As a frequent Walmart shopper, I feel it is due time for this letter. Am I aware that it takes patience to shop at Walmart? Yes. However, I feel these suggestions will improve the lives of Walmart customers everywhere.
Dear Walmart customer,
I completely understand your need and desire to shop at Walmart. I, too, feel that several items are priced lower than in other grocery/department stores. But I feel that I have some suggestions, or "rules" that every one of us should follow to make the Walmart shopping experience pleasant for all.
1. When entering the Walmart parking lot, know that everyone else in town is probably at Walmart at the same time as you are and while you may want to circle the lot 423 times, it is much more efficient and practical to simply park your car in the back of the lot and walk the extra 30 paces to the door instead of waiting for what seems like 10 minutes for a spot that is only five spaces closer to the door than the next available spot. Not only will you get some added exercise by walking the extra 30 paces, but you will make the person behind you (probably me) very happy that he/she does not have to wait to park because he/she is perfectly fine with parking in the back.
2. Upon entry into the store, get your cart or basket and get going. I'm not sure if your trip to Walmart is the highlight of your day, but for some people (like me) it is simply a race to get in and get out so those people (me) don't appreciate your leisurely stroll to get said cart and then take your time getting out your list, wrestling your kids into the cart, checking out what Hostess cakes are on sale this week, etc. If you must take your time with these tasks, step aside so other customers (me) can get his/her cart quickly and run past Subway as quickly as possible so the smell doesn't stick to his/her (my) clothes.
3. Now that we have all started our journey up and down the aisles, we are truly getting the most out of our Walmart experience by saving money with the low prices on the items we are placing in our carts. However, was it necessary for you to bring all 64 members of your family with you to enjoy your shopping experience right along with you? Because I feel that is excessive. If you do need to bring all of your sons/daughters/aunts/uncles/cousins/second cousins/third cousins/best friends with you, please have them form a single line behind you instead of crowding around every inch of your cart so that the customer behind you (probably me) can get down the aisles quickly.
4. When going to get an item off the shelf, it is not OK to leave your cart in the middle of the aisle.
5. Decide what kind of milk you want before approaching the cooler. There are not that many choices. And yes, I'm aware that Walmart has been slacking lately in carrying 1% milk in the Great Value brand so either decide if you want to pay the extra $1.25 for 1% Deans milk or if you still want the cheap Great Value brand and grab a gallon of 2% and get out of the way.
6. Wear clothes that are clean, free of profanity, and that cover all parts of your body.
7. If you only have five items and choose to go in the "20 items or less" line to check-out, please re-read the sign that says "20 items or less" and don't breathe heavily, shift your weight impatiently from one foot to the other, and give the person in front of you (probably me) a if-looks-could-kill look because that person (me) has 19 items. The sign "20 items or less". Nineteen is less than 20.
8. Please do not leave unwanted items from your cart at the end of the check-out conveyor belt or better yet, on the floor in the check-out line for others (probably me) to maneuver around or trip over. If you wanted the item ten minutes ago when you put it into your cart, why don't you want it now?
9. When walking back to your car with your 64 family members and cart full of bagged groceries, pick a side of the aisle in the parking lot to walk down instead of weaving around somewhere in the middle.
10. Finally, when exiting the Walmart parking lot, utilize the big yellow arrows in the parking lot. They tell you which direction you should be traveling.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Leavell
Oh, and one more thing...
Dear Walmart employee,
When a customer buys eight different cans of food product to make a pot of chili perhaps, it is not OK or even smart to put all eight cans into one plastic bag and "double-bag" it thinking that those two bags will withhold the weight of eight cans. They won't. All of the handles will break. Trust me.
Thank you,
Jennifer Leavell
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Maggie's New...Toy?
Wanting to buy for all members of our family this past Christmas, Justin and I set out to Petsmart about a week before Christmas to find Maggie the perfect gift. We got her a few packs of her favorite treats and a couple of catnip toys for her stocking before searching for a larger gift.
We had noticed lately that when we take her to the vet (she has to get weighed every six weeks to monitor her weight for the hyperthyroidism) and we don't put the pet carrier up right away, she will sleep in it for hours at a time because it is enclosed and dark and comfortable to her, I guess. So we decided to look for a bed for her that was enclosed. We found one, and while we had our doubts that she would actually use it, we got it anyway.
