One Report Down... One to Go... Inner Peace is close at hand!

Blogosphere distraction/intermission in work day :)

I have to share this... My imaginary friend, Blissie Boucher (aka. blissfulgypsywoman.blogspot.com), sent me this. She is on a RL vacation right now and I am missing her so I thought this would be the best thing to share in her honor. I KNOW some of you will LOVE this advice!

CALMNESS IN OUR LIVES

I am passing this on to you because it definitely works, and we could all use a little more calmness in our lives.

By following simple advice heard on the Dr. Phil show, you too can find inner peace. Dr Phil proclaimed, "The way to achieve inner peace is to finish all the things you have started and have never finished."

So, I looked around my house to see all the things I started and hadn't finished, and before leaving the house this morning, I finished off a bottle of Cabernet, a bottle of Bailey's Irish Cream, a bag of Mrs. Fields cookies, the remainder of my old Prozac prescription, the rest of the dulche de leche Cheesecake Factory cheesecake, the rest of a carton of Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia, and a box of See's chocolate chocolate chip truffles. You have no idea how fantastic I feel right now.

Pass this on to those whom you think might be in need of inner peace.
Inner Peace Anyone? Spread the word!

Blissie, America, Parenting and Apple Pie? Wait...

I know Blissie might be embarrassed - but I have to just post a short note to tell you to please pause from your day today sometime and read her blog post from yesterday, Tuesday, June 24. As we approach the 4th of July, and think about being an American, and think about our freedom, I hope you will really let her story sink in.

Blissie and I reversing roles at a SL club last Fall

I am finishing up my last day of work before 1 1/2 weeks off so I have neglected my blog. For some reason - knowing I am away from work makes me feel as if I must do everything on my to do list from now until the end of August or later, all before I shut off the lights in my office this afternoon. And, unlike so many of my colleagues - for me - going on vacation will just mean I'm at home. I should take the word "just" out of there. I am not "just" home. I am home. With my kids. Being a full time mom and wife. Cleaning the places in our home that have been neglected since my last "vacation" and just enjoying time.

I refereed a water fight via my cell phone this morning on my way into the office. I was literally about 5 minutes away from work, out of my usual 40+ minute commute when my oldest called to tell my youngest had the squirt bottle and had started spraying everyone. It sounded totally chaotic and as fun as it probably was - when I know all 4 are that wound up I know tears can't be far behind. Isn't that Murphy's law of being a kid with siblings? Anyway - I did the patented mom angry voice and gave it my best shot "You guys need to put that water away and find something quiet to do! This is my LAST day before vacation with you all. I am ALMOST to work! Don't make me turn the car around and come all the way home to end this situation! It won't be good if I have to!"

The quiet voice of my oldest quickly said, "No no mom - we have it handled. Don't turn around" I smiled to myself in my commute knowing hopefully my motherly instincts had been successful.

Just now as I am writing this - they called again. My oldest said, "Mom, I sent you a text message did you get it?" and then "I'm sorry Mom - we didn't mean to get out of hand. We'll be good, I promise." It made me smile from head to toe, and warmed my heart.

Parenting is such hard work. You never know if you are really doing it right or not. You never know if you have said and done the right thing. Some of it is intuition, some of it is those crazy parenting books or the way you were parented, and a heck of a lot of it is faith. I wouldn't trade any of it for the world. This morning was a gift - a little gift to just remind me I'm doing ok, as a mom, as a parent. I think that will enjoy my time with my kids even more now :) Water fights and all! Hoo! Oh... and the Apple Pie part from the title? I'm not partial to apple pie anyway - let's go for chocolate merange or berry or something like that :)

Blame Blissie

Blissie emailed this to me. It is Friday. I am waiting on my login to a grant system. Waiting and waiting so what do I do? Um... answer these random questions and tag someone to be next :)

50 ODD Things about you! Now that you are reading - you too have to fill it out!Learn 50 things about your friends and family, and let them learn 50 things about you!

