I was feelin' blue

So I had been in the InShape Challenge and was later eliminated.  I had been doing fairly good at not going back to old habits.... but generally not feeling all that successful.  Then I took an after picture for their website!  I was surprised, no shocked is more appropriate.  I nearly fell over, how can this possibly be me, who's pants are these anyways!  I don't know whether to ceremoniously burn them, or keep them as a reminder of where I don't want to go.

Anyhoo, even though I hate posting pictures of myself.... I am!  

Why is it....

I am confused... as usual.  You see I am driving down the road, and I needed to switch lanes, that white car is back enough so I flip on the signal and start to go.  Out of nowhere that car guns it... and I can't go, so I slow down and swerve back over, wondering what the heck is up with that guy. signal still on and waiting for this guy to go all the way past me to go... no luck.   I slow down a hair to get in behind him, he slows down and 2 other cars behind me scoot over and I am stuck.  I am ticked! and my road is coming up.  so finally WITH MY SIGNAL STILL ON, I actually used my arm signal and another car from behind me switches lanes to where I want to go!  I am FUMING, but as it turns out she slowed way down so I can get into that lane.  Thank God for that women.

I was thinking man I know my car looks old but it is certainly not slow, and it can smoke all these cars in 1st gear, without even a second thought (but who can afford the gas).  

so people play nice out there... it could be me!  

House Hunting

Well we have got the home loan, and we have started looking... It got me thinking we would be in our 60's when it got paid off!  So I looked at a calculator and if we paid an extra $300 a month that would take 16.5 years off our 30 year loan!!!   Which would mean we would be in our 40's with a paid off house.  

So I think we are going to go with a house that was lower with payments that are about $300 or so less than what we can afford to pay and then use the extra for a principal payment each month, this way we can start paying for our daughter's college with that money we would normally pay in mortgage.    

I don't know sounds too easy

Sundstrom Studio Art Show

Art in a show in Elderwood at the Sundstrom Studio. 37736 Rd 197,
564-2331 for info. There will be some refreshments and food to enjoy
the artwork & live music by.

Fellow artists are:

John Sundstrom, sculpture-paintings
Varian Mace, watercolors
Steven Louis Ball, paintings
Toni Best, gourd/weaving art
Jeri Burzin, photography

OW! The Perils of the Un-Insured

Well after an embarrassingly long time avoiding the dentist about a tooth.  You know self medicating the problem, with remedies... I went and had the tooth removed...  

And you know what... not bad!  Dr. Pendegraft is fantastic, quick painless, and he was so pleasant.  insured or not, this is the doctor to see.

Thanks Doc!

your the best.

Support the Arts... 

By simply shopping as you normally do, you will be supporting the many important programs of the Huff Art Center. The S.H.A.R.E.S. card is FREE.  Each swipe of the S.H.A.R.E.S. card earns 3% of qualified purchases for us.  And if you don't think that is a lot then think about this... If you spent $200 last month at Save Mart, Lucky's, S-Mart, or Food Maxx, then you would have given three (3) women or children, at the shelter, an Expression art healing session.  

Expressions is our art program that we bring to participants who are in shelters. This expressive art program helps those women, children, and families who are experiencing Domestic Violence, Recovery, or other difficult situations. 

Using art to calmly and purposefully reflect on their past, participants develop clarity and vision to create a new life for themselves, and regain a sense of their own power and worth. A simple art experience can provide a means through which to practice envisioning and creating a healthy future. 

Contact me today, for your S.H.A.R.E.S card.  

For those who are home-school curious?

Do you have questions about homeschool in Visalia, are you considering, are you curious, would you like to talk to those who do... WELL SO DO I.

This group was created because I have lots of homeschool questions, and who better to ask then those who are in the field, or have been there!

So feel free to ask your questions, answer others, and add your struggles and victories, stories etc! 

Let's support each other in this journey of teaching our children!

To see more details and confirm this group invitation, follow the link below:

http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=1371913914&k=34L54VSST2WM5EFFUC4YQV

Well I have 2 boxes of dye... my first idea was go back to what I did before and die my hair, spicy cinnamon with blonde streaks in it.... but then I thought well maybe I will leave my hair natural and just do blonde streaks.... I don't know... I want to dye my hair and get my nails done, you know be "girly" but am I really "girly", sometimes I am. Lately I have the blahs and want to, but I keep thinking, da-gone-it there is all the upkeep, I mean once I do my nails I have to make sure they don't get messed up in the dirt when I am gardening, or while I am at work, course I could use gloves.... then there is my hair I have to keep doing that on going as well.

You know there was a time when I did this all the time... I know everyone is shocked... I used to put on makeup and do my hair every single day. Now what!

