SharonBissett.com

…finally, huh?!! Seriously. So thankful for my friends and family. I know things aren’t always going to be perfect or go my way, but I plan on enjoying the ride and riding out the rough spots. Yes, I still have work (which I love) and responsibilities (firm boundaries/minimal debt), but I also have time to enjoy some of the stuff I never had time for. Like the martial arts and kickboxing. Like the Saturday sailing classes I’m going to take next month (through our city’s recreation department, so it’s inexpensive). I have wonderful friends whose company I enjoy. I travel - a few small trips planned for the rest of 2008 (Montreal, Cancun, Sanibel Island, ???) with a big trip possibly in 2009. I get pedicures and have my nails done. My hair style can change daily if I want it to.  Trying to work in getting regular massages…but then I’m having a great hair day and decide to go with it. I have time to write, and I think I’m getting better at it. At least better at getting past the blocks and I don’t obsess over what to write. I’ve gone back to school for like the 6th time…and I still enjoy learning new things.   There’s no “love interest” in my life, but I’m fine with that.  It’ll happen when the time is right, and the guy is right.  I kind of have a hard time seeing that now is the right time anyway.  I’m enjoying this new freedom, letting go of the past and having fun.  And working through my 100 Things List!

Have to go…someone’s having a birthday soon and I need to make a card!  Hugs!

Sh@ron

Given enough sleep, some M & M’s and re-reading Jenny’s blog post from late last night - I figured out where to put my music playlist! Formatting is all back to the way it was and it’s all good. Which should really only worry Keith more…when are you going back out to sea?! Now to fix the sound card in my PC at work, so I can actually listen to music while I’m here. More later. I really do have tons of work to do.

Sh@ron

Feels like Wednesday.  Oh well.  Listening to Jenny’s playlist on her blog…will see about adding one here.  I’ve had Adam downloading things like crazy for me this past weekend…for work and to study by.  Just got in from kickboxing (KB in text messaging land), not the best workout…my right hand has a few abrasions from working the bag last night at MMA, without gloves.  Forgot to compensate for that!  Ouch.  And apparently I can test Friday, but I only have to know 1/3 of the requirements for rank, since you have to earn pre-rank stripes first.  There are 2 stripes at your current rank before you move to the next rank (colored belt).   I guess it makes sense, to prove that you know what you’re supposed to know across time and didn’t just cram for the test.  But for someone as impatient as I am, it’s kind of a bummer.  Discipline, I know.

Found music…building a playlist.  Getting the sewing machine out too.  Adam was asleep when I got home at 8pm, so it’s time to play!!  Have camera…will share later.

Sh@ron

What can I say, blogging is cheap therapy! LOL I had a sort of epiphany today. You know when you’re talking to someone, telling them your thoughts about something and you have a split moment where that little voice inside your head says to you - “did you really just say that?”. You pause and feel like an idiot, but try to restate your thought in a different way that you hope makes more sense. And it doesn’t. Because truly, you’re too caught up in spinning your own reality, that you don’t see what’s obvious to others around you. That was me today. And I hope I didn’t sound as immature and trite as I probably did. Fortunately, though, the person I was conversing with is older, wiser and kind. Very kind. He did not point out the obvious. He didn’t hit me over the head with it. He did state a few “truths” that I heard, but didn’t really HEAR until much later. It took them a bit to sink in. But when they did, there was my epiphany. Clear and yet familiar. I was wandering along a path that was familiar to me…and not really in a good way. So, I’m turning around and choosing a different path…one that has me more grounded and enjoying life and the experiences that come my way, today. Not trying to direct what I want to happen, especially when it comes to dealing with others. Grabbing hold of life, living in the moment, and working on my 100 Things. In fact, this wise friend of mine has offered me an opportunity to do one of them. I have enthusiastically agreed and look forward to it later this summer. I can’t share which one just yet as not all the pieces are in place yet, but as soon as I can, I will. Promise. Meanwhile, have fun guessing! LOL…

In other news, I started Mixed Martial Arts training tonight. I did pretty well for having never taken a formal martial arts class before. It’s a combination of Kickboxing (which I do know), Karate and Aikido. I loved it but look like a spaz trying to do the first 4 steps of Kata 1! Everyone is testing for the next level Friday night. I will go and see what it’s all about, but I have to know Kata 1 inside & out for rank and I doubt I will by Friday - not that anyone is expecting me to, since I just started today. (Though I know everything else) But I’ll get to experience it without pressure and be ready next month.

