happy new year's eve!

live, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa... I wish you a very happy new year.
I promise to start posting something worth reading/seeing very soon.

full-time elf

"Would you be interested in full-time elf or evening and weekend elf?"

Every Christmas I read HOLIDAYS ON ICE by David Sedaris, and I laugh out loud.

Thank you David, and Happy Holidays!

Manic Monday

Leaving for the US in 2 weeks! I cannot wait.

365 days have passed, thank God!

the calm

wrecked!

Sarah Palin, no thanks!

this is a great read--

http://womenagainstsarahpalin.blogspot.com/2008/09/gloria-steinem-wrong-woman-wrong.html

missing post! alert the authorities...

I am sure that I posted since that Craft Magazine mention... must be some sort of blog thievery going on.

Busy, busy, busy with school and family, and was feeling lousy for nearly 2 weeks. But hopefully I will soon have something of value to post.

We'll see.

Anyway... I am still here.

Are you there?

Craft Magazine (US)

Oh, I mean to say every time that I get a copy, that anyone and everyone interested in artsy-craftiness should check out the magazine Craft: transforming traditional crafts http://www.craftzine.com/ . I am so glad to have stumbled on a copy when visiting the States in December. I read every word on the flight home, have used some of the ideas at home and at school, and immediately subscribed. It is awesome! And I never, NEVER use that word. It inspires me, keeps me aware of 'my people' in the states, and is entertainingly written to top it off.

I LOVE IKEA!

I have spent the last part of my summer break from school redecorating a couple rooms of the house, and continuing on my quest to get organized. I must say, it is going pretty well, but even BETTER after my 2nd visit to the new IKEA store in Belfast. My IKEA catalog was worn and tagged, marked and circled, but it paid off, and after a near 10-hour spree, my friend Irene, and I came away with a great bunch of stuff. And now, even better, I just got an email with a 10.oo off my next visit, which I am planning in the next month. God bless IKEA for their great, modern design, quirky little household items and their reasonable prices!

can't wait!

Welcome to the family!

This week we adopted a new kitty, Carly, from the ISPCA. She looks so much like my family's elderly Kit-Kat when he was little, who is still living in Georgia. Blue decided to dress her up (as you do). Our other 2 cats are not yet fond of her, but we all are. She is the softest little thing I have ever touched! Just what we need to lift our spirits with the continual rain.

it's raining AGAIN

Summer holidays will be over in another short week for us secondary school teachers in Ireland... and I can't say that it has been much of a summer (weather-wise) but we have accomplished a lot around our home and garden, and I have done a lot of reading.
This morning I finished Stephenie Meyer's BREAKING DAWN, the 4th and supposedly final book in the Twilight series.
I must say, these teenage vampire books have kept me reading til all hours of the night- I have really enjoyed them, and was sorry to finish this one. I was left wanting to know more.
Probably like many 16 year old girls out there, I will anxiously await the movie.
Anyway, give them a try---
happy reading!

busy, busy, busy

I have an almost-sleeping child on my lap, making it difficult to type... but life has been so busy for the last month that this may be my only chance.

Not that I have much to say... my summers tend to be hectic rather than relaxing, as I do multiple sections of corrections for the state exams, and end up working for 8 of the 12 weeks of summer much longer hours than my normal teaching job. But it is good money at the end, which we all need.

What has happened in the last 5-6 weeks? Well, that cat is now giant and concrete, and sitting outside of my school (as you can see) ... it needs some finishing colour and sealant, and we have specially made stepping stones to put around it, but that was a big accomplishment to finish off the school year.

I finally gave up the breast-feeding after 2 years and 9 months... it was a difficult few days, but definitely time for it. Sad but good really. We have moved on to cuddling. My other daughter, aged 12, has made her first trans-Atlantic flight without a family member, which was scary, but necessary, and I am glad to report that she did great, and that the people at American Airlines were very nice (for a fee, but fair enough). I have corrected about 200 Junior Cert art portfolios, over 200 Leaving Cert Art History papers, and have another 8 days of practical work to go... it makes me both love and hate art!

the big black cat

this is what I did at school today... in 2 weeks this sculptural/folklore project will be complete (I hope)

it is a lot more work than I anticipated, but has gone very smoothly and I (and the kids) have learned a lot.

