Starts with the letter {A}

This one's for you April!

OK, so at CKU-A in Stamford CT I worshipped at the altar of my demigods (or goddesses). There is an unwritten rule that in order to be famous in this little world of scrapbooking you have to be completely cute (and young). Heidi Swapp, Ali Edwards, Stacy Julian, Becky Higgins--they are all adorable. Think funky loopy scarves and hand painted jeans (Heidi) little scrunchy pigtails (Becky) green & yellow plaid "happy outfit" (Stacy). Ali was great, so much fun to be in her class. She has these signs she wears around her neck that say stuff like "It's OK" and "Embrace imperfection". She is in the Netherlands now, teaching. How cool is that?

My favorites were the Chatterbox Chicks who taught my album track. Carrie & Nicole were wonderful and I really enjoyed meeting them and hearing all about the company (Is Marq as cute as he looks on their website? yes). The class was fabulous and the "I Am" album I made is just beautiful.

The best part of the experience was all the wonderful women I met through our dorm {yo Scrapmafia!} my Jersey girls {hi Angela, Dana and Sony} and also in my classes {howdy Jill} and in the crops {hey Tammie and Kelly}. Even in line for those $7.00 soggy sandwiches. Everyone was so friendly and geniune. When they called my name for the Most Creative Album Cover, I actually felt like everyone in the room was clapping for me. What a great feeling!

It's not often we women get to do something just for ourselves. In my humble opinion...we should! At least once a year. Do something just for yourself, something you really enjoy.

Edited to add: I do not, however, worship at the altar of country western music, I gravitate to rap and alternative. My get-up from the pep rally/dorm contest night. I look like a braying mule because Ali has just told me a really randy joke. Not really.

Home from CKU-A Stamford

Wow. It was such a fabulous 3 days. Even better than I anticipated. I am so looking forward to my next one, maybe in July 2006, Atlanta. LB said she would meet me there for Cosmos. More celebrity stalking photos to come!

Bigmouth

I had a very traumatic visit to the dentist last night. I am always geared up for the usual drama. I arrive complete with my iPod, cozy sweatpants and warm sweatshirt since it is roughly ten degrees below zero in there. I also have a quick run through of relaxation breathing on the car ride over. I went in for major drilling and a crown--no walk in the park.

Determined to be a good soldier, I opened my mouth as wide as it could go for Dr. Pain to do his dastardly deeds. After about 20 minutes he told me I could close my mouth. Imagine my shock when I couldn't follow the directive. Seems my jaw had popped out of it's socket. Apart from being the kind of pain I could feel through the effects of a shitload of novacaine, it was just plain freaky. And scary. Dr. P. proceeded to tell me that he learned what to do if this happens in dental school but he forgot. (That statement was so very comforting) After he massaged my face for about ten minutes (Very attractive considering the gauze, blood, and bits of dental matter all over my face) I still could not "shut my yap".

Finally I felt something POP and my jaws were back in working order. The remainder of the visit was a blur. Except for the uncontrollable shaking I experienced afterward.

Lessons learned from this experience

1. It is extremely difficult to speak with your mouth completely unhinged

2. I do not want to come back in my next life as an anaconda

3. Dental students should take copious notes. With a Sharpie. On their body parts.

4. Kanye West cranked up as loud as possible will drown out the sound of a high speed drill but it will not alleviate the smell of burning oral material.

Trouble in the Pod

Resist the urge to say "I told you not to bring your iPod to school." Resist the urge to rant and rave about irresponsibility and the $200 cost or replacing aforementioned iPod. Also resist the urge to let the teenager know, under no uncertain terms, that you won't be footing the bill for his stupidity. Especially after realizing that YOU, a grown woman of some 40 odd years, left her cute pink iPod in her desk drawer at work (unlocked) for an entire weekend at least 3 times.

He is bereft. I almost don't recognize him without those little wires dangling out of his ears. I really hope it's in his locker.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

The first day of school. Aaah. Homework, schedules, soccer, football. But the best thing about my children being back at school is they eat their food, use their computers, and whine to their adults in charge.

I am thrilled with the knowledge that I will not return from work to find that all 36 of my water glasses have been used (my estimate is one time each). The reward of having my children back in school is almost wasted on me this year as I have a job. I knew this working thing was a bad idea. Oh well, I guess the dog will enjoy the peace and quiet.

On an upbeat note, McKenna and a girlfriend walked up and down the beach this weekend and collected over $200 for the hurricane victims. Not too shabby for two eleven year olds. They decided they would also buy a big box of chocolate bars at the discount store and sell them at the high school football games. I'm so proud of their initiative.

Surety Title (Chip's employer) is matching every contribution made by an employee so that will be the way we will do our part. I also hear the Red Cross is in desperate need of blood so I'll try to get there to make a "donation" as I have very friendly blood.

Heartache

When I started this blog thing I thought I didn't have much to share except some pix of the kids, layouts etc. You know, mindless and fun stuff.

Since Katrina hit the gulf region I have wanted to write something. Something meaningful. A way to express my sadness, horror and anger at what has happened after the hurricane hit.

There are no words. Especially from someone sitting high and dry, kids safely playing outside and ready to start school tomorrow. Chip and I both have jobs and know how our bills will get paid next month. We have a pantry and 2 freezers full of food. We have our pets. We can pick up the phone and talk to our families and friends. We have everything.

I am so desperately sad for the poor and disenfranchised who had to wait and die in those deplorable conditions. I am equally sad for those who evacuated and lost everything. It is overwhelming for me to even consider what that exactly means. So many thousands of people whose lives will never, ever be the same.

I am horrified at the number of dead they expect to find. And the way they died.

And lastly, I am angry. So angry. Angry that there are people who who failed miserably at getting the residents of New Orleans the help they deserve and need in a timely manner. I am angry that so many of our politicians are using this as an arena to further their aspirations. I am angry that our President took so long to get to the gulf region and that he appears so "disconnected".

I am convinced that the people of the US and the people of the world will make a difference.

Life In...Her Shoes

This is the layout I submitted for the Scrapworks "Life In..." contest. I had to bribe McKenna to pose in all these different shoes, it was about 110 degrees out!
It was totally worth it, at least for me!

New Technique

I haven't mastered it yet but I am trying to turn McKenna into one of those iPod people. I will keep working at it, though.