{my scrapbook pages and stuff}

2009-11-07T10:27:00.001-05:00

So, even though Halloween is over, I think I'm gonna keep this layout for a while :)

2009-09-04T08:00:00.001-05:00

These days, I feel like I don't have anything to say but I'm keeping this blog for now just in case :) Plus I don't want to lose all of my awesome, inspiring links!

Today is my anniversary - five years, baby!!!

2009-07-16T08:14:00.002-05:00

Again, I haven't updated in forever. Big surprise. I'm thinking of deleting this blog actually. We'll see...

News: back in February, my uncle was diagnosed with cancer. He had a tumor in his throat that prevented him from swallowing and dropped to about 95 pounds. He received chemo and radiation treatments but the cancer kept spreading. Two weeks ago, his doctor said that there was nothing else that they could do and gave him six months to live. On Tuesday, July 7th, he passed away. I know it's supposed to be a relief when someone so sick dies, but he was one of my favorite people in the whole world and I miss him. You know that person who loves you and supports you and always sees the good in you no matter what? He was mine.

Other news: my parents have moved back home to Colorado. I flew out with them on Saturday, 4 days too late to get to see my uncle. My mother's dementia is getting very, very bad and my stepfather was given 12 months to live by his doctor. So they wanted to get home while they could and will be staying with one of my aunts as long as she can handle caring for them. It's sad but I'm happy for them that they get to be home where they want.

Good news: my sister is doing so much better! I wouldn't say that she has fully recovered, but I know that she is really trying to stay sober and be strong. I'm really proud of her and hope she can keep it up.

Other good news: my son got his GED and his drivers license this month!!! I am really excited about this, he is finally moving forward with his life instead of just doing the same old thing as he always did. Super, super proud of him :)

No scrapping for me lately. I did make an album for my sister and her husband for their 20th anniversary but with everything that has been going on lately, I can't seem to get anything done. I want to...just can't seem to put any effort into it. Oh well, I know that happens sometimes. What can you do?

2009-05-09T07:33:00.002-05:00

I don't mean to ignore this thing, but sometimes life is so crazy I can't find the time to post. Plus not that many people read this...probably because I don't update! Anyway, my uncle is doing okay. Chemo and radiation treatments are ongoing, and he is gaining some weight, although not much. So yay.

The problem now is my youngest sister, who is currently in rehab. Again. She's been doing drugs, including heroin from what we have been told. She's been arrested for shoplifting, for drug money, and spent 10 days in jail earlier this year. Got out of jail and ended up in the hospital about 3 days later after OD'ing. She totalled her car a couple of weeks ago and one of her passengers was pretty seriously injured. She doesn't speak to us much anymore. We still get to see the boys a lot, so at least there's that.

What else? My stepdad isn't speaking to me at the moment. He's angry with me because he doesn't think I come over to visit enough. He doesn't want to hear about how busy I am at work and how I don't get home until after 6:00 most days. He doesn't know about my shitty childhood and probably wouldn't care if he did know. It's fine though, I don't need the stress he adds to my life right now anyway. I won't miss calls from him as soon as I get home asking for milkshakes from Wendy's. Whatever.

Good stuff: we're hanging out at my sister's house tonight. Her birthday was Thursday and even though she and I split a 12-pack of beer that night, we're having a few more tonight. And a cookout, so yum! Tomorrow we're going to see the new Star Trek movie, I seriously can't wait!!! I am a huge Star Trek fan and the new movie looks amazing.

I owe someone a PIF RAK. I'll post about that later this weekend, I promise, Christi!!!

two months

2009-01-28T21:30:00.003-05:00

More than two months actually - it's been forever since I've updated this thing! That's crazy. This second job is taking all my free time, the time I used to spend doing creative things like scrapping or taking pics or writing. I don't know...I feel like I don't do anything but work and rest and work some more. I spend time with Brian and the kid and my sister but I don't have much time for me these days.

Brian's hours got cut back at work, he's only getting 24 hours per week, which is terrible. We're still getting by, but things are getting tough and we're going to have to start cutting back soon. I hate that. Hate watching every penny we spend, because we work hard and should be able to enjoy ourselves when we want to. Crap, I don't know...I'm tired.

best.wife.ever!

2008-11-21T21:07:00.002-05:00

That's right, I'm the best! Gave hubby a sexy little surprise on the couch - his favorite kind of surprise ;) Then, made him a sugar-free cake with chocolate icing. I rock!

Working on x-mas presents these days. I hope they turn out cute. Right now I'm making banners out of the snowflake acrylic albums I bought for super cheap from Christine. So far, I like them, although I only started on one and it's nowhere near finished, d'oh! But I like where it's going, so that's cool

Phew - all blogs updated on the same night. That is an accomplishment!

LOVE IT!!!

2008-11-10T19:39:00.002-05:00

I love it, I mean seriously love it, when Brian plays guitar. It's so frickin' sexy! I can't wait until the guys get some gigs - yummy.

