I know I have been a terrible poster, but there doesn't seem to be anything blog-worthy going on.  

All I've got for you is my daily activities.  Yesterday:

• I graded Mary's grammar homework.
• I returned something to Amazon (post office).
• I ordered vitamins online.
• Laundry
• WRAPPED CHRISTMAS PRESENTS
• Soccer game

You are probably thinking that I have outdone the retailers about rushing Christmas, but I have begun my shopping, and I have NO hiding places in my small, full house.  I had no options but to wrap some things that were too big to fit in tiny places or short places (under the bed, etc.).

I haven't put up the tree or anything crazy like that, so the gifts are just "sitting out" in a non-public area, but at least no one knows what they are or who they are for.   I make very detailed notes on my gift list of what item is wrapped and what size box if not the original, etc.  Each family member has his/her own specific paper that all of his/her gifts get wrapped in,  so that makes it even easier to remember what's what.  

And remember, it IS only 86 days 'til Christmas!

Today, an exceedingly beautiful day, I have the windows open and am going in and out to enjoy the nice weather.  And so far, I've:

• Paid bills
• Have Charlotte

Still have to go to the grocery store and cook dinner and mop floors - all very exciting!!

 I'm happy to share  : )

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Things In My House Thursday #9

STORY PEOPLE PRINTS

I know these are weird and very different. I know that Mary hates them. But they appealed to me a great deal at a certain time in my life; I still like them, but I am not as 'crazy' about them as I was when I first stumbled upon them.

I bought two prints; one of these is in the atrium, and one hangs in my closet. (You can probably guess which goes where).

"She said she usually cried at least once each day not because she was sad, but because the world was so beautiful & life was so short."

A completely different sentiment is expressed in this one (sorry for the bad pic), but it speaks the truth, I sadly know for a FACT.

"My sister read somewhere once that if you look into your own eyes long enough in a mirror you change into the devil & it took her almost thirty years, but she finally did it".

I enjoy looking at them all, on the website - even though I don't "agree" with quite a few, I find the art and ideas fascinating. And maybe that's because it's so simple - it's one of those "why couldn't I have done something like this?" feelings. Or it's that, obviously, the artist is familiar with a family as dysfunctional as mine. Whatever.

Is TIMHT too revealing? Hmmmm.

Hope you decide to 'reveal' something today;

PLEASE join the fun, and remember to use Mr. Linky!

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Cyber Alter Ego

I can't express how much I appreciated all the sweet birthday wishes!



Birthday Sunday was great; Red Robin was delicious, the cookies lived up to their reputation, and the banana pudding - well, I can just be out-of-control about that.

Nice gifts: camera accessories, a DVD, a hummingbird feeder, and even a "shower" gift for my indulgent nightly ritual.

AND, I don't feel even a minute older!



I've enjoyed experiencing my birthday with my internet friends. It is however, an example of how those of us that have blogs, facebook or my space pages, tend to share personal information over the course of time.



We often reveal the very details that happen to also be our "secret" personal tidbits that help websites verify our identity via security questions.

Once upon a time, long before I had a blog, I'd read a book (it had something to do with selling on ebay) that recommended that you supply "bogus" answers to the questions that were supposed to provide extra protection from just "anyone" logging on to your account or changing your password.


Before I'd read that, it would have never occurred to me to lie to a computer, to answer a question with anything but the truth.

Now I know how much fun it is to fictionalize my responses.

It is wise and simple to have, say, a cyber alter ego: create fake answers to questions, or even an entire phony identity. Use a theme to make things easy to remember.

You can turn to just about anything for inspiration: a favorite book, movie, tv series, etc. I could simply wander into the kitchen:

• Favorite color: chocolate brown

• Mother's maiden name: Crocker


• Street you grew up on: Domino Sugar Aisle


• First grade teacher: Mrs. Butterworth


• Grandfather's occupation: Gorton Fisherman


• Best childhood friend: Little Debbie


• Favorite historical person: Cap'n Crunch


• Father's middle name: Folgers

See, it's easy. And then when we blog about our pets, and hometowns, our friends, our childhood experiences, we aren't divulging anything to be used against us.

