A Spot of T

NaBloPoMo Is Over

NaBloPoMo is done.  Today is friday and the week is done.

I can't tell you how happy I am for both to be over and done with.

Seven Day Fool

Updated:  This young lady is Jully Black.  A Canadian girl who has brought back Etta James "Seven Day Fool".  The song has been number 1 on the charts for a couple of weeks now I believe.  I've googled Jully Black and she's unbelievable.  A funny, gorgeous, 6 foot tall Canadian dynamo.  Or at least they say she's 6 foot tall.  I was curious because she seemed so much taller then her dancers so when I searched I found two heights, 5'11" and 6'.  Either way it explains those legs that go for miles and miles.  She has won my heart with her great attitude and I'm really proud she's Canadian.

Text message I received from a friend yesterday....

I thought of you when I heard this song this morning. (link to youtube)  I know you will LOVE this because it's your kind of music.  The honey with the newspaper doesn't hurt the soul either.  Now cheer up.  You seven day FOOL you!

She's right.  Not about the fool part of course.  I'm nobody's fool.  But lordy lordy I love this music!  And that gorgeous dreamy honey with the newspaper?  Why I'm sure I never even noticed.

~~Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.~~  Berthold Auerbach

Wednesdays With Mushu

When mom is sad it makes me sad.  I keep an eye on her and I follow her around the house.  If she goes downstairs then I go downstairs and watch her.  If she goes in the kitchen I sit at the edge of the kitchen and watch her.  If she goes down to the couch in the front room to sit and think, I go down to the front room, jump up on the couch beside her.....and watch her.

Yesterday mom sat in her office.  She didn't go on the computer very much.  She just sat there.  Looking out the window.  Her office is her favorite place in the house and I always join her like I did yesterday.....so I could watch her.  Mom has a special chair in the office just for me.

I like to be close to mom when she's working in the office......

......I also like to look out the window to keep an eye on the birds, neighbour cat, squirrels, deer and the occassional moose.

Yesterday I sat and stared at mom most of the time.  She would move her chair closer to me, scratch my ear, rub my chin and tell me what a good pup I am.  We just sat there.  Looking out the window together.

It makes me sad when my mom is sad.

Slightly Bored and Just Venting A Bit

I can't clean, do dishes, wash clothes, etc. etc. etc.  So why not have two posts in one day.  It's quite amazing how we come to rely on the basic necessities of life.  Like water.  Ok I'm slightly bored.  No that's wrong, I'm a little stressed over something.  How can I have such a great day yesterday, get home and in a matter of hours, the whole thing come crashing down??!  Is it any wonder I've turned into such a hermit over the years.  I've never regretted starting this blog, but last night and today is definitely one of them.  Fuck I hate people sometimes. 

So anyway!  Nothing like talking in code and if I were to really think about it?  It's really not worth getting stressed over.  I can think of a whole lot of other more important things to get stressed over I tell you.  Like water.  So moving on Joy.  I've been up for a few hours already and between phone calls and pacing, I've been playing on here.  Mostly with Photoshop which definitely calms my nerves.  I've only been playing with the very basics in-between all the running around I've been doing because it's quite the program so far.  Hard to constantly stop and go on a project so much.  I was thinking of taking a course on Photoshop in the new year anyway and now that I've played with it a bit, I don't think that's a bad idea at all.  Oiy.

I have also now visited every single last Fun Mondayer from yesterday.  What a great Fun Monday.  I was relieved to see my home wasn't the only one with unfinished projects.  Yes.  Sometimes you think you're the only one.  Man it feels good to know other's feel the displeasure of not having those projects done too.

I have to wait for Sleep Country to deliver my daughter's new mattress today.  You know.  "Somewhere between 8:00am and 4:00pm so make sure and be available please Mrs. T".  Super.  I'll be sitting here waiting because I love waiting for people between the hours of 8:00am and 4:00pm.  So far they've called twice and it's only 9:00am.  Something about their records not showing we paid so we'll have to pay again when the mattress is delivered.  Umm no.

Sleep Country Young Man:  "Hi Mrs. T?"

Me:  "Yes."

Sleep Country Young Man:  "This is Sleep Country again, we've looked and do see on the computer where it says you paid, but the transcript in my hand here says you haven't paid so unless we can get a hold of the store you purchased the mattress from to confirm you have indeed paid.  You're going to have to pay again."

Me:  "What's your name?"

Sleep Country Young Man:  "Oh my name's Rick Mrs. T."

