning?
Where is the nearest drive thru car wash?
What time is it?  That question is asked often.
What are we going to have for supper?
Did I remember to unplug the curling iron?
Did I pay Dancer Girl's lunch money?

Tonight is the BCS championship between LSU and Alabama.  I graduated from LSU.  I enjoyed every minute, however, most of those enjoyable minutes had nothing to do with football.   I wore my LSU Alumni T-shirt to school today.  Not a question, but I did think about my LSU days today.

Why do I still have a sore throat?  It's been almost a month.

When you know it's right, you just know it's right.

When will I find a pretty rug for the hearth room?

When I figure out the answers to all of these questions, I'll let you know!

:)

I Heart Having A Family

This morning when I got up and made my way through the booby traps to the coffee pot, I had to smile.  There was a WRECK in every room.  Just see for yourself.

Oh yes -   A big, big mess.   I could write a song.
My first thought was to take all these photos.  Then spend several hours cleaning everything, and then post "after" photos.

But you know what?  After thinking about it (as I was cleaning up everything) I decided that's not what I wanted to do.

I remember a time when I didn't have people living with me.  I remember when there was only one small basket of laundry.

And so today I am so thankful that I have a family.

 I'm thankful that The Engineer comes home, throws his books and shoes and backpack on the floor just like old times.  Because he's home.

 I'm thankful that I have to buy this many eggs.  Because I have that many people who live here who enjoy eggs.

I'm thankful that the laundry room proves a family lives here. I  love the hooks Ironman installed.  And I especially love that my daughter writes "A Rocks" on every single writable surface!

I love that my 17 year old asks Ironman to study with her.

I love that my 13 year old enjoys shopping with Mom.  (and cooking)

I love that my 20 year old likes to come home and just hang out with the parents.

Even if we're not doing anything special. 

I love being IN a family.

Saturday Morning Bah Mitzvah

Dancer Girl was invited to her friend's Bah Mitzvah.  I have never been to such a service.  I was delighted to escort her.  Not knowing what to expect still gives me those middle school butterflies.  The minute we stepped inside we were among family.  And that was definitely the ongoing theme of the celebration.   I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Seeing the legacy of generations, the friends from far, my daughter and her middle school friends.......... I loved it.  I am thankful we were all invited to share with H.R. on his special day.  I am thankful and honored to be a part of the extended family/friend community.

By the time I returned home it was well past noon.  And my list of "must be done today" items were waiting for me.  Oh my goodness, where to even begin!

I had a few packages to deliver to the post office.  But first they had to be packed, addressed and stamped.   I had sticky floor in the kitchen, bathroom mirrors that haven't seen windex in way too long, laundry piled high, mail to sort, bills to pay.  CALGON!! TAKE ME AWAY!!

I must confess a little secret that only Ironman knows about me.  I LOVE to clean the house. I love housework.  I know, CRAZY!  I love the sound of a vacuum, the smell of cascade and windex.  I love to sort, arrange, organize and purge.  So today was a good day for me.  Busy, but good.

Tomorrow:  MORE PHOTOS!  I can't wait  :)

I'm not complaining. Really, I'm not.

It's diet time again.  Or maybe I should call it "healthy lifestyle" time.  The NutriSystem/Weight Watchers/Jenny commercials are everywhere.  (When did Jenny Craig become just "Jenny"?)

Yes, I've gained weight.  I blame it on the stress of having a house on the market for a long 13 months.  L.O.N.G. thirteen months.  Oh sure, some people can't eat when they are feeling anxious and stressed.  I'm not a member of that club.

We finally sold the house.  Bought a new house.  School started.  I started a new job.  It was just one thing after the other.  So before Thanksgiving I talked to Ironman about my deciding it was time to put myself on the list.  Women, and especially mothers, tend to take care of everyone else and put themselves last.  We all know that is true.

But I had to get through Thanksgiving.  And then I had to get through Christmas.  (I know, I know.......... you don't have to tell me)

About a week ago I talked to Ironman again about my plan.  I asked him to please help me.  I  need his cooperation and help.  And I definitely need him to NOT sabotage me.  Even indirectly.   Now Ironman wears the same size jeans as the day we got married.  33X34. Yep, the same size. But he understood and agreed he'd behave.  :)

This week has been a healthy week.  I've eaten from all the food groups, steered clear of sugar and white flour.

Today after work I got home to hear of the big plans.  B/C The Engineer is returning to campus on Sunday we just have to go out to eat.  Mexican Food.  OH MY!!  Patti hungry and tired on a Friday evening + Mexican restaurant.  Not a good combination.

Ironman looked at me. "The eating is over after this meal"  Ha!  Where have I heard that before?

I'm having a difficult time getting started.  I know I can lose the pounds I gained over this last year.  But I need to get through that first day!  It has been frustrating trying to just get going.

Therefore I am putting myself first on the list.  I'm stocking the refrigerator full of healthy food choices.  Dancer Girl said she will ride her bike beside me every other day if I wanted to start walking again.  Yes!  I want to start!

I'll let you know how it goes.

Finished and Turned In On Time

Since Sunday afternoon my family has been entrenched in an assignment given by I.T. Girl's History Teacher.  My  middle daughter is in the 11th grade.   I'm not sure when the assignment was given by the teacher, but I.T. girl did not begin until Sunday.  And it was due today, Wednesday.

