Well, hi there...its been a while.

I made a promise to myself to keep up with my little bit of blog. I had been doing pretty well until last week. At least I have a good excuse...no, reason.

I HAS A JOB!

I have been M.I.A since last Thursday because I was hired as a Spanish teacher at the city high and middle school. (I have to float between the 2 campuses in the middle of the day) I have been frantically scrambling to get lesson plans and materials together. All of my general classroom stuff is still in Colorado in storage. I have also never taught Spanish. I also haven't spoken Spanish consistantly in over 12 years. I am totally excited, though, and am very much ready to enjoy what this year is bringing to my life. I have so many great kids and colleagues that I think this is a place that I will feel at home.

So, less time for writing at this point, at least until I get my head on straight and stop running like a gerbil in a spinny wheel. I promise that I will still pop by my favorite bloggy people to get my smiles, giggles, food cravings and warm fuzzies.

For now, I am going to go drink more tea, take some meds and try to kick this annual cold and sore throat that rears it scratchy head every 1st week of school.

Wish me luck.

<3 you all.

Rosie

The Cranky Old Lady Down the Street, or "They Fought the Law, and the Law Won"

Today was a good, if hot day. Sir Geek got off work early, I found out that I got the teaching job (even thought I will only be hired as a long term sub until I take the PRAXIS), got out of the house, paids some bills, hung out with the fam that's here, etc. It was decent.

We are notorious around this little neighborhood for sending our kids out to walk around the loop in the evening, especially when they are being all kinds of rowdy in the house. So we sent the 2 midgets here out for a walk while SG and I made dinner.

About 10 minutes later, there's a knock at the door.

Its my boys...and the fuzz...o.O

We asked the nice (read:huge, burly, bear-like) deputy in out of the heat and he tells us that the someone (read:grumpy, old hermit lady) called him about our boys playing "in" their yard and around their mailbox...I am pretty sure it is the same lady that called animal control on our older dog when she got off the leash 5 times in one week (she didn't start trouble, she just liked to run around and explore).

Really? They're 10 and 6...

What happened to "Hey you kids!! get offa my lawn!!"?

We thanked the bear, er....deputy and talked to the boys AGAIN about other people's property and such, and sent them to their room until dinner.

The 6 year old blew it off, I think...but the Bubba...he took it hard.

As we finished dinner, we heard a strange wailing sound. SG and I looked at each other, and went to the boy's room. Bubs was sitting in the corner, in an upright fetal position, hugging his teddy bear named Smores, and WEEPING. We asked him what's wrong, he tells us that he doesn't like getting in trouble, is scared to go to the detention center AND the Camper is harrassing him by laughing at him. >.>

It took about 3 hours, but he's better now. It only took us telling him to calm down and him eating 2 entire cucumbers and 10 cherry tomatoes from our garden.

I hope he remembers this when his hotshot friends want to do something stupid to impress the multiple girlfriends I forsee in his not-so-distant future...

Holy Crap, he's in Middle School!

Keeping myself busy...

For most of my life, I have known someone that canned, creating preserved goodness in large batches and putting them up for later use or gifts in pints and quarts. I have always been interested in it. Partially due to my pathological desire to figure out things that I don't know much about, especially things that have been around for a long time (I am a historian, I can't help it), but mostly because I love food....FOOD! Numminess! The number one reason why I will NEVER ever be my teeny tiny pre-pregnancy size 6 again. (Number two is because my baby-morphed body laughs at me everytime I think about buying clothes smaller than size 12 EVER again.) Um, anyhow...


A few years ago, my step-mom starting canning again (she grew up doing it) as something to do while my dad was gone and to be more in control of what goes into the food that they eat. Everytime we saw them or received a package from them there was always a gift of canned goodies.

Then we moved into the deep south...

Holy moly EVERYONE cans, especially people with gardens, which is probably 60% of the population of Hometown, MS.

I now get canned goods from my MiL, SG's Mamaw, HillBilly Neighbor, kids' friends' parents, etc.

My cabinet now has a 60/40 ratio of homemade to store bought canned food.

I think that's pretty darned cool!

