Friday, March 31, 2006
Internet browsers
For those of you still suffering with Internet Explorer let me open your world to a whole new kind of internet. You may have heard me mention Mozilla or Firefox. If not, you just weren't paying attention. This is a way for you to reclaim your internet.
If you have yet to download this little gem I highly suggest you do it right NOW!!! Fewer pop-ups, better security and killer add ons.
The other little bit Mozilla has to offer is that my blog designs show up the way I want them to. That and you can change the theme of your browser. Currently my screen is the iPox theme. The home button is a little iPod and it is just darn spiffy.
As for add ons. Well I have a tool bar called Rubnub for your Yubnub. Sound odd. Well it is. It is like a search bar. You type stuff into the tool bar and it takes you exactly where you want it to. So for instance. I have it set that if I type the word "blog" it takes me to the Blogger Dashboard. The other feature is if you type the word "Simpsons" it gives you a totally random Simpsons quote. Completely useless, but fun.
Of course there are other add-ons. Take for instance the one D found last night. It is called Security Level or something. It puts a little box in the lower right hand corner that tells you what the current national security threat level is. Again totally useless, but somehow D thought is was funny, so he installed it. I can tell you that the current national security threat level is yellow (or elevated for the dummies like me.)
I must not have enough to do if I am posting about the wonders of Mozilla. But seriously... download it. You'll thank me later.
If you have yet to download this little gem I highly suggest you do it right NOW!!! Fewer pop-ups, better security and killer add ons.
The other little bit Mozilla has to offer is that my blog designs show up the way I want them to. That and you can change the theme of your browser. Currently my screen is the iPox theme. The home button is a little iPod and it is just darn spiffy.
As for add ons. Well I have a tool bar called Rubnub for your Yubnub. Sound odd. Well it is. It is like a search bar. You type stuff into the tool bar and it takes you exactly where you want it to. So for instance. I have it set that if I type the word "blog" it takes me to the Blogger Dashboard. The other feature is if you type the word "Simpsons" it gives you a totally random Simpsons quote. Completely useless, but fun.
Of course there are other add-ons. Take for instance the one D found last night. It is called Security Level or something. It puts a little box in the lower right hand corner that tells you what the current national security threat level is. Again totally useless, but somehow D thought is was funny, so he installed it. I can tell you that the current national security threat level is yellow (or elevated for the dummies like me.)
I must not have enough to do if I am posting about the wonders of Mozilla. But seriously... download it. You'll thank me later.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Play Day
Today is my first "day off" in a very long time. The past few months I have been consumed with Godspell costumes, adoption paperwork, church work that I have fallen behind on and other various projects that I have created for myself. I can say that today I have none of those to do. My only need to do task for the day is to make our house look somewhat presentable. Considering it hasn't really been cleaned since St. Patrick's Day this may be a bigger task than I imagine.
I think I might even attempt do break in my new Laundry Mate 5000.
I have a whole day to sit around, play with my little craft projects, work on some blog/website designs and eat bon bons (oh that's right I don't snack.) I am sure I won't be lacking for anything to keep me occupied.
I can't tell you how great a feeling this actually is.
I think I might even attempt do break in my new Laundry Mate 5000.
I have a whole day to sit around, play with my little craft projects, work on some blog/website designs and eat bon bons (oh that's right I don't snack.) I am sure I won't be lacking for anything to keep me occupied.
I can't tell you how great a feeling this actually is.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
The Laundry Mate 5000
As discussed in the past I hate to do laundry. I almost would rather just go buy new clothes than have to wash the ones I already own. I have a bad habit of leaving clothes in the washer for days on end. And if I have to wash socks... well we all know what happens then.
The worst part is I let the laundry pile up until it is overflowing from the hamper. Of course the bottom 1/4 of the hamper is full of stuff that either needs to be taken to the dry cleaners or handwashed. So the hamper fills up quickly. When I can't stand it anymore I finally sort the laundry into my multitudes of baskets. What happens to the baskets? They stack up in various places around the house. Usually the wind up in Pickle's room.
Since the door to Pickle's room is shut I can't play my usual shove and stuff of dirty laundry. My MIL was even so kind as to bring the baskets that were in there out so I could was the towels and sheets. Pa-Sha I say. There are baskets in the laundry room (which is also the bathroom I use during the day) and in our bedroom.
