Friday, February 29, 2008

Say hello to my little friend....

But you have to say the title to this post with your best Scarface voice LOL!! Yep, got a new little buddy, he soooo rocks! I'm still looking for a right proper name for him so if you have any ideas, send them my way. He arrived the other day but I've just now had time to do a little picture taking, catching him in some of the places he seems to like to spend most his time with me! The uber talented, ultra fabulous Martha made him, and you seriously need to check out her stuff, not only is she a talented scrapbooker, having just been named one of the new Fashionista's over at Scrap In Style TV, but she also crafts in a ton of other marvelous ways! I had been eyeing my little friend here for some time at her Etsy shop and the other day I just decided that he HAD to come live with me...sssh..one of his friends is coming to spend his days with Mandi too, but he doesn't move in until Easter! LOL

Been hitting the ice rink pretty regularly and it feels great, wow, what a total workout it is. In fact, got myself all geared up and over to the rink this morning and then realized I had forgotten they were doing competitions all day...bummer....oh well....came back home and was able to clean some bathrooms and finish some laundry (the never ending, always there, laundry!!) so not all was lost, and I did my eliptical workout this morning before wanting to skate so I'm not feeling too badly, but it sure would have been nice to get my hour in on the ice today....

Alright, working on a little scrappy project and it should be finished by the weekend and then I can share...until then, and without further adieu, here is my little pal....isn't he just the cutest dang pirate you've evah laid eyes on!!

as you can see, he just loves to hang out at my computer, just like me!his other favorite spot is in the corner of my scrap counter where he visits with my little birdie buddy...actually, I think he is just trying to get his pirate hands on some of my yummy gummies! LOL

That about wraps it up for me today...off to have some lunch with my mom and then home to do more schtuff!
Until next time,
Blessings!

Monday, February 25, 2008

Yes, I do still scrapbook!

I know, it's been awhile since I've shared any scrappy stuff, and honestly, it's been awhile since I've scrapped, what with the trip and then trying to get back to normal life!

Last weekend I went to another of the Illinois/Wisconsin Scrap In Style tv crops! I really enjoy getting together with all my SISters from the area, the last time we hooked up was in October...way too long ago!

This time we met at the Archiver's in Niles. There were about 8 of us there this time, thanks Traci for organizing this one! I am happy to announce that I actually completed two layouts! Now, that might now seem like a ton of accomplishment for an 8 hours worth of cropping but it's more then I normally get done! I'm the one at crops who packs and plans like crazy and then does a little work and spends the rest of the time talking to everyone and not doing a dang thing! My mojo skipped out on me kinda early on in the crop but I still had fun getting to know two new SISters to the event, Jackie and Jess!

For these layouts I printed out the quotes ahead of time directly onto the cardstock, and I have to say I am sooo loving that! I might just be doing more of that...so super easy! Of course I used Bazzill! Thanks to Chris Jenkinsfor the fabulous picture of Mandi! I know I don't have to tell you which layout, cosidering the picture quality difference between her shot and mine LOL, but it's the one with the Dr. Seuss quote!Not much else going on other than that! I've not been back on the ice since Friday...that's the plan for tomorrow morning! Just kinda hanging out today, finishing laundry and maybe I'll even start to scrap some of the Cambodia pics...

Have a great week everyone!

Until next time,
Blessings!

Friday, February 22, 2008

Hey there old friend, I've missed you!

Okay, so I've been a bad blogger...shame on me...I really want to blog each day but I just somehow get sucked into the computer surfing vortex and waste all my time there LOL! I am seriously on a mission to better organize my time so that I can accomplish what I need to during my day as well as do what I want, like blog, scrapbook, read..you know, the important things!! LOL

so, here it is, I've been in a kinda slump for awhile. Not really sure about my life. I don't necessarily want to get too overly personal on this blog, after all, who wants to come and read about my woes or stuff, and I basically wanted this to be a fun place to visit, where you can peek into the generalness (is that a word?) of my daily life and see some of the scrappy stuff I like to create. However, today's post is going to be a bit more personal and lengthy, so if you are not in the mood, stop right here!

Being forewarned, I'll continue....

Like I said, I've felt like I've been in a slump, or a big state of...I don't know....just not knowing about me, myself or my life. I've been feeling like I kinda just exist, ya know? Like I'm not a participant in my own life, that I'm just going along, la de da, and not really doing anything. Problem is I wasn't sure what it was I wanted to do, wanted to change etc. I feel like the past 10 to 15 years I've kinda lost me. Now, that's not to say I haven't been happy, or done things that have been cool, I just feel like the core of me, my soul and spirit had gotten lost somewhere and I really want to find them!