Me:  "Rick.  You have no idea how my night and morning have gone, because really how could you, but I am telling you.  If those men come into my home and ask me for money after you have taken the time to look up on the computer and it clearly states on that computer that we have indeed paid for this mattress.  Well Rick I am not going to be happy.  So how about I just show those men the receipt we received when we purchased the mattress?  The one I'm holding in my hand right this minute.  Would that be good enough Rick, or does the receipt not override your transcript?"

Sleep Country Young Man:  "Oh.  No the receipt will be great.  If you have the receipt, that's all we'll need."

Me:  "Excellent Rick.  You have now put a glimmer of hope in my day."

Gregg called this morning and a plumber can come out tomorrow morning.  At what cost I have no idea.  But first I was informed I have to go to the county office to fill out all the forms for a water meter.  To the tune of $500.00.  The plumber will then come out and do what he has to do tomorrow morning and then the County water meter guys (I'm sure there's a technical name for them but I don't know it and I don't care) will come out and install it.  Will we have water by the end of the day tomorrow?  Who the hell knows.  I'll keep looking at the positive and thanking the good lord up above that the money is no problem.  Because I was sitting here thinking there was definitely a time in our married life that even a lousy $500 would have been a seriously huge deal for us.  So.  I'm going to keep thinking positive thoughts and telling myself it could be worse.  Much worse.  Of course I can't get to the county office, which is open now, because I have to wait for Sleep Country to deliver the mattress.  Frick.  And the plans I had today?  Have all had to be cancelled and moved.  And one of those plans I had really wanted to do.  Another frick.  Gregg feels bad I have to look after this, I feel pissed over something that has absolutely nothing to do with the water or even the mattress and....I think I now know why there is a long line of alcoholics on my side of the family.  Stuff.  Gets to us.

And since I'm rambling I may as well say....I have three parcels that are FINALLY wrapped and ready to be mailed so I'll be getting those to the post office today.  Thank heavens for Express Post.  Of course that will have to be after Sleep Country gets here and after running to the county office.  I also think since I can't clean anything today, I might get home and start working on Christmas cards.  Getting the lists out and sorting through them.  Going through the list where the two year rule applies.  What is the two year rule?  It's the one where I send you a Christmas card for two years in a row but you're a jerk you don't send anything back because you hate my guts and wish I would just leave you alone already don't believe in sending Christmas cards out to me anyway.  Your name is now taken off the list.  No biggie, it just goes off.

I have appointments to make with Christmas coming up so I may as well get those done as well.  Hair appointments, nails, pedicures, etc.  One must look 'put together' for the holiday afterall.  *rolling eyes here*  Us women do it because we feel we have to I guess, but I swear I don't see many men primping like we do when we get ready for an 'occasion'.  I wonder why that is?  Gregg's company Christmas party is coming up so there's that to get ready for.  My oldest daughter joined a Christmas cookie swap at work and even though she's more then capable of baking, because her momma taught her well, 10 dozen cookies on her own, she asked if I wanted to make a day of it.  It'll be a lot of fun and I made a deal with her that if I spent one day baking cookies, then she had to come back out the next day to help me make antipasto.  I used to make antipasto with my sister every year and I haven't been able to bring myself to do it since she passed away.  I do believe after 6 1/2 years I can finally bring myself to make it again.  I know.  What a goob.  It's just antipasto Joy.

Gregg is home that same weekend which means the Christmas lights will go up and also the Christmas tree will go up.  Wow I think I hear Angels singing and soft music playing or something.  I'll be taking lots of pictures that weekend.  Not of the angels or soft music.  The cooking and the lights.  Something to look forward to and I can then smack Gregg for the water issue.  Oh yes, it will still be clearly in my mind.  Then he can grab me and tell me to stop it and tell me to give him a kiss.  Cause he's like that.  Drives me insane and crazy all at the same time.  Christmas decorations inside and outside to put up, get the house in order and cleaned from top to bottom before Christmas, the list goes on and on and on.  It's never ending really.

But most importantly I would like to go workout on my treadmill to get rid of some of this stress, but I don't want to get all sweaty and then not be able to have a shower.  Sigh.  Pathetic really.  All the people in the world who are truly suffering and these are the dilemmas of my life.  Sheesh.  For shame.

Go Ahead...Ask me How I'm Doing

Anyone remember this post back in September?

Now.

Anyone care to venture a guess as to how my evening went last night?

