Something Cool for the Whole Family

A while back, Hubs and I were driving on backroads through Mississippi when we passed what we thought was a giant movie screen. After turning around in someone's driveway, we made it back and indeed! It was a giant movie screen! We had found a Drive In Movie Theater! And it was in operation!! OMG! For nearly 2 years, 5 bucks a piece would find us an hour from home and watching double features on a giant drive in movie screen. We saw Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Batman Begins and a slew of other movies that we either laughed at, gasped at, or talked avidly about on the way home. Watching a car load of teenage girls scream their heads off: priceless.

Every Thursday I would call the movie line to see what was showing. We would make plans, gas up the car and head out. Until one weekend I called and it was closed early. Then, I called again the next weekend and I got the dreaded "beep, beep, beep! We're sorry, this number has been temporarily disconnected." Hubs and I were upset, to say the least. We thought maybe they had just closed down for the winter months. I tried again in the Spring and I didn't even get the "temporary" message. Our drive in was gone.

I honestly thought about crying. Hubs and I enjoy the movies, but not all the people, the price, the overinflated everything. At the drive in, we paid FIVE DOLLARS each to watch 2 movies. New movies! Drinks were a buck and candy was still fifty cents, if you can even believe in such a world. The old speaker boxes didn't work, but they broadcast the movie on a FM line, so you tuned in on your car radio. If you have a giant sub woofer and loud speakers, like we do in the Jeep, well then you were in for quite a show. We would leave it tuned in while we drove away so that you could still hear the movie music while driving down the road. Man, I miss that place.

Yesterday, we were in a town close to where the drive in had been and I said to Hubs, "Hey, wouldn't it be cool if the drive in was open again!" We both agreed that it would be really cool, but I had lost that number to a cell phone change a year ago. I came home a little sad all over again. But by some oddity in the world, things changed direction for me. I was reading a Better Homes and Gardens article about things to do during the summer. I had skimmed it a few times, saw about the zoos, thought " yeah, I should do that" then opened the article all the way. Tucked in the crease of the page was a title that said "Go To A Drive In Movie"! Wow, was I stunned! Even better than that was this link right here: www.driveinmovie.com. If you click that link, you will be taken to a current listing of every known drive in across the United States!

And I found quite a few left here in Mississippi. Not ours, sadly, it has gone dark. But there is history about a lot of the places still left and all kinds of information. So, grab the kids, waste some gas and go do something that will build awesome memories. I know we will!!

WHEW! I finally have time to update this thing!!

I've been MEGA busy. By far the busiest I have been in about 6 months. It's been mostly good busy. Here is one thing that made the craziness worth it:

Miss Pinks had her first dance recital!!! Doesn't she look beautiful? They had the moms hopping at dress rehearsal and the night of, but it was worth it. I was SO nervous before she went on for her first dance. I knew she knew the dance, it was just mom jitters. Her and her class did super well and they all got ribbons with medals on them at the end of the show! My mom gave her roses and then we all went out to eat. We almost took up a whole row at the show! Lots of love for the princess.

Friday, I got older and celebrated my 32nd birthday! It was so scheduled with work, school obligations, rehearsals, etc. that I didn't get to do as much as I would have liked. My dear friend took me out to eat and gave me presents! Very cool. My fam had a small party for me crammed in between everyone getting here and the dance recital. I did take pamper me day on Wednesday, so that was good. Hubs bought me a portable fan, let's face it, I'm hot all the time now, and a book I've been wanting for a year, but wouldn't buy for myself!

Tomorrow is the day we get the ultrasound!!! So you know that I'll be posting at least one more day this month. I'm getting REALLY big and am ready to know exactly what has been kung fu fighting in my tummy. VERY ACTIVE BABY. Plus, we find out if there are 2. Exciting, huh?

Alright, that's it, I've got paperwork to do, clothes to fold, me to bathe and go to work. Doesn't that wear you out just thinking about all that? It does me!! Have a good one!

