Grateful I'm Not Living in the 30's

For the obvious reasons I'm so grateful I'm not currently living in the 30's. As if The Great Depression and the start of World War II were not enough, they also had really crappy viewing entertainment.

I'm currently on a really pointless escapade of watching all of the movies in history that ever won Best Picture of the Academy Awards. Not that I'm really into the Academy Awards or think that their first pick in movies are always the best of that year but it's something that I've always inexplicably wanted to do.  I’m always curious of the allusions that historical movies are mentioned in so much of the literature I read.  I may possibly go back and pick out some of the other nominations of each year and watch them one day as well but since they’ve started giving out Oscars since 1928 I already have over 80 movies to watch.  I think I’ve also decided that I won’t be watching any more movies from the 1930’s if at all possible unless for some reason one of the names pops out at me from somewhere and I feel compelled to be utterly depressed for an afternoon.

My children have been amazing throughout this entire ordeal.  One good thing about watching movies from this time is they are a lot cleaner than they are now.  I’m not as nervous letting the kids pop in and out of the living room because the sex scenes are virtually not existent and all of the fighting or battle scenes look like a kid’s playground compared to our todays films.  They are also incredibly boring and in black and white so the kids pretty much take one look and run to somewhere else.

I don’t mind so much the movies being in black and white, I can appreciate how far we’ve come now and appreciate the time it came from.  I can now also say that I think Clark Gable was a fantastic actor, especially for his day.  It’s not a real surprise that I’ve currently watched 3 movies that won Academy Awards that he was the lead actor for.  I can however say that I don’t think that I’ll be subjecting myself to watching “Gone with the Wind” ever again and for sure will never watch “Cimarron” or any of its remakes for as long as I shall live, once was enough torture for one lifetime.

I’m excited to be getting into the 1940’s films.  There are already a few names in there that I actually recognize.  From there on I have seen a lot of the movies.  I’m going to sit through all of them and have been giving them my own personal score based on how much I actually liked it and trying to take into account of when it was made.  I will NOT however be subjecting myself through the Godfather movies again. I watched them a couple years back and can honestly say I’ll never get the hype (and usually like a good gangster flick, Sopranos was one of my favorite HBO series).

Anyhow the kids are napping so that means I know I have at least a couple hours where I will be in peace while watching my next movie. I will sign off for now and crossing my fingers that “The Great Ziegfeld” (1936) isn’t a waste of some precious me-time!

Blog or book?

Right now would be a perfect time to write in my blog, the children are fed, the hubby is home to entertain them when they drive me crazy, and I’ve got a freshly made tea and no pressing tasks that need attending.  I just can’t seem to think of anything to say.  This is quite fascinating to me as I NEVER feel like I have run out of things to talk about.

Since the New Year my mind has been blanked.  I really and truly need to find an outlet now.  I think I’m going to get busy trying to figure out my next game plan as soon as the hubby takes off for work this week.  I usually feel better when he’s around so I can participate in some face to face adult conversation daily but as soon as he leaves I sometimes go multiple days in between before seeing in person and talking to a person older than 3.  This idleness has apparently got to stop as my personality seems to be changing because my lack of stimulation. 

So now instead of coming up with anymore to say I’m going to go sit down in a corner and read a book because the children are fed, the hubby is home to entertain them when they drive me crazy, and I’ve got a freshly made tea and no pressing tasks that need attending!

Blank Slate, Blank Mind

I’ve got nothing. I’ve been sporadically walking in and out of my office and sitting in front of a blank Word document waiting for some insight to pour forth from my fingers. Still nothing.

 

Maybe 2013 is really a blank slate? During my day, usually when I’m cleaning, I come up with one or two topics that I’d like to discuss in my blog. I’ve had no topics come to mind. Maybe it’s because I’ve done minimal cleaning over the Holiday Season, or minimal anything for that matter. That’s probably the issue right there. Zero happening. I’m not sure whether I should jump for joy or be afraid.

This definitely was the first Christmas in years that I actually got to relax and enjoy. It was amazing this year because of the holiday traditions we not only enjoyed but created. We spent more time hanging out as a family than shopping in the stores. It was really great. Even though it was so much more laid back this year it still feels hard to drag myself out from the fog that usually comes in the aftermath of all the merry making and food consumption.

