tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48707994286772500022024-03-13T10:22:35.204-07:00Kat KommentaryKatrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916232343198180603noreply@blogger.comBlogger278125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870799428677250002.post-70467663887971499832014-01-26T16:00:00.000-08:002014-01-26T16:23:41.244-08:00Why I Write.<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Lately, when I've had time, I've been finding that I don't want to write. It's bugging me. <i>I am a writer.</i> Still, when my kids ask me what I want to do when I grow up I say, <b>Be a Writer!</b> It's just part of who I have always been. So maybe I'm having an identity crisis? I don't know but lately, <i>I don't wanna...</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I don't like feeling like this. I don't know how to make it go away. It's not so much that I don't know <i>what </i>to write (I have so many ideas it's mind-boggling) or even that I don't have <i>time </i>to write (because I believe you make time for what's important) but really, <i>why write</i>? Like what I have to say or how I want to say it is not important. I don't mean in the grand scheme of things, I realize that as a Romance writer I am telling love stories with happy endings. I like that. I like Romantic Comedies. I just don't know if it's important anymore. It used to be, and I want that back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The reason I want to write romance (here we go) is because I do believe in happy endings. I don't mean the kind like in fairy tales, that's nonsense, but in the kind where a girl meets a boy and the stars align and fireworks go off and they prance off into the fading sunset... which turns into a harsh desert landscape filled with dirty diapers and unpaid bills. *snort* Then that sweet young couple has a "Come to Jesus" moment and they fall in love again and again and again... or maybe they don't. Maybe that couple experiences a hiccup in life that skews the HEA. Maybe one of them dies. So then we have another story. Woman meets man... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I believe in love. I believe in "true love." I don't believe in "Soul Mates." I believe that time, place, personal preparation and experience are all part of the picture. I believe some people never feel that "true love" feeling and that makes me sad. I also believe that some people feel it several times a day (or it seems that way). And eventually, I'd like them to have an HEA as well. Or maybe, I'll write a story about a woman that just needs to learn to love herself. I like those too. Not every woman needs a man. Even in my head!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So is that important? Does it matter? Should I just write them down anyway because they're there? <u>I think I should.</u> I just hope I'm not wasting my time. And maybe that is what's discouraging me. Maybe I'm just afraid. I'm just afraid I'm wasting my time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So, go ahead. Please tell me I'm not. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I'll wait...</span>Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916232343198180603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870799428677250002.post-40476810138428892492014-01-17T11:00:00.000-08:002014-01-17T11:14:56.463-08:00Who Am I?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are lots of things about me that people don't know, maybe they do because I talk about them, write about them and often post on social media about them. Still, I think there are things people don't know. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. I believe in myself, most of the time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Having a caveat to believing in myself means that I have room for improvement. I think I'm worth the time it takes to develop a good habit and I think good habits are healthy. The *most of the time* means that I often forget that keeping up with good habits will, ultimately, in the long run, make me happier. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. I believe in God.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am grateful for my faith. I am also grateful for my Faith. I am a Mormon. I believe in all kinds of *crazy* stuff like ghosts, angels and afterlife. I believe that I am loved. I believe that I am important to God but that he doesn't make an *easy* path for me (or anyone) just because I believe. I believe that Jesus is my spiritual brother and that he came to earth, lived and died for all mankind. It's pretty heavy stuff, and a little *out there* if you think about it, but I believe it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. I believe in marriage.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't think marriage is easy. I think the pinnacle of society is the family. I think children deserve to be loved, cherished, cared for and taken care of. I believe it is a parents job to teach their children how to behave in society, how to succeed and what is important. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. I believe I'm a writer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't do it often enough. I don't blog enough. I don't spend enough time on my *stories* and I don't spend enough time writing my personal story for my descendants. But I spend more time than a "non-writer" and I spend a lot of time trying to figure out how I want to tackle this particular "skill." I know I need to write more and I'm working on it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. I believe in being healthy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't "diet" per se. I've talked a lot about that. I do believe in being fit. I do believe in taking care of our bodies so they can perform to their upmost ability. I do my best. I am a little lazy in this department for a variety of reasons. I dispute certain diagnoses since the undermine my desire to be better. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is my focus for this year. These are my "goals" because I have identified who I truly believe I am and who I want to be.</span><br />
<br />Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916232343198180603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870799428677250002.post-73944684076264068392013-12-09T19:00:00.000-08:002013-12-09T19:10:43.495-08:00Goals and Writing<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s the end of the year, as I was reminded by one of my
online game opponents (who happens to be a bookkeeper), and a time to assess
and reassess and see where I am and where I want to go. Some areas of my life
are what they are. I accept it with an eye toward the idea of changing over
time, or accepting whatever may be may be… “<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZbKHDPPrrc" target="_blank">Que sera, sera,</a>” if you will.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m all about bettering myself. If there’s a book out there
about some real or imagined flaw that I find in myself (or possibly pointed out
to me by a very observant, and <i>caring </i>“friend”), I am one of the first people
to buy that book! Although, I admit, I am not a huge fan of self-help books. The
most recent book I purchased for self-help was called “<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Things-Done-Stress-Free-Productivity-ebook/dp/B000WH7PKY/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386643884&sr=1-1&keywords=getting+the+things+done" target="_blank">Getting Things Done</a>.” It’s
still only partially read. That’s one thing I need to put back on my To-Do
list. (Yes, I get the irony. Is now a good time to mention all the books on procrastination I have yet to read?)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay, so where am I going with this? I’ve been thinking… <i><a href="http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Gaston_(song)" target="_blank">A dangerous pastime, I know!</a></i> I’ve been thinking about my writing. I don’t want a
lot. My life’s dream would be to make enough money to just help my family out a
little here and there. I don’t need millions, or even tens of thousands of
dollars. You know, like maybe five thousand. A year. Okay, maybe three times that a year...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I’m not going to make <i>anything </i>if I don’t get things
<b>finished</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So my goal, or one of them anyway, is to write every* day. I
plan to use my blog kind of like a jumping off place. Call it my warm-up.
Writing exercise. At least in <i>one </i>area of my life I can get whooped into shape,
right? I am, unfortunately, easily overwhelmed, and <a href="http://katkommentary.blogspot.com/2013/09/why-i-stopped-taking-my-meds.html" target="_blank">if you know anything aboutmy life</a>, it’s nothing if not a bit complicated at times. So I’m going to be
gentle with myself, forgiving. I want to reach my goals and not be mad at
myself. I’m almost done with school, but that’s for another post.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">*I need to note that by "every" day I mean that I need to have a weekly goal so that I feel accomplished. So even if I start out getting 1,000 words a day--maybe even working up to that? I know I've tried to do 2,000 a day and that proved to difficult for me at the time. I don't want to write on Sundays, and it's difficult on Fridays and Saturdays when Superman and the other super-heroes are home--not excuses, reality. Anyway, so the weekly goal would be 5,000 words a week. (And my blog writing will not go toward that goal, it's extemporaneous.)</span></div>
Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916232343198180603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870799428677250002.post-45689691448287271882013-12-06T18:30:00.000-08:002013-12-06T18:56:32.393-08:00Gratitude Part 3<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Took me a while but I got it together. Here is the Grande Finale!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wish I didn't have to wait until after Thanksgiving to "start" Christmas. I told my kids maybe we should be like the rest of the world so we could jump straight from Halloween to Christmas! Why wait, right? This picture is from last year. This year we've put the tree up in a different spot. It's less intrusive, I think.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Day 26: The pup, Ellie-Mae Claire</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wrote before about how I had to re-home my beloved dachshund and about a year ago our only other dog ran away. We are a dog family and have always had a dog. Since we are renting I thought we were going to be a dogless family until we got into our own home again, but when a friend posted that she had these lab mix pups I mentioned it to Superman and we checked them out. <i>HE </i>fell in love with this beauty and she's been ours since June. She is part of our family like no other dog has been (not even my Bailey, I am sad to say) since Hubs and I were newlyweds! Haha!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Day 27: Baking, my one true "talent"</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a lot of things I like to do. I used to do a lot of cross-stitch. Sometimes I knit. I sew a little, but not well enough to show you anything. (Not like my mother!) One thing I can do is bake. I like to bake! It's been a while since I've really put time and effort in but every year I make these <a href="http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/sweet-potato-crescents" target="_blank">Sweet Potato Crescents</a> (apparently since 2000!) and they are always my contribution to Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Day 28: Happy Thanksgivukkah!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year I joined my BFF, Gypsy, and her family for a Thanksgiving/Chanukkah celebration. It was awesome. We had a fried turkey, latkes as well as traditional Thanksgiving fare (I made the mashed potatoes, a ton!), but mostly it was the celebration with friends. Superman went to visit his sister for Thanksgiving and I was happy to spare him (this one time). My parents came also and we had a great day! </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Day 29: Lazy Days<br />(Our Black Friday)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I don't do "Black Friday." It's way over-rated and my "personal space" issues don't allow for big crowds and mean people. We did go to <a href="http://www.target.com/c/target-black-friday/-/N-5q0f2" target="_blank">Target </a>for a bit and to see "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1951264/" target="_blank">Catching Fire</a>" (Awesome! but I cried through the whole thing) and out to eat, but then we came home and relaxed. It was great!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have already mentioned reading my scriptures, my membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and going to church. Bottom line though is my belief in Jesus Christ. He is the reason I do all the other things. I am beyond grateful for my Faith. I believe it is a gift to believe in God and more. I believe that all the other good things in my life have come because of this faith and it is also the reason I can endure the not so great things. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't think I will be doing this kind of gratitude posting again, but I will probably come up with another way to show my gratitude. Although I love jumping to Christmas, I am grateful for the time I spend being grateful and recognizing the good in my life. </span>Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916232343198180603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870799428677250002.post-59496816347810418082013-11-24T16:00:00.000-08:002013-11-24T16:00:02.255-08:00The Gratitude Project, Part 2<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have to admit I'm having way to much fun with this. As you'll see with the pictures that follow:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. The BFF/PLLAATSABIDSA</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Wikipedia</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Where I live, Acton, CA</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Feet, particularly my feet</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">13. I am lucky to have been friends with Gypsy since either before or since I was born. Our moms were best friends and we grew up together much like sisters. We have been fortunate to keep our friendship and it has flourished over the years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">14. Wikipedia is kind of an odd thing to be grateful for, but I thrive on learning and it gives me a brief overview on a subject and use that information to find more information. It's a little crazy but I am extremely curious and it satisfies some of that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">15. I love living in Acton. It's small, rural and people take care of each other here. We moved here about seven years ago and I love it. Acton feels like home, like no place I've ever lived in my life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">16. Can you tell I was feeling a little desperate for ideas when I posted about my feet? The truth is I do like my feet. I have worn the same size shoe since I was twelve. So I can say I can still fit in the shoes I wore in high school (and I might still have them too)!