See, internet? I told you to trust me.

I came back. The next day even. To write in this little ol' blog. See, internet? I think this is the start of something beautiful.

But do I have anything interesting to say ... that's the real trick, isn't it?

I will make another list ... because my ADD tendencies prevent me from expanding on any one subject for too long ...

Today I am grateful for...5 Things:
1. My orange shoes. I look at my feet and smile ... everytime. It's like a little treat.
2. Rachel Ray. Because the husband tells me I cook the same things over and over again and always with BBQ sauce. And rice. We only have those kinds of things 3 or 4 times ... a week. OK - so I tend to overdo it with the same thing. Rachel Ray to the rescue!
3. My iPod adapter for the car. Always have my favorite tunes to sing along to in the car. My current favorites groups are The Weepies and Fisher. Love the folk music. I'm so cool.
4. Lists. I love to make lists and lists of things to do, to buy, to make. I don't always remember where I have placed my lists ... but that's OK. I will just make a new one! Such promise to have a new list drafted. And to scratch off what I have accomplished? There is no better feeling.
5. Crystal Light Peach Tea packets on the go - because sometimes, plain water is a drag.

Have a pleasant today and a fabulous tomorrow!

I stink.

I am sorry, internet. I have let you down. I don't call, I don't write...it's not you, it's me. I wil try harder. I will send you bouquets of memory sticks to make up for it. Let's make this work, mmmmKay?

Now that we have that covered! It is freakin' May! Where has the time gone??? I have been so busy with this new job, Michael, Stu, scrapbooking, life...

Let's see...what can I tell you...
1. Probably the most exciting news is that I am going to be a Master's level class in Project Management in the Arts for the Fall Semester. Scares the Dickens out of me.
2. Michael is making great progress in the reading and writing arenas. He likes to keep everyone on their toes until the last possible minute. Just when you are ready to throw him out the window, he comes up with the goods. Ahh...he gets the Mommy procrastination streak ... I want to take the time now to apologize to my parents for always making them pull their hair out. Especially Daddy - have you seen his hairline? Yep - my fault. I take full responsibility.
3. I am addicted to scrapbooking. I dream about it. I am taking out a second mortgage on my home just so I can buy more supplies. (Just kidding ... but only a little bit). Having so much fun documenting the everyday. And I love that my friends are equally addicted. Most people get a blank look when I go on and on about how much I love and adore Heidi Swapp.
4. My friend Carmen and I are road-tripping down to Tampa this weekend to take a class with a Scrapbook celebrity - Elsie Flannigan. So stinking excited. You have no idea.
5. I will stop talking about stinking scrapbooking so that I will still have readers.
6. Michael is going to turn 7 in a little under two months. Why must he continue to grow? And he wants to grow up faster ... because as he says "it's not easy being a kid". And by the way? He is not getting married either. He is against it.
7. Stu is doing well. His contract was renewed, so they "like him, they really him".
8. I'm sorry I lied. One last scrabooking thing. Here's my latest page:

I will be better at updating...really. I know, I know. I have said that before. But this time will be different. Trust me internet. You know you want to.

Oh the places you will go...

I went to Midnight Madness last night with some girlfriends. Doesn't that sound like we went dancing all night long? Nope ... better. We went scrapbooking all night long. Oh. Yes. Try not to be jealous. Anyway, I thought I would share the fruits of my labor here for all to see.

Had a great time. Scrapbooked, had a fabulous dinner at Food Glorious Food (grouper - who knew I liked fish so much!), laughed and laughed. So fun. Came home at midnight to a quiet house. Good times.

I will be entering into my fourth week at the new job. I really think this is going to be a great thing. I am slowly but surely getting to know where everything is and I think that the people are starting to warm up to me and I to them. Anyone out there proficient in Photoshop or InDesign? I need some lessons! I am reading anything I can get my hands on about these programs now and trying my hand at them.

