May, June and July Calendars - PLUS special May coupons and information!

FIRST, the calendar information. Check it out, but make sure you get down to the end to get the MOST important coupon and discount info!

May
Thursday, May 2 - TINKER time (2-4 pm OR 6-8 pm)
Saturday, May 4 - ScrapIN (3-9 pm)
Tuesday, May 7 - Scrapbook 101 (6-8 pm)
Thursday, May 9 - Mini Card Tricks (2-4 pm OR 6-8 pm)
Saturday, May 11 - Scrapbook 101 (6-8 pm)
Thursday, May 16 - Project ME (2-4 pm OR 6-8 pm)
Tuesday, May 21 - Spellbinder Card Tricks (NEW!! 6-8 pm)
Thursday, May 23 - Card Tricks in a Flash (NEW!! 6-8 pm)
Saturday, May 25 - Spellbinder Card Tricks (NEW!! 6-8 pm)
Tuesday, May 28 - Cricut Test Drive (6-8 pm)
NOW - before you leave May - make sure you go to the store and pick up the May coupon book for National Scrapbooking Month.....there are awesome coupons inside....but especially there is a $5 off coupon for any paperEd class!!  Woo Hoo!

Want to get in on this deal, but don't know how to make this schedule work?? EMAIL ME! We'll work something out! (vberkey@gmail.com)

June
Saturday, June 1 - ScrapIN (3-9 pm)
Tuesday, June 4 - Card Tricks in a Flash (6-8 pm)
Thursday, June 6 - Project ME (6-8 pm)
Tuesday, June 11 - Cricut Test Drive (2-4 pm)
Thursday, June 13 - Spellbinder Card Tricks (2-4 pm)
Tuesday, June 18 - Stamping Gear Card Class (LIMITED TIME ONLY!! 2-4 pm OR 6-8 pm)
Thursday, June 20 - Scrapbook 101 (6-8 pm)

July

Saturday, July 6 - ScrapIN (3-9 pm)
Tuesday, July 9 - Card Tricks in a Flash (2-4 pm OR 6-8 pm)
Thursday, July 11 - Cricut Test Drive (6-8 pm)
Tuesday, July 16 - Stamping Gear Card Class (LIMITED TIME ONLY!! 2-4 pm OR 6-8 pm)
Thursday, July 18 - Spellbinder Card Tricks (6-8 pm)
Tuesday, July 23 - Project Me (6-8 pm)
Thursday, July 25 - Scrapbook 101 (2-4 pm OR 6-8 pm)
Tuesday, July 30 - Sizzix Test Drive (6-8 pm)

Here's some pics of the NEW card classes! :-)

Mini Card Class

Here's the sneak peek of the new MINI CARD CLASS. These samples show a Valentine's Day bent, and that is what we'll focus on this month and next. HOWEVER, never fear. If Valentine's Day cards are not your thing, or lest you think these cards have no application for you.....the next month we'll use these same techniques and designs to make birthday cards. (WASHI TAPE!) All you need is a little change up of paper colors....you know how to check it out, right? See this blog for the posted calendars, and then stop in or call the Michael's store to sign up!

tINKer Time sneak peek

tINKer Time tags - distressed and stamped!

Been wanting to play with those Tim Holtz brand distress inks...wondered the best way to make some of those inked, distressed, fabric and leather looks? We'll spend this class making seven tags. You can keep them to use as reference - remembering how and what you used to create the look - or simply use the tag as is, on a scrapbook page or other paper crafting project. I can't wait to tINKer around! Check the class calendar for the schedule for this class, and stop by Michaels to sign up!

Punched card tricks class sneak peek

Here's a look at the sample cards I made for the PUNCHED CARD TRICKS class...get more miles out of your circle punches with some fun techniques.

January, February and March schedule

Here we go...
Here's the schedule for the next several months.
I'd be excited for you to join me to learn something new....or just to come and craft for the evening!  Note that there are some minimums for these classes, so SIGN UP WITH A FRIEND. As always, your friendly neighborhood scrapbook instructor sponsors some special goodies for each person in the class!