Adam is working on a project for Geography…converting an old Monopoly board into a new board game where you need to know facts about World War II to advance through and win the game. It’s kind of fun. We’ve re-papered the board, he has the squares all punched out and labeled, the box has been repainted and the game renamed. We have Army men for game pieces. Need to get more game pieces and/or decorations that cover the air and naval forces. He’s also compiling questions for the game…instead of Community Chest and Chance, they’ll be labeled Allied and Axis. Photos tomorrow - we had to use my camera for field measurements & site visit today.

Still writing and NOW I can read whatever I want! It was also liberating today to realize that I could go to the dojo after work, come home, shower, eat then….PLAY. Or READ, or help Adam with his project. But it was all up to me! No homework!! I got some things off my chest yesterday regarding the program I’m in at school…to an instructor as well as in an email to the program directors. For whatever it may be worth. I feel better and have gotten a new attitude towards school. I hate when you’re just doing whatever they say to get the piece of paper…aren’t they there to serve our needs, to make sure we learn the material we need to learn, to be able to USE our degrees for SOMETHING? I may be way off base, but was sick & tired of playing the game. So, I threw my glove down and walked off the field. So to speak.

Hey, I’m even going to get to bed on time tonight! So, I’m outta here peeps. I’ve missed y’all!!

Sh@ron

I just LOVE that color.  And dork that I am, I emailed MM today and told them that they NEEDED to start producing these aprons in a variety of colors (see, I’m looking out for y’all too…not just myself) and that they’d sell like crazy.  I also suggested a smaller, waist wrap (no bib style) would be a good alternative for the warmer months!  So, back me on this…tell me what color(s) you’d flip for and heck, if you even wear (or would wear) an apron.    Mwwah!!

Sh@ron

Whew! I spent nearly the whole weekend at my dining room table, attached to the computer. All my classes are online, therefore the finals were too. I receive a score of 100 on my Web Graphics final, along with some good comments. I probably won’t know the Creative Writing score for awhile as the professor has a lot of writing to grade! So glad to have it all behind me…and yes, Suzanne, that feeling of elation that it’s over and I’m “free” has hit me. In fact, I may try to take the afternoon off to celebrate, play, sit in the sun, take a nap…whatever!

I did go to the crop and one of Margie’s classes at Ruban Rouge Friday/Saturday morning. She wasn’t as animated as I’ve seen her in the past, but it was still a good time. My Fab Life class was good - I would have liked it if everyone had a color copy of the pages to work off of - there were only about 2 per table. I spent too much time trying to find who had the original book, to peek at a few things, that I didn’t get all my pages done. I did take photos of the original book, so I could work off of them if I wanted to. With the structure of the book in place, and time to really think about it, I may re-work some of it.  We used the Making Memories 5th Avenue line - my absolute favorite of theirs.  It’s a mixture of black/white with blue/aqua/green colors.  Margie had on a MM apron, like the black one, but in aqua - my favorite color.  I asked her about it and apparently it was a limited thing just for the employees/reps for one of the trade shows.  Dang it.  Now I have to find the fabric and make my own.  She did a really cool thing on both aprons (plain canvas) to dress them up…and that was just to add a couple ruffles to the bottom.  Nothing tidy or pressed…the fabric looked torn/frayed and gathered within an inch of it’s life.  I have a couple aprons that I think I will do this with…as well as add some more pockets, a bit of lace and maybe some applique/embroidery.  Jenny - pack your apron if you want to gussy yours up when you get here!  You know I have tons of fabric waiting to be put to good use.   

