One, Two, Three, Four...Stick Around We'll Tell You More!

Happy HalloWEENIE everyone! Super Blogger Woman with No Regrets chose the word for this week's special holiday edition of the Saturday Scavenger Hunt...WEENIE!

I was hoping to actually eat a hot dog sometime this week and photograph that WEENIE...didn't happen though. *sigh* So here is WEENIE Plan B:

This is one of my favorite Halloween stories. It is called The Hallo-Weiner by Dav Pilkey. Couldn't get much closer to being a WEENIE story.

I like dressing up for HalloWEEN-IE...even though it might be kind of a WEENIE thing to do. haha! I do have the excuse of working with children. Yeah, that's why I do it!

Hope you are all having a great weekend. Can't wait to see your WEENIEs! Um. Wait. You know what I mean. Guh. Don't forget to check with NoRegrets to see who she tags for next week. And once again I wish you a very Happy HalloWEENIE!!!

Tricks & Treats In the Stacks

Yesterday I had my two big Halloween programs at work. They are called Trick or Treat in the Library. I do it every year as an event for 2-6 year olds. The kids dress up and come in for a Halloween storytime. Then we have a little parade through the library, where they receive treats at various stations around the building. It is so much fun. I look forward to it every year, but I'm always really relieved when it is over. It is a pretty simple program, but for some reason, over the years, it has become this thing that seems to be proceeded by a great deal of excited anticipation from the community. Also, I have to limit it to 75 kids in each group, so there is this competivite thing surrounding getting the tickets.

Anyway, yesterday's programs went really well and I think we all had a great time. As always, I did a very simple costume so that the younger kids would recognize me (and as a bonus, of course, it is much less of hassle for me!) I will get to wear my costume again, because I work on Halloween this year. Luckily, I will be off at six. Plenty of time to tag along with the Kick Back Dude family's trick or treating if I want to. Handsome Lad is going with friends and his dad is handling that. Girlie Girl will be out with her friends, although I believe at some point they are coming back to spend the night at our place...I imagine it will be a fairly late night though.

What are your plans for Halloween? Tell me about it!

I Can Scare the Pants Off the Holiest Ghost

Hola amigas and amigos! Today's Choose and Defend Wednesday is brought to you in partnership with Swamp Gas & Moonlit Reflections' "Scare Your Pants Off" Week! My question isn't toooo scary though...and I couldn't even bring myself to choose really scary illustrative photos. I am a total sissy when it comes to this stuff. But I know there are more than a few of you who aren't sissy babies at all! So, school me. Choose and Defend. What kind of unnerving sort of movie do you prefer...

Psychological Thrillers
OR
Violent Action Films

Lay it on me, sisters and brothers. When you want to get creeped out, what does it for you? Choose and Defend and make it count! SYPO rules! Woo!

The 411. Just 4 U.

I don't want to assume that everyone is as fascinated by me as I am...but it is my blog after all, so yeah, today we will talk about me. And about DR too! That poor man was on display vitually all weekend IRL...why not here too? haha!

It starts with a loooong drive. DR drove all day last Wednesday, straight through. I even got to update his progress on his Facebook wall, which was kind of cool and made me feel involved in the trip without that horrible cramped feeling of being in a car for 10 hours. He stopped in briefly at his sister's, where he is staying while getting situated. He wanted to come over right away....I wanted him to come over right away...and what is another 45 minutes or so after all of those hours?

He called when he was on my street and I ran downstairs and practically rushed the door of his car. When he got out we just hugged and hugged...it felt awesome. After that, I kind of didn't want to stop touching him for the next few days. But of course there was a lot going on. He met Girlie Girl right away, as when we stepped inside the apartment, there she was! They have a similar sense of humor and hit it right off.

I took a mental health day on Thursday so that we could sort of just unwind together. It felt so good just having him near me. I wish I could explain just how it felt, but probably you can imagine. I do give you guys some credit. haha! Anyway, DR went home that evening and I had work the next day...but he came back late Friday, after he had spent some time with his family...who I reminded myself had been anxiously awaiting his move too!

