Day 30: What did you learn from NaBloPoMo

We made it!  30 days, 30 posts! 
I learned several things
1. I need to write first thing in the morning, if I let it drag on, it's harder to start.
2. I got to know my sister better.
3. I learned that I need to write more.
4. I have a long ways to go. 
5. I learned again, that I really like to write. 

Cheers to you dear Sister, we made our goal! 

Day 29: What is the last thing you do before bed?

I open the window about two inches. 
This is a contentious point between my husband and I.  He is always cold, and I am always hot.  So if I open the window when he is already asleep, then he can't close it, unless of course he wakes up and is cold. 
I think I sleep better with some fresh air circulating.  It's no good to breathe stuffy air. 

Day 28: What are three things that you enjoy most about the winter season? What three things do you dislike?

Enjoy:

1. That feeling of being all snug in my house, with the fire going, and watching the snow fall outside.
2. Christmas
3. Watching my sons when they go out to play in the snow, I will miss this very much when they are grown up.

Dislike:
1. Driving on winter roads, with ice, and snow, and slush, it's scary and dangerous, and causes me a lot of stress.  I do not like it a bit.
2. That feeling of being snowed in, and somewhat trapped (this happens usually after 3 days of snow, and we have around 3+ feet) (after the "snug" feeling is gone)
3. Where I live we get a lot of snow, and it starts out all powdery and beautiful, then it warms up some, via the Chinook wind, and it all melts and gets slushy and it's messy.  Really messy.  I hate that.

Day 27: List 5 things you are looking forward to this week

1. Friday, my personal favorite day of the week.
2. Thursday as that means hockey practices are done ( till Monday and then I guess there are 6 games on the weekend... So nevermind, I'm pretty much on a count down till Christmas vacation anyhow. Two weeks off hockey.)
3. Getting over this dumb cold I have, my head hurts, I can hardly swallow, and I just generally feel bad.
4. Going for lunch on Saturday, between hockey games. I always am into food, especially when I did not have to cook it.
5. The package of great bargains I ordered from the Old Navy Black Friday sale.

Day 26: Do you enjoy being alone? Would you rather be around other people.

I am a loner at heart. 
I love and treasure my time alone.  I attribute some of this is because growing up I was an only child, and I was parented by a woman who also loved "her time" and I could not interfere with her time to herself.
I do like to be with people, but in limited amounts.  For the last 16 years, it seems I have not had much time to myself.  Motherhood, does not provide for much time alone.  Being a hockey mom also affords little time alone.

My idea of a fantasy vacation would be a couple of weeks alone with a stack of books to read.  I would love that. I do wonder at what point I would start to feel lonesome. 

At times I tend to be almost downright, anti-social, I worry over this tendency in myself at times. 

I do like to be around other people.  Really I do.  

Day 24: What are you thankful for? What are you grateful for?

I'm thankful for a lot... Is gratefulness just an extension of thankfulness?  Or one in the same?


My sons,  one of whom is celebrating his 10th birthday this day!!
My husband.
Susie the puppy, I'm thankful you made it outside to pee this morning. *did not pee on the floor

The sun that came out today.
The sleep I got last night.
For the fun I get to have taking my son birthday cupcakes at school today.

I'm thankful that I continue to breathe in and out. 

I'm thankful for warm long down jackets so I don't get cold at the rink as I wait.

I am thankful for Steve Jobs who made some pretty damn cool technology gadgets, I am sorry though that you were not at peace with some stuff in your life, I could really relate to you in some aspects.

The below sign pretty well sums thankfulness all up. Yet, I don't care for the use of the word "LUCKIER".

  Happy Thursday Thanksgiving all! 

Day 22: What is the luckiest thing that has ever happened to you?

I hope this is not extremely lazy, but I came up with a good post on lucky, and I'm going to cross post what I wrote on my other blog...

I think luck is dumb.  There is no such thing as “LUCK”
I thought I would use this opportunity to say, stop telling us adoptees we are lucky. Lucky to have been born, lucky to be alive, lucky to not be on the bottom of the abortionists bucket, lucky to have been ripped from our drug addict of a mother’s arms, lucky, so we could lead lucky productive lives, filled with joy and gratitude that we were given so much and for that we should be eternally grateful, lucky to not have been handed over to dysfunction, lucky to not know, lucky just like Aunt Betty’s nephew who thinks his adopters are his real parents, after all, he never wanted to know, now isn’t he freaking lucky.  Lucky bastard. After all, he has a Masters degree.
It makes me angry when people say this.  It’s like they have to say it to us, out-loud, to ensure that we know, how they think we need to feel about it.  To say anything else would rock their world.  It might cause them to think.
Let me dispel myth for you, being adopted WAS NOT the luckiest thing that ever happened to me.  No sir.  I am not lucky, grateful, chosen or special.  No more than anybody else in this world. Luck had nothing to do with it.
I am not a better person than I would have been had I been kept.  I’m a more fractured person.  Who is that ghost inside me?  Who is that child that could have been?  What could she have done? Where is that woman? Would SHE have been lucky?  I guess it’s kind of a rhetorical question.
Stop telling me the worst thing that ever happened to me, was the luckiest thing.
Seriously, stop it, I dare you to even stop thinking it.