Fast forward to Christmas when we gave Maggie the bed, and she had no interest in it. It continued to sit in our living room for the next five days and she wanted nothing to do with it. She would walk by it and we would encourage her to get inside and she would look at us as if to say, "Why would I sleep in some glorified pillow on the floor when I have two separate beds to choose from in this apartment including one that has my own blanket on it?" And, well, she had a point:
That's her sleeping on her blanket on our bed. You can find her there about 20 of the 24 hours in a day.
So we located the original tags for the bed and back to Petsmart we went. They took the bed back without any problems and we were left back at square one with having no idea what to get her. Who knew that the hardest person to buy for in the family would be the cat? We walked around the store for awhile and we suddenly had the idea to get her a new water bowl. We decided that she (and us) could really benefit from one of those water bowls that looks like a miniature water cooler that stores a lot of water. We are constantly filling up her water bowl since she drinks a lot in one day (blame it on the hyperthyroidism) so we went to the aisle with all of the food bowls for cats. While looking at the water-cooler-like bowl, we found something even better.
This something was the perfect gift for our kitty. We didn't just buy her a water bowl...we bought her a water fountain. Yes, a water bowl that has a fountain that she can just step right up to and drink from. Maggie has always been facinated by water running out of the kitchen sink faucet so we thought this was the best thing we could buy for her.
We got home and Justin set it all up. Maggie, curious as to why her regular water bowl was missing, stood around us wondering what this new object was.
We turned it on, and well, didn't quite get the reaction out of her that we thought we would. Instead, this happened:
We had to laugh at her a little. But then we gave her a nice pep talk about how it was just water and about how she can drink from the fountain. We thought that if we made the stream of water smaller she might not be so hesitant of it. Here's what happened next:
We were relieved that she was warming up to it, but the stream of water needed to be back at regular speed (we thought) in order for her to drink from it, but she now had another use for the fountain:
Great, we thought. She thinks we bought her a new toy, not a new water bowl. We were worried that she wouldn't drink water from it and putting her regular water bowl out right next to it would kind of defeat the purpose. We even looked like idiots trying to demonstrate just how one drinks from a fountain (not recorded, sadly), and then she started doing this:
Success! Well, sort of. She wasn't so much drinking from it, but rather biting at the water. But we felt she started to understand the concept. So we decided to unplug the fountain and see if she would drink from the bowl without the water running (we decided to unplug it each night because if the water level gets below a certain line then the motor can break and we weren't sure how much water she drank at night). Notice how she is confused now by the missing fountain of water:
We had noticed lately that when we take her to the vet (she has to get weighed every six weeks to monitor her weight for the hyperthyroidism) and we don't put the pet carrier up right away, she will sleep in it for hours at a time because it is enclosed and dark and comfortable to her, I guess. So we decided to look for a bed for her that was enclosed. We found one, and while we had our doubts that she would actually use it, we got it anyway.
Fast forward to Christmas when we gave Maggie the bed, and she had no interest in it. It continued to sit in our living room for the next five days and she wanted nothing to do with it. She would walk by it and we would encourage her to get inside and she would look at us as if to say, "Why would I sleep in some glorified pillow on the floor when I have two separate beds to choose from in this apartment including one that has my own blanket on it?" And, well, she had a point:
That's her sleeping on her blanket on our bed. You can find her there about 20 of the 24 hours in a day.So we located the original tags for the bed and back to Petsmart we went. They took the bed back without any problems and we were left back at square one with having no idea what to get her. Who knew that the hardest person to buy for in the family would be the cat? We walked around the store for awhile and we suddenly had the idea to get her a new water bowl. We decided that she (and us) could really benefit from one of those water bowls that looks like a miniature water cooler that stores a lot of water. We are constantly filling up her water bowl since she drinks a lot in one day (blame it on the hyperthyroidism) so we went to the aisle with all of the food bowls for cats. While looking at the water-cooler-like bowl, we found something even better.
This something was the perfect gift for our kitty. We didn't just buy her a water bowl...we bought her a water fountain. Yes, a water bowl that has a fountain that she can just step right up to and drink from. Maggie has always been facinated by water running out of the kitchen sink faucet so we thought this was the best thing we could buy for her.
