Diary of a Crazy Rabbit Lady, Too: December 2010

Friday, December 31, 2010

New Year's Giveaway!

Enter for a chance to win this lovely necklace!

Just head over to Goodthings and follow the ~~white rabbit~~ - er - directions!

TiLT: Best of 2010

I did a Photo Review of the year a few days before Christmas, and it was a blast to go back through all my pics and see all the awesome things we did this year...

Here's a list of those things, and more!

♥ January: Esme turned 16! Benji came to visit us every weekend! The sun came out a few times, and it's *so* very pretty on the snow...

♥ February: We celebrated Grandma Louise's 60th birthday! Esme went BLONDE! Lia turned 12! More Benji! The ice on the lake is so beautiful!

♥ March: The snow starts melting, the lake is accessible, and some early flowers start to bloom! I started to keep track of everything I ate, keeping calories and carbs to a minimum. Oh, and even MOAR BENJI!

♥ April: Emma graduated! Visiting far-away friends and relatives! (Road trip!) Family get-togethers! We finally get to dip our toes in the lake! All the spring flowers in the garden bloom at once!

♥ May: PILEATED WOODPECKER! Passed Earth & Space Science! Indigo Bunting! A weekend away from home enjoying my sweetie (and cinnamon buns) and Lake Ontario from a different angle! Actual SWIMMING in the lake!

♥ June: Braids, bugs, watercolors! I went blonde! And PURPLE! SHINE! GAY PRIDE! Evenings at the lake! Visits from Mommy! Fairy Day Tea Parties! Bunnies in the yard and FRESH berries! Making new friends!

♥ July: Birthdays galore! Ant turned 18, Josie turned 14, I turned 40! We also celebrated Emma's and my mom's birthdays! AND Emma & Scott got married! Cake, cake and RAI NBOW cake! Fireworks from the lake! New Love! Mermaid hair! I reach my goal to weigh less than 200 lbs. by my birthday!

♥ August: Passion! Play! Visiting friends & relatives (not so far-away)! Dry ice experiments! Baby turkeys, bunnies, and snakes! Swimming in the rain! Benji's birthday! (OMG He turned 1 already!?) Strange new candy!

♥ September: Big waves to swim in! Barbecues with family! High school football games! Belly dancers! Autumn begins, but summer hangs on! We joined May Memorial UU! Sun Halos!

♥ October: Sugar skulls! Flowers in my hair! Pumpkinfest! Bobbing for apples! Bursts of creativity! The COLORS! Family Olympics! Cake, cupcake, and monster cupcakes! Family photoshoots! Trip to ARGH! Hotel swimming pools and hot tubs, cinnamon buns!

♥ November: More ARGH! Appalachian trail! Climbing higher than ever before! GOOD BRAKES! Talented people! Crows! Frosty mornings! We celebrated my dad's birthday with a special dinner! Happy books! Gingerbread marshmallows... in coffee! Rainbow marshmallows! Thanksgiving traditions!

♥ December: The first snow! OMG! Am I the last person on the planet to discover Glee! Thank heavens for the internet! Christmas parties! Christmas, Christmas, Christmas! Parties, parties, parties! Pulling closer to friends & family...

May 2011 be as fun and blessed for you as 2010 was for me!

Things I Love Thursday is brought to you by Gala Darling...

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Wishcasting Wednesday

You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt on your blog and then add a direct link to your post in the box [at the link] below. Support wishes by visiting other participants, leaving a comment saying “As (insert name) wishes for her/himself, so I wish for her/him also.” It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together.
~ Jamie Ridler

What do you wish for the New Year?

To be honest, I've not thought much about resolutions or New Year's Wishes or anything like that yet... I guess now is a good time!

I am always wishing for enough. Enough money to pay the bills, enough to keep us fed and warm, enough to keep the car on the road and running... but I feel like I have been living hand-to-mouth my whole life. Just making just enough to make it through if I perform some complicated dance... Well, I want more.

Not greedy, stingy, over-excess More, but More than just Enough. I want the money to be there for the bills before they're due. I want enough to do more than just the basics; I want to be able to make repairs to the car, house, my family... as soon as they're needed, not when I can scrape enough together, or never. I want to be able to buy new clothes because they're pretty, not because I've worn out all that I have. I want to be able to take the kids our to dinner, to a movie, shopping for things that aren't necessities.

And this isn't all about money. Although that's a big part of it. I want more PASSION! The drive to create, the drive to play, the drive to succeed... Not just enough to get by.

Photo by Thesexylingerie
So my wish for the New Year can be summed up in just one word, my word of the year perhaps: MORE.

30 Days of Me: Day 29

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

30 Days of Me: Day 28

Photo & editing by Me!

