It is no secret I am glad this year is over. Quite honestly, it's been one of the worst years of my life, and I am happy to see it end.
So, what am I going to do to make 2009 better?
Well, for starters, I am going to stop feeling sorry for myself and quit whining. Yes, I had a bad year. But, I still have a roof over my head. I still have food on the table. I still have the love of my family. So, I am going to try to focus on the positive. This will not be easy for me since I am a true pessimist at heart, but I will try.
So, that's my big resolution. I have a couple of smaller ones, too. Clipping and using coupons and paying bills online are 2 of them. I am also going back on the exercise and portion control "diet" I successfully did earlier in 2008. Hopefully, I can lose some more weight and get my heart healthier.
I will continue to blog, too. It has proven to be a creative, calming outlet for me. Who knew?
So, here's to 2009. I hope it is a great year. At the very least, it has to be better than 2008!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Christmas Tag
My friend Cat sent this to me, and it looked like a fun way to wrap up the holiday.
1) Wrapping paper or gift bags? Usually wrapping paper for family, but gift bags for everyone else. They are easier to carry to and from a party.
2) Real tree or artificial? Artificial. I've had live trees and they are much more work.
3) When do you put up the tree? Usually the first weekend in December.
4) When do you take the tree down? New Year's Day.
5) Do you like eggnog? Ick--no.
6) Favorite gift received as a child? Something Barbie--probably her big yellow mobile home. I always wanted the townhouse, and never got it. My friend Michelle did, though, so I got to play with it at her house.
7) Hardest person to buy for? My husband. He usually wants electronic or stereo stuff. It's easier to just get him a gift card or have him buy it himself and give it to me to wrap.
8) Easiest person to buy for? My mom.
9) Do you have a nativity scene? I have about 10 throughout the house. That's the whole point of Christmas, right?
10) Worst Christmas gift you ever received? A polyester pants suit that my grandmother got me when I was about 12. It was blue and red checked--horrible. I can't imagine what she was thinking.
11) Favorite Christmas Movie? Well, I love "A Christmas Story." But I guess I like kids' animated specials better: the Grinch, Year Without Santa, Rudolph--the classics.
12) Favorite Christmas song? O Come, O Come Emmanuel.
13) Travel at Christmas or stay home? We travel in town on Christmas Eve and stay home Christmas Day.
14) Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? The only ones I can remember doing that for were white elephant gifts.
15) Favorite ornament theme or color? I have several. I prefer red, green and clear lights for the tree. Any ornament my kids made is very special to me. The angel on top of our tree is one that I made in Camp Fire Girls when I was 9 or so. It has been at the top of every tree I've ever had. I also have a small collection of Christmas outhouses that make me laugh.
I am tagging:
Megan
Wendy
Julie
Mary
Brandy
I want to add that Christmas was hard this year without my dad (see previous post). I broke down a couple of times and could only watch some of "A Christmas Story," my dad's favorite Christmas movie. However, the lasting memory I will take from this year will be playing Rockband with my kids. We laughed a lot and had a great time together.
1) Wrapping paper or gift bags? Usually wrapping paper for family, but gift bags for everyone else. They are easier to carry to and from a party.
2) Real tree or artificial? Artificial. I've had live trees and they are much more work.
3) When do you put up the tree? Usually the first weekend in December.
4) When do you take the tree down? New Year's Day.
5) Do you like eggnog? Ick--no.
6) Favorite gift received as a child? Something Barbie--probably her big yellow mobile home. I always wanted the townhouse, and never got it. My friend Michelle did, though, so I got to play with it at her house.
7) Hardest person to buy for? My husband. He usually wants electronic or stereo stuff. It's easier to just get him a gift card or have him buy it himself and give it to me to wrap.
8) Easiest person to buy for? My mom.
9) Do you have a nativity scene? I have about 10 throughout the house. That's the whole point of Christmas, right?
10) Worst Christmas gift you ever received? A polyester pants suit that my grandmother got me when I was about 12. It was blue and red checked--horrible. I can't imagine what she was thinking.
11) Favorite Christmas Movie? Well, I love "A Christmas Story." But I guess I like kids' animated specials better: the Grinch, Year Without Santa, Rudolph--the classics.
12) Favorite Christmas song? O Come, O Come Emmanuel.
13) Travel at Christmas or stay home? We travel in town on Christmas Eve and stay home Christmas Day.
14) Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? The only ones I can remember doing that for were white elephant gifts.