I've done some major thinking in the past month or so. I've tried to go back to who I was years before, and find the things that made me feel good about myself. Find the things that gave me enjoyment and fed my heart, mind and soul. And upon discovering these lost pieces of myself, I'm hoping to incorporate them back into my daily life and somehow refresh my spirit!

It will be a slow process for sure and that's ok! You know what they say, "slow and steady wins the race" right? So, lets go back, a long, long, long (insert big laughs here) time ago. I figure skated. Yep, me, I was a competitive figure skater with dreams of the Olympics. I wanted to stand on that podium while the National Anthem played as I wore a gold medal around my neck! I wanted to be the next Dorothy Hamill (see, told you it was a long time ago!)...and I was on my way to achieving that goal when all of a sudden, my little body played a cruel trick on me, my knees gave out! Oh, I still remember hearing the Orthopedic Surgeon tell my mom that my knees were bad and some of the bones in my legs had grown in wonky (most likely due to the strain of my skating during those growth years...not that it happens to everyone, just lucky me!)...so, we could do surgery to repair them but it would be horrendous and mean a lot of recovery, and when you are 16 years old, you just say NOOOO!!! to the idea of needles, broken bones and pain....so, I gave up skating. ah well, I knew that my Olympic dreams would most likely not be realized, the competition is way stiff, so I decided to just hang it up, and I threw myself into a typical teenagers life!

I have always felt badly about the way my skating career ended. I actually couldn't watch skating for the longest time (I know, big pity party for myself), and then as the years went on, I just kinda forgot about it. I will say that ever since giving it up, not a year has gone by though where I haven't thought about dusting off my skates and taking to the ice again).

See where this is going yet? LOL!! Again, this year, I had been thinking that I should get back on the ice. My skates however were really old and after babies, well, lets just say they didn't want to fit my feet again. Here was my new dilemma. Do I invest in a pair of skates again? They are not cheap, and sorry if it sounds snobbish, I just can't wrap my "skater" brain around renting skates or buying a cheap pair...my feet just wouldn't stand for that! I hemmed and haaa'd and well, finally decided this:
Yep, these are my new puppies! Beautiful, pristine, white boots, new, shiny, sharp, silver blades, and together they make my new skates!! I have decided that even with my 40 something body, I am going back to my roots....going back to something I loved to do so long ago, something I've missed for years, something that I can do for myself that will not only feed my spiritual needs (just gliding across the ice gives me such a feeling of peace), but it will also take care of my physical need for a more active lifestyle!

Mind you, I have NO ambitions to be a twirling, jumping, dress wearing, figure skater! Those days are over. What I hope to gain from this is what I just said, a sense of self, some peace and joy, and some healthy exercise. I've bought my ice time, and am joyous at the fact that I will be once again gliding across the frozen water!

Today I took my new babies out for a spin and while I admit, I wobbled at the beginning...heck, you need to feel my boots...talk about stiff....after a few minutes I was skating away, smiling inside and out...even doing my crossovers, three point turns, a two-footed spin (hey now, it's been a long time, give a girl a break!) and feeling like a little part of the Cricket I was missing had come back for a visit...I hope she stays around this time!

My mom came to the rink today to see me. It was like old times, the years before flashed in my head, seeing my mom in the stands as I whizzed by, knowing I had a fan. She brought her camera today to mark this craziness in my life and I'll share with you some of those pics, and a small bit of advice, if there is something you are missing in your life, something you wish you were doing, make a point to find time and do it, feed your soul and your spirit, make yourself happy. We only get one time around this big ice rink of life and I want to make sure that I'm skating my heart out while I have the chance!



Until next time,
Blessings!

Working....

hey you guys!! Just letting you know I'm working on an update, should have it ready tonight! Been busy busy!! I promise to be back soon....

blessings!

Sunday, February 10, 2008

More life along the Tonle Sap River...

Thought I'd share a few more pictures to give you a glimpse into the basic life of the people who live on the Tonle Sap River in Cambodia. Again, this is the dry season for them and they live in floating homes. When the rainy season comes, the Tonle Sap floods to a depth of over the tree line and these people are displaced. We didn't quite get a good answer from our tour guide as to where they go during this rainy time when they are forced off the water, so I'm sorry to say I'm not sure. If the homes leading to the river are any indication, the conditions are just as bleak.