We got home and Justin set it all up. Maggie, curious as to why her regular water bowl was missing, stood around us wondering what this new object was.
We turned it on, and well, didn't quite get the reaction out of her that we thought we would. Instead, this happened:
What is this? What do I do with it? What is that strange liquid coming from that spout? It looks like water. It smells like water. Should I touch it? Probably shouldn't.
We had to laugh at her a little. But then we gave her a nice pep talk about how it was just water and about how she can drink from the fountain. We thought that if we made the stream of water smaller she might not be so hesitant of it. Here's what happened next:
Oh, I get it! It is water! And I can touch it!
We were relieved that she was warming up to it, but the stream of water needed to be back at regular speed (we thought) in order for her to drink from it, but she now had another use for the fountain:
Wow, guys! What an awesome new paw-washer! Think of the time I'll save now! Instead of cleaning by incessant licking, I can just use this! Thanks!
Great, we thought. She thinks we bought her a new toy, not a new water bowl. We were worried that she wouldn't drink water from it and putting her regular water bowl out right next to it would kind of defeat the purpose. We even looked like idiots trying to demonstrate just how one drinks from a fountain (not recorded, sadly), and then she started doing this:
A paw-washer, a toy, and I can drink cold water from it? Awesome!
Success! Well, sort of. She wasn't so much drinking from it, but rather biting at the water. But we felt she started to understand the concept. So we decided to unplug the fountain and see if she would drink from the bowl without the water running (we decided to unplug it each night because if the water level gets below a certain line then the motor can break and we weren't sure how much water she drank at night). Notice how she is confused now by the missing fountain of water:
Hmmmm. Where did that stream of water go? Not sure, but I'm thirsty from all that playing and paw-washing.
Well, she'll drink from the bowl, but will she drink from it when the water is running?
Yes she will! And now we repeat that entire process each time it is plugged in every day. It's the best toy/paw-washer/water fountain/water bowl/gift we've ever bought for her.
Yes she will! And now we repeat that entire process each time it is plugged in every day. It's the best toy/paw-washer/water fountain/water bowl/gift we've ever bought for her.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Hello, unknown. My name is Jenn.
OK, so I will admit that I was a little down in the dumps when I wrote my post yesterday. Like I said, I'm not really sure why, but Justin came home from work and it turned out to be a fun, low-key New Year's Eve.
Since Justin is still getting over a nasty cold he got (OK, I probably gave him) the day after Christmas, we decided to stay in last night. We made chicken for dinner, played a lot of Wii Fit Plus (oh my goodness...hilarious and addicting games on that thing), watched a little TV, and were in bed to watch the ball drop and then fall fast asleep! Lame, you may say, but it was perfect for us and believe it or not, the first time that I have been able to kiss Justin at midnight in about seven years so that in itself was worth it!
I call 2010 the unknown because obviously no one knows what it will bring. And with that means change and (brace yourself if you really know me) I'm OK with that. I'm even a little excited about what's to come. I keep telling Justin that 2010 is going to be a big year for us. While I don't want to jinx any good things that might be coming our way, I can fully see a first home in our future as well as hopefully a new job for Justin and perhaps news that a little Leavell is on the way? Only time will tell. I'm just glad that I'm fully comfortable to sit back and let the change(s) happen.
Since Justin is still getting over a nasty cold he got (OK, I probably gave him) the day after Christmas, we decided to stay in last night. We made chicken for dinner, played a lot of Wii Fit Plus (oh my goodness...hilarious and addicting games on that thing), watched a little TV, and were in bed to watch the ball drop and then fall fast asleep! Lame, you may say, but it was perfect for us and believe it or not, the first time that I have been able to kiss Justin at midnight in about seven years so that in itself was worth it!
I call 2010 the unknown because obviously no one knows what it will bring. And with that means change and (brace yourself if you really know me) I'm OK with that. I'm even a little excited about what's to come. I keep telling Justin that 2010 is going to be a big year for us. While I don't want to jinx any good things that might be coming our way, I can fully see a first home in our future as well as hopefully a new job for Justin and perhaps news that a little Leavell is on the way? Only time will tell. I'm just glad that I'm fully comfortable to sit back and let the change(s) happen.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Life Shifts
Wow, another year come and gone. Well, almost.
