2 miles

I did it. I ran 2 miles this morning ;) I feel pretty good too. I ran 2 miles last Sunday with my support posse of 4 who were on bikes or a skateboard. This time I did it with me and my cell phone (in case I needed to call for a ride).

Well, kids and Tom are off to school for a basket ball free throw contest. I am at home, all alone. (yay!). I need to make the most of my time as I have to get Greg at noon to get him to his soccer game. So, no computer for me for awhile.

Have a super weekend :)

Reading

I remember seeing an Oprah episode about a very courageous woman that survived a plane crash with her husband. Then awhile ago I was directed to her blog. You can read it too. I posted a link on the side of this blog. It says I read Nie Nie. She is currently undergoing skin graft surgery in AZ. Courageous.

Days like today when I just feel like crawling back under the covers and this mom is in surgery. Gotta shake off the blah's or whatevers, ignore the aches and pains, and get moving. Prayers for you Nie Nie.

Prayers for Haiti

We were all shocked to hear of the earthquake in Haiti. We have a friend, Fr. Marc, who started an orphanage in Haiti, Les Cayes. Fortunately, they were all fine, but shaken. Now however, as roads are closed they are limited in their supply of food and fuel.



A link to the blog is here with updates. If you have it in your heart to make a donation, there is a link. But as always, prayers are free and welcome.

http://pwojeespwa.blogspot.com/

Photos

I have been up to my eyeballs downloading pictures. I can not possibly post them all here. So if you want to check out the photos on Flickr, check the link in the box to the side---------->
or check out the link here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24798955@N05/

Taking a short break

because I am sick. Yuck. Started feeling very yucky on Christmas Day. Went to bed early, stayed in bed very late Saturday. Lounged around the house all day and night. Sunday feeling a bit better but took it easy. Today, Monday, still not so good. Runny nose, sneezy, no cough but my chest feels quite full of gunk. If I don't feel better tomorrow, will call the doctor. Super tired too. Yuck.

My Space

Because I am on a roll updating my blog. Here I go again.

Last November, just about a week before Thanksgiving, we finished up the remodel: office addition, new kitchen, new flooring and a few other things.

Fast forward to a year later and everything is put in it's place. The expanded office is once again stuffed full. But it's a good thing. All 4 of us use it everyday.

I needed/wanted my own space that I could call my space. I got an old desk of ours from my neighbor who wasn't using the desk any more. Put it in the last open space in the office, Tom hung up a shelf, I did the rest. I filled the drawers with my scrap stuff and other creative stuff. And then Wha-Lah! I now have my own space. I hope to be able to use it a lot.



The shelf that Tom hung. I made the frame, I made the "N", Greg made the little scrap book.
I got this wall decal from Etsy. I hope to sell on there some day. Photo is from our track team last year. I was one of the coaches.

My space. Still a bit cluttered when I took the picture but you get the idea. That's a magnetic board from Ikea and hanging organizers from the Container Store. I already had them, and the shelf. The football guy is one that Greg tore out of a Kids Sports Illustrated. I hung it up for him to see. Greg says he likes it there.

Almost Christmas

And I have to say I am ready. My apologies if you did not get a card from us this year. I only sent a few. I will do my best to get it together better next year.

But I am done shopping and wrapping. Decorations are all done. I just have to get ready for Christmas Eve. That will not take me very long.

At this moment Greg is making scrambled eggs. Evelyn is doing Wii Fit. Love my kids

Tom is at work. I am work. I am bummed that I had to use my PTO days that were scheduled for now for my surgery. But I needed my surgery and my recovery time.


Here is a photo of this cute bird that hangs out in my front yard. On this very rainy day a few weeks ago he was sitting on the snowman. Hello cute bird in the rain.

Hot cocoa sounds good as it is super windy and chilly outside. But my hot tea is good. I did walk the dog early and boy was it cold. I am fighting off the cold that Greg had earlier this week. Cold Eze and hot tea sure help.

May you all have a blessed and wonderful Christmas with family and friends.

It's like Space Mountain

You may know that I had surgery in October. I had the left side of my thyroid removed. I had a cyst, it had to come out. I have to say I had a great experience while at the hospital. I was there for almost 24 hours. Everyone was so nice and helpful from the moment I arrived and the nice volunteer walked me and Tom the pre -0p from the moment the nice volunteer wheeled me out of the hospital and helped me into the car the next day.

I do think I may have left some of the staff wondering though, or maybe laughing and thinking what was that crazy lady saying?

You see, I was feeling quite nice and happy and relaxed and one step away from la-la land. I could feel the happy drugs chilling through my veins and began to see everything in a haze. I already had a general area of where the operating room was, because I asked. So, when I was wheeled out of my curtained area in pre-op, was turned to the right, I knew I was headed to the operating room.

So, what do I say as I am being wheeled away? Do you really want to know? Promise me you won't laugh, too hard...... Ok, I said

"Wow, it's like going to Space Mountain."

I have no idea why I said that or even what I was thinking about. I still think about it and have no idea. No idea at all.

When I woke up in recovery I felt very sick to my stomach, but the anti-barf drugs shot into my IV quickly took care of that. I was in a daze for several hours, so maybe I did go to Space Mountain. No idea.

And I will quickly share this with you. Feb 2008, I had carpal tunnel surgery. The last thing I remember saying was "That sure is a big light" as I was staring at the enormous light above the operating table.

