Starting out 2013

I read a lot of blogs...

Yes, I know - I'm great at reading them, but not so great at writing them.
Working on it.

A common topic right now is resolutions, goals, plans, etc, etc, etc.
I don't like doing resolutions...It feels like setting myself up for failure as most conversations revolve around "what day did you make it to".  I try to do my resolutions on another month or a specific week.  Something that gets less attention by others and more focus by me.

I do like goals, but the long term kind... not the year kind.
Don't get me wrong, MBB and I have things we want to do, but more like "done this winter" or "done before schools starts next fall"... not done in 2013.

About two years ago, we set up a financial plan that is chugging along and working just like we wanted.

When a big item is getting crossed off of the list, I have to review all of the details and move things around as needed to stay on track.  I have no desire to revamp/make a new one/start over...

Especially since I get to do a happy dance in about a week when the first big item gets crossed off and I have to look at all of the details.  :)

Namaste.

Progress!

The quality of photos taken on my iPhone is pretty crappy...
But it at least shows something.  :)
We have been busy in the basement and have actually gotten quite a bit done.
Don't talk to my Negative Nellys who say we have a lot more to do (I would like to celebrate paint and floors - okay?)...

The Family Room

Yes, the lighting is pretty bad too, which combined with the iPhone photos makes it pretty hard to see.

The walls are two different colors (okay - I really need to get the good camera out!)... Latte (On the left - which MBB says is peach) and Metalic Gold (On the right - which looks more mustard to me, but makes the Latte look more tan to MBB, so I'll deal with it).  The floor is Hickory.

The Pool Room

A fresh coat of the same color that it was before (Okay, slightly different because I couldn't find the name/formula numbers, but it is close) was needed as we finished the final wall and did some drywall fixes... The Hickory floors in the Family Room run into this room too.

The Craft Room
I now have my own room! 
:)
:)
:) 
To say that I am excited would be an under-statement!
It is a Cedar Green and Cotton Grey with Cherry Floors.

                                 

Namaste.

Colorful Room!

Since I was already painting a huge amount of colors in the basement, I decided not to add to the number for the wrapping/storage room... So, it ended up five random colors from the other rooms of the basement.

What can I say, I am a little... Feel free to fill in the blank.  :)

I'll try to get better pictures once the lighting gets improved.
The Dark Blue (from the Pool Room) matches up with the Metallic Gold (from the Family Room) in one corner...

And the Cedar Green (from the Craft Room) in the other corner...

And the Cotton Grey (from the Craft Room) meets up with the Allspice (from the Exercise Room)...

Yes, the shadow is covering the Cotton Grey.

Now to decide if OB's idea of stenciling on the walls is going to happen or not.

Namaste.

Being Artsy...

I talked MBB into letting me be artsy in our main bathroom.
We had a drywall repair to do, so I was going to have to repaint the bathroom anyway.

Hense, the return of reverse ragging.
It used to be a big "fad" years and years ago when I did two rooms in my condo.
Now, apparently, it is no more.
I couldn't find anything on it to show MBB what I wanted to do.

In the end, he took my word and even helped me with the glaze.
And even the glaze has changed huge amounts over the years.

The results?

OB has deemed it "really kewl" and thinks I should do more.

I think I'll figure out how to incorporate the reverse rag into crafts and not on more walls.

Namaste.

12 Books in 12 Months?

Still working on my revised goal of 12 Books in 12 Months.
Don't get me wrong - I read A LOT.
If I counted, I'd probably be at about 50 Books this year.
But the 12 Books in 12 Months were to be NEW reads (I have a habit of reading books over and over) and have a bit more substance than a soft back romance.  I didn't discount all romances as the JDRobb Series is included, but that is a great series that aren't based around romance.  The murder mysteries make me thing and are intriguing.

Here's an updated status of my progress...
1. (AKA Jan) Steve Jobs
2. (AKA Feb) American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History
3. Hunger Games (Hunger Games Book 1)
4. Catching Fire (Hunger Games Book 2)
5. Mockingjay (Hunger Games Book 3)
6. Celebrity In Death
7. Delusion In Death
8. Between A Heart and A Rock Place
9. Put On Your Crown
10. Lips Unsealed (a memoir) <--- Currently reading
11. Lincoln <--- Currently reading... Since this is 700+ pages, it should count as two!!!
12.  <--- Got another one upstairs that I am "trying" to read...I'll update the name later.

Since I'm taking it easy the next few days - I may have time to get through some books and get the 12 completed before the ball drops.

Namaste.

Decisions...