January
1/6, 13, 20, 27 (Sundays) - 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Spotted Canary School $25
Introduction to Scrapbooking, EIGHT hours of instruction for $25. Even experienced paper crafters may learn some new techniques or design theory.
1/8 (Tuesday) - 6-8 p.m. Punched Card Tricks $25
Using one punch to create a number of different looks and flowers for a set of five cards. FUN!
1/16 (Tuesday) - 6-8 p.m. project ME $25
Try out the newest trend in scrapbooking, informal and fun, using the new CREATIVE CHAOS line.
1/19 (Saturday) - 3-9 p.m. SMASH BASH CROP only $5
Spend a few hours smashing with us!  Door prizes sponsored by SMASH. (limited space)
1/22 (Tuesday) - 6-8 p.m. tINKer Time $25
Experiment with Tim Holtz inks and stamps to distress and create multiple looks
1/24 (Thursday) - 5-9 p.m. $5 Crop
Spend some time in our classroom with your scrapping. Instructor on hand for helpful advice, if you need it!
1/27 (Sunday) - 2-4 p.m. Cricut Card Tricks
Create several different cards using the Sophisticated Cricut cartridge. Get comfortable with the Cricut and also make some great cards!

February
2/2 (Saturday) - 3-9 p.m. Sponsored Crop $5
Cropping and door prize goodies. Lots of fun to go around, but seating is limited. Sign up early!
2/3, 10, 17, 24 (Sundays) - 4:30-6:30 p.m. Spotted Canary School $25
Only $25 for eight hours of classes in beginning scrapbooking, organization, design theory and more.
2/5 (Tuesday) - 6-8 p.m. Mini Card Tricks $25
Mini cards with a HEART DAY theme. No worries, though, the simple design can be made again and again with other supplies to make different cards!
2/7 (Thursday) - 5-7 p.m. Sizzix Test Drive $10
Just got a new Sizzix, or thinking about it? Drop everything, and come in to see what it can do.
2/12 (Tuesday) - 6-8 p.m. tINKer Time $25
Trying out those Tim Holtz inks, learning to create all kinds of distressed techniques.
2/19 (Tuesday) - 6-8 p.m. SMASHed $25
New to Smash Journals or just love them? We'll play with pockets and doodling, and have a smashing time!
2/21 (Thursday) - 5-7 p.m. Sketched Out $25
We'll create a personal scrapbook page, using a sketch for inspiration. Consider all the options of a sketch!
2/24 (Sunday) - 2-4 p.m. Mini Paper Bag Album $25
Create a mini book of the theme of your choice out of pretty little kraft bags!
2/26 (Tuesday) - 6-8 p.m. Stamping Gear $25
Wonder what the stamping gear is all about? Come and try one out, and see for yourself. We'll create several cards and discover all the options of the stamping gear.
2/28 (Thursday) - 5-7 p.m. Cricut Test Drive $10
On this try it Thursday you can bring your own Cricut machine, or try out ours to see what the fuss is all about. Don't let the technology make you nervous, we'll show you how it's done!

March
3/2 (Saturday) - 11-3 Open House NO CHARGE
Here's your chance to learn more about all the classes that Michael's offers. Visit with the instructors and sign up for those that interest you!
3/3, 10, 17, 23 (Sundays) - 4-6 p.m. Spotted Canary School $25
Only $25 for eight hours of classes in beginning scrapbooking, organization, design theory and more.
3/5 (Tuesday) - 6-8 p.m. Flower WOW! $25
Create handmade flowers for any of your papercrafting projects.
3/7 (Thursday) 6-8 p.m. Cricut Test Drive $10
On this try it Thursday you can bring your own Cricut machine, or try out ours to see what the fuss is all about. Don't let the technology make you nervous, we'll show you how it's done!
3/9 (Saturday) - 5-9 p.m. $5 Crop
3/12 (Tuesday) - 6-8 p.m. Stamping Gear $25
Wonder what the stamping gear is all about? Come and try one out, and see for yourself. We'll create several cards and discover all the options of the stamping gear.
3/14 (Thursday) - 6-8 p.m. Sketched Out 2 $25
New sketch, limitless possibilities!! Make a page (or two) with us, and possibly a card with the scraps!
3/19 (Tuesday) - 6-8 p.m. Stamped Card Tricks $25
Play with some stamping techniques to create four unique cards.
3/21 (Thursday) - 6-8 p.m. Sizzix Test Drive $10
Try it Thursday ---bring on the Sizzix! Considering a purchase? See what all you can do with this workhorse of a die cut machine.
3/26 (Tuesday) - 6-8 p.m. project ME $25
Try out the newest trend in informal scrapbooking...Creative Chaos!

