Happy Halloween!

Jack-o-lanterns made by the Art Club at 

Perrysburg High School last year. COOL display!

Credits: This by Sugar Kissed Designs

I’m looking forward to another night similar to last year; I’ll have a few pairs of socks with my Halloween socks as the outer-most layer, a sweater and me parked in the chair part of my walker by the front door for a couple hours. For the kids it’s going to be COLD! We’re only expecting a high of 45 today and the second hour of trick or treating is after dark. I almost think I should be serving hot chocolate! The nice thing about our location is that we are kiddie corner from the parking areas for 2 churches/parochial schools that I’ve been told by some of the older kids who come to the door holding their treat bag in one hand and a hot-dog in the other that the churches have drinks and hot-dogs on Halloween. I’ve heard parents of the younger kids encouraging the kids “Lets go get a hot-dog for dinner now” after our house too. Of course since I’m tending the treat door at our house, I can’t confirm that, it’s not on either church’s website, but the hot-dogs I see don’t lie!


Since Halloween is on a Wednesday this year it’s also Hodge Podge day! This is HP 100; Joyce is hosting Hodge Podge 100 this week!

Joyce did and scheduled her Hodge Podge posts this week as a preemptive strike against Sandy; she’s in New Jersey! This is the comment she left on her own blog today:

“Joyce October 31, 2012 8:13 AM A quick update...no power here and my 3G very intermittent. We are charging electronics via the car so trying to conserve precious battery power. Minor damage to the exterior of the house but nothing thru the roof or windows, dry basement, and we are safe. As a bonus my new landscaping survived the terrifying winds, protected by the big rock. As were we : ). ”

Please keep Joyce and all the residents of New Jersey, New York and all of the areas ravaged by the superstorm in your thoughts and prayers. Recovery will take a while. This is the “It Could Happen Tomorrow” episode from the Weather Channel’s series of catastrophic possibilities. They predicted Katrina too. Maybe TWC needs to stop doing those programs for hurricanes, huh?

1. What creeps you out?

That anyone could consciously hurt an animal. One of the things that animal folks warn and worry about on Halloween is the abuse of cats, especially black cats. I’ve mentioned before that we adopted Carla in October, but she couldn’t come home with us until November. Paws and Whiskers rule was that black cats could not leave the shelter in October because there are people who will adopt a cat to use it as “Halloween decoration” and return it or throw it out of the house after Halloween. Worse that there are people who adopt black cats and do horrendous abusive and deadly things to them as part of their “celebration.” The entire idea that anyone could ever intentionally harm an innocent, trusting and loving animal disgusts me. Those are people that deserve like and kind treatment; they are useless as human beings and we’d all be better off without them stealing oxygen from us all.

Intentional harm to kids or animals brings out the violent vengeance streak in me. I’m okay with that.


2. What's your least favorite candy?

Marshmallows; I would choke down black licorice if I had to eat either that or a marshmallow.


3. Are you a fan of scary movies? What's the scariest movie you've ever seen?

My friend Tom and I used to go to the midnight movies when we were in high school almost every Saturday to see horror flicks. I think the scariest one from that time was “Last House On The Left” because it was the most violent film I'd seen at thge time and the violence was committed on 17-year old girls; I was 17 when I saw it.

As far as recent movies, I’ve heard “red State” is pretty scary in an “It could happen tomorrow” kind of way. Honestly, 1984 was scary in the same way, but the book is more terrifying in that way too. I think the scary movies that could or did actually happen are scarier than the Freddie Kruger or Jason Voorhees types. Those are just scary in the moment but fun overall.


4. What part of life confuses you the most?

I’m really trying not to be political today…


5. Pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, poppy...what's your favorite seed?

I love pumpkin seeds fresh from the oven…YUM!


6. Imagine your life ten years from today...what's changed?

This is a job interview question! I’ve been trying to coach my niece about job interviews and college and the importance of the “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” question and your answer to it. It makes a big difference in choosing a college, a major or staying in school at all. If you don’t stay in school, the answer is pretty depressing if you’re honest with yourself.

Okay, but Nani in the year 2022. We’re 2 years past 2020 and if I didn’t have the big 2020 glasses on New Year’s Eve for that year, things are probably not as good as they would be if I did. So, I’ll assume that I greeted the year 2020 with 2020 vision and I am happy. I hope that in ten years we’re in a different house that’s more handicap-friendly so I curse at fewer things. :)


7. What do you a) love the most and b) like the least about the Hodgepodge?

I like the sense of community, reading how different or similar others’ answers are to mine, reading the comments and seeing which of my answers prompted comments.

What I like least is the occasional question that requires a lot more pop-culture knowledge than I possess!


8. Insert your own random thought here.

I am so done with the zombies. I have used the occasional “zombie apocalypse” joke, but there have been so many adults with garish skin falling off makeup and tutorials so you too can be a zombie like everyone else on the internet… I truly hope after this Halloween the fad dies out. Thanks to Facebook I’m in communication with too many people my age that I knew when they were teenagers and helpless slaves to fads; too many of them haven’t grown up. This is the world we live in. It’s depressing.

The Day After

Congratulations to the &#^$%* San Francisco Giants who are the 2012 World Series Champions. The Giants played some amazing clutch baseball this October and may very well be the new “most-hated” team in baseball in Nani’s world. Of course, sports hate is usually the utmost respect, for how great can my teams be if they aren’t beaten by the best, right? Still, the Giants ability to capitalize on ONE base running error in game 3 of the Division Series with Cincinnati made the difference between them getting swept in that series and gaining the necessary momentum to snatch the series from elimination. Of course, I think beating both of my teams in their houses was just mean, but somehow I don’t think the Giants’ fans cared where they won. They won in 2010 and now this year, and they need to stop for a while so their fans don’t become jaded, okay?

Seriously, well played Giants.


I’m sending good thoughts, wishes and prayers for everyone in the path of Sandy’s wrath. It’s definitely looking like Sandy will be everything they feared Irene would be last year. I have friends and family in the areas that are promised to get hit. Please, please, please, everyone be careful and safe the next few days! Check in when you can and as often as you can to let us all know you’re okay. I know here, all the way in Toledo, we’re expecting 40 MPH sustained winds tonight, nothing compared to the coast, but I know I’m grounded. I’m just not stable enough on my feet to even get down the three steps to the driveway to go anywhere without getting knocked over!


Okay, let’s get on with the week, shall we?

Welcome to The Monday Quiz About Me, Halloween Edition, brought to us by Acting Balanced and Touristic!

1. Do you consider Halloween a holiday for children or adults?

Adults can and should enjoy it an on occasion dress up and go to parties and such, but the actual night, when the kids are out begging, it’s all about them as far as I’m concerned. I just love treating the kids on Halloween!

David and me 2005

2. At what age should children stop trick or treating?

I think kids should stop when they reach the age where they don’t feel comfortable doing it. If a 15-year old has the guts to dress up to go door to door for candy, let them have a piece of candy. Personally, no costume, no candy, but if you come to my door in costume, there will be candy. I also some years have truffles for parents accompanying their kids to the door.


