Give a day & get a Disney day

"I Want..." Wednesday #1

What do you want to do outside?
There isn't much I want to do that has to do with the outdoors today of all days. Being sick makes me miserable and what I really want is to go curl up in bed and pass out until I feel better. But since that option is currently unavailable to me ...

Horseback riding!

There's something that I haven't done in I can't tell you how long. Horses are amazing creatures and I always felt at home visiting the Ranch where our neighbors boarded their three horses. They moved away when I was in Jr. High and that was the last time that I clearly remember climbing into the saddle although I am sure there is at least one or two more memories that my brain wont recall since then.

But one of my favorite memories (and one of the earliest that I can remember clearly) was during one particular family reunion, camping in a forest in Colorado. The whole family ended up going on a guided trail ride and I think it was my first experience on horseback, ever. I was riding with my Uncle Scott, and if you can believe it I still remember the name of the horse, Pedro. Keep in mind I had to have been only about 4 years old at the time, if that even. What an amazing experience it was! I wish I could even describe how fun it was for me, and how amazing it was to be riding through the mountainside, over fallen trees, through rivers. It makes me skin tingle a little thinking about it.

There's something I would love to do outside. Today. Tomorrow. Any day. I just wish we were in a position to own a horse of our own. Who knows, maybe someday it will happen.

Am I allowed a sick day?

The old me would be camped out on a couch, bundled up in every comforter I could stand to be buried beneath, with a mug of hot cocoa and a bowl of soup at the slightest hint of a runny nose - let alone a cold. The old me would be able to take the day off from school and lounge about watching DVD-Marathons (like finally watching and enjoying all of Battlestar Galactica even though I roasted my family for watching it) or maybe even take a sick day from work.

Gone are those days, my friends. What are you supposed to do as a mom, home alone with an infant, when you get sick? And I am, of course, sick. I've steadily gotten more congested since Saturday, my head feels like someone's gripping it to the death in a vice, my throat is raw as Hades, and nothing will stay settled in my stomach for longer than 20 minutes after I eat. This really makes me just want to step outside and scream for whoever can hear me: Why me?!?! How many times have I been sick now in the last year? Normally I'm the one who hardly ever gets sick save a few sniffles once the cold weather officially kicks in. But not any more.

But all I ever want to do right now is keep my little body curled up in bed and sleep and sleep and sleep some more. And it's not like I have the family reinforcements who I would be able to call up if I was still back home in California. The only family that I have to call is my dad and step-mom and for two people who also have lives and a family household to run, something like a 2 hour drive is a little much of me to ask from them. There is, of course, Rob. Thank the stars I can count on him to come over and pick up Emmett for a few hours while I try and catch up with some of the sleep that my body is screaming at me that I need.

At least it's easier now. I can't imagine what ti would be like the farther we get from the family back up and as Emmett gets older and gets mobile. I don't see how any parent can possibly do it! Taking care of themselves while sick when there's a rambunctious child at home as well. One day I'm sure I'll have to figure that step out too. Right now I'm just thanking my lucky stars that (a) we've found a small solution for the time being and that (b) whatever I have has not been passed down to Emmett.

Fall cleaning

I came to a sad realization yesterday afternoon: I live in a sty. Not that I'm a stranger to messy surroundings. I lived with 3 men, who didn't know the right end of a broom stick or what it was to be used for, in a small apartment for a couple of years. It used to bother me so much back then how dishes would pile up in the sink for days and never make it to the fully functional and empty dishwasher unless I had a spare moment to get to if between classes and homework, or my two jobs. Or how about the empty bags and cartons of food lying in a pile next to the couch? Once while cleaning I decided to make a pyramid out of their empty beer cans. If only I had thought to take photos of it. Of course the mess never bothered them so long as they could still get to the fridge and the bathroom they were right as rain. I wont go so far as to say I am this huge clean freak but I definitely have my OCD tendencies in that department.

I have come a long way since then.