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Family Movie Nights</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. My oldest son, Captain America, aka The Cap</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Middle son, Hulk</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Youngest son, baby of the family, Batman</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">17. We love to watch movies and some TV shows, but mostly as a family. We love to be together and be entertained. It's the time together and making jokes about what we watch later. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">18. How much can I say about my kids? My oldest son is awesome. He is Captain America to me. I rely on him for so much physical help. He is a good kid and I'm proud of all he does.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">19. My middle son is my challenge but I feel perpetually blessed because he is part of our family. Hulk was born with XXYY chromosome disorder and as a result I have a full-time job keeping up with his needs. He is worth it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">20. We were done having kids when we had Hulk. Then we felt there was another member of our family and decided we would have another, God willing. That's how Batman came to being. He is a joy to have around, a bit precocious but a delight. (I'm sure his siblings would disagree, but I find him a Joy!)</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O5Zk-i2f1yo/UpJ5eFB8coI/AAAAAAAAGcc/5jJxYEvY2a4/s1600/21-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O5Zk-i2f1yo/UpJ5eFB8coI/AAAAAAAAGcc/5jJxYEvY2a4/s400/21-24.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Princess, my baby girl</span></div>
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2. Our oldest child, Sunshine</div>
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3. Having a roof over my head</div>
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4. Going to church</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">21. Our little Princess is every bit a Princess. She's sweet and sassy; fun and flirty, and just wonderful to have around. She was gone last year for several months but decided to stay home and go to school this fall. I love having her around, when we see her...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">22. Sunshine is not living at home these days and I miss her terribly. Poor child got all our mistakes and parenting fails and yet she still seems to have turned out mighty fantastic. She's working, going to school and basically supporting herself. I call that a Parent Win! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">23. While I complain a lot about what our house isn't, I am thankful to have a house and to live where I want to live. It's not horrible just a lot of wasted space. That space, however, keeps our home cool in summer, which has its value.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">24. Finally, I posted some pictures of church. I serve the little kids (18-months to 3-years-old) and I love it. I've been there a while and some are telling me it's time for a change. I'll be sad when that day comes. I love the recharging I receive from going to church. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Six more days!</span>Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916232343198180603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870799428677250002.post-9349579997707986282013-11-12T10:00:00.000-08:002013-11-12T10:00:02.639-08:00The Gratitude ProjectMaybe you've seen them and noticed everyone posting the things they're grateful for over the last week or so. For the last few years I have been posting my Gratitudes daily during the month of Thanksgiving (November) and this year I decided I would do it in pictures. I'm thinking I will do a summary every 9-12 days.<br />
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Here are the first 12 days...</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3xNVU8VOjAw/UoFwF3gjRyI/AAAAAAAAGY0/BQoitDizy18/s1600/PhotoGrid_1384214206571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3xNVU8VOjAw/UoFwF3gjRyI/AAAAAAAAGY0/BQoitDizy18/s400/PhotoGrid_1384214206571.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. My family</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. My daughters (Sunshine & Princess)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. My husband (Superman)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. My daily devotional; scripture reading, journaling and gratitudes</span></div>
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My family is basically the center of my universe. My main job is to take care of them so I suppose it's the first thing I'm grateful for. They give my life meaning and make everything else on the list matter.<br />
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I started with my daughters because I absolutely Love this picture! I think we all look good, which for a mom with two babies (Sunshine was 2 1/2 & Princess was maybe 9 months in this picture) we look pretty good and I love the pink wash and our white clothes. Princess is in her Blessing dress, by the way.</div>
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I am so happy to be married to the love of my life. He is my Superman! This is a lovely photo from our wedding collection. Even though it's kind of cheesy, I like this picture because we are looking at each other in total oblivion of the next 20-50+ years. HAHAHAHAHA!</div>
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My scriptures, journal, and gratitude journal. I got in the habit of reading my scriptures when I was in high school. It was further branded into me when I was a missionary. It's hard for me to feel "complete" during the day without reading them. I have kept a journal even longer than that, starting when I was very young and writing regularly from the time I was 12. The gratitude journal was introduced to me a few years ago by our then Relief Society president. She gave us each a journal to start and every day we were to record 5 things we were grateful for. I have been doing that for about three years now (I think) and not even sure how many of the little books I have gone through. It helps me to remember who to thank and to be content. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Books</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. My laptop</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. My parents and my in-laws</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. My dachshund, Bailey James</span></div>
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Books are one of the loves of my life. It's true. I love to read them and am inspired by them. I love fiction (yes, it's true) and love romance most of all. My ToBeRead pile is ridiculous. I am never bored however!</div>
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I list the reasons to be thankful for my laptop partly because of the connection it gives me to people who I have lost touch with as well as making new friends that I only have contact with online. I was a better letter writer before email and texting, but not much. </div>
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Both my parents and in-laws have celebrated their 50th anniversaries. What a milestone and what an example to their children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren! I am proud to be related to both sets. Sadly my father-in-law passed away from cancer a few years ago. I still miss him and think about him often.</div>
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I had a dachshund as a child (her name was Suki) and I loved her until I became a teenager and found better things to do. I love dachshunds and wanted a puppy so bad and a friend offered one of her dachshund pups to me. I named him Bailey James after George Bailey/James Stewart (yes of<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038650/" target="_blank"> It's a Wonderful Life</a></i>) and loved him like my youngest baby he was meant to be. Unfortunately when we moved into our rental house we couldn't keep him in the house and he was not meant to be an outdoor dog so I found him a new home with other small dogs. I miss him every day.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D-W-yxVdM5w/UoFwFUzYuEI/AAAAAAAAGYs/VltgGgphnJQ/s1600/PhotoGrid_1384214423418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D-W-yxVdM5w/UoFwFUzYuEI/AAAAAAAAGYs/VltgGgphnJQ/s400/PhotoGrid_1384214423418.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Lake Powell with my parents & siblings</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. My membership in the LDS church</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Veterans</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. My brothers</span></div>
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Since 1994 we have spent a week at Lake Powell with my parents, siblings and their families. It's a small space and it's a closeness we rarely get to experience otherwise. We enjoy lots of water sports (tubing, water-skiing, hiking, cliff-jumping, etc) and laying around (me) reading through my TBR pile.<br />
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I love going to church! It renews me and makes me feel ready to take on another week of humdrum but necessary activities. I am a Mormon and I like it.<br />
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I have so much gratitude for soldiers. My mind cannot really wrap itself around so much tragedy and horrors surrounding war and I'm thankful to not have to be the one to go fight. I know freedom isn't free. I know somebody has to make the hard choices and do the hard things so I can live in this country with the liberty to choose as I please (for the most part--and within the law).<br />
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I have all brothers. This picture only shows three of my five brothers, but I love them as much as I love my arm or my leg. We don't get to see each other as often as I'd like but we stay in touch in other ways. (Hello, thank you laptop!)<br />
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What are you grateful for?</div>
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Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916232343198180603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870799428677250002.post-56500527665998738602013-11-05T08:00:00.000-08:002013-11-05T08:00:01.922-08:00Where do I go from here?My year experiment wasn't a bust, per se, but it also wasn't a success. I am contemplating where to go from here. Part of me just wants to blog about my feelings (ugh, really?). I see so many blogs out there like that and I wonder if they are helpful or just voyeuristic.<br />
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Does it help you to know that I suffer? I have clinical (treated) depression. I have fibromyalgia (they say, ...I am still in denial), I have hypercalcemia (which may or may not be caused by hyperparathyroidism) and osteoporosis. Most of the time I just feel like a lump.<br />
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I got an email from a writing site I subscribe to yesterday about rejection. I realized that I haven't really experienced rejection in a while because I don't really submit anything anywhere. I don't really know how many people (or who) reads my blog. I had to turn off comments because the spammers were having a heyday and people were getting linked to porn.<br />
Egads!<br />
I certainly don't want to be a perpetrator of that kind of nonsense!<br />
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So here I am. In the midst of personal crises (always), sick kids, no money (does anyone really have enough?), kids with behavior issues, too small house (not used to it, still, after two years) and yesterday I read, "I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted me." (Book of Mormon, Alma 29:3) So I stop and pray for contentment. It eludes me.<br />
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I am always reaching for something. A clean/tidy house (miraculously, not because I had to do any physical--read painful--labor!), a degree, perfect children (Hahahahahahaha), a loving and romantic relationship with my spouse (it happens), different furniture, a better stove, tidier kids, straighter hair, flatter belly... it's always something and then I think...<br />
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I am enough.<br />
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Really. I am. I know I am. I would tell my kids (if they asked me), "You are enough." If I am doing my best (which I am not always, for a variety of reasons) then I am Enough. I am.<br />
Most of my infirmities, I believe, are swallowed up in the Atonement of Jesus. Yes, I believe that. It is a wonderful thing to believe. It brings me peace, and sometimes Joy, to believe that someone loved me enough to suffer and die for me. Suffer and die for everyone. Yeah, I think that's pretty cool.<br />
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I did not mean for my post to get preachy but it is part of who I am.<br />
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I believe that we are enough. I can do more but I sometimes can't and that's okay. Because I am enough.<br />
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I still don't know what I'm going to do with my blog. I don't know if I want to be cutesy and artsy (not really my thing) or just post my angsty thoughts (like this one) and hope somebody else also gets something because for me it is often cathartic.Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916232343198180603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870799428677250002.post-63032665832433357042013-10-09T14:00:00.000-07:002013-10-09T18:08:15.604-07:00Obit: Hannah Montana<div class="MsoNormal">
In case you didn't know it, <a href="http://disneychannel.disney.com/hannah-montana" target="_blank">Hannah Montana</a> is dead folks. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This last weekend Miley Cyrus hosted <a href="http://popwatch.ew.com/2013/10/06/saturday-night-live-recap-miley-cyrus/" target="_blank">Saturday Night Live</a>.
