Monday, September 28, 2009

Monday, Monday....

So Princess Ivi has decided she wants to see a counselor. She seemed to be worried that she is crazy (which considering the fact that she is exposed to both me and my mother on a daily basis, I can understand that fear). Once I pointed out to her that she wasn't crazy but it was hard to be a teenager, she seemed less fearful.

I am waiting on the doctor's office to call me back so I can schedule an appointment for her.

Of course, adding to her emotional confusion is the fact that she is working on building a relationship with her father whom she hasn't had any contact with in over 12 years. There is a lot of anger to work through and hopefully they can do it. We are actually supposed to go to GA to see him this weekend. Well, I am just a bystander along for the ride. My job will be to make sure my baby doesn't get hurt and to keep them talking to each other. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this works out for her because it is what she wants.

Unfortunately, him being back in our lives brings all sorts of stuff to the surface with me that I thought I had dealt with but apparently I haven't so I am slogging through all of that.

With regard to reading, I have taken a break from books for a while. I figure with as many books as I have read this year (about 200), if I don't read another one all year, I can still feel pretty proud of myself.

As for knitting, I am working on the wristers from Knit 1. They are coming along well. I should be able to finish up the first one this week. I also finished my sister's Christmas gift and have passed it on to my mom for seaming. I have also been planning on the rest of my Christmas knitting that I have to do (leg warmers for mom, hat/scarf sets for mom, pat and barry).

The countdown to Christmas is: 87 days, 14 hours, 16 minutes and 50 seconds (or so).

Monday, September 14, 2009

What I did this weekend?

First, I got my haircut. I donated it to Locks of Love so it is pretty short (right where my neck and shoulders connect). It is cool and it will grow fast. Princess Ivi said it makes me look younger but it is a grown up cut.

Second, Princess Ivi and I went to FYE and I got her the Framing Hanley CD which she went on and on about for days.

Third, we went to Applebee's for lunch. Yummm...

Fourth, we went to Books a Million and picked up some books.

Fifth, then we went home.

During lunch we talked about a decision she had to make. Her father, whom she hasn't seen in 12 years, wants to try to build a relationship with her. If I had my way, I would hold her close to me for the rest of her life but I can't do that to either of us so I told her that I would support whatever decision she chose to make about her father.

Saturday night she told me that she wanted to write to him and send a few recent photos.

So on Sunday after running to CVS to print pics, we wrote him a letter and I mailed it today. Let's keep our fingers crossed that everything goes well and no one gets hurt.

Today, I was impressed with myself because I talked to Princess Ivi's father, whom I haven't spoken to in 12 years and considering how our relationship ended, I was impressed with the fact that I was able to talk to him like an adult without getting emotional.

As for knitting, on Sunday I worked on the Feather and Fan Shawl and I decided that I hated it so I unraveled it. Then I was going to work on another shawl with the same yarn but that didn't work either. I was going to start on some fingerless gloves for Princess Ivi but I couldn't find where I put the Knit 1 magazine that had the pattern. Grrr...so instead I worked on my sister's Christmas present which I can't go into too much detail here because it is a surprise. but all in all, it felt good to be knitting again.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Nothing is more difficult than parenting a teenager...except maybe living with my mother

Man, parenting a teenage girl is tough. Especially when that girl is an unhappy one.

School is back in session but instead of looking forward to it, even a little, she doesn’t want to go and it is a fight every morning. Most mornings, she says she has a stomachache. I hate having to yell at her first thing in the morning. I hate having to yell at her at all. It makes me the mean parent but considering I am the only one she has, I guess I have to take that role.

The other night when I asked her what was wrong she said that she has no friends (which isn’t necessarily true), no one “gets” her (but, hey, she is 13 so no one is supposed to “get” her) and she hates it here (in Florida, living in the same house as my mom and I totally “get” her on that one because we need our own space).

We have been tossing around ideas on how to solve the current problem which is that both Princess Ivi and myself are ready to move on with our lives. We were considering saving up and moving out here in Florida around November. We would have moved about 12 miles away from Mom and that much closer to my office. The thought was that we would move and money would be extremely tight (being a single mom sucks) but at least we would be able to live for ourselves in our own space.