Saturday, we had lunch with the Kick Back Dude gang. They were all really excited to meet DR and we'd had this lunch planned for awhile. Golden Dragon, yay! I felt so proud and happy with my family all around me and DR next to me. He is very good with kids. Miss Personality seems quite smitten and the babies, who are a bit shyer, were very calm with him, as though he'd always been around.

What DR had got (?) to sit across from for his morning coffee. What a treat. *snicker* Trust me, the less you can see here, the better

The kicker was Sunday when I forced this poor man to sit down to lunch with the KBD clan again, Girlie Girl, AND my mom, dad, and step mom. I guess forced might be a strong way to put it, but really...what could he say? Both of these days were a lot of fun, but also pretty long and public. DR was definitely thrown right into the fire and definitely handled it all sooo much better than I ever could have.

When he left to go home Monday morning and I was heading off to work again, it was like almost like waking up from a dream. Back to reality. But still...a better reality, I think. This wasn't just a weekend, it was the start of our life together here, only minutes apart from one another at the worst, joined at the hip at the best :-) Yeah, no one can predict the future, but I don't think there is anything too wrong with some optimism and hope and love.

This Musical Message is For Love, At Last

Nothing Can Hold You Back, When You're Not Holding Back a Thing

I can't believe it is Saturday again! This week's Saturday Scavenger Hunt word was chosen by the lovely and amazing Ananda Girl @ Oodles of Funch! Ananda chose HONORED. Such a positive word...getting to sit here pondering ways in which I felt HONORED or how I wanted others to be HONORED. In the end, I decided that for once I would keep it simple simon.

I am HONORED to have a job where I receive positive feedback in the form of evaluations and patron comments. I am HONORED to provide programs that are almost overwhelmingly participated in by the community.

I am HONORED to be chosen as the #1 Mom. I have the keychain to prove it, so suck it all you other mothers. Um. Sorry.

Probably it sounds silly, but I am HONORED to have participated in this awesome game since its inception just over two years ago. I may be wrong...it happens...but I don't think I've missed a week. I'm HONORED each time any of you comes by my blog, especially when you take the time to comment.

Now we wait. Who will Ananada tag? What will the next word be? Stay tuned...

Friday 5 - Resilience

Everybody's got something to hide, 'cept for me and my monkey

Yes, I have a chip on my shoulder...meet my monkey friend, Chip!

Here is the backstory given for this week's Friday 5: Someone I know is getting married for the third time this weekend, and while there are many ways to look at such an event, what I am struck by is the complete optimism and resilience with which the bride and her close friends approach this reality. It would be easy to be cynical, or resigned, or whimsical, but I envy the bride her resilience, so these questions are in her honor.

1.Who in your life seems especially resilient? I'd have to say my daughter-in-law, Princess Diva. She had a rough childhood and came out of everything incredibly focused and resourceful, rather than ruined. I admire her a lot.

2.What characteristics would a person need to develop in order to become resilient? I think you need to have a deep sense of your own self-worth. You need to see problems as opportunities. You need to be able to absorb a blow and move on. None of this seems quite adequate, but it is a start.

3.In what areas of your life do you think you’ve been resilient? I feel like I do at least try to take any situation and make the best of it...see it in the most positive light possible. A positive attitude helps me to get past things that can seem insurmountable.

4.It is often said among educators that a strong indicator of resiliency in children is the presence of a “charismatic adult.” In your own childhood, who was the charismatic adult who inspired you to grow positively? I love my parents dearly, but if being honest, neither of them are particularly charismatic. I guess I'd lay that at the feet of the two skating instructors I learned under. They were both very dynamic and affirming people. As I learned to skate from them, I also learned how to present myself and how to treat other people in a way that would make them feel good about themselves.

5.Can one be tough and resilient at the same time, or are they opposite traits? They are not the same thing, but they are definitely not opposites. Sometimes resilience requires toughness. Sometimes you have to remember that toughening up isn't always the answer. But, yes, one can be both tough and resilient.

I hope you will participate, here or in your own blog. Have a love-filled weekend. I look forward to seeing how you are HONORED tomorrow!

