SharonBissett.com

I did nothing I’d planned to do today…but the day ended up being okay. I ran by the thrift store to look at a kitchen table I saw through their window the other day. The table top was cracked and certainly not worth what they were asking. While looking around I noticed a sign that said all kitchen/dining room furniture was 50% off. And there at the end of the aisle was a dining room set…white base, white tile top with maple trim…an exact match to the island I got for free a few months back. Two of the chairs were wobbly, but when I flipped them over the base was attached to the seat with bolts. I decided to think about it while I went to lunch with my peeps from work, and ran a couple errands. Finally, I decided to pick up an Allen wrench at home and go see if the chairs were just loose or if they were broken. I flipped one over to test it and the chair tightened right back up. Score! Now, before you get all up in arms…I love my MS Island but it was killing my neck & back to use it everyday for everything from school, eating, blogging, etc. The stools were horribly uncomfortable with it, as there was no room for your knees. And I couldn’t stand all the time. So, we returned the stools…and that essentially paid for the “new” dining room set. The island will get moved into the craft room where it will fit in beautifully! Honestly, I can’t wait to throw away that 200lb (seems like it anyway!) brown 6-ft folding table that is in there. First I have to get everything off of it though. That may take a bit…and was something I’d hoped to get to today - along with doing something creative. Oh well. Adam & I did some running around tonight. Even though he rolls his eyes and claims it’s not cool to be out with your Mom, he endured it and had a good time. My favorite thing lately is when I go into his room to shut his TV off after he’s fallen asleep. He sort of wakes up and sleepily mumbles “I love you Mom”. I hug him and say “I love you too, hon” and he says “no, really. Love you, Mom.” Man, that just makes it all worth it. It’s like the 4-year-old is still in there, in the 13-year-old’s body. Thank goodness. That gives me hope! Heading to bed early. Our addition at work is finished and tomorrow is moving day. It should be crazy-fun! I’m taking my camera. G’night!

Sh@ron

As usual, it’s late…been going 90 miles an hour all day, but it’s all good.  Hit everything on my to-do list!  Work, gym, grocery, cook/eat, clean up, checked for any new online homework assignments, check email, blog and I’m almost ready to step into the shower.  I don’t like showering at night, but it’s a necessity.  I also shower again in the morning…my hair NEEDS something to calm it down after sleeping on it funny.  I bought a silk pillowcase…and that helps but only if I style it first.  But trust me, I am not blow-drying and flat-ironing my hair tonight before I go to bed!   A shower in the am helps me wake up anyway…and  I’m  assured of a good hair day.  What else does a woman need?!  LOL… so nothing deep or heavy here, though I am ruminating on a few things.  (Don’t you love that word?  Ruminate.  I seriously think it’s underutilized in today’s vocabulary. )  Okay, peeps….need to stay on schedule, I have an early day tomorrow.  And if it all works out, I may just take the whole day off and play tomorrow afternoon!  I’m hoping.

Miss ya.  Mean it.  Really.

Sh@ron

Wasn’t that my word for last year? Feeling the need to remind myself of this today. More of same. But the addition of one or two little extra errands has got me taking deep breaths. My Mom’s dog of 15 years passed away on the 20th - just found out. I get all teary just writing it…not sure how/when I can tell the boys. Tuffy loved when the boys came up to visit. They played soccer together, went for walks and did some fishing together. I’ve got some good photos. Will have to scan & share. Adam will probably say something along the lines of “now grandpa can sneak Tuffy hamburgers under the table while he’s playing cards with great-grandma in heaven”. Definitely.

Sh@ron

Much to say, but the day is running out. Fairly good size project due for school, so I need to get to it so I can get a decent night’s sleep. Still managed to get to the gym, grocery store and cook…so in the big scheme of things, I’m on top of it!

Easter traditions. Someone asked on another blog I was at what everyone does for their Easter traditions. She creates the time-consuming, but beautiful blown eggs that get saved year to year. Let me say, I tried that one year. I think the headache I got from trying to blow out the egg yolks lasted a week! Not one I continued with. LOL… Other egg decorating phases. Punch circles (standard hole punch) of various colored papers and glue to each egg. Think scales. Think (more blown) eggs decorated to look like yellow chicks, pink pigs, white bunnies. My *early* Martha Stewart days. I know I have pictures of these somewhere. It’s just the kind of thing you HAD to take a photo of because they took so darned long to make! I can’t even find a photo on-line to share…that’s how long ago it was.

Now, there are not too many traditions left, my boys are teenagers now and it’s hard to get them rounded up in one place together (Thanksgiving was a total bust!). At minimum, I fill Easter baskets with chocolate, jelly beans, some little toys (legos, matchbox cars, silly putty - reminders from childhood) and the latest issue of their car/truck/motorcycle/video game (whatever they happen to be interested in at the time) magazine. Easter dinners fell by the wayside for me when their paternal grandfather nearly died at Easter time a few years ago. Now, I tell them they need to go with their dad (we’re divorced) to his family’s Easter dinner and spend time with Pop Pop. You never know.  I’m going up to my sister’s for a few hours…catch up with my family.  And eat.

Wishing you all a beautiful day!

