I just realized that my "One year blogging" anniversary is coming up. Since I started my blog last August, I have made over 260 posts, and since November, there have been over 2,300 people look (and hopefully read) my blog. That's pretty cool, I think. The Internet has given us such a great way to meet and connect in a way that just would not have been possible in the past. A very good and helpful tool, no doubt. But, as with 'real' life, a tool that can be abused in the worst way.
I am so glad my sons are both quite computer savvy, and very cautious while online. The A-man noticed that I have quite a number of friends on Facebook and his one question to me was, "Do you know all of those people personally, Mom?" I think he was a little surprised when I told him, "Yes, I do." (Mind you, some of them I haven't seen since we were 8 years old, but back in the 70's, we were TIGHT!)
Like blogging, Facebook is another way to get in touch with people, to see where life's roads have taken them... I love doing the whole "catch up" thing when I get a new friend on Facebook. Then I look over the pictures they have posted, and that is pretty much it for contact with them. Still, it is nice to be able to see how others look - and to compare your age lines with theirs... (I look MUCH younger than most, if I do say so myself! ;o) ) Funny thing is, though, most of these people still look the same as they did when I last saw them. Of course, hair styles and clothing is different, but I would be able to look at them now without anyone telling me their names, and I am pretty sure I would be able to name at least 90% of them.
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Do you remember last week how I mentioned that we were using the storage cabinet in the R-man's old bedroom for storing various items? I am astounded at how much room this cabinet has! I mean, I knew there were lots of drawers and cupboards, but as I purge and clean areas, then store things in that cabinet, I am left wondering, "Wow, is there still room?" And there is!
I am such a pack rat. I'm getting better, but I do think it's a sickness. My mom is the most organized pack rat I have ever seen, and I do come by it honestly, but I will admit that it did feel good to just get rid of all that STUFF we don't use any more.
Now that I can get back in to the crawl space under the foyer - this space is well over 100 square feet - I can get all of the Christmas items organized in such a way that I won't be scrambling next December when I am looking for things. And here is a crazy concept that I think Hubby has never heard of before - the entire space will be organized! Crazy but true...
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I stayed home from work again today. I was feeling better than yesterday, but still not 100%, and knew that my foggy brain just would not function at the level I am used to. I don't think Boss was very happy about it, but what can you do? I will be back in the office for sure tomorrow and it just makes more sense for me to rest up today so that I will be effective when I am in. Used some of the time today to putter in the kitchen and get all of that tidied up, and then I reorganized my closest with some new hooks for my purses and belts. Didn't tackle the shoe boxes though - couldn't imagine doing too much bending over with a stuffy head...
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And my final thought for today: One of my favourite quotes! Oscar Wilde said it best when he said, "Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go."
My goal in life is meet the first half of that quote!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
>:o}
I am sick. My ears hurt, my throat hurts, I can hardly take a deep breath without going in to a coughing fit. Stupid summer cold.
I even took the day off today. Slept for most of it, actually. Not sure if I will be going in tomorrow, either. Hmrphf.
We had our yard sale on the weekend. Got rid of a bunch of stuff and made a couple hundred dollars in the process. Now the task of trying to clean up the house from the purge begins. I'm slowly puttering away at it, but this cold has laid me up a wee bit, obviously. But, on the upside, I am seeing improvements.
Spoke with boss this morning and found out that the new assistant gave his notice at his current part-time job - and was offered a full time position. I'm happy for him, I guess, but I was really looking forward to working with this guy. The other person will be fine, too, I'm sure, but there was a reason he was our first pick, you know?
Yesterday Hubby and I bought a pool for the yard. It's used, but the offer that was made to us was simply too darn good to not take advantage of. The pool is 24 feet across and will be about 4 feet deep or so. Now the fun task of preparing the ground has to be tackled, and we are hoping it will all be in place and filled before Hubby and the boys go to the cottage for their last week of holidays. The boys won't be able to enjoy it too much, but I am hoping we have at least a couple of warm days in September that will let them feel like it's worth a swim. (I'm sure they will go in at least twice...)
I have to start thinking about 'back to school' shopping soon, too, I guess.