When we moved here, I decided to start a garden. I <3<3<3 tomatoes and peppers and would eat them everyday if they were available...and now they are, woot! My parents decided that between the garden and our plethora of local farmers that they were going get me started canning. Which is good, because last week alone I ended up with nearly 40lbs of veg from multiple sources. I even used it all, before the parents got here with my canning starter kit, heh. I had a few jars and lids that I got as gifts (with food in them) that I decided to practice pickling peppers. My brother asked me to send some with step-mom since he was going there to visit. My very first attempt at canning yielded 1 and 3/4 pints of pickled jalapenos and banana peppers from my garden.

It was beautiful.

I think I am now addicted

>.>

Yesterday the little boys and I made Blueberry Banana Jam.

3 quarts of fresh blueberries
2 mashed bananas
1 lime: pulp and juice (I sliced the peel and boiled it with the fruit to get more flavor and pectin from the pith)
3 cups of raw sugar
2 tbsp lemon juice
(The original recipe didn't call for pectin, but so far, its more like a thick chunky syrup than jam, so I may add some next time I make it)
Yields 5 pints

 
 

The Bubba picking stems and sorting out the icky berries

 

The Happy Camper mashing 1/2 the berries.

  
   

Such concentration for the little one!

<3 this baby.

 

Holy teamwork, Batmom!

They're actually working TOGETHER!

*GASP*

Before cooking down.

 
 

Jar-ready, steamy goodness.

Tadaaaaa!!!

This is Mamaw's, I put her jam in one of her own jars so I could return it to her...good idea, huh?

We had some BananaBerry nummies on our fluffy pancakes this morning, it was sooooo tasty!

And on tomorrow's schedule?

Peach Melba Jam.

The fruit is currently macerating in between layers of raw sugar.

YUM!

Here's the scoop...

Sorry for sucking at posting lately.

This last week has been a lot of ups and downs for me. The downs have been mostly due to the fact that this will be the first month that I haven't received some sort income. I have NEVER EVER in my life been unable to contribute financially. It is rather suckish, to say the least. The ups have been more often, but almost more tentative. My husband is amazing, he does everything he can to cheer me up when I start to worry about money. He is working 50 hours a week to cover everything and never complains about me not working yet. 

Also, if you have remember, I left a rather vague post about the possibility of having a job, but didn't say anything else about it because I didn't want to jinx it. I have been spending the last week trying VERY hard not to worry about it and just let things happen as they will. The situation is this: I am a certified Secondary Social Studies teacher that hasn't had my own classroom in 2 years. I have subbed, but in every other subject possible...except math...we have a hate/hate relationship...I would've damaged children forever if I had to do more that proctor a math test. I made a random trip to the city school district last thursday while out running errands. I had sent in an application for a S.S. position, as well as subbing, if nothing full-time came up. The receptionist was great, someone had filed my teacher app under clerical (wth?) so she went through and checked all of my experience and made a list on the front of the app (it was a long list, I have taught or been involved with a LOT of different subjects.) She noticed that I did a long-term sub job at the other HS in town in Spanish and Drama.

She looked up and asked "Do you speak Spanish???"

Er, yeah...a little rusty but enough to teach level 1 and 2.

"Stay right here while I make a copy of your app."

Me: Um, sure...>.>

She comes rushing back into the lobby with a copy of my app and tells me that I need to go over to the HS RIGHT NOW and talk to the pricipal there. That they have a Spanish position open and haven't had ANY applicants and that "he would LOVE to speak to you!"

Not one to argue (hush, mom) I said "Yes ma'am, thank you very much!" and headed over to the school...

Did I mention it was 104 degrees, I barely had a touch of make-up on and was dressed semi-casually? (I usually don't dress up or put on make-up for errands, but randomly took an extra few minutes to doll myself up a little)

Well, she told me that he may not be there at that time, but to leave my app with the receptionist with my number, so I really wasn't expecting to have him walk into the office as I was introducing myself to Ms. K and telling her that Ms. P sent me over here about the Spanish position. He stopped in his tracks and leaned over to his AP and said "Wow, we are on a roll today!" He asked me to wait while he finished his current interview. I just kept thinking that it is a great thing that I have spent so much time in theater and food service, because I can switch on my game face and confidence like nothing else!

The interview went great, he was asking me all kinds of random questions not necessarily related to teaching, but I realized that he was "feeling me out" (not up, you pervs!) When I mentioned that my daughter was a sophomore and an amazing singer and was really disappointed that the choral program at her school (the other HS in the area) had been eliminated his eyes got big and he said "Well, you know, we are a performing arts school and have a great choral program. As an employee, your kids would qualify to come here."

