I have a lot on my own “personal plate” coming up in March and I am nervously looking forward to it. I am trying (or should I say failing miserably) at trying not to get myself all stressed and irritable over my full calendar. I want to fully, fully, fully enjoy meeting my favorite author, SARK, on March 4th. She is coming to Champaign, IL and I can’t wait. I have been worrying about what to wear. (How silly is that?) I want to look like a “Succulent Wild Woman” but I don’t want to LOOK like I am trying to look that way. Ya know. (sigh) Too much to think about. I might have to go shopping. Heehee
PS For those of you who do not know who SARK is, aka Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy, she is the author of many books including “Succulent Wild Woman”, “Eat Mangoes Naked”, and “How to Make Your Creative Dreams REAL”. Her website is www.planetsark.com.

I have also planned a trip (well its only 10 miles out of town) to a DeColores retreat. Well, it’s not really a retreat, but I have no other word for it. I am trying not to worry (or feel guilty) about leaving my family for 3 entire days, but then again, I am extremely excited to be going to do something by myself. I don’t know how I am going to do there. I have never been away from Bryan (or my girls) (or my dogs) for very long. I failed miserably 2 years ago when I was left home alone while everyone was at church camp for a week. So, yes, I am a little scared. I know I will have to share a room with someone, so that should help. I won’t have complete solitude.

I was reading last night about meditation. I think I may try it. Not the “Ooommm” kind but just the taking a few minutes to clear your head type. This article discussed the listening kind of meditation. She listened to the clock ticking and concentrated on it because she had a mind that she could not quiet. Her instructor told her that happens from time to time in people and told her to do the concentrating thing. So I may do that. I am hoping for fewer headaches and less stress. That is my goal.

Well those are my plans for the 1st 2 weekends in March. The 3rd will probably include Cindy’s Bible classes Easter program if she elects to be in it. (I am guessing they haven’t told us the date yet, which is odd.)

Good Friday the 25th of March I am planning on showing the teens in our church the “Passion of the Christ” movie. Which reminds me I need permission slips. Gotta do that. Gotta do that. I thought Good Friday would be the perfect day for obvious reasons.

Then of course, Sunday the 27th is Easter. We usually get the girls Easter gifts and dress up in new outfits.

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Other Random Thoughts:

I don't watch the Oscars because I can't STAND Chris Rock.

Isn't it very very ODD that not one BLACK person is on the upcoming Michael Jackson jury?

Blogging has become next to impossible
for me. (Sort of like trying to have an intelligent converstation around here haha). My weekend (beginning with a sick day from work on Friday) was all cough *cough* cough with sore throat and no voice. No singing in the car, in the shower or just to annoy my kids. It was terrible. I sounded like an 80 year old man. Apparantly my coughing (or actually attempting NOT to cough) was even somewhat amusing to Bryan some other church-goers. I can't help it I was coughing to the music! I was just trying to keep from annoying everyone and spreading germs! Ex-cuuUUussee me for trying to be kind and considerate of my fellow man in (of ALL places) CHURCH!!!

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A memorable quote from last week. I believe it needs no explanation. We'll see.

"I don’t know anything about drugs or medication.

I do know how to light a cigarette,

but I don’t know how to smoke it."

~ Carla

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"Hello…these are my two kids: Loathe and Hatred. And here is our little puppy, Satan."

~Reen

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Honorable Mentions:

Apartame and Okracoke

Carla's Blog will be Information Overload


Ciao!
Reen

Ahhh. Valentine's Day.


I always hated Valentine's Day growing up. I didn't want to be forced to give a valentine in school to people who 365 days of the year either called me (or my friends) names, forced me to listen to the teacher explain AGAIN how photosynthesis makes a plant grow because they were too dense to get it the first time or felt that they were better than me in the stupidest of ways.

After a trip this weekend to the mall and to our favorite store...Hot Topic, I realized that if I were in high school/college now, I would LIVE in that store. Some of the fashions are a little over the top for me, but some on the other hand I am secretly DYING to wear. I usually buy myself tee shirts and jewelry there. I did get a great Legolas binder there that I keep my LOTR autographs in. Very cool, very cool.