I even took the day off today. Slept for most of it, actually. Not sure if I will be going in tomorrow, either. Hmrphf.
We had our yard sale on the weekend. Got rid of a bunch of stuff and made a couple hundred dollars in the process. Now the task of trying to clean up the house from the purge begins. I'm slowly puttering away at it, but this cold has laid me up a wee bit, obviously. But, on the upside, I am seeing improvements.
Spoke with boss this morning and found out that the new assistant gave his notice at his current part-time job - and was offered a full time position. I'm happy for him, I guess, but I was really looking forward to working with this guy. The other person will be fine, too, I'm sure, but there was a reason he was our first pick, you know?
Yesterday Hubby and I bought a pool for the yard. It's used, but the offer that was made to us was simply too darn good to not take advantage of. The pool is 24 feet across and will be about 4 feet deep or so. Now the fun task of preparing the ground has to be tackled, and we are hoping it will all be in place and filled before Hubby and the boys go to the cottage for their last week of holidays. The boys won't be able to enjoy it too much, but I am hoping we have at least a couple of warm days in September that will let them feel like it's worth a swim. (I'm sure they will go in at least twice...)
I have to start thinking about 'back to school' shopping soon, too, I guess.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Surprised
Hubby has been working afternoons this week, which means that when we go to bed on Sunday night, that is the last time I see him - other than when he is sleeping - until we get up on Saturday.
Last night he phoned from work, and his reason for calling kind of surprised me. Basically, he was calling to ask me out on a date. :o)
Our 18th wedding anniversary is coming up, but the actual DAY of our anniversary, he will be on holidays and at the cottage with the boys. He called last night to find out if we could have a date on the Thursday before he begins holidays! He had even heard of a new Thai place that he suggested we go to. (I'm the fan of Thai food - I think he eats it because he knows how much I enjoy it.)
He is just so great. I know I'm lucky to have a guy like him, but it's little things like this that just reinforces it to me.
Last night he phoned from work, and his reason for calling kind of surprised me. Basically, he was calling to ask me out on a date. :o)
Our 18th wedding anniversary is coming up, but the actual DAY of our anniversary, he will be on holidays and at the cottage with the boys. He called last night to find out if we could have a date on the Thursday before he begins holidays! He had even heard of a new Thai place that he suggested we go to. (I'm the fan of Thai food - I think he eats it because he knows how much I enjoy it.)
He is just so great. I know I'm lucky to have a guy like him, but it's little things like this that just reinforces it to me.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Never ending
Today was another day like yesterday. The big project I had been working on yesterday was finally completed this morning, and I was able to send it off to the client and then breathe a big sigh of relief.
Next - new section of the website took up a fair bit of time; tracking down the .gif and .tifs that I needed. Starting get ahead on that.
Followed by - next outdoor event for big client. Advertising deadlines - requested the date over a month ago. Was advised today that the ad is needed tomorrow. Tomorrow??!!?? Yeah, don't think that is going to happen. Graphics guy is good - not that good. Dealt with that... and then it was lunch time....
Afternoon was pretty much a repeat of the morning - but just didn't seem as hairy. Just had a number of smaller things to finish up. Then, when I got home, I stayed on track with the declutter bug.
The yard sale on Saturday is a go, so I really had to get things hauled out. Hubby is taking advantage of this mood - I rarely feel the urge to purge. I'm borrowing a truck tomorrow afternoon, and then it's all going! I even purged the linen closet, the bookcase... early tomorrow afternoon I am going to purge the coat closets. (I know there are a number of coats in there that haven't been worn in a very, very long time.)
As I have been purging, I have also been cleaning. Well, if you were to walk in to the house right now I am sure you would have a hard time believing that I have been cleaning - there are piles of 'stuff' everywhere, but when you look at certain places, you can tell I have been there. If I could have a full day, with no interuptions, I think I would have a pretty good dent in the entire house.
Funny thing, though, is about the way I clean. It just sort of goes for being messy, to looking REALLY messy, and then suddenly, it's all clean and shiny. My best friend in high school always commented on that when she would sit in my room while I was cleaning it. We would be talking, I would slowly move my way around the room, and then suddenly before she realized it, the room was immaculate. I guess I just have my own "cleaning groove."
