New Blog…

I’ve moved.

You can find me at http://crayonsandpencilsmichelle.blogspot.com/

Clever Title Goes Here

I want to blog! The first step is admitting it, right? What do I say? How do I stay anonymous yet express my feelings? How do I come up with catchy and interesting titles for my posts? Am I good enough to blog?

Well, good enough or not…here I go. Had to go to an appointment for pain while breathing. They didn’t find anything. Good, right? Yes…except what is it? Life is good. Basically good. Sunday will be the two year anniversary of my Dad’s death. UGH! This afternoon…I felt awful. Awful like I did right after dad died. The whole body crying, from my toes to my eyelashes. It hurts all over. I miss him. I miss his laugh, and our talks, and his support. He listened when I talked and was my biggest fan. I was daddy’s little girl. Sixty was too young to die. Today, all I want is him to be back!

OK…one day back blogging! Keep it up!

Things I’ve done

Here’s my list:

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Questions…questions

1. My eye color: brown
2. Favorite car: my car
3. Right-handed or left-handed: Right
4. Shoes you wore today: two tone brown wedges
5. My fears: birds, escalators
6. Goal you would like to achieve this year: Stop stress eating and gaining weight
7. Thoughts first waking up: “A new day.”
8. My bedtime: Between 9 and 10 (weeknights)
9. Pepsi or Coke: Diet Coke
10. Single or Group Dates: single dates
11. Chocolate or Vanilla: chocolate
12. Do you smoke: Gross, no
13. Do you sing: Yes…not well
14. Have you been in love: Yes
15. Do you want to get married: Yes..
16. Do you get along with your parents: mostly
17. Do you play a musical instrument: took guitar lessons during 4th grade…so, No
18. In the past month have you smoked: NO
19: Favorite candy bar: snickeres
20. In the past month have you gone on a date: no
21. All-time favorite sports team: Red Sox
23. My best friend(s): My Yayas
24. Do you believe in love at first sight: It’s possible
25. Favorite clothing brand: Banana Republic
26. Dream vacation: Italy…the Amalfi Coast
27. My favorite singer: Brad Paisley
28. My favorite movie: The Princess Bride
29. Have you ever fired a gun: No
30. Do you like answering these questions: Some of them, some of the time.
31. Do you like yourself: Usually
32. I am addicted to… books, boxes, journals
33. Favorite drink: Diet Coke
34. Do you have a crush on anyone: I’ll never tell
35. Are you ticklish: Oh yeah!
36. Favorite ice cream flavor: Chocolate Marshmallow or Peppermint Stick
37. Define yourself in 3 words… passionate, hopeful, goofy
38. Do you believe in God: Very much so
39. Favorite day of the week: Sunday
40. Heads or tails: Heads
41. Favorite author: too many to mention…
42. What magazines do you read: Real Simple, Oprah, People
43. Sweet or sour: Sweet
44. Favorite chewing gum brand: Eclipse…blue kind
45. My hair color: dark brown
46. Height: 5′ 10″
47. My heritage: Italian, Irish, and English
48. My weakness: Impatience, and I get mean when I’m hungry.
49. My perfect pizza: cheese or pepperoni and carmelized onions
50. My most overused phrase on IM: LOL

51. My best physical feature: Hair
52. Do you get motion sickness: If I sit in the backseat and get hot in a car, or try to read in a car, yes.
53. McDonalds or Burger King: McDonalds
54. Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: Crystal Light
55. Cappuccino or Coffee: Coffee
56. Do you swear: Sadly..I do.
57. Do you want to go to college: I have a bachelor’s and master’s degree.
58. Do you think you’re attractive: Sometimes
59. Do you like thunderstorms: Yes, they’re best at bedtime for some super sleep.
60. In the past month have you drunk alcohol: Yep
61. In the past month have you been on drugs: no
62. Favorite cartoon as a child: Hong Kong Phooey
63. Favorite sport: basketball
64. In the past month have you been on stage: No
65. Ever been beaten up: Nope
66. How you want to die: Peacefully, in my sleep
67. Number of piercings: my ears
68. Favorite color: yellow, red, and recently orange
69. Favorite food dish: pasta
70. My parents are… Divorced, and dad is passed away
71. Do you have children: no
72. Do you have pets: my dog, Leo Bartholomew
73. My favorite music genre: Country music, show tunes,
74. My favorite season: Fall
75. Silver or Gold: Silver
76. Who was the last person that called you: my friend Jen
77. Are you a good driver: I am a very good driver, yes.
78. Would you rather be rich or famous: Rich
79. When I’m sad or down, I prefer to… Listen to music and write in my journal
80. What is your phone’s current ringtone: a tune by Sugarland
81. The longest you’ve gone without sleeping: I need regular sleep!
82. What would you do with a million dollars: take care of my friends and family….travel, charity
83. What makes you laugh: kids
84. Your favorite book: Anne of Green Gables
85. Most embarrassing moment: Walking into a cement pole and knocking myself over at the movie theater
86. Favorite item that you currently own: my home
87. Have you ever moved: More times than I care to remember

88. Kisses or hugs: Both!

89. Are you a very emotional person: Oh my goodness, yes

Have a happy weekend, everyone!

Almost…

The almost of an ‘almost relationship’ can be electrifying. Anticipation is sweet. The almost of something forces you to face the possibility of it. Exciting, scary, new…alive. I feel alive. Who knows what this “almost” will turn into? But right now, possibility has woken me from a long slumber.

President Barack Obama

Wow, it’s true. It happened…he is our new president. Last night, Brian WIlliams pulled out a poster of the 43 presidents that would hang in a “typical American classroom” and pointed out that the next face on this poster will be his. One African-American face amongst 43 white faces…a simple picture to illustrate the change. Change….that’s a word that is here to stay!

NaBloPoMo

My first post on my new blog! Election day. It’s like New Year’s Eve…all of the possibilities for a new beginning. This year..historical election- being part of history. I stood in line in the gray, chilly morning hours waiting to get into the elementary school to vote. It took about 45 minutes until I entered the doors. Another 45 minutes until I handed over my id and announced, “My name and address”. A ballot was handed to me and I walked to the box to bubble in the right answers. Holding the black flair pen in my hand, I pause. This is the moment. Years from now, I’ll look back and remember how this felt. I tried to stay in the moment. Relishing. Remembering. Walking out minutes later, wearing my sticker, I smiled thinking how some things don’t change. Adults clamoring for a sticker….for voting. What a country!

Exciting…

Watching history in the making on tv is exciting…but doing it alone: stinks!