I always feel very reflective on New Year's Eve and today hasn't been much different. I can't really explain the feeling, though. I'm not sure if it's sadness (maybe for no particular reason) or uncertainty about the future. I think a little bit of both. But I have also been feeling very goal-oriented. And while I know this is the time of year to make resolutions, I'm calling them "life shifts" instead. Resolutions get broken and to make the changes that I need to make, several things in my life need to shift to new habits, practices, etc. I don't think the word "resolutions" has the importance of the lifestyle shifts and changes that I need to make.
Life shifts for 2010:
1. Health: Eating healthier and working out. Period. Those two are definitely shifts from the habits I have now.
2. Sleep: More, more, more. I'm a champ at going on 4-5 hours of sleep per night during the week. But over break I've been getting 8+ hours of sleep per night. I think my body was shocked at first but thankful.
3. Connections: With friends, with family, with Justin. That doesn't imply that I have problems with any of those relationships now, but connections can always grow stronger and it takes effort from both ends...which means that I could improve my end.
4. Spending: My goal is to be credit card free in 2010. This will be hard for me. I mean no spending on any credit cards...Visa, store credit cards...you name it. If it's not in my bank account (and trust me, that's usually pretty bare) then I'm not spending it. Wow, that's scary for me.
5. Saying no: Justin is laughing as he reads this right now. But he knows that I want to work on this. I need to say "no" more to some questions posed to me. Here's an example:
Important person: "Hey Jenn, can you attend a faculty meeting after school on Tuesday?"
Me: "Sure."
Important person: "Hey Jenn, can you head up twelve new projects even though you are already drowning in teaching, cheerleading, yearbook, and Relay for Life?"
Me: "NO!"
6. Jenn: Yes, myself. I know that all of these involve me, but this shift is a little different. My goal is to spend more time on myself which means not grading a paper or doing something for cheerleading or Relay or even doing a load of laundry. I mean sitting down from time to time and doing something that I truly enjoy from reading to crafts to writing to a few special projects that have been in the back of my head for awhile.
I'm sure there are more little goals here and there but they probably fit into one the previous shifts. I have an awesome feeling about the upcoming year. I think it will be great for me, great for us, and great for those around us. Here we go, 2010, I'm ready.
I always feel very reflective on New Year's Eve and today hasn't been much different. I can't really explain the feeling, though. I'm not sure if it's sadness (maybe for no particular reason) or uncertainty about the future. I think a little bit of both. But I have also been feeling very goal-oriented. And while I know this is the time of year to make resolutions, I'm calling them "life shifts" instead. Resolutions get broken and to make the changes that I need to make, several things in my life need to shift to new habits, practices, etc. I don't think the word "resolutions" has the importance of the lifestyle shifts and changes that I need to make.
Life shifts for 2010:
1. Health: Eating healthier and working out. Period. Those two are definitely shifts from the habits I have now.
2. Sleep: More, more, more. I'm a champ at going on 4-5 hours of sleep per night during the week. But over break I've been getting 8+ hours of sleep per night. I think my body was shocked at first but thankful.
3. Connections: With friends, with family, with Justin. That doesn't imply that I have problems with any of those relationships now, but connections can always grow stronger and it takes effort from both ends...which means that I could improve my end.
4. Spending: My goal is to be credit card free in 2010. This will be hard for me. I mean no spending on any credit cards...Visa, store credit cards...you name it. If it's not in my bank account (and trust me, that's usually pretty bare) then I'm not spending it. Wow, that's scary for me.
5. Saying no: Justin is laughing as he reads this right now. But he knows that I want to work on this. I need to say "no" more to some questions posed to me. Here's an example:
Important person: "Hey Jenn, can you attend a faculty meeting after school on Tuesday?"
Me: "Sure."
Important person: "Hey Jenn, can you head up twelve new projects even though you are already drowning in teaching, cheerleading, yearbook, and Relay for Life?"
Me: "NO!"
