Do you YELL on the cellphone?

I'm going to admit it.  I YELL on the cellphone.  Side track....did you know that typing in ALL capital letters is considered YELLING?  It's true.

Yelling.  I don't know why I do it.  I guess I just want to make sure that the person I'm talking to can hear me.  My kids tell me to stop, but I just go right back to it without thinking.  Yes, I have a blue tooth earpiece.  But, tell me, how can I be heard from this little thing that is hooked to my ear?  That doesn't seem to be anywhere near my mouth. 

me and my bff connie

My best friend YELLS on her cell phone too.  And her kids tell her not to also.  I tell her that I don't mind if she does and she returns the favor.  

When I am in the grocery store, I'm embarrassed to talk on a cell phone.  I wouldn't want anyone thinking that I'm talking to myself (heaven forbid).  Yes, I spend waaaay too much energy worrying about what other people, even strangers will think of me!)  

Have you ever dialed some one while in public and when they answer you say (loudly of course) HELLO!  And then some random stranger around you thinks that you have just decided to greet them and, in fact, does not know how to react? 

I always think that even if I have my earpiece on in public I should hold my phone in my hand, where everyone can see it and KNOW that I am talking on it.  This talking on my phone in public is an exception to my YELLING habit.   In public, I whisper. Is there a way to "type" a whisper? I'll have to ask a younger person....they will know.

And while I'm on the subject of cell phones, have you ever had someone (my kids) dial you accidentally and not even know it?  I've gotten messages that are of their phone jiggling around in their purse or pocket for long periods of time.  I try to listen for a while to see if I will hear something interesting....something they would not want me to know.  But, alas, from the pocket or purse all voices are garbled.  I think my son calls it "butt" dialing.  I get it. I just don't say that word, well mostly I don't say it. 

It's just funny to me that technology just keeps racing on, faster and faster.  I LOVE it and still it seems hard to keep up sometimes.  

I think I love bowling

Well, not bowling exactly...but I think I like to watch bowling.  It's mesmerizing.  Today we went bowling for my daughter's birthday.  As luck would have it the place was filled because they were having a big tournament with pro bowlers.  But, hubby managed to get us a lane.  He has connections!  Dear daughter's hubby and some friends joined us. 

It turns out that there is no cheering in bowling! Did you know that?  It's quiet.  Just the sound of the ball being thrown and the pins being hit.  Not one "YEAH!".  No whooping or hollering.  Not with the pros.  I guess it's serious.  When those pros throw the ball, it goes so fast and so smooth, I just couldn't take my eyes away.  

I didn't actually bowl myself.  I was only there to support.  We were asked to be quiet.  Our crowd is not the quiet type.  My daughter has a great laugh that is loud and infectious.  Quiet?  That was a challenge. 

They set us up at the end, as far away from the pros as possible.  We established our bowling line up and started playing.  We whispered and made fun hand signals for cheering and 'fake' clapping.  Thumbs up and thumbs down. 

I enjoyed all of it.  In fact, it took me back in time to my childhood.  My parents used to bowl on a league.  I remember that they both had their own ball and bag, shoes, the whole deal.  I thought my mother's bowling ball was like a big beautiful marble.

My Mother was always a "lady".  When she bowled she made it look elegant and pretty.  And, I remember that she was pretty good.  I wish I had a picture of her bowling, I'll have to ask her if she has one.  I have one in my minds eye.  She wore capri pants, a blouse and sweater and probably a scarf on her head.  And, cat eye glasses.  I don't remember paying as much attention to what my Dad was doing.  I thought he was pretty great too. 

We always felt so lucky when we were allowed to attend instead of having a babysitter.  It was like getting a peek into the grown up world of our parents.  I was always so proud of them.  I think that even then we had to be quiet.

Aren't these vintage bowling bags fabulous?  Just looking at pictures make me want to collect them!!

So.

Why is bowling quiet?  I'll have to go back sometime when the regular people are bowling and see if they cheer or not. 

My nest just got emptier

They move out.

They move back in.

Out. In.  Repeat.  Has this happened to anyone else?  

Today my youngest moved out (again).   He came back home last spring to 'regroup'.  I told him that I was getting attached to him and that it was going to be hard to let him go (again).  He went straight from High School to the Navy, so he hasn't lived here for a long time.

When he came home, it was after moving far away to Seattle for six months.  He had mostly hard times.  Roommate problems (they ended up stealing from him), it took a long time to find a job depleting what money he brought with him and it was a huge change going from living in a National Park (Yosemite for 3 years...it doesn't get much more isolated than that) to a major city. 

I wanted him to feel comfortable and not in a hurry to go, so I moved out of my lovely office and gave him the room.  I missed that room as I was relegated to my downstairs room that is an exercize/storage/sometimes guest room/craft area/catchall room.  On the plus side, the downstairs is warmer than the upstairs and my office was always particularly cold.

So, he spent the summer figuring out his plans.  In the fall, he enrolled in college (the Navy is paying for it!  Yay!).  He saved up....and now, it's moving day. 

I'm a little sad to have him gone.  But, if I close the door to his room, it's like he's there (he didn't come out much!).  And....it doesn't even look like he moved, because his stuff is still EVERYWHERE!.  He said that I could just go in there and do what ever I wanted with what he left.  What I want is for him to come back and clean it out himself.  Argh. 

