Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Top ten things I've learned from You Tube

I've just rediscovered You Tube thanks to an app on my surface.  Naturally, the app is called "You Tube.".


Dave was un-impressed when he saw it on there.


He thought it was only for entertainment purposes.


I assured him that it was strictly educational- and therefore an invaluable app for my surface.

So, lest you also think that You Tube is a vast wasteland of people purging their playtime on the Internet, I can list for you a top ten of the things I've learned from You Tube... videos included- for your own educational purposes:

(Side note: there's one entertaining video.  It's my favorite of all time. See if you can figure out which it is)

1.  The words (and tune) to the boy's favorite VBS song:






2. How to cut the boys/man's hair (thereby saving almost $60 every 7 weeks):




Side note:  This isn't the exact video we watched, but she shows a few of the same techniques.
Second side note:  I used a #4 on the sides- in this video, she uses a #3. Potato, Po-tah-to.

3.  I learned all the words to Baby L.'s favorite song (of all time):



Side note:  Yes, Circa 1950. Yep.  We still watch Lawrence Welk from time to time as well.  Any questions?

4.  I learned how to filet a salmon.  After an amazing double fishing date with our friends,  we wanted to enjoy our catch.  Dave had to go to work, so I was left with the gutting, cleaning and filleting.  I also learned how to effectively gut the salmon as well (without getting salmon poo everywhere), but I'm going to spare you that video.  You're welcome.


5. I learned that no matter how much I DON'T cry at sad movies or sad books, I will ALWAYS cry at this:



6.  I learned how to fix my van door.  By myself. Thankyouverymuch.




7.    I learned that Sunday's comin'.  Oh how I love that Sunday.




8.  How to cut an avocado.  (without slicing my hand up)



9.  How to do cute braids in hair.  (Saving the knowledge for someday... the day Baby L. has more hair and can sit still!!!  Oh!!!  That day!)




10.  I learned a few things from the following video.  I learned that Alexis is West.  I learned that I love love love Matt Kirkwood.  I learned that Terry DeBoer has a white-man's overbite when she dances.  I also learned that and upside down cycling move is.... um..... vogue(?)

It's a long video, so for the sake of time, check out times: 4:56ish, 6:25ish, and probably the best part of the whole video (possibly of all time) 7:25 until the end.  Seriously... Matt Kirkwood. 




Happy Tuesday!

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Ten on Tuesday

1.  My house is a mess.  I'm ok with that.  It's not unclean... just  messy.  I can clean this up.  Eventually.

2.  In an effort to "get ahead of the game," I made pancake-muffins yesterday.  I use banana, applesauce, and a bunch of other things that my kids would never eat if they knew this fun stuff was in there.  I added blueberries for C; my fruitasaurus.  I left some plain for A. I'm relatively proud of myself for being proactive on getting the kids and I out the door early/on-time for school. Please note:  I understand that by publishing this point, I could be jinxing myself.  Chances are, I will not be ahead-of-the-game much over the school year.  I'm going to publish anyway... just so I can look back and think "yeah... there were things I did right!"


3. On Saturday, Dave and I had our first date since Baby L. was born.  I had a lot of anxiety about leaving her with someone... but we ended up having a fantastic night, as did the kids.  Win/win. We're looking forward to our next date night already.  But... I'd be darned if I didn't say that babysitters are crazy expensive.


4.  Baby L. appears to be potty training herself.   I'm not pushing it at all, but I'm not going to fight it either.  Sure, it's easier to not have to DASH to the bathroom every time she says, "Mommy, go poopie on potty!!!", but I don't want to squash this desire to be a big girl either.

5.  A. is trying to decide if he is too old for Halloween.  For dressing up, that is.  What???  Where did my little boy go?  I'm going to let him decide for himself, but I need to make sure I have something on stand-by as I'm thinking this will be a last minute "yeah...I really do what to go!". I even have an idea for a lot-cost costume... now, just to find time to do it!

6.  C. is playing fall soccer this year. His FIRST fall sport.  Normally, this is prime asthma season for him.  In years past, we've been in the ER or calling 911 by now.  We've been without either for 19 months now (but who's counting, right???).  He's on a preventative inhaler everyday for now.  While that's not without side affects in and of itself, it's keeping him from turning blue.  We're super grateful for that! (Now, if we could find a good soccer coach, we'd be super grateful for THAT too!!!)

7.  Progress continues on the house. The exterior of the house is done!  Interior work continues at a glacial pace... but hey, progress is progress, right???

8.  I believe I broke my little toe 2 weeks ago.  I was playing soccer in the backyard with the boys, ran wrong (seriously...I am old), and crack.  There's nothing to do with a broken pinkie toe, but now my pinkie toe is totally sideways and my foot hurts, hurts, hurts.  I can comfortably wear one pair of sandals and one pair of shoes (yeah...tennis shoes- that's hot).  My danskos literally have me limping in pain... so if you see me in tennis shoes through the month of November, please know that I am miserable.

