Um...I was totally gonna post this on Monday and now here it is Thursday and I haven't posted since Friday. Sigh.

Here are some pics of a baby brag book I made for a friend of mine. Can't wait to see it with the little guys photos in it.

The album is cut at 10 inches from the NewArrival Cricut Cartridge. Two rings hold the book together and these rings have decorative ribbon on them.

I'm having a heck of time keeping up with my blog.  I'm having a heck of time visiting all of yours.  At first I couldn't figure out why, but then I realized that.

1. I work full freakin' time.  Of course if you asked my husband about this he would say "by choice."  Still pissed off about that one.
2. I'm still writing part-time for the newspaper.  This might not be the most effective use of my time, but damn I love having a byline.  It might be some sort of sickness that I am having trouble giving it up.
3. Three kids live with me and they keep expecting me to feed them.  This is becoming increasingly difficult as I haven't yet made it to the grocery store.
4. My housekeeper is AWOL.  Ever since my BFF got a housekeeper I have been incredibly jealous.  I mean sure she only comes one day, but dang...one day would be fan.freakin.tastic.
5. I am suffering from a severe case of blog envy.  I've been told I'm funny.  I've got a fair shake of funny, sentimental, crafty and ranty on this blog, but yet the comments rarely come.  I totally love my fan club (they know who they are) and they comment always, even when i can't seem to return the favor because of all of the above.  AND I LOVE THEM!  I just wish there were more of them.
6. November is filled with what feels like one half day after another.  Holy Moly--there are a lot of half days of school in November.
7. Thanksgiving is next week.  We're hosting.  I'm most thankful that my husband likes to cook turkey as there is no way I'm touching that thing, let alone eating it.
8. Is it really time to talk about Christmas?  Ever get the feeling that your kids are spoiled rotten and don't deserve much, if anything, for Christmas.  Is it wrong that I'd just like to get them socks and underwear and wrap up all the shit they don't play with but asked for last year?
9. NaNoWriMo.  Seriously??  Don't I have enough to do?  Why am I writing another book?  I'll tell you why...because Ally and Sue (the two main characters) won't LEAVE ME ALONE.  For all my non-writing friends, no I haven't lost my mind.  For all my writing friends, you know what I'm talking about.  They show up in your dreams.  They bug you while you're looking for mac & cheese in the freezer.  They holler at me for writing this blog post instead of writing their chapter.  Crap.
10. PTO is sucking the life out of me.  If one more person complains about fundraising, fall fest, fun fest, conference dinners, allergies, time management, membership, or field trips, I'm going to punch them.

And this is why I suck at blogging.  Sigh.

Week 10 is upon us.

Did I tackle my goals?

PERSONAL GOALS

I wanted to finish my NANOWRIMO novel and I succeeded. It's complete but as of yet, I haven't shared it with a single person. It's too rough. I need to flesh some areas out and I need to tweak a few others. Then and only then, will I let my BFF read it. She'll give me some honest feedback and I'll go from there.

I planned on getting a little more physically active. I planned on walking/running on the treadmill a few times a week. That lasted about three days. What can I say? In my defense, i have a rather active job. I rarely sit at all in the 5.5 hours I am there.

I am not sedentary, but I am not exactly marathon fit either. I am watching my calorie intake and trying to move more and eat less. For now, I am happy with this. Soon the lessons from the lunchlady will end for summer and be replaced by Poolside Perspective. Maybe swimming will excite me more than tread milling.

PROFESSIONAL GOALS

I kicked ass on my ServSafe Certification. I retained useless information about a legthy list of foodborne illnesses and their causes which include things like Bacillus cereus gastroenteritis, Shigellosis and Cryptosporidiosis. Sadly, I haven't been able to forget any of it so now I eat even fewer things than I did before.

MENTAL HEALTH

I have had a few mental breakdowns over the course of the last ten weeks. Some worse than others. I am trying to focus on my blessings as they are abundant.

When my children fight, I need to remember that they are healthy.

When my husband retreats to our room instead of watching TV with me, I need to remember that he took the laundry basket with him.

When the kids at school forget to use their manners, I need to remember that a positive influence is a strong deterrent.

When I am exhausted, I need to remember that I haven't really felt true exhaustion.

When I am feeling lonely, I just need to recall my beach trip.

How are you doing with your goals?.

I was hoping to finish my NaNoWriMo novel by February 15th. Today is the 21st. It is not complete.

I am trying to convince myself that this does not make me a failure. This just makes my sucess a slower accomplishment. I will finish the book. I will conquer the first draft.

My first NaNoWriMo book flowed much like this one. My characters came to life. My protagonist became my friend.

To not complete this book would be a failure to our friendship...mine and Mandy's. Trust me. I am aware that she isn't real but I think some of her pain, some of her joy really is.

It lives within me. Writing it is an emotional process that I sometimes have to force myself to take.

