You'll have to excuse my absence - I've just returned from Panem and District 13 - and I am exhausted!
Oh my goodness! I had NO IDEA what I was in for when I decided that I should probably read something other than Judy Blume or Dr Seuss, and decided to read "The Hunger Games". It's been a long time since I, Me, Marliss - not Mom - read a book for MY enjoyment.
I had no knowledge of what the book was about. I knew it was a bestseller, so I just downloaded it on my Nook. After the 1st pages of "The Hunger Games", I was hooked. I am somewhat of a techy geek, so I had the book on my Color Nook, which in turn allowed it to be on my iphone Nook app, and backed up by the ipad Nook app. If I was really desperate, I could also read it on my laptop. I read whenever I could. I took my phone to the bathroom and read a few pages at a time. I read it while at the girl's swim lessons, I read it at night until 2 in the morning. I was a complete dork.
I was obsessed. And when I was done with "The Hunger Games", I immediately (I think it was 1:38 am) downloaded "Catching Fire", so that I could continue with this newfound love of reading.
I was obsessed.
Then, I finished "Mockingjay" and cried a bit at the end. It took me a bit to figure out why I was crying, but I think there were so many things that moved me throughout the series - which by the way, was originally written to attract the young readers genre. I've had many people tell me I act like a teenager, so perhaps this was just another example of my mentality!
I cried because I was done. Now what will I do? I cried because of the storyline and the horrific torture inflicted upon people by a government. Could this really happen in our lifetimes? I cried because I know I would never ever in a million years be as strong a survivor as Katniss. I cried because I realized how much time I waste doing nothing and wondered why I only read stupid magazines and the captions under the pictures.
But I also think I cried as I thought about what happens to our imaginations as we get older. At what point do most of us lose the ability to imagine things as grand as this author? Just watch kids play - the driving force behind their play is imagination. What happens to that? Do we lose it in school when we are told to pay attention instead of letting our mind wander in class? Do we lose it when we are working and come up with a great idea, only to have it squashed by a boss? Do we lose it because someone makes fun of us at some point? And I also wondered how many hallucinogenics would I have to take to come up with something like The Hunger Games? How does the author keep everything straight in her mind?
In the end, I decided I was Team Peeta and I decided I was going to try to use my imagination everyday and most importantly, try to never squash anyone else's.
I might also go shoot a few of Ken's arrows :-)
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
The newest store in town!
I just opened a store! Yep, it was a spur of the moment venture which I hope will produce a lifetime of wealth!
You see, I have 2 sweet daughters who share a room. This is a good thing and a bad thing.
It's good because they love each other and can spend hours playing "dance school", or "teacher" or "restaurant" or "store" or a host of other imaginative, wonderful activities they love.
But it's bad because the room is small. It's bad because they have too much stuff, and it's bad because they don't put things back where they belong! This is an ongoing struggle and a bone of contention because they just look at me and hear the "wah wah wah wah" of my voice and never pick anything up. (I am so very thankful that my mother doesn't have a clue how to comment on my blog because she would be frothing at the mouth exposing my childhood room cleaning skills.) But, hey, this isn't about me :-)
Today was the last straw and I had had it!
While I was bagging up all this crap, my original thought was "darn it, the trash man already came today and now there won't be room in the trash barrel the rest of the week". But then the genius in me (that part of every Mom's brain that get's overworked and underpaid) thought of a better, dual purpose, exploitative use of this teaching moment.
I will open a store.
And today was the grand opening!!!
The inventory consists of all the things I located off the floor of their room - minus the dry cereal found in a lonely bowl, dried apple slices which didn't start out that way, and other science projects retrieved from under the bunk beds.
All of the books, clothes, shoes, toys, dolls, etc are displayed in clear trashbags, and stored in a enclosed trailer we have.
The girls can "buy" back their toys. Their "currency" would be additional chores - not the ones they have to do anyway - but extra chores! They can also choose to use their own money. (Of course, this money will go right back in their piggy bank, but don't tell them that!)
So when the girls got home and headed to their room, they stopped dead in their tracks! Taken aback by the sight of their carpeted floor, which hadn't seen the light of day in quite some time, Jillian asked "what happened"? Sloan started crying. And, I was overjoyed to announce the grand opening of my store! I explained the shopping rules quite succinctly: Extra chore=1 tally mark= 1 toy bought back. Easy Peasy! Sloan went fetal, and Jillian responded with "well, I better get busy then."
The tally marks of chores have already started. If they argue about who did what, a tally mark is deducted.
My goal is that they will learn the following:
1) If you want something, you have to work for it!