(the next step will be to secure it outside on the slab that I still need to pour, then plaster it with a concrete mixture and carve out detail as we go... the concrete will eventually be 2-3 inches thick, and will be sanded to a nice stony finish on completion)

this is measuring roughly 10 ft long, 6 deep and 5 foot tall at ears... the tail is designed as a seat, but students can sit/climb on entire piece when complete

wish me luck!

Wave Runners a.k.a. Illinois Girls Trying to Surf

I had a really great weekend with Katie and Teresa (my kind-of little sisters) visiting us. We went to the Boda Borg, we snooped around abandoned houses and cars and took photographs of everything, and we went surfing in the icy cold waters of Sligo. Actually, with wetsuit, wetsocks, wetgloves, and wethood, we got wet, but really did stay pretty warm. As a person who is perpetually cold, this was a great and welcome surprise for me, and it made the work of surfing so much easier.

And let me tell you, it IS work! but work that is well-worth it. We had what was meant to be a 2-hour group lesson, which went on for nearly 3. The instruction was good, and the staff was very helpful and encouraging. I will definatley try it again. I got up to standing successfully on one occasion, and it was a fabulous few seconds. The rest of the time I paddled my arms out of their sockets, I had great fun knee-surfing, and riding the waves.

april fool

okay, so I am late on the whole april fool's day thing... but am feeling foolish and small lately, due to my depression, I assume. I hope that it quickly passes, as I am getting hard to stand I think. And I am finding IT hard to stand.
My Blue turned 12 over the weekend! It is shocking to me, and suddenly I feel tired and old, though her 2 year old sister generally leaves me feeling that way too. Time just passes, regardless of how I feel, what I want or what I am/ am not accomplishing.
I feel anxious about it - as if I am running out of time, am not 'getting things done'- does that mean I am not fully 'saying yes to life'? I get confused by the advice I read (or hear on Oprah)... learn to say no, set limits, don't overextend, but say yes to life, to experience, to new things- take risks, but don't do anything risky...
today I am left wondering if I should be financially responsible ( ie save my money and/or don't go deeper into debt) or live for today, and book a family holiday to Portugal- which we would really enjoy (fun and sun), need (fun and sun, remember we live in Ireland) and WANT (fun and sun).... I am constantly teetering between two opposing sides. Light/dark, depressed/content, healthy/unhealthy, save/spend, binge/purge (generally, not literally)
How do you find balance? Why does life always feel like a series of sacrifices rather than rewards?
I wish I had been born one of those 'glass half full' types, but fear that I am the other...

reading and resting...

the last few weeks have been tough for some reason... maybe it was the long last stretch of winter, the teething baby, my mom's anniversary, our bank balance.... our just my own emotional spring-cleaning funk! I don't know, but I really hope that the sun and the Zoloft will be brightening my days soon.

and please god, let that child start sleeping through EVERY night again!

i have been reading a good bit -- enjoying Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series. I know I am about 15 years too old, but it has been a great escape. Thank you Stephenie. I even found a podcast (quite a few actually) about the series, the storylines and the upcoming movie/s, which was entertaining to listen to as well. So, if you like to read about teen-age vampires (and werewolves), or think you might, give them a try. Addicitive.

it's been ages...

