Saturday, August 16, 2014

Time Is Running Out

I've challenged myself again this month to participate in BlogHer NaBloPoMo August 2014.  Problem : I really can't think of anything to blog about, and time's running out... it's 11:45!

Anyway...

Finally had sushi dinner.  We tried a new place, and you now how that goes - hit or miss. Selection was large and varied, but mostly unfamiliar. The one comforting thing was that this particular establishment had not recently been cited for health inspection violations after area wide inspections were conducted. Upon entering, it passed inspection for all of us - staff was well groomed, decor tasteful and uncluttered. Best of all sushi was prepared within view.  Despite outdoor temps being 100+ degrees, indoors was a bit brisk, which I was willing to deal with considering the type of food being served.  Don't know if we'll go again, although, prices were reasonable.  I'm okay with just picking up a couple of rolls from Sprouts market... mostly for convenience sake.  Anyway, it was nice going together as a family. It was in celebration of belated birthday dinner, postponed welcome home for summer break, we'll miss you when you've gone, good luck junior year, for College Girl who will be leaving in a few days.  I should be sad, but I'm always more thrilled for her than anything else.

Harder to fathom is the fact that our last grade school kid is now a high school senior... what!?!  As much as I hated back-to-school time as a kid, I've loved getting my kids ready for the start of a new academic year.  And, although it was a tremendous burden some years, my favorite part has always been shopping for school supplies.  Back when they were in elementary school demand for supplies was outrageous; middle school came a very close second, but high school... totally manageable.  A few pens, pencils (Ticonderoga #2, black), composition books, and spiral-bound notebooks, maybe some graph paper, and a large supply of copier paper and  index cards.  Kid #3 (I think I'll start referring to her as The Artist) will be all set after a quick stop at Target while we also shop for stuff to send to College Girl by mail.

I wish again this year, that we could see Bookstore Boy off to college, but it's just not feasible this time.  And, I'm super bummed about this fact. He would have been a Senior this year; breaks my heart that his only option has been to help us manage financially with his part-time, minimum wage earnings.  I hope that higher education does not become a missed opportunity like it was for me.  He has so much to offer, and so many strengths, I wouldn't want them to go to waste.

So, I expect hectic week ahead of me.  I also need to help my mom & sister get to respective doctor appointments, while keeping my fingers crossed that my vehicle holds up and engine and transmission issues do not worsen before we can afford to get repairs done. As for me, I've got my meds to refill, modify my daily routine, re-establish proper eating habits, and work on some strength training while everyone is out of the house during the week.  Oh, and let's not forget my online Italian lessons... really enjoying those.

Hope your weekend has gotten off to a nice start, and that you have a relaxing Sunday.

Until tomorrow ~ Lil

*Oh, and recyclables, must not forget to do that asap, need that extra cash for incidentals College Girl may come across as she travels back to school.

***

This post is written for Day 16 ~ Creating Memories with August 2014 NaBloPoMo


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Friday, August 15, 2014

Friday

It's the end of the day.

I have nothing to say... err, write.

Not too much going on now.

But, hey! Oh, wow!

Next week there's stuff.

Staying awake will be rough.

Lots to get ready for.

Room, there'll be plenty more.

Alone time today was nice.

Dogs' company did suffice.

Two minutes 'til stroke of 12:00am

Wish I had M&Ms.

Friday.

Until tomorrow ~ Lil

***

This post is written for Day 15 ~ Creating Memories with August 2014 NaBloPoMo


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Lights! DVR! Popcorn!

It's been the summer of movies. If you've been keeping up with my NaBloPoMo Sunday posts, Lil's Week In Review from July & August, there is a growing list of blu-ray, Netflix, and Hulu movie selections that we've played at home over the Summer. It's been so much fun... but, truth be told, there's rarely been any popcorn served.  I must work on that.  Only a week and a half before College Girl heads back east for school, and her sister begins senior year of high school here, and we're down to the last 8 or 9 films.  I hope we make it, because there are additional films C.G. missed out on before returning home after winter break that we still want to watch with her.  So fingers crossed.

