Stop Interrupting!

I have a horrible habit... I interrupt people when they're speaking.  I am highly aware of it, I even think about it during many conversations, and yet I can't seem to stop!  Whether I'm getting to know someone or have been friends for ages, I just can't stop myself from making a comment while they're speaking, then that leads to me overtaking the conversation, again and again.  My head tells me, just stop talking, let them finish, and yet I do it anyway.  Sometimes after the conversation I regret interrupting because I never let them finish something interesting they were saying. 

And worst of all, I get frustrated or irritated when I'm interrupted, oh the irony!  I have one friend that does it to me quite often, and for the most part two interrupters doesn't make for an easy conversation.  Now my grandma & I have it down pat though, even my husband questions how we have two different conversations at once, but it just works.

It is definitely an annoying trait of mine that I'm going to work on.  And for those of you who deal with me in person, just say something... a little embarrassment never hurts, it might actually make me work through this bad habit even faster!

(In case you don't understand the picture, it's a reference to Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift's 2009 VMA speech.)

Bye! Dag! Adios! Namaste!

:) Danica

Argh!

What a day, I guess do to distractions and rushing I managed to make two unusual messes today... I just love wasting my own time!

The first was the dog food mess in our storage room.  When I finally opened our delivery of dog food, I was in a hurry expecting our niece for the night so I wanted to get it out of the way asap.  Assuming (yeah, we all know what that does) that the thick sturdy 33lb (15kg) bag of dog food could handle anything, I tossed it into the corner of the storage room.  What happened... the side burst open of course and food started pouring everywhere.  Always fun to clean up when you're expecting someone at the front door in the next 5 minutes.  As you can see in the pic, I taped up the side of the bag, then ended up scooping up the food with a dust pan and pouring it into the old bag.  Argh!

Then there was the marble cake I promised the kids.  It was doomed from the start.  I had never made one before and to be honest I probably should have read the instructions completely before starting.  As I mixed the batter we all ended up covered in white chunks, including the kitchen.  Even then I could tell something wasn't right with the mix.  Then as I went further, all the while having to stop and deal with the kids I noticed I had completely messed up a step, and to be honest it didn't really mention needing milk but I'm positive box cake batter needs milk (or at least water).  I was just about to put it in the oven when I realized it was time to cook dinner.  This meant the cake would have to bake while we ate, and cross our fingers it would be done before the kids went to bed.  At one point when I checked on it, I saw the batter had spewed out of the cake form and all over the baking paper.  It was a mess but I thought still salvageable.  After dinner we realized there was no way it would be ready in time.  After finally taking it out, I pricked it to see if it was done or not... it deflated, never a good sign.  I tried to get it out of the cake form to cool it, but it just crumbled everywhere.  By this point the kids were in bed, and I had to break the bad news this morning, there would be no cake.  I had to take a pic to prove it to them, looks delicious huh?  Argh!

Any of you have off days?  I mean, c'mon, I messed up a box cake mix!
Oh yeah, sorry for the blurry pics but ever since the last iPhone update I have barely been able to take focused pics, love the new update, argh!

Bye! Dag! Adios! Namaste!

:) Danica

School Library

I'm a librarian, sort of!
My daughters elementary has just set up their first in-house library.  It's not really comparable to school libraries in The States though.  It's literally in the middle of the foyer with a total of maybe 10 racks that aren't even full yet, but it's a start!

Of course, a friend (another SAHM) & I jumped at the chance to volunteer.  Unfortunately we missed the demo and have very little understanding of how the library works, but we did our best this week to help out.  As of yet it's simple, return the books from the drop-off bin to the shelves & dust.  Since the order of the books isn't exactly clear, we did our best to find a suitable shelf (another mom said she spent an hour trying to figure it out).  Hopefully with time they'll get a better system (guess they never heard of properly labeling the books & shelves, or even the Dewey Decimal System, but whatever).  Needless to say, we put our SAHM cleaning skills to work, and dusted like crazy, ha-ha!