There are things, of course, that must be done in order for us to be able to move in July. First, we must save money. To do that Princess Ivi and I have decided the following:
  1. We will go grocery shopping every other Saturday (after cashing my paycheck). The two of us will wake up in the morning (for a change of pace) and go while Mom is working. This way, we will not have to buy the things she insists we need. We will also make a better grocery list and post it on the fridge so that throughout the week things can be added to the list.
  2. We will buy the Sunday paper to get coupons and we will shop at Winn Dixie using online coupons. We will also look through the sale flyer and base purchases of meat and produce on that.
  3. I will start bringing my lunch to work every day. (Not just occasionally.) This will reduce spending because fast food is expensive and even if I picked up a salad at the grocery store (from the produce department), they are expensive too.
  4. We will cut down on unnecessary spending like magazines, books, etc.
  5. I will give Mom $40 every other week. I am going to tell her that I am giving this money to her to do whatever she wants (fix her car, buy her cigarettes, whatever).
  6. We will stick with our budget.
  7. We will save at least $200 from each paycheck toward moving/saving. We will budget $100 toward debts that must be paid before moving. Budget surplus money will be put in savings. Any bonuses will be placed in savings.
  8. Tax return will be used to either pay down car loan principal or to pay any large debt.
  9. We will make homemade gifts for everyone using supplies on hand (yarn, fabric, etc.).
  10. When we get the urge to spend money because we are bored, we will go to the library, go to a free event, craft, play board games, watch movies we own, etc.

Now, I just have to figure out how to get Princess Ivi to go to school for this year. Hmmmm......

Thursday, August 20, 2009

I am still alive....

I have been such a slacker lately and haven't been posting here. Obviously....

I haven't been knitting much either. Mostly I have been reading as evidenced by my book list posted below. I have now come to accept the fact that I am insane. Here is why I say that I am insane. Feel free to judge for yourself...

In January, I joined the 52 books in 52 weeks group on Ravelry and then I said "I wonder how many books I can read in a year?" and the monster was born. Now, I got to the library at least every two weeks and get at least 25 books (since I can read 2 a day) and I read a lot. So far I have read 167 books. Some may say that I have read enough books this year and I should stop but I can't just stop. It isn't even September yet. How will I know how many books I can read in a year if I stop early. So I will keep going because I am not a quitter.

Anyway, on my agenda this weekend is a trip to ....the library. But I printed off my wishlist from Amazon so I can at least knock out some of the books I have been wanting to read for ages.

I do have two knifty knitter projects going on...one is a scarf for Princess Ivi with Dark Horse Fantasy in this beautiful purple variegated yarn. I am also making mom some legwarmers for Christmas.

I bought some stash busting tools on Monday. I went to the store to get the pink rectangular loom and picked up four rectangular looms of varying sizes for $20.00 and then I used my 40% off coupon. Yeah.

2009 Book List

Here is a list of all my books read this year:

January
Mr. Darcy’s Daughters by Elizabeth Aston
The Exploits and Adventures of Miss Alethea Darcy by Elizabeth Aston
The True Darcy Spirit by Elizabeth Aston
Persuasion by Jane Austen
Lady Susan by Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Home to Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani
Chasing Fireflies by Charles Martin
When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk

February
Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone by JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling
The Alchemyst by Michael Scott
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate Dicamillo

March
The House of Daughters by Sarah-Kate Lynch
jemima j by Jane Green
A Rather Lovely Inheritance by CA Belmond
Chicks with Sticks (Knit Two Together) by Elizabeth Lenhard
The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards
Divine Secrets of the Ya-ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortensen

April
Land of a Hundred Wonders by Lesley Kagen

May
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
New Moon by Stephanie Meyer
Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer
Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer
The Edge of Twilight by Maggie Shayne
Hissy Fit by Mary Kay Andrews
The Sex on the Beach Book Club by Jennifer Apodaca
To Wed a Highlander by Michele Sinclair
I Do but I Don’t by Cara Lockwood
Mischief 24/7 by Kasey Michaels Hey, Good Looking by Fern Michaels
Just a Taste by Dierdre Martin
Dark Protector by Alexis Morgan
Unravel Me by Christie Ridgway
If Wishing Made it So by Lucy Finn
Journey to Forever by Carol Steward
Protected Hearts by Bonnie K. Winn
Follow the Stars Home by Luanne Rice
The Witness by Dee Henderson
One Bite with a Stranger by Christine Warren
How to Score by Robin Wells
Skyward by Mary Alice Monroe

