The middle of December already???

How can that be? How can the year be almost over? Where did it go?

Not even half done with my Christmas shopping yet. This week while Manda is in school I hope to finish. She gets out for the holiday break this Friday. Steve is already out, HCC ended last week. He has 3 weeks till classes start at FSU - we'll be there for orientation 1/4, classes start 1/7. What am I going to do without my middle baby, my boy? :(

We're getting close on the house. Today will be the 16th (17th?) showing in 30 days, plus we had an Open House yesterday. I'll feel much better once we get an offer. That's what I want most for Christmas!!!

I joined Facebook last week, and man have I found some old friends. Some I knew from as far back as kindergarten, some from my crazy jr. high days, some old work buddies. I don't know why I put off joining for so long. The only problem is, I mean to spend 15 minutes on there and all of a sudden, 2 hours have passed. ;)

Working on another class for Whim So Doodle - I'm really excited about this one. Something I've been wanting to do for awhile - a family collage. Lots of doodads and findings, lots of symbolism and pix, lots of red, black, white and tan, lots of distressing...right up my alley. Look for it in February, hopefully before V-day.

GA

What a day! Got to the cabin just before midnight last night and crashed. Explored outside the cabin this morning after breakfast, down by the river. It's the Coosawattee River. There's a tiny island just off shore the owners call Goose Island.

The cabin is called Goose Rapids and is just as gorgeous as we remembered.

We took some pix that may or may not end up on a Xmas card.

We decided to traipse out, and ended up at Brasstown Bald, the highest point in Georgia at 4784 feet. We had to park down below in a parking lot then go up 1000 ft via a 6/10 mile trail. Let me tell you, that was some steep shit. I was out of breath after about 90 seconds. The view was totally worth it though. :)

Having a ball, more tomorrow.

This and That

Ok, I just have to tell you where I am and what I'm doing.

I am in a very, very cool rented 2010 Chrysler Town & Country on my way to the GA cabin with the fam. On my laptop. Blogging. How cool is that??? What can I say, my hubby is the coolest damn geek on the planet. He. is. the. man. And he's all mine, ladies! This is a pic I just took zooming in on the very cool backwards mirror in the ceiling of the van, so you can see everyone in the back. Georgia, here we come! We should be there before midnight.

The MS Crop4Hope was this past weekend, man was that fun. I saw so many people I hadn't seen in years. Jackie did such a great job, thanks Jax!!! My tablemates were fantastic - Ginni, Dee, Julie, Marty and Kelli - such fun ladies to be around and so inspiring to see what all they were working on.

Then of course there was the Amazing Race. Our team name says it all - "Going Down in Flames.". That's all I can say. That, and holding printed-out bags o'taters is just plain funny. Oh, and when I got home from the crop, my oldest, Jess, was looking at all my cool goodies and saw the MS Crop4Hope tote bag. She said, and I quote, "Cool, Madre, you won Ms. Crop!" I actually snorted.

Ok, one last thought: I have the craziest. child. on. earth. Evidence: this video I found on my camera one day after she had had a "boring afternoon". I just about wet myself.

House Info/Link

Here's a better link for our house. Our realtor has a page just for our house on her site! Check it out!
http://vt.realbiz360.com/Listing-247035.html

And we have an MLS...

Our house is finally on the MLS and on Realtor.com... if you know anyone interested, go to Realtor.com and enter MLS #T2393924. :) Wish us luck - hopefully phone calls, showings and offers will be coming in quick!!!

