What would you like to celebrate about this month and Kickin' It Old Skool?
First, I want to celebrate Jamie & Shannon for hosting this! Even without the internet! You guys rock! *applause*
Second, I would like to celebrate making through this month myself! Busy busy days and I still managed to do it every day except the one day I opted not to.
Lastly, I would like to celebrate myself pushing through the hard scary stuff and getting done what needed doing. AND getting hired and celebrating my first few days as a Teacher Assistant in a wonderful daycare! YAY, regular hours & super fun job!
This is really hard for me. I used to do a lot of cooking and use a lot of recipes, but I don't cook so much anymore, and when I do now, I don't usually use a recipe, just mix stuff together to make it taste good. LOL! But a few years ago Jacqueline found a great way to cook pork that is DEEEELISH without any additional seasoning, but works great for BBQ pulled pork too.
Kahlua Pork
1 T Liquid Smoke
3 T kosher salt
1 pork shoulder (4-6 lbs)
Mix Liquid Smoke and kosher salt together, then rub all over the pork shoulder covering all sides thoroughly. Bake in a 325°F oven in an uncovered roasting pan (no rack necessary) for 5 hours. Then remove bone and shred with two forks. You can remove some or all of the fat at this time as well.
I was really tired and feeling kind of pessimistic last night, like 2013 had been pretty miserable and I didn't want to talk about it; I just wanted to put it behind me and move on. So I opted to not answer these questions last night, but tonight I am feeling better (although still really tired; what's up with that!?) and thought I'd give it a shot!
1. What will you remember about 2013?
I will remember 2013 as the year I...
dared myself to make too many changes at once and fell flat
started being creative every day - almost
tried to buy a new-to-me car but couldn't find one
first sold some of my photos
went to Shine and made some awesome shoes
swam entirely too little
took a course in small business ownership
started working at a daycare
2. What are you ready to leave behind?
high blood sugar
eating too many carbs
living in poverty
fear of the unknown
depression & anxiety
3. What's something you learned in 2013?
I learned that there is no hero who is going to come and save me, no mysterious act of serendipity that's just going to fix everything for me, no Deus ex Machina in the story of my life. I am going to have to suck it up, and do it the hard way: by myself. True bravery & courage doesn't mean you face your dragons & demons fearlessly; it means you feel the fear, but do it anyway.
4. What would you like to celebrate about this past year?
I created a rabbit every day for more than 100 days.
I drew everyday for 4 months, and lots of other days too.
I took charge of my life and started making things happen even though I was so scared.
I got a job I can go to on a regular basis and I think I like it!
And for today, One Sentence Saturday...
Your Word for 2014
My Word of 2014 is COURAGE, and boy could I write more than one sentence about it.
Check out those awesome drawings. A multicolored house from a 2nd grade girl I had in one class a few weeks ago, complete with snowman (on green grass! XD ) and a big arrow pointing to him, and a drawing of ME with green & blond hair singing FA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA from a special ed 3rd grader I had the 2nd week in December. I <3 getting art from my students... ^o^
OK! 10 things IN my fridge! RANDOMNESS!
1. Grape Jelly 2. Eggs 3. Yeast 4. Calorie Free Caramel Syrup (yuck on ice cream, but decadent in coffee) 5. Creole Mustard (yum) 6. Cran-cherry gelatin salad 7. Peanut Butter Fudge 8. one lone hot diggety dog 9. Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi 10. Pure Maple Syrup
Merry Christmas everyone! I hope today found you & yours in good health & spirits!
This morning we did our usual Christmas tradition. We woke up early and everyone (yes, everyone) opened their stockings as the others stumbled out of bed, got coffee, and got settled. Then we opened presents, each of us oohing & aahing at the other's gifts as they were opened. After opening presents we each took turns showering, eating breakfast, and getting ready to head to the Grandparents' for Christmas "dinner" which we have about lunchtime.
Once everyone arrives, Grandma serves us the best meal (doesn't matter what she's serving, it's always delish) and then we have presents, littlest to oldest. Then we all sit around, kids playing with their new dolls, electronic gadgets, or toys, and the adults animatedly chatting with each other about anything & everything under the sun. Sadly we all leave before we're ready, vowing to get together more frequently, but realizing it likely won't be until Memorial Day again.
Once we get home, we're usually pretty tired and the rest of the evening is low-key. Leftovers heated up for dinner whenever we're hungry, some hot tea, sharing the day with our online friends... ~_^
Today Jamie and Shannon still have no internet, but via phone they ask us to talk about:
Holiday Disasters!
To be honest, I had a really hard time thinking of a *disaster* that happened on or near the holidays. Sure we've had the cat climb the tree and bring it crashing down and we've had to deal with inclement weather keeping everyone from our parties -- there was even a few Christmasses there when I was too depressed to let anyone put up decorations until Christmas Eve, but the Holiday Spirit always seems to win out in the end. Then I remembered that one Easter...
