Have You Seen the Calendar Lately?

Yikes! Did you know there is very little time between now and Christmas? It is just way too super close!

So... I'm making a list and checking it twice. I have some swaps that are due November 1st, birthday cards to catch up on... lots of UFOs (UnFinished Objects) and some that aren't even started and need to be completed by Christmas. Whew! I started last Christmas (the day after) and guess I just haven't gotten as much done as I planned on. Such is life.

So anyway, getting my list done, so that I can better budget my time. And... one of the groups I belong to (Scrapbook BINGO!) just started a virtual crop that collects points! What better motivation to get stuff done.

In family life... Stacy manages her first Boys' Water Polo game on Tuesday. Rey is giving just as much attitude as Stacy lately (and has a crush on the guy at the drive-thru window of our closest KFC...). Jr moved in for a couple of days and is trying to figure out what he wants to do in life... Renee made it for Asst Drum Major (you go - girl!) and just returned to school (she is on year-round). Marissa? Uh... still not potty trained, but wanting to work on it more and more, giving the attitude all of the teenagers have (but getting in more trouble for it)... and her fave show right now is "Calliou." (He's a BRAT!) Juan is working (of course) and getting fed up with money issues (overtime has been pretty much cut off...), but he is now carpooling and saving gas money each week. Me? I've pretty much been telling all about myself...

Dinner tonight was homemade breadsticks, Caesar salad, and lasagna roll-ups... yup... made it all myself!

In other parts of the country... My cousin Michelle gave birth to twins a week ago, my other cousin Nate and his gf are expecting again, Kara is preggers, too. Jolene? Well, we'll see... and Josh/Vic... I don't think they're quite ready to hit the PG mark again. It seems a lot of people/couples I know quite well are making that 9-month journey right now. Not me! lol!

My nephew, Jake, and Marissa - having fun in Grandma's backyard

Anywho... gotta finish my list and at least get some b-day cards finished. By the way... HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AUNT CHRIS! - if I don't get to talk to you Tuesday... Toodles for now! lisa

Research, Reading, 'Riting & Laundry!

Among other things, I've been writing a lot (not here... sorry). With that comes research and reading. Currently, I'm reading a book on relationships. It is research for a test piece. We'll see how that goes.

Stacy's last water polo game was yesterday. Did I say my daughter is an awesome player? At least when she gets it in her head to play... She has an arm like a cannon and can shoot and score from the half (field). It's really too bad they lost (again), but some didn't give it all they had. There is one senior on the team who feels that her main goal was to be "captain", and that's where that ended. She swims almost relaxed and doesn't go for the ball, letting it skim past her into the other team's hands. (Sigh.) Oh well, we know she won't be there next year. Hopefully, next year, the team will begin with more spunk and pick it up even more. We are trying to get Rey to play, too. We'll see how that goes.

After the game, we went across the street to Church (it was Ash Wednesday - the beginning of the Lenten season)... to attend the shortest Mass ever known in the history of mankind. It was quick and not as crowded as our church. During Lent, I make sure we go to church every Sunday. I know... I'm a bad Catholic, but at least I don't reserve church for only two days a year! We usually continue on past the end of Lent, but somewhere, sometime, it fizzles out. Then I go when I "feel the need." How odd that the "need" usually comes around this season each year.

With so many things happening to me, my family, and my friends at this time of year, it's no wonder we always go at this time. It's like God's way of telling me... "Get back in there. I need to know you are still with me..." How odd, or is the a different version of Divine Intervention?

Now we continue on with the tradition of no meat on Fridays... YES! This includes chicken! I don't get how lots of people believe this is a substitute for fish. Oftentimes, we don't even eat fish, but a vegetarian-type meal. It is really not that hard. I don't understand why so many people seem to have a problem with it at this time of year, when they eat meals like this, normally, throughout the rest of the year on any day. Go figure. This is a time that we usually like. Yum!

