Amazing Athletic Shoes

Tom says he's going to rename me "Funky Feet" because for some reason my current shoes aren't getting along, odorifically, with my feet. Today, I refused to wear my shoes because I'd decided I HAD to get a new pair.

I went out TWICE looking for shoes. First time I went to JCPenny's, but they only had a handful of New Balance and they just didn't fit or weren't a color I liked. So tonight I went to Famous Footwear. They had like fifteen pair of New Balance! I started a pile with a few New Balance, a pair of Naturalizer, a pair of Sketchers, and a pair I'd never heard of, but they were right next to the New Balance, Asics. The Asics are AMAZING!!! I wore them around the store for about 20 mintues and then went back to my Ariat Riding Boots (not that I "ride" horses, but I have them, just in case). An hour later, my feet are still feeling good from the Asics!

Anyway, I just wanted to share my exciting new find. Basically, I find a brand and shoe that works for me and stick with it for a long-while, but every so often I'll try something else and then be delighted with what I've found. Today was one of those days.

Out of the Mouthes of Babes

Mommy, did you know that when you talk grouchy to me that will get me to shut up and talk to Dad and brother? And if you talk nice, that will get you talked to.

Yep. Here on Great American Grump Out Day, that's what Frank just told me, in a nutshell "talk mean and I won't talk with you, talk nice and I will." I wonder if he knows the whole "flys with vinegar/honey analogy?"

That he should tell me this is pretty funny in more ways than one... just last night I was thinking to myself "I really need to talk nicer and more with my boys." Like, actually talk with them and sit during the day and cuddle with them and not just always telling them what we "need / have to" do next. My throat is hoarse because of all the "talking" I've been doing lately.

We've had two REALLY busy days getting things in order for our House Purchase. Today an ad ran in the paper for our apartment. I had eight phone calls and three appointments for people to look at it. The first call (and first visitor) has paid the application fee to the apartment and the transfer fee to be added to the lease. If he's accepted, then, next week we'll ask for the deposit and first month's rent to hold the apartment for him.

This afternoon I found myself smiling. I've been busy all day. I think a lot of why I'm smiling is that things are falling into place for the house. We needed to make pay $400 for the Appraisal today. This morning our Arizona tax refund hit the bank... $643. :D By the 15th, we need $1400 in our account to close with... my friend got her economic stimulus payment yesterday, so, we think we should have ours in time. Even if the economic stimulus hasn't arrived, we're planning a trip in two weeks with my Father-In-Law. I thought we'd be sharing the cost, but we just received a check from him for the full amount of what I've paid for the hotel and the tickets (another $820)... so, that's another bonus!

Anyway, I'm glad to be getting things all set up. Now, to excavate my boxes from storage and get to packing!

Washday - Part 3

Maybe you're tired of hearing about my Washdays by now, but around here, for me, they are still a big deal. Probably because it pretty much takes the whole day for me to get our family's laundry taken care of.

I much preferred being able to wash one to two loads per day. Sure, then you are doing laundry everyday, but it's just five to fifteen minutes at a time, not a WHOLE DAY lost to something as mundane as laundry.

In any case, here's the latest:

• The past two weeks I've tricked myself by doing the laundry on Tuesday instead of Wednesday.
• Also the past two weeks, they're have been homeless, wandering vagrants (I'm sure there's a Politically Correct description for these people, but I'm sure I don't know what it is) at the laundromat. They have been using the bathrooms as bars and showers (neither of which they are designed for). It must have something to do with the nicer weather here (50F-70F days) that suddenly we are seeing more Wanderers. They are causing discontent for the Laundry Management and patrons. To be sure, they have been washing clothes there, and that's okay, but using the bathroom as a shower, leaving the floor soaked and beer bottles in the trash... this is just not acceptable. This is the cleanest laundromat I've ever been too, with the nicest, friendliest employees. At least they add some different, excitement. But I digress...
• I've just not been putting the pressure on myself I once did.
• The folding stool is helping!
• I've been sitting at a different table for folding... it feels more open and friendly (although it's also closer to a TV that people insist on turning on). Why is it that just because there is a TV people think it HAS to be on? And why is it that when they see children they assume cartoons should be on? And why don't they notice that the same children they'd just commented on being my "good little helpers" stop helping when they turn the TV on? It's so frustrating to be in public places where one's almost forced to watch TV! Is it okay for me to walk over and turn off the TV immediately after they turn it on? Why doesn't anyone ever say "do you mind if I turn this on?" I guess I need to pull out my TV-B-Gone and get some new batteries! That's always fun to observe. :D
• I have been sticking closer to the laundromat without "plans" for things to do while the clothes are washing or drying. Less running around is creating less stress.
• We've been packing PB&J sandwiches and other lunch items to eat while we're there. This helps a lot since we've also been leaving later and are generally there over lunchtime.

I guess that's about it. We're still tired at the end of Laundry day, but at least I'm not biting everyone's heads off!

Oh and I think it might help that I now know there are just a few weeks of this left and I'll have my own machines at my own house again! Let's see... four weeks from today and my new machine should be delivered... we'll still be painting the new house and technically living at the apartment, but if I want I can start using my own machines! What a feeling of relief!!!

