More big news . . .

This isn't a perfect life . . .  but it's getting better all the time!  I know that's not the way I usually say it, but lately it's been true. 

The boys are adjusted.  Starting to help out more, and listen better.  They are still brothers . . . even though there are moments when they don't want to be. 

I am getting near done with school, and looking forward to graduation.  I feel like we are really moved in to the house now.  Everything has a place.  There are days when everything is not in its place, but every house has those days.  I, myself, have fewer days where I don't care where things go.  I have fewer days where I just don't do anything.  I feel better.  I am happier. 

This can be attributed to many things. . . the boys' behavior an attitude changes, for one.  Also, due to the fact that I have returned to Curves.  I am eating better and feeling better and more energetic in that respect - except for when I was sick. 

There is also another factor.  I have hinted about it, but wasn't quite ready to tell the world.  I had to get ready first . . .  and also tell M & D first.  I'm still not entirely sure why, but I had a lot of hesitation about that.  I'm over it now, and ready to tell everyone the biggest reason why I am feeling so much better. 

So, drumroll . . .

I am dating. 

No jokes from the peanut gallery.  I know it's about time.  It has been a long time since I have been in a relationship.  First I wasn't ready.  Then I lived with my parents and dating really wasn't an option.  I had to get my life put back together first.  For a while now, I've been somewhat ready.  I was lonely and wanted to find someone to spend time with . . . but I just didn't know how to get started.  All of my friends are either long-distance, married, or single and having fun.  Not that there's anything wrong with having fun, but I'm past that. 

I'm pretty sure I can guess everyone's next questions.  I'm not going to spill all on the internet, but here's just a little bit. 

I started a profile on eHarmony.  I wasn't quite sure how it works, but everyone's heard of it. . .  and just a few months ago, I learned that a very good friend of mine who was married last year met him on eHarmony.  So, what's there to lose?  I was a little discouraged at first. . . I thought that the "pool" was supposed to be narrowed down. . . but there were a lot of men that I wasn't interested in, and a lot more that weren't interested in me.  It was a little bit frustrating to be rejected without having any communication with a potential match, but I guess you have to sort through the "matches" that don't fit until you find the one that does.

I remember the first time that I saw his profile.  I just had to know more about him . . . and the more we emailed and chatted online, the more I felt like I did know him.  Everything just seemed to click.  After a week or so of chatting online, we arranged our first phone call.  I was nervous at first, but as soon as we started talking, I just felt more and more at ease.  That phone call was about five hours long.  I know that sounds crazy, but the longer we talked, the better it felt. . . and the more I wanted to keep talking.  I only had about four hours of sleep that night, but I still felt great when I woke up the next morning. 

I felt the same nervous build-up before our first meeting.  It didn't help the nerves that he was late.  I've let it go because he's not exactly around the corner, and he drove all the way here for the meeting.  The nerves died down as we talked more and more.  A nice lunch turned in to a long walk around the parking lot and even more conversation sitting outside the restaurant.  Has anyone else ever had a five hour lunch date? 

It's been a few more weeks since that first lunch.  We've had a total of four meetings.  They haven't all been five hours long, but they have been just as good.  We talk on the phone nearly every day.  I'm not quite ready to introduce the boys, but I am ready to call the babysitter and have a real date -- in the evening! 

I could talk to him all day long. . . about anything, everything, and nothing.  I already feel like he is "here" for me.  It's been a long time since I could lean on someone this way.  I had forgotten how nice it feels. 

And since I generally don't use people's real names here, I'll call him E.

If you want to know more, ask.  I can't guarantee that I'll answer all questions, but I'll try. 

That's it for now.  It's Sunday night, and I'm bushed.  It was a long week, and it's been a long weekend, too.  I usually look forward to Mondays, but tonight I think I'm too tired to be excited.  Time to go find some scrubs and get to bed.

~ Until next time . . . 

Because I don't have enough to do . . .

I decided to take up another hobby.

My classes are Monday through Thursday, which gives me Fridays off.  Usually I call it "my" day.  The boys still go to school on Fridays, so I do some deep-cleaning, run errands, and relax. 

Starting this week, I have something else to do.  I joined a bowling league!  It is the same bowling league that my Grandmother (my Dad's mom) belongs to.  I used to go bowling with her when I was a little girl.  I've never been very good, but always have fun.  They bowl Friday mornings. . . and since they had openings, and I have free time, I joined.

I didn't do very well, but since I was brand new (and haven't bowled at all in almost two years) no one really cared.  I may bowl poorly for a few weeks, but I think it's okay since I'm still excited and having fun! 