Full lineup of paperEd Classes

paperEd is the education program designed by the genuii at Michael's to spread the papercrafting love. I'm a huge fan. You can play with just about any technique you've been afraid to try, test drive those die cutting machines you've been deciding on, or make a lovely home decor piece. Here's the full lineup of the classes that I can offer at Michaels. I try to make sure to include a card class, a scrapbook page class, a mini album or decor class at least one crop night, and a smash class every month. I also put in whatever else my schedule can afford.

As soon as we are consistently filling seats in classes, I'll be scheduling more.....

Altered Canvas (collage on a canvas!)

Card Tricks - Stamped

Card Tricks - Punched

Cricut Card Tricks: Sophisticated

Cricut Expression Test Drive

Flower WOW!

Martha Stewart - Crafter's Clay Techniques

Mini Card Tricks (NEW!)

Paper Bag Mini Album

Paper Crowns

Paper Party (Happy Birthday America)

Pink Party

Project ME (NEW!)

Sketched Out (scrapbook page, using a sketch)

Sketched Out 2 (new sketch!)

Sizzix Test Drive

Smashed: A Class for Smash

Spellbinders Test Drive

Stamping Gear

Texture WOW!

tINKer Time Distress and Shimmer (a Tim Holtz extravaganza!)

Rest of December and January class calendars

Hi folks!

Here's the calendar for the rest of December, and the month of January.  Sorry they are late, like the rest of the world, the beginning of December kind of got away from me. Need something to look forward to?? PaperEd is putting out several new classes in February!  Watch for them on the February calendar.

As always, if you are interested in a particular topic or kind of  class, let me know. I'm always willing to add the classes that people are most interested in. I'll post a list of the complete paperEd lineup in a separate post, so that you know what there is to choose from. :-)

Here we go...

December
December 18, 6-8 pm Mini Paper Bag album
---bring your favorite christmas stuff, and make a fun mini album in just one night!
December 20, 6-8 pm Smashed - A Class for Smash
---seen the smash(tm) line but don't know where to start? I'll show you how!

January
January 6, 13, 20 and 27, 4:30 to 6:30 pm, Spotted Canary School
---This is a beginner scrapbooking course for the newbie, but also offers some great design, lettering and photo information for someone who has been scrapbooking for awhile. See the poster in the store for more information, or contact me!  Take home guide is included in the price of the class.
January 8, 6-8 pm tINKer Time
---play with Tim Holtz inks and practice techniques on tags that you can use in projects.
January 12, 9:30-11:30 am, Smashed - A class for Smash
---seen the smash(tm) line but don't know where to start? I'll show you how!
January 15, 6-8 pm, project ME
---use the new Creative Chaos line, or a Smash journal and learn techniques to brighten up the book with information about...YOU.
January 19, 5-9 pm, $5 crop
---use the time to work on projects!
January 22, 6-8 pm, Punched Card Tricks
---make several different cards using a single punch
January 24, 5-9 pm, $5 crop
---another chance to work on those projects, with access to the classroom tools!
January 27, 2:30-4:30 pm, Cricut Card Tricks
---Use the Sophisticated cartridge to make four great new cards. Get more comfortable with your Cricut, or try it before you buy it!