Day 21: Name a totally useless posession and how you came to accquire it.

Well today we have decided to skip the Ricki Lake dribble and post on something that is really deep (you know compared to Ms. Lake) all that and no smug attitude! 

At my house, we own several totally useless possessions. Now, the putting the words "totally useless" onto this object in my home, is quite a subjective phrase. 

Totally Useless

As in, not all the residents in my home view this item as totally useless.  (As in my husband, who in an imaginary world, he is a body builder). 

He acquired this item a few years ago, from a co-worker.  If I remember it correctly, that co-workers wife was delighted to unload this "totally useless" item off, on my husband.


He moved this item in, with great intentions.  He would get buff, our sons would also be strong little men running about the house. 


Sadly, that was not to be.  It has now been reduced into that of a hanger for wet snow pants, and a divider between hockey bags and the treadmill. 


I mentioned to my husband, that this would be a great, "trash to treasure" item, to unload onto another unsuspecting victim husband under the guise of fitness.

If my husband ever goes anywhere for more than a day, and the weather is nice at my house, the kids and I are going to drag this thing out to the end of the drive way and afix a "FREE" sign to the whole works.


Yet, I guess that will mean we have no more hanger for wet snow pants. 


Maybe I will become a body builder??

Day 20: What are the top five websites you'd hate to live without?

1. Pinterest I can't explain how fun, cool and radically awesome this site is, I could sit all day and pin stuff. Amazing recipes too.  Mmm. 

2. Kobo Books I got an e-reader, a kobo, for Christmas last year, and this is where I download books.  I love it, much cheaper than buying the book too.  I am an e-reader convert.  Yes, I still like "real books" but it's nice being able to have so many with me at all times.

3. Your Next Read again here great book site.  Put in the name of a book you liked, and it will generate a list of books you should read next.  Not that I ever am at a loss for books to read, it's just really fun to play around with.

4. Word Press Blogging platform, I have a blog there, I love it, great in-depth blogging tools.  Super nice. Free too.

5. Stumble Upon Have an extra free 8 hours or so?  Try this site, you will be sucked right in, and you will be amazed at all the cool and fantastic sites you will find!!  I these cool websites on Stumble Upon: SNL Archives, My Child WILL embarrass you in the bathroom (made me giggle!), and this great Journal Writing Prompts site.  Stumble Upon, totally addictive. 

There, now go get addicted!  :-) 

Day 19: (and we're almost there!!) A recipe that looks delish....

Ok, I got this recipe off of this web site... Pennies On A Platter

Thanks to them,(the web address above) my family has a new favorite, and I mean, picture 3 boys (two teenagers) fighting over thirds of this...

Run... don't walk to get the ingredients for this recipe.... it is amazing, and now my kids ask for it at least three times a week. 

We also tried it with some of that sweet/spicy Thai sauce, M&M Meat Shop sells it... mmmm. Really good.

Coconut Chicken with Apricot Sauce

Yield: 4 servings
1 egg
1 cup sweetened coconut flakes
1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 boneless chicken breasts
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup apricot preserves
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
Preheat the oven to 400˚F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Lightly beat the egg in a medium bowl; set aside.  Mix the coconut, flour, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a shallow bowl.  Working with one chicken breast at a time, dip the chicken in the bowl with the beaten egg and then coat with the coconut mixture.  Place on the baking sheet.  Once all chicken breasts are coated and on the baking sheet, evenly drizzle with the melted butter.  Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, flipping once halfway.
To prepare the apricot sauce, mix the apricot preserves and the Dijon mustard in a small bowl.  Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Freezer Friendly:  After baking the chicken, let cool completely then freeze in a freezer bag for up to 1 month.  To reheat, bake in a preheated oven at 400˚F for 20 minutes.
Source:  Jamie MacDonald, friend of Pennies on a Platter

** My advice, double this recipe!  You won't be sorry!

Day 18: What has been the happiest moment of your life thus far

Ive had many, it's tough to boil it all down to just one... Time for a list....these are the main highlights, and I am adding photos where I can, or have permission to do so.  And I'm feeling very lazy this morning and and I don't feel like getting the scanner out, so I am maybe not putting in the correct event pictures, but you get the idea, right? 