Oh sure, every now and then she'd mention it to me.  "I have this autobiography project I have to do."  Then she'd say, "I'm going to work on that autobiography project over the Christmas Holidays"  O.K.  I was pretty sure THAT wasn't going to happen.

I've never had to force coax I.T. Girl when it comes to homework.  She's relatively studious and her time management skills are usually pretty good.  Still, like her mother, many times the outcome is better under pressure.

And so as my family sat down for Sunday Dinner, I.T. girl began describing everything that was to be included in this project.  OH MY!!!   We decided we'd divvy up the work.  Several of the assigned items could only be done by I.T. herself.  But almost half of them were merely "looking up facts on the internet".

Here are some of the items:
A family tree with at minimum five generations.  Complete with dates of birth, dates of christening, dates of death, city and state of residency, occupation.  WOW!  Ironman and I both helped with that one.  We filled out a worksheet and then I.T. girl designed a "tree" and just copied our information.

A mission statement.  Obviously I.T. girl had to complete that one herself.

A list of 10 historical events that happened on your birthdate.

An imaginary interview with a well known person living or dead.  The Engineer helped with this one.  He wrote out an interview with Walt Disney.

A list of 10 memorable days in your life.  I helped her with this one.

And the list goes on and on and on.  There were 25 items to complete.

We all worked together for several hours Sunday,  then again on Monday.  Then again last night, Tuesday.  By 10pm the entire project was printed, placed in sheet protectors, snapped into a binder, signed, sealed............. and I.T. girl delivered it to her teacher today.

It was a monster of an assignment.

Homework wears us all out.  

********************************************

So with that project behind us I hope I can have the time and energy to get back to my crafting and sewing and cooking and reading and all that stuff I enjoy.  

I'd like to make a few more of those paper trees.  Maybe using magazine pages this time.

I'd like to sew some pillow covers from luncheon napkins I bought at World Market.

I'd like to paint the wood pallet I pulled from a dumpster.  (I saw a super cute idea on pinterest)

I'd like to sit quietly and finish the book I started way back before the holiday madness began.

I'd like to take a nap!!

My 5 Strengths

I returned to work today after the Christmas/New Year Holidays.  Today was a day set aside for faculty and staff to enjoy a fun morning of inservice.  Don't we all enjoy inservice day?  As you can see I was not excited to return.  I hoped the morning would be worthwhile.

The faculty was assigned a book to read sometime in October/November.

Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath

 After reading the book and opening the envelope in the back with your one time only access code, you were to log on and take the online quiz.  This quiz would reveal your top 5 strengths.

I skimmed the book on Saturday.  I took the online quiz on Saturday.  Yes, I didn't do it until the deadline was nearing.  Still I heard other teachers admit they got up early this morning and took the quiz!  We do best under pressure.

My top 5 strengths:
1. Relator
2. Achiever
3. Maximizer
4. Developer
5. Discipline

I have to say, relator?  I was STUNNED it was my greatest strength.  I feel like I struggle to relate with others.  I've always said the most challenging part of my job is working with women.  And I'm a woman.  So I can say that.  It can be great working with other women but it can be difficult and frustrating.  

The book has a short chapter explaining each strength.  After reading it thoroughly scanning it I decided that many of the traits outlined for "relators" I do recognize.  So okay, maybe that is one of my personality quirks.  But a strength?  I just don't know.

We met as a grade level and read our list of strengths aloud.  Discovered others who have the same strength.  Laughed and discussed each one.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The next exercise took a little more thought.  We were to attribute a strength (or two) to those we work with on a daily basis.
When I read through the cards about me - WOW!  I was so .......... not sure what the word is.  But I was happy and relieved and almost proud (can I say proud?) of the strengths my work friends listed under my name.  I HOPE I have those strengths.
And, by the way, their lists were quite different from the computer generated one.

Restorative
Self-assurance
Empathy
Harmony
Arranger
Consistent

Someone even wrote in the word LOVELY along the side.

It absolutely made my day.
Have you ever thought about your strengths?

Happy New Year 2012

This morning Ironman and I were the only ones awake.  The house was quiet and peaceful.  We scrambled some eggs, buttered some toast, and had a pot of coffee to share. I'm sure I married the right one.  (long story for another time)

 Then we decided to go on to church alone and let the teenagers sleep in.
It was so nice to sit in worship with just my husband.  I needed it.  I needed time to reflect, remember and rest in HIs care.  The service refreshed my soul.

On the way home we pulled into a nearby grocery store.  Obviously, we better not return home without food.  We filled the cart with necessary things.  I did not "fret" about the money because I'm thankful to have a houseful of hungry teenagers.

Anyway, most of the day Ironman and I have thought about the past.  Our teens leave the room LOVE and ENJOY when we sing old 70s songs and talk about the "old days"

Do you remember:
1. When stores were closed on Sunday?
2. When your 4th grade teacher threatened you with the metric system?  YOU MUST LEARN IT.  When you're an adult, all the USA will be using this system.
3. When your grandmother added bacon fat to all her cookin'?
4. The words to Kumbayah?  My kids had never even hear of that song.
5. Or the words to "Kookaburro"?
6. Or Neil Sadaka?  When I was a young girl, after my parent's divorce.........I wanted my mother to marry Neil Sadaka.  :)
7. Playing outside until the street lights came on?  Nobody ever checked on us
I rode my bike to school.  Every day.  1st - 6th grade

Love and Kisses

It's back to work for me tomorrow.