October and November class schedule

OK, so by now some of you are aware that I started scheduling scrapbooking classes at our local Michael's craft store. (can we say....dream job, anyone?) NOW, I say schedule, because as of yet, no one has actually signed up for any classes, and therefore I haven't actually taught any classes. :-) The day will come, I'm sure. In the interest of having class information available, here is the schedule for the rest of October and November.

October 16 (today!) Mini Paper Bag Album 6-8 pm
October 18 - $5 Crop
October 23 - Punched card tricks 6-8 pm
October 30 - Altered Canvas Trio 6-8 pm

November 3 - $5 Crop (tentative)
November 4 - Cricut Off the Page (Quilted Christmas) 2-4 pm
November 4, 11, 18 and 25 - Spotted Canary School (beginning scrapbook and design) 4:30-6:30 pm
(for more information on Spotted Canary - try this... www.spottedcanary.com
November 6 - Very Merry Card Tricks 6-8 pm
November 8 - Flower WOW 10-12 am
November 10 - Altered Canvas Trio 5-7 pm
November 13 - Countdown to the Holidays (scrapbook page) 6-8 pm
November 20 - SmashED Class (Smash booking for beginners, new techniques) 6-8 pm
November 25 - Vintage Card Tricks (Holiday theme) 2-4 pm
November 27 - Classic Holiday Card Tricks 6-8 pm

You enroll in classes by calling the store, or by visiting the cashier and asking for the class. Costs vary some - and you provide supplies from your stash. When in doubt about supplies CALL ME. Use things that appeal to you or you already have, not necessarily what is listed on the class syllabus. Bring a basic tool kit (trimmer, scissors, adhesive, black pen) and whatever else you think you might need. The instructor, or the the classroom will provide any remaining tools.

NOTE: The instructor provides prizes to all who register and come to class. You never know what that might be!

Again, call me if you have any questions at all. Not sure what the syllabus means? Come anyway....we can work out things so your projects get made. Special requests for classes? Let me know that, too! :-) Hope to see you there!  --vb

I need a name

I need a name suggestions for a Graphic Design business....where I do some freelance, but hopefully a lot of custom design work for invitations, events related materials, and so on. Looking for something good, folks, feel free to comment.

Dec 3 post on Dec 3 - HA!

Prompt: Moment. Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors).

I'm thinking.....I'm thinking.....apparently I've spent the year feeling NOT alive. That's not good. That kind of goes back to day one, when the only word I could come up with for the year was tired. Bad news for me.

On the other hand, I've been known to zone into activities so completely, that the rest of the world just fades into the background. (huh? - you can just see the blank expression on my face, and the confusion, when I'm interrupted, can't you?) While this isn't, perhaps the alive feeling that she's asking about, it is a feeling that feeds the soul. Reading a story, working on an art project, those are the kinds of things that I look back on with immense satisfaction.

While we were in New Hampshire this year, it was spectacular to be in the middle of the granite mountains, and the trees, and the amazing natural world. I don't spend a lot of time outdoors at home, but there, it was good to walk and see the darkness of the dense trees of the woods. To stand alongside thousands of pounds of solid rock that had stood in place for about as long as recorded history....gives you a sense of your position in the world, and the power of the mighty Creator. The green-ness of it was almost overwhelming. The sun only filters through the woods, so there it is dark, and cool and quiet. Look closely at the tiny etchings of the Creator's hand....tiny seeds and new trees that force their way through the piles of leaves on the forest floor....or in the cracks of solid rock.

I'm not sure it is alive, necessarily, but the anxiety attack I had on the top of the five story high overhang over Niagara Falls was similar. Water, rushing around and through, you could feel the vibrations through the earth, the buildings the sidewalks. The noise of the crashing on the rocks below, the wind whipping your hair, and your clothes about, and needing to feel little hands tightly in my own. Rain, and mist and cold air seep through the jackets, and the hair stuck to my face, but I couldn't let go of the baby hands. It is overwhelmingly gray. Gray rocks, gray water, gray air filled with mist and fog. Gray cold, and gray concrete sidewalks. Fear bubbles inside my chest, and the tears fall without any real warning. Of course, this doesn't promote calmness among my children either...but when is fear ever rational, or calm? It is a serious survival mechanism though, and it keeps me and my kids away from danger.

