Honest Aimes

Emily presented me with this neat award, so thank you very much Em!! Please visit her blog.

There are a few requirements to accepting the Honest Scrap Award and they are as follows:

A). Here are 7 honest things about myself:

1. I desperately need to go get an eye exam and some new glasses. So much so that I've worn a pair of broken glasses for the last year that I've taped back together.

2. I have what I guess you might call a bit of a talent for naming things. I would probably have done well in an advertising firm creative department (which is what my daughter will be doing once she graduates college in a year, if the economy cooperates).

3. I just signed up for two online summer workshops, one in creative lettering and the other a study of techniques in Gwen Diehn's book, The Decorated Page.

4. My favorite hot breakfast cereal is Malt-o-Meal.

5. A neighbor gave us a sack of home-grown tomatoes last week and I sure did enjoy slicing them and eating them.

6. In the summer I combine Aveeno Moisturizing Body Wash with St. Ives Facial Scrub on my wash cloth in the shower, and it gets the dead skin off, plus it moisturizes and invigorates my skin all over.

7. I just got my hair cut off super short. I went to my usual hair salon, but began using a new stylist who gave me an old-fashioned razor cut, which is perfect for my hair type. I haven't had this good of a cut in years.

Thinking of 7 things that I haven't already blogged about was hard! So, these may seem obscure things about me. I am in a mood not to repeat anything, though, so, whatchya gonna do?

B). I must put a copy of The Honest Scrap Logo on my blog which I have proudly done!

C). I must select at least 7 other worthy bloggers and list their links. Well, I recently decided that while I refuse to refuse to do tags and quizzes, I am going to refuse to hunt down new recruits. This is entirely my fault as I am very slow and it takes me forever to do that. So, if you are reading and want to do this quiz, consider yourself lovingly tagged by me, okay? And, if you have tagged me, please accept my thanks for understanding. :-)

Feeling the Tag Love

Yup, I've been way too introspective the last day or so, but I had to be to get to the other side of some crap that Hubs laid on me. I'm across now, feeling better, and one thing that helped was Benita awarding me and Antics & Rantics the Rockin Blog / Best Bloggin Buddy and the Your Blog is Fabulous awards. So thank you much, girlfriend.


If you read either of my blogs, you know I've done the tag already, but luckily I have many addictions! LOL Here are 5 more (I previously listed cigarettes, straightening iron, coffee, diet cokes and internet shopping):

1. my computer
2. fox news
3. mad men on amc
4. keeping up with the kardashians on e!
5. movies on tv (turner, amc, tbs, comedy channel)

I want to pass along both of these awards to anyone reading who wants them! :-)))

XXXXX

Yesterday, Hubs came home from work and, unbeknownst to me he was laying in wait for a dog to kick. I've been sort of homebound without a car for about a week now. I have Missy's car in the driveway, but as of Feb. 1, it needs to be inspected and I will not drive it unless it's an emergency that a cop would consider worth the risk of driving it, because my luck with these sort of things is erratic.

I do not want a ticket right now. Plus, there's not a heckuva lot of reasons for me to drive anywhere. I am still recovering way too slowly from my coughy-coldy-allergies (whatever the heck it is that I have) and it's all I can do most days to take care of the kitchen dishes, pay the bills, take care of ReggieDog and keep things picked up around the house.

All I did was bring up what should we do about getting Missy's car fixed or giving it as is to my brother as his oldest turns 16 next month. Well, if any of you have been married a long time to a moody guy, you will understand. Everything he said was derisive and with contempt. He first tried to paint me as paranoid for not driving the car. Then, he imploded into a little tantrum about how he did everything around here, and proceeded to list it all out.

After about a minute of not being able to get a word in edgewise to defend myself and then deciding that was futile, I left out the back door and went to smoke a cigarette in the garage. He followed me, still going a mile a minute on his tirade. I can remember being very aware that if any neighbors were outside, they were hearing him.

I finally put my hands over my ears and this stopped him. He went back in the house and went on to bed, thankfully. Of course, I was left to deal with my shattered self-esteem. It sucks to be told you are a worthless human being by your so-called soulmate, ya know?

But here is where I learned something about myself. At first, I thought through all the things I did do every day, as if preparing a mental rebuttal. But then, a strange calm came over me and I really felt this thought: this is not about me and isn't even worth defending. I began to think of him and all the pressure and stress he is under, working 6 sometimes 7 days a week, helping to run a special project that a lot of money is being spent on. I remembered that he was beginning to be really bothered by his allergies again (he'd basically been through in early January what I've been through with the nasal drip and coughing, and he's getting it again!).

Now, my previous reaction to this behavior (he does it approximately once or twice a year for some reason, like he just has to) was to call a girlfriend or my dad and wail about how unfair Hubs was being, or work myself up into a mass of chaotic hurt and get all depressed. Those kinds of reactions...like I was fighting it or fighting against it.

