Goodbye to 2008 and hello to 2009! Where DID the time go? As I do every year, I spend the first day or so of the new year reflecting upon the past year. What was accomplished, what was not, what was joyous, what was hard and what would I like to accomplish in the next year. Those of you that know me, know I don't do resolutions. Resolutions SUCK! To me, resolutions are nothing more than a way to set myself up for failure so I can beat myself up about it next year. What's the point? I have goals. Some of these goals will come to fruition, others will just get a kick start, but that is better than nothing. After all, a year is only a year, and no matter how hard you try, there are some things that just can't be accomplished in 365 days!
So, what did Trina accomplish this year? Well let's see...
1. I yet again managed to bring 2 children one year closer to adulthood without strangling them or selling them on the black market.
2. I successfully homeschooled my son another year, EVEN with a toddler in the house!
3. I skipped out on my 20 year high school reunion and took that trip I promised myself with my husband! One week in Cozumel and I can't tell you how much that boosted my morale and strengthened our marriage! I love my kids, but sometimes Mommy and Daddy need some time to rediscover what we had BEFORE children came along, to have conversations that don't include words like "poop", "potty", "farting" or "Lego Deathstar Destroyers", and to revel in the silence, enjoying one another's quiet presence. You can bet I'm going to make this a yearly goal, whether it's a long weekend or a full week, that kind of time together is priceless!
4. I planted a garden! I was entirely successful in raising herbs, tomatoes, cantaloupe and jalapenos, but bell peppers and squash were lessons in futility! Maybe I'll have better luck this year! There was something more fulfilling than you can imagine, going into the garden and harvesting tomatoes with the kids, watching them eat the fruit right off the vine and using that days harvest in our dinner. I hope to add more beds this winter so I can expand the garden and have higher yields. Growing your own food is not only good for your body, but good for your soul!
5. I finally got my big, badass tattoo! A memorial for two little babies that never made it into this world, and a tribute to the two amazing kids that did! Now I have a daily reminder to never forget the two that I lost, but also never forget how lucky I am to have the two that came!
6. I celebrated 14 years of marriage! That's a pretty big number and I find it immensely satisfying that after 14 years, I still love him, still respect him, still think he's the best father ever and still want to spend the rest of my life with him. Pretty damn cool!
7. I'm finally feeling comfortable with where I am and what I'm doing. I have found amazing friends in an amazing community of women and I feel much more grounded, much more supported and much more loved. Finding a solid network of great women is something I have been striving to find for years, and now that I have it, life is much more enjoyable!
So... although I still don't have baseboards or a finished kitchen, I still have a wonky fence and I still don't take enough time for myself, I did accomplish some great things this past year! And maybe, just maybe, 2009 is the Year of Baseboards!
Now on to my goals...
1. Keep on keepin' on! Try to live in the moment and quit worrying so much about the future. After all, the future just puts me one step closer to dyin', right?!
2. Expand my garden! My garden frustrates me and elates me all at the same time, but there is just something about having my hands in the dirt and smelling the scent of tomato vines that gives me a sense that I am truly a part of the natural world and not just some tech junkie that spends too much time on the computer!
3. Spend less time on the computer! I won't give up my blogging, but Facebook and Myspace, your time will be limited!
4. Make more of an effort to call and see friends! Email is nice, but there is nothing like visiting in person!
5. Spend MUCH more time outdoors, whether hiking, camping or gardening. I spent entirely too much time indoors last year and it has made me feel disconnected and weak!
6. To work on some ideas I have to make natural, affordable toys. It makes me crazy that toys that are good for the environment and stimulating for children that are NOT made in China cost too much for the average person to afford them! But that is another tangent I should save for another entry!
7. Last, but not least, be a good human! Work toward lowering my footprint on the planet, work toward raising children that are open-minded and respectful, that want to make a difference in the lives of others and the environment. Our future rests in their hands, so this is one of those on-going goals and the greatest labor of my life! My children will ultimately be my greatest contribution to the planet so I've got to get this one right!
I am looking forward to a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year! And I'm not talking about monetary prosperity (although a little of that might be nice), I'm talking about the kind of prosperity that comes from the joy of watching children grow and learn, the connection, the passion and the safety felt with a lifelong partner, and the love and loyalty of a good 'ol dog! It's all about the everyday triumphs and the little things that cause great joy. Sometimes you have to look for them, but they're always there, whether it's the smell of a freshly bathed baby, the uninhibited giggles of silly children, the fleeting morning kiss from the spouse leaving for work, the little red tomato picked right off the vine or the smell of fresh baked cookies and the eager anticipation of children wanting to eat those cookies. It's truly the little things that make each day awesome, which in turn makes each week amazing, which leads to great months and phenomenal years! I hope each of you experience everyday joys in your lives and have a happy and prosperous New Year as well!
