Giving Thanks

I have spent today in the office. It's Sunday, but last week was taken up with doctors and such, and I ran out of time. But it's about 2:15, and I'm almost done! And last week I ran out of time to play catch up in blog-land.

Thanks to Dawn for the wonderful scrapbbok weekend last weekend, and to Lisa and Juls and Lisa's friend Kristen for including me in their fun! And thanks Juls for sharing a room with me!

My Thanksgiving was fabu! Hope yours was, too! Started with the Trader Joe's Turkey Bowl, then finished my coking and delivered cupcakes to my 2 cupcake queens, then off to M&D's for a great time! Thanks family for making it...entertaining!

Thanks to my mommy and my sis for going shopping with me Friday morning at 5a.m., and thanks for doing the latkes with me before I can't.

Thanks to Nedra for opening the shop for me. It was supposed to be your day off, but you wouldn't let me go to hospital with bad nails...and thanks for doing them half painted, so my nailbeds are naked!

Thanks to Mike for flying in to take me to dinner last night for my "last supper"...stick to my ribs red meat, oh happy day!

Thanks to my friends who are drowning me with love and offers of assistance. I'll call, but you can call me too!

Wish me success...luck is too chancy!

xo

Compulsive or Anxious?

Here it is, the night before Thanksgiving (well, 30 minutes away)... I've got the cranberry sauce remade, the brussel sprouts washed and draining, the yams and
the pumpkin spice cupcakes baking...and I really just need sleep! But there will be lots of that shortly, so I'm going to work my butt off and lift my heavy pots from bottom cabinets and everything I can do, before I can't anymore!
Thanksgiving is my very favorite holiday. It has nothing to do with religion, so it doesn't create resentment or hatred amongst one zealot or another.

Ian and I will start with the Trader Joe's annual Turkey Bowl, come home to rest a while, shower and head to mom & dad's (stopping at Lori's to be the cupcake fairy, and perhaps at the home of the royal cupcake queen herself)! I am the side dish queen...and perfectly happy to do so! The only part of the turkey I really like is the outside, though I'll wrassle my sis for the gizzard! Did I mention that dad deep-frys our birds, and has since before it became really groovy to do so? I have a deep-fryer if anyone would like to borrow it...anytime!

Friday, my mom, my sis and I will do potato latkes... this is a messy, fun tradition! Refer back in a few days for the potatoe weight and quantity frozen (always very different from the qty fried)! This is our tradition! Lots of Jews make them fresh on Chanukah night, but I think it stinks up the house and someone is stuck frying...so this is how we roll!

Saturday will be nail day...something sedate that exposes my nailbeds...for the anesthesiologist, so he/she doesn't remove my polish!

It's now 12:30...time to wrap up whatever I can and finish in the a.m. Happy Thanksgiving to you all, and to your beloved families!

xo

Spiraling Out of Control

Here I am sucking down beer #4, darvocet #2 and soma # who-can-remember and thinking:

There I was, driving home at the end of the day looking forward to a little peace, and I got "hit"...right in my comfort zone. Why was Al from my orthopedic surgeon's office calling me at 5:30pm on a Friday?

So the answer is this: I get two surgeries...one on Monday, November 26th and one on Tuesday, November 27th. Once through the front...and once through the back. So seriously, I'll come out of the anesthesia on Monday and realize how painful it is...and then realize that I get it on the flip side the next day...excuse my language (FUCK).

And the best...it's Friday and I see my doctor on Wednesday...and have to wait until then for answers.

I...hate relying on others. I... firmly believe that I can take care of myself, but for this moment I am not feeling terribly confident. I... am freaking out! I...am wondering if they have a Starbucks in the hospital (adding that to the list of doctor questions). I...am seriously pissed off! I...am going to miss the previews of the Scarlet Lime kits (though Christy is an angel and will send me the payment link before surgery...xoxo to you). I...am going to miss my darling friend's birthdays (I love you Colleen and Crystle). I... refuse to admit I am completely terrified to not be in control. I...am definitely freaking out!

Thank you for listening...you are the peeps I adore! xo

I'M NOT IGNORING YOU

I am mentally shutting down...it isn't good, but it's me. You may not hear from me. You may not get return calls. I am feeling incredibly overwhelmed, as I race head-first toward surgery day. I am just trying to deal with the things that are mine.

Thanks to everyone who is offering help. I am stubborn and will say no, but thank you for offering! And thanks to everyone who listens to me complain...I can't stand myself sometimes; I'm sure you're over it, too!

Please don't be hurt. E-mails are welcome. Phone calls are welcome...I'll pick up if I can! I just feel like I can only deal with so much!

On a positive note, I should get my car back today! The Orange Line was a hoot, though, and it might be a fun change when daylight savings time returns!

Squirrel on a Wheel

Two weeks...that's what I have until the day I can't lift anything heavier than my Starbucks cup...and I feel like time is running away!