15) Favorite ornament theme or color? I have several. I prefer red, green and clear lights for the tree. Any ornament my kids made is very special to me. The angel on top of our tree is one that I made in Camp Fire Girls when I was 9 or so. It has been at the top of every tree I've ever had. I also have a small collection of Christmas outhouses that make me laugh.
I am tagging:
Megan
Wendy
Julie
Mary
Brandy
I want to add that Christmas was hard this year without my dad (see previous post). I broke down a couple of times and could only watch some of "A Christmas Story," my dad's favorite Christmas movie. However, the lasting memory I will take from this year will be playing Rockband with my kids. We laughed a lot and had a great time together.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Going Through the Motions
Well, the house is decorated. The tree is up. Festive music is on the boom box. Shopping has begun. I should be excited. Instead, I feel...hollow. I am having a hard time feeling excited about Christmas this year. Truthfully, I wish it were over already. I just don't feel it this year.
Since my husband still hasn't found a permanent job, the Christmas budget is considerably less than what it usually is. He and I aren't even exchanging presents this year. We decided it would be better to put it all toward the kids. They say they understand that there are going to be fewer packages than in previous years. But thinking they understand and seeing the reality under the tree Christmas morning are two very different things. I'm dreading seeing their faces Christmas morning.
And then there is the knowledge that one very special person is not with us this year. This will be the first Christmas without my dad, and I just don't know how to handle that. I keep remembering when I was a kid. Every Christmas day, my dad would spend hours putting together toys. Building Barbie houses and putting those tiny decals all over them. He'd build something for me, and then work on something for my brother (not Barbie, though). All day. Even when his back gave out, he kept building those damn toys. I hope I thought to say thank you, but I probably didn't. I wish I could go back in time, just for a minute, to say thank you.
He loved the movie, "The Christmas Story." He would watch it over and over and over and still laugh. It drove my mom crazy. (She is not a fan.) I love that movie, too. I don't know if I can watch it this year, though. Too painful. Too many memories of watching it together, laughing together and teasing my mom for not getting it. How can I keep up a tradition that hurts?
So, I'm back to going through the motions. Doing what I have to do to make the holiday special for my kids. That's what my dad did. That's what I will do this year with the hopes that next year will be a little better.
Since my husband still hasn't found a permanent job, the Christmas budget is considerably less than what it usually is. He and I aren't even exchanging presents this year. We decided it would be better to put it all toward the kids. They say they understand that there are going to be fewer packages than in previous years. But thinking they understand and seeing the reality under the tree Christmas morning are two very different things. I'm dreading seeing their faces Christmas morning.
And then there is the knowledge that one very special person is not with us this year. This will be the first Christmas without my dad, and I just don't know how to handle that. I keep remembering when I was a kid. Every Christmas day, my dad would spend hours putting together toys. Building Barbie houses and putting those tiny decals all over them. He'd build something for me, and then work on something for my brother (not Barbie, though). All day. Even when his back gave out, he kept building those damn toys. I hope I thought to say thank you, but I probably didn't. I wish I could go back in time, just for a minute, to say thank you.
He loved the movie, "The Christmas Story." He would watch it over and over and over and still laugh. It drove my mom crazy. (She is not a fan.) I love that movie, too. I don't know if I can watch it this year, though. Too painful. Too many memories of watching it together, laughing together and teasing my mom for not getting it. How can I keep up a tradition that hurts?
So, I'm back to going through the motions. Doing what I have to do to make the holiday special for my kids. That's what my dad did. That's what I will do this year with the hopes that next year will be a little better.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Where to Shelve Me
Kimbra Griffith's Dewey Decimal Section:
940 History of Europe
Kimbra Griffith = 19328178966908 = 193+281+789+669+08 = 1940
Class:
900 History & Geography
Contains:
Travel, biographies, ancient history, and histories of continents.
What it says about you:
You're connected to your past and value the things that have happened to you. You've had some conflicted times in your life, but they've brought you to where you are today and you don't ignore it.
Find your Dewey Decimal Section at Spacefem.com
Not sure I agree with the 940, but the description is fairly accurate.
Lazy Blogger
I have not been a good blogger. I meant to add thoughts before now, and just haven't taken the time to do it.