Honestly, she was good. Of course I’m worried about her. I’m a mom. No mom
(especially of teen girls) can watch this young’ns transformation from Disney
songstress/star to slutty-smut-muffin without cringing! She also announced that
<a href="http://nypost.com/2013/10/06/miley-cyrus-pokes-fun-at-herself-on-snl/" target="_blank">Hannah Montana had been “murdered.”</a> So sad.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6OWgnzKZ6cc/UlX3zK6gNfI/AAAAAAAAGRY/p9zwkCuYAts/s1600/miley_cyrus_then_and_now_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6OWgnzKZ6cc/UlX3zK6gNfI/AAAAAAAAGRY/p9zwkCuYAts/s320/miley_cyrus_then_and_now_2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I actually believe she might live to regret those words. She
joked about getting all kinds of letters from moms, a few of which I have seen
posted via Facebook, regarding her crazy antics at the VMAs and I realized that
I <i>do </i>have some thoughts about this. <o:p></o:p></div>
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First of all, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOwblaKmyVw" target="_blank">Miley Cyrus can sing</a>. She’s actually really good.
If you listen to her and ignore the tramping around on video, she’s <i>quite </i>good.
She can write music that’s catchy and entertaining. Her <a href="http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/mileycyrus/wreckingball.html" target="_blank">lyrics are heart-wrenching</a>. She has a gift. And Disney is the one that allowed all this.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I think by “murdering” Hannah Montana, Miley is turning her
back on the image that created her! That is going to be a mistake. She is
creating a new image now, and I get her need to be viewed as a “real artist”
and not a Disneyfied star, I get that, but really, Miley, do you really think
it’s wise to turn your back on everything that made you? The reason you are
getting letters from mothers is because you no longer represent anything we
want our daughters to admire or aspire to! Your behavior on stage and screen is
frightening and shocking, which might be what you want to kill that little good
girl image we have of sweet Hannah Montana, but you can do that without having
a public nervous breakdown!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ever since <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjSG6z_13-Q" target="_blank">“Can’t Be Tamed”</a> came out Miley has been making a
statement. She is trying very hard to get as far away from her Disney image as
possible. And honestly, I don’t get it. Hannah was funny, with good comedic
timing and even with insipid story lines and fluffy 30-minute dilemmas, Hannah
<i>created </i>the Miley Cyrus marketability. Someday, Miley, I think you might be
sorry you turned so foul.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m worried. I’m worried that like so many before you we
will find you in rehab, washed up, washed out and maybe even dead. I worry that
your desire to toss away the squeaky-clean image of sweet Hannah Montana you
will toss a fan base that might save you. Your fans have grown up with you, but
there are still those that are too young still to truly understand the mess you’re
creating. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Do you really want to end up like <a href="http://www.celebuzz.com/photos/lindsay-lohans-troubles-a-timeline-46715381/lindsay-lohans-troubles-over-the-2/" target="_blank">Lindsay</a>, or <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2220205/Britney-Spears-shows-strain-amid-claims-overdosed-amphetamines-mental-breakdown.html" target="_blank">Brittney</a>?
Maybe you do. Britt’s rush to discard her clean image led to early motherhood
and a stint on the <i>Crazy </i>list for some time. Do you want to be like <a href="http://www.tmz.com/2013/07/25/amanda-bynes-psychiatric-hospital-5150-schizophrenia-mental-illness/" target="_blank">Amanda Bynes</a> and end up incarcerated, essentially, for serious crazy? These are your
predecessors and look what happened to them when fame and celebrity got their
hold on them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Or, do you want to be like <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/melissa-joan-hart-explains-actress-tells-drugs-partying-article-1.1468109" target="_blank">Melissa Joan Hart</a> (who also had some trouble, but who knew?) who now has two
sweet children, a relatively stable marriage and a sitcom? Maybe you want to be
the next <a href="http://www.tmz.com/person/madonna/" target="_blank">Madonna</a>? I don’t know what your goals are, Miley, but the path you’re
heading down makes me sad. Good luck to you and may you figure out who you are
before things get too much more out of hand!<o:p></o:p></div>
Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916232343198180603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870799428677250002.post-84440354739148013712013-09-27T15:00:00.000-07:002013-09-27T16:56:00.419-07:00The Crazy OnesI'm just popping in here to tell y'all about the new Dramedy "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2710104/" target="_blank">The Crazy Ones</a>." It's about a Chicago-based ad agency run by Simon Roberts, played by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000245/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" target="_blank">Robin Williams</a> & his daughter, Sydney, played by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001264/?ref_=tt_cl_t2" target="_blank">Sarah Michelle Gellar</a>. I'm not sure what I'm more excited about; the return of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077053/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">Mork </a>or the return of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118276/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">Buffy</a>!<br />
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<i>Squee</i>!<br />
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Robin is his usual crazy/funny/weird self & Sarah is her usual snarky/fashionista/clever self. I don't know if it's going to take off but I loved it! Created by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005082/?ref_=sr_1#producer" target="_blank">David E. Kelley</a>, who is the guy who brought us <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090466/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_24" target="_blank">L.A. Law</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103512/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_21" target="_blank">Picket Fences</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108724/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_16" target="_blank">Chicago Hope</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118254/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_15" target="_blank">Ally McBeal</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118437/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_12" target="_blank">The Practice</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0402711/?ref_=nm_flmg_prd_6" target="_blank">Boston Legal</a>... among others.<br />
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What I also loved was that fact that their first ad pitch is to McDonald's, which if you don't know is <i>hilarious </i>because as a wee one <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/sarah-michelle-gellar-was-once-banned-from-mcdonalds" target="_blank">Sarah Michelle did an ad for Burger King and was sued (yes, personally sued) by McDonald's</a> and could not even enter one ...supposedly, ever again. Yet, here we are, 2013 and there is an Awesome shot of Sarah Michelle's profile with the McD's logo behind her.<br />
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<i>Awesome</i>!<br />
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The pilot episode also featured cameos by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0641097/" target="_blank">Gail O'Grady</a> and the inimitable <a href="http://www.kellyclarkson.com/us/home" target="_blank">Kelly Clarkson</a> (as herself).<br />
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Check out <a href="http://www.cbs.com/shows/the-crazy-ones/" target="_blank">The Crazy Ones on CBS</a> on Thursdays at 9/8c. I don't think you'll be disappointed.Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916232343198180603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870799428677250002.post-78782879176623966702013-09-16T13:30:00.002-07:002013-09-16T13:31:56.980-07:00Why I stopped taking my meds<i>I am not anti-medication</i> by any means, and I believe in seeking medical intervention because not doing so can be dangerous, <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57580900/second-child-of-faith-healing-couple-dies-after-no-medical-care-sought/" target="_blank">even deadly</a>. However, I have recently stopped taking a lot of my medications OR really, just reducing the amount (yes, under the direction of my dr., no worries, I'm not <i>completely </i>moronic!).<br />
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Recently I have been taking up to five medications daily and that does not include the vitamin supplements that I also take (vitamin A, Super B, C, iron, potassium & a multi). I still take a blood pressure medication (which I have not stopped or reduced).<br />
<br />
What have I stopped taking? For starters I have reduced my anti-depressant (currently taking <a href="http://www.cymbalta.com/Pages/index.aspx?WT.srch=1" target="_blank">Cymbalta</a>) and I want to tell you why. The <i>why </i>is important to me, and maybe to others who suffer from <a href="http://katkommentary.blogspot.com/2013/06/stress.html" target="_blank">chronic clinical depression</a>, like I do. I found that I stopped <i>feeling </i>anything while taking the full prescribed dose. Mind you, I take it so that I can function like a "<a href="http://katkommentary.blogspot.com/2012/10/heartbreak.html" target="_blank">normal</a>" person. What I don't want is to be an emotional Zombie (although <a href="http://katkommentary.blogspot.com/2012/10/i-heart-zombies.html" target="_blank">I love zombies</a>, doesn't mean I want to <i>be </i>one!). I want to <i>feel </i>sensitivity and compassion. I <i>want </i>to be emotionally moved when I see or hear something that <i>should </i>make us feel something. I found that I felt nothing and I don't think that's healthy. I think that's almost as unhealthy as feeling everything, which is kind of what depression feels like, sometimes.<br />
<br />
I don't mind tearing up over <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57603061/washington-navy-yard-shooting-leaves-at-least-12-dead/" target="_blank">bad news</a> or a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/13/tear-jerker-truemove-thai-commercial_n_3922857.html" target="_blank">heartwarming tale</a>. I think that is a <i>normal </i>emotional response. A <i><a href="http://katkommentary.blogspot.com/2013/03/how-to-be-human-sos-day-1440.html" target="_blank">human </a></i>response and I don't want to lose that. So I reduced the amount of anti-depressant I take and I am still able to cope while also feeling something for my fellow human beings, which matters to me.<br />
<br />
The other things I'm not taking are for my (supposed) Fibromyalgia symptoms. Specifically I take <a href="http://www.drugs.com/gabapentin.html" target="_blank">Gabapentin </a>(stopped) and a muscle relaxer (which I take as needed-which is what the bottle says to do). I am surprised and <i>Very Pleased</i> to report that I am not only functioning well, but am also able to push myself a little further than before.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Miracle</i></b>!<br />
<br />
I still maintain that I suffer from <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/postherpetic-neuralgia/DS00277" target="_blank">postherpetic neuralgia</a> (aka; after Shingles nerve pain) and <i>not </i>Fibromyalgia and since I am no longer needing the medication I am convinced I was right.<br />
I still have some symptoms related to my <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hyperparathyroidism/DS00396" target="_blank">hyperparathyroidism </a>(specifically the <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hypercalcemia/DS00976" target="_blank">high amount of calcium in my blood</a>) which I am having treated and hope to be at least to 90% soon (100% might be too much to ask so I'd be happy with 90!).<br />
<br />
I am just so happy to be in this place and not having to <i>rely </i>on so much medication just to function.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Yay</i></b>!Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916232343198180603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870799428677250002.post-55907222970904845492013-09-03T14:00:00.000-07:002013-09-03T16:28:56.610-07:00The First Day of School<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hulk started school August 12</span><sup style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. That kind of
stunk for him because he had to get up early, get dressed and ready and off
every morning while the rest of us got to sleep in, watch TV (or in Batman’s
case <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/CaptainSparklez" target="_blank">Captain Sparklez on YouTube</a> *<i>RollingMyEyes</i>*!) and DO NOTHING all day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Captain America (aka Cap) and Batman started today. Cap is a
Junior in high school (<i>Already</i>?) and Batman started Middle School or 6<sup>th</sup>
grade. Hulk is a Sophomore but he is in another school district because they
have a better program and more secure campus than we do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The point is that this morning I was <i>bored</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">How many times can you check <a href="https://www.facebook.com/" target="_blank">Facebook </a>in an hour? Part of me
thinks I need a job (because I have been bored a lot lately) but mostly I think
I just need to buckle down and <i>do </i>the things that need doing. Like the laundry.
