Random Musings

In this beginning-to-get-hectic holiday season, I decided it was time for a little randomness. My life is full of randomness, every single day. Keeps it interesting.


1. We actually put up our Christmas tree on Sunday. Yes, 1 full day before the first day of December. That is a major feat in this house. I remember when Nicholas was born in 1992. He finally arrived on December 12, 4 days late. We were so busy that it wasn’t until December 23 that our tree was finally decorated, thanks to my dear friends Kim and Dana. Christmas was blingy just in time.


2. I have hydrangeas blooming on December 3. What a wacky gardening year here in Georgia. I am not complaining. If we get snow flurries like the weather dudes are predicting on Saturday, I will surely take another picture to share with you.





3. I have 5 appointments today plus a few more errands to cram in by 7:00. I think I would be less busy if I was at work today. And I am always VERY busy at work. Not a problem, though. I like to be busy.


4. I am having a good hair week. These things matter to a girl.


5. I have enough Christmas socks to wear a different pair every day for more than a week before I need to do laundry. Christmas socks are a necessary accessory for me during December. Really.


6. I have prepared dinner for the family for three nights in a row. Wheeee! Makes me want to go out for Chinese.


7. I am not into shopping. Makes the Christmas gift shopping thing less than pleasant.


8. I want to get my belly button pierced. For the last couple of years, I have wanted to do this, but I kept thinking I would wait till my belly was flatter. It is not, and I don’t care. I just want it done. Because.


9. I am a pacifist. Even though I really enjoyed the gun shooting thing, I would never put myself in a situation where I had to shoot anything other than inanimate objects. Unless, of course, we are talking about zombies. Then I am all over it, Baby.


10. I would like to learn how to play the bass guitar. Thump, twang, thump. Funky stuff. Can’t you see me now? I would then have to join a band and tour. I’ll remember the little people, don’t worry.


What’s your randomness for today?


Today’s Daily Blog Song – “My Sharona” by The Knack (totally random)

We Dun Some Shewtin’ Yawl

More fun stuff from our Thanksgiving trip to Florida. After stuffing our faces on Thursday, we got back to our roots with a little gun action. Our roots? Naw. But it was fun!!!!

Mackenzie and a couple of her cousins hit the movies to see “2012.” Yeah.

The rest of us went out to a large piece of land to flex our gun muscles. Of course, I was the best at this activity. Of course.

First, I took a few portraits of our niece and her new little family. LOVE THIS STUFF!!!

Look at my man. Ready to protect us should the need ever arise. Doesn’t this gun look like a machine gun? I wanted to wear one of those bullet belts like Rambo.

Doug was the only one who would shoot his rifle. More like a cannon. BOOM!

Matt was thrilled with his first shooting experience. I gotta admit, this Mama was proud.

Aeryn and Aspen were so helpful in getting all of us ready to shoot.

Even though my eyes are closely (really tightly), I had already cranked off several rounds…right smack near the middle of the target. Thank Yeeewwwww Very Much. It’s all that practice with Night of the Dead video game. Nuthin’ like killin’ some zombies.

We had some serious fun. Can’t wait to do it again.

Have you ever been shootin’? Did you like it? A little more than you thought you would? (Me, too.)

Today’s Daily Blog Song – “Dueling Banjos” by Hayseed Dixie.

Over The River And Thru The Woods

To Doug’s sister’s house we go. Wheee! We are in the Sunshine State for this holiday weekend. Oh, don’t worry. We have a trusty house/hamster sitter holding down the fort back home.


Got here Wednesday evening. We left EARLY to beat the traffic. Not much real traffic, but LOTS of wreck traffic. Geez. There must have been at least 25 or more wrecks of one sort or another. I got to read a lot of car tags.


The kids were their loving selves in the back seat of the car.

Me: “Okay, kids, get close together for a quick picture.”
Matt: (Sports a huge grin as he eases his arm around his big sister).
Mackenzie: “Get your arm OFF of me!”




Ahhh. They love each other.


I practiced my texting skills while Doug kept his eyes on the road. I sent the kids a picture while they were sitting in the back seat. “Mom, WHY are you sending me a picture?” Hey, give a Mom a break. That text took me 10 minutes to compose. Is it lame to need my reading glasses while I am texting at a snail’s pace?


We really enjoy our visits here to see the fam. We generally alternate years – one year here, one year in the ATL. There are so many things I look forward to on this long, face-stuffing weekend.


1) The FOOD. I think we had 11 pies this year. Two turkeys – one baked, one deep fried. Potatoes, potatoes, and potatoes. And then there’s the gravy. Ah, heaven on a plate.


