SpaceTricot

Pick me up...I've landed. I feel like I have been on another planet...

Here I am!!

So many things change...

and peeps...you know I fear change.

I like the steady rut of a good commute, the same fuzzy slippers, and the solace of the DVR.

I'm getting married. Like as in MARRIED. FOR REALS.

7/8/09! On a Wednesday!

Now and forever, Crazy or Sane...I do!

I guess I should elaborate on my story...

I was single. (duh)

I went on the plentyoffish.com

(under duress...someone said they would be putting up a profile for me!)

I completed my profile

I uploaded a picture...this is what I posted

I thought..cute...

I love video games...I am a star wars chicky...can even do it in heels. ha!

(Side Note: who doesn't love racing pods through Tatooine, I ask you?!)

I start looking on my "matches" I use this term loosely. It's really not a matchy matchy 29 dimension kind of site...more like an ebay kind of thing.

Ha...Ebay dating. Lots of pictures to provide you with endless WTF?! and OMG!! looking at the pictures and profiles. oh and it's free.

FREE is for ME!

I wasn't even on for 5 minutes...it was like really really really late say...after Midnight?

**Twink!**

Pops up this Instant messenger window.

"what are you doing"

um... I start clicking his profile like a mad woman...who is this person?! 

...He ended up getting my phone number that night and we talked talked talked (wait..that was me who talked and talked and talked)...until 2 am.  

On our first date I knew he was *something else*. I called my Best Guy friend right after our date and told him I'm soooo in trouble.

Fabulous.

No more Plenty Of Fish. I was hooked. Hook, Line and Sinker.

Which brings me to...almost 10 months later - engaged...getting married to a wonderful man, merging into a wonderful family and gaining a brilliant and super terrific stepdaughter.

How did I get so lucky?

Life couldn't be simpler (yes simpler) and more full of joy.

Our girls (I love saying that!!) are like peas and carrots. 10 months apart...irish twins. Like me and keowdie.

...

I've been out in the Metro DC area since 1994. Away from my family in Saint Louis when I was just barely 19 years old. Outside of Jenna's dad, I've been without family.

I've made great friends who adopted me into their families and I am so grateful for all their love and support over the years. Being 860 miles away from my sisters, my mom and aunt, my grandparents hasn't been easy. 

But for the first time since leaving Saint Louis, I feel like I have a family here - present - able to go out to dinners and only a few minutes drive. Gatherings full of kids, food, and booming conversations, and laughter.  

Oh dear...I am getting a little Verklempt. (sniffle)

I guess my message is - I am doing great!

Lots of change around the corner and I've restarted blogging because I just have so damn much to share!

Gardening

Knitting

Crazy Adventure!

Stay tuned!!

I like coffee with half and half. No sugar, no sweetener.

I've tried pods, espresso machines, gold filters, paper filters...it all works for me. 

I crave it all day long. I can drink it right before I go to bed.

What best I like is regular drip coffee, no frills, no barista. 

Maxwell House, Chock full o'Nuts, Folgers, Gevalia, Gloria Jean's, Timothy's...I'm a friend of all of them.

It's safe to say if you ask me for gum or a mint, I'm probably carrying. I may ask you to hold my cup of coffee while I root about in my purse for the last piece...

I love Dunkin Donuts coffee. Whether its in the store, or from the little bag of ambrosia that they sell at the food store...I'm all about the Double D.

Look up your favorite caffinated bev here! it's on the internet (everything is you know)  

Caffeine in Various Beverages

So why have I given up? What is my main reason??

Generally something of this magnitude in my life is attributed to my vanity. Not in this case.

Did you know Coffee is acidic? AND effects sleep (usually delays sleep onset, shortens overall sleep time, and reduces the "depth" of sleep). 

Sleep.

I read on this blog out at the end of the internet...that I can get up better in the morning by becoming caffeine free. Like without alarms and snoozes...I am about to have an hour commute one way to work...and I need to train myself to get up in the morning. 

 Another thing is that apparently my ruse with the mints, gum and excessive toothbrushing isn't really fooling anyone (ahem). and HONEY having the coffee breath, oh! that is NOT FABULOUS. 