Thanksgiving is tomorrow. Does it seem late to anyone but me? I have been off the whole month. Turkey Day was never a big deal in my house growing up. My folks didn't eat turkey, and it's not my favorite, either. So we didn't have a big meal. The only real tradition I remember is getting up to watch the Macy's parade and putting up the small Christmas tree in my room. My parents had a 3 foot tall tree for my brother and I. We always put those trees up in our bedrooms on Thanksgiving. We had our own ornaments, too. Mark's were all sports-related, and most of mine were animals. I still have some of them that I now use on our big tree in my own home.
I loved that small tree. I loved it so much, that I continue the tradition with my own kids. Will and Lainey each have their own 3 foot tree that they will put up tomorrow. Will has a collection of penguin ornaments (many that I purchased in Frankenmuth) for his tree. This year, Lainey threw me a curve ball. She wanted to "change" her ornaments. She didn't want the pink ornaments we have always put on her tree. This year she wanted blue ones. Hmmmm. Changing traditions. I was not sure I could buy-in to this. But, I do like blue at Christmas, and it was my dad's favorite color. So, we bought some new blue ornaments. I think she will have a lovely tree. I hope my kids are enjoying this tradition as much as I always did.
Thanksgiving is tomorrow. Does it seem late to anyone but me? I have been off the whole month. Turkey Day was never a big deal in my house growing up. My folks didn't eat turkey, and it's not my favorite, either. So we didn't have a big meal. The only real tradition I remember is getting up to watch the Macy's parade and putting up the small Christmas tree in my room. My parents had a 3 foot tall tree for my brother and I. We always put those trees up in our bedrooms on Thanksgiving. We had our own ornaments, too. Mark's were all sports-related, and most of mine were animals. I still have some of them that I now use on our big tree in my own home.
I loved that small tree. I loved it so much, that I continue the tradition with my own kids. Will and Lainey each have their own 3 foot tree that they will put up tomorrow. Will has a collection of penguin ornaments (many that I purchased in Frankenmuth) for his tree. This year, Lainey threw me a curve ball. She wanted to "change" her ornaments. She didn't want the pink ornaments we have always put on her tree. This year she wanted blue ones. Hmmmm. Changing traditions. I was not sure I could buy-in to this. But, I do like blue at Christmas, and it was my dad's favorite color. So, we bought some new blue ornaments. I think she will have a lovely tree. I hope my kids are enjoying this tradition as much as I always did.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
10 Random Things About Me
Here are my 10 random things that Helene challenged us to do.
1. I love dark chocolate, which most people know. I like milk chocolate, too, but prefer dark. Strangely, I do not like chocolate chip cookies.
2. I have never seen "It's a Wonderful Life" all the way through. Seen the beginning, the end, and parts of the middle, but never the entire movie in one sitting. Every year I plan to do it, and every year I don't.
3. I LOVE "Family Guy." I know it's rude and crude; I don't want to laugh, but I do. (I just realized that rhymes. That was not intentional.)
4. I read the ending of every book I read before I get to it. Actually, I usually read the first 50 pages to get interested, and then skip to see how it ends. If I like the end, I finish the book. I tried to not do this with "My Sister's Keeper" by Jodie Picoult. BIG MISTAKE!!! I did not read the end of the Harry Potter books first, either, but I did look to see what the last word of the last book was.
5. I still have a stuffed dog, Bridget, that my grandmother gave me when I turned 1. She is in terrible shape (all her fur is gone, you can see where I had to do surgery on her years ago), but she means more to me than any other thing I own. She has a small couch that she sits on in my bedroom. I have given my family instructions to cremate her with me when I'm gone.
6. I've gone skiing once, and I will never go again. The most embarrassing moment of my life happened on a ski slope. I was on the tow rope, going up the baby hill, and I fell. Yes, I fell on the way up. On top of the tow rope. When you fall on a tow rope, it stops. This causes all of the other skiers on the rope to fall, too. I was not the most popular person on the slopes that afternoon.
7. I collect elephants.
8. I have never been to the Ohio State Fair. Well, technically, I was there once since my mom went when she was pregnant with me. But since I don't remember anything, I'm not counting that.
9. The only B I got in library school was in my children's services class. That's a bit embarrassing since that is what I do every day now.
10. My fantasy career would be to be a Broadway singer/actress/dancer. Since I am fairly uncoordinated (see #6), that was not to be. Second fantasy career would be an archaeologist. Since I really don't like heat, bugs or the outdoors in general, it's probably a better fantasy career than a reality. I'm glad I fell into libraries. If I wasn't doing this, I would probably be a teacher.