Alrighty friends, time to get some real work done.  Later!

Sh@ron

One done…90 on the final exam. One down, 2 to go. By Sunday at midnight. No problem.

Tonight, I’ll be at a crop at my LSS. Margie Romney-Aslett is there teaching this weekend, so it should be full of laughs and scrapbooking goodness. I have nothing packed and have only loosely planned working on a mini-album from my trip to California. There will be a make & take and class tonight, so I’m sure I’ll find plenty to do. Then tomorrow morning, I’m taking her My Fab Life class…wonder what I need to bring for that?! Last minute for sure!

TGIF!

Sh@ron

Finals, finals, finals…blah. So, to break up the monotony, I made Risotto. From scratch. It took almost an hour from first chop, cheese grating, stirring in the liquid (most of the time was spent on this - I had a book in one hand and stirred with the other!), on through the final tasting. BUT it was worth every single minute! Creamy, textural, cheesy bliss. Who knew?! Comfort food. The closest I can relate it to would be Fettucini Alfredo but with rice. And Parmigiano Reggiano, Asagio, and Pecorino Romano cheeses with heavy cream. The recipe is HERE and be warned, there’s nothing low-fat or low-calorie about it. And the recipe given makes quite a lot, I imagine you could halve it and be fine, but apparently it’s excellent the next day, rolled into balls or patties and deep fried. I’m taking some into work tomorrow. My hips will thank me later.

Today was Administrative Professional’s Day, so I was taken out to lunch (Bon Appetit - downtown, on the water - had the crab cakes), received several cards, flowers and was serenaded! It was an interesting day. I’ve been dubbed the “Office Mom” rather than the “Office Manager”…true, but we’re all pretty close in age…I guess it’s better than the “Office Wife”!!

Finally, something to think about: Things I Have Learned

I owe some emails…sorry, I’ve been terribly anti-social lately, very introspective and I tend to get quiet that way.  Nothing bad/wrong, just internally focused right now.  Calling it for now - Good night peeps!

Sh@ron

Fabulous hair day.  Big, loose, soft curls - nice change up from the normally straight-flat iron look.  Lots of compliments.  Thanks to ADL for the suggestion!  Along these lines though it’s not quite that long - yet.

Kickboxing rocks!  I’m almost back to my regular pre-vacation routine.  It was my first time back to the gym tonight and I had a blast.  After school ends this week, I’m starting the mixed-martial arts program too.  Felt very focused.  Good stuff.

Our grocery store has the best lemon pepper rotisserie chicken. We stopped in after KB and picked one up tonight with plans to make this (Risotto) with it.  I’ve tried risotto before, but not the good kind.  The cheap, nasty-all-in-one box mix.  I really think I’d like it - made properly…and of course PW makes it sound so divine that I just have to rush right out and make it.  I’ll let you know how it goes/what I think.  Love to cook-it’s a creative outlet for me.  The cleaning…well, not so much.

Milky Way Midnight Dark.  Nuff said!  LOL…I did share!

Heading to bed at a reasonable hour.  Good day…but I’m beat.

Sh@ron

It was much too short.  Original, huh?  Spent a lot of time at the computer writing - for school.  Still a few more to do, all has to be turned in by the 24-27th, depending on the course.  One last Photoshop project, then I’m done until May.  I am grateful for the break.  Three classes is my max! 

So, when I wasn’t here writing, I escaped and spent some time at the beach, at the bookstore and Target (bought a fan).  I washed the dog. Took same for walks. Even took a nap on Saturday! Rented and watched (I have to say watched because there are times when I do rent a movie and end up never getting around to seeing it!) “There Will Be Blood”. Good movie. Need to watch it again with a different purpose. A spent the weekend at his dad’s so it was definitely quiet. It’s been a slow transition back to real life after my vacation. I think I’ll try to hold on to that “vacation” mentality just a little bit longer. It’s fun playing tourist in your own town!