Keep on keeping on

A person is predictable.

Interesting observation: Everyone seems more purposeful in the morning. We all know where we're headed; to work, school, wherever. By afternoon, this purposeful thread has unraveled and everything seems more random. Or maybe I'm just more random.

I'm not an extremely crafty person. I'm just very scattered. I like doing a wide spectrum of activities and it just so happens that craft stores fill all of my random past times.

If I had to pick the number one thing I miss about being stateside, it's a close tie between craft stores & Target. I can go in a craft store with a half-formed idea & come out with a complete one & an empty shopping basket. I don't always buy something when I go to JoAnns, Porter's, Michael's, etc. There isn't as much "homemaking/crafting" window shopping to be done overseas, or more specifically, in the Middle East. Though, in Bahrain's defense, their fabric souk is a-mazing! Their notions shops are my lifesavers! It's just that access to it isn't as quick & easy. I mean, nothing is as quick & easy as in your home country (don't ask me why, I'm still figgering on that one), you just have to get used to the challenges.

I had a particularly pleasurable and carefully calculated trip to JoAnn's on Tuesday. JoAnn's is having a great Spring sale; 50% off coupons, 30 & 40% off other inventory! I just loved the bottom of the receipt where it says how much I saved. Mine said, " $64.35". Even more satisfying was that the 'saved' amount was almost equal with my 'spent' amount, within $10!

Top row, L-R: Book, 'Let's draw Happy People' - 30% off ($7.85); Book, 'Artful Paper Dolls' - 30% off ($12.45); super cool double sided notions storage case. See how it opens? 40% off ($7.95);
Bottom row, L-R: Book, 'Wee Wonderfuls' - 40% off ($13.45); light tracer that I have *so wanted* forever!! Used my 50% off coupon - usually $50, now $23.95; Book, 'Crochet Boquet' - 40% off ($6.95)


I felt like an 'Extreme Couponer' on that TLC show! I've been pacing myself, once the Spring Sale is over, I'll only go once a week. Twice, no, only every other day. Er, I'll get back to you on that one . . . .

You sickos . .

Dear Panda Express Fortune Cookie writers,

You have a sick sense of humor.

I got nothin'

It's April and it's snowing. Though it is Idaho, so it's all par for the course.

(and what does that mean? i mean, i know what it *means* but maybe it's because i don't play golf. a lot of people use that expression, but i'll bet 3/4ths of them don't play golf.)

I want to plant things. I want to dig in the dirt. Not dig through suitcases barfing clothes all over the floor. I'm trying to get things organized again after moving from the hotel in Rexburg to a better one in Idaho Falls. (we have a full size fridge, a two ring stove and a kitchen sink.)

I want a yard. I want to build a tree house. Why can't I be all put together enough to run an etsy shop like this? sarahjanestudios

Instead, I'm sitting here in a recliner, watching Star Trek: Next Generation reruns and blathering on about nothing on my blog. Hmph. And I think the Dairy Queen commercials are trying too hard. They seem like they're just trying to copy the Old Spice success with randomness.



Life is in a slump. Oh, and the institution that signs our paychecks may be shutting down for a while. I'm satisfied to just eat trail mix & drink a Diet Coke. While the kids veg out on cartoons & go all 'Lord of the Flies' on each other.

Oooh look, a snowflake! I think I need a blizzard, even though I hate the commercials.

They're ba-ack!

Dun-dun-dun. The pink is back and I'm loving every minute of it! And have I said how much I love the camera on my phone! It rocks.

Dream a little dream

I have never been "into" cars. I like cool looking ones and the colors are very pretty. But I have never pined away after a certain model or year. I think it's a boy thing. Though to be fair, I was never really a girly girl. Most of my friends were boys; that was probably due to my involvement in TaeKwon Do from the ages of 13 to 18. Most girls didn't last longer than their yellow belt, i.e. about 3 months; so I was always around boys & considered "one of the guys" and I was okay with that. It felt like a group of brothers.