3. What are your plans for Halloween?

Not to be anticlimactic, but as promised for a week, I’ll be in the seat of my walker, sitting at the front door for the 2 hours of official trick or treating. :)


4. What frightens you?

Spiders. I’m afraid of falling too, but spiders are definitely my craziest irrational fear.


And don't forget to add a 5th Question on your own blog so we can answer as we hop around!


5. Do you carve a jack-o-lantern for Halloween?

I carved my first and only jack-o-lantern in 2008. (It was SO much harder than my Dad ever made it look!)

It was pretty cool to have the pumpkin glowing and all, but for 2009 we switched to using pie pumpkins and David drew the faces on them. They weren’t lit up, but afterwards we had not only pumpkin seeds, like we had in 08, but I also made great pumpkin dishes!

Mr. Pumpkinhead 2008

Just Swingin'

I wish “swing state” meant we have more playgrounds per capita

1. Who wakes up in the morning with the kids, you or hubby?

I wake up first and Kaline usually comes down with me to get a few cuddles while I’m having my morning coffee. Then she goes back upstairs and she and Carla usually both curl up with Daddy until he wakes up.


2. Do you watch the World Series even if your team isn't in it?

Yes. The only difference is if my team is in it, I’m sitting in front of the TV and don’t do anything distracting. If my team isn’t in the Series, I usually have the game on while I’m scrapbooking of something else.


3. What is the best compliment you have received?

At the risk of making my ego sound insane, but hey, I’m a voter in Ohio so there is a natural lack of ego control, I get compliments often and I don’t weigh any of them as better than the others. When someone pays me a compliment, especially when there is no reason for them to feel obligated to, it always pretty special and I always think the person giving it is pretty special to extend that kindness.


4. Do/did you dress up to take your kids trick or treating?

We don’t take the kids out on Halloween, in fact they usually hide when the trick or treaters start coming to the door. That’s especially good for Carla; there are some sick people who do some cruel things to animals, especially black cats on Halloween. If either of them, but especially Carla got out of the house on Halloween, I’d forget the3 treat giving really fast.


5. Do you have a favorite bible verse? What is it and why?

I don’t have one favorite verse, but I have always been able to find what I need when I open the Bible for some comforting words.

This week’s statements:
1. ___ is my favorite feature
2. Thinking about ___ makes me ___
3. It’s been a long time since______
4. I just don’t understand_____________


My Answers:

1. Frosting is my favorite feature.

2. Thinking about cookies makes me smile.

3. It’s been a long time since I made veggie soup.

4. I just don’t understand why so many people can’t separate their church and their politics.

**  In spite of the rain that we got this morning, David and I foraged out to vote today. We have early voting here in Ohio, but you’ve probably heard that. After all, Ohio is one of the few places with important people in it. Yeah, nothing like living in a swing state to bolster your ego. There are twelve states that matter to the major party candidates for president. The other states minds have already been made up for them and they will have to bore themselves this election with unimportant things like property taxes, school levies and who is running for mayor anyway? In Ohio we get flooded with the presidential attacks on, not a daily or hourly, but constant basis. I keep the TV and radio turned off during the day and David brings in the mail after making a stop at the garbage can to throw away half of it because we both have several glossy, unrecyclable dead trees from both sides and supporting organizations.

Then it’s the baseball playoffs, brought to you by Mitt Romney with special interests by More-Money-Than-You and a guest appearances by President Barack Obama, with notable cameos by Sherrod Brown and Josh Mandel, the combatants for senate. They all want to be in Washington and no one had bothered to mention our libraries which are also on the ballot here in Toledo. Seriously, I fear that most people will either not bother with our local issues or just flip a coin. And why are we disregarding our local issues and races? Why don’t some of us even know about them? Because we’re a swing state! If only one of the tons-to-spend candidates would use some of that time they purchase to drown us in how bad their opponent is could only at least remind us that there are local races on the ballot we need to consider too; I mean how many times do we need to see the same depressing message about “the other guy?” --sigh-- I envy the states that aren’t important; they get to focus their attention on more important things.


**  Over last weekend Kaline found a new…not new, old toy. I’m kind of amazed actually. When she was a kitten her favorite toy was a foam yellow ball that Sheri got for her. Sheri actually got her a tube of foam balls in yellow, green, blue and pink, but the yellow one was her favorite. I’ve heard that cats are color blind, so I never understood how one pastel ball was better than the others. True I gave her the yellow one first and when it was mangy and falling apart I gave her the green one and put the yellow one in the trash. She crawled her little kitten but up the bag and fished it out of the trash! “No green ball, Mommy; the yellow one!” I just could not get her to like any of the other three as much as that mangy yellow ball!

Fast forward a few years, we’re living in Ohio with Daddy and Baggle and there is a new sister. Carla was just over a year old and she had so much kitten still left in her as far as playing goes. Carla wasn’t the fan of foam balls that Kaline was and the foam balls disappeared, as cat toys often do. They usually resurface when furniture is moved. The yellow foam ball never did resurface; until last weekend. Kaline was in the annex room off the kitchen and there was kitty playing noise. She came into the dining room where I was and lo and behold, she was having a second kittenhood with a dirt-marked yellow foam ball! The foam ball would have been here since fall 2009 when Carla was new. Amazing the irony of her finding that particular ball after all this time! I never saw that ball when I cleared that room earlier this year, maybe it came up from the basement. It’s been her favorite toy, again, all this week.



**  If you haven’t had a chance to read yesterday’s blog about my Smash books, check it out! I have some photos of my Smash Archive book pages and a little personal history about smash-style scrapbooks in my family’s history. If you wondered what exactly I meant by “smashing” it should explain, although I welcome any further questions!

A pocket holds the letter from the bank that says the Camaro is paid in full!

Smashing Defined…Sorta

Smashing Defined…Sorta

I’ve been getting lots of comments asking and guessing about Smashing/Smash Books.  I am NOT an authority here, but I’m glad to explain my use of the idea!

First a little background. My first acquaintance with Smash books was the video promoting the Smash Book line by K&Company on a blog back in early 2011.  The SMASH line was first released by K&Company in the spring of 2011. That’s the video I saw on my blog post I Want To Get Smashed from the end of last month. I loved the idea from the video, but since I’m a digital scrapbooker, it was an idea I put away in the back of my brain in case I ever wanted to use it.

Both of my Grandmothers had books done in a similar way. Noni’s photo albums included newspaper clippings, invitations and prayer cards mixed in with her photos and they weren’t in the strict chronological order mine are. There were lots of comments and dates and it was obvious what eras the items belonged to. Grandma had a serious smash book of the 1940s with pictures and words cut out of magazines; pictures of things she liked or wanted and inspiring, happy words. They weren’t arranged as elegant pages, just happy pages; things she wanted to see and think about. I didn’t keep that book and now I’m really wishing I had! It’s really not any different than my great-grandmother’s Bible that has passages underlined and photos, cards and clipping in between the pages. All of them are personal books that bring peace and smiles. This past spring, Tori made a similar style book for a friend to the one Grandma had made. It was a remembrance for a friend who was going to a different college.