In high school I had my wisdom teeth removed. I had to be put under. I woke up, tried to sit up and focus, but realized I was strapped down to a table. I saw a blurry sign that read "painless dentist". Yeah, no. I started screaming for my dad. Someone quickly came in and told me to be quiet so I didn't scare any patients. The last thing I remember before going out was asking what that noise was. It was the pulse monitor or something I was hooked up to.

So, my friends, do you care to share with me what were your last words before going into la-la land or when you were recovering? I would like to know, if you care to share. Thanks :)

These Boots........

Are they really made for walking? Well, I would say yes. I have been wearing them all day and I love them. I think I may wear them every day.

There is this great re-sale/thrift store called Portabello Rd. (no it's not a mushroom store) It's in Lake Forest on El Toro Rd, next to Bev Mo. The proceeds go to Laura's House. A friend of mine, who I have crowned the bargain queen, works there. She gives me the scoop on the hot items. But this time I found a hot item all by myself. I had delivered a few boxes of donations and decided to shop. I found a few cute sweaters and then wowza! Hanging on the boot rack was this pair of vibrant blue boots. I flipped them over, my size and only $5! Tried them on and the didn't squish my toes and I liked the way they looked on my feet. So, now they are mine.

I had to tell everyone about them and today I had to wear them. Here they are.....don't you love them?

And then I also have to share some more of my favorite shoes...........

Of course there are my red Vans and the blue Vans (which Evelyn wears all the time) and my Nike's and slippers......

and these....... which everyone laughs at when I wear them. But I like them, they are comfy and warm and no I do not look like Ralphie in "A Christmas Story"

What are your favorite shoes? I would love to know.

Has it been that long?

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by again.

I wanted to wish everyone of you a very blessed Christmas and enjoy the time with family and friends.

And I promise, I will keep things updated during the craziness of your day to day lives.

And hey, if you happen to surf on over to Facebook, look me up there: Naomi Dickson Murphy.

Earth Day

Today is Earth Day. What are you doing to conserve energy and save our Earth?

Here is what we are doing.

The kids are always leaving lights on. Always. I am constantly saying "turn off the light" . This morning as the kids were getting ready for school, I decided to remind them of Earth Day, oh, and by the way "turn off the lights behind you. No matter what room you are in. Unless of course someone else is in that room, using that room" Well, Greg, the boy of many responses and many questions says "Well, that light is in front of me so I can not turn it off" Oh vey! Ok, "If the light is in front of you, behind you, anywhere near you or far from you, when you leave a room turn off the light. Unless of course someone is in that room using that room. Understand?" Blank stare was the response I got. Evelyn gets it though. Let's see how long it lasts.

Now for some other Earth Day tips.

Seems like I am always saying "brush your teeth", "did you wash your hands?" "did you flush the toilet? Go flush the toilet" "You have been in that shower long enough, turn it off NOW"

So, the next time I say "did you flush the toilet" and I get a blank stare, I'll just respond by saying "well, no problem. You saved gallons of water. Great job!"

How about "Did you wash your hands?" Blank stare. "Great job. You just saved a ton of water. And not to mentions hand soap and laundry soap. That's one less towel I have to wash. Hey, why don't' you just wipe your hands real good on your shirt. Yes, the one you used to wipe off your face. And great job saving trees but using your shirt instead of a napkin."

Or, "Did you brush your teeth?" Blank stare. "You are doing such a good job here. You know you really saved a bunch of water by brushing your teeth 2 days ago or by quickly running the tooth brush across your teeth without using any water. You know, you also saved me a bunch of money as I really don't' need to by tooth paste and a lot of tooth brushes. Hey, while you're at it, go ahead and use that shirt and rub it over your teeth to get them nice and shiny white. You already used it to wipe your face and your hands."

Possibly, "Did you shower, today? I think you need a shower, you smell." Blank stare. "I am so proud of you. Way to go for NOT taking a shower today. Not only did you save water, but you also saved me having to by shampoo, conditioner, body wash and whatever other product you drag into the shower to use. And, hey, great idea here. Just wipe down your body with that shirt, you know the one. Keeps me from having to wash yet another towel and saves me money on laundry detergent and the water that has to run through the washing machine. Not to mention the electricity used to run the washer and the dryer and the gas used to dry the clothes. I'm so proud of you my Earth conscience kid"

And another good one, "You know what, when the sprinklers go on across the street. You know the ones that water the hill you are not supposed to play on. The ones that the association maintains and our association fees pay for. Well, go out and run through them. Yes, I know it is reclaimed water. But hey, you won't smell any worse that you already do (sometimes). We are already paying for the water anyways."

So I guess my kids really are Earth conscience and doing their share here. Well, I should say one of them is totally, the other not so much so, but sometimes. One likes to smell, the other doesn't. One, well no other comments, the other one, yes she does really care about keeping herself clean and listening to my pleads.

What are you doing for Earth Day?

13 days

Yikes, it's been 13 days since I last visited my poor lonely neglected piece of cyberland. And so much has been going on in those last 13 days. Just to name a few, Evely sick, me sick, Greg sick and still coughing, baseball, horseback riding, school homework, work, sanity checks, Easter and I'm sure I am forgetting many things.

What do we have going on this weekend? Really want to know? Ok. Horse show practice, soccer registration, bank, errands, track practice, baseball game, Horse show, baseball practice.....

Here is a highlight from Greg's game last Tuesday. Sit back, relax and enjoy. But don't' get any popcorn, it's not very long. Be sure the sound is on, it's not the same without it.

I'll be back later. Hopefully before May. I have tons of pictures.

TTFN and have a great weekend.