Not a Christian holiday for nothing

All weekend long I've been trying to teach not only elementary school kids the true meaning of Easter, but my 8th grade confirmation kids, as well. Some get it... some do not. Some kids ask the same questions year after year... "Why do we call it "Good" Friday if it is when Jesus died?" "How long was Jesus dead before he came back to life?" "What do you mean, the Easter bunny doesn't exist?"

While volunteering at Centennial United Methodist Church yesterday for our annual stint as directors of the beloved Easter Egg hunt at "Saturday Morning Kids Club," I heard an interesting comparison to our yearly "hunt" for Easter eggs with the "hunt" we are on every day of our life to find Jesus amongst the chaos and sadness we often face. But, just like we need to open our eyes to find hidden Easter eggs, we must also open our eyes to see the miraculous and mysterious ways the Lord is working, even when it might seem too much to bear.

And now, for a little humor...

Happy Easter!

Adventures in Machesney Parkansas

I would definitely be lying to all my faithful blog readers if I said my birthday weekend was relaxing and uneventful. The weekend was crazy fun -- both in the literal sense and separately.

Jackson's Birthday Party (3/17/06)

I had an incredible night on St. Patty's Day, more importantly titled "Jackson's Birthday." My head hurt so bad that night from laughing and laughing, and talking LOUD so people could hear me, and laughing some more. My butt hurt, too, from all the butt slaps from Amy and Jill...mostly from Jill 'cause that girl gives a mean butt slap. The flash on our camera is not working, so I was not able to get any pictures of me and the girls (or me and Jackson a.k.a. "the infant playa" for that matter) and I checked T.J.'s Xanga site (Jill's hubby) for a pic he took of the 3 of us, but it isn't posted. Here is Jackson's 1 year picture to commemorate his St. Patty's Day / The Wiggles-themed birthday party and his first picture on justjoslyn.com!!

My Birthday (3/18/06)

My 28th birthday was relatively uneventful, but I was blessed to be able to spend the evening with not only my parents, but my good friends Amy and Cory, as well. Yes, Brad was there too, and one of our youth, Kira, who happens to be staying with us for awhile. My mom cooked a delicious inter-ethnic meal of enchiladas, Mexican rice, and Greek salad. And so to stay within common practice of the Hagstrom family, where no uneaten food is left behind, we had "left-over-St. Patrick's Day-green-pistachio-cake-with confetti sprinkles-added to it for the birthday effect" as dessert. I spent the evening talking genealogy with my Dad (what Brad calls "researching my dead relatives"), showing Amy my MySpace site (which Brad calls my new "time waster" [and it's www.myspace.com/justjoslyn for those interested]), and listening to Cory unashamedly tell stories about his poop extravaganzas. I don't have any pictures from this night, either, and my Mom was the designated photogropher, but I didn't like any of her shots (go figure). So instead I will post an image of the DVD Brad bought me that I was so excited about... even if it did follow a "Happy Bar Mitzvah" card. And it's only been a year and a half of marriage.

Life Lessons in Trespassing (3/19/06)

