Delusions of... Everything

Not Feelin' It

I'm sure I'll be back to blogging like normal soon, but for now I'm taking a break.  I'm just not feelin' it.

I'm doing fine, not depressed anymore.

The job hunt continues.

I'm going scrapbooking for the weekend, so I've been busy planning, shopping and cooking for that.

I just haven't felt like going into much detail about anything, or even writing at all.  Probably means I should, but I'm not.  :)

Just wanted to check in so you don't worry!

Distractions

My time on the computer is very limited because four of us share one computer.  Around our house it's harder to get time on the computer than on the one TV we have.  So when it's my turn I have delusions expect to be productive.  Yesterday I'd been sitting in front of the computer for almost an hour trying to put a post together, any kind of post, with no luck.  I kept thinking about stuff and being in front of the computer I was looking up the stuff I was thinking about therefore getting nothing written. 

Here is an example of what was distracting me.  While Dancing Daughter was making herself some food she was singing in the style of Tiny Tim.  Please tell me some of you remember Tiny Tim?  Tiptoe Through the Tulips?  She wasn't singing that song, but she was singing in that high pitched warbling voice.  It was a song made up at moment that said something about "what a great singer I am, so great I'm going on American Idol."  It was completely out of tune and hilarious.

I YouTubed Tiny Tim to show dancing daughter.  The first clip that came up was a performance from Laugh In, remember that show?  Anyway Tiny Tim was just as weird as I remembered him and DD had a good laugh.  My mind was working though... Seeing Rowan and Martin reminded me of the Smothers Brothers, don't ask.

I YouTubed the Smothers Brothers and saw a clip with George Harrison, it was a cute clip but I had to explain to DD who George Harrison was.  She knows (and loves) the Beatles music, she just doesn't know their names.  That video led to a Hey Jude performance by the Beatles on the Smothers Brothers show which we watched together and sang very loudly to.

This led to YouTubing more Beatles to watch and sing very loudly to, which we did... A Hard Days Night, I Want to Hold Your Hand, She Loves You, All You Need is Love and You've Got to Hide Your Love Away.  That was so much fun

Remembering that Pearl Jam covered You've Got to Hide Your Love Away for the I am Sam soundtrack caused me to search for that performance which led to finding Eddie Vedder solo videos that I HAD to watch.

Without all those distractions I wouldn't have written this particular blog post.  Not to mention coming up with posts for Sing-a-Long Saturday and Pearl Jam Sunday.  Sometimes a distraction is all that's needed.

Here I Go Again

I've changed my blog design yet again!  I know, I know!  I just changed it back in December in honor of my one year Blogiversary (I don't know how to spell that?!)  I LOVED the look of that design.  I loved that I could use my own picture as a header, but I couldn't get anything to post in the side bar, there were no modules to choose from.  On the design page it said I could use code to post anything in my side bar, but uhhhh... I don't know how to do that.

I want to post links of the blogs I'm reading everyday.  I want my Pearl Jam song, Just Breathe, in the side bar for you all to listen too.  I like the live traffic feed.  I want the link to my photo blog to be there so all you have to do is click that link to see my photo of the day!  I want, I want, I want!  Being that I pay monthly to have this blog it should be easier to do all those things on the design I picked back in December, but I could not figure it out.  It shouldn't be that difficult.

If anyone has TypePad advice, please feel free to email me, stvan3 at comcast dot net.

Strive

Last week I read this post by Jason at The Jason Show.  It intrigued me and it's been on my mind since I read it.  All the comments were great too and one in particular stuck with me as much as Jason's post.  It was by Jenn at Juggling Life, who inspires me quite a lot.  If you haven't read the post yet you should stop by to read it when you have time.

Basically the idea is to pick a focus word to help with attaining goals.  The word could be anything that means something to the person using it.  Something that is a reminder to stay on track with what's trying to be accomplished.

After I read Jason's post I was trying to come up with a focus word for me.  I pondered on Jason's chosen words of Release and Replace.  I have already practiced Release in my life, I'm pretty good at it actually.  I thought Replace could work, because I do have a couple habits I'd like to replace with different ones, but it just didn't feel right.  I also checked out the whole list of words that singer Christine Kane posted last year.  The one word that struck me instantly and has stayed with me the past few days is the word I read in Jenn's comment about how her word would be Strive.  That word hit me like lightning! 