I had a decision to make...
Been struggling with it for a few years...
It was a hard one, one I didn't want to even think about...
But my body was starting to weigh in on the decision and kinda made it for me.

So, I say goodbye to a dream...
But, I also say goodbye to a lot of pain...

My activity will be limited for awhile, which means that I may have time to blog...
For awhile anyway.


Update 9:00pm...
So, I didn't get to say goodbye to the pain.  Stupid body.
Let's hope/prayer for a reduction in pain at least...
Namaste.

It's Been Awhile...

I had a list of good topics to blog about...
Can't find the list...

I had on the "To Do" list many times to blog...
That's the one item that didn't get crossed off...

On the bright side, we have gotten through the tornado repair...
We are now making serious progress on the basement remodel that got set aside in March...

The 2012 Letter was written...
The Christmas Cards are mailed...
The seriously scaled back baking is done...

Now, I just need to finish the Christmas shopping and wrapping.

Namaste.

One Vote

In 1645, One vote gave Oliver Cromwell  control of England.

In 1649, One vote caused Charles I of England to be executed.

In 1776, Congress passed by one vote that American's official language should be English and not German.

In 1800, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr deadlocked  on electoral votes with 73 each.  After 37 separate  ballots in the House of Representatives, a Federalist changed his one vote in favor of Thomas Jefferson.

In 1839, One vote margin elected Marcus Morton governor of Massachusetts.

In 1845, One vote margin brought Texas into the Union.

In 1846, President James Polk asked Congress for a Declaration  of War against Mexico.  That one vote margin for War not only brought us victory but it also got us the territory which is now Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and California.

In 1850 to 1890, One vote admitted California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho into the Union.

In 1868, President Andrew Johnson missed being impeached  by one single vote.

In 1875, France became a Republic  instead of a Monarchy by just one single vote.

In 1876, Samuel Tilden won the presidential election  by over a half million votes over Rutherford  B. Hayes. But because of confused returns in some states, a special commission decided by a single vote, Hayes the winner.

In 1912, Less than one vote per precinct, in one state, elected Woodrow Wilson president.

In 1923, One vote made Adolf Hitler head of the Nazi Party.

In 1941, One vote saved the selective service just weeks before Pearl Harbor.

In 1948, If Thomas Dewey had received one more vote in each precinct in Ohio and California,  his race with Harry Truman would have been decided in the House of Representatives.

In 1960, John Kennedy beat Richard Nixon for president by less than one vote per precinct.

In 1969, A change of one vote per precinct in three states would have made Hubert Humphrey president instead of Richard Nixon.

In 1982, In Illinois, Governor  Thompson  defeated Adlai Stevenson  by less than 1/2 a vote per precinct.

Someone in my county compiled this list.  I didn't (and I didn't verify), but I thought the list was interesting enough to post here.  If any are wrong, I can modify.

I don't get political...
I don't get into the ask and tell of who people are going to vote for...
But I do subscribe to the thought - if you don't vote, you don't complain!

One vote does matter...
In the USA, please vote.

Namaste.

November

There are a lot of people doing the blog every day thing for November...
I'm not willing to set myself up for failure, so I'll pass this year.

There are a lot of people being Thankful everyday...
I applaud them and enjoy reading them, but I think I'd fail there as well.

Of course, I am thankful for the normal stuff...
But this year, I just need to put out there that I am glad my family is alive.  That I have a place to live.  That my kitty survived three days out in the wilderness with no claws.  That I have good insurance.

Yes, a tornado does alter my perception slightly.

Namaste.

7 Months

It has been seven months since Mother Nature's fury.

The first month saw a lot of progress for clearing out debris (please don't look at the top of the trees when you get near our house now...). It feels like month six held the most progress for rebuilding.

New construction is popping up all over...

It isn't uncommon to hear "How much longer on yours..." at school events.

I thought I had a picture of the rubble that is now this new home, but I seem to have missed that one.
It is accurate to say that the new house is VERY different from the two story LARGE house that fought with the twister. 

Debris that made it through Month 1 is finally being hauled away.

In some cases, partial progress of obvious...

And no progress is definitely obvious (yes, I took this picture very recently)...

This house went into foreclosure before March... The bank hasn't made one step to do anything about this eye sore.  The tree on the far right is still sitting on the roof.

On a personal note, we are on the "punch out" list on the house, but are still trying to figure out what to do about the garage on the other property....Yeah, the one that we requested be added to our policy, but "Danny" told them not too and they didn't tell us.

For the most part, it feels like the community is coming back better than before.

I have been able to travel around all the areas and will try to before the winter appears.

Namaste.