The piles of laundry are even wearing on me. I had a fantastic idea on how to solve my laundry problem. I would buy a segmented laundry hamper. This way I can fit more into it, I don't have to sort the laundry and I could just roll it down to the laundry room when I ran out of underpants.
Therefore I now own what I affectionately call the Laundry Mate 5000. It is a 3 compartment rolling hamper. It is the neatest thing ever!!! D told me that I now actually have to do the laundry. We'll see.
The worst part is I let the laundry pile up until it is overflowing from the hamper. Of course the bottom 1/4 of the hamper is full of stuff that either needs to be taken to the dry cleaners or handwashed. So the hamper fills up quickly. When I can't stand it anymore I finally sort the laundry into my multitudes of baskets. What happens to the baskets? They stack up in various places around the house. Usually the wind up in Pickle's room.
Since the door to Pickle's room is shut I can't play my usual shove and stuff of dirty laundry. My MIL was even so kind as to bring the baskets that were in there out so I could was the towels and sheets. Pa-Sha I say. There are baskets in the laundry room (which is also the bathroom I use during the day) and in our bedroom.
The piles of laundry are even wearing on me. I had a fantastic idea on how to solve my laundry problem. I would buy a segmented laundry hamper. This way I can fit more into it, I don't have to sort the laundry and I could just roll it down to the laundry room when I ran out of underpants.
Therefore I now own what I affectionately call the Laundry Mate 5000. It is a 3 compartment rolling hamper. It is the neatest thing ever!!! D told me that I now actually have to do the laundry. We'll see.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
My kids
Yeah, yeah, I know the comments aren't working. Sorry about that. I guess it is what I get for trying to modify a blogger template. I'll get them working again soon.
I thank all of you for your words of encouragement. I needed that.
You would be surprised at what actually lifted my mood. My kids. No, I don't have kids of my own. D and I volunteer with our JR and SR high youth at church. And of course you have heard me ramble on about this production of Godspell they are doing. Well the show opened last night. Of course we had to be there for opening night. I saw the show Tuesday at the dress rehearsal, but I wasn't really paying attention.
Let me just say that these kids are AMAZING!!! They range from 6th to 12th grade. They put on a full production of Godspell. Of course Godspell isn't my most favorite musical, but this production was outstanding.
By the end of the show I walked out with a huge smile on my face. This was a huge about face from the Elle that snapped at one of the kids for complaining to me about his bio in the program. Hey man, logical consequences for not turning in your bio sheet on time.
It truly is astounding what young people can do. Thanks kids. I needed the boost.
I thank all of you for your words of encouragement. I needed that.
You would be surprised at what actually lifted my mood. My kids. No, I don't have kids of my own. D and I volunteer with our JR and SR high youth at church. And of course you have heard me ramble on about this production of Godspell they are doing. Well the show opened last night. Of course we had to be there for opening night. I saw the show Tuesday at the dress rehearsal, but I wasn't really paying attention.
Let me just say that these kids are AMAZING!!! They range from 6th to 12th grade. They put on a full production of Godspell. Of course Godspell isn't my most favorite musical, but this production was outstanding.
By the end of the show I walked out with a huge smile on my face. This was a huge about face from the Elle that snapped at one of the kids for complaining to me about his bio in the program. Hey man, logical consequences for not turning in your bio sheet on time.
It truly is astounding what young people can do. Thanks kids. I needed the boost.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Underneath it all
I really am a mess. I am trying too hard just to get on with my life. I am starting to worry about that. Everyone was surprised when I went back to work at the church so soon. We shut A's bedroom door last Monday and D's mom packed up all of his things the next day.
I am just so afraid that I am trying to play the strong roll. I get asked how I am doing and I tell people I am doing okay. I don't say great, but I do manage an okay. In reality I am a basket case. What the hell am I supposed to do? I can't just sit around feeling sorry for myself can I? I feel like I owe it to myself and my family to be the strong one.
I do happen to have my good moments, but more often than not I am pushing feelings down inside. I am about to lose it at any moment. I was so tired on Tuesday that I almost started crying in the middle of hand bell practice. I had to finish the last of the props for the kid's Godspell production, I worked the afternoon at the church, had a 3 hour long Godspell dress rehearsal that I had to write a video production shot list for then bell choir. In the end I just couldn't take it anymore.
