I am Finished!

It came down to the wire with this damn contest, but I finished.
Max kept rooting me on, "Come on mom, you can do it!"
My brother helped me tweak the essay.
And my boss let me out of work an hour early today to finish.

The post office closed at 7p. I was there at 6:45p.
Talk about last minute.

I am so tired now, this contest has drained me, I feel like I ran a marathon.
So off to bed.

Chatterbox has warped my brain

All I can think is Chatterbox right now as I am in Crunch Time with this damn book. Yes, I am still working on it and yes, it has to be in the mail tomorrow. Yikes!
So, I completely forgot that in honor of Theodore Gisel's (Dr. Seuss) birthday, I am the guest reader for Max's class on Wednesday morning. I have to read to his 4th grade class and don't have a clue what to pick!
What can I read to 4th graders that is not babyish and would rank me up there with the world's greatest parent??
What do 4th graders like?
What's a book?
See... can't think clearly, only thinking Meaningful Albums.
So, PLEASE, pretty pretty please, if you are reading this, please Comment, don't be shy, give me a suggestion. Anything. A book that can be read aloud that is not meant for a 5 year old.
The pressure is on because as I looked at the reminder slip on the fridge this morning to exclaim, "Oh Crap!, that's this Wednesday?"
Max said, "Don't worry mom, you're the best reader and always pick something cool."
Crap...double crap!

Whatcha Watchin'?

There's only us
There's only this
Forget regret
Or life is yours to miss
No other road
No other way
No day but Today










Finally watched this movie. Even before it came out, just when they started talking about making the movie, instantly everyone wanted to know what I thought about it.
This is my favorite musical.
When I saw it here in Chicago in 1999, I was speechless. I couldn't believe that the story and performance were so well done, that it brought me to tears right in my seat. This is not a norm for me. I would never start bawling in public....that is way too chick like for me. But I did and I couldn't even speak to explain to my poor boyfriend at the time, why it was that his tough-ass girl was crying in public. And I was all dressed up, out on the town for my birthday, but there I sat, mascara streaming down my cheeks. Once I stopped the blubbering all I could say was, "No day but Today". And that made me start crying again.
So, when the movie came out, I was torn whether to see it or not. I didn't want them to ruin something wonderful or for me to see it in an unflattering way. It is kinda like when you read a great book and then when you see the movie version, they ruin it.
Well, I finally broke down. I had to see it, sing along.

It was wonderfully done.

I was shocked. It was true to the spirit of the live performance and really that's what I wanted. The acting was great and I knew it would be with some of the original Broadway cast.
And once again, I was blubbering like a baby and singing....perfect use of subtitles.

My new favorite show, but may not be for much longer is Grey's Anatomy. I knew when I saw the very first promo for the show I would like it...it's a doctor show. I am completely addicted to hospital themed shows. It started years ago with St. Elsewhere. I have loved it from the beginning but it starting to really piss me off. I am afraid to say this out loud because I know this show has a faithful cult-like following, but come on. Not everyone can be happy with the direction it is going. Can they? They are making the lead actress who is a hot doctor look like she is a complete moron. First dating a married doctor who is her superior and now possibly ruining a friendship because they are portraying her as a nympho. Come on!
I absolutely love Patrick Dempsey, have since Can't Buy Me Love, but I can't keep watching a show that is so completely farfetched. Plus, all this cheesy chickflick crap has to stop, too much of it!!! I am hoping this week they will turn it all around and at the end of the show Meredith will wake up and realize...It was all a dream!! Ha!

I also love the spoof they did about Grey's Anatomy on MadTv and if you haven't seen it, you can check it out HERE.

Gotta run and see if doctors will be saving lives and getting in on in the on-call room.