2) This year, we have a new bambino in the family. Look at this little face. Miss Sophia Valentine. She’s so stinkin’ cute. I love love love babies.




3) I had a taste for White Russians this year. Doug makes a lovely White Russian. Ah, heaven in a glass.


As if it is a surprise to any of you, I have (so far) taken over 200 pictures. We don’t leave till tomorrow A.M. Love me some pictures. Here is our big group. Aren’t we a handsome crowd?



This is what too much sugar will do to you.




We plan to express our redneck side today. We’re goin’ shootin’, y’all. Yeehaw. No offense to my redneck readers. Coexist, folks, coexist. I will share some shootin’ shots later. Get it, shots. I crack myself up.


More later. I gotta go wake Doug up. He’s enjoying a post-Thanksgiving couch nap.


What was your favorite Thanksgiving dish this year? Any out-there kinda plans? Did you go Black Friday-ing? Me…NO NO NO!!


Today’s Daily Blog Song – “Thanksgiving” by George Winston

Deal Alert – Check It Out!!!

Calling all you I’ve-got-10,000-shoeboxes-of-old-photos-that-I-need-to-do-something-with followers. Do I have a deal for you!


As many of you may know, I sometimes (okay, most times) take a long time to make a decision about things that are really important to me. Examples – should I go digital; what camera is the absolute, perfect, gotta have it camera; what photo lab is the absolute, perfect, gotta use it lab; where is that perfect, absolute, gotta buy it, elusive brown purse; should I paint my toenails today? You get the picture.


Anywho, a couple of years ago, I started tackling the boxes and boxes of older non-digital photos that I still had not put into some sort of album.


This is the way condensed version of boxes.






I gave up on trying to scrapbook everything. That was just never going to happen. In the meantime, I decided that I wanted to scan everything. Yikes. What a chore. I got a couple of years scanned before I realized that this was just going to be more than I could handle. So I stuck most every photo into slip-in albums. Good enough for now. At least they have a home.


In my search for the perfect scanning solution, though, I ran across a website that offered SPEEDY FAST photo scanning for a REALLY GOOD PRICE. I mulled this over for so long that I didn’t end up sending in any of my mounds of older photos for scanning.


Well…..about a month or so ago, I was lucky enough to get a hold of about 1,500 older photos from Doug’s past. Photos with his daughters. Priceless stuff. I have been feverishly trying to get everything scanned, but this task (of course) was turning out to be a much more time consuming job that I had Pollyanna-ish estimated. Wait a minute, that company. I headed over to Scanmyphotos.com for another look-see about their services.


Scan My Photos gives excellent directions (with pictures!) on how to properly package your photos for shipping to their lab. I sent in 1,000 photos last Thursday afternoon. FYI – these 1,000 photos fit comfortably in the Medium Flat Rate Priority Mail shipping box at the post office. Only $10.35 to ship (I think). Anyway, Scan My Photos touts super speedy scan times on their website. They are NOT KIDDING! My photos arrived in California on Saturday, Scan My Photos scanned all 1,000 photos on Saturday, AND they shipped everything back plus my photo DVD that same day. I received my order on Monday. Super Speedy Fast.


The scans are 300 dpi, perfect for most any project we want to create with these long lost photos. Can’t wait to make several hardbound photo books. Love this stuff.


Check these guys out. I am sold. Go for it, friends. You will not be disappointed. Oh, and search on their website for a link to their blog. There is a huge discount for scanning up 1,000 4x6 prints, good until the end of November.


Hurry, hurry. Let me know what you think.


Today’s Daily Blog Song – “Photograph” by Def Leppard

Fall Foto Fun Pt. 1

It’s amazing how busy we can get this time of year. Despite my sporatic blogging lately, I have actually had a full few weeks. Check it out.

I decided it was FINALLY time to clean out the van. Oh, I keep it relatively clean; no trash, no junk. I just never get around to vacuuming the inside or cleaning the outside. Fret no more. I got the van cleaned. And….

Of course.

Here are some pictures. Seriously, do you think I would leave you out of this fun?

I took the kids with me to vacuum out the van.

When the kids were little, I used to buy them all a treat so that they could munch on sweets while I quickly Hoovered out all the dirt. Yeah, there was a lot more dirt in the little kid days. This time, however, I made the teenagers wait until I was finished vacuuming. They were able to keep themselves busy with two of my cameras.

There were a ton of shots of each of the kids.

Then they remembered who was wielding the vacuum hose.