Even if no eyes ever look upon the story, I will know whether it is complete or not.

I will know if Mandy is whole.

Setting my focus on the ides of March.

Ten years ago, I was living in Ohio.

Ten years ago, I was a stay-at-home mother of two daughters. One, almost 3 years old and the other barely eight months old.

Ten years ago, I wrote occassional articles for a parenting magazine about the challenges of multiples, the sleep patterns of infants, the difficulties of breastfeeding and the odds of gender selection.

Ten years ago, our house was much smaller but our yard was a little bigger.

Ten years ago, I had a different circle of friends. This core group now spans multiple states but we still try to keep in touch.

Ten years ago, I was learning about the joys of having a child in preschool.

Ten years ago, I was certain I would never catch up on my sleep.

Ten years ago, my day consisted of library story time, tons of laundry, carpools to preschool, playdates and sippy cups.

Ten years later and a lot has changed.

Our family has grown.

Our home is now in PA.

I no longer go to storytime but every now and again I get to read books like Lunch Bunnies to oh-so-cute kindergarteners.

The sippy cups are gone but the laundry has grown.

It's been 40 days since NaNoWriMo and I thought it was a good time to update you all on my progress or lack their of.

Sadly, I did not reach my goal of 50,000 words in the month of December. I did flesh out about 25,000 words and since then have added a measly 5,000.

Let's face it...I write much better under deadline.

After having a few new people read my Nano Novel from last year, I have had new life breathed into me and I can no longer drowned out the voices of my new novel. They are nagging me to get their story down and I have fallen deeply in love with my protagonist.

She is such a beautiful young adult...faced with a tough life and a lot of teen drama, she shines.

My goal is to have a rough draft complete by February 15th.

I guess I need to set my own deadlines.

Continuing with what we started here I am finishing up my favorite blog posts of 2011.

In July,


We had tons of fun at our first book club, we went boating with some great friends, and we celebrated my birthday by learning a ton of things at the lake.  I started a new blog column call Poolside Perspective, I shared with the seven things I learned from Harry Potter and we talked about all the things I (GASP) missed about school.

In August:



We went to the ALS walk and enjoyed a rainy day with some family, we spent another rainy day at Hershey and we enjoyed a visit from my sister and her family.  On the blog I shared 10 things I wish someone had told me about blogging,I wrote a tribute to a teacher I had in 7th grade, and we concluded our poolside education

In September



We suffered through a lot of rain, helped a friend dig out her basement and went to my cousin's wedding.  I blogged about my apathy towards fundraising and how a chipmunk once took a bite out of me and the tree types of parents

In October




We celebrated Little G's 8th birthday, we had a grown up day at the PA ren fair where we party like rock stars in the rain.  I wrote a eulogy to our hermit crab and an open letter to my son and share with all of you a few things you shouldn't buy at the dollar store


In November



We had Thanksgiving dinner at my sister's house in North Carolina, we went to see the Muppet and I took oldest out for her first time of Black Friday shopping.  I blogged about some FAQ about me and I shared my thoughts on the Penn State scandal  On a much lighter note, we talked about the importance of checking yourself

In December




In December we celebrated Christmas for a VERY. LONG. TIME, we went to quite a few holiday concerts and we danced in the new year with some great friends.  I shared a sneak peak of a cute craft and wrote this open letter to my middle daughter.  I also wrote a tribute to the big guy...Santa Claus.

Right now...I am wondering why I blog.  I probably just need to take a break.  I am approaching my 1000 post which could burn anyone out.  This post could happen before the end of the year, depending on how often I actually post.

Right now...I am listening to my husband play guitar and have the football game on in the background.

Right now...I am wearing lounge pants and a baggy t-shirt.  I just got home from hearing a wonderful presentation by Henry Winkler.  Some of you may remember him as The Fonz on Happy Days, others may only recall him as an extra in Adam Sandler movies.  My kids know him as the author of the Hank Zipzter books. 

Right now...I am thinking about making a bulletin board out one of Winkler's quotes.  Negative Thinking has no nutritional value. 

Right now...even though I am thinking that negative thinking has no nutritional value I am still feeling negative.  Why?  I don' know. 

Right now....I should be sleeping.

Good night, my friends.

I just want to give a shout out to all of my readers who are still stopping by even though it has been a while since I've been able to visit any of you.

A thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued readership.

Here are a few reasons why I haven't been by:

PTO.  I am feeling a little overwhelmed by the roll of president.  Between you and I, I often feel like I am not devoting enough attention to any one area of my life.  For example, if I give more time to PTO I have to take more time for family, blogging, crafting, scraping....you name it.

DEMANDING CHILDREN.  I blogged about my oldest breaking her toe.  She is acting like she broke her leg.  I am having trouble feeling bad for her.  Son is crying about everything again and middle daughter has had more drama on the bus the past few days than anyone should ever have.