I miss the easy flow of conversation with my parents, unhindered by years of miscommunication and unspoken expectations...

Image from Christian Montone

I miss the freedom to just get in the car and drivedrivedrive to anywhere - even Canada if I want...

Photo by Urban Hermit $27.55, Edited by Me!

I miss lazy crazy days (and nights) of goofing off and gaming...

Photo by kav-p, Edited by Me!
Day 29 – Your favorite foods/drinks
Day 30 – Your aspirations

Monday, December 27, 2010

30 Days of Me: Day 27

Day 28 – Something that you miss
Day 29 – Your favorite foods/drinks
Day 30 – Your aspirations

Sunday, December 26, 2010

30 Days of Me: Day 20-26

Day 01 – Introduce Yourself
Day 02 – Your first love
Day 03 – Your parents
Day 04 – What you ate today
Day 05 – Your definition of love
Day 06 – Your day
Day 07 – Your best friend
Day 08 – A precious item
Day 09 – Your beliefs
Day 10 – What you wore today
Day 11 – Your siblings
Day 12 – What’s in your bag
Day 13 – This week
Day 14 – Your childhood
Day 15 – Your dreams
Day 16 – Your first kiss
Day 17 – Your favorite memory
Day 18 – Your favorite birthday
Day 19 – Something you regret
Day 20 – Your morning routine

Depends on the day!

Work days go like this: Alarm goes off, Jacqueline gets up to make the coffee while I grumble and try to go back to sleep. A few minutes later she comes to wake me up and prods me into the shower. (She takes such good care of me!) I blearily shower in the dark (Bright lights, bright lights! >.<), then get dressed, asking Jacqueline a million times if she thinks it looks ok. While I do this, she makes my lunch & coffee, gives me pills, and make sure my bag is packed up. (Did I mention she takes very good care of me?) Then I put on my coat, and Jacqueline follows me out to the car with my bag and coffee. (VERY good care of me...) Then I give her a good-bye kiss and pedal off to work to the soothing sounds of NPR (or Ted & Amy in the Morning if NPR isn't interesting). Non-work days are much more pleasant. The alarm is set for Jacqueline, who *likes* to wake up early, and I stay snuggled in bed til I feel like I've had enough sleep. When I wake up, Jacqueline usually hears me stumbling about and comes to say good morning to me. We talk for a bit, and then things are much more random. Sometimes I shower and we head out to run errands, other times I just stay in my PJs and play around on the computer or make art...

Day 21 – Your job and/or schooling

Both! My job is at school! And my schooling is going to get me a job! ^-^ I am currently working on a research project for my Masters in Science Education (Grades 5-12), which, along with my Bachelors in Elementary Education (Grade 1-6), should make me much more employable! And when I go to work, I go to one of several local schools as a substitute teacher, where I fill in for all kinds of teachers, from Kindergarten to 12th grade, even the 'Specials' like art and music.

Day 22 – Something that upsets you

Lots of things upset me, but I'm trying learn to not get upset, if you understand what I mean. Some of the things that upset me are...

Slow drivers
Drivers who cut me off
Feeling ineffective at work
People abusing their pets
People being disrespectful to children
People taking advantage of me, my friends, and family
Being unable to communicate effectively
The way things are going with my parents

But like I said, I am trying to see things in other ways, not reacting to things that upset me the way I normally do, with yelling and/or tears, but with deep breaths and rewording my inner monologue...

Day 23 – Something that makes you feel better

HUGS! Comfort foods, deep breathing, talking to Jacqueline, upbeat music, swimming, hot baths, sleeping, back rubs, rewording my inner monologue, cuddling my kitteh, drawing, painting, writing, driving, taking a walk...

Day 24 – Something that makes you cry

Getting upset, sad movies, happy endings, hurting myself...

Day 25 – Your sleeping habits

Weird question. I like to have a chocolate and read before bed, and I like to have my covers just so, with my foot sticking out from under, unless it's super cold, and I *don't* like to get up in the morning... :P

Day 26 – Your fears

I always used to be afraid of being alone, but I am not so afraid of that anymore... I get a lot of anxiety from the phone and being around people (yes, even my friends & family), swimming in deep water, driving at night, especially in the rain, and anything that has to do with money and finances... (My belly is knotting up just thinking of all these things...:\ I'm going to get a hug... ^-^)

Day 27 – Your favorite place
Day 28 – Something that you miss
Day 29 – Your favorite foods/drinks
Day 30 – Your aspirations

Friday, December 24, 2010

30 Days of Me: Day 19

Thursday, December 23, 2010

30 Days of Me: Day 18

Me in a tree by the Fort

♥ CAKE! ♥

Day 19 – Something you regret
Day 20 – Your morning routine
Day 21 – Your job and/or schooling
Day 22 – Something that upsets you
Day 23 – Something that makes you feel better
Day 24 – Something that makes you cry
Day 25 – Your sleeping habits
Day 26 – Your fears
Day 27 – Your favorite place
Day 28 – Something that you miss
Day 29 – Your favorite foods/drinks
Day 30 – Your aspirations

Etsy Blogger of the Month: PruittHandcrafts

With the holiday hubub, I failed on the Blog Carnivals this month, but I won't let this lovely lady down! Say hello to December's Blogger of the Month...