<i>Ick</i>. I guess I could make dinner at 10 AM, that would free up my day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Or write a book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There’s an idea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was surprised that I actually <i>missed </i>my kids and on the
FIRST DAY BACK TO SCHOOL I actually started looking forward to next summer.
::<i>sigh</i>:: What am I going to do with me? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That’s all crazy talk!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So here’s the thing, September is like January for me. <a href="http://katkommentary.blogspot.com/2013/09/50-things-to-be-happy-about.html" target="_blank">I had my birthday</a> yesterday, the kids are all back in school (even Princess is
starting school this week!) and I’m thinking about what I need to do. I need to
keep up the house so it doesn’t overwhelm me again. My family cleaned the house
(yes, I helped) as part of my birthday gift yesterday. Yes, it’s <i>unbelievably
</i>appreciated. <i>Since I can’t even vacuum lately</i>. We even put pictures up, since
we’ve been in this place for two years and looks like we’ll be here at least
for another year… ::<i>sigh</i>::<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am also starting a class this week. I started Spanish 100
to complete my foreign language requirement. Spanish is helpful where I live
(near Los Angeles) and beneficial for being in the schools (which is what I
want to do) so I’m okay with it. Nervous, but okay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I like working on my goals every three months or so. I
always have goals. Sometimes I am more energetic than others in that <i>I think I
can do more than I end up actually doing</i>, but then isn’t it better to aim for
the moon and reach the stars? I think so. So one of the things I will be
working on this week is figuring out which areas of my life I really want to
improve. I already know what they are I just have to isolate the actions needed
to accomplish those goals. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Go me!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And my kids? They are actually happy to be back in school
too. We do better when he have a set schedule. I know I do and that means we
all do.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916232343198180603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870799428677250002.post-65351260349428457902013-09-02T14:00:00.000-07:002013-09-02T16:05:41.955-07:0050 Things To Be Happy About<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">1. Today is my birthday!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">2. I am <b><i>not </i></b>50!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">3. I have two more years to “get it right.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">4. I have an awesome family<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">5. That I love very Very much!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">6. I have a lot of amazing friends<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">7. Online and offline<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">8. Who inspire me to be better everyday<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">9. I have amazing parents<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">10. Who are still alive and support me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">11. And called me today to sing to me (I love it!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">12. I have one best friend outside my bloodline that<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">13. Is my sister in every way that matters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">14. I have five brothers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">15. Two are waiting for me in heaven<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">16. And I believe that!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">17. I love and admire my oldest brother and who he is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">18. I love my younger brother who is also my writing partner,
business associate and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">19. One of my very best friends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">20. I love my “baby” brother, who makes me laugh<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">21. All. The. Time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">22. And I admire who he is and his opinions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">23. I love my husband.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">24. He is also my best friend and <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">25. Favorite person to spend time with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">26. He makes me want to be better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">27. I have two beautiful daughters (and I’m not just saying
that).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">28. My oldest daughter is valiant, hard working and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">29. I don’t worry about her decisions<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">30. Even though I do worry about her (of course!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">31. Daughter #2 is fun and beautiful and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">32. I’m happy to have her around<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">33. She’s just fun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">34. My oldest son is a ROCK!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">35. My middle son teaches me patience and makes me feel loved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">36. My baby is spoiled and I like spoiling him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">37. I love where I live<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">38. I like learning<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">39. I have hobbies I enjoy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">40. I get vacations and “time off”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">41. My birthday is the beginning of the holidays<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">42. I am a Christian<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">43. I am a Mormon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">44. I get to stay home with my kids<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">45. I get to go to school<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">46. I get to work with my family doing what I love, Writing!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">47. I believe in forgiveness, especially forgiving myself<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">48. Failure is a learning experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">49. I have more time to keep being better<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">50. I’m old but I’m not that old.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916232343198180603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870799428677250002.post-79339004875483249142013-08-29T12:00:00.000-07:002013-08-29T13:34:00.616-07:00That Deaf, Dumb and Blind ChicaDoes not play a mean pinball or any other type of “ball,”
for that matter.<br />
<div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I <a href="https://www.facebook.com/katrina.duvalois?hc_location=stream" target="_blank">posted on Facebook</a> this morning that I dreamed about going
deaf and of having to learn and use sign language. Actually, I used to know
quite a bit of sign language as one of my best high school friend’s was deaf
and we used to communicate openly that way. Everywhere. It was rather cool,
actually. I have forgotten most of it, occasionally it comes back to me and I
have no idea if the things I was saying in my dream were actually right or not
but I was using sign language. Fluently.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I worry about this. It’s not irrational as I am, and have
been, losing my hearing for some time. I am supposed to wear hearing aids but
they are very expensive (like $ThousandS of $DollarS!) and we already bought
one set and they broke like three days after the warranty expired. <i>Of course.</i> I
have been going through the process again to get hearing aids because I am
tired of not being able to hear.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some people might think I respond strangely to things that
are said to me, the truth is that I probably didn’t hear you. This is why I
prefer texting to phone calls and email to face to face meetings.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-usRz4Qev7Ig/Uh-t8rWxSTI/AAAAAAAAGM8/5pvFNgGTJzA/s1600/Respond+via+text.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-usRz4Qev7Ig/Uh-t8rWxSTI/AAAAAAAAGM8/5pvFNgGTJzA/s320/Respond+via+text.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I Can’t Hear You.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are a few things that go with that. I sometimes worry
that people will be able to tell that I am losing my hearing by my speech. I
already struggle saying Rs and Ws together. (My kids are still making fun of me
for how I said Redwood River Resort for our reunion a few weeks ago. It comes
out like RrrrrrvrrrRrrrsrrrt.) That’s not new. I figured out that anomaly almost
10 years ago. Sort of how Canadians say aluminum.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I make my family crazy because I can’t hear <i>most </i>things that
are said to me. I’d like to pretend I heard but they can tell because I will
say odd things. They ask, “Where are the hot dogs,” and I will say, “Maybe we
can go to the library tomorrow.” It’s kind of like a math word problem.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hy7CNeqvncA/Uh-uBAtilUI/AAAAAAAAGNE/xEAUb8xTIvE/s1600/Math+word+problems.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hy7CNeqvncA/Uh-uBAtilUI/AAAAAAAAGNE/xEAUb8xTIvE/s320/Math+word+problems.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t think it’s funny but at the same time there’s not a
lot I can do about it. I say, “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you,” A. Lot. So if I
say something odd to you, like, “Pillows give me headaches,” when you asked me,
“Where’d you get those shoes?” I’m sorry. I probably didn’t hear you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh and I’m almost blind too…<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916232343198180603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870799428677250002.post-7576885413893071272013-08-28T15:00:00.000-07:002013-08-28T18:07:48.444-07:00The *Getting Better* Part<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I am. With some things. I feel like I need a massive ToDo list, but doesn't everyone? I mean, really? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I took this "<a href="http://www.blogher.com/lower-48" target="_blank">are you narcissistic" test</a> yesterday and it turns out I am either totally narcissistic or not at all. There was no in-between state for me. The first question stumped me; </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>I can become entirely absorbed in thinking about my personal affairs, my health, my cares or my relations to others.</i></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Yep. I do this. But it's <i>relative </i>because when I think "I" it includes Me, my five children and my husband, also the dog and various others; including my parents and siblings, even the occasional Aunt or Uncle reaches my "worry zone." All these trump everyone else. When I stopped to evaluate if this was <i>I</i> as in <i>just Me</i>, well, I still do this more than I want to. I think about my health more than I want to because it tends to get in my way of doing something else.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>Harrrrumph</i>!</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The obsessive nature I have over my personal affairs have to do with all the things that need doing like phone calls, appointments, school issues (aka assignments), my writing or non-writing (which happens more than I want it to), my health (and what new symptom am I feeling today?), the health of my children, even my adult children's lives and health are my <strike>problem</strike> worry!</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I don't worry too much about my relations to others except that I think I need to do more service. I think doing more service would help me with my other <strike>self-obsessive</strike> <strike>narcissistic</strike> <strike>worries</strike> concerns.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Today I feel better. I made myself do a few things I didn't want to do and that's that beginning of the upward spiral of a down day from having done too much. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span>Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916232343198180603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870799428677250002.post-13288633011208741592013-08-26T10:00:00.000-07:002013-08-26T10:11:00.756-07:00The Four-Letter L-Word I Hate!<i>Lazy</i>. I hate the word Lazy. For one, I think it's overused and by people who are judging others.<br />