I left the house at 7:00am yesterday and didn't return until a little after 7:00pm.  That is a whole lot of hours away from my comfort zone.  I had a fantastic day though and what helped was there wasn't one person I met throughout the day who was miserable.  You may think that's not a big deal, but I've gone out some days and come back slightly cranky, not because I couldn't find the things I was looking for, but because miserable rude people were around every corner.  Not yesterday though.  Happy clerks, people holding the door open for each other, strangers talking in a store, someone bought me my coffee at the drive-thru, I had a really great conversation with the gentleman behind me in Staples as we were waiting for the huge line-up to get smaller, etc.  At every turn it was all excellent.  Well except for the one clerk who hacked up a lung, then sneezed on her hand, then proceeded to hand me my parcel.  As a germaphobe?  You may as well just shook me in the head right then and there.  However, I groaned at her, she laughed and apologized, I thanked her then smiled and walked away holding the parcel with my left pinky finger and away from me like it was the plague itself.  Nothing a little hand sanitizer didn't cure though.  Or ok it was a whole bottle but whatever.

After a long but glorious day I like to come home and soak in the tub or at the very least have a nice long hot shower.  It helps me relax after being around so many people.  Decompress you might say.  No big deal right?  Go and soak and decompress.  Except I went in the kitchen first and my youngest comes upstairs and says "There's something wrong with the water."  I didn't even have to ask, I knew.  How did I know?  Because I've always had an amazing gift of premonition.

Gregg is out of town and the temperature in the windchill right now is -25 degrees.  The only good news.....is it isn't the weekend.  OK the really good news would be the old furnace that groans everytime it turns on hasn't crapped out at the same time as the pump.

So where I would normally just handle anything like this that comes my way, on this particular project, I called Gregg.  Why did I call Gregg on this where I wouldn't on anything else that may go wrong?  Because like in the September post, this was a project HE was to have looked after two years ago.  And why haven't I just gone ahead and made the damn phone call to get a plumber out?  Don't start with me Willowtree.  I'm in no mood and will seriously walk to Australia to smack you.  So I'm letting Gregg finish what he started.  Of course I'll have to be here when the guy comes to hook everything up because I doubt Gregg can get home from BC in time, so I guess I'm still participating in this fun little project anyway.

I was surprisingly calm over the phone and to be honest I think it made Gregg a bit nervous.  He assured me he is on the phone first thing this morning to find a plumber to come out and take the lousy hour it takes to hook up the City water.  If a plumber can come out today I'll be thoroughly impressed.  If not, what are you going to do?  Not a damn thing that's what.  Gregg knows how I feel on this particular little project, I know how Gregg feels about procrastinating on this particular little project and it doesn't really matter because what really matters right now is there is no water in the house.  Food no problem.  Water?  Problem.

The pump that crapped out in the well?  Well it can freeze in hell for all I care.  Not much sense going to the trouble of getting someone out and pulling it if the City water is getting hooked up.  We'll decide what to do with the well in the Spring.

Me?  Yes I am surprisingly calm.  Why?  Because if something doesn't happen by the end of tomorrow, in one hour I can be in a wonderful, glorious hotel.  A hotel who has nice hot running water, room service and so much more.

Fun Monday #20

                                

First up, the 'caution' sign.  Obviously a Fun Mondayer made up this logo and I grabbed it with the intention of asking the person if I could use it....got side-tracked.....then forgot to ask.  And because my memory sucks in the worst way I can't for the life of me remember where it came from.  If you are the one who made the sign up and don't want me using it then let me know and I'll take it down toot sweet with my apologies.  If I can keep using it then thank you very much because I think it's adorable.

Blue Momma from Life in the Fish Bowl is our host this week for Fun Monday.  This is her request.......

I want you to show me your......projects. More to the point, I want to see your unfinished projects. I have so many that I really need some reassurance that I'm not the only one. Home improvement projects are what I have in mind, but it you don't have any of those show me any kind of project - needlework, cooking, scrapbooking, etc. You can even show me your spouse if they qualify as a work in process.  And please, I WANT PICTURES!!!! You can talk if you want, but you don't have to. I know since you are all bloggers talk is bound to happen, but I most definitely want to see photos of those unfinished projects.

I originally had a picture of the lovely hole that still resides in my basement ceiling because right now it is the biggest pain in my ass and it's horribly ugly and I break out in a sweat at the thought of Gregg's family coming here for Christmas Eve again this year and having to look at the damn fug ugly thing all evening and.....but I won't.  Because I'll break out in hives if I start and hives are not a good look for me.