Linda of Pruitt Handcrafts has three lovely shops filled to the brim with fabric and beaded creations, as well as supply shop!

Here are some of my favorites...

Filigree Crystal Earrings

Bouncing Circles Half Apron

Disk beads - small lot - blue gray 20 mm
Don't forget to check out her shops and blog, and see what's there that might be calling to you...

Pruitt Handcrafts for handmade quilts, household pillows, children's items and gifts.
Pruitt Design for jewelry.
Pruitt Supply for supplies.
Pruit Handcrafts' Blog

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

2010 Photo Review

Click for full size...

Wishcasting Wednesday

What is your winter wish?
I wish for warmth and good-health, safety and financial stability, joy and happiness, creativity and productivity for myself and my family...

30 Days of Me: Day 15 - 17

Day 01 – Introduce Yourself
Day 02 – Your first love
Day 03 – Your parents
Day 04 – What you ate today
Day 05 – Your definition of love
Day 06 – Your day
Day 07 – Your best friend
Day 08 – A precious item
Day 09 – Your beliefs
Day 10 – What you wore today
Day 11 – Your siblings
Day 12 – What’s in your bag
Day 13 – This week
Day 14 – Your childhood
Day 15 – Your dreams

I dream a lot about water: being caught in the rain, rivers flooding everything (and trying to save the books and animals), swimming with mermaids (and mermen), swimming in big glass buildings...

I used to have recurring nightmares about dinosaurs too, but not in a long time. As a child I dreamed they were surrounding our house trying to get in, but they were all like cartoon dinosaurs (think Dino from the Flinstones)playing some frightening game of peek-a-boo through the windows with me as I cowered in fear behind the sofa or in the closet.

Once I dreamed that I was at my dad's garage/gas station with my mom and our dog *and* cat (weird). My mom, our cat, and me went across the street to a farmer's market (which never existed there) and a brontosaurus came up the street! As my dad & dog were running across to save us (we were hiding behind some crates of vegetables), the brontosaurus gobbled them up! Like in one of those old bad claymation/live action dinosaur movies.

And another time I dreamed my best friend went into some cave/elevator which turned out to be a T-rex and she was eaten...

I also dream a lot about people who were important in my life but aren't here anymore. I wake up feeling sad when that happens...

Day 16 – Your first kiss

Aahhh... one of the people I sometimes dream about. I was in grade school, and visited the home of a boy in my class. He didn't live far away, but I had never been. He introduced me to his dog - a Doberman pinscher named Pepsi - and his family, and we watched cartoons, and ate Apple Jacks (which I had never had at that point). And when it was time for me to go, he walked me to the door, and kissed me on the cheek. It was very sweet and he remained a crush of mine for years. I'm sure I wouldn't even be able to pick him out of a line up now though! It's been decades!

Day 17 – Your favorite memory

I feel like I've answered this before... I have a lot of great memories; the one above for example. My last birthday was awesome, so many things from ARGH & Shine, a helicopter ride over Niagara Falls was pretty memorable, sunny summer days at the lake, moonlit nights of passion, long car rides all over the state with friends and lovers, road trips across country...

But I think the one that is I pull up most often is the memory of waking up on Blue Mountain, walking out of the woods to the the clearing on top, and seeing the sun shining bright over a sea of clouds - the other mountains just islands across the way - and strong arms encircling me. I felt safe and loved and there was so much beauty...

I hope someday I can take Jacqueline there...

