Random Facts About Me

by Judi on Apr 10, 2008

Reward Rebel tagged me for Random Facts about me. I didn’t realize until this morning that Connie from Easy Share also tagged me for the same thing! I was double tagged. Wow! I’m terrible with doing these things in a timely manner.. but I think I’m only a week or so late on this one.

1. I gave birth to our oldest son in a kiddie pool, in our living room with just my husband, my mom and the girls here with us - a planned, unassisted homebirth. We video taped the whole thing. We did end up transferring to the hospital after the birth because Tege was slow to start breathing - that is normal for a water birthed baby.

2. The year before our oldest son was born, I was pregnant with my husbands first baby. At 36 weeks pregnant, she died of unknown cause - she was stillborn almost a week later. I can’t even tell you how difficult that time was - I didn’t want to leave my house, even to get the mail for fear someone would ask how things where. Losing a child, at any age is horrible… birth stories … while we don’t talk about it much any more, she is still part of our family. We have a garden dedicated to Jordan.. which this year, the boys will help plant, weed and water.

3. I make soap, though I do sell it, mostly I make it because I love making it. I haven’t used regular store bought soap (or deodorant bars) in about 6 years. I share tutorials and recipes about handmade soap on this site. My favorites are the Oatmeal Milk & Honey (scented, with real goat milk and oatmeal), Lavender (with goat milk, lavender and lavender essential oils), and Yuzu (a crisp, grapefruit scent - Japanese Grapefruit).

4. I love pets. Currently, living in our tiny house we have 3 dogs (Bean, our whippet girlie and oldest; Sky, our adopted Australian Shepherd; Enzo, my italian greyhound boy); I’ve assumed ownership of Olivia, my tiny, sweet Apricot African Pygmy Hedgehog - my little piggy; Not mine - 7 adorable and friendly rats, momma rat is a “dumbo” and the older she gets the sweeter! Oh.. and the cat.. she’s been with us forever; and a 10 gallon fish tank. In the past, I also had a couple of smiling leopard geckos, bunnies, a bird (mustache parakeet) and a multitude of other rats, cats, pooches and fishes.

5. I met my husband through my ex-husband - we were still married. Bad relationship and after too many years (but two lovely girls) we parted ways and he moved in with a friend from work. I had met this friend a few times, but when they moved in together, I started seeing him a bit more. He asked me to see Lyle Lovett in concert and even got permission from my then-to-be ex… one thing led to another and today, we’ve been happily (almost the whole time, ha!) married 11 years.

6. I have Crohn’s Disease. This is a big deal for me because I’ve always been so healthy.. and in the last 2 years, so much has happened. It’s not easy to deal with things like not being able to eat what you want - I’m talking even healthy food, like salad, beans.. so much makes me hurt, or worse, I throw up. Sometimes one of the hardest things being sick, is it’s not always (usually never) apparent to other people. I am sick and I hurt and I may come across crabby.. but it’s *because* I’m sick and I hurt. I sometimes wish for a t-shirt or a sign “Just because I look healthy, doesn’t mean I am”.

7. I can be kind of obsessive about things. Two summers ago, I spent a week digging a hole about 5×7 and 30 inches deep so I could put in a pond. I wanted a natural pond, so it would help wildlife.. after digging with a shovel, having my husband cut the roots with his saws-all, picking just under 1 million rocks and pebbles, I decided I couldn’t afford it and filled the whole thing back in. (Thanks GG, my lovely grandma, for this trait… actually I like the trait and I adore my GG.)

There you go.

I am going to just tag one person:
Marianne - and Marianne, you don’t have to play along.

Invitation to Play:
If anyone else wants to play, leave a comment here to your post (so others can visit, of course) and have fun!

Already done it? That’s ok.. leave your link anyway. I’ll come read your random facts and leave my link too.

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Parenting - Leader - Role Model

by Judi on Apr 10, 2008

Even though this is my “momma” site, I don’t usually talk much about parenting. I’m not sure why that is.. maybe because when I do think of a really good post topic it’s usually 3 in the morning when I think I’m awake enough I’ve surely remember, and in reality, I’m so not.

But today, something happened I felt would be a good topic.