My dad is doing much better. He is getting up and walking... they'll probably kick him out on Friday (according to my aunt). He even admits it is hereditary. Yikes! Uh... maybe I'll really begin to lose that weight, so as not to put so much strain on my potentially thin vessles... Dad is in really great condition, and that helped him a lot.

This link goes to the article written on my great grandmother (Dad's side). The actual bloodline gets complicated, but my Gran is doing so well, she ended up on the front page last Thursday! Congrats and keep it up! http://www.livingstondaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008801300318

Today is my normal laundry day. Oh what fun... but hey! I feel better just making sure I stick to my routine. I'm still clogged up, keep getting headaches (don't know what that's from!), doing the blonde thing (hollow feeling in my head... NO! That's not normal!), and normal tiredness, not to mention probable dehydration, as I really don't want to drink much - then I'd have to go - and it's mighty cold here!

You have a great day... I know I'll try. By the way... the "spellchecker" is not working on this site, so do forgive... The dryer just stopped... Marissa just got up... Gotta go! Toodles for now! lisa

Gotta Kick It Up!

I-yiy-yiy... however you spell it!

Got the massive headache going here, along with a stuffed head (nose, throat, etc.). It really sucks. At least I can write. I've been writing some articles for the freelancing I received last week. That is so fun. It is really interesting to see everything I have in my head down on paper (or the computer screen... hee, hee...). I didn't know I knew so much! Of course I did, but when you get all of the words written, it looks like so much more.

Yesterday was too much for me, though. I thought I was coming off the sick wagon. We went to Stacy's water polo game - NO, it didn't rain! - and the team played really well. It was slamming and dunking and really great fun to watch. When we first got there, I thought I was going to a pool party (a little cold for it, but hey!). There was rockin' music being blasted from the pool deck. Apparently, the home team plays music for warm-up, time-outs, and intervals between periods. It was all cool (cold, too.) The girls were really into the game, this time. They've started being a lot more aggressive, much like the other teams they've been playing. This is not a timid sport, and they were kind of shying away from the aggressiveness, almost like they were afraid. Naivety is not for water polo. But they finally went for it yesterday.

The other team, however, was super aggressive and had this one player who we nickname "the Submarine." This girl was pretty large, and would show her hands to the refs, to show she wasn't holding one of our players down, but yet was sinking our player with her feet. We (the spectators) saw it, so how could the refs not? Yet, throughout the whole game, she was not called on this. Amazing.

It's really too bad they started playing this way towards the end of the season. The beginning would have been much better. But, at least they are getting there. I believe they have 4 more games to play. Let's hope they stay playing at this new level of combativeness. They just have got to kick it up, and keep it there.

Marissa threw up between the game and getting home. I thought maybe it was just from over-activity on her part (she twirled around a tarp pole for a lot of the game). Now I'm not so sure, as this morning (and most of last night, too), I felt the stuffy head with queasy stomach syndrome. Yikes. Didn't I just get over the other end?

But, we all know, mommies don't get sick days. I still took the kids to school, did dishes, and have done 3 puzzles with Marissa, as well as began preparing Juan's lunch. I would love to lay down and rest my weary-achy-stuffy head and body, but there is just no way. And so, I've got to kick it up, too.

We will have to wait and see what the day brings. Even though I'm not feeling so hot, I'm still looking forward to Super Bowl. It's not necessarily the game, as the food, commercials and half-time show. Something to think about... I still need to finish planning what I'm taking. Hmm... let me think (and write some more)... Toodles for now! lisa

Here Comes the Rain Again...

That may be so, but it is sunny inside! I feel great. I feel wonderful. I'm probably annoying you. Oh well, such is life!

Tuesday's water polo game was a gripper! It was actually the most exciting game I've been to all season. The other team was extremely aggressive and totally tried to overpower our players. However, our girls took it in stride! It was a hairy game, with lots of "dirty" things being done by the opposite team (like face slaps), but our girls lost. They did play an awesome game, though!