It has been a long time away from the fledgling blog, but since no one is really reading it but me, I will suit my own timetable.
There seem to be one busy day piling up on another with no time to rest and catch up with life. I feel as if I could stay awake for a week and not 'catch up' with all of my to-do lists, but that is the life of an over-extended working mom. Yesterday, March 4th was also the 8-year anniversary of my mom's death, and Sunday, March 2nd, was Mother's Day here in Ireland, both leaving me feeling a bit sad and left out. I cannot believe how raw the loss of my mom still is after this length of time, nor can I believe how much of my life (and children) she has missed. It is sad. How does one ever accept such a loss?
I am not a person of faith, so I an left with anger and sadness. I accept that death is a part of life, and inevitable one, but I still think it sucks.
In my last post I mentioned Lisa Leonard's silver word-stamped stuff, and I finally received my THRIVE necklace today, along with a couple of rings with the girls names in them.
So, I guess I better just focus on that- go back to that word, and do it.
Thrive.
THRIVE.

Parent Teacher Meetings

I have been on both sides of the P/T Meeting table in the last week, and all went well. As teachers, we find that the parents we really want/need to talk to NEVER turn up, and as parents, I always feel surprised that the teacher seems to really know my daughter. I get to know many of my students well, but not all of them. I wonder if their parents feel the same sense of surprise when I say something that confirms that I know their 'real' child?? (and would they guess what we get up to in class-- see photo)

Who knows? I also find it funny that even though I am a teacher AND have a great kid to discuss, I feel nervous or uneasy (like a student or something) when stepping into my daughter's teacher's classroom.

It is funny. Well, it's kinda funny.

My tasks for the month are coming along swimmingly-- I have been exercising a couple times a week (and aching the rest from overexersion), I have increased my water intake (not just Diet Coke and coffee), and I am getting some of those pesky household jobs done. Tomorrow I will even be posting my dad's very belated Christmas gift. Yea me! I ordered my THRIVE necklace from Lisa Leonard (see link in previous post) and look forward to seeing it as a daily reminder.

All is all- life is good, except for being broke! BUT there is another lotto draw tomorrow....

fingers crossed

b.t.w. apologies for spelling errors if they are here- the spellcheck on blogger seems to rarely work

Jones Soda Photo Gallery: Welcome to Jones Soda

Jones Soda Photo Gallery: Welcome to Jones Soda


Hey-
a few of my contacts on flickr are doing this Jones Soda label contest-- and I have decided to submit a few pictures that I already took- for fun, I certainly don't expect to win, but it is cool to see your photo on a label. If I didn't have to pay shipping all the way to Ireland I might actually order some... I have had it before, and I do recommend it-- so take a look, and join in!
Happy Saturday

ps- I saw the movie THE KITE RUNNER tonight-- my husband and I both really liked the book, and I highly recommend the film! Highly- way up there, but take your tissues.

thrive- to prosper, flourish, make steady progress

Forgive me reader, for I have sinned.... No, really, the year started off a bit bumpy- bad mood, tiredness, car trouble, and complaining. Not that anyone is reading this (yet) but the whole point was to spur me on to make changes in my life. I declined on any real resolutions, as I wasn't in the mood for letting myself down, but I am ready now.

For starters, thanks to the inspiration of Ali Edwards http://www.aliedwards.typepad.com/
I have chosen a word for 2008- what I want for myself an my family- to THRIVE. I made a long list of words like: accept, achieve, authentic, bloom, grow, do, ask, blaze, shiny... to name a few. But when I started looking up the definitions, thrive struck me as how I would like to define my life this year. I have creative goals, personal goals, professional and financial goals, but what it all boils down to is making progress, trudging forward and prospering- seeing and feeling a positive result. So, wish me luck, and feel free to add your word via a comment.

Another great things Ali suggested, which I loved, as I always need visuals, are these gorgeous, hand-made necklaces that you can order with your chosen word. http://lisaleonard.blogspot.com/2007/05/sterling-stamped-jewelry.html After spending a few days contemplating, and then changing my word (I was thinking CARE), I have made contact tonight and look forward to wearing my word to remind myself and others of my focus.