Homes leading up to the river:
Tree line along the river:

Homes on the river:


A church:

I have to admit that at times I felt a huge sense of guilt. Guilt that I was basically a voyeur into their misery so to speak. Here I was, a "wealthy" American (in their eyes), and I'm coming to sort of peer into how they live. I felt bad. How do they feel I wondered to myself, knowing that we don't share the same type of existence in this world. These people have very little in the way of the basics of life, they don't have educations, money, and sometimes food. There are no grocery stores or convenient stores for them to pop over to and pick up a gallon of milk. They don't have refrigerators or pantries to hold food and snacks. I watched as many of them washed their clothing in dirty river water using a stone to bang against the fabric. Most of the children don't attend school. There are a few schools here and there but they cost money to attend. I think about the children in our own United States who complain about having to go to school (my own daughter included), they don't understand what a gift it is for them and that they get to do it for free and are required to have an education. Many of the children who try and sell you stuff ask for the money so that they might one day be able to go to school. How do you, as an individual, ever change your existence or station in life if you have no chance at an education? How do you ever get out of your poverty if you can never better yourself? How sad to know that most of the people I saw, will live like this the rest of their lives and that the cycle will continue as they bring children into the world they live.

I saw smiling faces on people. Many waved to us as we rode by. I know that happiness is not measured by what you have in life and maybe these people don't look at their lives and feel sorrow, maybe you don't miss what you've never had? I don't know, I don't have answers, but I do know that I will never look at my life the same way again. As I climb into my warm bed tonight, after having had a drink of clean and safe water, I will reflect and be thankful for all that I have, and pray for those that do not.

Until next time,
Blessings!

Friday, February 08, 2008

Two Dollars!!!


That is what this little munchkin yelled to us as we approached her boat and took her picture!

While in Cambodia, we took a boat ride down the Tonle Sap River. It is home during the dry season to many people who live in floating homes. When the rainy season comes, the river fills up so that even the trees you see in the background are submerged under the water and these people become displaced. I can't even begin to explain the sorrow I felt while I cruised down the river and saw the horrible conditions that these people live under. Their homes, if you can even call them that, are just sorta shaky things, no heat, no electricity, no water, no furniture. It's totally sad. Many of the children don't attend school and are "working" by the time they are old enough to walk or talk. Many times during our ride, other small boats would come up to ours and a child would jump off and onto ours with a little pail of sodas and try to sell them to us. It is so hard to have to turn them away, but how can you buy everything from everyone?

While we were coming up to a sort of floating souvenir shop, I noticed this little girl. How could you not? She was maybe 3 years old? Had her hair bobbed up on her head with some sort of tie thing, a binky shoved into her mouth, a little dress on and a python wrapped around her neck! I immediately told Roger to snap a picture of her...well.....I should have realized that she was not for free! She immediately began yelling to us "Two Dollars!! Two Dollars!!" for her picture. Of course we gave her the money she had "earned" and off she went. She left a considerable impression on me for sure. Such a small, little child of God, put to work at such a young age.

This next little girl is Kia. She was hawking magnets at one of the temples we went to. When you visit the temples, across the road they have these stands where vendors are selling souvenirs, inevitably you will also find dozens of children with magnets, scarves, postcards and wooden flutes to sell...all for one dollar! They approach you the moment they see you, yelling out "Madam...lady...you buy my postcard? 10 for a dollar" and then they proceed to count out all the postcards for you....or they say "buy a magnet? 3 for a dollar" and so on and so forth, and forget about saying no to them, they don't give up, following you until you either get to the entrance to the temple, drive off or break down and buy their wares! Kia, was selling magnets. Roger, who seems to be a master at the art of haggling with these children (as all buyers haggle), was able to get Kia to sell him 5 magnets for a dollar! She then turned to me and wanted me to buy some as well! LOL While I didn't buy any, she did run off to where her mother was and she drew me a picture. It's a little flower drawn in blue ink pen on a piece of dirty, lined notebook paper, and it will proudly go into my scrapbook! I wanted a picture of this little darling and she was more than willing to take one with me! I'll always remember Kia and wonder what will become of her....
I have tons more pictures and stories that reflect much the same lifestyle of the children of Cambodia. Each one left his or her mark on my heart and place in my memory. If I could have, I would have taken each one home with me and offered them a better way of life. It truly makes you stop and think about what we take for granted each and every day. Food, safe drinking water, shelter, education. I'll never look at these basics of my life the same way again.

Until next time,
Blessings!

Thursday, February 07, 2008

Still here...

forgive me guys! I'm still here, just really tired, all that jet lag and travel took it out of me!

I'm hoping to go through my tons of pics and post some this weekend! Don't give up on me, I'll be back soon, I promise!!

Until next time,
Blessings!