Moreover, I had to tell my dad tonight that his grandson wasn't coming home. He got angry. He tried to tell me the Russians are just telling me a story. He doesn't want me to continue. He thinks I should just try for a domestic adoption. It made me so angry. I got frustrated with him and explained why this is our best chance at having a child right now. It took a while, but I hope he came around. He doesn't understand the concept of an open adoption. I had to equate it to me. I said, "how would you like it if my birth mom wanted to be involved in my life?" He wasn't too keen on that idea. He is just so stubborn sometimes. Gee, I wonder where I get it from.
Needless to say I truly am a mess. I will continue to tell you that I am fine, but in reality we all know different.
I am just so afraid that I am trying to play the strong roll. I get asked how I am doing and I tell people I am doing okay. I don't say great, but I do manage an okay. In reality I am a basket case. What the hell am I supposed to do? I can't just sit around feeling sorry for myself can I? I feel like I owe it to myself and my family to be the strong one.
I do happen to have my good moments, but more often than not I am pushing feelings down inside. I am about to lose it at any moment. I was so tired on Tuesday that I almost started crying in the middle of hand bell practice. I had to finish the last of the props for the kid's Godspell production, I worked the afternoon at the church, had a 3 hour long Godspell dress rehearsal that I had to write a video production shot list for then bell choir. In the end I just couldn't take it anymore.
Moreover, I had to tell my dad tonight that his grandson wasn't coming home. He got angry. He tried to tell me the Russians are just telling me a story. He doesn't want me to continue. He thinks I should just try for a domestic adoption. It made me so angry. I got frustrated with him and explained why this is our best chance at having a child right now. It took a while, but I hope he came around. He doesn't understand the concept of an open adoption. I had to equate it to me. I said, "how would you like it if my birth mom wanted to be involved in my life?" He wasn't too keen on that idea. He is just so stubborn sometimes. Gee, I wonder where I get it from.
Needless to say I truly am a mess. I will continue to tell you that I am fine, but in reality we all know different.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Extreme Makeover Home Office Edition
I am like a good girlfriend of mine. When I have something really bad happen the place that I am in holds a bad connotation. Monday night we were in my office when Olga delivered the bad news. This is not a good thing. You know how much time I spend in my office? This is where I work, so quite a bit.
Tuesday morning I told D about my bad karma theory and asked if I could go buy a new desk to give the room a bit of a change. Well the project turned into a bit more than a new desk. D's parents took us up to our local IKEA store. I found the desk I wanted, but of course it was larger than my old desk thus eliminating the space for my small bookshelf and printer table. I need somewhere to put my hoards of plant books so I bought wall cabinets to put the books in too. At the beginning of the store they had a display room that was painted the most beautiful color of aqua. It was paired with a clay brown and I fell in love. So after the IKEA adventure we made our way to the local Mega Home Improvement Store for some paint. I decided to just go with the aqua. (Thank you Ikea for now listing the paint colors: Benjamin Moore Passion Blue)
Wednesday afternoon I spent the day painting my office. I actually finished it in one day. Thursday we put together the new desk. Which of course was not without incident.* Then of course D says this room would look really good with some new stained molding to match the desk.
Friday we hung the wall cabinets and Saturday we made a trip to the other Mega Home Improvement Store for new Hemlock molding. Of course the molding had to be stained. Also not without incident.**
So here I am sitting in my pretty new office. Almost totally finished. I have some more artwork to purchase (of course the old artwork just didn't work) and some touchup painting to do. So say it with me... "Bus driver... move that bus!!!"
Tuesday morning I told D about my bad karma theory and asked if I could go buy a new desk to give the room a bit of a change. Well the project turned into a bit more than a new desk. D's parents took us up to our local IKEA store. I found the desk I wanted, but of course it was larger than my old desk thus eliminating the space for my small bookshelf and printer table. I need somewhere to put my hoards of plant books so I bought wall cabinets to put the books in too. At the beginning of the store they had a display room that was painted the most beautiful color of aqua. It was paired with a clay brown and I fell in love. So after the IKEA adventure we made our way to the local Mega Home Improvement Store for some paint. I decided to just go with the aqua. (Thank you Ikea for now listing the paint colors: Benjamin Moore Passion Blue)
Wednesday afternoon I spent the day painting my office. I actually finished it in one day. Thursday we put together the new desk. Which of course was not without incident.* Then of course D says this room would look really good with some new stained molding to match the desk.
