Project 365 - Fabulous 40 - Feb 12 to Feb 17

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• Feb 12, 2017 - We enjoyed the LEGO Batman movie! Not as good as the original, but still fun.
• Feb 13, 2017 - Master P handed this to my husband when picking up L today. Hint hint?
• Feb 14, 2017 - My very special Valentine's Day sleepwear! Very romantic, don't you think?
• Feb 15, 2017 - This may be the most amazing red nail polish I've ever seen! Isla by Zoya.
• Feb 16, 2017 - I am being closely supervised while working this morning.
• Feb 17, 2017 - Pretty backlit daffodils on my (very late) walk this evening.

Project 365 - Fabulous 40 - Feb 6 to Feb 11

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• Feb 6, 2017 - Pretty flowers on my walk today.
• Feb 7, 2017 - Scout Rank achieved! Next up: Tenderfoot.
• Feb 8, 2017 - We really enjoy the show Timeless. I hope it makes it to a second season.
• Feb 9, 2017 - My middle finger touched the oven rack today. Owie, owie, owie!!
• Feb 10, 2017 -  Pretty sunset sky tonight.
• Feb 11, 2017 - Luke loves to eat outside, but it's usually too hot, too cold, or too pollinated! But Grub Burger Bar has a very nice covered porch, and it was unusually warm on this February afternoon, so burgers (and chicken fingers) outside it is!

Project 365 - Fabulous 40 - Jan 1 to Jan 6

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• Jan 1, 2017 - Happy New Year! A new-to-him movie (Star Trek IV) and a lap full of kittens.
• Jan 2, 2017 - New Sherlock! So happy! (After watching, I take it back. Not happy.)
• Jan 3, 2017 - My evening: putting together a Christmas money purchases. I love it already!
• Jan 4, 2017 - Christmas gift from my parents: large Calphalon pot (to replace my rusty enamel one). Didn't think the strainer lid would actually work, but I drained these noodles with no trouble at all!
• Jan 5, 2017 - Sneaker Survivor! Winners: blue/white New Balance and first ever pair of Brooks.
• Jan 6, 2017 - Luke's reaction to discovering Siri (voice activated controls on the iPad). I think we've created a monster!

Happy 2017!

Welcome to 2017, everyone! Wow, 2016 was a rough one, especially there at the end, but we made it. We had a lovely Christmas, and I've really enjoyed having over a week off from work. (Not that I don't like my job! But I really did need a break.) I've been pondering the usual things during that time: love, family, and of course, any changes I might want to make in the coming year. Which of course begs the question: resolutions or no? I just couldn't find anything that spoke to me. I mean, what I need to do is obvious, and quite frankly the same as previous years. Part of me wonders if it's even worth it, given that they are the same as previous years. Several of my friends do a "word for the year," and that idea appealed to me this year. Can you guess what my word is? (Hint: it's in HUGE red letters up there at the top.)

As the blog clearly indicates, my life is rather insane at the moment. Lack of blogging, tweating, or pretty much anything else has been chronic in the last year or two. You can keep up with me on Facebook, but even that gets out of date or some of the "big things" aren't chronicled as well as I would like.

So with all of this going on, why on earth would I choose the word "more"? It seems counter-intuitive, right? Usually, this is the time of year where we look to have less of things. Less clutter, less weight, less bad food, less stress, less chaos. And don't get me wrong, I really need less of all of those things in my life right now! But "less" can also have something of a negative connotation, sort of like the word "don't." No one likes those kinds of words.

Then, I was inspired by this post on Facebook from TheMasterShift (no idea how it popped up in my feed; probably from someone I know "liking" it). I liked the general idea of the list offered, with a few tweaks for myself. (Boy, do I *wish* I could drink more tea!)

So here's what I came up with, things I want MORE of in 2017:

Now I realize I cannot necessarily control everything related to that last one, but it is also up to me to do the best I can to not get quite so worked up about things. 2016 ended up being a year that was a lot about acceptance (reread the Serenity Prayer, if you haven't recently; it is very wise), which I hope will lead to more peace and fewer tears. I guess only time will tell. But I will definitely be trying to do more to keep my own inner peace whenever possible.