Hugs-N-Luv
~Pinky

Too Much To Do

It's the dreaded April 15th!! But, luckily, we have all personal and business related taxes complete. Good for us. But, I still feel like I have too much to do today. I didn't go to work yesterday, so all that falls on today! I need a shower, I need to do Miss Pinky's laundry, I need to clean the kitchen, I need to order frames, I need to finish the schedule, I need to fuss at people about payment. You see what I'm talking about? It starts out innocent, like needing a shower, then in spirals into all kinds of crap! But, it all hinges on the shower. You can't tackle a day like today being dirty!

In other news, I'm working on a painting that I hope turns out like I want. I really do. It's been a while since all the pieces fell together in my head to create something cool. My brother wrote a short story called Chopping Tulips and it's the source of the inspiration. Read it if you have the time, it's consuming. I had a picture in my head of something that I wanted to paint, but it wouldn't come together. After reading the story, it clicked. A very LOUD click. It's one of those painting that is going to be messy, but a great release.

As I said earlier, I have to get a shower, so I better get my butt in gear. sigh. I just don't want to! But, I have to. Hugs, love and all that jazz.

~Pinky

It's Friday!

Etsy finally got their servers calmed down, so I've been able to add to my shop all week. I've only been adding one thing a day, so I don't have much in there, yet! I have a few more sewn pieces that I would like to get done, but you never know. I tried to get a shot of my now pooching out belly! I'm starting to show a lot. I am over 4 months, so I guess it's time. My dad picked up the crib for me and is bringing it over this weekend so that I can start putting the baby's room together.

We moved Miss Pinky into the guest bedroom, which is MUCH larger, so now she can have all kinds of space to grow, have slumber parties, things like that. She gave up her room so she could sleep in the giant cannon ball bed. I don't blame her! OH! Proud Mommy moment!!! Miss Pinky won the reading challenge in her class! She read 1,673 pages!! Can you believe that?!? She got a new book, a new bookmark, a coupon to the movies, a certificate AND a little plaque that says "Outstanding Reader Award"! There was a LOT of screaming and jumping around in our house! The same day, I got a letter from the school saying that she passed two or more of the requirements to be considered for advanced education! WOOO! She's already reading on nearly a 3rd grade level and is doing fractions like it's nothing! I asked her if she wanted to be tested to go into the advance placement program and she was all about it! I'm SOOSOOSOSOSOSSSOOOO proud of her!!! I bet you never guessed that!

Work has been going well, but I've been working too much. Last night was rough! My dad, my husband, my friends have all fussed at me for doing so much, but if I don't get these new employees trained right, then I'm going to have to work hard to fix the mistakes. I don't need that stress in my life. They are both doing well, but it's a lot to learn, so it can be overwhelming. I think that they will do great once they really get the hang of it. They both seem to enjoy it, so that's good.

This is the crib set I found yesterday! At K-Mart!! I'd been looking for something neutral, in case we decide we don't want to know what the baby is. The colors are a little richer than they are in this photo. Lots of aqua blues and cool greens. Plus, the ark is made from soft, fine wale corduroy, the animals are made from plushy fabric! Lots of different feels for the baby. And, let's face it, it has monkey's on it. How could I resist the monkey's?? Oh, and the 4 piece set was only 50 bucks! WOW!

Well, I guess that's about it. I'm going to try to get in some house work before I scoot off to work. I have to do payroll today, so I better not be late! The staff gets a little grumpy if I'm late with the checks. Wonder why? HA! I hope you all have a fantastic day and if I don't get on here again before the weekend is done, have a good one there, too.

Hugs-N-Luv
~Pinky

Getting Ready

I've got a ton going on today. I think I've lined up 5 interviews today! What was I thinking?? I've got one girl who will be leaving next week and one that will be gone at the end of the month. Sigh, the joys of running a business.