Now, I felt like I was hovering above it, figuring out the best place to land safely and out of the way. Forgiving him for he knows not how what he does when he does it. And, it's strange, but I think that the combination of growing in my art and growing in my struggle to adjust to my health issues, that combination has helped -- I have matured in these respects.

I could tell myself all day long the words, but this time I lived them. That love is sometimes taking some pain from your loved one if they need to give it to you, and seeing it as venting, not as permanent behavior. Sometimes people have to, need to act like toddlers. It's not like they act that way all the time.

Long story short, Hubs came home today and asked me if I was still mad at him, which was his way of saying that I should be mad. And I was proud of myself, I told him no, that I forgave him because I knew he didn't feel well and was under a lot of stress. You should have seen the look on his face. Relief, appreciation, regret, guilt. All there. He apologized and things went back to regular.

I think I shocked the shite outta him, actually. That should keep him guessing. Such is Love and Life with Mr. Moody. {winkwink}

Tag - I'm It!

I was tagged by my friend Rozette and my fingers have been giving me fits last couple of days, so I wanted to get right on it in case this is all I can post today:

Six Things About Me:
1) I am a Leap Year baby (1956 crop).
2) I owned my own accounting business for 20 years.
3) I have a pretty great husband and a pretty great daughter.
4) I have a very sweet and obedient dachshund.
5) I am allergic to dust mites, pecan trees, shellfish and bananas, just to name a few things.
6) I crave salads and chocolate (but not together).

So if you read this and want to share 6 things about you, please feel free to consider yourself tagged by me!



I also just wanted to show you the pretty salad I made myself with still more cole slaw (I keep making it) and some sliced rib-eye that Hubs grilled. It was delish!

I am also happy to report that I weighed on Friday and those 5 pounds I gained over the holidays are gone. Now to email the nutritonist as to how to proceed...

Back from Real Life

Me, exhausted but wearing my Happy for Hillary smile, upon getting the news at my precinct caucus that she won Texas!!!!

Caucuses suck, by the way, the most un-democratic chaos that could be and IMO a direct disenfranchisement of the vote, ripe for abuse. I'm already signed up on a petition to do away with Texas' so-called Two Step, but that's another story...

I've had the most incredible life since my last post, and I apologize for being gone from here for 10 days, but I can only plead Reality (as opposed to insanity, LOL).

Since we last visited, I volunteered for the campaign like every day, then was purely lucky enough to hookup with Alex, who was scouting for volunteers to read online content and identify sites with unfair accusations and info. So, I got to start doing that. It's just the most amazing thing and right up my alley, given my love of writing and Hillary's candidacy, LOL.

And right in the middle was that fantastic winning night!

I've learned so much, too. Most of which I can't talk about, but I sure wish I could. I can say we caught professional Obama caucusers at our precinct trying to pass themselves off as eligible participants and got them booted out, which enabled Hillary to win at my precinct. Filed complaints with the state party, too. Found out we weren't the only precinct that had this happen, either. And that the reason why Texas' caucus totals won't be finalized for months is because of all the complaints filed against the ObamaBots and it will probably take that long to settle those, but you will likely not be told that by the mainstream media because it makes Mr. New Kind of Politics look bad (I'm about ready to hit somebody right now just thinking about it).

Anyway, there's tons of other volunteers like me doing the same thing nationwide, so this is nothing special to anyone but me. But I love it.

So anyway, where was I on this blog? Oh, yeah, showing more birthday photos and picking 3 more commenters for RAKs. I do have a couple more photos. And, I have the hand-made RAKS for the next 3 peeps almost done, but until they are finished, I think I'm going to wait to say who they are for. I'm really enjoying making little artfarts for you, and I've been super-productive since I can work on bits and pieces while reading campaign content. I got the first 3 RAKs mailed off last week and have heard back from them. You're very welcome, my pleasure. I'll show some photos of my artfarts next time.

Okay, so the rest of my birthday photos: here's the scene pulling up to the restaurant, Pappadeaux.

Here's my m-i-l and s-i-l on our way out:

Here's most of the cards I got:I loved how one of them is an actual teenager card, HA! Here is one I got from my girl Texas Kim, and I think it's probably the most unusually cool "nude" thing I've ever gotten in the mail! I was shocked that it made it without a smudge or a tear (I made a little front and back photo collage for you so you can see that it was mailed just as you see it...no envelope...wowzers, huh?): Awesomely ingenious and creatively hip, Kim. Thanks! What did the post office clerk say? I'm dying to know! LOL

I also got a scrapping equipment gift. Hubs asked what big tool did I want, and I said (without hesitation), "I want the new Quickutz Revolution borders bundle!":Oh man, it's Lust with me and this bundle. Just looking at the photo makes me weak in the knees. I haven't ordered them yet, cuz I'm waiting for the price to drop just a bit. But it's great to know that it's a guilt-free purchase when that time comes, LOL. For me, this is a Top Ten contender in My Gifts of All Time.