Showing posts with label achievements. Show all posts
Showing posts with label achievements. Show all posts
Friday, January 02, 2009
Monday, July 07, 2008
Flaunting my skills!
We celebrated the Piglet's 2nd birthday last night. Just a few friends and family and one of her little friends. We had a wonderful time, hanging outside, drinking beer and enjoying some good food! But the highlight of the night was cupcakes! Big Daddy and I made up the cutest batch of "McDuff-cakes" which were fashioned after her favorite book character, a little West Highland White Terrier named McDuff! Check out the mad skills hubby and I have! How the hell are we gonna top these bad boys next year!?!
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
SUCCESS!
Although many told me it was too hot and I would NEVER get any cantaloupe out of my vine, I am happy to report... THEY WERE ALL WRONG! I have been noticing the past week or so that my cantaloupe vine is a major hang-out for the local bees. This gave me great pleasure due to the fact that bee populations have been on the decline. I just knew in my heart with all that good pollination going on, my vine just HAD to produce at least one melon. Well, I went digging around in the vine, as it is huge and taking over my yard, and what do you know. baby melons! There are 2 that are about 2-3" in diameter, one that is 1" in diameter and two brand new ones just starting. So FIVE folks, FIVE melons growing on my vine, yee-haw!
My jalapeno plant is producing fairly well, the bell peppers are starting to rally in the cooler (by this I mean less than 100*F) weather, and the tomato plants are starting to produce! The "sweet 100" has little teeny tomatoes all over it, in fact, we harvested 3 bright red ones yesterday! I had to laugh, as I had no clue what "sweet 100's" were, as it turns out they are very small, very round little tomatoes. Very cute, but hardly a mouthful! So it's good that the vine is covered because it will take 30 to make one salad! The cherry tomato vine has a little tomato on it, so there is hope there and the "Golden Boy" is actually flowering like crazy, so maybe tomatoes to follow!
I also got the great news yesterday that I can replant zucchini and squash in mid-July here. The temps start decreasing, the borers are out of season and from what I understand, Texas has 2 summer growing seasons, the late spring through mid-June season, take end of June and early July off, then replant for the second round in late July. Then I get to plant a winter garden. I hope by next year I'll have this all under control. I do know that I need to get that second bed done though in the next couple of weeks as the cantaloupe vine has taken over my one bed, so I have no room for zucchini and squash! No prob though, I can knock a bed out in a weekend! I even still have dirt leftover from the first bed. I am loving this gardening stuff! And just as a note, those little tomatoes may have been completely puny, but nothing ever tasted SOOOO sweet! Ah yes, the taste of fresh, home-grown tomatoes and with a pinch of success thrown in!
Friday, March 21, 2008
150th Post
For my 150th post, I considered doing a random, 150 things about me, but figured 150 things is ALOT. So how about I narrow it down to 50.