Wishing you a healthy, happy, and peaceful new year, with MORE of all the good things in life! And who knows, maybe some more blogging from me. (But don't hold your breath!)

Project 365 - Fabulous 40 - Dec 2 to Dec 7

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• Dec 2, 2016 - The child will be gone from 9 PM to 8 AM? Plenty of time to see a movie!
• Dec 3, 2016 - Better late than never! One day, I will actually get this done before Thanksgiving.
• Dec 4, 2016 - Put the tree up today. Had to take it down after just 2 hours. This is why.
• Dec 5, 2016 - Always "fun" when the vampire visits at the doctor. No worries, just routine!
• Dec 6, 2016 - First ever band concert! Trying not to faint over how grown up he looks.
• Dec 7, 2016 - Science project done and turned in! (Thank goodness that's over.)

Project 365 - Fabulous 40 - Nov 14 to Nov 19

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• Nov 14, 2016 - Death wish squirrel (though I'm pretty sure it knows she can't get through).
• Nov 15, 2016 - Chin scratches for Kylo.
• Nov 16, 2016 - Love the dark of the tree against the twilight sky.
• Nov 17, 2016 - Some days, you just need a hot fudge sundae.
• Nov 18, 2016 - Finn with his gorgeous amber eyes.
• Nov 19, 2016 - It's fall, y'all! Such pretty leaves. (And the reason we have yard people.)

Project 365 - Fabulous 40 - Nov 8 to Nov 13

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• Nov 8, 2016 - I voted today, for the first time ever!
• Nov 9, 2016 - Beautiful fall colors. No idea what tree this is, but it is a brilliant yellow.
• Nov 10, 2016 - Because today absolutely needed some glitter.
• Nov 11, 2016 - The child is off camping, so we're heading to the movies to see Dr. Strange.
• Nov 12, 2016 - Getting caught up. Yes, four movies in one weekend (including yesterday).
• Nov 13, 2016 - Everyone is doing their homework, even Rey, who is "helping" me.

Project 365 - Fabulous 40 - Sept 27 to 0ct 2

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• Sept 27, 2016 - Pretty clouds today.
• Sept 28, 2016 - Why does such a tiny prick hurt so much?! (routine iron check)
• Sept 29, 2016 - The easiest way to thread a ribbon; use a toothpick as a "needle."
• Sept 30, 2016 - Not how you want to wake up, to a major gas leak next door!
• Oct 1, 2016 - Luke got creeped out and had to leave Miss Peregrine's half way through.
• Oct 2, 2016 - Star attempts to hide from the kittens. (It didn't work.)

Greetings from Over the Hill!

*This* is what 40 candles looks like.

Yes, I have officially turned 40! Had a great weekend seeing my parents and mother-in-law. We also simultaneously celebrated my husband's 40th birthday, which will occur in a few days. It was a very nice weekend and a great way to start my 40s.

I thought maybe another good way to kick off my 40s would be to try and come back to blogging. I can't promise it will stick, since it was a combination of school and Luke's over the top Harry Potter birthday party that wore me out last year, followed by some other medium to large events both good and bad. I hope to go back and at least blog about a few things from the last 10 months, since I do rely on my blog somewhat to remind me of what happened when. (I can't tell you the number of times I've searched to remember exactly when Luke broke his arm, or how old he was when he hit 4 feet tall, etc. "I shall consult the blog." LOL) However, there is no big party planned for this year (in fact, it may be the smallest ever), and other than the seismic paradigm shift of starting middle school in a couple weeks (YIKES! how did that happen?!), there hopefully isn't anything else major on the horizon for a while.

So, I'm not sure who is still around. I know blogging in general has really fallen off with Facebook and YouTube and Instagram (which I am doing now! moviemuse76, but it's a private account; the good ones will show up here, though), and even I don't read blogs the way I used to, so I shouldn't be surprised if there isn't anyone left to read mine (besides my mom; hi Mom!). But for those who are still reading, thank you for sticking around! I hope to have at least some occasional things to talk about, and I really do hope to post more often (meaning a couple of times a month, I hope).