Smooches to everyone ... gotta go fold the laundry and wait for this dumb football game to be over so that I can watch what looks to be a fabulous episode of Grey's Anatomy!

Four things...

As seen in other places ... Four Things:

Four jobs you have had in your life (in descending order): I have had quite a few jobs so let's see if I can pick the better of them ...

1. My first job ever was as a server at Rockin' Robins in Snellville. On weekends, we served beer and I wasn't allowed to serve, so I was the soda jerk. So fun. Best milkshakes. I built my restaurant experience by also working at Waffle House (in Panama City Beach, FL - and I still have all of my teeth!) and a long career at Applebee's (in Rome, GA and Snellville)

2. Apprentice at Northern Lights Playhouse...my duties were quite glamourous ... raking the dirt, making hot dogs, directing the children's theatre show. I went on to become the Public Relations and Education Director, but that was a brief stint before moving to Cincinnati.

3. Publicity and Education Manager at Broadway in Atlanta. Loved, loved this job. Met cool people. Reached new highs in my career. Shook OJ Simpson's hand and had him tell me that I looked familiar and did he know me from somewhere (he didn't).

4. I am looking forward to starting my newest job on Tuesday as the Marketing Manager for the FSU School of Theatre.

Four movies you would watch over and over:
1.Never Been Kissed
2. Good Will Hunting
3. 13 Going on 30
4. The Princess Bride.

Four places you have lived:
1. Grayson, GA
2. Hazelhurst, WI
3. Cincinnati, OH
4. Tallahassee, FL

Four TV shows you love to watch:
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. Design on a Dime
3. Project Runway
4. MTV Reality shows

Four places you have been on vacation:
1. Los Angeles, CA
2. Palm Coast, FL
3. Cruise to the Eastern Carribean - St. Thomas, St. Maartin
4. New Smyrna Beach, FL

Four websites I visit daily:
1. Two Peas in a Bucket
2. CNN
3. myspace
4. Perez Hilton

Four of my favorite foods:
1. String Cheese
2. Pasta Salad
3. Chicken Burrito-just the insides from Panchero's
4. Fruit

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. New York City.
2. Back to yesterday before I was bitten on the face (twice!) by a mosquito. darn mosquito.
3. At my parent's house on the lake ... in the summer.
4. Ummm... in a clean house. darn procrastinating with the cleaning.

I am so not metal.

I'm not. Never have been. I tried. I'm more bubble gum pop. At least I am good at the whole self analysis thing...right?

Anyway...my name is Jennifer and I am addicted to Scrapbooking. I am. I freely admit it. I am well on my way to driving a mini van with a magnetic soccer ball on the back. As long as said mini van has a DVD player in the back ... I am set.

Back to scrapbooking. I love it. I love the supplies, the paper, the glue that is stuck all over my hands. Even more, I like putting our memories into a tangible form. And I think scrapbooking allows me to be more in the moment (with a camera, of course!) with Michael. Like last night ... Michael decided to practice skateboarding down the hallway. On his belly (he's getting ready for the luge in the Winter olympics, right?) . I probably should have thought about scuffed floors and dirty fingerprints along the wall. But I didn't. I just laughed with him. And clapped at his "Tony Hawk tricks". (How the heck does he know who Tony Hawk is anyway?) And grabbed the camera to document his excitement (see photo above!)

*Pardon the orangey photo - I've been playing with the different settings on my camera. And pardon the dirty floors.

Well Golly Gee Whilikers ...

It's been a long time since I blogged, eh? Is anyone reading this thing still.

Perhaps one of my New Year intentions will be to write more in this little ole blog. It really is a great way to document the mundane everyday occurrences that I know you are all so very interested in.

Like this one...it is 12:36 am on January 2 and my son is trying to tell me I need to be in bed. Who is the parent here? And? Shouldn't he be asleep? YES! I'm trying to blog here...

Alright I must succumb to the pressures of the child and put him back in the bed. He is going to have a very difficult time on Tuesday when school starts. Heck - I am going to have a very hard time when I have to go back to work on Tuesday.