What I think is funny is how loose people get in the mouth. A friend of mine was shopping in a local store when she overheard one of the girls saying she was going to interview at my frame shop. So, naturally, my friend listened closely. She talked about if she got the job she was soooooo outta there (talking about her current employment). She also gabbed on about her current boss and how crappy the work was. All the while sitting on a stool and not asking my friend if she needed help with her purchases. Living in a small town has it's advantages. I almost asked my friend if she wanted me to come to the store and shop, too, but didn't. OH! But wouldn't that have been grand! I wouldn't have told that girl who I was and just SURPRISE at the interview. People never cease to amaze me.

In other work related news, I have my new shop banner up! Here is what it looks like:

I know, that's a little small, but you get the idea. I dropped the "wearable" out of it and just made it into "Handmade Art". I talked to hubs about my shop because I got worried that I was going to diversify too much. He said, "if you could only make jewelry, then yeah, it would be too much. But you can do all kinds of stuff and I think you should show that." I felt better.

Well, I have to get dressed. I need to get my butt to the store and start doing interviews!! Hope you all have a happy day!
Hugs-N-Luv
~Pinky!

It's been a week already???

Wow, time just slipped on by me. We had a great time going back home for the weekend and I think hubs enjoyed not having us around for a few days. We all needed a break. I also got some really great deals on a crib and changing table! WOO! Very excited about that. The crib I got looks like this, but the ends are open like the sides, not closed off.


I think it's going to look awesome!!!

I've been busy running around the house, getting work done at the shop and pouring over resumes for new employees. Not much fun, but I'm hoping there will be a few good ones in the group. Oh, I totally forgot! I went by Hobby Lobby and bought a gazillion new beads!!! I'm going to have a destash section in my new shop because I have some I just know I won't use anymore. I tell myself that so I won't feel bad about buying so many new beads. But! They are sooooooooooo gorgeous!!! EXCITEMENT!! I'm hoping to get to work with them some today.

Well, I have bunches to get done this morning, but I wanted to stop in and see how everyone was doing. Hope all is well in the cyber world!

"Do the day and let the day do you."

See what I've got in my hands? Yeah, well that's what I've been up to lately. Actually, I've been up to a lot, this has just been the last few. I have to tell you, I bought this book based off recommendations from BarnGoddess. It's been a while since I bought a King book, just fell out of favor I guess. This one made up the time. I was enthralled the whole time. I laughed more times than I could count, cried just a few and fell head over heels in love with some of the characters. GREAT book and I highly recommend it, too. Seriously, it's badass.

Other than that, Miss Pinks was out of school for Spring Break and partied with my parents. On Thursday, I picked her up and we went and test drove a van. I'm going to need some more space before I know it.

On Friday, man we had a busy one. She went to work with me, then we went on campus (Spring Break! NO STUDENTS!!!) and ate at Chick-Fil-A, then went roller skating! She did, not me. Two (long) hours later, we left and went to our favorite book store. Bought some new books, ordered some more and then hit up the grocery store. Let me tell you, it's been a while since I packed that much into a day. I was WHIPPED!

Saturday, I pulled my back vacuuming, that sucked. So, I got to lay around like a princess and demand food be brought to me! That, was cool.

We chilled out Sunday, getting ready to go back to school. I let Miss Pinks take my camera and she took 151 pictures! Some of them were really good, some of them a little blurry. I'll share some later this week. Monday was St. Paddy's! I didn't do anything, but Miss Pinks wore green all they way down to her undies! She would faint if she knew I put that in here! HA! My friend and her little girl came over and we talked and talked and talked and talked. We talk a lot and that's just fine with me.

Today, I finished my book, then wandered around the house because I wasn't ready for it to be over. Then, I cleaned the doors and windows, picked up Miss Pinks and now I'm chillin'. I think I'll go snack on something. Hope you all had a good one! (or few, since it's been a little bit.)

We had SNOW on Saturday!

I know all my Northern friends are laughing at this paltry amount, but for Mississippi, this is pretty great! We had a little more than this, but I waited a while before I took the pictures. the first one is of the hay bales and bamboo in the very back yard. It stayed snowy there the longest! The second one is my bushes out front. The picture with the red berries covered in snow wouldn't load, but it's soooo pretty.