I admit that I have been called Lazy almost my whole life. It makes me crazy and that's probably because some small part of me believes it... But then I do something or consistently do something and I realize I'm not lazy, I am, however, a number of other things.<br />
<br />
<b>1. I procrastinate. </b>Who doesn't do this? Really? Be honest now! We all have things we put off doing because we either hate doing it or don't see the value in doing it. Like dusting, for instance, or housework in general... Really? Who likes doing housework? I mean maybe there are people who like the end result but the actual <i>doing </i>of the work? <i>I don't believe you!</i><br />
<br />
<b>2. I lose track of time.</b> Hello <a href="https://www.facebook.com/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>! Or any game for that matter. I kind of swore off all online or computer games for a while because I wasted so much time on them. <a href="http://www.freegames.ws/games/boardgames/mahjong/freemahjong.htm" target="_blank">Mahjong </a>is a favorite of mine. I recently downloaded a free Mahjong game app on my phone and played it all the way home from visiting my parents. Yeah, five+ hours. I also started a couple of other games that I used to like to play (<i>Words With Friends</i> aka <i>Scrabble</i>) but I'm only playing with one or two people. I'm also playing <i>What's the Phrase?</i> which is <i>Wheel of Fortune</i>... Yeah, I can waste a lot of time on that---<i>Where did the time go?</i><br />
<br />
<b>3. I can't prioritize.</b> Yeah, I think blogging or<a href="http://chloeofthemountain.com/" target="_blank"> reading other blogs</a> are more important than planning dinner or ...<i>dusting</i>! At least when I'm doing it I do. Then my family starts asking, "What's for dinner?" and I get annoyed. YOYO (You're On Your Own) is my favorite dinner to "make." [<i>sigh</i>] but it is <i>not </i>my family's favorite!<br />
<br />
<b>4. I am actually pretty busy.</b> Nobody knows the amount of <i>garbage </i>I have swimming around in my brain that I'm actually <i>petrified </i>of forgetting. Making doctor appointments or calling someone about something for my kids or Superman, or even DUSTING that thing that really <i>REALLY </i>needs dusting because even I am disgusted. I forget because there is just too much and even when I write it all down I forget things. Don't get me started on the grocery list. OY! So many times I have forgotten something important. Ugh!<br />
<br />
<b>5. I have a few health issues.</b> I'd rather not complain my head off about this but I do suffer from chronic pain and other ailments related to my (supposed) <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fibromyalgia/DS00079" target="_blank">Fibromyalgia </a>and <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hyperparathyroidism/DS00396" target="_blank">hyperparathyroidism </a>and this stops me from doing certain things... like <i>Dusting</i>, and other things (vacuuming actually causes me pain, but no, dusting does not--<i>lol</i>). The <i>fear </i>of causing myself some pain actually gives me pause when I go to do things and that is also part of the reason I <i>appear </i>Lazy.<br />
<br />
<u>Bottom line,</u> I don't believe in my head that I am a Lazy person, but I have been called it often enough that I have issues with the word and with the <i>judgement </i>that goes with it.<br />
<b>Don't Judge Me.</b> You have no idea what's really going on and you probably don't want to know.<br />
<b>Just Don't Judge Me</b> ...and be very careful when you think someone else is "lazy." You are probably wrong about that.<br />
<i>Just saying.</i>Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916232343198180603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870799428677250002.post-30823084306981161472013-08-14T15:30:00.000-07:002013-08-14T22:28:40.718-07:00Don't Do It! Tribute Post (Gia Allemand)Last night I saw that a "reality show" celebrity was rushed to the hospital due to a "medical emergency." Deep in my heart of hearts I wondered if she attempted suicide but what I actually hoped was that she had an allergic reaction to something.<br />
<br />
At age 29 I did not think it was any kind of age-related issue; like a heart-attack.<br />
<br />
I was devastated to read that she passed away today and they are now saying she attempted (and succeeded) at committing suicide. <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gia-allemand-dead-29-bachelor-contestant-dies-undisclosed-medical-emergency-article-1.1426795" target="_blank">One news story</a> claimed she hung herself.<br />
<br />
How does this happen?<br />
<br />
How does a beautiful, young & seemingly successful woman decide to off herself? Did she have a history of mental illness? Was she diagnosed with some disorder or did she really not see what she had to live for?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aX8C6IjBUms/UgwEQyJ_WzI/AAAAAAAAGLI/POsEk2axjFc/s1600/Gia+Allemand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aX8C6IjBUms/UgwEQyJ_WzI/AAAAAAAAGLI/POsEk2axjFc/s400/Gia+Allemand.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
I suffer from both physical and mental illnesses. I am depressed. I am on medication but seriously question its effectiveness. Truthfully, I have no desire to off myself. I don't get it. I know people that feel this way and it just makes me really <i>really </i>sad.<br />
<br />
The article said the family chose to remove the life-support and she was given last rites and was surrounded by friends and family. Where have they been? Did nobody know she was suffering?<br />
<br />
I find this entire story very sad.<br />
<br />
How many people around us are struggling and suffering and we are so wrapped up in our own worlds that we are clueless about others? Is there anything anyone could have done?<br />
<br />
I just shake my head at the wrong-ness of this.<br />
<br />
I hope that anyone out there in the interwebs that come across this measly little blog and find this measly little post knows that there are people who care! If you don't think there is anyone around you who gets what you're feeling, I'm sure there is someone willing to talk with you.<br />
<br />
Heck! You can <a href="https://www.facebook.com/katrina.duvalois" target="_blank">go to my Facebook page</a> and private message me! I just feel sad for this lovely girl's family and friends. I'm sure they wish she had called them or done something different then what she did.<br />
<br />
Once you are gone there is no undoing that.<br />
<br />
Here are some signs to look for from <a href="http://www.save.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewpage&page_id=705f4071-99a7-f3f5-e2a64a5a8beaadd8" target="_blank">SAVE</a>:<br />
<br />
<h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em;">
Warning Signs of Suicide</h3>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.59375px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 4px; padding: 0px;">
These signs may mean someone is at risk for suicide. Risk is greater if a behavior is new or has increased and if it seems related to a painful event, loss or change.</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.59375px;">
<li>Talking about wanting to die or to kill oneself.</li>
<li>Looking for a way to kill oneself, such as searching online or buying a gun.</li>
<li>Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live.</li>
<li>Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.</li>
<li>Talking about being a burden to others.</li>
<li>Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs.</li>
<li>Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly.</li>
<li>Sleeping too little or too much.</li>
<li>Withdrawn or feeling isolated.</li>
<li>Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge.</li>
<li>Displaying extreme mood swings.</li>
</ul>
<h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em;">
Additional Warning Signs of Suicide</h3>
<ul style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.59375px;">
<li>Preoccupation with death.</li>
<li>Suddenly happier, calmer.</li>
<li>Loss of interest in things one cares about.</li>
<li>Visiting or calling people to say goodbye.</li>
<li>Making arrangements; setting one's affairs in order.</li>
<li>Giving things away, such as prized possessions.</li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.59375px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 4px; padding: 0px;">
<strong>A suicidal person urgently needs to see a doctor or mental health professional.</strong></div>
<h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em;">
In an emergency, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255).</h3>
Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916232343198180603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870799428677250002.post-81404618649630562152013-08-13T17:00:00.000-07:002013-08-13T18:47:49.873-07:00No-BrainersSo... sometimes I get distracted...<br />
SQUIRREL!<br />
Okay, so I get distracted a lot. Today it's been <a href="http://chloeofthemountain.com/" target="_blank">a new blogger</a>. And how is it I find these peeps a year after their big reveal? I find them after they've already healed themselves, moved on and practically closed down their blog. ::sigh::<br />
<br />
Although at least I still have <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/emilynoel83" target="_blank">Emily Eddington</a> who not only hasn't shut down her vlog, but quit her day job to do it full time!<br />
<br />
<i>But I digress</i>.<br />
<br />
I am here because I want to be authentic. I am nearing my birthday and have not kept my promise to myself. A disappointment but also <a href="http://katkommentary.blogspot.com/2013/04/being-kind-to-myself.html" target="_blank">I am kind to myself</a>, so I forgive and move on.<br />
<br />
One thing that is bothering me, however, is that I have down days where nearly nothing gets done. Today I did some laundry & started the dishwasher. I have not (and probably will not) made dinner. It's YOYO... again.<br />
<br />
This frustrates me.<br />
<br />
I am trying to come up with a list of No-Brainers for me to do on a daily basis. I don't have a "real job" since I am a SAHM (not necessarily by choice) and some (most) of what I need to do involves this "not real job" that I have, like said laundry. It has to get done. It won't do itself. And since I got this new washer I admit that it's not the washing of the laundry so much that is the problem but the folding and putting away.<br />
<br />
My children put the dishes away. (I don't <i>allow </i>them to load or wash dishes because they do it "wrong." Yell at me all you want, I have issues, I know it. At least I <i>let them</i> put them away!) I have tried delegating bathroom cleaning, dusting and vacuuming to pretty much no avail; it does not get done. Batman was reduced to tears when I asked him to vacuum on Saturday when Superman and I were busy All. Day. washing/detailing my car. (Something I have been wanting help with for a long time!) He did it. Kind of. Very annoying and frustrating.<br />
<br />
