Just Plugging Along

Lots of stuff going on lately. Trying to get caught up--still--from vacation. Steve is under my gun to finish editing photos. Really, I promise they will get posted here before J graduates college! I think I finally got all the laundry put away from vacation. Oy vey, my boys go through clothes worse than any girl I know.

Karate. J passed his Orange Minor Stripe belt test on Monday. I am testing for my Orange belt this coming Saturday. If I wasn't nervous enough, I found out in class the other night that I have to break a board--with my hand--holy crap Batman! I'm trying to be very Zen about it. I've been sitting with my Ipod listening to the Memoirs of a Geisha soundtrack and meditating, picturing myself breaking the board. No problem!

J also finally got elevated from being an Eel to a Stingray for swim lessons. He's been an Eel for ages. But the time spent swimming in the pool and ocean on vacation really paid off and his endurance is there to elevate him. He's very proud of that.

What else? My rubber stamping class for the town's continuing education department never got more than 1 registration, so that was a bust for this time around. We're going to try again later in the spring and I have been brainstorming how to promote the program more. But my Stampin' Up! business has been going really well and there is the potential for this to be my best quarter ever!

In general, tides are turning and shifting for the better as far as life in Casa Owen. It just seems like things are much brighter and a tad easier. Guess the addage, "Everything happens for a reason," is really true and what doesn't kill you definitely makes you stronger.

I'm just plugging along and very happy about that! Peace out.

Yeah, I'm officially freaking out

My last post showed me in my karate gi with my beginners white belt. Now I started this session a couple of weeks in, so I figured I would not be testing next week since I didn't complete the full course. Tonight was J's first night back and he was given his testing paper. So I ask Sensei what is the fee for J's test and he replies that it is $35. He sees me with my checkbook then adds, "But you need to write the check to include your test fee for next week." Gulp! What? "I'm testing?" I ask innocently. "Of course you are." "But Sensei, I wasn't here for the full session." "Yes you were, between class and working with the kids during J's class, you're ready." I'm ready. Yeah, I'm officially freaking out and will be practicing Taikyoku Shodan repeatedly every day between now and the 18th (with the exception of the 11th when I'm cropping with my girls up in NH). If I pass my test, I will earn my first color belt, orange. If J passes his test, he will earn his orange minor stripe--yes, he will still rank higher than I will. Oh good grief! Give me strength!

Mighty Warrior, Hear Me Kiai!

Some of you have wanted to see me in my karate gi. Your wish is my command. Here I am in two poses. The first is Jodan Age Uke. This is a rising block position. The second image is Oi Zuki, which is a lunge punch. Since being on vacation, I'm itching to get back to class. Yesterday should have been my first day back, but J's got a nasty Swimmers Ear Infection from being such an Aruban Water Rat in the pool and the ocean. Will post some of my vacation photos later!

The Road to Hell is Just Down Those Stairs

There is an old saying, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions." When Steven travels, I always try to line up a project to keep me busy and make some sort of dent in the house somehow. My intention for this week was to buy a couple more of the Rubbermaid shelving units, set the up in "his" side of the basement and move some of the junk over there that clogs our basement. I had even intended to buy some clear boxes and sort stuff in the basement to sell on Ebay. I will be the first to say I have several hobbies that have fallen by the wayside or have changed direction on, that the casualties of are in the basement (rubberstamps that I don't want to use any more, cross stitch patterns, boxes of DMC floss, etc. ). I would love to arrange them in such a way that I could easily access them and perhaps arrange a packaging area in. When I go to ship a box, I rummage several different areas of the basement then haul it up here. I would also like to have a good sort out of Christmas decorations and make sure that everything I reallly want to use every year is in one place, not four places. I know somewhere "down there" I have ornaments that haven't graced our Christmas tree in well over 5 years that I would have loved to have put up this past Christmas. I intended to make a pile of stuff to go in a yard sale this year.

Did I do any of that this week? Of course I didn't! Between being sore from my first couple of karate lessons and the basement being bloody cold from the single digit temperatures, I did not want to spend any more time down there than necessary to throw a load of laundry in the washer. So I will look forward to this project as it warms up downstairs and Steven heads west again sometime soon!

Until then, my basement is what hell must look like!