Me: Oh?? (amg amg amg he is talking like he's already hired me!!!!) That's great, I think she'd really do well here.

So why am I not hired already? The only obstacle is the fact that I am not certified in Spanish, even though I can speak it. I had planned to take the Spanish Praxis this summer, but cash was super tight, the test is $80. The next test in in mid-September. So, after the Principal spoke to the Spanish teacher that I subbed for (she gave a glowing recommendation and he told her that he really liked me!) he called back this morning and said he thought that the impromptu interview went really well and he would love to have me on board. He needed to call his admin office and see what process was available to get me hired on without the Spanish endorsement. BUT that even if they couldn't find a way to get me in the classroom that there was another position there that he would be willing to hire me for just to get me in the door at the school. It would be as an ISS Instructor, and wouldn't pay certified salary, but...its a job, right? I told him that obviously I would prefer to be in the classroom but that if the lack of endorsement was an "immovable object" that I would definitly want to have the opportunity to get on at the school in any way so that I have a better chance at another position later.

Great, right?

 I have been really trying not to think about it, because I don't want to get my hopes up. But I feel really good about it, and for totally "superstitious" reasons.

Every time I have been hired for a new position, it has been within a week of the start of school.

Every time I have been hired at a new school, I wasn't actually planning on an interview that day.

Twice I have been hired to teach something other than my certified area and had to jump through hoops.

Everytime I have been hired I have had to completely build my materials from scratch, I have only taught the same subject from one year to the next once, my 1st and 2nd years.

(can I tell you how much it stinks to have to scramble to create all of those documents over and over again?)

Their colors are Red and Black....EVERY school I have worked in has had RandB as their colors.

Mr. Principal said he'd call me back later today with news.

Trying to keep busy...which leads to my next post!

<3

Trying something.

Ok, I have a secret...well, not really. I am still new to this whole bloggy thing. I am trying to figure out how to link to some of my daughter's choir songs that I hosted online. She is a singer and has an opportunity to go to a performing arts school if I get the job I mentioned the other day.

Please let me know if it works.

<3
Rosie

06_Peter_Piper.wma

03_Pura_Vida.wma

She's Gone Country...

Well, sort of.

Drama Llama has never really been the physical type, despite her naturally athletic build and solid musculature lurking quietly beneath the surface of her squishy girlness.

She's a bit of a couch potato, in fact...well, bed potato is probably more accurate. She spends the majority of her free time laying on her bed, listening to random music and reading.

So, imagine our surprise yesterday that she volunteered when Sir Geek asks if anyone wants to go to his dad's place to help throw and stow hay.

WOW.

We got down the the spread around 6pm and met the rest of his help; Butch and Daniel. We piled onto the flatbed trailer and rode out to the big field to start loading the bales. It was still well over 90 degrees with 98% humidity. I made it one lap around the approximately 6 acre field before my weight and hypoglycemia stopped me in my tracks. I threw probably 12 25lb bales before my hands stopped working and my breathing got difficult. (Sir Geek said he never expected me to do that much, not in a mean way) I walked back to the house and sat in a rocking chair on the patio trying to cool down. When they came back with the first load Dad's GF came to check on me. She was surprised and worried about how red my face was and asked if she needed to call someone. I am so tired of being over weight and restricted by my bloodsugar issues.

Anywho, little miss Drama Llama continues to help Butch on the trailer stacking and stuffing the bales so they can get as many in one trip as possible. They unload it at the shed and head back out to start up again. Dad told his GF that he was surprised at how hard she was working, how strong she was...GF says she's not surprised at all, not the way DL is built and the fact that she has 3 little brothers to toss around. 220 bales later, Dad tells DL that he's impressed and will have to remember just how good of a worker she is as he gives her a hug and slips her a $20.

I knew she had it in her somewhere...maybe it was the 2 country hotties that she was working with; Butch and "Arms", lol. Butch is married, though, and "Arms" is dating a girl at DL's school. But they're both great boys and I think they were a bit surprised at how well she worked, too.

I am a bit of a proud peahen at the moment.

Second trip out.

Holy Potatoes, Batman...

I just might have a job! Its not quite official, but in the research process...I gotta run more errands but I will post more info as I find out more...

AMG AMG AMG!!!!
<3 Rosie

Pouring My Heart Out: A Football Team and Two Cheerleaders.