1. Do you like blue cheese? Yes
2. Have you ever smoked heroin? No.
3. Do you own a gun? No. I don't want to have guns around while my kids are little. Or big really either.
4. What flavor do you add to your drink at sonic? Mmmmm Cherry or Vanilla.
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Depends on what doctor.
6. What do you think of hot dogs? I love them if I don't think about what they are made of.
7. Favorite Christmas movie? Christmas Story and It's a Wonderful Life. Ok... I like Christmas Vacation too.
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Coffee with cream.
9. Can you do pushups? cheater ones... LOL but I can do sit ups with the best of em - bring it on baby.
10. Age? 39.
11. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? My silver 2 linked hearts neckless I got for Valentines this year - from my 5 valentines :)
12. Favorite hobby? Writing. Photography. Scrapbooking... I miss scrapbooking.
13. Favorite Actor? Matthew McConnehey, Robert Downey Jr., Johnny Depp, Matthew Broderick... what the heck - I get little crushes on all movie actors from time to time :)
14. Do you have A.D.D.? Probably.
15. What's one trait you hate about yourself? I can just be too nice sometimes.. too much of a Yes person.
16. Middle name? Hoo!
17. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? This grant is almost done... I love this tune on the radio right now from Counting Crows... and oh my gosh my colleague is back and I have to go back to grant writing.
18. Name 3 things you bought yesterday/today: Hummus & Grilled Chicken (today's lunch), A BBQ sandwich (yesterday's lunch), and Lindens
19. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Smartwater, Coffee, Diet Coke/Pepsi
20. Current worries? Bills. Migraines. Will the twins ever sleep in their own beds?
21. Current hate right now? Bills. Senseless Violence. Stupid People.
22. Favorite place to be? There is no place like home :)
23. How did you bring in the New Year? With a big RL hoo!
24. Where would you like to go? Tahiti or Greece or Ireland
25. Name three people who will complete this ? :) You, you and you. (plagarized right from Blissie)
26. Do you own slippers? Yes but I never wear them.
27. What shirt are you wearing? My brown polka dot silky shirt with scoop neck.
28. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? Clean sheets are the main pre-requisite for me
29. Can you whistle? Sure :) I played the flute and piccolo - I think that must help a bit.
30. Favorite color? Blue or Pink
31. Would you be a pirate? No
32. What songs do you sing in the shower? Whatever is randomly floating through my head
33. Favorite girl's name? Rachel :)
34. Favorite boy's name? Simon, Zachary and Noah
35. What is in your pocket right now? A ponytail band (waiting patiently for the Friday afternoon bun of doom) and my rose quartz and hematite little rocks...
36. Last thing that made you laugh? The underwriters at a birthday party in the office this afternoon - they are CRAZY people!
37. Best bed sheets as a child? Pink flowers
38. Worst injury you've ever had? 23 stitches in my back up near my shoulderblade from falling on a mountain trail while jogging.
39. Do you love where you live? Sometimes.
40. How many TVs do you have in your house? 4
41. Who is your loudest friend? My 5 year old Simon
42. How many dogs do you have? 1 big lug named Feliz
43. Does someone have a crush on you? Hopefully someone somewhere :) I know at least my 4 men at home love me - does that count as a crush?
44. What is your favorite book(s)? Julia Cameron's Artists' Way... I need to be MUCH MUCH better about practicing her recommendations. Amazing stuff.
45. Where were you born? Ames, Iowa
46. What is your favorite candy? Mmmmm Chocolate Orange
47. Favorite Sports Team? AZ Diamondbacks and Phoenix Suns
48. What song(s) do you want played at your funeral? Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkle... not sure why... just came to me :)
49. What were you doing at 12AM? Probably snoring LOL
50. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? Thank God I slept through that bird singing at 4:15 am today!

OK - Bigd and Jenda you are NEXT!