Quilt Layout - Alien Monsters

I've been tinkering with a layout for a little "Monster" quilt I'm making for Jack.

Today, I went from paper, to EQ5 (which always feels so laborious), to Adobe Photoshop. I actually had FUN in Photoshop and came up with several design layouts. Tom and my favorite is shown.

It has four 12" pieced blocks (two light & two dark), six 9" panels, and two odd sized rectangle blocks (to be cut out of a large scale fabric). The overall size is around 42"x50" (before borders). Next up is figuring out the cutting sizes for the background pieces and seeing if I can cut them out of a certain piece of fabric I have in mind.

What Lord Vader has been up to...

You may have been wondering “just what HAS Lord Vader been up to?” Well, I’m here with a photo journal report…

After moving North from the Dune Sea, he tried filling his idle time with hobbies, even taking up bowling…

He found bowling to be a little… cumbersome though. So, Phoenix Vader thought he’d take a job delivering pizza for some extra cash.

Unfortunately, since his customers would run away screaming, he had a difficult time collecting for the pizza… let alone getting a tip!

FINALLY he decided it was time to get some helpers together and go do what he does best (scare small children and amuse large ones)…

Seriously, today, Tom did his first event in Wyoming… actually the first time he’s had the costume on in almost 18 months! He did have trouble getting his boot on over his injured ankle (there’s now a steel plate, bolts, and scar tissue, so we’ll be taking the boot to be stretched).


We went to a Bowling with the Stars fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Frank and Jack carried around a jar for donations from the people taking pictures with Darth Vader. We worked two different crowds (the teams switched every couple hours and we went to two different times) and in less than an hour "on stage", he collected $49 for the pictures people took. We were tickled that something he normally does for free (posing for pictures) was able to earn a little extra cash for the local BBBS organization.


PS: We REALLY need to gather up some troopers! Lord Vader looks so, so, well, he just looks lonely with just two little kids with toy helmets following him around! I was hoping that if he started trooping he could start recruiting to build a new detachment/garrison. There is ONE other 501st member in ALL of Wyoming. He lives over four hours away (in Casper) and he's also a Vader! :P So, wish us luck as we look to find new trooping friends!

Color Me Happy Quilt

Hey! Look what I worked on yesterday and today...


I started it yesterday and had planned to work on it a little each month, but a girlfriend offered to watch the boys and then Tom was able to pick them up. So, I worked myself to exhaustion to finish quilting it.


This is "Color Me Happy". From a pattern I first saw at Quiltz in Phoenix, Arizona last Spring. It's the first "jelly roll" I've ever bought... Moda's "Spring Fling". I sewed it last August while at my cousins and needing a little "creative release". Now to clip threads on the back and attach a binding. It's going to be our new cuddle quilt. Here's the list of words I quilted into the top:

1. Joy
2. Peace
3. Fun
4. Love
5. Faith
6. Smile
7. Bubbles
8.Frank
9.Jack
10. Tom
11. Suzy
12. Rainbow
13. Prism
14. Relax
15. Flow
16. Glad
17. Content
18. Cheer
19. Bliss
20. Delight
21. Pleasure
22. Harmony
23. Grin
24. Smirk
25. Play
26. Jump
27. Run
28. Appreciate
29. Empower
30. Freedom
31. Passion
32. Enthusiasm
33. Eager
34. Optimism
35. Sparkle

I also stitched daisy-like flowers all over it along with dragonflies - both inspired by the fabric.

Fit for Life - Observations

In March I made an Action Plan to be Fit for Life. It involved quite a few steps, to be slowly integrated into my life. Two weeks ago I hurt my calf, so, I rested. Then, something else wasn't "feeling right", so, I stayed away a few more days. Then, it was a few days until Pay Day and I needed to renew my monthly membership, so, I waited another day or two. Finally, yesterday, after 13 days "off" I went back to the gym.

What I realized is that going to the gym is the Rosetta Stone of the whole plan. When I stopped going to the gym, then I stopped doing my Yoga, my daily journalling and mediative, introspective time also ceased. As did taking my vitamins and planning meals. I also began skipping flossing my teeth. Pretty soon, the house also started to slip because I wasn't in my Control Journal each day. So, like it or not. "Feel like it or not" I MUST keep up with going to the gym in the mornings.

This has been insightful. It's also been interesting that so much benefit comes from so little. I started out the month riding a bike for ten minutes and swimming for six. I built myself up to eighteen minutes on the bike and eight in the pool. Still, not a lot, and not exhausting, but rather quite invigorating and energizing. Amazes me too that I also improved my disposition and spirit. I'm calmer and more relaxed, just by getting up an hour earlier. Oh yeah, I got to bed on time more too... which I've failed at tonight.

All this good stuff about exercising, and right now I REALLY don't feel like getting up early again tomorrow! I couldn't sleep two nights ago and I still need to catch up from that night of just four hours sleep - not nearly enough for me! So. With that, I'll off myself to bed.