 I grew up as an only child with a military father and a professional mother. I ALWAYS wanted siblings, especially as often as we moved. I grew up hearing my mom refer to her dream family as "a football team and 2 cheerleaders" She always wanted a house-full. After my parents divorced and remarried, I became the oldest of 4 (then 3, long story). I love my late arriving siblings, but we are not nearly as close as I would like to be, we just don't have that connection that is developed at a young age. I knew that I wanted to have at least 2 kids because I didn't want my children to be as lonely as I was, at home, growing up.

I had my first at 17, and my second at 19. Their father and I split when I was 11 weeks pregnant. I was so scared about being alone that I gave my heart to the first man that showed me attention and seemed to want to be a father to my children (he was military and we spent the first 18 months apart) . We had 2 more children in our marriage of 10 years. I found out the hard way that he just didn't know how to be a father, at all.

None of my kids were planned. They were all "failures" in contraception.

I believe that there is a reason for every one of them.

I have been remarried for almost 2 years to the most amazing man ever. He loves my kids like his own. He is my rock. Even though we have differences of opinion, we always work things out and love each other relentlessly. He is younger than me by 9 years and has told me that he is perfectly happy with our family the way we are now.

I want to have more children with this man.

He has told me that he is not sure that he wants to, but that it might change in a few years. 

I am 32. 

I feel like I am supposed to have a large family.

I have also been on birth control on and off for 15 years, mostly on.

 I am 45 pounds oveweight and my doctor has told me that based on my diet and activity, the only reason he can find for not being able to lose weight, my bad joints, etc is the fact that I have been on the pill almost half my life.

 I want to stop taking it and let things happen as they will.

The biggest fear is the finacial part. I know that we will be taken care of, that things will happen as they should, in His way, on His schedule.

But I am AFRAID!

 I am currently a semi-employed (I will sub until I find a full-time postion) teacher, and my husband's job doesn't provide healthcare.

 I want to just be able to let go and let God...it is so hard.

Garden Breakfast

This morning I decided to make myself an omelet. I normally just eat whatever I make for the kids. Today I gave them leftover cinnamon banana pancakes, and I just couldn't make myself eat more pancakes (as good as they are, I have eaten PC every morning for a week, lol)

I finally had a ripe Lemon Boy tomato, so I wanted to use it.

Portabella, banana pepper and swiss cheese omelet with chopped yellow tomato.

MMMMMMM

Yay for homegrown!!

Between a Rock and the Proverbial Hard Place...

Any one that knows me or has read my blog knows that I am a teacher. I worked fulltime in my own classrooms for 6 years and have subbed for the last 2. I have, on several occasions, questioned my choise to stay in the career that I have always felt I was drawn to. I know that I have done good in my time in the classroom, I still get messages, texts, phone calls etc from former students, many of whom call me Mom.

The state of education as it is now is rather dismal. The environment in the schools is only part of it. The fact is, that many of us who went into education (for whatever reason) were told "you will always have a job, we will ALWAYS need teachers". Too many of us now know this to be untrue. Financial deficits has caused significant numbers of teachers and staff to be cut. Lack of funds and "low performance" (sometimes just a political load of crap) as well as the transient nature of the populace of most cities has led to the closure of numerous schools.

I know that I am a good teacher, in spite of the fact that I have been unable to find permanant employment in my chosen career. I was one of the more than 200 casualties of closing schools in my former city in Colorado. I was a 1st year teacher in district on a one year contract. I chose not to go back to the school that nearly put me in the hospital due to stress-related health issues. I was basically black-listed by the "interim administration" for not going along with the fixing of common assessment scores and standing up for my students' rights to have a safe and productive learning environment as well as my own rights as a teacher and human being. The next one and a half years I was the "favorite sub" in the 12 schools that I served. I had teachers call me 2 months in advance to make sure I would be available...especially in the middle and alternative schools.

 (For whatever reason, the "trouble kids" and I get along just fine  >.>)

I love the feeling of being rushed by kids when I walk into a school asking who I am subbing for and the reaction when they find out its one of their teachers(or not). It makes me feel good. That's what I want to do.

I want to teach.

I want my own classroom again.

I want to have the same kids every day.

I want to be able to connect with my kids and learn about who they are, who they are becoming, how they learn, how they interact with each other.