HOUSEWORK.  Um...I haven't been doing any so I'm not sure why it's interfering but damn is this house a mess.

BIRTHDAY PARTIES.  Just once I'd like to just be invited to our kids birthdays.  I feel like that's pretty much what my husband does every year.  Little G's birthday is Wednesday and his party is Saturday.  Ugh...I can't believe he'll be 8!

SOCCER, DRAMA, CHOIR, SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS, CLARINET LESSONS, AFTER-SCHOOL BAND, BOY SCOUTS.  I think I need a clone....

Sorry I haven't been around.  I need a mental health day.

~kisa~

Mama wants to know what I was blogging about last year at this time and I thought it might be fun to look back and see.

• LOST.  I spent a lot of time recapping the final season of LOST and as I glance back over the pictures I remember what I loved so much about this show.  I'm pretty sure it had little to do with the plot.
• THINGS NO ONE HAS EVER ASKED ME TO DO.   The list included baptise their baby; cook a gourmet meal, sing at their wedding, gut a deer, change a tire, co-host the View, shingle a roof and build them some furniture.  Sadly, a year later and I have yet to be asked to do any of these things.
• WEATHER.  I spent a lot of time blogging about the evils of Mother Nature and what I may have done to vex her.  If it wasn't snow it was pouring down rain.
• JDRF.  March is the time of the year when my family gets together for a walk in support of my nephew.
• MY PEDOMETER.    I loved game that my husband found for the DS.  You could make your own mii and it came with a little gadget to where on your shoe or belt.  Alas, I ruined it over the summer when I jumped into the pool while it was still in my pocket.  I should think about getting another one.
• A DO OVER.  I spoke candidly about a day in my life I'd like to do over.  It was the last time I could remember having fun as a family unit.  Before my parents divorced, before my sister moved too far away.

I also posted this picture of my son and daughter playing.  She had out her Strawberry Shortcake house and doll set and he brought some Star Wars figures to visit.


Little G said, "It's always nice to stop by and see friends before you go to battle."  That still makes me smile.

What were you blogging about this time last year?

Mama Kat's workshop this week asked "Have you thought about shutting down your blog? Why haven't you and what would cause you to make that decision final?"

When I first started this blog I posted one entry and then forgot about it.  A few months later I remembered and thought I would give it another try.  At that time I posted a few times a week, if that.  Soon my addiction grew.  I have always loved to write.  Before computers I kept a notebook journal, things I did, things I felt.   I often drew pictures, wrote stories.  I wish I would have kept some of those books but alas I have divorced parents who like to throw things away.  ***sigh***

A blog is sort of an interactive journal.  Have I ever thought of deleted mine?  Absolutely.  Why haven't I?  I still enjoy reading my old posts.  Finding out what I wrote about last year at this time, if anything.  I love the fact that I have loyal followers who regularly show up to read my posts.

Sure you can get bogged down with the "so-in-so has 498 follows and I have twenty something" attitude, but you just have to remember that you are blogging for you and no one else.  I try to visit bloggers who visit me, sometimes I do, sometimes I can't.  I try not to get value out of how many comments my posts receive; some days are better than others.

In conclusion, I think blogging is fun but it should always remain something you could live without.  Once it becomes more of a job, than a hobby, it's time to step away for awhile.  I think that is why Blueviolet shut her site down.  She just needed to walk away for awhile. 

I hope she has any enjoyable summer, free of any stressors.

Let's post some pet peeves. Please note: these are not in any particular order.

1. Bloggers who do not update their blog for weeks at a time. Hey--we are all busy. Stop pretending you have a life or something and get back to blogging.

2. The sound of someone cutting their fingernails or worse yet biting them. It should be noted that I'm not bothered by the sound of myself doing either of these things...just others.

3. People, mostly those I live with, who are unable to turn off the light when they leave the room. Electricity isn't free people. Oh great...now I sound like my dad.

4. People who sound like their dad.

5. Anyone driving slower than me.

6. Anyone driving faster than me. Like you, I always drive the perfect speed.

7. Unmatchable socks. I really should post an entire blog entry about this. I mean for the life of me I cannot fathom what happens to all the socks in our house. Do they disintegrate? Is there a sock fairy who takes only the left sock in order to void the world of matching pairs?

8. People too important to stop talking on their cell phone while they are a) ordering food at a restaurant; b) checking out at Target; and c) dropping or picking up their kids at preschool.

9. Bullies. Big ones, little ones, old ones and new ones. You know who you are. Once a bully, always a bully; and

10. Bloggers who create random lists of items like their pet peeves to overcome their writer's block. I mean, seriously, can't you come up with one original thought?

Hope you had a marvelous Saturday and that you liked this post so much you decided to become a follower. Link is on the right. (hint, hint)