6. Jenn: Yes, myself. I know that all of these involve me, but this shift is a little different. My goal is to spend more time on myself which means not grading a paper or doing something for cheerleading or Relay or even doing a load of laundry. I mean sitting down from time to time and doing something that I truly enjoy from reading to crafts to writing to a few special projects that have been in the back of my head for awhile.
I'm sure there are more little goals here and there but they probably fit into one the previous shifts. I have an awesome feeling about the upcoming year. I think it will be great for me, great for us, and great for those around us. Here we go, 2010, I'm ready.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Stress-Free Sunday
A year or two ago I remember hearing about a study that said that Monday was not the most stressful day of the week (as thought, I guess), but Sunday was, in fact, the most stressful/depressing time of the week. Surprising to some, but it made sense to me. Usually at this time on a Sunday I am worried about the assignments I didn't grade over the weekend, if I have enough planned for three different 90-minute classes the next day, and how early I need to get up on Monday morning in order to beat the line at the copy machine. But this Sunday, today, has been stress-free. This is one perk I was looking forward to over winter break. Since I have no plans for tomorrow and definitely no classes to prepare for, my biggest contemplation at the moment is whether to clean out my closet or update my address book when I get up in the morning. Decisions, decisions...
On another note, we had a wonderful Christmas. While it was strange to not wake up and immediately unwrap presents, we had a relaxing Christmas morning before Jess and I (Justin was at work, of course) headed to New Castle to have dinner with my family. My dad and Lea came from Fort Wayne and came back to our apartment to spend the evening. Justin got home from work not too long after we got back from New Castle and we opened gifts together. We were all blessed with presents that we love. Among other gifts, I received several new books and a new Vera Bradley purse (which I love!) from my dad and Lea and a new Vera Bradley lunch bag from my sister. Justin spoiled me with several items, but my favorite from him has to be the watch he got me. If you know me, you know that I'm a fan of big watches that not only say "LOOK AT WHAT IS ON MY WRIST" but allow you to tell the time even if you are sitting ten yards away from me. And Justin took that knowledge (with some help from my sister) and got me a gorgeous new watch that is awesomely over-sized and simply perfect for me. Justin also received some great gifts including new games and accessories for the Wii, new clothes, a paper shredder (yes, he shares my love for office supplies) and some much-needed new socks for work which only allowed me to have the joy of Christmas all over again when I got to clean out his sock drawer this morning and throw away any sock that had the hint of a hole in it.
Now I'm enjoying a Sunday evening for once, watching the Colts try to pull off yet another win, waiting for my sick husband (of the bajillion colds I've had since we've been together, I think this is the third one he has ever had) to get home safely in this weather. Now if only I could make the agonizing decision to start a new book or read a magazine...
On another note, we had a wonderful Christmas. While it was strange to not wake up and immediately unwrap presents, we had a relaxing Christmas morning before Jess and I (Justin was at work, of course) headed to New Castle to have dinner with my family. My dad and Lea came from Fort Wayne and came back to our apartment to spend the evening. Justin got home from work not too long after we got back from New Castle and we opened gifts together. We were all blessed with presents that we love. Among other gifts, I received several new books and a new Vera Bradley purse (which I love!) from my dad and Lea and a new Vera Bradley lunch bag from my sister. Justin spoiled me with several items, but my favorite from him has to be the watch he got me. If you know me, you know that I'm a fan of big watches that not only say "LOOK AT WHAT IS ON MY WRIST" but allow you to tell the time even if you are sitting ten yards away from me. And Justin took that knowledge (with some help from my sister) and got me a gorgeous new watch that is awesomely over-sized and simply perfect for me. Justin also received some great gifts including new games and accessories for the Wii, new clothes, a paper shredder (yes, he shares my love for office supplies) and some much-needed new socks for work which only allowed me to have the joy of Christmas all over again when I got to clean out his sock drawer this morning and throw away any sock that had the hint of a hole in it.
Now I'm enjoying a Sunday evening for once, watching the Colts try to pull off yet another win, waiting for my sick husband (of the bajillion colds I've had since we've been together, I think this is the third one he has ever had) to get home safely in this weather. Now if only I could make the agonizing decision to start a new book or read a magazine...