I cook usually three days a week. I know that's bad. We don't go out but my family has gotten used to figuring out their own meals the other days. Sometimes I cook but don't eat the meal myself. Actually, that happens a lot. Right now we are in the beginning of Football season which means practices M-F from 5:00-7:00 PM. Part of me wants to say it's a valid excuse for delaying dinner but it's not. Batman doesn't really need me there. He can actually walk himself there and back now that they are practicing at the park.<br />
<br />
But I don't like it. Any of it.<br />
<br />
Some of the No-Brainers I want in my daily life includes (but not limited to) making the three squares. Breakfast, lunch & dinner. I have just boys left at home and fending for themselves is not always a good thing. Hulk & Batman especially have a hard time with the post-cooking cleanup, which is to say they don't do it. Argh!<br />
<br />
I need to get laundry done, folded & put away.<br />
<br />
Wait, I already feel overwhelmed.<br />
<br />
Nevermind.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916232343198180603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870799428677250002.post-19709451784303323642013-08-09T10:00:00.000-07:002013-08-09T10:00:05.100-07:00Thinking about juice fastsA while back I watched Joe Cross in <a href="http://www.fatsickandnearlydead.com/" target="_blank">Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead</a>. I was extremely touched and went out and bought a juicer. I tried it for a while but struggled. Then recently I watched another documentary about juicing and raw food, etc. called <a href="http://www.hungryforchange.tv/" target="_blank">Hungry for Change</a>. I tried juicing and making smoothies, again. Then I read about this <i>great product</i> you can actually buy to do a juice cleanse called <a href="http://www.sujajuice.com/collections/juice-cleanses" target="_blank">Suja juice</a>.<br />
<br />
Every single one of those things has something in common and it's using fresh (and organic) produce to create juices or smoothies to cleanse your body, rid yourself of toxins, lose weight and/or cure chronic illness.<br />
<br />
<b><i>I say yes to all of the above.</i></b><br />
<br />
Here is my problem (and maybe how I will fix it);<br />
<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>I did buy a juicer but I tend to let fresh produce rot before I get it made into juice or a smoothie.</li>
<li>I tried freezing some of the ingredients but for the Mean Green Juice made by Joe Cross, you can't do that.</li>
<li>I have a lousy blender (that's a good one, don't you think?) and <a href="https://www.vitamix.com/" target="_blank">can't afford the fancy one</a>.</li>
<li>The Suja juice cleanse is too expensive, my spouse would never go for that... they do have another brand, however, that I have found at Costco that I am considering...</li>
<li>I do not plan to do something like this for more than <u>three days</u> at a time. I know myself. 3 days would be a max, although after three days I think the headaches go away, etc. etc. ...at least that's what they say.</li>
</ol>
<br />
<br />
So, I may or may not be doing this on a regular basis. I would like to use my juicer since we bought one and all... So I might just have to get a little more organized in the kitchen...<br />
<br />Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916232343198180603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870799428677250002.post-67968259796858705032013-08-08T15:00:00.000-07:002013-08-08T15:28:13.185-07:00Nothing but good times ahead...I will give credit where credit is due and state up front that my title comes from my favorite women's fiction writer, <a href="http://www.jennycrusie.com/" target="_blank">Jennifer Crusie</a>. <i>She basically rocks</i>. I have been rereading her books and the one that comes from is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Welcome-Temptation-Jennifer-Crusie/dp/B005SMVOV4" target="_blank">Welcome to Temptation</a>. It's also in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Faking-It-Jennifer-Crusie/dp/0312983824" target="_blank">Faking It</a>, my first and favorite Crusie!<br />
<br />
Anyway, after my <a href="http://katkommentary.blogspot.com/2013/08/this-and-that.html" target="_blank">seriously depressing post yesterday</a> (can you see why I have <i>not </i>been posting daily, can you imagine the drudgery?) I <i>decided </i>that I felt better and was going to go back to my non-complaining-type posts. <i>Booyah</i>.<br />
<br />
First of all, the Spanish 100 conundrum went bye-bye. I will be taking it next month so my kidlets and I will be going back to school together.<br />
<br />
<i>Booyah</i>.<br />
<br />
And secondly, while yesterday was a wash... Today I arrived an HOUR early for Hulk's doctor appointment and <b>dinner is already cooking</b>.<br />
<br />
<i>Booyah</i>!<br />
<br />
I <i>get </i>to go on another vacation next week and it turns out it will probably <u>only </u>be me and two kiddos, Cap & Batman. Hulk will be staying behind because he has school (and I have been touting up the whole "weekend with Dad" glamour that <i>that </i>will be, let me tell ya!) and Princess is going to do some work and make some much needed cashola for when she goes back to Utah for school.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Booyah!</i></b><br />
<br />
I am kind of excited for the next couple of weeks. <i>Go Me</i>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://katkommentary.blogspot.com/2012/09/its-pink-pink-world.html" target="_blank">Then it will be my birthday</a> and the kids will be back in school and Cap will be starting seminary (hello 6 AM, how ya been?) and I will be back in school and the weather will be... probably getting hotter until the end of October. <i>Haha</i>! That's how it usually goes here in the high desert. But in Acton it's not so bad. Generally it's 10 degrees cooler here than in Palmdale where we used to live.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Booyah!</i></b><br />
<br />
Also, since no diet is working ... I am not dieting.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Boo-FREAKING-Yah!</i></b><br />
<br />
That actually doesn't mean I'm eating whatever I want it's just that I'm not <i>Not </i>eating anything. I just watch what I'm eating and drinking lots of water. Hello fruit, I've missed you. <grin></grin><br />
<br />
Yep, you guessed it:<br />
<br />
<b><i><u>BOOYAH!</u></i></b><br />
<br />
Today I feel I have much to be thankful for. I got up and out the door so fast we were an hour early! I have been reading like crazy and enjoying every second. I can return the textbook I got and reorder the correct one and start fresh next month. Things are falling into place and I'm making a place for all the things.<br />
<br />
It's a good day in my book.<br />
<br />
<i>Booyah.</i>Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916232343198180603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870799428677250002.post-61473415154142246422013-08-07T15:30:00.000-07:002013-08-07T15:56:56.112-07:00This and That...I haven't been here for a bit. We went on vacation, which if you have children you might realize that isn't much of a vacay for Mom. Anyway, <a href="http://katkommentary.blogspot.com/2012/08/summer-adventures-or-not.html" target="_blank">for the second time</a> after a Lake Powell trip I ended up at the doctor's with kids due to Lake events. At least this time it wasn't Hulk but Princess & Batman. Princess had a severe allergy attack (ragweed?) & Batman got an ear infection. Fun.<br />
<br />
We got home late Monday. Yesterday poor Hulk got a temp cap on his root canal. We go back in a couple of weeks for the "real" crown. He did okay. At least this dentist lets him stay... That's a long story.<br />
<br />
This morning I kind of zonked out and am still struggling to get my bearings. I think Hulk has another doctor appt tomorrow. He has a busy life. He starts school Monday. The rest of the brood doesn't start until after Labor Day.<br />
<br />
Batman started football which means practice every day. Practices are at the park which I am very glad about since he can walk to and from practice if need be. One less thing I have to haul everyone around for.<br />
<br />
Cap stayed at Grandma's house. I miss him. He spent a week at Lake Powell with the church group, then a week with us. He'll be at Grandma's until next weekend when we go to our family reunion. Princess will go back to SLC for school later this month. (Yay, finally she got accepted to LDSBC so both girls will be back in college this semester!)<br />
<br />
I am, however, seriously freaking out over my class. For a variety of reasons, some related to funding, I added Spanish 100 to my schedule. Before leaving on vacation I purchased a hard copy of the text to be sure it would be here when we returned and I would be ready for class. Well, apparently they only use the E-book version (with special online features and access codes) which I cannot afford at this time. So I'm in a conundrum.<br />
<br />
This is a bit of a random/personal post but I've been thinking about my birthday coming up in a few weeks and how I've done on my blog. I have not posted every day like I wanted to, for various reasons. I'm okay with that "failure" but hoping I am more consistent and figure out what I want to do with this and where I think I'm going with it. Right now it's just something that kind of looms over me like another burden. Since it's one I wanted and felt was important I want to clarify my goals and figure out what my next move will be.<br />
<br />
In a few weeks I will be an even number again. I am nearing the end of another decade and am still not completely satisfied with where I am in my life. I have still not finished my schooling. I have not finished writing any one book in particular, I am not blogging consistently (still) and most other areas of my life are still hanging like a silken spider's web that's been broken. I want to close the loops.<br />
<br />
<br />Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916232343198180603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870799428677250002.post-9583397908156977642013-07-18T15:30:00.000-07:002013-07-18T16:14:27.191-07:00BirthdayToday is "Hulk's" birthday. That is to say, Crackle. He is now 15. Just checked the clock, and yep.<br />
<br />
His birth was not my fave. I had a lousy epidural that not only didn't work but hit a nerve (literally) and caused all kinds of extra pain. Yes, more than childbirth without meds.<br />
<br />
My Hulk was born blue (not green) and didn't cry until they poked him to take the blood from his heel. This was disconcerting but considering the delivery I had I just sent Superman to oversee the doctor's care of our newborn while I counted the minutes until they removed<i> that thing</i> from my back.<br />
<br />
Hulk was an incredible baby. He rarely cried, ate well and slept fantastic. He liked sleeping in his cradle rather than with me (this was new). I knew right away something was not right but it took me nine months to convince his pediatrician and another year+ for us to see the right doctor to get the correct diagnosis.<br />
<br />
If you're wondering my Hulk has <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XXYY_syndrome" target="_blank">Klinefelter's Syndrome XXYY variant</a>. Yes, that's the whole title and it affects every strand of DNA in his body. He struggles with everything physical (from eating to writing) and gets frustrated easily.<br />
<br />
I know I have written about my struggles with Hulk from time to time but I would never <i>EVER </i>trade him for another child without the diagnosis. He is my Hulk. <i>Mine</i>. I love him. I want him to be happy. I want him to be successful in whatever he wants to do. Right now he says he wants to be a mechanic (he loves cars) and I want him to be able to do that.<br />
<br />
What any mother wants for her child. Okay, any good mother.<br />
<br />
I was happy to wake him up at 5:00 AM so we could sing to him this morning. I was happy to take him and a few friends <a href="http://www.vincespasta.com/menu/lancaster-menu/" target="_blank">to a pizza place</a> with an arcade so he could enjoy his day. I was glad to stop by Toys R' Us and let him get an R/C Car (cars, I'm telling you!) and glad his brother helped him to buy an <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/8GB-7-Google-Android-4-0-Tablet-PC-A13-Capacitive-Screen-Camera-MID-Wifi-White-/150951229258?pt=US_Tablets&hash=item232564f74a" target="_blank">Android tablet</a> from Ebay.<br />
