Time management?

So, I am way way behind on everything I thought I was going to have more time to do.

When I was first laid off I thought I would look at the bright side. At least I would have time to do some of the things that I really never had time for and squeezed in when I could.

One of those things was blogging. I really thought I was going to be spitting out at LEAST one a day and spend time keeping up with all my blogging pals. Alas, it has only been a little over a week and I have nothing to show for myself. In fact I am already late for the interview which is overdue, and have not even updated the playlist with the awesome requests I have gotten in comments and in email.

I even had another post all thought up about how I was gonna spotlight Ronda from Ronda's Rants and how I was lucky enough to win an ipod through our promotion of Sara Nelms. I was even going to write about how I blindfolded her so she has no info on me! lol

And then there was all the organization I was going to implement but never had time for. I guess I simply thought that I would spend all the time I normally spend at work doing stuff I wanted to do. BOY was I wrong. I think I have had less time for me this past week than I did when I was working. Cannot explain how that happens and looking back, don't seem to have anything to show for my time either. Go figure.

I guess I will just hope that I can get a handle on my time management skills and improve.

So this week is Spring break for all my kids(HELP!) no, seriously we want to do "stuff" but what to do on a small budget (emphasis on small). Kids were not keen on laying in bed all day and watching movies. darnit! Any good ideas out there?

Have a great day stalkers!

Memories

Okay, they say things come full circle and I am starting to believe it. I can distinctively remember the first time I watched the movie Home Alone. Just how many countless times I have seen it since I have no clue. I think It just may be part of my generations classic movies of Christmas. While I do not think it rates all the way up there with It's a Wonderful Life or Miracle on 34th St(the original) but when I think of Christmas that movie does come to mind. What is funny is that I think of lines to that movie even when it's not Christmas. When the uncle says, 'Look what you did, you little jerk!' This line is always repeated anytime I hear anyone say, 'look what you did!' sometimes it is not wholly appropriate but it is there, tucked into the tiny folds of my cranium.

What was the magic of this movie? I think it was the fact that we as children always think we would be better off without our parents and siblings around. Maybe that carries into adulthood but that's fodder for another post on another day. Anyway, just like any of us the star of the movie lives it up thinking he has gotten his greatest wish. Then later when he is reunited with his family he realizes just how much he loves and needs his family.

Now my children are watching this movie with the eyes of wishful children and wondering what they would do without their parents around. I see this movie with deeper meaning now as an adult.(I am an adult right? at least as far as the legal definition goes)

What other movies from the last twenty years or so, with a Christmas theme have left a big mark on us the 'regular' public? Could it be Jim Carey's 'The Grinch"? What movies would you, my fellow stalkers want to put on a 'New Holiday Classics' list?

Christmas - Humbug!?

MERRY CHRISTMAS STALKERS!

So with that out of the way I wanted to know how everyone feels this time of the year. I know for me that Christmas always is a magical time of year for me. I am lucky to have small kids around(still!) and that keeps the magic going for sure. But with the older kids we get to have a lot deeper Christmas traditions such as reading Luke 2 and watching Christ-centered movies as well as the fun Santa and Present themed movies.

I definitely was raised with certain traditions in my own family. Spouse had a few traditions in their family as well. But as we started our own family we had to decide what traditions WE were going to start.

Mostly, just spending time together is the most important because with all these kids and all the Church/work requirements we have to be flexible. But there are a few traditions we try and always do.

1. Sit around Christmas Eve and read the story of Jesus. We then have hot cocoa and go out to look at pretty Christmas lights. When we get back we let everyone open 1 gift

2. We go watch Christmas programs and Lights at certain areas(sorry-have to keep this generic or it totally gives me away)

3. We try to make cookies and treats for as many 'friends and family' as we can and deliver them as a family.

These are not knock your socks off traditions but they are OUR OWN! Because neither of us have much family support due to OUR standards we have tried to do the things to develop bonds within OUR immediate family that will last into our kids adult years so that as they grow older these traditions can be shared by their spouses and OUR grand kids.

So, fellow stalkers, what are your traditions? Are they traditions that you started within your own families? Do these traditions include any extended family? Tis the season for sharing people so SHARE ALREADY!

and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

How do you spell TRASH?

Just a quick rant that I am having difficulty dealing with. Because I wish to keep things lighter I will try to generalize what has so greatly offended me. Hey I know, I'll do one of those Dear whomever letters and let out all my frustrations that way.

Nope, that won't work either.(I would never use that kind of language in a letter!) Maybe I will just ask a few questions and see what my fellow stalkers think on the subject.

So what do you do when someone who is entrusted with the care of someone you love not only allows something to happen to them that just causes your mouth to drop open and steam to come out of your ears but actually encouraged and pushed them into it?

OH, I can't even begin to list the many levels of rage and frustration and anger and rage, I think I said that already, but you get the picture.

Lets put it this way:

You have a prize winning dog. It is pedigreed and trained and is treated with white gloves. Your "friend" agrees to watch your dog for the weekend and you feel safe that your dog is getting loving care, greater than that from some stranger at a kennel. When you come to pick up your dog you find out that your "friend" took your dog to a dog fighter to "toughen it up" and give it a more aggressive doggy cut. While there the dog fighter crops the tail and generally changes your prize winner forever.

This was a stretch and does not even begin to really explain the situation but let me ask you this.:

If a friend or family member destroys the trust you had with them by choosing to put someone you love in harms way deliberately, should you feel guilty about not wanting to be around them? Even during the holidays?

PLEASE put on your brave faces and help me out here!

Me Worry?

Okay stalkers, I think I feel a confession coming on. Yes, it is definitely coming out. I do not know exactly how to let it out but will do my best. I have a feeling most of you already know but I need to type it to convince myself. So here it goes: I am getting so old! Well, relatively speaking of course.

So why do I feel the weight of all my 234 years pulling me down to towards the earths core? Well, that question is not so easily answered. But seeing how I only have limited space to write(the Internet IS limited, right?) I will try to briefly let you into my head.

You see, when I was younger, I did not fear anything. At least I cannot remember fearing anything. I probably was a scared little kid at one time, but I am remembering that young teenager who saw the world orbiting around him/herself. I did things that I would never dream of doing at my ripened age. I took risks with my personal safety and more than likely those around me without really thinking of the possible consequences.

While I was not that impolite teenager or the teenager that broke EVERY rule I did step out of the box my parents tried to package me in. And now HERE IS THE KICKER.

Now I have to deal with the kids who are not scared of anything! I find myself worried to death about everything they do and what 'could' happen to them. Now don't get me wrong, I let my kids make their own mistakes. I even let them do things I know they are not going to like the consequences of. MY problem is that too often I expect or imagine the worst. And boy do I have an active imagination.

My older kids are really good kids. I honestly think they are way better kids than I ever was. But then again my parents thought I was such a great kid. AND THAT IS WHAT SCARES ME THE MOST. What don't I know about them? Me and my spouse have prided ourselves on the fact that we talk to our children about 'everything' openly and honestly. We may 'over react' at times, but really do tend to really hear them out and take their concerns to heart. I do wonder who they are when we are not around and it's just them and their friends. To be a fly on the wall.(or a little electronic transmitter. lol)

So, I am rambling again. Child #1 just got home from late night(morning) out. Everything went well and I can stop worrying.(for now)

So I do have a new question for all you stalkers who hung out through this boring post.

What do you worry about? or do you worry at all? If you do, what do you do to help you cope? For those of you with completely grown kids, do you ever stop worrying? and for those of you with all young'ns(no teenagers yet) GOOD LUCK!

Put your brave face on and leave a comment!
Have a great day!