Yikes!

Match.com might not be such a good idea. I've gotten 43 views, 5 winks and 4 e-mails in the last 24 hours. Why don't I get this much attention from guys when I go out? Because 4/5 of these men probably never leave the house. One guy who's ID was Letsdoit69... told me he'd like to "hook up" sometime. Really? So sorry, but I think I'm busy. Please tell me Christian men actually use this site. Honestly, I hate that I am even doing this. I don't think on-line dating is going to be a good way for me to meet men. I would rather have a personal reference from someone I trust. I really don't want to end up on a date with someone who's only agenda is to "hook up." My new plan is to just ask the single Christian men that I know out. They don't have be "the one," but to at least date men I've actually met would be better don't you think? Maybe they will know a single Christian man who isn't trying to just hook-up. And perhaps I'll try on-line dating some time down the road just not today.

Thanksgiving

My Thanksgiving was a little odd this year.   Instead of spending all my time cooking, I found myself hectically sewing Cinderella blue slip covers for the kids chairs.    It was my own fault.  I make a tent with lights every year for the kids to eat under.  This year thought it looked off.   It wasn't magical enough, so my solution?   make custom cinderella slip covers for each little chair and tie them with pink princess bows.   It looked wonderful, but next year it will be better.   After dinner my sister signed me up for match.com.   Yeah it's come to that.   I'm getting more comfortable with the idea of online dating each year when my family gets together.   My sister is obviously beating me into the ground with her brood of children.   I would at least like to be dating at this point in my life, so thank you Greta.  I got three winks in one day.  I think that's good, I'm not totally sure what a wink is, but it can't be bad can it?   Now I just have to come up with the courage/money to join.   I don't like how you literally have no idea who these people really are, other than what they tell you, and I really have no idea how faithful they are.  And what does spiritual/other mean exactly?  

update

I've decided I don't like posting when no one ever comments. So please if you read this darn blog, comment! It's make me feel a little less pathetic. Just me and the computer is rather sad, but if people are actually reading what I write, well, then it's slightly less so.

This week has been really busy. I've been in a panic because I bought myself something I couldn't afford and then I lost my food stamps. Two things I can't handle. My case worker calls it the "Shit Zone," his words not mine. I don't make enough money to buy all our food, but I make to much for food stamps. His advice, Stop working. I looked at him like he was crazy and he just shrugged. I now understand why people who get assistance never get off of it. There is no gradual movement into self sufficiency. You either do or don't make it. You'll be happy to know I did not take my case workers advice. I am instead working my butt off to get money in the bank for next month (this month we're eating at my mothers, sorry mom). As for my insane purchase, I'm not talking about it. It hasn't even gotten here yet, and honestly I've worn the same pair of shoes for the last three years. If it gets here and I still feel conflicted it will go back.

Incubation time!

It all started with the Egg

Whats a girl to do with a Thursday night off and nothing to do? Build an egg incubator of course! With Annie at my mothers for an impromptu sleep over, I found myself home alone for the first time in a long time. I really wanted Annie to stay with me, but she was captivated by the idea of an overnight with Sadie and Ruby at her Gigi's. I think they had planned and plotted against me from the beginning. But that's ok, I managed to keep myself busy.
When I got home I went to collect the eggs and there was another Turkey egg. In perfect condition. I could not let it go to waste, so I looked up simple incubator designs online (thank you UTube), and went shopping. $24 later and here it is.

Looking in from the top. I made a glass window for little noses to watch the action if the egg actually hatches.


This is the Thermometer/ Hygrometer, and where I wired the light bulb. Yes, Charlie I wired it myself. The egg won't go inside until I get the temperate and humidity under control. Hopefully Jane will lay a few more eggs before I have to start incubating this one.

Lunch with the girls

On Monday, Annie and I had guests over for lunch. We invited Ruby, Gigi, Harriet and Carol. It was by far the best lunch I've had with Harriet. Ruby was smitten with Harriet, and Harriet was definitely smitten with her. They played the piano and sang songs. Before guests arrived Ruby and Annie made play-do creations for hours, moved on to crayons for minutes and then back to play-do. It was great. I was able to make lunch with out Annie crying about being bored and Gigi helped me decorate a little for Christmas.
Banjo hid under my chair for lunch. does that mean I'm the messy eater who drops crumbs everywhere? I really thought it would be one of the girls. Guess not.
Annie took this picture of me and then said, "Look mommy you are a giant, see how big you are?" For the record it's not fun when your daughter tells you your giant. I guess I need a few more Hot Yoga classes.

Crafts and cards

This last Saturday I helped a friend who was sick and took her things to a craft fair for her. I got to take my most resent creations and my sisters as well. We didn't sell anything. My friends stuff sold, but none of ours did. I forgot how much I hate going to these things. I didn't mind selling my friends items, but I hate selling my own things. I prefer to be the anonymous seamstress hidden in the back room. Who no one ever sees.
I'm getting back into sewing again, so hopefully I'll soon have them listed on etsy. I recently got a graphic design program put together on my computer. It's a little confusing to maneuver, but I managed to make a business card for my etsy site.

Front:

Back:
It was really fun to make the card. I forgot how much I used to like graphic design. I just wish I knew how to work the program better. It might take me a while to figure out how it all works.