She takes the Silver

Yes, I am comparing myself to Sasha Cohen. And no, I was not on the ice and did not pull off a triple. I did however drop that dastardly diet last night because of peer pressure.
As I said from the start, not everyone is thrilled when I take on any dietary changes and I think that if you don't even have your team's total support it is impossible. It took two whole nights of peer pressure to make me cave, but in the end....I did. I can't pass up a margarita!
I was totally pissed at my love for making me, I mean suggesting that I quit this diet but I am more mad at myself because I had made it all the way to day 4 and let myself quit.
Plus, I am now a "quitter" in my son's eyes and he is pissed about it. You would have thought he was my trainer and it was a reflection on him. He is so mad, he even brought it up this morning, "Hey quitter, want a Krispy Kreme? Might as well quitter." My response to that was, "Ok smartie britches, talk to me like that again and you will find yourself in a heap of trouble, got it?" Why do I talk like that? Britches? Heap? Where did I get that?
He made one more reference to my quitting before getting out of the car that was followed up with another snotty comment and an atomic sigh, so someone is not playing PS2 tonight. I shouldn't hear another word about that.

Now, let's talk very briefly about Sasha. More importantly figure skating. I have been watching the olympics on and off. I really like to watch the skating. What these people do on ice truly amazes me. The only problem I have with the skating is this one particular move. I have no idea what it is called, but it is so unflattering and awkward looking, I wish they would outlaw it. I am sure that there is an extremely high degree of difficulty in it, which is why everyone was doing it last night, but come on. Note to olympic committee: Lifting your leg straight up in an open kick and skating around like that is not a good look for these little ladies! I scoured the web this morning just to find a photo of it. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you.....The spread eagle. Good lord, this does not look good!

I am working hard on my Chatterbox entry. Has to be done and overnighted on Monday. I am immersing myself in Chatterbox. It shall be my weekend lover. I was speaking to my paper yesterday, "Oh sweet Chatterbox, please be nice...work with me...Oh come on Chatterbox don't be difficult." Max thought this was insane. And then promptly offered to help me, how could I refuse. He really just wanted to push the pedal on the sewing machine, so I let him and he was happy. Ahh, the little things. My love had to comment again how ugly the paper was. That angers the Chatterbox gods...stop doing that, it doesn't help! And my response, which was shocking, "I don't care, I am doing this and I am winning, I need that money." So the comment about need for money wasn't a surprise at all, just all that confidence.

Ahh...back to my coffee...man I missed that! I am being careful though and watching what I am eating and even talking about doing some sort of exercise . *gasp*
I just can't put back on the 4 pounds I did lose. I saw an old HS boyfriend on Monday at the Michaels. What are the chances of that happening? And all I could think after that was, "God, I looked like crap! I hope he doesn't go off and tell someone we knew in HS that I did." I am so vain!

*side note: I am so happy that I have someone in my life that loves me exactly as I am and wouldn't change one single thing. I am a lucky lucky girl. And I love you very very much!

And then there was one...

So, I have lost my partner in the hellish diet plan. She quit. Shockingly.
My mother loves to be on a diet, I think she is addicted to trying to push herself into conforming with impossible meal plans. Well, this one did not work for her, she informed me this morning she is out. Her intestinal system would not allow her to continue with that soup.
I, shockingly, am still on it. Not cheated yet. (except the one french fry I ate when Max wasn't looking last night, he is another reason I haven't cheated)

For everyone that has asked and been curious where in the fiery pits of hell this came from, well, it came from the cute lil Amy Howe who saw it here on Jill's blog. I have been following it to the T and when you see the guidelines you will be as amazed as I am. The appeal is the 10-17 pounds in 7 days, the downside is the icky soup. Surprisingly, I am really not as hungry as I was yesterday, just as Jill promised I feel better here in day 4. And tomorrow is 10-20oz. of Beef, baby! Woo Hoo!

I am in desperate need of a new pair of shoes. Yes, momma needs a new pair of shoes! I need an everyday pair that have a slight heel. The ones I have are disgusting, I have totally worn them out. I would just wear gymmies, but I need a heel of some sort, I'm a short girl. Plus, all my pants are long. My current smelly shoes are slip-on ugly gym shoe-looking clogs. Comfy though! So, I need something like these. I looked at Zappos but it is overwhelming and didn't see anything similar.
Plus, I need a spring jacket that is fashionable and cute. I was thinking a jean jacket, but not sure if I could pull it off, haven't worn one since 1987.