Anyway, back on topic, I'm not really a car enthusiast. I can't spot a car and go, "Oooh, the '73 Porche, now that's a sweet ride!" I'm more like, "Ooo, look at that . . . Porche?" My husband would sweetly reply, "That's a Ferrari, honey." Whatevs.

There is only one car that makes my heart go pitter-patter. And that is a '67 Ford Mustang hardtop base nose. Almost the same as the one Steve McQueen (heart goes pitter-patter again) drove in 'Bullitt', except is a '68 GT Fastback.

The point to this whole backlog of info? I was driving back from picking the kids up, when we rounded a curve in the road, and at that curve is a car dealership. It seemed as if the cars parted, like a shiny wave of metal, and a spotlight fell on the newest addition to the lot. A '67 Ford Mustang. Hardtop. Base Nose. I think the whole world just went into slow motion & some dreamy music started playing. I called Spencer (I had just gotten off the phone with him) and managed to communicate what I was *touching*! (yes, of course I pulled over and ran with open arms toward him) ((him, her, what is a proper car's gender?)) It was an exhilarating afternoon. He even smelled like new car.

So it wouldn't take a genius to guess who is the proud new owner?


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Not me. *sob* April Fool's! Though everything else in this post is true. 'Except for the 'Me Owning a '67 'Stang'. Again, *sob*

I should

I should start on my 'to-do' list.

I should go get the memory card out of my camera & upload pictures.

I should should should . . . .

We are dealing. I will survive.

I choose to look at this *situation* like we've been given a whole potato truck full of lemons and I'm busy each day making a whole lotta lemonade.

There is one predictable part of all this; the kids have a pattern they follow when our household is in upheaval, depending on who did the leaving. If it's me taking the kids away & in a new situation, there is a honeymoon period. That was last week. The next time I call, "Testing the Boundaries" (which is this week). Each child tries new forms of, how do I put this nicely, acting out. This mischief usually presents in tantrums unique to each child.

We were in desperate need of a measuring stick for gauging how good they could be. Or how deep they had dug their own holes.

Meet the Twizlberry incentive. Oh, Twizleberry is this amazing frozen yogurt place where you "pump" your own yogurt (flavors like peach, cheesecake, raspberry, etc) and then choose from a bar that has, like, 50 different toppings. Then you put the cup on a scale at the register & pay by the ounce. (I do have to supervise the kids closely; we go one at a time) But no kid had a sundae more costly than $1.75.

I remember this one seminary teacher that did a similar "thing". You could earn a 'Sundae on Friday' if you met certain criteria; were on time, participated, did your work, etc. But, here's the crafty part, you earned things progressively. First, if you 'fulfilled' the day's criteria, you earned toppings. Then you earn the ice cream. Next is the spoon. Last is the cup. So if you didn't carry through for the rest of the week, you'd be left eating ice cream in your hands. There were some smart alecks that put everything in their hand and ate, but it's not as enjoyable. This teacher did it every two weeks. She also did it with waffles/pancakes.

I made these last night, I'll make the toppings next. And I used my handy dandy laminater that I brought in my carry-on. Yes, I love laminating. A lot. I just draw whatever I want, then zip it through the magic machine. I even cut a slit in the cup so they can slip their fro-yo & spoon in their Twizleberry cup. Fingers crossed, they like this incentive plan.

School starts

One of many missions accomplished; get kids in school. We were able to get the kids back into the school they attended last year when we were here in Idaho. There's a bit of deja vu going on right now.

Except for the location. Their school, Liberty Montessori Academy, went through a name & location change. They got the old courthouse in Rigby. Oh, I love this building. Yes, there is more room for classrooms, great environment to educate our kids, yada yada yada. But this building! The Art Deco style just woos me; and it's on the National Register of Historic places. The next beautiful day, I'm there with my camera. Meanwhile, a storm is a'movin on up; bring on the frostiness. And btw, I am quite pleased with my iPhone camera. I'll take what I can get.