SMASH Stick is felt tip pen on one end and glue stick on the other

Today’s SMASH Book by K&Company is pretty much the same thing. All right, no, it’s not a Bible, but you can write or paste in Bible verses if that is a part of what makes you feel good. You could make your smash book a bold and full personal devotional book. What a smash book is, is totally custom to the person making it; there is no set way, there are no rules. The book itself can be a theme, for instance there is a wedding themed smash book which can hold planning notes, cards, photos, favors, receipts, personal thoughts jotted down with the SMASH stick; all of your wedding mementos. Or just use your smash book to hold random thoughts, a funny cartoon or drawing, inspirational quotes and some things you’d like to buy in the next year. Google Smash Book and look at the images; endless ideas!

But you don’t have to buy the official SMASH books to Smash. As I said, Noni “smashed” in her old black paper photo album and Grandma “smashed” on very nice writing paper. Mums “smashed” in her most used and treasured Bible. 

Smashing used as a craft verb is something I’ve read on several blogs where people have talked about Smash Books. It’s like one scraps when putting together a scrapbook, one smashes when putting things in a smash book. The actual difference between scrapbooking and smash booking is organization. Scrapbook pages are carefully planned out. They utilize matching papers and embellishments with photos and sometimes ephemera to create the page as a work of art in and of itself bringing a memory to life through the photos and journaling. A smash book relies on the tactile items as they connect to memories with some or a lot of journaling and elements. The pages don’t have to be laid out artistically, as they say “just smash it in.”

Now, most of the visitors at The Chronicles of Nani are the creative types. I think that’s where smash and scrap blur a little. We just can’t glue something into a book without something that makes it unique, artsy. Back to the “no rules” clause. Anything you do with a smash book is right. To me, especially after seeing books that Noni and Grandma kept, in the USA and Italy 50+ years ago, Smash books are “back to basics.” It’s the culmination of scrapbooks, art journals, devotionals and trinket boxes all in one and with the concept of the original scrapbooks long before they were an art form. They’re a great way for someone who is busy to keep their memories, a wonderful book of the most special things and a central place for all the little mementos that are too small for a major presentation but too sweet to dispose of and forget. In a way, smash books are like the Blog Friday Fragments many of us do each week with Half Past Kissin Time!

So Nani and smash books. You’ll remember in that original post I did about smashing, 181 baseball ticket stubs. I’m not throwing out my baseball ticket stubs! But in cleaning through things to unearth my craft room, the woman cave, I realized there were other things, I have concert tickets, jokes I printed, inspirational quotes, cards and little bits of personal ephemera from things I’ve done and places I’ve been. When I dropped that envelope with all my baseball ticket stubs and had to put them back in order, the memory of the smash books hit me. I also had a ton of paper scrapbooking supplies that I’m not using anymore, so it all kind of fell together.


I’d like to share some of the Smash Archive book. It goes to the end of ish2004. I say “ish2004” because while 2004 is the stopping point of this book, the beginning isn’t so defined.  I started in 1966, but I have some photos and mementos from my grandparents. They are things that a part of me and make me smile, even if I couldn’t possibly have been there for them!

For the cover, I used a three-ring binder that I had in a retro-looking aqua. I titled it with some stickers I had in my scrapbooking stash. I think I’m going to use a plastic dust cover on it or replace those stickers with ones that stick better. The cover is a work in progress.

 

I made a “smash band” for holding the book closed, thereby protecting the pages, by using an extra-long rubber band with a smiley clip from my office supplies.

You see from the first page that I’m not dwelling on layout as much as placement. I want to make sure things fit on the page, its okay if they overlap a little, it’s okay if they don’t. Things don’t have to be related but I have to be able to read and see the pictures. I did add the Best Friends sticker to the picture of me with John, Kelly and Scotty. That written piece in the corner is my personal mission statement from many years ago and my signature. I have a few things I’d handwritten because I want to remember how legible my handwriting and printing used to be now that MS has robbed me of my penmanship

As you can see, it’s a blocked page of special little things; a bookmark, top of an M&M box, photo of Mom, a Cracker Jack prize baseball card, ticket from World Of Coke in Atlanta and a printed on paper photo of Eric Karros in Dodger Blue, purrrr! ;) That photo was from about a decade before I met my husband!

Remember the whole inspiration was the baseball ticket stubs:

SO much better than scattered on the floor!

And this one is M&Ms. I collect M&Ms and bought all kinds of M&Ms scrapbook stuff, but I never had any reason to scrap using M&Ms stuff. Now it doesn’t matter; I can smash the M&Ms in anywhere!

So there’s the peek at what and how I’ve smashed so far. I know me and can already see the desire to do some different things, so I’m sure my style here will change and grow which is why I wanted to smash the older items first, so they are represented by my older smashing style. It’s just like with my scrapbooks; I won’t go back and redo my older digital pages, although my skill level is much better now because the skill level where I started is part of a memory too.

Halloween Prep and Hodge Podge

I spent time yesterday with my hands on other than my keyboard. I got the first 50 Halloween bags done. David is going to pick up another box of snack-size Zip-Locs tonight. I have 100 more to go! We had 158 kids last year and I’m doing 150 bags for this year. I always make up bags to cover last year’s count and I have an “overflow bowl” that is a couple treats for me while I do door-duty and extra candy for if/when I run out of bags. My counting system is that when I get to the overflow bowl, I put one piece of candy in another bowl for every kid I give to after the bags are gone., Then I count those pieces after the door is closed to add to the number of bags for my total.

This is all an important count to me and seeing the number rise each year is a big issue of accomplishment for me too. You see, I love kids. Just because I didn’t want the “mom” job title doesn’t mean that I don’t just adore kids! Since we don’t have to pay for braces, school clothes and eventual car insurance or prom dresses, we can spoil a little more on the night where you can give a bunch of candy to kids you don’t know without anyone looking you up on an offenders register! I love the cute and creative costumes and the happy kids. I usually find that most of those kids are sweetly polite and I hear “thank you” much more often than not.

Halloween was such a disappointment for me in Michigan. After my own trick or treat years passed, I looked forward to being the one at the door passing out candy. When we were still going out in our small neighborhood, it was mostly just the neighborhood kids that went there, so there were usually large bags full of candy or full size candy bars. There were even homemade cookies and caramel apples for the neighborhood kids the homeowner knew. I was excited to be the giver the first year that I was no longer one of the beggars. That year we had a grand total of about 10 after I’d made up generous bags for 20. The number went down each year until there had been 2 years in a row with no knocks on the door and no happy screams of “trick or treat!”