Sunday's events started about very pleasantly. We had plans to go to Cinderella at the high school, which was performed very well, with excellent singers cast as the leads! I was able to sit between some of my favorite junior high girls - Audi and Amanda - who, without knowing it, provide me such joy and remind me of how cool it is that I know them! After the musical, Brad and I car-pooled the high school students to a pizza dinner at our house. Needless to say, with the number of boys out-numbering the girls, the pizza was gone in less than 10 minutes after delivery. This creates a "dead time" issue, which was eventually filled for most of the boys by going out to play football with Brad. However, I was left with the remainder of the students, and before long, our idle conversation had become less than enthralling. Not being such a great "think-on-your-feet-event planner" I suggested that the slew of them go scope out the vacant trailer property across the street, as I was going to report it as an eye sore to the Village. I was going to explore the property myself eventually anyway, and I had already taken preliminary pictures of the rusty trailer and abandoned cars in the driveway. There were no "No Trespassing" signs posted and there was clearly no one living on the property. Apparently I am an idiot, and took for granted that I knew the law as it applies to Trespassing. Before I could even come up with a witty response for Brad when he comes back in the house to ask if I was "keeping an eye on the girls" and that the neighbors were over there with them, Lauren is calling me frantically stating, "the neighbors are calling the police and they won't let us leave." I hear the tears start to come and I tell her I'll be right over. As I approach the property, I calmly ask the woman on the cell phone (who also happens to be missing several of her front teeth and has previously been riding her 4-wheeler around her back yard) if there was anyway we could settle this misunderstanding without the police, to which she answers, "they are already on the phone." I calmly ask her if she could tell them not to come. She says, "the owners don't want this and there's been a problem in the past..." I tell the students to come with me, to which the woman responds, "they have to stay here." I calmly reply, tell the police to come talk to me across the street.

At about this time, the students' parents are arriving to pick them up, and the woman across the street is taking down the license plate numbers of every car leaving our driveway. Needless to say, the police did come to the scene of the crime, and I did get a slap on the wrist for poor judgement, but not without explaining that the property has no signs posted, and if the owners of the property have had problems with trespassing before, it seems this would be a normal response. I also learned from the friendly Machesney Park police that the owners of the property are waiting for the Village to buy it and demolish the trailer and sell the land. If this is truly the case (praise be to God if it is) then why is anybody concerned about anyone entering the property and doing anything to it? Despite my rationale for the entire event, I apologized to the police for endorsing such delinquent behavior and assured them that we would have adequate activities planned at our next event. I also wrote an apology letter to the said-toothless woman requesting her forgiveness and trust in me as a capable neighbor, because that is what makes me feel better about myself -- having ghetto hillbillies accept me as one of their own. You can read more about this event as told by one of the students looking outside-in at the event here. I am also posting the photos I took of the property last week for an added visual.

Interesting Church Flyer

Would you go to a church advertising with this image?

I don't even know how to title this one...

Even as a child, Kate was teaching us about current fashion. Notice the curled bangs, sprayed in a nice arch and off to the side and the over-sized glasses (yes, I had them, too!).

Then we move to the outfit. A baggy turtle neck paired with a tapestry vest. Classic.

The most important thing is that she is smiling.

Another shout out in honor of Kate turning the big #26 on Friday... 2 days and counting!

Braids and Pigtails

It may be 10:15pm, but I am still technically posting this on Monday - the 2nd day in Kate's big birthday week. If you notice in this picture, we are both pulling on our baby rings. Our mom loved to have us wear them, but stopped putting them on us in pictures because we couldn't stop playing with them! It obviously didn't stop us from focusing on the camera... we are such hams for the camera. Even to this day. The fascination with rings didn't stop, either. Kate LOVES a good ring when she sees one.

It's Kate's Birthday Week!

This is not what I would traditionallly post about, and it is sort of a long story why this picture is on here, but my sister does turn the big 2-6 this coming Friday... she will officially be closer to 30 than 20! Check back each day as I will post additional pictures that will probably make Kate wish she had been more interested in getting her baby pictures away from her scrapbooking sister.

FREE Therapy is Good

I truly believe that everyone needs a friend who is a licensed therapist in order to benefit from casual, comfortable, FREE therapy.

I went to lunch with my friend Therasa on Monday, and feel as if I received the best guidance and suggested techniques for dealing with my current issues than from either of my doctors or the counselor I saw through the Employee Assistance Program. And it was FREE!

This is not to discredit the support I receive from my friends who are otherwise not licensed therapists, or from my friend Amy, who has also offered me FREE therapy on occasion. I love getting words of encouragement and advice from all of my loved ones (although I don't always want to listen to my mother, big surprise).

So, I bid you all well and hope that you will all seek out a friend, or two, that are able to provide you the support and educated direction on how to take control of your own behavior and thought processes. And, make sure they will do this for FREE!