June-August
Destiny Kills by Keri Arthur
Lady Danger by Sarah McKerrigan
Zen & the Art of Vampires by Katie MacAllister
Dark Light by Jayne Castle
Take No Prisoners by Cindy Gerard
Deadly Night by Heather Graham
Noah by Jacquelyn Frank
Eternal Pleasures by Nina Bangs
Hostage to Pleasure by Nalini Singh
Dark Highland Fire by Kendra Leigh Castle
A Rogue’s Game byRenee Bernard
Maverick by Lori Leigh
The Dark One by Randa Thompson
The Naked Earl by Sally MacKenzie
The Wild One by Sally MacKenzie
It’s In His Kiss by Julia Quinn
To Pleasure a Lady by Nicole Jordan
Out of the Blue by JoAnn Ross
Forget Me Not by Marliss Melton
Dark Obsession by Allison Chase
Into the Shadow by Christina Dodd
No Control by Shannon Butcher
The Wild Road by Marjorie Liu
Mimosa Grove by Dinah McCall
Burning Alive by Shannon Butcher
Code Name Baby by Shannon Butcher
Crash Into Me by Jill Sorenson
Nights Touch by Amanda Ashley
Always Look Twice by Geralyn Dawson
Dark Embrace by Brenda Joyce
Shadow & Silk by Elizabeth Lowell
Hot Property by Carly Phillips Wicked Magic by Cheyenne McCray
Night Secrets by Cherry Adair
Time to Run by Marliss Melton
Don’t Let Go by Marliss Melton
Next to Die by Marliss Melton
Too Far Gone by Marliss Melton
Shattered by JoAnn Ross
Hidden Agendas by Lori Leigh
Wild Card by Lori Leigh
Call of the Highland Moon by Kendra Leigh Castle
Beyond the Limit by Lindsay mcKenna
Dark Sky by Cara Neggers
Touch of Darkness by Christina Dodd
Scent of Darkness by Christina Dodd
Mortal Sin by Laurie Breton
One Deadly Sin by Amie Solomon
Private Demon by Lynn Viehl
He Could Be The One by Elizabeth Beverly
A Very Special Delivery by Linda Goodnight
Hide In Plain Sight by Marta Perry
Homespun Bride
The Bride’s Baby by Liz Fielding
Speed Dating by Nancy Warren
The Lady Mistress by Elizebett Rolls
Once a Cowboy by Linda Warren
Dancing in the Moonlight by RaeAnn Thayne
Snowbound by Janice Kay Johnson
Crime Scene at Caldwell by Ranch BJ Daniels
Stranded with the Spy by Merline Lovelace
Kiss me Deadly by Michelle Hauf
Slow Hands by Leslie Kelly
Rebel Doctor’s Bride by Sarah Morgan
Price of Passion by Susan Napier
Irresistible Forces by Brenda Jackson
Eclipse Bay by Jayne Ann Krentz
Look Closely by Laura Caldwell
On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn
Deadly Gift by Heather Graham
Seeing Red by Susan Crandell
Seduction by Amanda Quick
The Healer by Sharan Sala
The Inheritance by Antoinette Wrighton
Dancing at Midnight by Julia Quinn
To Catch a Thief by Christina Skye
Primal Needs by Susan Sizemore Quiet as the Grave by Kathleen O’Brien
Summer Light by Luanne Rice
I Thee Wed by Amanda Quick
Rewriting Monday by Jodi Thomas
To Wed a Wicked Prince by Jane Feather
Causing Havoc by Lori Foster
Take Me Two Times by Karen Kendall
At Last Comes Love by Mary Balough
Bad Moon Rising by Katherine Sutcliffe
How to Abduct a Highland by Lord Karen Hawkins
To Die For by Linda Howard
High Stakes by Rebecca Brandwyne
Glory Days by Irene Peterson
Slow Burn by Julie Garwood
Primal Heat by Susan Sizemore
Dark Warrior Unleashed by Alexis Morgan
The Seance by Heather Graham
No Choice but Seduction by Johanna Lindsey
If you Dare by Kresley Cole
If you Desire by Kresley Cole
If You Deceive by Kresley Cole
Casting Spells by Barbara Breton
Sins of a Duke by Suzanne Enoch
Hot Rain by Kat Martin
Vamps and the City by Kerrelyn Sparks
Oceans of Fire by Christine Feehan
Hidden Currents by Christine Feehan
Turbulent Sea by Christine Feehan
Dangerous Tides by Christine Feehan
Edge of Midnight by Shannon McKenna
Breakpoint by JoAnn Ross
Out of the Storm by JoAnn Ross
Danger in a Red Dress by Christina Dodd
Playing Easy to Get by Kresley Cole
A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole
No Rest for the Wicked by Kresley Cole
Wicked Deeds on a Winters Night by Kresley Cole
Dark Deeds at Night’s Edge by Kresley Cole
Dark Desires After Dusk by Kresley Cole
Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole
Killer Secrets by Lori Leigh

TOTAL BOOKS READ IN 2009 = 167