I have so much to do over the next several days, and will be gone over the weekend, so will really be behind! So if you don't see me/ hear from me...give me a call: I'll be the one running around wondering where the time goes!

WOMEN BEHAVING BADLY

Happy Birthday month my sweet friend! 20 more days left to celebrate, and I hope each one is as special as you are!

Thanks to Bucket for hosting last night's and tomorrow's events...and thanks to the b'day girl Colleen for doing all of the driving today! Starbucks in Van Nuys...Roger's Garden in Corona del Mar...Timeless Treasures in Rancho Santa Margarita and Oasis in Irvine: you're the bomb! And huge thanks to Michael and the boys for feeling well enough to allow Crystle to play with us!

I love you all!

A Belated Tagging

A few weeks ago my friend Colleen tagged me on her blog...and I'm finally catching up.

There are rules:
1. Link to your tagger and post rules.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself: some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).
4. Let them know they've been tagged by leaving a comment at their blogs.

Here's 7 facts about me:
1. I do not love desserts, and I definitely do not like chocolate. I say this as I'm cleaning up from baking 4 dzn cupcakes for the friend who can't get enough sweets!
2. Now that surgery is sooner rather than later (I'll know for sure tomorrow), I'm absolutely terrified.
3. I adore my son, and I'd like to beat some sense into him...these are usually constants in our life. The downfall of having an 18 year old!
4. If I could do anything, I'd open a creative space, run classes & sell coordinating products, and have areas for different creative outlets...there would have to be a Starbuck's inside!
5. Cooking gives me pleasure beyond words, because it's another creative outlet...eat mein kinder!
6. I love it when Ian curls up in bed with me and wants his back scratched!
7. I look forward to the day when I'll move back to Seattle.

I suddenly realized I don't know how to create links on my blog! I don't think anyone actually reads my blog... perhaps fact #8 is that I find blogging to be this very public view into a very private me...I love the way it feels to scrapblog my world!

SET ME FREE!

It's official! As of today, I can run away to anywhere, without a thought! Well, except for the thought of, "Will the dogs be alive when I return"?

In January we're doing a family cruise to Mexico...but I plan to make much use of this sucker over the next 10 years!

WOOHOO!

Weekends are TOO short

It's 6:30 Sunday night...or is it 7:30? It confuses me both directions!

My Saturday was spent at Ginger's Crop. She ALWAYS gives one of the very best crops I've ever attended. 9am-10pm...lots of space and lots of prizes...vendors...close to restaurants, and I always get to spend the day with a friend or two. Yesterday I got to see several friends, as well as 2 vsf's, Colleen and Lori. I knew they would get along: they are 2 of the kindest, most gentle women I know...with the sharp edges I adore. We had a wonderful time. Dinner at Soup Plantation, a stop at Michael's, and much fun! Thanks girls for making my day and for being part of my zen; thanks Ginger and Sandy for everything you do for us!

Today I ran up the the Porter Ranch Joann's. I'm incredibly thankful all of the Joann's stores near me suck. Anyway, got the embellishment case I've been eyeballing (recommended by Dawn who's weekend is just 12 days away), to get rid of my current confuguration (see above). I also went briefly to hang out with my friend Janice at a CM Crop, and remet a very sweet similar-to-me CM Consultant, Tami. Janice has been my CM Consultant for about 13 years, and I do love her to pieces.

On the way back from Porter Ranch there was a man by the freeway turn, asking for money. I usually don't, but today I did. Not sure why I did, but I felt compelled. It reminded me that when Ian was little he wanted to give money to every homeless person. I used to tell him that if we gave to every person who askes, we'd be on the street with them. It also reminded me of when Ian was in 5th grade and had to sell candy bars. We called everyone in LA and asked for $20 checks for Ian's school. My sis, my sweet cousin Feo and I took the (no one needs that much candy) 200 candy bars to the Million-aires Club...the homeless shelter in downtown Seattle. As we were carrying them in one of the people outside mentioned that if the candy went inside, that they would never get it...so we stood outside and heard people's stories and handed out candy for a while. It was a little scary at first, but by the time we left, we felt completely blessed by the experience. I repeated it the following year when our friend's son had to sell the same candy bars, and we could afford a good donation...I've never felt more alive in my life: it felt like selfish charity, since I believe I got more from it then anyone! Today was a reminder to me to do something charitable whenever possible.

To Lori and to Janice... I wish you both strength,and I wish your loved ones who are suffering the strength it takes to get them where they want to be.

Anyway, one Trader Joe's stop, $200, and here we are.

No concerts this week, so I look forward to lots of sleep before we celebrate the wild woman's b'day next weekend. The lemons are looking almost ready for martinis...unless you won't mix Irish Whiskey and Vodka...perhaps one Friday, one Saturday...and Sunday?

Hoping you all had a special weekend, too! xo