There are three games each day.  I first bowled an 87, 77, then a 76.  See?  I told you I didn't do well.  But I was excited each time I knocked down pins, and each time I got a strike (there were three) I was literally jumping up and down.

So, lots of fun . . . and my Grandma even gave me my own ball.  Have to get a bag to carry it in, but that should be pretty easy.  I am already looking forward to next Friday.  And now that I'm not quite so rusty, hopefully I'll get better next week! I'll let you all know how I'm improving . . .

If you're ever going to be in my neighborhood on a Friday, give me a call.  We can bowl . . . or have lunch after I bowl!  Still gotta keep some of "my" Friday, but the more I get out and about instead of staying home alone, the more I like it!

Friday

I have had a great day!  Friday is my day off of school.  What could be better than that?  I'll tell you: I love Fridays even more than most people because the boys still go to school.  This means it is my day.  I schedule doctor's appointments for Friday.  I clean the house, go shopping, and get to spend time doing nothing.  

This Friday was better than most.  I'm not quite ready yet to talk about why.  But I feel great!  I'm still exhausted from the boys being sick all week. . . . but I am also happy.  This is something that I haven't really said in quite a while.  I've had good days, sure . . . but just to be happy and able to smile and feel good  . . . Yeah, It's about time. 


Well, anyway, that was today.  Great.  No School, and lots of "me" time.  I'll post about it soon because I know that all three of you who read this will be wanting to know what's up.  Be patient.  And for now, just know that it was a great day, and I'm happy. 

Okay, enough about today. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


I've taken a few tidbits from AA's recent FB postings.  I don't know where she's getting them from, but they're good.  I thought that they deserved to be repeated . . .  I'm just not the "Copy and paste these to your status" type of person.  So I fixed their grammar and punctuation error, and here they are . . .

Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater.  Give her sperm and she will make a baby. Give her a house and she will give you a home. Give her groceries and she will give you a meal. Give her a smile she and she will give you her heart. She multiplies and enlarges what she is given. So if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit!

 

Be very careful if you make a woman cry, because God counts her tears. The woman came out of a man's rib. Not from his feet to be walked on, not from his head to be superior, but from his side to be equal . . . Under the arm to be protected, and next to the heart to be loved.

 

WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Press 1 for English. Press 2 to disconnect until you learn to speak English. 

 

Remember that only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, JESUS CHRIST. . . And the AMERICAN SOLDIER. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

More crochet news . . .

The first thing that I learned how to do was the chain stitch.  I just kept doing them until they looked neat and normal.  The next step was a single crochet.  I figured it out, and then just kept going.  I wish now that I had made a longer chain, but . . . Oh, well.  This thing, whatever it is, is about 36" long.  It's curvy because I messed up the first row, but left it because I didn't figure it out until I was halfway through the second. 

So, you want pictures?  Here you go.  Close ups and everything! 

I had fun taking pictures of it . . .

 

 Love the colors in the yarn!

 

 Here you can see the first row where I messed up.  Then the second row is loose and bunches up in places.  The third row, fourth row, and on get better and tighter.  I am excited - and rambling.  I'll stop.   

 

 More . . .

 

 Looks way bigger here than it really is. . .  But I love it. 

When I look at it I can see the row that I messed up . . . and how each row after gets better and tighter.   And the bigger it gets, the more the colors show.  I can't wait until I finish and I can do something else! 

Well, that's it for now.  We're having a great day.  I'll post about it later, but right now it's time for more fun! 

I can!

I can crochet!

No one would buy it on Etsy, but I don't care.  It might be lopsided and funky looking, but I don't care.  I made it!  Well, okay, not made.  I'm making it.  It's not done yet, and I don't know when it will be.  Not sure what it's going to be, actually.  It could  be a short scarf, or a doll's blanket.

The point is that I am learning.  It's fun.  And it feels really good to be able to spend my time doing nothing actually doing something.  I still love reading, but this is productive. 

I am still very much a beginner, and would not object to some help.  I have only learned the first two basic steps.  In fact, I have no idea what to do when I decide that this thing is "done" . . . but I'll get there.  And I will learn the rest of it.  Maybe some day I'll even be as good as those cute little grannies with bags of stuff that they carry around and just work while they're sitting somewhere. 

Well, that's all for now.  I have more to post about, but that's the crochet update.  Maybe I'll post a picture of what I have done so far.  Then you can all laugh at how funky it looks! 