I’ve never been one to just sit around and get nothing accomplished. I am staring ahead at my future and realize that there are no goals, no major aspirations or nothing new that I’m working towards. I mean don’t get me wrong, I’ve got all the same resolutions that most people find themselves looking at the beginning of the year. I’d like to eat better, exercise a bit more, be a better parent, etc. Who doesn’t think these things after the holidays are spent consuming their body weight in pastries, cookies, chocolate and alcohol? After your children have also been hyped up on refined sugar and all the stimulation that the season brings?

It’s just not the same though. I ALWAYS have those goals in the back of my mind and often do things that improve upon them. I am normally used to having something else to work towards. I have been knocking around the idea that I want to start working towards a new career, which has got me completely muddled. I want to find something I’m passionate about and can see myself enjoying, but again who doesn’t? I would like to begin working on a similar project as the author in the book I’m currently reading pursued called “The Happiness Project” of one person’s journey on trying to lead a more meaningful and happy life. Once again, who doesn’t?

So here I am staring at a Word screen with words spewing out but really nothing new and exciting being said that a New Year’s post usually requires. I just heard something that stated the year to come will somewhat resemble how you spent celebrating New Year’s Eve. If that’s the case I’ll be spending a lot of time sitting on the couch watching movies with my family desperately trying to keep my eyes open. While this sounds very peaceful it doesn’t leave me much to work towards.  It’s also making it very difficult to get motivated.

I am however excited at the prospect that I can work on ANYTHING I would like. I should look at it backwards and thank my stars that my goals aren’t set for me, there is nothing laid out for me or any pressing situation that is forcing me to not work on the things I want to.  I guess as they say the world is my oyster.  Although I think oysters are disgusting, I think I’m going to change it to the world is my cheesecake.  Hmmm maybe not so good when trying to stick to the eating better resolutions, the world is my Vanilla Yogurt?  I think it needs some work.

Happy New Year’s to everyone and here’s hoping that everyone is also enjoying a blank slate in 2013!

Christmas Eve is Finally Upon Us.

Well it is now Christmas Eve for our family.  We're running a few days behind but my hubby was picked up by my brave father from the airport last night during a crazy storm we were experiencing.  Now that everyone is safe and sound we can commence our official Christmas.

Looking at the huge boxes of the kid's play kitchen and train set that needs putting together reminds me that it's going to be a very late night for us indeed.  That's if we have the ambition to do it today.  It might be a good project for the hubby and my dad to take part in tomorrow while us girls are busy working on turkey dinner with all the trimmings.  Even hopefully the littlest girl will be inspired enough by her big Christmas gift and spend it pretending to cook us a spectacular dinner in her new play kitchen.

I was feeling a little like the holiday season had already passed us by because we had already said our Merry Christmases and Happy New Years to everyone else on the actual calendar day event.  It was also spent drinking Bailey's and coffee and hanging out with the family.  It's crazy how you can feel like you've already finished the season and not opened one gift or gone through one stocking.  It's proof that the Christmas spirit is still a tangible possiblity without literally "buying" into it. However now that the hubby has returned, I am starting to get fired up in Christmas spirit mode again and am excited to watch the magic unfold for the kids. 

We are just getting ready now to go and participate in the very real and very modern day tradition of the Christmas Eve rush.  In other words we have to go out and purchase some last minute supplies and gifts that have been forgotten.  I'm really grateful this starts off my husband's 3 week stint at home and we will have the remaining few weeks to just kick back and enjoy some time together in our new home before he goes back to work.

Merry Christmas everyone from our family to yours!!

"Holidays"

Even though I'm not quite sure why they refer to this time of the year as "Holidays," I'm going to be spending actual Christmas Eve and Day at mom and dad's house with the kidlets.  Does anyone anywhere ever feel rested T'is the Season is finished? This also means I won't be posting for a couple days.  I may also be skipping a day or two after because we're celebrating our Christmas on the 29th when my husband is back from work and a day of rest under his belt.

I'm wishing everyone (all 4 of you) that read my blog regularly A Very Merry Christmas!  I will return to you soon with a mind addled with Bailey's and Coffee (I hate Egg Nog) and refined sugar products.

Love and good wishes!!

Brain Malfunction

I’m lacking anything interesting to blog about today.  In general I’m having a strange day.  It’s one of those days that I feel completely unmotivated but a bunch of stuff keeps getting accomplished.  

For instance, I was walking around my house this morning and looked down and noticed that the floor was in desperate need of vacuuming, sweeping and mopping.  I had just decided that I was not interested in any of it and then called my mom to see what she was up to for the day.  During our phone conversation I swept and mopped all the floors and as soon as I hung up I vacuumed.   I also folded the remainder of my laundry and cleaned up the breakfast dishes. 

