Friday, November 27, 2009

Gobble Gobble

Has everyone recovered from Thanksgiving? Good.

I have been living 928 miles from my family for the last four years now. It is hard to be away from the pandemonium that is the holidays with them. Amidst a little homesickness, Bobaloo and I have been starting our own traditions. I am usually not a huge fan of the holidays, but now that I get to do them my own way I look forward to them more and more.

When we first moved out to Colorado we would do traditional Thanksgiving feasts. This year we had our second annual buffet at the Table Mountain Inn. No cooking, no dishes, no drama. I ate my weight in vegetables, Bobaloo ate his fair share of turkey and we were happy and full. I napped, he watched football. All in all, Thanksgiving was a success!

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Ugly Sweater You're The One

I went thrift store shopping last week and found a find that I couldn't pass up. Originally this treasure was $2.89, but I was lucky enough to get it half off.
This little number will go great sitting on the patio while reading.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Honest Scrap

Scrap means left over, fragments, discarded material. Many times truth and honesty are discarded material, considered fragments and left over. People like us need to tell it like it is, and let the scraps fall where they will.

I received the Honest Scrap Award from Sam at A Place I Call My Own. So, thanks Sam! The rules of the award are as follows:

  1. Thank the person who gave the award and list their blog and link it.
  2. Share "10 Honest Things" about yourself.
  3. Present this award to 7 others who blogs you find brilliant in content and/or design, or those who have encouraged you.
  4. Tell those 7 people they've been awarded Honest Scrap and inform them of these guidelines in receiving the award.

10 Honest Things

  1. I love languages (especially Spanish and French). I would love to go to school for linguistics.
  2. I used to be afraid of snakes and just learned how to hold one where I volunteer. Eek.
  3. If I won the lottery I would take a year with a pop-up camper and travel to all fifty states, saving Hawaii for last.
  4. I feel better when I read.
  5. I miss living close to my family but secretly I enjoy being far away.
  6. I would love to write short stories for a living.
  7. Summer is my favorite season. All of the clothes in the winter make me claustrophobic.
  8. I'd rather eat pretzels than a chocolate bar.
  9. If I could live anywhere for a year I would move to France.
  10. I am not a cook. Restaurant reservations have been made for Thanksgiving!
I hereby officially nominate the following seven folks for the Honest Scrap Award!
  1. Deidre at Decoybetty. I love to read about Deidre's adventures in Australia, especially when there are dudes involved!
  2. Lolly at Enchantingly Ludicrous. Lolly is the only blogger-friend I have met in real life and I recall she kicks ass at darts. I enjoy reading about Lolly's balance of motherhood, school, and fun.
  3. San Diego Writer Girl at Lisa Wants the Floor. Lisa has a beautiful style of writing and has been great encouragement.
  4. A.B. at The A-List. A.B. is funny when she's bitter, and she runs a lot!
  5. The Maiden Metallurgist at The Maiden Metallurgist. I love to read about the Maiden's adventures in Chicago and she always posts the best pictures. She has also taught me how to spell "metallurgist."
  6. Jacob at Busy Busy Busy. It is fun to read about Jacob's transition into the "real world." He is funny and articulates beautifully the struggle of early mornings, coworker fridges, and office etiquette.
  7. Lora at Fever. Lora is one of the first blogs I followed. She is brilliant and encouraging.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Orange Push-up Dreams

I was born during a blizzard in April. My grandfather gave me an American flag and told my parents that I had nice ears. I was olive-colored with black hair. My mother couldn’t believe that I was hers.

I remember living in the old house. I remember bathing in the sink and how tall my older brother was. I remember the green front steps with a wrought iron rail. I remember the hail storm and crying when my dad went out to take a picture. I remember the cartoons on the television set.

When we moved, my brother and I ran up and down and back and forth on the ramp of the moving truck. It was August and hot. The new blue house. The neighbors came over and one of the girls was pretending to be a monkey. She would turn out to be my best friend. We would sit in lawn chairs under the sprinkler and hold up umbrellas and eat orange push-ups.

Early memories are a blur, but they are there. I try to recall my first memories when I have trouble sleeping. Sometimes I dream about those days.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Jill in Real Life

Blogs are fun. I have “met” a few interesting and fun people through my blog. Lora puts it nicely over at Fever; people I blog with.

Sometimes it’s hard to come across the same way in my blog as I do in real life. Here are some real life facts about me.

I embarrass easy and my face turns red.

I have weird personal space issues with strangers

I have a quiet laugh

I am goofier in person

I get louder, the more I drink

Once I get going, I am a chatterbox

I love music, like, really love it. Symbiotic stuff.

I know a lot about weird things.

I love foreign languages. Especially Spanish and French. I can read and write a little, but suck at speaking.

I am good at dispensing advice, however, not so great at taking it.

I come across as more patient than I actually am.

I also come across nicer than I probably really am. :)

I’ve met most of my good friends on cigarette breaks or at the bar.

If I had your address, I’d send you a Christmas card.

I get bored easily.

I make lists when I am out of blog inspiration. Hopefully, it will come back soon.