tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-158465462024-03-07T04:46:28.770-05:00My Daily Struggleangelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202434979522742695noreply@blogger.comBlogger340125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846546.post-10361002985130134972016-04-13T20:53:00.001-04:002016-04-13T21:24:29.505-04:003 Years and 3 Days I gave up the things I loved. I built walls. I cried a lot. I searched for reasons why. I gave up hope. For a long while I took joy in nothing. I was silent. I felt alone.<br />
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Time. It took time. 3 years and 3 days.<br />
<br />
I think I'm in the clear now. I feel the dark clouds lifting. And I'm more grateful for my family and friends than ever before. I'm ready.<br />
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>Here comes the sun, here comes the sun</b></div>
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<b>And I say it's all right</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter</b></div>
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<b>Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Here comes the sun, here comes the sun</b></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<b>And I say it's all right</b></div>
<div class="p2" style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces</b></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here </b></div>
<div class="p2" style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Here comes the sun, here comes the sun</b></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<b>And I say it's all right</b></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
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angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202434979522742695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846546.post-66072947243611291202013-04-10T00:55:00.001-04:002013-04-10T00:55:33.951-04:00Wake.Beach.Pool.Eat.Nap.Wake.Beach.Pool.Eat.Sleep<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VhHTunK7oAFfDv_O0vrtC0NSu2dw7hCWtOLDOjixgLGJ9Alau_okuonvVNnGP7qXE3Sttgpd2AjUEZEp8_Q3Gp9zQHN3i8jR64BPCelADKXKv_WDbDBr9hakPEHTltfd-qYy/s1600/AGP_2610+1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VhHTunK7oAFfDv_O0vrtC0NSu2dw7hCWtOLDOjixgLGJ9Alau_okuonvVNnGP7qXE3Sttgpd2AjUEZEp8_Q3Gp9zQHN3i8jR64BPCelADKXKv_WDbDBr9hakPEHTltfd-qYy/s640/AGP_2610+1a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLw8812LNzhIg6qKHE9hfLXKCM8Fy75xdPe922V3qpLN_oSB2RsNJM_c0HLMXOlp6HAMwFML0TG33Ksn62hwrgZZvHBoUUeDLxat1Je3BLHhLY3-cdFpiVLW3Be6cYdFvT6uvf/s1600/AGP_2590+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLw8812LNzhIg6qKHE9hfLXKCM8Fy75xdPe922V3qpLN_oSB2RsNJM_c0HLMXOlp6HAMwFML0TG33Ksn62hwrgZZvHBoUUeDLxat1Je3BLHhLY3-cdFpiVLW3Be6cYdFvT6uvf/s640/AGP_2590+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTwpBBK0lxuwSJQd1OT6qC3xUJVSCBMRzElz169g6l1Gu2mxy9U4hAj_ejpP0CLQkIzGoViuwjT57rn85SblYRV1MKQc74Nl69mAwBlo4SU1Atdw47cdKo_inVB0h-Lj6rxFb/s1600/AGP_2592+1+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTwpBBK0lxuwSJQd1OT6qC3xUJVSCBMRzElz169g6l1Gu2mxy9U4hAj_ejpP0CLQkIzGoViuwjT57rn85SblYRV1MKQc74Nl69mAwBlo4SU1Atdw47cdKo_inVB0h-Lj6rxFb/s640/AGP_2592+1+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66OSBImkTdGSXAtMuc38ECkbB2p8eDWM70hz7fhXJIdwTYVOnUC8oDShMLy9lh9En_ukUxhh936GzKCrTHy8On6uNDD-UdbiavUOTw5Q5OL2Qu-gw6-Gba4Uz-U6mrcZS7-qi/s1600/AGP_2587+1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66OSBImkTdGSXAtMuc38ECkbB2p8eDWM70hz7fhXJIdwTYVOnUC8oDShMLy9lh9En_ukUxhh936GzKCrTHy8On6uNDD-UdbiavUOTw5Q5OL2Qu-gw6-Gba4Uz-U6mrcZS7-qi/s640/AGP_2587+1a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRh_imePsk6e7ZqEtZ8tVWpsLQidLJTf9O5oWUJNUjf1_qgT3fhuiVEyymWAnazYjDsEScXJzUXi6B2om4MljTICppDu8yRdvJf4UExFqVrVqmMsmFyaihjhaSHDqSxFl-pTKM/s1600/AGP_2600+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRh_imePsk6e7ZqEtZ8tVWpsLQidLJTf9O5oWUJNUjf1_qgT3fhuiVEyymWAnazYjDsEScXJzUXi6B2om4MljTICppDu8yRdvJf4UExFqVrVqmMsmFyaihjhaSHDqSxFl-pTKM/s640/AGP_2600+1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202434979522742695noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846546.post-82205560773739569512013-04-08T23:53:00.001-04:002013-04-08T23:53:35.347-04:00Day Number 14,033<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtXr1i_8NaudLvWuKblWf26_DXdiT_thYwYPmvIb7Hi8aine9j-rtSmTJayR3VcbQ7DCljd02RTfmOsv2zcripDHvnyTuhlE26bIJ0n9JmcQ8rvB1_dM_HHNArVBWNZbbxpK-/s1600/combo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtXr1i_8NaudLvWuKblWf26_DXdiT_thYwYPmvIb7Hi8aine9j-rtSmTJayR3VcbQ7DCljd02RTfmOsv2zcripDHvnyTuhlE26bIJ0n9JmcQ8rvB1_dM_HHNArVBWNZbbxpK-/s640/combo1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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“The worst thing that being an artist could do to you would be that it would make you slightly unhappy constantly.”
― J.D. Salinger, Nine Stories</div>
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<h1 class="quoteText" style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
“We're all lonely for something we don't know we're lonely for. How else to explain the curious feeling that goes around feeling like missing somebody we've never even met?”</h1>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">―</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/819789.J_D_Salinger" style="color: #666600; text-decoration: none;">D</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">avid Foster Wallace</span></span></span></h1>
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<br />angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202434979522742695noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846546.post-26859208128863697832013-04-08T00:10:00.001-04:002013-04-08T01:14:20.823-04:00Wish I Was Ocean Size<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202434979522742695noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846546.post-6729820461751624422013-04-07T01:31:00.001-04:002013-04-09T18:49:17.117-04:00La Mar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We made it. The edge of the world. And we love it.<br />
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When Harper met La Mar for the first time, she ran straight into her- full speed. She still screams with laughter and joy when the cold waves slap her face.<br />
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Audrey greets her quietly. She lets her toes say hello first and then takes a long deep look to the horizon before wading in for a welcome.<br />
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This beach is desolate. No spring breakers here.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">“He always thought of the sea as 'la mar' which is what people call her in Spanish when they love her. Sometimes those who love her say bad things of her but they are always said as though she were a woman. Some of the younger fishermen, th</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">ose who used buoys as floats for their lines and had motorboats, bought when the shark livers had brought much money, spoke of her as 'el mar' which is masculine.They spoke of her as a contestant or a place or even an enemy. But the old man always thought of her as feminine and as something that gave or withheld great favours, and if she did wild or wicked things it was because she could not help them. The moon affects her as it does a woman, he thought.”<br />― Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea</span></span>angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202434979522742695noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846546.post-2390428236039394932013-03-02T09:27:00.002-05:002013-03-02T09:27:23.670-05:00Antics
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4WgiwGRsuVBrnjLrSLT9ple3BYQXuGsTkmeTwW-p3jqQWdwxoR9aNFQWMXecs4yDPX-NUUz5Kax4aWSGduYtOThiIq7rkqRq5sqOZSlZ9i6g0B9Ol-yOS_DOx-8BlrfVg6cw/s1600/AGP_1676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4WgiwGRsuVBrnjLrSLT9ple3BYQXuGsTkmeTwW-p3jqQWdwxoR9aNFQWMXecs4yDPX-NUUz5Kax4aWSGduYtOThiIq7rkqRq5sqOZSlZ9i6g0B9Ol-yOS_DOx-8BlrfVg6cw/s1600/AGP_1676.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why is it that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">every</i>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">day of the week</i> I struggle to wake my
children up in time for school and then, on Saturday morning, when I most
desperately want to sleep in, they wake up at 6am? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was sleeping hard when I heard the cutest high-pitched,
“Momma, I’m thirsty” whispered in my ear.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Hi Thirsty, I’m Sleepy.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“No. Momma, I’m really thirsty.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Go drink from the bathroom sink.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Momma! It’s time to get up.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“No. No it’s really not. Go back to sleep.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“But I want to play and watch TV.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Go play and watch TV but don’t make any messes.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Harper crawled out of our warm bed and before leaving she
flipped on the lights and turned the covers down on me. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“There,” she said revengefully, “now <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you’re</i> cold. It’s time to get up.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Little stinker!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Monday morning is going to be Hell for her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
P.S. The girls attempted to make a cake this morning. The
mixing bowl was sitting in the middle of the couch when I shuffled into the
living room.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
PS.S. Audrey just read over this and tacked on “naked” to