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Traditions
It's funny how locations can change, the people around you can change, and you can change, but you always end up finding comfort in doing things you've always done. It's comforting to carry on traditions, especially at Christmas.
This year marks the second Christmas without my mom. In some ways it is more painful than the first. I think last year I was still numb from it all; still in shock that she wasn't coming back and also on a honeymoon, just-got-married high. But this year I feel it has settled in more. However, it's nice to find peace and comfort in traditions.
This Christmas will be the first Christmas that I don't wake up in a twin bed at my parent's house in Muncie. Instead, I'll wake up next to my husband (yep, didn't even wake up next to him last year...I believe he was freezing on the floor below me on an air mattress) with my sister a little further away in our guest room and my dad two hours away in Fort Wayne. So, yes, the location has changed, the people around me have changed, but we've still carried on traditions this year that have helped me accept these changes and embrace new holiday happenings.
Since Justin and I moved last year on the day after Thanksgiving, we barely put up a tree, so I was very excited to decorate the entire apartment for Christmas this year. With my dad selling our house in Muncie, I inherited several of our Christmas decorations so now our apartment feels a little bit like my house always felt like during this time of year. A few of our family Christmas decorations:
Our family Christmas tree with most of the ornaments that have always adorned it.
My stocking (on the left) and Justin's. My mom made my stocking when I was little and then made one for Justin when it became apparent he was going to be sticking around.
These stocking holders held my stocking and Jessica's for over twenty years. They now hold my stocking and Justin's.
My favorite Christmas decoration. I remember how I would have to wait for it to be my turn to move the mouse one day closer to Christmas. Now Justin let's me move it everyday and have all of the turns.
My maternal grandmother used to have two ornaments like this one on her tree, then my mom inherited them and now I have one my tree and Jess has one on hers.
While it's traditional to have those decorations decking our halls, it's nice to have a few new ones to look at, like these:
Our Colts tree!
The wreath on our front door.
An ornament of Cinderella's Castle that we bought on our honeymoon last year in Disney.
Another Disney ornament that we bought to mark our first Christmas together, and a few more below that we received as gifts last year.
In carrying on with another tradition, Jess came over today (bags in tow to spend a few nights with me and Justin) and we spent the day baking Christmas cookies and making fudge.
I also made some killer barbecued ribs in the crock pot for dinner:
Justin got home around 8:15 and we all had dinner together. He also finished wrapping presents and the underneath of Christmas tree is growing into the middle of the living room now.
So while I may still cry at mother/daughter Christmas commercials or tear up when I walk by the "Mom" Christmas card section at Hallmark, I'll keep carrying on these family traditions that bring me comfort and creating new ones that excite me for the future.
Now, in just one more tradition, I'm going to go try and convince Justin to take my dad's place in reading "The Night Before Christmas" to me and Jess. Then we all need to get in bed so Santa can come!
This year marks the second Christmas without my mom. In some ways it is more painful than the first. I think last year I was still numb from it all; still in shock that she wasn't coming back and also on a honeymoon, just-got-married high. But this year I feel it has settled in more. However, it's nice to find peace and comfort in traditions.
This Christmas will be the first Christmas that I don't wake up in a twin bed at my parent's house in Muncie. Instead, I'll wake up next to my husband (yep, didn't even wake up next to him last year...I believe he was freezing on the floor below me on an air mattress) with my sister a little further away in our guest room and my dad two hours away in Fort Wayne. So, yes, the location has changed, the people around me have changed, but we've still carried on traditions this year that have helped me accept these changes and embrace new holiday happenings.
Since Justin and I moved last year on the day after Thanksgiving, we barely put up a tree, so I was very excited to decorate the entire apartment for Christmas this year. With my dad selling our house in Muncie, I inherited several of our Christmas decorations so now our apartment feels a little bit like my house always felt like during this time of year. A few of our family Christmas decorations:
Our family Christmas tree with most of the ornaments that have always adorned it.
My stocking (on the left) and Justin's. My mom made my stocking when I was little and then made one for Justin when it became apparent he was going to be sticking around.
These stocking holders held my stocking and Jessica's for over twenty years. They now hold my stocking and Justin's.
My favorite Christmas decoration. I remember how I would have to wait for it to be my turn to move the mouse one day closer to Christmas. Now Justin let's me move it everyday and have all of the turns.
