I found a good quote

I'm not usually curious enough to find a good quote, but iGoogle came to my rescue with "Quote of the Day".


The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.
  - Flannery O'Connor


 It's interesting because I studied O'Conner's work in a class I took in college on southern women writers. Her statement is poignant and I really think she's on to something there.   The truth is that it's raining, whether I want to acknowledge it or believe it or I can't bring myself to go outside, nothing changes the fact that it's raining.


A relative (or two) in my life drive me crazy with their selfish behavior.  I have a hard time with that and really want to change that and it makes me angry and sad at the same time.  But it's true.  I can hardly stomach to speak to them or be around them or think about visiting them, but it's never going to change.  I have so much trouble accepting that simple truth, but the sooner I do, I think the more free I'll be from the emotional anguish I put myself through trying to get along and fit in and make people happy.


So my therapy for tonight is to make some happy cards and plan some celebration scrapbook pages and plan to hang out tomorrow with people that I love to be around.  From a quote to too much information about my crazy thoughts to therapeutic arts and crafts, such is life for me tonight.  At least it's ending in something productive!  :)

Today is Airport Day!!

Our family is flying in today!!  Maddie's grandma, great grandma, aunt and cousin will arrive early this afternoon.  We are excited, and despite dust bunnies and crumbs still laying around, we are so ready for their visit.  Maddie has already planned the things she and Skyler are going to do and the toys that he will play with and the pictures that he will color!  Too sweet!

How do you shake off a dark mood?

Sometimes it happens, your energetic and cheery outlook turns dark and foreboding like storm clouds heading your way.  What do you do?  Is there a psychic umbrella to ward off the lashing winds?  Maybe.  I call it my study and I hole up in there typing and surfing until the barometric pressure settles.  Mindless games on my iPhone or watching reruns of NCIS also works.

I got out a sketchbook yesterday that I ran across while I was cleaning the basement.  A friend gave it to me in 1997 for my birthday.  Wow, I couldn't believe I still had it.  I hadn't drawn or written anything in it for six years, but last night, in the same sort of dark mood, I took it out, collected several black pens and markers and doodled for three pages.  Kind of mindless, kind of artistic, but definitely calming and productive.  I probably won't post pictures of my creations (because then you can analyze my craziness!), but the simple act of letting go some of that tension and letting it roll out of my hands onto paper was calming.

I think art and crafts has that kind of calming effect on me where I focus my tension and anxiety and create something out of it.  Beats the hell out of the alternatives.

Many faces of Maddie

It just cracked me up to look at the range of expressions on Maddie's face.  She's just as expressive as me and just as silly as Ken!!

I want to be a big girl like Nora

My little one has decided that she is almost a big girl like Nora, age 6, her dear friend that is like her big sister.  While she will never catch up, she is getting to be a big girl nonetheless.  Here a a few pics that Ken took with the telephoto (Go Ken!!!).  :)

Toddler Homecoming 2009

Yesterday when I picked up my girl from school, she had paint all over her.  Apparently in her expressive creativity, she used the little stamp and purple paint to stamp her face, hair and arms.  When that was not enough, she set upon decorating her friends.  I had to laugh!  And to pose like she did with Leo made me think of Homecoming pictures.  Wow, 2 going on 15!

We also caught up with her little friend Jeremy and his wonderful mom Erica.  Jeremy was playing dress up in his class.  Again the iPhone came in useful!!