love you dad

Today's my dad's birthday. I never used to get all that excited about my parents' birthdays. In fact, I don't think I paid all that much attention. I would buy my mom a sweater and I have given my dad coupons for all kinds of things over the years. To be honest, I gave the coupons while I was in my early twenties. I still owe him a tri-pod. I don't think he still wants it. Did he ever? He wouldn't have said or let me know outwardly. That is how our relationship is. We are not outwardly. We are not an affectionate family. I mean my parents, sister and I. We are the tease 'em 'til they know you mean you love 'em kind of family. My dad would say they should have raised puppies, because they are cheaper and easier. I know what he means. I can read between the lines. We don't say we love each other. We sign cards with LOVE.

November 7, 2006 both my parents were hit head on in a terrible car accident. My dad's side took the brunt of the impact, slicing the entire driver's side sheer off. He spent weeks in the ICU. The hospital expectations were low. My mom, sister and I moved into the hotel attached to the hospital. We had other expectations. We knew this man in room #2423. We knew what the staff didn't know. We knew this injured man had incredible strength. He had determination. He had a strong heart. He survived and the hospital was surprised by his will. I know what was at stake. I know what I could so easily have lost. So, now 2 1/2 years later, I'm thrilled I still have my dad around. Our boys have their hero grandpa. I still have no idea what to give him this birthday. Maybe I'll make up a coupon. I'll sign it with lots of LOVE.

daydreaming flowerchild

Four sides of the daydreaming flowerchild everything all the time handbag. This handbag reminds me of my childhood and the Tootsie Pop owl and towels my grandma would wrap me in after an afternoon in the Gulf of Mexico. Does it take you back?

sage park avenue

I read somewhere that the most common computer password was 123456. At first glance I think, duh? That's so obvious. Or is it? How many passwords do you have? Add in phone numbers and social security numbers and kid's birthdates and mom's maiden name and where you left your keys and I can totally see 123456 as a very smart option. Just to log into this site I have to sit and think is it blah blah blah or blah blah blah blah? I've froze when asked my phone number many times. I'm pretty sure I've given the wrong address more than once. It is so much to remember. Being extra clever only confuses the situation. So using your first pets name along with the first street you lived on for your bank account login is only smart if that is also the stripper name you use regularly. ( that IS how you choose a stripper name, if you didn't know) It seems I have to add another password to something every couple months. I'm only 41. How many will I have by the time I'm 60? What about you? I don't write them down for fear that if they are found, someone could login into my Facebook account and post that I'm " looking forward to the weekend" and I might not be " looking forward to the weekend" Alright, that's pretty weak. I mean who isn't looking forward to the weekend, but you get my point. Actually, to be honest I don't write these passwords down because I believe I'll remember them and because I might be a little lazy. So what is your excuse? Or do you remember it all?

I believe

I posted that I sometimes do not feel like a grown-up. I mean, I pay a mortgage and handle parent-teacher conferences like a very responsible adult. However, I never had my children's pictures taken at regular 6 month intervals. I don't enforce using a coaster. And I floss the two weeks before my next dentist appointment. And I think about candy. Especially around Easter. Easter has the best candy. Memorial Day....not so much. I am all about good chocolate. It doesn't have to be expensive, just creamy. No waxy hollow Palmer bunny for me. Or my boys. Skimp on no-name canned green beans. Spend less on window cleaner. Forget buying Dixie cups for the bathroom. Invest in good chocolate. Alright, it's not really an investment. But it feels better than most stocks these days. I also think about jellybeans. In my house, I'm the only one that eats them. Most of the time as I am poppin' them into my mouth one after another, I am thinking do I REALLY like them? I like the spice ones and the black ones. I believe you either LOVE the black ones or HATE them. There is no inbetween on licorice. But, what I think about ridiculously are, Peeps. I am a purist. I only believe in yellow chicks and pink bunnies. No blue bunnies or heavens, red chicks! I secretly ( or now, not so secretly think the rogue colors are the work of satan) I'm thinking about slicing open the packaging today so that they will be nicely stale by Easter. That's the way I like them. They are much better that way. So, maybe I'm a grown-up afterall. I have lots of rules about candy and that seems like a very controlling, grumpy grown-up thing to do.

baby steps

This new format (in my mind) is to encourage (read force) me to begin listing my handbags and paintings on Etsy. It hasn't happened yet. The handbags have taken over the dining room. That's not a big problem because we hardly ever use the dining room. Why? I think it is because the idea of eating in the dining room feels very grown-up. Yes, I realize I am an adult, but I'm not so sure I am a grown-up. It feels a little stuffy. Formal. I am not formal, you know? We have never hosted a formal dinner party. We host barbecues and children's birthdays. We host soup. I have never made a turkey dinner. I know. Look, if mom wants to make it I'm not going to squelch her plans. I'm thinking of HER feelings. The pretty table is hosting handbags as I write. Lots of handbags. So, why the hesitation on listing on Etsy? Come closer, I don't need everyone to know this but I am a little challenged when it comes to technology. I spent almost two hours last night trying to upload a widget from theMotherhood. Do you see it anywhere on my blog? Don't bother looking....it's not there. I cannot figure it out. Don't even mumble it is easy. Because, obviously for me it is difficult. Don't make fun, it's not nice. Today I will order boxes. To ship handbags. It's a baby step and eventually it willl get me where I want to end up. Tommorow I may even order packaging tape. I'll see how it goes.

my colorful little family

I've stressed about this post. I mean why? It's my blog and I can do with it what I like, right? So, I'm thinking about expanding this blog to be more of a gallery/diary. Look, I know there are gaggles of momblogs out there so, what's one more? I cannot promise I will never mention or rant on about diapers and getting no sleep but, chances are I won't because my boys are older, 8 and 14. I will probably rant or at least whine about endless baseball games and dirty clothes. It's what I do. And I share. Sometimes too much. Again, it's what I do. So, here is the introduction to my colorful little family: first there is me, paintchipgirl or Deborah (my real name). I'm a mostly mom. I'm mostly pretty good, never perfect and mostly messy most of the time. Then there is my husband, Thomas(not his real name) a hands-on dad and over-worked businessman. He is also a talented writer and gifted musician, so doesn't it make the greatest sense that he is a businessman in automotive? Yea, that's what I think. Then there is our first born firecracker, Russell (not his real name). He is a lot like his mother if his mother were good at atlethics and liked to rise with the sun each and every morning of her life. Our youngest little Junebug is 8, Austen ( not his real name). He looked just like his mother until his 4th birthday and then he morphed into looking like a little Thomas (not his real name). How does that happen? Because I have no idea. So, I'm thinking I'll post about our colorful life, the life where we color outside the lines, where we choose the granny apple green crayon over the plain old red. Where we get our hands dirty and play for keeps. Life as art is the way I see it.

rosy lime

SOLD

Four sides of the generous rosy lime everything all the time handbag is just the ticket to Spring.