Thursday, May 1, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Thursday Thirteen 3/13
Ahh, since the new house is out in the country, I thought my Thursday Thirteen should be 13 things about living in the country.
1. The lack of noise. The first night it nearly drove my hubby crazy. He is a city boy, born and bred. We now have a fan running in the bedroom at night so he can sleep. We slept with the windows open last night. I heard a few cars around 10 pm, but after that nothing.
2. The dark, or the lack of light. There are no streetlights. Our bedroom at night is pitch back. I love it, he hates it. Don't blame me, he wanted to move out here. There is a night light in the hall now.
3. The neighbors wave. Seriously, people are more friendly in the country. There is this thing you do when driving in the country. When you meet an oncoming car or more likely truck, you lift a couple of fingers on your left hand and acknowledge that there is a human being in that machine just feet from your own vehicle.
4. I can take the dog out in my pajamas, and no one can see me. If I go out the back door, the only thing to see is my back yard and a heavily wooded hill, that is also mine.
5. There is a yard. A totally fenced in yard. If I want to vacuum or mop and the dogs are underfoot, I can open the door and put them outside. And they will play until I am ready to let them in.
6. It smells cleaner. I can smell grass and fresh air, not pavement and exhaust.
7. I grew up in the country. I loved it. I want my kids to grow up in the country.
8. There is no trash pickup. (I didn't say it was all good.) There is a convenience center a few miles away with recycling and household trash. Works for me, I just take the trash out on my way to work in the afternoon.
9. The only food we can get delivered is pizza, which I don't like. So I guess I can cook dinner more often. (This is a good thing.)
10. No cable TV. So we got satellite, which will get rain fade when it storms.
11. We are 10 miles from the nearest grocery store. And if I don't want Kroger, be prepared to go 15-25 miles for Publix or Wal-mart.
12. My commute to work is now about 50-60 minutes, depending on traffic. It used to be 20-25 minutes, but I only usually work 3 days a week. Hubby's commute is down from 65-85 minutes to 15 minutes, so I guess it makes up for it in the end.
13. We have a septic tank. Which necessitated a long conversation (argument) about scrapping any food (including chip dip) off your plate before you put it in the sink, and the purchase of some draino. I think this might be the biggest adjustment for him. I grew up with one. What can and can't be flushed. Grease gets poured in a jar before the pans go in the sink. Flushing Rid-X once a month.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Thursday Thirteen 3/3/08
Since we moved this week. I thought that my Thursday Thirteen should have something to do with that. 13 reasons I have packing tape..., no, 13 reasons to pay for professionals..., I got it.
13 things I can not imagine why we still own or ever got at all.
1. A 2003 Drug Guide, and a 2004, 2005, two from 2006, and 2007. I swear they send me a new one every time I get a new nursing magazine.
2. Suede skirt from my senior year of high scchool. No, it doesn't still fit. But somehow I can't get rid of it either.
3. Plastic cups from Disney Animal Kingdom. We went 2 years ago. They have not been used since we came home. And why did I get the one with the elephant on it.
4. Breadmaker, never used. At least 4 years old. My husband asked why I didn't use it. I told him that I didn't have a book for it. He says, "You just push the button, french bread, sweet bread ... , and one for how dark you want the crust." Might have to poison his bread.
5. Cotton candy machine. I bought this in a moment of weakness in Wal-mart. I love cotton candy, and usually only get some once a year at the fair. And it really is a good treat. There is only like 50 calories in a bag of cotton candy. But that thing in a pain in the butt to use.
6. Six plastic glasses that Carnival Cruise lines filled with the drink of the day. At least 3-5 years old. Used maybe once since we have been home.
7. Approximately 3000 feet of cable or wire. Phone cable, ethernet cable, coxial cable, usb cables to devices we no longer have, but can I find the one for the camera, no. Or the electric cord for the portable dvd player.
8. Dayplanner from 2003-2004. Why is this still in my house? Better question, why did it get moved to the new house?
9. Five sets of wine glasses. I hate wine. Hubby drinks maybe 3 bottles a year. I know 3 sets have never been used. For Christmas 4 years ago, I got 4 sets of wine glasses. I also have champagne flutes, mojito glasses, margarita, glasses, martini glasses, beer pilsner glasses and mugs. And I am far more likely to drink from a plastic cup than anything else.
10. Hot rollers. My set from high school. They still work too. But my hair is about 2 and a half inches long and has been for the last 2 years.
11. Records. With Dick Clark's weekly music countdown on them. My husband won them from the radio station in the mid 80's. We don't have a turntable.
12. Multiple copies of multiple books. Now that they are all together in the same room, I might finally be able to cull the herd. Which will kill me, because, I can't bear to get rid of any books, even when I take them to Goodwill or the used bookstore. Because, they are mine, dang it.
13. Print scrubs, I haven't been allowed to wear prints in 2 years, but I refuse to give up Mr. Potatohead or the fish riding motorcycles, or the bugs doing magic tricks, or, or. Okay, so I have a lot of clothes that I no longer wear.
So, what is still hanging around your house that you should have got ridden of years ago, or better yet can't figure out why you got it in the first place. And don't get me started on my husband's collection of art, some of the lithographs are still in the cardboard packing tube they were shipped home in.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Thursday Thirteen 1/10/08
My husband and I are in the middle of adopting two little girls. All finger and toe crossing is appreciated. Yesterday, we got to see pictures of them for the first time. I am so excited that is amazing to me that I am not floating somewhere in the outer stratosphere. So I have pretty much only been thinking about that for the last few days. And I thought I would post thirteen things I hope to teach them, some sooner than others.
1. That families come in all shapes and sizes. The only thing that is required is love.
2. Books are almost the best thing in the world. That in them and through them you can be anything you want to be.
3. Life doesn't have commercial breaks.
4. Riding a bike without training wheels.
5. Cooking, not only do I love it, but it is a necessary skill in life. They may never whip up a culinary masterpiece, but they won't be eating ramen noodles and pb and jelly sandwhiches.
6. How to sew. Mom taught me, I will teach them. They may only learn to sew on a button, but I will try.
7. How to play Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders.
8. How to read. See number two.
9. That Grandpa is a big ole softie.
10. Don't show fear to an animal or anyone, they can sense it and might attack.
11. How to drive. I will have to because hubby can't even stand for me to drive.
12. The "pretty" girls are insecure, too.
13. The things in life that are easily gained are also easily lost, but if you work hard to attain something you will work even harder to keep it.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Thursday Thirteen 1/3/08
Before I start making plans and goals for this year. I thought I would look back on last year and the things I accomplished.
1. Started writing. At least writing more than a few pages before giving it up.
2. Joined the RWA.
3. Participated in my first online writing workshop.
4. Picked a pen name.
5. Blogged for the first time.
6. Attended my first national conference in Dallas.
7. Registered my domain name and built my website.
8. Worked up the nerve and submitted a proposal.
9. Got my first contract.
10. Saw my name on my first cover.
11. Finished my first novella.
12. Sent completed novella off to publisher for editing.
13. Grand total written for the year 62040. Not that much, but it is 62000 words that weren't written last year.
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