My boys are 3 and 6 - in less than 2 months they will both jump to their next age. They are both sensitive, usually considerate, though they have their moments - for the most part, you won’t hear me complain.

They are home schooled and don’t get around other kids to play a whole lot.. but Thursdays has become routine to come to work with me and play with 2 other kids - brother (6) and sister (2nd grade).. *my* boys were fighting at one point to the point they were hitting each other.

I let Bob (dad) handle it since I was working. But when Tege got really vocally upset, I went to see what was going on. Bob had them both in time out. Time out is fine, necessary at times for a cool off, or just for new direction.. however, in front of friends, I disagree with. Because this is a similar situation to what Bob and I dealt with in past year with our two girls, I told him under my breath he should have had the boys come out of the room if he were going to give time out (or any punishment)… Apparently, Tege would not leave the room at the time… I told Bob, again under my breath, he should have then asked his friends to leave the room.

My point with Bob was don’t embarrass our kids in front of their friends. Kids are learning and treating them in a thoughtful manner will develop a strong respect… respect goes both ways - but it’s my opinion we give respect to our children for them to learn to respect us.

As parents we can be leaders for our children; guide, teach, encourage.. I am not a perfect parent, I don’t hesitate to apologize to my children for mistakes, and sometimes, I haven’t made the best decisions in life, for which I tell them that I can’t easily change how things are, but look, see what I do wrong and try to make better choices for yourself. In other words, become a good role model for your children. Teach them to treat others how they would want to be treated and to not be embarrassed to admit mistakes.

I love being a mom. I don’t think I could handle any more kids - the only time I imagine infants now is from a grandmomma point of view! Just not too soon!! People talk about favorites.. what I tell my kids is “You are my most favorite ? year old in the whole world” (inserting child appropriate age,of course).. so I can tell each of them, always, how they are my favorite.

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Working Pet Peeves

by Judi on Apr 7, 2008

I work with customers every day at the flea market. For the most part, I love my job, though there is always room for improvement.

One of my biggest pet peeves with the customer side of things, Monique touched on and even aptly named the post. I’ve thought for months of posting here, the redundant questions I deal with daily.

Is this where you pay for things?
The sign above my head says “Cashier”, the lighted sign above your head says “Cashier”.. um.. yes.. you may pay for your items here.

Are you Open?
Yes… yes, I am open. Trust me, I have not been sitting/standing here, in the same spot all day for the fun of it.

I’m not done looking around, can you hold this for me because I don’t want to carry it around with me?
Yes, just put it on the next counter, not mine.. you see, other customers come up to mine counter who are ready to check out and I don’t have room to hold your stuff there.

You could grab a cart up by the front door.. No? You don’t want to push a cart around? Hmm.. wonder what Kroger would say if I asked them to hold my milk for me because I wasn’t done shopping and I didn’t feel like pushing a cart or carrying my own milk.. whatever, yes, I’ll hold it for you.. but if someone else wants to buy it, I can’t guarantee I will remember where it came from.

Ring.. Ring… (telephone)
me: Old Roberds.. may I help you?
customer: yes, I was just calling to see if you are open today?
me - thinking: well, duh.. I answered the phone.. do you think I want to come in on a day we’re closed just to answer the phone to tell people we aren’t open? WHY don’t you just ask “What are you hours today”?
me: Yes, we’re open 9-5 on weekends and 10-6 through thru the week.

Customer: Would you call the vendor….
… this [item] is $3.00.. will you see if they’ll take any less?
… I want this [item] will you see if they’ll take 60% less for it because I don’t want to pay this much for it.

Customer:I’m interested in [item].. would you call the vendor for me?
Me: Sure.. what is the booth number?
customer: I don’t know.. do you want me to go get it?
Me: well.. I can’t call the vendor if I don’t know who it is…

Do you take credit cards?
We accept cash and credit.
But, do you take credit cards?

Be Considerate.. No Cell Phones at the Counter…
For which when I ask “May I help you?” I get a wave and a “hold on” from the customer blocking my counter. How friggin’ rude must you be to think this is acceptable behavior, from an adult no less?!

One woman, a vendor at that… I repeatedly told her the amount, and she ignored me. I went to concession and made popcorn.. She got mad at me because I left her at the counter. Of all the rudeness!!