1. When I got married, over 19 years ago.

2. Despite the demise of our relationship-- when I met my mom, in 1994, and she held me for the first time in 24 years. It answered a lot of questions for me. And in turn made me pretty happy.

3. When I had my son Ben, my heart was so full, I thought I would pop.

4. When my next son Danny was born, I remember the sky was red, and pink that morning he was born, it was beautiful.

5. When my youngest son Joshua was born, I was so happy to hold him.

6. When I connected with my sister.

7. That perfect day my husband and I had on the Caribbean Sea on the Catamaran tour, every moment is etched in my mind. It was, the perfect day.

There you have it!
I'll also be really happy when winter is OVER.  TGIF People!

Day 17: Make a list of everyone you've ever had a crush on in your life, then choose one from the list and describe him or her in great detail. (Guest Post by Ann Napolitano, author)

Daryl Brown, you lit up my world in 4th grade. 

There was just so much to like about you.  You seemed dangerous, the way you kicked the ball in PE when we played the now infamous "Battle Ball". 

All the girls were crazy over you. 

That short 1/4 inch buzz cut you had. Super groovy.  That blue polo shirt I was so excited to see you wearing it, it seemed to match your eyes. 

I admired you so much when you stood up to Jason Peterson at recess that day, when he dared to make fun of some of the younger kids. 

What happened to you Daryl Brown?  Do you have a job you like?  Does your wife look into your blue eyes and know that 4th grade girls loved them? 

*All names were altered for purposes of privacy.  :-)

Day 16: What is the moment that you leave childhood and enter adulthood? (Guest Post by Catherine Gildiner, author )

I think it's the day when I brought my first child into the world.

I held him knowing that all the innocence, and childhood shreds were gone for me.  I saw a different side of life as I once knew it.

Never again, would many things be the same.  It was forever altered.  I saw the world from new eyes.


That was the day, I embraced adulthood.  The child was gone.

Day 15: Describe a favourite place....

mmm.
Sleep is a favourite place.

Warm, safe. relaxed.

Nothing to worry about.

Comfortable.  Where I wish I was all the busy day long.

No arguing teens there.

mmm.

Day 14: Have you faced your fears and overcome them?

I'm not even going to mention who asked this guest prompt.  
My sister put it aptly enough in her post title.

Yes, I have faced a lot of fears.  I feel to some degree yes, I have overcome.  Or maybe it's a constant work in progress -- overcoming. I won't stop overcoming until the day I die. By no means am I saying I have it all together.  No way. 

More than anything, one thing I've thought much about recently is fear itself.  And what a prison fear seems to become.  We become entrenched in fear, and it seems nothing will pull us out at times.

I can look back on my life, and I realize that fear has been a huge force, fear has at different times ruled my life.
But again, when I've faced fear, I've now learned, it has the opposite effect than I expected, I expected to be shamed, shunned, and cast out, instead, facing it brought freedom, and shed light into my life.  I'm actually a new person, because of facing my fears. I know who I am. Facing it made all the difference.

I urge people to face fears, head on.  I know, believe you me,  I know, yes it is scary, for sure.  But being scared, just even for a little while, is not worth missing out on freedom, or life, or somebody in life.

Step out... come on.

Day 13: Here's $1000. Spend it in the next hour or lose it. No online shopping allowed.

Here's a goodie!

1. iPhone 4s.  $150.00 (I could get the iPhone 4 (not 4s) for free, but I have extra money so I'll go for the 4s, it has a better camera anyhow.) I am a nerdy tech gadgety person.

2. An electric fireplace, to put in my living room.  A nice one from this furniture  store I like, $400.00. I am moving the piano in my living room and putting the new electric fireplace where the piano sits.  Piano will now be on the opposite wall.

3. Large flat screen TV, to hang on the wall over the new electric fireplace.  $450.00.

That was $1000.00 I blew that quick eh?

Now, if I just had another $1000, and I'd get a nice sectional for my newly refreshed living room.

Day 12: Will you attend your high school reunion? Why or why not?

Well, I'm coming up on my 25th High School Reunion, Class of 1988.  Two years from now, I could be partying like it's 1999, or in my case, 1988...

No, probably not.  I seriously would probably not go. 

I went to my 10th reunion.  Which was LAME, my husband hated every moment and never failed to tell me how much it sucked. 

Looking back at the whole thing, yes it did suck.  Basically I think we should have had stats sheets on one another, the main questions were:

1. Where'd you end up?
2. Are you married? To whom?
3. How many puppies have you popped out?  Or managed to breed? (they even gave out awards to people who had the most kids-- one nerdy guy won, he had 6 kids, nobody saw that one coming.)
4. What do you do for a living? 