end of that last sentence above. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She said it was true and it would make a better ending. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Uncle!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreIHfYY2TyxmFi-PzcJd_LcJWLJBoGpL3-iM6w-LgZ2vUfCOQC8r5XR8UHmEvlBBwtvddvDz3hUGXMhWGbd0FLlUrkpv-yDXgrjxtVE1hhW_iaP-lhh0P8EFB12z4OROs-lUr/s1600/AGP_1672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreIHfYY2TyxmFi-PzcJd_LcJWLJBoGpL3-iM6w-LgZ2vUfCOQC8r5XR8UHmEvlBBwtvddvDz3hUGXMhWGbd0FLlUrkpv-yDXgrjxtVE1hhW_iaP-lhh0P8EFB12z4OROs-lUr/s1600/AGP_1672.jpg" height="227" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202434979522742695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846546.post-3568501457963237482013-01-04T22:39:00.000-05:002013-01-06T00:08:51.727-05:00Day FourI'm already over the 365 Project. Four days in and it's becoming a chore. But hey, here's your picture:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbW2pnvX0RiY3zxkA6PVg-ab011N6CPBhqsMh-LCZOJRNqdqJU27rxvHognRb5Kf8XJXdiPqIVXUFbpCgQz6LZP_YViiv9S2QbJ2WB2lebcLSJCIoBqMHCw2YGfbhqt3O6Tku3/s1600/four.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbW2pnvX0RiY3zxkA6PVg-ab011N6CPBhqsMh-LCZOJRNqdqJU27rxvHognRb5Kf8XJXdiPqIVXUFbpCgQz6LZP_YViiv9S2QbJ2WB2lebcLSJCIoBqMHCw2YGfbhqt3O6Tku3/s1600/four.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVG2heyIaqx_InxcAV_ueXjU8oU6JUyCY8i7nc0VzLXFlgpILRQg8XKZqVzGPm8g6-5NuuyPZJtFI8-ugRBoX0-x-4Zz-4qqvNMZ6S0gNMgWSUR_x_JXyjs4kSXcyjsG0KNjgx/s1600/orangebear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVG2heyIaqx_InxcAV_ueXjU8oU6JUyCY8i7nc0VzLXFlgpILRQg8XKZqVzGPm8g6-5NuuyPZJtFI8-ugRBoX0-x-4Zz-4qqvNMZ6S0gNMgWSUR_x_JXyjs4kSXcyjsG0KNjgx/s400/orangebear.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Sushi<br />
Sake<br />
Scrabble<br />
Wine<br />
Johnny Football<br />
<br />
The next time I buy a bag of oranges, I'm going to attempt this.<br />
<br />
Not long after we placed our sushi order , A Very Nice Sushi Chef made one of these for me for no reason. Maybe he knew it was a night to celebrate? (Probably not.) But it sure made me feel a little special. After admiring it, we set it aside to eat at the end of the meal. While I wasn't looking, one of the overzealous waitresses cleared it from the bar! My friend nobly tried to run her down, tackle her and bring back my bear, to no avail. It was rudely discarded.<br />
Blasphemy!<br />
The same Very Nice Sushi Chef saw what happened and before I had time to truly lament, he presented another.<br />
<br />
I don't know why I shared that story other than to point out that generosity is is pretty damn cool.<br />
<br />angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202434979522742695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846546.post-66049968828303919662013-01-03T23:30:00.000-05:002013-01-04T07:55:08.442-05:00Day Three<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">COMEBACK.</span></h1>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">“What an odd thing a diary is: the things you omit are more important than those you put in.” -Simone de Beauvoir, <i>The Woman Destroyed</i></span></h1>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Today was nerve wracking on so many levels. I woke up earlier than I needed to, just to be certain the girls made it to school on time. Then, I had to check Audrey out for her dreaded dentist appointment- dreaded by me, not her. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">The last trip to the dentist brought on streaks of silent tears for me when I was told her tooth did not have a cavity like I thought; it was, in fact, a new tooth emerging without the enamel. All of her first molars have grown in sans the beautiful white shiny enamel most of us take for granted, me included. No enamel? How can that happen? <i>Why</i> does that happen? I was so upset. Audrey, however, didn't seem to be all that worried. So, I tried to adopt her carefree attitude.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">It was hard though, putting on a happy face in that dentist's office today. Audrey was getting her first filling. I did my best to prepare her for the hurt and pain she was about to experience without scaring her completely. She remained cool while I paced the floor and wrestled with my hands. The dentist took one look at me and promptly kicked me out of the room.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">My stomach turned as I waited. I paced some more, peeked around the corner, got a glimpse of the needle and listened for the whimper. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">It never came. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">45 minutes later, Audrey proudly walked out into the waiting area with a smile and stated, "It wasn't really all that bad. I didn't even cry."</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">I think similar words escaped my lips a little later in the day when talking with my mother about a completely different but somewhat similar situation.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Let's just say we can both sleep a little easier tonight, Audrey and I.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Speaking of sleep, I'd write more, but it's already 1am and I have to get up early again tomorrow.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202434979522742695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846546.post-33862412559166053202013-01-02T23:30:00.000-05:002013-01-04T16:16:54.466-05:00Day Two<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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FIND THE HUMOR.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">"Don't take life too seriously."- Larry Waddy</span><br />
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I must laugh.<br />
I have to get out of my head.<br />
My pop knows when I need reminding. Today, I reminded myself.<br />
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The girls and I started the day by eating breakfast and then heading to the Y. Harper was thrilled because one of her best friends from school arrived at exactly the same time as us. So, she was set. Audrey got excited when I dropped her off at her room because the air hockey table had been unveiled. Sweet! Mama could workout without guilt.<br />
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After running a couple of miles on the treadmill, I thought I'd go downstairs to see if they'd reactivated my account (for the machines). I really wanted to get started on my core. I'm determined to be smoking hot.<br />
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Don't laugh.<br />
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Anyway, they had! Great. I was in the system. Now, if only I could remember how to use the damn machines. Which one was for abs? You should have seen me. Anyone watching me was probably highly entertained. I was laughing at myself, even! Finally, I gave up like a good girl and made an appointment to meet with the fitness expert in a couple of days for a much needed review. Although, the one machine I <i>did </i>manage to figure out sure did feel great- back extension, was it?<br />
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Grabbed the girls and we headed to the pool. We were all very anxious to try out our new goggles. (Thank you, Target, for the misprint. I bought three pair for less than the regular price of one. Score!) Now Harper, that kid, she never stops amazing me with her precociousness. From the minute she hits the water she busies herself by chatting with adults and teaching herself to swim. Today, I laughed so hard when she interrupted my laps to blurt out, "WATCH THIS!" Of course, I was monumentally surprised when I saw that she did an underwater handstand ending in a perfect flip. I thought for sure she'd come up coughing and grabbing her burning, water-filled nose. Nope. She wore a grin from ear to ear. I couldn't stop laughing and shaking my head! She did it over and over again in order to keep me tickled. Full of surprises.<br />
On to Audrey, she wanted to hang with me. So, she asked me how to push off the wall like I do. Then, she asked me to show her how to swim, really swim, she said. I did. She observed and then, to my amazement, that little determined soul sped off freestylin' it like a pro. Quick study.<br />
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After the Y, we piled back into the car and sang songs about poop. That's always funny.<br />
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The rest of the day was pretty much a blur. We ran some errands, ate some lunch and had a dance party in the living room. Harper kept her swimming suit on all day. And I let her. She had good reason to be proud. We watched a movie, of course. I tried to capture that.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLg-L2c3yfVhw_h2t62G2-fNGV8iraZ4WjP8Yrd_EWfN2DamyvxIQZsoONEYXqH_5ivExjYXm3pvk_3mICEbaXIISB0ABTNtGJKyJbxjkOS0RHV3gW7onhyMaEk9NE7u8W8lZ/s1600/AGP_9664cu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLg-L2c3yfVhw_h2t62G2-fNGV8iraZ4WjP8Yrd_EWfN2DamyvxIQZsoONEYXqH_5ivExjYXm3pvk_3mICEbaXIISB0ABTNtGJKyJbxjkOS0RHV3gW7onhyMaEk9NE7u8W8lZ/s400/AGP_9664cu.jpg" width="356" /></a>I laughed hardest this evening.<br />
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I'm really a little reluctant to post this link but damn, it's funny!<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bekvgMEcgqI">Louis CK- On being single again</a>.<br />
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If you have tender ears, don't listen. If you find yourself single again and over 30 you'll be able to relate and laugh. I never ever thought I'd be back out there again. I distinctly remember saying, several times, over the course of twelve years, "Damn. I'm glad we'll never have to go through that again. Dating sucks." Sigh. Anyway, just listen. He's a funny guy.<br />
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I ended the night watching <i>Hunger Games</i>. I wasn't all that impressed. Glad I didn't wait in line to see it at the theater. <br />
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Books are always better.<br />
<br />angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202434979522742695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846546.post-90871994403031185352013-01-01T23:36:00.001-05:002013-01-02T00:10:48.497-05:00Day One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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HAPPY NEW YEAR.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice, And to make an end is to make a beginning.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">-T. S. Eliot, Little Gidding</span><br />
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I've been waiting for this day for some time.<br />
2012 could not be over fast enough for me. And although I had invitations to go out and party it up, ring in the new year right, it became more of a reflective time for me. "Out with the old and in with the new." Never has it applied to any of my years more than this one. The girls and I did, however, go roast some s'mores at our neighbor's house. So, we were a little festive.<br />
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2013<br />
I have high hopes.<br />
<b>I'm going to start blogging again.</b> I miss it. Besides, my memory is going to shit and I want to remember what I do on a daily basis. This will be good for me.<br />
<b>I am going to attempt the 365 Project.</b> You know, where you take a picture of yourself every day for an entire year? We'll see how long it lasts. I thought it'd be fun to start today. After all, it's a big year for me, certain to be chocked full of highs and lows. And look at it this way, you'll get to see me age. It will make you feel better.<br />