2008-11-09T16:20:00.002-05:00

I like that whole "blogging without obligations" theory, it seems to fit here. Haven't bothered to put up one of their buttons, but just know that I'm down. It's been almost a month since I posted to this blog, it's kinda hard to get back to scrapping after our lives were turned upside down in September. I don't know why that is. I'm not taking many pics, but I have so many old ones that I could use so that's not really an excuse. My desk is a mess right now, I'm so going to go organize after I'm done posting here so I can't use that excuse any more either. Maybe that will help me get motivated, maybe not.

I'm starting on x-mas presents, making glass tile necklaces for a few people. Casey and I made two earlier this week, she stole one and Hannah stole the other. So I guess they're pretty cool :) I bought enough supplies to make 10, I think we're going to have to get more stuff soon. I know Casey wants to make some for her friends too so hopefully we can find stuff locally. Ordering from Etsy is cool, but I hate to pay for shipping if I don't have to. We'll see...

What else is new? Our computer is being a jerk, makes it hard to update this thing. It's getting cold out, today I saw some snow! The holidays are coming, which is always fun. And I think I'm going to get a part-time weekend job to help us out money-wise. I hope I can handle that, working 7 days a week for a few months. I'm not sure how it will go, I imagine it will be tiring but hopefully not too bad. I really want to do this.

I guess that's all we have going on at the moment, we're usually pretty boring :)

2008-10-10T18:20:00.003-05:00

I feel like I need to post again, to say that we're slowly moving on. And we are, things feel normal most of the time again. Updates bullet-style:

Brian is out with work peeps tonight - which is cool. One of his friends is in a band and they are opening up for the Misf!ts and he is going to see them. Casey and I might go get ice cream from Coldstone Creamery, if the other car will start for me (it doesn't like me anymore).
Tomorrow we're going to a party deal with my work peeps. It's an annual event, lots of fun, good food and free beer. Rock! We always have a good time, and it's fun to meet everyone's families and hang out with their kids. After that, I'm hoping to go out with my sister and her husband for drinks - it's Brian's birthday on Monday!!!
Sunday, my sisters and I are doing the Walk Now for Autism thing in Columbus, should be fun too. I'm looking forward to it and I raised a good amount of money so I'm kinda' proud of that :)
Monday, like I mentioned, is Brian's birthday - yay! We're planning to go to Mitchell's Steakhouse for dinner, we're both looking forward to that. We hear really good things about it. Yum!

No more blogging, off to scrap!

2008-09-21T15:56:00.002-05:00

Things are getting better, slowly, for all of us. It still feels wrong to go back to our ordinary lives, even though that's exactly what we need to do. I feel guilty, like it means that I'm forgetting, like I'm tryting to act like nothing tragic happened. It's not true, of course, but I can't help the way I feel.

We went out for a few drinks with my brother last night. Meagan joined us because she didn't want to be home alone. I don't blame her a bit. We actually had a really nice time and I think it helped her to talk about Jordan, and laugh and live. She stayed the night on our couch and I made us all a big breakfast this morning. I feel so helpless watching her grieve, I wish I knew what to do or say. Either she thinks I'm doing and saying the right things already, or she just appreciates that I'm trying. Whichever one it is, I'm glad that we can be here for her, even if we don't know what we're doing.

2008-09-14T12:20:00.003-05:00

Nothing seems important right now, whatever needs to be done doesn't seem worth the effort. I have zero energy and zero desire to do anything about it. I'm still just so damn tired...

There are no words

2008-09-12T17:24:00.002-05:00

Our family has been touched by tragedy, and right now, it doesn't feel like things will ever be normal again. Rest well, Jordan, you have no idea how much we all miss you. Bill, I didn't know you that well, but I do know that your family loves you and they are glad that you are finally at peace.

Best Saturday ever!

2008-08-17T18:55:00.002-05:00

Went to a huge rummage sale with my sister and got some awesome stuff - including a pair of pants that are two sizes smaller than the ones I've been wearing! So exciting, for real!!!
Walked around downtown with Brian and then had an incredible dinner at Mad Mex. Such great food, and a fun restaurant. Yummy margaritas and amazing guacamole and the most awesome date to share it with :)
Came home for drinks in the backyard at our new table, listening to music from Brian's iPod. We slow danced to "I can't help falling in love with you" by Elvis Presley between the torches.
Finished off the night with some seriously hot $ex, the kind that leaves you shaky and dehydrated and wanting more. Sorry if that's TMI, but that is what made it so perfect :)

Things to work on

2008-08-01T21:42:00.004-05:00

Sometimes I'm too judgemental, I hate that. And I am too dismissive about other people's feelings. I am selfish but at the same time I take care of everyone else before I take care of me (wtf! how is that even possible? ). I avoid things that make me cranky, even things I need to take care of. I suck at saving money. I don't pay attention when people are talking, my mind kind of wanders and I just stop listening.

In other news, I'm hungry.

Yay!!!

2008-07-30T20:44:00.003-05:00

Hannah is home for two weeks. I missed her so fucking much!!! All we've done since she got back is laugh, I love it :)

PS - I had too much beer tonight and have a nice buzz going right now. Think I can trick that husband of mine into going to bed early? *wink*

Great day!