So, all you girlie girls out there that surf the web and love to shop, I know you are reading this....Please advise a not-so-girlie-girl...Where can a sista get some good duds??

Thank you Katie!

I just wanted to officially post a huge thanks to Katie for coming over Friday night in the bitter cold via bus to help me work on my swaps. She played with the set for hours and after all was said and done, this is what I have to show for it:
She was an enormous help because the set I had to use is ghastly and completely not my style. Granted, this card is not exactly what Katie planned out, but it turned out great and I got all 30 of them in the mail today! Yippee!

Hungry Hungry Me!

I am on day three of the I-may-never-eat-vegetable-soup-again diet. Yesterday was the hardest day yet, all veggies and that soup but I got a backed potato with butter last night. I must say that was the best baked potato I have ever had in my life! And after I ate it, I wasn't even hungry anymore.
Today should be easier, I get fruit and veggies but unfortunately no lovely potato. Oh and I have to eat the soup. I thought maybe I would start feeling good, eating all this healthy crap but I don't. I actually feel more tired and my body is not happy with all these vitamins pumping through me. My stomach is like, "What the heck, send down the bread damn it!"
I am really starting to doubt whether I can last the full 7 days on this diet and the fact that my only measure of accomplishment is if my pants are looser doesn't help. (I don't own a scale)
Plus, I am feeling weak, which is probably all in my head, but I am... I can barely type! Ok, a little exaggerated.

My Making it Meaningful entry is coming right along, but there are a couple little glitches. I have figured out the basic construction of the album but I need great chipboard and a good closure. I think it is going to have a gated front, so I need something to keep it closed (or do I?) and look good. I know 7 gypsie has these knobby things, but I don't know where to get them and what I really want is some sort of hook and latch thingy, but haven't a clue how I would even work that. Plus, I don't know if I should attach the pages onto heavy cardstock? or just put the finished pages back to back? They are going to be spiral bound so I imagine they need to be sturdy.
Now, mind you I haven't actually made a page yet, and yes it has to be at the postoffice by Tuesday, but I have sketched 12 pages to get the ideas going. Plus, I have a ton of supplies. I went through the boxes last night and pulled out everything Chatterbox. That's a start.

Big plans to watch Monty Python on pbs tonight. They picked their favs and put them into a 2 hour special. Gotta love pbs!
Also, if you haven't checked out this guy, Demetri Martin, you really must. He is so flippin' funny. I saw him doing stand up months ago on Letterman and thought he was great. Now, he is on the Daily Show as a contributor of the Trendspotting segments. If you want to see the latest about social networking, it is Here. (as well as his other segments) He is my internet funny lately.
Must go and eat some grapes before I faint.

*btw, my banner just *poof* disappeared one day, not sure how or why the blog gods did it, but I need a new one. It is on my to do list right under win $10,000!

Lightening my Load

The weekend here was a chilly one! Usually the winters are much colder, but this year has been so mild and snowless, it is really not your typical Chicago winter. It seems that people have forgotten where we live and acted as though they had never been cold before. It was the top news story Saturday night! Too funny. Yes, it was cold, get over it!
Regardless of the cold weather, the gang came over Friday night and we rumbled. I got two pages, 2 cards and a solid idea for my swap cards done.
On Saturday, Carol and I went to a couple Scrapbook Stores and a strange thing happened....I only spent $20!! I had a $50 limit which I won betting on the Superbowl, but couldn't even get close to spending that much! What is wrong with me?
We went to Windy City, which is where I dropped the $20 on Chatterbox product, decided to try for the MIM contest at the last minute. I figured I probably should because I own so much product since I won the trunk!
Then we went to check out Scrapbook Source which was recently bought out and we thought they could have possibly gotten better, but alas no. Walked out empty handed.
Then off to Stamp On In to check out the cute little Lincoln Park shoppe, but again, no bags in hand as we left.
Wow, I am amazed at my willpower!
Then we dropped into Joann's because I have a GC burning a hole in my wallet but I only bought a $1 clearance pack of MM chipboard flowers.
Either I am getting pickier or there is nothing left for me to buy.
On an even better note, I am almost done with my swap cards and that headache and pressure will be gone this week! YAY!