After all that hoopla, it's going to be in the mid to high 60's today. We have bi- polar weather in the South. Snow one morning, high of 60 the next day. It's messed up.

Not much is going on here. Found some really cute shirts that aren't maternity, but are cut like maternity that look super cute on. In fact, nearly all the stuff that I've got for maternity is NOT maternity. It's all the babydoll and flowy stuff they are making in juniors. So, I get to look cute AND be pregnant. I'm still on the lookout for material for the clothes I'm going to make. I found the cutest little cow pattern the other day and thought that would be hilarious!! It was purple with happy little cows all over it. C'mon, you have to admit that it would be funny. I may have to go back and get that.

Miss Pinky is out of school on Spring Break and is happily playing with the grandparents. I miss her and was more than a little pouty about her going this time. I wanted to keep her all to myself, but that's not nice. She's coming home on Thursday and we're going rolling skating on Friday. By "we" I mean "her". I don't think I need to do that. Since the house is empty, I think I'm going to treat myself to a movie today. They show matinées during Spring Break and I've been wanting to go. I have tons of house work to do, but it's not like it won't be there tomorrow!

Well, I hope that everyone has a good day. Do lots of fun stuff and I'll chat at you soon!
(sneak preview Wednesday on the new jewelry and stuff for my shop!)

HUGS-N-Luv
~Pinky

Ham

I've been having trouble sleeping, I mentioned it once before. Hubs and I have been trying to eliminate all the things that seem to be waking me up. The sleep timer on the TV wakes me up because the television makes a loud *vumph* sound when it shuts off, so I turn it off when I'm ready to go to sleep now. I finally figured out my pillow configurations and that's good. But here's the thing, I sleep like a baby when the bedside light is on. All night. It wakes hubs up and since he has to be at work early, I don't like waking him up. So, I fell asleep, I'm talking drooling like mad sleep, then woke up a little and turned of the light.

And then I woke up. W I D E awake.

I came downstairs to get some ham because that seemed to be the sensible thing to eat at 11:00 at night when you are pregnant and cannot sleep. I think hubs is going to have to adjust to sleeping with the light on for a little while, or I'm going to have to move back into the guest bedroom. I don't want to do that.

Alright, I'm going to try to go back to sleep. I did remember that although I paid all the work bills for this month, I did not send in my sales tax on time. That'll wake anybody up. I've got to do payroll in the morning, so I'll just do it then. I have to admit, it's hard to run a business when you are stuck at the house all day. I want to be there so much, but I get so sick every time I push it. Maybe second trimester will be better. Here's hoping.

I'll bet you guys are wondering...

how it is that I'm posting so much lately? Well, the answer to that is easy. I had a few problems and I'm being forced to chill out. Keep in mind what a difficult thing this is for me to do. But, I do want this little Pod, so I don't really have a choice. What's nice is that I'm going to be able to create more jewelry, get into sewing like I want to and I have already made 2 blankies for my daughter's stuffed animal, Bunny. You can see Bunny in this shot:

I know you can see the bears, the white bunny and the big dog. Look closely to the one she's clutching onto in slumber, that would be Bunny. He's already had one leg replacement surgery and we've tried to clean him, but his fur is matted with love. I had one or two favorites like that and I'm glad she has one, too.

This Saturday (or was is Sunday?) we turned a plain old box into a two story townhouse for Bunny. Complete with construction paper ceiling fans, tables, toothbrush and toothpaste and a wide screen television. Oh, yeah. Bunny had a party later with all his friends and they stayed up and watched football. You just can't beat that.

A small gripe about maternity clothes.

It's not like I'm a fashion Diva to begin with, but I've been checking out some maternity clothes because I will need them before I realize it. However, I have noticed a trend in several different companies. This for example:

I don't wear my shirts that tight to begin with, let alone when I'm about to rupture with child. Maybe it's just me, or maybe the trends have changed that much since I had Miss Pinky, but I don't think you will be finding me parading around in this.