I miss that.

That's the rock.

Here's the hard place:

I haven't worked since the end of school.

Things are tight, but we're ok. Bills are paid, kids are "fat" and happy, if bored.

I know that I will probably work 4-5 days a week as a sub in the 2 districts in this area as a sub if I don't get hired on as a fulltime teacher. School starts August 5th and, so far, there are no positions available for my subject closer than an hour's drive away. (I would prefer to work close enough to get the kids off to school in the morning, even if we're not at the same school)

My husband's father found me a job.

He's got connections all over this small town and one of his good buddies is opening a big truck-stop type gas station and needs cashiers.

I have cabin fever like crazy from sitting at home all summer with 4 kids.

 I want to work.

But I am not sure if I want to take this job, even as part-time, because I KNOW that I can sub and make good money even if I don't get a full-time job. I am the kind of person that will stick with a job even if a better one comes open, especially if its only been a few months. ESPECIALLY since my FiL recommended me for it because he knows I want to work.

RAWR

I don't know what to do!

My Bounty...

This is what I plucked from my little patch of garden heaven today.

Yes, those cukes are big, but not nearly as big as it looks next to the bell pepper. That mexi-bell didn't get any bigger than a ping pong ball or so.

On the left is the unknown mutant alien pod that I have been talking about. I couldn't resist picking it. Its not anywhere near ripe, but I was hoping that by dissecting it I could either figure out what it is or get a payload from the Enquirer for discovering alien life...

Still no idea.

It smells kind of sweet, even though it is not quite ripe yet.

Bah, IDK!!!!!!

Mutant Alien Pods...

...are taking over my garden!!

AAAHHHHHH!

I planted a cucumber plant. It was like 8 inches tall when I transplanted it.

3 days later, what I thought was another cuke plant sprouted out of the bottom side of the row where I planted the original.

Its been growing and growing and I was like WOOHOO! I <3 CUKES! The 2 vines grew in different directions and took over half of my 10x12 plot.

Then the flowers started growing...and they looked different on each plant.

Small yellow blossoms close to the original cuke vine, huge bright orange blossoms on stalks on the 2nd.

 I was like, hmm...that's weird. Maybe a squash seed was laying dormant in my cuke soil?

But then the pod appeared at the base of one of the orange blossom. 

A squash?

then it kept growing and growing and growing (it is still not ripe).

What is this thing?!?!?!

(yes I need to weed.../sigh)

It is smooth, like a melon, on a vine with what looks like squash blossoms, and its huge...

The thing is 16 inches in circumference and almost 5 pounds.

I thought the only aliens were in my house.

A Wee Visitor...

The boys and I went outside to play with my pup, Dozer, like we do everyday before lunch. As we tossed around his squishy ball our neighbors' wayward puppy, my boys call her Tiny, decided to come hang out with us. Our neighbors left earlier and apparently she found a way out of the house/yard. I am just glad that she didn't run off, she's a little bitty thing. Here's a few photos of the babies.

Took a bit of a blogging break this weekend.

With the holiday weekend, hubby was off for 4 days. He works 10 hours a day with 2 hours worth of commute every day. During the week he comes home totally exhausted and we barely get an hour worth of us time due to kids and dinner and stuff. He rarely gets time to spend with the kids, either, because they start going to bed right after dinner and he has no energy to speak of. Well, this weekend, with only one exception, was wonderful! Waking up next to him is awesome, this morning sucked soooooooo bad.  >.<

We spent time in the garden, played games with the kids, had an adult visit with family for a birthday, worked in the yard, got a barbeque lunch, and had an actual family weekend. There is only one thing that could have made it better...being able to go see fireworks! The closest display was up at Pickwick Park almost 2 hours away. My van isn't in the best shape (I really need new tires) and I have a huge crack in my windshield that has kept me from being able to get an inspection sticker which is required by law in Mississippi. Since we can't all fit in the hubby's Tortuga (he has a 94 pickup with 4 cylinder engine...it is so sloooow and small) we don't go anywhere. A bunch of people in the neighborhood had fireworks, though, so we could still have a little bit of a show.  :o)

I did, however, forget to get picture evidence of said great weekend...but its all good. I have it in my head.

I hope all of you had awesome holiday weekend (if your in the States...if not, then I hope you just had an awesome weekend!)