I know he's happy to be in his new place and closer to college and friends.  We live so far from everything, I know that would be hard on someone in his stage of life.  What I find "peaceful and quiet", he probably found "boring" and maybe "stuck in the country".  Besides, who wants to hang out with their parents anyway?

I'm fighting the urge to go to his new apartment and try to fix everything....dishes, towels, furniture....I'm itching to fix the place up.  But, it's not my place.  

I'm putting all my thoughts toward redecorating my old/new office.  Pics to come after he clears the space.  I have faith.  Or.......
 

WINNER!!

Thank you soooo much to everyone who took the time to vote for our band.  I can't even tell you how much that meant to me.  Our band is "older" people and we play for "older" people....lots of times the people at our shows don't even have email.  When we are competing with the younger people...well, they can just send out a text to all their friends and just like magic the votes come pouring in.  That just makes the results even sweeter for us, we made it to #9 out of 365 bands.  Top Ten....WOO HOO!

And, now for the winner of my shoe flowers.....drum roll please.....

Karie of http://karieschiccreations.blogspot.com/

I just love Karie's blog.  She is so creative and I think that we have tons in common.   

Thank you to everyone who commented and voted....I'm sending you ALL virtual HUGS AND KISSES!

I'm giving these away!!!

Yes!  These beautiful Flowers can be yours!

Here they are on a pair of sandals:

I'm in a Classic Rock band called Crystal Image and we were voted #11 last year on KCRA's "A List".  Right now we are number 8 and the voting ends on May 18.  Would you take just a minute to vote for us?  I would be so very grateful!!

click here to vote:  http://ctvr.us/crystalimage

All you need to vote is an email address, and you don't have to live in this area. 

If you do vote for us, leave me a comment and I will draw a name from the comments and send you this pair of Shoe Flowers that I made.  They are fabulous (if I may say so myself) and they go on anything. They would look great on a pair of flip flops, sandals, as a bracelet or necklace, pinned on a sweater or tied on to your purser. And, if you already voted....THANK YOU!  And, yes, of course you can enter!

And....if you post my giveaway on your blog, I will add your name in twice, for a total of 3 entries!!!
Recap:

Vote for the band =  1 entry   
(leave a comment to let me know that you voted...thanks!)

Share on your blog = 2 entries  
(let me know in your comment that you shared..thanks!)


Drawing will be on May 19th

If you want to read more about our band, check out my other blog:  http://stephaniesbandblog.blogspot.com

Thank you thank you thank you!!

Stephanie

05-11-11 P.S.  Voting update.  I want to thank all of you out there in the blogging world for helping me!!  We are hovering at our position, the voting is intensifying this last few days.  Without your votes I'm sure we would be moving in the wrong direction!   Only 7 more days!

Shoe Bling

I went shopping for shoes....again.  They can put a man on the moon, but they can NOT make a truly fabulous, cute shoe that is comfortable!  Why???  

I saw so many shoes that I wanted, but I just can't wear them anymore.  I love all the embellishments that are in style right now.  This pair costs only $395.  What?  That's just a little out of my budget, and I could never walk in them.  

As I was shopping, I started to get an idea.  I could buy the comfortable shoes and embellish them myself.  I couldn't wait to get started.   I decided to start with fabric flowers.  I found a tutorial on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEbpMvAGs5k  I learned what I needed to know and made this flower:

I decided that it wasn't necessary to cut circles, so I just cut squares.  Just bein lazy I guess.

I cut about 3 or 4 sizes.

Next step was to singe them with a lighter.  I used up the small one and finished with the long one.  I will use the long one from now on, the small one hurts my thumb after a while.  But, the long one tends to be too much, so be careful.  It can do way more than singe if you aren't.

Here's all the pieces.   The large one was to flat so, I clipped it in a few places and singed again.  That did the trick.  I did the same thing on the smallest pieces. 

Here you go, two finished flowers.  I put a few small red beads in the middle.

Then I sewed the flowers to a piece of ribbon.  

Here is my new sandal.   Very comfy!

I just tied the ribbon in a bow, under the flower.

Ta Da!!

How cute are they?  I can't wait to wear them. 

I will definitely make more of these!!

Now all I need is for the weather to co-operate and get warm!!

I won!!

I'm a lucky girl!!!  I had a wondrous journey through blogland with the One World One Heart tour.  It was my third year in a row.  It was truly amazing to see all the creativity out there!!  Every blog (there were over a thousand) had a giveaway.  I was so blessed to have received the following treasures:

This stunning necklace was sent to me from Cheryl.  I love hearts and I will wear this one close to mine!!

A closer view!  You can visit Cheryl at cherylstrait.wordpress.com

 

This wall hanging found it's way to me all the way from Australia.  Beautiful Artwork, I love it in so many ways!  The wonderful charms that hang down, the colors, it's just beautiful!   To see more visit:  Roz at rossylalah.blogspot.com

This artistic card was sent to me by Robin.  I love blue  and this picture just makes me happy!  You can visit Robin at http://urbandebris.typepad.com/urban_debris_journal/

I'm sorry that it took me so long to share.