Finally For Sale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our house is finally for sale! What a long, hard journey. We signed with a great realtor on Saturday, Kim Hermann from Keller Williams. We just know she's going to do a GREAT job. She put the lock box on the door, and the sign goes in the yard tomorrow. She asked when we signed, are we bittersweet about it? Are we sad to go? That's a big NO! We are ready. We've talked about this for over 2 years, then did all the fixing up just to sell it. We can't wait to get into a new house! Anyone know anyone who would like a beautifully remodeled 4/2 in Citrus Park??? :)

Feelin Good

I know it's weird to feel good on a Monday morning, but I do today. :) It's cool and sunny, and I'm sitting by the window enjoying both. My house is neat as a pin. Dinner is already going, laundry too. I had a trip to WSD Saturday and saw good friends and got a much-needed creative jolt. Had a GAO (like a GNO, but in the afternoon, lol) with little crazy girl yesterday, shopping for her Halloween party stuff. Talk of another mini-getaway to the GA cabin in Nov. Anticipating teaching classes again in Dec. Planting some pretty red flowers by my door. House is on tonight. Just a medley of wonderful things. Yes sirree, I'm feelin' mighty good today.

A new career?

Just took a Career Assessment webinar. My top 3 stregnths are: Artistic, Literary and Clerical. The webinar leader said I "may want to consider a career change into graphic design or something related". Too funny. :) How weird is it that it was so dead on???

I'm already starting to work with two people on their wedding invitations, and hopefully will start teaching classes at Whim So Doodle again in December. Talk about satisfying my artistic side! Can't wait!!!

Great Quote

Saw this on Ali's site, thought it was great.

Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return.

Don't Stop Believin'

Saw my fave band for the 6th time Wed night in Orlando...what a show! Night Ranger (Sister Christian, Do You Dream About Me?, Sentimental Street) opened, they were better than I expected. Then Journey hit the stage and I was in heaven. They did all my faves, and I had goosebumps everywhere. I got my 5th Journey concert t - it has a stop sign on the front, with Don't and Beleivin' "spray painted" above and below, with the words to the song on the back. Man oh man do I love that band. And guess what? Steve does too! He went with Michael and I. On Michael's right was a 60+ year old couple, then us, then Steve - 3 generations of Journey fans!
JOURNEY ROCKS!!!

We've got GEORGIA on our minds...

We are having such a great time in Georgia! The cabin, "Goose Rapids", is in Ellijay, GA. It's amazing and right on the Coosawattee River. The sound that river makes is unbelievable, I need a CD of that noise! Yesterday we went to Amicalola Falls, it was beautiful but very strenuous! SOME of us (poor little ol' me) was so out of breath it wasn't even funny - but the view was worth every bit. We were going to go tubing today but they said the water is a bit too rough from all the rain. Guess it's the antique shops downtown instead - cool! I'll post some pix later today, we have so many it will take awhile to upload from the camera to the PC (yes, I'm known to get just a little picture happy.)

We definately have GEORGIA on our minds!!!

Almost done...

We've done SOOOOOO much in last couple weeks! We have installed totally new kitchen cabinets (white, they look fantastic), new flooring over the entire house (a light maple, makes the house look much larger) and new blinds in every room. I'll post some pix soon - it doesn't look like the same house at all (thank goodness!!!)

Should be done by next Wednesday - that's when Michael & I leave for our "finally-done-with-the-house" celebration trip to GA.

Things Coming Up...

Lots of exciting things coming up in the next week or so...

*Shopping for/installing cabinets
*Getting flooring installed
*Lunch with my friend Janel
*Manda starts 5th grade
*Celebration with family for my 39th and my sil's 48th birthdays
*Finally putting a for sale sign in the yard!!! (hopefully by 9/1)

A Survey

A survey from the Project 365 group...