Turkey Babies

Jane has laid her first egg. I'm not sure if I should be excited or sad. She's up for slaughter in a few days and this only makes me want to keep her around. It would be fun to have turkey eggs, or even better to have turkey babies. Imagine never buying another Thanksgiving turkey! You just go outside and fetch one. OK, I'm might be a little strange. The saddest part is that I am 100% sure this egg is fertile, if it hadn't cracked I'd sit on it myself. This being her first egg the shell is very weak.

Wow. I'm in trouble.

"Annie we have to go.  If you can't get your pants on you will just have to stay here."

"But then you will be a bad mommy and they will throw you in jail."

Gluttony and Frogs

So sorry. I've had a sudden surge of sewing desire and couldn't tear myself away from the sewing machine long enough to post. The good news is that I have been sewing. The bad news is that we moved the sewing to the basement and it gives me a headache when I am down there for more than 20 minutes, but even that has a flip side. I get a good workout going up and down the stairs.
Top that off with the Hot Yoga and I should have the body of an 18 year old by let's say spring maybe? If I don't I'm going back to my old ways of laziness and gluttony.
My pink chicken has been very busy making a mess of my mothers house while I've been sewing. She refined her couch hopping skills, played dress up, and she spent most of yesterday leaping around like a frog while saying nothing but "ribbit" the entire time.

Again.

I went back. I kind of had to. My legs were feeling like I would never be able to straighten them out again they were so sore. I am actually glad I went back though. I did much better the second time, stuck it out through the whole class, and got to take hot Yoga with Tom, Debbie and Meagan Holley. I don't see my entire family showing up for hot Yoga, but it was pretty funny to see half the Holley clan in there sweating it out. Going during the day is much better than going in the evening. The class is smaller, there are less men to see you sweating and although the women are still skinny (and yes, I'm still hoping for some sort of osmosis in that regard) it's not as bad when your not sandwiched two feet apart from them.

And not that my description is very enticing, if you do go, tell them I sent you. I'll get a free class and be able to take more classes!

I found them!

Last night I went to my first Hot Yoga class. I haven't done any Yoga since having Annie, so I figured I would give it a shot. If Tom Holley raves about it, it must be pretty good. Believe me when I tell you I was less than thrilled about the dress code. It's recommended you wear nothing but a bathing suit. I walked into the building to meet my instructor who was somewhere in her 40's with the body of a 18 year old wearing a cheetah print bikini. Already feeling uncomfortable she informs me I cannot wear pants. So I am putting on my shorts and the smallest top I could find (that still covers my stretch marks), when 10 other women of varying ages walk by me. All with bodies that remind of what I wasn't even close to achieving before having Annie. Is this for real? Possibly there is something to this, or do people like me just not go to these classes? Then I walk into the studio and there they are, all the men in St. Louis. Laying on towels in a room where the temperature never goes below 90 are a slue of single men. Sadly they are all in speedo's dripping with sweat and I there I am covered in sweat myself. In my old gym shorts and a very unattractive tank with one of those useless bras inside, I was the most overdressed person in the room. I felt truly frumpy for the first time in my life. Overall the class was good. I sweat about two liters of water, felt a combination of nausea, dizziness and heat exhaustion. Managed to stay semi conscious the whole class and found myself unable to walk for about 15 minutes after the class ended. As to whether or not I will go back? I'm not sure. Do I go to another gym, get in shape and then return? Or do I continue going as I am in the hopes that my body will somehow morph into one of the well toned stick figures parading around it in the class? It's a tough call, but I will let you know.

Garden vs. Annie, (Annie won)

This morning Annie and I got up super early to plant bulbs in the yard. It ended up being me alone planting the bulbs while Annie went and played in the chicken run. She tried to get me in there with her but I was determined to get something done today. She finally resorted to every two seconds she yelling, "which one is Lightening McQueen?," and insisting I tell the names of each chicken repeatedly. It was getting a little ridiculous, so I just started yelling out names at random. She caught me when I told her Puff was Lightening McQueen. This created tears and "bad Mommy" looks from Annie. I wasn't giving her my full attention. She stomped out of the run growling.
Lately, Annie has been in her high maintenance mode, so if I'm not right next her she insists on keeping a constant dialog going and telling me to "look at this mama." It's her way of keeping me from getting anything done. I used to think she was starving for attention, but this kid gets a lot of attention. At this very second, Banjo is sitting behind me in the chair and Annie is climbing on my back with her arms wrapped a little to tightly around my neck. Did I mention this is a very small chair and I am feeling a little smothered? The worst part is that I've yet to find a cure for this particular ailment. If I give her to much attention she starts these elaborate games which always end in me pinned on the floor and the pile of dishes sitting in the sink untouched. If I ignore her she starts to do that annoying fake cry that all kids do. You know the one. Where they scrunch up their faces and whimper then they throw themselves across your lap in mock desperation. It's a classic. If your kid hasn't started just wait. They all do it. Annie tried this very move on me outside only it was muddy and the grass was slippery so when she overshot her landing a little and ended up in the mud of course it was my fault. Which led to real tears and a very muddy child. She's clean now, but I think I might have to plant the rest of the bulbs by flash light when Annie is sleeping. I can't wait for the neighbors to see me outside in the dark planting. They don't think I'm weird enough as it is.

Annie's Halloween in under three mintues

She did it! She wore her costume for Halloween!  I didn't even have to force her into it.  She Willingly put it on!    The above video includes photos from her party, random chicken play and trick or treating.