<b>I'm going to paint.</b> For real. Yes, I'm going to art. Audrey used the term "arting" the other day and I'm going to steal it right now, right here. As in, "Mom, don't bother me right now. I'm busy arting." Well, I'm going to be busy arting, too. Damn it. I am.<br />
<b>I'm going to figure it out. </b>I don't know what that means, exactly, but I know I need to do it.<br />
<b>I'm going to watch some baseball. </b>Lots of it. Baseball makes me happy. Go Braves.<br />
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My high hopes will multiply, for sure. Those are the first five that came to mind. Well, besides the ones I've already started like <b>working out</b> and <b>being more social</b>.<br />
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THIS MORNING<br />
We met some of our favorite people at Jiva Jive for breakfast in our jammies. Well, I got a scolding for not wearing mine. You know? I have no jammies. I wear t-shirts to bed. I guess I need some pajamas.<br />
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THIS AFTERNOON<br />
I cooked collard greens for the first time in my life. Not bad! I wasn't sure if I was doing it correctly.<br />
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I also took the girls and one of their good friends to the local bouncy place. I got some photo editing work done and the young ones came home breathless and red-faced. (Makes for a relaxing early evening.)<br />
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THIS EVENING<br />
Well, this came as a surprise to me and definitely wasn't on the agenda, but the girls begged me:<br />
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They got haircuts. Now, I was super nervous because when I was younger I got what were called "Attitude Adjustments" (haircuts) which only happened when I needed to, of course, change my attitude. You can probably guess why I keep long hair, now. When I was a wee one, I sported a very short haircut. Funny, I don't remember being that difficult of a child...<br />
Anyway, I was so scared that they would cry. (I did. Every single time.)<br />
Quite the contrary. They squealed with joy! Audrey wanted hers shorter! She wanted layers. She wanted bangs. I was beside myself. And Harper just kept staring at herself in the mirror. It definitely fits her personality. Haircuts welcomed? Who knew?<br />
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SUMMARY<br />
This new year brings change. Change is good. I think I'll buy some paint for my walls tomorrow. Start redecorating. I might even get myself a haircut. I sure could use an Attitude Adjustment.<br />
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<br />angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202434979522742695noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846546.post-64283335070257204592012-06-10T21:52:00.001-04:002012-07-07T22:52:53.245-04:00Sketch<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Viv watched from the corner of her
eye as the guy in the green plaid chewed away at his nails. The lady next to him was
still wearing her ring. She was twisting it around and around. Viv was wearing
hers, too. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The good-looking blonde behind her
was steaming. Whatever her situation, it was fresh on her mind. Viv scanned the
crowd and soon discovered the blonde’s husband. It wasn’t hard to figure out
who he was, if you were paying attention. He kept a close watch from across the
room. In contrast to the majority of the group, he looked pleased with himself,
as if he were still very much in control of her emotion. He was boring a hole
into that blonde. And although she was aware of his presence, she paid him no
mind.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Most people looked worn thin. Some were scowling. Some were restless in
their seats. One lady looked like she hadn’t slept in months, definitely
distraught and on the verge of tears.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Right beside Vivian was a young
girl with a “YOLO” tattoo on the inside of her wrist. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You only live once. </i> Funny,
considering the circumstances. Weren't they all getting a second chance?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The slouchy man, directly behind Viv,
kept invading her space and mumbling to himself: shifting his weight back and forth in his seat. It felt as if he were
breathing down her neck. She wanted him to sit back. Be still. Quit
breathing so hard. Fucker. No wonder you’re here.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Everyone sitting in that darkened jury room had a story and
no one wanted to be there, especially for the next four hours.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In that room, you were either a Leaver or a Leavee. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With that thought, Vivian scanned the room once more and
attempted to stare into the souls of those strangers. Which one cheated? Who was the deadbeat? Wife-beater? Alcoholic? Chronic gambler? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maybe that wasn’t fair. <o:p></o:p></div>angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202434979522742695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846546.post-39983774365737994002012-03-18T22:01:00.003-04:002012-03-18T22:27:58.862-04:00The Beautiful Mundane<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mydailystruggle/6849145446/" title="Untitled by My Daily Struggle, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6213/6849145446_1d26e722e5_z.jpg" width="640" height="457" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I slept off and on all day. <div>Staying up until 4am is not okay with my body anymore. </div><div>It was worth it though. I love working at the bar. </div><div>One of my favorite parts of the night was when someone told me to stop smiling so much. I didn't realize I was.</div><div>That was a good feeling.</div><div> Another great moment was when an old boss of mine told me I look exactly the same. (I worked for him 15 years ago.) Riiight. I'm sure, but whatever. I'll take that!</div><div><br /></div><div>And I love being able to cut up with good friends. Laughter. Lots of it. So many people came out. Good to see everyone. The bands weren't bad either!</div><div><br /></div><div>Because of my little aches and pains (caused by 12 hours of non stop movement) and lack of sleep, pretty much everything I had planned for today ended up being canceled. Audrey had a bit of a bug, as well. So, we all camped out on the couch. </div><div>Such a lazy day.</div><div>We watched <i>Puss and Boots</i>. Slept a little. Watched <i>Hugo</i>. Slept a little. Snacked. Played outside for a spell. Grew some crystals. Watched <i>Hugo</i>, again. Went to bed.</div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mydailystruggle/6995218499/" title="Untitled by My Daily Struggle, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6094/6995218499_933de42fd8_z.jpg" width="640" height="426" alt="" /></a><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mydailystruggle/6849105808/" title="Untitled by My Daily Struggle, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7077/6849105808_100c0f2ca4_z.jpg" width="426" height="640" alt="" /></a><div></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mydailystruggle/6995220109/" title="Untitled by My Daily Struggle, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6095/6995220109_e41a8e1454_z.jpg" width="640" height="457" alt="" /></a><div><br /></div><div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mydailystruggle/6995231661/" title="Untitled by My Daily Struggle, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7259/6995231661_b101f98c94_z.jpg" width="640" height="426" alt="" /></a><br /></div></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mydailystruggle/6995238679/" title="Untitled by My Daily Struggle, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6031/6995238679_19c1630145_z.jpg" width="426" height="640" alt="" /></a><br /></div>angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202434979522742695noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846546.post-73511367480609050092012-03-15T23:09:00.004-04:002012-03-15T23:16:27.835-04:00100 Things About Me (Orginal Post: May 3, 2005)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> 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</xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in"><span style=" font-family:Times;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">At the beginning of the year, I required my photo students to write 100 things about themselves to use as assignment prompts. They've since asked me for mine. I promised them I'd look for the one I did years ago. I found it. Honestly, it was surreal to read back over these, seven years later. Some of these numbers no longer apply, but for the sake of history, I'll leave them unedited.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times;font-size:85%;">Enjoy. I wonder how many of you will make it all the way to 100.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in"><span style=" ;font-family:Times;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">100 Things About Me</span></b></span></p> <ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="1"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">My Dad wanted to name me Pi. <o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I drank a cup of bleach when I was two. My parents never thought I would talk again.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I can do your tarot card reading.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">Cheerios is the only cereal I eat.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I hate the person who invented glitter.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">My favorite artist is Egon Schiele. I wish I could have met him.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">All of my life, I have secretly desired to see a ghost.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">Every cat I’ve ever owned I’ve named Kitty.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I once stuck my finger in a light socket and was electrocuted.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I won’t eat popcorn.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I have been inside the engine of a freight train and shook hands with the conductor. His name was Ron. “R-O-N, Ron.” He took us across a bridge and back.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">My favorite retreat is the shower.