This little girl is not me, but I can SO relate to her tears!
My parents had just divorced and my dad had weekend visitation. I was old enough to know the Easter Bunny was just my parents (yeah that's a tale for another time...), and I woke up Easter Sunday and found my basket. I don't remember what was in it -- probably a stuffed animal and art supplies, or something like that -- but I remember what *wasn't* in it: Candy. I was a little disappointed but I knew Mom would have a basket with candy waiting for me when I got home.
At home it was the same thing though. No candy. I was so sad. Yeah, my mom went & got me some the next day -- and in the grand scheme of things this was not a big deal -- but it wasn't the same. Both of them had thought the other would be giving me candy, and they didn't want me to have too much, but to me Easter was about the Cheap Chocolate Easter Bunnies and Jelly Beans, and I didn't get either.
I can laugh about it now, but every Easter, I make sure I get myself some jelly beans and a cheap chocolate Easter rabbit. ^o^
Today Jamie and Shannon are without internet due to a huge ice storm! But their other sister, Suzie Ridler says:
Let's talk about books!
Books, books, books... hmmmm... what can I say about books? I like them! LOL! How about ...
10 Fun Things About Me & Books:
I have a GoodReads account, where I keep track of all most of the books I have read (sometimes I forget) and want to read.
I am currently reading Double Exposure which is the first 3 books in the Apprentice Adept series, by Piers Anthony most of which I have actually already read. I want to finish the series but read it so long ago, I thought I should re-read from the beginning...
Piers Anthony is my favorite author, and the Xanth novels are my favorite series of books by him. I love the magical puns & silly adventures.
My very favorite book, however, is Change by Ann Maxwell. I identify with the main character and am enamored with the aliens she goes to learn from.
My guilty reads are historical romance novels, usually the kind with Scottsmen or magic.
My no-guilt-whatsoever read is the Animorph series. It covers some pretty deep topics for a sci-fi series aimed at pre-teens.
I used to collect books, but now I prefer to get them out of the library, and have gotten rid of lots of my books. If it's something I am only going to read once, why spend money on it, have it take up space in our over-crowded home, and waste my energy having to dust it!? I only buy/keep books I am going to read/use over & over.
When I was little, my favorite books were the Little House & Trixie Belden series and I frequently checked out Ed Emberley's books on drawing and D'aulaires' Book of Greek Myths.
I do not like books with graphic violence, blood, and gore. So most of the books I read are categorized Young Adult.
I wish I had a little tablet-y thing to take my e-books & pdfs with me to read elsewhere, because I really don't like reading long things on the computer.
I've shared several on the bloggeroo already, and I don't want to bore you all, so I went in search of something new. Sadly, my baby pictures are all at my mom's or dad's house, but I did come across this old drawing my Great Aunt Edith did of me (she called me Missy back then, short for Miss Dinah).
My Aunt Dee Dee, as many of us called her, was the first real artist I knew. She worked mostly in clay and had done some lovely pieces, including a bust of one of her sons. She passed away many years ago, and I've mostly lost contact with that side of the family; so I don't know what happened to any of her beautiful works of art.
Happy Solstice, everyone! Haven't had much time for writing lately, and I'm off & running again today, but here's a quote that makes me happy from one of my favorite hotties...
“I've always thought people would find a lot more pleasure in their routines if they burst into song at significant moments.” ― John Barrowman
♥ Your First Job : Babysitting, but first paycheck was for selling magazines over the phone. ♥ The First Thing to Your Left : Eeeennnhhhh... You pick...
♥ Something You Remember About First Grade : Not one thing. I have very few memories before 4th grade. ♥ The First book you ever read : The Pokey Puppy ♥ The First Thing You Do In the Morning : put on my glasses ♥ The First Food You Knew You Didn't Like : canned asparagus ♥ Your First Memory : I have no idea. Maybe the time that I was camping with my grandparents and we were at the playground, and this squirrel ran up someone's body and they freaked out and the ambulance came... There might have been more too it, but my memories aren't very clear - from just last week, let alone way back when I was little!
Dontcha just love my bag? I am so sad that it's wearing out and will soon need to be replaced...
Anyway! Here's my 10:
♥ Feminine hygiene & tissues ♥ Pain relievers (ibuprofen & aleve) ♥ tin of sweetner & tea ♥ pink & purple satiny pouch of coupons ♥ pink Bratz pouch of shoppers club cards ♥ purple sparkly bag of beauty supplies (lotion, nail clippers, pencil sharpener (ok so that's a teacher thing), lip balm...) ♥ wallet ♥ handful of pens, notebook, sketchpad, drawing pencils... ♥ hair scrunchie ♥ and my camera, which isn't in the photo for the obvious reason! XD
I wish for a safe and happy holiday season -- for me and all my friends & family -- and a new year filled with happiness, financial security, and growth in my art business! What is your wish?