I was so excited in 2007 when I got to host my first Halloween Door in a city neighborhood! David said he and Vanessa were home and had done treats once or twice. I asked if he remembered an approximate count and he said it was maybe 35. I was so happy! That number already topped the high point of my giving in Michigan. I made up 30 bags with an overflow bowl. I went through those 30 and gave out from the overflow bowl and had a happy, happy night; Over 40 kids! 2008 was a warm Saturday night and David and I dressed up in our Mounds and Almond Joy costumes and sat on the porch. We lost count of the overflow after our 45 bags after 15. In 2009 I did 80 bags and had 12 more kids after that. I liked the trend! I did 100 in 2010 and last year 150. I’m sticking with the 150 this year since we weren’t that much over last year. I can’t be happier than to see the number of kids at our door jump from 45 to 158 in just 5 years! Giving out candy is my absolute favorite part of Halloween; keep the grown-up parties, I’d rather treat the kids.

So, it’s Wednesday, let’s join Joyce at From This Side of the Pond for the Hodge Podge!

1. So, do you like beer?

Yes, but I’m picky about beer and I have to be in the right mood to drink it. I finally drank my last Pumpkin Spice Ale from the 6-pack David brought me last year. It’s good beer and I’ll drink it again; the last beer lived in the fridge a year and was still good! I like Canadian beer, my favorites being Blue Light or Molson Ice. Honey Brown made in New York is a personal favorite of mine. I like a darker beer with a sweet edge to it and I love trying the samplers with a taste of several beers in Microbreweries. I’m not likely to chug a 6-pack, like in my early 20s, but when I do have a beer it will be a Nani-rated GOOD beer.


2. What's your least favorite repetitive task?

Refilling prescriptions


3. When was the last time you rode a bus? Where was it headed?

I have a face to face interview to be accepted in the local Paratransit program next month, then on to vocational rehab and hopefully I’ll be using a bus daily to get to and from work.

The last time I was on a bus was…probably in Metro Atlanta in the mid-90s taking the Park-N-Ride from the Mall in Cobb County to downtown Atlanta.


4. What song from your childhood or from your own children's childhood could make a parent's nerves stand on end?

Well, my own nieces when they were with me. The Curly Lasagna tapes used to make my Dad a little nuts, but we loved to listen to them together.

“And the cow goes MOO. MOO. MOO-MOO-MOO!”


5. The US Presidential election cycle is drawing to a close (can I get an AMEN??), and the third and final debate was held last night...what was the last thing you 'debated about'?

My greatest debates lately have been internal.


6. Can a person make too much money? How much is too much?

It totally depends on the person. There are those who do good things for their family members and charity while enjoying some luxuries for themselves with great sums of money earned providing goods or services that have filled a great need or convenience to people and they treat the employees who made their success possible with respect. (I also consider entertainment to be a quality of life need) Those people don’t have too much. I think of Steve Jobs (was) and Bill Gates (is) as people who don’t have too much.

What I call obscenely wealthy people indeed have too much. They make money providing a good or services that have no measurable value or do more harm than good and don’t treat the employees doing all of their work well. They only give to charity in as much as they need to for tax shelters. They lavish themselves but even family members are only rewarded for the things done that boost their ego. (Drug dealers and unscrupulous businessmen fall into this category) These people have WAY too much. I’m thinking of a former employer who was arranging for scalper tickets to the Super Bowl while I was training the guy in India over the phone who would be doing my job by May as an example of “too much.”


7. Pop-soda-coke-something else...what's it called where you live?

Where I was born and I think where I live too, it’s “pop.” I call it soda. Worked as hard to make that a habit as the proper pronunciation of “W” and “hundred” when I was in broadcast school; good clean Broadcast English.


8. Insert your own random thought here.

I spent a couple of hours Smashing yesterday. Before I get started on the Friendship Books with Kelly, I wanted to get a feel for the rhythm of Smashing, get my supplies organized and get in the creative habit of a few tricks for better smashing. I have my paper things; ticket stubs, cartoons I cut out, receipts I’ve kept and auricles and a few other flat mementos separated into decades. Seriously, I have a huge box and I’ve been going through it and deciding if it’s Smash or Trash stuff. I’d say if I have a couple afternoon hours today, I’ll be ready to assemble my second binder starting with 2005; the year I met David.

The “Archive Smash” books are in simple 3-ring binders done with scrapbook papers and elements. I’m finding that the package of plain velum paper and stickers works great for making pocket for some of the items and I’m also noticing how my taste has changed since 2007 when I switched to digital. It’s so curious to me how many more coffee cups and polka dots I have in digital. I’m really trying to avoid buying them! (Although I did buy the polka dot Smash tape last week…it’s been tempting me more than a pumpkin donut since I first saw it!)

So, Binder 2 will start with the 2005 items and go from there, with the intention that I’m going to start using actual Smash books for 2011 and do a new one for each year from there. We’ll see how the plan works, but so far I love having one fun place for all that ephemera instead of little folders and boxes all over the house. I’ll post some progress pictures in the next week or so.

Long Time So Brief

Some of you may be thinking I’ve been away from the blog world for so long, but to me the past week just flew by! Kelly got here last Saturday and she stayed until Friday afternoon. I’ve been trying to take it easy this weekend. One; to be safe because until late tonight, I’m writing on Sunday evening, I’m home alone. David was in West Virginia last I talked to him. He called about UTZ product at Sheetz; he’s bringing me home a small bag of Maryland Crab seasoned chips and a bag of pumpernickel pretzels! The other reason is to recover. I only have to clear and wipe the desk and my office/craft room; the Woman Cave will be a functional room! By the end of the week Kelly and I were both exhausted with aches on top of aches. For me, walking and even typing on my right side is very weak and stiff. I’d quit the med that was supposed to make movement easier for me because I didn’t think it was really working and it was the highest copay of all my meds. I think I’m, going to start it again because I can feel that I’m not taking it.

I called Scotty Wednesday morning to see if he would meet us for lunch on Thursday. He couldn’t he’s in the hospital! I didn’t gripe at him for not calling me this time. You don’t get any time to let people know you’re going to be in the hospital when you get the call he did Monday night; we have a donor! Scotty was in surgery early Tuesday morning and when I called on Wednesday he was bonding with his new kidney and pancreas! He’s been doing well, but Jill, his sister, one of the biological ones, says the doctors have him on antibiotics because they fear he may have an infection, so it set his original release date of Sunday back a few days. If everyone could please utter a prayer or good thought for my big brother, I’d be eternally grateful! I want the rest of his recovery to be textbook.

Kelly and I made all of our plans for our “Friendship Smash Books.” I have my binder and selected the first two papers and some of the items I want to use. The binder I have right now is my book. Kelly will start her book. What we’ll do is smash the title page and the first two actual pages. Then the books have to be in the mail by December 8. Kelly will get my book with the first two pages done and I’ll get hers. Then we do the next two pages in each other’s books with a January 8 deadline for mailing them back. We’re going to mail them back and forth doing 2 pages a month for a year. When the books are done we’ll both have a book that we half did ourselves and half done by our best friend. We’re going to add a little to the covers as we go and those will be done at the end of the year too. This will truly be a special and fun project.