Who can resist the desire to have children after seeing these pictures?

Tyler Christine here, again, folks. She turned 1 year old on February 7th, and like a very bad sudo-aunt, I did not send a birthday card. Will she remember this? Only if her mother reminds her every year for the rest of her life. Lucky for me, her mother is not a bitter, resentful person, and although sending a card would have been the right thing to do, she will not hold it against me. Right, Emily? Right?

Peace, Love, and...Rock and Roll!

C'mon. Give the kid a break! Being one year old is really draining.

Trials, Tribulations, and just being Tired

I am writing this post mostly to thank my friends for their persistent attempts to make contact with me, despite my recent withdrawal from anything social. A lot has been going on lately, some good and some I am still trying to figure out. I don't want to take for granted that people read my blog, but then again, I guess it is a good way to keep people updated, regardless of whether or not it's positive or negative. It's about being real.

About a month ago I went to see a counselor through the "Employee Assistance Program" paid for by the agency I work for. I finally made the appointment after taking a day off of work due to feeling overwhelmingly tired and lethargic. At one point that day I had told Brad to be nice to me because I had just woken up, to which he responded, "yeah - for the third time today."

[Prior to seeing the counselor, however, I went to see my primary physician after tolerating increasingly frequent migraine headaches and to talk about the lethargy thing. My bloodwork tested negative for whatever they tested for (thyroid function being one) and the doctor increased my Zoloft dosage, instructed me to keep using the Excedrin Migraine, and to come back in a month.]

Back to the part about the counselor -- without getting too involved, I was basically told to quit my job, and that it wasn't worth "sticking it out" for six months until I start grad school because I would be jeopardizing my emotional health. Two weeks later, I interviewed and was offered a position at the same agency where I work now, but for just six months to cover another employee's maternity leave. Temporary? It works out well for me, because in August, I'll be starting graduate school full-time and will only want to work part-time. The agency for which I work is good at placing their employees into positions to fit their situations and needs. When the temporary position is up, I will pursue a part-time position in the agency). People ask me if this new position is a promotion, and in a way, yes. The pay rate is the same, but the job involves working with at-risk children between Kindergarten and Fifth grade, and are referred by the school. My title will be "Clinical Case Worker" and despite not getting a raise in pay, the position is a sort of "reward" for my experience and my "good reputation within the agency" (so I was told by the hiring supervisor). At this point, I don't have a start date and am relatively frustrated with the lack of communication by my current supervisor regarding my transfer to the new program and expectations for the cases I am currently carrying, but this will all come to pass.

Another realization I have made recently is that despite being married to my best friend, he is a man, and men do not meet a very specific need in a woman's spirit to be with her girlfriends. And I miss my girlfriends. I often take my female friendships for granted, but lately, when I am not feeling very well, I think about how much I miss girl talk and laughing about our husbands, complaining about our parents, and telling stories from the past. And when my mind starts to go the place where I dream up elaborate girls' nights out, or girls' trips up north, I realize all I really need to to just talk to someone. But picking up that phone seems hard for me. Or I think about E-mailing dinner invitations, and then do not follow through. So that just adds to my sadness that I want something so badly, but cannot seem to organize myself enough to initiate the solution to the problem.

I also continue to struggle with balancing my level of involvement with church and being married to the Youth Pastor. I am becoming an unreliable volunteer, who is unable to fulfill obligations and risk being a royal disappointment to my husband. I made the comment a couple days ago that I have gotten to the point where I don't want to be bothered with church. What a horrible thing for someone to feel about the place they are supposed to go to when feeling spiritually drained and restless. Instead, it adds to my feelings of being overwhelmed and overcommitted. And I struggle with these feelings.

On a positive note, a new yet-to-be-named-young women's group has been formed at my church, and although we have only met twice, I am very excited about the emotional support and spiritual refreshment this will offer me. Not only will the group provide me some scheduled "girl time" but I will get to read some really great books, helping to strengthen my faith.