Instead I will show you some projects "I" have been putting off....

                  

First up is the exercise room.  If you visit my blog often you've heard me mention getting this room done a time or two...or five.  What's scarey is it's so not like me to not getting working on something like this.  I really do think I burnt out putting all my effort into my son's room a few months back.  I love my exercise room and have begun to spend many an hour in here.  Gregg put up the new blinds for the window about a month ago and they'll go much better with the new paint color then that green color.  I have a picture in my mind what I want the room to look like, I'm excited for it to be done because I think it will rock for the amount of space I have to work with.  But I still can't get motivated.  I say I am going to get working on the room.....and I especially said it the last two times I've gone to get on the treadmill and stubbed my toe on the blasted rowing machine I pulled out of storage but haven't set up yet.....then I can't get motivated.  I finally get motivated and then something comes up.  Today is my busiest day this week but the rest of the week looks really good time-wise and this room will be done.  Damn it!  It has to be, because once December hits there's no way I'll be able to get to it.

Next up we have scrapbooking.  Don't you love all the gorgeous scrapbooks of the kids?  Oh you don't see any scrapbooks?  Ya.  Neither do I.  About 4 years ago I finally went through every single picture and sorted them into the three smaller tubs you see on top of the big yellow tub.  Oh.  The yellow tub has all kinds of goodies in it that I've saved over the years.  Things the kids have made, letters, etc.  Anyway, the three tubs are one for each child.  Kelsey's is the green one and it's fuller.  She was the first born.  Enough said.  But that's where it ends.  I sorted each child's pictures and then they've sat up on a shelf in the office closet forever now.  I'll get to it in the next few years new year I'm sure.

There are so many more projects around this house and acreage that are started and not finished it's not even funny. But I'll end with some punch needle work.  I have about eight little punch needle kits sitting here I'd like to get to soon.  Or you know.  When I'm not busy doing other things.  Like fricken NaBloPoMo.  Friday I am crackin open the bubbly I tell you because there were so many days I was going to call it quits.  I think I deserve a little celebration for perserving and actually finishing the damn thing.

Next week Robinella is hosting Fun Monday.

Link Love Sunday

Does anyone know what time it is?  Well I do because I'm sitting here looking at my clock and it says 12:24am.  Sunday.  If I get this post done now maybe I can sleep in without laying in bed thinking I better get up and get a post up because god forbid I miss a post of NaBloPoMo.  5 more days people, just 5 more days.

I thought I would get a bit more organized for my Link Love Sundays and thought each week I would give one link to the things I find most interesting.  One personal blog, one photography blog and one craft blog.  Maybe every once in awhile I'll throw in something else, but since these are the type of blogs I tend to stalk visit most of the time, why not share those links.

Personal Blog Linky Love

M.I.L.D.E.W.

On her banner it has a little cleaning bottle with "mil -b- gone" which I think is absolutely priceless.  MILDEW is her wordpress blog.  This blog over here is where it all began.  If you haven't guessed by now it's a blog about mother-in-laws.  She changed things up a bit not too long ago and now if YOU would like to vent about your mil you can go to this post and read how to send her your mil nightmare post.  Strictly confidential.  I LOVE going here and reading all the stories.  If you have a mil you love and adore and is kind and sweet to you?  Excellent.  Then this isn't for you obviously.  To read yes, but to vent no.  If you do have a mil who has made your life a living hell, well then going here might just reassure you you are not alone in this big bad world we live in sometimes.  And don't worry men.  This is about ALL mil's and you are welcome to write in as well.  And if you men love and adore you mil's?  Excellent.  Then this isn't for you either obviously.  To read yes, but to vent no.  Am I sounding like a broken record yet?

Craft Linky Love

One Stop Mom

What an incredible treat stumbling onto this blog.  I like everything about this blog but I especially like her craft section.  An extra extra treat?  Don't miss her Digital Scrapbooking Blog.  Tutorials galore!

Photography Linky Love

For the camera buffs we have The Online Photographer.  Most excellent.  Check out the archives and all the resources on the sidebar.  You won't be disappointed. 

An Explanation Of My 'Rain on My Parade' Drug Of Choice

People are funny.

In a nutshell someone emailed me about my post yesterday and this person thinks I shouldn't live with a man who rains on my parade.  They lived with someone who constantly rained on their parade (abuse) and they finally got out and it was the best thing they ever did.  Excellent.  That you got out.  Not so great you may think I'm in that kind of situation.  Oh oops.