First Annual HANFORD BOOKFEST ’09

Come to the First Annual HANFORD BOOKFEST ’09 

Book signing and talks by local authors this Sunday, April 19 at the

HANFORD SENIOR & VETERAN'S CENTER

(401 N. Irwin St., downtown Hanford)

            The event will last from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is open to the public and free of charge.

            Everyone spread the word to friends, co-workers, relatives and neighbors!

Lazy Day... Artnews

Didn't get much done on the route today.  I have been fighting a headache, and my allergies have been nutso.  But what can you do.  

There is some new stuff calendared at the artnews website... a local web blog about up and coming art events...

http://artnews.artinvisalia.com/

What's all the hub bub....bub

So I am tired from running around from one class, to a meeting, to another meeting.... One of those days!  But made progress chilled with my kiddo and in the end I made it.  

I have been off lately too many projects and events, but I love it.  I think I should be doing event planning as a living.. you know actually get paid for what I like doing, and an order of art and teaching.

Anyone know this quote:  

Happy Man: Welcome to Hollywood! What's your dream? Everybody comes here; this is Hollywood, land of dreams. Some dreams come true, some don't; but keep on dreamin' - this is Hollywood. Always time to dream, so keep on dreamin'. 

Mystery Meat Monday: Firkin and Hound Closure!

Da-gone-it!   Well that is weird, they have closed which is too bad cause really... that is some yummy shepards pie.

Is there any request for Mystery Meat Review.

oh no not another life lesson...

So after Easter I have gained 1.5 or so pounds.... which really isn't so terrible.... just a little frustrating.  What I have learned from this is.... Stressing over a pound of wait because I enjoyed myself and made some not so great choices over the holiday is not going to make me lighter. 

However realizing that I need to continue on my path to good health is crucial.  I am pretty sure I will have the same insecurities and life frustrations after I reach my goal weight....

(insert Doogie Houser M.D. theme song here)

The year they were born...

Okay so.... I missed American Idol last night... no biggie, I like the show but I don't freak out about missing it especially when their is internet.

But the episode "from the year they were born"  just makes me feel very old.  I guess I forget they are young, just because they are adults and are up there singing.  

Sewing time!

Well its been a really long time, but I am going to drag out the sewing machine.   With the recent outpouring of new babies...   I am going to make a few quilts,  I will post them when I am done. Its been a while since I made myself sit down and do it, but I enjoy it.  

I am also sewing cloth diapers too!   I have a pattern I was working on a while ago but no baby in diapers to test it.... now I just need to get the fabric ordered.  We will see!

____________________

My InShape note of the week....  well the last few days I have been a little stressed and noticed I had been eating larger portions than normal... so rather than a weight loss,  I had no change in my weight, which I am okay with.  It stinks that there was no loss, but that is okay, it just furthers the concept that food can really mess things up.  PORTIONS PORTIONS PORTIONS.  

Friday, Friday, Friday!

Yeah! its friday!   I have to say it cause in reality I am working most of Saturday with no monday off.... so I need the motivation.

Anyway, I am so tired... we had Art in the Alley last night, It is so nice to be part of a group planning a large event, instead of all by myself.  Art in the Alley was awesome, the artists were great, we had some volunteers from artworks, and they were fabulous.  The music was great and alot of people showed up.  We were very excited about the whole thing.  Great Job Arts Council

Art Trail is tonite, and I do have some last minute change arounds... and a few more posters to hang....  I look forward to a smooth night. we will have a demonstration of wheel throwing.  so get your maps.... www.visaliaarttrail.com

 I do get frustrated that so many artists complain about how there is nothing for artists to do or promote in or sell at, but they are not interested in helping out at all, its just sit back and complain until someone does it... oh wait I don't like this, and I don't like that! aaaawwww!  As you can tell by now....I am frustrated.  

________________

On a health note, upon my elimination from the Inshape Challenge, I will admit, that night I went to the store and brought home a steak and tossed it on the grill... sorry guys but, mmmmm!  Shockingly that was my only cheat.  So far I have not reverted back to soda, which is a huge surprise for me... I figured that would be the first thing I did.  I did notice that when I am dehydrated, I can tell.

I am using some of what I learned from Micah's training sessions to continue and hopefully that will work... Also I seem to remember buying a total gym at Sports Chalet a year or so ago, I should dig that out and try it.  I also discovered a 1.5 mile path that circles the neighborhood.  I also discovered through the use of my daughters Wii Fit... that I lost 1.8  pounds... yeah so I guess I am still on the right track... I don't know what my last measurements were so I don't know what to compare them to....