We share some Inspiration Words. You share what they inspire in you.
♥ River ♥ The Oswego River where I swam with a boy from whom my heart still stings.
♥ Fresh ♥ Will Smith. No one fresher. ~_^
♥ Escape ♥ What I wish I could do very much right now, from the snow, from the bills, from the repairs that need doing, but never from my beloved and our family.
♥ Moment ♥ What I often need to take before speaking but forget to.
OMG IMPOSSIBLE! My musical tastes are so broad & varied I could stop breathing easier than I could pick a FAVORITE - or even a *few* favorites! However, since we're in the midst of the holiday season, I think I could come up with a few favorite holiday songs. In no particular order...
♥ Carol of the Bells. This is my favorite holiday song of all time. I love it so much that I have a CD that I burned with nothing but different versions of this song on it. (OMG I can't find itttt!!!! D,:) Trans-Siberian Orchestra does my favorite version, but The Piano Guys, Pentatonix, and even Wil Vinton do some great versions.
♥ Feliz Navidad. This one always must follow Santa Baby; that was the way it was on the Christmas tape and that's just how I expect them to be! Lots of good memories of singing this one while dashing through the snow...
♥ Soul Cake. This is one of my more recent favorites, released by Sting in 2009 on his If on a Winter's Night... album.
♥ Last Christmas. Yes, as a child of the 80s I can't help but love this song. I am not so sure about the new versions that are coming out now, but I do like Hilary Duff's version.
♥ Good King Wenceslas. This is one you hear on the radio or anything, but growing up it was one of the songs I taught myself to play on the piano. I love the staccato words with the melodic breaks. (I love the scene where Sheldon sang it on Big Bang Theory!)
♥ Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays. I didn't even know this song until I met Jacqueline and the kids. It was their favorite, and they would sing it every year. ♥♥♥
♥ Christmas is Coming. John Denver & the Muppets, A Christmas Together was one of my favorite Christmas specials and holiday records as I was growing up. This one always makes me smile & giggle.
♥ Jingle Bells. Oh yes, the traditional song that bored everyone to tears! But I love this version by Barbara Streisand...
♥ You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch. Another holiday favorite. This clip is right from the TV show...
Grab the third book in on your top shelf of books. Share the first sentence.
OMG I cannot believe how perfect this is! This is so perfect I am going to do a little giveaway to go with it! The first person to guess the book that this sentence is from will win a prize! Here is my sentence:
I'm going to share some hints on my facebook fan page; so hop on over there if you're interested in winning this fabulous bunny bookmark and need some clues!
I'll be dropping hints about every hour and a half starting at 1pm Eastern until someone guesses it. Be sure to post your guesses here, because it's the only place I'll be looking!
So many firsts in my life... How about my first job? I don't think I've talked about that before.
Sure I had a few babysitting jobs as a teen, but my first Real Job™ with an actual paycheck was for a company that sold magazines over the phone. I was horrible at it! Calling up people -- we went down a list from the phonebook! -- at dinner time and offering them magazine subscriptions was just not an enjoyable job for me. I don't think I even lasted two weeks before I left. I can't remember if I quit or if I was fired for doing so poorly, but I did learn that pushing sales on strangers was not the kind of job at which I would ever excell; I am way too nice.
♥ 1. I love Jacqueline. ♥ 2. Jacqueline loves me. ♥ 3. I am an artist. ♥ 4. I am a teacher. ♥ 5. My mom loves me. ♥ 6. My eyes are brown. ♥ 7. I am exhausted. ♥ 8. Life is an amazing adventure (which includes both ups and downs). ♥ 9. God is in every thing. ♥ 10. Rabbits are ADORA-BIBBLE! ^o^
I htink it might be easier to answer the question what *doesn't* make me weepy. I *am* a woman, and a Cancer, and on the cusp, with Pisces rising, and... well let's just say I might be a tad emotional sometimes always. No really. I am tearing up just thinking about the things that make me cry!
That someone famous died, that a large number of people had something tragic happen to them (death, terrorism, natural disaster...), that stupid commercial, the oppossum/deer/raccoon/animal on the side of the road, that I stubbed my toe, that beautiful piece of music, the sunset that looks like Maxfield Parrish painted it, seeing the Rockies on the horizon, that my dad & I don't talk, that teachers yell at their students, that parents are disrespectful to their children, that stupid movie, that fleeting longing to cuddle my kitty but I can't anymore, the scent of lilacs, having to go to work, not getting called to work, that stupid song... Really I could go on, but I think you get the picture!