And as for the house? We now have a sink, a faucet, a partial ceiling, some lights, pantry drawers, a counter top, and the cabinet faces are on the way. And that's just the kitchen! Check out the pictures on my flicker.com account.

Hopefully I will pick back up on posting interesting news and fun experiences on this here blog site, and that the content is not always about the cat, Brad, or as a recent post suggests, poop.

And for those of my friends who have sent concerned text messages or E-mails (poor Hallmark), thank you and I love you!

See what emotionally draining jobs and the demands of graduate school can do to people?

The following dialogue took place between me and one of my best friends, Crista, who is currently working on her graduate degree at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA.

Crista: There is no such thing as too much information between friends

ME: Especially in our special friendship. Because we are very special, right?

Crista: Yes, our friendship is very special...you mean like a "special bus" don't you?

ME: some may say that...especially when they see how happy I get when I show them the pooping toys that someone bought me

Crista: I've been looking for more pooping toys....but I can't find any more for you! Maybe that's the kind of store we should open!

ME: YES! Oh my gosh. That is it. A Poop store... EVERYTHING POOPS!

Crista: That's the name of the store right there....big neon lights "EVERYTHING POOPS"!Just think of all the poop merchandise we could make!

ME: what would the parents of the kids Brad works with think?

Crista: They'd probably be there for the grand opening!

ME: I'm totally doing it.

Crista: I give us both equal credit for the creation of "Everything Poops", because of course we will have to be equal partners in this venture.

ME: I like more fake poo and just the word. I wasn't all that happy that I had to wipe poo off my desk chair after I rolled over a kitty turd that mysteriously ended up outside of her litter box.

Crista: fake poo is definitely better.

ME: choco poo is the best - when it comes out of toy butts.

Crista: We could have little piles of choco poo all over the store. Like a choco herd of something had spent some time in there. The ideas are coming easier now....I can't stop!

ME: You know I'm going to have to write about this in my blog, right?

My Health Club (aka "The Palace")

Most people would be completely offended if they received a gift certificate for a health club membership as their one and only Christmas gift. I, on the other hand, was overjoyed. The conversations Brad and I had regarding my need to get physically and emotionally healthy were increasing in frequency, but I always found a reason not to make the initial step to fill out the membership agreement (usually due to the cost). Being the super-husband he is, Brad bought me a membership, and despite his eagerness to present me with the gift early, he held out and I was so excited to open the envelope Christmas morning and could not wait to tell my family that Brad loves me that much.

Don't let me fool you, though. Working out at this facility is not that much of a chore, really. With incredibly compassionate staff, state of the art equipment (I can watch "Friends" re-runs while on the cross trainer just by plugging in my head phones to the monitor mounted on the face of the machine) and the fact that the facility is for "ladies only," I am much more than comfortable bearing my flab in all its glory.

During my tour of the facility, I found myself in awe of how new and sparkly, and bright, and warm everything was -- in the locker room, that is. With lighted mirrors making one feel as if they are backstage at the Miss America pageant, and personal shower rooms with count them --SEVEN shower heads (that's reason enough to get a girl excited about going to the gym), I felt like the only thing missing was the guest suites where one could stay over night if they preferred the facility at the health club over their own home (not that I would fit into that category, or anything).

On occasion, there are girls at the club offering mini-massages, too. Not that I have taken advantage of that, yet, because I am too kind of a person to let someone knead my sweat-soaked clothing with their bare hands. However, I do plan on indulging in treatments at the spa portion of the club as I meet my personal health goals. Who knows, I may even get myself a tanning package -- because they have tanning beds there, too!

Like a kid in a candy store. Well, I wouldn't go that far.

Yummy and her Male Caretaker

See more new pics of little Yummy here.

Margarita Mama

(this picture is very tiny.)