So I'm doing something I wouldn't normally do.  Explain myself.  Here we go.  The questions in the post yesterday were "Who is the one person who rains on your parade?" and "How do you handle it when they do?"

I put Gregg because it's true, but it's also because I don't allow myself to be around people who rain on my parade anymore.  Which meant it was slim pickins on people to pick from because I let very very few people into my little world.  There was only one slim to pick.  Now if this question would have been asked about 10 years ago, I probably would have spewed off way more then one person.  But I'm older and I've learned to, oh I don't know, cleanse the soul sort of thing.

All toxic people have left the building.  No more toxic people.  The toxic people who are in my life now, I have no choice but to be around.  You know, like family members who don't belong to my gene pool, or the woman who I think is very rude at the eye doctor, people like that.  I limit my time around toxic people as much as humanly possible.  You learn over the years you do not have to have them in your life if they are not good for you.  You also learn you don't have to feel guilty over it either.

Gregg is not one of those people.  Gregg is good for me.  He's sooooooo good for me.  The big lug.  I'm going to keep him.  When the question was asked about who rains on my parade, it had to be him.  Oh I could have been all fluffy and mushy and said "No one rains on my parade, I live a life free from rainy parades."  But that just wouldn't be me.  He's the greatest and the worst all rolled into one.  Drives me insane one minute....rains on my parade......then calls to apologize and has me laughing the next. 

I don't allow anyone into my life who brings the dark clouds of those rain showers, but I am married to Gregg.  He's my husband and he's got this way about him that gets under every last nerve I have.  But he's good for me.  I used to say to my sister, "He's the best drug I've ever had in my life."  Yes, I did drugs when I was younger.  I did what I did and that's it, no apologies here.  So I've been all kinds of high and I've come crashing down to some pretty good lows.  This man in my life is such a rollercoaster of highs and lows it makes my head spin sometimes.  I likey.  He's the best drug I've ever had.

Joy......

Gregg.....

To think I was sitting here not knowing what to write about today.  Thank god for emails.  Maybe tomorrow I'll write a post entitled 'I kicked a small kitten today'......and see what that brings.

TGIF Let's Take a Look in the Mailbag

Sheryle wrote:

Joy you have to tell us how the meeting went with the teacher!  I'm all for teachers but sometimes they really rub me the wrong way.

I can't tell you how many people I know by the name of Sheryle.  I don't know you of course but I know a whole slew of people named Sheryle.  Unless I'm saying your name wrong.  Which is highly possible.  Like Cheryl but with an s...and an e.  I only know one Sheryl with an S.  All the others are Cheryl with a C.  So cool.  And I like every single one of those Cheryl's both with C and S's.  Well ok there's one certain C who gets on my last nerve a bit but nothing serious.  Uh.  What was the question?  Did I ever tell you I get distracted easily?

The meeting with the teacher went....well.  I do believe by the end of the interview the teacher and I were both on the same page and of course that page is my child's page.  I tell you.  Some people.

Pen wrote:

I'm a teacher Joy so go easy please.  It's not always the teacher's fault and some parents overreact.

I didn't realize I said it was the teacher's fault.  I apologize if I came across like that.  And I'm only being slightly sarcastic here.  I would never blame a teacher.  I never have and never will.  Luckily I have only ever had to talk to two teachers, and after yesterday three, in all the years my children have attended school.  I have three children.  One graduated two years ago, another about to graduate and one in grade 11.  That is a whole pile of school years between them.  I think my track record of speaking to teachers and 'overreacting' speaks for itself.  Let's see here.....

One teacher kept telling the class she didn't know why any of the students were even in the class because they were all going to fail anyway.  And not just once, but kept repeating it day in and day out.  Huh?  I had a daughter who was confused because she was an honor student yet she was constantly being told she was going to fail the class.  When I confronted the teacher she said "Oh I didn't mean your daughter.  I meant the other students."  There was more to it then that of course, but I promptly took my daughter out of her class.