I have been without coffee for 8 days.

EIGHT LONG DAYS

I have noted changes to my sleep patterns. I wake up at 6:30am every day.

I say I wake up...I didn't say I don't snuggle back into the covers and catnap until 7:00am.

BUT! I am not comatose and slamming the snooze. I think I need to start working on my vertical body placement once my eyes are open. That will be step two. Breaking the sleeping in cycle.

I am not crabby anymore in the morning. I don't have the headaches...but that could be attributed to my copious consumption of the Constant Comment Tea and Chai.

I also am not frantically rooting around with my nose in the bottom of my bag looking for that last lint covered piece of trident. Or causing massive fingernail damage trying to wedge open the altoids while I am driving down the road.

I get more kisses and $ave money by not constantly running in the gas station for a cuppa and cool sweet spearpepperfreshmint burst gum.

I do battle the feeling that something is missing when I am driving to work and NOT sipping on the sweet sweet ambrosia while listening to Morning Edition.

# things I attribute so far to my meager success #

                        drinking lots more water

                    substituting tea/chai for coffee

      not going places where I can smell any sort of coffee

My goal is to make it last.

Now if you excuse me, I must make a cup of tea. 

  My sister decided to blog about Tidy Up Tuesday, so I am going to also post about Tidying up this Wednesday.

COPYCAT!  Jinx Keowd. you owe me a coke. nahh.

Rosie is representing up in here at Spacetricot.

Fine! here is a link to her post http://keowdieknits.blogspot.com/2009/05/tidy-up-tuesday_18.html

Shameless Blog topic stealer!

I would like to introduce you to the fabulous notion of the FREECYCLE GROUPS

I am going to use this Tidy Up Tuesday to relate some of my experiences with Freecycling.

I was introduced to freecycling by my most excellent compadre in arms, Angela.

Hello Blog... This is Angela...Angela this is your first of many showcases on my blog.

Ange was freecycling. I was like what the heck is freecycling?!

It had one of my favorite words... FREE, and free is for me.

Basically you sign up for a Freecycling Group in your area...for me that is the Odenton Freecyclers...and POST stuff you are in need of... or want to get RID of.

It's as easy as that. Bloody Brilliant!

Leave it outside your house, have them come pick it up and poof that old fisher price kitchen is gone baby gone. or say you need a replacement top for your....lets pick something, uh totally random here... Your Magic Bullet Mixer. Someone responds to your plea and poof you have 5 new replacement tops and an additional Magic Bullet from a previous owner who didn't appreciate its fine workmanship and quality. You see how nice this is?

Well in the spirit of this blog. I am going to post an offer at 11:30am today.

Here is my post...

OFFER:PAIR Nike Soccer Shin/Ankle Guards - Size YOUTH SMALL

While we're waiting for responses to our Offer...

Here is an example of how great this network is...where else can you get rid of your...men's hair gels. Translation: PPU:previously picked up

TAKEN: PPU men's hair gels

This item is PPU.  Thanks for all the interest!

This must have been a hot item. WOW. Who knew?

Such a nice way to Tidy up. I am planning on freecycling more in between now and when I move out. Which is in, lemme see...29 days. Holy Moly. I need to freecycle faster!

Let me give a list of all the things I have freecycled

9 buddhas, 6 posters 6 bags of clothes, 2 bags of shoes, towels, planting pots, and a rug.

I attempted to freecycle my kitchen table, but there was much gnashing of teeth and consternation from the smallest member of my household, and therefore was taken off the mass jettison.

Now we all freecycle stuff, like Deni and I in our own way "freecycles" Jen's clothes to my soon to be stepdaughter, which I personally think sounds much better than HANDMEDOWNTHANKYOUVERYMUCH. We freecycle from one house to the other. It works out pretty good.

But this is with STRANGERS...so therefore is more exciting.

Disclaimer: I do not let people into my house, nor do I give them my unit number. All items are in the foyer of my condo.

Personally I like seeing the email responses with these crazy wacked out email names that I end up putting on labels for the freecyclers who come to pick up stuff.