What a wondrous sight - the massive and deadly Falls, and I'm glad we've seen them. But, I don't need to go back, for awhile, at least. I've got plenty of irrational fears, right here on dry ground.

NOTE: This is writing without editing. So......bear that in mind. :-) vb

Dec 2 post on Dec 3....

Prompt: Writing. What do you do each day that doesn't contribute to your writing -- and can you eliminate it?

Hmmm. Life. House, stuff to do. Eating, sleeping, being lazy. I suppose that last one is something I could eliminate, but honestly, I think sometimes my body just needs to stop sometimes, and be still. I read blogs, and can waste a lot of time doing that, but is it really wasted, to see what others are doing. I need to think about this some more. vb

December 1 One Word.
Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you?
(Author: Gwen Bell)

One word. My initial thought is tired. My second thought is school. My third thought....well, there isn't one. There has been good, there has been exhausting, there has been mostly accommodating my school schedule. That's what this year will have been about.

Next year's word: Beginning. An exciting one, I hope - well, interesting, fulfilling, at a minimum. :-) vb

It's been a whole year since I posted. Hmmm..

OK, here's what happened. And...let me state at the outset that it was completely, unalterably, totally and undoubtedly my fault. (my husband insisted.)

We are getting ready for a garage sale. We packed stuff away last year, anticipating this, and I am unpacking all the stuff. I ran across a coffee urn that wasn't supposed to be in the garage sale, because I have used it periodically. However, it was gross inside, and I wasn't sure it could be saved, so I decided to run a cycle of water through it to see if it would clean up. I filled it with water, set it on my kitchen counter, plugged it in, and away it went. (this was....roughly 7:30.) I got busy, and completely forgot about it until about 9. I went down to check, and the thing was still perking away. (It's a 50 cup or so urn, so .... I thought to myself, "gosh, I need to remember that this thing takes forever the next time I use it.") I also decided (yep, thought about it and made the decision, hence the confession in the first few lines) that I would go ahead and let it finish. What's the worst that could happen? It would stay on hot all night? I'd check on it later. Eventually go to bed. Having trouble sleeping due to large quantities of allergy medication, but never thought about said coffee pot again.

FINALLY, go to sleep. Awakened by screaming smoke alarm!!!!! Confused. Now, we often set off the smoke alarm while cooking, so hearing it is not an uncommon experience. Being wakened...whole different thing. RACE downstairs. Note: my husband says before we even get out of our bedroom, "the coffeepot", and I know he's right. Second note: if you can't see anything without your glasses, its a good idea to put them on before racing around the house in the dark to see why the smoke alarm is going off.

Get to the kitchen. My husband heads straight for the basement to turn off the breaker. (Smoke alarms are hardwired, as well as battery operated, so this is the only way to silence them.) I head for coffee pot. DEFINITELY smell smoke, oh yes, you can see it gathered up along the ceiling, the smell is....well...awful. (you would think, with a decent vocabulary, I could think of a better word than that, but I can't.)

I lift up the urn, which is definitely smoking, and go to set it in the sink. There is a puddle of melted metal (?) underneath it on the counter. I flip this (with the hotpad that has somehow appeared in my hand) also into the sink. AND, there is a hole in my countertop. A hole.

I decide it is probably not a good idea for this to be sitting in my sink, so I grab the urn and head for the patio, dump it outside and return for the now somewhat hardened disk of metal and also throw this on the patio. Now my husband is present to see the nature of the problem. He is just looking at it, and at me, and back at it....and well, you can just insert your own verbage there.

For the record, he told me to go ahead and go back to bed, and he stayed up to open everything and let the worst of the smoke out. Although, perhaps he just didn't want to be anywhere near me at the time.

