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!!!)

Just Boo-tiful

Yep, it’s my Halloween recap post. And it’s about time that I post, huh? I caught myself taking a little snooze from writing. Seriously, I missed it. This brain is so full of stuff that I just need to put it on paper, or in cyberspace, or whatever.



As shocking as it may sound, it rained on Halloween. Wow. No kidding. Wow. I was all set to lure all the little trick-or-treaters to our home. I bought the Big Costco Candy Bag. It filled this gigantic stainless mixing bowl. Gigantic, I’m tellin’ you.







We still had a good many little (and big) kids come up our steep driveway for the goods, though.



A few weeks ago, Doug alerted me to the big pumpkins at Kroger that were only $6.99 each. That is a great deal. I bought two. My plan was to create a masterpiece on each. Naturally. Well….time got away from me, so I relinquished the carving of one of the gourds to Mackenzie and her boyfriend. Cool enough.








Yeah, Mackenzie was a Boy Scout. She made her boyfriend dress up like a cat. Nice. (Oh, Matt was at a friend’s, so no pix.)







Don’t I look so engrossed in my art? But I finally got to see that my highlight job looks as good in the back of my hair as it does in the front. Sweet.








The teen units decided to pay homage to the Saw movies. Gotta love it.








It took me a few weeks to find just the right pattern for our main showpiece. We (okay, I) started a tradition a few years ago of carving the faces of dead guys on our pumpkins. I was truly looking for Farrah Fawcett, but I was not successful in finding a pattern. Darn. That would have been our first dead lady.



BUT…I found THE perfect pattern that was a huge hit with all our candy beggars. I heard excited comments from every single visitor. I must say, I am quite proud of my creation. Ladies and gentlemen (are there any dudes out there?), please feast your eyes on THIS!!!!






He just made the cut this year. Ooops, is it too soon? hehe. I am rude. Yep.



Anywho, I sent the teens out in the rain for more candy. Naw, they got to keep their loot. Doug and I chilled back at the ranch. We enjoyed Halloween our own way. TRICK OR DRINK!








Did you carve up a great pumpkin? Tell me about your best costumes ever. Did any Charlie Browns out there get a rock?




Today’s Daily Blog Song – “Thriller” by Michael Jackson….naturally.

Hard To Stomach

We are a family of foodies. Well, the adults are the more serious foodies with the teens partaking of interesting eats most of the time. Foodies love taking field trips to funky food markets. We did just that last Saturday. The adult foodies loaded up the teen semi-foodies and headed to a sort of nearby farmers market.

The place is HUGE. People were everywhere. There were all kinds of cool produce, meats, and seafood. We frequent a much closer market called Super H. Love, love, love that place. The prices are killer. We thought we had lucked out when we grabbed lobsters for $6.99…until they were $5.99 these past few weeks. This place has spoiled us.

So, anyway, back to this other farmer’s market. A few of the prices were just not quite as good as Super H, but we were open to try out the selection of many items that aren’t offered at our fave food store. For one thing, Super H is an Asian food market. This farmer’s market has a much more diverse and eclectic mix of foods and household items.

I loved freaking the kids out with my finds in the frozen meat section. Whole lamb, pig and beef heads. Amazing.

The kids particularly enjoyed all the sample food stands. Dumplings, cake, tortillas, dumplings, crispy ring things, dumplings. And then there was the soup sample. Matt was eating his sample when I showed him the frozen heads. He was then convinced that the soup contained lamb head. Mackenzie tried the soup and thought it was fine. Finally, I tried the soup. A little spicy, a little meaty, very yummy.

That’s when Doug pointed out that the name of the soup, Menudo, means stomach. Aaaaaah. I thought the kids were going to be sick right there.

It really was tasty, though.

Have you ever eaten anything before you knew what it was? Was it better than you would have expected? Will you eat it again?

Today’s Daily Blog Song – “Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie” by Jay and The Techniques (yeah, a stretch, but it’s about food, right)

Rakin’ It In

Playing along with Candid Carrie today. Check out other bloggies’ photos after you relax here for a moment.

Step back in time with me to last Sunday. We had a break in the rain (gasp!), so I thought it was the perfect opportunity to create outdoor work for the kids. Hehe

Oh, they should’ve known it was coming. That tree on the side of the house is already dropping leaves. “Hey, kids, time for some fun!!!”

The kids weren’t interested in my desire for photos this week. Um, whatever. I thought I would be discreet. Here’s Matt.

Mackenzie’s feet were hot on this non-rainy day.

She decided to allow the paparazzi just one photo.

Just to prove I was actually there…oh, not raking leaves. Puhleez.

Whacha’ doin’ this weekend?

Today’s Daily Blog Song – “Memory of Trees” by Enya

Dancing Queen

My baby girl went to the Homecoming dance this weekend. How can she be in 11th grade already? Our time together is just speeding by.


We did Mackenzie’s hair.





We did her nails. A lovely gold.




Gotta get the traditional Sister-Brother shots.






She and her boyfriend are really cute together.






In under an hour, we managed to shoot more than 200 photos. Did you expect anything less of me? Didn’t she pick out a beautiful dress?





I love you, Baby Girl.

Today’s Daily Blog Song – “Dancing Machine” – The Jackson Five

All Washed Up

It really happened.

I tore down that laundry room wallpaper border – a picture of cartoon clothes on a line (ick). I painted my laundry a fun, artsy color.






Metro. Doesn’t that name just totally describe the color? It’s a grayish lavender color. I LOVE it.



I am going to hang 4 macro flower photo enlargements. Stuff I shot in my garden this summer.

I don’t have the canvas bins yet for the top of the shelf, but here is my lovely new laundry room with my lovely NEW WASHER AND DRYER!!!!



The clothes are so clean. Wheeee!

Today’s Daily Blog Song – “Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix

Random Musings

I’m really liking my new job. It’s keeping me busy. That’s just what I wanted. During my drive time to and from work, I have plenty of time to think about everything and nothing. Enjoy.


1. I had a weird dream the other night. I’ve had a similar dream several times in the past. Surely there is some kind of crazy meaning to this. I am driving on a road that suddenly comes to a completely vertical hill. I mean, straight up in air. This dream involved water all around and on the road. Except this time, there were two completely vertical hills. The only way to pass over the hill was if I kept a steady pace; no going too fast or too slow. If I didn’t keep the correct pace, then I would fall right off that hill. In this dream, Doug is the driver. By the time we got to the top of the first completely vertical hill, his shirt was drenched in sweat. Go figure.


I wonder what this dream means. Maybe it represents an obstacle that I would rather not overcome but I can’t let it beat me. I’ve said I love a challenge. Who knows.


2. Life would be so much easier if people asked me directly what I think about something instead of guessing and jumping to wrong conclusions. I try to say what I mean without a bunch of game playing. It’s true.


3. Teenagers can make a parent crazy. They can also make a parent extremely protective, happy, confused, and proud. I wish there was a way to convince these teens that parents really only want the best for them. . .always. Love you, kids.


4. I have been trying to chill and enjoy living in the moment. You would be amazed at the things going on all around you. Take each day as it comes. Try to see both sides of the story. Forgive quickly.


5. I am so happy I met my husband when I did. Life is not perfect, but it is our life. Yesterday was the 8th anniversary of the date that Doug proposed to me. He is the man for me.


What’s on your mind?