Before I get on to the Monday Quiz About Me, I want to share this trip's mug. You’ll recall that last week I mentioned that Kelly and I have a mug tradition when we get together. This was a shoestring budget trip. Neither of us had the cash for a nice dinner out and even the coffee cup tradition was threatened. Except for the box I brought home from the storage!

I have no memory of when I bought this mug. But it was on s closeout sale, probably about 20 years ago according to the other items in the box. I showed it to Kelly and she loved it! Guess what? On this low funds weekend, the coffee mug from 20 years ago was not alone! There were two boxes with the identical mug! I’d already given Kelly the box with the other mug and saucer but I suggested we’d make that our mug for this trip. Her job now is to find two identical mugs that are older than half of our friendship to be the mugs for next time. This sounds like a fun thrift store challenge!


This afternoon I did this scrapbook layout:

Pumpkin Enabler

Credits: We Are Thankful by Colie’s Corner, word art by Digitalegacies

I love word art like that one. I have a few cups with word art like that, including the several types of coffee and several fonts on that 20-year old mug and saucer set! I decided that it was time I custom created my word art in that style and that’s the source of the Pumpkin Spice word art!

Of course, how could I not share??

 

Click on the preview to go to download.

As usual, I’d love to see any scrapbook or craft project you do with it!


Okay, NOW we move on the The Monday Quiz About Me, hosted by Heather at Acting Balanced and Wayne at Touristic.

1. How often do you shop for groceries? Do you shop in one place or many?

David picks up things that need to be fresh; meat, apples and bananas, salad, carrots, ice cream, in between trips, but we do our big shopping trip about once a month.

We usually shop at the Kroger a little over a block away, but we also shop at Meijer, because he likes their steak better and I like their hummus selection and Giant Eagle for special items.


2. How old were you when you had your first taste of alcohol?

LOL… 2.

Mom, Dad, Grandma and Papa each had a different mixed drink and were talking in the living room at Grandma and Papa’s house. I was quietly “making the rounds” taking a small sip out of the glass…each glass. Two years old and a sip of scotch, a sip of bourbon, a sip of rum and a sip of Seagram’s Seven. Of course I don’t remember this, but each of the adults involved enjoyed telling me the story when I was older. I was walking a little strange and acting a little zoned. Each one in turn said, “She only took a little taste of my drink.” Times four! They watched me closer after that and “little Daynonna wasn’t allowed to taste the grownup drinks anymore.”

Having taught the lesson, this never happened with my brother and he drinks a lot more than I do now. Hmmm…


3. How much TV do you watch?

Well, the picture quality on FOX is so poor I’m not even watching he baseball game tonight, watching the pitch by pitch on mlb.com. So, I last had the TV on Friday night when I decided that the bad picture and all the political ads were more than I wanted to deal with. It’ll probably be on again if David turns it on when he gets home or in the morning. I don’t watch a lot.


4. How do you relieve stress?

I write in my personal journal or meditate myself into a relaxing nap.



And don't forget to add a 5th Question on your own blog so we can answer as we hop around!


5. What is your favorite food to snack on while you’re reading/writing blogs?

Usually popcorn, air popped and hot with nothing on it or carrots. But…I also keep a candy jar filed if I’m in the mood for something sweet. I’m usually pretty good about the candy, keeping count and behaving, but tonight I’m a little lonely as I reach the end of the days between Kelly leaving and David getting home, so it’s just me and the Pumpkin Spice or Air kisses.

Starting The Week Off Right

Good Monday morning!

Kelly got here safe and sound Saturday evening. David left on his week-long vacation last night, adjusting his hotel nights for the weather. It’s cool because it meant he got to see Kelly a little, although wee were gone for a good chunk of yesterday, before he left. Yesterday was the last day of my dad’s vacation week, so we went to Pop’s for an Italian soul food lunch.

The Ultimate Comfort Food

Pop made piada, and Italian unleavened bread, served with seasoned pan-fried greens an Italian lunch meats and cheeses. Hew also made a plate of cosione, those seasoned greens fried up in rolled out pasta pockets. The piada and greens was my request when he asked me what I’d like him to make. He chuckled as I told Kelly it was “soul food” because it was the meal that brought back happy family memories from my childhood. The chuckle was not in calling it my soul food; it was because it gave a term and an explanation to the fact that that meal is the one that is most requested by my brother and both of my aunt’s kids when they get together for a meal with their families It is that meal that satisfies the taste bids, stomachs and inner-children of all four of us.


While Kelly is still sleeping, remember it’s an hour earlier according to her Missouri body-clock and besides I’m an early riser, I want to get my Monday Quiz About Me hosted by Acting Balanced and Touristic done so I have some time to read and answer some question #5s before our day starts!

1. What is the most interesting fact you have learned recently?

It has to be that fact that my brother, cousins and I all request the same family meal when we visit my dad!


2. The alarm goes off on Monday morning. What is your first thought?

Okay, I’m a dork here; my every day alarm is set for 7:05 AM on my phone. I’m rarely still asleep when it goes off, but I have it set so I am sure to be awake to take my morning vitamins and medications. This morning, I was sitting in front of the computer reading a news story with the phone sitting next to the keyboard. When it went off, I jumped. That’s more common than it waking me up, so I’d have to say that my usual thought when the alarm goes off on Monday is some sort of surprised expletive and “Gee that’s loud,”


3. What is the most memorable movie line of all time?

Hehe…today it’s “I’ll be back,” specifically from The Terminator, because I just finished this scrapbook layout last night:

Leaf Terminator

Credits: Fall Festival; Papers by Inspired Designs, 

Elements by Kathy Winters Designs

4. Describe a situation that always seems to try your patience.

Waiting. I hate waiting in traffic, for an event, I even go nuts waiting for David to be ready to leave the house when we go somewhere. The only thing I really don’t mind anymore is waiting for the doctor.

As I explained to David last week when we were waiting in the doctor’s office, when I was the one getting a diagnosis I didn’t want to hear and had lots of questions about, I was glad that the doctor game me his time to answer my questions and not hand me a pamphlet and say he had other patients waiting. It totally changed my perspective on waiting in a doctor’s office. But if a friend is meeting me for coffee, they’d better be less than 15 minutes after the scheduled time or I expect a phone call!


And don't forget to add a 5th Question on your own blog so we can answer as we hop around!


When a dear friend or family member is visiting from out of town, what thing do you make a point of doing together? (ex: board games, a meal out, attending a museum or event…)

When Kelly and I get together, whether it’s in Toledo, Missouri or someplace out of town for both of us, there is always a coffee shop involved at least once. We both enjoy, what her ex named “five-dollah-coffee,” and the chance to sit down and talk…and talk and talk and talk! It’s often where we pick our mug for the visit. We always select a coffee mug when we get together to commemorate or visit. We each buy one of the identical mugs and trade them. It’s our tradition!

Oh, by the way, we have NEVER paid five dollars for a cup of coffee. (Sorry Carl, you were a victim of your own exaggeration on that one!)