Sh@ron

Think about what you want your life to be like in 5 years.  That is your goal.  Every day you have to ask yourself before you act “Will this help me reach my goal?”  If not, don’t waste your time and energy on it.  You only get one life, one time of being at the age you are now.  Focus on the positives and more positives will come your way.   Love you - Mom

In the usual work-week whirlwind.  Work 8-something hours each day, go to kickboxing after that, run to the grocery store, race home to make dinner, and then try to do a little reading for school before bed.  The last time I was on the computer at home was Monday night.  It’s just been that busy.  Living life.  Making more little tags, decorating a wee bit for Easter, hemming pants for my friend-girl at work for her little guy, baking cookies, walking the dog, feeding them, eating Girl Scout cookies, buy some Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paint (got you your colors, Jenny…the wedding colors…lol), and a few sheets of Sassafrass Lass paper (Pocket Full of Rosies) just because the owls were so stinking cute, and fell in love with this cool Doodlebug Flutterby bag (which I could so easily make, except for the embroidery - but I know people!!).

Boys are good - ready for spring break the first week in April.  T will be 18 years old in just about 2 weeks.  Whoa.  Need to think about what to do for him.  I ran across some of his “first year” and toddler layouts the other day.  It’ll be fun to look through those with him as part of the celebrations.  Not sure he’ll feel the same way though!  Need to do some photos with them.  Especially A as his hair is pretty cool right now.  It’s got blond highlights at the tips of his hair but he needs to stay out of the pool because it’s starting to turn green!

Going on a little vacation in 3 weeks to see an old friend.  We haven’t seen in each other in about 26 years, but we’ve been talking/emailing for the last year and a half.  It’ll be good to catch up in person and relax.  I need this vacation for so many reasons!!

Not much else…getting sleepy, so I’m off to bed.  Take care and may all your days be good ones.  I don’t know where that one came from…my fingers just flew along the keyboard and that’s what came out.  I think it means to find something good about each day and count them your blessings.  See?  There it went again.  Okay.  This is getting weird.  Good night all!

Sh@ron

I’ve taken the long version about 100 years ago, this is basically 4 questions with added “help” if you’re not sure which category you fall into.  I think I’m still the same…at the end of the quiz it also gives you additional info…like what kind of career would be best for your personality test, how to love a specific type, how to parent a specific type, etc.  We’re in the process of interviewing at work.  This kind of testing would be very useful as we’re 0/2 on the people we’ve hired and that have resigned.  Oh, here’s the link!  What type are you?!  Here’s mine:

What’s Your Personality Type?

Life as an INTJ

(Introvert, Intuitive, Thinker, Judger)         

People of this type tend to be: autonomous, aloof, and intellectual; imaginative, innovative, and unique; critical, analytical, and logical; intellectually curious, driven to learn and increase their competence and knowledge; socially cautious and reserved; organized and definitive.

The most important thing to INTJs is their independence and being able to live according to their own standards.

If anyone is inclined…there are 2 links below (first one listed is the same speech - 2 link options)…listen to each and share your opinion with me. Part of my assignment is to write a paper based on the various opinions shared after viewing each of this links. You can either post it in the comments or if you’d rather email them to me, that would be cool too. I think most of you have my email address - if not, just leave a “send me your email” message in the comments. And if you already have a full school load - I totally understand that you have your own homework to do. Really!

THANKS in advance!

Speech/Flash Presentations

1. Go to one of the following websites http://www.berklee.edu/news/2001/06/bono.html or

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/bonoharvardcommencement.htm

and watch the entire speech. You will need to have the Quicktime program on your computer so you may have to download it. If you do not have access to a computer with this you can go to any SPC campus (as an online student) and use a computer there. Or, if you live outside of the area you may go to a public library. Either way, you will need to watch it online it is about twenty minutes. (The text of the speech is available for the hearing impaired)

and

2. Go to http://www.miniature-earth.com/ , choose whichever language you would like to view the presentation in, for this you will need to have Flash on your computer. This presentation only lasts for about three minutes.

planned for today.  Not that yesterday wasn’t, but today I have a bunch of homework to do.  As much as I intend to do it during the week, there is usually so much family stuff going on that I’ve got nothing left to give in the hour before it’s time to fall into bed.  So, it usually falls to the weekend.  Sunday specifically since Saturday’s seem to be my relax & unwind day.

Went to the bookstore last night and picked up “Don’t Make Me Think” a book that talks about Web Usability.   Yes, geek-ish, I know…it’s work related.  Also grabbed the latest issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine - crafty, not geek-ish.  And finally, the new issue of Photoshop Creative…it’s a magazine that has tons of tutorials on how to do some really cool, kind of advanced stuff.  Like on the cover - how to turn a photograph into a realistic looking oil painting.  Not what I bought if for, but that’s just an example.  I’ll share a project when I get a chance.  Each issue comes with a CD full of stuff brushes, fonts, videos, sample files from the mag, etc. - it’s about 3 times the regular price of an average magazine, but it’s cool!  Okay, and geek-ish as well.  But it’s school-related!  LOL….  I stopped by Panera for dinner and just as I was finishing, my girl Jenny called!  Whoa, girlie…do you know we talked for 2 hours and 45 minutes!?!   Left you a message over on the board relating to our last conversation.   Dropped into bed about midnight.

And I’ll leave you with this (taken a couple months ago) since I downloaded about 6 months worth of photos yesterday:

A and Tri-dog wrestling, being loud and goofy at about midnight.  When they’re supposed to be calm, mellow and heading off to bed.  On a weekend night, of course.

Off to work on my Ethics class and have another cup of coffee.  Creme Brulee coffee with French Vanilla creamer.  Foo-foo yes, but oh so good!

Sh@ron