And then, there was this:

In case you don't know what that is, it's a MINI SKIRT FOR PREGNANT WOMEN!! Now, that's just sick. Sick, I tell you! I'm going back to shopping and see if there is something out there for the, ahem, less hip momma.

Excitement!

I have to admit, I've been waiting on this for too long. Hubby and I are ridiculous fans and I cannot wait to see this on May 22nd!! This is totally going to be my birfday present:



I think it's a little funny that Indiana eludes to the fact that he is seriously getting old and that it's not like it used to be. I only hope that they don't do that too much through the movie, it could wear on me.

In oddly related news, Hubs and I have been hashing out names for the Pod. I told him that I really like the name Jackson, but he named his dog that. Hubs points out that in Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade, Dr. Jones, Sr. remarks that they named the dog Indiana. "I always like that dog" was the response from our fav Indy, so who knows what fate awaits the Pod. Named after a dog? Just maybe....

The Pod and Sleep

Well, I must admit that I'm lucky in the fact that I don't have morning sickness. I do have "feel-like-crap-all-day", though and I could do without that. The crappy feeling is also coupled with it's cousin "need-to-sleep-all-day-but-refuses-to-sleep-at-night". Around 3 in the afternoon, I'm cross eyed with the need to nap. Come bedtime?? You can't pay me to sleep. It's really starting to wear on me. I was more than cranky today and my darling husband is starting to understand that I may either yell or cry at him at any given moment. I may do both at the same time. Also, I may do it in public.

Other than the fact that I have to eat at least 5 times a day or I get terribly sick, I cannot seem to sleep at night, my hands itch and I get overly emotional at the slightest thing, I'm doing just fine. It's going to be a long time till the Pod comes due.

Circa, 1993

I don't remember the end, and I really don't remember the beginning, other than it was a birthday party and I felt really special because Jen Matthews asked me to go, and she was one of the popular girls. I guess this is something from the middle, somewhere between the times when everything was earmarked by surgery dates, physical therapy and me downing pain pills to make it through the day.

It's one distinct memory, the kind that we have maybe only one of. The kind that sticks, turns into a movie moment for us, that, if we could, all the people we have ever loved would get to be there. This is one of those kinds of memories. It's nothing fancy, but it's mine and it's priceless to me.

I guess it was around five in the morning. Before most kids ever want to get up, I was already out of the house and all the way across Birmingham to a slightly run down, ice skating rink. There was only one person there, Ding, because he ran the place and knew I was coming. I wouldn't see him, he gave this time to me which is why after the pneumonia, I can't remember a guy I dated for over a year, but I can remember the name of the guy who owned a rink and had tattoos of naked women on his arms. He marked something special, something that could never be put in a box, but would mean more to me than just about everything.

You would think that a huge arena would be creepy with no one in it. No usual sound of Guns-N-Roses blasting out of the sound system. No smell of gooey, nacho cheese and hot chocolate. No arcade blasts, that I think they got rid of and my brother quit coming, or rather quit being forced to come, to the rink while I practiced. There used to be a jukebox that you could play songs on the big system with, for only a quarter. You would think without all the usual sounds, it would be odd, but it never was for me. The quiet that settled over the place was like a silk scarf being tossed in the air, and floating to rest, soundlessly on the ground.

The sound of laces being snatched through my skates, the hiss of the strings wearing permanent calluses on my fingers, the re-balancing I always had to do when I stood up on my skates, all these nuances were for me only. The soft thump of the double doors shutting marked when I got to see her, my rink, my ice, my space, my greatest love affair with something I could never keep. Thick layers of fog rested over the ice so that it looked like something out of a fairy tale, soft and a little spooky.

The first step was tentative, breath puffing out in baby clouds being sucked up by the fog. Then, I pushed out onto the frozen mass. I heard my skates dig, and slice, pick and damage. I went from being cold, to sweating, to knowing that no matter what happened, I was okay. The ice made it alright. The silence that hung heavy during the flight of a jump, and, oh dear God, how I could jump. I worked to make the silence drag out longer just so that when I heard the crunching hiss of my skates when I landed, it would be that much sweeter. Oh, it was sweet. It was freedom. It was pure, unadulterated joy, ecstasy and high I never achieved with drugs, and I tried. I'm so sorry, but I did try really hard to get that high again and failed in so many ways. So many...

