Happy Birthday to Me.

Today is my birthday, 51. Yikes. Amazing and scary.

My people do not have a long life span. I am banking on the longivity of my grandparents and falalalaing over my parents. (still miss you both ...)

Still feel the same as 30 or 40. Though have noticed I am a bit slower getting up and the knee's seem creaky? A wee slower? Perhaps.

I spent the last 75 minutes working on 'maintenance' -- in honor of the day :)

• plucked pruned and shaped the eyebrows
• search and distroy misssion for any witch hairs on the chinny chin chin (a daily mission and yet they sneak up or sprout full grown)
• searched the upper lip, not the bearded woman from the circus, yet. Pre-menapause - I don't like you.
• tending to the nether region (and this not even swim season! - not such a huge deal anymore, thank you Lands End)
• shaved the legs - harder as the eyes continue to 'age' can't take bi-focals into the shower.
• shaved the under arms - wonder why they have suddenly gotten un-even. Hope for the same result for the left.
• moisturized everything, and then let everything absorb, settle in. Realize now why this does not happen daily. 
• ponder why I moisturize for wrinkles and still get pimples. Unfair.

We now get our birthday off in work. A nice break and a wonderful perk. A day just for me - everyone else is at work/school I have the house to myself.

What do I hope for this year ...

• learn how to crochet from a pattern (hat specifically - as I have started this hat more than 15 times, and just realized I am using the wrong size hook, there are multiple sizes in the footnote section?, one should SL at the end of every row or the hat looks like grandma's dollie, my skill is not intermediate/advanced as I had thought ;)
• knit a pair of socks.
• start the couch to 5K challenge (spring)
• drink more water
• new employment, change is good, getting much to 'settled' and need new challenges.
• update resume and construct a 'tag line'
• start to hike - or take long walks in the woods.
• update this blog and the other on a regular basis.
• restart the 30 day shred, careful with the knee this time
• advance past 'gentle yoga' - or at least try another class
• be more thoughtful
• give thanks more
• email my father-in-law, send news and pictures more often
• got to lunch, early dinner with the girls more
• spend lots of time with those boys, they are growing much too quickly
• reconnect with hubby

All valid hopes. Not too difficult, doable.

So many years I have had lofty New Years Eve resolutions.

This year a simple doable 2011 New Year resolution - check all pockets before washing. It gives a sense of accomplishment and feels good.

Same hope for the birthday list.

Happy Birthday!

Protect the Children - RIP Bill

Bill Zeller - so sad.

Brilliant mind, brilliant programmer and so troubled.

So very sad.

Rest in Peace,  Bill

Log House - Part 1 Woodstove Woes

Hello, again. I am the queen of good intentions. Start a blog, start another . . .

News! After only 2 1/2 years on the market, we have sold our townhouse in ski country! Ta Da!

We just bought a log home! Super excited!

I dream of sitting in front of the wood stove, reading a book, sipping a glass of wine . . . as my loving family relaxed around me . . .

So far, I have cleaned, cleaned, cleaned so more and painted. In my true style I thought I could paint the entire house in a weekend. Really, most of the walls are logs, I stated.

Forgetting cutting in around the logs, the cathedral ceilings ladder work oh and some very bad paint choices. I now realize log homes need a more 'earthy' tone. The new color - 'comfort' from Behr -Home Depot's new line with primers - easy to apply and so very pretty! 

I picture myself - somewhat of a pioneer woman. Living in a log home, close to nature, heating with a wood stove. Almost. 

Turns out a wood stove has a learning curve.

First weekend the house was a balmy 78. Everyone was moving furniture, in from the truck. Perfect breeding grounds for illness. Outside 25 - inside 78.

Next weekend - a cool 63.

Last weekend, we located an instruction manuel, realized all we were doing wrong, everything. Now a comfortable 67.

Progress. Major progress only shadowed by finally having xbox set up Xbox live, boys.

Next weekend pictures.