Next up ... the joys of Christmas, New Years and my intentions for the upcoming year. Should be exciting stuff ... stay tuned.

Smooches to all!

Snaggle Tooth...

Michael lost his first tooth today! It has been loose for just a few days. Michael was snacking on an ice cream cone after school. He walked in holding a piece of something and asked if it was his tooth. Sure enough ... it was!

I made a little tooth fairy pillow - red tooth shaped with Spiderman fabric on the back and a little pocket to hold the tooth. Not very well made, but Michael likes it and is much safer than putting a tooth under Michael's pillow.

The tooth fairy better be carrying lots of cash. Michael is expecting $50.00. Times - they are a changin'! I am thinking that the Tooth Fairy can't quite swing that amount of money for a very small tooth. Perhaps $5.00 for the first and a dollar for every tooth after? Is that the going rate these days? Do Tooth Fairies leave notes? Inquiring minds want to know...

Here is Michael with his Tooth Pillow...Let me know if you would like one! I am selling them for ... $50.00. Gotta keep up!

Long time, no post ...

Hello....ello....llo...lo? Anyone still reading?

Well a couple of things to note for the past three weeks of no posting:
1. I completely bombed my interview with the School of Theatre. Completely. And I am not being hard on myself ... just stating the facts (m'am). It's Ok. I can laugh at it now ... a little.

2. Last weekend, we went to visit my parents. And Michael promptly got sick. They may never want us to come over again. We were not the party people.

3. Michael was out of school on Monday and Tuesday of this week. Stu caught strep throat and was out of work Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I almost packed up and joined the gypsies.

4. I submitted my very first scrapbook layout for pubication consideration last night. Creating Keepsakes (big scrapbook magazine) had a call for School Memories layouts. I designed one about the transition from kindergarten to first grade. This would appear not in the magazine, but in a special book they are doing. Who knows if it will be picked up, but hey - I tried right? I can't post it online until the 21st, but will as soon as I can.

5. I now know most of the lyrics to "My Humps" by the Blackeyed Peas. Try not to be jealous. This is in preparation for number 1 on my 30 things list. Watch for MC Jenn Doo at a karoke stage near you.

That's all I got for now. Smooches!

Where's my red stapler?

I have two job interviews next week - both with FSU's School of Theatre. I am interviewing for both the Cultural Participation Coordinator and the Marketing Manager position. Cross your fingers and knock on wood!

Bunco

I have leapt into the throes of suburbia and joined a bunco group. Bunco requires little to no brain cells - you throw three dice and hope to land on the proper number for that round. No skill - which is great because these women can drink anyone under the table.

I had the pleasure of hosting these twelve women at my house on Wednesday. The theme was black and white toga night - think Animal House with a Martha Stewart twist. I bought a 24 pack of Bud Light and a 24 pack of Michelob Ultra, 24 pack of Smirnoff Twists and 2 bottles of wine - one Chardonnay and one Merlot. I only had a half a bottle of Chardonnay, and 20 Smirnoff Twists left. These girls are crazy - and so fun.

Who knew Suburbia could be so fun? If every PTA meeting could be so fun, I think more parents would be involved!

5 things you may not know about me...

1. I have a ton of picture frames, but most do not have pictures in them. I can never find just the right photo to put up - and I can't pick just a few! I do still display the picture frames, just with the photo it came with.

2. I read blogs. Lots of them. And of people I don't even know. I compare it to my other obsession - reality TV. I also like to drive by houses and try to peek in windows. Not in a gross way - just to see how their house is decorated. Didn't know I was such a voyeaur did you?

3. When I eat a cheeseburger, I eat it in a spiral. I eat all of the crust off and then eat around the middle. Weird? Maybe just a bit.

4. I am shy.

5. Not a day goes by that I don't miss my grandma. Two years later, and I still grab the phone to call her.

Now it is your turn. Tell me something about you that I don't know in the comments!