<br />
It's a good birthday for him. Yay!<br />
<br />
<br />Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916232343198180603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870799428677250002.post-48434465637967142582013-07-12T15:00:00.000-07:002013-07-12T16:00:31.511-07:00My BoysMy kids have taken a disliking to their nicknames so I promised them I would give them new ones. Since Snap, Crackle and Pop are more from my era (don't they still use them for the Rice Krispies ads?) and my boys think they aren't "manly" enough they've expressed a desire for change. Fine.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
My boys love the Superheroes and each of them really identifies with specific comic book heroes. </div>
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The oldest, who I have (up to now) called Snap really identifies with Captain America. Honestly, to me, he is a super hero! He has been patient and hard working all his life. Even though Cap. Steve Rogers had to go through a process to go from scrawny to spectacular, Snap only had to go through puberty. The comic book Cap looks more like my son, but who doesn't love Chris Evans' Cap? I know I do!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ciRZrwabzA/UeB79fWKCtI/AAAAAAAAFug/RdI8jCEv5fw/s1600/Captain+America.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ciRZrwabzA/UeB79fWKCtI/AAAAAAAAFug/RdI8jCEv5fw/s400/Captain+America.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captain "Steve Rogers" America</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O3b_yz0410k/UeB9oD83n9I/AAAAAAAAFuw/CPLoXrJKcOY/s1600/Thor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O3b_yz0410k/UeB9oD83n9I/AAAAAAAAFuw/CPLoXrJKcOY/s1600/Thor.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; text-align: center;">Thor (Chris Hemsworth)</td></tr>
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My youngest boy, who has been known as Pop, we sometimes call Thor but he is a huge Batman fan so from henceforth he will be known as Batman. He's smart (like the Dark Knight) but coloring wise does resemble Thor more. He would be greatly distressed if I did not call him Batman, however, so Batman he is!</div>
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<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5R-LgjhQpnM/UeB9p1CTXlI/AAAAAAAAFu4/wVV2ueH3PA4/s1600/Batman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5R-LgjhQpnM/UeB9p1CTXlI/AAAAAAAAFu4/wVV2ueH3PA4/s320/Batman.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">I'm Batman</td></tr>
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Crackle is a challenge to rename because he loves so many different heroes. I considered The Hulk because he can go from reasonable sweetheart to raging jerkwad in a little under 60 seconds. But that's just mean. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rlo4T9gtWK4/UeCA9Nxp08I/AAAAAAAAFvI/sjfnQJxVhS0/s1600/The+Hulk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rlo4T9gtWK4/UeCA9Nxp08I/AAAAAAAAFvI/sjfnQJxVhS0/s320/The+Hulk.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo)</td></tr>
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I also considered Iron Man, because who doesn't love snarky Tony Stark? (or RDJ as Iron Man? Hubba hubba!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n5TmNMEathE/UeCBM1e2vpI/AAAAAAAAFvQ/BsuwqtbfWFQ/s1600/Iron+Man+RDJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n5TmNMEathE/UeCBM1e2vpI/AAAAAAAAFvQ/BsuwqtbfWFQ/s320/Iron+Man+RDJ.jpg" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man</td></tr>
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Then there's Spiderman, but he's never been bit by a spider--radioactive or otherwise; Hawkeye (mmm... Jeremy Renner!); Aquaman--Crackle does love to swim; The Flash--because he's also a runner, but that's not necessarily a good thing...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tL6tMz77L9A/UeCBs-92bdI/AAAAAAAAFvc/Zr6g0IVDR7g/s1600/Spiderman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tL6tMz77L9A/UeCBs-92bdI/AAAAAAAAFvc/Zr6g0IVDR7g/s320/Spiderman.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Amazing Spiderman!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QWsWo1XD_AA/UeCBvZkC2wI/AAAAAAAAFvk/QY7zv_enDC4/s1600/Hawkeye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QWsWo1XD_AA/UeCBvZkC2wI/AAAAAAAAFvk/QY7zv_enDC4/s200/Hawkeye.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rY1TSUGYhMc/UeCBwl8hk4I/AAAAAAAAFvs/8xuSTgM84dY/s1600/Aquaman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="102" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rY1TSUGYhMc/UeCBwl8hk4I/AAAAAAAAFvs/8xuSTgM84dY/s200/Aquaman.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aquaman</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F57prVQD2rM/UeCB0LR57iI/AAAAAAAAFv0/hG8pRs5w8tk/s1600/The+Flash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F57prVQD2rM/UeCB0LR57iI/AAAAAAAAFv0/hG8pRs5w8tk/s320/The+Flash.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Flash</td></tr>
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You see my dilemma?</div>
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So I am asking for a vote, <i><b>who do you think Crackle should be named after</b></i>?</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Let me know <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SMQ.Katrina.Duvalois" target="_blank">on my Facebook page</a>!</span></div>
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Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916232343198180603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870799428677250002.post-916600979985596912013-07-11T14:30:00.000-07:002013-07-11T15:59:33.141-07:00Meet the ParentsSo I didn't write a post for Mother's Day or Father's Day so I thought I'd elaborate on my parentals now. It's my <i>Thankful or Thoughtful Thursday</i> post (I am skipping my Review Wednesday because I've been behind all week and this is the one post I've actually <i>had </i>in my head all week!) and I am very grateful for both my parents. They are both amazing and wonderful people even though they are very different from me and from each other.<br />
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Well, <i>hopefully </i>I am not so different from them but I fear that I probably am.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9pEud4yZrt0/Ud8zfqeS-VI/AAAAAAAAFs0/k-A5QFjopAE/s1600/1959+Ed-Judy+Wedding+stylized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9pEud4yZrt0/Ud8zfqeS-VI/AAAAAAAAFs0/k-A5QFjopAE/s400/1959+Ed-Judy+Wedding+stylized.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Parents 1959</td></tr>
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My mother was born in <a href="http://www.ok.gov/" target="_blank">Oklahoma </a>and raised in <a href="http://www.ca.gov/" target="_blank">California </a>by a (mostly) single mother. All she ever wanted from life was the white-picket-fence life she never had. She got that, for the most part, although my father left her to do a lot herself because he worked so much. I won't say she never complained but she was always appreciative of my father's efforts.<br />
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There are six children in my family. Five of them are boys. Then there's me.<br />
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My mother and I did <i>not </i>get along when I was a teenager. I was difficult (no, not much has changed...) so I do not blame her. However, I do think she thought I was going to be more like her (read: good) as a teen than I was. I also think she hoped I would be more compliant (<i>What?</i>) and less stubborn. We clashed.<br />
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As an adult our relationship greatly improved as I realized how <i>FREAKING Awesome</i> she really was and how much she did and always had done for me and my sibs. My mom was pretty much always around so I didn't know what it would be like to <i>NOT </i>have her around until I was the one that left.<br />
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My mother is the most thoughtful person I know! She is the one that remembers everybody's birthday and makes sure to send a card. If she's late sending one she feels terrible and will call to tell you it's on it's way. She makes food for people, <u>good food</u>! My mother is one of the best cooks I know (I did not get that gene!) and if my father were a different kind of man he would weigh 1,000 pounds!<br />
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My mom is the one that wrote to me when I traveled all over the world. She sent me letters and pictures regularly. I always knew what everyone was up to because of those letters and pictures. I still have them.<br />
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Once I had children of my own I really realized how <i>wonderful </i>my mother was/is and grew to really appreciate her! She would laugh her head off when I would tell her things Sunshine would say and do (even as a baby). She cries with me when I talk about the difficulties with Crackle. She encourages me when I tell her I want to be more than "just" a mom (terrible of me, I know, but it is what it is). In short, my mother is now one of my very best friends! I love her more than I could ever express in words (even me!) and I doubt she knows that.<br />
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My father was born in <a href="http://www.gov.sk.ca/" target="_blank">Canada </a>and raised <a href="http://www.porcupineplain.com/siteengine/activepage.asp" target="_blank">in the boonies</a> until high school. His entire family moved to <a href="http://www.lacity.org/index.htm" target="_blank">California </a>in the 50s. He was raised with both parents and gaggle of siblings. He has always been a hard worker and proponent of education.<br />
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My father got his BS in Physics from <a href="http://www.calstatela.edu/" target="_blank">Cal State L.A.</a> while married (with children) and working nights in the Dairy department of <a href="http://www.safeway.com/IFL/Grocery/Home" target="_blank">Safeway</a>. Around the time I was born (#3 of 6) he finished college and got a job with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRW_Inc." target="_blank">TRW </a>working on the <a href="http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/apollo.html" target="_blank">Apollo program</a>. He had a little something to do with that <a href="http://tra-spacepark.org/apollo13.html" target="_blank">whole Apollo 13 thing</a>... If you ask him he will show you his <i>five-inch-thick</i> manual he wrote for it!<br />
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In the early 70s he <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_M_Jacquard_Systems" target="_blank">started his own business</a> and has been an entrepreneur most of my life. In the beginning he worked long hours, seven days a week (or so it seemed to me). Nowadays <a href="http://register.rcsreg.com/w/newrcsreg/plugin_wiki/page/home" target="_blank">he still works</a> (although he <i>should </i>be retired) but mostly from home, which he has done for a long time. Because of my dad's hard-working efforts my mom was always able to stay home, which is what she wanted.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RjBVPQKVY2w/Ud84QoT8yKI/AAAAAAAAFtQ/G5camd80L-A/s1600/dad-mom+50th.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RjBVPQKVY2w/Ud84QoT8yKI/AAAAAAAAFtQ/G5camd80L-A/s400/dad-mom+50th.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Parents 50th Anniversary</td></tr>
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My dad has always been my Super-Hero. Even though he was gone working so much when I was young, I still thought he hung the moon. I think it's a little-girl thing, but I'm not sure. He has always made me feel <i>special</i>.<br />
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My father is the smartest person I know. He is also the most optimistic and most stressed out person I know. That might sound conflicting, but if you know him you know what I'm talking about.<br />