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Today is my birthday.

I'll go to my son's soccer game, do some laundry (every day of my life), maybe get some Chick-fil-a. . . .

TOMORROW will be my Birthday Sunday , and that is when I'll get presents and dessert!

For several years, our extended family has gone to lunch together after church on Sundays. Whenever it is a family member's birthday, we just "party" on the Sunday closest to the birthday date.

The birthday celebrant gets to choose the restaurant; we're going to Red Robin!

We always have either Costco cake or Mary bakes something: I've requested banana pudding and her very special chocolate chip cookies. I know cookies don't sound birthday special, but that's because you haven't had these cookies. . .

Are y'all even listening to me, or is everyone still staring at that wonderful 6th grade picture? Are you mostly jealous of the uniform, the hair "style", or the glasses? Or is it the whole package? It's okay, you can be honest. As long as you enjoy my birthday, where ever you are!

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Things in My House Thursday #8

THINGS IN MY HOUSE THURSDAY!!

This Thursday's contribution isn't something that was a planned part of my decor, but it is something of extreme importance.

My pencil cups:





Regardless of where I am in my house, I am never far from a pen, pencil, pair of scissors, letter opener - or an American flag for that matter. (The American flags are from years of July 4th celebrations; I don't want to throw them away, and I don't have a 'seasonal' drawer or closet to store things like this).

The two wicker cups are in the kitchen and in the living room near the computer.

The "fancy" pencil cup is on "Grandma's" desk.

The plastic drinking cups: they are in the bedroom, and.....the bathroom.

These five containers don't hold all of the pens and pencils in the house. There are also small drawers full of Sharpies, fat markers, highlighters, and colored pencils.

Okay, I have issues.

I know I am weird about this, because I could not count the number of homes I've been in when, if the occasion arose, there wasn't a writing utensil to be found, much less a pair of scissors. (We won't even talk about scotch tape). I'm fascinated by these non-writing, non-cutting homeowners, and wonder why my lifestyle is so different.

Let me know how many pencil cups you have; and join TIMHT for the fun of sharing things from your home, and getting to "go in" other people's houses!

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Things In My House Thursday #7

SOAPSTONE CLOCK

I've had this 'clock' for several years - but not for the clock (I don't even know if it works!).

I just think it is unique, a little odd, and very old. It's supposedly made out of soapstone and under the clock it says Dornroschen, which I think means Sleeping Beauty. It stands almost exactly a foot tall.

It's been all over the house, and right now it's in - you guessed it - the atrium. I took it outside for pictures.

JOIN TIMHT!

Just post and link and visit each other!!

It's fun : )

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The Plague

Charlotte caught a little bug somewhere, sometime back......she shared with Mary, her Mom, then her Dad.

Eventually, the little bug found its way to me.

And now, it is THE PLAGUE. I cough and cough and cough and cough and cough and cough and cough.

Which might make you think I have bronchitis, an event that used to be fairly common for me (no, I have never smoked), but I haven't had in a long time.

I finally broke down and went to Walgreen's for some kind of cough medicine that I don't expect to work; but I'd like to get a full night's sleep for the first time in a week.

What else?

• Charlotte's in Florida
• The kids are ENJOYING their second week of school
• I have the Plague
• On Saturday, I paid 3.28 per gallon for gas
• I hate ironing
• wordle.net

Okay. That's it for now. I might be back tomorrow, but I'll see you on Thursday for sure!!

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Things In My House Thursday #6

TIMHT # 6

This little (barely-bigger-than-an-index-card) painting hangs above the mailboxes that are located in the atrium between the kids' bedrooms.

The boxes have been there for several years, and they could probably come down now; they are unused except for the occassional lid-banging by Charlotte.

They were incorporated into the home decor during the very early days of homeschooling - or possibly before, now that I think about it.

The art work was added later - just a couple of years ago. I bought it from an ebay seller in Colorado. I love it; I have a 'thing' about the mail. Even though it's almost always junk or bills, I still can't wait to get the mail everyday, so this painting appealed to me.

Join Things in My House Thursday;

just write your post and link back here!

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