9.  I'd LOVE love love to organize a girl's day away.  Where?  I don't care.  Just to get away for a day.  Perhaps a day trip to IKEA and Trader Joes?  Perhaps a day trip up to Traverse city?  Just looking for a change of scenery.

10.  Haircut day today!!!  I've been looking forward to this for 6 weeks.  Do I cut it short?  Lighter?  Darker?  Keep it long?  Bangs?  All the options.  How about blue?

Thursday, September 11, 2014

I remember...do you? (where and what???)

September 11, 2001.

It's one of *those* days.


*those days that will forever be a before and after


* those days that you will always remember where you were and what you were doing


*those days that will forever define us as a nation, person, family member


*those days that remind us that there are horrible people in this world


It was 11 days before our wedding.


I was working as a Marketing and Admissions manager for a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility.


This was pre-HIPPA, so I left the house early to get up to the hospital, comb through a few prospective-admission charts and talk to some doctors as they did rounds. I also wanted to chat with some discharge planners before their morning meeting (which meant, I was there pretty darn early).  I left the hospital around 8:15, and decided to stop at Walgreen's to pick up a few odds and ends for our upcoming honeymoon trip.

I looked at the clock when I fired up my maroon Taurus- and thought about my brother and sister-in-law who were leaving Germany right about that very moment - headed to the US to attend our wedding.  I was excited to see them, and spend a few extra days with them before the wedding whirlwind swept us all away.

I made a quick phone call to a salon to get my nails done a few days prior to the wedding. Check that off the list.

I heard Rick Beckett and Scott Winters report that a plane had hit Tower 1.  At that point, they were speculating that it was a malfunctioning plane.

I got back to the facility within 10 minutes.  The news was on- there were residents watching the coverage.

That's when we saw Tower 2 get hit.


Silence fell.

There were no words.


This was no longer an accident.


                                                        We were under attack.




The looks on our resident's faces.

                                                                   The sheer disbelief.
                                                                                            Their fear.
                                                                                                          Their helplessness.


Then we heard about the Pentagon.



Then we heard about United flight 93 which crashed in Pennsylvania.


                                                                             What's next?


All flights were grounded.



                                                                       Where was my brother?


                                                                            Would his leave be cancelled?

                                                                                              What about our wedding?


What about our honeymoon plans?



                                                                       What a scary day.


I was supposed to travel to Sales Camp in Indiana for work that night.  A bunch of us from the region were slated to go.  I assumed it would be cancelled.



It wasn't.


We all traveled in silence.  In disbelief.


Where we tried to catch glimpses of news coverage in 5-10 minute breaks.  And then tried to focus on how to sell, sell, sell....numbers, numbers, numbers.  (Seriously, Heartland?!?!?!?  GAH!)


Later that night, I learned that my brother's flight was waiting on the tarmac, but never left the ground.  They were stuck on that plane for 6 hours waiting to take off; then had to go back to the base and report.

For a week, the skies were quiet.  The people were quiet.  The news was buzzing.

Here's what I learned from that day:

  • Others are scared too.  Never disqualify their fear as less than yours.
  • The most helpless people will probably be the most scared.  Try to find something- ANYTHING for them to do to feel helpful- even if it's tying patriotic ribbon to a pin for others to wear.
  • Sometimes the best-laid plans don't always work out the way we planned them.
  • Don't spend too much time and effort giving things that matter up for a company who only cares about the bottom line- and not the people who get them there.  Companies that mistreat their employees are not worth working for.
  • There are bad people in the world.  Do what you can to be smart about it, and then leave the rest to God.
  • God is still God.  God is still good.  No matter what.


Did you get that???


  • God is still God.  God is still good.  No.matter.what.

Where were you on that morning?



Tuesday, September 2, 2014

So....this is what I know.

I don't know much, but this is what I do know:

- we started school last week Tuesday.  Yes, we always start before public schools.  I'm grateful for it.  Having 2 4-day weeks to ease into the school year is helpful.

- Yes, I do have pictures.  No I'm not posting them yet.

- I find that the more we get into the school year, the more I love the parents I'm in a little community with.  Everyone dropping off and picking up...I love seeing them.

-  Dave and I watched the Divergent movie (sadly, I did not read the book first...I broke a cardinal rule), and now I find myself trying to figure out what faction I'd be in.  I think I'd go for Candor.  Only because I completely lack a filter.

-  In true PMD form, we all have colds.  This happens at the end of every first-week of school.  When the germ cesspool is in session.  It seems that I am the worst hit.... which is good for them, rough for me.

- My cell phone is a Piece. (yes, capital P).  I'm only getting about 1/2 of the texts meant for me, and approximately 1/3 of them are getting out.  Plus, it seems to be having a "memory issue.". Which is funny, because I cleaned it out and there's still no memory.  Sheesh.

-  Gutters were installed on the front of the Love Shack today.  And the back.  Tonight Dave did the first coat of stain on the newly-finished pillars.  We are literally ONE stain coat away from a finished front!  WOOHOO!

-  The inside is still largely unfinished.  It will remain so for a few more years.

-  Yes, years.

- I'm ok with that.