Playing Four

My friend, Stephanie, tagged me this morning:

Four Jobs You've Had In Your Life:
1. Office manager for a construction company
2. Sales girl for a sporting goods shop
3. Human resources recruiter
4. Human resources benefits administrator

Four Movies You Could Watch Over and Over:
1. X-Men 2
2. A Walk in the Clouds
3. Dogma
4. Legends of the Fall

Four Places That You Have Lived:
1. Northboro, MA
2. Westboro, MA
3. Worcester, MA
4. Shrewsbury, MA

Four Tv Shows That You Watch:
1. E/R
2. General Hospital
3. The Apprentice
4. Real World/Road Rules Challenges

Four Places You Have Been On Vacation
1. England
2. Ottowa, Canada
3. Disney World
4. Aruba

Four Websites You Visit Daily
1. Lucky Stars Cattery (the kitten cam is awesome to watch!)
2. Two Peas
3. Various friends blogs
4. Stampin' Up consultants site

Four Favorite Foods
1. Chocolate
2. Nacho chips w/ queso
3. Thai food
4. My mummy's mince w/ minute rice and canned peas

Four Places That You Would Rather Be Right Now
1. London
2. Cape Cod
3. Colorado
4. Anywhere with Keanu Reeves! LOL!

Karate Mom

J has been taking karate lessons for almost 3 months now. I have sat and watched each of his classes with interest. Now, as you can see from my profile picture, I am not exactly the picture of slim & petite health. I am a believer in the real woman have curves philosophy, unfortunately my curves are not in the best places. So earlier this week I asked Sensei if it was feasible to take his adult class or was I too big? He said that I could do it, as long as I listen to my body and take it's cues for slowing down so I don't injure myself. My next question was, do they make a gi in my size? Yes, no problem. He then suggested that I attend an adult class to observe. I did that this morning, by the way "observe" means actually participate in the class. OH MY GOODNESS! My muscles are screaming right now. Stiffness is setting in a bit. I'm eating my lunch right now and some Advil are in my future. However, I did ask Sensei to get a gi for me and that I would be back on Monday for class.

I am --- Karate Mom! Hear me kiai!

Confessions of a Media Junkie

I am a self-confessed media junkie. I love TV, music, movies, magazines and books.

My Tivo gets a daily workout that puts my husband's Tivo to shame. And yes, His and Her Tivo's create marital harmony that knows few bounds!

It's not often that I get out to the movies, I think in 2005 I only saw 4 movies in the movie theatre, which is up from the 2 I had seen in 2004. Thank goodness Directv offers pay-per-view. I can just rent it, watch it when I want and not have to worry about getting it back to the video store. The only video store around here is Satan's Playground, um I mean Blockbuster. I have loathed them for years since they are owned but an ultra-right-wing conservative Christian organization. Don't get me wrong, I am probably more right than left-winged, but The Man has no right to make my viewing decisions in what versions of videos I can rent. If I want to rent an unrated, director's cut that is my decision, not that of some holier than thou nutter.

Magazines, I am a sucker for a good scrapbooking magazine. If I'm in line at the supermarket and see a women's magazine touting organizational helps & hints, inevitably it ends up in my cart. I've got a basket down by the side of my chair in the living room full of magazines (and catalogs) that I've yet to pour through. I think a few of them will have to go in my suitcase on vacation with me.

And what can I say about books. I have had a love affair with reading all my life. My two bookshelves in my office are chock-a-block full of books, most of which have been read, some of which haven't. The other night as I sorted out scrapbooking supplies I cleared enough space in front of one of my shelves that I sat down on the floor and had a sort out of books. I have about 15 unread books beckoning me to choose them next. Again, a couple of those will end up in my suitcase for vacation. And let's not even go down the cookbook road. Two shelves bursting with various types of cookbooks. I really ought to, you know, cook with them.

Finally, music. How did I ever survive before I got my iPod Video? I only got it for Christmas, but I have used it so much. It's wonderful. I can listen to virtually anything I want in the car now. I'm not limited to my CD wallet or the pitiful FM offerings. If I want to listen to Sheila E one minute and the Andrews Sisters the next, there is no stopping me. While I'm sitting in J's karate class, I can watch a U2 video or show my hairdresser pictures of our sweet little niece at Christmas.

My name is Jenn and I am a Media Junkie. Thank goodness!

Rest In Peace Velly

Mercedes E. 1925-2005

This lovely lady was my brother-in-law, Pablo's grandmother. Pablo's family came from Argentina and while she could speak some English, Velly was never comfortable speaking it. Velly is actually pronounced "Welly" short for abuela, the Spanish word for grandmother. Apparently when Pablo was little, he couldn't manage the word abuela and it came out Velly. The name stuck.