Friday we hung the wall cabinets and Saturday we made a trip to the other Mega Home Improvement Store for new Hemlock molding. Of course the molding had to be stained. Also not without incident.**
So here I am sitting in my pretty new office. Almost totally finished. I have some more artwork to purchase (of course the old artwork just didn't work) and some touchup painting to do. So say it with me... "Bus driver... move that bus!!!"
Before
After
------------------------------
Oops, I forgot to add my footnotes.
*When we brought the large corner section of the desk into the house I peeked inside the box. It was the wrong color and the wrong shape!! It of course would not fit into either car so I called my friend Kathou who graciously drove up from Olympia to help me exchange the desk top. (Olympia=30 minutes from Tacoma, Tacoma=30 minutes from IKEA) Kathou you are the best!!
**While applying the wood conditioner to the molding I decided not to do it the Swedish way. You know, walk back and forth to the can. So I set the can on one of the pieces of molding as it sat on one of the saw horses. As I was applying the wood conditioner to the opposite end of the piece of molding the can was sitting on I picked up and turned the wood. Thus upending the brand new can of wood conditioner spilling its entire contents onto the patio. Smooooth.
Oops, I forgot to add my footnotes.
*When we brought the large corner section of the desk into the house I peeked inside the box. It was the wrong color and the wrong shape!! It of course would not fit into either car so I called my friend Kathou who graciously drove up from Olympia to help me exchange the desk top. (Olympia=30 minutes from Tacoma, Tacoma=30 minutes from IKEA) Kathou you are the best!!
**While applying the wood conditioner to the molding I decided not to do it the Swedish way. You know, walk back and forth to the can. So I set the can on one of the pieces of molding as it sat on one of the saw horses. As I was applying the wood conditioner to the opposite end of the piece of molding the can was sitting on I picked up and turned the wood. Thus upending the brand new can of wood conditioner spilling its entire contents onto the patio. Smooooth.
Friday, March 17, 2006
I suppose you are wondering...
How is Elle?
Oddly enough I am ok. I have my moments, but otherwise I am doing remarkably well. D and I took Tuesday off and his parents came to spend the day with us. I worked on a project all day Wednesday and yesterday I did go back to work.
Today is St. Patrick's Day so of course that means the annual dinner. I make a great St. Pat's day spread every year. That will take up the good part of the day.
I am trying to keep myself busy, but am allowing time for the occasional breakdown. I cannot believe the amount of support we have gotten this past week. We have had many comments on the Adoption-Adventure blog. I have had countless emails, e-cards and general good wishes from people. I have had phone calls from family and friends and even a bouquet of tulips from one of the pastors at our church. That of course made me cry when I got to work yesterday. I suppose it was a good thing no one was around.
I have lots of theories, reasoning and just plain epiphanys about this whole situation. Too many to go into, but just know that I really am doing well.
I'll get back to regular old Elle soon. Posting about the useless crap in my life like the fact that my hair hates me and that Lutherans are a breed of their own. I just ask that at this time you please pray for the 3 other families that lost their children this week. I am not going through this alone.
Oddly enough I am ok. I have my moments, but otherwise I am doing remarkably well. D and I took Tuesday off and his parents came to spend the day with us. I worked on a project all day Wednesday and yesterday I did go back to work.
Today is St. Patrick's Day so of course that means the annual dinner. I make a great St. Pat's day spread every year. That will take up the good part of the day.
I am trying to keep myself busy, but am allowing time for the occasional breakdown. I cannot believe the amount of support we have gotten this past week. We have had many comments on the Adoption-Adventure blog. I have had countless emails, e-cards and general good wishes from people. I have had phone calls from family and friends and even a bouquet of tulips from one of the pastors at our church. That of course made me cry when I got to work yesterday. I suppose it was a good thing no one was around.
I have lots of theories, reasoning and just plain epiphanys about this whole situation. Too many to go into, but just know that I really am doing well.
I'll get back to regular old Elle soon. Posting about the useless crap in my life like the fact that my hair hates me and that Lutherans are a breed of their own. I just ask that at this time you please pray for the 3 other families that lost their children this week. I am not going through this alone.
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