Good news: (yes, there is definitely good news, although I didn't think of it until later.) 1. Our smoke alarms worked exactly as they were supposed to. They went off with the smoke created by the coffee urn before it was actual flame, and woke us up. (KIDS SLEPT THROUGH THE WHOLE THING. NEVER EVEN STIRRED.) 2. It could have been SO much worse. That urn was still plugged into the wall. Whatever it was that melted could have sparked the electrical cord, and the fire could have been in the walls and all over our house..... or it could have sparked and caught the cabinets and stuff on fire. Could have been much, much worse.

Yesterday in Sunday school, we had to relate the modern convenience we would least like to give up, and at that time I said indoor plumbing. I still would least like to give up indoor plumbing, but operational smoke alarms are a very close second.

Here's some visual evidence...and I'm working on the solution to the hole in my countertop....any thots, let me know.

Little pulpit guy

Check your May 25 edition of Mennonite Weekly Review...page one. There's a photo and story about our church and the small pulpits that John King built....and on the interior page is a picture of my Colin, and the first small pulpit that he inspired! :-) Thanks John for the pulpit, and Edith for writing the article! See here, and make sure you go to this page, to see the picture of Colin!!! What a great kid! vb

Who, me?

I haven't blogged in ages. I mean, really. Ages. It's not because I don't have anything to say. There is always some sort of opinion coming out of this mouth. And, I can't really say I don't have time. If I really wanted to, I'd make time. The truth is, I like reading what other people have to say. Here, a sampling of the blogs that I read daily.

http://stacysbigpicture.typepad.com/altogether_too_happy/
http://cathyzielske.typepad.com/
http://richpageant.typepad.com/paulawessells/
http://donnadowney.typepad.com/simply_me/
http://www.angielucas.com/yeahwrite/
http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/
http://www.beckyhiggins.com/blog/

ok. So, I don't always read them in this order. BUT, Cathy Zielske and Angie Lucas and Cake Wrecks virtually ALWAYS make me laugh out loud. That is totally worth it. And now, you know why I don't have any time to blog at all. oops, need to go check my email. That reminds me of something else. Maybe I'll blog it.....next year or something. :-) vb

Windows Vista. They forced me into it.

It seriously made me angry when I wanted to buy a new computer and the only operating system available was Windows Vista. BECAUSE...they quit selling the perfectly good Windows XP, to force people to buy their new product. NOW, I know next to nothing about marketing computers and software, but as a human being buying a computer, it ticked me off. Now I have issues with compatability with my programs, with new programs, with old stuff, and I have to make all that work, in addition to getting used to a new look and feel, when the old one was still perfectly fine. (and sometimes, yes, I have issues with change, but not always. I actually like new gadgets and things.)

But THIS, is the final straw. I have no sound on my laptop. Why, you ask? Why? Because I plugged in a headset to use for a webinar. What, you say? Why would that kill the sound on my laptop? Well. I wish I could tell you. Heck, I wish Microsoft could tell you. They call it a known problem. That tells me that they know their rotten program, that they forced me to buy in the first place has an issue. AND, they haven't bothered to fix it (Gary said I could pay for something...PAY for a defect in the product???) and when it shall be fixed is unknown. I am angry. and I want it fixed. now.

I win! I win!

http://richpageant.typepad.com/paulawessells/


Scroll down a little and see what I won!!! :-) woo hoo!


Leah is always declaring a winner at our house. "And ... the ... winner ... is... ... ... COLIN BERKEY!" Of course, SHE is the winner about 75 % of the time. There is no clear contest, just a winner. I have no idea where they get that from. It's not like I go around declaring winners of sibling contests. Occasionally it deteriorates into a "I'm the winner, and YOU'RE the loser" kind of thing, then you have to employ the time honored parenting method of ---distraction. (otherwise sometimes known as plain and simple bribery.) Hey, does anyone need a cookie?


OK, I have email to answer....have a good night. vb

A thoughtful quote.