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I once took such a long shower that my Dad turned off the hot water heater to force me out. <o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I met my future husband in middle school. I never thought I’d marry him.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">According to my husband, the phrase that most comes out of my mouth is, “I’m tired.”<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I wish the phrase that most came out of my mouth were something more interesting.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">Sweet tea is my addiction.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I am attracted to spherical objects like globes, marbles and glass paperweights.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I am equally attracted to boxes. Especially old ones and tin ones.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I collect $2 bills.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I also collect Thermos canisters, old fans, old radios and old phones, but not so much anymore. <o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I have never thrown away a postcard or a letter I’ve gotten in the mail.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">Greeting cards I don’t keep unless they are extra special or sentimental.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">My favorite number is 15, but I couldn’t tell you why.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;"> I like to stay up late.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I like to open the windows when it’s raining.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I would rather have the windows rolled down in the car than have the AC on.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">All of my life, I’ve fought with my younger sister. I wonder if we will ever stop competing.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">Some of my most treasured items are old photos of my parents.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">My handwriting always changes, depending on my mood.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">Churches make me uncomfortable and nauseous.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">Halloween is my favorite holiday.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">Once, while living in Athens, a trick-or-treater fell through our front porch. She wasn’t even wearing a costume.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I like to pick zits and pluck hairs.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">One time I pulled/ plucked out all of my eyelashes. I looked like a lizard. They grew back.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I still regularly pluck out my gray hairs.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I beg Tim to tickle my back almost every night before we go to bed.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I love to garden.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I used to hate dogs, but now I love them.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">Pineapple is my favorite fruit. Then strawberries, then raspberries, then apples.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I love the beach, but I am too scared to swim in the ocean.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">The farthest place I’ve traveled is to Paris. <o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I hate that we have a TV in our bedroom.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I fall asleep best when it’s silent- no fan, no TV, no humming of a computer.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">Knitting has become a favorite hobby.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I used to paint a lot. I hate it that I don’t paint anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I am terrified of spiders.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">Elvis married us in Las Vegas.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">Our limo got a flat tire on the way to the chapel. And our photographer was drunk.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I was the skinniest I’ve ever been right before I got pregnant.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I have always envisioned myself living in an old farmhouse with high ceilings and a wrap-around porch.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">The only person I’ve ever punched is my little sister. I drew blood.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I love bloopers shows.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I cry a lot. <o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">When I was in the 4<sup>th</sup> grade, I asked for a Webster’s Un-Abridged Dictionary as a birthday present.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I bought a motorcycle, rode it twice and then sold it. It was too scary.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I have never in my life had a birthday party.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I am horrific with directions. Thank God for Mapquest.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I would not consider myself a religious person, but I would consider myself a spiritual person. (But not in that hippy weird kind of way)<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I think food tastes better when someone else makes it for you.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I like to throw parties.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I could live off of bread, cheese and chocolate.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">My favorite song of all times is “The Twelfth of Never” by Nina Simone.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">There are only 2 songs I sing in the shower: “The Twelfth of Never” and “Black Boys on Mopeds” by Sinead O’Conner.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I have already written out what I am going to say at my father’s funeral and have given it to him<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">My all-time favorite movie is “Wings of Desire” by Wim Wenders. <o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I have a guitar, and know how to play a little, but would like to take lessons so that I could be really good some day.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I love to play board games, cards, and sports but never get to because Tim HATES all of those things!<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I’d like to go to the west coast some day. <o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">Tim says that I, without fail, manage to pick out the most expensive things in stores. He says the price goes up as soon as I reach for it.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">Butterflies make me smile. <o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">My grandfather told me once that if a butterfly lands on you, it’s an old friend that’s come to say, “Hi.”<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">One of the coolest things I’ve ever done is sneak out onto the roof of an Atlanta skyscraper and lean out over the edge. It was amazing and exhilarating.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I’m not a pajama wearing person. I sleep in t-shirts.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I’m the only person I know that doesn’t have their ears pierced.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">It feels funny to go to sleep without a dog lying up against me.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I would rather sleep in my own bed than anywhere else.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I hate taking any kind of medicine. Tim has to force me to take it when I’m sick.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I would try acupuncture in a second.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I was an All-State softball third-baseman. (Not many people know that due to the butch comments that inevitably follow.)<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I’m tired of living in a neighborhood where I hear gunshots in the middle of the night.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">If I didn’t love my family so much I would convince Tim to move to another country.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">My very first memory is of me standing on a chair near the stove watching my father make pancakes in the shapes of animals. <o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I asked my father recently if he knew what my very first memory was, and amazingly, he did.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I think my mother is the best cook EVER. <o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I talk to my mother almost every other day and have ever since I left her house.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I’ve never met anyone that has the same birthday as me.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I used to do the crossword puzzle religiously, but now I don’t because we don’t get the paper.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I think cookies should be chewy, not crunchy.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">The Fox Theater is one of my favorite places to go. I love to look at the ceiling.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I love to sit around a bon-fire.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I think one of the most attractive things about Tim is his veiny hands and arms. <o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">The first night that Tim and I shared the same bed, we woke up holding hands.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I have a double-jointed pinky finger<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">It’s much harder for me to be friends with women than men. <o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I bruise very easily. Touch me and I bruise.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I have very good yard ethic and enjoy landscaping.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">When Tim and I started dating, we made a list of all of the things we want to do together. <o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">I hope that we will be able to mark every single item off of that very long list. That would be cool.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Times;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;">It was much harder than I thought it would be to come up with 100 things about myself.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ol> <!