This house is a disaster and I can't keep using the excuse that I don't have the time to clean it up. Really, what is it that I'm doing all day other than taking care of Emmett? Not much, to be perfectly honest with you. And not only that but I have no idea where half of this crap even came from. When Rob and I moved out here we barely owned enough to fit in the back of his truck and now all of a sudden there is just stuff everywhere. It's like our possessions are breeding or something. Even when you take into account the few things that Rob took with him when he moved out. Ahhh! It's driving me insane.

So screw the whole Spring Cleaning idea, I've got to get the Fall Cleaning underway and I need to start it sooner than later. The Holidays may still be a couple of months away but that is still super close and I would like to entertain the possibility of doing some good old fashioned entertaining myself, if only to have my dad and step-mom along with my half-siblings down from Maryland. The sooner I get started on this endeavor the sooner normal cleaning will be that much easier. So wish me luck. I'm hitting the trenches tomorrow!

Provided I can take my nose away from my book for long enough ...

Friday 5 - Week 1

Getting to know me
1. What are the titles of the last three books you read all of?

Alright. Please keep in mind that I am a 20 year old Twililaholic who has had a super-crazed obsession with YA supernatural/romance type books for as far back as I can remember. After I sped through my first two readings of the entire Twilight series long before the release of Breaking Dawn in August 2008 I was going through some major Cullen withdrawals. A few other members of the Twilight Discussion Group that I played a vocal part in (yes, I was seriously a key player in a Twilight Discussion Group) came up with a list of other YA Vampire novels that they loved and I went through the entire list in just about two weeks. Pretty impressive for a list of about 12 books. Like I said, I was going through withdrawals. One of the books, Blue Bloods, was the first in another series written by Melissa de la Cruz and currently has 3 books in publication with the fourth coming out in less than 2 weeks. Which is why I just had to read Blue Bloods, Masquerade, and Revelations all over again. To prepare myself mentally for what is about to come in The Van Alen Legacy. It took me some time to get into these books as they have a very slow build to the mystery and action, but now I am hooked. October 6th can't come soon enough.

And did you know they make trailers for books nowadays? EW has an exclusive on the fourth Blue Bloods novel, here.


2. What are the titles of between three and five magazines you subscribe to or used to subscribe to?

I'm not very big on magazine subscriptions. I love to read Entertainment Weekly and only recently got myself a subscription because it was free. And right now, that is it! We used to get both Sports Illustrated (which frustrates me because there just isn't enough Hockey mentioned for my taste) as well as The Hockey News (plenty of Hockey mentioned there, folks) but we canceled them both and I can't exactly remember why.

3. What’s on your night table?

Honestly, I don't have one! All there is in my bedroom as far as furniture is concerned is the bed and a dinky dresser that is piled high with clothes because I absolutely hate to fold them (it's the hardest part of doing the laundry).

4. What are the three best things that happened to you in the past seven days?

Let's see here. For starters I talked with my Grandmother on the phone for about an hour - each day. That's the easiest way to make a day great; she's like my best friend. Then the funniest thing happened yesterday, forcing me to recognize the fact that Emmett really is ready to start solids. He stole part of my banana! I had cut one up to put in my cereal for breakfast and was taking my time as usual (a.k.a. forgetting about it completely). Before I could actually put them in my cereal I remember picking him up and we were standing right next to the counter and it was like a moth being drawn to a flame! I have never seen him snatch something up so fast and pop it into his mouth. He makes his momma so proud! Look for some messy baby photos soon! I still need one more great thing about this week. Does the fact that it went by really, really fast count? I love Fridays and I love the weekend so I am so happy we have completed another week!

5. What was your senior yearbook quote, and what would your yearbook quote be this year if there were such a thing?

Now you've got me thinking! I really don't remember to be honest, and I only graduated 2 years ago! You would think I could remember something as recent as that but nope! I actually have to get up and check my yearbook. It figures that it was a quote from Walt Disney:

All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them
I'd use the same quote today. It's always been a favorite of mine. And it is true. Maybe all of my dreams haven't come true yet, but there certainly one that gives me the biggest smiles I have ever seen every single day.