1. What bill do you hate paying the most? Michael’s Mustang
2. Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner? Outback Steakhouse
3. What do you really want to be doing right now? Scrapbooking
4. How many colleges did you attend? 0
5. Why did you choose the shirt that you have on right now? Slept in it
6. What are your thoughts on gas prices? Better than it was, worse than it has been
7. First thought when the alarm went off this morning? Can’t be that time already
8. Last thought before going to sleep last night? How much can I get done tomorrow???
9. Do you miss being a child? NO
10. What errand/chore do you despise? Laundry – same clothes, different day
11. Get up early or sleep in? Sleep in!!!
12. Have you found real love yet? Oh yes.
13. Favorite lunch meat? Smoked ham
14. What do you get every time you go into Wal-Mart? Lately? Paint rollers.
15. Beach or lake? Beach
16. What famous person would you like to have dinner with? Can’t think of anyone
17. Have you ever been in a motor vehicle collision? Yes
18. Ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purpose? Yes
19. Ring Tone? One that was included w/phone
20. Do you have a teddy bear? Not a teddy bear, but many stuffed turtles!
21. Strangest place you have ever brushed your teeth? Surrounded by girl scouts in a frog-infested camp outhouse
22. Somewhere in California you've never been and would like to go? Anywhere, never been there before.
23. Do you go to church? No
24. At this point in your life, would you rather start a new career or a new relationship? Career! 25. How old are you? 38 for 13 more days…
26. Do you have a "go to" person? My hubby
27. Best memory of current/last love? Our Hawaii vacation for our 20th anniversary
28. Are you where you want to be in life? Yes, I’m right where I’m supposed to be.
29. Growing up, what was your favorite cartoon? Hanna Barbera hour, especially The Bugaloos
30. What about you do you think has changed the most? I can do more than I thought I could! 31. Looking back at high school were they the best years of your life? No
32. Are there times you still feel like a kid? No
33. What was a “fad” you remember from your childhood? Big hair – my kids say I still have “big 80’s hair”
34. Did you ever have Troll dolls? Yes
35. Did you have a pager? Yes
36. Where was the hang out spot when you were a teenager? Skating rink or mall
37. Were you the type of kid you would want your children/friends children to hang out with? Yes
38. Who do you think impacted your life the most? My hubby & my mother in law
39. Was there a teacher or authority figure that stood out for you? My mother in law
40. Do you tell stories that start with “when I was your age? Yes, and I laugh every time I do – “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but when I was your age…”

An Inspiring Quote

A really wonderful exerpt from Wholehearted by Brene Brown I just found:

It’s time. All of this pretending and performing – these coping mechanisms that you’ve developed to protect yourself from feeling inadequate and getting hurt – has to go. Your armor is preventing you from growing into your gifts. I understand that you needed these protections when you were small. I understand that you believed your armor could help you secure all of the things you needed to feel worthy and lovable, but you’re still searching and you’re more lost than ever. Time is growing short. There are unexplored adventures ahead of you. You can’t live the rest of your life worried about what other people think. The time has come to let go of who you think you’re supposed to be and embrace who you are.

Monday, Monday

Almost done with all the painting...Manda & I painted her room yesterday and just finished a second coat. It's the same color as the rest of the house, a nice neutral beige called Dried Hydrangea. On to my walk in closet, then tomorrow is grouting the laundry room floor and probably painting the small tool closet next to it. Outside paint is Wednesday, "Revere Pewter", a nice beige w/some gray in it - lots of helpers coming. :) Michael is planning a short weekend getaway for us once the house is complete - a friend of his has a cabin in Georgia right on a stream - I can't wait!!!

Am I OCD?

Ok, I spent a *few* hours yesterday on my belly straightening out the grout lines in my bathroom before I sealed it. I had to "scratch" them to get them even and inside the tile lines. I think I should have grouted neater in the first place! Anyway, Michael got home and looked at me like I had grown 3 heads, and said "it looked fine to me the way it was." Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! I just want it to look nice, and not like a housewife did it. More tiling and grouting today...will this madness ever end? Will this house ever be done? Stay tuned to see what will happen first, the house selling or me losing my mind...

I'm old, that's all there is to it.

I'm just getting this blog going...I've had it since April but haven't done anything with it. I look at so many other peoples blogs everyday, and they're so darn cool, that I thought I would work on mine some. This week I'm putting the final touches on both our bathroom's tile - I laid 18x18 ceramic tile in both last week. Next is the laundry room. No one told me what back breaking, hard-on-hands work this is! Not difficult, but it sure makes my bones achey. Or is it just my almost 39-year-old body protesting??? Damn, I'm getting old. ;)

Too cool! I now have my own blog. :)