There comes a time in life when you have to let go of all the pointless drama, and the people who create it and surround yourself with people who make you laugh so hard that you forget the bad and focus solely on the good. After all, life is too short to be anything but happy.

hmmmm....yes. That's all I really have to say for today. vb

P.S. I copied the quote from a blog, here. http://richpageant.typepad.com/paulawessells/2009/01/giveaway-2.html#comment-6a00e0098248278833010536f9c54f970b

She didn't give credit for the quote, and so neither do I. It certainly wasn't me. But, it tells me that the ladies of the Pathfinder class so need to get together, and soon. vb You know, I could read blogs all night, but I'd better not.

I want to make this happen in my bedroom. Can I do that? How far from perfection can I settle for? OK, well, I want this without the funky pillows, and without the log tables and lamps. The rest is ok. I wonder why it always looks like people don't live here. Where is the alarm clock? The magazine(s) they were reading before they went to bed? The clothes that need to be put away? (not to mention washed). Where is the pile of clothes that need to be mended? The toy someone abandoned here? Those things are omnipresent in my bedroom.

On a similar note, what does the perfect Christmas mean? What are your thoughts? I'm not sure what my definition of the perfect Christmas is this year. I'd settle for less stress, less stuff, more time, and an organized life. I'm really struggling with the tug and pull of wanting less stuff to make my existence simpler, and the pack rat in me not able to get rid of anything. (I might need it...I might want it...I don't want to buy it again...look, a good deal!) Where's that Peter Walsh when you really need him? I wonder if his particular brand of psychology has any staying power. If I had time, and money, I'd read his book. Ha. What I really need, is for him to come and live with us for a week.

Well, I need to get something other than this done. Until tomorrow.

Please, Mr. Postman (AKA the guy that drives over my grass daily)

I really want to send Christmas cards. I love to get Christmas cards. The dimishing number that we receive each year indicates how these things are not mutually exclusive. To be clear, apparently, if you do not send the cards, you do not get the cards.

Last year, I wrote the letter, printed the photo of the kids, assembled and addressed the envelopes, EVEN PUT STAMPS ON SOME OF THEM, but never put them in the mail. (See photo at left of a few of them still hanging around in my office.)Why? I truly have no idea. I'm notorious for a mid January to mid February Christmas letter - someone suggested once I should just send Groundhog Day cards- but seriously, to do it, and not mail it? I can't even explain it now.

So, this year, I wonder even how to start. The world has changed since then. Buying, say---$40 worth of postage ($.42 per stamp) seems like a lot of money. Getting a photo printed (say another $15) plus paper and ink...it's not huge in the grand scheme of things, but we are thinking about darn near every dime that goes out.

Should I write a letter? Sign some cards? Not writing a letter would defeat the whole point in my mind. I love reading people's Christmas letters. If I don't see them often, or even if I do, I want to know what they look like, what their kids are doing, and what important stuff is going on with them. Email is free, but only reaches a fraction of the people I'd like to touch. I want to get the mail, so why shouldn't they?

I'll do it, because I want to see that thin stream coming into my house keep coming. I'll probably be two to six weeks late, but I will mail them this year. I will, I promise. Really.

Is this day really almost over? Where did it go? I still have a long list of things to do...did I even cross anything off? New Hire paperwork, check. Meeting with Neil, check. Hmmm. that's it. Well, I did clean off the bookshelves this morning and get a donation ready for the bookstore. ---to be fair, Nathan and Alex got up, and got on the bus on time- breakfast included, I met the bus for Alex, and picked up Nathan at school. Everyone ate some food, and I washed a load of laundry. Oh, and I took a shower and got dressed. So a few things on the done side, though not as much as I'd hoped for. (please note: Gary is out of town, so the part about the boys getting ready for school and on the bus on time is a serious moment of truth at our house when I'm in charge.) I picked up tiny pieces of paper and stickers about a hundred times. I washed the dishes.

Tomorrow I'll start again.

Blog, check.