2008-07-26T21:33:00.004-05:00

Tomorrow is going to be great, Casey and I are playing tennis, I'm so excited!!! She is trying to join the tennis team at school and has been practicing like crazy. She needs to work on her serve and her volleying so we're going to do that for a while. I haven't played tennis in forever, so I think it's going to be so much fun!

We saw a matinee of the Dark Knight earlier, so fucking amazing!!! Oh my gosh, Harvey Dent was scary and Heath Ledger was as incredible as everyone has been saying. I agree with Casey that Iron Man is still my favorite move from this year, but this one is probably a very close second. After that, we took Casey shopping for shoes for tennis and had a little dinner at Cosi. Good stuff!

Tonight we watched "License to Wed" with John Krasinski - yum! I have a bit of a thing for Jim Halpert, he's the wallpaper on my laptop. Brian was teasing me about him being on the television and on the screen of my laptop at the same time and asked me if I wanted to print out some pictures of him to put around the room. Ha! Cute movie, of course, and I had fun watching it with my sweet husband.

Stating the obvious

2008-07-20T10:45:00.004-05:00

Things change when people get married and move in together. Some changes are amazing: getting to wake up with him every morning, falling asleep beside him every night, talking about our days after work, knowing that you're going to do these things together for the rest of your lives. What I hate is that you start to take each other for granted. All the nice little things you did when you were dating just sort of stop over time. Like getting a card for no reason, or a mix CDs of my favorite music, eating dinner by candlelight, dancing to slow songs in the kitchen. I miss them, and I'm just as guilty for not doing them.

I was thinking earlier today that no one in the whole world loves her husband as much as I love mine. It's time for me to start acting like it again. Brian better watch out!!!

Yay for me!

2008-07-11T19:30:00.004-05:00

Today was kick-ass!!! I got a raise, a promotion (sort of) and a ton of compliments for wearing a dress that I have had forever. Enjoyed hearing my boss say, "I don't know what I would do without you. Please don't ever leave." Enjoyed some flirting on the phone and via email. Enjoyed some other stuff that I can't/won't write about ;) Dinner was great, Brian made yummy mojitos and it's Friday. Does it get any better than that? I don't think so.

Oh yeah, and Brian's daddy came home from the hospital today!!!

Sunday = New postscret day!

2008-07-06T11:07:00.003-05:00

I love the postsecret website. New secrets are one of my favorite things about Sunday. Maybe I'll send one of mine in sometime, I wonder if it would get published.

Brian's dad is doing a lot better. The doctors finally figured out a good combination of medications to get rid of the fluids he was retaining. So yay, that is a big relief.

Posting from the ER

2008-07-03T17:13:00.002-05:00

We're at the hospital with Brian's dad again, more congestive heart failure :( He's looking pretty rough, and he's pretty grumpy (don't blame him there). So we're hanging out here today, big fun.

Positive thoughts appreciated!

So cool!

2008-06-16T20:10:00.003-05:00

Some of my tally buddies have started a new challenge blog. Check it out:

I seriously think this is an awesome idea, I can't wait to start playing dirty ;)

Question:

2008-06-13T20:42:00.002-05:00

Is there anything hotter than a man in the kitchen making chocolate chip cookies?

Answer: no.

Fun!!!

2008-06-07T23:59:00.002-05:00

My crop at Archiver's was so much fun! I had a blast with my friends, enjoyed relieving some stress and came home to a very tipsy husband who was all over me! Since we have no kids at home right now, we enjoyed as much of the house as we possibly could before he passed out! Well, it was fun while it lasted :)

Stress!!!!!!!!

2008-06-05T21:18:00.002-05:00

Work is going absolutely crazy right now! I'm working a ton of hours and things are just so chaotic, it's really stressing me out.

On top of that, yesterday my mom disappeared from their house while my stepdad was at a doctor's appointment. Since she has Alzheimer's, this was pretty fucking scary to say the least. All of us "kids" went out looking for her and it turns out that she went to the neighbor's and asked for a ride to town. I guess she thought she left a note, and then according to their neighbor, she didn't know where she wanted to go so they just drove around for a few minutes and ended up coming home. WTF?!

And today, Brian's sister had an accident while riding her motorcycle. Flipped over the front of the bike and landed on her head. I guess she broke 2 vertebrae, some ribs and has a small hole in her lung. I have no idea what any of that means, the doctor hasn't said whether or not she needs surgery yet. Brian and his stepmom are still at the hospital.

Shiiiiiiiiit! I need some major stress-relief right now. And I know just where to get it.

Saturday is the day I am going to Archiver's with two friends from work for a 12-hour crop, can't wait! For now though, I'm going to bed.

Grrr...

2008-05-30T16:01:00.002-05:00

My youngest sister is moving this weekend, I've known about that for weeks. But why did I just find out that Brian is helping her move? Hello, I might have made other plans for us! No one even mentioned it to me, I just overheard them talking about it today, wtf?!

Not that I care, more scrapping time for me. But I'm annoyed that no one said anything about it before now. Seriously, what if it was inconvenient? I should have known that she wasn't going to be able to get this done without help from us, but for some dumb reason, I wasn't thinking.

OH WELL!!!