Day 18 – Your favorite birthday
Day 19 – Something you regret
Day 20 – Your morning routine
Day 21 – Your job and/or schooling
Day 22 – Something that upsets you
Day 23 – Something that makes you feel better
Day 24 – Something that makes you cry
Day 25 – Your sleeping habits
Day 26 – Your fears
Day 27 – Your favorite place
Day 28 – Something that you miss
Day 29 – Your favorite foods/drinks
Day 30 – Your aspirations

Saturday, December 18, 2010

30 Days of Me: Day 14

30 Days of Me: Days 12 & 13

Folder full of lists of things I want to draw, some photo references, and blank bookmarks & postcards to draw on
My Happy Book!
Notebook for jotting notes down
Dragonbreath: Curse of the Were-Wiener (omg hilarious! And easy to read in school...)
my clogs
Aluminum thermos full of iced peppermint tea
Square storage container filled with my lunch

ham sammich
tiny container of olives
small container of pina colada jello
some roasted red-pepper corn chips

My purse

Some feminine hygiene products
small bottle of ibuprofin & aleve
plastic bag of tissues
several old receipts
pencil sharpener
violet mints
Key Lime Pie gum
A black pen, a pink pen, a purple pen, a pencil
a pencil case of business cards & some more pens & pencils including some crayons
my special bag of memories containing several rocks and things from special places
my wallet full of several business cards & shoppers club cards, the debit card, several fortunes from cookies, and about 67¢

Day 13 – This week

Whoa it's been kinda crazy. Tons of snow at the beginning of the week, but I still managed to get work every day but Thursday. The days that the different districts closed for snow were days I was scheduled in the other district; so it worked out good! I did have to stay later than normal due to the buses running slow, but it wasn't too bad driving home.

The heater's blower motor started working again after several weeks of some very cold drives, but the coffee maker broke and so did my monitor. Today, there was just a light dusting of snow in the morning and the day has been bright and sunny. I managed to get all my packages out just before the PO closed, leaving just a handful of cards I'd like to mail out, and soon we'll be heading out to a party at church for the kids. Tomorrow will be our usual trip to church and the library barring another blizzard.

Day 14 – Your childhood
Day 15 – Your dreams
Day 16 – Your first kiss
Day 17 – Your favorite memory
Day 18 – Your favorite birthday
Day 19 – Something you regret
Day 20 – Your morning routine
Day 21 – Your job and/or schooling
Day 22 – Something that upsets you
Day 23 – Something that makes you feel better
Day 24 – Something that makes you cry
Day 25 – Your sleeping habits
Day 26 – Your fears
Day 27 – Your favorite place
Day 28 – Something that you miss
Day 29 – Your favorite foods/drinks
Day 30 – Your aspirations

Friday, December 17, 2010

30 Days of Me: Day 9, 10, and 11

Yes, I flaked again! Things have been crazy busy here... let's see if I can catch up a little at a time...

Day 01 – Introduce Yourself
Day 02 – Your first love
Day 03 – Your parents
Day 04 – What you ate today
Day 05 – Your definition of love
Day 06 – Your day
Day 07 – Your best friend
Day 08 – A precious item
Day 09 – Your beliefs

My beliefs about what? Santa Claus? I believe he was a real person - that much has been proven true - but I think more important is the spirit of Santa Claus. Not that strangely dressed fat man who creeps into houses at night and watches us sleep; the other spirit of Santa Claus: the sense of magic & wonder, joyfulness & generosity, peace & good will to all... I believe that *that* Santa Claus is up to us to carry in our hearts all year long, not just during the winter holidays.

My beliefs about other things? Well, I talk enough about them elsewhere...

Day 10 – What you wore today

Clothes. Like I usually do except in the middle of summer... :P Here's a sketch:

Jeans, layered over long undies, white ankle socks, Happy Bunny rainbow slipper socks, and rainbow leg warmers. On top, black t-shirt, fleece sweatshirt. When I went shopping, I wore my grey bunnyhug, black driving gloves, and sooper long rainbow scarf. Oh, and my boots. Inside when wandering I wore my green faux-crocs.

Day 11 – Your siblings

I has none! I am a spoiled rotten only child.

Day 12 – What’s in your bag
Day 13 – This week
Day 14 – Your childhood
Day 15 – Your dreams
Day 16 – Your first kiss
Day 17 – Your favorite memory
Day 18 – Your favorite birthday
Day 19 – Something you regret
Day 20 – Your morning routine
Day 21 – Your job and/or schooling
Day 22 – Something that upsets you
Day 23 – Something that makes you feel better
Day 24 – Something that makes you cry
Day 25 – Your sleeping habits
Day 26 – Your fears
Day 27 – Your favorite place
Day 28 – Something that you miss
Day 29 – Your favorite foods/drinks
Day 30 – Your aspirations

Wednesday, December 08, 2010

A Holiday Meme

From Traipsing About Granby...

1. Real tree or artificial?
Real! There is nothing better in my opinion. We buy from local small businesses when we can afford to buy one, and after the season we set it out near the bird feeder as an extra shelter for the birds. In the spring it is part of one of our ritual bonfires, whichever one happens after most of the snow has melted, usually the Equinox, but it has been as early as Imbolc or as late as Beltaine.