I Rehearsed Those Lines Just Late Last Night

Today, as you may know, is a big day for me and DR. As I write this, he is driving in my direction. He is keeping me updated, I am keeping FB updated, and it seems the trip is going like clockwork *knock on wood*. All this waiting isn't going to be waiting for much longer...which is what inspired today's Choose and Defend Wednesday :-) It is pertinent to lots of life situations. Think about how it has pertained to you, Choose, and then Defend. It is just that easy. Which of these two things do you prefer? They both have their perks! Do you enjoy...

Anticipation
OR
Reaching Your Goal

Tell me all about it. I could use the distraction :-) Choose and Defend!

l.b. Wearing Lightning Bear

This season's must have is the Sebastien original - Lightning Bear! Wear it out on the town or wear it while standing in front of your daugher's open closet. You will notice in this photo that Lightning Bear and l.b. have the same fig-ure!

This got here soooo fast. Thanks Sebastien. And thanks especially for the drawing of "L" is for levitate. I'm so framing it. Think, y'all, we can say we knew him when. He can laugh and deny it all he wants....but we'll know....

Ack!

Okay...I feel like Adam Samburg doing Cathy on SNL...Ack! Hair all flying outward....There's a little visual for you. You're welcome.

My weekend was nice though. On Saturday I sat with Little Prince while the rest of the gang went off to see Where the Wild Things Are. This is how they found us when they came home. Worst babysitter ever. They shoulda got their money back.

Sunday we had a nice lunch all together. It was this really good little Mexican restaurant. They told us if we come back next Sunday they will be having mariachi music. I remain unsure if that is good or bad. I'll have to give it some careful consideration.

Today now...today is going soooo fast. And it has been sooo busy. But I am feeling productive and feeling amazed that in two more days DR is going to be here.

I hope you all had a good weekend. What are you most looking forward to this week?

This Musical Message is For a Lifetime

Don't You Know You're Sleeping in the Spotlight

One of my all time favorite bloggers, Alien Coffeeground @ Swamp Gas & Moonlit Reflections choose this week's Saturday Scavenger Hunt word. The word is KEEP. I'll admit, it had me a bit flummoxed. How to portray KEEP? Mostly, for me, KEEP has positive connotations. It reminds me of safety and security. Maybe in the wrong hands KEEP becomes oppressive...but where I am in my life now, KEEP feels good. And I want to KEEP it that way. Check it out, y'all.

You can KEEP cool on the hottest days.

You can KEEP dry in the wettest weather.


KEEP your family close. It feels good.


Hey...KEEP it clean, buddy!

Through it all, the world's gonna KEEP on spinning and you are just along for the ride. Might as well KEEP on enjoying it.

Hope I didn't KEEP you from anything more important...but what could that possibly be? I just can't imagine :-)
Check in with the Alien and see who he tags for next week's game. Let's KEEP on playing...4-ev-R.

Friday 5 - Loud

Today I have a loud Friday 5 to contend with. I am hoping it will quiet the voices in my head :-) Please feel free to play around with the loudness in your own life. I'd like to hear about it. And I'm not just saying that! :-)

1.When in the past seven days were you loudest? Probably when I was over at Kick Back Dude's house last night. You have to be loud there to be heard...and that crew does make me LMAO pretty loudly too.

2.In the past seven days, what was loud but not noisy? The stereo in my car. Loud, but lets not call my music noise, m'kay?

3.In the past seven days, what was not especially loud but quite noisy? Oh gawd. There is this malfunction in our alarm system at work. Every few seconds there is this high pitched beep. It isn't loud, but the noise... Apparently, it is not something that can be shut down...and you can't hear it everywhere. But you can definintely hear it in my office. It is about to drive me OUT OF MY MIND.

4.In the past seven days, what’s something that was not allowed? I'm sorry, I am not allowed to talk about it. haha!

5.What are those clouds gathering on your horizon for next week? Don't say that! There are none! I am predicting blue skies and rainbows and unicorns! Um. I hope next week will be a really good week. No clouds please. Well, maybe soft, fluffy white ones, that look like animals and other imaginative shapes....