I have been reading a lot of craft and photography blogs recently-- making my own seem senseless as I'm not dispensing any knowledge, ideas or templates, but oh well. There is so much inspiration to be had (artistically, at least), and I will get revved up eventually and figure out a focus for this.
Maybe this blog will become more than my personal rant at some point. For today, I can say, it never stopped raining or sleeting where I live, and my accomplishments were limited. BUT I did fit in some exercise, some me time, and some art (throwing a small pot at school and making a boring poster for the computer teacher, but the second doesn't count since it has no spark)
So, for me, the day wasn't bad. I ate pretty healthily as well. Anyway, babbling....

Monday Again...

It has been a very busy week. Since writing last I have.... what have I done? Well, I had a very near-death, near-miss car situation on a slippery country road on Wedneday, when a big SUV pulling a trailer swerved into my lane, eventually completing a 180 degree turn while nearly hitting me head-on. The next afternoon, on the same stretch of road, while changing gears, my clutch or gearbox went out of business. I sat on the side of the road, waiting for the 24-hour emergency roadside assistance assholes to pick up their phone, which they didn't. I attempted to push the car myself, but the clutch had to be engaged, as I couldn't put it in neutral, and I only got a few feet...

Eventually I got help, and was home a couple of hours later. But, I still don't have my car, and I miss her.

What else happened? I have worked on my school yearbook, but not touched my quilting project. I haven't taken any great photos, though I do like the one above, as it was funny at the time, and I look thin-ish.

I must plan my 365 photos a bit more, and would love a DSLR.... but right now I will have to keep on wishing, as the car repair will probably be the cost of a decent camera (or well on the way to it).

Anyway, it's Monday. I have survived it, which is a good start to the week.

Feeling Lost (again)

The thing about family is their consistency. I am the eldest of three children, and the only girl. But my brothers are far from babies these days. At the age of 25, they SHOULD be able to remember dates and make small efforts, yet, it seems that they are remaining real 'little brothers' in this regard. And at 35, with our mother dead almost 8 years, I would really appreciate some contact or effort. I realize that everyone is busy. Everyone has their own lives and priorities. But it seems that any tradition or commitment to relationships within the family was swept away with my mom. This really makes me sad. As a family, we had a lot of good times together. Yet today, my dad and each of us kids, are flying solo. I at least have my own little family.
I feel guilty that they are alone, but my efforts to stay in touch seem to only get a luke-warm response. Dad is not bad with email, but my brothers will go months without touching base, and no one has phoned me since I moved to Ireland in 2001.
Does this count as normal these days? Is it the age we are living in, or does this have more to do with us being broken still from my mother's death?
And if we are broken, is there any chance of repairing what is wrong?
I recently took down a notice board I had hanging over my desk, with this bit of newspaper tacked to it-- a little note from my brother, from 2000 or 2001....I think it had been attached to a book he bought me as a belated birthday present when I came to visit. It made me cry on the day, because I honestly adore my brother, and I have the same response now. I miss him, even though he has missed every birthday since.
It's Monday. It's raining here in Ireland. I wonder what my brothers are doing in Atlanta and Korea.....
I just might have to try and track them down. (again)

In with a bang!

Wow! We attended a wedding on New Year's Eve- and there was a bit more celebrating that one needed. I am generally very good at monitoring my drink at these events and pacing myself. I cannot say the same for my hubby, but he tries early in the night. Anyway, the killer are the shots- like this Mickey Finn, which looks like anti-freeze or something. The Baby Guinness's are tough too. So, into the new year, and ready for a week of detox.

Seriously though, along with the creativity goal, I DO hope to get healthier. So, you can quote me on that-- I am going to eat (and drink) better and possibly even stick to some exercise! That is the plan anyway... also continuing my 2007 goal of decluttering and organizing all of my beloved stuff. As an artist, teacher and mother, I always find an excuse to keep a broken toy or torn shirt, or lid to a lost Tupperware bowl-- I see it all as fodder for something else. Well, I have been trying to either DO SOMETHING with this crap, or bin it. So, wish me luck in all my endeavors, and I will return the wish to you!

Happiest of new years to all!