2. When do you put up the tree?
Depends on my mood, or the money situation, or when we can find a free day... Ok, usually I just let Jacqueline decide... ^_^

3. When do you take down the tree?
One year I kept it up til February. We had cut it ourselves late in December, and it didn't lose any needles til almost Valentine's Day I think. But my answer's the same as #2 for this one: I let Jacqueline decide... XD

4.Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Depends on what the gift is, but generally I like wrapping no matter what, even when in a gift bag.

5. When do you start Christmas shopping?
Whenever I see something I think someone might like, but lately there's not been much shopping, just creating...

6. Who is the hardest person to buy for?
My dad. Even when I think my gift is going to be great, I only get a mediocre reception; so i think all my gifts to him must be crap.

7. Easiest person to buy for?
My mom. She doesn't care what it is, she loves anything I give her...

8. Angel on top of the tree, or star?
I've always been a star kinda person, but I got a beautiful *angel* one year that had sparkly faerie wings, and I like to put her up sometimes, but Jacqueline has a beautiful gold filigreed star, I really like that too...

9. What is the worst Christmas gift you ever got?
Duct tape and an extension cord.

10. What is the best gift you received as a child?
I don't really remember... I remember getting Barbie things a lot, books, clothes, records & tapes when I got older... I do remember one year, all I asked for was a Big Blue Bear for Christmas to replace a stuffed animal I had lost when I was just a toddler. I did get a big fluffy light blue teddy bear, but later I found pictures of me with the Big Blue Bunny that I had really been trying to replace. (I wrote about it here.)

11. What is your favorite food to eat at Christmas time?
COOKIES! All kinds of Christmas cookies - cut outs and peppermint twists, chocolate chip and gingersnap, peanut butter kiss and thumbprint, snickerdoodles and chocolate crinkles, pfeffernusse and pepperkaker... - and chocolaty treats like truffles and chocolate dipped fruitcake... Gingerbread with real whipped cream... Peppermint candy canes, ribbon candy, chocolate filled straw candy... nutcracker sweet tea, cinnamon buns, french toast, waffles... Oh wait.. you said "at Chistmas time" ... XD

12. What do you want for Christmas this year?
The bills paid. Better than any tangible gift: knowing that we would have enough money to pay rent, electricity (which runs our heat, water, food, phone...), car insurance, and internet, and still have money for toiletries, and other necessities... it would mean so much more to me than anything that might be wrapped and put under the tree... (*ahem* Donate button on to the right... --->)

30 Days of Me: Day 7 & 8

Day 01 – Introduce Yourself
Day 02 – Your first love
Day 03 – Your parents
Day 04 – What you ate today
Day 05 – Your definition of love
Day 06 – Your day
Day 07 – Your best friend

I totally flaked on this yesterday! I started writing about it in the morning and when I found out school was closed for snow, I just completely flaked! XD

Anyway, my best friend is my love, Jacqueline. She knows me inside and out, frontwards and backwards. She supports me in all decisions, every undertaking, and any way she can. I am so blessed to have her by my side and am grateful for her every day.

Day 08 – A precious item

Of course my love and the kids are the *most* precious things to me, but a precious *item* ... well, I guess it'd have to be this:

Besides being the most valuable thing we own (including the car), it provides me with a creative outlet, as well as allows me to take great photos of my jewelry and art for selling on Etsy.

The computer is a very close second, but I could go to the library or a relatives if I didn't have this one...

Day 09 – Your beliefs
Day 10 – What you wore today
Day 11 – Your siblings
Day 12 – What’s in your bag
Day 13 – This week
Day 14 – Your childhood
Day 15 – Your dreams
Day 16 – Your first kiss
Day 17 – Your favorite memory
Day 18 – Your favorite birthday
Day 19 – Something you regret
Day 20 – Your morning routine
Day 21 – Your job and/or schooling
Day 22 – Something that upsets you
Day 23 – Something that makes you feel better
Day 24 – Something that makes you cry
Day 25 – Your sleeping habits
Day 26 – Your fears
Day 27 – Your favorite place
Day 28 – Something that you miss
Day 29 – Your favorite foods/drinks
Day 30 – Your aspirations

Monday, December 06, 2010

30 Days of Me: Day 6

Day 01 – Introduce Yourself
Day 02 – Your first love
Day 03 – Your parents
Day 04 – What you ate today
Day 05 – Your definition of love
Day 06 – Your day

The phone rang way early. It was for a sub position today, but I already have a half day elsewhere. So I tried to get back to sleep. I slept fitfully and woke up several hours later from disturbing dreams to the sounds of Jacqueline shoveling the driveway. (She spoils me so.) I tried to go back to sleep because I had another hour before I had to, but truthfully I had slept enough.