I have had some say  

FREECYCLE PPU for SpiritWoman0797 (can you guess who took all my buddhas?)

FREECYCLE PPU for JanetJiggles2 (is there a janetjiggles 1?)

FREECYCLE PPU for Kidsbopmom

FREECYCLE PPU for MuffinAnn

I even in a way freecycled my bird, Suni.

Stop! Wait. It was a yahoo group "pet exchange" on for my county and I carefully screened 23 applicants and ended up finding her the best home ever to a young man who will love her forever. What a network!

Here is a pic of Suni the freecycle wonder lovebird sitting on her second favorite landing spot.

Isn't she just the cutest?

Here is the reason why she had to be Freecycled to a new home.

Blog this is Carrot, Carrot, welcome to the blog.

Before I give Carrot a bad rap, he's a terrific cat. I LOVE him.

Carrot has OCD.

Like for example, he caught 2 mice about 6 months ago.

He still sits in that same spot waiting to kill more mice.

M and I figured know...he'd be relentless until he had her for lunch. Auf weidersein, Suni!

***********************************************************************

It's just a great example of how Freecycling TIDY's UP!

I will update as soon as I get word my Freecycle OFFER has been approved.   

I predict this will be a hot item!! Not as hot as the men's hair gel...but we shall give them a run for it!

I can't tell you how much this weirds me out.

Come on.

Is this a What's Grosser than Gross joke?

However, Clamato beer...if our paths cross by chance.

I shall experiment monkey you right here on this blog.

Dear Diary.

Today, I have learned something.

Sometimes getting what you want doesn't feel so great.

I have decided in the LIST OF THINGS...this is one statement I have to try to avoid hearing.

"Fine, Do what you want. I don't want to have to hear about it anymore."

It kinda sucks the wind outta getting what you want.

Thanks for listening Diary.

Oh, and ? I'm still doing it.

Just not with so many bells and whistles.

Quietlike, discreet, and with purpose and 2 day delivery.

yeah yeah.

Peace, Love and Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans,

Heather

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!!!

Dear Diary,

I'm all over the place lately!

Here is an update on my coffee free existance.
I had one cup of cafe mocha yesterday.
It was like the BEST ever.
Still staying strong on Not drinking it. Woke up at 545am.
Nuff Said.

Went to the house on Thursday... (20 days until I am completely moved - eek!!)
It was really great.The whole team was assembled. Which we wont have for another couple of weeks. Then it's split summer and Camp for the Jemma girls...and a wedding! :)

Here are a few photo highlights from the Holiday Weekend...

Baby Kittens!
We have Baby Kittens next door.
Oh...yeah! Does anyone want a kitten or three?

How about a cat?

As you may have guessed..I didn't take these pictures...
But those are some super snazzy crocs!

We visited friends...who have chickens and give me a terrible case of coop envy.
Raising Chickens is something we will be doing when the renovations in our life have been completed and the dust has settled...I can't wait!!

Nice.
and now for some chickens....

I gotcha where I wantcha....closer...closer...
That is one determined chicken.
Her name is Edna? Mabel?
Who knew they loved grass/weeds so much?

Work it girl.

We had a fabulous time...
As evidenced by all the photos of me either........

stuffing my face with yumyums....

or blissfully enjoying my full tumtums...
(poet!)

I believe next time I will ask the staff photographer to do less candid and more pose!

Next stop?

Adventure here!
Camden Yards... Memorial Day at the Ballpark
Orioles vs Blue Jays

A boy at the game...

It was a wonderful weekend... Long ones are especially the nicest!

Love and Fried Chicken,
h

PS
The FunnyHaHa for the weekend...

The NoGoNobama...

hehe.

PSS
Here is today's note from the Universe... It's a good one!

It sure is hard to get really angry at someone, heather, when you can think of all the reasons you love them.

And you can -
The Universe

ttfn!

Ism's we all have them. Some of us more than others

Second Favorite - as in "Jonathan Rhys Meyers is my Second Favorite Actor of all time"
I ask...why limit yourself to choosing one top anything?
If it's your second favorite..there is always room for improvement!
Also this is a sliding scale.
You can be bumped from the second favorite spot at any time.
This can be due to memory or my fickle girl nature.
There can also be more than one. This is not frito lay. This is not highlander.

