yes, its my annual incursion with writing a Christmas letter that goes out to folks near and far to keep them updated on what is happening in our lives since I don't talk to them every day/week/month.....
This year's "remembering" has been easier because I have been blogging (and keeping copies) all year .... my way to keep a journal --- I'd never do it any other way
this also brings me to why my Webster's Dictionary is falling apart --- even with it, I CAN NOT SPELL!
To those of you that can hear a word and simply plunk it into whatever you are working on I can officially say I HATE YOU!! Ok, maybe hate is too strong a word, but it does express my frustration.
Much of the time I end up either spending HOURS with the dictionary (yes that's spelled right but only because I LOOKED!) or just using a lot of synonyms (you know, those words you use when you can't spell the other one!) But most of the time that means that what I put on paper (or in cyber blog land) may not really be what I exactly meant to say (but I'm too afraid of being perceived as stupid to just let fly and ignore the spelling and hope folks will "get" what I'm saying)
And don't tell me that I can always "look it up"!! The problem here is that the dictionary is organized by how things are spelled, which is not necessarily how I hear it. I worked myself into a near tizzy the other day because I was writing something that included the rather innocuous word "auxiliary".
Sure, I can type it now, but I ended up having to ask my DH to look it up for me. (And along the way he's saying to me "its about the derivation of the words" -- yeah, this from a guy that at one time could carry on a complete conversation in LATIN!!!)
Here's why: that word to me sounds like it should be spelled "augzilary" -- now do you see my point?
What is this magic that lets people hear all those words and be able to tell what the letters really are? Is there some sort of special kind of dyslexia at work here? And so, I am a frustrated writer.....wanting to say what I want to say and afraid to say it because I can't spell it.....ARRRGGHHHH!!
Ok, now that I have that out of my system, I'm going back to work -- perhaps tomorrow a rant about why I can't do math in my head (or not!)
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Have I mentioned lately
that I hate winter?
Well, that's not really an accurate statement. I hate being cold (I also hate being too hot, but then that just proves there's no pleasing me!).
Here's a little back ground on my current complaining:
Item 1 -- the cost of heating our house in the winter has almost doubled in the almost 5 years since we moved here.
Item 2 -- we live on a fixed income
Item 3 -- last year, in an attempt to cut the cost of heating, we used our fireplace and turned the thermostat down to 58 degrees
Well, after several tests and consulting with our doctor, we have now concluded that we just can not continue with that. So, this week we turned the thermostat back up to 62 degrees.
It is amazing what a difference 4 degrees makes.....I can walk around the house without my feet and hands always being cold. I can take a shower without dreading getting out. I can wear just a t shirt and a sweat shirt instead of a t shirt and a sweat shirt and a sweater....but I'm already dreading that heat bill.....
And a further issue is that we are discovering that the lung issues that DH is having (which started last winter) are being aggravated by the cold, the dry climate and the altitude. All of which probably means major changes in our lives in the future.....
So tonight I'm contemplating what we might do next....thinking about houses all on one floor (no more up and down stairs every day for DH) and a moister climate with less altitude....but where?
{sigh}
Well, that's not really an accurate statement. I hate being cold (I also hate being too hot, but then that just proves there's no pleasing me!).
Here's a little back ground on my current complaining:
Item 1 -- the cost of heating our house in the winter has almost doubled in the almost 5 years since we moved here.
Item 2 -- we live on a fixed income
Item 3 -- last year, in an attempt to cut the cost of heating, we used our fireplace and turned the thermostat down to 58 degrees
Well, after several tests and consulting with our doctor, we have now concluded that we just can not continue with that. So, this week we turned the thermostat back up to 62 degrees.
It is amazing what a difference 4 degrees makes.....I can walk around the house without my feet and hands always being cold. I can take a shower without dreading getting out. I can wear just a t shirt and a sweat shirt instead of a t shirt and a sweat shirt and a sweater....but I'm already dreading that heat bill.....