So I got up. My weight is the lowest it's been since starting this diet in March: 183.6. I was hovering around here back in mid-October, but I gained about 5 pounds when I went to ARGH - and I always gain a little before my period - and it's taken til now to get back down.

Then I showered and started putting on layers. Sadly my work clothes don't leave much room for things like long underwear or extra shirts underneath, so I may get frostbite on the way to work. XD But I love how I look in these clothes. Black pin-stripe dress pants, black loafers with a buckle, and my colorful red sweater with the big cowl neck. Two pairs of socks allow me to just barely fit into the shoes, but my feet shall be warm, and I have on my leg warmers which will keep me warm to the knee - in theory. I'll wear my big shaggy black sweater over the red one for warmth, but probably take it off when I take off my coat; it's pretty bulky and awkward.

Then I had some breakfast: a 2-egg mushroom & cheese fritatta and a cup of coffee.

~ w. o. r. k. ~ b. r. e. a. k. ~

The drive to school wasn't too bad. I am glad I left early though, as it was slow-going. It did take my toes quite a while to warm up once I got there though. I signed in and was directed to the right room where I conferred with the regular Art teacher about the day's schedule. She finished up with that period's class which was in the computer lab, as was the next period, which was also run by the computer lab teacher, while I just wandered about helping kids who needed help. (Not many.)

The next two periods were the art teacher's planning period and lunch; so after checking in the office if there was something else they needed me to do (there wasn't), I hung out in the faculty room, ate my snackish-sorta lunch (a bottle of diet cherry pepsi, a little cheese, some cocoa almonds, and oh yum! A chocolate-covered peppermint Oreo!) and read a book (Wonderland - good BTW!).

Then I headed to the next class, which was a study hall period. Since there wasn't much for me to do there other than babysit, I spent the time sketching. I drew a bunny reading a book on a bookmark-sized piece of watercolor paper, and a monkey for one of the students who had been hanging out at the table with me.

The last period was an actual art class! The students were creating a "musical landscape" (a landscape scene meeting certain requirements inspired by one of 3 pieces of music) with glue as the medium today. After it dries they'll be coloring it with oil pastels. They were all pretty creative despite not liking any of the pieces the teacher let them choose from. (One was the X-Files Theme which none of them knew! I felt so OLD!)

When the final bell rang, I cleaned up the room a bit then bundled up for the cold ride home. It was STILL snowing out there! Walking through the parking lot was mushy slushy crap, and the roads were just as snowy as before. But it was definitely warmer because even though I could see my breath, I could also still feel my toes when I got home. XD

I love coming home to my family. The driveway seemed hardly snowy at all. Jacqueline met me at the door, and I asked if anyone had gotten the mail yet. Silly me, I didn't notice the flag was still up and the mail hadn't come yet! LOL! But it's such a pretty walk in the snow... ^-^

Jacqueline and I chatted for a while with Lia too off & on, then I had a cup of coffee and checked my email. A little while later Jacqueline brought me a little snack (iced herbal tea and some very interesting meat & cheese roll-ups) while checked my deviantART and a few other websites...

Then I popped in New Moon. Yesterday, I watched Twilight, and tomorrow, I'll be watching Eclipse. That'll be the movie where she decides she's poly and can date both Jacob and Edward, right? XD Yes, I've read the books. I know they're bad, and the movie is full of bad acting, but I like it. So :P* ...

~ m. o. v. i. e. ~ b. r. e. a. k. ~

I had some dinner while watching New Moon (frozen stuffed chicken breast, some brussels sprouts, and another glass of tea) and got a call for 2 half days and a full day for the rest of the work. (Cross your fingers for work on Friday too!) Then Lia & I watched 102 Dalmatians (We watched 101 Dalmatians yesterday.), and I did some studying for my Foundations of Research course. Yay! Oh and I got some dessert! Some delicious old-fashioned Watergate Salad! Ours has maraschino cherries instead of pecans... Yum!

Then I did more studying for this test until I was very nearly falling asleep and the words were blurring on the screen. Then I knew it was time for bed. So I shut everything off and crawled into bed with my love for a long winter's nap (or will in one moment)... Zzzzzz...