So flattering.

Good one.

At least my gray wasn’t showing. Ha, just joking. I don’t have any gray.

And here is the face of a woman who is trying not to put another $1.25 into the vacuum that has already cost over $7.00.

Now, on to the car wash. Fun stuff. Can you believe, in all these years, I have never taken any pictures while going through the car wash? Until now.

Creative, huh? Stay with me.

Doesn’t the bank like an impressionistic painting?

Okay, I know you are on an artsy photo high. Look at these patient teenagers.

And then they kids got their treats.

Stayed tuned for more hilarious hijinx tomorrow.

When was the last time you washed your car? Any pictures? Have you played in one of those U Wash It car wash places? You know, sans car?

Today’s Daily Blog Song – “Car Wash” by Rolls Royce

Overwhelmed

I had to dash to the grocery store this afternoon for the every two day refills of milk and juice. A gallon of milk and 4-5 bottles of juice. Every two days. Teens in the house. Ah, you get it now.

While I meandered through the dairy section, I was confronted by all the Christmas decorations already crowding the aisles and topping the refrigerated yogurt and egg cases. Geez. I am not a Scrooge. No Bah Humbug here. I would just like a break from the way too early onslaught of merry, merry, merry. For years when I was a pro photographer, the holiday season was EXTREMELY busy for me. In fact, it was not uncommon for FedEx to deliver that last couple of wedding albums on Christmas Eve as we were on our way out the door to attend Christmas Eve services. A little late, ya’ think? I have to admit that my personal greeting amongst certain friends was, “Merry Damn Christmas.” Yeah.

Anyway, as I went through several life altering changes, I made a conscious decision to keep the grump out of the season. My kids were so excited; how could I be anything but happy for and with them? And then I met Doug. Even more reason to perk up. Got it.

Have you ever been transported back in time because of a sound, sight or smell? I remember when I played in the bell choir way before the kids were born. The group of us went down to Vidalia, Georgia one weekend for an intense workshop. When we checked into the REALLY OLD and NOT redecorated since the early ‘70s motel, I got the eerie feeling that I was in my late grandmother’s house. I could even smell beans cooking. You know, the beans that cook all day long and taste so luscious? There was a terrarium in the lobby. OMG. My grandmother. And the motel rooms had the same OLD and NEVER changed bedspreads from that same early ‘70s era. To top it all off, there was a large objet d’art on the wall of a rooster made out of glued on beans. OMG. My grandmother…and my mother. Man.

Well, when I was at the grocery store today, I smelled the very strong scent of cinnamon pine cones. It was incredible. I have never really decorated much with these, but the scent was overwhelming. Memories of Christmas’ past came flooding forward. And then the ultimate of memories hit me like a ton of bricks. Nicholas.

I have sensed this crippling heartache creeping up on me in the last couple of weeks. I cannot ignore it, but I certainly tried to. For those of you who aren’t aware, my oldest son Nicholas left at age 13 ½ on July 6, 2006. Nicholas was always a very difficult and troubled boy. I tried everything under the sun to please him, raise him correctly, have fun with him, and ease his constant hatred and anger toward me. What I worked hardest at was helping him to understand just how much I love him. Nothing ever worked. Nicholas got himself into lots of trouble. He left me to live with his dad 3 years, 4 months and 3 days ago. I haven’t heard from him since. I keep trying, but nothing yet. Maybe one day.

Nicholas’ 17^th birthday is coming up in December. I thought I would be able to breeze on through till that day. I would deal with my emotions that day. Then I would move on and continue to live my life. My good life. I worked hard to make myself realize that my life could still be good and happy. But the memories are sometimes too much to bear.

That cinnamon scent. I suddenly realized in the grocery store that I needed to hurry and get out of the store. My eyes were filling up with huge tears. Nothing would stop them. Hurry, hurry. That cinnamon scent was everywhere. Christmas morning with Baby Nicholas. I have never been happier in my life as the day I first took a glimpse of my little boy. I thought I would never be able to recover from the grief when that little boy cast me aside for what appears to be forever. I don’t know.

I hurried to my van and shoved the groceries in the back. Hurry and grab a tissue. And keep from completely losing it right there. I felt a heaving cry coming on; I managed to halt it for now. Gotta go home and rustle up dinner for the kids. Gotta be the strong Mom. I can do this.