I will be posting again soon, I am working on getting caught up on the sleep that I missed last week. Unfortunately, that means the witty comments and entertaining anecdotes are in hiding for a bit (my brain turns into pudding with little sleep).

Take care!
<3

Random Picture Evidence...

(Thanks for the idea, Cap'n!)

I was attempting to clean/unpack a few boxes since I actually got more than 3 hrs of sleep last night. I have felt like a slackass for the past few days due to Super Zombie Mom sticking around longer than I had hoped for. I came across a few packs of photos and photo CDs...and I got happy. I thought I would share the love a little here.

This was taken while I was a Rope Course instructor at the reservation school that I used to teach at. One of my fav students EVAR started calling me Freakishly Amuzing (she has a knack for great silly nicknames) and I took it as my school year scrapbook title. (I have thought about making it my blog title, and still may...I should get rid of the Smith, though, I don't carry that name anymore)

The Royals of Randomness (several years ago)

The Royals, last year.

Sir Geek and Lady Drama Llama:

If you'll notice, Drama Llama is soaking wet..the story here is that we went on a day trip to Echo Lake, west of Denver. (the lake is just short of the peak, sits at about 11,000 ft) The day was awesome, air temp was 70 in mid-july. We spent the day walking around the lake, climbing trees, being silly and getting photo evidence of the whole time. DL thought she would be funny and toss handfuls of lake water on everyone all day.

HaHa

She tossed more water on SG than anyone, so he set her up. He got Little Geek to sit on a rock at the edge of the lake and holler at DL to come look, a FISH!!! As she leaned over to peer intensely into the crystal clear water...SG stretched out his cowboy-booted foot and pushed her in. It was only about 2.5ft deep, but she tumbled and got soaked. The best part is that the water was approximately 45 degrees. She didn't throw water on anyone the rest of the trip.

HAHAHAHAHAHA

Hmmm, I wonder if this event led to her strange aversion to being splashed with buckets of water the other day...

Nah, I think she's just a Royal Drama Llama.

AMG...I have fostered life of the green persuasion!!

Looky looky!!!! I have a REAL live (at least until I eat it) Banana Pepper!!!

It smells nummy, but I will have to tell you how tasty it is tomorrow since I am about to gnosh on berries and cream with the hubby!

And in other news, despite all accounts, Drama Llama can actually be nice to her brothers! I have PROOF!

Ok, so it didn't last long. Shortly after this photo was taken, she reverted to her Royal P.I.T.A self and pitched a fit when her brothers tried to start a water fight with her...when it was 95 degrees outside.

WHAA WHAA WHAAA poor pitiful me!

>.<

I think I am going to make this pic my desktop background so I have a reminder that she is really is a good kid...sometimes.

RAWR

Super Zombie Mommy...RAWR!

For some reason, last night my body refused to cooperate with my steady sleep schedule.

I went to bed with SG around 10pm, as usual. Instead of drifting off to sleep i lay there, awake...twitching like a frog on hot asphalt. I kept waking hubs up and felt bad because he works and stuff. He goes to bed so early because he has to be out of the house by 5am in order to commute 45 minutes and be at work on time by 6. So instead of causing my love intermittant sleep, I got up, threw on my snowflake robe and trudged into the living room. I trudged because I REALLY did want to go to sleep.

For the next 3.5 hrs, I read blogs...well, mostly I guffawed about Allie's stories and drawings at Hyperbole and a Half.

When it got past the 2:30 am mark, I figured I ought to try and sleep again.

 No Dice...sigh.

I think I finally fell asleep after the hubs left, somewhere around 6:45.

Long story short:

Rosie+less than 6 hrs sleep=Super Zombie Mommy.

RAWR!

I got up around 8:30 to tell the kids to eat something light to hold them over because I felt like super zombie mommy and needed to get a little more sleep. I told them I would make brunch when I got  up and moving.

My 10 year old, The Bubba, looks at me and says "what's brunch? are you gonna eat our brains?"

/facepalm

I laid back down, but the cursed perky eastern light streams into the window directly over our bed. *cry*

Brains or Pancakes?

Hold the phone!!!

Great news, all! I finished a project...and the world hasn't ended!! WOOHOO! 

 >.>

Don't get me wrong, I am, in no way, implying that my little crafty projects determine the fact of anyone's world besides mine.

I just have this pathological inability to complete things that I start out REALLY wanting to do.