Until next time,

~ Janis

Can I really learn how?

About two years ago, I bought this kit . . . the knitting version, actually.  But I didn't have the time and patience to try and teach myself.  I happened to have a friend on she ship who knew how.  He tried to teach me.  It was easier with help than on my own, but I still didn't get the hang of . . . anything . . . before I left the ship.  Not sure what happened to that kit.

When I was living here with mom and dad, job searching and waiting to start school, I was bored.  I didn't have any friends, and I didn't have anything to do.  So I thought that if I had something to occupy me, I would be less bored and lonely.  I bought this kit, thinking that I could learn to crochet.  Between the book and the animated instructions I found online, I got started.  Sort of.  Every time I started to try, something happened.  I had to go somewhere, or do something.  I got the hang of one concept before it got put away for the last time - a week before I started school.

I am back in school this week, and have lots to do . . . but I still have periods of boredom and loneliness.  So yesterday I pulled my kit out of its hiding place.  I don't have much . . . just a foot and a half of chain stitches.  It was Lesson one.  I started to get it, and that's when I put it all away.  Just looking at it, and the illustrations for lessons two through ten, I am a little overwhelmed again.

Does anyone out there know how to crochet?  Okay, Heather, I know that you can. . . .  But I also know that you're really busy (and you just finished a crocheting marathon) so I wasn't going to ask you.  How about anyone who wouldn't mind getting together sometime to help me learn?  I am excited to learn something new . . . and I think it would be nice to be able to sit and watch tv or a movie - and then still have something productive when I'm done.

If anyone is willing, please let me know.  Weekdays are best, but I can try to get together anytime. . . especially if you don't mind chillin' with the kiddos.  There could also be lunch or dinner in it for anyone who tries to teach me!

That's all for now . . .

The boys are off to bed, and I'm going to sit and try!
Hope to hear from someone soon!

Going back . . .

To School!

When I was in school, I lived for time off -- weekends, three day weekends, and vacations. I loved time off. I got to spend it with my friends, relaxing, or on the boat.

When I grew up, I joined the Navy. I still loved time off. Afternoons, weekends, and leave. On a ship, there were just more reasons to need leave - more supervisors, duty, underways, deployments. . . and we always said that "Leave is never long enough."

Now I'm out of the Navy. As you know, I don't have a job. I'm back in school. I have kids who are in school. JR is in Kindergarten, and Z is in preschool. We have all been off, together, since the 19th of December. Total, 16 days.

We've had a lot of fun in the last 16 days. We've gone shopping and saw Santa. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We've seen a few friends and visited family. We've even had a lot of fun just the three of us.

But there have been some not so good moments. The longer we've all been off of school, the more not-good moments we have. The boys don't take naps here at home, so they're worn out. They aren't seeing anyone (regularly) except each other. An extra problem has been being broke for most of the "vacation" time. Too cold to go to the park, but we start to get stir-crazy after being home too long.

Well, it's all over now. It's Sunday night. I'm headed to bed. And when I get up tomorrow, I'm going to school! I really am excited. I'm sorry for all of you who are going to work tomorrow and wish you could stay home and be lazy. I'm done being lazy! I need something to do. I need to learn some more. I'm ready to go back!

And, yes. Happy that my kids are going back, too. They need friends, and they need to play! And I need some time without them . . .

*sigh* So excited!

Goodnight world, goodnight blog!

~ Janis

Between a rock and a hard place

Aron Ralston

I picked this up at the used bookstore a little while back. I remember the basic story from several years ago, and I thought it would be a good read. Aron Ralston, hiking alone in a canyon, fell and was then trapped by a boulder. He was trapped with very little food and water. This is the story of how he got there, how he survived, and how he got out.

It was a good read . . . but a very long one. I am impressed at the detail that he can recall from his ordeal. Everything. Some of it is minute to minute, and so detailed - I don't remember anything that well! I'll be honest. There are parts of the book that drag on. I'm sure it would be interesting for some, but he goes off on tangents about other climbs, going in to detail about his adventures and certain aspects of mountain climbing, skiing and canyoneering. It was interesting, but a little over my head, and not what I was reading for. These anecdotes were popped in the middle of the main story - which is what I wanted to read about, not have it constantly interrupted. Maybe now that I know the story, I will go back and read about his other adventures.

If you like adventure, if you like a good survival story, then I do recommend this book. Be on the edge of your seat. Be inspired. And have a tissue handy! I don't often cry when reading - or even when watching sappy movies - but there were a few times in this book when it just pulled me.

Enjoy!