No matter - I like looking at the CLEAN areas. I know that it is so much better there, and there, and THERE.
The boys helped bit tonight, but most of what I was doing didn't involve their 'stuff' so I just them help me a little bit here and there. They were pretty good to help when asked.
Short work day tomorrow - they have already been warned that I will need their help tomorrow. No doubt about it.
Next - new section of the website took up a fair bit of time; tracking down the .gif and .tifs that I needed. Starting get ahead on that.
Followed by - next outdoor event for big client. Advertising deadlines - requested the date over a month ago. Was advised today that the ad is needed tomorrow. Tomorrow??!!?? Yeah, don't think that is going to happen. Graphics guy is good - not that good. Dealt with that... and then it was lunch time....
Afternoon was pretty much a repeat of the morning - but just didn't seem as hairy. Just had a number of smaller things to finish up. Then, when I got home, I stayed on track with the declutter bug.
The yard sale on Saturday is a go, so I really had to get things hauled out. Hubby is taking advantage of this mood - I rarely feel the urge to purge. I'm borrowing a truck tomorrow afternoon, and then it's all going! I even purged the linen closet, the bookcase... early tomorrow afternoon I am going to purge the coat closets. (I know there are a number of coats in there that haven't been worn in a very, very long time.)
As I have been purging, I have also been cleaning. Well, if you were to walk in to the house right now I am sure you would have a hard time believing that I have been cleaning - there are piles of 'stuff' everywhere, but when you look at certain places, you can tell I have been there. If I could have a full day, with no interuptions, I think I would have a pretty good dent in the entire house.
Funny thing, though, is about the way I clean. It just sort of goes for being messy, to looking REALLY messy, and then suddenly, it's all clean and shiny. My best friend in high school always commented on that when she would sit in my room while I was cleaning it. We would be talking, I would slowly move my way around the room, and then suddenly before she realized it, the room was immaculate. I guess I just have my own "cleaning groove."
No matter - I like looking at the CLEAN areas. I know that it is so much better there, and there, and THERE.
The boys helped bit tonight, but most of what I was doing didn't involve their 'stuff' so I just them help me a little bit here and there. They were pretty good to help when asked.
Short work day tomorrow - they have already been warned that I will need their help tomorrow. No doubt about it.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
What a day!
I just turned around, and BOOM!, my day at work was over. I'm still reeling from it, I will admit. Sometimes is just doesn't seem worth it to take holidays, does it?
On the upside, we have offered the assistant's position to a young man. He is going to join Boss and I for lunch tomorrow and we are going to work out the logistics of his starting time frame. Poor guy is probably going to have to put together his own work station when he begins; no one else has time to do that right now - the magazine will be going to print in less than a month, and Boss is going to be very tied up with that.
The new section of the website/newsletter will be launched in two weeks, and that has me all wrapped up. Throw in the stuff I have off in the graphic's department either in starting or completing stages, and well, quite frankly it is amazing we have managed this long without another person!
Oh well, we might as well work him to realize that it is an 'all encompassing job!'
Last night I took the boys to the movies. We wanted to go and see Momma Mia, but it was all sold out by the time we arrived, so we went to see Hancock instead. It was okay. Not one I would rave about to all of my friends, but one that boys aged 13 and 15 would leave the theatre saying, "That was really good, wasn't it Mom?" It was just nice to have a night out with the boys.
On the way home, we came up with a plan of attack for starting to clean up the clutter in their bedrooms. Both boys have a ton of toys in their rooms, in their TV room, AND the crawlspace. Neither of them even PLAY with toys anymore, but the minute I suggest getting rid of things, the little pack rats in my kids comes out, and there is some sort of sentimental reason to keep each and every item I touch. (I can't really say too much about that - I am a true pack rat, too.)
Last night we all agreed to incorporate the "Top 10" rule. Each boy is allowed to keep their top 10 items from each section of toys. If they have 10 and find something else they really want to keep, they have to eliminate from the 'keep' pile. This will allow them to keep a total of about 40 items - which will be only a small dent in the number of items we have, I'm sure.
