You are an Extroverted Self-Knowing Tree Hugger
1% of the 44144 people who have taken this quiz are like you.
I think I am computer challenged because the site said “just cut and paste to your site” Well, I did that and all I got was code. ;( But the test was almost right on, I am still learning more about the self, but I am definitely a project in progress tree hugger.
Since buying this house 2 years ago, the one room Joshua and I both wanted finished was the kitchen. Slowly and as cheaply as we could, this room slowly came together. The following pictures were taken after Joshua’s vacation over new Year’s. I LOVE my new kitchen!
New Countertops (Home Depot), new stove and range hood (Sears)
Long Counter on South Wall
We ran out of Cherried oak (this was what was left over from the flooring for the upstairs), so Joshua laid a slate tile “island” in the center of the floor. I LOVE THIS!
Dishwasher found on Craigslist for $50! New double sink, beautiful countertop
Painted walls and ceiling with a new track light which illuminates the entire room
Everything that went into the construction of this kitchen was aquired slowly.
Kitchen cabinets- 25 years old, bought from a man in Northeast whose wife was remodeling their kitchen (I swear the new cabinets she chose looked exactly like the old ones she sold)
flooring- solid oak, cherry stained, purchased at auction for $1.57 sqft.
Wall and ceiling paint- mistints purchased at lowes for $5 a gallon
Countertops- purchased at Home Depot, this was the only purchase that we paid full price
Appliances- fridge, stove, and range hood all from sears when they have their 20% off sales. The dishwasher Joshua found on Craigslist for $50
Light fixture- purchased at lowe’s, it was $129, but I had a coupon for $25 off a $150 purchase
I walk into this room and still can’t believe it’s in my house. I love this kitchen!
Over Christmas, my mom flew to California to spend the holiday with my brother. A nice, quiet Christmas. I was greatful. Then she comes back and brings me a box of Dewar’s Chews from Bakersfield. Their shop was a few blocks from our house and we used to take the kids there for caramels and fresh home made ice cream. The chews were yummy. Then….my 18 year old sister, Julie, runs into our older sister, Mary on myspace. We have been out of contact with her for about 3 years. Our cards and letters returned, her phone disconnected. We have found her again. I spoke to her tonight and it was like no time had passed. My parents took Mary in when I was a kid. She was a foster kid, but I always called her my sister. She taught me how to be beautiful, to wear make up, to style my hair. She taught me to take a stand even if it meant getting my ass kicked. I am so glad I found her again. Life is way too short to miss the ones you love.
Christmas was definitely interesting this year. I awoke at 445 in the am in order to have an intimate conversation with the toilet. I did most of the talking. Afterwards, I felt well enough to head downstairs. Joshua figured that since we were up, we may as well get the kids up and start enjoying presents.
The kids were VERY happy with their gifts. Melanie spent most of the day teaching herself a song on her new acoustic guitar. Mike spent most of his day rearranging his room to accomodate his new television. Mostly we bought it for him to have a good one to take to college with him in the fall. The one he had was a 12 inch that he’s had since he was 10.
Due to my early morning stomach issues, I was leery of touching any of our feast, so Mike prepped and stuffed the bird, and Melanie helped my sister with the mashed potatoes and side dishes.
Melissa and Jim came over. From the time she walked into the house until she left, she never shut up. Joshua and I were exhausted when they left. I swear that my sister is an emotional vampire. If we are together more than a few hours, I am wiped. She is also diabetic. At dinner, she ate a fair amount of mashed potatoes and 2 dinner rolls. Then wondered why her sugar was so high afterwards. When I went to serve dessert (dutch apple and pecan pies with vanilla ice cream), she stood in line with the kids for a slice. I DON’T THINK SO. Usually, I keep my mouth shut when it comes to her and her health issues, but I had to put my foot down. No pie. She was very mad at me. I packed a slice for her to take home for the next day, but I doubt that it made it that far.
The funny thing is that this is actually the easiest Christmas Joshua and I have had in years. Even with Melissa sucking me dry.
Ok, so on to my new toy…..Joshua gave me an embroidery machine! I am so excited to start sewing on it! I bought some muslin today to practice. I think I’ll be making a lot of small bags and wine covers.
How was everyone’s Christmas!
For reasons far to heavy to explain, I am not a religious person, but Christmas does call to my more spiritual side. I think it has to do with the fact that for the most part, people are nicer to each other. People talk to one another. It’s the one time of year that people look up from their busy lives and see what is beyond their nose and wish perfect strangers a happy holiday.
My Christmas wishes seem simplistic and small but here they are:
I wish for my daughter true love and happiness. I wish for Melanie’s continued ability to be herself and still give to another. She is my shining light.
I wish for my son the courage to tread his own way, be it here in little Albion or out in the big world. Mike dances to the beat of his own drum and asks permission from no one. I admire that. He is my courage when I have none.
I wish for my husband safe journeys at work and to always return to us safe. The weather can be a harsh mistress this time of year. He is my friend, my love, my protector. I love him more everyday.
I wish for my sisters and bother the ability to overcome our mental demons. We cannot control what has been given to us, but we can command it’s healing.
I wish for my mother the chance to see life without Eyore’s raincloud over her.
I wish for my 2 closest friends to find peace in their homes, and to remember that there are highs and lows like waves in every marriage. Just because you are in a low does not mean a high isn’t just around the corner.
I wish for the safe return of our brothers, sisters, sons and daughters serving in the military.
Merry Christmas Eve
B
Last Tuesday, Joshua and I had the pleasure of taking Melanie and her best friend, Becah, to Mercyhurst College to hear Frank Warren speak. For those who don’t know (and there are still a few of you), Frank started Post Secret (www.postsecret.com). As he declared in his presentation, he is the keeper of secrets. The premise is that you create a postcard with whatever you choose, and tell a secret on the card. It can be funny, serious, heartbreaking, whimsical, anything.