1. I've been happily married for 13 1/2 years!
2. I've got two SUPER cool kiddos.
3. I share my home with Otis the Wonderdog, or Otis Potis Who Drinks from the Commodus.
3. I grew up in New Mexico.
4. I currently reside in Texas.
5. I wish I still lived in Oregon!
6. I homeschool my kids.
7. I think farting is funny!
8. I hate fire ants!
9. My favorite sandwich is a meatloaf sandwich, mmmmmm!
10. I have one tattoo, hoping to get another one soon.
11. I love to cook, but HATE to clean up after myself.
12. I'm estranged from my father.
13. But I love my Mama and my in-laws.
14. I think Valentine's Day is STUPID.
15. I generally like animals more than people.
16. My favorite colors are emerald green and sunshine yellow.
17. I seem to always be the person who steps in gum (I suppose better gum than dogshit).
18. I color my hair because I am growing older kicking and screaming (and I've forgotten what my natural color is)!
19. Even after 2 kids, I still wear a size 5 (and I'm proud of myself for that!)
20. I think gumdrops are disgusting!
21. I think rice pudding is awesome!
22. I hate to drive.
23. I always paint my toenails, but NEVER paint my fingernails.
24. I'm a licensed massage therapist, but very rarely practice.
25. I have a degree in Biology with emphasis in physiology and zoology.
26. One of my biggest pet peeves is bad spelling.
27. Another big pet peeve is women that wear too much perfume, GAG!
28. I totally suck at sports!
29. But I take some pretty awesome photos.
30. I am loyal and trustworthy to a fault!
31. My favorite part of my body is my feet, they are long, slender and gorgeous when my toenails are painted!
31. My least favorite part of my body is my fingers, I chew on my hangnails when I'm nervous.
32. Sproingy food makes me gag (calamari, chicken skin, etc...).
33. I have never been overseas.
34. I like to garden, but think I suck at it.
35. I can lay tile and hardwood floors and paint like a son of a bitch!
36. Strawberries and fresh peaches are my favorite fruits.
37. If I wasn't married, I'd very much like to "do" Johnny Depp! ;-)
38. I drink hot tea, English style, every morning, even in the middle of summer.
39. I've always wanted to visit Australia, Scotland and Bora Bora.
40. I never intended to have children, but I have never loved anything so fiercely in all my life!
41. I used to have hair down to my arse!
42. My dream car is a 1963 black Corvette Stingray
43. I secretly wish my hubby had a Harley and would grow his hair back and get a tattoo!
44. I'm an only child.
45. Stupid people piss me off.
46. I want to write children's books.
47. I'm pretty sure I talk too much!
48. My favorite animals are otters and hippopotamuses!
49. When I grow up I want to be a roller derby queen!
50. I actually enjoy writing this stupid blog!
1. I've been happily married for 13 1/2 years!
2. I've got two SUPER cool kiddos.
3. I share my home with Otis the Wonderdog, or Otis Potis Who Drinks from the Commodus.
3. I grew up in New Mexico.
4. I currently reside in Texas.
5. I wish I still lived in Oregon!
6. I homeschool my kids.
7. I think farting is funny!
8. I hate fire ants!
9. My favorite sandwich is a meatloaf sandwich, mmmmmm!
10. I have one tattoo, hoping to get another one soon.
11. I love to cook, but HATE to clean up after myself.
12. I'm estranged from my father.
13. But I love my Mama and my in-laws.
14. I think Valentine's Day is STUPID.
15. I generally like animals more than people.
16. My favorite colors are emerald green and sunshine yellow.
17. I seem to always be the person who steps in gum (I suppose better gum than dogshit).
18. I color my hair because I am growing older kicking and screaming (and I've forgotten what my natural color is)!
19. Even after 2 kids, I still wear a size 5 (and I'm proud of myself for that!)
20. I think gumdrops are disgusting!
21. I think rice pudding is awesome!
22. I hate to drive.
23. I always paint my toenails, but NEVER paint my fingernails.
24. I'm a licensed massage therapist, but very rarely practice.
25. I have a degree in Biology with emphasis in physiology and zoology.
26. One of my biggest pet peeves is bad spelling.
27. Another big pet peeve is women that wear too much perfume, GAG!
28. I totally suck at sports!
29. But I take some pretty awesome photos.
30. I am loyal and trustworthy to a fault!
31. My favorite part of my body is my feet, they are long, slender and gorgeous when my toenails are painted!
31. My least favorite part of my body is my fingers, I chew on my hangnails when I'm nervous.
32. Sproingy food makes me gag (calamari, chicken skin, etc...).
33. I have never been overseas.
34. I like to garden, but think I suck at it.
35. I can lay tile and hardwood floors and paint like a son of a bitch!
36. Strawberries and fresh peaches are my favorite fruits.
37. If I wasn't married, I'd very much like to "do" Johnny Depp! ;-)
38. I drink hot tea, English style, every morning, even in the middle of summer.
39. I've always wanted to visit Australia, Scotland and Bora Bora.
40. I never intended to have children, but I have never loved anything so fiercely in all my life!
41. I used to have hair down to my arse!
42. My dream car is a 1963 black Corvette Stingray
43. I secretly wish my hubby had a Harley and would grow his hair back and get a tattoo!
44. I'm an only child.
45. Stupid people piss me off.
46. I want to write children's books.
47. I'm pretty sure I talk too much!
48. My favorite animals are otters and hippopotamuses!
49. When I grow up I want to be a roller derby queen!
50. I actually enjoy writing this stupid blog!
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Goodbye 2007... Hello 2008!
As with so many other folks, I too have been reflecting on the past year. For some reason I have this nagging in my brain saying I didn't accomplish Jack Shit last year. Maybe it's the stay-at-home mom thing, I think it's hard for me to quantify my accomplishments the way people in the working world can. I didn't get any promotions and I certainly didn't get a raise, there are no documented reports on whether my performance was satisfactory or not. I have to look into my heart, my home, my marriage and my childrens' eyes in order to gauge my progress. So what DID I accomplish this year?