In music I must say second favorite, because my always top favorite is Duran Duran.
On this I shall never be moved nor made to feel ashamed.

These are a few of my second favorite links.
Some you will know.
Some you will not.
Some you will shake your head at and wonder at my IQ
Some you shouldn't look at if you are my Grandma
(Grandma, this will be noted with a NSFG - Not Safe for Grandmas)

World Beard Championship
Moustache May 2009
Defective Yeti
iCinG
PopSugar
perez hilton is NSFG
Go Fug Yourself
Winston, the ugliest cutest cat
DListed is NSFG!!

Awful Plastic Surgery - NSFG
Be Funky - Cartoon yourself

These are some of my second favorite links of all time.

Disclaimer: This list is subject to change.

Dear Diary,

This weekend is going to be the first of many juggernauts.

I am the type (a) of person(ality) who has to have a task.

This is why I am happy at work. I am never without something to do... IMMEDIATELY.

I am gearing up for a move...Move.
How I dislike that word. I have moved too many times since moving here.
While I love the refreshing feeling you get when you drop off the UHaul truck and begin wedging yourself inbetween the stacks of boxes to unpack...

The PROCESS it's just not something I enjoy.
As a matter of fact...this is how I feel about MOVING.

However in an effort to not be a negative nellie, I will attempt to accentuate the positive.

Two or possibly three things about moving are good.
#1 : When you MOVE you get to clean your all your accumulated stuff/junk out.

For example, I packed up my shoes. I went through them and weeded out the pairs I no longer wear. This was a good thing because my ten year old Jen can right now wear my size.
YAY! This will save me money. Recessionista~!
I also think that this is good for the soul if you can freecycle all your junk, you give back, you get good karma.

#2 : Generally a MOVE means New beginnings
No matter how you slice it...once it's done and you can unpack... life feels like it's slowed down and you can once again redecorate.
Cheers to you new beginnings!

#3 uh...yeah.

Things about moving I dislike really have to do with the juggernaut feeling you get when you are faced with the daunting task of boxing up stuff and coordinating trucks, help and maintaining your decreasing stash of packing tape.

Sidetrack...
Speaking of packing tape... have you ever noticed that the tape is never around when you need it...
I am always wandering about muttering...
"where is the tape?....I just had the tape!"

Also that little tape roll is a deceptive menace.... you get down to where you can SEE the cardboard roll and are in the midst of taping the bottom of a box....and you think you have just enough...you get right to the middle and.......and ZING!! It's out.

The box cutter/scissors make a break for it with the striped tape, I want to know...where do they go off to? To have a nooner behind the dresser? To plot their next getaway?

Do they have a conference with the sock that has been MIA since last september?

Yes yes...I'm convinced of this.

Anyhooty, MOVING is something that I don't plan on doing again.

EVER. AGAIN.

A true recessionista needs to find creative ways to spend less to MOVE more.

- Find Boxes the old fashioned way - Taking them from the office and getting used boxes from a moving company PLUG: Advantage Movers.
- Freecycle all the stuff you don't want

- Give freely to friends/family the furniture you don't need...and give them a timeframe to pick up the stuff before the UHaul arrives at the door. You move less!!

- Drop off at the Goodwill - TAX DEDUCTION here we come!

- Donate books to the library or the elemetary school.

List and drop off! List and drop off!

Here's a little Bend and snap for ya on a friday!
Classic!

- When in Doubt - Throw it out!
(or recycle it)

- Search online for coupons for truck rentals.

- Focus on one room at a time - Clear Out first- Pack later

- Use a Pink, Purple and/or Orange sharpie (it cheers me up!)

In the chaos that is about to ensue....most importantly... I have to remember to take time to breathe and take breaks.

Today's Theraputic Fortune Cookie Message Reminds Me to...
Get your mind set -- Confidence will lead you on!

Good Stuff!

Today the score stands
5 boxes packed
21 left to goooooo!
3 packing tape rolls
and a partridge in a pear tree.

Chugga Chugga Chugga Chugga..........