Also, started a new diet today.
I am a dieting kinda girl. I hate to exercise, I only do the dieting.
Some people close to me get quite pissed when I speak of my dieting plans because I am not fat, I am just heavier than I would like to be at this moment. So hate me because I just want to fit into size 4 or even 2 again. I just do. I'm shallow and I'm ok with it.
So, I was reading up about this Vegetable Soup Diet last week and shared my findings with my mother who just loves the whole trying to lose weight thing. She is really insane about it. The thing that really appeals to me about this diet is that it is healthy. And lately, I haven't really been eating very good. So if nothing else, I will be ultra healthy enriched with crazy vitamin action for one whole week.
I wouldn't have even followed thru on starting this diet today except my mother spent yesterday making a huge vat of the soup and brought me some this morning along with the required fruit, so I had to do it. This is probably the best way to diet, just get my mother on board with you!
So far, the soup is tasty, but would be better with some bread. And I know that I am going to be starving later!
Plus, no diet soda.......I just have to stay focused...I will lose 10 pounds, I will lose 10 pounds this week!

Gangs

So, I am having the gang over tonight to do a little scrapbooking and it got me thinking this morning, what if we were a scrapbooking gang?
A real full fledged gang, jackets, secret handshake, motto....even an initiation.
What would that be?
Perhaps a timed scrappin' session with limited supplies.
Ok, you need to make a fabulous page in the next 5 minutes with a piece of newspaper, 6 Qtips, a dish sponge and this semi-dry blue highlighter. Go!
Or maybe we would jump them into the gang....she would have to go through a line of scrappers holding wads of paper scraps, swatting her at will.
The vision of the whole thing cracks me up.
I am picturing the scene from Westside Story (when your a jet, your a jet), except we are dancing with paper and punches in hand. I know, silliness. But this is how my brain works.
Speaking of gangs, my little Max is talking about forming his own club.
You see, the little darling is starting to form his own sense of style and fashion and I think it is not only adorable but I am so proud of my independent thinker! It all started because my brothers have a style all their own and have taken to molding the boy into one of their little minions.
So, it started with the shaggy hair.
Then, the Members Only jacket from the 2nd hand store.
Then, against my brother's wishes, he found Hot Topic at the mall one day and found some new fashion statements that were clearly not brother approved. He wears THIS and THIS. Oh and I almost forgot about THIS one!
I think it is cute and funny. He's ten. He thinks he is cool. And he is, just cuz he is different.
The grandparents think I am insane for letting him dress in 80s fashions with his shaggy hair and crazy accessories, but I don't care.
So, in support of his uniqueness, the "in-laws" bought him a jacket that they thought reflected his new "punk"(their words, not mine) style. It is like a black letterman jacket(from Steve and Barry's), but it has a large Black panther on the back. When he opened the present and I saw this jacket, tears welled up in my eyes trying not to laugh.
Later, that same day, the brothers came over and Max put it on so that they could have a good laugh because the in-laws were gone.
Then, he says to them, "My friends could get these same jackets because it was only $10 and we could be a club. The Black Panthers."
I swear I almost peed my pants.
A group of 10 year old white boys in the suburbs of Chicago calling themselves The Black Panthers. That is too much!
Thank god it has been too cold for him to sport his new jacket and I did have a nice discussion about who the Black Panthers are. He assured me that they wouldn't be carrying guns or wearing berets, those are stupid.
Ahhhh...good to know.

Yee Haw!

