AWOL

I've been ignoring my blog lately because I just joined Facebook and it is taking up all of my time! I was asked to get on by some cousins and it has been soooo fun keeping up with their lives. I only have 29 friends though because I'm kind of hesitent to ask someone to "be my friend". Maybe it's that fear of cyber rejection. I think I've been accepted by all the people I've asked. Of course I've only asked one person that I "found" by searching. Everyone else I am either related to, came out of my email addresses (meaning I know them well enough to email them so we must be friends), or came off someone elses FB site. I was surprised at home many people pulled off my email list. Lots of people from my church including the pastor but I only asked a few to be "my friends".

I have only one mystery friend. He asked, I said yes, and I assumed he was in the frat I was a little sister for--he came over from a little sister's page. I don't think he is but he must be a nice guy because he has over 700 friends. Fortunately, I already went over the situation with Mike so he knows why this guy is my "friend". Other than that the only guys are 2 Sig Ep's, Mike's best friend from high school, a friend of Mike's from church (my work-out partner's husband) and relatives. So far only a few people have come looking for me. We'll see if I stay with it better than my blog!

Not Me Monday!

Finally!

This is not my first Not Me Monday in a MONTH! No, I faithfully blog

I did not go over 3 weeks without internet access because I dreaded the hours long call to ATT.

I did not finally call the second time to "show" DH how "EASY" it was because I was annoyed at him. No not me, I'm a loving obedient wife.

I did not then actually have ATT FIX my computer in an hour.

I was not then very late to bible study.

I am not doing 3-4 workouts a week because I don't want to let my friend down even though I'm tired! Did I mention she can run 6 miles, in one run, and she picks killer classes that even the instructor warns are HARD!

I have not, however, lost ANY weight even though I'm exhausted from working out.

I am not worried that I am traumatizing Connor because he cries every time I leave him in childcare. I added it up, it's not more than 11 hours a week total if I go to every workout class, bible study, church and drop him at MDO on Friday. Most kids go every weekday to daycare so I can't be a bad Mom for 11 hours a week right?

I'm not trying to do Bible Study from 10-11:15 AND make it to an 11:15 workout class just to make everyone, except Connor, happy.

I haven't been up since 4 AM because I've decided I probably need my Effexor and it's totally messing with my sleep. I'm going to be wiped out by lunch BUT I'll get a workout in and I got my Not Me's done early.

I'll probably still NOT be in the first column on MckMama's blog because I'll forget to get back on and link.

I didn't finally join Facebook at the request of my cousins because I'm so lonely for family I can't stand it.

I'm not totally overwhelmed by everything Facebook offers. No, I'm totally tech and internet savvy and certainly NOT old!

I'm not doing a study called, Do You Think I'm Beautiful, and blown away by people's perceptions of themselves and wondering why by comparison I don't think I'm beautiful. Okay, is that vain? I spent my whole life trying not to be vain so, hey--maybe that's my issue, hmmm...

Okay, I'm not done for now because I'm going to try and sneak in 30 minutes before it's time to dress Sean.

Finally back

I'm finally back online. Yeah! I have some things I want to "talk" about but I'm busy signing up for Facebook right now so I'll have to come back later. I ahdn't planned on signing up but I have some cousins who are very active and on it so it's a good way to keep up with them.

I've got some great photos of the boys I need to post so I'll try and download them later. Also, I'll get back with my thoughts on perceptions.

No Internet Service

Our computer was attacked by a virus last month and now I have not been able to connect to the Internet for 3 weeks. I can only get online when Mike is home and not using his laptop. I had no idea it would drive me this crazy.

I've been on the phone with ATT and that was not the most fun I have had let me tell you. Due to the language situation, the fact that it was obvious I was not speaking to someone living in the USA, the conversation was so slow. After half and hour of nothing I gave up.

I just got on tonight to pay bills before Mike leaves again in the morning. I downloaded some photos to his laptop so I thought I'd find something of the boys to post.

oops, looks like they didn't download. This is the only one. I think I've posted it before but it's still cute so here goes!

I'll play Janet--25 random things about Me

Okay Janet here's 25 things about me.