I wondered why I was feeling so crushed again after all this time. Certainly I had recovered, right? No, it’s always there. No matter how the Logical Teri assures me that I did my best, the Broken Heart Teri needs a little time to feel this devastation again. I guess that’s what you do. You open up, plunge in head first, and absorb all the true emotions in the moment. I know I’ll feel better later. Okay, then I won’t deny the painful feeling. Or it will indeed eat me alive.

I need to put a different memory with the cinnamon scent. Part of me doesn’t want to, though.

I am so overwhelmed with memories right now. I believe a long walk is calling my name, wretched feet be damned.

I’ll be okay. Thanks for listening.

Today's Daily Blog Song - "Overcome" by Live

I’m Obsessed

As many of you have probably deduced over the last year and a half, I have a few obsessions. Some may call these quirks, some may suggest I seek intense counseling. Hehe. I choose to label these as simply eccentricities. Sounds much more exotic, yes?

My blogger friend Minka has bestowed the following award upon me.

How cool is this?!?!?!!

Like I needed reminding, but anywho. Hahahahaha

I am so humble. Hahahahahhaa

What is up with all that laughing?

Okay, seriously. In order to completely accept and embrace this award, I have been asked to share FIVE of my obsessions, um, eccentricities. I feel the exoticness oozing all over the place.

Here we go:

1. If you have been a Thinker Fan since the beginning (and, seriously, who hasn’t?), you may remember my “concern” with touching meat products with my hands. Cooked or uncooked, this just totally creeps me out. No matter how much I wash my hands, I am convinced that I have left just enough yucky stuff under my nails enabling me to surely contract salmonella. And with the H1N1 thing around, a girl’s gotta be careful. Consequently, I have very dry hands that are in constant need of super duper hand moisturizer…which I keep nearby at all times.

2. When I get an idea in my head, I can’t move on until I have worked out every single, teeny, tiny detail to my utmost satisfaction. For instance – and this one may make me sound just a wee bit obsessive – about a year or so ago, I determined that it was necessary for me to decide immediately whether I should make digital scrapbooks, regular scrapbooks or a combination of the two. Oh, and should they all be 12x12, 8x8 (which I could print myself), hardbound books, individually printed pages…and on and on. You see how this might drive a girl nuts? I toiled over this for MONTHS! I have no idea why this had to be settled once and for all, forever and ever. Geez. Resolution – the Calm and Practical Teri told me to just chill and do whatever I wanted. Live in the moment. Geez. Why couldn’t I think of that? Oh wait, I did. Oh wait. Oh.

3. I am on a mission to find a new brown purse. Let’s preface this with “I Hate Shopping.” So this finding a new brown purse thing is giving me a headache. I finally found a new black purse last weekend. Really great sale that unfortunately involved me actually stepping into the store and picking out that new black purse. Yuck. This old brown purse must be replaced soon because it is starting to tear up. Yeah, I’m that woman who uses things to death. I got this purse on clearance at Tarjay about 8 years ago for $3.25. I swear I did. I do not have to spend a lot on a purse to feel good about it. The main criteria for my new brown purse: (a) a GREAT deal, and (b) it has to be small enough to just barely fit my wallet and teeny tiny spy camera. If I get a purse too big, I may be tempted to cram a bunch of junk in it. Forget it. Okay, I’m done with this one. I am getting antsy just thinking about the shopping thing.

4. I MUST put my clothes in order of color. I find it helps me choose more quickly what I want to wear everyday. My husband only noticed this exoticness a couple of years ago. If I feel like blue will make me look fabu that day, I want to speed to the blue section and pick. Red…any day is great for red…head over there and grab it. Yeah, boring, but it’s me.

5. Okay, I’m going to lump a couple of things together in this last category. This may be the thing that pushes me a little out there, but hey. Since I was in high school, I have the need to push down all the little buttons on the soda cup lids that restaurants use. Makes the drink taste better, maybe??? Also, I have to fold over any napkin that has writing on it. What if that writing rubs off on my mouth, and I don’t know it? I would look weird(er). If the traffic light turns yellow while I am crossing under it, I have to kiss my hand and touch the inside roof of the car. This is supposed to help me avoid getting hit or getting a ticket. It’s worked so far. And last but not least, it is crucial that all the paper money in my wallet face the same direction. Yes, yes, yes.

That’s it. If any of you want to play along, go for it. You can leave a link on your comment or just list a few obsessions right here.

Most importantly – don’t hold any of this against me. A girl gotta do what a girl gotta do.

HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAH

Geez, there's that weird laughter again.

Whatever.

Today’s Daily Blog Song – “Don’t Stand So Close To Me” by The Police (about a school girl obsessed with her teacher…another story for another day!!!)