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He is calm, he is kind and he is funny. At least I think so. That is the dad I know.<br />
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I only remember him ever being mad at me less than a handful of times. I know my brothers have different stories, but for whatever reason he has never really been mad at me. At least not to my knowledge.<br />
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My dad is the pillar of strength in my life. Next to Superman (my husband), I admire him the most. I strive to make him proud of me but know that really, he <i>will always love me no matter what</i>. Actually, I know this about both my parents.<br />
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I feel so very grateful to have had two parents that love me, make me feel loved and are still together after 50+ years! I know that's unique and I still lean on them in many ways.<br />
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So this is my *sort-of* tribute to my parents.<br />
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Happy Mother's/Father's Day, Mom & Dad!</div>
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And Happy Early <b><u>54th Anniversary</u></b> (next week) too!!!!!</div>
Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916232343198180603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870799428677250002.post-39334722429560831362013-07-09T15:00:00.000-07:002013-07-10T19:31:43.541-07:00"No Poo" and Earth GirlSo I tried going "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_poo" target="_blank">No Poo</a>" for one week and gave up. Tried again for two weeks, forgot why I was doing it, broke down and freaking washed my hair. Granted we went camping and I went five, yes 5, days without rinsing, washing or anything and it was <i>Naaaaaaaaaaaaasty</i>!<br />
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Basically what I was doing was putting 2T. of baking soda in an empty water bottle, adding about 1c. of water, shaking it up and massaging it into my hair and scalp. Then I would rinse that off really well and spray my whole head with a mixture of 1 T. vinegar (I used both apple cider and white) with 1 c. water in a spray bottle, paying close attention to the ends and basically all over. The vinegar was supposed to act as a kind of conditioner but my hair felt like <i>straw </i>for the most part. <b><i>Yuck</i></b>.<br />
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After rinsing that out really well I would towel my hair (I use those <a href="http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=373908&catid=180648&aid=338666&aparam=goobase_filler&device=c&network=g&matchtype=" target="_blank">hair-wrap-towels</a>) as much as possible then add <a href="http://www.folica.com/shop-by/top-10/moroccan-argan-oils" target="_blank">Moroccan/Argan</a> oil to my hair and comb it out.<br />
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My hair <i>smelled </i>to me. Like sweat. <i>Bleck</i>! <u>Not </u>the look I'm going for.<br />
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I hadn't bought any shampoo for a bit and wasn't going to use <a href="http://www.theaxeeffect.com/#/axe-products/apollo-2-in-1-shampoo-conditioner" target="_blank">Superman's "man-scented" stuff</a> so I went to the dollar store and found some <a href="http://www.drugstore.com/search/search_results.asp?Ntk=All&srchtree=5&Ntt=finesse&aid=336064&aparam=finesse%20shampoo%20hair&scinit1=finesse%20shampoo%20hair&creative=28477770195&device=c&network=g&matchtype=b" target="_blank">Finesse</a>; shampoo and conditioner. I washed my hair <i>twice</i>. Yes, that's 2 times.<br />
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<i>And. Oh. Baby, that felt nice.</i><br />
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I haven't decided if it's because it's summer and I just feel <i>Ick</i>. OR if it's just not for me. I don't think I'm going to try that again, however. I don't care how great it is for the environment. I will continue to use my chemically enhanced shampoos and conditioners. I can't wait the three (yes, 3) <i>weeks </i>it's supposed to take to finally "work." <i>No thanks</i>.<br />
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Now on to better things. I have this <a href="http://www.earthgirlbyruby.com/My_Story.html" target="_blank">freaking, amazing, 9-year-old niece</a> that is brilliant, can sew and has started her own business. Her business is called <a href="http://www.earthgirlbyruby.com/" target="_blank">Earth Girl</a> and she makes lip balms and sugar scrubs. My brother so very kindly brought me some to sample a few months ago and I've been using it and wanting to talk it about it on my Beauty Blog-day but haven't been very consistent so haven't done it until now.<br />
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I have tried and LOVE the <a href="http://www.earthgirlbyruby.com/Products.html" target="_blank">cinnamon and chocolate lip balms</a>! I can't decide which one is my favorite! I'm still working on trying some of the other products but my guess I will love them as well. Yes, <i>I'm biased</i>, but really, can you blame me? I mean she's NINE! So creative! and they are wonderful products! <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.earthgirlbyruby.com/Home_Page.html" target="_blank">Check out the site yourself!</a></span><br />
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So, I say no to "<a href="http://www.crunchybetty.com/no-poo-to-you-too" target="_blank">No Poo</a>," and recommend checking out <a href="http://www.earthgirlbyruby.com/Contact_Me.html" target="_blank">Earth Girl!</a>Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916232343198180603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870799428677250002.post-64793242983899556292013-07-08T15:00:00.000-07:002013-07-09T17:10:11.859-07:00CampingI have a <a href="http://katkommentary.blogspot.com/2012/08/summer-adventures-or-not.html">love/hate relationship with vacations</a>. You see, for me they are never really vacations. I like camping because Superman does most of the work, actually. He puts up the tent, he makes the fires and cooks the food. I help but not a whole lot. So in that respect, it is a vacation for me and I love that.<br />
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I also <i>love </i>being with my family. Everyone but Sunshine was there! Last week we went to <a href="http://www.ci.mammoth-lakes.ca.us/">Mammoth Lakes</a>, the last time I was in that area was when I was 11-years-old and stayed at my friend's cabin for week. Her parents took us on a <a href="http://www.visitmammoth.com/things-to-do/summer-activities/horseback-riding/">horseback ride</a> up in the mountains where we stayed overnight (I think). I got to go twice with them, once in the summer (for two weeks) and once in the winter for skiing (one week). It was awesome so I had good memories.<br />
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We drove up there <a href="http://www.reserveamerica.com/">without a reservation</a> and were able to get a pretty good spot at <a href="http://www.junelake.com/">June Lake</a>, which is about 20 miles north of Mammoth (City of). It was hot enough for swimming in the lake (June Lake is one of the few lakes up there you can actually swim in) but I didn't. Crackle and Pop did, of course. They have been known to go in the ocean in the winter so ... yeah.<br />
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On the 4th we drove south above <a href="http://www.crowleylakefishcamp.com/">Crowley Lake</a> and watched some awesome fireworks. We have a tradition of getting <a href="http://www.kfc.com/storelocator/">KFC </a>but the closest one was over an hour away so we ended up getting <a href="http://local.vons.com/ca/mammoth-lakes-2400.html" target="_blank">Vons </a>chicken instead. It was good and their Mac & Cheese is <i>mighty tasty</i>, if I do say so myself. Superman prides himself on finding the most remote spots and we did pretty good. I was actually a little nervous on the dirt road up a steep hill that basically went nowhere... but then we were joined by another vehicle. <i>Haha</i>!<br />
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We spent one day <a href="http://www.allmammoth.com/scenic_drives/mammoth_scenic_loop.php" target="_blank">driving around Mammoth</a> and seeing the sights. There are some beautiful mountain views, although we did not go for any hikes. We stopped at the actual <a href="http://www.mammothmountain.com/" target="_blank">Mammoth Resort</a> where the ski lifts and <a href="http://www.mammothmountain.com/Mountain/SummerActivities/ScenicGondola/" target="_blank">infamous Gondola</a> take people up the mountain. There were lots of mountain bikers, an activity area for kids with a rock wall for kids to climb (Pop did).<br />
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We took our puppy with us. That was both entertaining and <i>OY </i>frustrating. She is really good with strangers. So good that we had to tie her up from time to time. She actually barked at some boys who surprised her by coming near our campsite from the road. For the most part she entertained herself, and us, by chewing on sticks, pine cones and anything else she could sink her teeth into; including daddy's face and water bottles.<br />
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The drive up was good. We left around 4 am on Wednesday (the 3rd) and arrived mid-day since we had to stop for food and potty (pup, remember). We drove around Mammoth (4-5 campgrounds) before <a href="http://pinecliffresort.net/" target="_blank">finding the one</a> ... finally.<br />
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The drive home was okay. A little stressful. <i>Packing up always stresses out Superman</i> and this trip was no different. We got packed up and headed out by 10 am. Ellie-Mae (the pup) seemed a little stressed and wouldn't pee at stop one (at a rest area) or stop two (in Bishop, where we had lunch at a very crowded Carl's Jr.). She did, however, show her love for daddy by hopping on his lap about a half hour out of Bishop and proceeded to pee all the water and ice we'd been giving her because of the heat.<br />
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Needless to say Daddy was not pleased, but <i>puppy is still alive</i> (well and happy) and Daddy still loves her. We did have to make an emergency stop to sop it up and Daddy to change his clothes by the side of the road, this involved rooting through the packed trailer for his bag. At this juncture Ellie-Mae decided she did need to poop. Thank goodness!<br />
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Superman was not a happy camper at this point.<br />
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Then we hit "going-home-on-the-fourth-of-July-weekend" traffic. We were at a standstill in what felt like 100+ degree heat. Superman turned on <i><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=highway+to+hell&oq=highway+to+hell&aqs=chrome.0.57j0j5j0j62l2.3731j0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#q=ac+dc+highway+to+hell&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAGOovnz8BQMDgxoHsxCnfq6-gWFSVYWhEheYmWaelJ2jxe2Yk1SaG5IfnJ-XnhLtIT8l0CH68ay5vaeVFT0Wnf31HwAdP8G8QwAAAA&sa=X&ei=zqXcUYyfMqrpiwKzl4HYCg&ved=0CLoBEMQNMA0&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.48705608,d.cGE&fp=6ca84d98d48f74bf&biw=1366&bih=643" target="_blank">Highway to Hell</a></i> at full blast and we sang as a family.<br />
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<i>Good times!</i><br />
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We finally got home around 5 pm-ish, unpacked, showered (so happy to shower after 5 days of grime!) and ate what we could find and took ourselves to bed <i>in our own beds</i>.<br />
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Our next trip is in 3 weeks when we take our <a href="http://katkommentary.blogspot.com/2012/08/summer-adventures-or-not.html" target="_blank">annual houseboat trip</a> to <a href="http://www.lakepowell.com/" target="_blank">Lake Powell</a>. I am looking forward to that one. A week+ on the water with extended family where I will get to see Sunshine again!Katrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916232343198180603noreply@blogger.com0