Well, there you have it. 10 random things about me. They seem fairly boring to me (no meeting famous people or living in fabulous places). I look forward to reading everyone else's random things.
Edit: just remembered one I wanted to include.
11. My full name is Kimbra, not Kimberly. I hated it when I was a kid, because it was different. Now, I really like it and get mildly ticked when people assume my knick-name is short for Kimberly.
1. I love dark chocolate, which most people know. I like milk chocolate, too, but prefer dark. Strangely, I do not like chocolate chip cookies.
2. I have never seen "It's a Wonderful Life" all the way through. Seen the beginning, the end, and parts of the middle, but never the entire movie in one sitting. Every year I plan to do it, and every year I don't.
3. I LOVE "Family Guy." I know it's rude and crude; I don't want to laugh, but I do. (I just realized that rhymes. That was not intentional.)
4. I read the ending of every book I read before I get to it. Actually, I usually read the first 50 pages to get interested, and then skip to see how it ends. If I like the end, I finish the book. I tried to not do this with "My Sister's Keeper" by Jodie Picoult. BIG MISTAKE!!! I did not read the end of the Harry Potter books first, either, but I did look to see what the last word of the last book was.
5. I still have a stuffed dog, Bridget, that my grandmother gave me when I turned 1. She is in terrible shape (all her fur is gone, you can see where I had to do surgery on her years ago), but she means more to me than any other thing I own. She has a small couch that she sits on in my bedroom. I have given my family instructions to cremate her with me when I'm gone.
6. I've gone skiing once, and I will never go again. The most embarrassing moment of my life happened on a ski slope. I was on the tow rope, going up the baby hill, and I fell. Yes, I fell on the way up. On top of the tow rope. When you fall on a tow rope, it stops. This causes all of the other skiers on the rope to fall, too. I was not the most popular person on the slopes that afternoon.
7. I collect elephants.
8. I have never been to the Ohio State Fair. Well, technically, I was there once since my mom went when she was pregnant with me. But since I don't remember anything, I'm not counting that.
9. The only B I got in library school was in my children's services class. That's a bit embarrassing since that is what I do every day now.
10. My fantasy career would be to be a Broadway singer/actress/dancer. Since I am fairly uncoordinated (see #6), that was not to be. Second fantasy career would be an archaeologist. Since I really don't like heat, bugs or the outdoors in general, it's probably a better fantasy career than a reality. I'm glad I fell into libraries. If I wasn't doing this, I would probably be a teacher.
Well, there you have it. 10 random things about me. They seem fairly boring to me (no meeting famous people or living in fabulous places). I look forward to reading everyone else's random things.
Edit: just remembered one I wanted to include.
11. My full name is Kimbra, not Kimberly. I hated it when I was a kid, because it was different. Now, I really like it and get mildly ticked when people assume my knick-name is short for Kimberly.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Mazza Moments
I attended the Mazza Weekend Conference this weekend. For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, the Mazza Museum is part of the University of Findlay. It celebrates the art of picture books. The museum has original art from thousands of picture books displayed as gallery art. It is inspirational and educational. Every November, they bring in several artists to talk about their work. Here are my favorite moments from those authors this year:
Marla Frazee (Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever): "Illustrating a book is like house hunting. There are many beautiful ones you want to look at, but few you'd actually want to move into." Picture book art must carry as much of the story of the book as the text does. It propels the action and provides surprise. When the text and the art are the same, it falls flat. But when the text and the art are different, that is the surprise and the humor. (See her book "Everywhere Babies" for an example of what she is talking about. The text is sweet, but the illustration is of a messy baby.) "Baby steps are not easy! The first step we take is always the hardest." Sales and marketing have much more to do with picture book design than we realize. If that department doesn't "get" the book, forget any promotion for sales. Her latest book went through several cover designs and title changes before marketing would back it.
Beth Peck (How Many Days to America): spoke mostly about her research process for her newest book, "Just like Josh Gibson." Part of her illustration process is to photocopy her art to make it darker. For 7 years, she went to the local pharmacy to use their copier. She finally got her own copier for her studio.
Alexander Stadler (Beverly Billinglsy books): very funny!! Probably my favorite presenter. His first book was rejected 25 times. When finally picked up, he was told "You can't write, but you can draw." His editor now claims she never said that! He has moved from picture books into j fiction (semi-graphic novels "Julian Rodriguez" books--published in Spanish and English). He is now working on a YA novel, too. Detail is what makes the story--in the text and in the drawings.