And Now The Week Is Done

Okay, so yesterday didn’t turn out as planned. Stupid Giants can’t read a simple script. But the Tigers did win! YAY! ALCS, baby! Game one of the American League Championship Series is Saturday. I gotta dig up my Tiger ears!

As for the Reds, next year! There was what ended up being a very costly running mistake in Game 3 by Brandon Phillips that cost them a run. Any kind of errors like that are so rare from Brandon, but this one, unsuccessfully stretching a steal into more on a passed ball, cost them a run that would have eventually won the game rather than put it into extra innings, where a rare Scott Rolen error allowed the final run. Phillips and Rolen just don’t do those things! But add that Reds Ace, Johnny Cueto left Game 1 after one batter and was eventually put on the Disabled List and slugger Joey Votto is not back to 100% after his knee surgery. There are a ton of reason they didn’t take their 2-0 series lead to the 3 wins necessary to advance, but if they had, were they too beaten up to get past Washington or St. Louis? Maybe the injuries were a “wait until next year” message anyway. As a fan, it was a great season and we Reds fans got to enjoy a week more baseball with our Boys of Summer than the fans of 22 other teams!

I’ve got a very full plate today. Playoff baseball has kept me from chores I wanted to do before Kelly gets here, so after blog and breakfast, I want to get the kitchen and dining room tidied up, so we have someplace to enjoy a cup, or gallon, of coffee. David is leaving for his last vacation week of the year either today or tomorrow, depends on the weather. Then it’s Girl Time! I can hardly wait!

But for now on this busy day, I’m going to join Mama M for Five Question Friday!

1. Did you have any homecoming traditions?

I was not a school-spirit girl at all in high school, so my tradition was avoiding it. I refused a few dates to prom and this girl, who wore a $35 t-shirt to my own wedding reception, never spent crazy money for a one-time dress for a teenager. Not passing judgment, but I thought dressing up for a high school dance was ridiculous at the time. I know Tori was a prom-maniac, but Rina thought the whole thing was silly. To each his own, right?

Taking 13 years and non-traditional to get my college degree, I never did anything for homecoming in college either. But now that Siena Heights has a football team, I’d like to eventually go to a game.  It doesn't have to be for Homecoming, since my university home was at a satellite campus.


2. Do you ask your spouse before spending money?

If I’m spending from the joint account, I don’t ask, but I let him know to make sure there aren’t outstanding checks I need to be aware of. He lets me know when he writes a check because I usually know the balance. We otherwise have our own funds and accounts so there’s no need to notify each other.


3. If you could be famous for something what would it be?

You mean I’m not famous?


4. Have you ever seriously thought you were going crazy?

Not really. I was in counseling when I was a teenager because I was having some issues with my relationship with my Dad. If anyone ever tells you that counseling is unnecessary for kids and that problems in the family should be solved without someone from outside getting into family issues, slap them upside the head. It probably saved me from actually going nuts, or driving off the defiance deep end. I got to vent, and my counselor was great in leading me to talk about the things that I needed to. I was able to start repairing our relationship and Dad, who'd become even more withdrawn from me because I was in counseling (with Mom’s support for me going) was starting to make an effort too. It took a few years, to fix, but we have an awesome relationship today. It worked and was totally worth the effort.

By the way, my Dad, some 30 years later, doesn’t remember that I went to counseling at 16, let alone that it upset him that I did at the time.  Me getting the help became the ultimate low point for us, but it ultimately fixed us.


5. How do you eat your steak? Burger? (as in, well done, medium, still moo-ing...)

I like my steak on someone else’s plate. I’m not a fan of beef.

I do like a number of things with ground beef! It’s a nice condiment; soups, chilis, even meatloaf. It just needs to be seasoned well so I don’t so much taste the meat on its own.

I do eat hamburgers. If in a restaurant and asked how would I like my burger cooked, and when we’re having them at home David knows; , I say “hockey puck.” You know those little crumbles that occasionally fall off the burger and get crispy? I like those! In fact I like them better than the actual burger. My burger has to be pretty close to burned beyond recognition if it’s more than a quarter inch thick. I prefer hamburger with an inch each of ketchup, honey mustard and sweet relish at home. David has called my hamburger a “condiment delivery system” and asked, “You really don’t like hamburgers, do you?” well…. They’re good if you can’t really taste them!

Happy Tuenesday!

Good Tuenesday to everyone! I’m choosing to ignore that yesterday happened so I’m combining days to catch up. If you follow baseball, you know that yesterday was not at all the day I planned for. I told my friend, Ben, last night on Twitter that I was inspired by the baseball gods to make this script:

He essentially called me a flawed prophet. The he asked me what drugs the script was for. You know since I had a vision and all. Lesson: Don’t get into a baseball theology argument with someone in the medical field.

So, with Tuesday having not existed in my mind, I’m looking forward to the Reds and Tigers completing their sweeps of the bay area this Tuenesday!

Okay. Optimism restored. Let’s get on to the Wednesday Hodge Podge, hosted by Joyce at From This Side of the Pond.

1. In what ways do you indulge yourself?

Coffee; I only drink 2 or 3 cups a day, sometimes even just one, but it has to be good coffee. I don’t believe in drinking bad coffee and it’s the one thing I’ll spend a little more for no matter what. I’ll go without chocolate for a few days before I’ll drink coffee I don’t like and I won’t go without coffee for a few days! I’ll be patient for anything else as long as I have a good cup of coffee while I wait.


2. Have you ever taken a cooking class? Any interest? What type of class would you most like to try?

Never taken a cooking class; my cooking education came from being “Noni‘s little helper” for many years and then watching my Mom cook. And I didn’t actually start cooking until I was 26 years old, although I’ve baked since I was 7. But the lessons I learned from Noni and Mom made me a pretty darned good cook.


3. What does it mean to be a good citizen?

Vote, help where you can, stay out of your neighbor’s business unless that neighbor invites you in.


4. 'Tis the season of the political advert...do these ads influence your vote?

No and it terrifies me that there are people who are influenced by them and those people vote. Maybe the biggest problem with our country is that people believe what they see on TV.


5. What's something you see today that makes you wish you were a kid again?

Sneakers with blinking lights. I would have wanted them desperately when I was a kid. Heck, if they came in adult sizes, I would have bought them for me when Rina and Tori had them.


6. What's your least favorite cliché?

The phrase “it is what it is.” Oh, I want to just shake anyone who says it! “It is what it is” unless you change it and if you’re too lazy to do anything to change it don’t even talk about it! Arrrrghhh!


7. What percentage of your Christmas shopping has been completed? How does that make you feel?

That percentage, on this OCTOBER 10, is zero. I shop early, but to have none done on OCTOBER 10 is something I am completely fine with.


8. Insert your own random thought here.

I realized I asked my question on the Monday Quiz About me without answering it! For the Hodge Podgers who didn’t visit on Monday, that question was:

Do you prefer watching the sunrise or sunset?

I prefer to watch the sun rise on a brand new day. I’m an early bird now, but even in high school and college; the all-nighter days, I loved hearing the birds sing and seeing all the gorgeous colors of dawn. The sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean is among my favorite views!

