Okay, so much for my resolution to blog regularly. Once a month may be all I get around to. Hee hee! Maybe it's because there's really not much going on in my life right now, and things are pretty even keel. I'm not complaining, mind you...I'm not one of those people who has to have constant drama or chaos around them in order to function properly or feel like they're living. I'm perfectly fine sitting still and living an uncomplicated life.....even the Bible encourages us to "Be Still and know that He is God." So, this month has pretty much been along that vein. Some of my friends have a little drama going on, and I try and counsel them, give them advice, or simply just listen. My stepson had a rough month with a romantic break-up, so I spent some time with him "filling" up his time and keeping him busy, so he wouldn't have time to be maudlin. It was actually pretty good for us, cause I think we bonded well during this time....although my husband said I simply "spoiled" him too much during this period, and we're paying for it now when he's EXPECTING so much attention. Hee hee! In case you haven't guessed, my husband is the disciplinarian, and I'm pretty much a pushover.
The only real "news" I have is that Warner's (my stepson) older half brother may be coming to live with us around the end of March. Having Warner live with us has turned out well and he's a real blessing, and both he and Rei tell me I'll like Hugo even more. Says we'll get along well, and we're two peas in a pod...except for the fact that Hugo is a real "cleaner"....can't see myself complaining about someone moving in who will actually clean up after themselves (and others!). I'm not an immaculate housecleaner. My house ALWAYS looks lived in. I collect clutter and am not real consistent about dusting or vacumming as I should be...or even putting away my clothes. My house isn't filthy, but it isn't spotless, either. But it IS home....and if having Hugo live with us means I get a live-in FREE (free being the key word here) maid, then so be it! Hee hee!
I have been "nesting" lately and in this mode of "simplifying" my life. I've been cleaning out clutter and getting rid of things I've held on to for far too long. I've also been doing a little "re-decorating" of sorts, and buying some new comforters and bedspreads, changing color or decorating schemes in some of our rooms, cleaning out closets, etc. I still need to tackle the kitchen and my studio upstairs, but I've pretty much handled most of the other rooms. I have so much stuff that I "hold" onto, thinking I'll need some day.....but haven't used in years....some of it I forgot I even had. So, I'm cleaning up. With Hugo coming, I'm thinking more about buying a house, too. I'd love to have a place I could truly call my own. My apartment has been great and is bigger than most, and my landlord SUPER attentive to repairs and needs. And I couldn't ask for better neighbors....but still, I have a deep urge to have "my own" home. Even if that means I have to spend more to have it (paying for my own repairs, buying appliances and more furniture, painting or rehabbing, property taxes, etc.). I've even looked at some properties online to see what I could afford, and I could find a nice house like what I want with a mortgage less than what I'm paying now in rent. But I haven't been bold enough to investigate whether I've improved my credit enough to qualify, yet. That's my next step.
I've taken more time to stamp, and have just been spending time doing the things I enjoy and not stressing over ANYthing. Unfortunately, with the ice storm and then pool heating problems, I haven't been able to swim at the gym for a couple of weeks, so that bugs me, but hopefully, the pool will be heated again by Monday and I can get back into that groove. Can't afford to break that habit....and when I'm not exercising, I tend to slip back into old, damaging food habits, too. Gotta do better!
Anyway, that's all for now....keeping busy, but not stressfully so!
Hugs,
Angie
Friday, February 11, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Blogging vs. Journaling and my anti-Facebook Stance
I am not necessarily anti-Facebook (it has its place), but I refuse to have a Facebook page. I find it to be an impersonal way to interract with friends and loved ones and an excuse not to spend quality time with those who we say mean so much to us. I also find it very shallow that so many folks are consumed with "how many friends" they can have on Facebook and get offended when someone de-friends them, because their numbers went down. I would challenge those people to find ONE TRUE friend and cultivate that relationship, instead; as one true friend is of so much more value than 100 friends on Facebook. I have had many people "friend request" me on Facebook that I maybe met once in my life and have absolutely no connection with. I cannot fathom why they would want to pursue a friendship with me via the internet when they do not even speak to me or sometimes even recognize me when passing me in public.