I have read a few of the books Melanie has, and checked the website a few times, but I was certainly blown away at this man’s creation and the viral spread of this movement. He shared secrets from all over the world, and then asked people in the audience to venture to a microphone and tell a secret. Some were hilarious, like the girl who told us that she always feigns sickness in church so she doesn’t have to shake hands with anyone. Some were heartbreaking, like the young man who confessed he attempted suicide, failed, and is now addicted to psych meds and pain killers.
There was also a student there from Penn State’s main campus, and she told everyone that when Frank spoke last year at her school, some girls started to anonymously write secrets on the stall walls in one of the main restrooms. The maintenance crew keeps painting over them, but the secrets keep popping up.
Melanie and Becah were both very happy we were able to be there. Melanie’s senior project is a Post Secret exhibit with a main concentration of Albion and the surrounding areas. If anyone would like to send and anonymous post card, you can send it here:
Melanie Vadney/Post Secret project
23 Cliff Street
Albion, PA 16401
1.Stanley, see this? This is this. This ain’t something else. This is this. From now on, you’re on your own.—--Robert DeNiro in The Deer Hunter
2.Paulie may have moved slow, but it was only because Paulie didn’t have to move for anybody.—-(V.O) Ray Liotta in Goodfellas
3.If war produces one thing, it’s many cemeteries. And in cemeteries, there are no enemies.—-Leelai’s mother in Heaven and Earth
4. Got a minute? For you, Brad, I’ve got five! Eden, American Beauty
5. Only I didn’t say “Fudge.” I said THE word, the big one, the queen-mother of dirty words, the “F-dash-dash-dash” word!Eden, A Christmas Story
6. Once upon a time, a woman was picking up firewood. She came upon a poisonous snake frozen in the snow. She took the snake home and nursed it back to health. One day the snake bit her on the cheek. As she lay dying, she asked the snake, “Why have you done this to me?” And the snake answered, “Look, bitch, you knew I was a snake.”The Indian as told to Mickey and Mallory in Natural Born Killers
7. Lucky tie, Lucky Guy!—-Robert DeNiro in The Fan
8. Well, that was absurd, let’s eat dead bird!Robert Downey Jr in Home for the Holidays
9. It started with a chair, Ron- Juno
10. You know, it’s always a business doing pleasure with you, Charlie!—Dolly Parton as Miss Mona in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
11.I could do this, I could be a fucking housewife.Angelina Jolie as Gia Caronji in Gia
12. I bet she gives great helmet.Eden, Spaceballs
13. This fog is getting thicker. And Leon is getting laaaaarrrrrger.—Airplane
14. Him-Why do you have to look so *luminous*? I mean, it’d make things so much easier if you woke up with puffy eyes and blotchy skin like everyone else.
Her- Guess God thought chubby thighs were enough.Alan Alda and Ellen Bertsyn in Same Time Next Year
15. Isn’t it funny – on the one lousy day you wanna put a gun in your mouth, everybody wants to come over to celebrate.Danny Aiello as Joe Bella in Once Around
I have a friend whose hubby is an OT. A few weeks ago, my neck went out again, and he offered to give me a maiofacial massage (I KNOW I did not spell that right, but whatever). WOW, did it make things better. He explained that this type of massage releases toxins and bad energy out of your body for the body to recover faster. Yeah Yeah, blah blah, I really didn’t believe him…..until the next morning. I get up I feel great (that’s a definite change), I grab an apple from the fridge and eat it. 10 minutes after I am finished with the apple, I vomit into the garbage can (luckily I was in the kitchen, the bathroom is way upstairs). After I was done “purging” I felt great again. I have had 3 treatments from him and everytime it’s the same thing. Massage in the evening, purge in the am. I guess he was right. Except for the morning after issue, I feel great. He is going to show Joshua a few exercises to practice on me at home, so at my next appointment, there will be a master and grasshopper.
On top of the reoccurring neck issues, I finally saw a neurologist for my migraines. He prescribed propanalol, a cardiac med with the great side effect of preventing migraines before they start. The only problem is that you still have the efects the drug was intended for. Low BP, low heart rate. I started Monday am, and for rest of the day, I was couchbound, too weak to even get up without help. So I called his office, told them I was not taking any more and we could discuss alternatives at my next appt.
The one of few things that has kept me somewhat sane through all this is my IPOD. My playlists are designed to consider how i am feeling. There is Healing mom, Mellow mom, Angry mom, Mosh pit mom, and happy mom. Right now the winning playlist is a tie between angry mom and healing mom.
I hope everyone has a great weekend! The WQLN Holiday Craft Show is Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Start your shopping early with handmade items. My friend, jody, has a table with painted items. She rocks in her art so you should check her out.
Peace.
B
My son, Mike, got a letter today from Pitt Bradford, informing him that he has been accepted to their campus. He was jumping up and down, I was crying, and then he texted ALL of his address book and called all our relatives. I went to college, but did not graduate. Mike will be the first in my family to go to a university and not a trade school or jr college. I am so damned proud. When did he grow up? When did he go from a boy to a man? I missed the ceremony, because all I see is my baby boy. Go Pitt, go Mike.
Melanie is going to homecoming tonight with her boyfriend, TJ. She has a beautiful dress (purchased at Fashiob Bug.com for a whopping $13), and we are doing up her hair and make up later today.
This morning, Mike is already up and dressed since his SAT’s are this morning. When he is finished, he is traveling to Pittsburgh to visit his beloved Danielle at Point Park University. He will be back on Sunday afternoon after a tour of the campus.
Things are just moving too fast…..