Monday night was an all-nighter. I have a "bug." In the scrapbooking world, that's what it is called. In the general public's world, it is called a "personal die cutter." It is way too cool! Anyway, I used my bug (called a bug because of its name -Cricut [pronounced like cricket]) to create lettering for one of Rey's book reports that was due. It turned out fairly cute. The book was about hockey, so I input letters and numbers for section titles, her name, date & the period into a "ticket" form. Cute, if I don't say so myself. She said everybody liked it, but she had not yet received a grade on it. She doesn't strive for perfectionism, but at least she did a better job than last time. (I had a cow last time! It was handwritten and SLOPPY!... not a good thing for a child with crafts in her genes!)

I made a new friend yesterday. We met online via a job center and have much of the same likes, even the same television shows! This will be a good relationship, both business and personal. Please wish us well together, as I will be writing for her about something I love to do... SCRAP! My kids are excited for me, as well.

Yeah! I am finally beginning work as a freelancer! How can it be "working" when it is so much fun! I am doing what I love to do... writing, researching, etc. and about topics that are near and dear to my heart! Hopefully, we will get my name out there and all will be well with the world, at least in our part of it!

Today is a Sylvan day with practice for both girls. So... while I have lots of spare time sitting in the car, I will be reading and learning knew info. It is always fun! Toodles for now! lisa

Ugliness, but Beauty (too) Rains Outside

It has sprinkled off and on here for most of the morning... Juan turned the sprinklers off this morning when he got home. The sky ranges from a dull grey to a brilliant blackish-silver with puffs of smokiness in it. The cold air chills me when I walk outside, so I do absolutely everything I have to do (outside) quickly. I don't do cold well... It is ugly when I look south, but looking to the north, I see the beauty I described above. We need the rain. My plants need it, and the whole city needs to be washed, fresh and clean again. The wind and the rain clear the air, leaving it crisp and cold, but invigorating, ready for something better.

I look at the new pink blossoms on my peach tree (there's finally more than one, with many blossoms ready to burst open). They are so pretty, such a light pink color... so new, so young... Hopefully, this year, the peaches will reach maturity. The squirrels have been my enemy for the past two years, letting nothing on this precious little tree survive. I'm sure it's the squirrels and not the birds, as when I lost all of the new fruits, the branches were broken from the weight of them climbing the wood, not yet strong enough to hold something so large and heavy.

The grapevine is finally dry, waiting for me to cut it down. I don't want to throw it away, once cut. I read somewhere the wood from the vine lends a different flavor when smoking meats. I think I might give it a try. Either way, I hate to see such an effort of nature go to waste. I hate to waste, yet sometimes I have no choice...

Cilantro is now abundant, growing tender and young, ready with pungent fresh flavor and aroma. This crisp greens are tasteful, even while only smelling them. Yum... now if only I had some tomatoes... Unfortunately, the squirrels destroyed those fruits as well, and they hang half-eaten on the vines. The cold has not killed them off yet. Hopefully, this will be another year where they can over-winter, as they are really good plants. The squirrel problem should hopefully be resolved by spring when the tomatoes will blossom once more. I hope that I will not have to pull them all out again; I hope they stay green and continue to thrive.

I realize some of you may be thinking I'm crazy, that your fruits and vegetables are long dead, due to the weather... But, that is (used to be, at least) one of the benefits of living in Southern California - the weather is fairly nice to us here. We can enjoy the cold (snow) when we want to "visit" the mountains. We don't have to endure the more harsh winters that some of you do. Like I said, I don't do cold well...

Happy birthday to MLK! He was a man with a dream... this year's presidential election sure does look like his dream coming to life... I guess dreams really do (and can) come true...

