The List

Sometime in my college years I found two things that could put my mind at ease faster than anything else: running and writing. While I was (and still am) always up for a good run, doing a lot of extra writing in the middle of an English Minor only reminded me of other writing I needed to be doing. Alas, my journal entries often became a series of lists. Now, finding myself caught in the tailwinds of three little boys and charged with keeping them clothed, bathed and fed - let's not mention all of the other facets of my life - I am struggling to find the time to do much running or writing and I'm feeling a little muddled. Running is a work in progress, and so I am now officially beginning a NEW journal of lists. Welcome to my mind.

But first, an excerpt from said original journal: (one of my favorites)
April 5th, 1993 "Things I Found in My Backpack While Searching for A Scripture Marker"
1.Empty pack of "extra" gum
2.Bookstore receipt for 57 cents
3.Tub of Carmex
4.Empty tube of St. Ives Lotion
5.Empty tube of Nivea Lotion
6.Empty pack of Kleenex
7.Expired tanning coupon
8.Kangaroo scrotum coin purse from Ernie
9.Empty tube of Melaluca lip balm
10.Olive Garden" matchbook with two matches remaining
11.Eyeliner pencil - black
12. "Army" pen
13.Bright pink highlighter
14.CD player remote
15. Laundry marking pen
16.2 Blue Bic pens (round stick)
17.Broken powder compact
18. Bookstore receipt for 52 cents
19.Fender guitar pick - thin
20.Spree candy wrapper
21.Pack of Trident original
22.2 pen lids (not corresponding to the 2 pens from #16)
23.Blue Bic Pen (clear tube)
24.5 Trident Original wrappers
25.3 "Extra" gum wrappers
26.2 safety pins
27.One lotion tube lid
28.Twist tie
29."Chess" ticket stub
30.Fingernail clippers
31.2-9 volt batteries
32.25 cents (2 dimes, 5 pennies)
33.6 hair elastics

"Life on the Go - ie: My Purse Jan. 29th, 2008"
1.Pair of Knitted Gloves
2.Wallet (We'll stay out of that for now.)
3.Coconut Lime verbena lotion tube
4.2 old shopping lists
5.1st grade Basketball League flyer (oh look, another shopping list on the back. . . )
6.Sticky note with name and phone # on it.
7."Fat Cats" receipt for $29.70
8.2 diaper coupons
9.2 black "paper mate" ball point pens
10.1 black "bic" gel pen
11.1 black "V-ball" pen - extra fine
12.1 black "Uni-ball signo" pen
13. 1 blue bank pen
14. 1 blue Sundance pen
15. 1 black "Cross" pen
16.elastic headband - brown
17. 3 tubes lip gloss - all pale pink shimmery (Rimmel, Bonne Bell & Victoria's Secret)
18.1 tube lip balm (max green)
19.Water Bottle lid
20.Plastic Jack-o-lantern (walnut-sized) . . . ?
21.Small make-up brush - eye
22.2 Scrabble tiles (Y and I)
23.Business Card for Hardie-board subcontractor
24.2 AA batteries
25. Travel-size bottle of Advil
26.2 Bobby-pins
27. 1 hair clip
28.63 cents ( 4dimes, 3 nickels, 8 pennies)
29.Bounce-Back coupon for Cal-Ranch (expired)
30.Box of Icebreakers Gum - Peppermint
31.Very small toy blue rope - coiled
32.2 plain white matchbooks (2 matches in one, 6 in the other)
33.I-pod "quick start" pamphlet
34.Fruit Snack wrapper
35.Anakin Skywalker action figure
36.5 paint swatch sample cards
37. Emery Board
38.Fingernail Clippers
39.Cell Phone Car Charger
40.Binki
41.Pokemon "Diamond & Pearl" card

About Time

The last time I wrote - before I temporarily gave up on the blog thing- I said something about more mysterious house-building setbacks that were sure to show up. Well, they did. BUT, but, but, we are moving forward again. (Applause) They poured the floors today (in 18 degree weather I might add) and the framers are coming tomorrow to start marking things out. I've been cracking up at Tyler everyday since the construction began again; anyone driving by would think he was one of the work crew. "Amazing, that same guy's out there again. He was there with the surveyors, the excavators, the plumbers, the foundation crew - he's everywhere!" Now, not only is he going to actually help with the framing, but he is planning HOT LUNCHES for all the framers. (Granted they're friends - but still, funny.) Who's the Martha Stewart of Home Building? Ty Pennington? I'm not sure who he's channeling, but let's say I'm entertained.