My maternal grandmother used to have two ornaments like this one on her tree, then my mom inherited them and now I have one my tree and Jess has one on hers.While it's traditional to have those decorations decking our halls, it's nice to have a few new ones to look at, like these:
Our Colts tree!
The wreath on our front door.
An ornament of Cinderella's Castle that we bought on our honeymoon last year in Disney.
Another Disney ornament that we bought to mark our first Christmas together, and a few more below that we received as gifts last year.
I also made some killer barbecued ribs in the crock pot for dinner:
Justin got home around 8:15 and we all had dinner together. He also finished wrapping presents and the underneath of Christmas tree is growing into the middle of the living room now.
So while I may still cry at mother/daughter Christmas commercials or tear up when I walk by the "Mom" Christmas card section at Hallmark, I'll keep carrying on these family traditions that bring me comfort and creating new ones that excite me for the future.
Now, in just one more tradition, I'm going to go try and convince Justin to take my dad's place in reading "The Night Before Christmas" to me and Jess. Then we all need to get in bed so Santa can come!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Ups, Downs, & Indifferents
A way to organize the last month and a half:
UP: Justin and I celebrated our first anniversary on October 18th. It was a very low-key celebration that included Justin being home for four days straight without working (the next time that might happen is when we have a child...and they might not even let him have that much time off then) so we enjoyed the company of each other from Thursday to Sunday and found it strange to eat dinner together four nights in a row.
UP: I coach some of the best cheerleaders around. We are now out of competition season and I am proud to say that the JV came in third in the state competition and Varsity placed first in the small co-ed division at the Indiana Cheerleading Association state finals. Yep, first. Which means they are state champions. Which means they have gold medals. Which means that they will be fitted for state championship rings in the next couple of weeks. And it means that they are a great group of kids and I'm pleased and thankful that I got to be a part of such a huge accomplishment.
DOWN: My grandmother passed away last week. She was the head of my family on my father's side and the whole heart of the family, really. I spoke at her funeral and felt honored to do so. I think several of my family members will feel lost for a long time, but we will find comfort in each other, and like I said at the funeral, we are the lucky ones that got to be on the receiving end of her love and while she may not be here, at least we get to hold on really tight to that love.
INDIFFERENT: School. Ugh. So overwhelmed. I should be grading something or making an answer key for something or writing a lesson plan for something right now, but I had to take a break. But now that I just wrote that I feel guilty for not doing something for my job. Geez.
UP: I went to a Relay for Life leadership conference this past weekend and had an amazing time. More on that in separate post, but I got re-energized to plan this event. It really just confirmed that I am doing something awesome to honor my mom and that makes me feel good.
DOWN: My dad is selling my childhood home in Muncie and Jess and I had to go there yesterday to help go through some stuff. I'm having a really hard time with this. Is it just a physical structure? Technically. Is it so much more to me? Absolutely. It's hard. I feel like one chapter of my life is ending and I'm definitely not ready to turn the page. It is bringing up a lot of grief from my mom's death that I thought I had worked through. And I feel that I need to keep everything from the house. I feel like if I get rid of something, then I'm getting rid of the memory, and while I know that's not true, it's just hard and that's the only way I can explain it.
UP: It is the holiday season and if I didn't have a million things to do for school, I would totally start decorating for Christmas right now. I absolutely love this time of year and if the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas could last for a few months instead of one then I would be one happy girl!
DOWN: My little Maggie kitty is, indeed, getting older. Justin and I took her for her yearly check-up and found out that she has the early stages of hyperthyroidism. Basically that means that her metabolism is extremely high (which explains why/how she digests food so fast and is hungry all the time...including wanting breakfast at 4 a.m.) and she will continue to lose weight gradually (which an 11-year-old kitty should not do) and eventually it will be full-blown and by then her life expectancy should be about two to four years, which really will be her expectancy anyway by that time. So we are just going to weigh her each month and see when she goes into full hyperthyroidism and go from there. But I continue to snuggle with her as much as possible and feed her scraps from the table almost daily!
DOWN: I haven't seen my friends since BSU homecoming and I know I haven't been the best friend lately since I have been so overwhelmed and busy with cheerleading. But I will see them this weekend so I can make up for some lost time!