I first met his grandmother at my sister-in-law's bridal shower at a SoHo restaurant a month before their wedding. In came this sweet smiling lady, she took my face in both her hands and told me in broken English how I am the mother of a beautiful little boy whom her grandson adores, how I made Pablo & Sue a beautiful family album and how lovely I was. This was particularly poignant to me as my own grandmother, Nana had passed away 3 weeks earlier. So I stood there with tears in my eyes as this woman I never met before welcomed me to be a part of her family when Sue & Pablo got married. She insisted that we call her Velly "like the rest of my grandchildren." Who was I to argue with her?

After that I only saw her a couple of times, at Sue & Pablo's wedding weekend and at Sue's baby shower, where I took this photo of dear Velly. My Spanish is rudimentary at best, but I would try my hardest to converse with her in her native tongue. Thankfully she was a forgiving woman when I mangled her language.

Pablo & Sue were on their way to Long Island on New Years Eve with baby Sophia, and their friends when they decided to stop by her apartment to check on her. When she didn't answer the door, Pablo's friend went in first. He was like a grandson to her and had a feeling that Pablo would be finding her. He covered her up and then told my dear brother-in-law. As you can imagine Pablo's heart is broken. He and Velly were very close and when she was ill a year and a half ago he made all of her important decisions for her care.

Vaya con Dios Velly. Es sido encantador instruido usted.

Tristan & Isolde

I've always had a fascination with the Arthurian Legends. So much so that I took a literature course in college all about it. I've got several books on my shelf that I have not touched in years. Now there is a movie coming out, Tristan & Isolde. It was probably one of my favorite legends when I studied it in school. Yes, I am a girl and yes, I am a hopeless romantic! Despite that, I'm not a huge chick flick kinda gal. I almost never seek them out in the movie theatres, but might catch them on HBO or occasionally pay-per-view. But this one I think I will go to the movies to see. Something to look forward to!

It's 3AM, Go Back to Bed--PLEASE!

We had a lovely Christmas Eve dinner with my parents yesterday. Even though we'll see them at my in-laws house later today, we exchanged gifts with them. Steven spent much of the afternoon as he did the first Christmas we were together, with his nose buried in a Calvin & Hobbes book, only this time, it's the full treasury box set. It weighs a ton and my dad was convinced he'd give himself a hernia carrying it into the house. Not something you'd want to drop on your foot or the cat for sure!

After working in the kitchen for most of the day, putting on a nice grilled beef tenderloins, Paula Deen's Shrimp Stuffed Potatoes and asparagus dinner (with Christmas cookies for dessert), and just generally getting the house ready for Christmas, I was totally exhausted last night. I was in bed by 8:30 PM. I read a mystery novel for a bit and then conked out by 9:00 PM!

Then I was awoken at 3:00 AM to the sounds of a certain small person, "Oh my goodness! Santa's been! Mummy! Daddy! Wake up! Santa's been here and you should see all the presents under the tree and our stockings have stuff in them!!!!" I love my boy, but not so much at 3:00 AM out of a dead sleep. We convinced him to go back to bed and get some more sleep. That lasted for 2 hours. At 5:00 AM he started in on his stocking and we again told him to go back to bed--PLEASE! There was no escaping his excitement at 7:00 AM.

So we've opened all of our presents, I have made Monkey Bread for our Christmas morning treat and now both Steven & J are assembling their Ferrari F1 Lego sets (yes, they each got one--gotta love boys!). I'm sitting here debating a third cup of tea. Being woken every couple of hours through the night is taking it's toll on me this morning. I'm also anxious to get my iPod from my in-laws, as Steven bought me the iPod camera attachment, so I'll be able to back up our vacation pictures when we go to Aruba. Wah-hoo!

We'll pop around to my in-laws house with cake, shrimp stuffed potatoes and cookies this afternoon. Can't wait to see our sweet little niece, who was kind enough to bring her mommy & daddy up from New Jersey with her this morning!

Merry Christmas friends!

PS: I should add that Steven went to the scrapbook store in Grafton and got me several things that I didn't have and are way cool. What a good boy he is.

Life Dreams

Last night I was watching the History Channel about Stonehenge. I am so glad that Steven & I went there in 1998. It got me thinking about Life Dreams. That was a dream fulfilled. I'm pretty impressed with that by 36 I have fulfilled a number of life dreams. I have

- Walked around the stones of Stonehenge
- Ridden in a hot air balloon (twice!)
- Climbed the pyramid at Chichen Itza in Mexico (easier said than done)
- Swam with dolphins (that dream is partially fulfilled, I want to do that one again)
- Seen Faberge Easter eggs

I still have a number of other life dreams to fulfill, among them are:

- See the pyramids of Giza
- Tour St. Petersburg, Russia
- Take a train ride across the U.S.
- Learn to speak Russian

Christmas Tagged!

