...if you’re not worried about the backlash you’ll get from your writing, you’re probably not tackling anything terribly important.-Heretics, Superheroes, and Fighting the Lonely War of the Writer I can't tell you how many blog posts I have sitting in 'drafts' that I sat down and passionately poured my opinions out in. Yet, when it came time to hit the 'publish' button, I just didn't have the guts to.Fear. It is an interesting thing.I live in an interestingly, contradictory world. I love to write. I love to connect. I love it when someone actually reads what I have to write. But I am afraid to put my opinions out there for all to possibly criticize. I am afraid you may actually read what I have to write.What if I write something you don't like? Or we don't have the same politics? Or you don't get my sarcastically, quirky humor?You may make fun of me. You may leave me nasty comments. You might trash me online. I am OK with that. We probably weren't meant to be BFF's anyway.But what if you are a little crazier than that? And you go digging through all my posts and put together where I live, my social security number and even what color panties I wear on ...
Haunted History&Bucket Lists
Just FYI that I am back on my genealogy kick. Don't know why. Just am. Roll with it, k?I love haunted houses. House histories and ghost stories are the stuff sweet dreams are made of. So, imagine my excitement when I found the house of my great-grandfather 7 TIMES removed is in the National Registry and tours are offered!!! The Van Wickle House is preserved in an area called "The Meadows" in Somerset, NJ . It's a modest Dutch farmhouse but, O M G! The house is available with many of the belongings to tour???Freaking cool, huh?Even more cool?It's been reported in several places as being haunted with 5 spirits-him and his wife are the most prevalent of the 5!OK, I am about to pee my pants now, or go book airline tickets. Someone hold me back. Or offer me a place to stay if you're near there.This tops my 2011 Bucket List....what's on yours? ...
Toy Story Themed Room | Decorating For Special Needs Kids
Project Objective: Complete overhaul of Carters room into a Toy Story themed room to accommodate the over bearing, over priced ($60,000!!!), and over ugly new Clinitron bed and possible lift system. This new equipment is necessary for his upcoming surgery. He will not be allowed out of it for 6 weeks after a 2 week stay in the hospital. A fun room is a must!Many, many, many themes were discussed for this new bedroom. The plan was to paint a large mural on the walls. Finally the Toy Story themed room won out and my plans changed. I love Toy Story but lets be honest, at Carters age this is a phase. If it gets him through the in-room prison part of this recovery than that is fabulous---but I am not about to make a permanent wall mural.Google to the rescue....I came across this Toy Story room done by HGTV that has a much more mature look and used it as the general game plan to get started. Progress: Day 1:Room gutted and cleaned Painted all four walls blue Moved dresser and armoire to room and placed along walls to provide as much open space as possible for access. New curtain panels with black out linersPlans:Make a giant etch-a-sketch calendar Use ...
Butts, Cemeteries, Chick-Fil-A and Other Random Weirdness
Today the latest Twilight movie opens yet it was apparently way better to share the news that my butt is still out of shape. Thanks USA Today! Cause today wasn't weird enough. I needed my butt to be the cover story. The least you could have done is linked to me since you found me through my review of Skechers Toning Shoes. Guess I won't hold out any hope that they will be sponsoring my next blog conference. Perhaps I should contact Nike now.For those of you who missed my butts 15 minutes of fame:Barb of Denver says she considers her toning shoes a "cute gimmick."Her Shape-ups help to strengthen her calf muscles, she says, but did nothing to tone her butt and thighs. Even though they are her "most comfortable pair of shoes," she says she regrets spending $120 on them.As for Skechers trying to persuade men to buy them, well, good luck with that."My husband would not be caught dead in these things," Barb says.In other weirdness Carter had a minor surgical procedure today. It was B L O O D Y. Surprisingly after all we have been through I still can't handle the sight of blood. He asked them not to put him out cause he can't feel that part of his body anyway. Do you know how ...
Special Needs Moms Sorority
I am not posting a PR Monday post today because I found this instead and as I am typing tears are running down my face. I didn't have a particularly fabulous Mothers Day. It wasn't for lack of trying on my husbands side. It was teenage drama and lots of work. But when I opened my feeds this AM, Laura's post just struck me as something I needed to share as a belated mothers day to all the Mothers in the Children With Special Needs Sorority. I hope every mom out there had a wonderful day and to my special 'sisters' I hope this brings you happy tears.To You, My SistersBy Maureen K. HigginsMany of you I have never even met face to face, but I’ve searched you out every day. I’ve looked for you on the internet, on playgrounds and in grocery stores.I’ve become an expert at identifying you. You are well worn. You are stronger than you ever wanted to be. Your words ring with experience, experience you culled with your very heart and soul. You are compassionate beyond the expectations of this world. You are my “sisters.”Yes, you and I, my friend, are sisters in a sorority. A very elite sorority. We are special. Just like any other sorority, we were chosen to be members. Some of us were ...