UP: Today is Justin's birthday! He is 28 today. Since it is Monday (and if Justin didn't work at the theater on a Monday the place might cave in on itself) he won't be home until around 8:30 so we are having a party when he gets home. The guest list consists of the two coolest girls around...me and Mags. So I am about to put his birthday cake in the oven (he's not a fan of store-bought cake) and I will be ready to sing a solo "Happy Birthday" to him when he walks in the door...party hats and all. I'll take pictures!
Ok, gotta bake a cake! And grade...
UP: Justin and I celebrated our first anniversary on October 18th. It was a very low-key celebration that included Justin being home for four days straight without working (the next time that might happen is when we have a child...and they might not even let him have that much time off then) so we enjoyed the company of each other from Thursday to Sunday and found it strange to eat dinner together four nights in a row.
UP: I coach some of the best cheerleaders around. We are now out of competition season and I am proud to say that the JV came in third in the state competition and Varsity placed first in the small co-ed division at the Indiana Cheerleading Association state finals. Yep, first. Which means they are state champions. Which means they have gold medals. Which means that they will be fitted for state championship rings in the next couple of weeks. And it means that they are a great group of kids and I'm pleased and thankful that I got to be a part of such a huge accomplishment.
DOWN: My grandmother passed away last week. She was the head of my family on my father's side and the whole heart of the family, really. I spoke at her funeral and felt honored to do so. I think several of my family members will feel lost for a long time, but we will find comfort in each other, and like I said at the funeral, we are the lucky ones that got to be on the receiving end of her love and while she may not be here, at least we get to hold on really tight to that love.
INDIFFERENT: School. Ugh. So overwhelmed. I should be grading something or making an answer key for something or writing a lesson plan for something right now, but I had to take a break. But now that I just wrote that I feel guilty for not doing something for my job. Geez.
UP: I went to a Relay for Life leadership conference this past weekend and had an amazing time. More on that in separate post, but I got re-energized to plan this event. It really just confirmed that I am doing something awesome to honor my mom and that makes me feel good.
DOWN: My dad is selling my childhood home in Muncie and Jess and I had to go there yesterday to help go through some stuff. I'm having a really hard time with this. Is it just a physical structure? Technically. Is it so much more to me? Absolutely. It's hard. I feel like one chapter of my life is ending and I'm definitely not ready to turn the page. It is bringing up a lot of grief from my mom's death that I thought I had worked through. And I feel that I need to keep everything from the house. I feel like if I get rid of something, then I'm getting rid of the memory, and while I know that's not true, it's just hard and that's the only way I can explain it.
UP: It is the holiday season and if I didn't have a million things to do for school, I would totally start decorating for Christmas right now. I absolutely love this time of year and if the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas could last for a few months instead of one then I would be one happy girl!
DOWN: My little Maggie kitty is, indeed, getting older. Justin and I took her for her yearly check-up and found out that she has the early stages of hyperthyroidism. Basically that means that her metabolism is extremely high (which explains why/how she digests food so fast and is hungry all the time...including wanting breakfast at 4 a.m.) and she will continue to lose weight gradually (which an 11-year-old kitty should not do) and eventually it will be full-blown and by then her life expectancy should be about two to four years, which really will be her expectancy anyway by that time. So we are just going to weigh her each month and see when she goes into full hyperthyroidism and go from there. But I continue to snuggle with her as much as possible and feed her scraps from the table almost daily!
DOWN: I haven't seen my friends since BSU homecoming and I know I haven't been the best friend lately since I have been so overwhelmed and busy with cheerleading. But I will see them this weekend so I can make up for some lost time!
UP: Today is Justin's birthday! He is 28 today. Since it is Monday (and if Justin didn't work at the theater on a Monday the place might cave in on itself) he won't be home until around 8:30 so we are having a party when he gets home. The guest list consists of the two coolest girls around...me and Mags. So I am about to put his birthday cake in the oven (he's not a fan of store-bought cake) and I will be ready to sing a solo "Happy Birthday" to him when he walks in the door...party hats and all. I'll take pictures!
Ok, gotta bake a cake! And grade...
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