--EndFragment-->angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202434979522742695noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846546.post-34198321703282956362012-03-13T23:32:00.003-04:002012-03-14T00:25:38.537-04:00Mad as a Hatter, Methinks.Call me crazy. I believe in chance and happenstance. I believe complete strangers can double as fortune cookies and friends check up on you, seemingly out of the blue, at the exact moment you need them. <div><br /><div>These types of things have been happening to me for the past two months.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Call me crazy. These serendipitous situations, they are keeping me from coming undone.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202434979522742695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846546.post-66402299684207622922012-03-05T22:29:00.015-05:002012-03-05T23:45:19.312-05:00Snippet of InsanityRight now, for me, it's all about finding distractions.<br /><br />Instead of playing online Scrabble or having facebook pity parties with pals miles away, I decided to take some pictures tonight. (My dad will enjoy that childhood reference.) Anyway, I guess I'm trying to slowly get back into the blog thing because, well, I miss it. Besides, Harper will be mad if Audrey is the only one with funny stories.<br /><br />Tonight, while watching Shrek for the thousandth time, Harper waltzes out into the living room in her prettiest princess dress. It was a sight, but only because she had strategically pulled down the front of the dress to reveal her baby boobies (as we like to call them). She asked, very royally, "Muhthuh, How do I look?" I took her in for a moment and said smugly, "Pull up your dress." <div>She didn't even look at me, but held her gaze straight forward and repeated, "I asked you: Muthuh, How do I look?"<br />I buckled and softly said, "You look <span style="font-style: italic;">very</span> pretty."<br />"Well, then. I look pretty. So, I <i>don't </i>have to pull up my dress." She turned and walked away demonstrating just as much attitude with her tiny staccato steps.<br /><br /></div>Shortly after the movie, we took a bath:<div><br /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=109786" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="225" width="400"> <param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=4ca559e806&photo_id=6957982037"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=109786"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=109786" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=4ca559e806&photo_id=6957982037" height="225" width="400"></embed></object><br /><br />Yes, they ate bananas in the bathtub.</div><div><br /></div><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mydailystruggle/6957993803/" title="Why not? by My Daily Struggle, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7204/6957993803_3e63aaec4e_z.jpg" alt="Why not?" height="448" width="640" /></a>angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202434979522742695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846546.post-30271617796499939342012-03-04T22:05:00.003-05:002012-03-04T22:19:40.667-05:00Almost as captivating as a shooting starI wonder if you can make some characterizing correlation between people that prefer rainbows over people that prefer shooting stars. <br />I love a good rainbow, but for me, a shooting star is a much more profound occurrence. <br /><br />Either way, I should look to the skies more often.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mydailystruggle/6808417090/" title="for a minute, then it was gone. by My Daily Struggle, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7060/6808417090_bd1fe22a0f_z.jpg" width="456" height="640" alt="for a minute, then it was gone."></a>angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202434979522742695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846546.post-57951247402686334752012-02-26T12:26:00.008-05:002012-02-26T12:49:50.154-05:00Vignette d'Audrey<style>@font-face { font-family: "MS 明朝"; }@font-face { font-family: "MS 明朝"; }@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria; }.MsoChpDefault { font-family: Cambria; }div.WordSection1 { page: WordSection1; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal">After solidifying our Spring Break plans last night, all curled up next to me, Audrey says, “I’m going to dream about our beach condo. I’m so excited!” </p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Me too.” I whisper.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“How much will it cost… a lot?” she asks.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“You let me worry about that.” I say.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Well, if you need to, you can borrow some money from my piggy bank.” </p> <p class="MsoNormal">She pulls the covers up to her chin and gives finality to the conversation by rolling over onto her side with a sigh.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I lean over her, stare at her beautiful sleepy mind, brush her hair from her forehead and tell her I love her.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mydailystruggle/6785939012/" title="audrey6.5 by My Daily Struggle, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7061/6785939012_4fd1dc26f0_z.jpg" width="640" height="457" alt="audrey6.5"></a>angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202434979522742695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846546.post-28034391099087906392012-01-08T19:49:00.005-05:002012-01-08T20:00:25.666-05:00Having A Little Fun with Audrey<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mydailystruggle/6663381667/" title="a little back lighting by My Daily Struggle, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7153/6663381667_f49d80d3cb_z.jpg" alt="a little back lighting" height="382" width="640" /></a><br />It was fun to be a little silly this evening.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mydailystruggle/6663383115/" title="I think she was attempting her name... by My Daily Struggle, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7011/6663383115_c909046cf0_z.jpg" alt="I think she was attempting her name..." height="426" width="640" /></a><br />I think she was attempting her name in this one.angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202434979522742695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846546.post-78102629962003686362011-10-14T00:00:00.008-04:002011-10-14T00:24:46.403-04:00A Typical Night<a href="http://s1137.photobucket.com/albums/n506/thriftastic/?action=view&current=animationgirls.gif" target="_blank"><img style="width: 666px; height: 443px;" src="http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n506/thriftastic/animationgirls.gif" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I never have time to blog anymore and I need to be doing about a million other things right now, but I thought I'd put this together instead.<br /><br />I love them but they never sleep.angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202434979522742695noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846546.post-22468644221107607172011-01-03T21:48:00.003-05:002011-01-03T22:25:48.915-05:00Slowing it Down<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mydailystruggle/5321934383/" title="Untitled by My Daily Struggle, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5090/5321934383_3e28d44704_z.jpg" alt="" height="640" width="457" /></a><br /><br />After three of the busiest months of my life, I am finally taking time to breathe again. And guess what that means? More pictures of MY kids and MY family!<br />I joke, but I think they're happy to have me back after such a long stint. I think that because there were no complaints about me toting my camera around yesterday. No shying away. Lots of smiling on command. In fact, Audrey even set up her own shots. She's a pretty good creative director. It was great.<br /><br />I missed taking pictures of my girls.<br /><br />They are the two busiest girls in the world. They never stop talking, moving, making or messing. They can literally tear the house apart in a matter of minutes. I swear. Case in point: This past weekend, Tim and I started cleaning the house after taking down the tree. We cleaned the living room and moved on into the kitchen. By the time the kitchen was spic and span, we walked back into the living room... it was trashed! <span style="font-style: italic;">Trashed</span>!<br /><br />I don't really have anything important or profound to say. I'm just glad to be adopting a slower, more relaxed pace.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mydailystruggle/5321936061/" title="Untitled by My Daily Struggle, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5089/5321936061_01116ae246_z.jpg" alt="" height="426" width="640" /></a>angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202434979522742695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846546.post-27916848782947783602011-01-02T22:48:00.008-05:002011-01-02T23:48:11.727-05:00Cool Tricks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWR1xvNETe1KMNEz8yEkcIw6K0APwCpLFdE78UmbgbW0BOU00LUzfI1b688VwSO83NIJ4v5tzZTnKtZqQs-FyHrw8UEV-G_brlZ_mz9bA_YttubsDgEtOFYPNWHnB2cE6tZtV/s1600/AGP_4899.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 397px; height: 596px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWR1xvNETe1KMNEz8yEkcIw6K0APwCpLFdE78UmbgbW0BOU00LUzfI1b688VwSO83NIJ4v5tzZTnKtZqQs-FyHrw8UEV-G_brlZ_mz9bA_YttubsDgEtOFYPNWHnB2cE6tZtV/s400/AGP_4899.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557804869616561202" border="0" /></a><br />She's as wild as the hair about her head.<br />Every day is full of surprises. I sometimes can't wrap my head around the words that come from her perfectly shaped mouth. I have to remind myself that she's only two and a half.<br /><br />When she's tired her hands always reach for my hair. She hums.<br />If I'm lucky, she plants a big, wonderful, sincere kiss on my lips while she cradles my chin in her chubby palms. "My Enchila" she calls me. (My Angela, to you.)<br /><br />I mostly love the songs she makes up while playing alone.<br />And she's already making up her own words.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Imparpable</span>: "When it's dark and then the sun's coming up."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbJIYQ_EAkF-e7BeslV-1hrCloFrALn00TUq8wvSO9mh8UXp9kiqmJn40Fir0Zfh6KbkIVt4fBeR3o9QnIvmA0-LgfiZBhabW3lFeFW2-xf3Jj6zKeiDwWeZPWO2zaRDfGwXt/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 56px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbJIYQ_EAkF-e7BeslV-1hrCloFrALn00TUq8wvSO9mh8UXp9kiqmJn40Fir0Zfh6KbkIVt4fBeR3o9QnIvmA0-LgfiZBhabW3lFeFW2-xf3Jj6zKeiDwWeZPWO2zaRDfGwXt/s400/Untitled-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557802714338360994" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1arzLa0zX3fRFyT2eoFHVE2qrwSXS8YBT0_LnnUNl7m8-jEjLTfmhbpGs8Mmf4HVnBslvAQtfoi4lqj24PU-6G2O0gN4M31cysPflkG3b3V8Q4lKk0UmYlhkm2v36MF17JIa/s1600/AGP_4847.