I‘m Still Here!

I’m not quite as busy as a farmer in the fall, but I get into a bunch of stuff. I try to do stuff on the computer while the baseball game is on. Seriously, during the regular season I write a blog during the commercials or do a scrapbook page during the game moving things on the screen between pitches; it’s no different than a conversation at a live game. Maybe that’s part of my joy in the sport, that I can enjoy the game and still have the social aspect of being with like-minded people. We all stop talking and watch at the same time, so it’s about impossible to be rude.  During the playoffs when my teams are there; notsomuch.

I had a lovely day with Sheri Friday, and it was fantastic. We went to Zoup for lunch, a fabulous restaurant that offers 12 soups daily. Sheri had Lobster Bisque and a half sandwich and I had Pumpkin Pie Bisque with sweet potato tortilla chips. I love pumpkin season! I always try a pumpkin something new every fall if I can find something new. Last year it was pumpkin beer and pumpkin fudge. The year before David brought me a jar of pumpkin butter. David says I’m going to turn into a pumpkin, but he’s an enabler; he brought home the pumpkin beer too! Sheri is my other great enabler. She and I always have one day out where I go pumpkin nuts! When we stopped to get her free birthday scoop at Baskin Robbins, I had a scoop of pumpkin pie ice cream and we finished the day at Starbucks where I had…Pumpkin Spice Latte! Sheri said, “I would say you’ll turn into a pumpkin, but David already6 said that, so I’ll say you’re gonna poop pu8mpkin seeds!” I’ll have my loving family members know my skin has not begun to turn orange and my digestion is fine!

Saturday and Sunday were double the clothing days for me. I wore my Tigers shirt, earrings and necklace during the earlier Tigers game, which they won, and then switched earrings and necklaces to the Reds and changed to my brand new Joey Votto jersey for the Reds game, They won too, so those were the shirts I wore yesterday too, repeated the shirts and repeated the wins! I am one win apiece away from the next step towards my dream World Series! I need to get a Tiger’s turtleneck to wear with my Joey Votto jersey or I need an Austin Jackson jersey! Finances say there’s more of a chance that I’ll get the Tigers turtleneck. My Joey Votto jersey was birthday present 45 & 46 from David. But the jersey got here Friday; just in time for the playoffs! Maybe a sign?

Sheri and I stopped at Mac Queen’s orchard in Toledo Friday afternoon too. I brought home a bunch of apples for apple chips! The first batch is in the dehydrator now. I’ll probably be switching it out or the second set of trays before bed tonight. I have to do several 5-tray batches in order to have a couple decent size bags to send to the girls and still gave a few for here. The apple chips every fall started when they were little because Mom and I found a bag at the store and loved them, but Mom was sure she could make them healthier. Nothing much healthier than a thin-sliced dehydrated crunchy apple! I inherited the dehydrator and the responsibility when Mom passed. We missed one year; the dehydrator took a tumble off the counter when I was packing kitchen things for my move to Toledo. I didn’t get to replace it until after 2007 apple season! I make it up to them by shipping them to them now that their adults!

So now, better late than not at all on a Monday, I’m joining the Monday Quiz about me brought to us by Heather at Acting Balanced and Wayne at Touristic.

1. What is the nicest thing someone has ever done for you on your birthday?

John and Sheri planned my 40th birthday celebration; including giving me two tickets to see the Braves and Reds in Cincinnati the following weekend. Of course I took David with my other ticket. When we got to our seats, 2 or 3 at a time, friends from Michigan filled in the seats around us, including Kelly and her daughter and son-in-law up from Missouri! Kel couldn’t make it for the party the week before and I was happy beyond words that so many of my family made the road trip to surprise me at the end of my birthday festival.


2. What is the funniest thing that ever happen to you while you were on a 'date'?

I don’t recall something ever happening to me on a date that was funny. I’ve laughed on dates and there have been things that were funny, but nothing notable that I recall as “something funny happening to me.”


3. What is your favorite backhanded compliment?

Maybe at this time of year, “But I know you’re smarter than you vote.”


4. Have you ever had someone guest blog for you? If so, how was the experience?

David did a Mug Shot a few years ago and I have guest blogger sponsors from time to time. I’ve never been stood up at PayPal by a sponsor and David is a professional writer, so his blog gave The Chronicles a touch of polish it doesn’t usually have. Guest bloggers are okay.


And don't forget to add a 5th Question on your own blog so we can answer as we hop around!

Do you prefer watching the sunrise or sunset?

Wednesday Hodge Podge

1. It's a brand new month...share one thing you're looking forward to in October.

While David is on vacation, Kelly will visit for a week! Girl time! Time for chocolate and 5 dollah coffee!


2. Is chivalry dead? Explain.

According to the World English Dictionary, Chivalry is having courage, honor, justice and a readiness to help the weak. The second part of the definition is courteous behavior, especially towards women.

That was in the Middles Ages and it was a word used about men, especially knights. In today’s world I see plenty of chivalry from men and women. I also see plenty of courteous behavior from men and women, however when sexism rears it’s incredibly ugly head, that kills chivalry.

Chivalry is common courtesy. It’s treating everyone, even strangers, like they exist and matter. If someone is walking into a building right behind you, hold the door so it doesn’t slam them in the face after you enter. If a woman is several feet behind with her arms empty and a man waits to hold the door for her that’s not courteous, it’s creepy. There are many common sense examples of right and wrong, but somehow, they just aren’t practiced.

The most chivalrous act I've been involved in lately was a girl, about 10 years old, held the door open for me and my wheelchair going into the women's room.  She asked if she could help in any way and closed the stall door for me.  After she'd already washed her hands, she waited for me to come out and and wash my hands.  Then she held the door so I wouldn't bang my knuckles on the door-frame.  That's real modern chivalry and a man couldn't do that for me in a public place.  It's not dead; it's growing.


3. On October 2, 1950 the Peanuts comic strip made its debut. Which character is your favorite? Which character is most like you? (Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Shroeder, Snoopy, Woodstock, or Pig Pen) If you need a description click here .

I think I was most like Peppermint Patty when I was a kid and my insatiable ego liked her best because she was like me; an outspoken tomboy who is a little bit of a know-it-all.

When I asked David this question last night, he cited my auburn hair when he said he was Charlie Brown but he got the Little Red-Haired Girl. Awww! Who needs chivalry when I still have romance?


4. What's something you're competitive about?

I was really thinking about this one. I’m not competitive at all. I always try my best and if I win it feels good, but I don’t let myself wallow if I don’t. Even in job interviews or challenging another woman for a man’s interest when I was younger, I’ve always thought if I put in everything I’m worth and someone else is deemed to be a better fit, I’ve lost nothing. I tried. I presented my best. Not putting in an effort is the only real way to lose.