The list comes from Entertainment Weekly's Staff Picks of  55 Essential Movies to Show Your Child Before Age 13, and most have been spot on, regardless of the fact that my kids are 22, 20 & 17.  I highly recommend this family activity. It opens up discussion about any number of topics, and rekindles memories from the time we originally saw some of the movies when they were released in theaters... always a special treat.

My movie list choices have taken a backseat to the EW list, and that is perfectly fine.  I'll somehow manage to figure out how to set the blu-ray player so that I can watch my collection of favorites... gloriously produced cinematic period pieces, British (The Bridget Jones films and Love Actually were good medicine during a certain challenging period in my life.) romantic comedies, and of course, Harry Potter series, with your occasional stinkers that only I have an appreciation for in this family, like RV, Wild Hogs, What A Girl Wants and so on.

Then there are those beloved Nora Ephron films that I'm especially fond of and can watch on a weekly basis.  I love her stories, and I'm saddened by the fact that her book with further contributions to motion picture arts has been closed forever; however, grateful that I own a collection of her movies and a couple of her books.  There will never be another who will ever come close her, other than maybe her sister, Delia.  I hope she has some works in progress written in the same vain as Nora's stories.  I'll just have to wait and see, and keep my fingers crossed.

What are some of your favorite movies? Do some also stir up special memories, or take you back to another phase in your life?  Let's discuss, down in the comments.

Until tomorrow ~ Lil

***

This post is written for Day 14 ~ Creating Memories with August 2014 NaBloPoMo


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Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Note To Self...

Remember to go to pharmacy for Mom's glucose meter test strips, and stop by with the girls tomorrow for a visit.

*****
Not much in the mood for writing tonight, and have early plans tomorrow, so must turn in soon.  Here's a vlog from earlier this year.

A Brief Introduction to My Mom:

 

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Mommyversary August 2014

It's as hot and humid today as the day he was born.


*****

Links featuring Bookstore Boy:

August 12, 2011:  Welcome  

APRIL & DECEMBER: Big Brother to 1st Little Sister & 2nd Little Sister

June 30, 2011:  A Working Man

May 27, 2011:  School Days



January 3, 2012:  An Apology

September 12, 2013  Young Adult Male... or, YAM 



*****

Carilo Family Movies:  Summer 2014 films that Bookstore Boy discovered online, "@EW's ...essential movies kids must see before they turn 13." and insisted we watch

#01 The Muppet Movie
#02 Toy Story
#03 How The Grinch Stole Christmas
#04 Babe
#05 Mary Poppins
#06 Beauty and the Beast
#07 The Little Mermaid
#08 Finding Nemo
#09 The Red Balloon
#10 Pinocchio
#11 Annie
#12 The Kid
#13 Wall-E
#14 The Sound of Music
#15 The Lion King
#16 The Wizard of Oz
#17 Singing in the Rain
#18 Miracle on 34th Street... I LOVE THIS MOVIE!
#19: The Iron Giant. #GreatMovie LOVED IT!
#20 E.T. #StayElliott
#21 Elf
#22 How To Train Your Dragon
#23 Star Wars
#24 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
#25 Pee Wee's Big Adventure
#26 March of the Penguins*
#27 Home Alone
#28 Black Stallion
#29 Willy Wonka
#30 Who Framed Roger Rabbit
#31
#32 The Incredibles
#33 The Lego Movie... EVERYTHING IS AWESOME!
#34 Princess Bride ~ I LOVE THIS MOVIE!
#35 Goonies ~ I don't trust anyone after watching this film. Why had no one I know tell me how awesome it         is?!?
#36 A Christmas Story ~ I will not admit to the number of times this movie has been viewed at our house.
#37 West Side Story ~ My son: "How much more can happen with an hour left? Daughter: *snaps fingers*
#38 It's A Wonderful Life ~ A Catholic, atheist, & cynic watched this movie together. Thumbs up all 'round.
#39 Duck Soup ~ Old timey, yet still funny.
#40 Back To The Future So great!
#41 Young Frankenstein A treasure.
#42 Edward Scissorhands Delightfully odd? Oddly delightful!
#43 The Lord of the Rings* I wish to be a hobbit.
~ To be continued.