Day 07 – Your best friend
Day 08 – A precious item
Day 09 – Your beliefs
Day 10 – What you wore today
Day 11 – Your siblings
Day 12 – What’s in your bag
Day 13 – This week
Day 14 – Your childhood
Day 15 – Your dreams
Day 16 – Your first kiss
Day 17 – Your favorite memory
Day 18 – Your favorite birthday
Day 19 – Something you regret
Day 20 – Your morning routine
Day 21 – Your job and/or schooling
Day 22 – Something that upsets you
Day 23 – Something that makes you feel better
Day 24 – Something that makes you cry
Day 25 – Your sleeping habits
Day 26 – Your fears
Day 27 – Your favorite place
Day 28 – Something that you miss
Day 29 – Your favorite foods/drinks
Day 30 – Your aspirations

Sunday, December 05, 2010

30 Days of Me:: Day 5

Day 01 – Introduce Yourself
Day 02 – Your first love
Day 03 – Your parents
Day 04 – What you ate today
Day 05 – Your definition of love

I've been thinking a lot about what to say here about this. In the past I might not have said anything controversial at all. But in light of all the recent issues in the media, I feel the need to speak up.

How do *I* define love?

Love is fluid and limitless, and it cannot be defined in concrete terms. It cannot be labeled or put in boxes.

You cannot tell me what my love should look like, and I cannot tell you what yours should look like. You may choose to love someone who is a different race, religion, or sex than yourself, or you may find your love is more similar to you than you thought possible. You may come to realize you love more than one, or you could choose to love none. You might think my love is just a *kink* - a sexual deviance - but maybe, your love is the deviation...

There is an old Hindu proverb, that describes the path to God like the paths of a mountain: The paths are many, but the peak is one. It is my belief that love can be described the same.

*That* is how I define love.

"Love is like pi... It's irrational, it goes on forever, and people study it for patterns"
Originally uploaded by Lin Pernille ♥ Photography
Day 06 – Your day
Day 07 – Your best friend
Day 08 – A precious item
Day 09 – Your beliefs
Day 10 – What you wore today
Day 11 – Your siblings
Day 12 – What’s in your bag
Day 13 – This week
Day 14 – Your childhood
Day 15 – Your dreams
Day 16 – Your first kiss
Day 17 – Your favorite memory
Day 18 – Your favorite birthday
Day 19 – Something you regret
Day 20 – Your morning routine
Day 21 – Your job and/or schooling
Day 22 – Something that upsets you
Day 23 – Something that makes you feel better
Day 24 – Something that makes you cry
Day 25 – Your sleeping habits
Day 26 – Your fears
Day 27 – Your favorite place
Day 28 – Something that you miss
Day 29 – Your favorite foods/drinks
Day 30 – Your aspirations

30 Days of Me: Day 4

Day 01 – Introduce Yourself
Day 02 – Your first love
Day 03 – Your parents
Day 04 – What you ate today

10:30am - 1/2 glass diet cherry pepsi to take pills (2 aleve for arthritis, 3 ibuprofin for cramps, 1 vitamin E for heart disease prevention, and some days there are more, but we're out of them)
11:30am - 2 eggs with smoked swiss, 2 slices of bacon, 1 mug of gingerbread coffee with 1 T cream and 1 packet of equal
2pm - 1 mug of gingerbread coffee with 1 T cream and 1 packet of equal
3:30pm - glass of diet cherry pepsi
4pm - big salad topped with a small tomato, about 1/4 c broccoli slaw, 1/3 c cottage cheese, Vidalia onion dressing, and a sprinkling of sunflower seeds
8pm - glass of vanilla seltzer with 1 maraschino cherry & 3 t 'juice'
9:30pm - glass of vanilla seltzer with 1 T sugar-free hazelnut syrup, 1 cheese & pepperoni egg roll (omg delish! I could have eaten a million I think!), 3 oz of root vegetable latkes with 2 T sour cream and 1/3 c apple sauce
10:30 - glass of iced Nutcracker Sweet tea
12:30am - another glass of tea and some aleve

I may possibly have a small piece of chocolate before bed, but I am not sure. And this is not a typical day... :P Day 05 – Your definition of love
Day 06 – Your day
Day 07 – Your best friend
Day 08 – A precious item
Day 09 – Your beliefs
Day 10 – What you wore today
Day 11 – Your siblings
Day 12 – What’s in your bag
Day 13 – This week
Day 14 – Your childhood
Day 15 – Your dreams
Day 16 – Your first kiss
Day 17 – Your favorite memory
Day 18 – Your favorite birthday
Day 19 – Something you regret
Day 20 – Your morning routine
Day 21 – Your job and/or schooling
Day 22 – Something that upsets you
Day 23 – Something that makes you feel better
Day 24 – Something that makes you cry
Day 25 – Your sleeping habits
Day 26 – Your fears
Day 27 – Your favorite place
Day 28 – Something that you miss
Day 29 – Your favorite foods/drinks
Day 30 – Your aspirations

Saturday, December 04, 2010

New Holiday Fancies from Faerie Gardens

Click through to see more!