We have resorted to taking pictures with our camera phones since the flash on our digital camera is still out of commission. Who knows when we'll get it fixed, but I'm missing out on taking really good pictures after hours. Plus, because it was so dark in the restaurant, this picture only looks good when it is really really tiny. Sorry.

On Saturday night, Brad and I took my parents out to dinner at a new Mexican restaurant (they had a salsa bar!) to celebrate my Dad's birthday 3 days early. My mother insisted that I try a real margarita (aka - lime) despite my reluctance, as it is my tendency to order alcoholic beverages loaded with as much fruit flavored add-ins to cover up the real taste of liquor. Apparently my mother thought that was wimpy.

Brad loves to encourage my mother to "get her drunk on." Especially since she delights in any opportunity where she can tell the story about introducing the entire family to her famous alcoholic spritzers: Bartles & Jaymes wine coolers watered down with Sierra Mist because there weren't enough for everyone to have their own.

The remainder of my 2006 "To-Do List"...

...not in order of importance or urgency:

1) Install new windows in the entire house

2) Adopt

3) Finish the bathroom

4) Start Graduate School

5) Finish the kitchen

6) Go on a cruise

7) Replace the garage door

8) Attend my 10-year high school reunion

9) Install a Privacy Fence (to block the brokedown cars our neighbor likes to keep in his backyard. After all, we do live in Machesney PARKANSAS)

10) Donate my hair to Locks of Love

11) Pave a new, glorious driveway that will lend itself to a beautifully landscaped, plantation-like yard (ah, the suspense).

The beauty of having a Digital Video Recorder (DVR)

"Did you record the 'Golden Globe Awards'?"

"Yes."

"And who scheduled to record 'Miss America'? And 'Miss America Moments'?"

"I did. That's what happens when you leave me alone for a weekend with control of the remotes."

Watch out, David Blaine

This is Noah, my friend Carrie's son. He and I are birthday buddies, and he'll be two this year on March 18. I like to brag that if Noah would have been a girl (and still born on my birthday, as his parents weren't quite sure if he was going to be a St. Patty's day baby), his middle name would have been Joslyn.

I am convinced that Noah is only as serene as depicted in this photo as he watches one of the slew of Elmo videos available nowadays to those we call our future. Personally, I find Elmo's voice extremely irritating, but if he can keep a kid like Noah calm, then I would proudly hold the title as "The Exclusive Keeper of All Movies Elmo" and charge people to rent them from my collection. In fact, I would have no shame displaying the movies right next to Brad's Lord of the Rings series and Adam Sandler movies. Should we, as a country, be a little disturbed that a child's first word up there with "Mama" and "Dada" is some variation of "Elmo?"

Last Thursday I was privileged to spend quality time with Noah and his mom, and my friend Amanda and her little girl, Litty. Amanda prepared a delightful meal consisting of enchiladas, topped off later by a body-warming dessert of hot fudge pudding. Despite how much I enjoyed being waited on during the meal, this was most definitely not the highlight of the evening. Little did I know that the culmination of the evening spent with my friends and their children would include being a witness to what I would call the "World's Youngest Daredevil Act." I mean, Noah's parents should really consider taking this act on the road. Noah had managed to utilize the empty crate sitting in the living room that once held the toddler toys that were spewed all over the floor, by using it as a platform for his death-defying talent. I sat in curious wonder as I watched this little boy stand on top of the crate, focus oh-so carefully on his target (aka - his mother sitting on the floor beside him, unbeknownst to his actions) and then, with little forewarning - catapult himself onto his mother's lap! The giggles that emerged from this tiny boy were blended with glee at completing the stunt, and mischief as he contemplated his next, and increasingly more life threatening, act. Before long, the boy was dropping himself to the floor with little regard for the possible injury he could incur to himself. After one of his death defying stunts, my friends and I (and Litty, too) waited in silence, expecting to see the miniature stunt man peel himself off the floor, removing embedded toddler toys from his body, and start crying in pain. Not Noah. He simply got up off the floor, laughed at himself, reveling in the applause received by those in his audience.

