Slimming down the library

I have been going through my cd collection to load into itunes now that I have an ipod. Tedious work it turns out, but also a fun stroll down memory lane. Stumbling across cd's from throughout the years has had a disappointing end though. Some of the cd's just don't do it for me anymore. I find myself skipping through song after song to find "the one" (the reason I bought the cd in the first place) and then realize I passed it 3 songs ago. But then I realize it just means less I have to rip to my library.
I am going to start a running list of those not making the cut.
First up:

Hawwllaaah!

Yep. I said (typed) it. And...?

1011 hits, baby! Not sure whether this is good, meaning we are getting a lot of exposure or if it is bad, meaning we have now been seen by over 1000 people and still no one has chosen us. Either way, it's some kind of mile marker on our "twisty" road!

Our One Thousandth Customer!

It doesn't seem like it happens anymore, but remember on tv shows how there used to be the "One hundreth customer" or some # customer who would win prizes and showers of confetti would rain down on them?

On our profile page there is a meter to log how many people have viewed this page. There is also one on each of the proceeding pages, like for our photo album, our getting to know you pages, and our contact us page. We are at 995 views on our "Our Message" page which is the first page of our profile. Now, for example, when I clicked on it to get the link to put on this blog, it counted as a hit, so at least 100 or so are from Jack and I. At least another couple hundred are friends and family to whom we have sent the link. I imagine a couple other hundred are from the Pass-Along cards we have asked all of our friends to carry in their wallets (don't have one? want one? leave a comment or send me an email and I will get you one). I imagine another 100 or so are from lurkers--like me--who get on to see who else is crazy enough to jump on this adoption roller coaster. So what-that's 500-600? Doesn't that mean at least a couple hundred are birthmothers checking us out?
So does it mean we get a prize when we hit 1,000? (Enter Bob Eubanks type announcer voice) "Thanks for clicking! By clicking for 1000th time, Jaime and Jack will be meeting the birthmother of their dreams. A girl who will be interested in remaining part of their family as a member of the adoption triad, who will foster an open adoption and who will place with the McKinleys, the baby of wonders and miracles!"
You saw that episode, right?

Charlotte Sometimes

Little says rejuvenation for me like escaping for a day. Whether with Jack, with girlfriends, by myself--I like to sneak away, be on my own schedule, accountable to no one and within the time frame, no deadline to return. Add shopping at some of my favorite stores into the mix--heaven!

Thanks for a great day Karen! And a call to the world-if you are ever in need of a weekend getaway girl or a day trip partner-I'm in! PS-Like my CURE reference? Sorry if you were topically mislead.

When I am troubled, I start a project. Wanna help?

It's true. When I start to feel antsy, anxious, bored, overwhelmed, sad, troubled, even when I feel overwhelming blessed, I start a project. It's why my carpet never gets steam cleaned, but all the boys are diggin their new book slings I saw in Family Fun over a year ago. (The magazine page has been stuck to my fridge since then and thanks to MLK, we finally got started on them yesterday. No fears, they picked their own fabrics and pink polkas were not on the menu!)

The project at hand: Blankets.

I stumbled across a birthmothers site several months ago and thought, I should get involved. I thought about it and then forgot about it. Saw it again about 2 weeks ago, and it has been a burr in my side that won't go away. Friends who were listed with our same adoption agency were placed with their adorable baby daughter around the same time and I think that is what has stirred me into action. We are so excited for the Watsons!! Truly! We have seen the miracle of adoption just a couple blocks from our own front door and it is powerful! It has also brought with it for our family, an ever present preoccupation that we have not felt in some time.

With our recent one year anniversary of becoming hopeful adoptive parents, we are trying to embrace Pres. Uchtdorf's words, "Patience is not passive resignation nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can-working, hoping, exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our heart are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring, it is enduring well!" So I am jumping into a project and I would love it if you'd join me!

What are you joining me in? I am setting a goal to collect/make/buy 30 blankets to send to the Blankets for Birthmothers project by Feb 28th. There is a birthmother who is collecting and donating blankets to give to hospitals/agencies for birthmothers to wrap their babies in before they place and then take home with them "so they won't leave empty-handed." It struck a nerve when I read that. I have read in several places, this is a common practice among birthmothers--keeping something to remind them of their child. How symbolic a simple blanket can be.