Perfect example: the fully beaded traditional northern buckskin regalia that I started 15 years ago...it sits 3/4 of the way done in a box, in storage...

Oh, that's just one thing, you say...

NOT.

It's everything that I start doing (that is not work or family related). If it is something that I feel really strongly about doing, then WHOOOSH...I am off like a flash to get started on it. That fervor continues until the thing is passable, but not finished...usually about 3/4 of the way. Then, poof, the motivation to complete said project takes a permanent vacation to some gorgeous medieval, Mediterranean villa to lounge and chuckle at my ineptness (is that a word?) I have a collection of partially completed artsy things that haunt my dreams and remind me that I am a "chronic postponer".

Well, ghosts of crafties past, I fart in your general direction!

Its only a small part of a large project, but I finished it, by golly, and I am happy!

I started this 16th century fully-boned, tabbed corset in Aug of 2008 to wear under my 16th century merchant-class court garb.

 (I am an SCA-er, and a historian, and perfectly happy to dress up like a lady...on occasion)

I promise I am not scowling at my daughter while she takes this photo, the sun was in my eyes...honest.

>.>

What you are looking at here are 20 hand-bound eyelets. My fingers still aren't completely over the abuse they received whilst I worked on these, but at least they're talking to me now.

This was actually not the part that kept me from finishing, it was the trim along the bottom tabs...

 also hand-sewn

>.<

Yes, I am a little bit crazy.

So how did I managed to complete this thing? I made a deal with myself.

 No blogging or MMOing until I was finished.

 I am not above bribes.

I think I am going to have to come up with something involving chocolate for the next step...a 16th century "hoop skirt", a farthingale, complete with six rings of boning to support the winter-weight dress that I am also 3/4 of the way done with.

/sigh

Baby steps, Rosie, baby steps.

Just because...

I was tooling around FB, trying to get caught up with everyone and found a pic of the hubs and I that I don't have a copy of anymore on my aunt's page! YAY!

The Lord and Lady of Geekdom.

<3 this man!!

Oh, and in reference to the earlier post...SG's Caller ID for me "Sexy", his ringtone...

"Sexy Bitch"-Buck Cherry

teehee...giggles

Hot Mama...

I have to admit, I have a bit of a body issue.

This is me at 16. I weighed 108lbs (most of it was in my bust)

18 months later I had my daughter. I lost most of my weight after I had her.

Then I got pregnant again, and again, and again. 4 kids in 8 years.

I didn't overeat, in fact I ate only what i needed to. The kids and the preganancies were not the only reason I gained weight. I had two very difficult relationships that ended badly. I lost who I was (I am still looking, btw)

The last 15 years have not been kind to me. Stress=layers of goo that refuse to go away unless I am constantly moving, no matter how healthy or little I eat. I have the metabolism of a hippo...or as my very hillbilly neighbor (whom I adore) said, I am "a snapping turtle at the bottom of the pond". Low resting heart rate, low blood pressure, low respiration, low body temp, which all translates to my body doesn't burn anything I take in, ESPECIALLY if I am stressed, unless I am in a fast paced job like waiting tables. I can't do that anymore. I don't mind the work, but I like being at home with my family at night, especially during the school year. I also partially tore the miniscus in my right knee...but most of all, I put myself seriously in debt to have a career that may or may not get back on track. (Don't get me wrong, I will do any job that I need to in order to take care of my family, I just have my preferences)

Anywho, back to the post. >.> I ramble, its my thing.

As you have probably noticed, there aren't many pictures of me on my blog.

There's that one, in the garden, blech.

As of the last time I was anywhere near a scale, I was exactly double my weight in the above picture.

DOUBLE.

Here's the thing. I have always been confident in my abilities, my skills, my personality etc...looks, not so much. I have hated the way that I look for a long time. I hate that I have a belly flap, just skin, from having so many kids. I hate that I have rolls, like a bakery rack. But my dear hubby, Sir Geek, loves it. Loves ME. Can't imagine me at 160 lbs, let alone 108. Thinks I am dead sexy and reminds me of it daily. He calls me beautiful, sexy, amazing, and I wave him off, like "ok, right, whatever". But I know he means it.