A toast to Carrie - may your son continue to provide you entertainment and joy, and may he remain in the care of God's grace and protected by angel's wings, because really, I think that's the only way it's going to happen.

Much to my dismay, a resolution, nonetheless

Unlike the majority of the world come every New Year, I am choosing not to make any resolutions. Instead, I have cleverly constructed the concept of a 2006 “To Do” List for myself. This way, I am setting the bar low and do not associate any guilt with having not completed a given task; I will merely carry it over to next year. Resolutions are a little too strict, and if I set goals for myself and don’t reach them, I will be my own worst enemy with feelings of guilt, shame, and abandonment (that’s a little harsh, but you know, it’s all about drama).

I also refuse to conform to the ideology that losing weight should be on said “To-Do” list. In fact, I have again spun words so that I don’t have to actually say to anyone face-to-face that I am “trying to lose weight” when in fact, I am “trying to get healthy.” It really does suck when I get out of breath from climbing one measly set of stairs, or that I can’t seem to get out of bed at a decent time considering I am a 27-year old young professional woman, or that I am tired by the time I get home from work at only 5:30pm. Those are not reason alone for me to take control of my lifestyle……someday, in a couple of years, I’d like to try and conceive a child, and I really don’t want to be one of those women where people have to stop and ask themselves – “is that woman pregnant? Or just really fat?”

Another good reason – my 10 year high school reunion is scheduled for September 30, 2006. I have been chubby my entire life, and even though at my heaviest weight I find myself the most self-confident, what a great feeling it would be to walk into that reunion knowing that I looked good on the arm of my husband, Hot Brad). I also want to make him proud of me – for taking back control of my life and being the independent and secure woman he fell in love with. Doing this is not just going to help me get into better physical shape. I want this for my emotional, mental, and spiritual well being, too. I have learned through the few years of working in the social services field that when someone is going through the recovery process from an addiction, the first thing they are taught is that they are in treatment for themselves, not anyone else. And that is my utmost reason for putting “get healthy” as #1 on my 2006 “to Do” List.

Here is the catch – for me. I am publishing horrific photos on this site of my current physical state, with ALL of my current measurements. What a scary thing for a woman to do! Broadcasting one’s weight and measurements is probably the last thing any sane woman would want to have happen unless it meant she no longer had to sit beside her husband as he watched recorded episodes of “This Old House’ or “Ask This Old House.” However, I am doing this – weight, BMI, and all! In fact, this Friday I am having a “BodyAge” assessment done which will tell me how old my body really thinks it is, and I will publish that, as well. I will, however, not go into detail regarding my exercise regime or diet as I would really like for people to want to read this and not have them fired for falling asleep at their desk while they try to help me calculate my caloric intake on any given day. I will update my measurements (and photos, too, woo hoo!) as progress is made as a means of being accountable to myself.

As far as measuring my progress emotionally, Brad will be in charge of that, and we all know how likes me to be happy. In fact, just the other day, we were on our way to pick up my prescription from Walgreen’s, when I said to Brad, "you know, we really don’t even have the money in our account for this medicine. I could just not take it.” Brad started shaking his head vehemently, as if to convey to me that he would rather be stuck in a crowded elevator with a bunch of flatulent 7th grade boys with Reba McEntire and Michael McDonald slow-jams pumped through the speakers than to have me go without my Zoloft. So, maybe he’ll have to publish an update on my emotional healthiness.

As for increasing my spiritual health, maybe I can do my quiet time on the treadmill. Or, I could pray while on the cross-trainer (formerly known as, the elliptical machine).

With all that being said, here are the photos and the current measurements as of January 2006:

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3645/1797/1600/1.05.06.0.jpg

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3645/1797/1600/1.05.06%20profile.0.jpg

Chest: 50”
Waist: 45”
Hips: 48”
Weight: 200 lbs.

Photo credit: My wonderful, endearing, committed husband who is not the tad bit disturbed by taking unflattering pictures of his wife with the gentle glow of a shop light in lieu of a functioning camera flash enhancing my flab.