Friday, December 03, 2010

30 Days of Me: Day 3

Day 01 – Introduce Yourself
Day 02 – Your first love
Day 03 – Your parents

My parents are a mixed blessing. There is much love, but also there is much unintentional hurt and worry. My parents divorced when I was 10 and both remarried shortly thereafter. I lived with my mom and step-dad, they both were very present throughout my life. Sadly my step-father died unexpectedly a little over a year ago, and it's been difficult to connect with my mom ever since. My father & I have never really seemed to connect, and as much love as there is, it is very difficult to communicate clearly with either of them at the moment, and I often feel like I'm being misunderstood or misunderstanding them. I try my best though, and I know they are too. ♥

Day 04 – What you ate today
Day 05 – Your definition of love
Day 06 – Your day
Day 07 – Your best friend
Day 08 – A precious item
Day 09 – Your beliefs
Day 10 – What you wore today
Day 11 – Your siblings
Day 12 – What’s in your bag
Day 13 – This week
Day 14 – Your childhood
Day 15 – Your dreams
Day 16 – Your first kiss
Day 17 – Your favorite memory
Day 18 – Your favorite birthday
Day 19 – Something you regret
Day 20 – Your morning routine
Day 21 – Your job and/or schooling
Day 22 – Something that upsets you
Day 23 – Something that makes you feel better
Day 24 – Something that makes you cry
Day 25 – Your sleeping habits
Day 26 – Your fears
Day 27 – Your favorite place
Day 28 – Something that you miss
Day 29 – Your favorite foods/drinks
Day 30 – Your aspirations

Thursday, December 02, 2010

30 Days of Me: Day 2

Day 01 – Introduce Yourself
Day 02 – Your first love

Crayola Crayons. The bright yellow box with the green stripe, all those shiny pointed crayons, the waxy smell... I loved getting a new box, especially the kind with the sharpener on the back, and I would cry if any of them ever got broken. I could spend hours and hours drawing and coloring, lost in my own little world of horses and princesses...

Day 03 – Your parents
Day 04 – What you ate today
Day 05 – Your definition of love
Day 06 – Your day
Day 07 – Your best friend
Day 08 – A precious item
Day 09 – Your beliefs
Day 10 – What you wore today
Day 11 – Your siblings
Day 12 – What’s in your bag
Day 13 – This week
Day 14 – Your childhood
Day 15 – Your dreams
Day 16 – Your first kiss
Day 17 – Your favorite memory
Day 18 – Your favorite birthday
Day 19 – Something you regret
Day 20 – Your morning routine
Day 21 – Your job and/or schooling
Day 22 – Something that upsets you
Day 23 – Something that makes you feel better
Day 24 – Something that makes you cry
Day 25 – Your sleeping habits
Day 26 – Your fears
Day 27 – Your favorite place
Day 28 – Something that you miss
Day 29 – Your favorite foods/drinks
Day 30 – Your aspirations

Wednesday, December 01, 2010

30 Days of Me: Day 1

Day 01 – Introduce Yourself

*smiles & shakes your hand* Hello! My name is Diana, but you can call me Bunny. *stares at you, smiling & waiting*

Oh, alright, I'll say more... :P

I am older than I think I am. I am an artist and a teacher with a passion for photography, painting, polymer clay, and purple shiny sparkly things. In the summer you can find me, swimming in Lake Ontario, and when that's not possible, you can find me walking its shores or cuddling up at home with my love, Jacqueline, our kids, and our cat (who also is called Bunny, although she never comes when you call). I also enjoy road trips, pop music, and reading; bird watching, plant identifying, and rock collecting; and watching old TV shows, catching up on the movies I missed, and making lots of good memories. I endeavor to live in each moment being fully present, and to be a Shining example of the Me that is Me, while helping those around me do the same.

Playground Fun on Thanksgiving Day, 11/25/10
Day 02 – Your first love
Day 03 – Your parents
Day 04 – What you ate today
Day 05 – Your definition of love
Day 06 – Your day
Day 07 – Your best friend
Day 08 – A precious item
Day 09 – Your beliefs
Day 10 – What you wore today
Day 11 – Your siblings
Day 12 – What’s in your bag
Day 13 – This week
Day 14 – Your childhood
Day 15 – Your dreams
Day 16 – Your first kiss
Day 17 – Your favorite memory
Day 18 – Your favorite birthday
Day 19 – Something you regret
Day 20 – Your morning routine
Day 21 – Your job and/or schooling
Day 22 – Something that upsets you
Day 23 – Something that makes you feel better
Day 24 – Something that makes you cry
Day 25 – Your sleeping habits
Day 26 – Your fears
Day 27 – Your favorite place
Day 28 – Something that you miss
Day 29 – Your favorite foods/drinks
Day 30 – Your aspirations