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1arzLa0zX3fRFyT2eoFHVE2qrwSXS8YBT0_LnnUNl7m8-jEjLTfmhbpGs8Mmf4HVnBslvAQtfoi4lqj24PU-6G2O0gN4M31cysPflkG3b3V8Q4lKk0UmYlhkm2v36MF17JIa/s400/AGP_4847.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557803213010799346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wgh2nxmEiOnKES0SpFmq9cCbCDD7zrjXHTNF2XvTV5-zMJ9JkWGoB7yEcXpQBnRGUoGYeLK63ZAXTCfGtFN7BfLJ6a7zmmhZm0UTkpPTyAyBNHX8zXMDfuvu3NHYCYvNOHfb/s1600/AGP_4846.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wgh2nxmEiOnKES0SpFmq9cCbCDD7zrjXHTNF2XvTV5-zMJ9JkWGoB7yEcXpQBnRGUoGYeLK63ZAXTCfGtFN7BfLJ6a7zmmhZm0UTkpPTyAyBNHX8zXMDfuvu3NHYCYvNOHfb/s400/AGP_4846.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557802938661077378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6zsuip9R2fCctMI5SYZHSzP1tKHJxeqb-zARhJQ51ovhRkFQT4GHlMmcGjOABikRxJj-MEcF64E7V2o0WprAB51eqIpm9gK6ObkD1xSC7DqKv9OR-2OebRTsm_gnlc-jXA4K/s1600/AGP_4851.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6zsuip9R2fCctMI5SYZHSzP1tKHJxeqb-zARhJQ51ovhRkFQT4GHlMmcGjOABikRxJj-MEcF64E7V2o0WprAB51eqIpm9gK6ObkD1xSC7DqKv9OR-2OebRTsm_gnlc-jXA4K/s400/AGP_4851.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557803861669303362" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmWGifttw72NiGXXHC3FENrs2vHxHhFNe0dsko1E5CJ7VC80lQhXyId_n5JQ53pOQ5OuU_hvASLf9Pmz6l36NQFu2q5vGpEpRSiyGHfttbEDZsS_ERCe1HikQCfsxTq2UBHzm/s1600/AGP_4849.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmWGifttw72NiGXXHC3FENrs2vHxHhFNe0dsko1E5CJ7VC80lQhXyId_n5JQ53pOQ5OuU_hvASLf9Pmz6l36NQFu2q5vGpEpRSiyGHfttbEDZsS_ERCe1HikQCfsxTq2UBHzm/s400/AGP_4849.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557803614320744754" border="0" /></a><br />She makes all of us laugh, especially her <span style="font-style: italic;">Sissy</span>. They love each other.<br />I had to stop myself today. I looked over and thought they were wrestling and picking at each other. I was about to snap at them and pull them apart , discipline them, when I realized they were having a Love Fest. Who in their right mind would break that up?<br /><br />Harper is my Snuggler.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETCn1IsjaPcz9w0arrb05A-ltSn-BGvpdRKc10reQrs6VSlEds0pE5MOvWeTvfGq5o4SvQwSQ3xz3gvBXptj_lBP7riTsEPqwVCz2z3SZX47JmksDosY-g-p9vQesxUdqZoWD/s1600/AGP_4857.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETCn1IsjaPcz9w0arrb05A-ltSn-BGvpdRKc10reQrs6VSlEds0pE5MOvWeTvfGq5o4SvQwSQ3xz3gvBXptj_lBP7riTsEPqwVCz2z3SZX47JmksDosY-g-p9vQesxUdqZoWD/s400/AGP_4857.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557814283363114322" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Life with you, Harper, is gonna be one helluva ride.<br />Always looking forward, never looking back.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UYT0jbvOFqd6ZM9mNpoXy8N2USYnSzoNLA1YA0ogQ2MbTEMk38pkXj0hOMMKO-qPbsMY2pK-r3YZ9gSI2vDsYSHNgQJL_F-JIueAeB_QMcV1kZDnkJX1dGK8yyuEwa9to3la/s1600/AGP_4896.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UYT0jbvOFqd6ZM9mNpoXy8N2USYnSzoNLA1YA0ogQ2MbTEMk38pkXj0hOMMKO-qPbsMY2pK-r3YZ9gSI2vDsYSHNgQJL_F-JIueAeB_QMcV1kZDnkJX1dGK8yyuEwa9to3la/s400/AGP_4896.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557815953128020514" border="0" /></a>angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202434979522742695noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846546.post-26120877299313358112010-11-09T23:37:00.015-05:002010-11-10T01:03:53.770-05:00Stroke of Luck<span lang="IT">Julie,</span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">I’m doing this for me mostly, but I’m also doing this for you. You might enjoy reading this while you’re <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">housebound</span> and<span style=""> </span>bored out of your mind</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT"><br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSCXxiLVB_aSpSaabBwfS8d6zYorzzDkOaWA0B95PRQSmWUcxjGxhyphenhyphenNyH26oqWssjr7bdNgt0PKVwbqBy_avnyj19pNPhrZF9kYXexSAlfoldv7T48sjuUkaNicZQ4xPbKq6rH/s1600/juliebw.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSCXxiLVB_aSpSaabBwfS8d6zYorzzDkOaWA0B95PRQSmWUcxjGxhyphenhyphenNyH26oqWssjr7bdNgt0PKVwbqBy_avnyj19pNPhrZF9kYXexSAlfoldv7T48sjuUkaNicZQ4xPbKq6rH/s400/juliebw.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537780347609110274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT"><b>Tuesday Night (I get the call)</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">Tim and I were sitting in the living room, him watching TV and me on the computer as usual.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">Mom called and somehow managed to say your name, slowly,<span style=""> </span>in choked-up syllables. That’s all she got out before I thought the worst and in denial kept repeating, “What? W</span><span lang="IT">hat? No. No. No.” And was somewhat relieved when she finally managed to finish her sentence, telling </span><span lang="IT">me that you’d had a seizure. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">I made her give the phone to dad. I knew I’d get some details from him. And I did.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">I was told you had walked into your patient’s room and collapsed, having a seizure. The patient, luckily called 911. (Later, we found out that it <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">didn</span></span>’t happen quite like that.) When I first heard the word “<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">stroke</span>”, that’s when I began to get upset again. “What do you mean she had a stroke? She’s 46!” No one was sure if you were conscious or speaking or moving your limbs. I wanted to know <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">everyt</span></span></span><span lang="IT">hing. I wanted to know if you were okay.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">I told them to call me back when they found out more.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">I was mostly in shock after getting off the phone. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">couldn</span></span>’t quite wrap my head around it. Tim kept <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">reassuring</span> me that you can fully recover from a stroke. So, I googled and googled and was still googling when I got the second phone call. Before you were to be life-lined to St Vincent, you suffered another seizure.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">I went ballistic. I immediately began booking a flight. I debated on jumping in the car and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">driving</span> up. Then, I slowed my thoughts and called mom and Kelli and we all decided to fly up together. I remember talking to Bryan at some point and then throwing almost everything I owned into a bag. All the while, refusing to accept that this horrible, terrible, unthinkable thing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">happe</span></span></span><span lang="IT"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">ned</span></span> to you. I took a shower and then slept on the couch for a few hours before picking up mom to head to the airport where we met Kelli.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">I know it might have been too much, all of us coming up. I know we might have jumped the gun, but Julie, I never ever would have forgiven myself if your situation had worsened</span><span lang="IT"> and I did not get the chance to see you. Just the thought of it…it’s too much to imagine.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">I could not bare the thought of losing the one person I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ve</span></span> fore</span><span lang="IT"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">ver</span></span> idolized and loved unconditionally. Not you. Not my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Juwee</span></span>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5fTmwa3_R84V7EqbDYWUqT2joleBFHOlRBoM4dKzrk09VCl7DbWkATtFv7kl-aL4Kq12S41eW3gJKmTMjhIVqrOUvjsB5TRnJ98w_ApO7P3u07031VLvbxyxCItf4ykwjl8_/s1600/julie1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5fTmwa3_R84V7EqbDYWUqT2joleBFHOlRBoM4dKzrk09VCl7DbWkATtFv7kl-aL4Kq12S41eW3gJKmTMjhIVqrOUvjsB5TRnJ98w_ApO7P3u07031VLvbxyxCItf4ykwjl8_/s400/julie1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537780646909939170" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT"><b> </b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT"><b>Wednesday Morning (I got to see you)</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">Bryan picked us up outside baggage claim. The cloud of worry was very thick on that long car ride to the hospital.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">At this point, we knew you could move your arms and legs and could make sounds. When we got to the hospital I was almost too scared to see you. It was hard. I was so incredibly saddened by your condition but thankful that you were seemingly getting the rest you so v</span><span lang="IT"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">ery</span></span> much needed. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">I remember sitting in your room, all alone, just watching you sleep. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">I felt helpless. I wanted to touch you. I wanted to stand up and just wrap my arms around you and all of your protruding tubes. I was close to you but I wanted to be closer.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">I wish I’d continued to write this while I was in Indiana. So much of it is a blur now but I remember feeling frightened that Wednesday. You seemed so <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">despondent</span>, so not there. Although you would look at me, it was almost as if you were looking right <i>through</i></span><span lang="IT"> me. My stomach turned with worry. And even though you smiled at me, you were smiling at everyone and to everything that was said. So, I thought it might be a sign of uneasiness rather than genuine emotion. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">It’s important to mention that almost 20 family members and friends came to visit you Wednesday evening. I knew it was too much for you. I knew you were exhausted. I felt guilty, even, for being there. We all just wanted to connect with you again, to hear our voice</span><span lang="IT"> and see that bright, energetic face.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">That night, I fell asleep wishing, hoping, longing for you to be more like yourself. I wanted your brain to just get better over night.