The plans are made and followed thru.
I am going to see my best bud, Eric who is living in Austin next month!
I can't wait.
I have never been to Texas, so not only do I get to see Eric, but I can also cross the state off my list. Since Eric left the Windy City four years ago for bigger and better, I have only seen him once a year, so this is a special little treat. Plus, I never even went to California while he was living there... but that is a long story.
Now, all I have to do is figure out what there is to do in Austin and what I want to see. Also, what the weather is like in March? Man, I hope it is nice And I have to go buy a 10 gallon hat, boots and a gun. Plus, practice saying, "Darn tootin!" Only 23 days.....

Happy Black Tuesday

I hate Valentine's Day.
I know I am in a minority here as most women are big fans, but I really think the whole idea really sucks. It seems like just a day to ensure that your man will buy you a little something on this one particular day. Personally, I prefer a surprise little gift on any 'ol day for no reason other than, "hey, just wanted you to know I love ya" That is so much cooler than Hallmark dictating when we get flowers and candy. Usually when I express my Anti-Valentine attitude people assume that it comes from the mouth of a bitter guy-less chick who is just pissed that I won't be getting that Bear with a heart today. But I am not bitter and I have a man, I just don't want any lame gift and I definitely don't want it just 'cuz he thinks he has to get one.
I love presents and flowers as much as the next gal, don't get me wrong, just not today. I have been like this a long time and people join my bandwagon the years they are single and all guys I know always respond with a "right on" when they hear my stand. I go so far as to wear black today and send out anti-valentine cards. I know a little extreme. But comical to me. And bitchy goodness which is always good.
Max loves Valentine's Day. It comes from his love for girls really. He is girl crazy, always has been. So, this morning not only did he "dress up" and actually comb his hair but he had also douced himself in Axe spray.

And this was the greeting I got this morning:
Max: Hey mom, Am I dying?
Me: Max, why would you say something morbid like that? Don't talk like that!
Max: No, Mom. Am I dead?
Me: Seriously Max, stop talking about dying you're creeping me out.
Max: NO MOM! I'm dead, 'cuz your an angel.
Me: Oh, thanks Max, I think.

Oh no......He's one of those guys.....ewwwwww. I so hope he didn't use that line today. I can't believe he knows that line and used it, he's 10!! I also hope he doesn't repeat what I said to him as he got out of the car today...."Happy VD!!"
That would be bad!

Domestic Diva, I am NOT!

For the past few months, I have had a small splattering of people want to come by and see the house that I am renting because it has been offically on the market as a rental. There really haven't been that many people and after that first month, the visits really decreased to a trickle. Now, that the house is on the market as a sale, the lurkers are coming back in droves. The house was just listed as a sale....yesterday and already someone wanted to come today!
This part of the whole "staying in the house" plan sucks! I am a slob. I am lazy and really don't care about the condition of my house as long as it is somewhat clean and smells ok. Other than that, I don't have that immediate necessity to do the dishes, I make my bed at night before I get into it and constantly leave clothes EVERYWHERE. It is one of the pleasures of living alone. Plus, little Max is really the tornado of the house, so regardless of how tidy my crap is, he has left a path of destruction. Being me, I don't generally care that every toy is in its place or that there is a slew of miscellaneous crap on a chair in the dining room. At least it is all on one chair!
So, with people wanting to come over at a moments notice this is really a problem. Usually I will run around the house for the 15 minutes before they show up and just hide everything, but when I am not home and they want to come, it is a problem. I can't have people inspecting the house with my unmentionables laying right out in the open. So, they are coming tomorrow, during the day and I need to establish some sort of organization so that I don't have to majorly clean every night. I just don't have that kind of time. Plus, I have boxes everywhere that need to get moved into one empty room and I don't have the strength yet since the fall to carry anything down a flight of stairs.
This is a problem.
The house has to look neat and tidy to sell it.
(although it won't at that price, what is he thinking?!?!)
I don't wanna clean, I hate cleaning.
What's a girl to do?
And Max does "help", in fact he has to vacuum the stairs because he lost a superbowl bet!
Is there a 12 step program for sloppy people who would rather scrapbook?