Fast forward to this past weekend, when I was in Jackson. The rink that I built so many memories on is gone. I think it's some kind of indoor volleyball practice place, but I don't really know because I can't drive by there anymore. When they gutted it, my brother was going to get me a piece of the floor, or maybe the sign, but he didn't and it's the only time I ever felt let down by him. That's harsh, I know, but I couldn't do it for me, but in a way, I guess what he did was better for my psyche, better for me getting over, getting past. Or maybe he just couldn't do it either. I look up at my husband and say, "We're gonna be in Jackson, ya know. Do you think I should bring my skates? I mean, I know we'll have time, but, I dunno, what do you think?"

I know he hears the desperation, the longing, but most of all, I know he hears the fear. The fear of being hurt again. No, I'm not talking about falling and screwing up my knees, no, not that hurt. The pain, the absolute and consuming anguish that will come when I know that when I get off the ice, I won't be able to go back anytime soon. I won't have my mornings of solitude, where I can recapture my affair with the ice, where I will have to walk away and break my heart all over again. Do you remember the first time you really had your heart broken? I mean really had your heart ripped out, crying so hard you couldn't breathe, wanting to puke because it hurt so deep in the pit of your stomach? That's what it feels like to me to leave the rink, the ice, the smells, the sounds, the beauty and the joy. The memory of something so powerful that I was truly free there. It was my peace, my center, my punishment, my push, my success, my failure, my pain, my wonder, my something special.

I didn't take my skates. I'll have to live with the feelings of that for a while, both the sensible and the sad. Then again, I've been doing that for years now, so I guess I'm pretty practiced.

Halloween Cuteness!

WOOO HOOO!!

I finally got my camera dock!! I uploaded 212 pictures tonight! I"M SO HAPPY!! Here are just a few highlights:

My hubby is so cute. I cut myself out of that picture. OMG! I'm so happy!! I'll post more later. HOORAYYYYYY!

Paying It Forward.

Just in case you don't know what paying it forward is, it's where someone does something nice/helpful/cool/generous for you asking nothing in return but for you to do the same for someone else. Well, I have been given that opportunity! Christine at the wonderful Paper and Cloth posted a PIF on her blog and I was the lucky recipient. Here are the rules nabbed from her blog:

The 'pay it forward' rules are:
1) anyone with a blog can join;
2) the first three people to leave a comment on this post will receive a handmade goody from me and I have 365 days in which to send it to you;
3) in return, you have to pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

I know that not everyone makes handmade goodies, so please pay it forward in whatever form of kindness that you can. I'm proud to be a part of something that has the potential to spread joy all over the world. Join in with me and lets spread the love!

HUGS and LOVE,
Pinky

It's that time of year...

When it feels like I'm always having surgery. And so, tomorrow morning, I get to have another one, this one in my mouth. YUCK! I'm having 3 teeth removed by an oral surgeon and I'm not really looking forward to it. In some ways I am because it will finally offer me some relief from the problems I've been having, but in other ways, NO. As I said, yuck.

I'll update everyone later and let you know how I'm faring. Keep your fingers crossed that nothing goes awry, like my jaw breaking. OMG! That would be terrible. Granted, I would get to lose a lot of weight, but it would really suck.

Hugs and love,
Pinky!

I nearly peed...seriously

I haven't forgotten about my blog.

It only seems that way. A lot has happened in the last month. Some really good, some really bad. I don't know if I'll be able to blog normal just yet, but I'm trying. Truth is, I miss everyone, a lot. Business is better than it has been in years and that's phenomenal. I think that we are going to have record breaking sales this month! WOO! My jewelry is selling just about faster than I can make it and I've got custom orders that I'm working on, too.

Life is good. Busy, hectic, a little too crazy at times, but still good. Hugs and love to all of you!!