Alright then! Happy weekend to you all. I look forward to seeing what you KEEP tomorrow. xx

You Know the Drill

As this post is shaping up in my head...well, it is not shaping up. It is sort of coming to me in fits and starts. Oh, there's this little bit of nothing. There's that nagging something. A total lablahblah special.

First, thank you to those who have been kind enough to indulge me in pretending that my solitary love for DwtS is not so solitary. Really very cool of you, thank you.

Oh, this morning we had an earthquake drill. It is not that I don't want to be prepared in case of an emergency, but some people take this stuff waaaaayyy too seriously. I couldn't stop thinking about the movie Heavyweights when someone mentioned how important it is to have a buddy when doing the required tasks after an earthquake -

Lars: I have them on the "body" system.
Julie: The "body" system?
Lars: Yeah, the body system.
[blows whistle and screams]
Lars: BODY!
Gerry: [holding hands] BUDDY!
Julie: Oh, the BUDDY system.


Finally...in just a week DR will be here. I am nervous and excited and happy and probably a million other things all at once. The honest truth is that right now it is difficult to think of much else. However, given my way of getting all caught up in my inner world, I am trying to NOT do that so much. It has to be healthier to just go about my business and see what happens. So I'm trying. You'll never meet a more trying-er person :-)

At this point I am just glad to be approaching the weekend once again. Let's all get there in one piece, shall we?

Think of It Like Saw! You Have to Play.

Choose and Defend Wednesday just got a little more...uh, what's the word I want? Oh yes...INTENSE! haha! No, just kidding. Choose and Defend Wednesday is having some fun with you and wants to get you all involved, by force if necessary, in the sidebar here at What Fresh Hell is This? While laura b. is obsessed with Dancing with the Stars, you are not. That doesn't mean you can't take an interest though! Aaaaalllll you have to do is predict the winner of this really cheesy competition. You can choose in any way you like...a little research, how hot they do or don't look, a gut feeling, eeny meeny miney mo. If you choose correctly there will be a prize! I was thinking a $25 Target card...but if more than one of you win, you might have to have slightly less :-) The season finale is Tuesday, November 24. On Wednesday, November 25, I will mail out a prize or prizes! Come on. You know you want to play. Pick anytime between now and....let's say Sunday midnight-ish PST. Before next week's episodes, right? Right. Choose and hey, if you can, Defend.

Aaron Carter
Natalie Coughlin
Mark Dacascos
Melissa Joan Hart
Michael Irvin
Joanna Kruppa
Mya
Kelly Osbourne
Donny Osmond
Louie Vito
Okay...it's not quite like Saw. No one shall die here today. Except a little part of me if you don't play. But play anyway! You can't win if you don't play. And this game is for winners! Like me! No, I mean, like you, you winner! Yeah.

What Continent Are You?

As anyone who knows me knows...and this would include total strangers who read my last post...I tend to over think things. So today, I decided to let my old pal Blogthings do the thinking for me. Zut alors!

You Are Europe

You are old fashioned, a true romantic, and an idealist. You sometimes wish you could freeze time and that the world would stop changing. You appreciate quality over quantity, and you try your best to live the good life. You appreciate good art, good food, good wine, and good company more than most people you know. You remember and honor the past. You believe that culture should be preserved and appreciated.

What Continent Are You?

Blogthings: Discover the Parts of Your Personality that Have Been Hiding

Presenting...Anxiety!

When I was looking for a picture to illustrate my anxiety, I found this and it felt right. It is a tactile representation for the visually impaired. I am not visually impaired, but I do sometimes feel sort of...interpersonally impaired, let's say. I'm not sure if that is the right way to put it. What it is though, is that I find that I sometimes have trouble operating outside of my own head. I don't think that I am necessarily self-centered, but I do see how I can come off that way. I can get very wrapped up in my own feelings and emotions about something. Then suddenly (to me...it is not actually sudden at all) I am made to understand that someone else is in a whole different place and seeing things from another perspective. Instead of just seeing that for what it is (and it isn't that complicated), I am thrown...my tiny, inside-my-head world explodes.