Marc Tyler Nobleman (Boys of Steel): Mainly an author, but also a cartoonist. His latest chronicles the life of the 2 guys that created Superman before it was basically stolen by DC Comics. I did not know that they were from Cleveland! He also talked about how details are important, even if the author/illustrator is the only one who knows about them. For example, he found out that Joe, the Superman illustrator, was left-handed. So, in every picture that shows him drawing, he is doing it left-handed. Most people won't realize that, but it was important to him to be accurate.
Christy Hale (Those Calculating Crows): When she was in 5th grade, her teacher read them "Harriet the Spy". She and her best friend spent the summer running their own detective agency, complete with disguises. While working on the "Elizabeti" books, she had to get permission from the publisher to contact the author. (This is frowned upon in the publishing world, for some reason.) She wanted more info about Tanzania, and the author sent her some fabric that she eventually worked into the designs for the characters' clothing.
Kevin Hawkes (Library Lion): another amusing presenter. Humor has to play a part in his illustrations, even for non-fiction books. He illustrated 'The Librarian who measured the Earth" and did tons of research on ancient Greece. At one time, the library in Alexandria was largest library in the world. Now, there is nothing left. Hawkes believes this is due to "budget cuts." He changed his style greatly to illustrate "Library Lion" on purpose. He moved around a lot as a kid, and the library was the one constant he had. The books were his friends that never changed. So, he wanted the pictures to feel warm and like "comfort food." "They couldn't be wild like my other stuff."
I encourage you to make the trip up to Mazza just to see the museum. It is well worth the trip!
Marla Frazee (Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever): "Illustrating a book is like house hunting. There are many beautiful ones you want to look at, but few you'd actually want to move into." Picture book art must carry as much of the story of the book as the text does. It propels the action and provides surprise. When the text and the art are the same, it falls flat. But when the text and the art are different, that is the surprise and the humor. (See her book "Everywhere Babies" for an example of what she is talking about. The text is sweet, but the illustration is of a messy baby.) "Baby steps are not easy! The first step we take is always the hardest." Sales and marketing have much more to do with picture book design than we realize. If that department doesn't "get" the book, forget any promotion for sales. Her latest book went through several cover designs and title changes before marketing would back it.
Beth Peck (How Many Days to America): spoke mostly about her research process for her newest book, "Just like Josh Gibson." Part of her illustration process is to photocopy her art to make it darker. For 7 years, she went to the local pharmacy to use their copier. She finally got her own copier for her studio.
Alexander Stadler (Beverly Billinglsy books): very funny!! Probably my favorite presenter. His first book was rejected 25 times. When finally picked up, he was told "You can't write, but you can draw." His editor now claims she never said that! He has moved from picture books into j fiction (semi-graphic novels "Julian Rodriguez" books--published in Spanish and English). He is now working on a YA novel, too. Detail is what makes the story--in the text and in the drawings.
Marc Tyler Nobleman (Boys of Steel): Mainly an author, but also a cartoonist. His latest chronicles the life of the 2 guys that created Superman before it was basically stolen by DC Comics. I did not know that they were from Cleveland! He also talked about how details are important, even if the author/illustrator is the only one who knows about them. For example, he found out that Joe, the Superman illustrator, was left-handed. So, in every picture that shows him drawing, he is doing it left-handed. Most people won't realize that, but it was important to him to be accurate.
Christy Hale (Those Calculating Crows): When she was in 5th grade, her teacher read them "Harriet the Spy". She and her best friend spent the summer running their own detective agency, complete with disguises. While working on the "Elizabeti" books, she had to get permission from the publisher to contact the author. (This is frowned upon in the publishing world, for some reason.) She wanted more info about Tanzania, and the author sent her some fabric that she eventually worked into the designs for the characters' clothing.
Kevin Hawkes (Library Lion): another amusing presenter. Humor has to play a part in his illustrations, even for non-fiction books. He illustrated 'The Librarian who measured the Earth" and did tons of research on ancient Greece. At one time, the library in Alexandria was largest library in the world. Now, there is nothing left. Hawkes believes this is due to "budget cuts." He changed his style greatly to illustrate "Library Lion" on purpose. He moved around a lot as a kid, and the library was the one constant he had. The books were his friends that never changed. So, he wanted the pictures to feel warm and like "comfort food." "They couldn't be wild like my other stuff."
I encourage you to make the trip up to Mazza just to see the museum. It is well worth the trip!
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