Rosette has tagged me, so here goes (hey, girl, I hope you recognized that restaurant, being that it's in your vicinity, LOL):

A- Attached or single: Attached
B- Best Friend: Hubster
C- Cake or Pie: Cake (Duncan Hines Choc. Fudge)
D- Day of Choice: Sunday
E- Essential Item (s): cell, lipgloss, cash
F-Favorite type of music: 60's-80's rock
G- Gummy Bears or Worms: Neither
H- Hometown: Houston, TX
I- Indulgence(s): fried butterfly shrimp
J- January or July: January
K- Kids: 1 Girl
L Last movie: Bourne Supremacy on TBS
M- Marriage Date: 05/29/1987
N- Number of Siblings: 1 brother
O- Oranges or Apples: Apples
P- Phobias or Fears: heights
Q- Quote(s): "Know thyself" ~ Oracle at Delphi
R- Reason To Smile: Hubs cracks me up
S- Season: Fall
T- Tag : Tina
U- Unknown Fact About Me: (if I told you, it wouldn't be unknown anymore)...oh, okay: I've washed my face with Noxema my entire life.
V- Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animal: I'm not a vegetarian.
W- Worst Habit: Smoking
X- X-Rays or Ultrasounds: Ultrasounds
Y- Your Favorite Food: Rib eye, baked potato, salad
Z- Zodiac: Pisces

Thanks, Linda - Let's Play Hump Tag!

Missy sent me photos of her brand-new dorm room. She moved to a just-opened dorm and has a new roommate, her bff Katelyn. First, a little reclining shot on her bed...

Then, a shot of a couple of LO's I created for her. She has them in the page protectors sideways and uses the binder holes to hang them by. I think it looks cool...

I got a bit verklempt at this shot of her bedside table. She's showing off her Zapatos shoes; but, me being Mom, I spied the striped SEI scrapbook I had filled with LO's and given her, sitting on the carpet underneath the table, ready for her to look at if maybe she can't sleep at night or gets homesick. Awwww.

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I was tagged by the lovely Linda. All of the questions have 2 answers. After answering all the questions here, add one question of your own (this tag started with 4 questions) and then tag 2 people. Simple enough? I am tagging Barbara and Katy.

1. Name your 2 favorite scrapbooking topics:
a. my family
b. my dogs

2. What are the 2 best places you've been to?
a. London
b. Paris

3. Name 2 things you do every day:
a. eat
b. computter (computer-putter)

4. Tell us 2 things that pretty much everyone knows about you.
a. my sense of humor
b. my love of writing

5. 2 places you wish to visit:
a. Amsterdam
b. Montana

6. 2 things you may not know about me are:
a. I am such a homebody that I only leave my house once a week, if I can help it.
b. I'm a closet fan of "Little House" reruns, on the Hallmark Channel. The other day, Laura, Mary and Mr. Edwards' son got stuck on a runwawy train car and man, I was glued to it til Pa and Mr. Edwards got it stopped. Whew! That was a close one!

7. 2 nicknames you've had at some time in your life:
a. Miss 5 (as in Miss 5 Minutes Later)
b. Aim-o, Aimeless, Aimester....something usually along those lines.

8. Name 2 of your favorite drinks:
a. Green tea on ice, with mint and lemon
b. Diet Coke

9. What are 2 interesting (in a good or bad way) jobs you have had in your life?
a. Probably my most enjoyed one: in the late 70's, I was assistant controller for Pace Mgmt, which owned Pace Concerts, during their heyday as THE concert mgmt company. Needless to say, I had an awesome night life!
b. Probably my least enjoyed one: One summer in college, I wondered about quitting school to get a job and be on my own. The first job I found was waitressing at a Denny's-type 24-hr restaurant. Although the money was pretty good, I'd never worked harder physically, nor been treated so badly (very sexist). In the fall, I was signed up for those college classes again, bebe. LOLOL Thank GOD!

10. What are your top 2 fun things to do after work?
a. shower
b. put on fresh, clean clothes

11. What are 2 things I would like to learn:
a. Spanish
b. Photoshop Elements

12. What are the last 2 songs you downloaded or last 2 CD's you bought?
a. Amy Winehouse "You Know I'm No Good"
b. John Mayer "Waiting on the World to Change"

13. I added this one:
Name 2 movies you could watch or you have watched 100 times in your life and still watch again, no problem:
a. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
b. Office Space

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Wish me luck and cross your fingers for me: I pulled one of my famous put-aways. I put away in a safe place the memory card that holds all the not-yet-uploaded photos of what I made for Christmas gifts, and now of course, I cannot find it. I know it is here somewhere. It's just that I cannot yet remember where it is. I'm giving it another couple of days before I begin to tear the house apart, so please...say a little one for my card to just appear out of nowhere, ok? LOL Thanks [blushing and shrugging shoulders]

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Edited to add cuz I forgot: 2Peas Blogger challenge for Thursdayis to post your very first layout. omg. well, okay. I'm never one to say no to providing a laugh, LOL. This is my Hubs, Christmas of 1952, his first one:


Have a great end-of-week days!