My hillbilly neighbor and I had a chat last week while sitting by the pool watching the kids have a blast. He said "I noticed that you never get in the pool. Why is that?" I told him that I would rather not scar everyone for life, tyvm! He said, "What??? Gimme a break!" I just looked at him. His wife is a big girl, she had a hysterectemy 10 years ago and gained quite a bit of weight and hasn't been able to lose it, either. But she couldn't care less. She'd like to weigh less, for health's sake, but she thinks she's hot....so does he. She'll get all dolled up to go out in a miniskirt, cowboy boots, and a lowcut shirt and all sorts of sparklies. She looks SEXY! HB told me, you know, you've had a crazy life and have given birth to 4 kids...the weight you carry may not be what you prefer, but its a badge of honor. How you look is all about how you feel about yourself. Well, I usually feel like a burlap sackful of potatoes. That explains why I look that way most of the time.

Hmm.

I know I am not the only one.

I have so many friends that I know feel the same way, as do quite a few bloggers that I have read.

So what happens when we stop trying to be who we were at 16, 17, 18...22, 25, 30, etc and just BE us. ALL of us, all 200+ lbs of ourselves? Don't misunderstand me, its not healthy to be overweight, don't go binging on donuts, or chips, or whatever your choice of posion is. I eat healthy, I love to cook, I use fresh foods, usually organic if I can find it. I don't eat a bunch of processed foods, I barely eat sugar. I know my insides work well. Its my outside that has an issue. Would I like to weigh less? Well, duh. Do I think obsessing over the fact that I don't look like the above picture is healthy? Hell no. I realized that as long as I fret about it, I will never be motivated to do anything because all my energy goes into worrying. (I am also a worrywort, its another of my things, drives hubby crazy) I want to be happy being who I am and not have it all dependent on my looks. I am a smart, funny, talented, creative, well-spoken, loving, caring, kind, respectful, strong, independent, sweet, outgoing, outspoken, adaptable, silly, well-educated, well-rounded (HAH) easy-going, proud, not-too-proud, friendly, likeable, respectable woman that loves to cook, sing, dance, laugh, play, love and has an amazingly wonderful family and friends that really couldn't care less about how much I weigh.

Why isn't that enough?

Well...it should be.

It's gonna be.

What made me start thinking about this?? Hehe

"Hot Mama"-Trace Adkins *fans self*

Heard it in the car on my way to the post office this morning.

Go listen to it. Watch the video, (its a little racy, no kids is probably a good idea)

I love my Geek. He thinks I am one Hot Mama.

Well, I think so, too.

<3

A Cutesy Post...

So, Father's Day was great, spent a good portion of the day at Sir Geek's dad's place. Three generations of those boys in one place with the women that love them eating and hanging out...most definitly a good day. We went 4-wheeling around the 10 acres or so and petted the beautiful horses that his dad has. We had planned to go riding, but it was 104 degrees....in the shade...too hot to saddle up the poor beasts. ;o)

The best part of the day, however, had to be waking up to cards slipped under our door...here's the ones from the youngest 2, stupid scanner died on me so I can't post the others. They're great.

Hope they make you smile like they did us!

Who is less than a smart one?

THIS chick! *points at self accusingly*

For those of you that don't know, I live in Mississippi and have started a garden. I have been really good about watering in the early morning so that the water is absorbed before the major heat of the day starts...but guess what I KEEP doing? Trying to weed, at 12:30...duh! I think the heat melts my brain daily and makes me forget just how much it SUCKS to squat over super-heated dark soil, fumbling around attempting to foil the crabgrass's plot to conquer my little patch of green heaven!! Bleh

On the other hand, I now have nearly 20 tomatoes growing! YAY! So what if they are less than an inch in diameter. I haven't killed them yet!!! Huzzah!

The watermelon and cucumber plants are spreading like crazy, and both have tendrils started, as well as a few blossoms...sooo, maybe fruit soon?

Everything else is taking its time. One thing I am definitly learning from this experiment is PATIENCE, something that has been seriously lacking in my life for a while. Although, it is pretty nifty to wake up early to water and see all the overnight growth and blossoming. Funny thing is, the tomato plant that fruited first (Better Boy) is the shrimpiest one of all! All of the others are at least 2.5 ft tall, most are almost 5ft...BB is only 18 inches.  I hope he hits a growth spurt soon!

Yes, that is my chubby, bright-white self with my middle son, the Bubba. He's always eager to help mom, especially if it makes him look better than his lazy brothers. >.>

I love this pic!  :o)