5. October is National Popcorn Popping Month...are you a fan? How do you like your popcorn?

Popcorn and pretzels are my favorite starchy snacks. I will pop a quarter cup of kernels in my air popper and often just enjoy it hot with nothing on it. (It’s best to buy big yellow kernels to eat it that way.)  Sometimes I spray it with butter-flavored cooking spray and add some salt, but usually it’s plain. I like popcorn at the ball park too.


6. When did you first realize the world is small?

As a first generation American on Dad’s side, I always had relatives on the other side of the world who visited often. I turned 13 in Italy. I guess I never really thought the world was so huge.


7. In terms of architecture, what's the most beautiful building you've seen up close and in person?

During that summer I turned 13, I saw the Vatican and the ruins of Rome. But I wasn’t really aware of art and architecture until over a year later in my first Humanities class in high school. (When I was heartbroken at all the things I‘d seen and not appreciated) I love the architecture of old churches and remember that I was really taken by Saint Anne de Beaupre in Quebec when I was there with my high school French Club in1983.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I’m looking forward to a lunch date with Sheri Friday! I just don’t see my friends enough lately and it’s killing me inside. :( We’re going to have lunch and hopefully have time to make a stop at the orchard so I can get a coupleafew bags of apples for making apple chips for those college-care-packages. I love my friends! A true friend will drive an hour to spend a day with you even if it means she’s picking you up because you can’t currently drive! She is SO getting a Starbucks stop for that!

My Dream World Series

My dream World Series is a step closer to happening today. Ahhhh! A heart devoted to my sport is purring over my top AL and top NL teams both holding the title of Central Division Champion in their respective leagues with the Tigers victory last night.

I posted this on Facebook this morning with my proud proclamation that my dream World Series is a step close to happening.

My baseball history brief:

My dream World Series potential lives with the Central Divisions Champions; I was 2 years old when the Tigers won the ‘68 Series. It was a day game, so there was no one home with my baseball fan Mom but the sleeping baby and the toddler. She picked up the toddler and danced in celebration. I don't remember it, but I'm told I loved baseball from that point on. Baseball = happy.

By 7, I was an avid baseball nut and the baseball cards that got a special place in my jewelry box were the Tigers and Reds. My childhood heroes were Al Kaline and Pete Rose.

I actually got away from following baseball or pretty much following any sports when I was in school. My passion started to rekindle in the late 80s with the Braves; a superstation helped. Since I was hoping to move to Atlanta anyway, I had adopted the Braves as my team, but the Playoffs in ’95 taught me that I can’t just walk away from my roots when I just couldn’t cheer against the Reds.

So, now I am eagerly awaiting my dream World Series; Detroit and Cincinnati, 7 games. The dream MVP is either Joey Votto or Austin Jackson.

Joey Votto was my last “Adopted Rookie.” When he was called up in September 2007, I had a feeling he’d be around for a while. His official rookie season was 2008 and I adopted him in late April. All adopting is for me is telling everyone about this great rookie that they HAVE to see and dutifully voting for him in the All Star game. 5 seasons and an MVP award later it was a good call!


Curtis Granderson, now a powerhouse for the New York Yankees, was my answer when the Tigers ads asked, “Who’s your Tiger?” The trade that sent him to the Yankees crushed me. Now, when I hear good things about Granderson, I say “That’s my Yankee!” I’m not a Yankees fan, but I will always be a Granderson fan. But part of the trade that took my Tiger away brought us Austin Jackson out of the Yankees farm system and into ours. He was a Tigers rookie the spring after the trade. As it turns out they replaced my old answer for my new one. Who’s my Tiger? Austin Jackson! Have you seen him field??

So my plan is my favorite American League team will face my favorite National League team in the Series and I’ll see both of my favorite current players into very early November. I’ll need a Reds coat to go with my Tigers blanket and some tickets! Hope is strong. Life is good!

I Owe You An Answer

I owe you an answer about that Monday lie a couple of weeks back. Since I didn’t do the quiz while I was on vacation I left the answer to my final question hanging! If you recall, question 4 was:

4. Tell us two truths and a lie about yourself...


My answers were:

1. I’ve been the Prima Donna Ballerina

2. There was never anyone dressed even close to like me in school.

3. Although roller-skating was hugely popular when I was in middle and high school, I’ve never roller-skated.

And my question for everyone was:

5. So, which one of my answers to #4 was the lie?


I got a nice assortment of answers, but the lie is #2!

I was the center-stage Prima Donna when I was 9 years old in advanced youth ballet. My class was a small class, just three of us and I was the advanced dancer with two older beginning young adult students. I had the solo section and the longer skirt. As we got near to the spring recital, my hockey team was also in the state playoffs. It was a good year for me. But my hockey coach never gasped when I walked into the locker room in my leotard after dance class the way my dance instructor did when I walked into ballet class with my duffel bag and stick.

After a bad ankle injury practicing a leap for a ballet number I was planning to do for the middle school talent show, my doctor suggested that roller skating wouldn’t be the best idea for me. I wasn’t really all that interested; it was just something a lot of my friends did. I liked dancing better anyway.

As for the lie; while I most decidedly never saw anyone dressed like me in middle school through college, first through fourth grade I was in a Catholic school; ALL the girls dressed exactly like me!



There just wasn’t anything to really defrag from my blog on Friday last week, but I have a few from the weekend!

First off, Darlene Haughin is back designing at The Studio! She has been out of designing for a while. Darlene has been battling breast cancer. It was caught early and treatment started quickly. She is okay now and rather than retell details, I’ll invite you to her blog to read her journey in her words: A Story of Survival and Faithfulness.  I am so glad she is doing well and happy she has returned to the Digi-Design world. When she sent her new kit to the creative team, I was ready to create! I’ll be back with a preview of My Happy Place and the first layout I did with it.


Also for more fragment stuff, check out the blog I did last night, I Want To Get Smashed  It's not a problem; I'm not that stressed, and it's not an ad.  It's just something I'm very geeky with anticipation about!


Now, on to this week's quiz from Heather at Acting Balanced!

1. What is your favorite Autumn color?

The red and orange combination of maple trees


2. If you could go back and change something about your high school days what would it be?

If I’m making a change it means I am doing it with the knowledge I have now, right? I’d go back and let myself know I’m not stupid. I could have applied myself better, maybe even graduated with cords and gotten a scholarship to finish my degree in 4 years instead of 13, except that I had an awful inferiority complex. I was an honor roll student and justified that the grading curve was why I did well because I thought I was pretty dumb.

Yes, the Mensa thing was a shock when Mom talked me into testing for it.  I've accepted that I probably really did deserve the high school grades. 


3. Name something that you tried because you thought you'd like it, but in reality didn't meet your expectations

Yogurt with Splenda. There’s something in the processing that makes it taste nasty!


4. Do you have a favorite "Monday" song?

Probably Manic Monday by the Bangles.


And don't forget to add a 5th Question on your own blog so we can answer as we hop around!

Who makes the best donuts? Which flavor is the best?

I have a social history with Dunkin Donuts and their coffee is the best, I drink a little mental ambiance with it, but the best donuts are Tim Horton’s! My favorite is Walnut Crunch.