And a further issue is that we are discovering that the lung issues that DH is having (which started last winter) are being aggravated by the cold, the dry climate and the altitude. All of which probably means major changes in our lives in the future.....
So tonight I'm contemplating what we might do next....thinking about houses all on one floor (no more up and down stairs every day for DH) and a moister climate with less altitude....but where?
{sigh}
Friday, November 10, 2006
Just for fun .... 48 things
Okay, its Friday morning, I didn't finish anything yesterday, I have to load the van later today to do a show tomorrow, and I just feel like fooling around.
So, on another blog that I read were these 48 questions, and I've decided to give them a go too:
48 things
1. FIRST NAME? Bev
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Yup, family friend
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? when my daughter told me she was engaged
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? well, that depends on the day -- it can be like some illuminated manuscript, or it can look like a chicken ran over the page with inked feet
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? ham
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? yes -- I'm interesting and quirky
7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? 3 actually, this being one of them
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? not since I was 3
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No, no a thousand times no (why would anyone jump off a perfectly good bridge, mountain, building, etc.....or out of a perfectly good airplane for that matter)
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? oatmeal with lots of raisins
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? nope....no strings!! (I wear Crocs about 99% of the time)
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? I consider myself a survivor, so I must be
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Chocolate!
14. SHOE SIZE? 9 wide
15. RED OR PINK? Red
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? the self doubt that sneaks in when I least expect (or need) it
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? friends that are now gone beyond the veil
18. WHAT FOOD WILL GET YOU OUT OF BED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT? Nothing
19. WHAT COLOUR TROUSERS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? grey sweats, grey sweat shirt, black t shirt, grey Crocs
20. LAST THING YOU ATE? crackers at 10 pm last night
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? the sound of the rock tumbler rumbling along polishing the stones that might end up in the next beading project, Josh Groban CD
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Red
23. FAVORITE SMELL? Coffee, roses, chocolate, fresh bread baking
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? my daughter
25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? their hands
26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON YOU STOLE THIS FROM? we've never met, but I enjoy her blog
27. FAVOURITE DRINK? ice tea
28. FAVOURITE SPORT? football to watch.....to do... you've GOT to be kidding!
29. EYE COLOUR? Hazel.
30. HAT SIZE? no clue....usually wear a sweatshirt with a hood
31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? EWWWW! put my fingers in my eyes, NO WAY!
32. FAVORITE FOOD? hmmmmm, cheese burgers, french fries, shrimp and pasta, chocolate cake (these are basically a big NO NO now days....too much fat)
33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy, scary movies give me nightmares and I have enough of my own, thanks!
35. SUMMER OR WINTER? neither....too hot, too cold.....spring and fall are great
36. HUGS OR KISSES? Both, depending on with whom, of course
37. FAVOURITE DESSERT? angel cake
38. WHAT SIDE OF THE BED DO YOU SLEEP ON AND WHY? The right because I've always slept there
39. IF YOU DIDN'T MAKE THE DECISION TO GET MARRIED AND HAVE A FAMILY, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING TODAY? probably a lot of the same things I'm doing, or not. I'm a firm believer that you wouldn't be where you are if you hadn't made every decision you did, so I just can't imagine what I'd be doing
40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? Witness to Hope, George Weigel (tho' reading is not really the right word...more like savoring and studying)
41. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Wizard of Oz characters
42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? Shark
43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? rain on the roof, my daughter singing, the voice of a friend on the phone
44. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? neither -- The Moody Blues
45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Washington, DC
46. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? making do
47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Denver
48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Nobody - I appropriated it from another blogger!
So, my readers, how about your answers!