2) Arguing is of no benefit.
3) This will help them decide which toys they really want and enjoy, and the rest will go to GoodWill;
and
the
MOST
IMPORTANT
LESSON.......
Don't jack with Mama!
Wait, maybe this IS about me after all!!!
I'll keep you posted on the sales volume at the store.
You see, I have 2 sweet daughters who share a room. This is a good thing and a bad thing.
It's good because they love each other and can spend hours playing "dance school", or "teacher" or "restaurant" or "store" or a host of other imaginative, wonderful activities they love.
But it's bad because the room is small. It's bad because they have too much stuff, and it's bad because they don't put things back where they belong! This is an ongoing struggle and a bone of contention because they just look at me and hear the "wah wah wah wah" of my voice and never pick anything up. (I am so very thankful that my mother doesn't have a clue how to comment on my blog because she would be frothing at the mouth exposing my childhood room cleaning skills.) But, hey, this isn't about me :-)
Today was the last straw and I had had it!
While I was bagging up all this crap, my original thought was "darn it, the trash man already came today and now there won't be room in the trash barrel the rest of the week". But then the genius in me (that part of every Mom's brain that get's overworked and underpaid) thought of a better, dual purpose, exploitative use of this teaching moment.
I will open a store.
And today was the grand opening!!!
The inventory consists of all the things I located off the floor of their room - minus the dry cereal found in a lonely bowl, dried apple slices which didn't start out that way, and other science projects retrieved from under the bunk beds.
All of the books, clothes, shoes, toys, dolls, etc are displayed in clear trashbags, and stored in a enclosed trailer we have.
The girls can "buy" back their toys. Their "currency" would be additional chores - not the ones they have to do anyway - but extra chores! They can also choose to use their own money. (Of course, this money will go right back in their piggy bank, but don't tell them that!)
So when the girls got home and headed to their room, they stopped dead in their tracks! Taken aback by the sight of their carpeted floor, which hadn't seen the light of day in quite some time, Jillian asked "what happened"? Sloan started crying. And, I was overjoyed to announce the grand opening of my store! I explained the shopping rules quite succinctly: Extra chore=1 tally mark= 1 toy bought back. Easy Peasy! Sloan went fetal, and Jillian responded with "well, I better get busy then."
The tally marks of chores have already started. If they argue about who did what, a tally mark is deducted.
My goal is that they will learn the following:
1) If you want something, you have to work for it!
2) Arguing is of no benefit.
3) This will help them decide which toys they really want and enjoy, and the rest will go to GoodWill;
and
the
MOST
IMPORTANT
LESSON.......
Don't jack with Mama!
Wait, maybe this IS about me after all!!!
I'll keep you posted on the sales volume at the store.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Why it's OK to be addicted to Pinterest
Hello, my name is Marliss, and I am addicted to Pinterest!
But, no worries, it is actually ok. And, I'm ok, and so is everyone else who has carved out an extra 3.8 hours of your day to peruse boards of complete strangers!
Here's why it is ok to be addicted to Pinterest:
1) It's pretty.
2) You develop an enormous respect for all the talented people out there who have created all these lovely things for you to look at - followed immediately by an enormous hatred of all these talented people who must not have real lives which keep them so busy they can't actually cut out hundreds of wax paper circles to make the DIY "capiz shell" chandelier!!!
3) I am getting "this much closer" (put you thumb and first finger about a quarter of an inch apart) to deciding that someday I might want to cook something after looking at all the amazing pictures of food. My question is why cupcakes are the only things drawing my attention!
4) I realize I have pretty good taste when I see things I like that a bunch of others like also. Or does that mean there are a bunch of us who have really bad taste?
5) When I finally get to build my dream home I will be a builder's dream of a client. I will already have all my ideas in 1 place and can hand it to the builder and say, "build this".
6) I can memorize all the funny signs that people post and hope that someday they will magically pop into my head at the appropriate time - like when I am standing in front of the person I wish to say "Karma takes too long, I'd rather just beat the crap out of you right now" to.
7) There really are some great ideas for kids. The green "Leprachaun" feet on the toilet rim with the green water will be a hit with the girls first thing in the morning on St Patrick's Day.
8) It keeps me away from the kitchen and snacking. Right up until I see another damn cupcake picture!
9) Crap - I had more, but I just got distracted when I had to google what the heck kind of shell it was the DIY chandelier was supposed to resemble.......
and therein lies the beauty of Pinterest.