Monday, August 11, 2014

This Is Depression

*Updated*

"Depression lies" ~ Jenny Lawson, The Bloggess

This is depression...
"As I examine the past decade, I just wanted to share something from 2005. It was written in the midst of the lowest of lows for me.  You see, at this point I had been under doctors' care and managing a number of illnesses, including something new called  fibromyalgia, and the awfulness that is depression and bipolar disorder - emphasis on depression. This passage sums up my struggle coping with life on a small Hawaiian island. Some may infer that I was suicidal during this time; however, quite the opposite was true. I was hopeful... certain that this would pass. I took comfort in knowing I shall never sink like that again. I KNOW IN MY SPIRIT, HEART, AND MIND."
MIND STORM

Your embracing arms hold me
Your hand in mine is soothing
You, in mind, comforts me as

Mind’s ills storm body mind and soul

Sudden isolation
Confusion and despair
Anticipating fear

My mind storm is here

You have touched me
You are strong
I reach for you, I trust you

I am frightened by the storm

You are caring
And I care for you too
I welcome you free from harm

To my unimaginable storm

Accept my invitation
You have been here all along
Share this time with me

The storm is still so strong

We all belong here
Goodness abounds
This is how it is: 


I’m alone inside

As the mind storm passes on.
~
By Lillian Carilo 2005 ~ Bipolar Disorder



Excerpt from my personal blog post from July 9, 2014 ~ History & The Past



Sunday, August 10, 2014

Lil's Week In Review ~ August 10, 2014

Hey, hope you had a very nice, safe & sound weekend.

Some of the most enjoyable moments of my week were going online for Italian lessons.  I'm off to a slow start, but having fun channeling my inner Isabella Rossellini.  Another favorite thing about this week was Thursday night's dinner that College Girl and I prepared - pasta Orecchiette with diced roma tomatoes and broccoli florets sautéed with garlic in olive oil and tossed with fresh mozzarella, Parmesan cheese and basil... delicious!

The biggest surprise of the week happened today when the whole fam damily went out to IHOP for breakfast, then grocery shopping.  We had not done this in ages.  Bonus:  We were all still getting along when we returned to The Place!

This week in review...

FAVORITE

~ Music of the Week... GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Movie Soundtrack

Press PLAY
MARVEL'S Guardians of the Galaxy

BLOG UPDATE:

BlogHer NaBloPoMo August 2014 Creating Memories theme is fun. I've discovered a few new blogs that I enjoy reading.

AUGUST 2014 BLOG ACTIVITY:

~ Most viewed post:  Winging It
~ Least viewed post:  Idly Passing Time

 MOVIES!

~ Carilo Family Movies*: Summer 2014 flicks that we watched this week, as selected from @EW's "...essential movies kids must see before they turn 13." were...

#40  Back To The Future  So great!
#41  Young Frankenstein A treasure.
#42  Edward Scissorhands  Delightfully odd? Oddly delightful!
#43  The Lord of the Rings*  I wish to be a hobbit.

*College Girl quotes during last half of movie:
"The Orc is coming out of the Orc hole."
"Hey, a log troll."
"Awww... Hobbit hugs." 

WELCOME READERS!

~ This week's A How-To Guide visits from around the globe:

United States
Canada
Poland
Ukraine
Germany
China
Malaysia
Russia
India

Yay, world!

HAPPINESS...

is The Mr. taking over in the kitchen and fixing the family a lovely dinner.

Until tomorrow ~ Lil

***

This post is written for Day 10 ~ Creating Memories with August 2014 NaBloPoMo


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