It is heartbreaking to watch the news, read the survivor acccounts, and listen to the devastation of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I cannot imagine the sense of loss of an entire city and the ramifications of that loss for a lifetime. I also have trouble believing that this is happening in my very own country

I remember watching the stories coming out of the tsunami aftermath. And feeling a bit removed from the scene unfolding on the cable news. I gave a donation, and cried for the loss of life, but I couldn't identify with what was happening. It was too far away and a natural disaster that I didn't relate to.

Now I turn on the TV and realize that these people who are struggling for survival are mere hundreds of miles away. A day's drive. I feel helpless. I have given a small donation both to the Red Cross and a family of 6 who is staying with at the home Michael's vice principal. Neither of these donations are big by any means. But we will continue to give as we can through the next months, years. I have signed up with a local group in town to receive updates as to when they need volunteers to go to Mobile, AL to help with the efforts there. It's not enough, but it is a beginning.

I have my own thoughts on the way things have been handled. No doubt, we will continue to analize the timeline and steps taken for many years to come. Policies will be changed, thankfully. However, now is not the time to place blame or point fingers. Help is needed - that comes first.

What next? Locusts?

Back to regularly scheduled cheeriness in a bit ...

What?

Mommy, I am really glad that you married Stu and not some guy who doesn't wash his armpits"

Umm...sure. Me too. That would be so .... stinky.

Game boy.

Michael is home sick today - a bit of a fever with a cough and runny nose. He seems to be feeling better though.

He was watching TV while I folded some clothes today. Michael came to check on me.

"Mommy, did you know that there are more x-box games out there?"
Oh, really?
"Yeah, and did you know that there is something called a nintendo, and some boys and girls have both an X-box and a nintendo? "
I had no idea
"Isn't that cool?"
Totally.

Me thinks someone has the video game fever. Though I think Michael is one of the only ones to like the games more for the music. He will sing along to all of the songs on his ATV game and then walk around the house singing "Shiny shoes and shiny hair"*** for hours. Hilarious.

***I have not the first clue as to what this song is, but we love that part!

First Grade ... Already?!

Michael started First Grade today. I cried a little (does that really surprise anyone?)

We left for school this morning at 7:20 am. School begins at 7:50 am, but Michael needs time to warm up on the playground before he is ready to begin the day. This allows him to get settled in. I was the exact same way, though I didn't need the time on the playground. I would get up at 4:30 am to watch I Love Lucy and to wake up. People thought I was a morning person, but really, I was just up way before anyone else (but never on the weekends!).

I digress.

On our walk to school, Michael was pretty excited about starting first grade. We talked about his teacher's name (because I knew he had already forgotten) and his favorite part about school (the playground, of course). As we walked closer to school, he got a bit more quiet. Pensive, if you will. Michael found his classroom and set his book bag outside of the door. We stood, hand in hand, on the edge of the playground.

"Mommy, can you come and play with me?"
"No, boo, I can't; but I will stand right here and watch you until you get to go into your class."
"OK. Can I stand here with you for a little while? Just so you won't be alone."
"I would love for you to stand with me until you are ready to go play."

Amd we stood at the edge of the playground for just a little bit. More and more kids were arriving, more and more parents were watching from the sidelines. Michael's friend, Brantley from Kindergarten, came over and Michael ran off to play with him. I caught glimpses of green and blue stripes running here and there. I knew he would be OK. I looked over at the kindergarten playground - the more crowded of the play yards. Quite a few tearful moms and dads taking picture upon picture. I remember feeling that way -- heck, I felt that way still!

The bell rang. Michael ran over to gather his book bag of newly purchased school supplies and his lunch box. He gave me a smooch, a little wave, and headed into the classroom. I watched him from the windows - put down his book bag, take his supplies to the proper place, and sit down towards the back of the circle. I watched as he said the Pledge of Allegiance. And I walked away. And I shed a tear. My baby is growing up.