Distraction - but now I will always remember "capiz";
Dreaming - of the time when I can actually upload a picture that I, myself have created, instead of just re-pinning someone else's';
and
Rationalizing - it's ok to "research" on Pinterest because I might just happen upon an idea that will help me sell a house, or become parent of the year, or invent something that will make me rich. And, we are right back to Distraction and Dreaming, aren't we.....??
But, no worries, it is actually ok. And, I'm ok, and so is everyone else who has carved out an extra 3.8 hours of your day to peruse boards of complete strangers!
Here's why it is ok to be addicted to Pinterest:
1) It's pretty.
2) You develop an enormous respect for all the talented people out there who have created all these lovely things for you to look at - followed immediately by an enormous hatred of all these talented people who must not have real lives which keep them so busy they can't actually cut out hundreds of wax paper circles to make the DIY "capiz shell" chandelier!!!
3) I am getting "this much closer" (put you thumb and first finger about a quarter of an inch apart) to deciding that someday I might want to cook something after looking at all the amazing pictures of food. My question is why cupcakes are the only things drawing my attention!
4) I realize I have pretty good taste when I see things I like that a bunch of others like also. Or does that mean there are a bunch of us who have really bad taste?
5) When I finally get to build my dream home I will be a builder's dream of a client. I will already have all my ideas in 1 place and can hand it to the builder and say, "build this".
6) I can memorize all the funny signs that people post and hope that someday they will magically pop into my head at the appropriate time - like when I am standing in front of the person I wish to say "Karma takes too long, I'd rather just beat the crap out of you right now" to.
7) There really are some great ideas for kids. The green "Leprachaun" feet on the toilet rim with the green water will be a hit with the girls first thing in the morning on St Patrick's Day.
8) It keeps me away from the kitchen and snacking. Right up until I see another damn cupcake picture!
9) Crap - I had more, but I just got distracted when I had to google what the heck kind of shell it was the DIY chandelier was supposed to resemble.......
and therein lies the beauty of Pinterest.
Distraction - but now I will always remember "capiz";
Dreaming - of the time when I can actually upload a picture that I, myself have created, instead of just re-pinning someone else's';
and
Rationalizing - it's ok to "research" on Pinterest because I might just happen upon an idea that will help me sell a house, or become parent of the year, or invent something that will make me rich. And, we are right back to Distraction and Dreaming, aren't we.....??
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Sunshine in a Sonic cup!
It's no secret to people who know me that I hate living in the rain, which kind of is a problem when you live in the Pacific Northwest. As a result, you just have to find sunshine where ever you can, even if it is in a Sonic cup.
Today I had to go check out a house that I will be listing for sale for Freddie Mac. The previous owner will stay as an occupant, along with their 24 years' accumulation of personal effects......making this a home that will not be easy to sell - but I digress.
As I'm leaving, with the windshield wipers on FULL BLAST, and still having a hard time seeing, I see a "sign". A "sign" that evokes a genuine smile and if I had been walking, I would have clicked up my heels and run to the "sign".
What, do you ask could this "sign" have been to elicit such a feeling of euphoria in me? Well, it could be none other that a Sonic Drive-Thru! Ok - call me weird - won't be the first or last time someone has - but I LOVE LOVE LOVE Sonic ice tea! I love Sonic ice tea for several reasons:
1) Their cups are enormous and you can drink on it all day because it stays cold in their styrofoam cup.
2) I love their little pebbles of ice - just perfect to crunch at the end of the day when the gallon of tea is gone.
3) Their straws are long enough that you can drink and drive without having to tilt the barrel size cup up and obscure your vision - not that I could see through the rain anyway....
but the most important reason....
A Sonic Drive-Thru takes me someplace other than here! In this case, it took me to Branson, MO this past summer when we had a family reunion that was the most fun I have had in a long time! The Sonic was right by our condo and we would get at least 1-2 drinks there every day. Why - because it was HOT and SUNNY! SUN - that elusive ball of fire that we so seldom see here. I remembered being on the boat and tubing and laughing and jumping in the water and zip-lining, and watching my girls have a blast with their cousins. I remember being with family, and eating, and feeling no stress. I remembered FUN!
There are very few Sonic Drive Thru's in these parts! So, I will most likely baby the treasured Sonic cup, rinse it and re-use it for a couple days (maybe pour a little SkinnyGirl Margarita in it ), and pout when it gets ruined.
Moral of the story: You have to find your sunshine where you are.....mine happened to be a Sonic cup today.
Oh yeah - that house will probably take forever to sell, so I see more Sonic cups in my future!
Today I had to go check out a house that I will be listing for sale for Freddie Mac. The previous owner will stay as an occupant, along with their 24 years' accumulation of personal effects......making this a home that will not be easy to sell - but I digress.