1. I managed to bring two children another year closer to adulthood (with only one visit to the ER!)
2. I successfully completed my son's first "official" semester of homeschooling!
3. I watched my daughter learn to crawl, speak, walk, and start feeding herself (this is the good stuff!)
4. I encouraged creativity and imaginative play with my son and have watched him blossom with his new found talents!
5. With my hubby, I managed to lay over 1000 sq. ft. of flooring, remodel a half-bath and utility room, re-upholstered 6 kitchen chairs, and began landscaping the front of the house.
6. I had several garage sales which helped clear out some of the clutter in order to get a healthy start on organizing my crazy life!
7. I took thousands of photos of my kids and kept blogs to document their amazing little lives!
8. I continued with this blog as a way to express myself, whether good or bad, it was a creative way for me to document things, brag about things and bitch about things. It has given me an outlet and I love that!
So those are some of the main things I'm proud of in 2007, but what about 2008? Well, I'm not one for resolutions, as I see them as a way to set myself up for failure. I'm not saying I don't have goals for the new year, but I don't consider them resolutions, as my life is a work in progress and a year's time may not necessarily be the time frame that I'm able to make things happen. So I set my goals and work as diligently as possible to achieve them, but I try not to beat myself up about the ones that don't get completed (my dining room chairs and baseboards, for instance!) That being said, here are some of my goals for 2008...
1. Spend less time on housework and stupid shit and spend more time enjoying my children! They are only little once and I've been given the amazing opportunity to stay at home with them. I need to take full advantage of this, for their sake and mine!
2. Continue with homeschooling my son!
3. Be a little bit selfish and make a serious effort to take some time for myself, exploring my painting and photography, going out to a few movies, and reading more books!
4. Continue landscaping, finish painting and installing baseboards in the downstairs, begin re-surfacing kitchen countertops and install new backsplashes, buy and install cabinets in garage in order to organize and free up space in the garage for me (and the kids) to do artwork.
5. Try to take ONE trip with just my husband (to anywhere!)
6. Continue to nurture a great relationship with the hubby, after all in Aug. 2008 we'll celebrate 14 years of marriage!
7. Last (and most definitely least) take advantage of the fact that I dropped my baby weight and am thinner now than I was in high school. So now it's time to start exercising some to beef that up. After all, I have my 20 year high school reunion this year (UGH!) and it would just be so much nicer to go back to face all the bitches that treated me like a second class citizen with a hot bod! I know, kind of superficial, but hey, I'm allowed to be shallow on occasion!
Although I am hoping for a great 2008, I certainly can't complain about 2007. I mean it's true that money was tight, gas prices were too damn high, and the hubby had to travel more than I would have liked, but in all honesty, we had healthy children, a roof over our heads, food on the table and functional vehicles, so really, I'm pretty thankful for 2007! I just want to strive to be a good human and to teach my children to be good humans in 2008. After all, it's love that makes the world go round, right? Happy New Year to all my friends and family, may the new year bring health and happiness to each and every one of you!
1. I managed to bring two children another year closer to adulthood (with only one visit to the ER!)
2. I successfully completed my son's first "official" semester of homeschooling!
3. I watched my daughter learn to crawl, speak, walk, and start feeding herself (this is the good stuff!)
4. I encouraged creativity and imaginative play with my son and have watched him blossom with his new found talents!
5. With my hubby, I managed to lay over 1000 sq. ft. of flooring, remodel a half-bath and utility room, re-upholstered 6 kitchen chairs, and began landscaping the front of the house.
6. I had several garage sales which helped clear out some of the clutter in order to get a healthy start on organizing my crazy life!
7. I took thousands of photos of my kids and kept blogs to document their amazing little lives!
8. I continued with this blog as a way to express myself, whether good or bad, it was a creative way for me to document things, brag about things and bitch about things. It has given me an outlet and I love that!
So those are some of the main things I'm proud of in 2007, but what about 2008? Well, I'm not one for resolutions, as I see them as a way to set myself up for failure. I'm not saying I don't have goals for the new year, but I don't consider them resolutions, as my life is a work in progress and a year's time may not necessarily be the time frame that I'm able to make things happen. So I set my goals and work as diligently as possible to achieve them, but I try not to beat myself up about the ones that don't get completed (my dining room chairs and baseboards, for instance!) That being said, here are some of my goals for 2008...
1. Spend less time on housework and stupid shit and spend more time enjoying my children! They are only little once and I've been given the amazing opportunity to stay at home with them. I need to take full advantage of this, for their sake and mine!
2. Continue with homeschooling my son!
3. Be a little bit selfish and make a serious effort to take some time for myself, exploring my painting and photography, going out to a few movies, and reading more books!
