Life these days aka: my wish for you and me

I have not been writing much lately, and I was not sure why.  And I am still somewhat unclear about it.  But part of the reason is I do not want to blah blah blah about being stressed out over Christmas- again.  I just reviewed my December posts from last year, and I do recognize a pattern of feelings.  Like- overwhelmed, sad, feeling inadequate, etc.  It was quite enlightening to read, actually.

I saw someone in the grocery store the yesterday who demanded to know WHY I hadn't been sending pictures to Channel 9!!  I had to laugh, because if I go for a couple weeks without sending pix in, I do get these questions. I was actually just going to say that no one ever asks me why I haven't blogged lately, but oddly I had someone ask me THAT yesterday, as well.

So why?  Well to start, I recently tried to download a boat load of pictures (that I save in RAW format, which are HUGE files) and it told me that I didn't have enough disk space.  OH CRAP.  NOW what.  I had a techy friend tell me to get a separate external hard drive and one of the Mad-sons is going to help me figure out how to save my entire file of photos there.  this makes me a little nervous, but I do have my whole computer backed up on one, so I should be fine.  Obviously (to me at least) this has bummed me out a bit.  And when I am bummed out, I tend to shut down.  So I haven't touched my pictures really since the Madrigal dinner- which was the group of photos I was trying to download.  Please don't make fun of me for this- I'm really good figuring some stuff out on the computer, but hardware type of things throw me.  I really want to thrust the whole mess at someone and say, here do this.  Oh and btw, while you are at it, upgrade me to the latest versions of everything since lately my internet has been pretty doggy and I haven't upgraded my phone to IOS 7 either.  ugh.

There is one thing!

Why haven't I blogged lately?  Well, there is always like a badillion and one things going on in the land of the Mad-Art teacher.  And between weekly school meetings (booooooooo-unnecessary and tedious and could/should be taken care of in more expedient manners), the gym, really WINTERY weather, lists and lists of things to do......  and a super short time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I have been coming home and collapsing on the couch. Yes, this is denial and avoidance, don't judge me. :P

I'm also going through some big alterations in the way I am living my eating life (good lord, why should I even have an eating life?? This will be a subject of discussion soon) and dealing with major carpal tunnel problems (typing makes my hands numb) and various other things- so I haven't wanted to necessarily discuss it.  But I will!

I recently attended a conference in Minneapolis on Technology for Educators and it was way awesome.  and I want to blog about that and the fantastic ethnic food that we had!  I think I have pix of most of the food and I do remember the name of all the different places that we went!  It was AWESOME!! But again, I have a mental block with the whole pictures thing....

Anyway, that is an update for now.  The Mad second son and his lovely Sarah will be arriving with the doggies tonight and The Mad oldest son will be arriving with his lovely Sarah and my grand-girl tomorrow, so the Oswalds will again celebrate Christmas early.  As long as we are all together, this is a good thing.  I just have to think about what Christmas will be like this year (Ella is just starting to become mobile) and next (we will have 2 mobile babies then) and I realize I have to get a whole lot of outlet covers before then!  :)

So onto my last 2 days of school and then none until 2014.  It will be really good to have a week plus off.  I have plans to do some walking, snowshoeing, weightlifting and some upstairs cleaning. And a little wine drinking.  Plus a moment or two of joy-giving!

Take the time to enjoy your day, and let those Christmas gremlins go. (Debi, someone is talking to you here) Let the season happen, don't expect anything and sometimes you will be pleasantly surprised!! :)  Because really, the very best gift you can give is yourself.  Whether that comes in the form of sharing yourself through your pictures, your blog, your text and email messages, your presence and concern for the people in your life who need you or making yourself and your home open and welcoming to those who visit in person.  I hope that my friends, students, and family find peace and love with me, in whatever form that takes.  And that they can find peace and love in their own life.  The very best way to pay things forward.  Happy Happy Holidays to you!

A couple quirky and or purty pix

I wanted to get more than one blog post done today, yet that didn't happen, so I am getting one more in.  I have a bunch of photos that haven't been dealt with at all, and I like to put them online sometimes.  I have been doing a lot of photography- including a trip to Wausau to Rib Mountain- and that deserves its own page.

I have been having massages every other Saturday or so, to deal with some nerve and muscle issues I have, and I write blog posts in my mind when I am laying there.  It is kind of fun!  But those are all bottled up as I am a bit tired and can only manage some pictures.  But I like them and I can't wait to share.  So enjoy!  :)  This is my way of being a joy giver today!  What did you do to spread a little joy?

Morning musings-

My random thoughts for the morning....  

Christmas trees really need to have presents under them. I have about 4 under there right now and I find myself relaxing a little bit.  MUST.  WRAP.  MORE.

YAY for the ability of those of us in remote areas to do our last minute shopping online.  Amazon is my best friend today.  And yesterday..... and free shipping RAWKS my world.  

Why oh why must I be getting a tickly, runny nose and a semi-sore throat today???  What germ laden little darling child of mine did this to me??  I'd like to give it back.  

I was sort of bummed that yesterday was the day for LOSEIT to release a whole bunch of exercise badges (I do work for virtual bling) on the first total rest day that I have taken in a MONTH!!!!!! ARGH!!! I realize of course that I will get them today, but still.  sigh.

I am really pleased this morning to have an awesome healthy lunch!!  

I did a little local shopping yesterday- I went to the post office for the first time in AGES (read:months) and was disgusted to find the small town rumor mill abuzz.  I refused to add anything to the process, even though I knew what was going on.  People please.  Anyway, I was then so happy to stop by and see my dear friend Luann at her favorite place to work, and a favorite place of mine to shop and I secured the last (Ihope) gift that I needed to pick up.  Except for the dice game prizes for the competitive and fast paced thrill (called creatively enough: The Dice Shaking Game) we have at the Kutz family Christmas festivities!!  That will be the subject of another post as I realize I say little about my own dear family.  

I love my hrrrrrrrrrrr!!  (which I got "kissed by the color sun" yesterday)  And I HAVE to laugh to say - people----- I have no gray!!! THANK YOU GRANDMA OBERLEY FOR THOSE ROCKING GREAT GENES!!!!

We need more snow.

I love my students.  All of them.  Even the pita ones.  Love.

I'm FINISHED with my mid-term grades.  whew.

I had a pic on tv this morning!!  woo hoo.

I have 49 followers!!!  and almost 13,000 page views......  anyone want to make it 50 followers???? I find this amazing and extraordinary.  Love having followers..... and other anonymous viewers, apparently.  ;) 

AND I'm going to have a GRANDDAUGHTER in April, which is pretty much a part of my hourly thought process these days.....

TONIGHT!!!  I am about to embark on something I usually would NOT do.  A fabulous friend of mine sent me a picture of this thing and I promptly pinned that image and made plans to execute the idea.  I will extensively photograph the process this evening and blog my little eyeballs out.  HAHAHA.  This will be epic- in a Pinterest sort of a way.  :)  That is after I hit the gym for about 2 hours and work off my holiday eating sins that keep cropping up at school...... someone has to stop me. An intervention is probably needed.  UGH.  I make a pledge to be cookie free today.  Oh wait.....   hmmmmmm,  well, yeah, I better.  If I want to maintain, I better have a cookie free day.

Yeah, now I should really get myself going, as I need to pack a lunch and get ready for the day.  Find yourself a little joy-- where ever you can!  

*****I apologize for any poor choices of word in my musings- I NEVER mean to be a joy stealer.  And even a joy giver makes mistakes that they regret