As I'm leaving, with the windshield wipers on FULL BLAST, and still having a hard time seeing, I see a "sign". A "sign" that evokes a genuine smile and if I had been walking, I would have clicked up my heels and run to the "sign".
What, do you ask could this "sign" have been to elicit such a feeling of euphoria in me? Well, it could be none other that a Sonic Drive-Thru! Ok - call me weird - won't be the first or last time someone has - but I LOVE LOVE LOVE Sonic ice tea! I love Sonic ice tea for several reasons:
1) Their cups are enormous and you can drink on it all day because it stays cold in their styrofoam cup.
2) I love their little pebbles of ice - just perfect to crunch at the end of the day when the gallon of tea is gone.
3) Their straws are long enough that you can drink and drive without having to tilt the barrel size cup up and obscure your vision - not that I could see through the rain anyway....
but the most important reason....
A Sonic Drive-Thru takes me someplace other than here! In this case, it took me to Branson, MO this past summer when we had a family reunion that was the most fun I have had in a long time! The Sonic was right by our condo and we would get at least 1-2 drinks there every day. Why - because it was HOT and SUNNY! SUN - that elusive ball of fire that we so seldom see here. I remembered being on the boat and tubing and laughing and jumping in the water and zip-lining, and watching my girls have a blast with their cousins. I remember being with family, and eating, and feeling no stress. I remembered FUN!
There are very few Sonic Drive Thru's in these parts! So, I will most likely baby the treasured Sonic cup, rinse it and re-use it for a couple days (maybe pour a little SkinnyGirl Margarita in it ), and pout when it gets ruined.
Moral of the story: You have to find your sunshine where you are.....mine happened to be a Sonic cup today.
Oh yeah - that house will probably take forever to sell, so I see more Sonic cups in my future!
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Bells and Whistles
So here we go a'blogging, a'blogging we go!
Thought that since I really don't have much to do every day (LOL) that I would just spend a bit of time at the keyboard and jot down the things that amuse me. But, I worried I wouldn't have anything to talk about.
And, then my day started:
Jillian comes into my bathroom as I'm showering and tells me the alarm is going off. Seems my sweet, little, helpful daughter has let the dogs out the front door to go potty and I hadn't turned the alarm off from last night.
Crap! I jump out of the shower - run through the house buck naked - slip on the wood - feet go straight out from under me - back of head slams on the floor - I slide into the antique buffet, coherent enough to steer clear of the curved, beveled glass - get up and punch in the "super secret" Bat Code alarm numbers to turn the darn thing off.
Jillian has gone into the other room crying because she thinks she is in trouble. Sloan is sound asleep, clueless as to the situation. The dogs are still outside.
I open the front door to let the dogs in and a blizzard blows in - remember, I have no clothes on!!
My cell phone is ringing, and I'll be damned if I am going to run anymore in the house to try and answer it!!!
I hobble to my phone. It's Ken. He wants to know why the alarm company has called - they "detected motion at the front door". Really - they didn't notice the smack of my head against the floor, the crying of a child, and the cursing of a mother??????
Ken tells the alarm company NOT to send the police because I think somewhere in the depths of his mind, he knew that something like this was going on. And, I'm pretty darn sure he was laughing his butt off!
Thought that since I really don't have much to do every day (LOL) that I would just spend a bit of time at the keyboard and jot down the things that amuse me. But, I worried I wouldn't have anything to talk about.
And, then my day started:
Jillian comes into my bathroom as I'm showering and tells me the alarm is going off. Seems my sweet, little, helpful daughter has let the dogs out the front door to go potty and I hadn't turned the alarm off from last night.
Crap! I jump out of the shower - run through the house buck naked - slip on the wood - feet go straight out from under me - back of head slams on the floor - I slide into the antique buffet, coherent enough to steer clear of the curved, beveled glass - get up and punch in the "super secret" Bat Code alarm numbers to turn the darn thing off.
Jillian has gone into the other room crying because she thinks she is in trouble. Sloan is sound asleep, clueless as to the situation. The dogs are still outside.
I open the front door to let the dogs in and a blizzard blows in - remember, I have no clothes on!!
My cell phone is ringing, and I'll be damned if I am going to run anymore in the house to try and answer it!!!
I hobble to my phone. It's Ken. He wants to know why the alarm company has called - they "detected motion at the front door". Really - they didn't notice the smack of my head against the floor, the crying of a child, and the cursing of a mother??????
Ken tells the alarm company NOT to send the police because I think somewhere in the depths of his mind, he knew that something like this was going on. And, I'm pretty darn sure he was laughing his butt off!
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