1. I hate my name, technically I hate my nickname and literally it is because of an adult movie. So, it's not that I want to be formal with you that I go by Deborah
2. I don't know what color my hair really is anymore.
3. My hair has been 4 different colors in the last 7 days.
4. Contrary to what I thought, I do not look good as a REDHEAD
5. I desperately need a pedicure
6. I must have something to read at all times or I get nervous and edgy
7. I can take off wallpaper, replaster a wall, paint and faux finish a wall, AND it looks good
8. The part I hate most about the above process is taping the woodwork before painting
9. I have always been one of those overly proud native Texans in my heart but I try to temper it so as not to be overly obnoxious (even though my family has been in the state since the 1830's and forever--Comanche on my dad's side--respectively)
10. I love pizza
11. Right this minute I would love a Diet Coke or a Margarita
12. I drink up to 3 diet cokes every day--yikes! But only about 1 Margarita a year.
13. I love to dance, especially country, and as hard as this is for me to say, I'm very good at it even though I go about once every 2-3 years.
14. I'm not very high-tech but I love blogging
15. I love hot bubble baths with a good book
16. I love to shop, especially for bargains and I can almost guarantee every piece of clothing in my closet was on sale.
17. When I am tired, sick or tipsy my West Texas accent gets much stronger--and I secretly love that. Hmmmm, does that mean I should drink more? JK
18. I wrote a children's book 8 years ago but have never submitted it to a publisher because I'm afraid it's not good enough.
19. I am way too critical of myself
20. If I could start over I'd have kids way sooner and have at least 1 more.
21. I love to redecorate but I have a hard time getting started
22. People think I am outgoing and friendly but inside I am really shy and lonely
23. When I am thinner and blonder I look exactly like Charlotte Ross (NYPD Blues)
24. I think this time I may really really start something instead of just thinking and worrying about it. So look for info on my children's clothes coming to this blog soon.
25. I wish I knew what God had planned for my life before I chose to veer off course. I also worry because I think I "talk a good game" about Christianity but am lacking in my personal study and worship with Christ. I do have high hopes to work on that relationship this year.

Serious Life Magazine

I wanted you to know about this publication I’m a part of called Serious.Life Magazine. They publish the February issue tomorrow, and I am in their Featured Blog Directory. It’s a very high quality magazine… you’ll really like it.

The magazine includes a lot of great content from bloggers you’ll appreciate, as well as great features, photos and other content. The magazine is owned and published by a family who have seven kids, three adopted and one who has Leukemia (www.riggsfamilyblog.com). The magazine gives away a bunch of ads to charities and ministries. Besides great articles on interesting people, there is a lot about family, adoption, personal finance, spiritual life, humor… all sorts of “life” topics.


Again, the subscription is free, and I know you’ll enjoy the magazine, so take a minute to check it out and sign up to get future issues.

Listen to your Mother

How many times have I regretted not listening to my mother! My mother wanted to teach me to sew. My mother wanted to teach me to cook. My mother told me to take Home Ec and Spanish. I wasn't that rebellious, but for some reason I never let my mother teach me to sew. I never let my mother teach me to cook. I took Drama and French.

Fast forward past adolescence. I still didn't let my mother teach me to cook. Of course she cooked mostly by recipe and I have those. When I take the time I CAN cook well but I tend to get distracted. Also, I can't find a few key recipes that I want to have. I did want to learn to sew but by the time I asked for guidance my niece had broken the sewing machine. As for the classes in school, well, I'm a SAHM in San Antonio so you can imagine HOW useful Drama and French are to me in my life today.

I'm trying to find something to do to help pay off our debt. I'm not sure where it is our money has gone since Mike actually made more last year than ever before, but go it did. Considering the fact that I have a College education and worked full time for the first 8 years of our marriage, I find it frustrating that I'm not contributing. Add that to the fact that I am not the most domestic goddess that has ever existed. Okay, who am I kidding, I don't invite people over because I don't want them to know how bad I let our house get! Anyway, I am creative so I'd like to find an outlet to bring in a few bucks AND make me feel I'm accomplishing something that lasts more than a day. Cleaning the house, cleaning the clothes, and grocery shopping seem to have to be repeated constantly and give me little sense of worth.

I made some cute T-shirts for Connor's class. I'd been experimenting with ideas for t-shirts, especially Christian t-shirts, for kids when I ran across this great craft idea on another blog--Chronicles of a Mommy, I have her button on my blog and she is such an inspiration. I really liked the way the shirts looked so I made a onsie for Sean's teacher's daughter. It was too cute (wish I'd taken a photo). Anyway, I'd really like to make and sell these shirts but it would be so much easier if I could use a sewing machine. I like the look I get doing it by hand but should I actually get many orders I'd be in trouble fast.

My normal MO would be to fret and worry about this and never do anything about it. However, a new friend recently told me she thought I was really laid back when I mentioned how I am a worrier. Perhaps I have changed in the last 3 years. I'd always wondered how I'd make it without my mother and now, well, perfect or imperfect I'm making it. Short of being late to school a few times and the fact that I tend to pay the bills late, I haven't yet burned down the house or ran away. Maybe this is the time in my life to try something without first imagining all the worst case scenarios (of course how bad could it be with kids shirts!)

I really want to put myself out there and do something, so maybe I will. Sean's teacher keeps asking me to start a business so she can buy from me and there are lots of mommies teaching at his school so... AND I did have a lady in charge of crafts at her MOPS group ask me to call her about organizing a craft when she saw me and Connor in our cross shirts at Target last fall(I used bleach and really didn't do a good job AT ALL, but she still liked them). So I'm thinking about whipping up some shirts and giving her a call since she told me to bring some to sell as well as teach a craft. Don't know if she would still be interested, but maybe I should check.

Of course it would be so much easier if I just knew how to at least sew a straight line on a sewing machine. Yes, Mother, you were SOOO right!