Hot Chocolate or Egg Nog? Hot chocolate--Land O Lakes makes one called Chocolate Supreme. Good stuff!

Does Santa wrap the presents or just set them under the tree? Santa wraps his presents in paper with Santa Claus' on them. Non-Santa presents are wrapped in non-Santa wrap.

Colored or white lights on the tree/house? Colored, white is BORING!

Do you hang mistletoe? No, I always worry the cat will get it and eat it. She's not that bright after all.

When do you decorate? Normally Thanksgiving weekend, but this year I didn't get to it until last week.

What is your favorite holiday dish? Beef tenderloin with twice baked potatoes.

Favorite Holiday memory as a child? We almost always spent Christmas on the Cape with my Nana & Grandad. Sometimes my Aunt Val-Val and cousin Susie would be there. One year it was 72 degrees (highly unusual for Massachusetts in December), so my aunt & I walked down to the beach. We sang Christmas carols off key, collected shells and umm, "borrowed" an evergreen branch from one of Nana's neighbors. We put it in a pot of soil, hung the shells and put tinsel on it. Then I had it in my bedroom to decorate my room down the Cape.

How and when did you learn the truth about Santa? No clue.

Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve? Steve & I usually open one, a DVD and watch that together.

What kind of cookies do you set out for Santa on Christmas Eve? My spritz cookies.

Snow! Love it or hate it? I hate the mess it makes, but to look at it makes me happy.

Can you ice skate? I haven't in years, but I used to when I was a little kid.

Do you remember your favorite gift? My gold Celtic cross that my parents gave me the Christmas that I was pregnant w/ DS. Mummy designed it for both my dad and I.

What is the most important thing about the holidays for you? Spending time with our families.

What’s your favorite holiday dessert? My homemade cookies.

What’s your favorite holiday tradition? Spending time with our families.

What type of tree? Live of course!

Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? Both honestly!

What is your favorite Christmas Carol? "Silent Night"

Candy Canes, YUCK or YUM? The first few licks, YUM. After that, YUCK.

Now I tag Stephanie and Karen.

Light a Candle for Meghan

It's been almost a year since Meghan Agnes Beck left our circle of friends that is like family to us. Next Sunday, December 11th, there will be a candle lighting ceremony to honor those children who have been called home to Heaven. Please join me from 7-8PM and light a candle for this little angel.

For more information on Meghan's story, please visit Meghan's Hope.

God bless you and yours this holiday season.

Bono Here I Come!!!!!!

OH-MA-GAWD! I'm going to U2 on Sunday. We had only one General Admission ticket for the show. Originally this year I was supposed to see them in May with Steven, but then I got really sick and couldn't go. So instead of 1 spare ticket, we had 2 for that show. He swapped them for our October tickets. Somehow he ended up with a single ticket for the upcoming show and he even offered to let me go on my own. My problem is I have panic attacks in crowds of people. If Steven is with me, then I can reach over for him or have him talk me down. The thought of a concert by myself is an impossibility right now. So I said, "No dear. You go. I'll stay home." Well gosh darn it all if our friend Paul didn't discover he had a spare general admission ticket for the same show! So about 72 hours from now I'll be standing on the floor of the Bank North Garden being showered with red and silver confetti as the first few notes of "City of Blinding Lights" whips the crowd into a frenzy. And this time, I'm bringing my camera!!!!!

Thankful

As Thanksgiving draws to a close, I want to share what I am thankful for with the world.

I am thankful for....

...my husband
...my son
...my parents
...my other parents (a/k/a my in-laws)
...my sister-in-law, her husband and their daughter
...my cousins, aunts and uncle
...my dear friends

These were taken today. The first one is my little niece & I. The second was the cousins.

I've Been Tagged

Edited on Saturday morning as I see Amanda tagged me as well. Amanda, mine's in threes, hope that's okay.