If you will get me the blankets, I will ship them. All you have to do is buy/make a blanket for me to send. You can drop it off to me anytime. If no one wants to jump on board, I will be busy sewing this next month, so when I don't answer the phone, you'll know why. (Sufficiently guilted?)

The best imitation of myself

Thankfully, my mom was not thrilled with my dirty hippie phase of high school and took as few photos of me as she could (although pics of skinny Jaime would not hurt my feelings). That said, here is a small glimpse which can lead you down a path to imagine me in high school...

The one thing I wanted for Christmas was a jewelry box. My old one was a hand-me-down from my mother and it was huge. It didn't fit in the bedroom so I had all my jewelery stuffed in her stand up, which was stuffed in the closet, so I never wore anything because it was too hard to get. I also never had to get rid of anything because it was big enough to hold everything. But downsizing thanks to Jack's gift, I had to get rid of some items I have been holding onto since high school. (which, btw, how great is this jewelry box? nice pick Jack!!)

I guess I kept them because I thought if I ever had a girl, she would want to see them to know about the girl I used to be. Maybe even wear them for a little kitsch factor. Now that I can list about 12 things wrong about the above 2 sentences, some Goth at Goodwill is going to be stoked! Rings. Always have, always will be a ring girl. But, I mean, a leather snap bracelet, a dragon sucking an amber ring, "twilight-esque" pieces before vampires were even popular? The only thing missing is the skeleton necklace made from wire and crystals. No, I mean not missing from my life, missing from the photo. I found it after I'd already taken the picture.

But now I have this...

Middle school PE, a fate (almost) worse than death

Middle school PE is stupid. I know that is not a complicated sentiment.
They should eliminate it. I know, a corollary uncomplicated argument.

Who doesn't have life scarring stories from middle school PE? It sucks because F is living it right now. I have never been a promoter of home schooling. Most educators aren't. But if there was a way to home school just PE, I would be all for it. Mostly because I just wouldn't do it--we'd call it swim lessons and soccer team.

Here's the other thing-they do not have co-ed PE. Maybe if there were some girls in there to mellow out some of these crazy boys, we'd be OK. I mean, segregated PE classes-what decade is this, 1950?

So thanks, Radford, for being one of the meager 8% of middle schools left in the nation requiring PE for all students everyday. Why are we overachievers on PE and yet offer Spanish as the only language option. If we could only settle for more obesity...

"Coco-wha?"

Yes. I know-all good Mormons have one. A Cocomotion. When you say the name, most non-coffee drinkers (typically Mormons by default, well, Mormons and vegans for some reason) have no idea what you are talking about. Ironically (or coincidentally?) it is made by Mr. Coffee. Then when you explain, "No, it's great, it mixes the cocoa and hot water, it gives it those tiny little bubbles on the top..." there is a brief nod of the head and a courtesy, "Ahh." Subject changed.

But really, everyone needs one. Of course you can make hot chocolate on the stove, and yes, even in the microwave, but why? I was always taught, the proper tool for the proper job...and quite frankly, this is the ONLY tool for this job.

Jack tried to buy one "for the ladies in the front office," which is code for he wants one himself but will look selfish if he buys one and just puts it there. He couldn't find one in any of the local stores. Then when he got online, some idiots were buying them on ebay for $109!! Thank you 8 years ago and $25.99.

Needless to say, if you ever see them on clearance (it's the perfect clearance item as no one will either a)know what it is or b)think it actually works) BUY THEM ALL! Hoard them--looks like they are one their way out!

BTW-When googling to steal an image for my mug of hot coco pic, I stumbled across this recipe for coconut hot chocolate. Yep-trying this one tonight!

If I bow out of FB, I guess I can resume blogging

I have decided to bow out of Facebook. Of course, I will have to keep my account for Lexulous and Scramble. In the process, I have learned something about myself. It is better for me if I do not know "every move you make, every breath you take..." It's probably better for you too, if I do not know these things. That said, I have ended my blogging hiatus and want to resume posting for our family journal. Plus, this helps contribute to my biological need to be plugged in at times.