Scrap Happy

Celebrating my visits to Washington and Texas. Journaling reads:

2002 I had a collision of life’s most stressful experiences. We moved, I left a job that I loved and along with it my friends. I’d dabbled in Scrapbooking but not until my father died did I sink deeply into depression and used my hobby for a healing time of putting the confusion of the past 24 months into order. My pictures reminded me of how my life had been until that point.

When my father died I quit working. I got online and found a whole new world of scrappy friends! I found new techniques and ideas. Last December I even landed a job in the industry.

The best part is the friends that I have made along the way. Of all the people pictured in this layout none had I known before! We live all over the country and get together as much as we can. To me that is the best part, the friends!

The products I used are:
imaginisce Paisley Picnic, Sidewalk Chalk Patterned Papers,
Let's Pretend Collection Paisley Daze rub ons also from imaginesce

I used brown bazzill to mount the pictures and scalloped bazzill. I do not have the names of the colors.

I Just Don't Understand!

I switched to Beta Blogger but still have to go in the html template to add anything and it's driving me crazy! I intend to add your links ASAP! So sorry this is taking me so long!

Long Time No BLOG!

Just returned from a whirl wind trip where I went from FL to WA and then to TX! WOW, what a ride! If I could survive on late nights and early AM's I'd do it more! (Yeah, like that's the problem, it's called cash flow)! DH told me I was "cut off" I don't need a thing, I made sure I bought it all while I was gone! Haven't looked at the bank statement in detail but the fridge was exactly as I left it.....meaning! He didn't eat at home!

Found out yesterday that Hoochie Mama is driving one of the company explorers! Pissed me off big time! DH is so stupid, she is a senior inspector but so what, all the other inspectors drive pick up trucks. I think a Pick Up fits her life style better anyway! Of course some one did point out to me that you can sleep, ah, lay down in the back of the explorer! I really don't think that DH is fing around with her but I will have my eyes open!

The carpets were all cleaned and the lawn manicured when I got home. I know he worked a lot while I was gone and I think that he got the point last July when I got all in his face! I called hoochie mama too and let her know that I knew and it had better stop! Hey, I'm not the one who did anything wrong.

I've got to quit answering d's calls! We do have a lot to talk about, he just wants to talk about the one thing we shouldn't talk about!]

Today I am making a LO for Scrappy Arts contest How Has Scrapbooking Enhanced Your Life? I even bought the paper at Meridawn's!

I got to meet two new MB buddies on my trip but have to admit it was difficult to be in Seattle and not be able to hook up with my girl Julie!

"Grandaddy, Things Change!"

This is a statement that DD made in 1988 when we moved away from an abusive home. I took the kids and three suitcases, that was all! The next day grandaddy was pushing DD in the swing and out of her sweet little four year old mouth came the words, "Grandaddy, things change."

It's time for me to seperate my personal blog from my professional one. If you're looking for my professional blog, check out my links! That blog will not link to this one! For obvious reasons!

I'm In LOVE with the MUSIC of Carly Simon

In December I bought a thee CD boxed set of music by Carly Simon. I've almost worn the crazy CD's out by now or at least worn out my mother with listening to them in the car!

Carly has a booklet of sorts in the boxed set. She writes about the music she sings and talks about how she knows when a song is just right. I thought that it had a lot to do with the way I feel about my scrapbook layouts. How do you know when they're just right? Do they have just the right pieces in just the right places? Does it need a little more, or does it need a little less.

Here's what Carly has to say about her song writing:
I've always wondered what would happen if I held on to one song long enough to make it perfect by my standards. I would keep it locked up in my creative chamber and feed it daily with new ideas, better chord changes, a dream-inspired alteration in the melody, a more sonorous word, more alliteration, simplification, cleaner lines. I suppose it would be somewhat like raising the perfect child. At what point does it become a monster child? Robot-like or over studied, precious? One of the interesting problems the songwriter faces is when to let the song go. Often it is just a matter of deadline and I think back and look at the songs I have chosen to include here, it is significant, the part that practicality plays. You gotta get it done. But when there is no deadline what is it that makes you finish a song? I have come to believe that you must fall in love. When you really fall in love with a song, it becomes perfect for that moment in time. Maybe in a year you'll look back and say: "How could I have loved that song so much?" But in the first blush, the honeymoon period, the song can do no wrong. That is when you want to shout it to the world and parade it in front of your friends. I think that's what the act of creativity must be about. It's about making something you believe is better than you are, and for a moment, you merge with it and think it's you and you are it. Even when I am in a state of self loathing I can write something that I fall in love with. Deluded though I might be, it makes me feel better about myself and it usually inspires me to write another song. This goes not only for songwriting, but for fixing dinner or arranging flowers. At some point, and mostly it's a combination of accident and inspiration (being led by a larger hand), it comes together in a way that seems just right at the time, and that is the time to let it go. Sometimes it's just because it fits for the day. It may not be the greatest song, but it fits your soul at the moment and therefore speaks honestly. So you let it go out there into the great, big, kind, cruel and indifferent universe. .........

All Night

All night by Carly Simon

I have no need of half of anything
No half time, no half of a man's attention
Give me all the earth and sky
And at the same time add a new dimension
Half the truth is of no use
Give it all, give it all to meI can stand itI am strong that way

Give me all night
Give me the full moon
And if I can't take the whole of you
Give it to me anyway
Give me all night
'Till the last star fades
And if you can't take my heart and soul
Take it from me anyway

Don't give me fountains, I need waterfalls
And, when I cry, my tears will fill an ocean
The pain of love, I'll accept it all
As long as you'll join me in that emotion

Half of lovin' is no fun
Give it all, give it all to me
Give me all night
I can stand it
I am strong that way
Give me the full moon
And if I can't take the whole of you
Give it to me anyway
Give me all night
Give me the full moon
And if I can't take the whole of you
Give it to me anyway

Don't leave me guessing alone
Don't walk me half the way home
You can do that tomorrow
Just give me .Give me all night
Give me the full moon
And if I can't take the whole of you
Give it to me anyway

Give me all night
'Till the last star fades
And if you can't take my heart and soul
Take it from me anyway
'Till the last star fades
And if I can't take the whole of you
Give it to me anyway

Give me all night
Give me the full moon
Give it to me anyway
'Till the last star fades
And if you can't take my heart and soul...