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT"><b>Thursday (I held your hand for a very long time)</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT"><b> </b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">I was very hesitant to go into your room that morning. I wanted to give you your space after Wednesday night. I was most afraid that you <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">wouldn</span></span>’t recognize me. I guess I was still in denial. I spent most of the morning in the waiting room and made you this because I didn't really know what else to do.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzacQqmLLiN1cJGbi7CrH_bgMz-UE3nz6_pZ_qvTFD7rOgeHLD5yy5sJpeTn4t5v_pJqqCC42XeGYw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">Thursday, Thursday was a great day. When I finally entered your room you looked happy to see me, like you <i>really </i></span><span lang="IT">saw me. You were talking and even exhibiting your natural, normal movements- like the repetitive upward sweeping movement you make with your hand<span style=""> </span>when brushing your hair away from your face. It’s one of the characteristics I most associate with you. It made me grin from ear to ear to see it, again. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">You were also speaking so well. It was slow, labored speech but hey, those were words I could understand and they made sense! You were 100 times better than Wednesday. Unbelievable. The brain. <i>Your</i></span><span lang="IT"> brain. Just unbelievable.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">I remember the OT coming in to ask you questions (or maybe she was the speech therapist, I’m not quite sure). After asking you what year it was you said, “Two-thousand and one.” I remember hanging my head just as you added “…..zero” to the end. We all shared a good laugh and I thought that was interesting- the way your brain processed the year in numbers. Another funny thing you said: The nurse asked you “Who’s the President?” You answered, “Obama.”</span><span lang="IT"> She then asked, “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” You said, “I plead the Fifth.” </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">I mean, how is it that you’re cracking jokes at a time like this?! I love you.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">You were still mixing up your left and right a little bit and the nurse noticed that your pupils <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">weren</span></span>’t <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">dilating</span> like they should. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">The OT or speech therapist also had you draw a picture. She asked you to draw a clock. You did that perfectly.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">I was amazed that you put the numbers in all the right places and you spaced them equally. It was a beautiful clock. You also added the arms. The therapist as</span><span lang="IT"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">ked</span></span> you, “What time does that clock say?” You answered by writing “1-12”. And I knew what you were thinking. I said, “She’s saying she wrote the numbers 1-12.” The therapist said, “Yes. You wrote 1-12, but what <i>time</i></span><span lang="IT"> is it?”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">You wrote down 12:55. You were a little off.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">Later on that night, I was showing someone in your room (I can’t remember who) your clock and explaining to them what you did. I held it up in front of you and asked you again, “What time is it?” And you said three o’ clock. You were right! I remember thinking, “Yes! Hell yeah!”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">Go Julie.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">The best part of Thursday was sitting next to you and holding your hand while listening to you struggle to carry on conversations. I felt like I was sending my energy to you through touch (I know, I sound silly or something, but I really felt that way). </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="IT"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="IT">By the end of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">th</span></span>e night, you were still having trouble finishing your sentences. You would often have incomplete thoughts, trailing off and ending with a smile and a somewhat vacant look. Even so, the amount of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">function</span> you’d recovered and how quickly.. I was so impressed and proud of your strength.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="IT"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="IT">I still desired one of our typical <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">conversations</span>. And although I knew you were probably tiring quickly of all the questions, I kept asking them in hopes that you would just begin to talk my ear off. (<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Because</span>, you know, that’s how it normally goes: You get 30 minutes, I get my 30 minutes and then, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">ine</span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">vitably</span></span> one of our phones will go dead.)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="IT"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="IT">I hope to have that again with you someday soon. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="IT"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="IT">I will keep your clock drawing for as long as I live. It will always remind me of this time, of time in general: how important it is, how it can fly by all too quickly if you let it or slow down so slow that you don’t think you’ll ever catch up with reality. One thing’s for sure, Time is on your side Julie. You had great timing. You really did.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WxjUd_Ks7wxEFTSiVJ7qllPkfcZIMcw_s5uhQep1w1bJepLwuGeoWncuOlUBrRx-XLcjUtShuzcA0106CvJKoRecltU2PUmLrH4y2fjCep4VcilOwoiyYGO8VnEiwID-U5tp/s1600/clock.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 331px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WxjUd_Ks7wxEFTSiVJ7qllPkfcZIMcw_s5uhQep1w1bJepLwuGeoWncuOlUBrRx-XLcjUtShuzcA0106CvJKoRecltU2PUmLrH4y2fjCep4VcilOwoiyYGO8VnEiwID-U5tp/s400/clock.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537784157781189826" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="IT"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="IT"><b>Friday Morning ( Goodbye for now)</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="IT"><b> </b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="IT">Chuck took Kelli to the airport bright and early. Mom and I got to stay a few hours longer. It was 6am when we got to the hospital. Mom was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">itchin</span></span>’ to see you. Again, I was a little apprehensive. We <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">initially</span> went back to peek in on you and ask the nurses if they’d seen mom’s pill case (which she somehow lost). You were sleeping soundly. Mom followed me back to the waiting room but shortly thereafter said she was going back into your room. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">wasn</span></span>’t going to have any part in waking you up. You know how much I hate to be woken up in the morning!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="IT">I gave mom a half hour alone with you and then went back to see you myself. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="IT">I was thrilled. You looked fantastic. I was giddy and so happy that we’d decided to hang back for a few more hours before h</span><span lang="IT"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">eading</span></span> to the airport. It was so worth it.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="IT">When it came time to leave I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">couldn</span></span>’t hold back the tears. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">wasn</span></span>’t ready to go. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="IT"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span lang="IT">I gave everyone hugs and then returned my attention to you, sitting up in your chair, and finally got to wrap my arms around you. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">It was hard to leave you.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">And it’s still hard to be away.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjYBpOqPB84TG5wRw0xvxaR2Sv_faf49C1KpbYhRIkOejLVAsX1aC-iR547HS4nGz-W2ggf-7MMTWXf_J0DdY8tuRtT1LEucind23-56qg_nTDBA1BP60lfn3KJYfIgUtcgT0/s1600/348555205_277fb590bf_z.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjYBpOqPB84TG5wRw0xvxaR2Sv_faf49C1KpbYhRIkOejLVAsX1aC-iR547HS4nGz-W2ggf-7MMTWXf_J0DdY8tuRtT1LEucind23-56qg_nTDBA1BP60lfn3KJYfIgUtcgT0/s400/348555205_277fb590bf_z.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537792089111043378" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">I love you. You’re doing great. You’re doing better than great. You are an amazing person and I can’t imagine life without you. You’re gonna be just fine. I hope you know that.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT">Now, pick up the phone and call me damn it. </span></p>angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202434979522742695noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846546.post-63996928841381677132010-08-03T12:56:00.016-04:002010-08-03T22:05:27.925-04:00Some Kids Win You Over Right Away<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mydailystruggle/4857254647/" title="Untitled by My Daily Struggle, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4857254647_925cf8aed4.jpg" alt="" height="500" width="333" /></a><br />I am intrigued by Autism. I am even more intrigued by people that do not engage with children or are scared and tend ignore children with Autism. It's just a label folks. Take that label away and you have <span style="font-style: italic;">just a kid</span>.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mydailystruggle/4857254329/" title="Untitled by My Daily Struggle, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4101/4857254329_48892a6361.jpg" alt="" height="333" width="500" /></a><br />All kids are approachable and responsive if you find a way in. Children with Autism are a little more sensitive, a little more apprehensive about socializing and a little more passionate about specific things.