I am sure Bridget gets embarrassed seeing her mom (and Dad) go crazy in there like we did this weekend. Hey, we only bought matching Yoda shirts because Star Wars Celebration III is coming up in April!

But anyway...
Reen

Take the quiz: http://www.zenhex.com/quiz.php?id=135

Ariel
You can swim, flip, dive and be one with fish...WHY DO YOU WANT MORE?

Some Definitions That Might Come in Handy


Lazy: resistant to work or exertion; slow-moving; sluggish

Gross: offensive, disgusting

Snot: nasal mucus, phelgm. Also a person regarded as annoying, arrogant or impertinent.

Jerk: a foolish, rude or comtemptible person


All definitions courtesy of www.dictionary.com.


Reen

Just a Thought about T.P.


Why? Why is it that GROWN women seem to be unable to place a NEW roll of toilet paper in the dispenser? We have one that holds 2 rolls. Which, under normal circumstances, would be quite convenient, except in this case no one seems to be qualified to replace the toilet paper in the dispenser.

I would have no reason to complain, except for the fact that someone takes the time to remove the empty roll and throw away the cardboard tube AND there are 5-6 rolls in a box within reach! Our dispenser is the sort that you have to unlock the dispenser and remove the little black rollie things.

I can't take it anymore.

It makes me want to carry my own toilet paper to the restroom with me and ignore the whole mess.

Grr.

Reen

A Couple O' Quotes from our Wednesday Night Bible Study:

"God thinks honesty is good." -Tristin

"But sometimes you just can't get past the ugly!" -Bridget

I found out recently that my fav-or-ite author in the whole wide world SARK will be speaking at a college nearby (well, an hour away). So I am dragging Bryan (I don't like to drive after dark) and possibly Bridget to go meet her. I am hoping to get one (or more!) of my books autographed. I am really hoping for a picture with her. For more information on SARK or her books, here is a link to her website www.planetsark.com .

reen

YIKES! Time is just flying by me! It is Wednesday already. I don't have much going on except the business of work and the attempts to de-stress at home. I did get an email from my college room-mate yesterday. Hi-Ho Laura! That was a great pick-me-up for the day.

Today the psychos are out and they all have my extension number.

An actual senctence I could have said to a customer today:

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I DO know where the aortic valve is on a heart, but that really doesn't have anything to do with our products, does it?"

Some other thoughts from my world:

Harry Potter rocks! (Bridget prefers Ron and his brothers Fred & George)

Orlando broke up with Kate. It was only a matter of time before he came back to me.

Any song mentioned in my office will cause either Carla or I to have it going through our heads all day. (ex: George of the Jungle, Super Freak and Blue Christmas are the latest ones)

Well, until next time...when I realize that way too much time has passed AGAIN...
toodles!
Reen

Wow! My last post was January 26th!!!

Unbelievable! Now you must all understand that when I don't "blog" it means that something is happening in my life that is preventing me from blogging...and that is not good. In this case, I have been so utterly swamped at work and at home that I have not had a moments peace. Cindy has been sick (and now has strep throat). Bridget is not feeling too good either. When I do have more than 10 seconds to allow my mind to think ... I only think of MORE things that have to be done. And SOON!

Is this a sign of an impending nervous breakdown? If they hospitalize me, can I still blog?

Some good news did come yesterday...we got our state refund check yesterday. Woo hoo. Just enough to cover the check I wrote for the auto insurance. Hey, good news is good news. I take what I can get.

I would love to pack a few things and get away for the weekend. Sit in a hot tub drinking a Sprite. Watching TV and commercials. Sleeping in. Shopping. Eating out.

Aaaahhhh. That sounds wonderful.

But that won't happen cuz we have the 4 dogs and now 1 cat (yes, new addition...NOT my fault!) and no one willing to take care of them (or that I would completely trust with them)

Well, now that I have blogged a little I do feel better. I am still as swamped, still as stressed and still as behind as before. More updates as time and sanity allow.

Cheers!
Reen