Likewise, for a long time I did not understand why people who have nothing to say would want to share it with the world in a blog. That's not to say I don't understand the need to journal. I am a firm believer in journaling and have kept a diary or journal almost consistently since I was probably 14 years old. My journal tends to be filled with prayers...just me talking to God about anything and everything. I journal about my family (my husband of 8 years Rei and my stepson Warner who just came to live with us from El Salvador a year and a half ago, as well as my mom and brothers and their families). I journal about my clowning, which is probably my very favorite past-time. I journal about my job, my church, my other hobbies like stamping and singing, and crafting of all sorts. I journal about my friends and ask God to help them through struggles they're facing in their lives, whether emotional or physical, and sometimes ask God to help me deal with unresolved issues that arise from time to time within my friendships. I journal about my struggle with my weight and my health issues and lack of willpower, asking God for strength and endurance. I am a communications/journalism major, so I pretty much write about EVERYthing!
Recently we started a website for our clowning ministry, and I have posted a few blogs on there, but have simply not kept it up to date, and get frustrated that it's so behind. I also have several blogs that I visit on a regular (probably weekly) basis that relate from everything to ministry (my brother's blog), cooking and recipes, stamping and paper arts crafts, clowning, and book recommendations. If you search the web, you can find a blog on almost any subject. I am a Stampin' Up! (rubber stamps and scrabook and card-making supplies) demonstrator, and have a blog feature available on my company website, as well as a blog feature available on the Clown Ministry's website, and have considered becoming more consistent and maintaining those two blog areas as a start. But the truth is, I don't always feel like talking about clowning....and I don't always feel like talking about stamping. In clowning, I feel I have to post pictures with every post, and in stamping, I feel like I have to post a project every time I blog. So, I just didn't blog at all.
This past week, though, a friend asked me why I should benefit from everyone else's blog and am not contributing to the blog community myself. She likes my hand-stamped cards and projects and loves to see my clowning face-painting designs. She said that just as I search the net for ideas for cards and projects or new ideas for clown skits or face painting designs, I should be willing to share my ideas with others, too.
So, here I am. I admit, I'm an avid blog seeker and reader. And I do get so much from all the opinions, recommendations, ideas, and thoughts of those of you out there who blog on a regular basis. Therefore, this simple blog is my attempt to "give back" and we'll see how long it lasts! Hee hee.....I cannot promise a consistent theme or even that I won't ramble on from time to time on my most recent "soapbox." But I can promise it'll be heartfelt.
Hugs,
Angie
Likewise, for a long time I did not understand why people who have nothing to say would want to share it with the world in a blog. That's not to say I don't understand the need to journal. I am a firm believer in journaling and have kept a diary or journal almost consistently since I was probably 14 years old. My journal tends to be filled with prayers...just me talking to God about anything and everything. I journal about my family (my husband of 8 years Rei and my stepson Warner who just came to live with us from El Salvador a year and a half ago, as well as my mom and brothers and their families). I journal about my clowning, which is probably my very favorite past-time. I journal about my job, my church, my other hobbies like stamping and singing, and crafting of all sorts. I journal about my friends and ask God to help them through struggles they're facing in their lives, whether emotional or physical, and sometimes ask God to help me deal with unresolved issues that arise from time to time within my friendships. I journal about my struggle with my weight and my health issues and lack of willpower, asking God for strength and endurance. I am a communications/journalism major, so I pretty much write about EVERYthing!
Recently we started a website for our clowning ministry, and I have posted a few blogs on there, but have simply not kept it up to date, and get frustrated that it's so behind. I also have several blogs that I visit on a regular (probably weekly) basis that relate from everything to ministry (my brother's blog), cooking and recipes, stamping and paper arts crafts, clowning, and book recommendations. If you search the web, you can find a blog on almost any subject. I am a Stampin' Up! (rubber stamps and scrabook and card-making supplies) demonstrator, and have a blog feature available on my company website, as well as a blog feature available on the Clown Ministry's website, and have considered becoming more consistent and maintaining those two blog areas as a start. But the truth is, I don't always feel like talking about clowning....and I don't always feel like talking about stamping. In clowning, I feel I have to post pictures with every post, and in stamping, I feel like I have to post a project every time I blog. So, I just didn't blog at all.
This past week, though, a friend asked me why I should benefit from everyone else's blog and am not contributing to the blog community myself. She likes my hand-stamped cards and projects and loves to see my clowning face-painting designs. She said that just as I search the net for ideas for cards and projects or new ideas for clown skits or face painting designs, I should be willing to share my ideas with others, too.
So, here I am. I admit, I'm an avid blog seeker and reader. And I do get so much from all the opinions, recommendations, ideas, and thoughts of those of you out there who blog on a regular basis. Therefore, this simple blog is my attempt to "give back" and we'll see how long it lasts! Hee hee.....I cannot promise a consistent theme or even that I won't ramble on from time to time on my most recent "soapbox." But I can promise it'll be heartfelt.
Hugs,
Angie
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