blah, blah, blah

It appears that I had little to say.

Well, not really, but I wanted to keep the previous post up for a bit, and I don't know how to keep it at the top (like a sticky on some blogs)...so I just ignored all the ramblings in my head.

But alas, I had to post again, because...well, it's the WEEKEND, and if I DON'T post new stuff, no one will want to READ me, particularly if I'm playing Michele's Meet N Greet.

So, without further ado, here I go.

Today, I was privy to a one-sided conversation that was rather painful to hear. I was at the post office mailing out a bunch of packages. I am forever BEHIND in doing that, so today, I was packing and taping and labeling...while Scotty was running around like a crazy guy. This girl walks in, checks mail in a p.o. box, and then takes her cell out. I don't make it a point to eavesdrop, but people on cellphones are open territory, as far as I'm concerned. But I WAS trying to accomplish my packaging AND keep my son from jumping off the stairs and out the door, so I wasn't really listening. But it broke my heart nonetheless. She called someone...a man, I am presuming. She said, with a shaky voice, "Hi, it's me. I'm just calling to make sure you really don't want the tickets we had ordered. Because they arrived today. And I will be sending them on to (blah, blah - SCOTTY...GET DOWN FROM THE WINDOW LEDGE RIGHT NOW). But I guess you're not there, so...well, anyway. I hope you're doing well. Miss you." And a sniffle or two led me to believe she was crying. But I didn't look up; I didn't want to encroach in her misery. She then made another call, and talked to a live person, getting their address to mail the tickets on. And when she finished, she turned to mail the envelope out, and tears WERE streaming down. Sad.

In OTHER news: the temporary fix of the crack in the foundation actually WORKED! They (being the maintenance man and a much better schooled BUILDER) poured a 5 gallon bucket of tar (the same stuff people paint their driveways with!) into a hole (eroded in the dirt, of course) along the foundation. And then we waited, and waited....and waited...and waited....for rain. Because all of a sudden, all the HUGE storms that were causing the rug to become a sponge, were no more. But we finally had some serious rain, and there was NO water coming in. And I am HAPPY. Because we finally got to move our "nest" out of the middle of the office, and I am happily typing away at a CLEAN computer desk, with the keyboard and mouse where they actually BELONG. We did a small amount of rearranging, and in my opinion, it actually makes the room seem larger, AND neater. And best of all? I got access to my scrapbooking supplies again! And have been MADLY trying to finish up a project for a contest at our LSS (Local Scrapbook Store, for you non-scrappers). Heather, if you're reading this, I'm using your FABULOUS FOLD book...but it's SO cute....I'll have to show it to you. HOPEFULLY, it will win, because I put a LOT of work into this awesomely cute book!

And then...last week, my friend Lisa at the Berry Patch, awarded me my very first EVER blogger award. She awarded me the NICE MATTERS AWARD.


"This award is for those bloggers who are nice people, good blog friends, and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also, for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world. Once you've been awarded please pass it on to seven others who you feel are deserving of this award. "

I felt very blessed to be given this award. I met Lisa through a Christian scrapbooking group many years ago. We connected on many levels because we scrapped, stamped, had children close to the same age (well, her last two and my last two....Hannah and N are the same age, Scotty and J are the same age, and J shares Hannah's birthdate!). But she was also from MAINE! I had the pleasure and privilege of meeting her and her sister Beth while I had my extended stay at my mom's house. She wasn't very close to my mom's house (but had been at one time), but she made the effort to come and meet me, not once, but TWICE. We met at the Maine Wildlife Park with Beth and her son (Scotty was SO scared of the Peacocks when they "flared"!), and then once again, we met at a cute little playground (can't remember the name) and I remember thinking - this is where old playground equipment comes to die...because they had the things I remembered from MY childhood...the GOOD stuff that isn't allowed anymore because you'll burn your bottom on the metal (slides and teeter totters), or cut yourself. It was great. We picnicked and just had a great time together. I'm glad God blesses me with good people in my life. And now...I award the Nice Matters Award to the following:

Suzanne, who is my cosmic sister. She and I are so alike, it's scary! There's nothing I can say about Suz that most don't already know. We talk, we email, we send presents to each other (and our kids, too!). We have husbands that do the SAME, EXACT THING in the Army, which is hard to believe, since what they do is not a very common job. But yeah, her hubs and mine are bandmasters. And our girls are close in age (only 7 months apart, though a year apart in grades) and our boys are about a year apart....well, I could go on forever.

Christy - whom I met in Bamberg, Germany. What a blessing to have her in my life. She's a great woman who has gone through a HARD time in life. I've written about her here before, too.

Renn - another Maine-iac whose blog I found because I googled my hometown's name. Turns out, she's a great Christian woman who is from not-too-far, close to where I lived. Her daughter and mine are the same age. And she's really funny. She lost her mom not too long ago, and the post about it was heartbreaking.

Charley - I met Charley through an online mommy-board. We got tired of the time it took for board messages to load, so we started our own little mommy group. All our kids were born within 6 weeks of each other. Hannah was first, Charley's son was last in our group. Charley is an amazingly talented scrapbooker and a great Christian woman as well.

Laura - she's a scrapbooker whose blog I love to read. She's got the best talent for photography. Her kids are forever patiently modeling for her. And her scrapbooking talents FAR surpass mine.

Charmaine - she's a "johnny-come-lately" to my blogworld. I discovered her by linking from one place to the next. But Charmaine's from PITTSBURGH...and that makes her okay in my book. AND, she's a musician (singer, dancer, theater....), and she's MARRIED to a musician (see a theme here????), and she scraps and stamps. Can't beat that with a stick. You will find, DAILY, something new on her blog - some cute card or layout she's created.

Heather - the epitome of strength in adversity. Of knowing that God is holding her up. She's got a LOT on her plate. I can't even begin to say...just go read. Read from the EARLY stuff, about her daughter Emma...then read about what's happened lately.



Okay...I'm spent. G'nite!