Boxes and Pods

I've been pretty busy trying to catch up at work, now that I am on my feet again and also catching up at home with laundry and housework...yuck! I moved some of the boxes that were all piled up in my living room into the fronch porch. I also moved the remainder of the boxes which are the ones that hold all my scrapbooking supplies from one corner of the room to the other. Then it occurred to me....Duh!, move them into the empty room!! I am making an attempt to make the place a little more comfortable without unpacking any boxes because now my landlord has decided to sell the house I rent and has given us til June to move out so that we can finish up the school year without the headache. This is a huge weight lifted and buys me time to not settle on renting a place from crazies or paying too much.

I also had a talk with Max yesterday about the pod:
ME: Hey, Max, can you use that Ipod a little less so I can talk to you more?
MAX: Why?
ME: Because I like talking to you.
MAX: If you have something to say then I'll take the headphones off.
ME: I mean you use it too much.
MAX: I think you're on the computer too much.
ME: Touche, Monsieur Pussycat!
MAX: What?
ME: Nothing.
MAX: You're weird mom. (then promptly puts the Ipod back on)
I always say that kid is too smart for my own good!

Max's New Best Friend

So, he got the Ipod for Xmas and has only taken the thing off when he goes to school. He is pod obsessed! He needs a 12 step program. We used to be buddies and chat quite a bit (we are both non-stop talkers), but now I have to talk to myself.
The sad part is half the time I don't even realize he has the thing on until I have had almost a complete conversation and then when I come to the end and add the "you know what I mean?", I realize from his lack of response, he didn't hear a single word. Plus, now I have my own personal radio that follows me around belting out every kind of music you can imagine. It is like he has #1. No idea how loud he really is and #2. Makes up all the lyrics when he doesn't know them. This problem has prompted my own mother, who is one of the least computer-savy people I know, to go online and actually print out lyrics to some of her favorites. She said it was killing her how he was butchering Tambourine Man. Of course she told Max she printed them so that he knew all the words because she loves his singing so much, grandparents are awesome.

I feel like this is a preview of what it will be like to have a teen and I am not liking it, I wonder what would happen if his Ipod was "mysteriously lost" for a couple days? God, I am a mean mom.

What I missed at CHA Vegas

So, my friend Carol went to CHA winter without me and was kind enough to bring back a HUGE bag of goodies which included a tshirt, 11 magazines, pins galore, more Heidi Swapp lip gloss than I could use in a year and even a Heidi Swapp gumball!! She also took awesome pictures of everything great I missed, so thought I'd share:Unfortunately, the back is better and I am going back to work tomorrow. Not unfortunate about the back....just the work part....YUCK!

In the past two weeks....

• I've spent more time in my bed than I probably do in an entire year.
• I watched way too much court tv.
• I cursed myself a thousand times for not having cable.
• I wished a million times that I owned a laptop.
• I missed my computer more than I thought I would.
• I had lil' Max do three loads of laundry.
• I have lost at least 5lbs due to the inability to climb stairs.
• I talked on my house phone more than I ever do.
• I have never felt so helpless in my life.
• I have missed doing anything crafty!
• I missed out on so many blogs and websites, I'll be catching up for weeks.
• I missed CHA! Damn!
• I thought up two ideas for great new scrapbooking products but have no idea what to do with them.
• I have taken way too much vicodin. No wonder I slept so much.
• I have been working from home.
• I read The Big Picture, Digital Designs, and BHG Photography, thanks to a loan from Carol, who was at CHA.
  
• I found this website, because I saw Andy Samberg on Conan and laughed my ass off. You really must check out his OC spoof called the 'Bu.
• I saw this video of Young Chuck Norris, that I apparently missed on SNL.
• I learned to truly appreciate little things like bending and breathing deeply.

I am truly feeling better, but at this point, better is a relative term. I can actually sit for almost an hour and I can stand now, so I got that going for me, which is nice. I think I am actually ready to go back to work, just so I can get out of this house. I drove Max to school today and even though I couldn't shut my own door, it was a huge improvement. I will be so happy when I can do stuff again!