We should have all sent in our questionnaires, instead of even showing up to the party.  It would have saved time, and possible embarrassment, for those of us who had gained a lot of weight. 

Everyone at my 10th High School Reunion was wasted, and dancing to 80's songs.  And all of our spouses were back at the tables, mocking us. 

No stellar memories.  Nope. 

The 20th Reunion, I did not attend.  Somebody sent me some pictures, I was glad I did not go, it looked lamer than the 10th. 


Due to the wonders of social media, I can now see what all of my friends in high school are now up to.  I have (before I deactivated my account, about 3 weeks ago, I'm taking a break) about 60 friends that I went to High School with as my Facebook friends. 
I notice some odd trends going on with people I once went to High School I can group them in loose catagories,

1. Those who are having mid-life crises, who post pictures of their new red convertibles, their new "trophy" wives or girlfriends (around age 22-- whom they are old enough to be those girls' fathers), and I must say, those guys who do that, are always bald.  It's a strange phenomena. I have an ex- that fits into this category, and I have really had some comedic moments over that one. I'll just say, I'm really glad I did not marry him, or I'd have some serious issues right now.

2. People who were the worst stoners, and heavy drug users, I mean, heavy duty, stoned, the entire time at High School, they seem to all have now found religion.  The biggest stoner in my High School Class, is has become a Pastor, he has sent all of us personal messages as to how changed he is, and how we should repent or burn.  Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I'm just saying what a weird turn of events.  I did not ever see that one coming. 

3. Women I went to High School with that put off having kids, and whom are now 40-41 years old and just having their first kid.  There is an endless stream, of status messages about potty training, and what to do if little Daisy is having a temper tantrum... I get they put off kids, but quite frankly, I am tired of hearing about it.  I simply want answers on how to deal with snotty teenagers.  I'm glad I won't have to deal with teens when I'm in my 50's. 

Also, I wonder, why should I make an effort to get to a party to celebrate 25 years since High School, if all I have to do to see what they ate for breakfast, or where they last vacationed, or how depressed they seem to be, is check out Facebook. 

So no, probably not.  I'd rather go anywhere else.  I'd have more fun.

Day 11: It's 11/11/11, make three wishes.

I'm exhausted, today and I'm probably going to wish for selfish things... alas, they are only wishes, so here goes:

1. Teenagers who are not snotty, and who don't fight with one another.  Today has been a real run for my money.  Anybody want to buy a ps3 with several games?  How about an xbox with several games?  They are going for cheap. Hell, I'd even be willing to give them away...

2.  To win the lotto, I know wishing for money is selfish and shallow, but today I just don't care.  I'd use it to travel, and pay off my mortgage.  Maybe buy a winter condo on the golf course in Arizona. Not to mention a long vacation with no snotty teenagers.  I'd take my sister on a hunting trip too.

3.  I wish that people all over the world would face their pain.  For no other reason then for them, I wish they would realize that being at peace with their past pain, would indeed make life better.  They would be happier. The world might be happier. 

Day 10: What is your secret (or not-so-secret) passion? (Guest Post by Jean Kwok, author )

Passion?  Secret Passion?
Hmmm....

This is a tough one.  For the last almost five years, I've been on something of a journey of self discovery, I've actually been finding out who I really am. 

That has become somewhat of a passion of mine, discovering who I am, and who I was born to be, not being what somebody said I had to be, or how I had to think like them.  But don't get me wrong, I am not a narcissist. I've just spent the majority of my life, doing and thinking the way other people told me I had to.  In someways, discovering who I am is also a secret passion of mine, because I don't tell it to just everybody, some people are not safe to share that with. 

I'm realizing, I can think anything I want, and still be ok, and liked, even loved and valued.

I am also very passionate about reading, and I guess writing.  I would love to someday write a memoir of sorts. 

I could also become very passionate about traveling, I am trying to fufill this passion by buying one lotto ticket a week in hopes that I win, so I can go travel.  And take my family traveling. 


One thing I know for sure, I'm going to visit Italy before I die!  That dream, I am passionate about!!!

COME ON LOTTO!!

Day 9: When was the first time that you realized that your home was not like other people’s homes? (Guest Post by Catherine Gildiner, author )

There is a lot of background here that I'm leaving out.  My apologies.

If I was to recount to you the first time, or all the times that I realized my home was not like other peoples, I'd be here much longer than the time I have allotted for this today. 

My home was nothing like other peoples homes, or even most peoples homes.  I noticed, everyday. 

Lets just say, I was part of a social experiment gone really bad.  I'm something of a survivor.

From about the age of 4 I was aware, that it was much different the most peoples reality.  I'm sure I noticed before then, on more of a subconscious  level. 

That's all I have to say about it today.