My friend Sarah tagged me:

3 names you go by:
1. Jenn
2. Mummy

3. Jemmy

3 parts of your heritage
1. English
2. Irish

3. That's it, I am those 2 things only.

3 things that scare you
1. Being out on the open water
2. Bees

3. Heights

3 Everyday essentials
1. Tea
2. Digestive biscuit w/ my tea
3. Time on my computer while drinking my first cup of tea

3 things you are wearing right now
1. Slippers
2. LL Bean black knit pants (1 of about 1/2 dozen pairs)
3. Socks from the Sock Shop in England

3 of your favorite bands or musical artists (at the moment)
1. U2
2. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

3. Brian Setzer Orchestra

3 favorite songs (at the moment)
1. Sometimes You Can't Make it On your Own - U2
2. Pon de Replay - Rhiannon

3. Fever - Peggy Lee

3 physical things that appeal to you (in the opposite sex)
1. Eyes
2. Voice

3. Hands

3 of your favorite hobbies
1. Scrapbooking
2. Rubber Stamping

3. Collecting vintage View-Masters and VM reels

3 places you want to go on vacation
1. Walt Disney World
2. England

3. St. Petersburg, Russia

3 things you want to do before you die
1. Go to St. Petersburg, Russia and be able to converse in Russian
2. Swim with dolphins again and as often as possible

3. Kiss my husband at the top of the Eiffel Tower

3 things you are thinking about now
1. Getting DS on the school bus
2. Going to DS's school this afternoon to volunteer for a party
3. Going out with DH on a date tonight

3 stores you shop at
1. Borders Books
2. A Time for Memories in Grafton
3. Target

I tag Jenny next.

The Matrix

Okay, so I realize that I am like 6 years late in seeing the first of these movies in one sitting. I've long been a Keanu Reeves fan, yet I've never had the will to sit and watch them (probably because I've always managed to walk in on a DVD or TV showing at a gross part and I can't handle gross). But lordy, is the gorgeous Mr. Reeves a hottie in these movies (other than all the plugs and stuff all over his body, especially down his spine).

Last weekend Steve suggested we watch The Matrix. Sounds good. Oh my goodness! I was hooked. I couldn't wait to see Matrix Reloaded, the problem was it was 11:00PM and time for bed. So Tuesday night we watched Reloaded. I'm really hoping there is no Thursday Night Football tonight so we can watch Matrix Revolutions.

Hello, my name is Jenn and I am a Keanu Reeves addict.

So who gets your knickers in a twist?

I Don't Hate Monday (At Least Today I Don't)

It's Monday and it's not so bad. Yes, being woken at 4:30 AM by my five-year-old who had had a bad dream and wanted to curl up with us wasn't exactly a great way to start the day, but at least we both fell asleep. Granted, having both paper grocery bags rip open as I put them in the car, is annoying but at least the groceries fell into the car and not under it.

The sun is shining. I've got my errands done. I've almost got the house all straightened out after a weekend of no housework. I got a bunch of pages scrapped over the last couple of days. I've got a crop to look forward to on Saturday at one of my favorite scrapbooking stores.

Yeah, I don't hate Mondays.

Borders Books

We have a Borders bookstore just a five minute drive up the road. That is just a dangerous thing, especially when you've got a 20% off coupon. I stopped in yesterday to pick up the Better Homes & Garden Photography magazine that I had seen the other day when I had no cash on me. Then I started wandering the cookbook section. That's always a dangerous thing for me. Someday when I have a big kitchen with a built-in bookcase for cookbooks, all of my cookbooks can be in one place. One of my favorite cookbook authors is Paula Deen. I love watching her shows on the Food Network. So yesterday a copy of The Lady & Sons, Too! had to come home with me. I've got a copy of her first one, The Lady & Sons and use it all the time. What I love about her recipes is none of them are overly complicated like a Martha Stewart recipe can be, there aren't a ton of exotic ingredients either and the end results always look magnificent and earn rave reviews. She's got a magazine coming out this month and I cannot wait to get my hot little hands on it, I may even have to get a subscription.

Friendship

Today has been "one of those days". You know the kind of day. The kind of day that has some highs and lows. And no matter what the high, the low just sucks the life right out of you and you feel like you can do nothing right. That's the kind of day I had today.

My high was the fact that I submitted a picture to our local CBS affiliate's web site and they used it. Actually, I had submitted 3 of them and they chose my favorite. Even better.

The low is a friendship that is crumbling away. Nothing I do or say is right with this person. I am constantly trying to be supportive and everything I have to offer is misinterpreted or is the wrong thing all together (unbeknownst to me). I will be the first to say, I don't even begin to know what she's going through. But I try to be supportive or give her something else to talk about and it's not right either. So I will back away and hope that our friendship bonds were strong enough to begin with that they will survive. I'm feeling so shitty about all this, that I sat here and had a good cry. Usually that helps, but tonight it doesn't.

This on the heels of a friend going through a painful marital separation who has told all of her friends she needs time alone. I can respect that, but this is the same person who said to me when I was at the lowest of my depression last year that you need to lean on friends during such times.

So in the last 2 weeks I've felt like I lost 2 friends. Today my outlook is Life Sucks.