Today, both boys tackled the toys in their bedrooms. I have not yet gone through what they put in each pile, but that is okay. The main thing is to get the bins out to the garage, and then I can go through them when I am setting them out for the yard sale. (If I am participating in one this weekend, that is.)
My goal for this evening is to get the kitchen back into a state that doesn't cause me heart palpitations, and then I will pull the bins from the crawl space. Technically neither of the boys even have a clue what is in the crawlspace as it has been in there since the R-man moved in, but I did make the rule, so they are each allowed 10 items from each bin. Fair is fair.
If we don't have a yard sale, I may just take all of these items to the re-use-it centre on the weekend. No sense having it clutter up the already cluttered garage, right?
Okay - off to make dinner and then putting on my official "lets get this house clean so I can mange to not have a heart attack every time I walk in to a room" clothes.
Really - it's that bad. How can such an annal, perfectionist-type person have such a messy, cluttered house? I can't stand it!!
On the upside, we have offered the assistant's position to a young man. He is going to join Boss and I for lunch tomorrow and we are going to work out the logistics of his starting time frame. Poor guy is probably going to have to put together his own work station when he begins; no one else has time to do that right now - the magazine will be going to print in less than a month, and Boss is going to be very tied up with that.
The new section of the website/newsletter will be launched in two weeks, and that has me all wrapped up. Throw in the stuff I have off in the graphic's department either in starting or completing stages, and well, quite frankly it is amazing we have managed this long without another person!
Oh well, we might as well work him to realize that it is an 'all encompassing job!'
Last night I took the boys to the movies. We wanted to go and see Momma Mia, but it was all sold out by the time we arrived, so we went to see Hancock instead. It was okay. Not one I would rave about to all of my friends, but one that boys aged 13 and 15 would leave the theatre saying, "That was really good, wasn't it Mom?" It was just nice to have a night out with the boys.
On the way home, we came up with a plan of attack for starting to clean up the clutter in their bedrooms. Both boys have a ton of toys in their rooms, in their TV room, AND the crawlspace. Neither of them even PLAY with toys anymore, but the minute I suggest getting rid of things, the little pack rats in my kids comes out, and there is some sort of sentimental reason to keep each and every item I touch. (I can't really say too much about that - I am a true pack rat, too.)
Last night we all agreed to incorporate the "Top 10" rule. Each boy is allowed to keep their top 10 items from each section of toys. If they have 10 and find something else they really want to keep, they have to eliminate from the 'keep' pile. This will allow them to keep a total of about 40 items - which will be only a small dent in the number of items we have, I'm sure.
Today, both boys tackled the toys in their bedrooms. I have not yet gone through what they put in each pile, but that is okay. The main thing is to get the bins out to the garage, and then I can go through them when I am setting them out for the yard sale. (If I am participating in one this weekend, that is.)
My goal for this evening is to get the kitchen back into a state that doesn't cause me heart palpitations, and then I will pull the bins from the crawl space. Technically neither of the boys even have a clue what is in the crawlspace as it has been in there since the R-man moved in, but I did make the rule, so they are each allowed 10 items from each bin. Fair is fair.
If we don't have a yard sale, I may just take all of these items to the re-use-it centre on the weekend. No sense having it clutter up the already cluttered garage, right?
Okay - off to make dinner and then putting on my official "lets get this house clean so I can mange to not have a heart attack every time I walk in to a room" clothes.
Really - it's that bad. How can such an annal, perfectionist-type person have such a messy, cluttered house? I can't stand it!!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Summer Holidays
Who-hoo - summer holidays are here!
We can try something new...
Ahhhh....SUMMER!!
We can try something new...
and some things that aren't so new...
We can hang out with our friends...
And take some time enjoying nature...
Ahhhh....SUMMER!!
Another month done...
Had a great week's holidays, but I still can not believe that we are now in to August. We had a good week, and I am going to post some picture highlights when I get home from work tonight and have a bit of time to do so.
I have been blogging for almost a full year now!
Last week, I started having bad dreams about the new start to the school year for S. New principal, new school year, new everything. And I am dreading it. Again. How sad is that?
I have been blogging for almost a full year now!
Last week, I started having bad dreams about the new start to the school year for S. New principal, new school year, new everything. And I am dreading it. Again. How sad is that?
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