There is so much I want to do, so much I want to accomplish.  I need to exercise regularly to combat borderline high blood pressure, borderline diabetes and to lose weight.  I want to learn to use Photoshop.  I want to write everyday to improve my skills and tell my story.  I have goals for my blog.  I have other goals waiting in the wings.

I will Strive to accomplish things I need and desire to do.

The word Strive feels positive to me.  It's a good strong word that makes me feel motion.  When I say that word to myself it makes me stop and ask myself if what I'm doing is helping me Strive toward my goals.   While getting toward the end of my work out on Monday I considering cutting it short.  The word Strive popped in to my head and I knew I had to keep going.  I knew I had to Strive toward regular (and complete) workouts.

The power of positive thinking has worked for me in the past and I know it can work for me now.  The trick is to remember to use it!

(Click here to see my Rudy Tuesday contribution.)

The Last Decade

I blatantly stole this from Jenn at Juggling Life.  She posted it last week and I loved her answers.  I got to thinking about my last 10 years and decided to make a post of my own.

10 years ago . . .

My kids were 4 and 7.  This was pre-homeschooling.  If someone would have told me I'd be homeschooling both my kids by the spring of 2002 and do it for 5 years I would have said, "What's homeschooling?"  Today I have one graduating high school soon!!

10 years ago . . .

I thought I was a career day care provider.  I'd been doing it since 1991 and didn't see an end in site.  I was convinced there was no possible way I could make my way back into the job market.  Today I've been day care free since 2004 and have been back in the job market since 2007!

10 years ago . . .

My brother and my grandma were still alive.

10 years ago . . .

I was dreaming of living in a house with a better layout, a larger kitchen and a view.  Today I live in that house and I couldn't be more grateful for it.

10 years ago. . .

I had seen Pearl Jam in concert once.  I wanted to follow them around and see them in other states/countries.  Today I've seen them a total of 20 times in 3 different states and Canada.  One day I will get to Europe to see them play... Maybe in the next 10 years?!

10 years ago . . .

I yearned to be friends with people who share my love of Pearl Jam.  Today I have Pearl Jam friends in a dozen different states and a half dozen different countries!

10 years ago . . .

I was married to the same man I'm married to today!

10 years ago . . .

I'd never heard of blogging.  Today I've been blogging for a year and have made some wonderful blogging friends.  I find you all a wonderful source of information and inspiration.  Thank you!

Here's to 10 more years of fantastic changes!

HAPPY 2010!

To see the photo of the day go here.

December 8th & Give-a-Way Winner

Being born on this day makes me a Sagittarius.  This site has a great explanation of people born on December 8th and I'd say it's right on.  Fun stuff!

According to this site, December 8th has the second most "famous people" births.

Here are some random and useless bits of information most people do not know about me.

I was born in downtown Seattle at Swedish Hospital.  Dr. Stipp, the delivering doctor, gave me my first pelvic exam when I was 15.

My mom went to the hospital with two girls names in mind for the baby that would soon be born, one was Tammy the other was Gidget.  My mom was a 19 year old hopeless romantic who love both those movie characters.  I'm very glad Tammy won out.

My middle name is Lynn after my dad's cousin LynnDale a minister who married my parents; 20 years later he married Handy Man and myself.

I've been allergic to milk since I was born, a fact my mom seemed to have forgotten once the crying, colicky baby years were over.  After chronic cold symptoms, laryngitis and many trips to the doctor it was determined, when I was a sophomore in high school, that I was allergic to milk.  Very matter of factly my mom commented to the doctor and me, "Oh yeah, she was allergic to milk as a baby too."  *Bangs head against wall*.

When my brother was born, 2 years 4 months after me, I wanted him sent back to the hospital for a sister, who I planned to name Christine.  My parents did not oblige me.

Since I can remember I celebrate my birthday surrounded by Christmas decorations, lights and music.  I wouldn't have it any other way!

********************************************************************

I've picked a random winner of my "Thanks for being a reader of my blog/It's my blogoversary give-a-way!!!  I did a drawing last night, the old fashioned way; I had Dancing Daughter pick a name out of a box. 

 

Can you tell she was heading out the door to dance?!

She picked Lisa of Grandma's Briefs!  Yay Lisa!  (Email your snail mail info to me at stvan3 at comcast dot net.)

(Go here to see my daily photo post!)