"You're too sensative!"

Awwh, bull shit! What a cop out of a thing to say! I'm mad at that man of mine again!

What happened to, "you look nice"?

What happened to, "these sheets feel/smell good"?

What happened to, "you look and smell and feel good"?

What happened to a goodnight kiss?

What are we doing wrong?

What are we doing right?

What happened to "Thanks for taking the time to pick out these

Say Goodbye to Joe because he's all Walshed Up!

Don't you think it's pathetic how Joe seems like he is singing with no teeth or a mouth full of marbels or whatever! I wonder when this video was taken? This means we're just a bunch of saggy baggy old gimp and limp washed up wanabe hippies!

In the live DVD of the Eagles Hell Freezes Over Joe looks pretty decent but this version is def not his best! I like the music, it reminds me of college days and driving across LA to visit with my sister.

Appletini

For Jodi! We missed you girl!

The Prayer Lyrics

JOSH GROBAN LYRICS"The Prayer"(feat. Charlotte Church)I pray you'll be our eyesAnd watch us where we goAnd help us to be wiseIn times when we don't knowLet this be our prayerAs we go our wayLead us to a placeGuide us with your GraceTo a place where we'll be safeLa luce che tu daiI pray we'll find your lightNel cuore resteraAnd hold it in our heartsA ricordarci cheWhen stars go out each nightL'eterna stella seiNella mia preghieraLet this be our prayerQuanta fede c'eWhen shadows fill our dayLead us to a placeGuide us with your grace Give us faith so we'll be safe. Sogniamo un mondo senza piu violenza Un mondo di giustizia e di speranzaOgnuno dia la mano al suo vicinoSimbolo di pace e di fraternitaLa forza che ci daiWe ask that life be kindE'il desiderio cheAnd watch us from aboveOgnuno trovi amoreWe hope each soul will findIntorno e dentro a seAnother soul to loveLet this be our prayerLet this be our prayerJust like every childJust like every childNeeds to find a place,Guide us with your graceGive us faith so we'll be safeE la fede cheHai acceso in noiSento che ci salvera

In Loving Memory

Ernest Lee Harris, Jr. DDS April 19, 1930-December 8, 2004

I love and miss you daddy, your girl!

JOY

I am full of JOY! I am finding healing in all that I can. Listening to music much more than before and little surprises coming my way from the SJ Gals! I can't show you my work until it is published but then for sure it will be here!

I need a new song today so say goodbye to SMILE but keep on smiling!

Our Wedding Day

"I do", said he. "Me too", said she. And they became a family.

May 16, 1991 Guernsey, Wyoming

SMILE

Today is December 5, it's been a while since i posted a real lingo long. I can't say that this one will be especially long but I do want to say that I hope you take the time to hear the beautiful voice of Josh Groban and the lyrics of this song. Music is a way to heal my heart. I could have chosen The Prayer that Josh sang with Charlotte Church as I love it very much. It's time to keep moving forward and this song SMILE has come to my mind many times and just today did I discover that Josh sang it. He does such a nice job. We saw him in concert about two years ago and he was awesome! I recommend you go if you have the chance! Enjoy and SMILE!

I've Gone Beta

Wow, who'd a 'thunk it! They let me in to the beta blogger! Gonna play around with this tomorrow! Woo HOO!

Giving Thanks

I can't believe how happy everyone is and how well we are all getting along! I love my two kids and they seem so happy to be together. DD is so happy to see her brother and DS is so much more selfconfident because of is High School Diploma! Here in FL we are thankful for the cool weather. This is a good time of life~

I'm SO Happy!

A Good Night's Rest

What a difference a day makes. I'm well rested and up early. I feel so much better today. Don't know exactly what I'll do beside the grocery shopping and the sheet changing but I'm sure I'll find something!

DREAMS

Today I got a circle journal in the mail. The topic is DREAMS. I am near to the end of those contributing to this journal so I have a lot of precessors ideas to draw on. Most of the pages are about childhood dreams of marriage, mother hood, the white picket fence and traveling. I too have had those dreams and seen them realized. I still love to travel but have forgotten how to DREAM. I need a new vision, a new idea, something to be excited about. I just don't quite know how to go about it. I don't want to dream about being a grandmother because A.) My kids aren't ready to be parents and B.) That is something that I cannot control. What are my dreams? How do I dream and consequently shape my future?

My wish is to be healthy, to be happy, to manage my depression so that I am not suffering so! I've stopped dreaming about being thin. Do women my age actually loose weight? What are the odds?

I've learned the only person you can change is yourself. I'd be happy with that! I want a dream a vision a plan for my remaining life. A plan that will allow me to be productive and happy in this next season. I don't think it's money but having and using the money you have wisely. I think it's happiness..........I want happiness.

Ten Days Later

Today, if he were still living, would be my parents 57th wedding anniversary. Mom was a little sad, but she will be ok...Oh, how selfish of me, today also marks the death of DH's father in 1999. A lot of water under the bridge. In many ways I am glad to say that the two Dad's don't know the "trouble I've seen". Guess they had their own troubles, I'm sure. More news to come re: my new found football compromise with DH. I am so getting a wireless laptop. For now, the battery is dead! I hate it when that happens1