My kids were spending most of the day making a mess of the play room upstairs and I went up there to soothe one because they apparently they need to hurt themselves 80 times an hour.  The room looked like World War 5 had hit.  I asked them to start cleaning it up because I am honestly so sick of tidying that room I was contemplating just shutting the door and not allowing them to ever set foot in it again.   Instead the next thing I knew I was finishing up putting the last toy in its place.

Then early this evening I was NOT in the mood to make dinner.  A good friend of mine sent me a text which started quite the conversation. By the time that chat came to its conclusion I had managed to whip up garlic/rosemary crusted pork chops, rice and steamed veggies. 

In finality I figured I’d come and sit at the computer to update myself on my Facebook friend’s activities for the day and procrastinate giving the kids a bath.  Here I am instead writing in my blog, which I decided earlier today I was going to take a day off from.   I guess that confirms that OCD is not just a brain disorder because whether you are motivated or not your body just takes over and does it for you.

I hope it does the same thing for the bath I’m avoiding having to give my children now before bed. 

Wrap it Up!

I can’t believe I’m actually finished prepping for Christmas this year and with days to spare.  I mean granted we’re not celebrating Christmas until the 29^th here because of my husband’s work schedule but I feel most accomplished today.

The kids and I went for a long walk early this afternoon, well not a long walk in terms of distance but when you are walking with a 2 year old and 3 year old it tends to slow things down a bit and what would normally take about 15 minutes to walk almost took 2 hours.   It was very fun to watch my daughter go to each door and deliver the neighbors Christmas cards.  Watching a child take such joy in sharing and giving is about one of the most satisfying experiences of this entire holiday season craziness.

The last chore I had to finish up with was wrapping gifts.  This is probably my least favorite job out of the festivities.  Wrapping gifts is such a strange idea.  I understand it adds to the excitement of the present but truthfully it seems ridiculous.  You spend a bunch of money on paper, bows, tape and string that just gets ripped up and tossed in the garbage.  Not to mention the billion hours it takes to try to figure out how to wrap each gift.  I’m not making it up when I say that a friend of mine on Facebook was literally sending out a plea to all the parents out there on exactly HOW you wrap up Hot Wheels cars packages.  I was ever so grateful with this post because there was in fact a really helpful answer.  One of the people who replied said that you wrap two of them together face to face.  There wasn’t an answer though for the Littlest Pet Shop toy packages that are my daughter’s request from Santa.  Trust me if you can hold off on getting your kid one of these buggers I’d avoid it at all costs.  I must have had to re-wrap it at least 10 times.  I’m not even tempting fate by putting the gifts under the tree until at least Christmas Eve, I don’t think the kids could handle themselves.

Wrapping is a very time consuming activity in normal situations but when it comes to trying to wrap them with kids in the house it becomes a sporting event.  I know that most people would suggest that I wrap these gifts at night to save myself some hassle.  I’ve actually been attempting to do so and that’s why I haven’t finished it until today.  Most of my shopping was done over a week ago and I have had good intentions to sit down every night and do all the wrapping.  My trouble is by 9:00pm (just after I put my kids to bed) I’m done.  I don’t have any fuel left in the tank.  If I’m not asleep by 9:30pm these days then I know that the morning won’t be pleasant.   I did get a few gifts wrapped one evening and half a bottle of wine consumed which resulted in a hangover (I’m very lightweight when it comes to my alcohol intake) and two presents needing to be re-wrapped.  It just doesn’t seem worth the pain. 

Today I figured I would attempt on getting the rest of the gifts done.  By taking the kids for a walk this afternoon I assumed that I could get a little bit of a reprieve from them as they would be a bit worn down.  I was wrong.  They were still as curious as to what I was up to.  They were still trying every way possible to drive me crazy.  I’ve decided that the only thing worse than wrapping gifts is trying to wrap them while keeping two curious toddlers at bay.   I didn’t even have any wine to smooth over the process.  I believe that drinking wine is never a good idea in the day when the kids are running full tilt, I feel like I have to treat my life like a potential on-call ambulance driver just in case they break their bones or worse.  People reading this might think I’m paranoid, that is unless they know my children.

None-the-less after several bribes with Christmas treats, screaming fits (on my part), drinks of milk, trips to the potty and a new Dora movie the deed was done.  I can actually say that I’m finished all the hard work of the season and plan on sitting back and having a Bailey’s and coffee or two…well as soon as my hubby returns from work so I know we have a designated emergency services driver!