4. Continue landscaping, finish painting and installing baseboards in the downstairs, begin re-surfacing kitchen countertops and install new backsplashes, buy and install cabinets in garage in order to organize and free up space in the garage for me (and the kids) to do artwork.
5. Try to take ONE trip with just my husband (to anywhere!)
6. Continue to nurture a great relationship with the hubby, after all in Aug. 2008 we'll celebrate 14 years of marriage!
7. Last (and most definitely least) take advantage of the fact that I dropped my baby weight and am thinner now than I was in high school. So now it's time to start exercising some to beef that up. After all, I have my 20 year high school reunion this year (UGH!) and it would just be so much nicer to go back to face all the bitches that treated me like a second class citizen with a hot bod! I know, kind of superficial, but hey, I'm allowed to be shallow on occasion!
Although I am hoping for a great 2008, I certainly can't complain about 2007. I mean it's true that money was tight, gas prices were too damn high, and the hubby had to travel more than I would have liked, but in all honesty, we had healthy children, a roof over our heads, food on the table and functional vehicles, so really, I'm pretty thankful for 2007! I just want to strive to be a good human and to teach my children to be good humans in 2008. After all, it's love that makes the world go round, right? Happy New Year to all my friends and family, may the new year bring health and happiness to each and every one of you!
Monday, August 06, 2007
13 years and still going strong!
Today is my 13th wedding anniversary! I have officially been married as long as my parents were. About the only other people I know that have been married longer are my in-laws! I always knew I'd still be with the hubby after this long. I think it was always meant to be. We were friends way before we were a couple and that seems to be the secret to success (that and you know you've found true love if you can fart in front of each other, and that was NEVER a problem between us!) Once we began dating, we actually lived together for 3 years before marrying so there were no surprises, we each knew each other SO well. I still believe the ceremony was just a technicality, I think we were just as committed before we said "I do", but hey, why not go for the tax break? And I did end up with a pretty sweet ring! :-)
As I have probably mentioned before, I had a bit of a wild life, early on, but for some reason marriage and family ended up working so much better for me. As much as I loved partying and hanging out with people and being the life of the party, it was tiring! Marriage was just so much easier and more meaningful. I didn't have to prove myself, I didn't have to be cool, I just had to be me! It is so nice to have someone to share your dreams and your life, someone who thinks your kids are as cool as you think they are, someone to laugh with and on occasion laugh at, and in my case, someone to be the optimist. No matter how shitty a situation seems, he can always find a way to make it seem less shitty. And when I think it's the end of the world, he assures me that it "ain't no thing but a chicken wing, and a chicken ain't nothin' but a bird." Now what that actually means... I'm not necessarily sure, but it does make things seem a little less overwhelming. He's my rock, my computer geek, my "Big Daddy", he's the breadwinner, the one who makes it possible for me to be at home, loving and schooling our children. And as much as he annoys the crap out of me sometimes, he is absolutely my very best friend and the person I truly want to spend the rest of my life with! I sure hope he feels the same about me! How could he not? I'm still a pretty hot bitch after all these years! :-)
But I think my father-in-law put it so well, and I'm paraphrasing here, "When you have someone you love to share your life with, the bad things are only half as bad, and the good things are twice as great!" If my hubby is reading... I love you and I'm looking forward to the next 60 years!
As I have probably mentioned before, I had a bit of a wild life, early on, but for some reason marriage and family ended up working so much better for me. As much as I loved partying and hanging out with people and being the life of the party, it was tiring! Marriage was just so much easier and more meaningful. I didn't have to prove myself, I didn't have to be cool, I just had to be me! It is so nice to have someone to share your dreams and your life, someone who thinks your kids are as cool as you think they are, someone to laugh with and on occasion laugh at, and in my case, someone to be the optimist. No matter how shitty a situation seems, he can always find a way to make it seem less shitty. And when I think it's the end of the world, he assures me that it "ain't no thing but a chicken wing, and a chicken ain't nothin' but a bird." Now what that actually means... I'm not necessarily sure, but it does make things seem a little less overwhelming. He's my rock, my computer geek, my "Big Daddy", he's the breadwinner, the one who makes it possible for me to be at home, loving and schooling our children. And as much as he annoys the crap out of me sometimes, he is absolutely my very best friend and the person I truly want to spend the rest of my life with! I sure hope he feels the same about me! How could he not? I'm still a pretty hot bitch after all these years! :-)
But I think my father-in-law put it so well, and I'm paraphrasing here, "When you have someone you love to share your life with, the bad things are only half as bad, and the good things are twice as great!" If my hubby is reading... I love you and I'm looking forward to the next 60 years!
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