Ch.. Ch.. Changes

***There is still time to enter the give-a-way I'm having, go here to comment for a chance to win!***

When starting down the path of blogging I definitely had big delusions ideas about how it would be.  My main goal was to write everyday, treat it like a journal of experiences I've had as a daughter, mother, wife, Pearl Jam fan, etc.  Maybe some funny stories.  Maybe some confessions.  I pictured posting long and interesting entries everyday.  Very quickly it became apparent that being interesting everyday was a lofty and unrealistic goal.  So instead of writing everyday, which is difficult for me btw, I found myself posting more and more pictures, which is very easy for me.  I've strayed away from my original goal of writing everyday to improve my skills.

To get myself back on track I'm changing things up a bit.  I'll still be posting photos on my main blog when relevant to the post.  Other entries like Sky Watch Friday, Wordless Wednesday, etc  will be posted on my photography blog, Photos of... Everything.  For a few weeks I'll prompt you over there to see the pictures, hopefully it will be a regular stop you make to see what I'm seeing through my lens.

Another change is that I'm using my real name on my blog and when commenting on your blogs.  You might have already noticed that I've change from imom to Tammy.  I've been either an imom or a pjmom online for a few years now and I'm ready to just be me.  I already changed my message board nickname, now this change... Next I need to change my aim nick!

What do you think of the new look?!  Hopefully I will figure out how to add modules on the side bar like I had with the other design!  I'll work on that this week.  I hope you enjoy the changes and stick with me for another year!

PS... You can find Monochrome Monday here.

One Year Ago

On December 5, my blogging journey will be one year long and I've enjoyed every minute of it!  I've made some great virtual friends whose blogs I enjoy reading everyday.  To say I've learned much from all of you, would really be an understatement.  My Thanksgiving dinner was relaxed and easy because of tips I learned reading your blogs!  I've read some of the best books on recommendations from you.  Most of all when I was first starting out and unsure of myself you all told me that it was my blog and I could do it however I wanted to!

In celebration of having you all stick with me for a whole year I'm having a contest!  I'm not sure what I'm giving away yet, it might be a gift card (if I'm lazy), it might be a handmade gift (if I'm not lazy), it might be something from the Pike Place Market, it might be something totally geared toward whoever wins!

In order to enter all you have to do is leave a comment with your name, where you are from and how you found me.  Even if you comment everyday, rarely or have never commented I'd love to hear from you.  This contest is open now through Monday December 7th.  I'll randomly draw one name from everyone who enters and announce the winner on Tuesday December 8.

Look for some changes in my blog over the next few days!  I hope to have a new look on Monday!

Go here to read my first blog post!

Senior Pictures

Star Wars Son is a senior this year.  So many expenses.  We've already been hit up for cap, gown, tassel, graduation announcements, thank you cards, class ring, the list goes on and on.  We decided to save some money and do his senior pictures ourselves.  I have a great camera, with great lenses.  I know how to take a picture.  What I don't know how to do is edit.  I use a very minor program that came with i-photo, but there are not many editing options to choose from.  To say I was anxious about taking SWS senior pictures would be an understatement, until I won a contest over at These Nine Acres.  Tracey offered her editing services free of charge to contest winners.

I got busy and shot about 50 pictures.  Out of those SWS and I picked 5 we really liked.  Most of them had major exposure issues.  I didn't know if two of them could even be edited, the exposure was so bad, but they happened to be our two favorite pics, of course.  I emailed all five images to Tracey telling her if she couldn't work with any of them to let me know and I'd send others.

She rose to the occasion and did amazing work.  I'm so impressed with her eye and talent.

The original photos are on the left, Tracey's handy work on the right.  I love every single one of them!

 

 

That last one is my favorite!  SWS loves the one right above it!

Tracey's work has inspired me to learn how to use photoshop (one more thing to add to my list of things to do!)

To see what Tracey did with the other contest winner's pictures follow her blog over the next week or so.  She will be posting before and afters of all the contest winners!

Watch Out Virginia...

...Asthmagirl and The Baroness are on their way, but first they stopped at the pub for some food porn!

It was really lovely meeting The Baroness.  She is delightful and funny and has a very soft soothing voice.  I kind of felt like a crow cawing over velvet when we were conversing.  Asthmagirl is her usual hilarious self and she seemed very relaxed at the pub.  I'm thinking just having The Baroness with her was having a calming affect!

I hope you all have a great time at Blogfest!  I can't wait to hear all about it and see all the great photos!