Dislcaimer: the decision I have made to get my physical life back in order is in no way condoning unnatural, unhealthy forms of weight loss often encouraged by the desire to be thin. Therefore, I am not making my focus to lose weight, but to be healthy. There is a big difference in being thin and healthy. I am very comfortable in my own skin, however, am not complacent with the way I feel physically.

Me and Shannon in 50 years

I remember going out to eat with Shannon, one of my best friends who now lives in Knoxville, working on her Master's degree at the University of Tennessee, and always having a hard time splitting the bill. It never seemed like I got it right, and either wanted to jip one of my friends, or not leave enough tip, or over tip a server who could have still been in high school and not yet taken the course where you learn to respect your elders or that "the customer comes first."

This picture brought to light what the same scenario might be like in 50 years. Me and Shannon, having finished a nice meal at a local eatery, HER TRYING TO SHOW ME HOW TO ADD TAX AND TIP TO MY TOTAL so that she didn't get stuck paying for my martini (or chocolate shake, for that matter) because, even 50 years later, she is still a broke college student.

A vice to be reckoned with

We have no money. In fact, I am scared to check our bank account today as I apparently enjoy the anxious feeling of not actually knowing that we are negative and racking up non-sufficient funds charges as I type.

So, what am I doing? Window shopping... well, more like window e-shopping. I really do know why retailers are nervous about the growing popularity of e-commerce, as I can attest to the attractiveness of shopping from the comfort of your own home (or, in all honesty, one's desk).

Not that I am going to buy the following items, but I though I would at least share with you what is so important that I write about it.
http://www.anthropologie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=4765&itemType=PRODUCT&iSubCat=454&iMainCat=381

I just think these are super cute and then when you have guests over, you don't have to tell them over and over again where to find something you have graciously asked them to help you with, or your husband can't accuse you of moving things around in the kitchen, because he will always know where they are!





http://www.anthropologie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=4783&itemType=PRODUCT&crosssell=1

Who can't use more bowls? Especially when you are lovers of all foods in need of a bowl to serve them with (or when your husband doesn't wash out the dirty dishes often enough and you are in desperate need of a bowl for your mocha almond fudge ice cream before the CSI commercial break is over). Brad and I are trying to stay away from a strict color theme in our non-existent kitchen, and I just think these would be a really nice addition.

However random this post is, I felt like I needed to write. Am I procrastinating from reliving my episodes with degenerate, poor-excuses for parent clients in the form of casenotes? Probably, yes. Am I trying to find escape from the reality that Brad and I are unable to properly budget our finances? Um, definitely yes. Do I enjoy doing this as an outlet to daydream about one day having a house for which I can actually use these cute, quaint (perhaps useless) items? Mmm... heck yeah.

Replacing My Lost Post

I just typed a ginormous post that was really good (in my opinion, after all), and because I am in denial over how computer saavy I am, I clicked a wrong button without saving first (my Computers 101 prof would be so disappointed). Stay tuned for a rewrite of the really good post (you know, in my opinion...)

In the meantime, I have been wanting to share the lyrics of a song I've really enjoyed, lately. I am not normally one for posting lyrics, but these are pretty good and are a somewhat accurate reflection of what -2006- means for me:

"I am unwritten - Can't read my mind, I'm undefined. I'm just beginning - the pen's in my hand (ending unplanned). Staring at the blank page before you, open up the dirty window, let the sun illuminate the words that you cannot find. Reaching for something in the distance - so close you can almost taste it! Release your inhibitions! Feel the rain on your skin! No on else can feel it for you - only you can let it in. No one else can can speak the words on your lips. Drench yourself in words unspoken. Live your life with arms wide open. Today is where your book begins, the rest is still unwritten. I break tradition. Sometimes my tries are outside the lines. We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way. "
- "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield

Until my next post, check out my Flickr photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/72656649@N00/