As the schools were closed today (and so was the library - so no "Storytime" for Marissa), I managed to get Stacy to practice and the rest of us to my friend's house. So, it was a different friend, as the original plans got put to rest. Poor Karen got sick... I wish you better! But, after Marissa cried that she wasn't going to see her little friend, Margaret came through and said we could visit with her. Marissa was instantly joyous once more. Isn't it amazing how resilient a child can be? I wish it was that easy for the rest of us.

I'm sure Stacy was quite frozen, but they needed the practice. They have a big game tomorrow against a team they had previously beaten. The "other" high school claims our team only beat them because they "hadn't practiced that day." Yeah, right! Their team has been practicing together since the summer. Our girls only started right before the official season started! You go, girls! Stacy's unsure if she wants to play again next year. I think she should. It really suits her, and she's good at it.

Rey, on the other hand, simply states she is not going to play water polo, at all. "I don't want to get hit in the face!" is her response. I think she would enjoy it, as well. She doesn't realize that so far, the only person she has seen get "hit in the face" is the goalie. That comes with the territory of the position. It is a very aggressive game, much more so than I originally speculated, but extremely fun to watch! It would be good to see the girls together again on a team, playing at the same time, and not running back and forth between swim heats.

Don't get me wrong... I love to watch them swim, but that is more of an individual effort, not a team effort. Team work is very important to me. I believe it involves more than the sporting issue, but prepares our youth to work together to build better futures, as well.

Time to kick them into "teamwork" gear and get their room finished... Toodles for now! lisa

Another Day with Calliou

"Who's 'Calliou' (pronounced Kie[like pie]-you)?" you ask? He's a bratty little four-year-old on the PBS stations who whines all of the time to his parents and learns good lessons. I can get through his whiny-ness, since he does learn to respect and share, laugh and learn, etc. Otherwise, he is really annoying! But Marissa loves it and laughs and plays well (well, sometimes).

She likes to listen to the show as she plays, like now. At this very moment, she is playing with her new Little Tikes kitchen, a gift to her from her friend, Ashley. How it came to be in our house is a cute story... Ashley's mom had asked Ashley if it was time to "move" the kitchen to another area (she hardly ever played with it anymore - she's 8!) or was she done with it... much to Ashley's mom's surprise, Ashley announced, "Mommy! I only keep it so Marissa can play with it!" And so, they asked if we would like it for Marissa, and we all know what I said... "YES!!!" It is quite a little gem, and Marissa loves it.

Today will be another busy day. I think all people's days are really busy, even though they don't think so. There are lots of people who felt they haven't accomplished much during a particular day or any other time... I say to them, write down each and every thing you did, even your normal routine things, like making lunch, making breakfast, putting away the dishes, getting ready (even in that there are a whole bunch of little itemizations...). Do you see how much you truly do? It is a lot! So, if you are feeling blue and having "one of those days," do this. It is sure to make you feel a little bit better.

As for my day... I've just finished making Juan's lunch/our dinner and putting it away for further packing/consumption. Other than that, I've been playing with Miss Marissa, doing dishes, reading a couple of articles, getting ideas, and have so much more to do. I keep going back and forth to this entry! Don't think it all gets done in one shot! Sometimes, it does, but today isn't one of those times. I still have yet to pick up Rey (I cancelled Sylvan for today-sitting on the west side of town for over almost 5 hours just really does not appeal to me...), then go pick up Stacy/take Rey to practice. Thank goodness I've gotten my menu planning together and am on the ball with dinners! Yeah!

I actually have everything until my menu is up on Friday! I'm on a goal to budget better and am actually putting a dent in my frozen food stash. I am gradually getting to the bottom of my freezer, I hope... But we all know that I will still put stuff in, but I am using up what I already have and am only buying what I truly need. Not bad, if I do say so myself! This has been in effect since last Tuesday. ...and I'm still hangin' in there.

As for other things, yeesh! Okay, I started fairly early last year (July) with my making of Christmas presents. I went through moods where I got nothing done towards that, and didn't get everything done that I had planned... Whelp, folks... as soon as I get another project done that I'm currently working on, I'll be off on this year's presents, much earlier. I figure this should give me time to go through my "moods." I have so much in my brain with things I want to do, it's hard to get them all done. I mean well, and maybe I'm just dreaming, but I hope to at least partially succeed with that goal.