For your reading pleasure .... the list!

Here is my 30 things to do before I turn 30 list. Some are fun, some slightly unattainable, some serious... Feel free to push me along. I have only one short year until I turn 30. Gotta do it while I am young!

And without further ado, I present THE LIST:

1. Sing karaoke in front of a moderately sized crowd.
2. Eat at the Broken Egg Cafe (here in Tallahassee)
3. Audition for a play.
4. Run (not walk) in a 5K.
5. Complete the Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon (walk or run or both)
6. Lose 50 lbs.
7. Travel to New York City (with mom?).
8. Participate in an arts/craft show.
9. Write (hand write) a letter to a different person each week (and for those who know me, this is a hard thing for me to do, for some reason!)
10. Find a job that I love.
11. Take Michael to the new aquarium in Atlanta.
12. Read the first four Harry Potter books with Michael.
13. Go to the doctor for a check-up (because I haven't been in a very long time - Stu and Michael go enough for the both of us)
14. Go one week without spending a single penny.
15. Travel to California to see Tom and Marsha.
16. Cook more and learn to love it!
17. Take an art class.
18. Throw a dinner party.
19. Sew a doll.
20. Groom the back yard (within the fenced area) into something to be proud of.
21. Give blood.
22. Go on more date nights with Stu.
23. Eat a raw oyster.
24. Finish all current and future projects.
25. Get a passport.
26. See more live theatre.
27. Learn Photoshop.
28.Learn French (perhaps to use with my passport??)
29. Write a children's book (Thanks to Mom and Aunt Joani's suggestions)

And number 30. I am going to have a contest for this one. Tell me what you think my thirtieth entry should be. Go crazy!

Good things come in threes

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ELCNU MOT, MARSHA AND ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And also a happy birthday to Whitney Houston and Jason Wilbanks (who used to live down the street from me ages ago - he is one year older than me and that is about all of the information I have on Jason Wilbanks). I don't know who their third is, but I have my posse!

Elcnu Mot and Marsha - I am so lucky to share in my birthday with the two of you! We have our own August 9th club - wish we lived closer so that we could share birthday cake (or birthday watermelon, whichever). I hope the next year is fabulous.

I always feel a little contemplative on my birthdays. And this birthday is no different. I feel like I am older now, but yet I still don't like meatloaf (the food or the singer), or know how to play bridge. I do however still love MTV and boy bands. I am a little, shall we say, confused. Or stuck in my early twenties? Hmmm...

I am working on a "30 things to do before my 30th birthday" ... stay tuned.

Arts and crafts station!

Now that I know Aunt Joani is reading this little blog, I feel a little intimidated to post my latest painting. But, I will do it for the sake of posterity...

I am in the process of making over Michael's room (see how domestic I am?) I found this cute fabric at Joann's and bought some to make a pillow as well as to copy into a series of three paintings. I finished the first one yesterday and thought I would post for all to see ...

Here is the fabric:

And here is my painting:

I will post the other two upon completion.

And PS: I am still working on the synopsis of the vacation ...I want it to the best it can be for my dear readers. Mmmmwah!

Does this mean he likes me?

I got my haircut yesterday into a cute little shattered ends bob, with a wisp of bang slapped to the side. I walked out of the salon feeling like a hip yougster (which is much needed as my 29th birthday is mere days away!)

I got home - anxious to show off the new do. Stu was the first to greet me and agreed that the haircut was fabulous.

I walked into Michael's room with a grand "how do you like my new hairdo?". Michael looks at it and says "Mommy - you look like a boy." Such a way with words that one.

This morning, we were getting into the car and Michael says "don't worry, Mommy. your hair will grow back." A comforter to boot!

Oh the joys of motherhood, er fatherhood (just until the hair grows back). I am thinking that Michael should get a head start on living in the car ... no time like the present and all that.

Lofty aspirations

Michael: "When I grow up, I want to live in a car!"

Reach for the stars, baby.