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Thursday 13 - Week 1

A is where it's at
1. Apples. Love 'em. Can't get enough of 'em. And I am strictly talking apples here, no apple juice (yuck!) or applesauce (double yuck), thank you. Is it just me, or does fall just scream apple picking? I remember spending the first weekend in October visiting my grandparents to we could all go to the local Apple Festival. Fun times. Fun times. I loved to go bobbing for apples, and the sweet tooth in my heart holds a special place for these:


2. Ackles. Jensen Ackles. It is Thursday night which means I get my weekly Jensen Ackles & Supernatural fix. Alright, I confess. I usually get a daily Jensen Ackles & Supernatural fix seeing as I own the entire series on DVD so far. What can I say? Nothing. Just watch this clip.

3. Autumn. It may not be my favorite season if you ask me during summer. It may not even be my favorite season if you ask me during the spring. But I absolutely love autumn ... during autumn! The weather is finally cooling down (supposedly), the Holidays are just around the corner, the leaves are changing colors, and all of the aroma of pumpkins and spices are making me happy.

4. Amazing Grace. It doesn't get any better than listening to someone play this on the bagpipes.

5. Austin and I don't mean Austin, Texas. I mean my baby brother of course. The little pumpkin will be celebrating his first birthday in October. Looks like Emmett will be attending his first birthday party. For his uncle. Who is only 6 months older than him.

6. Albacore. It's tuna, not chicken.


7. Alvin and the Chipmunks. Because I loved watching them when I was a kid. I even distinctly remember singing "Witch Doctor" while walking up the hill, backwards, to the cafeteria when I was in Elementary school for lunch with my best friend. Good times those were.

8. Animaniacs. My dad still does a kick ass impression of Wakko. But the one moment I will always remember in Animaniacs history is Yakko's World. I just had to learn to sing it on my own. To think I actually memorized the countries of the world at one point in time. All thanks to a cooky cartoon.


9. Animorphs. Is there anyone out there who remembers these books? I'm pretty sure that I was in Elementary school when they came and I was absolutely fascinated by them. I mean, what kid wouldn't want to meet some crazy blue centaur-like alien with who give you the ability to morph into any animal that you touch? They even had a short lived television series and at the time I was so devastated when they canceled it.

10. Art. Be it dance, sculpture, painting, photography, or whatever medium you choose, art inspires us all and we inspire it.

11. Adventureland. Home to the ever-awesome Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. I totally went on this ride 6 times in one hour this summer on our Disney adventure.


12. Anne. It's my mother's middle name. She may not be my favorite person in the world but lately, who is? It's a part of why they spelled Lynne with the two N's and an E in my first name. Among other factors. If in some unknown time if I am ever blessed with a daughter it has not been taken off a possible middle name list.

13. Angels. They are always with us.

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3 Months Gone

Make that 3 months and change. 3 months and 1 week gone, really. A lot of things have changed since I last posted. Really, I don't know what to say or where to start.

The good news is that everyone is healthy and a certain little man who shall remain nameless (EMMETT!!!) is just 1 week away from reaching that halfway point of his first year of life. I'm n denial that he'll really be 6 months old so soon. Watching him day by day, it's all just gone by so fast. I want to enjoy this baby stage a little longer, please! I'll try and update his stats after his 6 month check up but he's already closing in on 17 pounds. 17 pounds!! How did my precious 4 pound little guy get so big and chunky? We're actually getting ready to start solids next week. That right there just seems so surreal in itself. He's really been in my life for almost 6 months, hasn't he? I can't imagine a single day without him.

As for this tired momma, things are different; different, but looking up. Not only have I been trying to adjust to life as a new mom, but I've also been trying to adjust to life as a "single mom". And I do use the term loosely, not knowing what else to call it. Rob moved out over the summer while we try and take a step back and work through some problems. It was probably the best decision that we could have made. After everything that has happened in the past year we just were not getting anywhere trying to 'fix things' under the same roof and I honestly don't think we would have been able to make it work if he hadn't. All I can really say right now is this: we are moving in the right direction.

And now this tired momma needs to go to sleep before she completely forgets too. Hope to 'talk' to you all soon. And if you're still around, thanks so much for everything!