But... on another note, I'm currently looking for inexpensive Valentine's Day-type crafts to do, so send me your ideas and/or links! Thanks!

Stacy's game was pretty good. The other team was way aggressive. One player from the visiting team even head-butted one of our players, in an effort to get the ball. It wasn't necessarily "legal" but she was only called foul, not ejected from the game. I thought it was pretty dirty, but hey... those are our kids out there...

Rey didn't anticipate going from school to game to swimming and so was not prepared with swim bag in tow. Bottom line: she didn't swim. But! She will swim tonight. We are back in the water, people!

As the first day back, both of the girls were happy. They didn't get much homework assigned and got to see all of their friends. I sure hope the "happiness" with school will last! Here's hoping. Toodles for now - lisa

Did Ya Miss Me? Yeah... RIGHT!

My girls are back in school today. It was an earlier morning than usual, even for school time. Since today marks the first day of the new semester, the high school kids had to be there by 7am to pick up schedules. Thank goodness I get up when I hear an alarm... usually...

And so... the busy schedules begin again. It gives me more time to catch up with my blog, update all of you... and do things with Miss Marissa.

Today we started something different. Our local library does "Story Time," as I'm sure most of them do... but we (Marissa and I) had never gone. We walked over there before the 10 o'clock start time and they had already begun when we entered. I got Marissa seated, and she stared in rapt attention. The librarian's voice enchanted her. It also helped that the first two stories were two of her favorite characters (Clifford-the Big Red Dog, and Spot). She appeared pretty amazed that someone else knew the stories, too! Then they all got up and sang "Farmer in the Dell." It was the shorter version, but made simple for small children. They gathered around in a circle, and tried to move the circle... Marissa, my socially sheltered child, kind of stayed put (although she did hold hands with the others) and let the circle kind of move, but awkwardly around her... She'll get the hang of it eventually. They read a few more stories, sang some more songs, and played with musical instruments like maracas and tambourines. Marissa didn't smile once (probably because she was surrounded by total strangers), but stayed put and didn't come flying to me. So... I'm guessing she had a REALLY great time, as she keeps talking about it. I think we'll go back on Wednesday!

We checked out a couple of books, and bought some, too. In case you don't know about it, most libraries have a "Friends of the Library" section. Books are donated to the "Friends of the Library" and are sold, with the funds going directly to purchase new books for the library. Don't say, "Whatever..." Check it out! They are usually really inexpensive. I walked out of there paying $.50 each for one hard back and three soft covers. It is an awesome deal!

Stacy has a water polo game today. She's really good at it. She starts almost every game and has gotten quite aggressive. (That's her - #3, attempting to make a goal.) Luckily, a friend was there to get this great picture. If not, I wouldn't have gotten it... I'm not really good with the digital yet...

What you can see in the background is our previous "home" pool. Right now, we are relocated at another pool (for the swim team, as well) until this pool gets completely re-done. I'll try to snap a picture of that soon, before they finish construction. It currently looks almost ghostly. It took a while to drain the pool, as it is around one million gallons of water. What did they do with it? Got me! I've been wondering myself...

As for the swim team... Rey is getting back into the water tonight (I think...). Both she and Stacy are in a meet at the end of January (Marissa's birthday, to be exact!). It should good and cold, but Rey actually wanted to do it, so, kudos for her!

The vacation was nice, kind of still busy, but nice... And I sure am going to miss "sleeping in" and being semi-lazy, if that's what you want to call it. But, it's time to get the show on the road! Juan's lunch (and our dinner) awaits fixing, as well as an early pick up for Rey and Stacy's game, then a Board meeting and swim practice! Gotta go! CHARGE!!!!! Toodles for now - lisa