I hope you all have had a nice 10 months! I look forward to "seeing" you a bit more often.

Chainmaille - Shaggy Loops

So what was one do while one is unemployed? Try one of those hobbies you've always wanted to try, of course! This is my first ever chainmaille work. It's a pattern called Shaggy Loops. I made it from a Blue Buddha Boutique kit that was given to me as a gift by my friend Annette over a year ago. It was so fun! Including watching the instructional video, I went from opening the kit to a finished bracelet in under two hours. Annette also gave me a second kit that I hope to try in the near future.
Currently feeling: loving my beautiful decorative "armor"

How Old Is Han Solo?

For one brief but horrifying moment today, I thought I was older than any film incarnation of Han Solo that we have seen to date (remember, Episode VII doesn't come out until December!). Nope, he was 41 in Jedi, so not quite yet. Whew!
Currently feeling: wait, I'm how old?!

Wordless Wednesday - July 1, 2015

Currently feeling: I really don't recommend crushing your hand between a chair and a door

Wordless Wednesday - May 20, 2015

Currently feeling: um, I think it's humid!

First Date - 20 Years Ago

Twenty years ago today, two engineering students named Erin and Steve went on their first (official) date. (There was an unofficial not-exactly date-ish thing a couple of weeks before.) We met in the fall of our freshman year and became good friends, but we didn't start dating until the spring. This picture was taken about 6 months later, November 1995. We were both 19 here, (much!) closer to Luke's current age than our current age.

Currently feeling: can't believe it's been that long

Tissue Review

Image courtesy of jk1991 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

After much experimentation this week, I have concluded that Puffs tissues really are softer than Kleenex, and 3-ply tissues really are softer than 2-ply. I also personally find the "cool touch" tissues more soothing than the lotion ones, even if they are Kleenex brand. I would really like to end this experiment now, please! (My alternately stuffy and runny nose says we will likely continue collecting data for a few more days.)
Currently feeling: sick and tired of being sick and tired

Wordless Wednesday - January 28, 2015

Currently feeling: much warmer when wrapped in my pashmina

We have the plague!

This is what a child who is too sick to play looks like. He was in the midst of "the plague" when I took that picture. At least, that's what I'm calling it. Come to find out, it is a distinct possibility that we all have/had the flu, but there is no way to prove that at this point.

It all started with Luke, who was shivering uncontrollably when he went to bed Saturday night (Dec 6). The thermometer said his temperature was normal when I put him to bed, but I was highly skeptical. Sure enough, by Sunday morning, his fever was 101.7 F (38.7 C). It continued to hover in the 101-102 range (38.3-38.8) even *after* giving him a fever reducer, which did not make this mama happy at all. Things were no better Monday morning, and the cough was dramatically worse, so off to the doctor he went. She basically glanced at him, listened to the symptoms, diagnosed him with "something viral," and sent him home with no tests or meds or anything, declaring that "if he isn't better by Thursday, then bring him back." That made me an even less happy mama. The fever was gone by Tuesday morning, but he was completely exhausted, so he stayed home another day. I finally sent him back to school on Wednesday, still coughing but allegedly meeting the requirements for returning to school.

By Thursday afternoon, my fever spiked up to 101. Now, this was not unexpected, given that I had shared some of my drink with Luke on Saturday, before he started showing symptoms. By Friday morning, I was showing a temperature of 102, and that was within 2 hours of taking *both* Advil and Tylenol. You know how you read in historical novels about the skin of someone with a fever feeling thin and papery? That's exactly what mine felt like all day Friday. Everything hurt, even on constant doses of pain relievers/fever reducers. You know the stud earrings that I wear All. The. Time. Yeah, I had to take those out, too, because they hurt and felt heavy. ??!!! It was awful. I spent most of Saturday with my fever yo-yo-ing from normal to well over 100 and back, and with the cough getting much worse, though still manageable on maximum strength Mucinex and a zillion gallons of water.