Never realized I was interested in being a librarian until the semi-opportunity arose.  But it makes sense, I love books, writing, sorting, & organizing. 

Who knows maybe the library will grow or maybe the one at her next school will be bigger... I can see it now, me pushing the trolley full of books around and finding their homes on the proper shelves.  Or possibly introducing a child to the book that changes their life.  I remember almost all of the libraries I ever visited, the best having to be the Trinity College Library in Dublin.  But the old public library where I grew up had a great view of a lake, also a nice aspect. 

Any of ever worked at a library?

Bye! Dag! Adios! Namaste!

:) Danica

Guard Dog (not!)

Last week, in the middle of the night a sound somewhere in our apartment woke me & the dog up.  Not unusual, but this time my husband was away on business.  We both waited a moment, heard nothing else and fell back asleep.  (And yes, the dog sleeps in our bedroom - on the floor.)  Again about an hour later we heard a sound again, this time it sounded like something in the sink or a basket shifting.  I couldn't place the sound, and neither could my dog (Maggie - Wheaten Terrier).  Since my daughter was in my bed that night (missing Daddy), I didn't feel the need to get up and go check her room.  But when Maggie wouldn't relax I grew a little concerned. 

Normally if she hears a concerning sound she barks and takes off to check the doors (like last night when she nearly gave me a heart attack).  This time she didn't go anywhere, but did occasionally let out a threatening (well, to others) low growl.  But yet she wouldn't leave her little bed.  Now was when I needed her to check the house, and my guard dog (not!) was letting me down. 

If we say, "who's there?" she'll search the apartment... but this time she still wasn't budging.  "C'mon," I complained, "do your job... who's there?"  She at least stood this time, all the while letting out little sounds here or there.  I nearly had to force her to go and check.  It was her reaction that luckily made me laugh and relieve all concern.  Instead of darting off like usual, she nearly crawled to the bedroom door, it was ridiculous.  Others might have been twice as concerned, but I was embarrassed for her and it made me laugh out loud.  She eventually made it to the bedroom door and sniffed around, but she never went and checked the house.  With a chuckle, and a, "thanks," I had to go look around for anything unusual myself.  Luckily, all was well!

Obviously Maggie's a lover not a fighter.  You can see that in the pics of her & her best friend (Joep - Jack Russell.)

 

Bye! Dag! Adios! Namaste!

:) Danica

Where To Now?

It's more than 2 weeks into 2014 and I've barely posted a thing.  Where to now?
Like a good little blogger, last year I did my best to maintain a schedule, 2 posts a week + a Wordless Wednesday.  And inevitably like most creative people the schedule seemed to suck the fun out of the idea behind my blog.

My blog is supposed to be random... I'm sure you read the description, right, ha-ha!

So, back to where it all started, I'll post when I have something worth saying.  I'll participate in WW when I have a worthy picture, not just something I found in my stock because it's Wednesday again

And you know, another reason I put off the 1st big post was because last years was so darn good, I wanted to raise the bar and instead my blogger brain shut off.

This year already seems quite busy, and I can only have so much on my plate.  I want to give 100% in everything I do, and that's not always possible.  Often if I can't give 100%, I give 0%... that's not really a solution either. 

Here's to doing what I can, trying to live in the moment, and taking each day for what it's worth... instead of just rushing on to the next activity and next day.

Oh yeah, and I'll eventually update my "Goals for 2014" (sidebar)... and yes, again 1/2 of them carried over from last year!

Bye! Dag! Adios! Namaste!

:) Danica

Not Much Longer

Don't worry readers, I haven't quit my blog!  Just getting back in the swing of things after a wonderful winter vacation!  I'm hoping to get back to blogging next week!

And yes, my husband did draw on my face while I was asleep on the couch!

Bye! Dag! Adios! Namaste!

:) Danica