I am ashamed to realize that all of this anxiety is also a control issue. If I am feeling X, Y, or Z about something....how could you be feeling A, B, and C? Yes, I am just that easily puzzled...AND, even more ridiculously, hurt. There are legitimate things to feel anxious about. My car, last week, as an example. Secret Agent Man's birthday, even. Both manageable, but I do cut myself some slack for feeling anxious about things like that. Then I talk myself down :-) There are other things though, that are not manageable. Why aren't they manageable? Because they involve things that aren't meant to be managed by me! Harder to talk myself down for those ones, but I am working on it. All in all, my life is very good and there is no reason it can't continue to be good. Me and my rich inner life just need to be able to give it up to that great big world NOT residing between my ears. Wish me luck with that, would you? Apparently, I could really use it.

This Musical Message is For Easing My Suffering

'Cause I Got the Real Love, the Kind That You Need

It is TIME for our Saturday Scavenger Hunt. Tenacious Tara at Eclectic Spaghetti has given us nothing but TIME. Thanks, Tara! How to approach TIME? Oh, you know me...overkill all the way. Here we go.

It is a busy TIME at work. Lots of animals to dress up for Halloween. It is exhausting.

After all of those shenanigans, I need a little me TIME.

There is my ever fabulous TV TIME. How relaxing!

Maybe some computer TIME. Blogging, Facebook, Yahoogroups, Youtube. It is a rich, full life I lead.

Now something to really settle me in. Reading TIME. I read all of these...mulitple TIMEs. Gots to keep new stuff coming through.

Finally, it is bedTIME. Aaahhhhh. Sweet sleep.

As you are all made aware, over and over again, TIME for me right now is measured by my little counter over there'n >>>> Today, Saturday, there are 11 days making up the TIME until DR gets here. Tick Tock. TIME flies!

All that is left is to spend some TIME looking at your blogs and prodding Tara to tag someone for next TIME. Thanks for spending a little TIME at What Fresh Hell is This? I'm your host, laura b., saying - see you some TIME in the very near future, yes? Yes. TIME is on my side.

Friday 5 - Similes

I am enjoying doing the Friday 5 lately. It makes me think about things a little differently. I like it when you play along too, so feel free as a bird to do so :-D

1.Who in your life is as blind as a bat? Hm. No one I know has any glaring blind spots. Speaking more literally though...Kick Back Dude, Secret Agent Man, and Girlie Girl all REALLY need to wear their glasses. They can thank their father for that. haha!Here is the local vampire sea turtle. I make no claims about his vision, but I can assure you he is ready for Halloween.

2.Who in your life is as happy as a clam? Me, mostly :-) And DR. Or at least we will be in....12 days!!!

3.Who in your life is as mad as a wet hen? Oooh,my mom was yesterday. We had lunch together and she had a long story for me about some super odd charges on her credit card bill. It all got taken care of, but she was mad! Can't say I blame her.

4.Who in your life is as stubborn as a mule? I suppose that particular honor would be shared by Handsome Lad and Miss Personality. Once either of them get set on something, best of luck changing their minds or distracting them.

5.Who in your life is as quiet as a mouse? Do I actually know any quiet people? Well my little bear friend Milly is pretty quiet. But subversive. And what is more dangerous than that? Nothing. So watch out for those quiet as a mouse types.

Oh! also wanted to briefly mention that Secret Agent Man's birthday dinner was really nice last night. I am always so happy when everyone is together.

Also, I have every hope that my car will be up and running by tomorrow. And in spite of not having my car I was able to get to work every day this week through the shuffling of family vehicles. Whew. It was even sort of fun getting to drive other cars. Plus, I listen to whatever they have on their radio as a tribute to them :-) So...on Tuesday and Thursday I got to listen to Girlie Girl's iPod mix. Very heavy on the Taylor Swift, Eminem, and other stuff...she is currently into pretty girl voices (and Eminem). On Wednesday I listened to WTG's 70's on 7 XM. Not bad. Happy memories of my youth. And today on the way in I heard Social Animal's 311 CD "Don't Tread on Me". Awesome.

Hope you all have a great weekend and hope that I get to check out everyone's TIME tomorrow :-)