Sunday, I was feeling much better (in a relative sense; still quite sick), but DH started shivering in late morning. Really?! I was hoping I had mainly gotten it from unknowingly sharing a drink with Luke before we knew better, but we thought we had been pretty careful with DH. Upon describing our symptoms to my mom, she said that everyone she knew with our symptoms who had been tested had tested positive for flu. Great. So if the pediatrician had bothered to test Luke last Monday when we took him in with *classic* flu symptoms, we could have all been put on Tamiful and likely either avoided or lessened the severity of what we've all been through (or in DH's case, are currently going through). But at this point, Luke is over it (we hope), I'm too far past the 48 hour window for Tamiflu to do any good, and DH can't get to the doctor until Monday, when he too will be past the 48 hour window. Thanks for nothing, doc.

So the current status is: Luke is mostly over it, though his cough has gotten worse again. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping he hasn't developed a secondary infection as a result of this thing. I am mostly better, though the cough is still hanging on. I'm praying I can keep it from becoming bronchitis (as I am prone to doing with any type of respiratory thing). DH is currently down for the count in bed, and will be through at least Tuesday (and Wednesday, if I have my say about it). I can't believe we've only been at this for a week or so. Feels like a month already! I just want us all to be well by Christmas. Pretty please, Santa? That's all I really want!
Currently feeling: improved but still not well

Wordless Wednesday - July 30, 2014

Currently feeling: happy birthday to me

Whistle While You Work

Copyright: yaryhee / 123RF Stock Photo

I am rapidly coming to the end of the 1001 days for my 101 Things in 1001 Days Version 3 Challenge. One of the items on the list was to learn to whistle very loudly. My grandfather could do it, and I've always wanted to learn, thus why I put it on the list to start with. Some people can do it with just their mouths, and some people use their fingers (on one hand or two). I didn't think it would be all that difficult to learn. Boy, was I wrong!

For the last week or so, I've spent my lunch break (yes, I'm working from home) watching YouTube videos on how to do this. I keep hoping the next one will explain it in that slightly different way that makes it "click" for me. So far, all I've managed to do is make myself very lightheaded, make my whole face hurt, make the underside of my tongue hurt (I have long fingernails), get covered in slobber, and be a dismal failure. One single time, I managed to get a tone out, and I have not been able to replicate it to save my life. If I watch one more video that says "all you have to do is....," I'm going to scream. I'm doing that! It's just not working for me. I'll keep trying, but I am terribly disappointed. I really expected it to be much easier to learn!
Currently feeling: embarrassingly unsuccessful

I can see clearly now the headaches are gone....

Copyright: voronin76 / 123RF Stock Photo

A few weeks ago, I started having headaches. Not just one or two days, but multiple times per day. Sometimes they were just mild and annoying, but other times, they were pretty intense. I was afraid I was having blood pressure problems again, though with the weight I've lost, it had been quite good for the last several months. I scheduled an appointment with my regular doctor to have it checked out, but due to my schedule, I couldn't find a convenient day for me until the end of the month.

On unrelated note, I also noticed that I was having trouble reading street signs when I took a "short cut" a week or two ago, so I made an appointment with the eye doctor. I mean it had only been, um, three years. (Oops.) In fact, the last time was for the same reason, right before we went to Boston. Again, we will be going to Boston in a few weeks, and I didn't want to wait too late, since last time they had to order my lenses and it took 2-3 weeks for them to come in. This time, I rearranged my schedule so there would be time to see the eye doctor and wait for the lenses. Yet again, "due to my age," my eyesight had improved to the point that I could not focus, about half a diopter in each eye. (That's a lot!) I probably hadn't really noticed it until lately when I pulled my stitching back out (for the first time in about a year). I had the lenses replaced in my existing frames and went about my business.

About three days later, I noticed my head didn't hurt. At all. Not only did it not hurt, it hadn't hurt for a few days. What changed? My glasses! I had no idea something so "small" and simple could cause so much trouble! Makes me wonder if I've been thinking eyesight changes were BP and/or stress headaches for years now. I will definitely have that checked out first from now on! Thought I would pass along my new knowledge. The more you know....

Currently feeling: grateful