Another teacher told my daughter she "didn't need to do good in school because she was blonde and pretty and she would be well taken care of when she was older."  My child was in Grade 3 at the time.  Grade 3?!  I found out the teacher said this when I was trying to get my daughter to do her homework and she boldly told me what the teacher had said.  Ya.  You want to see a mother march down to a school and confront a teacher.  I give her credit for being dummer then a sack of hammers and standing there and admitting it though.  Wow.  "Yes I said that to your daughter Mrs. T. because it's true.  Your daughter is blonde and she's very pretty and will probably never have to worry about supporting herself."  By then I had already worked through my anger issues from my youth so I didn't do to this teacher what I wanted too.  I did have a 'word' with her though and I do believe I got my point across.  Oh.  And I didn't pull my daughter out of this teacher's class either.  There are some lessons you just can't learn from a book.  It was also a time I was very grateful for being a stay-at-home mom because I never volunteered so much at the school then I did that year.  The teacher and I by the end of the year?  Well we became bossom buddies and still talk to this day.  That was me being extremely sarcastic.  The teacher loved me in her class all the time and wished she had a million like me.  That was sarcasm again.

Chaise wrote:

I love your sense of humor Joy.  I probably won't write again because I just lurk but since I love when you do your mailbag I have a question.  Who is the one person in your life who rains on your parade?  How do you handle it when they do?  Thanks Joy, keep on writing.

Lurk away Chaise.  One question though.  How many times in your lifetime have people said your name is spelled like a piece of furniture?  I know I know.  Probably as many times as I've heard "Joooooy to the world.  Alllllll the boys and....".  I feel your pain.  Unless you're pulling my leg and your name isn't really Chaise.  Then the jokes on me.  Good one.

The one person in my life who rains on my parade?  Gregg.  Absolutely without a doubt Gregg.  When I am in a great mood and feeling good about myself, it never fails he'll say something.....really stupid.  I can go from a complete high to a complete low in a matter of seconds when he's around because of the things he says.

How do I handle it?  Well if it's on the rare occasion we're together and he does it, I crack him upside the head with my fist.  Ok no I don't.  He's big.  But I do tell him he's being a complete and utter ass and to stop it.  If we are on the phone and he rains on my parade?  Well normally he'll catch me off guard so I'll start yelling at him and tell him to be nice.  The older I get though, I'm just going to start hanging up.  Maybe he'll figure out how to be nice to a dead phone.

And on that lovely note, onto more important things.  Only one more week of NaBloPoMo.  It's been brutal this time around for me.  BRUUUUUTAL.

Photoshop CS3 is my Preeeeecious

I used to read a lot more then I do now.  I still read, but since I started blogging I find I spend a bit more of my 'book' reading time, on 'blog' reading time.  Reading is reading in my mind.  Or maybe I'm just trying to make excuses for the amount of blogs I read.  Whatever.

When I used to read more then I do now? I would sometimes stumble upon a book I couldn't put down.  The kids would be whining they were hungry, the laundry would pile up, and taking Mushu for his walks would just have to wait for another day.  Sorry guys.  Mom's got a book that is riveting and she can't put it down until it's done.  I tell you what.  We'll play picnic today.  Now you kids go make yourself a sandwich and sit at the table and pretend it's a picnic table.  Don't forget to walk the dog.  Because on picnics we walk the dog.

But I believe I have found something that will trump all the books I've ever read and the best of the best of the blogs I've been lurking at all these months.  For I have found Photoshop CS3.  I wish I could make a big booming voice and have it echo for the sound effects I want.  You can't hear me but I just squealed a little bit just writing those words.  Photoshop CS3.  Yep.  Squealed a little bit again.

It's only the 30 day free trial so I'm not squealing like I could be.  I wanted to try it first to see if I really would like it.  Oh lordy lordy do I like what I see so far.  I have spent the entire morning and part of the afternoon downloading not only the free Photoshop trial but a few other things as well and have just started to play with them.  I have brought out my Scott Kelby book I bought a few months ago....yes I bought a Photoshop book before I even had Photoshop....want to make something out of it....and one person should not be allowed to be this happy.

It's why I had to put in 'preeeeeecious' in the title of my post.  I now completely and totally understand The Lord of the Ring's Sméagol and that darn ring.  This Photoshop CS3?  Is my ring.  It is my preeeeecious.

Thank god one child is out on her own and self sufficient and the other two are in high school and I no longer have to run three children here and there and every where and live in my vehicle like I used to.  Oh the freedom of having children grow up.  Three children all driving, all very independent and most importantly, all capable of looking after themselves.  No more playing picnic.

I knew I groomed them that way for a reason.  Because maybe deep down in my subconscious I knew one day I would find Photoshop CS3.  And I would fall in love and swoon and be completely mesmerized by such a glorious thing.  My preeeeecious.