<br />I'm no expert on Autism, but like I said I'm definitely intrigued by it. I'm curious as to why more males are stricken with it, why there are more diagnoses today (a lot more) and how many several different spin-offs of Autism exist: <a href="http://www.brighttots.com/Hyperlexia">Hyperlexia</a>, <span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/pdd/pdd.htm"><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 17px;">Pervasive Developmental Disorder</span></span></a></span> and <a href="http://www.aspergersyndrome.org/Home.aspx">Asbergers Syndrome</a> just to name a few. The spectrum is so broad the signs so vague in some instances. For example, sometimes these disorders are defined by a passion for a certain things to the point of being obsessive about it- dinosaurs, trains or numbers or anything really but why do some children become obsessed and passionate about one thing and not another? Also the physical characteristics- funny finger movements/folding or hand flapping, toe-walking... what causes that behavior? Some children are described as having learning disorders but then others can be savants and have an incredible understanding of language and even know how to read very early on. Oh, and the eating habits! One Autistic adult divulged that he loves to eat whole onions like they're apples. One parent said her child's therapist told her that it usually takes introducing a new food 100 times before a kid with Autism will try it. 100 times! How can the spectrum be so wide in regards to the symptoms? I find it all so very interesting. The most perplexing though is, why does it affect mostly males? 4 times more males than females.<br /><br />Sigh. The brain, our bodies, our coping mechanisms... all so very interesting.<br /><br />Maybe I should've been a neurologist.<br /><br />With that being said, I was a little terrified to meet my client. I was gently forewarned several times before going on this shoot that he might not be receptive to me. He might not want to have his picture taken. He might not let me take his picture <span style="font-style: italic;">at all</span>.<br /><br />There's always a way in folks. And had I not been clued-in.... I never would've known of his disorder. I never would have suspected. Not social? We talked the entire time I was there. Not responsive? Hey, I got smiles. I got lots of smiles, even some laughs.<br /><br />I did have a tip though, and I brought a sticker book for back up.<br /><br />I didn't need it.<br />But it did make a nice parting gift.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mydailystruggle/4857255117/" title="Untitled by My Daily Struggle, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4137/4857255117_81a2dcb511.jpg" alt="" height="357" width="500" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mydailystruggle/4857876390/" title="Untitled by My Daily Struggle, on Flickr"><img style="width: 249px; height: 348px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4095/4857876390_3f5b8f1639.jpg" alt="" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mydailystruggle/4857256105/" title="Untitled by My Daily Struggle, on Flickr"><img style="width: 250px; height: 349px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/4857256105_0de096b804.jpg" alt="" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mydailystruggle/4857256665/" title="Untitled by My Daily Struggle, on Flickr"><img style="width: 170px; height: 240px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4857256665_c685401b1e.jpg" alt="" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mydailystruggle/4857877086/" title="Untitled by My Daily Struggle, on Flickr"><img style="width: 330px; height: 239px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4095/4857877086_9bcbc868ec.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mydailystruggle/4857875688/" title="Untitled by My Daily Struggle, on Flickr"><img style="width: 627px; height: 422px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4102/4857875688_52de4712c5.jpg" alt="" /></a>angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202434979522742695noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846546.post-69045814322517978992010-08-03T12:30:00.008-04:002010-08-03T12:55:51.557-04:00Those Miller GirlsOh, these girls. These girls tug at my heart strings. It's always such a treat to visit the Miller house. This is a mom with such a big heart, tremendous patience and such a positive personality! It rubs off on me every time I visit. Tu-tus and duckies always make for a good time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-sUsgnieZbdr-qZbfu4XswvUwYmCSzB_JJHp2VUKXl6X9Onq8Jbtd9htmlWZNRE-iIWMqisLRvzZn2E4Rw9QJQ79rF7eqPbs0hFd4piL_LSXiA1Dm_O7eOwzKwM81niw9YUe/s1600/AGP_1796bw(5x7).jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-sUsgnieZbdr-qZbfu4XswvUwYmCSzB_JJHp2VUKXl6X9Onq8Jbtd9htmlWZNRE-iIWMqisLRvzZn2E4Rw9QJQ79rF7eqPbs0hFd4piL_LSXiA1Dm_O7eOwzKwM81niw9YUe/s400/AGP_1796bw(5x7).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501226952798878818" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqiCGG46DcwVpQpyHL4kT50iy9VlnMjdfqQX1NhmxzYwFypbxgN7ttTfVCL61nb3EaRz3wrgNJpejFw0PaEat3DWx7ElkPCQsvFXZJAtgMaytbPKeCu9H7R7EJykqItdsu_Al0/s1600/ash1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqiCGG46DcwVpQpyHL4kT50iy9VlnMjdfqQX1NhmxzYwFypbxgN7ttTfVCL61nb3EaRz3wrgNJpejFw0PaEat3DWx7ElkPCQsvFXZJAtgMaytbPKeCu9H7R7EJykqItdsu_Al0/s400/ash1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501226093705043170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtipTu5RiUmGi-LFKetNMeQk-KKjFsTOE0td2NEG3LKv-BjAz-07YaOcwhSCh8E9CLUESy8R9moq_-eQSuVucTUBgwW7wcW0D4x91yGyyhLtcKqm8h262A7rDlEcr52RhOVIy/s1600/ash2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 188px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtipTu5RiUmGi-LFKetNMeQk-KKjFsTOE0td2NEG3LKv-BjAz-07YaOcwhSCh8E9CLUESy8R9moq_-eQSuVucTUBgwW7wcW0D4x91yGyyhLtcKqm8h262A7rDlEcr52RhOVIy/s400/ash2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501225965784228562" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JphI39kcTeQojc3tya0IR-0w43zz6f8_Ax6bT1SOnLQFEF3yrgNcwOUKGm4kRquhTm9tmFBhyphenhyphenGQ-B2dfTcp_1eJat6BfP9oz5lVu4PThD790Ck3XlVFrJX2A10CcUdoPopZX/s1600/AGP_1769combo.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 399px; height: 132px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JphI39kcTeQojc3tya0IR-0w43zz6f8_Ax6bT1SOnLQFEF3yrgNcwOUKGm4kRquhTm9tmFBhyphenhyphenGQ-B2dfTcp_1eJat6BfP9oz5lVu4PThD790Ck3XlVFrJX2A10CcUdoPopZX/s400/AGP_1769combo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501226384958137906" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3A69ihqsiDybRGfh_Ghdv4SzYNfj7_qAVJX2znmyks3af89r0XHDu2TbkvDvsdnvsl97ldBWal60oid4G_vE5f6Hqm3IPC26vgTl_grO1uTsdZn-A5fGnkr6K_ulW3Ni7T-Hc/s1600/AGP_1776bw.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3A69ihqsiDybRGfh_Ghdv4SzYNfj7_qAVJX2znmyks3af89r0XHDu2TbkvDvsdnvsl97ldBWal60oid4G_vE5f6Hqm3IPC26vgTl_grO1uTsdZn-A5fGnkr6K_ulW3Ni7T-Hc/s400/AGP_1776bw.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501227258556334514" border="0" /></a>angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202434979522742695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846546.post-8476023626472246592010-07-25T23:28:00.004-04:002010-07-26T00:18:04.609-04:00Good-bye Crib, Hello Big Girl Bed.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mydailystruggle/4824618924/" title="G'Bye Crib! by My Daily Struggle, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4824618924_854408a742.jpg" alt="G'Bye Crib!" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Well, this was past due seeing as Harper had outsmarted her crib a little over a month ago.<br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Cobject%20width=" 400="" height="300"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/433244066822"><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/433244066822" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="300" width="400"></embed></a><br /><br />She was not sad to see her crib go down. She has not asked for it back. As a matter of fact, after Tim had taken it apart and propped up against the wall Harper walked over to it, rested her hand upon the sideways turned head of the crib and said, "Bye-Bye Crib." She lingered there for only a minute before she said, "HELLLLLOOOO BIG GIRL BED!" and dove into the cute little toddler-sized platform bed that her dad made just for her.<br />I thought it sweet for her to acknowledge her long term relationship with her crib and give it a much deserved farewell.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mydailystruggle/4829605080/" title="trying it out for the first time by My Daily Struggle, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4115/4829605080_b11fb7b9c3.jpg" alt="trying it out for the first time" height="357" width="500" /></a><br />Audrey helped her break in the new sleeping grounds. This picture is the very first moment in her bed. Look how excited she is! She kept clapping- she was so happy. Serious excitement.<br />She is so proud to be more like a big girl. Now, if we could just get her on board with the potty training bit. She's so stubborn about it.<br />And I have to say, I was really worried about this backfiring on us. Much to my surprise, she stayed in it last night (only fell out once) and then ended up waking at 4am to crawl into bed with us (as usual). We haven't had to do the "Get back in bed!" thing at all (yet).<br />And since Audrey is away for a week, I think the transition will go more smoothly. We can just focus on Harps.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mydailystruggle/4824004783/" title="Hello Big Girl Bed! by My Daily Struggle, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4824004783_2a50eb4e5d.jpg" alt="Hello Big Girl Bed!" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /><br />I had to sneak in there tonight and grab one picture. She initially fell asleep with both hands behind her head. As you can see, one hand moved in order to touch the sippy cup. She loves her ice cold milk. *Every drink is referred to as "ice cold". <br />Oh, and Stripey. Stripey's the bunny. She promised Audrey that she would sleep with it and protect it from the dogs. She held up to her promise, Audrey. You'd be so proud.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mydailystruggle/4829539722/" title="A Shot in the Dark by My Daily Struggle, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4080/4829539722_3444d9464d.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="A Shot in the Dark" /></a><br /><br />Other things Harper is doing: She has learned to give the "Thumbs Up!" sign. She's mastered the cool trick of balancing a spoon on her nose. (I'm going to have to video this. It's hysterically funny.) She can put her own shoes on. She is talking our heads off! She buckles herself in the car seat. Pretty soon she'll be ruling the world.<br /><br />And yes, I'm a little saddened by the fact that my kids are growing up so quickly. But Harper, even more-so than Audrey at this age, cannot wait to be a big girl. So, I'm going to embrace that and not hold her back... as hard as it may be at times.angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04202434979522742695noreply@blogger.com0