So, on another blog that I read were these 48 questions, and I've decided to give them a go too:
48 things
1. FIRST NAME? Bev
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Yup, family friend
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? when my daughter told me she was engaged
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? well, that depends on the day -- it can be like some illuminated manuscript, or it can look like a chicken ran over the page with inked feet
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? ham
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? yes -- I'm interesting and quirky
7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? 3 actually, this being one of them
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? not since I was 3
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No, no a thousand times no (why would anyone jump off a perfectly good bridge, mountain, building, etc.....or out of a perfectly good airplane for that matter)
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? oatmeal with lots of raisins
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? nope....no strings!! (I wear Crocs about 99% of the time)
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? I consider myself a survivor, so I must be
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Chocolate!
14. SHOE SIZE? 9 wide
15. RED OR PINK? Red
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? the self doubt that sneaks in when I least expect (or need) it
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? friends that are now gone beyond the veil
18. WHAT FOOD WILL GET YOU OUT OF BED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT? Nothing
19. WHAT COLOUR TROUSERS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? grey sweats, grey sweat shirt, black t shirt, grey Crocs
20. LAST THING YOU ATE? crackers at 10 pm last night
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? the sound of the rock tumbler rumbling along polishing the stones that might end up in the next beading project, Josh Groban CD
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Red
23. FAVORITE SMELL? Coffee, roses, chocolate, fresh bread baking
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? my daughter
25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? their hands
26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON YOU STOLE THIS FROM? we've never met, but I enjoy her blog
27. FAVOURITE DRINK? ice tea
28. FAVOURITE SPORT? football to watch.....to do... you've GOT to be kidding!
29. EYE COLOUR? Hazel.
30. HAT SIZE? no clue....usually wear a sweatshirt with a hood
31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? EWWWW! put my fingers in my eyes, NO WAY!
32. FAVORITE FOOD? hmmmmm, cheese burgers, french fries, shrimp and pasta, chocolate cake (these are basically a big NO NO now days....too much fat)
33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy, scary movies give me nightmares and I have enough of my own, thanks!
35. SUMMER OR WINTER? neither....too hot, too cold.....spring and fall are great
36. HUGS OR KISSES? Both, depending on with whom, of course
37. FAVOURITE DESSERT? angel cake
38. WHAT SIDE OF THE BED DO YOU SLEEP ON AND WHY? The right because I've always slept there
39. IF YOU DIDN'T MAKE THE DECISION TO GET MARRIED AND HAVE A FAMILY, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING TODAY? probably a lot of the same things I'm doing, or not. I'm a firm believer that you wouldn't be where you are if you hadn't made every decision you did, so I just can't imagine what I'd be doing
40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? Witness to Hope, George Weigel (tho' reading is not really the right word...more like savoring and studying)
41. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Wizard of Oz characters
42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? Shark
43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? rain on the roof, my daughter singing, the voice of a friend on the phone
44. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? neither -- The Moody Blues
45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Washington, DC
46. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? making do
47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Denver
48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Nobody - I appropriated it from another blogger!
So, my readers, how about your answers!
Monday, November 06, 2006
being grumpy just for a bit.....
yup, spent some time doing the "why didn't I" yesterday afternoon.....
I went to investigate a show that someone had suggested to me, and quite unexpectedly got hit with the "one more door closed to you" fact.
This show is sponsored by the American Association of University Women, and they do a lot of very interesting projects and programs that I thought might be fun.....
hold on there, I'm not eligible to play....seems there's this little requirement for University women....you had to hang in there and get a degree...at least a 2 year one, 4 is better.....{sigh!}
fortunately, they don't seem to require that the artists that apply to the show have one, and this might be a good venue for my jewelry
We'll see
I went to investigate a show that someone had suggested to me, and quite unexpectedly got hit with the "one more door closed to you" fact.
This show is sponsored by the American Association of University Women, and they do a lot of very interesting projects and programs that I thought might be fun.....
hold on there, I'm not eligible to play....seems there's this little requirement for University women....you had to hang in there and get a degree...at least a 2 year one, 4 is better.....{sigh!}
fortunately, they don't seem to require that the artists that apply to the show have one, and this might be a good venue for my jewelry
We'll see
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