And then the vendors… this one gets me the most.
vendor: That vendor has x, y, z. or is doing x, y, z… why can’t I?

OMG.. How old ARE you? Didn’t you learn this when you were a kid, or when you had kids? Just because one person is doing it, doesn’t mean it’s OK, or allowed, or even that anyone else can do it. And for those that want to do something against our rules.. why do you think You are so special? Don’t you realize if we let you do it, we’ll have 10 other vendors saying “well, they are doing it, why can’t I?” And at that point, what good are rules? We have rules for a reason. Abide by them and all is good.

There is so much.. but the redundant questions.. for which I have made signs.. are the ones that grate on my nerves. What I keep thinking is our country is so concerned (rightfully so!) about our kids being able to read… yet, signs that are plainly visible, adults ignore. I know they can read them.. it’s pure laziness they don’t bother with it.

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Celebrate Earth Day Every Day

by Judi on Mar 27, 2008

Earth Day is officially April 22, 2008. While celebrating our planet on this day is a nice idea, it’s even nicer to implement earth-friendly ideas throughout the year, every day if possible. With spring and summer right around the corner, it’s easy to do things to help you, your family and the environment. Here are some good earth day activities and ideas.

Create a Certified Wildlife Habitat in your yard by providing food sources (such as plants, seeds, nuts, nectar), water sources (pond, stream, bird bath), covered areas (rock pile, bird house, thickets), places to raise young (pond, thick shrubbery, nesting boxes), sustainable gardening (mulch, compost, chemical free fertilizer). Once you’ve done this, you may register your habitat for certification. Visit the National Wildlife Federation for this and more to do, not just on Earth Day, but every day.

My favorite garden shoes (ok, I’ll admit it, they are my favorite summertime shoes.. I wear them all the time) are my sloggers. I bought my last two pair from Target for about $10. My daughter recently bought some similar shoes (what are they called, that have the holes in them that everyone wears?).. well, from another site (and I’ll give them credit if I come across it again - Found it - Hip Mama’s Place is where I first saw them) I found out about Polliwalks - talk about some adorable summer / garden shoes for kids!

Container gardening is an easy way to build a garden in confined areas. Try planting specific garden pots, such as a “salsa garden pot” using a pepper plant, a tomato plant and a few herbs like cilantro, basil or oregano.

Use the USDA Hardiness Zone Finder to make sure the plants you plant in your flower beds will withstand the weather in your area. Or just visit their site - National Garden Association for SO much info.

Set up a worm compost to get some of the best and natural fertilizer there is available and let those little red wigglers gobble up your kitchen waste. Setting up a worm compost is easy and doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. You can make a wooden box, or even use a plastic bin (like a Rubbermaid container).. the key is to provide moisture, bedding and your compost shouldn’t smell foul. One of my long time favorite sites for worm information is WormLady.com. She has great, simple information on worms red wigglers in particular, sells them and also has some links to further information.

If you aren’t able to plant your own garden, your area may have a food co-op or other program. These programs allow you to purchase local in-season veggies all spring, summer and into the fall. This helps the environment too as well as supporting local farmers! To minimize getting to burned out on the same veggies every week, go in on it with a friend.

Get active - meet up with your community and clean up the neighborhood. Whether it’s just picking up trash or planting flowers and mulching the local part, it all helps and this activity brings the community together.

Save energy by joining Project Switch - switch out your costly, ineffective incandescent bulbs to help reduce your carbon footprint.

Join the World Wildlife Organization for their countdown to this 2008 Earth Day - but really, Earth Day is every day - so no matter which year it is, every little bit helps. Make A Change.

If you eat meat, go free range - the meat is healthier because the animal is healthier and usually treated more humanely. Recent studies have shown free range animals contain Omega-3 (a fatty acid essential to human health), whereas contained/caged animals do not. Hmmm…

Now, for some fun activities and information, visit Earth Day at Kaboose - some terrific crafts - like coffee grounds fossils, lady bug rocks and tin can herb containers. Plan an Earth Day Dinner - Angel Hair Pasta with Asparagus and for dessert have some Mudpie Cookies.

Above all, make your earth celebrations activities you and your family enjoy. Happy Earth Day!

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